Lebanon has a democratically elected government. There are therefore absolutely no grounds for a political coup riding on the back of popular protest. What is so disturbing about the coverage of the standoff between the Lebanese government and its former coalition partner, Hezbollah, is the way in which the rivals are already being characterized respectively as pro-Western and pro-Syrian. What every Lebanese politician should be, regardless of constituency, is pro-Lebanon.
It is striking that in both Iraq and Lebanon, powerful militia-backed Shiite factions have walked away from coalitions. There is, however, one major difference. Iraq is still teetering on the brink of civil war. The Lebanese have already experienced 15 years of vicious factional violence, supported by rival outside powers.
Peace finally came in 1995 with the recognition that all Lebanese had to work together, expressing and resolving their differences peacefully through the political process. Implicit in this was the acceptance that compromises would never give any faction everything it wanted. It would nonetheless give everyone the peace for which he or she longed.
This wise settlement is now in jeopardy as Hezbollah whips up anger among its supporters against what it characterizes as the “corrupt” government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, — a government, by the way, which until a few days ago Hezbollah itself was a member of. The reason for the split is the investigation into possible Syrian involvement in the 2005 murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri and into other political assassinations. Hezbollah clearly believes it is defending the interests of a Damascus that has done much to support it, not least logistically in its defeat of the summer Israeli invasion. But in disrupting the political process and taking to the streets in a possible precursor to renewed civil violence, is Hezbollah in any way really defending the interests of Lebanon?
In the final analysis, Syria can look after itself. Whatever the truth about the Hariri and other killings, Damascus is probably resigned to being found guilty in some degree by the UN investigation. That verdict would in no way be diminished if the streets of Beirut were once again awash with Lebanese blood. Lebanon and Syria are neighbors with historic ties and they both face a common threat from Israel. They should be working together as two sovereign Arab states. Past wrongs may not be forgotten but there is no point in sustaining recrimination to the point where political cohesion and public order break down.
Hezbollah has acted unwisely but it takes two to make an argument. Premier Siniora’s remaining ministry should be asking itself how it could have worked harder to head off the collapse of political consensus. The situation in Lebanon is now extremely disturbing. However as outside pundits jabber on about “pro-this” or “pro-that” factions, all Lebanese politicians should pause and think about what a new disintegration of their country will mean, not just to their own supporters but to the entire country as well.
