Posted on 06/20/2013 1:44:12 PM PDT by SJackson
The unsuccessful history of ‘peacekeeping’ in our region
By AVIGDOR LIBERMAN
06/20/2013 20:32
There is no operational value to international forces says MK and chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Avigdor Liberman.
In a speech at the opening of Herut’s National Council in October 1948, Menachem Begin attacked the government’s foreign policy at the time, which blindly relied on the assurances given by the United Nations to guarantee our national security.
Begin believed that “the directors of our foreign policy do not see... not the actual international reality, not our strategic position and not the state of our enemies. Since these blind people believe in the UN, its army, and its decisions, they have not prepared the power of the Jewish army.”
Throughout the history of our region, we have repeatedly witnessed the establishment of “peacekeeping forces,” which are ostensibly to serve as a buffer between parties in the Middle East conflict and help keep the peace. However, in reality these forces have repeatedly acted against their established purpose and mandate.
Since the War of Independence, no international forces have intervened, not even once, to prevent attacks emanating from Arab nations or by terrorist organizations against the State of Israel. On the contrary, each time there was concern of an escalation, the international forces pulled back their troops and avoided any friction, especially when the State of Israel was attacked.
In certain instances, these forces turned a blind eye or even collaborated with those Arab nations in violation of signed agreements.
Such was the case of the peacekeeping force, the United Nations Emergency Force, established in November 1956. UNEF’s mandate included monitoring the IDF withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip and ensuring freedom of navigation through the Straits of Tiran. In May 1967, the Egyptians called on the commander of UNEF to withdraw part of his forces from the area. Then-UN secretary-general U Thant, in a puzzling decision, decided to withdraw all UNEF forces. This almost immediately resulted in the Six Day War.
The fear or inability of the international forces to confront breaches of peace in the region is also currently in evidence.
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), established after the Yom Kippur War, has authority for “intervention in cases of entry to the separation area by military personnel from either side, or attempted operations.” Following an escalation in the Syrian civilian war, the Croatian parliament decided in March to withdraw around 100 of its soldiers. This month the Austrian government also announced the withdrawal of its forces.
On our southern border, after the signing of Israel’s peace treaty with Egypt, the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) was mobilized.
Its mandate was “to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace and employ best efforts to prevent any violation of its terms.”
The helpless forces have been mere spectators to the increasing anarchy in Sinai, which is a real danger to Israel. In recent years, we have witnessed terrorist attacks, kidnapping attempts and the launching of rockets at Eilat.
A further example is the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, created in 1994, As the IDF discovered in 2001, some of the TIPH observers transferred to Fatah’s Tanzim photographic and written information regarding the actions of the IDF and the Jewish residents of Hebron. In 2010, a Foreign Ministry report stated that it is clear that the monitors almost solely dealt with criticizing Israel.
On our northern border, after the Second Lebanon War, the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon was expanded by UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The new mandate determined that UNIFIL has the power to “take all the necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces... to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind,” and its duty is to protect civilians from the threat of violence.
The UN forces did not release one report criticizing Hezbollah for fear of retaliation, even while it continues to massively rearm.
While there is much talk about it, there is no question that any international forces stationed in the Jordan Valley would not be in the least effective.
The area would merely become another Gaza or southern Lebanon.
The notion that we can rely on others was wrong in 1948 and remains erroneous today, in 2013. There is no operational value to international forces, and frequently they act in a biased and one-sided manner in violation of their mandates.
The State of Israel cannot remain blind to this history of failure, and should use all available means to defend our people and borders by ourselves.
As the saying goes, God only helps those who help themselves.
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All are right! A hassidic lesson for American mediators
By URIEL HALBREICH
06/20/2013 20:52
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We cannot just insist on our truth and expect the other side to succumb to it and accept us as winners. Haredi men dance on Simhat Torah Haredi men dance on Simhat Torah Photo: REUTERS/Baz Ratner
A couple who could not reconcile on any issue and were considering a final separation agreed only on a single point: to bring their tortured complaints to an influential rabbi and accept his ruling.
On the appointed day, the woman elaborated on her side of the ordeal. The rabbi listened carefully and following a brief contemplation, said, “You are right.”
Then the husband presented his perspective of the truth. Again, the rabbi listened attentively and closed his eyes to concentrate on the presentation.
The frustrated husband’s version was the opposite of that of his wife, her black was his white; cause and effect were interchangeable.
The only common denominator was blame.
The husband blamed his wife and she blamed him.
After a short but careful consideration of the case, the rabbi opened his eyes and, with a tortured expression, declared: “You are right.”
The scholars present were stunned. They could not contain their gasps and looked at one another with astonishment. They whispered among themselves for a while until the most courageous student, who was considered to be the closest to the rabbi and some even said his slated successor, opened his mouth and in a trembling voice asked: “Rabbi, with all due respect, the husband’s and wife’s versions are the complete opposites of each other. How can you say that both are correct?” Another observant pupil added from the back of the room: “It does not make any sense.”
The rabbi smiled and said: “You too are correct.”
The couple left unhappy but remained together.
Several months later, the couple were still together and unhappy, but the pupils’ puzzlement had not subsided.
In the midst of a Talmudic back-and-forth discussion on a particularly tough issue about two people who claim the ownership of one tallit (prayer shawl), each of them claims, “It is all mine.” No apparent solution surfaced.
One of the students, who was brilliant and possessed a good memory, said: “Rabbi, it is obvious that the other side is wrong. Justice and truth are on our side! This time, don’t teach us your theoretical philosophy, give us a real solution, a decision.”
The rabbi scanned the entire room with a wise expression and shared his thought process.
“Truth is not absolute. It is multifaceted. We cannot just insist on our truth and expect the other side to succumb to it and accept us as winners.
“The tallit cannot be divided. If it does not have all four corners with all tzitziot untouched, it is damaged and no longer is a tallit. Now let’s talk and pray together and forget the tallit.”
“But rabbi, we need the tallit to pray properly. Do you have any practical solution?” The rabbi looked at his students and mumbled to himself, “We have to adopt the merit in the opponent’s approach and recognize it as our own.
“Once we illuminate the merits of both sides, controversy will hopefully be reduced to a shadow and we will all prevail. All of us will prevail, God willing.”
“But master,” said the feuding camps in unison,” you are our rabbi, tell us what to do!” “You see,” the rabbi responded, “the main problem now is not the tallit any more. I united you all in seeing me as the problem. I accept it. All of you are right, praise the Lord.”
The lesson to American mediators in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict – if they care to listen – is this: Mediation carries its own perils, especially when undivided property is in dispute and the mediator brings to the table his own perspective, based on his own preconceptions, procedures and stature.
If and when the mediator claims, “I know best what is good for you, you better do it or else...” beware! The writer is chairman of the WPA Section on Interdisciplinary Collaboration, chairman of PEMRN and professor and director of BioBehavioral Research in SUNYAB.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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To impose a solution, one needs a judge not a mediator, a judge who ultimately can enforce his decision, not "keep" a temporary "peace". This lesson extends far beyond Israel. I acknowledge that a mediator who attempts to impose a solution should probably go by another name.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
..................
To impose a solution, one needs a judge not a mediator, a judge who ultimately can enforce his decision, not "keep" a temporary "peace". This lesson extends far beyond Israel. I acknowledge that a mediator who attempts to impose a solution should probably go by another name.
The fastest path to peace is the one where you eliminate all of those that want to kill you.
In a speech at the opening of Herut’s National Council in October 1948, Menachem Begin attacked the government’s foreign policy at the time, which blindly relied on the assurances given by the United Nations to guarantee our national security.apropos sidebars:
The UN forces are not there to protect Israel.
They are there to protect Israel’s enemies and buy time to allow them to build up their forces .This brotherhood of man is not and has NEVER been Israel’s friend . They spent most of their time trying to bring charges against her and ignore the atrocities of her neighbors.
He is right on most things
but this
God helps those who help themselves
this is wrong
God helps/protects those who TRUST IN HIM
Proverbs_30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
2Samuel_22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
Psalm_18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalm_62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psalm_91:2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm_60:12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Proverbs_16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
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