September 11, 2016 5 News & Analysis Lebanon Tripoli bombing indictments are no surprise

Mohamed Kawas try might take under such circum- stances. Twenty-two people, including Beirut members of Syrian intelligence and local proxies, were indicted related ebanon’s political forces to the attack. If found guilty, they said they were not sur- could be sentenced to death. prised by the indictment issued by the country’s The 44-page judicial authorities over indictment issued by a Lthe bombings at Al-Taqwa and Al- Lebanese military Salam mosques in Tripoli in August court explicitly named 2013. two Syrian intelligence The 44-page indictment issued officers. September 2nd by a Lebanese mili- tary court listed a host of figures The indictment reveals that Leb- but explicitly named two Syrian anese politics is no longer politi- intelligence officers and the organi- cally suspect, as was the case in the sations they worked for as being 2005 assassination of former prime responsible for the attacks in which minister Rafik Hariri. It is true that 45 people were killed. the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, This is not the first time that which is investigating that crime, Syrian intelligence agencies have issued indictments claiming Hez- been implicated in a terrorist at- bollah members were involved in tack against civilians in Lebanon. the assassination but it was easy Nobody was surprised by the news, for Hezbollah and its allies to claim least of all Lebanon’s politicians. that the court was politicised and Whether they are allies or oppo- had a “suspicious agenda” against nents of Syrian President Bashar the “resistance”. Assad’s regime, they would be well The indictment into the 2013 aware of the country’s involvement bombings in Tripoli, however, was in terrorist attacks in Lebanon. issued by a court that is part of Despite this historic indictment, Lebanon’s judicial system, which the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance, is operating under the authority of which is allied with Damascus, did Lebanon’s government — a point not issue a statement or response that must be embarrassing for Hez- about those who have been ac- bollah and others defending Assad. cused as responsible for the deadli- “The era of Syrian tutelage is gone est terrorist attack since Lebanon’s and will not return and threats from An August 2013 file photo shows people gathering outside the Al-Taqwa mosque amid charred cars civil war. the Syrian regime will not scare us,” and wide damage at the site of a car bombing, which killed dozens, in Tripoli, Lebanon. Lebanese Justice Minister Ashraf The Lebanese Rifi, a strong critic of Damascus, Intelligence Directorate and Nasser gation, Ali Eid is accused of smug- demnation from the March 8 alli- government did not proclaimed. Jubaan of the Political Security Di- gling Al-Fatwa mosque bomber ance or Hezbollah. However, Tripo- take the expected The text of the indictment reveals rectorate. Ahmed Marei out of the country. li-native Youth and Sports Minister actions that any that the investigation was carried The indictment named another He was summoned for questioning Faisal Karami, son of former prime country might take. out by the information division of Syrian, Khadr Al-Ayruni, a suspect- a number of times by the investiga- minister Omar Karami, and a poli- Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces ed member of Syrian intelligence, tors and eventually fled to Syria, tician with close ties to Damas- Hezbollah, which is a member and explicitly implicates members who is known to have bought the where his death was announced in cus, expressed shock that “those of the government that oversaw of the Syrian regime. The report vehicles used in the bombings and December 2015. we considered brothers” were in- the investigation and subsequent added that investigations were con- taken them across the border to The biggest threat from this volved in the attack. indictments, did not seem at all in- tinuing to uncover which Syrian of- Syria where they were loaded with terrorist attack was that it came On the other hand, Rifi, who terested in issuing any statement ficials ordered the attacks, adding explosives. against the backdrop of sectarian is known for his strong stances bringing the Syrian regime, which that “the order was issued from a The man alleged to be the ring- tensions between Lebanon’s Sunni against Damascus and its allies in it has so often defended, to task. Its high-level security body within the leader of the attacks was a Leba- and Alawite communities, not least Lebanon, and also from Tripoli, defence of Damascus has gone be- Syrian intelligence service”. nese citizen, Yousef Diab, a reli- the Bab Al-Tabbaneh- Jabal Mohsen called for the expulsion of Syria’s yond mere rhetoric and Hezbollah While the identities of the Syrian gious figure who studied at a Jabal conflict, which militias affiliated to ambassador to Lebanon, the disso- has deployed fighters to fight along- officials who ordered the bombings Mohsen mosque. the Arab Democratic Party played lution of the Arab Democratic Party side Assad forces in Syria. are yet to be revealed, the Syrian The indictment also dealt with a major role in. The indictment and for Beirut to make a formal Even though this attack must be intelligence agents who allegedly the role played by Lebanon’s Ala- reveals that senior figures of the complaint against Damascus at the considered a foreign one on Leba- carried out the orders were named: wite-led Arab Democratic Party, party were embroiled in the Tripoli UN Security Council. non and therefore an act of war, the Muhammad Ali Ali, also known which was founded by Ali Eid in bombings, which exacerbated sec- Lebanese government did not take as Abu Jassim, of the Palestinian 1974 and is currently led by his son tarian tensions in the city. Mohamad Kawas is a Lebanese the expected actions that any coun- Branch affiliated with the Military Rifaat Eid. According to the investi- Despite this, there was no con- writer. Lebanon’s state of paralysis

Viewpoint ith the suspen- from the political community consideration the Taif Accord sion of and in public opinion. However, that installed a formula of equal national it was the only medium in which representation between Muslims dialogue, there was direct political and Christians. This undermines Lebanon communication among Leba- the fragile stability of the seems to have nese stakeholders. country. Wentered a phase of unprec- The Lebanese cabinet, which is Despite all those factors, any edented political paralysis. the only remaining constitu- real plans for powerful Lebanese The stalemate might be tional body, will continue as a de parties to upset the stability in prolonged amid fears that the facto institution even with the Lebanon seem doubtful. The Rami Rayess viability of the international objections of several political regional turmoil seems to be umbrella preserving the fragile, parties and the resignation of complex enough, which makes yet continued, stability in the others. The cabinet has been Lebanon’s stability a priority, not country is at stake. earmarked for some success with for the objective itself but rather The presidential vacuum is the economy or in politics and it from fear of negative repercus- approaching 30 months and provided cover needed for sions. parliament is refraining from running state affairs. There was, Some Lebanese parties seem to drafting legislation and has and still is, consensus that the A 2015 file photo shows Lebanese work from the idea that addi- failed for the last 44 sessions to downfall of the cabinet would anti-government protesters throwing eggs tional paralysis facilitates their meet and elect a president. The mean a leap into chaos and and water bottles at the convoy of a Lebanese plans of reaching the presidency suspension of the national indefinite open political crisis politician leaving the parliament building, in but the reality is the opposite. dialogue poses a new challenge that will be difficult to over- downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Weakening the state will make it for Lebanese political life. come. harder to elect a president and The national dialogue, includ- Regional players particularly of experiences of joining the “organised” chaos can never be ing leaders of parliamentary influential when it comes to Lebanese leaders abroad for The controlled. blocs and influential Lebanese Lebanon, namely Tehran and dialogue to broker a political deal presidential It is true that the state in politicians, had always been Riyadh, continue to be on does not seem likely to recur vacuum is Lebanon has been historically faced with low expectations contradictory terms on numer- under the current circumstances. the weakest player. Yet its ous issues — such as the Syrian The gradual disintegration of approaching collapse would pave the way for a conflict, the Yemeni war, the the institutions, the serious 30 months complete downfall. Then Bahrain situation and several threats of assassination of and resurrection will be mission The gradual disintegration other hotspots — that are far prominent Lebanese figures and parliament impossible. more complicated than the the close-ended channels of of the institutions points Lebanese crisis. Thus, Lebanese dialogue all point towards the has failed Rami Rayess is editor-in-chief of towards the possibility of expectations that the arrival of possibility of erupting chaos as a for the last Lebanese Al Anbaa Electronic regional help is imminent are means to redraw the local 44 sessions Newspaper (anbaaonline.com) erupting chaos. futile and the more divisions political map. This would be and spokesman for the among them get deeper, the likely based on a new distribu- to meet Progressive Socialist Party in more fragile the local Lebanese tion of power and balance that and elect a Lebanon. Follow him on Twitter: situation becomes. Replication does not necessarily take into president. @RamiRayess.