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Possible Takeover of Lebanon by Syria Supporters Is Bad for Israel

[Ynet News] Eyal Zisser - Hizballah leader Nasrallah will suffice with Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora's partial surrender to his demands, the establishment of a new cabinet where Nasrallah and his allies will have veto power regarding every decision. In the long term Nasrallah has his sights set on taking over Lebanon, premised on the fact that the Shiite sect is the largest community in Lebanon. Siniora is demonstrating extraordinary courage in the face of Nasrallah's display of terror. He is enjoying the support of the majority of the Sunni, Maronite, and Druze communities, the international community, and the majority of moderate Arab states. However, this is not enough. In the event that Syrian supporters do regain power in Lebanon, those who will pay the price will primarily be the courageous Lebanese people who had hoped that Lebanon would adopt the path of democracy and freedom. Next would be Israel, which would discover it had succeeded in distancing Hizballah from its northern border but will have to face it as the deciding factor in Lebanese politics and in the next government in Beirut. Finally, the U.S. will also have a price to pay, because Siniora's downfall will symbolize the end of its adventure in Lebanon. The writer is the head of the Department of Middle East and African Studies at Tel Aviv University.
2006-12-04 01:00:00
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