Saudi Arabia: Main ’Obstructer’ of Lebanese Government Formation

By Fatima Salamah

It isn't the first time all politicians agree the government is very unlikely to be formed in case things keep going on like they are now. No communications; nothing has changed since the first day the caretaker PM was assigned to office.
It is the bitter truth that senior "March 8 Alliance" figures report. They can't actually hide that "there are almost no consultations at all with Caretaker PM Tammam Salam.

They don't believe he can make the decision to form the government or not. Currently he does not dare do it. That is, Saudi Arabia whispered to President Michel Suleiman that a forced-reality government excluding Hizbullah must be formed. It's not right that the Saudi king's ailment prevented him from receiving the Lebanese president. He did open all doors for his visitors. The Lebanese president, however, has outraged Saudi Arabia for not forcing that government in the time required."

Saudi Arabia strongly obstructs government formation in Lebanon, the figures say. "Hatred for the Resistance is moving that country's officials. At the end of the day, they lost their minds in consequence with Syria's developments that went well for the regime. Since Washington "stepped on the brakes", deciding not to strike Syria, Saudi Arabia has been very upset with the changing Western stances on Syria, including Paris's. The figures also unveil that Saudi Arabia wrote the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad requesting that rapprochement be made.

The figures now report UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffery Feltman's talk to a Lebanese government official in New York, "President al-Assad is lucky the military strike has been cancelled." In summary, what the figures wish to say is, "All developments now benefit the Syrian regime. And that's what bothered the struggling Riyadh after it made a losing bet on the Middle East, particularly Lebanon. That is, the Director General of Saudi Intelligence Agency Bandar Bin Sultan incited unrest in the Lebanese interior, but it was a failing step. And now Riyadh is doing all it can to obstruct government formation, but it is definitely going to fail.

"Jumblatt's Proposal Shattered Their Dreams"

Riyadh realizes well that there are Lebanese figures that can change the fact about the government. So it hurried in playing a role to cancel the socialist chief Walid Jumblatt's "mediation" and to eventually make him form a forced-reality government."
Yet, the answer was, as "March 8 Alliance" senior figures say, "You knocked on the wrong door. Al-Mokhtara's chief can't possibly work out a government that does not represent all political parties. Then- Jumblatt's envoy to Saudi Arabia informed the Saudi officials that the "Chief" would not yield to the pressures and that Saudi Arabia's aspirations were currently unattainable."

The senior figures believe Jumblatt has changed the prevailing government situation. He has "pressed hard on the brakes" against a forced-reality government. Climanso is totally convinced the proposal it made earlier (9-9-6) has been the best solution to overcome the government's catch-22. The figures say they are content with Jumblatt's stance as it, according to them, reflects Jumblatt's sense of national responsibility for the beleaguered country. At this point, Hizbullah commanders point out their party does not mind going the Jumblatt way because it ensures the safeguarding third.

If all parties agree on Jumblatt's proposal, Salam won't mind it, his sources say. Not really being in favor of a vetoing third, Salam can't possibly be in favor of two. Yet, his sources emphasize that "the caretaker is opt to discuss all proposals. Just like Suleiman, Baabda sources say, the president does not intervene with any proposal."

Though holding reservations regarding the al-Mokhtara proposal, even House Speaker Nabih Berri's sources welcome Jumblatt's stance because it demands an all-party government and because it stresses the necessity of viewing House Speaker Berri's initiative as a primary introduction to dissolving all obstacles. At this point surfaces the question: As long as Jumblatt's proposal meets with almost all parties' convention, who's obstructing government formation?

Jumblatt "Upset with" "March 14 Alliance"

"March 14 Alliance" does not at all welcome the Climanso proposal, their sources say. They do not want the vetoing third, and this makes Jumblatt "upset with" them as well as with the prevailing local situation, the Climanso sources confirm.
With respect to the socialist chief, a government must be formed as soon as possible to get out of this catch-22, especially as obstacles foretell things might soon reach their worst. Pointing out those obstacles, President Suleiman's sources say, "Things are still the same as ever. His Excellency is still doing consultations, but practically no evident progress has been made and no government seems to be on the way."
Salam's sources agree with Suleiman's sources and repeat what they say. Getting accustomed with holding an enclosed meeting almost every week, the president and the caretaker have so far been unable to make a step forward concerning the plagued situation of the government. The Msaytbeh sources point out things are still just the same. The barriers are still the same and the conditions, too. So far all doors have been locked against solutions, but "Sir" Salam still keeps his door open for dialogue, and he intends to resume active communications after Eid al-Adha so as to seek doing what has to be done.

Salam's sources tell a lot about the caretaker's discontent. In his talk, Salam clearly reflects bitterness in regard to the reality that pushed things to this deadlock. He, nevertheless, does not give up as he bears trust. That is, who bears national responsibility cannot turn a blind eye on things and quit his/her responsibilities because it will only bring harm to the country where we live. The "patient Salam ", as the sources name him, does not give up and will continue to make his efforts.

So much noise, so little work!!

Darkness masks the situation of the government, none denies so. The "March 8 Alliance" senior figures believe hope is still there. Eventually, Saudi Arabia will give up on harming the body of the Lebanese State and will leave it to us to form a government. Even so, this is definitely not happening soon.

We've always heard the government would be formed "tomorrow". They said it would be formed following Easter, then Eid al-Fitr, and then before Suleiman left to New York for the UN General Assembly, only to realize afterwards that waiting for the president "might be better". They said the government would be formed when the president returned from New York, then we heard that would be the present for Eid al-Adha. And now we hear echoes that government formation is to be delayed until Independence Day. That is really so much noise, so little work!