As I jotted down those remarks, I remained hesitant as to publishing them until I saw an issue of the French Le Figaro in which Annan was quoted describing Israeli PM Netanyahu as very intelligent and realistic, a young man in full grasp of international conditions, capable of jumping positive surprises on all of us. Comparing between Annan s attributes and his actions and statements, I find I have not been at all surprised. I have, indeed, been anticipating the outcome. I have been skeptical, from the very beginning, about the man s neutrality in the Arab-Israeli conflict. According to international conventions, peace is usually preceded by a truce and then cease-fire.
Peace according to Israel, however, pursues a different course.
For at the time when Israel adopts UN Security Council Resolution 425 calling for an unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon, Israel insists that the security of its borders should be guaranteed and that pro-Israeli Lahd militias be incorporated within Lebanese Army ranks, a condition which Lebanese PM Rafiq Al Hariri describes as poisoned peace. More dangerous is that the attempt seeks to hold Syria under siege. On the other hand, peace, the Israeli way, would be imposed in the midst of repeated daily bombardment by Israeli forces of villages in occupied south Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel refuses to commit itself to withdrawing from an area of 13.1 per cent of the West bank as prescribed in the US peace plan.