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Last update - 08:59 23/11/2006 Show interest, don't interfere By Haaretz Editorial The murder of the Lebanese industry minister, Pierre Gemayel, poses a difficult test to the fragile political balance of power in Lebanon. Not only because this was a political murder - there have been many such events in the history of that country - but also because of fears that any more assassinations will bring Lebanon closer to a renewal of a civil war that could spin out of control. The murder occurred at a time when the government of Fouad Siniora is facing a situation in which it may lose its ability to impose its authority, and thus a political vacuum may emerge - similar to that which exists in both the Palestinian Authority and Iraq. These two troubling examples make very clear that in fact a political vacuum does not really exist, rather that radical and terrorist elements are trying to take the place of a weak regime. Lebanon is still not such a country. It has institutions of government and powerful political forces that recognize the value of democracy and would like to continue along its path in order to carry out changes. It is also the sole example of its kind in the Middle East - a state that of its own accord grants equal rights to members of all ethnic and religious groups - and in this it can serve as an example for emulation. The responses of public figures and citizens to the Gemayel murder, seeking to prevent violent reactions, suggest that there are fears of civil war, but even more that there's a desire to prevent one at any price. We can assume that in spite of the assassinations in the country, the 15 years that have passed since the civil war was brought to an end have created solid foundations of appreciation for the democratic process and a willingness for close cooperation among the various groups and political movements. Evidence of this is that no Lebanese groups are any longer willing to accept assassinations as a legitimate means of achieving political ends. Advertisement However, Lebanon still appears to be unable to counter the challenge on its own, and it requires effective international assistance. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Siniora made clear the kind of assistance that is necessary: the quick establishment of an international tribunal that will try the suspects in the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri and in other murders. Siniora believes that any delay in the establishment of such a tribunal will only lead the assassins of Gemayel to think that anything is acceptable. The international community, which is investing forces and efforts in order to calm the situation following the recent war, cannot remain indifferent to such a call. Israel should also not pretend to be indifferent to the developments in Lebanon, especially when they could lead to political change in the neighboring country, which could again become a focal point for war. However, a very high and sealed fence should be built in order to differentiate between concerned interest in what goes on in Lebanon and intervention in its affairs. This is an explosive moment, in which Israel must help Lebanon calm down. Israel's small contribution to minimizing the potential for conflagration in Lebanon could be made by ending the provocative overflights in Lebanese airspace, declaring a willingness to withdraw from the Shaba Farms, and even announcing a willingness to hold talks with Bashar Assad on a diplomatic process. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A ringing endorsement Jimmy Carter says Obama will waste no time in pursuing Middle East peace. Peres' olive branch Israel's president says the Arab peace plan is an opening for progress.   1.   We don`t need anther 4000 rockets from Lebanon 09:10  |  Yossi Cronenberg 23/11/06   2.   A WEAKENED DEMOCRACY 09:30  |  indrajaya 23/11/06   3.   A wise call in the wilderness 09:44  |  kameel 23/11/06   4.   More than meets the eye in the Middle East dispute 09:49  |  Dav 23/11/06   5.   Lebanon would have the potential to be a friend of Israel 09:50  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/11/06   6.   2 09:51  |  Dav 23/11/06   7.   don`t poison the broth... 09:53  |  Giles Martin 23/11/06   8.   Haaretz 10:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/11/06   9.   Peace 10:24  |  F.Y 23/11/06   10.   # 6, DAV 10:36  |  indrajaya 23/11/06   11.   Not All Israel`s Fault 10:36  |  Walid 23/11/06   12.   Free Lebanon 10:40  |  northern neighbor 23/11/06   13.   Don`t be naive 10:40  |  Natallie Durson 23/11/06   14.   # 11, WALID 11:15  |  indrajaya 23/11/06   15.   Yossi in Jeruselum 11:20  |  Marilyn 23/11/06   16.   northern neighbor, small but not beautiful 11:30  |  Tamir Gaza 23/11/06   17.   They probably have interfered BIG TIME in Lebanon 11:37  |  Nina 23/11/06   18.   Walid 11:39  |  sh 23/11/06   19.   "Reward the murderer" Immoral cowardly Haaretz editorial 11:43  |  Shalom Freedman 23/11/06   20.   Tamir Gaza 12:33  |  northern neighbor 23/11/06   21.   Beware Israel 13:06  |  David King 23/11/06   22.   Swiss (Dino) 13:11  |  David King 23/11/06   23.   Israel implicated in recent Gemayel assasination 13:34  |  Fred 23/11/06   24.   Israel caused this crisis 14:03  |  Chris Linthwaite 23/11/06   25.   F.Y tawel balak, inshalah fi peace 14:10  |  Tamir Gaza 23/11/06   26.   NONSENSE 14:19  |  Dr David I. Gross 23/11/06   27.   # 23 Fred 14:22  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/11/06   28.   NO - WE SHOULD GO IN AND FINISH THE JOB 14:37  |  Dr David I. Gross 23/11/06   29.   Gross 14:43  |  David King 23/11/06   30.   # 28- Dr. David Gross 14:52  |  Klaudia 23/11/06   31.   Dino 14:57  |  Dr David I. Gross 23/11/06   32.   Marilyn that is a lie and a libel 15:08  |  Jasmine Murphy 23/11/06   33.   Sh 15:36  |  Walid 23/11/06   34.   cipora (Haaretz) 15:48  |  A.M. 23/11/06   35.   Dr David I. Gross 15:50  |  Walid 23/11/06   36.   damaging to israel,shalom friedman? 16:02  |  A.M. 23/11/06   37.   Klaudia 16:03  |  Dr David Gross 23/11/06   38.   So Jasmine, they will sue the IDF then 16:06  |  Marilyn 23/11/06   39.   don`t interfere, dont just show interest 16:07  |  Lebanus 23/11/06   40.   Walid 16:16  |  Dr David I. Gross 23/11/06   41.   To Walid and Swiss(Dino) 16:25  |  Concerned Israeli 23/11/06   42.   #27 Swiss (Dino) 16:35  |  Fred 23/11/06   43.   Walid #35 16:43  |  Danite 23/11/06   44.   Get real, please, know who you`re dealing with! 16:49  |  Lebanese American 23/11/06   45.   Non-Interfwerence 17:14  |  Avi Yerushalmi 23/11/06   46.   # 37- Dr. David Gross 17:18  |  Klaudia 23/11/06   47.   "don`t interfere" ? 17:21  |  sicko 23/11/06   48.   Don`t interfere ! 17:34  |  Paul Henzen 23/11/06   49.   # 42 Fred 17:45  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/11/06   50.   # 41 Concerned Israeli 18:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/11/06   51.   "Dont` interfere`?- you cynics. 18:01  |  Michael N 23/11/06   52.   Sad result of interference in Lebanon 18:02  |  Tosefta 23/11/06   53.   #TIME FOR MARYLIN TO GROW UP!!! 18:05  |  paul harris 23/11/06   54.   # 15 mad marilyn in Australia 18:05  |  Ari ben Yisrael 23/11/06   55.   Quantity or Quality? 18:47  |  Lebanese American 23/11/06   56.   Just another zionist dirty deed 18:59  |  Hannah 23/11/06   57.   Dr David I. Gross 19:27  |  Walid 23/11/06   58.   Concerned Israeli 19:34  |  Walid 23/11/06   59.   #26, David Gross 19:44  |  Hannah 23/11/06   60.   Interfere in Lebanon!!!! 19:46  |  Ali 23/11/06   61.   A VOICE OF SANITY! WELL DONE HAARETZ!!! 19:48  |  THE JACKAL 23/11/06   62.   #53&54 20:02  |  Hannah 23/11/06   63.   Walid 20:26  |  Dr David I. gross 23/11/06   64.   Hannah - by whose law? 20:29  |  Dr David i. Gross 23/11/06   65.   Lebanon is evidence of truth of Lieberman`s theories 20:31  |  Voice of Reason 23/11/06   66.   Hannah 20:36  |  dre 23/11/06   67.   #15, Wierd disconnect between reports and reality 20:39  |  Danny - Israeli one 23/11/06   68.   #56, Wierd only you, some Europeans and Syria 20:44  |  Danny - Israeli one 23/11/06   69.   Israel`s response should be NO response 20:47  |  Danny - Israeli one 23/11/06   70.   #34, A.M. 21:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/11/06   71.   #52, Tosefta 22:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 23/11/06   72.   Yosi Beilin article of nov 20 not in English,,,,?? 22:55  |  ARIE RAIF 23/11/06   73.   Hannah & Dr. Vigilante Gross 01:54  |  goo 24/11/06   74.   Not sure if Israel should interfere 02:37  |  khalil 24/11/06   75.   Yeah Ari I am mad, at Israel 04:38  |  Marilyn 24/11/06   76.   Middle east 07:53  |  Jayb 24/11/06   77.   middle east and the mess. 09:25  |  ghulam 24/11/06   78.   #75, so mad that you need to lie to back up your claims?? 11:02  |  Danny - Israeli one 24/11/06   79.   #19; murderers and culprits! 01:11  |  linda 26/11/06   80.   #26 response 01:18  |  ballistic 26/11/06   81.   re:53 11:59  |  myphoneyid 26/11/06   82.   Responce to #80 15:15  |  John Barr 30/11/06   83.   Israel and Her Arab Neighbors 08:17  |  touchmenot 15/11/08

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