In Beirut which undergoes intensive Israeli bombardment, the Arab foreign ministers convene to support Lebanon and consult over means to end the brutal war that lasted for a month. The Lebanese demand that the Arab foreign ministers support the seven points plan made by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. This is plus adopting the Lebanese reservation concerning the US-French draft resolution given that it did not stipulate an immediate ceasefire.

Right from the very beginning of the war, France called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. Yesterday, the US-French draft resolution was unveiled and it did not stipulate an immediate ceasefire, replacing it with the halting of reciprocal military operations. We neither know why France abandoned what it called for at the beginning of the war nor how the United States convinced France to do this.

The Lebanese government has reservations about the draft resolution and the Arab foreign ministers should side with Lebanon and not to convince the Lebanese to accept it given that it is a first step towards a ceasefire as British Prime Minister Tony Blair said. Lebanon demands that the Arabs support it to defend its peoples and territories plus helping the Lebanese in the reconstruction process.

I wish that the agenda of the Arab foreign ministers would include the study of the non-military options to support Lebanon and boost the Arab dignity and rights.

Ibrahim Se'da
Al Akhbar