Lebanon

How can the UN ceasefire resolution that called for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah ensure a lasting peace? USIP convened a roundtable of panelists to discuss the criteria for effective peacekeeping in the aftermath of this latest crisis in the Middle East.

A protracted political stalemate plagues Lebanon. This dangerous deadlock has propelled the country once again toward the abyss of civil war. Will the violence that haunts the country's past recur? Is there a way out?

Over the past year and a half, Lebanon has witnessed tremendous political upheaval. Can Lebanon escape its sectarian politics and offer itself as an example for the region?

As the crisis in Lebanon and Israel worsens, the search for solutions continues. The question looms large: Can there be a successful mediation? Recently, USIP put that question to a group of experts who discussed the key components necessary for moving toward a mediated solution.

As the international community continues to debate humanitarian assistance to Gaza, USIP examines “Reconstructing Gaza – Lessons from Lebanon” by Beirut-based Alistair Harris, a Deployable Civilian Expert for the British Government’s Stabilisation Unit. Harris argues that donors should avoid the temptation to adopt a mechanistic, one size fits all solution. “In the rush to rebuild what was destroyed, it should be remembered,” writes Harris, “that the major catalysts for this conflict were political and economic. As such, the reconstruction effort must ensure that viable employment initiatives form part of the post-conflict stabilization plan. This was very much a man-made humanitarian disaster,” concludes the report. “If the underlying issues are not addressed, unfortunately renewed conflict would seem inevitable.”

As the political situation in Lebanon grows increasingly volatile, the nature of Syria’s role in Lebanon and, in particular, its alliance with Hezbollah, warrants closer examination.

This book explores the role of interfaith dialogue in the polarized climate of the Middle East by focusing on four different settings: Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. The analysis demonstrates the value of interfaith dialogue and the extent to which religious communities are successfully connecting with each other.

Conference Paper