Understanding the Dynamics of Lebanon's Protest Movementi
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“Shutting out Hezbollah in Its Entirety Will Destabilize the Lebanese
CLAIM “Shutting out Hezbollah in its entirety will destabilize the Lebanese government, in which Hezbollah and its allies gained a vast majority of the popular vote in parliamentary elections, making it one of the most effective fighting forces against the Islamic State group.” SHORT RESPONSE HEZBOLLAH IS THE DESTABILIZER IN THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT AND HAS DONE LITTLE TO DEFEAT THE ISLAMIC STATE. INSTEAD, IT ASPIRES TO BECOME SOMETHING SIMILAR. THE FACTS The struggle to reduce the capabilities of a terrorist organization is ongoing, multi-dimensional, and requires a great deal of determination. A terrorist organization such as Hezbollah, which operates simultaneously as a terrorist organization and within the framework of the Lebanese political system as a “legitimate party,” relies on civilian infrastructure, living spaces, and sources of funding. It carries out profit and loss considerations on an ongoing basis. Reducing Hezbollah’s capabilities and influence must be achieved by exerting pressure on the organization — directly and indirectly. The key to this is international cooperation and the mobilization of political elements in the government to reduce Hezbollah’s power. SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON HEZBOLLAH A Joint Project by AJC and the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism KEY DETAILS WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO Î For years, an alliance between the Christian camp and the DESIGNATE HEZBOLLAH? Sunnis controlled the centers of power in the Lebanese The significance of designating Hezbollah as a terrorist political system. organization primarily derives from the entities that carry Î The assassination of Rafic Hariri, the Syrian withdrawal out the designation. The list of countries that have made the from Lebanon, Hezbollah’s entry into the government, designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization include: and especially the rivalry in the Christian camp led to the consolidation of new political dynamics, including an alliance Israel 1982 between President Michel Aoun from the Christian camp and Hezbollah. -
Lebanon: Managing the Gathering Storm
LEBANON: MANAGING THE GATHERING STORM Middle East Report N°48 – 5 December 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. A SYSTEM BETWEEN OLD AND NEW.................................................................. 1 A. SETTING THE STAGE: THE ELECTORAL CONTEST..................................................................1 B. THE MEHLIS EFFECT.............................................................................................................5 II. SECTARIANISM AND INTERNATIONALISATION ............................................. 8 A. FROM SYRIAN TUTELAGE TO WESTERN UMBRELLA?............................................................8 B. SHIFTING ALLIANCES..........................................................................................................12 III. THE HIZBOLLAH QUESTION ................................................................................ 16 A. “A NEW PHASE OF CONFRONTATION” ................................................................................17 B. HIZBOLLAH AS THE SHIITE GUARDIAN?..............................................................................19 C. THE PARTY OF GOD TURNS PARTY OF GOVERNMENT.........................................................20 IV. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 22 A. A BROAD INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR A NARROW AGENDA .......................................22 B. A LEBANESE COURT ON FOREIGN -
The Qatar Opposition: Avoiding the Hariri Miscalculation
The Qatar Opposition: Avoiding the Hariri Miscalculation by Irina Tsukerman BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 766, March 12, 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The widely criticized attempted resignation by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri backfired as a political move against Iran for two reasons: first, because Hezbollah is already largely in control of the Lebanese government; and second, because the Saudis, who backed the move, have little leverage inside the country. Continuing efforts to effect similar change inside another Iran proxy, Qatar, are bound to fail for similar reasons. In order to succeed, the Saudis and their allies should build authentic relationships with potential supporters and create an environment receptive to their interests. Lebanese PM Saad Hariri's tendered his resignation while he was in Riyadh, purportedly under pressure from the Saudi government. Shortly after his return to Lebanon, he then withdrew his resignation and awkwardly tried to claim that it had been done for dramatic effect. This non-resignation drew concern, if not outright mockery – not because it took place under duress, but because it failed so spectacularly. Now, Hariri, in an effort to mitigate the damage done to the public image of all the parties involved, is taking his first trip to the kingdom since these events. The thrust of the original story is that Hariri was invited to Saudi Arabia and there was induced to resign. Some speculated that he was being held hostage until he agreed, though all parties denied these rumors. Regardless, the apparent purpose of the move was to send a signal to Hezbollah, the Islamist terrorist organization and Iranian proxy that now controls most of the Lebanese government and institutions. -
Lebanon's Unstable Equilibrium
LEBANON'S UNSTABLE EQUILIBRIUM AUTHOR Mona Yacoubian November 2009 UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE 1200 17th Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20036-3011 www.usip.org USIP Peace Briefing: Lebanon's Unstable Equilibrium INTRODUCTION Lebanon's recently announced national unity government has eased fears that the country would once again be mired in a dangerous political stalemate. Yet, despite the recent breakthrough, Lebanon's unstable equilibrium -- marked by both internal and regional tensions - - could still devolve into serious violence. Deep seated sectarian animosities persist, raising the prospects for political instability and civil strife if unaddressed. Regionally, mounting tensions with Israel raise the worrisome possibility of isolated border incidents spiraling into more serious conflict. Taken together these two underlying challenges to stability -- internal civil unrest and regional conflict with Israel -- could undermine Lebanon’s fragile peace. This paper will examine internal challenges to Lebanon’s stability. Formed five months after the June 2009 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's consensus cabinet, comprised of his March 14th coalition together with members of the opposition March 8th bloc, is an essential step toward ensuring that Lebanon gains more stable footing. 1 The new government follows a compromise formula allotting 15 cabinet seats to the majority, 10 to the opposition, and five to President Michel Suleiman. While power-sharing arrangements are by nature less effective and more prone to stalemate, they are crucial to Lebanon’s delicately balanced confessional system and provide an essential pathway to civil peace. Beyond the new consensus government, two critical developments would help to facilitate peace and stability in Lebanon: . -
The Lebanese Cabinet Wears Hezbollah (And Iranian) Colours Written by John Corner
The Lebanese Cabinet Wears Hezbollah (And Iranian) Colours Written by John Corner This PDF is auto-generated for reference only. As such, it may contain some conversion errors and/or missing information. For all formal use please refer to the official version on the website, as linked below. The Lebanese Cabinet Wears Hezbollah (And Iranian) Colours https://www.e-ir.info/2011/06/28/the-lebanese-cabinet-wears-hezbollah-and-iranian-colours/ JOHN CORNER, JUN 28 2011 It took five months, but on June 13th the new Lebanese cabinet was announced by Prime Minister Najib Mikati. At first glance, the formation of a new Lebanese government looks like a positive development in a region wracked with political instability since the ‘Arab Spring’ revolutions; the past few months have confirmed that the quest for liberty and freedoms still remains fraught with danger for many across the Middle East. Yet a closer look at Lebanon reveals that ‘democracy’ isn’t always what it seems. Indeed a week after the new Lebanese government was formed, reports have emerged that Lebanon’s former Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, has fled the country, seeking refuge in France amid fears for his safety. Hariri was Prime Minister until January this year, when he was forcibly removed by the Iranian and Syrian sponsored terrorist group Hezbollah. Ironically (or tragically), Saad Hariri’s departure from the Lebanese government came as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) – the UN body set up to investigate the 2005 murder of Saad’s father Rafik Hariri – was set to publish its findings. It had been widely speculated that Hezbollah was to be indicted for the murder of Rafik, resulting in Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warning that the ‘Resistance’ would ‘cut off the hand’ of any who attempted to arrest or bring to justice Hezbollah members accused by the tribunal. -
Saudi Arabian Uncertainties in Lebanon (January 2011 – January 2017)
April 2017 Saudi Arabian uncertainties in Lebanon (January 2011 – January 2017) ZIAD MAJED WWW . FRSTRATEGIE . ORG Table of contents 1 – 2011-2015: A CONCERNED AND SHAKEN SAUDI ARABIA FAVOURS MAINTAINING THE LEBANESE STATUS QUO .................................................................................. 3 2 – THE SALMAN ERA : PRIORITISATION OF YEMEN AND THE CONFLICT WITH HEZBOLLAH .... 5 3 – SOME SCENARIOS ................................................................................................. 7 FONDATION pour la RECHERCHE STRATÉGIQUE 2 Since the fall of Saad Hariri’s government in January of 2011, the resignation of Shia ministers and their Christian allies, and the demonstration of Hezbollah’s power in the streets of Beirut, Saudi policy towards Lebanon can be divided into two main phases. The first, from February 2011 to January 2015, is characterized by a certain passivity while avoiding any form of political escalation within the country. The second, which started in February of 2015, consisted of temporarily abandoning Lebanon in favour of pursuing other priorities. However, this phase could shift in the coming months as American President Donald Trump’s policies in Iran and the Middle East become clearer 1. 1 – 2011-2015: A concerned and shaken Saudi Arabia favours maintaining the Lebanese status quo Since the beginning of the Arab revolutions, the Saudi regime’s anxiety was obvious. The “Peninsula Shield” intervention in Bahrain that supported the Khalifa regime (March 2011), the search for political compromise (between the opposition and President Saleh) in Yemen (in 2011 and 2012), and the announcement of new social spending and anti- corruption measures within the kingdom (March 2011), all revealed Riyadh’s nervousness regarding regional flare-ups. Concerning Lebanon, the fall of Saad Hariri’s government surprised Saudi officials. -
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MENU Policy Analysis / PolicyWatch 3229 Lebanon’s Latest Moves Show the Effectiveness of Targeted International Pressure by Hanin Ghaddar Dec 17, 2019 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Hanin Ghaddar Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Fellow at The Washington Institute's Geduld Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. Brief Analysis By uniting behind the message that financial aid and punishment will be tied to specific courses of action, the United States, France, and the UN may finally be able to push Beirut into establishing a reform-minded government. ince caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri resigned in October, the process of forming a new Lebanese S government has become more complicated. Street protests continue amid increased violence by security institutions, while the country’s dominant political actor—the widely designated terrorist organization Hezbollah—is still insisting on a government headed by Hariri and favorable to its interests. Yet three important events took place last week that could change that plan and break the deadlock. First, the International Support Group for Lebanon (ISGL), co-chaired by France and the United Nations, met in Paris and explicitly stated that the international community will not help Lebanon financially until a new government is formed—specifically, one “that will have the capacity and credibility to deliver the necessary substantive policy package of economic reforms, and that will be committed to dissociate the country from regional tensions and crisis.” Although there was no mention of who should—or should not—head this government, the consensus on reform was clear. -
To Push Past Hezbollah Stonewalling, Leverage the LAF by Hanin Ghaddar
MENU Policy Analysis / PolicyWatch 3453 To Push Past Hezbollah Stonewalling, Leverage the LAF by Hanin Ghaddar Mar 18, 2021 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Hanin Ghaddar Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Fellow at The Washington Institute's Geduld Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. Brief Analysis The political fallout from a recent speech by the Lebanese Armed Forces commander gives Washington and its partners a golden opportunity to prod the country from crisis management toward actual solutions. s Lebanon’s economy continues its freefall and government formation stalls, protestors have responded to A the resultant humanitarian crisis by returning to the streets. Although the movement does not seem as well- organized as it was in 2019, it is certainly more heated. And this time around, the economic meltdown has reached the army. In a March 8 speech, Lebanese Armed Forces commander Gen. Joseph Aoun lamented the dire situation facing the institution and its soldiers. His words also carried weighty political messages against the ruling elites, whom he accused of cutting the LAF’s budget to a dangerous degree. Currency devaluation has left most soldiers earning around $60 per month, and many of them are requesting leaves of absence or no longer reporting to their jobs, while senior commanders are asking for early retirement. Of course, the LAF’s financial situation is no different from that of other state institutions, and simply giving raises to the troops (as suggested by the minister of finance) would be unfair to others and could increase inflation. -
Hariri Cites Hezbollah and Iran in Surprising Resignation
4 November 5, 2017 News & Analysis Lebanon Hariri cites Hezbollah and Iran in surprising resignation Simon Speakman Cordall ades to impose a reality in Lebanon by force of arms directed at the chests of Syrians and Lebanese,” Tunis Hariri said. “I declare my resignation from ebanese Prime Minister the premiership of the Lebanese Saad Hariri resigned unex- government, with the certainty pectedly on November 4, that the will of the Lebanese is citing Iran’s overarching strong.” ambition within the re- Hariri described threats against Lgion and concerns for his personal his life and the suspicion that he safety. was in danger from a plot like that In a damning address on Saudi- in which his father was assassinat- financed Al Arabiya television, ed in February 2005. He said: “We Hariri slammed Iran, its Lebanese are living in a climate similar to the ally Hezbollah and their activities atmosphere that prevailed before within the region. He accused Teh- the assassination of (his father) ran of fomenting chaos through- martyr Rafik Hariri. I have sensed out the Middle East, saying: “The what is being plotted covertly to evil that Iran spreads in the region target my life.” will backfire on it.” He warned that Further to the very real risk of “Iran’s arms in the region will be drawing rebel fire to within the cut off.” country’s borders, was the po- Hariri had been frustrated in re- litical embarrassment of being in cent months by the growing influ- partnership with Hezbollah, which ence of Hezbollah within Lebanon many of Lebanon’s allies, prin- and disagreements over the fate of cipally Saudi Arabia, the United the 1.5 million Syrian refugees who States and the United Kingdom, fled Lebanon’s war-torn neigh- are fundamentally opposed to. -
Download Report
The Party of God and Its Greatest Satan The 36-Year Confrontation Between Hezbollah and the United States September 2020 Table of Contents Executive Summary....................................................................................................................3 Part I. The United States’ Place in Hezbollah’s Ideology ..........................................................5 Section A. Khomeini and Fadlallah: The Ideological Sources of Hezbollah’s Anti-Americanism . 5 Section B. Hezbollah in its Own Words ............................................................................................ 6 Part II. Hezbollah’s Anti-Americanism in Action in Lebanon and Abroad ...............................8 Section A. Ideology in Action–Generally: Pragmatism and Gradualism ........................................ 8 Section B. Phase I: Violent Confrontation From the Shadows (1982–1990).................................... 8 1. Attacking America in Lebanon .................................................................................................................. 9 2. Attacking the United States Globally ....................................................................................................... 11 Section C. Phase II: Hezbollah Adapts Its Attacks against the U.S. to the Taif Regime and Pax Syriana (1990–2001) ........................................................................................................................ 12 Section D. Phase III: Sinking the U.S. in the Iraqi Quagmire and Wrestling Over Lebanon -
Discourse As an Electoral Campaigning Tool: Exploiting the Emotions of Voters
Discourse as an Electoral Campaigning Tool: Exploiting the Policy Report Policy Emotions of Voters DEC 2020 Founded in 1989, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies is a Beirut-based independent, non-partisan think tank whose mission is to produce and advocate policies that improve good governance in fields such as oil and gas, economic development, public finance, and decentralization. This report is published in partnership with HIVOS through the Women Empowered for Leadership (WE4L) programme, funded by the Netherlands Foreign Ministry FLOW fund. Copyright © 2020. The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies Designed by Polypod Executed by Zéna Khairallah Sadat Tower, Tenth Flour P.O.B 55-215, Leon Street, Ras Beirut, Lebanon T+ +961 1 79 93 01 F: +961 1 79 93 02 [email protected] www.lcps-lebanon.org Discourse as an Electoral Campaigning Tool: Exploiting the Emotions of Voters Sami Atallah Sami Atallah is the director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. He is currently leading several policy studies on youth social identity and political engagement, electoral behavior, political and social sectarianism, and the role of municipalities in dealing with the refugee crisis. He is the co-editor of Democracy, Decentralization, and Service Delivery in the Arab World (with Mona Harb, Beirut, LCPS 2015), co- editor of The Future of Petroleum in Lebanon: Energy, Politics, and Economic Growth (with Bassam Fattouh, I.B. Tauris, 2019), and co-editor of The Lebanese Parliament 2009-2018: From Illegal Extensions to Vacuum (with Nayla Geagea, 2018). Nadim El Kak Nadim El Kak is a researcher at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies and research associate at Lebanon Support. -
Issue34 V5.Qxd
CONTENTS July 2005 - Issue N° 34 NDU Spirit A periodical about campus life at Notre Dame University - Louaïze. 2 A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 3 French Delegation at NDU 3 Lebanese Emigrants’ Delegation at NDU 4 NDU Activists and Congressman STUDENT AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES 5 Admissions in Action! Report by Dr. Elham Hasham WEERC 27 ETE Seminars 10 WEERC Workshop for Chekka area 28 NDU Winner at ESU Competition LERC Conferences 29 NDU Founders’ Day 11 Children of Lebanese in Australia 31 Job Fair 2005 – Dr. Rosemary Suliman 32 NDU Students in Turkey – Nathalie Kobrossi 13 Forum: Residents and Emigrants 33 NDU Student Soars High – Dr. Naji Oueijan 4th Millennial Lecture Series 35 Deputy Pierre Jmeil and Dr. Wadih al-Hajj 15 Universal Reason: Religion and Civil Society – Lebanon of Tomorrow – Dr. William Grassie 35 Dr. Eddy Abillamaa – The Future of the Forces 19 What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem 36 Candidates Farid el-Khazen, I. Kanaan, – Dr. Joseph Bechara G. Abi Zaid and A. Aoun 20 Cross Cultural Symposium with American 36 A Call for Democracy – Deputy Mosbah Ahdab University, Washington 36 Gibran Tueni talks North Campus News 37 Sports Office News 23 Workshop: Lebanese Architecture 37 NDU students united for Independence 24 Workshop on Drug Abuse 25 Shouf Campus Shorts — Events OPINION AND CULTURE 38 Experience never stops – Elias Karout 65 Mechanical Engineering at NDU – Dr. Walid C. Assaf 39 Social - Correction 66 Heating System with Storage – Dr. Walid C. Assaf 40 Why NDU? – Serge Dagher 67 American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Charbel Wehbe 41 Government in Media Developments 68 Solid Mechanics and its Applications – Dr.