Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., May 13, 2008 Iyyar 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:19 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 23:39 12/05/2008 ANALYSIS / Who will stop Hezbollah? Not the Lebanon Army By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Lebanon, Hezbollah, Israel  Hezbollah's rapid and savvy raids of recent days brought to light the true balance of power in Lebanon, and, at the same time, the close connection between the Lebanon Army and Hezbollah. Witness accounts of Hezbollah's actions in Lebanon in the course of the incidents demonstrate not only that the Lebanon Army is refraining from trying to bar Hezbollah from operating throughout the country, but is in fact carrying out orders from the organization and granting it media cover. Lebanese media reports clearly indicate that Hezbollah is practicing censorship over broadcasts of the various networks. Nonetheless, it can be discerned at times that the picture as broadcast from Beirut is not telling the story in full. While camouflage-spotted Lebanon Army armored personnel carriers take center screen, Hezbollah men manning roadblocks can often be seen on the margins, checking the identity papers of passersby. Advertisement Friday morning, Lebanese television stations were allowed to broadcast calming footage of armored personnel carriers standing outside the Al-Mustakbal Television building, owned by the Hariri family. The station's operations had been halted by Hezbollah. The actual story, of course, was much more serious. According to one version of the events, the Lebanon Army had ordered the workers there to leave their offices, solely to allow Hezbollah men to enter immediately thereafter to destroy equipment and other property. Two hours later, cameras were allowed into the area, but only to film the APC's standing guard over the building. The close ties between the army and Hezbollah go beyond the recent battles. They also extend to south Lebanon. Under UN resolution 1701, the Lebanon Army was to deploy in the south and thus take up places occupied by Hezbollah, something that had raised hopes in Israel. Today, UNIFIL and the Lebanon Army respond to every incident in south Lebanon, but the presence of the army has no real significance there. At the moment of truth, the army will follow Hezbollah's orders, diplomatic sources believe. The Lebanon Army is in practice a reflection of the ethnic partition of this divided land. The army commander is a Maronite, his deputies are Shiite and Sunni, and the chief of the general staff, a Druze. It is estimated that some 35 percent of the soldiers and officers are Shiites, and Christians leave the ranks relatively quickly. Moreover, in recent days, there have been reports that senior officers, Sunnis and Druze, have asked to resign from the army in response to its involvement in the violence. Government supporters have severely criticized the army and its commander, Michel Suleiman, who was in line to turn into president of Lebanon. Discussions on the issue suggest that some of the officials have reconsidered their support for the government. Analysts in Lebanon believe that other actions on the part of the army would have led to its being dismantled. "Greater involvement by the army would have meant that perhaps no army would have been left," sources in Beirut told Haaretz by e-mail. "And that would have been the end of Lebanon,". Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death of a heroine Irena Sendler, who saved 2,500 Jews during the Holocaust, dies at 98. Apocalyptic tidings Holy See warns of nightmarish perils if Mideast nuclear arms race is not halted.   1.   European silence 10:51  |  Colin 12/05/08   2.   Peace Process Will 11:08  |  isratinian 12/05/08   3.   Who will stop Hezbollah? Nobody, so far 11:14  |  Natallie Durson 12/05/08   4.   LEBANESE PEOPLE DESERVES... 11:34  |  BOB KING 12/05/08   5.   give one to the liberals -- another one they also took gaza 11:44  |  POP 12/05/08   6.   OUR BELOVED ARMY 11:47  |  OUR BELOVED ARMY 12/05/08   7.   Absolute nonsense 12:02  |  Rowan 12/05/08   8.   No one 12:18  |  Imad 12/05/08   9.   Some questions for Natalie 12:53  |  Curious 12/05/08   10.   Natalie, part II 12:57  |  Curious 12/05/08   11.   Lebanese Army?! the worst joke.. 13:11  |  sinalco 12/05/08   12.   The Crime Syndicate&its junior partner in crime have failed to 13:16  |  lakshmi 12/05/08   13.   Who is the bigger stooge? Hamas or Durson? 13:18  |  Joe Sittizen 12/05/08   14.   It`s no good trying to talk to you, is it? 13:26  |  Rowan 12/05/08   15.   Natallie ... 13:38  |  tiara 12/05/08   16.   anyone against Israel/US barbarianism will 13:51  |  Hasan 12/05/08   17.   to Colin #1 14:06  |  tiara 12/05/08   18.   Natalie, Olmert deceived contrary to your theory 14:10  |  Simon 12/05/08   19.   Some answers for curious (part 1) 14:38  |  Natallie Durson 12/05/08   20.   Some answers for curious (part 2) 14:50  |  Natallie Durson 12/05/08   21.   Answers from Durson 14:52  |  Curious 12/05/08   22.   its about lebanon not israel 14:55  |  mb 12/05/08   23.   A reflection of the ethnic partition of this divided land 14:56  |  Fritz T. 12/05/08   24.   #19, poor Natallie, 14:57  |  Eugene 12/05/08   25.   The cancer takes over at last 15:12  |  ScotGuy 12/05/08   26.   Eugene 15:30  |  Natallie Durson 12/05/08   27.   #24, poor Eugene 15:41  |  geezer 12/05/08   28.   So, Natallie 15:57  |  Brad 12/05/08   29.   Who will stop Hezbollah? The IAF 15:58  |  Anonymous 12/05/08   30.   Durson the Anti-Semite 16:01  |  ScotGuy 12/05/08   31.   Natallie Durson #19 & #20 16:02  |  Cool B 12/05/08   32.   Natalie is "she"? 17:20  |  Peter 12/05/08   33.   nuttie,actually the people that will stand in their tracks and 19:38  |  terrornator 12/05/08   34.   well geezer #27 since i`m american i can tell natallie to get out 19:41  |  terrornator 12/05/08   35.   #30, Scot Guy in Glasgow... 19:47  |  Silvienne 12/05/08   36.   #32, Peter... 19:48  |  Silvienne 12/05/08   37.   Rowan and Rami`s view (#7) 20:26  |  Mac 12/05/08   38.   go to the source. destroy mullah regime in iran now. 20:35  |  frenz 12/05/08   39.   WHY THE LEBANESE ARMY HATES ISRAEL. 20:43  |  Arik Silverman 12/05/08   40.   STOP MAKING FOOLS OF LEBANESE ARMED FORCES 20:56  |  Arik Silverman 12/05/08   41.   arik silverman,the lebanese army is pretty good at making fools 23:49  |  terrornator 12/05/08   42.   Hasan 23:56  |  rich 12/05/08   43.   Arik Silverman 00:03  |  rich 13/05/08   44.   hezbollah 00:10  |  dalila 13/05/08   45.   lebanon 00:14  |  dalila 13/05/08   46.   lebanese army 00:19  |  dalila 13/05/08   47.   The Only Thing that Will Stop Hezbollah is... 01:01  |  Josh 13/05/08   48.   Dalila 01:12  |  GK 13/05/08   49.   #39/40 Arik Silverman 03:38  |  Murray the Mongoose 13/05/08   50.   Response to 41 11:53  |  Nadir 13/05/08   51.   response to #34 12:01  |  Nadir 13/05/08   52.   Keep Bitching 13:27  |  Dean 13/05/08   53.   so Nadir,why is your arab/muslim ass hiding in canada 17:23  |  terrornator 13/05/08   54.   Lebanon never existed anyway 18:16  |  schwerepunkt 13/05/08

Read & React Zvi Bar'el: Olmert could still make peace with Syria, PA Responses: 24 Woman, 70, killed as Qassam strikes Negev home Responses: 230 Lebanese army says will use force from Tues. to stop fighting Responses: 62 Israel demands Hamas truce bid include prisoner swap Responses: 133 Bush to Haaretz: PM is 'honest guy' and strategic thinker Responses: 77 Rosner's Domain "Double-ness, lying and imposture have a special significance for an American Jew" Not winning the war on terror (WTR) Interview with Bush: the transcript Rosner's Guest: The Jewish story in 6 words Obama: Jewish state is a fundamentally just idea (WTR) More Headlines 17:19 Police raid Trade Ministry in widening Olmert probe 16:35 Hamas: Gilad Shalit won't be part of any truce deal with Israel 17:40 Tony Blair: Israel agrees to ease West Bank restrictions 17:58 Ahmadinejad predicts Israel will be 'swept away' by Palestinians 17:40 IAF kills Gaza mortar gunner; Qassams hit near Ashkelon 18:09 Peres at presidents conference: Science is the answer to Iran 17:21 Einstein: Nothing 'chosen' about the Jews, Bible 'childish' legends 17:46 Saudi FM: Hezbollah 'coup' will affect Iran ties with Arab world 18:14 Knesset, Web sites to negotiate rules regulating talkbacks 17:54 Top Lebanese politician Hariri says won't surrender to Hezbollah 13:47 Obama advisor: Jerusalem must be included in peace talks 16:46 World leaders and VIPs to occupy one 5-star Jerusalem hotel Previous Editions Select Day 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer The interest rates haven't changed But your profits will! Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved