Mission Impossible?

It should be made clear from the start: It is good that the international community is participating in attempts to create more peace and security in the Middle East. It is equally good -- and by now a matter of course -- that Germany is taking part, both as a responsible player in the international community and for historical reasons.

But that's also where disagreements begin to crop up. Germany discussed for weeks whether it should engage its soldiers in the Middle East. Both sides in the debate argued on the basis of the above mentioned historical reasons. One side claimed that -- in a case of emergency -- German soldiers could clash with the Israelis. The other side stressed that securing peace in the region was a contribution to Israel's own security and as such, naturally, a matter of German concern.

No consensus was reached but German soldiers got shipped off to the eastern Mediterranean anyway and the German navy has by now assumed command over the international maritime task force operating in the region. So far, so good. But one wonders at the same time if this deployment, in particular, and the international operation, in general, are thoroughly thought through. Will they indeed serve as a constructive contribution to more stability, peace and security? Or will they turn out to be one of those well-intended international missions that lack a clear idea or a reasonable timeframe -- something we know from an increasing number of crisis regions in the world?

And although it's clear that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) now has wider competences than before, both on land and at sea, it does not have a clear mandate to disarm the Hezbollah militia or even forcefully to get in its way. This task is still reserved for the Lebanese army, which out of inner political reasons alone may not do anything like that. But also because the Lebanese army is too weak to go against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah knows that better than anybody. This may explain his demonstrative feeling of victory, which is, in reality, sharply contradicted by facts: Hezbollah did not win the 34-day-long war. Neither did Israel. But, in the Middle East, those who don't perish can declare victory and will usually find somebody to buy into it.

So what could a random German soldier change about it? Germany's mission as well as the whole UNFIL should now receive massive political support on the international stage. More effort should be put into finding a political solution. But this solution should not be limited to the conflict on the border between Israel and Lebanon. It should also include the central problem between Israel and Palestine. This, however, may turn out to be too much for the international community to deal with.

Peter Philipp is Deutsche Welle's chief correspondent and an expert on the Middle East. (tt)