It is hard not to have a sarcastic smile on one’s face upon viewing pictures showing Hezbollah fighters covered with leaves, apparently intended to give the media the impression they are ready militarily.
They look directly into the camera lenses, taking combat positions and satisfying photographers’ desires. This occurred during an impromptu media tour carried out by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and along the border. The recent tour aimed to promote the idea that Israel is forced into a state of self-defense due to the “resistance.”
It seemed to be a replica of similar media tours carried out by the party in the 1990s. But what is strange is that Hezbollah seemed to be trying in vain to sidestep the tremendous changes that have taken place in Lebanon and regionally.
The main takeaway from the tour is that Hezbollah seemingly does not respect international resolutions over weaponry south of the Litani River; rather, the party is saying that it owns the area and will use it as it pleases.
The group wants to give the impression that it is everything in this country, and that sparing Lebanon from the scourge of war is unrealistic.
Diana Moukalled
This is exactly what prompted Prime Minister Saad Hariri to respond with his own visit to southern Lebanon, to Naqoura, where he confirmed that the government’s position is not in line with Hezbollah’s.
There is no doubt that Hariri’s move carried several messages, primarily that the international community is in a pivotal moment regarding Lebanon and the test it is passing through to improve its Gulf, Arab and international relations.
The statement by right-wing Israeli Minister Naftali Bennett that “Lebanon is Hezbollah and Hezbollah is Lebanon” summarizes Israel’s growing desire to conflate the two.
It is clear that Hezbollah is trying to seize an opportunity at this important time for the region, especially in light of the changing US position on Syria, Iraq and Iran. And this comes after talks of imposing a package of new sanctions on the party.
Hezbollah seeks to emphasize that such measures would not discourage it from continuing what it is doing, and that it is capable of playing any card to defend itself, including a possible altercation with Israel.
However the balance of power in such a confrontation would likely not favor Hezbollah, which is already fighting in Syria. Returning to fight in Lebanon would be no easy matter.
Hezbollah aimed to demonstrate in its media tour that it is still holding on to its decision-making at various levels, despite the opposition of Lebanese political parties led by the prime minister.
Hezbollah wants to say that it is everything in this country, and by taking journalists to the border, it is as though it is saying to the world that sparing Lebanon from the scourge of war, such as that in Syria, is unrealistic.
• Diana Moukalled is a veteran journalist with extensive experience in both traditional and new media. She is also a columnist and freelance documentary producer. She can be reached on Twitter @dianamoukalled.
