We will not mourn the death of Hassan Nasrallah and part of his staff. Not us. Not France, targeted multiple times by Hezbollah. Explosion of the Drakkar in Beirut, attacks in Paris, hostage-taking in Lebanon, death of Michel Seurat and Louis Delamarre… Hezbollah has French blood on its hands. We will not mourn it any more in Syria, where the Party of God relentlessly participates in the dirty works of Bashar al-Assad.
In Lebanon, we do not forget the litany of assassinations committed by Hezbollah, or to which it lent a helping hand. We remember that the death of Rafic Hariri like the explosion in the port of Beirut went unpunished. We are fully aware that for several years, Lebanese institutions have been blocked and taken hostage by the Shiite party, which is working to ensure that there is no President and almost no State. We are not unaware of the trafficking that Hezbollah uses to finance itself and how much it contributes to the risk that the whole of Lebanon will turn into a narco-state. We are celebrating in Israel, targeted for decades by attacks and attacks by the Shiite militia, in the north of the country and across the world.
The cause is understood, or should be: when the United States eliminated Osama Bin Laden, no one lamented. The United Nations Security Council soberly recalled that the leader of Al-Qaeda would “never again be able to commit terrorist attacks”. The UN Secretary General at the time, Ban Ki-moon, went further: “The crimes of Al-Qaeda have affected most continents, sowing tragedy and the death of thousands of men, women and children. It is a day to remember the victims. I am personally relieved that justice has been served for such a leader of international terrorism.
Moral bankruptcy
We would like the same clarity today, but it is rare. Since October 7, everything has suggested that any country can fight terrorism with the exception of one, Israel. There is a drift and moral bankruptcy in part of our political class which arouses anger and disgust. That part of public opinion is permeable to this says two things: the first is that we no longer have memory and only react with the emotion of the present moment, easily exploitable and dangerous for our democracies. The second is that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies is, through its excesses, seriously damaging the credit of Israel and the solidarity due to it. The targeted elimination of proven terrorists is one thing. The limitless brutality of the military operation in Gaza and the violence encouraged by the settlers in the West Bank are another, which inevitably tarnish Israel’s credit.
Preventing a new Syria
That leaves Lebanon and its future. If France, as it says, really loves Lebanon, it must open its eyes, and quickly, and act accordingly. The country has been in danger for a long time and we have not been able to prevent its slow agony. Both the economy and the state are in tatters, the factions rule the roost, the exodus of the Lebanese continues and accelerates. The general interest has long since given way to every man for himself and saving as he can. Israel would do well to remember that the euphoria which followed the fall of Saddam Hussein or that of Gaddafi was only short-lived, for lack of a serious and credible alternative in Iraq as in Libya. It is up to the Lebanese people to seize this tipping point where everything is possible, the worst and the best.
We can, we must, help him as far as we can, but never replace him. Too often, for too long, we have acted as if Lebanon was still under French protectorate. Each time, we created expectations that we disappointed. Today, the death of Hassan Nasrallah opens the way to a new Lebanon. It’s up to the Lebanese to write its history. To the friends of Lebanon to prevent a new Syria.
.