Random Thoughts from Lebanon

Back after a long time.

Lebanon at last has a new government, after nearly six months of haggling over who gets which ministry. It is no surprise that the composition of the new cabinet is markedly pro-Syrian and contains a majority of members who support Hizbullah. It is the first time for a long time that the country has a government which does not attempt to be one of “National Unity”, embracing all parts of the political spectrum, and this may mean that it can take decisions – maybe even controversial ones! The new opposition has vowed to do everything possible to bring down the government, but given that it has the support of a majority of members of parliament, it is difficult to see how this could be achieved by constitutional means, unless Mr Jumblat changes sides again.

There is much for the government to do, if only to clear the backlog of issues that have accumulated since the previous government was ousted in January. Top of the list is the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), set up by the UN in 2007 to investigate the 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri and prosecute those responsible. It is difficult to believe that it is a coincidence that the STL’s first indictments, said to name 4 Hizbullah members, were delivered to the Minister of Justice while the cabinet was discussing the clause in its policy statement concering its position on the STL. Much publicity was given to the names said to be in the indictment, which were leaked to the media with remarkable speed. Hizbullah, naturally, denies that those indicted were involved and says that there is no way that they will ever be handed over to the court by Lebanon. This, in any case, is academic, as those named almost certainly left Lebanon long ago for Syria and/or Iran.