It might be appropriate before getting into the subject to set the scene right. According to the dictionary, occupation of a country happens when it is entered and controlled by a foreign army. A sovereign state is defined as a nonphysical juridical entity of the international legal system that is represented by a centralized government that has supreme independent authority over a geographic area.
Now
let us state some facts. Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, based on the heavy and
large weapons, funding and training at its disposal, is an army by all
standards. The chief leader and controller of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hassan
Nasrallah, makes no ambiguity about his loyalty and from where he receives
orders to mobilize his army. He seize every opportunity to emphasize that he is
a soldier and a servant for the Supreme leader of the Iranian revolution,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and will always follow
his instructions and orders. Hezbollah's
army, men and weapons, spread over and control the entire southern Lebanon.
Hassan Nasrallah doesn't hide or shy from the fact his army is supported and
financed by Iran.
Now,
having provided the above relevant definitions and facts, anyone who doubts
that Iran is occupying Southern half of Lebanon needs to see his doctor soon. Anyone
who doubts Hassan Nasrallah is running South Lebanon as a sovereign state
should see his doctor as well.
The
question is what has the world done about it and what has Lebanon done about
it. Why doesn't the Lebanese government declare Hezbollah as an invading
Iranian force occupying Lebanese land? Hezbollah has gone to war with Israel that
lasted almost a month in 2006. The Israeli army is one of the strongest in the
region. Now how can Hezbollah survive a month war with Israel if it is not financed
by another strong country? It can't be
Lebanon for conflict of Interest and size, it can't be Syria (although the
Assad's government is the middle man) because Assad's regime can't afford the
finance. All facts and indicators point to Iran.
The world is holding Iran at
sanction-point, and probably later at gun-point, to give up its nuclear weapons
program. But, nobody talks of ending Iranian occupation of Southern Lebanon.
This subject should be and should remain on the table, side by side with the
nuclear issue, otherwise the Lebanese government and Lebanese people will
remain indefinitely slaves for the Iranian ayatollahs. On a recent interview,
the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon stated that there are five issues the West is
discussing with Iran, namely the nuclear program, human rights, Middle East peace
process, democracy and terrorism.
The sixth important issue: Iran disarming its proxy army Hezbollah and merging it under the leadership of the official Lebanese army. No sanctions on Iran should ever be lifted if Hezbollah doesn't give up its weapons to the Lebanese government and become a political party not a militia serving foreign agenda.
Hamad S Alomar
Riyadh
