On the war in Lebanon

The Jordanian political expert Oraib Rantawi has called the war in Lebanon a „turning point“ for the Middle East comparable with the significance of the attacks of 11^th September 2001 for the USA [1]:

“Everything will change. […] I think, we are standing at the beginning of a new aera. And this aera will be characterized by the Islamists.”

Rantawi himself, known as a moderate journalist who was engaged for reforms in the Arab world and for the peace process with Israel, now has “no problem anymore to go hand in hand with the Islamists on the streets. Even to cooperate with them. For me this is an option today – no, it is the option that we have today.”

Because of the brutal attacks against civilians in Lebanon, Rantawi does not believe in the possibility of peace with Israel anymore:
“These aggressions, these acts of pure barbarism, made it impossible for the Arabs, still to regard Israel as something as a partner in a peace process.”

Rantawi seems to express a wide-spread opinion in the Arab world. This radicalisation should make the people in the western countries think harder about its causes.

[1] Interview in die tageszeitung, 19th/20th August 2006, p. 12. Quotes are my translations.

Kofi Annan on the late passing of UN resolution 1701

"But I would be remiss if I did not tell you how profoundly disappointed I am that the Council did not reach this point much, much earlier. And I am convinced that my disappointment and sense of frustration are shared by hundreds of millions of people around the world. For weeks now, I and many others have been calling repeatedly for an immediate cessation of hostilities, for the sake of the civilian population on both sides who have suffered such terrible, unnecessary pain and loss. All members of this Council must be aware that its inability to act sooner has badly shaken the world’s faith in its authority and integrity."

(Kofi Annan on the fact that it took the United Nations` Security Council nearly one month to pass a resolution on the war in Lebanon, 11 August 2006)

Peace for Lebanon!