Main focus of Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Searching for a consensus on Lebanon

Representatives from 15 countries and three international organisations are gathering today in Rome in a bid to achieve a cease-fire and the deployment of a multinational force in southern Lebanon. European diplomats will have to overcome their numerous differences of opinion if they hope to arrive at a concerted resolution.

The Times - United Kingdom

The centre-right daily urges Europeans to lay aside "the idea of the US as ogre" and their doubts about the motives of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who at times "is presumed to be less an 'honest broker' than an advocate of 'Israeli aggression'". "This is not a mindset that will do anything for those who need to see a durable end to the violence in the Middle East, least of all for Israelis and the Lebanese themselves. The simple fact remains, as is recognised by governments throughout the region, that the United States is the only outside force with a chance of shaping a settlement that will last for any significant period. Dr. Rice is an adept performer who has a strong sense of the politically possible. She is there to explore peace and not to encourage war. Still, shooting the mediator has become a team sport." (26/07/2006)

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Le Temps - Switzerland

Editorialist Richard Werly notes that the timing of this diplomatic initiative was deliberate. "Exactly two weeks separate the outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon and the opening, this Wednesday, of the Rome conference on the situation in the country. The delay is not a matter of happenstance. It was the time needed for Israel's shock treatment to begin to have an impact, according to its supporters. The clamour of humanitarian indignation from the international community and the cargoes of provisions and medical supplies dispatched to Beirut must not make us forget what is most important: the destruction inflicted on the Land of Cedars was endorsed. The diehard defenders of unilateralism in Jerusalem have claimed yet another victory. Hizbullah or no Hizbullah, the lesson is not an auspicious one in a Middle East where Arab countries are constantly being blamed for lacking a law-based state." (26/07/2006)

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La Repubblica - Italy

"OK, let's have a peacekeeping force - but who should be in it ?" asks Bernardo Valli, an Italian journalist and sociologist. He believes the parties concerned will be at pains to agree on the make-up of this multinational force. "To Lebanon ! To Lebanon ! This is the exhortation on everyone's lips as the Rome conference opens today. Indeed, there are many who find the idea of deploying an intervention force between Israel and Hizbullah to be brilliant, noble and courageous. But how many are inclined to send their own soldiers, especially after the deaths of four UN blue helmets in southern Lebanon [four international observers were killed on Wednesday, July 25 in an Israeli air strike] ? And what nationalities is the Jerusalem government prepared to accept in this force ?" (26/07/2006)

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All available articles from » Bernardo Valli

Berlingske - Denmark

The Danish daily is pessimistic about the chances of EU or NATO-led peace forces in southern Lebanon, calling the proposal nothing more than a beautiful illusion. "Beautiful, because trustworthy and impartial troops really could create the conditions for stability and a political solution in the Middle East. But an illusion because no great nation appears willing to provide the necessary contingent of troops. The US has cited many reasons why it won't take part, and unfortunately it looks like London will follow its lead... And German troops may join the force only if Hizbullah approves. So of course Germans won't be allowed to participate, because Hizbullah won't accept any troops that come to Lebanon with a UN mandate to disarm terrorists." (26/07/2006)

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Der Standard - Austria

Even before a final decision has been made on whether to send international peace-keeping forces to Lebanon, German politicians are already discussing whether the Bundeswehr should participate. Birgit Baumann warns of the dangers of acting prematurely. "The facts already make it clear that it would be unwise for Germany to adopt a strong, arrogant role in the Middle East. Germany already has troops in the Balkans and Afghanistan, and is due to send a task force to the Congo Mission in a few days. Both its financial and human resources are already stretched to the limit. Paradoxically, precisely this dilemma could provide the key to whether German troops should be deployed in the Middle East. There is a middle way between painting things black and whitewashing them. If Berlin is asked to participate, it could provide material, know-how and soldiers, but the latter don't necessarily have to be stationed at the front." (26/07/2006)

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Le Monde - France

"The international decision makers have short memories", notes the Lebanese historian Georges Corm. "In proposing the establishment of a multinational force to be deployed in southern Lebanon, the 'international community' seriously risks repeating the same mistakes we saw during the creation of the Multinational Intervention Force (MIF) on François Mitterand's initiative at the time of the Israeli invasion in the summer of 1982." Corm recalls that peacekeeping forces were unable to prevent the massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. Armed forces are altogether unsuitable for securing peace, he writes. "The UN Secretary General, as well as the White House or the Elysee, would be well advised to swot up on their Lebanon file before proposing that the Beirut government embark on a new adventure. ... Moreover, is it not perhaps time to try another approach in the Middle East than the gun barrel politics that was such a hallmark of the colonial 19th century and which we today see rising anew from the ashes in such an outrageous manner ?" (26/07/2006)

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