Lebanon Forms Government of National Unity
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Related subjects: Anjika Sridhar, Arms Proliferation, Diplomacy & Politics, Iran, Middle East, Security & Surveillance, The Vote, United Nations Comments Off
Lebanon has formed a new government of “national accord”, which will include majority leader and prime minister designate Saad Hariri and also representatives of Hezbollah, the militia group seen as a terrorist threat by Israel, and which was the target of an Israeli bombing campaign in 2006. The UN Security Council congratulated Lebanon on moving forward with national unity and wished the new government well.
UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, has since 2006 an expanded mandate, which includes monitoring the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Hariri’s cabinet proposal divided key ministries among the majority coalition, the opposition Christian conservatives and Hezbollah. Pres. Suleiman accepted the cabinet line-up, allowing Hariri to move forward with his government after nearly 6 months of wrangling.
According to Voice of America:
Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria, was given key positions in the new government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The international community has welcomed the formation of the unity government. Statements of congratulations came in from the European Union, the United States, the United Nations, Syria, Iran and elsewhere.
Israel is uneasy about Hezbollah controlling the ministry of Foreign Affairs and worries it could permit the militant group to push Lebanon toward a more aggressive security posture. But for now, the cabinet assignments are being treated by both Isreal’s allies and enemies as a sign that Lebanon is moving toward political stability, which is good for the region.
But, the Guardian newspaper reports that:
Hezbollah is rapidly rearming in preparation for a new conflict with Israel, fearing that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government will attack Lebanon again prior to any assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Last week, Israeli commandos seized a ship in the Mediterranean loaded with almost 400 tonnes of rockets and small arms – which Israel claimed was being sent from Iran to its Hezbollah allies. In dramatic further evidence of growing tensions, the Observer has learned that Hezbollah fighters have been busy reinforcing fixed defence positions north of the Litani river.
Hezbollah denies the weapons shipment was destined for its arsenal, but admits to rearming, even saying it now has far more rockets than in 2006. The border is now controlled by UNIFIL troops, which keeps Hezbollah further back in the Lebanese interior, one of Israel’s goals in the 2006 bombing campaign. It is unclear whether Israeli security policy is to tolerate a strong Hezbollah deeper inside Lebanon, as a kind of defense force, while making sure the group cannot take an aggressive stance along the Israeli border.
According to the Guardian report, both Hezbollah and Israel are preparing for a new conflict, with new strategies designed to avoid the mistakes of 2006. Hezbollah is thought to fear that failure to arm the Lebanese border may permit Israel to seize land, while Israel is determined to prevent Hezbollah rockets from landing inside Israel.
Due to the involvement of concerns over Iran’s nuclear research program in Israeli security strategy, there is concern that any effort to target an Iranian nuclear facility —if it is thought to be developing nuclear weapons— would first require a strike against Hezbollah, possibly more intense and widespread even than the 2006 bombing campaign. This has both sides bristling, and would put the UNIFIL forces in the middle.
The White House press secretary said the US looks forward to working with Lebanon’s new government, which it hopes will be a partner in negotiating peace in the region. VOA also reports:
Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, Tuesday quoted an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, as saying Tehran believes that a powerful Lebanese government that cooperates with regional countries could help Lebanon’s development.
And Syria’s official news agency, SANA, reported Tuesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a congratulatory note to Lebanese President Suleiman.
Lebanon is entering a new era, politically and on the global stage. But the tense security situation along its border with Israel, and the problem of mutual battle planning, has many worried the period of unity could be short-lived if another conflict breaks out. Hamas is also urging the new government to extend broader civil and political rights to Palestinian refugees living on Lebanese soil.
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