Mixed Signals

Israel had lifted its sea blockade off the Lebanese coast as an international force is now in place. While Germany has said that it would enforce the blockade, France turns around and says that it would not use force to stop ships.

What exactly is the point of the French being there if they're not going to stop the Islamic terrorists from resupplying by sea? Not only are they undermining the Lebanese security situation, but Israel's national security and thwarting the purpose of UN SCR 1701.

French troops have also landed in Beirut to bolster the ground deployment of international forces. If they're going to operate under the same rules as the French Navy, then this is nothing more than an empty show of force and Hizbullah will continue to exist, its arms caches will be replenished, and the first moment that the international force leaves, Hizbullah will once again be ready for war with Israel.

Syria has agreed to allow the EU international force to operate along the Syria-Lebanon border. That's a significant step to cutting down on Hizbullah's resupply routes, if the EU rules of engagement permit them to actually interdict shipments instead of simply watching as Hizbullah brings in reinforcements. Kofi Annan continues to think that Syria is serious about patrolling its side of the border. Assad says that he's approved the border guard.

The EU's Javier Solana says that the 1967 borders with some adjustments should form the basis of a final agreement. Well, that's helpful. It's the same position that the UN, US, and even Israel had taken since UN SCR 242, 338, and other resolutions put in place the concept of land for peace.

The problem is that Israel relinquished control of Gaza, and there was no peace. The Palestinians promptly began a war with Israel, attacking and killing Israelis, taking Gilad Shalit hostage, and firing off hundreds of rockets into Israel with the intent to kill or injure as many Israelis as possible.

Land for peace as a concept should be a dead issue, and the only way peace can be achieved is when Hamas and Fatah both renounce their charter calls for the destruction of Israel, and will unconditionally release Gilad Shalit. At that point, can and should Israel begin negotiations over what to do next. Of course, the Palestinian people have no interest in living in peace with Israel since they've been conditioned by generations of Palestinian leaders that it is only a matter of time before they wear down Israel's leaders and coopt Israel and supplant it.

Meanwhile, there's still no word on the condition of Goldwasser or Regev.

Technorati: terrorism, fatah, Gilad, Shalit, Olmert, Eliyahu, Asheri, Ashri, Abbas, Regev, Goldwasser, PRC, Hamas, Gaza, palestinian, Israel, hizbullah, hezbullah, hezbollah, lebanon, syria.