Israel Never Fought Lebanon

A Guest Post by Dr. Harold Goldmeier

On the anniversary of the Second Lebanon War, I don't know why analysts insist on numbering Israel's wars with Lebanon, or why anybody even suggests Israel had a war with Lebanon? In fact, Israel has not fought a war with Lebanon.

The 1982 war was fought in southern Lebanon against Abu Nidal's forces after the attempted the assassination of Minister Shlomo Argov. Israel surrounded and was ready to annihilate PLO and Syrian fighters, but gave them safe passage out of Beirut at the behest of the Lebanese and international peace keepers. Before that, there was Operation Litani (1978) that inspired the creation of UNIFIL, which was supposed to keep the peace forever. As far back as 1860, Christian soldiers invaded Lebanon after Muslims slaughtered their co-religionists and burned Christian holy sights. Christian forces interceded again in 1958, this time with U.S. armed forces (Operation Blue Bat). Skip to 1993 when Israel attacked Hezbollah for seven days; then to the April War of 1996 for sixteen days when Israel retaliated for over 600 rocket attacks of Israel's northern cities by Hezbollah; and finally to the July War of 2006 commonly known as the Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah. The wars IN Lebanon have always been between Christians and Muslims over religious hatred, Muslims and Muslims vying for political and territorial power and control, and Israel and Hezbollah but not the Lebanese government. Only Hezbollah has fought the official Lebanese government and armed forces, and was behind the assassination of the government's Prime Minister.

Israel recognized it’s lack of preparedness for war with Hezbollah in 2006; how she underestimated Hezbollah’s will, training, might, and arsenal; and only much later did Israel realize the disconnect between her military and political objectives. Israeli government officials were sacked as were many military officers, because of the admittedly chaotic way it fought the war. Israel had a knee-jerk reaction to the cross border kidnappings and murders of her soldiers by terrorists wearing U.N. uniforms who furtively slinked in from Lebanon. Israel has an aversion to casualties and kidnappings of its people but paid dearly for her messy response.

I would like to point out three lessons from the war: first, U.N. Peace keepers (and Lebanese border patrol forces) merely stepped aside when the terrorists of Hezbollah went across the border; so much for international guarantees of Israel’s border security and safety.

Second, Israel limpidly and without hesitation made individuals responsible for the conduct and outcomes of the war suffer the consequences. Who in Hezbollah’s administration suffered for starting the war? Even her leaders were shocked at the extent of Israel’s wrath. Sheik Nasrallha admittedly did not anticipate Israel’s powerful response.

Finally, there were no winners or losers in this war. Israel wrought devastation to southern Lebanon, and the Paris of the Middle East suffered enormous economic loss and human suffering. Israel’s psychic losses, and in life and limb to her soldiers and to civilians was also devastating. It did stop Hezbollah rockets targeting civilian centers from firing into Israel.

One side note. When IDF men and women went north with little preparation and fewer supplies, because of the last minute decision to go to war (they had little more time for this war than the Yom Kippur War, both the result of lousy intelligence and political bickering), civilian men, women, and children, left their homes and lined the roads to the north handing the soldiers, food and water, warm clothing, took letters from them to send home to their mothers and families, and more. It was a sight to behold, and people of the north still talk about it today with pride and some amazement.

Dr. Harold Goldmeier Chicago, Ill. hgoldmeier@aol.com Dr. Goldmeier was a Chicago Public School teacher, a Research and Teaching Fellow at Harvard University earning a Doctorate in Education, and taught as an Assistant Professor at Tufts Medical School. He worked in government for three Governors, the U. S. Surgeon General, and in children and youth advocacy for nearly two decades. He recently sold his business after nearly three decades. He has been married more than forty years with children living in America and Israel, and a son who recently served with the Israel Defense Forces. He has published more than two-dozen articles in professional journals and popular magazines and newspapers.

Dr. Goldmeier is currently a writer, consultant to government agencies, and to small businesses on economic growth and marketing. His most recent articles appeared in The Jewish Press on terrorism, and in Haaretz of Israel and he writes a guest post for LifeinIsrael.blogspot.com., Open.Salon.com., and more.