Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right
by Francesca Basile
In the beginning of July, Israel launched a large offensive on northern neighbor Lebanon. They were provoked after Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, captured two Israeli soldiers during a cross-border raid. The recent series of attacks are growing in intensity, reminding a world that may be preoccupied with other global issues that violence in the Middle East is still a problem with no imminent end.
Many would accuse Israel of being overly aggressive. After all, they use their military much more than their surrounding Arab nations. However, they have reason. They are surrounded by countries whose main mission stated in the constitutions of their elected governments is to destroy the State of Israel. If you were surrounded by people hell-bent on obliterating you from the map, I’m sure you would take the necessary actions to survive. Any good leader would protect the existence of his country. The only way a ceasefire could come to fruition is with the involvement of the international community. Until the UN chooses to throw itself into the fray, the Middle East will continue its attempts at settling differences with its most familiar medium - bombs.
Israel has an obvious military advantage over Hezbollah. Their capabilities allow them to enforce a full land, air, and sea blockade on their northern neighbor, with many deaths resulting from precision bombing. Lebanon relies on guerilla-style warfare and the use of less controllable rockets.
The Islamic militants are aware of their military shortcomings; they are probably not expecting to win an all-out physical war with Israel. What they are looking to take from the current embroilment is the advancement of their political agenda. They are concerned with drawing support from other Middle Eastern nations for the progression of their Islamic-based power.
Israel must understand Hezbollah’s true motive to be most effective in the outcome of this war. Killing innocent Lebanese civilians and showing military prowess will not put an end to the fighting. From past events, we have seen that many problems in the Middle East are driven by extreme faith and belief to the point that many are willing to die for their own personal view of justice. Hezbollah will not easily surrender.
On the contrary, every death caused by Israel’s attacks on Beirut and other heavily populated areas of Lebanon makes it easier for Hezbollah to rally support from other Arab countries. The recent inclusion of Hamas, who is certainly no stranger to Israeli conflicts, shows growing support for a Middle Eastern movement that has the capability to greatly overpower Israel. Lebanon’s Minister of Defense, Elias El-Murr, supports this by saying that “Israel’s attacks only strengthen Lebanon’s resolve to defend itself.”
Israel needs to stay away from civilian attacks. For a war in which ceasefire and peaceful negotiation are near to impossible, aiming for military and political targets will cause the most damage to Hezbollah with fewer deaths. Loss of civilian life will have minimal meaning to an elected government that shows less care for its people as it does for advancement of its own political agenda.
Sources:
Greenberg, Joel. ‘Israel continues strikes in Lebanon; Hezbollah hits ship.’
The Chicago Tribune. 14 July 2006. www.chicagotribune.com
Farrell, Stephen. ‘Our aim is to win – nothing is safe, Israeli chiefs declare.’
The Times. 14 July 2006. www.timesonline.co.uk
Edwards, Michael. ‘Israel continues targeted assaults in southern Lebanon.’ PM.
19 July 2006. www.abc.net.au
