Middle East crisis deepens further
It cannot be ruled out that the strike was deliberate because of the timing. This strike took place at a time when the UN and European Union were determined to send a strong UN peacekeeping force, comprising of European, Arab, and Turkish troops. The decision in this connection was about to be taken at the Rome Conference on July 26.
The targeting of the UN observation post at Southern Lebanon was to create concern among prospective participating countries in peacekeeping in Lebanon. Under international law, the blue helmet force is protected from any kind of attack. Israel has intentionally created a situation that would influence other countries not to send troops under UN supervision.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. This is not the first time Israel has not been inclined to accept international peacekeeping forces in the region. In this connection, I would like to recall that the Secretary General wanted to send a UN observer team to occupied Arab territories in 2002 following massacres carried out by Israeli troops of innocent Palestinians, but Israel refused to accept. The Secretary General's decision was based on the report by his envoy who described the devastation in Jenin in particular, horrible beyond belief. He was on record as saying that the Jewish state had been "morally repugnant."
This is the second time in two weeks that Kofi Annan has come out with a strong statement against Israel. It appears that the Secretary General's reaction is the result of frustration in handling a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented nature in Lebanon which was the result of indiscriminate bombardment and artillery shelling of Beirut, Tyre, Sidon, airport, and highways in the name of punishing Hezbollah.
More than one thousand Lebanese have became victim of insane Israeli action. In comparison to this figure there were hardly 30 Israelis either dead, or wounded, because of the firing of rockets by Hezbollah into Israeli territories. It gives a clear picture of disproportionate Israeli action in Lebanon.
Lebanon, which has been described as the Switzerland of the east has been a target of Israeli aggression since 1975. This is the fourth time Lebanon was attacked by Israel. Israel vacated Lebanon in 2000 following UN resolution. 55 UN resolutions were adopted against Israel on the Middle East issue. Syria was another country which occupied Lebanon for 29 years until she vacated last year on the basis of a joint resolution by France and United States.
The fact is that Israeli troops had crossed the Lebanon border on July 12 in the south which is under control of Hezbollah guerillas. Hezbollah did not lose time and destroyed an Israeli tank, killed two soldiers and captured two of them. The American media twisted the fact. But Israel is the aggressor.
Israel has been condemned four times by the Security Council in the past for attacking Lebanon. As of now Israel had flouted the UN resolutions. These resolutions were not binding as they were adopted under chapter six of the UN charter. The Security Council, therefore, should consider adopting strong resolution under chapter seven of the charter to drive out Israel from Lebanon and occupied Arab lands. All members of the Security Council should be united to adopt this resolution in spite of the fact that it would be torpedoed by the United States to protect Israel.
It is high time that an international conference, which was floated by Russian President Putin, be organised by OIC, or Arab League, to take stern action against Israel which is on record as a violator of UN resolutions time and again.
The General Assembly may come forward to adopt a resolution to cancel the membership of Israel in the world body for its flouting of UN resolutions. Since there is no veto power, the General Assembly could initiate such action to punish Israel in the interest of peace in the Middle East. As soon as Israel vacates the occupied Arab territories, on the basis of UN resolutions 242 and 338, peace will prevail in the Middle East. It would be worthwhile to post international peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, and Palestinian areas as well, to monitor the developments till stability returns to the region.
The Bush administration should understand the underlying trend in the politics of Israel and the Jewish lobby in Washington to bring about just and fair play in resolving the conflict. As a superpower the United States should demonstrate magnanimity, sagacity and dynamism to play as good broker to bring justice in the region.