Conflict Israel and Palestine

By T.D. Tourney ©
My Opinion on the Israeli Conflict "The Totality of the Circumstances"

To understand the issues we would have to discuss the "Totality of the Circumstances" in a fair and impartial platform. The ongoing resistance and constant terrorist tactics that we see today coming from the Gaza and West Bank are just a continuation of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). 1970 sparked the "Black September" attempted Coup d'etat and assassination attempt of King Hussein of Jordan. King Hussein responded by expelling the PLO from his nation.
Essentially pushing the PLO like corralled cattle between the borders of Israel and Jordan into the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon.
By 1975 the Palestinian ex patriots expelled from Jordan were numbered to be 300,000. In 1981 the Lebanese civil war and uprising erupted fostered by continued over the border attacks from PLO militants into Northern Israel.
This toppled by assassination attempts on Israeli Ambassadors forced the invasion and occupation of southern Lebanon by Israeli troops. Lebanon's diplomatic government was being systematically dissected by two groups emerging from this civil war.
The PLO and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard where in the forefront, supported by radical right wing fundamentalist Islamic ideology.
The birth of these groups would eventually splinter into the Hamas (Palestinian arm of the Muslim brotherhood), and the Hezbollah, created and inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini(Islamic Revolutionary Guard).
Looking at the history of these two groups shows the direct influential involvement supporting the destruction of Israel solely by religious domination with fanatical and brutal means. It is comman knowledge that Hamas and Hezbollah were and presently funded solely by religious political influence existing in Iran, Syria and even Egypt. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard focused it's attentions towards Bachir Gemayel, president elect in Lebanon .
Gemayel met with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September 1982 and agreed once Gemayel assumed office that he would establish positive diplomatic relations between the two countries. Thirteen days later Gemayel was assassinated sparking the Sabra and Shatila massacres by Lebanese Christian Militiamen against the Palestinians.
The assassination can only be viewed as a brilliant tactical decision by the PLO, Islamic Revolutionary Guard and splinter groups to further dissect solidarity among the Lebanese people. In direct response to the assassination President Ronald Reagan ordered US Peacekeepers into the region assisted by French paratroopers, British, and Italian military support.
The Multi-National Peacekeeping force assigned to Lebanon were to assist the newly formed and elected government of President Amine Gemayel (brother to Bachir Gemayel). In 1983 during the heat of the civil war the Islamic Revolutionary Guard carried out a coordinated two pronged attack.
The Marine barracks bombing killed 241 service members mostly made up primarily of Marines, Navy, and Army personnel. The second bombing targeted the French paratroopers killing an additional 58 French paratroopers. In response
The US and France carried out bombing raids into the Beqaa valley targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Positions but these have generally been viewed as responsive to the missile launches against multi national aircraft operating in the region. A planned air assault into the Beqaa Valley was coordinated in response to the suicide bombings of the Marine and French Barracks but eventually the retaliatory operation was squashed and congressional pressures in the United States ultimately dissolved any hope or attempts to avenge the deaths of the peacekeepers.
This in my opinion was the catalyst to the ongoing problems between the Israeli-Palestinian Issue. The United States should have committed 70,000 troops into the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon along with a uni-lateral contingent to eliminate the militants that were slowly placing a strangle hold on the Lebanese people and the newly formed democratic government. In regards to the Israeli invasion and occupation of southern only fueled the factions attempting to overpower and control the government in Lebanon.
Although I will say that without a decisive decision by world leaders Israel in many ways were never offered alternatives. Meanwhile our withdrawal only bolstered popularity and recruitment for the groups of the PLO and splinter regimes that would eventually form into Hamas and Hezbollah. I actually do not agree with Nabih Berri who was the leader of the Amal Militia who claimed the Multi National Forces created a "climate of racism" within the region.
That climate of racism was created by the political and side stepping religious factions targeting the downfall of the Lebanese government. Although the passive-aggressive posture and lack of total commitment to the Lebanese people only instilled a sense of "western-influence" and false promises as we turned our backs and walked away from the commitments we promised to the them.
The flood gates were now open for all these factions to topple any type of democracy in Lebanon and establish a well strengthened foothold and platform. Lebanon would now be considered a terrorist haven; further escalating there attacks towards the ultimate goal; the total destruction of the established nation of Israel. Another avenue of opinion we could explore is the failed embarrassment of President Jimmy Carter's foreign policy and political bargaining treaty's. Turning a blind eye to the overwhelming requests of support by the Lebanese government as the Carter administration tried to juggle the oil and gas hikes in the United States bolstered by the fear of the 4 % decrease in oil production from Iran and the repatriation of Ayatollah Khomeini.
President Carter's foreign diplomacy was weak as he took a passive approach to the intelligence provided to him withing this region. Brokered deals only caused a debacle and confused nations and leaders involved.
The "Middle East Cold War" is alive and well. The United States focusing on Israel and supporting the establishment of Israel as a sovereign nation. The United States bartering back door deals in direct support of Saddam Hussein in the Iraq-Iran War.
The USSR supporting Syria and Iran by providing huge weapons deals as well, with back door deals to further strengthen the anti Israeli terrorist groups. I really look at this as the "Middle East chess tournament".
The underhanded political plagiarism by many countries could have very well been avoided. The sense of sneaky handed deals all to avoid the real issues. The 1967 6 day War, the 1973 "Yom Kippur" War all were direct attacks to the nation of Israel.
With the outcome of both these historical attacks on Israel, the defeated nations acknowledged and negotiated terms for cease fire agreements in both campaigns. Factions which do not recognize Israel as a sovereign nation need only to confer with Syria, Egypt and Jordan. Jordan and Egypt have established solid partnerships as well as free trade and import export agreements with Israel to date. Syria is close to solidifying a relationship as well.
The United States of America and the Russian Federation both need to admit direct involvement both spilling Kerosene on a campfire already ablaze. Making spontaneous statements of condemnation as if both countries were talking to there ill mannered step-children.
No country discussed is absolved from blame in this region. Lebanon,Jordan, Syria, Iran, Egypt and even Israel need to realize the catastrophic failure if this issue cannot be resolved.
Syria, Egypt and Lebanon need to stop supporting backdoor religious fanatical faction groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Without worldwide unification and a decisive plan by the countries that all have satin lined pockets, we will continue placing huge wedges between the peace table. Instead lasting solutions and agreements need to be fostered.
When are we as humans going to step up and realize enough is enough!
T.D. Tourney ©
image http://www.flickr.com/photos/zoriah/2968930768/