The War in Lebanon and the New Middle East
Aug 2006, Vol. 151, No. 4
By Asher Susser
The current war between Israel and Hizbullah in Lebanon is not just another round in the classical Arab-Israeli conflict. Neither is it classical warfare nor vintage Arab-Israeli confrontation. In fact, key Sunni Muslim Arab states are, for the most part, passive bystanders. Moreover, they would most probably prefer Israel to win and set back the Shia militant Islamic ascendancy, as represented in the Iranian-Hezbollah alliance, that Israel is presently fighting. This signifies a new Middle East. In fact, the Middle East of the last twenty years or so has undergone a series of changes of historical consequence. These include the diminishing power of the Arab states, the rise of the non-Arab regional powers, the shifting balance between Sunni and Shia and alternating perceptions of Israeli security.
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By Asher Susser
The current war between Israel and Hizbullah in Lebanon is not just another round in the classical Arab-Israeli conflict. Neither is it classical warfare nor vintage Arab-Israeli confrontation. In fact, key Sunni Muslim Arab states are, for the most part, passive bystanders. Moreover, they would most probably prefer Israel to win and set back the Shia militant Islamic ascendancy, as represented in the Iranian-Hezbollah alliance, that Israel is presently fighting. This signifies a new Middle East. In fact, the Middle East of the last twenty years or so has undergone a series of changes of historical consequence. These include the diminishing power of the Arab states, the rise of the non-Arab regional powers, the shifting balance between Sunni and Shia and alternating perceptions of Israeli security.
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