Weekly Blog - 6 October 2024 - Lebanon

How can the Middle East chart a path back to peace after this week’s invasion of Lebanon?

Invasion of Lebanon

The world is reeling from the dramatic escalation in the conflict in the Middle East this week when Israel began a ground invasion of southern Lebanon on Monday 30 September. This was immediately followed by a major rocket attack on Israel from Iran the following day. Clashes and rocket fire across the border between the Israeli army and the Shia Islamic militant group Hezbollah intensified dramatically a year ago when Israel invaded Gaza in response to a brutal attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023. Last week dozens were killed and thousands injured in Lebanon when an Israeli air strike killed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader, and thousands of pagers and walkie talkies belonging to Hezbollah members exploded. Over 1,000 people have been killed already in the last couple of weeks in southern Lebanon as air and missile strikes have increased and now with the ground invasion.

These add to the tragic and continuing death toll in Gaza where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in a brutal conflict widely criticised by the international community, and the 1,200 Israeli citizens killed by Hamas fighters in their incursion last year. Iran also continues to be deeply involved, funding both Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and Hamas fighters in Gaza (as well as Houthi Shia rebels in Yemen). As ever, it is ordinary people caught up in this brutal conflict who suffer the most. Sky News reports the story of one family. Nine-year-old Mariam was sitting with her mother, brothers and sisters in their home in the border village of Alma al Chaab when their house was hit by a rocket. “Everything just fell on me” she says. She was badly wounded with a broken arm and several other injuries. “It's a big shock. Nothing like this has ever happened to us before” her brother says.^[1]

How should the world respond?

In the face of such tragic and spiralling escalation of violence in Gaza, Lebanon and across the Middle East how should the world respond? As Christians we should always be seeking negotiation, compromise, reconciliation and a permanent and fair peace in all conflicts, no matter how impossible or far off that might sometimes seem. As Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt 5: 9). The Arise Manifesto (Arise’s Biblical, researched and holistic vision for a better world) contains detailed analysis of what the Bible says and what all the lessons from around the world would teach us about the best way to bring about reconciliation and peace in conflicts (Arise Manifesto, pg 89 – 90, 129 – 136). The first step of course in this terrible conflict is for intense diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire on all sides, rapidly followed by a return to the negotiation table by all sides. This must be kept up and intensified no matter how intransigent and disinterested in peaceful diplomatic solutions the different factions may be.

How can the international community create pressure for peace?

The international community should apply sustained and intense diplomatic pressure. They should also loudly and publicly condemn clear instances of human rights abuses and violence. Targeted economic sanctions in response to specific egregious examples of injustice can be applied, as well as travel bans for leaders accused of particular injustices. Governments can seize the overseas assets of those who are responsible for violence and human rights abuses. Above all, they should support moderates, activists and peacebuilders within the different communities in the region, in whatever ways they request (Arise Manifesto, pg 119 – 124). Of course, such methods of providing external pressure to create the right internal conditions for peace will take time for their cumulative pressure to be felt. We are sadly a long way from a reconciled and peaceful Israel, Lebanon and Palestine. But there is no end to the cycle of violence that has lasted more than 75 years since the declaration of the modern state of Israel if retaliation is the only response. Generation after generation on all sides will continue to suffer. So what might be some of the elements of a ceasefire and ultimately a peace plan for the region? Instead of further violence Arise suggests …

Israel should offer

An immediate end to all bombing and military ground incursions into Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank.
To immediately end the occupation and all claim on the Palestinian territories which Israel took in the 6 Day War of 1967, and which have never been recognised since then by the UN and the international community. This would mean the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza and the West Bank.
To withdraw all Israeli settlements from the West Bank.
Recognition of the West Bank and Gaza as an independent Palestinian nation (a crucial element in the famous two states solution).
Normalisation of border relations between Lebanon, Israel and the new Palestinian nation. The usual border restrictions between nations should be in place to manage the flow of people and goods across the borders (visas, permits etc.). This should include security restrictions to keep all sides safe from incursions by others. But there should be no blanket closing of borders or creating unfair and impossible barriers to the flow of goods and people.
Significant aid and support from Israel and the international community to rebuild southern Lebanon and help get the new Palestinian nation established and thriving as a prosperous and peaceful neighbour.
Joint reconciliation programmes between Iran, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine to help normalise, heal and reconcile relationships.

Iran, Hezbollah and Palestine should offer

An immediate end to all rocket firing, incursions, terrorist activity, funding of extremist groups and other violence addressed towards Israel.
Where such violence continues by extremist groups, the authorities and security forces in Iran, Lebanon and Palestine should work in coordination and partnership with those in Israel to bring extremists to justice.
Recognition of Israel as a state and its right to exist in its pre-1967 borders.

Peace talks – the only way

If those who want peace on all sides could reach out and offer these things, contingent on the other side reciprocating, perhaps a path back towards a fair and lasting peace can be found. Of course the final details for any negotiated peace are for Israeli, Palestinian, Iranian, Hezbollah and Lebanese negotiators to decide, not anyone from outside the region. There must be renewed efforts by all sides to reach out for peace and begin to turn the views of the majority on all sides towards peace, isolating the extremists. We must not give up hope. As impossible and as far off as it might seem at the moment, all of the lessons of the Bible and recent history would indicate that even in these darkest of days it is the patient, prayerful and persistent attempts to reach out, find common ground, and work towards peace, that ultimately holds the only possible way to end this tragic conflict. It is the right thing to do and it is the only option.

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[1] Doctors in Lebanon fear for their lives as bombs rain down, Sky, (Weds 2 Oct 2024), https://news.sky.com/story/doctors-in-lebanon-fear-for-their-lives-as-bombs-rain-down-13226852