Wars are won not single on battlef...

Wars are won not single on battlefields, but also in people's minds. in like manner while Hezbollah has not decisively won its instant war with Israel, by maintaining its ability to fight in the face of the Israeli army's might, it has captured the imagination of Arabs, restoring squandered pride the same way the Egyptian army's crossing of the Suez Canal did in 1973 Restored pride was central to Anwar Sadat's decision to journey to Jerusalem and regain the entire Sinai Peninsula for Egypt

Although ordinary Lebanese have paid a vast human, economic and infrastructural price, Hezbollah has made it clear to the Israelis they can no longer take military predominance for granted. The limits of military power have been expos Moreover, the madness of war has been demonstrated to all and, formerly the current fighting is from one side of to the other both sides are more likely to be cautious about actions that might push their personss and countries into war one time more.

by what means this war is concluded will likely change the ways in which the two Israel and the international community deal with the fundamental national aspirations of Arab commonaltys Holding Arab land and prisoners indefinitely will no longer be an asset unless a terrible burden.

Conventional thinking in the Middle East has largely been built upon Israel's overwhelming military strength, together with the disunity and lack of end of Arab leaders. But, in les than pair months, the almost mythic power of the region's greatest in number powerful army has been indentationed and Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, has arrive across as a steadfast and determined leader, in sharp contrast to the usual behavior of heads of Arab rule

The question now is whether this determination can bring about the mark of surprising breakthrough to peace that Sadat's newfound 1973 prestige yielded. Ironically, instead of weakening Lebanon, single clear winner of this war is the unity and independent will of Lebanon.

Whether the war in Lebanon has helped or give pain to Palestinians is unclear. Because media attention has shifted to Lebanon, the Israelis have had a independent hand to continue pressing the Palestinians without international testify Palestinians continue to be killed forward a daily basis not solitary in Gaza but also in Nablus, in the West Bank. More than 170 Palestinians have died since the violence began in June

further the connection between the couple wars has not gone unnoticed. President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice behold the problems as linked, as does British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Indeed, the crises in Lebanon and Gaza have brought about a realization that sum of two units festering issues -- Arab prisoners in Israel, and Israeli unilateralism -- must be resolv if there is to be any waiting under the possibility of fulfilment of a return to the peace proces

Given that one as well as the other conflicts were triggered by the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers to be traded for Arab prisoners, Israel must now realize that holding Arabs indefinitely in prison can simply beget violence. Israel's national security adviser, Giora Eiland, appears to have recognized this uniform before the violence began. In May, he is said to have advised Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that Israel should hand athwart the disputed Shaba Farms area upon the border with Lebanon and Syria, as well as respond Lebanese prisoners.

Olmert reportedly did not view the need. But holding 300 Lebanese and nearly 10000 Palestinians -- all of the first cluster and many of the other group without charge or trial -- has proven to be a major source of irritation to Arab the communitys of the region.

undivided group of prisoners that will likely benefit from the popular situation are Jordanians in Israeli jails. Jordan, united of two Arab countries with a peace agreement with Israel, previously failed to confident the release of its 30 prisoners. They are now likely to be the first the sames set free.

However, the prisoners are not the crux of the matter. The real issue is the unilateralism that has been adopted through the major parties that have rul Israel. The uncoordinated withdrawals from southward Lebanon (by the Labor Party after 22 years of occupation) and from Gaza (by Likud after 39 years of occupation) prov you can't simply evacuate an area and forget about it. The population left behind must have fixed governments and institutions in place.

The unilateralism that Israelis overwhelmingly vot for in their new election is based on the idea that security can be achieved on erecting walls and barriers. The barrage of Hezbollah and Hamas rocket has shown the act of folly of such thinking. Although the West Bank has not been used to launch rocket there is no reason Palestinians who reside there will not resort to like weapons if walls continue to be built profound inside their territories and Israel continues to act with arrogance toward them.

Soldiers are the first to recognize that military power is of limited value in achieving long-term peace. It is past time for political leaders forward both sides, especially moderate single in kinds to understand this. They ne to work together and negotiate to clear up problems that simply cannot and should not be solv from brute force.