(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - As a Lebanon ceasefire nears, the problem with UN Resolution 1701, adopted by the Security Council at the end of the 2006 Lebanon War, was that none of the parties responsible for enforcing it on the ground actually did so. Hizbullah outmaneuvered everyone. Israel's natural right to self-defense does not require codification in any agreement. Israel's leadership needs the resolve to stop tolerating Hizbullah violations of Res. 1701 and to respond firmly. Under the emerging agreement, if Hizbullah "assists" Shiite villagers in rebuilding their destroyed homes by installing weapons depots, observation posts and firing positions beneath and within the structures, Israel would need to file a complaint with an international committee, led by a U.S. general and his peers from Britain, France, and an Arab state. The committee would demand evidence, forcing Israel to disclose its intelligence-gathering methods. Lacking its own enforcement mechanism, the committee would then turn to the Lebanese Armed Forces - many of whose soldiers and commanders are Shiites - and UNIFIL, asking them to compel Hizbullah to dismantle the violations identified by Israel. Only proactive Israeli military operations, with or without committee approval, can transform this deal into an effective arrangement.
2024-11-26 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive