May 25 is an exceptional day on the Lebanese calendar. In fact, and under normal circumstances it should be a day to celebrate across the Arab World. It is the Liberation Day of Lebanon. 

A Lebanese woman celebrating Liberation Day in a village in south Lebanon.  PHOTO: Al-Akhbar

On that day 12 years ago, a few committed Lebanese fighters scored the first-ever Arab victory against Israel and forced its strong and previously undefeated army to withdraw unconditionally from Lebanese territory that it occupied for more than 22 years. Never in the history of the Israeli – Arab conflict had Israel been forced to withdraw from any Arab territory occupied by force without negotiation and humiliating concessions from its Arab neighbors. 

The Israeli army was later handed another sound defeat when it launched its destructive military machine against Lebanon in what has been called the 33-Day War in the summer of 2006. 

Israel again failed to achieve its declared objectives and was forced to retreat from Lebanese land, accepting a UN Security resolution that ceased the fighting but didn’t end the conflict. 

As the Arab world boils in its hot spring, the sound of guns today ring the loudest, and the rising sectarian tension engulfing the region is placing a damper on any celebratory mood. 

Despite all of this it is a time to stand and remember this day in history with pride and reflection as we also commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Nakba, an infamous event that slipped by relatively unnoticed as Arabs were busy burning what is left of their nations and brotherhood in a vicious and divisive cycle of violence. Meanwhile, Israel’s notorious right wing government seizes more Palestinian land while killing and ejecting more Palestinians from their homes. 

Today is a time to remember the accomplishments and reflect on the shortcomings. 

As Lebanese celebrate with pride on this 12th anniversary of Liberation Day, they and their Arab brothers should keep their focus on occupied Palestine and the suffering of the Palestinian people, not their own petty differences.