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Israel has been in conflict
with its surrounding Arab neighbors since its creation and independence in
1948. While Israel has existed as a sovereign state for fifty eight years,
it has endured many wars and conflicts with Arab governments and
terrorists. While Israel has repulsed many attacks, many surrounding
countries continue to contend that the land is rightfully theirs.
Recently, Israel was
involved in a war with Lebanon and the Hezbollah government (an organized
political Islamist group). The war began on July 11 of this year, when
Hezbollah attacked Israeli army units and captured two Israeli soldiers on
the border of Lebanon and Israel. In response to this unprovoked violation
of its border, the Israeli army arranged a counterattack, and destroyed
several landing strips of Hezbollah facilities in Beirut and Southern
Lebanon. The fighting and rocket attacks between Hezbollah’s militia and
the Israeli army escalated into a major war that lasted thirty four days.
Both governments justified
their actions taken in the war. First of all, Israel was occupying the
Sheba farms, which according to Lebanon, belong to them. The Sheba farms
are a largely unpopulated area made up of fourteen consecutive farms
located in the Golan Heights which border Israel and Syria. Israel has
held that land since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Hezbollah also initiated
their attacks in order to convince Israeli authorities to release certain
Arab prisoners taken by the Israeli army. Hezbollah officials claimed that
the capture of the Israeli soldiers would be used to negotiate the release
of Palestinian, Lebanese and other Arab prisoners from Israel. Finally,
Hezbollah views Israel as an illegitimate country, and therefore believes
it justifiable to destroy Israeli lives and property. Hezbollah has
legitimacy in Lebanon, because it is an important social service
organization and has representation in the Lebanese parliament.
Israel also has reason to
justify their actions. First of all, Hezbollah violated the international
border and initiated the conflict with Israel by kidnapping two Israeli
soldiers and killing eight others in the process. All Israeli attacks
onto Lebanon are considered acts of self-defense. Although Israel had
withdrew unilaterally from Lebanon in 2000 (after an eighteen year
occupation), Hezbollah perceived this withdrawal as weakness. Israel
believes that if they do not respond to such violent acts of terrorism
Hezbollah and other Arab countries will feel emboldened to commit more
acts of terrorism.
In order to
solve this issue, the United Nations must come together with Israel and
Hezbollah and determine a resolution. First of all, the resolution must
involve a peace agreement. Since both parties cannot receive everything
they want, they must negotiate a compromise. I believe that Israel should
return the Sheba farms and two prisoners desired from Hezbollah, in return
for the two kidnapped soldiers taken on July 11. In order to ensure peace,
the United Nations should send an enlistment of peace-keeping troops to
the border of Lebanon and Israel. Hezbollah was the aggressor in the war,
and therefore, in hopes of preventing future conflict, Hezbollah and its
militia should be completely disarmed. Finally, it is obvious that the
Lebanese government allowed Hezbollah to build a militia and acquire
weapons. Therefore, after the disarming, the U.N. should ensure that
Hezbollah continues to be monitored by the Lebanese government.
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