Feroze H. Mithiborwala*
BEIRUT, 15 August 2006: Undoubtedly the national Lebanese resistance has emerged victorious in the war against Israeli aggression. We came here in solidarity with the Lebanese people and to witness the “muqawama” or resistance. But we were in fact fortunate to witness the victory of Lebanon over the military might of Israel. The wheels of history are turning and the people of the world have drawn immense hope and inspiration from the courageous Lebanese Resistance led by the Hezbollah and its secretary general Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah. The Lebanese resistance was also supported by the Lebanese Communist Party and they fought shoulder to shoulder with their comrades in the Hezbollah and the Amal and the other patriotic parties and organisations. The unity of the Lebanese people across all religions and classes and the resilience and resistance of the civil society have also been central to the triumph over Israel and the US.
In the jubilation all around, it is imperative that we understand the meaning of UN resolution 1701. What Israel and America suffered militarily, they are trying to salvage diplomatically. It is true that Hezbollah did succeed in driving out Israel from the occupied lands of South Lebanon during a prolonged war between 1982 and 2000. But this time they have defeated the Israeli army in 34 days. Israel lost more than 100
soldiers and 40 Merkava tanks and moreover they did not succeed in capturing a single village or town. The only success for Israel was its slaughter of [an estimated] 1500 innocent civilians and the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure.
soldiers and 40 Merkava tanks and moreover they did not succeed in capturing a single village or town. The only success for Israel was its slaughter of [an estimated] 1500 innocent civilians and the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Then the question lies as to why did the Lebanese resistance agree to 1701 when they in reality had they Israelis in the corner. We spoke to the representatives of the resistance and this is what emerged.
It is true that the resistance accepted 1701 and was in agreement with the Lebanese government but with some reservations that they have commented upon. The first priority of the resistance was to arrive at a truce whereby the Israeli policy of imposing “collective punishment” by widespread targeted killings of civilians would be brought to a halt. And
that indeed has been brought to a halt. The resistance has appealed for the people to return to their homes in South Lebanon and has also announced that all the destroyed homes and infrastructure will be rebuilt. Hasan Nasrallah has called this the “Jihad al-binah” or the Jihad for reconstruction. The faith that the people have on the resistance is so immense that in spite of the presence of Israeli troops in the South, the people are going back to their destroyed homes and farms in their hundreds of thousands.
that indeed has been brought to a halt. The resistance has appealed for the people to return to their homes in South Lebanon and has also announced that all the destroyed homes and infrastructure will be rebuilt. Hasan Nasrallah has called this the “Jihad al-binah” or the Jihad for reconstruction. The faith that the people have on the resistance is so immense that in spite of the presence of Israeli troops in the South, the people are going back to their destroyed homes and farms in their hundreds of thousands.
The other aspect that should be clarified is that 1701 is not a “ceasefire” but an “end to hostilities” and there is a significant difference between the two terms that may not be as apparent. Basically end of hostilities means that Israel will now stop targeting civilian populated areas and that has now given a respite to the people. On the other hand the “ceasefire” is between the resistance and Israel. Which basically means that if a tank or Israeli soldiers intrude further into Lebanese lands, the resistance will fight back. Also the resistance has unambiguously stated that the “state of war” will continue until Israel vacates all occupied Lebanese territory, including the Shebaa farms. So the end of hostility agreement will remove the civilians from immediate danger and then the battle will be between the resistance and Israel.
I asked Ali Fayyad, the political ideologue of the Hezbollah, as to what prevents Israel from again targeting civilian areas under the same old pretext that Hezbollah was firing the rockets from those very areas. Ali Fayyad clearly stated that they valued the lives of civilians more than Israel and this is proved by the number of civilian casualities
suffered by both sides. But he also believed that Israel will not target the civilians again due to international pressure since they have also lost the diplomatic and political battle. In spite of resolution 1701, Israel has announced the siege of Lebanon by land, sea and air. The resistance is studying and analysing this as it clearly violates Article 1 of 1701 and international law as it will clearly harm the Lebanese nation. The agreement also speaks of respecting the “blue line” or the Lebanese-Israeli border. Ali Fayyad stated that “unless there is a total withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, we will carry on the struggle and we will discuss the disarming of the Hezbollah only after we are liberated and Israel refrains from all future wars of aggression.”
suffered by both sides. But he also believed that Israel will not target the civilians again due to international pressure since they have also lost the diplomatic and political battle. In spite of resolution 1701, Israel has announced the siege of Lebanon by land, sea and air. The resistance is studying and analysing this as it clearly violates Article 1 of 1701 and international law as it will clearly harm the Lebanese nation. The agreement also speaks of respecting the “blue line” or the Lebanese-Israeli border. Ali Fayyad stated that “unless there is a total withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, we will carry on the struggle and we will discuss the disarming of the Hezbollah only after we are liberated and Israel refrains from all future wars of aggression.”
The fact of the matter is that it is only the resistance or the muqawama that can face up to the Israeli army. Lebanon lacks a army capable of taking on Israel. Even the President Emile Lahoud stated that “the only force capable of countering the Israeli aggression is the resistance. Our army is only meant for internal policing and is lightly armed. It was
Israel that started this war and they always find an excuse. Unlike some others within the Arab world, I was confident that the resistance would be capable of fighting and defeating the Israeli army. Even though in terms of conventional arms the balance is overwhelmingly in favour of Israel, our guerilla resistance has proved victorious. That is why they want to disarm the Hezbollah, so that Israel can once again reoccupy Lebanon as in 1982.”
Israel that started this war and they always find an excuse. Unlike some others within the Arab world, I was confident that the resistance would be capable of fighting and defeating the Israeli army. Even though in terms of conventional arms the balance is overwhelmingly in favour of Israel, our guerilla resistance has proved victorious. That is why they want to disarm the Hezbollah, so that Israel can once again reoccupy Lebanon as in 1982.”
Even Khalid Hadadh, secretary general of the Lebanese Communist Party, supports the Lebanese resistance and said they they will resist the Israeli aggression in alliance with the Hezbollah. Commenting on Hassan Nasrallah he stated that “he is our Arab Che Guevara with a turban”. Regarding 1701 Hadadh was of the opinion that it is a contradiction and will only lead to a tenuous peace since it rewards the aggressor.
One basic factor of the Lebanese victory has been the unity of the people unlike Afghanistan and Iraq. The left forces and the Hezbollah are doing their utmost to preserve this unity and are in dialogue with all the political parties and social segments. Comrade Khalid also emphatically defended the Hezbollah and called it the party of the downtrodden and the deprived. Hezbollah, he said was “part of every household and is mass socio-political movement for liberation”. Comrade Khalid Hadadh also said that the “defeat of the resistance will spell the end of Lebanon as a multi-religious and modern democratic society and that is why we stand in solidarity with the Hezbollah which is the vanguard of the resistance.”
The victory of the Lebanese people will lead to the consolidation of the anti-imperialist upsurge the world over and will indeed give it a new direction and momentum against the global project of US-Israeli imperialism. We truly stand witness to a historic moment for the people of the world.
* Feroze H. Mithiborwala, Forum Against War and Terror, Mumbai
