On the eve of decisive elections in Lebanon, a week before the important elections in Iran, Obama wants, by solving the Palestinian-Israeli struggle, to boost the forces of political moderation in the Muslim and Arab worlds, which have been weakened by Israel’s unresponsiveness to any Arab peace initiative put forward by Arab political moderates.
Obama is aware that the Israeli-Palestinian struggle is the region’s central problem. He asked his leading strategic ally in the region, the Israeli prime minister, to halt and remove settlements and accept a Palestinian state. The Israeli response, up to now, has been as expected; a refusal to halt settlements, a refusal to lift the siege on Gaza, and the rejection of the principle of a Palestinian state. This is nothing new; it is the reality of Israeli policy since the founding of the state.
Israel has turned Gaza into “Hamas-stan,” where ordinary Gazans suffer from its siege and its policies. Only Hamas benefits from this, strengthening its position on the ground. This has been noticed by western officials who have visited Gaza - the siege is boosting Hamas’ position.
In the same context, Israel hopes for a victory by Hezbollah in the Lebanese parliamentary elections. Israel despises the Lebanese state and respects Hezbollah, which defeated it in the July War of 2006.
The war showed how Israel destroyed all features of the Lebanese state, laying siege to Lebanon and isolating it (as it did in Gaza), to punish the Lebanese state. It left one safe exit route for Lebanon, to Damascus - what a coincidence!
Today, Israel is hoping for a Hezbollah win in the elections in Lebanon, because it knows the party is stronger than the Lebanese state. Israel also knows that war and peace decisions are in Hezbollah’s hands. But Israel does not want peace in the region, because it is frightened about seeing a Palestinian state on its borders, no matter how demilitarized it is. The Jewish state is afraid of disappearing under the demographic weight of Arabs on its borders. Through its policies, it is strengthening radical Islamic forces and working to empty Jerusalem and the occupied territories of Christians, who have left the country.
In the same context, Israel sees no objection to political decisions being in Hezbollah’s hands in Lebanon, provided that the Christian role is marginalized, even if they are in power in Lebanon.
Israel wants to retain a state of war throughout the region, because it is the only deterrent to the removal of its settlements, its policies of occupation and hegemony, and the establishment of a Palestinian state, which the entire world wants.
Seeing Hezbollah in power in Lebanon, with a majority that can let it direct the country, is the best option for the Jewish state. Strengthening hard-line politics and extremism will serve its policy of rejecting a Palestinian state and the Palestinian people. Arab political moderation that is open to the world does not suit it either. This is because it would be forced to take unpalatable steps; Israel is anxious about what President Obama will say in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, because it is aware that it is being asked to make fundamental concessions. On Friday, Obama visited France for talks with President Nicholas Sarkozy on his ideas on a solution to the conflict in the Middle East, especially since Sarkozy wishes to launch a peace conference on all tracks by the end of the year. It is certain that the topic of Lebanon’s elections will be raised, even if in passing, since each man has a different policy orientation. Paris has decided to recognize the results and deal with the government, whoever is in power, while Washington is more cautious; it will wait and see what the results will bring about.
It is clear that the evaluation of the two states involves a difference when it comes to the results of Lebanon’s upcoming elections. It is clear that Paris believes that the opposition will win, and that nothing will change as far as it is concerned, because in the view of Paris, no side can eliminate the other in Lebanon. Washington is more cautious, but Paris is now comfortable with its good relationship with Damascus, and this is a priority for it. France under Jacques Chirac closed Europe’s doors to Damascus; today, Sarkozy has opened them wide. In the view of Paris, the elections in Lebanon will not change anything, irrespective of the result.
Photo: Lebanon and Israeli flags . According to analysts Lebanon as a free and democratic country poses more danger to Israel than Hezbollah arms , because Lebanon is the only democracy in the Middle East This is why analysts are predicting that Israel prefers a Hezbollah victory. Israel does not want want peace and prefers to have Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, analysts say.
Tags: Elections, Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, source: Al Hayat, Syria
