Hezbollah in Lebanese government

Octavaria · 11-07-2009, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Hezbollah: Lebanese opposition agrees to govt line-up

Hezbollah issues statement saying opposition heads, including party's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, 'agreed to join national unity government based on agreements reached during negotiations'. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's camp awaiting official notification

Lebanon's opposition has agreed to a proposed government line-up, Hezbollah said on Saturday, paving the way to the end of five months of tortuous negotiations following a June general election.

Hezbollah, which heads an alliance of parties supported by Syria and Iran, said in a statement that its leadership, including the head of the party Hassan Nasrallah, met late on Friday and agreed to join the national unity government proposed by prime minister-designate Saad Hariri.

"Those who took part in the meeting agreed to join a national unity government based on the agreements reached during negotiations," the statement said.

"We hope that this step will be beneficial for Lebanon and its people," it added.

An official from Hariri's camp said they were awaiting official notification before announcing the new government, possibly on Saturday.

An official with the presidency told AFP that the head of state was also optimistic that the stalemate was over and an announcement was imminent.

The proposed 30-member cabinet calls for 15 seats for the majority alliance and 10 for the opposition. The remaining five posts would be appointed by President Michel Sleiman.

Hariri, whose Western and Saudi-backed coalition won the June vote, has struggled since June to bridge differences between his own bloc and the opposition, led by the Shiite Hezbollah.

The opposition alliance has accused the majority of trying to rule unilaterally, while Hariri's parliamentary majority charged that its opponents sought to impose their demands on the new government.

One major point of contention had been the inability to agree on the distribution of portfolios and choice of ministers.

The stalemate has been widely blamed on tension between the two camps' regional backers, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Both countries, however, recently buried the hatchet over Lebanon and called jointly for the formation of a cabinet.

Syria was the powerbroker in neighbouring Lebanon for nearly 30 years until the 2005 murder of Hariri's father, Rafiq Hariri, who was close to the Saudi monarchy.

Western countries, as well as the United Nations, had voiced concerns over the deadlock which they feared could affect the Lebanese economy and lead to a security breakdown.

A political crisis erupted in 2006 when all Shiite cabinet ministers resigned. It climaxed on May 7, 2008 when more than 100 people were killed in sectarian fighting in the worst bloodshed since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

A Qatari-brokered deal led to the formation of a national unity government in which Hezbollah and its allies had veto power over key decisions.

But that cabinet has not met since the June 7 election. It is an acting government only and cannot make administrative appointments or decisions.

I expect the little that Lebanon did against HA from 06 till today, will become even less.
Hey Lebanon, can you hear that? your obituaries have already started printing.

dracon49 · 11-07-2009, 05:04 AM

I think from the Israeli pow its good because now that they are part of the cabinet(they also were before) if they will attack Israel all the government will be responsible for it and will hit Lebanon harder like Bibi said that they(the majority) will not be able to say "hey we dont have any connection to Hizbollah" but i dont think that Hizbollah wants a conflict in the near future or even more then that. Our next conflict will probably be in Gaza.

Player · 11-07-2009, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dracon49

I think from the Israeli pow its good because now that they are part of the cabinet(they also were before) if they will attack Israel all the government will be responsible for it and will hit Lebanon harder like Bibi said that they(the majority) will not be able to say "hey we dont have any connection to Hizbollah" but i dont think that Hizbollah wants a conflict in the near future or even more then that. Our next conflict will probably be in Gaza.

You never learn do you...

Jam the man · 11-07-2009, 05:57 AM

and what did you expect? HZB represents 80 or 90% of Lebanese Shiites, of course theyll be in the gov.
"Hey Lebanon, can you hear that? your obituaries have already started printing." well, I think that if ours started printing, yours wont be late also.

dracon49 · 11-07-2009, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Player

You never learn do you...

What i've said?...everything i mentioned the prime minister of Israel and Ehud Barak said that in the next conflict will hit them harder and that the all government will be responsible if Hizbollah is part of it(i can give links if you want).

Player · 11-07-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jam the man

and what did you expect? HZB represents 80 or 90% of Lebanese Shiites, of course theyll be in the gov.
"Hey Lebanon, can you hear that? your obituaries have already started printing." well, I think that if ours started printing, yours wont be late also.

Can't they choose anything else beside HZB? Hard to believe. The only thing I can say in this case is that it's not very smart of them, because choosing HZB is asking trouble. It seems that the war 3 years ago wasn't enough for them...

Jam the man · 11-07-2009, 06:11 AM

yes they can choose "Amal"

I think that the majority of Shia in Lebanon support HZB not because they fight Israel but because they are shia, as simple as that.

Player · 11-07-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dracon49

What i said?...everything i mentioned the prime minister of Israel and Ehud Barak said that in the next conflict will hit them harder and that the all government will be responsible(i can give links if you want).

You said in the other post about hitting Lebanon harder, not just the Hezzies. True?

JGXL836 · 11-07-2009, 06:17 AM

So in Lebanon War 3 the Lebanese government and its property would be destroyed. Right after this war the Lebanese people and the international community would allow Syria to occupy Lebanon and restore some order on the ashes. So Syria would be busy to control Lebanon and suck Lebanese resources, and would forget about the Golan heights.

Jam the man · 11-07-2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGXL836

So Syria would be busy to control Lebanon and suck Lebanese resources, and would forget about the Golan heights.

what resources do you mean?

dracon49 · 11-07-2009, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Player

You said in the other post about hitting Lebanon harder, not just the Hezzies. True?

Thats what Ehud Barak said:
"Barak said Thursday that if another war erupted along the northern border, the IDF would have more operational freedom to target Lebanese infrastructure than it had three years ago."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...cle%2FShowFull

Player · 11-07-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jam the man

yes they can choose "Amal"

I think that the majority of Shia in Lebanon support HZB not because they fight Israel but because they are shia, as simple as that.

I understand this. But you can't just close your eyes on the problems that would come along with the HZB, if you do, then you pay the price. And believe me, I don't want any innocents to die on either side of the border, that's why I strongly oppose the rule of HZB.

kkbou · 11-07-2009, 07:38 AM

why do you think it has taken so long to form a government?

There is a lot of opposition to HZB in lebanon. The struggle for the last 3 years in Lebanon has been about how to minimize the influence of HZB and iran in lebanese politics, hence the daily arguments about who is and isn't supposed to be in the cabinet. It has taken Lebanon to an 'almost civil war situation' on several occasions.

I don't know what else you can expect the Lebanese people to do short of starting a civil war, which HZB would surely win. I might add also the IDF didn't do all that well against them. You are very flattering if you think the Lebanese can do any better.

The only solution to this is a broad middle eastern peace deal.

hidayatnw · 11-07-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dracon49

What i've said?...everything i mentioned the prime minister of Israel and Ehud Barak said that in the next conflict will hit them harder and that the all government will be responsible if Hizbollah is part of it(i can give links if you want).

Israel last Lebanese adventure has result: Israel must pull out shamefully, some people said Israel has been defeated Israel's economy get worse give only bad name for Israel as murders in Europe, UN and all world if Israel attack Hezbollah, it will be Lebanon vs Israel, it is not more Hezbollah vs Israel ... Barack can say everything or anything but it is just bluff, it is pure politic.. peace in the world

BPEL · 11-07-2009, 09:35 AM

Need to add a fifth element in the poll,

Its good for Lebanon, since they are Lebanese after all.

Further, its not only Hizballah in the new national unity goverment, its the opposition in which the Hizballah is a member off.

As for the Israel vs Lebanese position, it may be status quo for the short term, but it will change in the long term in a positive way.

Poll #4 is baseless with all the due respect to the members who chose it. Need to stop being ignorant.

Hope this helps.

View Poll Results: Outcome of HA in Lebanese government?
Nothing, same status quo with Israel	19	39.58%
Increased HA activity against Israel	7	14.58%
It won't hold, Lebanon is too torn up already, expect dissolvment of government in a short time	7	14.58%
Major step in turning Lebanon to little Iran on the Med	21	43.75%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

11-07-2009, 05:04 AM	#2
dracon49 Suspended for infractions Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: ISraHell Posts: 669	I think from the Israeli pow its good because now that they are part of the cabinet(they also were before) if they will attack Israel all the government will be responsible for it and will hit Lebanon harder like Bibi said that they(the majority) will not be able to say "hey we dont have any connection to Hizbollah" but i dont think that Hizbollah wants a conflict in the near future or even more then that. Our next conflict will probably be in Gaza.

11-07-2009, 05:57 AM	#4
Jam the man Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beirut - Lebanon Posts: 173	and what did you expect? HZB represents 80 or 90% of Lebanese Shiites, of course theyll be in the gov. "Hey Lebanon, can you hear that? your obituaries have already started printing." well, I think that if ours started printing, yours wont be late also.

11-07-2009, 06:11 AM	#7
Jam the man Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beirut - Lebanon Posts: 173	yes they can choose "Amal" I think that the majority of Shia in Lebanon support HZB not because they fight Israel but because they are shia, as simple as that.

11-07-2009, 06:17 AM	#9
JGXL836 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Israel, Sderot Age: 25 Posts: 405	So in Lebanon War 3 the Lebanese government and its property would be destroyed. Right after this war the Lebanese people and the international community would allow Syria to occupy Lebanon and restore some order on the ashes. So Syria would be busy to control Lebanon and suck Lebanese resources, and would forget about the Golan heights.

11-07-2009, 07:38 AM	#13
kkbou Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: somewhere in the UK Posts: 259	why do you think it has taken so long to form a government? There is a lot of opposition to HZB in lebanon. The struggle for the last 3 years in Lebanon has been about how to minimize the influence of HZB and iran in lebanese politics, hence the daily arguments about who is and isn't supposed to be in the cabinet. It has taken Lebanon to an 'almost civil war situation' on several occasions. I don't know what else you can expect the Lebanese people to do short of starting a civil war, which HZB would surely win. I might add also the IDF didn't do all that well against them. You are very flattering if you think the Lebanese can do any better. The only solution to this is a broad middle eastern peace deal.

11-07-2009, 09:35 AM	#15
BPEL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bourj Hamoud, Lebanon Posts: 1,355	Need to add a fifth element in the poll, Its good for Lebanon, since they are Lebanese after all. Further, its not only Hizballah in the new national unity goverment, its the opposition in which the Hizballah is a member off. As for the Israel vs Lebanese position, it may be status quo for the short term, but it will change in the long term in a positive way. Poll #4 is baseless with all the due respect to the members who chose it. Need to stop being ignorant. Hope this helps.