The Vice president of Cultural Affair. Najah al-Attar, exhibited welcoming smiles, and sensitivity and empathy for oppressed peoples. She spoke of “there not being peace without justice,“ referenced the destruction of the Palestinians and noted that Jews lived in peace in Syria, and were prosperous and accepted members of the parliament.  A small Jewish community survives in Northern Syria, and a Rabbi is flown in each week from Turkey to perform the rabbinical rites that assure the food is kosher.

Not kosher was a clandestine trip to meet a “minor” Hamas official, who turned out to be Khalid Meshal, official leader of Hamas, exiled in Damascus. The world became more aware of Meshal when Israel’s Mossad tried to assassinate him in Amman. Jordan’s King Abdullah forced Israel to immediately supply an antidote to the poison given to Meshal by threatening to publicly hang the Mossad agents who tried to kill the Hamas leader. Meshal does not fill the western media description of a wild eyed fanatic. On the contrary, he is a friendly, deliberate and well spoken person who makes sense to those who subscribe to his positions. 

Israel does not want peace. Both negotiating parties aren’t strong enough to market their results to their peoples. Meshal doesn’t delineate Hamas’ positions, but refers to a Palestinian position that accepts 1967 borders and an Arab position that has accepted the two-state solution. Since 2002, Bush has repeatedly spoken of support for a two-state solution, but where is it? The Hamas leader expects the region to be more explosive. Nevertheless, if the PA feels the Palestinian rights have been fulfilled, Hamas will welcome that. He has proposed a Hudna (truce), and if Israel responds positively, Hamas will not be an obstacle to peace. If the Right of Return is the only remaining problem, Hamas will compromise, and accept the will of the people. He claims Hamas does not encourage militancy, does not desire a theocratic state, is a national liberation movement and will let the Palestinian people decide the government.

Lebanon greets the visitor with an ominous view of the famous Mdairej bridge, the highest bridge in the Middle East and the pride of Lebanon. The mid-section of its elegant span remains gone, destroyed by Israeli jets on the first day of war. Beirut and Southern Lebanon still show scars of the war; destroyed bridges, damaged roads, and huge holes in Beirut sections. The old section of Bent Jabal (daughter of the mountain), which was invaded by Israeli troop, is completely damaged. It is now a rubble of ancient rocks.

Lebanon is again facing one of its perpetual crises; an inability to reach a parliamentary consensus and elect a new president.  Although some are quick to blame Syria and Hezbollah for creating a climate of fear and for the lack of consensus, major Lebanese officials don’t agree that Hezbollah is the culprit for the impasse, just the opposite,  the majority holds power by an archaic law and fears becoming a minority.

The majority is most represented by billionaire Member of Parliament (MP), Saad Hariri, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Saad Hariri senses a significant negative shift in Israel’s attitude towards wanting peace after Rabin’s assassination. Nevertheless, he feels Abu Mazen wants peace and Annapolis, even if delayed, must still happen.” The two sides can reach an agreement.” He is less optimistic concerning his own nation: “Money and arms are pouring into the arms of the allies of Syria.” Hariri has not moved about Beirut for 2 ˝ years and has received death threats. Fifty of his fellow MPs are barricaded in the Phoenician hotel, fearful of their lives. Except for Prime Minister Siniora, who accuses Syria and Hezbollah of creating this fear, of being uncooperative and wanting to keep situations unresolved so that Hezbollah can maintain its arms, the other principal government officials support Hezbollah’s position.

Former General and now MP, Michael Aoun, described the year 2000 law that gerrymanded the nation so that the March 14 Party and its allies acquired a majority of 72 parliament seats, although receiving only 1/3 of the vote. This makes the present government illegitimate and favors Hezbollah’s proposition that the only fair solution to the impasse is a new election law, followed by a new election that will award seats in proportion to popular vote. President Emil Lahoud claims the present parliament majority has the backing of the major western powers and is working against the constitution. For this reason, the opposition, meaning Hezbollah, has the right to avoid reaching consensus. Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallougkh read carefully from a prepared document. He doesn’t believe Iran wants to dominate Lebanon and believes the U.S. should establish good relations with Iran.  

Lebanese leaders were particularly angered with Israel’s aggressive attitude towards the Arab world and what they perceived as U.S. support for this attitude. They are most concerned with the negotiations that will decide the fate of the Palestinian refugees, the reason being the refugees cannot receive citizenship in Lebanon and have created social and economic havoc for decades.  Prime Minister Fouad Siniora was more sanguine and more universal in his characterization of what he termed to be an Arab/Israeli conflict. He considered Israel to be guilty of the situation and leading the world into a catastrophe that will affect all peoples. He allowed permission to quote him, and my notes show these remarks:

“The Arab/Israel conflict is the maker of most problems and control of Jerusalem is a paramount issue. The conflict consumes most efforts in the region, is not restricted to the Middle East and diverts attention from other meaningful issues in all regions. The conflict started from the Balfour Declaration, arose from the extent of injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian people, is leading to further frustration in the Arab world, and is generating extremism. The Israeli 1980 invasion created Hezbollah and a new set of problems. Now, Syria, and other parties (meaning Hezbollah), are not showing cooperation and want to keep issues unresolved.  Nevertheless, President Bush has been unfair to Lebanon, Arab nations and also to his own United States. The U.S. keeps preaching democracy but defends dictatorships.”

Hezbollah, the Party of God, is highly critical of Prime Minister Siniora, who they consider represents a minority of the Lebanese people. For this reason, Hezbollah remains the contentious focus of Lebanon politics.  Nevertheless, the Lebanese government has denominated Hezbollah as a resistance movement rather than a militia so that they can keep their arms despite the truce agreement which banned militias. Hezbollah leaders are firm that they will never recognize Israel. Surprisingly, they favor a single democratic state where all peoples are equal and all religions can be practiced without interference. They claim to be politically secular and their government operations don’t contradict that thesis.

Annapolis is 50 miles from the nation’s capital, but it is light years away from the hearts and minds of the Arab nations and what they want to assure peace and stability in the Middle East. That is one observer’s conclusions from travels through the Middle East capitals.

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