24/01/2011 Roqayah Chamseddine
Exclusive to Al-Manar
At times it is often much easier to bite ones tongue in an act of apathetic dismay than to use it in lashing out against a legion of conspirators; the overwhelming rage of dissenters in Lebanon is being overshadowed, not just by political snares stemming from within the country itself but due to schemers on the outside.
Early this week 11 ministers of the 30-member Lebanese Cabinet resigned due to such snares, thereby toppling PM Sa’ad Hariri’s government constitutionally; 10 opposition ministers, only two of which were members of Hezb’Allah, declared their withdrawal from the government over Hariri and the March 14 bloc’s negligence and failure to defuse the crisis in Lebanon over the tribunal into the Rafiq Hariri assassination (STL) and its upcoming indictment expected to accuse Hezb’Allah of the 2005 murder; due to Hariri’s blatant refusal to convene the Cabinet to discuss the STL the entire nation has been made to hold its breathe once again.
“Following our last bid to resolve matters through our call for an immediate cabinet session and after our call was turned down by the other bloc, and in order to pave the way for the formation of a new government that would be able to assume its duties in the upcoming stage, we announce our resignation from the government.”
The March 14 bloc and Sa’ad Hariri have both displayed carelessness in respect to Lebanon and the sensitivity of its current political atmosphere. Recently the former Lebanese PM stated that he will choose his “dignity” and the “...dignity of the Lebanese people” over power, yet his actions during his 14-month tenure as prime minister have exhibited otherwise.
The March 14 Bloc: Dialogue, Endless Dialogue.
Following a barrage of talks and travel arrangements Hariri arrived in Beirut on Friday wherein he made clear to reporters that the only solution to the political standstill in Lebanon over the UN and US-backed tribunal to probe the assassination of his father would be dialogue.
In the case of the March 14 bloc and Sa’ad Hariri “dialogue” can be defined as the following:
- verb: unashamed placation, through concessions; to pacify and/or appease.
Why The Special Tribunal Matters
In early November of 2010 during the Martyr’s day gathering in Southern Beirut, Hezb’Allah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah discussed the STL, explaining the importance of the Special Tribunal and the plot behind it:
“Accuse Shiite individuals of assassinating the most important Sunnite leader and consequently issue an indictment in this regard. Call on the Lebanese government which had signed an agreement with us (STL) to arrest these men. The latter would set to arrest them and dispatch army troops and security forces which would be engaged in a clash with the Resistance [...] this is the plot.
It is not important for the Americans, the Israelis and the sponsors of the STL what would happen or what might happen in Lebanon. Lebanon in itself is not important, neither is martyr PM Rafiq Hariri, the Sunnites, the Shiites, the Muslims, the Christians, the Future Movement, March 14 Bloc nor March 8 Bloc.
What is important is Israel, and Israel’s interest is that the Resistance be hit, eliminated, isolated, besieged, weakened, snatched away from its popular environment and its image be distorted. Its morals, belief and will must be harmed and consequently, it would be ready to be hit or to surrender to this plot.”
The Lebanese: "We All Think Like Political Scientists!"
The following are statements by Lebanese-Americans were submitted via email in respect to the new impasse they all face, the Special Tribunal and what it all means for them, as Lebanese citizens:
"I don't want my children to live under this political hell anymore. I don't want them to come to Lebanon to visit in the summer-time or winter and then dread the idea of living here when they get older. This is no future. But, I don't want them to be forced onto their knees either.
Sa'ad Hariri spoke about dignity recently yet where is his? Where is the dignity in crawling to Washington?"
- Hassan Abdallah, Post-Graduate Political Science Student; Michigan.
"I didn't care before, about the Tribunal. I thought, like many still do, that it wasn't important on a level where I should trouble myself with it but now after seeing that the Opposition has taken down March 14 bloc's upper-hand in the cabinet and the fact that many are saying that AIPAC and other US-Israeli lobbies are involved, I think we all need to pay attention to the outcome. Lebanon is very much used to drama but this is the kind we can't afford to ignore."
- Ayman Khalil, Dentist Assistant; California
"The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is a necessity and it is a guarantee that Lebanon will not allow the true criminals behind the massacre of Rafiq Hariri et al. to walk free."
- Maher S., Student; Michigan
"I don't see the conspiracy theories so many are talking about, one of which is that Israel/the United States are behind the Special Tribunal. Theories like this do not help Lebanon but make us seem as if we cannot carry on with a civil matter with rationale. What is the problem with trying to find the killers of Rafiq Hariri? Nothing. We should, as Lebanese, be supporters of the UN Tribunal, not the enemies of it."
- Tariq Hamden, Analyst; Arkansas
"Lebanese politicians believe that just because we all do not have a concrete place in the Lebanese political system that we have not learned the means and methods of politicians. We all think like political scientists! We know corruption, war, suffering and resistance. There is nothing that we haven't seen or have been forced to see. The Special Tribunal is one more nail being driven into the coffin of all the martyrs of every war we have been made to trek alone.
The United States and its allies believe that because they couldn't rid the Lebanese of the Resistance that they can do it by making us believe it was them behind the assassinations. We will not be fooled."
- Zainab Mousa; Texas
"I couldn't believe it, when I read that the Special Tribunal was being coordinated by the United Nations; with its history of corrupt resolutions and unwavering pro-Israel policies. I also couldn't believe how many Lebanese cheered on this charade, of a Tribunal for "Lebanon" which is being conducted by everyone but the Lebanese themselves. It's a joke. It's a farce."
- Mustafa Raad, Undergraduate Biology Student; Illinois.
"What can happen to Lebanon that hasn't happened before? War? No governmental direction?
We've been through everything under the sun. The idea that there might be a "civil war" as a result of the outcome of the STL is far-fetched. We, the Lebanese people, are smarter than this.
Anyone who even thinks that we can stoop to such a vile level is attempting to derail true efforts to create a more prosperous Lebanon, one which will not be influenced by the United States, France and/or Israel."
- Reem Zahr, Pharmacist; New York
Lebanon, with its long history under French colonialism and its passionately extensive history with war and imperialist intervention, now faces a new quandary - one which will challenge its sensitive political institutions as well as its expansive social melting-pot. It is not the slew of politicians but the Lebanese who will decide the outcome of this standstill.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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