Lebanon in Paris: an international convention resulting in a $1 billion pledge from France to Lebanon in aid. This conference gathered 70 countries, with the UN discussing a peacekeeping mission called the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. The UNIFIL is a task force set to reduce misunderstandings and conflicts between Israel and Lebanon. France, Italy and Spain provide a third of its troops in aid in addition to France’s $1 billion promise. António Guterres (UN Secretary General) said, “attacks on U.N. peacekeepers are totally unacceptable and are contrary to international law, contrary to international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime.” All of this comes after Israel non-stop airstrikes in Lebanon.
Suspicion amongst the UN arises after the leader of Hamas had been successfully terminated by Israel, but airstrikes continue relentlessly. Hezbollah’s ties with Hamas is evidently contributing to Israel attacking Lebanon, yet France is ticked off with such. Lebanon is a former colony of France, which is important to take into consideration why France is offering such aid. Furthermore, the growing suspicion of war crimes committed by Israel is turning the international community to turn on Israel. This is significant because the United States may be taking this stance soon, even though we have a past with our own attacks via terrorism. International Human Right violations do not sit right with the United states, let alone other western countries.
Paris feels some sort of obligation due to post-imperialism factors. In one way or another, Lebanon still relies on France, at the very least through their aid. Furthermore, on a regional level, Europe is taking the stance against Israel. Italy and Spain providing troops show a spreading support for countries of Palestinians. For quite some time, Israel was supported due to the terroristic nature of Hamas (and the attack on their state). Europe is abundant with diplomatic states, and majority are in NATO. Perhaps this will lead to NATO involvement in such conflict, more than just that of France. On an individual level of analysis, it seems Guterres is determined to shut Israel down…