Lebanon Is Back! Decided To Return To Arab Family?
07 December 2016
By Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi
SO is Lebanon back to our universe? Has our younger brother decided to return
to his Arab family? Has its detour to the ''Farsi Land'' reached an end? Not
so fast!
Let's review the latest developments in this politically and economically
troubled country. So far, it refilled the vacancy in the presidential
institution. Baabda Palace now is alive with a new elected president.
General Michel Aoun returns back to the office his new allies had removed him
from in 1990, forcing him to seek political asylum in France. It took him 15
years to return in 2005, form a new party, the Free Patriotic Movement, and
work his way back to presidency, on Oct. 31, 2016.
The Lebanese ex-general, prime minister and president who fought Syrian army
and its political Shiite militias and lost, managed to forge a united front
with the son of his arch enemy, former Syrian President, Hafiz Assad.
Bashar and his masters in Iran and their agent in Lebanon, Hezbollah, have
changed tracks and became the general's adamant backers. For his sake, they
sabotaged any election for president, government and parliament, for two
years.
On the other hand, Saad Hariri, who is closer to our Arab camp, became the
prime minister. In other parts of the Arab world it would look odd. Only in
Lebanon, friends and foes could change seats so easily and quickly. Still, It
might be too early to call it a done deal.
Hariri is still in the hardest part of it all —forming a coherent government.
He needs to satisfy the unsatisfiable. Each party demands a bigger bite of the
party cake. Problem is: Even if the council of ministers has increased from 20
to 30 members, there are no enough seats to go around. Besides, you cannot
duplicate the ones that matters — interior, defense, finance and foreign
affairs. Those are the ministries where the power and money is.
So here we are: Finally, we have a president trying the balance his act
between Iran and the Arabs, defending what is left of his country's
independence, staying out of regional conflicts and unifying a divided nation.
And here we are with a prime minister trying to unite his party, winning
everyone's approval, and getting down to the business of government.
His father's legacy is tall. Late Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri (1992-2004),
rebuilt his country from the ashes of the Civil War (1975-1990). With the
support of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf nations, France, the US and Europe, he
managed to transform the country into a thriving tourism center.
State and private investments came in billions of hard currencies to rebuild
airports, ports, road networks, public transportation and civic services. The
banking system was invigorated and the currency, Lira, and the share market
were strengthened.
His charity organization sponsored thousands of graduates in Lebanese and
international schools, built hospitals and clinics, and supported communities
all over the country, regardless of political, religious and sectarian
background.
His foreign affairs achievements were constrained by the Syrian and Iranian
intervention. Still, he managed to put Lebanon back on the Arab and
international map. With the hard work and at his personal risk, he managed to
balance his relations with the regional major players, keeping his nation
away, as much as possible, of political and military conflicts.
Such phenomenal success didn't go down well with the Syrians and their Iranian
sponsors and agents. They pressured him, sieged him, and forced him out of
government. When he decided to run again for office, they warned him and
finally he had to go! He was assassinated with a big bang, on Feb. 14, 2005.
Against all obstacles, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon found enough evidence
to incriminate the Syrian intelligence and Hezbollah with their sponsor, Iran.
Today, the son is following his father's path. The challenges are the same, if
not more. The country is in dire need for peace, normalcy and financial
support. If the government could draw the fine line with the regional powers,
it could accommodate an acceptable space that might not win hearts, but at
least be good enough to bring back tourists, investors and political support.
The Saudis are not back, yet, but they signaled their willingness to
reconsider. The King has extended an invitation to the Lebanese President to
visit Riyadh as his first foreign visit. A high-profile delegation, led by
Prince Khaled Al-Fisal, the King's adviser, and Thamer Al-Sabhan, state
minister, visited Beirut to congratulate the president and prime minister, and
met with all parties, except Hezbollah.
The ball is now in the Lebanese court. They could choose to be taken over by
Iran; return to its Arabic roots; or take an equal distance from all. On such
fundamental decisions, the future of Lebanon, security, economy and politics
will be formed. I hope and pray they choose wisely.
— Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be
reached at kbatarfi@gmail.com. Follow him at Twitter:@kbatarfi
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