From MNF To Stronger UNIFIL: Hezbollah Is Still There By Ali Al-Hail

From MNF To Stronger UNIFIL: Hezbollah Is Still There

By Ali Al-Hail

Al-Jazeerah, August 26, 2006

As well as Israel, US, Britain, France, and Italy do have their own reasons to have a military presence in Lebanon. Even if this ‘armed’ presence does come under the UN umbrella, for applying the UN ‘US approved’ Security Council resolution 1701.

Since the resolution is linked to ‘hurting’ Hezbollah, France and the US in particular, see in it as a kind of ‘psychotherapy’. France, US, Britain and Italy, were in the Multi National Force (MNF) in Beirut. The MNF came into existence on September 24, 1982 as a result of the Israeli 1982 invasion into Beirut.

In October 1983, a Hezbollah’s fighter driving a deadly, explosive truck broke with a big smile on his face according to survivals, into the MNF compound. 58 French paratroopers were killed and many more were injured, along with 241 American marines killed, and many more were wounded (Al jazeera TV, Hassan Nassrollah’s life, August 19th, 2006.) This operation by Hezbollah ended the military presence of the MNF. Most notably, it put an end to any possible role US and France could play in the future as regard to Lebanon.

When Israel launched its operation of 1982 with a full cover, and green light from the US and the West with varying degrees it primarily, aimed at dislodging Palestinian resistance fighters from southern Lebanon. As they were threatening its northern border (Historical Palestine). When the Palestinians apparently, miscalculated withdrew to Beirut, the Israelis chased them until they had succeeded to pack them up on ships to Greece and ultimately, to Tunisia. However, to the Israeli unforgotten surprise, they never ever calculated that, they would have made since then still a far much more radical enemy than the Palestinians in the South of Lebanon i.e., Hezbollah.

A group of suicide bombers who achieved a balance of fear (albeit, Israel’s military might), on Israel’s northern edge. After Israel made sure that, there was no single armed Palestinian was left in Lebanon, it had settled in Southern Lebanon, on an excuse to cleanup any potential risk to its contiguous settlements.

Israel nonetheless, committed seemingly, the biggest fatal error in its entire history. A Hezbollah’s fighter driving a dynamited car blew up the Israeli military ruler’s quarter at Sidon, Southern Lebanon virtually, one month after the MNF suicide bombing. More than 150 Israeli soldiers and officers were killed. Many more were either injured or maimed.

Through this second heavy scaled suicide attack, the Hezbollah born resistance organization (thanks to the Israeli invasion) gave Israel a tough lesson in the same way it did to the MNF. Especially, to US and France.

This event made Israel quit Southern Lebanon, and save the lives of its remaining soldiers. On the other hand, Israel realized what type of enemy it has to deal with, and had dearly, regretted creating such a dedicated enemy to defeating its ‘undefeatable reputation’. Israel’s experience with Hezbollah during the two and a half decades, made Palestinians look armatures in Israel’s eyes. As never Palestinians caused such a headache to Israel as Hezbollah has consistently, been doing since 1982.

The MNF countries of 1982, are the same countries that have constantly, been calling for bolstering the peacekeeping force at Southern Lebanon as required by the resolution 1701. More noticeably, the US and France, the two MNF countries that, suffered the highest toll by Hezbollah in the October 1983 suicide trucker, were the original authors of 1701.

Italy, the third country in the 1982 MNF though not hurt directly, joined the bargain by offering to lead the expanded UNIFIL. Somebody, somewhere, once said “Revenge never die”. Is this metaphoric saying applicable to US, Britain, France, and Italy eagerness to return to Lebanon, seeking revenge against Hezbollah and probably, could attempt, providing domestic and regional factors would be on their side to disarm Hezbollah.

Since Israel particularly, during the 34-day war of July 12th with Hezbollah has totally, failed to do the job i.e., to avenge the killing of the US and French MNF soldiers in 1983 by Hezbollah, the MNF states markedly, US and France believe they could do the job. Although the US and France have never touched on this topic, as a motivating factor behind their persistent participation in the UNIFIL, one can presume, as do many the 1983 Hezbollah’s suicide operation against their forces had left a bitter taste in their mouths. Accordingly, the fatal incidence has apparently, been the ‘latent agenda’ since structuring the very initial lines of the 1701 UN security Council resolution by the US and France.

Professor, Dr. Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communication, Twice Fulbright Award Winner, Fulbright Visiting Scholar, and Board Member of AUSACE ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Associations. Can be contacted via: pdaah90@hotmail.com

Earth, a planet hungry for peace

Apartheid Wall


The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04).

The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03).

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