Mideast Crisis
It is interesting to watch UN inefficiency at work in the Middle East. Kofi Annan addressed the Security Council today and gave what seemed to me a grossly one-sided description of the events in Lebanon. We have come to expect this, but it's funny that when he grudgingly conseeds Israel's right to defend itself against rockets being launched into population centers within its territory, the media portrays this as "balanced." I suppose given the UN's history condemning Israel, it is. But frankly, a ceasefire that does not change the status quo does nothing but delay this conflict.

What is Hezbollah's justification for retaining their arms? Interestingly, it is a largely unpopulated patch of desert called Sheba Farms. Israel withdrew from the UN defined border--the so-called blue line--the remained in a border area called Sheba Farms. Hezbollah claims that Sheba Farms belongs to Lebanon and that Israel is illegally occupying it. Interestingly, the UN considers Sheba Farms to part of Syria. The Lebanon's legislative majority leader declared that the only way the Lebanese government will have troops occupy the southern border is if they vacate Sheba Farms:

Hariri also sent a clear message to Israel. He responded to a question on Israel’s demand that UN resolution be enforced, saying, “If Israel wants the UN decision to be implemented, they must withdraw from Shaba Farms, as the decision establishes that foreign armies must leave Lebanon. Regarding Palestinian weapons and Hizbullah (ed. – the resolution requires their disarmament), we discussed the issue in the framework of national talks.” He added that an overall agreement would require the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel.

Interestingly, Walid Jumblatt, leader of Lebanon's opposition Druze party disagrees and has said so publicly in unprecedented fashion:

In an interview with al-Arabiya television, Jumblatt said the Shaba Farms area is not Syrian land and that “we must end this game that is meant to serve different interests."

Jumbaltt, the Druze leader of the Progressive Socialist Party and head of the Lebanese Democratic Forum, said if Syria would adhere to the claim that the Shaba Farms belong to Lebanon, then Lebanon would demand the implementation of U.N. Resolution 452, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese areas.

“But we are tired of this political game that nobody believes in anymore and is designed to preserve the tense atmosphere,” he said.

In the latest development, Israeli troops have been making incursions across the border and faced heavy fighting.

UPDATE: The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Lebanese Defense Minister has stated that should the IDF deploy in Southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army will fight them alongside Hezbollah. I'm sure the Israeli reaction to this is: so what.
- posted by Base10 @ 1:49 PM