Monday, August 07, 2006

Sheba’a farms

The third Caliph after the Prophet Mohammed in the seventh century A.D. was assassinated. His shirt, sodden with blood, became a symbol for martyrism.

Today the Sheba'a farms, a small Lebanese hamlet, still under Israeli occupation has become the Lebanese symbol for martyrism. The hamlet, although Lebanese, had been administered by Syria, and continues to be regarded by the United Nations as part of Syria, and as such it is not covered by United Nations Resolution 425 which called for the total withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon. So far Syria has refused to establish formal documentation with Lebanon to the satisfaction of the United Nations that the hamlet is in fact Lebanese, and as such, that it is covered by the Resolution referred to above; not that Israel has paid much attention to U.N. Resolutions in the past. The American veto was always there to protect it from sanctions.

On an official visit to Lebanon, the first of its kind since the evacuation of the Syrian army, Walid el Muallem, Syria's Foreign Minister, declared officially that the Sheba's farms belonged to Lebanon. Whether his declaration will be formalised in a manner to satisfy the United Nations is one crucial question, and the other, will Israel withdraw from that disputed hamlet is the second question. If not, Hezbollah combatants will continue to have a valid reason to fight Israel, and Israel will continue to have an alibi to destroy what is left of Lebanon, in the knowledge that Lebanon has no defence against Israel's air strikes.

On the ground, however, Israel has made little progress, at best a few meters, here and there, not withstanding yesterday's fierce combats, which resulted in a record of dead and wounded on both sides. And again we were awakened in the early hours of this morning by the Israeli bombing of the southern outskirts of Beirut.

7 comments:

Yaakov Kirschen said...

The Iranian/Syrian/Hezbollah move to erase an independent Lebanon and destroy the State of Israel is obvious to us all.

Lebanon and Israel are natural allies but I fear that you guys are going to go under, leaving Israel and its Sunni peace partners Egypt and Jordan to face the Persian menace on our own.

Truly sad.
Dry Bones
Israel's Political Comic Strip Since 1973

Anonymous said...

Yaakov Kirschen :

The Iranian/Syrian/Hezbollah move to erase an independent Lebanon and destroy the State of Israel is obvious to us all.

Lebanon and Israel are natural allies but I fear that you guys are going to go under, leaving Israel and its Sunni peace partners Egypt and Jordan to face the Persian menace on our own."

" Lebanon and Israel are natural allies " ?!! Oh pleeease , is that why you always concedered your Northern border should reach Litani River ? Is that why you keep invading Lebanon ? Is that why your ten years old girls write " With Love from Israel " on your shells that kills Lebanese Childre? Even the early Zionist colonialist realized that Arabs are not as dumb as you think they are .So what is your IOF new Slogan ? " We Bomb you because we love you" ?

Anonymous said...

Mikealpha said :

" Officially Syria regardsLebanon as part of Syria.
Syria has never recognized Lebanon as a sovereign country. So when Syria says Shebaa farms is part of Lebanon they are saying that it's part of Syria. They may be lying malicious bastards but they are devious."

Part of Syria or part of Lebanon ? What si clear is that it is NOT part of "Eretz Izrael " , So get teh Isrealis out of Shebba farms.Israel is no better friend to Lebanon that Syria is .

Anonymous said...

Dear Wizard (and All),

what are your views about possible long-term Israel/Lebanon settlement?

The issues like exchange of war prisoners (including war criminals) and
drawing (secure and recognized ;) borders may be settled as part of peace talks.
(Samir Kuntar case looks much like the problem of German prisoners in Soviet Union after WWII.
They were considered enslaved prisoners of war by Germans and war criminals, serving their long terms, by Russians.
They were freed as a quid pro quo for establishing diplomatic relations.)

BTW, as a result of WWII Germans were "cleansed" from Eastern Europe,
while aerial bombardment took a heavy toll on civilians and infrastructure.
Their leader in that war was well known for his masterity in "racist, anti-semetic diatribe".

BTW2, it seems strange the Lebanon, while continuing armed struggle with Israel,
invested so heavily in infrastructure, totally neglecting AA defence.
That looks like a risky policy.

Anonymous said...

Dear Wizard (and All),

what are your views about possible long-term Israel/Lebanon settlement?

The issues like exchange of war prisoners (including war criminals) and
drawing (secure and recognized ;) borders may be settled as part of peace talks.
(Samir Kuntar case looks much like the problem of German prisoners in Soviet Union after WWII.
They were considered enslaved prisoners of war by Germans and war criminals, serving their long terms, by Russians.
They were freed as a quid pro quo for establishing diplomatic relations.)

BTW, as a result of WWII Germans were "cleansed" from Eastern Europe,
while aerial bombardment took a heavy toll on civilians and infrastructure.
Their leader in that war was well known for his masterity in "racist, anti-semetic diatribe".

Anonymous said...

Sorry for doubleposting, faulty dial-up :(

Anonymous said...

Little off-topic but take a look at this: More Islamo-Arab lies and deceptions:

Green Helmet acting as cynical movie director in Qana