May 25th, 2000 … Beginning of the Future
source: As-Safīr (Lebanese based newspaper) 18/3/200
By: Nawwaf Al-Mousawi
summary: First: The significance of May 25th, 2000
There may be no date, despite the length of history, capable of surpassing this day. This particular date in history cannot be ignored.
The Medieval astronomy believed that Earth is the center of the universe, but that belief didn't change the fact that Earth did, does and will revolve around the sun whereas Kant compared his philosophical system to a Copernican revolution. And if key issues aren`t set in it their appropriate places, the structure, though strong, will come to be disordered. Certain crucial indications emerge from this `centralization`:
1. International community efforts fell short in Liberating Lebanon and shielding it from `"Israeli"` occupation and aggression:
The Resistance (bearing the recognized and prevalent meaning of resistance along with society in its unity, steadfastness, and political course) was the one to oblige the enemy to retreat by force, not the international community resolutions, troops, procedures, threats or constrains. Indeed, this community wasn't able to protect Lebanese citizens who took refuge at a UN camp to escape `"Israeli"` shelling. They were deliberately slaughtered by racial Zionist bombardment. The International Community (an equivalent term) was crippled in the face of `Israel` and continues to be a false witness to the continuous `"Israeli"` occupation of Palestine. If anyone believes in the power of this `community` taking into account the Lebanese events, does anybody know why this international zeal is stirred up to free Lebanon from `"Israeli"` occupation while it isn`t there to free Palestinians from `"Israeli"` occupation and return the refugees to their homeland?
2. `"Israeli"` Military and Security shortfall...& Political and Diplomatic Failure:
The "Israeli" withdrawal from Lebanon wasn't chosen from an array of possible options available for the `"Israeli"` state, or for the `"Israeli"` society with its political spectrum. The `"Israelis"` tried their hands at security and military procedures with some political and diplomatic activities to overpower the resistance, but all was in vain.
The operational insufficiency of the `"Israelis"` was met by the exceptional unprecedented power of the resistance. The political failure proved that the political determination in the face of American and `"Israeli"` pressures along with the operational strength of the resistance are the right, though difficult, path because the less (apparently) difficult paths lead to surrender and defeat.
3. The End of `"Israeli"` Spying:
The `"Israeli"` factor had been penetrated into the Lebanese equation to the extent of establishing an official authority structure which introduced the election of two Lebanese presidents.
In the beginning of the `"Israeli"` invasion of Lebanon, the `"Israelis"` became a crucial factor among the external factors which always used to form the authority structure of Lebanese Republic.
The `"Israeli"` defeat due to the resistance resulted in uprooting this factor from the Lebanese balance. A quite striking illustration is in the number of Lebanese spies for `Israel` who were granted `"Israeli"` nationality. Also, the fate of a chief spy at a bar in Tel Aviv bears very condensed symbolic indication. Meanwhile the previous notorious spy Saad Haddad and others received a monthly salary from the Lebanese Army under feeble authorities.
4 Amputating the Vandalizing `"Israeli"` Hand in Lebanon
Thus, by eradicating the `"Israeli"` factor from the Lebanese equation, it became possible to eliminate one of the most important factors threatening stability in Lebanon. However, national immunity regarding spying for `Israel` is absent; it`s viewed upon as a necessary option, a compensational procedure or an inevitable evil. This gives us the impression that even if the `"Israeli"` influence ceased to exist, there is a need to reinforce this accomplishment through crystallizing a national culture, one that despises spying for `Israel`, based on the concept of developing a hostile view towards the Zionist enemy. This point will be developed later on.
5 - Protecting the border posts and developing the remote areas:
The border area has suffered from the "Israeli" aggression since the dawn of the State of `Israel` till 1969 which made it harder for its inhabitants to hang back, so many of them were forced to move to Beirut suburbs or to leave the country. Furthermore, the aggression began before the foundation of the Zionist state, back to when the Zionist militias (which later formed the `"Israeli"` army) used to terrorize the farmers and villagers and raid their farms and villages. From 1969 till 1982, the area was a battlefield for confrontations between the Palestinian resistance and the ""Israeli"` enemy, and from 1982 to 2000, a battlefield for the Lebanese resistance and the `"Israelis"`. Nowadays, the inhabitants of the border area live in peace and stability never witnessed before. This fact encouraged the construction process, and many previous inhabitants are returning to breathe life into their lands. So it seems that the resistance which achieved liberation paved the way for a secure environment that contributed in resolving the problems of internal and external emigration, and consequently turned the wheel of development in a Lebanese region that suffered negligence and deprivation.
Of course, the role of the resistance isn't restricted to modernization and general development as a source of security despite its importance. However, the resistance, as a well-integrated society confronting the Zionist enemy (the most modern army in the world), has driven technological modernity forward.
Conquering the Zionist army is an act of modernity, prosperity and advancement. And as the resistance ventured to compete with the conflict requirements, it contributed to raising the political, cultural and scientific awareness level amid a large Lebanese sector.
The resistance emanated from deeply rooted ideological incentives. This has given the confrontation with the enemy cultural civilized aspects that aren`t based on the concepts of civilization-clash or religious-conflict. It`s a war based on the dichotomy of oppression vis-à-vis arrogance. As a result, the resistance broke free from delusional racism or sectarian isolation, expanding its human issue beyond the limits of time and place.
6 The Necessity of Recognizing the Link between Liberation and Preventing Threats:
The aforementioned shows that liberation alone isn`t enough. It was and remains to be associated with the cease of the threats. Sometimes threats can serve the objectives of the occupation with lesser costs on its side. Before the occupation, the `"Israelis"` put a stop to aspiring Lebanese projects to irrigate and make use of river waters. This would have lead to vital development in the South and eventually in all Lebanon.
The resistance, therefore, didn't stop at liberating a main part of Lebanese territory; it worked on ceasing `"Israeli"` threats. This was obvious when Lebanon succeeded in making good use of the water of the Wazzani River as well as in ceasing the `"Israelis"` from breaching the Lebanese sea and lands. While the matter of violating the Lebanese airspace is limited to auditable and visual disturbance, stopping the threats is a matter the resistance still works on.
Preventing threats is equally important as liberation, and is an issue in the plan for ultimate accomplishment.
7 -The Defeat, and the Alert for Response:
There`s no doubt that the `"Israelis"` strongly defeated by withdrawing from Lebanon. This defeat had its strategic and psychological consequences just like victory had its consequences. These two realities did and continue to form the scene. That the `"Israelis"` still aspire to change these two realities is quite likely. Therefore, the resistance and the Lebanese people, in general, who are both proud of this achievement, realize the necessity to be always on guard.
8 -Fruitful Relations with Arabs:
The unquenched need of the Palestinian resistance for logistic support from its Arab neighbors, and the urge for political protection from the Arab political system... both substantiate that the relations with Syria played a major role in the battle for liberation, in protecting the resistance, and in impeding the threats. The steadfast Syrian political position, the Syria`s role in crafting a Lebanese unity over the resistance option, and its logistic patronage ...all shaped, in a rare example, the relations between two Arab states based on mutual cooperation in the face of the Zionist enemy, a fact that can't be ignored despite the existent commotion.
9 -The Resistance as Guarantee for National Unity:
A lot can be said in this sense. This is related either in creating a national culture which is still almost missing till now or in regards to the internal aspect of the role of the resistance or its performance. It became clear that the resistance, during the liberation years and through accomplishing the liberation, is a guarantee for the national unity. It is almost the only path for an individual to present great scarifies to the country at a time, and this is the case of politics, when all other paths ask what the country has to offer them. In a sectarian nation, this question might be permissible, and could be placed under the title of national unity, but the path of liberating and defending a country always moves forward toward reinforcing self-unity.
There have been many bargains or plans (as is frequent in Lebanese policy) that built up on risking national unity for the sake of personal or group profits. However, the resistance was always ready to be sacrificed for the sake of its country and its national unity.
The resistance has been put to an internal bloody political trial more than once (13th September 1993, 27th May 2004, etc...), yet it came out with an increased devotion to enforce unity and stability.
10 -The Model
The accomplishments of the resistance inspired the uprising in Palestine. The resistance gave a different meaning to "the Lebanonization " "the Lebanon being" which had lately been a synonym to division and fighting. The new definition is based on principles of martyrdom, jihad, dignity and victory. It's become typical of the `"Israelis"` to describe the exceptional operations of the Palestinian resistance as having a "Hizbullah touch".
Lebanon has a title of its own now, that of the resistance.
Nowadays, all Arabs and oppressed nations have a glimpse of hope that gives them confidence in themselves and in their ability to be victorious.
We now stand before a psychological mentality that isn't just overwhelming in its origins; it`s become quite prepared to go from failure to fulfillment.
In light of that, there is a greater need for realism because the necessity to rely on illusions and dreams will diminish.
11 - Stability:
The region witnessed along the past four years the heaviest confrontations stretching from Palestine to Iraq. Lebanon, in its fragile being, is accustomed to being influenced by all the events going around, and sometimes they transferred into Lebanon. In spite of all that, Lebanon has lived unprecedented stability due to the resistance that kept Lebanon safe from the destructive agitation by shutting the gates to `Israel` for good. Nowadays, its lack of stability is due to foreign interference and abominable crimes.
12 -Lebanon`s Regional Role?!
The strategic observers state that the internal stability of any country is connected to the political role that this country plays in its geographic and political surroundings and in the magnitude of its vital interests. The Lebanese role in supporting the Palestinian cause through its resistance ensured its self-stability and prevented any further complications in the Lebanese and Palestinian relations on the one hand, and in the internal Lebanese relations on the other. Therefore, it contributed with the Palestinian resistance in diminishing the `"Israeli"` regional role. In a way, is there an increase in the Lebanese regional role? Let`s see.
13 -Fracturing the `"Israeli"` Strategic Function:
One of the western strategic objectives in establishing the "State of Israel" is to use its (western constructed and internally developed) military power as a means for political subjugation and to strengthen its political control over the Arab region.
The same thing happened in 1956 after the nationalization of Suisse Canal, and again in 1967 and in 1973, and definitely in 1982.
The resistance`s accomplishment in defeating the "Israelis" in Lebanon revealed the ability of an Arab group to overcome the "Israeli" state and to expose the weakness of the "Israeli" military machine and its political apparatus in controlling a Lebanese area. Hence, this led to the end of the strategic function of the Zionist entity, or to one of its main strategic functions or, in other words, to its subjugation function. The triumph of the Palestinian resistance obliged Sharon's Cabinet (the most extreme and brutal cabinet) to pull out from Gaza and hold back the settlers` ambitions through building the separation wall in the Bank, consequently revealing the "Israeli" failure in maintaining direct control of its surroundings.
Some believe that the immediate American presence in the Arab region comes to compensate for this "Israeli" breakdown; some also believe that the American troops can't afford to stay longer in this region. As a result, this intervention comes as a surgical operation to mend the malfunction by restoring "Israel" to its previous status, thus enabling it to perform the aforementioned functions.
The way to mend the malfunction begins by putting an end to the resistance and harming the model it represents; a strategic field operation that breaks the structure of the resistance, and a political psychological operation to ruin its model.
14 -A New Strategic View: The State of Proportional Balance and the Psychological Shield
The resistance didn't stop at accomplishing the liberation. It developed it to be an ongoing line of defense that leads to the creation of a new and different strategic case contrary to the period when the "Israelis" used to have the strategic superiority without anyone to stop it. Nowadays, the "Israelis" still have this advantage, yet in the face of the abilities of the Lebanese resistance, that "Israeli" superiority doesn't affect the political balance of power anymore. The "Israelis" are no longer able to take advantage of their strategic superiority in any way in its relations of power with Lebanon.
On the other hand, the Lebanese built their security and stability on the defensive abilities of the resistance and its strategic dimension.
15 -The American and "Israeli" Attempts to Put an End to the Resistance:
The "Israelis" didn't stop their attempts to get rid of the resistance and eventually undermining its operational, political and strategic accomplishments by relying, of course, on the American administration (the American administration policy in the region is an "Israeli" policy in the first place)
The persistence of the resistance and its steadfastness is an achievement in itself since preserving or protecting the achievements is more important than the achievements themselves because if not protected, they will cease to exist. Consequently, there is an existential connection between the resistance and its accomplishments
16 -The Zionist Enemy is the Only Enemy:
Since the dawn of the Lebanese government, there is a saying similar to "two negatives don`t make a positive". The biggest and deepest Lebanese problem is their disagreement on the identity of their enemy. It doesn't mean that the Lebanese with their different orientations should be united on this idea for this reason alone, yet each urban or rural nation needs to empower its national unity by having a unique enemy. Strategic planners in one of the most powerful countries, precisely in the United States, were keen on creating the identity of an enemy after the end of what was called "the empire of evil" or "the USSR camp".
For the first time in Lebanon, the Lebanese meet (or must meet) around the concept that their real enemy is the Zionist enemy. When the identity of the real enemy is clarified, the real friend can be identified too. In this way, the true Lebanese foreign policy is achieved away from "the on-hold policy" or the foreign policy of one of the confederate sectarian cantons or the foreign policy attached to this country or that.
The absence of an inclusive Lebanese foreign policy was due to the common saying that there is no foreign policy apart from an internal policy. National unity wasn`t formed around the nature of the enemy, but according to the "Taef Accord", all the Lebanese are supposed to be unified in the face of the "Israeli" aggressions. The resistance established this.
Second: Origins of the Struggle and Enmity:
It`s necessary to reconsider the effort exerted at one time, before and after the establishment of the state of `Israel`, which presented reviews, philosophies, and analysis of the danger and how to confront it.
Theorists from several schools wrote to this end, only to have their writings put away on shelves - a matter worthy of speculation.
Many intellectual schools in Lebanon may produce different divergent approaches even on the Zionist and `"Israeli"` issue if they opt to register with the self-logic of their intellectual identity. Yet a national education or idea, in the least to begin with, must be based on what is comprehensive and communal. What follows is a definition of the sources of the conflict that are not limited to a certain thought:
1 -Contradiction of Government Formula:
The Zionist formula of state is the existential contradiction of the Lebanese formula of Lebanese state. The former is a racial expansionist seeking domination. The latter is based on the attempt to compose common existence between groups and individuals of contrasting religious and sectarian affiliation, differing cultural options, and multiple political trends. And as much as the Lebanese are concerned to present this experience as a model of a different stable world living in peace and striving for development, the Lebanese find themselves involved in defending this experience from `"Israeli"` aggression which endeavors to destroy it and from the American bodies which endeavor to generalize the current Zionist example that`s based on the unilateral arrogance on the region to a point where the world is divided into two camps.
The continuity of the Zionist model, aside to its strategic supremacy, is a constant threat to the Lebanese model and national unity, and a danger to Lebanese entity of division into mini-states.
2 -Displacing the Palestinian People:
The Zionist state has committed mass terrorism and displacement. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to enter Lebanon. The Lebanese agree on the right of the fellow Palestinian refugees to return to their land. Yet the `"Israeli"` stand backed by the American stand makes clear that there`s no way back home. This constitutes a grieve aggression on Lebanese and Palestinians alike.
3 -The Ongoing `"Israeli"` military and security aggression on Lebanon:
`Israel` has deeply wounded Lebanon`s people and lands, yet it continues its occupation of many parts of the land and hinders the latter from regaining its rights in complete sovereignty, continues to detain Lebanese captives and prisoners in `"Israeli"` prisons, and persists in ongoing violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
4 -Strategic Threat:
The Zionist state`s faith is marked by an expansionist racial nature with a dominative inclination; meanwhile the state possesses supreme military abilities. This leads to a strategic scene where `Israel` can become the greater regional country that transforms its surrounding countries into add-ons deprived of the means of independent political decisions. The combination of Zionist faith and military superiority form a strategic threat and a flaw in the balance of power, reflecting its effects on Lebanon`s role in its surrounding and on the latter`s internal condition.
5 -Once more, `Israel` is the Enemy:
If there exists a need for an enemy such that certain nations made up or invented ones, then the case is stronger as Lebanon`s enemy is truly existent in form, role, land, waters, and sovereignty.
6 -Zionist Avarice in Lebanon:
Much has been written on the subject, so there`s no need to go into details. Before the State of `Israel` was commenced, the Zionist movement designated the borders of the state-to be at the Awali River in South Lebanon. This was justified by the need for water resources which the desert Palestinian south is deprived of.
If the current century is that of war on water resources akin to the previous one which was that of war on oil, the fear of the transformation of the dreamlike ambitions into actual attempts to make them come true.
Everyone can recall `Israel`s` attempts, in the past and the present, to prevent Lebanon from using its water resources.
Third: What Now?
No survey of the present or future can be done without considering the aforementioned conclusions.
The survey begins by considering that when the Lebanese agreed on the designation of an enemy and identified it as the Zionist enemy, it leads to an initiative to formulate a strategic frame for internal and foreign Lebanese sovereignty on the basis that the conflict is existent and continuing with the Zionist enemy in all forms. This frame takes into consideration the manner of protecting the achievements of the resistance and answers a critical question: How can Lebanon be protected? - every inch of its land, most important of all the bordering area which has just changed from a deserted region to regain its charm and role with its land and hand.
This requires:
1. Producing a unifying national culture ensuring collective awareness of the truth of the conflict.
2. Generalizing the capacities of the Lebanese government and people to conform to the measures required for the conflict. In the educational field, for example, there`s a need to raise the technical level of knowledge to surpass `"Israeli"` modern technology, especially since many economic experts agree that informatics is a space where Lebanese progress is possible.
3. Mobilizing the Lebanese regular armed forces in conformity with the conviction of enmity to `Israel`; the combat ideology should be formed according to that, where armament and training should suit a plan for assumed confrontation. In the first degree, a defense plan should be laid down so the army is positioned according to Lebanese defense requirements, not the requirements of `"Israeli"` strategic or security superiority. It`s necessary to remind, here, that item (c) in the 2nd article of the national Lebanese Accord mentioned: The armed forces should be unified and trained.
4. Taking advantage of the Islamic resistance`s experience and accomplishments awhile conserving the latter two. The resistance ought to be merged with the national plan to confront `"Israeli"` aggression so as to be capable of bearing its national responsibility in fighting `"Israeli"` aggression.
5. The persistence of resistance to liberate the land still occupied and the people still captive by contributing, side to side with the official armed forces, in defending Lebanon as a country and sovereignty in the face of aggression and threats.
6. Refusing to consider the resistance a militia. The resistance is part of a national defense mechanism. If any harm befalls it, it afflicts Lebanon`s defense capacity and, subsequently, Lebanon`s peace and people.
7. Confronting the American-`"Israeli"` campaign to blockade the resistance under the pretext of terrorism through providing the latter with the required legitimacy and through condense media, diplomatic, and political campaigns to contain the reverse ones.
8. Focusing on the of the Lebanese Army and security forces to contain `"Israeli"` penetrations and to undertake precautionary measures.
9. Developing Lebanese-Syrian relationships in conformity with the requirements of Arab affiliation and encountering `"Israeli"` aggression.
Between brackets: It`s no secret that the alleged American effort for change towards democracy (this is inspired from a book written by an `"Israeli"` minister) is nothing more than an attempt to demolish the remaining elements of reluctance in the region on the course to complete submission.
It`s notable that the democratization of regimes and societies is a demand measured in accordance with the flexibility. In one country, there exists a ferocious tyranny which extends to itself yet is prized with blessings; in another place a coup d`etat occurs as politics and political parties are lifeless, yet it receives praise and commendation.
Modernization and development, once put on the shelf for decades on grounds of stability and polarization, are necessary for Arab societies. Nonetheless, international intervention doesn`t aim at realizing them as much as aiming at implementing deeper, more influential subordination deep to the roots of the consciousness of individuals and groups.
Lebanon aborted the attempt to render it Zionist or an advanced American military base through the sacrifices of its people and resistance, stands side to side with Syria in confronting the American campaign to deprive power of resistance and opposition. In this case, it would pave the way for comprehensive Zionist hegemony.
The American military and political intervention which comes to compensate the failure of subjugating factor of military function of the Zionist entity in the region, can`t go back in time. The resistance opened the doors for freedom in Lebanon, and no force, however strong and mighty, can ever shut that door. The Lebanese are determined to cling on to their country to keep it a country of freedom through its unity, its Arabism, and its resistance. They don`t want a weak supplementary country.
Finally,
There`s no doubt there are many other questions are raised about the complete implementation of the Ta`ef Accord, questions with answers embedded in national discussions. This approach concentrates on confronting `"Israeli"` aggression from what the Ta`ef comprised.
