Lebanon and the aftermath

Written by Andrew Duff and published in Lib Dem News on Tue 5th Sep 2006

In a recent Observer article, Menzies Campbell calls for the Anglo-American relationship 'to be rebalanced'. He appeals to 'those in all parties who believe in a rules-based system of foreign relations, who recognise the unfulfilled possibilities of greater European cooperation'. He continues: 'Israel/Palestine should become not a cause but an obsession. If it redefines our relationship with the United States, so be it'.

At Brighton, Campbell has the golden opportunity to take his argument further. A significant part of the leader's speech needs, in any case, to be devoted to European and international affairs in order to redress the otherwise uniquely domestic nature of the conference agenda. The Lebanese crisis, its causes, déroulement and aftermath, provides the opportunity for Lib Dems to distance ourselves from our opponents. It is high time that UK foreign policy broke with the American preference and went European.

The government is apparently gob-smacked at the speed and decisiveness with which the rest of the EU has got its act together. The EU's stated aim is to restore the sovereignty and authority of the Lebanese government. € 100m has been pledged for reconstruction. 7000 troops plus logistical support have been committed by EU member states. Turkey, an EU accession state, has taken the difficult but significant decision to join its forces. UN rules of engagement allow these European troops to defend themselves from attack by both Hizbollah and the Israelis, as well as to go on the offensive at the behest of the Lebanese armed forces. The EU is calling for an end to the blockade, an exchange of prisoners, and, in the longer run, for an international conference on security and cooperation in the Middle East. The main aim of the latter is to get Israel to recognise a proper Palestinian state. All these decisions and initiatives Campbell should firmly back. Going further, should not Israel, which enjoys EU trade privileges, be required to pay towards the cost of this mission?

No doubt Campbell will wonder (out loud) why the UK is not contributing to this military and diplomatic effort. Military over-stretch in Iraq and Afghanistan we understand only too well. But the political truth is that Britain has become the unacceptable face of Europe in the Middle East - and we are ashamed.