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Lebanon Paralyzed by Protests

from the January 23, 2007 eNews issue
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Several people have been killed and over a hundred others were injured in violent protests that erupted this week in Lebanon. Protestors clashed with police and blocked roads with burning tires. Opposition to the government - lead by the terrorist organization Hezbollah - organized a general strike that effectively brought all of Lebanon to a screeching halt. The violence is the most recent attempt by Hezbollah and its allies to topple the Lebanese government.

Ever since Hezbollah's self-declared victory over Israel in July, Hezbollah has embarked upon an aggressive campaign for power in Lebanon. In November, terrorist leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah threatened to call for protests in opposition to the government. Nasrallah has predicted that the current Lebanese government would "go" and a new one would take its place. In addition to mass protests, Hezbollah has attempted to topple the country's weak democratic government by organizing boycotts and strikes. They could even attempt to shut down electrical power, water, and government services in an attempt to further destabilize the region.

The current government, lead by Fuad Siniora, is supported by Western powers. It opposes Syria's interference in Lebanese affairs and is cooperating in the UN investigation into the assassination of the former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri - in which Syria is suspected of being involved. Lebanon's government is weak - the country is in the midst of an economic crisis. Thus it is perhaps only a matter of time before the government falls and the opposition seizes control.

Hezbollah is an important player in Lebanon's politics and a major provider of social services to thousands of Lebanese Shiites. It operates hospitals, schools, orphanages and a television station. Its base is in Lebanon's Shiite-dominated areas, including parts of Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. In addition, US intelligence reports say that Hezbollah cells operate in regions including Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. Hezbollah has become so powerful, that some commentators have described the terrorist organization as a "state within a state."

According to the UN Security Council resolution that ended the Israeli-Hezbollah war this past summer, Hezbollah was supposed to be disarmed. But, not surprisingly, that never happened, and Iran and Syria are now taking advantage of the current calm to re-arm the terrorist organization. Iran does not yet have the military strength to carry out a direct attack on Israel, thus it uses Hezbollah as its proxy.

Lebanon has been described as the "lynchpin of the Middle East." This tiny republic on the Mediterranean, with its mixed Muslim and Christian population, holds tremendous importance for the future of the Middle East. The US government, as well as the EU and the UN, have repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining the stability in Lebanon. In many ways it is the pawn at the center of Middle East strategy - this is true for both sides of the conflict. Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Lebanon would be the arena of defeat for Israel and America. What is happening in Lebanon will have important implications for the Middle East and the rest of the world. For more information on the Mid-East conflict, clink on the links below.