Tragedy
in South Lebanon: The Israeli-Hezbollah War of 2006
Cathy Sultan
Reviewed by Wendy Runyon
When news reached the United States about the war that broke out
between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, my heart sank. Stories
of civilian casualties flooded the news. In today's political climate
with the Middle East being a hot spot, I jumped at the chance to read
Cathy Sultan's Tragedy in South Lebanon: The Israeli-Hezbollah War of
2006. I wanted to better understand what was happening in that
area and perhaps gain insight into what was behind the war.
The author shared her experience during the Lebanese civil war that
began in 1975 in her book, A Beirut Heart. She was an American
who had moved to Lebanon with her children and husband several years
before. She currently lives in Wisconsin and serves on the
Executive Board of the National Peace Foundation. In her most
recent book, Cathy Sultan takes a hard look at the events that took
place in Lebanon during the summer of 2006. She spoke with
civilians and soldiers on both sides of the conflict and examined the
history that led up to the war. Lebanon has been a pawn
throughout history, in the middle of a tug-of-war between powerful
countries, each wanting their own stake.
On July 12, 2006, two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by
Hezbollah. This was common practice along the border, both Israel
and Hezbollah taking turns kidnapping and holding civilians or soldiers
hostage with the expectation of making a trade. Only this time,
Israel's leaders were unwilling to play along. In a show of
force, Israel attacked Lebanon, hoping to wipe out Hezbollah once and
for all.
Some say that the Israeli's wanted an excuse to fight and had been
preparing for war for some time. Yet they sent their soldiers
into Lebanon ill-prepared. Their equipment was old and many of
the newer soldiers were untrained. They were thrown into battle
against a guerrilla army that knew their country's homeland inside and
out. Hezbollah also knew its enemy well, having studied them for
decades during the Israeli occupation of its southern
lands. To complicate matters, Hezbollah had a huge
stockpile of weapons, armed by Iran and Syria.
Israel felt threatened by Hezbollah and their rising strength.
Hezbollah was first organized as a resistance group to fight against
Israeli occupation in Lebanon decades before. Hezbollah has a
reputation of being a terrorist group, not to mention they had once
vowed to destroy Israel in its entirety, a threat that Israel took very
seriously.
The 2006 war was not all about the threat of one group on the other,
however. The water sources and portions of land in Southern
Lebanon would be a boon to anyone who controlled them. Israel has
a desperate need for water and control over a portion of the Litani
River would be quite beneficial. It runs through Lebanon,
however, and it would severely hurt any chance of Lebanon getting fully
back on its feet if the river was no longer considered theirs.
The Shebaa Farms are another bone of contention for the Israelis and
Lebanese. Syria gave the land in question to the Lebanese people;
however, Israel contests the right of Syria to do such a thing.
The United Nations has since proclaimed that the Sebaa Farms are in
fact Lebanese land and Israel, who still has a presence there, has been
ordered to pull out.
The role of the West in all of this is obvious but not always so
direct. Further, the politics of the United States, Israel, Iran
and Syria all continue to play a part in Lebanon’s future. And
the people continue to be in the middle of a tug-of-war with no end in
sight. The true victims on all sides are the civilians.
These are people who are trying to survive as we all are. They
want to work, love, raise their children and feel safe.
Lebanon still is trying to recover from the chaos left over from the
war two years ago. The war caused such an upheaval that it left
the Lebanese government in near shambles. The entire
infrastructure of the country was nearly destroyed. Major
transportation highways, hospitals, schools, and publishing houses were
left in ruins. The drinking water continues to be contaminated by
oil, phosphorous from munitions, and sewage as well other chemicals,
all the result of the war of 2006. People's homes and businesses
were completely wiped out. Cluster bombs sit like time bombs
waiting for the unsuspecting child to discover it any day now--or ten
to 30 years from now. The effects of the 34 day war will be felt
for many years to come.
Israel says Hezbollah used civilian structures to hide both themselves
and their armaments; however there has been no evidence to support such
a claim when examined by independent groups. Israel has been
asked for information on where the missiles carrying cluster bombs were
dropped, but Israel has yet to turn over the reports despite the UN
resolution ordering them to do so. Such information is vital to
the deminers who are trying to clear away the threat of future deaths
of innocent people due to these insidious bombs. The loss of
viable farm land has hurt the economy significantly and ecologically,
the country is in dire straits. This once beautiful and lush
country has been deeply wounded. Just when Lebanon seems to get
on its feet, it seems to be knocked down again.
Hezbollah is no less guilty in all of this. They too used cluster
bombs in urban areas and killed civilians. They toyed with the Israelis
despite making a promise to Lebanon that there would be peace as
Lebanon entered into one of its most prosperous times in recent
history. The tourist business was on the upswing and Lebanon
seemed to be thriving. All that changed very quickly, however,
with the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers.
The focus of the book is on Lebanon and the damaged suffered by the
Lebanese people. The author went into the Israeli casualties on a
smaller scale, and so the book comes across as slanted more in one
direction than the other at times. The author, however, tries to
make it clear both sides were at fault and that it is the politicians,
the leaders, who need to be held accountable for their actions,
including that of the United States and Israel who are often excused
because it is easier to blame and point fingers at those they call
terrorists.
Cathy Sultan does not gloss over the responsibility of anyone in
Lebanon’s current woes. Her information is well researched and
documented. War is an ugly thing. Innocent people are caught in
the middle and those in power seem only to care about strategy and
winning the battle. Tragedy in South Lebanon offers an honest and
much needed perspective on a war and country that is too often ignored
amidst the talk of current Middle East issues.