The Israel-Hezbollah lesson

Unilateralism, as we have seen in recent history, is a blight upon the collective conscience of Mankind at this moment in our development and is a step back from the path we chose to take after the Second World War. The precept of Multilateralism involves fundamentally respecting the UNO as the only proper forum for debate and dialogue and crisis management.

It is all very well to say that this is already the case, but what good is the institution if countries decide to bypass it on a whim, or else sneer at it or even massacre its personnel?

What the UNO needs is the power to translate its Resolutions and decisions into actions. What the UNO needs is the power to issue Orders and not pass Resolutions. Legislators with years of study know far better than I how to do this but one might humbly suggest the constitution of a universal Rapid Reaction Force, controlled by the Security Council with clear rules to engage, for example, when a frontier is violated. With determination and goodwill, it would not be impossible, for example, to impose an immediate and total embargo on any side violating an immediate ceasefire order coupled with a military intervention in the area with massive logistical support. Order, yes. Resolution, no.

Finally, now that we speak about multilateralism, isn’t it time to make the UNSC reflect the status quo in the international community? Why are the first five nuclear powers the only ones with a veto? Based on this argument, what about India and Pakistan for example? Or North Korea? Where are the African representatives? Or the Latin Americans?

Now that the European Union exists as a single geo-political unit, why have permanent places for E.U. member states (UK and France)? Why have any permanent places?

And now we are speaking about a New World Order, how about solving the Middle East crisis once and for all? Namely, mutual recognition and a renunciation of violence from all sides. Immediately. Compliance by Israel of international law, as in respecting the original borders drawn for it in the UNO and a return of all Palestinian properties to the Palestinians, their rightful owners. A scheduled, phased, withdrawal from, and dismantling of, the colonies and immediate payment of a rent by Israel to the Palestinian Authority while one metre of Palestinian soil is occupied by Israelis.

As Israel gradually pulled out, the Palestinian Authority would gradually be able to build. Neither side would lose face. Both would have so much to gain by living side by side as friends. And by respecting the norms of international law.

And how about crowning this glorious moment for humankind by placing the UNSC in the international city of Jerusalem, where all religions, races and creeds are represented and live side-by-side as brothers?

We journalists, too, have the right to our pipe dreams.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY

PRAVDA.Ru