Last week, Lebanon was in relatively good shape. Its armed forces were supporting the steady advancement of state authority. Preparations for legislative elections were in full swing. Long-awaited reform was underway. A World Bank loan was poised to kick-start reconstruction. And, warming relations between Lebanon and Syria were opening new areas for bilateral cooperation.
Of course, things were not perfect. Far from it. Persistent air strikes, political in-fighting and institutional stagnation remained a daily Lebanese reality. But, there was progress. Progress which has now come to a screeching halt.
In the early hours of Monday morning, the country was dragged back into a state of turmoil and violence. People who had only just returned to their homes now find themselves, again, without a roof over their heads. Public sentiment ranges from disbelief and dismay to outrage. Meanwhile, rhetoric is hardening, evacuation orders are spreading and direct hits are on the rise.
At the same time, it is clear that ongoing military actions will not deliver a lasting win to anyone. Rather, they will only deepen instability and inflict further suffering. Past conflicts have shown this to be true. Yet, the flurry of calls to immediately stop hostilities, as expected, has not yielded results, muffled by maximalist rhetoric and continued bombardments. All at the expense of those who simply want to live and enjoy life.
To date, United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 has been the internationally recognized formula to ending the cycles of violence which have plagued Lebanese and Israeli citizens for decades. It was agreed in 2006, but was only partially implemented, and was then left on the shelf. Mothballed by a mutual lack of trust.
As bad as things are today, they are set to get even worse. Too many people stand to suffer. Hostilities must end. And, talks between Lebanon and Israel can be the game changer needed to save future generations from going, time and again, through the same nightmare. Dialogue would be a critical step to making resolution 1701, at last, a living reality on both sides of the Blue Line. This is a reality which must be pursued with urgency.
The choice is clear: stay on a path of death and destruction, or commit to restraint, engagement and dialogue. Long-lasting solutions are not unattainable, but within reach.
