Today, Mr. Joseph Aoun stated that Lebanon is still working toward securing a deal with Israel, which would be “potential prelude for peace” (https://tinyurl.com/3m3k8wv6). Indeed, the ambassadors of these two Mediterranean neighbouring countries met in Washington to discuss ahead of the forthcoming US-sponsored direct talk (https://tinyurl.com/34n7axzd).
In the same interview reported above, Mr. Aoun added that Lebanon is determined to disarm the Hezbollah and that was “nonnegotiable”. The Lebanese president urged new force to replace UNIFIL, which mandate is about to end, as a reminder (https://tinyurl.com/3m3k8wv6).
Mr. Aoun’s strong message is filled with hope for a brighter future for Bambi’s birth country. However, how does the Lebanese President envision a peaceful disarmament of a heavily armed Islamist militia, like the Iran-backed Hezbollah?
Despite its many losses over the last two devastating wars, including the ongoing one (without forgetting about the war of July 13, 2006), Hezbollah remains suicidal in its mindset and defiant in its attitude. Not only it started two wars, it is still refusing to give its weapons to the Lebanese authorities.
To what extent can we change in life, as individuals and as groups, when our past (+ current!) behaviour are usually the best predictor of future behaviours? Without an intervention (i.e. the use of force or any form of consequences to our actions), change is unlikely.
Most significantly, without a change coming from within, how can Hezbollah transform itself from a militia to a strictly political party or to anything else less destructive and thus more rewarding to the Lebanese society?
Indeed, sadly young Hezbollah-related Lebanese people are dying and their families are suffering? Don’t they deserve to enjoy non-violent lives? And most importantly, don’t their fellow Lebanese civilians deserve safety and peace? Same for the innocent Israeli civilians across from the Lebanese border?
With these challenges, what’s next for Lebanon (Israel-Hezbollah war) and what’s ahead of the Middle East (USA and the Iranian regime, along with other quieter big actors in the region, including China or others)?
To come back to Lebanon, as Mr. Joseph Aoun cleverly stated, “we cannot jump directly to a peace agreement” (https://tinyurl.com/3m3k8wv6). So, how would we jump from a stubborn warrior mindset to a novice lover of peace?
