All aggressors look for impunity in war. Israel is no exception.

As world leaders meet in the comfortable surroundings of the United Nation’s offices in New York, the Arab League in order to show its solidarity with Lebanon in this crisis is holding a special session in Beirut. Rice has addressed a special press conference to speak about the Middle East Crisis and wants UN to vote quickly on a UN Resolution. All these ‘special’ measures are being taken and the result is Zilch!

Nabih Barri, the Shi’ite parliamentary Speaker has thrashed the UN draft prepared after lengthy deliberation and careful consultations by France and US in these words during a press conference.

“Lebanon, all of Lebanon, rejects any talks or any draft resolution that does not include the seven-point government framework”.

Earlier Fouad Siniora had denounced the UN draft Resolution in similar words. Even Amr Moussa of Arab League has called the resolution ‘unacceptable’.

This is the summary of World’s Diplomatic efforts to find a solution to this raging crisis.

But in realty these are just words… words that have so far been unable to save a single life in this 25 day old crisis.

Estimates show that close to a thousand people have perished in these days. Over three thousands are injured, one-third of them kids. Close to a million are homeless now, constantly threatened by Israeli attacks. 80% of them are the Southern Population. Most of them have no where to go with little or no money. The Lebanese infrastructure has been damaged beyond recognition. Discounting the loss out of tourism industry, one of Lebanon’s primary industries, the infrastructure has been damaged to a safe estimate of 2 billion dollars.

As I type these words, Beirut for the first time has come under attack in broad daylight. Night or early mornings were the prime timings for Israeli air force to bomb the suburbs of Beirut but apparently it has opted for daylight saving method as well. Another underpass has been destroyed. According to the Ministry of Public works, 150 bridges in Lebanon have been ruined. Factually speaking, Northern Lebanon has been cut off from Southern part and the link to Syria barely exists. Lebanon is now literally and geographically cut off from the rest of the world.


These are just numbers…hard and cold numbers. None of these numbers truly reflects the misery of the Lebanese people.

What it does reflect on is the fact that Israel has succeeded in buying the time it wanted through these diplomatic efforts that are really getting nowhere. Through the conflicting statements and preparation of drafts and waiting for council to vote…Israel continues its assault on Lebanese land.

On Saturday, as France and US deliberated over ‘complete cessation of force’ over ‘immediate cessation of force’ Israel continued bombing Lebanon. Syrian Kurds who worked as seasonal farmers lost their lives because the world powers wanted to get the words just right.

The draft that has is come out is more of a ‘token’ gesture rather than a true solution to stop this war. The solution is really simple. If this war is to be solved through talks…stop the war and get Lebanon and Israel on one table. Stop killing people, stop killing a country. Lebanese don’t think that this draft will solve anything. It really is more of a wishful thinking on these world powers’s part.

By the time Arab League meets and UN votes on the resolution, more people will have died, more will be orphaned, more will be homeless. The human cost of this war will rise. But I doubt anyone of these world bodies will hold Israel accountable.

All aggressors look for impunity in war. Israel is no exception. What, however is exceptional about Israel is…that it has found it.