At a recent social gathering, this writer heard a gentleman saying, “Beirut is like my second home. Since 1998, I ensure that I spend a few weeks there every year.” He and many other Saudis of different age groups have a special place in their hearts for this tiny beautiful country.
To a lot of us in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region, Lebanon has always been the icon of modernity in the Middle East. It is the land where culture, books, music and dance insist to live and breathe despite the annoying sounds of hovering military aircraft or horrifying gunshots. It is a country of people who love life and celebrate it despite all challenges.
“There was nothing more beautiful than spending the night in Solidere or to walk down the Hamra Street. Believe me, it is something else, something out of this world, for a moment you feel that you are the king of the world, that you have everything you could possibly ask for in life; there is definitely something special in that country’s air!” the same man continued.
Since the Taif Agreement that was signed on Oct. 22, 1989 signaling the conclusion of the civil war and return to political normality, Saudi Arabia found in Lebanon a great ally and a friend. It has always supported the reconstruction of the country, and whenever necessary played the role of a broker or a mediator to bridge the gaps between its different sects and political groups. However, things started to change during the last decade when the Lebanese politics started to get messy, narrow-minded and shortsighted politicians started to gamble with the whole country’s future. It became impossible for different parties to hold a dialogue.
Amid this chaos, a militia turned into a political party under the name of Hezbollah. It spread like a cancer in the country. Backed by a pure sectarian agenda from Iran, the party gradually took control of the country like a mafia. It is a state within a state.
For the Saudis, enough was enough. The friend and ally we had for years became a stranger. Not only that, but somehow transformed into a puppet controlled by a country that is insisting on destabilizing the whole region.
That is why on Feb. 19, Saudi Arabia was left with no choice but to suspend its aid to Lebanon. It just does not make sense to keep investing in a relationship that is causing nothing but pain. The decision is a wake-up call to the Lebanese political parties; it is time for them to reconsider their priorities.
