The Next Fight Will Be Over One Word
The word that the Doha accord completely avoided will be the most contentious issue in the formation of a new government.
Having fun…for now (Photo credit: Reuters)
It’s easy to get lost in the joy and jubilation of normal Lebanese citizens who have all the reasons to be thrilled: Their capital city is back to normal, the glitzy center is back to its old glamor, the summer season will be sizzling and the Baabda palace will be filled as soon as next Monday. Expect a drawn out, nationwide brouhaha of fireworks, festivities and fawnfests .
But elsewhere, in the deep, secretive world of political strategists, trenches are being dug, alliances are forming and battle plans are being drawn up. At stake is not who will be the next Prime Minister, but whether or not the word “resistance” will be included in the next government’s ministerial statement, a tradition which came with every post-Taef government including that of Mr. Seniora.
Today, March 14 are planning to change that. The party which no longer believes in the legitimacy of Hezbollah’s resistance doesn’t want any reference to it. Their argument is that the Doha accord never referred to the word “resistance”, but spoke instead of the state’s military and security exclusivity, and of consolidating the state’s authority and sovereignty over its land.
Of course, Hezbollah is not amused. At the heart of their peculiar style of having it both ways is the protection of the Lebanese government’s official approval. The Party of God is gearing up for a big fight. They told Assafir that they will not approve a ministerial statement that would not acknowledge the legitiamcy of the resistance. With a veto power at their hand, it would be interesting to watch how this fight will play out and what kind of creative fudge will eventually emerge
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19 comments for “The Next Fight Will Be Over One Word”
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Hello, my name is Mustapha and I blog in The Beirut Spring about Lebanese society and politics. I started in February 2005 after the killing of P.M. Rafik Hariri.
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I imagine you writing this post with an arm shield and covered around sand bags, easy chief, have a drink, and meet me at Gemayzeh. Summer is up!
Trust me, Hizbullah will fight over EVERYTHING! Not just one word. The issue I hope is that they learned their lesson and will not block downtown, the airport and use their guns! Knowing the, that’s the only lagnuage they know and use!
The fighting has allready started…Today the head of amal gang, Mr Dechdéché, has allready announced that he won’t accept the government to be in parliament for Suleiman’s election…of course the governement is not that happy about that little joke meant the increase further the humiliation.
As things are now ,the ministers who are also MP have decided to boycott the session if they were not accepted as ministers…and hopefully most other m14 will follow…yallaaaaaaaa no ra2is…
Great!!! We just wasted one and a half years basically. Actually we just wasted 3 years.
1. They’re amending the constitution to elect Slueiman. Amending the constitution was the whole problem to begin with in 2004. Regardless, I agree we have no other choice.
2. Who do you think is going to get their way when it comes to the clause about Hezb’s weapons? Again, we will either enter a vicious cycle under threat of Hezb’s weapons or M14 just gives them the clause about the protection of the resistance. OR they both figure out a smart way of making both sides happy…something like “protecting the arms of the resistance until a defensive strategy formula can be arranged through dialogue”…which means absolutely nothing…lol isnt that basically what should have happened 3 years ago and it failed.
Seriously, I don’t know how much more you can give the opposition. Why do we still call them that anyway..they control parliament, they will have veto in cabinet, they’re getting a President who has proved to them he is willing to look the other way and will not even defend other Lebanese if it means upsetting the divine party. And they have more arms then the state and have proved willing to use them to defend themselves and get their way on issues of the state. So what does M14 have? Nothing. They get to choose the PM and 16 ministers, which means nothing if they can draw up and enact government policy without HA-FPM approval. Emperor Berri is there to make sure parliament never convenes if its discussions or legislation haven’t been approved by Syria-Iran and Hasoonti.
Also, to be honest the election law is still unfair to many Christians in the south and the Bekaa. Or maybe its only unfair when Sunnis elect Christian MPs but when Shiites do it in the south its ok!! I don’t know how it will be specifically but it looks like Hezb will be electing Christian Mps in the south and bekaa.
We have made no progress whatsoever. Honestly, I am happy for the people and the businessme..haram they need a break!! But I think we might as well just declare Berri emperor of Lebanon, Hasoonti the Ayotallah, Raad our PM…and be happy with the temporary sense of security they provide us!!
the fight is over. get over it.
I don’t foresee any real battles. The invasion of Beirut showed that Hizballah will get by force what it can’t get through politics. This paradigm will be applied to every contentiuos issue. The sad reality is that Hassan Nasrallh is the real president of Lebanon. Sleiman will only be a figurehead. The biggest tragedy is that Aoun gave Nassrallah the Christian cover that allowed Hizballah ti invade Beirut and get Veto power in Government for nothing in return. Guess who is marginalizing christians now? Hizballah got what they wanted, did Aoun get what he wanted? I agree with MK above. Shiites in the South electing Christian MPs is fine I guess by Aoun.
The biggest question to ponder is: Will Aoun ever have the guts or the morals to disagree with Hizballah in the future knowing that Rabieh will be violated a lot worse than Beirut was if he ever did?
Mustapha = bloodthirsty.
no need for all this tension. It will be as usual, a reference to the UN resolutions and the Doha accord then yet again the resistance followed directly by the “zionist enemy” usual BS. What would be interesting to see if the ministarial declaration will include any hints or directly addressing the relations with syria,diplomatic representation,border delimiation etc. and how hizz will react in that case.
This conflict is sooooooo not over despite all the current sighs of relief.
Wow!!! Apparently Emperor Berri invited the Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers!! And I thought there was nothing more to give the opposition!!
If M14 actually accepts this than…honestly no comment!!
mustapha, how does it feel from behind? sore?
i like how ppl are still referring to m14 needs to do this and if m14 accepts that .. like it still exists
Quoted from the Daily Star, 24 May 2008:
“Meanwhile, Hizbullah second-in-command Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Friday that Hizbullah was not seeking seats and quotas in the new Cabinet, but was rather concerned about protecting the resistance.
“When we speak about protecting the resistance, we do not aim at achieving political gains, such as getting more seats in the Cabinet or anything of this sort,” Qassem told the Hizbullah-owned al-Nour Radio”.
Not that it’s any surprise. Did anyone ever think that the “resistance” has Lebanon’s best interests involved? Iran/Syria you say? Now you’re talking!
Shame on u white cow for such foul language!If anyone’s sore that’ll be u for being sucha LOSER!
Logically speaking, m14 will continue in losing until it’s GAME OVER.
G.T.F.O.! raw7a bala raj3a.
(in reference to the posted picture, of course!)
wein el te3lee2 about the elections, man :) !!
mazboot, wein el-te3lee2 li m3alla2 3ala america li khenetkon??!! ta3lee2 feshil ra7 ykoon. shots in the dark. 3a shoo m3ala2 inta 7alliyan?
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