Arab Unity
With the conflict in Lebanon dragging on day by day and the vaunted Israeli army running into such staunch resistance, the Israelis may well have awakened the entire arab world.
Not since 1967 has there been such a strong anticipation and pride in armed conflict with the Israeli state. The fact of the matter is now that a militia, albeit a highly organized, well equipped and well trained militia is giving Israel all it can handle in unfamiliar terrain. Inflicting casualtie numbers higher than the Israeli military has seen in years and drawing a conflict out that Israel Im sure hoped would be over by now. In the process of this the entire Arab world is changing tides.
At the beginning of the conflict Arab governments were opposed to Hezbollahs actions and felt that they had unnecessarily provoked the attacks by kidnapping Israeli soldiers. Governments were quick to speak ot against Hezbollah, Saudia Arabia, Egypt and Jordan all came out against the actions. Now they are changing tunes praising Hezbollah for its actions denouncing the Israeli terror campaign with deaths of over 600 people the overwhelming majority civilian casualties. Israel and the US took the negative response initially as a ticket to pick up the bombardment and continue now the Arab governments are distancing themselves from Washington, speaking out against the bombing and land grabbing campaign of Israel.
Peace Plans are being pulled off the table the comment has been made by the Saudi Royal Court that “If the peace option is rejected due to the Israeli arrogance,” it said, “then only the war option remains, and no one knows the repercussions befalling the region, including wars and conflict that will spare no one, including those whose military power is now tempting them to play with fire." These do not seem like the words of people who wish to sit idly by and watch.
The concern should be that in most eyes Hezbollah has already won a victory over Israel. They have been able to hold back the greatest military in the Middle East. The bombing campaign has not weakened their ability to strike Israel as noted by continued rocket attacks, it has also not taken down their fighting ability or leadership capabilities as noted by the fierce resistance they are offering in face to face conflicts. Not to mention that Hezbollahs ability to withstand the onlsaught of Israel and to continue to lob rockets into Israeli territory has exposed other Arab states with more resources. As Mr. Rabbani of the International Crisis Group said “Public opinion says that if they are getting more on the battlefield than you are at the negotiating table, and you have so many more means at your disposal, then what the hell are you doing?”
In the process of all this Hezbollahs leader Sheik Nasrallah has been turned into a folk hero amongs the people of the Arab states. While governments seek to stem the tide of Islamist ideology it is gaining speed on the ground. People are buying posters of Sheik Nasrallah, paising his actions and praying for his cause. It speaks volumes that Hezbollah has been able to turn even Al Qaeda to their cause as the two islamic groups (shiite and sunnis) seldom agree on anything.
Not since 1967 has there been such a strong anticipation and pride in armed conflict with the Israeli state. The fact of the matter is now that a militia, albeit a highly organized, well equipped and well trained militia is giving Israel all it can handle in unfamiliar terrain. Inflicting casualtie numbers higher than the Israeli military has seen in years and drawing a conflict out that Israel Im sure hoped would be over by now. In the process of this the entire Arab world is changing tides.
At the beginning of the conflict Arab governments were opposed to Hezbollahs actions and felt that they had unnecessarily provoked the attacks by kidnapping Israeli soldiers. Governments were quick to speak ot against Hezbollah, Saudia Arabia, Egypt and Jordan all came out against the actions. Now they are changing tunes praising Hezbollah for its actions denouncing the Israeli terror campaign with deaths of over 600 people the overwhelming majority civilian casualties. Israel and the US took the negative response initially as a ticket to pick up the bombardment and continue now the Arab governments are distancing themselves from Washington, speaking out against the bombing and land grabbing campaign of Israel.
Peace Plans are being pulled off the table the comment has been made by the Saudi Royal Court that “If the peace option is rejected due to the Israeli arrogance,” it said, “then only the war option remains, and no one knows the repercussions befalling the region, including wars and conflict that will spare no one, including those whose military power is now tempting them to play with fire." These do not seem like the words of people who wish to sit idly by and watch.
The concern should be that in most eyes Hezbollah has already won a victory over Israel. They have been able to hold back the greatest military in the Middle East. The bombing campaign has not weakened their ability to strike Israel as noted by continued rocket attacks, it has also not taken down their fighting ability or leadership capabilities as noted by the fierce resistance they are offering in face to face conflicts. Not to mention that Hezbollahs ability to withstand the onlsaught of Israel and to continue to lob rockets into Israeli territory has exposed other Arab states with more resources. As Mr. Rabbani of the International Crisis Group said “Public opinion says that if they are getting more on the battlefield than you are at the negotiating table, and you have so many more means at your disposal, then what the hell are you doing?”
In the process of all this Hezbollahs leader Sheik Nasrallah has been turned into a folk hero amongs the people of the Arab states. While governments seek to stem the tide of Islamist ideology it is gaining speed on the ground. People are buying posters of Sheik Nasrallah, paising his actions and praying for his cause. It speaks volumes that Hezbollah has been able to turn even Al Qaeda to their cause as the two islamic groups (shiite and sunnis) seldom agree on anything.
posted by the meathaus at 9:22 AM
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