Lebanon's present predicament is an outcome of a well- scripted conspiracy. A few months ago, the Western world pressured the exit of Syria from Lebanon. Ariri's assassi-nation was quickly linked to Syria. Anti-Syrian protest erupted in the streets of Lebanon. Syria left and Israel has now moved in.

Nobody cared about Syria's stabilising role in Lebanon. Israel's destruction and mass murder in Lebanon now amply demonstrates that the enemy is neither Syria nor Hezbollah. We were told that the crisis started as a result of Hezbollah's killing and abduction of two Israeli soldiers. But can that justify Israel's action in Lebanon? Is Israel not guilty of commando-style raids into neighbouring countries? With America behind it, Israel has the international immunity to at will infringe on the territorial integrity of other nations.

Western democracies that claim high moral standard can't dare Israel's lawlessness. It had severally bombed Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine all in the name of self-defence. Hezbollah threatened that the soldiers can only be released through prisoner swap. Some of these prisoners had spent over 25years in Israeli prisons. Hezbollah's hard position gave Israel the excuse to draw up a strategy to deal a fatal blow on the organisation and destroy the nation of Lebanon. The entire gains of its reconstruction after years of civil war are being downgraded. Israel's air strike/shelling has resulted in the destruction of airports, roads, hospitals, industries and residential areas. No part of Lebanon is being spared. Even fleeing Lebanese are getting bombed. Lebanon lost over 380 people in 14 days.

Over half a million Lebanese have become internally displaced. Prime Minister Siniora described his country as being torn into shreds. The UN in its usual characteristic manner is crying about a looming humanitarian crisis. The Israeli leadership is claiming that it is targeting Hezbollah because it is a terrorist organisation. Far from that, Hezbollah was a liberation force that fought and expelled Israel from Southern Lebanon after 22 years of illegal occupation. It has played a nationalist role than the so-called Lebanese army, which was then fractured along ethnic/religious lines. The excesses of Zionism could only be confronted by ideologically-focused organisations like Hezbollah, since nation-states like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the rest have failed to liberate Arab land from the Zionists. Hezbollah is an idea; a movement and Israel may not be capable of crushing it.

What is Israel's mission in Lebanon? In spite of Israel's show of force and occupation of Lebanon for 22years, Lebanon has not fallen in line. Israel would want a Lebanon like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia too eager to ensure its existence and be apathetic to Palestinian plight, which they often reduce to humanitarian issue. These axes of subservience are peace partners since they have compromised the just resolution of the Middle East crisis. When the Saudis foreign Minister rushed to Washington for an end to the bombings, he was rebuffed. The New World Order means that Lebanon should join the axis of subservience in the region. For being a recalcitrant nation and tolerating Hezbollah, Lebanon must be punished and made to pay dearly. The excessive use of firepower is meant to confirm that it is vulnerable. Its future and even existence is a matter of some crazy decisions from Tel Aviv. It is meant to instil fear and subservience to Israel.

The Israeli leadership would never allow any Arab country in the region to be a power, be it militarily or economically. UN resolution 1559 ordered the disarmament of militia groups in Lebanon, but how does this fit into the resolution of the Middle East crisis? Hezbollah sees itself as the liberator of Arab land from Israeli occupation. Groups like Hezbollah that see Zionism as an expansionist ideology and have sympathy for the Palestinian cause would hardl y subject themselves to be disarmed without holistic plans for the region. Israel says Hezbollah is a cancer in the region. It fought Israel for years and forced its withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.

Israel sees the organisation as its principal enemy and obstacle to their regional agenda. More so, its links with Iran and Syria are quite worrisome. Though a non-state actor, Hezbollah has given Israel sleepless nights. That is why when the opportunity knocked, Israel is going for the jugular. It is also convenient to tie it to America's war on terrorism. Israel claimed that its campaign against Hezbollah had the blessings of some Arab countries. The Iranian connection to Hezbollah has worried most Arab nations. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt that backed America in its war against terror will be glad to see Hezbollah go. The Sunni monarchies in the Middle East will welcome the dismantling of Hezbollah. So when Israel said it had the blessings of some Arab nations in its Lebanon mission, it goes to expose the hypocrisy of these conservative Arab regimes.

Surprisingly, in the Arab streets, Hezbollah's popularity has soared. The fact that Israel has simultaneously taken up both HAMAS and Hezbollah means that the military option is preferred to sanctions and diplomacy in Washington. Hezbollah and HAMAS are antithetical to America's strategic interest. Not minding their liberating missions, they were brought within the parameter of Bush's war on terror. That is why despite the mounting casualties and destruction, America is telling the world to forget about cease-fire. To add credence to their inhumanity, America is supplying Israel with new bombs to teach these Muslim terrorists a lesson. Bush has already sent many Arabs to their graves. Reports have it that over 6000 Iraqis died in the months of May and June. Israel's indiscriminate war against Lebanon is to achieve two things: one, to degrade Lebanon so that in an event of attack against Ira n by the West, both Iraq and Lebanon can be used as a corridor to reach the enemy and possibly serve as bases. Iran's belligerence over its nuclear programme may ultimately lead to military confrontation with the West.

Secondly, Israel is deliberately destroying Lebanon and exhibiting its ruthless capability so that in the future, its interest will be taken seriously. The international community has failed to positively respond to the atrocities being committed by Israel in the region. It is insufficient to call for the deployment of international peace-keeping force to protect Israel from Hezbollah. Such forces must be extended to the Palestinians who are regularly being bashed by Israel. The actions of Israel as Javier Solana said are counterproductive to its interest in the region. Its action will never make it win hearts and minds. It will remain a pariah nation. The international community must force Israel to pay reparation for the reconstruction of Lebanon. In spite o f the unwarranted hardship the Israelis are subjecting the Lebanese to, there are spontaneous rallies in support of Hezbollah and calls for jihad against Israel in the region. Israel's reckless actions in Lebanon and Gaza cannot be justified. It can't secure its so-called security by military force.

As Kofi Annan rightly said, political and not military action will ultimately resolve the problem. It must end the occupation of Arab land as the first step towards peace. The war Israel is right now imposing on Lebanon, Gaza and its militaristic posturing has forced me to concede that Israel is its own gravedigger. I can't see the Arabs embracing their tormentor.