Cain & Cain
By: Charles Jalkh/ A Lebanese Freedom Fighter
 
Sandwiched between the Israeli and the Syrian occupations, Lebanon continues to sink into deep political, economic, and social catastrophes. A regime of collaborators and Mafia rules the country under the savage Syrian dictatorship. In the south Israel continue to violate international law and inflict upon our people all sorts of aggressions including outright war. It is time for Israel to recognize the wrongs it committed against Lebanon and withdraw. In the rest of the country, Assad's barbaric troops continue to eradicate every symbol of the Lebanese independent identity. Syrian jails are filled with tortured Lebanese freedom fighters. Finally, greedy Billionaire Hariri continues to confiscate the resources of the country and loot its coffers.
 
Meanwhile Israel and Syria continue to enjoy 25 years of peace on their common border and seem happy to continue the status quo; tranquility for them and war and pillage on Lebanon. The US, Western powers, and the UN continue to witness the crime silently if not approvingly.
 
It is time for the International community to show its sincerity and conduct a conference on Lebanon. Such conference should be attended by both occupying powers; Israel and Syria, and conducted under the Auspices of the United Nations and the US. The legitimate government of Lebanon headed by PM Michel Aoun would represent Lebanon. There would be no need for the current Syrian-appointed Beirut puppet regime to be there since Syria is already attending.
 
What we would like to see from this conference is the disengagement of the Lebanese track from all other tracks as dictated by the Madrid accords. Israel and Syria must pledge to withdraw immediately from Lebanon and act upon it. We do not care about their issues with each others, we are ready for peace with both of them on the condition they respect our sovereignty, independence, international law, and the freedoms of our society and our people. Syria, Israel, and Lebanon would then sign peace treaties, exchange ambassadors, and proceed with normal neighborly relations.
 
UN and/or NATO peacekeeping forces would then deploy throughout the country to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces in maintaining security according to humane and international standards, and help the transition. All articles of the Taef constitution, which was imposed through the Syrian cannon, would be declared void and the original constitution will be reinstated. All idols of the Taef occupation regime would be removed from power and the legitimate Government of PM Aoun would return after a period of reorganization of the security apparatus to guarantee the safety of the government officials, and to protect the people from war criminals. All treaties imposed on Lebanon during the occupation period will be immediately declared null and void. All Syrian nationals must return immediately to Syria and all foreigners who illegally acquired the Lebanese nationality during the occupation will also be deported. New elections can then be conducted under UN auspices resulting in a new parliament, president of the republic, and a government. Talks between all Lebanese parties will then commence to discuss a new constitution, which will then be submitted to the people in a referendum. Justice would then be served. A dark and shameful chapter of humanity would be erased. We will become again believers in human justice and contributors towards a better world.
 
The masquerade should not be allowed to continue; the combined Syrian-Israeli occupation and pillage of Lebanon. Syria and Israel are two faces of the same coin. They are Cain and Cain, two killers, two evil brothers, a monster with two heads. They are in agreement when it comes to the destruction of Lebanon and they have proven it time after time. Both have committed great evils against our people. It is time for them to withdraw from Lebanon and abide by the laws of God almighty. And as Moses cried to Ramsis with thunder; we today scream at the occupiers; Let our people live!
 
Long Live Free Lebanon