News

Tursday, 15th May 2014

Times York New The
9
Opinion
By Rachel Ferrett
Step up, Mr Cameron!
CRISIS management in the West has become
a game of political chicken, where both parties
are waiting silently in anticipation to see who
will crack frst.
If youve been following the media cov-
erage of the Hezbollah hostage crisis recent-
ly you would be well aware of the British
governments refusal to communicate with the
terrorist organisation.
First and foremost, I will say that neither I,
nor the New York Times, support the justif-
cation that Hezbollah has given for abducting
the four foreign contractors in Jiyeh on May
4th. Any act of terrorism, no matter where it
is conducted or who it is targeted at, is wrong
and inhumane. Terrorism does not solve our
issues with one another. I will also state that
the views expressed here are solely my own,
and not those of the other journalists at the
New York Times.
I frmly believe that the way to resolve con-
fict is by calmly discussing the issue at hand.
Outline your objectives, lay down the issues
you have with one another openly, and estab-
lish realistic compromises that best achieve the
goals of each party. Sure, some people are not
open to diplomatic discussion, particularly in
politics, but complete silence and inaction has
no chance of solving issues of this magnitude.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has
blatantly refused to negotiate with terrorists.
At the beginning of this ongoing case I was
all for this and completely understood his
position. Had I been a world leader dealing
with this hostage situation I would have taken
the same course of action. However, as the
case proceeded, Hezbollah made their terms
more lenient.
Te current demand is for David Cameron
to directly contact the organisation and go
from there peacefully. At this stage, I could
still understand the British governments
stance, if the other nations involved hadnt al-
ready seen the safe return of their own citizens
by complying with Hezbollahs demands. But
the reality is that they have. Markus Arkantz
from Germany is back at home celebrating his
29th birthday today, meanwhile Jon-Charles
Laurent is settling back into everyday life with
his family in France.
Right now, Prime Minister Cameron is hin-
dering the safety of the two remaining hostages,
Brendan OBrien and Louis ep Marie, by not
communicating in the manner that the group is
requesting.
Rest assure the government is doing
everything within its power to fnd a peaceful
resolution to the situation and will continue to
update as the situation develops.

Tis is what the Prime Minister announced
last Wednesday afer Hezbollah claimed respon-
sibility for the kidnapping. I highlight here that
he used the phrase a peaceful resolution. How
can such be achieved when he neglects to talk
to the people who literally have control over the
lives of his own citizens?
Other countries have ofered their advice on
the situation, and in some cases felt the need to
intervene, Russia being a prime example.
Mr Cameron seems happy to use other
nations as puppets in this hostage situation,
but only when he is the one pulling the strings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin copped a lot
of criticism when he started negotiations with
Hezbollah over the release of the hostages, none
of which belonged to his country. Te question
I have is was David Cameron angry because
Putin could have jeopardised the situation, or
was he just annoyed that the action didnt come
from his camp?
But what is Mr Cameron to do now that the
puppet strings are tangled? Lebanon and the
United Nations no longer want to act as a go
between for Britain and Hezbollah, although
the UN has agreed to investigate the number of
hostages and their nationalities at the request
of the UK, and Russia is merely an advocate
for hostage safety; it is not their responsibility
to bring them home. France and Germany are
supportive of Britain, but they have no infuence
now that their own hostages are home safe.
Te Prime Minister is lucky that his hostages
have not been killed yet, and I would recom-
mend that he swallow his pride and begin
negotiations, because as Hezbollah have said
on more than one occasion, their patience is
wearing thin.
Britain is adamant the health and safety of
the hostages are the responsibility of Hezbol-
lah. Our actions will be in the best interests of
all British citizens around the world. Is this
really the case, though? To me, it seems that the
government is more concerned with protecting
their image by not giving into terrorism- if you
could call it that- than ensuring the safety of
the British men that have been caught up in
someone elses fght. Who here in this terrible
situation is being beneftted? Certainly not these
two men and their families.
Mr Cameron and the British government
have to stop shifing all the responsibility of
preserving life onto Hezbollah and acknowledge
that Britain has a signifcant role in seeing the
safe return of OBrien and ep Marie their own
citizens.
I hold hope that these innocent civilians
will be returned unharmed, but if the British
Government continues conducting itself in
this manner, then I feel like all I can do is ofer
my condolences to those families who will lose
their loved ones in a matter of days.
Something has to change, and it has to
change now. Stop playing political chicken,
Prime Minister; that is what is in the best inter-
ests of your citizens.

Nobody has died in
this situation.
But they could, Mr Cameron.