The denouement of Moammar Gadhafi's dictatorship in Libya is now closer than ever. Libyans have turned over a new leaf in their own history. The events in Tripoli affect us all. Humanity is charging toward a new world, one which has no room for dictators. It will take time to get there, but we can all see the direction of the march. We hope that what began with the Arab Spring and the self-immolation of one desperate Tunisian fruit vendor will grip the entire region. In the words of French President Nicholas Sarkozy, the time has come for the Syrian people to breathe freely as well. Syria's citizens also have a right to democracy. Syria may not be Libya, but the aspirations of its people must also be fulfilled. President Bashar Assad must resign, as Sarkozy, U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron have all explicitly demanded. It is important to point out that none of this would have happened were it not for the great courage of Arab nations. We must salute the determination and unity of the Libyan opposition and the crucial role played by Libya's National Transitional Council. The international community should also be commended for its rapid and efficient response, through the combined actions of the U.N. and NATO, that garnered the support of many Arab states. Security Council resolution 1973, initiated by French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and Great Britain, represents the first implementation of the "Responsibility to Protect" doctrine, which details the legal framework for international interventions. This was followed by restrained and focused NATO military action, led by the French and British air forces with U.S. assistance, which has now proven its great worth. A tough diplomatic stance, along with the pressure and use of force in accordance with international law, prevented a bloodbath and paved the way to freedom. We now need to focus on the future, which is by no means a simple task. That is why the new government in Libya will require the involvement of the international community to guide and assist it. The challenge ahead is great and Libya will need all the support it can get. For this reason, Sarkozy proposed convening a broad international summit on Sept. 1 that would establish a new plan of action in conjunction with Libya's new government. Mahmoud Jibril, chairman of Libya's National Transitional Council, has called on Libyans to desist from any thoughts of revenge. Jibril did the right thing. All factions in Libya must be encouraged to reconcile and, together, prepare for elections. We can assist them, but it is clear that only Libyans have the right to determine their future and build the new democratic Libya. The road ahead will be tough, but it is a path that must be followed, for the sake of Libya, as well as to set an example for other nations. What happens in Libya is of utmost importance to the entire Mediterranean region. In any event, France will fulfill its duty and do everything in its power to help the Libyan citizens to write a new page in their history. The writer is the French ambassador to Israel.
