Monday, August 14, 2006

Is the ceasefire in Lebanon a victory for Hezbollah?

Everyone from the BBC to the Israelis seem to accept that the ceasefire taking place in Lebanon is a victory for Hezbollah. But not necessarily. By dragging out the fighting for weeks, Israel has ended up with a ceasefire that is far more on its terms. Southern Lebanon must now be free of all militias, which will make it harder for Hezbollah to launch its rockets against Israel. It may well put the spolight on Hezbollah. After all, if Lebanon is supposed to be a peaceful democratic state (at least that is how much of the world's media has painted it), why does Hezbollah need to operate a state within a state?