In western mythology, Lebanon is generally identified with mayhem, warfare, hostage-takers and hijackers. Similarly, the name Hizbullah conjures up images of gun-toting Muslim zealots out to get ‘peaceful’ westerners.
Twenty years after Israel first invaded Lebanon, and sixteen years after their troops smashed their way to the gates of Beirut before being pushed back to a ‘buffer zone’ in the south of the country, they appear to have had enough and want out.
Like the proverbial glimmer of hope in the midst of total despair, and despite the dark cloud of gloom and defeat hovering over the Arab world, South Lebanon has once again emerged as the theatre of some of the most dramatic and promising developments in the Israeli-Arab conflict.
On a recent visit to the southern Lebanese village of Qana one could not find even traces of joy. Instead, anger with the Israeli murderers and their American supporters was palpable on every street corner.
Politicians are quick to condemn Arab terrorism like the 1983 attack that killed 241 U.S. servicemen in Beirut, Lebanon, the Oklahoma City bombing (which turned out not to be from Arab terrorists), the World Trade Center bombing and the Saudi Arabian bombing that killed or injured hundreds of people.
