Farewell to Lebanon-Hopes and Fears

In his election campaign for Prime Ministership, which was running neck and neck with Netanyahu's only a year ago, Ehud Barak promised he would pull the IDF out of Lebanon within a year of taking office. Many thought it was a gimmick; others disputed the wisdom of what might well be a unilateral withdrawal (without an agreement with Lebanon or possibly peace with Syria); many more cheered - and voted for him. One year later, with stalled attempts to negotiate with the Syrians, and after shock attacks on Lebanese targets, Barak has pre-empted the pundits with an early withdrawal. For whatever reason the cynics or peaceniks choose, the deed is done.

It is a deed which had to be done: there is a national consensus on this, accompanied by happiness and relief that, after so very many tragic losses, our soldiers are returning home from Lebanon - a country swept by waves of violence, bathed in factionalism and kept alight by Syrian and Iranian interests. As the regular and reserve soldiers wept for joy and waved to family on the cameras, however, we nevertheless found no consensus within Israel about how it was done. We feel, too, that we have entered another phase of the unknown, and our sentiments of joy are overshadowed by many other factors.

Reactions

We asked for the immediate reactions of some people here who represent most of the political spectrum. You can use them to begin a discussion, continuing with the assessment of the factors brought below.

Which of these is closest to your own immediate reaction?
Which of these is furthest?
Which of these is most personal?
Which is most far-sighted?
How does this situation impact on you?
What do you expect to happen now?

They answered:

I am so relieved that my 15 year old son won't have to serve in Lebanon when the time comes!
Withdrawal is fine, but not without an agreement; now the mess leaves us with our backs to the wall.
A great feeling of relief but worried about the messy situation - hope it will settle down...
Thank G-d for that!
The right act, wrong timing.
I hope the solution isn't going to be worse than the problem!
What will happen next? We have neighbors we can't trust.
It's crazy, and there's going to be another war and our boys will have to go and fight.
So far, so good...

Factors

The factors in the table below reflect all kinds of articles and reports collected in our links.

See below how to create the activity.

Factors

Agree? Follows? Your suggestions

The IDF's 18 years in Lebanon are over;
The withdrawal had no casualties, despite being made under fire;
The withdrawal was disorderly, (unilateral,) rushed and traumatic;
Israel's new border defenses were not ready;
Israel didn't keep a promise of support to the South Lebanese Army;
Israel didn't hand over to the SLA - they folded;
Israel didn't hand over to UNIFIL, because the withdrawal was too early;
Israel didn't ensure the SLA's safety or that of their families and villages;
Israel accepted unconditionally all the refugees from southern Lebanon;
Israel was unprepared logistically to receive Lebanese Christian refugees;
Israel left massive army stores at the border and allowed Hizbullah to pillage them;
Israel allowed Hizbullah to pillage the refugees' homes and packed cars by the border;
The US and the UN supported Israel's withdrawal to the International border as fulfilment of UN SR #425;
The US and France warned Syria, Lebanon, that they are responsible for peace;
Israel made it clear that Syria, Lebanon, are responsible for peace, or Israel can and will retaliate;
Syria has not complied with #425 by removing its own forces from sovereign Lebanese soil;
Israel's North is threatened by Hizbullah supporters and militia, who moved into southern Lebanese villages;
Israel's northern towns and settlements are troubled and frightened;
The Israeli government has promised help but so far only given promises.
Procedure

1. Create a chart with 3 extra columns and insert these factors as they relate to Israel:

Column B
Do you agree? Yes/No Column C
Does this item contradict anything else in the list? What? Column D
What should be done?

Each pair of participants receives one copy of the chart to discuss and fill in, using recommended reading below (supply extra charts for them to keep for later).

2. After working down the charts, pin up 3 sheets of coloured poster paper on the wall and have the group work as follows, using coloured markers:

Poster 1: Overall, did Israel do the right thing? 2 columns, Yes/No - have people mark a "vote" as they feel.
Poster 2: What is the main benefit?
Poster 3: What is the main worry for Israel?

3. Bring the overall "vote" on Israel's actions to the group, in the light of its benefits and main disadvantages (take a top 3 for each).

Do you think Israel had other realistic options? Discuss.

4. How do participants see this impacting on Israel's priorities now?
5. How is Israel best to secure peaceful conditions for life in the North?
6. How do participants see the withdrawal impacting on the options for peace negotiations with Syria?
7. Yossi Sarid has rented a cottage in Moshav Margaliot to live there out of solidarity with the northern residents.

Is he making a point or is this a gimmick?

8. What can Israelis do to express their solidarity?
Call to Action:

What can and do you want to do to express your solidarity with Israel's northern residents?
* Read the articles and use the pictures [enlarged] to create an exhibition with bylines to present your position.
* Email the Kiryat Shmona Online website <editor@readme.co.il>
* Tour Israel's North with the maps and sites below.
* Interview people in your school or parents who have been to Israel's North about the situtation, using the above items and post the results on your school website.
* Come visit Israel this summer.