In its present format, the Security Council draft on Lebanon appears to be degrading. It is forced upon an Arab country and serves the interests of its occupiers. In actual fact, it seems to reward the aggressors and is closer to capitulation agreements forced upon defeated nations. As such, it is seen as a recipe for greater turbulence and instability and is not likely to lead to calm or to an acceptable settlement.

What should materialize at present is a clear Arab consensus embracing Lebanon's seven demands announced by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora at the Rome conference. The need is pressing for an Arab vision developed at the highest level, which could take place by re-endorsing the Arab Initiative of Beirut 2002 as the only means to ending the region's current plight and laying the foundations for security and stability. Otherwise, chaos and anarchy will prevail and anger will feed the forces of extremist fanaticism.

Ibrahim Nafei