Lynn Griver Gedera
Zvi Bar-el's article, "In fair territory" Nov. 20, 1998 lays out the
dynamics of what is actually going on in Southern Lebanon. This
week's
loss of three soldiers is part of the routine this country has become
accustomed to.
It is easy for the government and the Army officials to refer to women
who
take to the streets and demonstrate as a group of hysterical mothers
of
soldiers. In a very rational state, I read Zvi Bar-el's article
along with
many others this week-end. I only received further reinforcement that
staying in Southern Lebanon continues to be a catastrophic mistake.
On a
very emotional and personal level, I watched the faces of my children
and
their friends as they sadly mourn the loss of a friend blown up by
the
Hezbollah.
Where is the accountability for these terrible losses? How can
our
soldiers be expected to have motivation after each Hezbollah victory
is
seen as a terrible mistake that calls for another investigation on
our
side? How often can they mourn for dead friends and go out and
very
possibly face yet another "mistake" themselves?
Yasser Arafat is now the Prime Minister's partner in peace. Everyone
knows what a lengthy, painful process that has involved. Shouldn't
we
learn from previous experience how to talk to the enemy? Must
we
perpetuate the horrors of Southern Lebanon so the Army has somewhere
to put
practice into action?
