True, the Middle East is not about going off the radar anytime soon.  In the future I might write other articles about Middle Eastern issues, but for the time being I have no plans for further articles on the issue.  

Yes, democracy-peace theory is indeed very interesting reading when delving into international relations and conflict studies.  In general I would say that I concur to the theory that most democracies do not wage war against each other for the mere fact that at the core of democracy thinking is the idea that conflicts are to be solved through negotiations and according to a mutually accepted set of rules (the Law).  Now you will always find exceptions to this rule and indeed circumstances that invalidates the application of such a concept, but I do believe that this theory holds validity in most cases.  

In order for states to be able to call themselves democratic they have to fulfil certain criteria.  When those criterion's are met, you'd find very few examples, if any, of two democracies waging war against each other even if you look at democratic states that do not belong to the western concept.  

I would say that Israel fulfil most criterion's for being deemed a democratic state, but you have of course one important point that makes Israel stand out from other democratic states and that is the fact that it is technically still at war with some of its neighbours.  That is why people, in my opinion, cannot compare Israel to democracies in for instance Europe that live in peace and tranquillity with its neighbours.  Looking back at many European countries during WW II, I'd say such a comparison would be more applicable.  

I'd say that if Syria became a democracy over night I do not think all problems would have disappeared, but I do think that, in time when the democratic system and institutions had settled and become a natural part of Syrian politics, that the risk of war would have decreased and soon disappeared.  The two states would still have their disputes, but they would be settled through negotiations and diplomacy rather than war.  

Lebanon is a non-functioning state, with a government not in control of its own territory and technically still at war with Israel (there is no peace agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel since the war in 1973 at the moment, only a cease-fire agreement).  Adding to that having a religious militia armed to the teeth in the Southern parts of Lebanon (Hezbollah) eager to resume some kind of fighting with its southern neighbour, I'd say conflict and war is quite a natural outcome under such circumstances.

That is my thoughts and deliberations on the issue, anyway.

Bitsofnews.com Giving you the latest bits.