Finally, the UN Security Council has voted unanimously on a cease-fire resolution that would stop the violence and destruction in Lebanon. Under the terms of the agreement, the UN would deploy 15,000 international troops that would be authorized to use force to keep the peace, and would be deployed simultaneously with Israel’s withdrawal so as to not create a power vacuum. Israel and Lebanon both seem amenable to the resolution.
It’s about time.
It’s been interesting to see cast of characters and the changing viewpoints during the flurry of negotiation. Most notably, the US did a complete about-face from maintaining a stony silence about the violence to proactively negotiating the terms of the agreement. It apparently lost patience with Israel’s inability to put a quick end to Hezbollah. Israel’s willingness to go along is also interesting but not surprising–it obviously failed to “de-fang” Hezbollah, realized it probably could not do so, and needed a way to save face. Finally it has to be noted that France was the lead broker of the UN resolution, not the US. It’s sad that America has abrogated its duty as honest broker for the Middle East and left that to a country with no background, experience, or interest in the region.
Assuming the terms are honored by all sides, we will soon know the toll of human lives and infrastructure that has been taken against Lebanon. Hopefully Israel will join the rest of the world in paying for the reconstruction.
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