“The Arab Lobby: The Invisible Alliance that Undermines America’s Interests in the Middle East” is an obvious and ham-handed effort to counter an influential 2007 book about the pro-Israel lobby. The book is littered with elementary errors, and the author did no real fact checking or analysis.
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With this week’s clashes in Beirut, Syria told Hezbollah that it is back, reassured the international community that it can confront Hezbollah and made it clear to the Saudis that it can protect the Sunnis in Lebanon. What are the consequences of all this on the Lebanese?
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If Prime Minister Saad Hariri is someone who often seems to be enclosed in a political box between Saudi Arabia, Syria and Hezbollah, Walid Jumblatt is the Russian doll of Lebanese politics, a captive of myriad concentric layers of alliances, dalliances, duties and threats.
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The past few weeks have seen a flurry of discussion in US foreign policy circles about the potential for a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran. However, no discussion of an Israeli, or indeed American, strike can ignore the unavoidable involvement of Lebanon.
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The resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in early September offers significant opportunities and pitfalls for all parties. The Obama administration’s assumption appears to be that direct talks will generate their own dynamics; but if they don’t, it’s not evident what the next American step will be.
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Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea proposed Thursday a transitional defense plan that would have Hezbollah remain an independent unit under the army’s control. The initiative was considered a positive step toward the party, but its reaction was quick and negative. Hezbollah’s weapons cannot be under anyone’s command.
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For some people, those who protest perceived slights against their religion are correct, even in resorting to violent action. But if freedom of speech is reined in every time someone risks becoming annoyed, particularly on religious matters, Lebanon will never truly develop as a place of free expression.
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The Palestinian leadership is politically exposed, as they have almost nothing to show for their efforts to set up proximity talks with the Israelis and are facing domestic opposition to such a move. They are also not expecting much in the way of progress with the Israeli government.
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For Christians to refuse to surrender any power today on the grounds of historic privilege or entitlement is utterly foolish. Lebanon is changing, and if the community doesn’t adapt voluntarily, in a way allowing it to negotiate its own fate, it may one day face imposed change.
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