American Lebanese Congress chairman presses for Iraeli pullout
The national chairman of the American Lebanese Congress says war between Israel and Syria is possible unless rising tensions in the Middle East are defused by an Israeli pullout from the Palestinian territory in the West Bank. Malek A. Francis, whose peace-promoting organization is headquartered in Uniontown and Pittsburgh, said Wednesday that the recent cycle of violence that began with Palestinian suicide bombers and escalated into Israeli army incursions into Palestinian areas presents a no-win situation.
“Unfortunately, when it comes to Israel and the Palestinians, neither side can win the war. But if they both work together, they could win the peace,” said Francis. “Unfortunately, violence begets violence, as we know and have learned from the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
Francis said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is employing a strong-arm strategy that is likely to fail, and noted that the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a war against terrorism like the United States is fighting in Afghanistan.
“Sharon is not fighting a war against terror. He is fighting with the Palestinians who are trying to regain their dignity and their freedom, and to establish a homeland. Those Palestinians have been victims of the Israelis for the past 50 years,” said Francis.
“Israel cannot compare its war to our war against terrorism in Afghanistan. It’s an insult to do that. We were attacked by terrorists and we are not occupying Afghanistan. We are not expelling them from (their territory), as the Israelis are trying to do with the Palestinians (in the West Bank).”
A native of Lebanon, Francis said that while he does not support suicide bombings, he understands how the concept would flourish in the Arab culture, particularly given the repressive situation confronting the Palestinians.
“When you have no hope, no rights, (when) you see the Israelis stealing your land and your dignity, and no one comes to help you out,” is when this occurs, said Francis. “The culture of that part of the world believes, unfortunately, in suicide bombers. It’s against our principle, but to the Arabs it’s a holy war.”
Francis said part of the problem is that President Bush did not want to get involved in the Middle East but he’s now forced to deal with it because the United States is the only nation that can pressure the Israelis to withdraw from Palestinian areas.
Even though the United States has been joined by the United Nations, the European Union and Russia in calling for the withdraw, it hasn’t happened, said Francis, who blames Sharon for turning a deaf ear to world pleas.
“We are dealing with Sharon here, who is a war criminal. I don’t think he gives a damn about anyone,” said Francis. He said that Sharon served as Israel’s defense minister in 1982 when that nation invaded Lebanon to root out Palestinian influences.
Former President Ronald Reagan stopped Sharon from killing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat back then, said Francis, who believes that Sharon now wants to finish the job. The fact that Israel has now moved its army into southern Lebanon, again to neutralize that area from being a base for attacks against Israel, leads Francis to that conclusion.
“I believe Sharon wants to invade Lebanon again. In 1982 he invaded Lebanon (as defense minister) in order to kill Arafat and destroy the Palestinian people in Lebanon,” said Francis, who admits that in 1982 Palestinians were using Lebanon as base to attack Israel.
However, Francis said he believes that Arafat, who was “no saint” prior to 1991, has been a proponent of peace with Israel since 1993 as evidenced by his signing of the Oslo Peace Treaty in 1995.
“I hate to say it, because Arafat destroyed Lebanon, but since 1993 Arafat has wanted peace with Israel,” said Francis. “(But) there is personal hatred between Sharon and Arafat. Sharon wanted to finish Arafat off in 1982 but President Reagan wouldn’t let him.”
Francis said that Arafat today is a “hostage” in his own land and it would not make any difference if he were removed from power, as the Israelis seem to want.
“He’s the only Arab leader who was elected by his own people. I don’t believe Sharon has been fair to him,” said Francis, who believes the Palestinian suicide bombers wreaking havoc on Israel are enemies of Arafat.
Any attempt to understand the high tensions in the region must begin with rectifying the Israeli incursion into the West Bank, where Israel is building illegal settlements on Palestinian land, said Francis.
He added that the Israeli army is now facing attacks in southern Lebanon from Hezbollah militants as well as the Lebanese resistance. If U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell doesn’t succeed in bringing the Israelis and Palestinians together, Francis foresees more trouble ahead, in the form of war between Israel and Syria in Lebanon.
“God only knows what will happen (then),” said Francis. “Israel will win the war, because Israel is the most powerful nation in that part of the world. But for what reason? To continue occupying Lebanese and Syrian land? At the end, Israel will have to withdraw from all occupied territories.”
Francis said there is much hope in a “land for peace” plan supported by the Arab nations and presented by Saudi Arabia two weeks ago. However, he said that Israel rejected that plan.
Francis said he is further troubled by the fact that Israel has barred journalists from reporting from areas where its army has forged into Palestinian and foreign territory.
“Israel believes in democracy and freedom of the press, and they won’t allow any reporters? That means Israel is, in fact, massacring Palestinians including civilians,” said Francis. “The Palestinians who are bombers are doing the same thing, but they aren’t being ordered by Arafat. The Israeli army is being ordered by Sharon.”