Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Lebanon is the little Arab brother that reluctantly got into its big brothers’ fight with Israel.

Lebanon won its formal independence in 1943 with the termination of the French Mandate established by the League of Nations. It became truly independent with the withdrawal of the French army in 1946. During WWII Lebanon was under the control of the French Vichy regime.

Post WWII Lebanon became quite prosperous as Beirut soon became the banking center for the oil-rich Gulf States including Saudi Arabia. It was considered the Switzerland of the Middle East.

Having created a government model that recognized each of the main ethnic and religious groups making up the population, Lebanon’s constitution assured each group representation within the government scheme. Legislative seats were apportioned among the Shiite and Sunni Muslims, as well as the Christian Arabs. It was the perfect governmental model for a successful and prosperous country at peace internally and with all its neighbors.

Unfortunately, it did not last. When Israel declared its independence in 1948, Lebanon, a member of the Arab League, joined the coalition of Arab states in the war to destroy the nascent Jewish State.

It “drank the Kool-Aide” of antisemitic hate and swallowed the poison pill of anti-Zionism, even though it had no security or other national interest that was threatened by the creation of Israel; not even a border dispute at that time.

There was a glimmer of hope that Lebanon might break away from the influence of the belligerent Arab states when Israel partially occupied southern Lebanon in aid of the Free Christian Army during the Lebanon Civil War.

The Syrian Army had invaded Lebanon and the Shiite Muslims in Lebanon had established Hezbollah, a separate militia funded by Iran. These developments were a direct threat to Israel’s security, which necessitated Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon.

Israel actually entered into a peace treaty with Lebanon in May of 1983, brokered by the United States, wherein the nations would mutually recognize one another. Under the treaty, Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon on a step-by-step basis with concomitant steps of withdrawal by the Syrian army along with a number of other reciprocal obligations to be taken by each side as assurance of creating mutual respect and security.

Unfortunately, the treaty provisions were never implemented. A weak Lebanese government could not at the time compel Syria to withdraw; and a subsequent Lebanese government, under pressure from Syria and Hezbollah, abrogated the treaty.

Ever since, Lebanon has been on a downhill slide leading to its current status as a failed state. Hezbollah is in control of south Lebanon, with a stronger military than the national Lebanese army, and with a political infrastructure better organized than the Lebanese government.

The Gulf States and Saudi Arabia may have an opportunity to step in and reverse Lebanon’s situation and remove or weaken Hezbollah’s influence.

The tragic explosion in August 2020 caused by Hezbollah’s negligent and secretive storage of tons of ammonium nitrate at the port in Beirut which destroyed a significant part of the city’s infrastructure, killed hundreds and wounded thousands made it very clear that Hezbollah is the enemy of the Lebanese people.

Hezbollah’s attempt to block the investigation as to the cause of the blast is an obvious cover up to avoid responsibility and revealed its only purpose for its existence is to confront Israel at the expense of the safety welfare and security of the Lebanese people.

Lebanon can save itself by stabilizing and restoring its democratic government and by building up its armed forces with the assistance of the Gulf States and Western powers. It must strengthen itself and demilitarize Hezbollah, which has dangerously deployed its rocket launches and arsenal among the civilian population.

The Lebanese people can have a great future of prosperity and stability by joining the other Arab states who have embraced the Abraham Accords; and by recognizing the Jewish State.

A long period of peace, economic prosperity and the restoration of vitality in its national life awaits Lebanon if it takes these steps to normalize relations and engages with its waiting and patient neighbor to the south.

If you wish to comment or respond you can reach me at melpearlman322@gmail.com. Please do so in a rational, thoughtful, respectful and civil manner.

Mel Pearlman holds B.S. & M.S. degrees in physics as well as a J.D. degree and initially came to Florida in 1966 to work on the Gemini and Apollo space programs. He has practiced law in Central Florida since 1972. He has served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando; was a charter board member, first vice president and pro-bono legal counsel of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida, as well as holding many other community leadership positions.