Anti-War Network Press Statement on Lebanon Ceasefire & Irish Troops

national | anti-war / imperialism | press release Wednesday August 23, 2006 11:54 by Coilin+Sinead+Michael - Anti War Network

22 August, 2006

THE ANTI-WAR NETWORK:
- Welcomes the ceasefire in Israel and Lebanon, and condemns the latest Israeli incursion into East Lebanon.
- Opposes any plan to send Irish troops to the region while the root causes of conflict remain.
- Urges the Irish government to take diplomatic action to promote peace in the Middle East.

The Anti-War Network notes the statement issued on Sunday 20 August by the Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora: "There is no other description other than a criminal act – a crime against humanity that Israel has committed in this area and every region of Lebanon." The statement followed Saturday's raid by Israeli commandos into a Hezbollah stronghold deep in Lebanon, where they engaged in a fierce gun battle. As a result of that raid, the Lebanese government threatened to halt further troop deployments to protest what the office of Secretary-General Kofi Annan described as "a violation of the U.N. truce and the 6-day-old ceasefire".

These events underlined the fragility of the ceasefire as the United Nations pleaded for member states to send troops to southern Lebanon to act as a buffer between Israeli and Hezbollah fighters.

The Anti-War Network welcomes the cessation of hostilities. We acknowledge, with reservations, that the passing of UN Resolution 1701 has helped to establish the ceasefire. However we are concerned that, due to the fragility of the ceasefire, the US could exploit the resolution - despite its peaceful spirit - to pursue the Bush administration's military goals for the region. We make particular reference to the continued occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, and a feared attack on Iran and Syria.

The AWN believes that Israel is guilty of war crimes in deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Lebanon.

UN Resolution 1701 does not deal with the root causes of the conflict, which include Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, and the United States' agenda for hegemony in the Middle East. The conflict cannot be resolved by the identification of terrorist enemies and the use of military force against them; throughout the Middle East, this approach has provoked an ever more powerful reaction, and is thus a self-defeating strategy.

In conclusion:
The Anti-War Network opposes any plan to send Irish troops into Lebanon to police an ambiguous UN resolution, which might be used to demand the impossible disarmament of Hezbollah and to justify future Israeli military aggression. If, as seems likely, the US and Israel stage a wider regional confrontation by attacking Iran or Syria, UN forces, including Irish troops, would find themselves hopelessly embroiled in the conflict. Troops from a neutral country, such as Ireland, should play no role in policing a UN resolution that the US and Israel are likely to use to justify another war in a few months' time.

However, Ireland can play a valuable role in defusing this very dangerous situation. We urge the government of Ireland to take the following steps:

1. Engage in diplomatic initiatives to promote peace between Israel and Lebanon, to urge Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories and to discourage states including the United States and Iran from engaging in proxy wars in the region,
2. Prohibit the use of Irish territory, including particularly shannon and Baldonnel airports, for military purposes, including the transport of troops and arms to the Middle East.
3. Discourage and restrict Irish-based companies' production of armaments, including hardware and software systems for export to Israel.
4. Call for Israel to make reparations for the death and destruction that its army has inflicted in Lebanon, and make preparations to prosecute decision-makers for war crimes in the event that they arrive on Irish territory.

About the Anti-War Network
The Anti-War Network is a coalition of groups and organizations which meet every 3-4 weeks in the Teacher's Club in Dublin. The primary purpose of the Network is to facilitate communication, coordination and cooperation between all anti-war groups in Ireland.

For further information contact:
Michael Youlton 086 8159487
Sinιad Nν Bhroin 087 9266764