The Sectarian Friction in Lebanon and the International Tribunal
Ali Rizk
The recent commotion in Lebanon with regards to the special tribunal and the false witnesses has given credibility to the argument made by Hizbullah and its supporters: that this tribunal is a political tool that aims to target Hizbullah.
The recent statements made by March 14 figures and specifically by members of the future movement have revealed how the tribunal takes aim at the image and reputation of the resistance group. Following Hizbullah's' show of solidarity and support for Jamil As-Sayyed, who accused the Lebanese premier of backing false witnesses, sectarian rhetoric became pouring down.
Members of the opposing side and specifically Sunni figures close to premier Saad Hariri accused Hizbullah of supporting the threats against the "Sunni leader in Lebanon" Saad Hariri.
Such comments were unwarranted regardless of whether or not As-Sayyed's accusations against Hariri are true. Hariri's supporters could have come to his defense by adopting a different line. Hence what could be concluded is that such sectarian language is a small sample of the rhetoric that would be used against Hizbullah if in fact the indictment of the special tribunal accuses Hizbullah even by referring to "some of its undisciplined elements".
Such an accusation would then open the door for even more extreme sectarian language which would accuse Hizbullah (as Shiite movement) of assassinating Rafiq Hariri, the former leader and symbol of the Sunnis in Lebanon. With Lebanon's vulnerability for friction and conflicts such a scenario would be unpredictably catastrophic.
It would serve the "Israeli" claims that Hizbullah is an extremist Shiite organization that wants to marginalize the role of Sunni's in Lebanon and turn the country into an Iranian outpost. From here Hizbullah took the preemptive step of warning against the issuing of an indictment against its members and also pointed out to "Israel's'" interest in carrying out the assassination.
In the end such a step might even spare the country of sectarian conflict which would have prevailed had Hizbullah not been as vigilant. Other players have also realized the danger of this game including the leadership of regional Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia which is pursuing efforts to prevent the disastrous scenario from being fulfilled, as it would have dire consequences beyond the Lebanese borders.
The recent commotion in Lebanon with regards to the special tribunal and the false witnesses has given credibility to the argument made by Hizbullah and its supporters: that this tribunal is a political tool that aims to target Hizbullah.
The recent statements made by March 14 figures and specifically by members of the future movement have revealed how the tribunal takes aim at the image and reputation of the resistance group. Following Hizbullah's' show of solidarity and support for Jamil As-Sayyed, who accused the Lebanese premier of backing false witnesses, sectarian rhetoric became pouring down.
Members of the opposing side and specifically Sunni figures close to premier Saad Hariri accused Hizbullah of supporting the threats against the "Sunni leader in Lebanon" Saad Hariri.
Such comments were unwarranted regardless of whether or not As-Sayyed's accusations against Hariri are true. Hariri's supporters could have come to his defense by adopting a different line. Hence what could be concluded is that such sectarian language is a small sample of the rhetoric that would be used against Hizbullah if in fact the indictment of the special tribunal accuses Hizbullah even by referring to "some of its undisciplined elements".
Such an accusation would then open the door for even more extreme sectarian language which would accuse Hizbullah (as Shiite movement) of assassinating Rafiq Hariri, the former leader and symbol of the Sunnis in Lebanon. With Lebanon's vulnerability for friction and conflicts such a scenario would be unpredictably catastrophic.
It would serve the "Israeli" claims that Hizbullah is an extremist Shiite organization that wants to marginalize the role of Sunni's in Lebanon and turn the country into an Iranian outpost. From here Hizbullah took the preemptive step of warning against the issuing of an indictment against its members and also pointed out to "Israel's'" interest in carrying out the assassination.
In the end such a step might even spare the country of sectarian conflict which would have prevailed had Hizbullah not been as vigilant. Other players have also realized the danger of this game including the leadership of regional Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia which is pursuing efforts to prevent the disastrous scenario from being fulfilled, as it would have dire consequences beyond the Lebanese borders.
Comments
- Related News
