The Irish contingent will bolster the UN force at time of rising tensions, writes MICHAEL JANSENin Amman
THE DEPLOYMENT in mid-2011 of 440 Irish troops in the United Nations’ peace-keeping force in south Lebanon has both strategic and symbolic dimensions.
The new Irish contingent will bolster the 12,000-strong force at a time when rising tensions within Lebanon could prompt Israel to take military action against the Lebanese Hizbullah movement, ending the ceasefire imposed by the UN Security Council in August 2006 and enforced by the UN Interim Force (Unifil). Irish troops led by officers who know the terrain and understand the politics of the job are likely to be a considerable asset to the force.
Lebanon is tense due to the possible indictment by a special tribunal based in the Netherlands of Hizbullah members for involve- ment in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. Hizbullah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah has angrily rejected the leaked accusation, declared that the movement would not permit any of its members to be arrested, and threatened to withdraw its ministers from the fragile coalition government. He has charged Israel with the crime and accused the tribunal of refusing to investigate this avenue although he provided a file of evidence he claimed implicated Israel.
The UN team investigating the bombing that killed Hariri and 22 others initially held Syria responsible, but after Damascus was cleared, warned that Hizbullah figures could have been involved. Although current Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri, son of the slain politician, has tried to mollify Hizbullah by declaring that the movement as a whole will not be charged, his assurances have not reassured.
Hizbullah’s departure from the government is certain to result in a protracted political crisis. This could be exploited by right-wing Lebanese Christian elements who seek to encourage Israel to attack Hizbullah strongholds again in order to disarm and disband its armed wing, the most powerful military force in the country. Neither the Lebanese army nor opposing militias can tackle Hizbullah. The army would fragment while Hizbullah would trounce any antagonists who dared confront its armed wing.
The last thing Hizbullah wants is another clash. Lebanese people remain traumatised by recollections of street fighting in 2008 between pro-Hizbullah fighters and anti-Hizbullah Sunni elements who were quickly routed.
While Hizbullah does not want to face another Israeli assault rightist Maronite Christians, who have a presence in the south, could provide provocations sought by Israeli hawks eager to wreak vengeance on Hizbullah for compelling Israel to pull out of south Lebanon in 2000 and repelling Israel’s 2006 offensive.
An unidentified senior Israeli officer recently declared that any new Israeli offensive would be far more punitive and destructive than the 2006 campaign during which the south of Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut were devastated and 1,100, mostly civilian, Lebanese were killed. Hizbullah retaliated by rocketing Israel’s northern towns and killing 164 Israelis, mostly troops.
Unifil’s task is to prevent and defuse provocations to pre-empt fresh cross-border conflict.
The return of Irish troops to their old base at Tibnin has a symbolic dimension. During three decades of service with Unifil, the Irish battalion not only helped keep the peace but also cultivated warm relations with Lebanese townsfolk and villagers. In recent months relations have become strained between some Unifil contingents and local people who have accused troops of entering homes without search warrants and of provocative patrolling in full battle dress with arms displayed. Some Lebanese have accused Unifil of acting like an army of occupation rather than peacekeepers. The arrival of Irish troops could have a calming effect and regain the confidence of Lebanese on whom Unifil depends to fulfil its mandate.
Unifil has a difficult and delicate role in the unfolding drama between Hizbullah and Israel. Although Hizbullah has not been accused by the UN of infiltrating the UN area of operations south of the Litani river, Israel has made such allegations and suggested Unifil is not doing enough to curb the movement’s activities in the border area.
Hizbullah does maintain a strong armed presence there. Fighters live in their hometowns and villages. Many Lebanese regard these paramilitaries as an integral part of the local defence force. Hizbullah sees the role of its men as complementing units of the Lebanese army which assert Lebanese sovereignty in the UN zone and operate in tandem with Unifil.