With the hope of finding something positive that can come out of
the most recent bloodshed between Israel and a bordering
Arab-Muslim nation, Colgate University Professor Avraham Sela spoke
on campus Thursday.
Sela, a political science professor, gave a presentation which
focused on the decades-old conflict between Israel and Hezbollah,
offering an opinion which was met with some skepticism.
After outlining some of the historical events that led to
Israel’s occupation of Southern Lebanon from 1985 to 2000,
Sela spoke about the possible political ramifications of the
Israeli-Hezbollah conflict this summer.
On several occasions, the former Israeli soldier said
Israel’s aerial attacks were intended to injure
Hezbollah’s military capabilities, but ultimately killed
hundreds of Lebanese civilians because Hezbollah offices were in
civilian neighborhoods.
Sela, who served in the Israeli Military Intelligence for 16
years, said he believes the best way to stabilize the region is to
turn Hezbollah into a political party and keep it from becoming an
autonomous military power in Southern Lebanon.
“Hezbollah can’t be removed from Lebanon, they have
set up roots in the country,” Sela said. “But the
bordering nations can play a role as intermediaries in changing the
role of Hezbollah and rebuilding Lebanon.”
Sela also chronicled the efforts of Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
and Jordan to stabilize the region by putting an end to what he
calls “Arab nationalism.”
The conflict over the summer lasted nearly three weeks until the
violence was subdued after the United Nations brokered a cease-fire
on Aug. 14. There is some controversy as to what triggered the
violence ““ some blame the conflict on the kidnapping of two
Israeli soldiers on the border of the two countries, while others
say the incident is rooted in Israeli’s continued presence in
the south at the end of the Lebanese Civil War.
“I think you have a very positive outlook on the divisions
in the region, because Lebanon still has to be rebuilt,” said
Eric Bordenkircher, a UCLA student getting his doctorate in Islamic
studies, speaking directly to Sela during a question-and-answer
session following the lecture.
Rossean Corea and Vicky Overy, L.A. residents, said the region
cannot stabilize as long as people aren’t getting enough
water to drink.
Corea and Overy were two of many attendees who said the region
would benefit from U.S. involvement.
Facing doubtful responses from all different outlooks, Sela
reiterated that all that can be done is to keep searching for
solutions in the aftermath of decades of violence.
“I agree with all of you completely, but the question is
what to do from here. I barely know the past, and I am trying to
understand the present,” Sela said.