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Italy and the Greater Middle East: A Need for Resolute Patience

The Israeli-Lebanese conflict of summer 2006 marked the beginning of a new phase in Middle Eastern politics. For the first time, the Israeli government entrusted part of the state’s security to an international guarantee and a robust multinational force — the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFR) — at its borders. In the framework of cooperation with the United States and the United Nations, the European Union’s role shifted from that of the key payer and major funding source of the past to key player with an important proactive political and military role. This is a potential turning point for the entire Middle East, provided the leading democracies find the courage and coherence to combine their collective resources and skills to induce political progress both in Lebanon and on the Israeli-Palestinian front. The question is whether we can build sufficient momentum for such an ambitious agenda. Without steps toward a political settlement between Israel and its neighbors, UNIFIL II could rapidly find itself in a very delicate and risky position. The commitment to peace and stability in Lebanon comes at a time when momentous decisions have to be made by regional and international actors. All the main actors in the Middle East, however, find themselves at some sort of impasse. While the United States suffers stalemate in Iraq, the situation is critical both for Israel, because of the collapse of Prime Minister Ehut Olmert’s unilateral “convergence” strategy, and for the Palestinian Authority