Getting Ready for Normalization
I hate to sound immodest but I really want to emphasis this point that I have been making about Israel's war on Lebanon as an ironic attempt at normalization and how I think that further evidence is proving this as correct.
There has been a push especially by Kofi Annan to try to link the cease-fire to a "lasting piece". I do believe that if Israel had not OVERPLAYED its hand by completely pulverizing Lebanon, they would have successfully been able to lure the Seniora-Hariri government to peace negotiations. This Lebanese government is completely pliable with the will of the US. This is not because they are American agents or something silly like that. It is because their economic interests lay in the same interests as the Washington Consensus. They also know that the big investments won't pour in until there is stability. Yes, Lebanon will be awash in Gulf money. Apart from Saudi and Kuwait, Qatar just pledged $70 million NOT to Lebanon but to Solidere. (No kidding. It is in as-Safir and an-Nahar.) Yes, that the Gulf will float the Lebanese economy. However, the government is hoping to privatize major services that Saudi just can't pick up because it doesn't have the know-how or will (like the Electric industry).
That said, Israel did overplay its hand and Hizbullah, on the other hand, was far more effective in kicking their ass. Consequently, the government's major rival, Hassan Nasrallah, has been instilled with more credibility and political capital than before. Therefore, the March 14 Coalition has to play their 'Urubah (Arabism) card and reject overtures for peace expressed by Israel, Kofi A, and Jesse Jackson.
Hence, today Jumblatt's lacky Ghazi Aridi (who, despite his leading role in the Syria-Out campaign, was the Justice Minister when Aouni students were beaten by Lebanese and Syrian secret police in 1999 in front of the Ministry) rejected vehemently Olmert's invitation to Lebanon for peace talks--as if he's voice of Palestinian solidarity. He had to have such a vehement response because Walid Bey (as well as Saad Hariri and Elias Atallah and others) have almost endorsed the Israeli invasion, used it as a platform to attack pathetically idiotic Syria, and tried to undermine their rivals Hizbullah.
Just another note, The Jerusalem Post noted how the Israeli government is keeping a close eye on the "Arab initiative" that will come out of the latest round of meetings. They are hoping that Kofi's shuttling around will produce the will to make a peace conference.
THAT is why today Olmert said that the pull out of the Occupied Territories is NOT a priority any longer. Israel is shoring up for a larger, more comprehensive round of negotiations and does not want to surrender its bargaining chips.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154526004080&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
There has been a push especially by Kofi Annan to try to link the cease-fire to a "lasting piece". I do believe that if Israel had not OVERPLAYED its hand by completely pulverizing Lebanon, they would have successfully been able to lure the Seniora-Hariri government to peace negotiations. This Lebanese government is completely pliable with the will of the US. This is not because they are American agents or something silly like that. It is because their economic interests lay in the same interests as the Washington Consensus. They also know that the big investments won't pour in until there is stability. Yes, Lebanon will be awash in Gulf money. Apart from Saudi and Kuwait, Qatar just pledged $70 million NOT to Lebanon but to Solidere. (No kidding. It is in as-Safir and an-Nahar.) Yes, that the Gulf will float the Lebanese economy. However, the government is hoping to privatize major services that Saudi just can't pick up because it doesn't have the know-how or will (like the Electric industry).
That said, Israel did overplay its hand and Hizbullah, on the other hand, was far more effective in kicking their ass. Consequently, the government's major rival, Hassan Nasrallah, has been instilled with more credibility and political capital than before. Therefore, the March 14 Coalition has to play their 'Urubah (Arabism) card and reject overtures for peace expressed by Israel, Kofi A, and Jesse Jackson.
Hence, today Jumblatt's lacky Ghazi Aridi (who, despite his leading role in the Syria-Out campaign, was the Justice Minister when Aouni students were beaten by Lebanese and Syrian secret police in 1999 in front of the Ministry) rejected vehemently Olmert's invitation to Lebanon for peace talks--as if he's voice of Palestinian solidarity. He had to have such a vehement response because Walid Bey (as well as Saad Hariri and Elias Atallah and others) have almost endorsed the Israeli invasion, used it as a platform to attack pathetically idiotic Syria, and tried to undermine their rivals Hizbullah.
Just another note, The Jerusalem Post noted how the Israeli government is keeping a close eye on the "Arab initiative" that will come out of the latest round of meetings. They are hoping that Kofi's shuttling around will produce the will to make a peace conference.
THAT is why today Olmert said that the pull out of the Occupied Territories is NOT a priority any longer. Israel is shoring up for a larger, more comprehensive round of negotiations and does not want to surrender its bargaining chips.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154526004080&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
posted by Stephen Sheehi at 10:41 PM
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