Makdissi’s comments came Friday during a panel discussion sponsored by the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Relations in College Hall, Auditorium, B in the presence of the Personal Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Lebanon Geir Pederson and the director of the institute Rami Khouri.

The discussion was entitled The United Nations and the Rule of Law in the Middle East.

Makdissi said that after he had reviewed the international and humanitarian laws, he found that Israel, which claimed the its war against Lebanon was in self defense against Hezbollah’s aggression, was in violation of international and humanitarian laws following its brutal reprisal to Hezbollah’s action. “Nevertheless, Hezbollah’s trespass and kidnapping was illegal,” he said.

“For [Israel’s] self defense to be eligible, there had to be three requirements: The threat should be imminent, the retaliation means should be proportional and it had to be a necessity,” he added.

Makdisi argued that the UN had failed its duty. “The creation of the UN was essentially to preserve worldwide peace and security,” he said. “The recent UN resolution concerning Lebanon and Israel, however, was part of a larger global plan at the expense of Lebanon,” he added. “This and the delay to stop the war, added to the crisis of legitimacy and authority at the UN.”

According Makdisi, “the UN is at a crossroads. It has a very important role to play, where it must at one hand accommodate and deal with the only hegemonic super power, the US; and at another hand, it must go back to building a society.” He added that if the UN fails to do so, a “chaotic future” will be eminent.

“I agree with Karim,” said Pederson. “But I also disagree.” “When it comes to the UN,” he argued, “Security Council resolutions become international laws even though they are based on political negotiations.”

Pederson described UN Security Council Resolution 1701 as “a very unique resolution” that established a clear framework for a safe Lebanon.

On August 11, the UN Security Council passed resolution 1701,_ in which it called for a “full cessation of hostilities” between Israel and Hezbollah. The resolution also called for the implementation of UNSC 1559 which stipulates that the Lebanese government disarm all militias, the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the free elections of a Lebanese president. The Lebanese cabinet unaninoumously endorsed UNSC 1701.

Pederson said that UNSC 1701 paved the way for the settlement of the Lebanese-Israeli dispute over the Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon and an exchange of Lebanese and Israeli prisoners. According to Pederson, the US government was instrumental in reaching such an agreement. “Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice played an important role for a better Lebanon,” he said.

“The time has come for Lebanon to take ownership of the resolution and define it. And when it does so, many good things will happen for Lebanon,” he added saying that UNSCR1701 “actually proved that the UN is bigger than the US.”

The UN official called on students to be active wherever they are and try to change things for the better. In Lebanon, he said, the solution could start with the passing of a new electoral law.