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So, what year is this? A US president, following an extended period of implicit backing, has at last become involved to stop an offensive by Israeli forces that has turned large areas of a urban center in the region to ruins, leaving numerous individuals dead and sparking global outrage.

The offensive has followed a succession of assaults on the Israeli nation. Presently, facing demands from the US administration, the Israeli prime minister, a rightwinger with an aptitude for populist rhetoric and a deep conviction of Zionist historical purpose, has agreed to a halt in hostilities.

Historical Comparisons

The year is not present day, but the early 1980s. The location is not the Gaza Strip, but Beirut. The president is Ronald Reagan, not the current administration.

We find significant distinctions between the situation in Lebanon over four decades ago and current circumstances in Palestinian territories in the last 24 months. The militant assault of last year, which resulted in 1,200 and included 250 captured, bears little comparison with the comparatively limited activities of the Palestinian leadership in the time before military entry of the Lebanese nation.

Remarkable Resemblances

Several similarities are remarkable. The president ultimately picked up the phone the counterpart, informing him that the situation in Beirut was "a disaster" and saying the relations between their nations could be seriously harmed if the fighting continued.

During that period, similar to current times, the conflict developed in real time on millions of screens. Numerous correspondents entered Beirut to report on for the first time an Arab–Israeli war without information control by any party.

Aftermath and Consequences

What happened subsequent to the conversation from American leadership and the halt in fighting in Lebanon is revealing. The Palestinian organization, its groups and leaders were dispersed across vast distances and a various states.

The US administration then withdrew multinational troops – a breach of the understanding with the Palestinian leader. Bashir Gemayel, Lebanon's freshly appointed leader and Israeli-supported figure, was killed by Damascus operatives.

Area-wide Shifts

Similar patterns emerged across the wider Middle East. By the late seventies, the predominantly worldly and forward-thinking concepts that had appeared to provide the promise of a new future in the regional countries a decade or so earlier were undermined.

The outcomes of this became very clear, in short order

Throughout the area, Israel and the America now encountered enemies who were much more stubborn, deadly and efficient than the leftists and patriotic organizations of previous times.

Western Response

Among Western nations, the consequences of this were unexpected. During the that decade, western analysts and government representatives had sought to understand what generated violent extremism.

Subsequently, in the start of the eighties, this ended. National figures in the United States, the UK and additional countries were ceased being concerned in "root causes" of conflict.

Current Similarities

Last week, sources suggest that today's officials told government representatives that Israel could not confront global opinion and admitted national hopes for a independent nation.

This also was an parallel of that earlier period. In the wake of the Israeli invasion of that nation, earlier administration told Israel that the power of its armed forces alone could not "establish just and lasting peace" and acknowledged "justified demands of the Arab residents."

However a internationally-backed diplomatic initiative supposed to resolve those grievances stalled completely. Overseas, national representatives observed helplessly.

International interest in the area decreased. Israel rejected accommodations. Later, there was the initial uprising, and the creation of additional militant groups.

• The patterns of previous events provide sobering perspectives for current peace efforts
• Enduring agreements require addressing fundamental problems rather than short-term truces
• Local circumstances continue to change in complex and sometimes unexpected ways