- 09:45
An absurd title for an absurd conflict. How else can one describe the situation in Lebanon? A war that began against the will of the people. It slowly spread, bringing the country to the brink of collapse. All while the world is looking the other way.
In this regard, the Israeli prime minister’s message to the Lebanese is equally shocking: “Free yourselves from Hezbollah… or it (Lebanon) becomes another Gaza.” In peacetime, Israel maintained a constant presence of 50 planes and drones, monitoring everything and watching every movement around the clock. The effectiveness of their intelligence is well known.
How can the Israeli prime minister seriously believe that the Lebanese are capable of “freeing” themselves from Hezbollah? He knows full well that in a matter of hours, the Shiite militia could take military control of the entire country.
Is this a call for civil war? With only one armed key player, the conflict would be quickly resolved, with Hezbollah assuming full control. The alternative: turning Lebanon into another Gaza. Thank you for the plan. That would be easier to implement, as it would lead to total destruction. But what would that accomplish? Very little, aside from piling suffering upon suffering, without weakening Hezbollah in the process.
The intention may be to escalate tensions, forcing Hezbollah out of its strongholds and paving the way for all of Lebanon to be designated a “terrorist entity.” This could lead to a mix of two generous “offers:” internal strife and a Gaza-like scenario. It illustrates Murphy's Law at its finest: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Is there any room for optimism? A priori, not really. Neither Hezbollah nor Israel seems willing to entertain any meaningful compromises.
Perhaps hope lies in the courage of individuals. What about Lebanon's religious leaders? Or Pope Francis, who might feel invested in a country that hosts the last Christian community in the Middle East? France? The candidates are few and far between and remain quite timid. In 1984, Pope John Paul II stated, “The sovereignty of Lebanon must be respected and protected. Every nation has the right to live freely, without external interference.” Forty years later, this message still echoes amid the emptiness created by the greed of the powerful, wherever they may be.
Can the people do anything? In this case, the answer is no. Aside from waiting, waiting some more, and hoping, they are utterly powerless. A miracle? In this land steeped in thousand-year-old beliefs, that may be the most plausible option. Faith does move mountains.
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