“Lebanon Debate”
Attention is turning to the results of the accelerating American movement, especially the visit of the American ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa, to Tel Aviv and his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the messages it may carry related to the Lebanese situation and the course of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, amid efforts to neutralize Lebanon from any large-scale war, while the regional scene remains open to various possibilities, from Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan all the way to Iraq and Yemen.
In a comprehensive reading of the scene, writer and political analyst Wajdi Al-Aridi stopped at the implications of the American and Israeli move, and the next stage in the south and the negotiations, in addition to the internal political movement, and the bet on security and stability to open the development, reconstruction and investment workshop in Lebanon.
Al-Aridi believed, in an interview with “Lebanon Debate,” that the visit of the American ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa, to Tel Aviv and his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, came with American directions, and as a political envoy of US President Donald Trump, in light of their friendship, in addition to the fact that Issa is aware of the Lebanese file and everything related to the internal situation in this country.
Against this background, Al-Aridi explained that the visit, according to his information, carried several basic topics, most notably Hezbollah’s weapons and the cessation of Israeli attacks, in addition to examining the possibility of there being, in the event of the outbreak of war, a limited military operation in Ali Al-Taher Hill, and then the role of the international forces that will accompany the Lebanese army in the experimental areas.
He pointed out that among the titles also included resuming the Israeli-Lebanese negotiations under American auspices, and working to resolve the contract that occurred in the recent Rome session.
Al-Aridi continues: “Despite this visit, Lebanon will serve as a mailbox, specifically that this box will be placed in the south for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and from there, Lebanon will also be an electoral box in Lebanon and the region for US President Donald Trump, against the backdrop of the midterm elections.
He said that this means that the current two weeks are actually critical, and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may time his military operations in Ali al-Taher, and perhaps more than that, in connection with the Israeli elections, and not give Hezbollah an opportunity to bomb the Israeli interior or for Iran to carry out any operation, so that there is no Israeli public opinion condemning this bombing, which would affect the course of the elections and their results for Netanyahu.
Al-Aridi stressed that everything is expected, except that there is a feverish race between diplomacy, meetings and visits on the one hand, and the field on the other hand.
In parallel with these issues, Al-Aridi indicated that the Lebanese state is continuing its contacts and meetings with its presidents abroad, specifically the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and the Prime Minister, Judge Nawaf Salam.
He pointed out that the President of the Republic received positively the speech of President Nabih Berri, indicating, according to his information, that there are no differences between them, and that a meeting may take place soon between the two parties, while things are moving positively.
He added that evidence of this is the communication and coordination between the President of the Southern Council, Hashem Haider, and the Presidents of the Republic and the Government, noting that the President of the Southern Council visited them, in light of the government’s great efforts to support the Southern Council, which is making great strides in terms of relief for the displaced and the development and reconstruction process, where this can be done.
Al-Aridi pointed out an important issue, saying that in parallel with the visit of the Emirati delegation, which includes senior businessmen and the Minister of Trade and Investment, to Lebanon, there is a strong Kuwaiti entry on the line through the CEO of the Kuwaiti “PAC” company, Walid Shaaban, with the expectation that there will be a branch in Lebanon for this company, in cooperation with its Kuwaiti partners.
He believed that this matter, through the good reputation of the company and Professor Walid Shaaban, will lead to great achievements that may occur, in conjunction with the launch of the development, reconstruction and construction workshop in the country, especially since the aforementioned company has a long history in Kuwait, in addition to transparency and other things.
He considered that this means that Lebanon is making great strides, and that everyone is awaiting security and stability for this expected boom.
In another context, Al-Aridi said that what Beirut MP Nabil Badr said, that the Sunni community stands alongside the state and institutions, is a very important matter, because it blocks those who doubt the relationship with the army, which is a historical relationship.
Badr also asserts, according to Al-Aridi, that it is not possible to continue to remain silent about the injustice that befell Beirut, and that its development and developmental role, and everything related to this capital, is something that cannot be silent about, stressing at the same time that the families of Beirut are one family, and that he stands with every family in the capital that means a lot to him, which is his family.
On another line, Al-Aridi said that what is happening in the Gulf in terms of the return of Iranian attacks is condemned by all Lebanese political forces, and this is what was pointed out by Tripoli MP Dr. Ihab Matar, who categorically refused to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and any Gulf country, because these are “our people,” and they were by our side in good times and bad. He stressed that these attacks cannot be tolerated, but must be condemned, pointing out at the same time, and after his visit to the Chargé d’Affaires. Al-Suri stressed the importance of establishing equal relations between Lebanon and Syria, given the political, historical and social ties that unite the two countries.
Matar stressed, according to Al-Aridi, that the security and stability of Syria is the security and stability of Lebanon, and vice versa, in light of the existing interdependence between the two countries and the necessity of maintaining stability in both.
He pointed out that there is great anticipation for the results of the visit of the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa, to Tel Aviv, in connection with what is happening between Iran and Washington, as well as the Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon, in order to build on what is required.
Al-Aridi concluded that the main question revolves around where Lebanon is headed, especially in light of the graph extending from Lebanon to Syria, Jordan, Yemen and Iraq, which means that the region is boiling, and that Lebanon is part of this regional composition, stressing that all possibilities are possible at this stage, amid efforts to neutralize Lebanon from the great war.
