Middle East Times


INTERNATIONAL EDITION
	Monday, September 18, 2006

GREEK PROMOTION

Commentary: How to see the common ground while bombs are landing around you
Juliette Schmidt

July 25, 2006

BEIRUT -- As a Canadian, I have so far been spared the stress, anxiety, and heartbreak of living through a violent conflict that is the center of the world's attention. Yet here I find myself, just north of Beirut, sitting in a glassed-in balcony overlooking the American embassy and the Mediterranean - nine of us plus a dog in a three-bedroom apartment.

For the last seven days we have been listening with heavy hearts to explosions throughout a country that is as beautiful as it is resilient, full of friends and stories.

Clearly, Hizbullah crossed a not-so-imaginary line when they kidnapped two Israeli soldiers from the wrong side of Lebanon's southern border and, as Israel retaliated, followed with rocket attacks on increasingly-civilian targets in northern Israel.

Israel has been raining bombs on strategic targets in Lebanon causing great damage to infrastructure throughout the country at the cost of many civilian lives. The political commentators calmly discuss events day and night and consider greater implications and root causes.

Watching these discussions, it is hard to see any room for a resolution that will be satisfactory to both parties. In fact, it is hard to see any opportunity for a resolution at all.

Sitting here in the heat and humidity of a Lebanese summer with the sporadic relief of air conditioning when the electricity comes on, I imagine that those in the bomb shelters in northern Israel must not feel very different.

Empathizing with our neighbors to the south is not so popular up here, but it seems that we have a few things in common at the moment. Not only are there mounting civilian deaths in each country, but individuals are tense and hot, waiting and watching, on both sides of the border.

In addition, my limited experience living in a country being bombarded by another is that having bombs dropped on you doesn't quite generate goodwill for the perpetrator.

As a result, military bombardment is only a short-term distraction from a more complicated problem. It has disastrous side effects not only for those involved, but for anyone with an interest in the Middle East.

These days, this "anyone" is generally a good proportion of the world population - it is East and West alike. This is obvious from the amount of press coverage and international attention that has been given to this situation.

The international community, or more accurately American and European governments and the UN Security Council, are going to play a significant role in the outcome of this conflict.

And here we come to the most pressing question: what is the most effective role for this larger Western contingent?

First of all, the international community needs to call for a ceasefire immediately and empower the Lebanese government to deploy the Lebanese army in the south to deal with the situation internally as they have indicated they are prepared to do.

By refusing to pressure both sides of the conflict to stop, they are indirectly sanctioning the continuing volley of missiles from both parties and perpetuating anger and hatred that will linger long after the explosions stop.

Second, longer term solutions need to be considered. This most recent flare-up is not an isolated problem. In the aftermath of the Israeli incursion, the Lebanese will not only have to rebuild, they will have to continue their national dialogue around this event and all its implications sitting squarely on the table.

Meanwhile, Israelis will still find themselves living between two angry populations. The international community needs to publicly support opportunities for dialogue and facilitate it when necessary.

Third, the human element must be addressed. There are people on each side of the conflict, people who can influence the actions of their governments and local leaders. At the moment there is very limited interaction between Lebanese and Israelis.

It is unreasonable to believe that this will change instantly with the cessation of violence, however, human stories need to get out and in forums where Lebanese and Israelis are able to come together - in online chat rooms, in comment sections of regional newspapers, and in the Diaspora - interaction must be encouraged and enabled.

International media and high-level spokespeople can be powerful vehicles to get diverse stories and opinions on both sides into the spotlight in a non-inflammatory way, beginning a process that can lead to greater communication between groups.

As I sit here in front of a stunning sunset signalling the end of yet another day and the beginning of another night, I listen in the dark for the sound of explosions. We hope this will be the last such night. These neighbors will still have to live beside each other tomorrow.

Juliette Schmidt is a Canadian citizen working in Beirut for Search for Common Ground. She is Assistant Director of the Partners in Humanity program. Acknowledgement to the Common Ground News Service