When world leaders gather in Rome today to discuss ways to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, their focus will appropriately be on an immediate ceasefire and an international force in southern Lebanon to keep the peace. Both, however, are fraught with complications that will be difficult, but not impossible, to overcome.

As the United States has found in Iraq, military force alone will not stop Hezbollah. Despite 12 days of air strikes, the terrorist group continues to launch missiles into Israel. Israeli attacks can temporarily weaken Hezbollah, but won’t eliminate the group that has an ample supply of recruits angered by Israel’s bombings. Neither will Hezbollah and other extremist groups wipe Israel, which has a strong, well-equipped military, off the map.

The short-term solution then is an end to hostilities followed quickly by negotiations. A large part of the initial diplomacy will focus on keeping Hezbollah out of southern Lebanon if Israeli troops leave. Although officials in the Middle East and Europe support an international peacekeeping force, finding soldiers is likely to be a problem for a variety of reasons. The United States and Britain have too many troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to contribute to such a force. NATO, which is set to take over operations in Afghanistan next month, says it is overcommitted.

The most promising source of soldiers would be NATO’s only Muslim member, Turkey, as Secretary Rice proposed. Continued fighting, or worse, a spreading of fighting, could undermine moderate regimes in the region. Israel’s bombing of Beirut has displaced nearly 1 million people and set back Lebanon’s economy by decades. This will further the economic distress that fuels militant groups like Hezbollah.

Two important countries will be missing from today’s meeting in Rome – Syria and Iran, both supporters of Hezbollah. Although neither can be counted on to act responsibly in the ongoing conflict, they should not be ignored. Talks with Syria could be fruitful. The country has long wanted to resume negotiations with Israel about the Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in 1967 and has held since then. Beginning such talks in exchange for Syria’s stopping weapons and supplies bound for Hezbollah could be a tentative step in solving the larger Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ending the fighting that has killed more than 400 Lebanese civilians and 40 Israelis is an international priority. Diplomats should then turn their attention to finding ways to stop the chronic attacks on Israel as part of a larger peace process.