German Chancellor Angela Merkel put the frightening violence in the Middle East into anxious perspective – appealing for restraint from both Israel and its neighbors but also rejecting the notion of moral equivalence between terrorists and their victims.
Noting this latest crisis began after Hezbollah guerrillas mounted a cross-border raid from Lebanon and captured two Israeli soldiers, Merkel said, “I think that one needs to be careful to make a distinction between the root causes and the consequences of something.”
That’s one of the few clear thoughts to emerge amid the maelstrom of violence of the last few weeks. Israel is now waging a two-front war against Hamas terrorists based in Gaza and Hezbollah guerillas who answer to Iran and find safe harbor in Syria and southern Lebanon.
Israel carried out two weeks of air and ground attacks in Gaza in an attempt to force Hamas to free captive Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Then Hezbollah raiders made a raid across the border, killing three Israeli soldiers and capturing two. One needn’t agree with the European Union’s typical criticism that Israel has used “disproportionate” force to wonder if the reprisals by the government of Ehud Ohlmert haven’t inadvertently made things worse. Five Israeli soldiers had died as of Thursday in the effort to free the two latest captives, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.
Israel intensified its attacks against Lebanon on Thursday, imposing a naval blockade, twice hitting Beirut’s airport, and blasting two Lebanese army air bases near Syria. Hezbollah fired more than 100 rockets into Israel. Overall, at least 57 people had died in two days on both sides of the border.
We are encouraged by the restraint shown by Arab governments in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia – who clearly understand that radical regimes in Damascus and Tehran were using the trusted catspaw Hezbollah to further their goals. Iran seeks to distract the West from confronting its nuclear ambitions. Syria seeks to dominate Lebanon and challenge Israel.
President Bush clearly understands Syria’s hostile ambitions. He conceded Israel’s right to defend itself but said his “biggest concern” was that the attacks could weaken the “fragile democracy” led by Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.
Regional leaders who have influence with Syria and Iran on Hamas should try to calm things down lest the violence escalate into a broader conflict. It’s too broad as it is.
Solid diplomacy and cool judgment from Western and Arab nations will be needed to control this crisis in the days ahead.
