Nonviolence Does Not Beget Nonviolence

We are now paying for unilateralism. The fact that we are no longer in Gaza and Southern Lebanon (or, at least, that we haven't been there until recently) is very positive. But our unilateral withdrawals were big mistakes. They empowered terrorist organizations, instead of moderate governments with whom we could have tried to negotiate.

Unilateralism isn't the only mistake that got us into the current quagmire. One mistake was allowing Hezbollah to take over Southern Lebanon and not demanding that the Lebanese army take charge. We shouldn't have put up with Hezbollah outposts right at our borders.

The prisoner swap two years ago, in which Israel released 400 Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners in exchange for one corrupt businessman and the bodies of three dead soldiers was a terrible mistake. It showed Hezbollah that attacking and kidnapping Israeli soldiers from within Israel would not only go unpunished, but would be rewarded.

One may argue that the attack on a tank near the Gaza border is legitimate resistance against the occupation of Gaza. I don't quite agree, but I can understand the logic of such an argument. On the other hand, the attack on the Israeli-Lebanese border is completely and utterly illegitimate. We are no longer in Lebanon, and are not in an active conflict with that country.

So what are we to do now? I really don't know. Bombing the hell out of Lebanon is the gut reaction, but will it do any good? Sitting still won't help either. After all, though violence usually begets violence, when it comes to terrorists, nonviolence does not beget nonviolence. Attacking Hezbollah's outposts while avoiding civilian targets and calling for international action against Lebanon, Syria and Iran if the soldiers are not returned may be the best solution, though international pressure is unlikely to change Sheikh Nassrallah's mind.

Tags: Israel, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Middle East, Terrorism