RIYADH/JEDDAH, 15 February 2005 — Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination in a powerful bomb blast in Beirut yesterday is reverberating across Saudi Arabia. Citizens and expatriates were glued to TV screens as different satellite channels broke the news and featured clips from his political and business life throughout the day.
Hariri’s assassination drew widespread condemnation. “I received with great pain and regret the news of the killing of Hariri,” said Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). “The blatant crime was against one of the most outstanding figureheads of concord and national unity in Lebanon who played a crucial part in the stability and modern revival of the country after the civil war.”
He called on the Lebanese people to opt for wisdom, patience and self-restraint in these difficult moments for Lebanon and to respond to the crisis with further cohesion and unity. He emphasized that the entire Muslim Ummah should support Lebanon and its people to help them through this enormous ordeal.
Citizens and Middle East expats, Lebanese in particular, condemned the dastardly act and expressed hope that this would not revive the violence that rocked their country during the 15-year civil war a decade ago. They recalled Hariri as a self-made billionaire, who made vast contributions toward the rebuilding of Lebanon after the civil war.
A number of Saudi businessmen condemned the terrorist attack and described Hariri’s death as a great loss for the Arab and Islamic nation. “Hariri’s noble contribution is immeasurable,” Abdul Aziz Bin Mahfouz told Arab News.
“Hariri was an outstanding leader,” said Muhammad Bahashwain.
“Nobody can fill the gap left by him,” added Muhammad Saghir Ahmed.
Khalid Ismail also expressed his sorrow over the killing of Hariri.
The assassination of Hariri left many of his compatriots in the Kingdom and the Gulf in a state of shock.
“Our country had come back to glory after the war that had shattered it, and much of the credit toward rebuilding goes to Hariri,” a Lebanese media consultant in Jeddah said, reflecting the community’s concern for the future of Lebanon.
“I hope this is a one-off incident and the country does not go back to the old bad days,” said Waleed Karanouh whose family knew Hariri closely. “Hariri was a symbol of peace in the Middle East.”
Arab News visited the head offices of Saudi Oger in Riyadh and the branch office in Jeddah and saw many Lebanese and Saudi employees in grief with tears in their eyes. Scores of employees in the company, founded by Hariri in 1978, were queuing up in the administration office to apply for exit/reentry visa.
“I am leaving for Beirut tonight. I have to be with Sheikh Rafik’s family in their hour of grief and profound tragedy. He was for all Lebanese people, an affectionate father and a philanthropist,” Taha Mecheimech, an employee of Saudi Oger in Riyadh, told Arab News.
Hariri put Lebanon back on the path of economic and political stability after a decade of chaos and instability triggered by the civil war, Taha said, adding that the Lebanese had love and affection for him, since employees of Saudi Oger supported some 45,000 families.
“Two of my children had their college education at Hariri’s expense. But for his generosity it would not have been possible for me to give them higher education,” he added.
Muhammad Habanger, an electro-mechanical engineer at Saudi Oger, said the death of the former prime minister was a great loss for not only Lebanon but also the Arab world.
“He used his international contacts to serve his country. He was a man with a vision. He believed he could rebuild his country by rising above sectarian and ideological differences,” he said. Habanger said the ex-premier founded the Hariri Foundation, among other philanthropic organizations. Since its inception, the foundation has sponsored more than 40,000 students. His companies and organizations employed Lebanese and others from the broad spectrum of society.
Saudi Oger employees in Jeddah too were deeply saddened by the news. “We’re all shocked and can’t believe what we have seen on the TV screen,” said Verghese Kattanam, an Indian. The company, owned by the Hariri family, was incorporated in January 1978 with its headquarters in Riyadh. Since that time, the company has grown into a multi-divisional organization with subsidiaries and affiliates throughout the Kingdom and abroad.
“He was a man with political acumen and a businessman with a vision. He was very kind to the employees and has done a lot for us,” said Saleh Ibrahim, a Saudi employee.
With the fusion of Western technical expertise achieved from its overseas subsidiaries and the Middle Eastern knowledge and experience, the company has become the center of construction for prestigious and complex projects of advanced technology throughout the Middle East, Africa and Europe, he said, adding that Hariri had tremendous respect for the different nationalities that he employed in his company.
The adherence to high standards of service along with the modern equipment and machinery and the strong financial position, enabled Saudi Oger Ltd. to maintain its distinctive reputation among the leading companies in the contracting and telecommunication businesses.
Jumana, a journalist with an international media organization in Riyadh, said Hariri became a target for political assassination when he recently resigned as prime minister and joined the opposition. She said his assassination could be a result of the extension of the Lebanese president’s term of office.
“What happened is catastrophic. Hariri was able to stop the civil war in Lebanon. Now the country can slip back into a state of chaos and anarchy, and nobody can fill the void created by his demise,” said Jumana.
“I feel sick and disgusted over what has happened,” said a Lebanese business executive who wished to remain anonymous. “I would like to point out that there are certain parties involved in Lebanese lives and politics. Every time Lebanese of different sects and affiliations reach a common understanding to determine their future, such parties step in to sabotage peace and stability in Lebanon. Their vested interest is served by desperate attempts to put the clock back and divide Lebanese society.”
Abdul Aziz Al-Hendi, a Saudi political analyst, said Hariri used his leverage with France and Arab countries to help his country. He had all along supported the call for Israel’s withdrawal from Shebaa Farms and other occupied Arab territories. His death could plunge Lebanon back into chaos and political instability. “The new crisis has come at a time when the Middle East is still simmering and terror attacks continue unabated.”
Abdulrahman Al-Muafa, a journalist from Al-Eqtisadiah, a sister publication of Arab News, said the former prime minister was his neighbor for six years. “His palace was in Al-Wurood District north of Riyadh. Each time he came to the Kingdom, I understood his presence by the large security cordon. The last time I saw him was in the Lebanese ambassador’s house during the launch of the Saudi-Lebanese Economic Summit,” he said.
Abdullah Al-Shehri, a Saudi journalist, said he had known Hariri since 1989. “I used to meet him after midnight and before dawn during the strenuous negotiations between different Lebanese factions in Taif. I remember that for 22 days Hariri worked like Sinbad between members of the Lebanese Parliament trying to bring them together, so that they could agree on a new formula for the newborn Lebanon after 15 years of civil war. He utilized his relationship with Presidents Clinton and Chirac to rebuild Lebanon. Investors from the Arab world and mainly from the Gulf flocked to Lebanon, because they trusted Hariri, not the country. In my last telephone call to him, he wished to see Beirut playing a role similar to Dubai,” Al-Shehri said.
Karim Assad, general manager of a pan-Arab advertising agency, said he suspected Israeli hand in Hariri’s assassination. “It will create a lot of instability in Lebanon. The country’s economy has been pushed back at least 20 years. His assassination will destabilize the country politically and economically, help his enemies, create divisions in society, and project a poor image of the Arabs abroad.”
Mehmood Berry, production manager at the same agency, said the finger of blame was pointing in Israel’s direction. “Who will benefit from political and economic instability in Lebanon? Obviously, it is Israel.”
Similar views were expressed by Nasser Al-Shamy and Muhammed Sayeed of Al-Khaleejiah, who said Hariri’s assassination was an attempt to divert international attention from Iraq. They said the tragedy struck Lebanon at a time when Syria was under pressure to withdraw its forces from that country.
