MeT was supposed Despite being a speech celebrating a Muslim holiday, Hassan Nasrara dedicated an amazing amount of it to Christian politician Samir Jaaja. There weren’t many reasons for the celebration anyway. A Shiite party and militia leader, Hezbollah, spoke on October 18, four days after an hour-long shootout in Beirut, which killed seven people. It was the worst street violence in the Lebanese capital since 2008. Mr. Nasrara blames Mr. Jaaja.
According to Mr. Nasrara, the Lebanese Forces (LF), The right-wing Christian party, led by Geagea, was about to cause a civil war. Hezbollah has 100,000 fighters trained for combat, he added. This claim cannot be verified, but is probably exaggerated. Still, the warning was clear. “Don’t miscalculate,” Nasrara told his rivals. “Act wisely.”
The shootout on October 14 focused on protests against Judge Tarek al-Bitar, who investigated a major explosion at the port of Beirut about a year ago. Another Shiite party, Hezbollah and Amal, who co-sponsored the protest, said the snipers had fired at the demonstrators. NS LF Rejected the role. NS CCTV Meanwhile, the video shows Lebanese soldiers firing at protesters and states that the military is investigating.
But the shooting has begun. For many Lebanese, the Beirut scene was reminiscent of the 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. Hezbollah and Amal spent months using legal and political pressure to stall port investigations. Now, the ghost of violence also depends on it.
Bitar is arguably the most difficult job in Lebanon. One of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, the explosion killed 218 people and destroyed much of the city centre. It was improperly stored for many years due to the 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that arrived by ship in 2013. Many Lebanese leaders were aware of this and did nothing to make it safe. Therefore, hesitate to support the probe. President Michel Aoun supports Mr. Vital, but says he has banned interviews with National Security Director Tony Saliba (like Christian Aoun). Hassan Diab, the prime minister at the time of the blast, ignored the summons of cross-examination last month and flew to the United States.
But it was Hezbollah and Amal who did the most to thwart the probe. Mr Nasrara accused him of prejudice and called on the judge to resign. A Lebanese reporter said Hezbollah’s chief of security, Wafik Safa, threatened to give her to Mr. Vital. “We have enough of you,” it should have read. “We go to the end of the legal path, and if that doesn’t work, we’ll force you away.” Former Amal minister filed a proceeding seeking Mr. Vital’s dismissal. (Later fired).
The victim’s family has long supported Mr. Vital. However, the day after the clash, family spokesman Ibrahim Hotate released a strange video calling for Mr. Bitter to be dismissed and accused “American interference” in an investigation. The message contradicted his past remarks. Many Lebanese believe it was forced. At one point, Mr. Hotate looked away from the camera and seemed to be looking at someone in the room with him.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he would not convene a cabinet (including Hezbollah and Amal) until a “solution” to the conflict was found. He took office more than a year later in September without a proper government (two other men tried to form a cabinet in the meantime but failed). His predecessor, Mr. Diab, spent most of his tenure as a reckless caretaker.
Meanwhile, the country fell into an economic crisis and the World Bank was ranked as one of the worst everywhere since the mid-1800s. Last year, the economy shrank by an estimated 25%. The Lebanese pound, which had long been fixed at $ 1,500, is now trading at around $ 21,000. Annual inflation is over 100%.
Mikati gives a rescue package IMF, Among many other tasks. He won’t be long. The election was scheduled for May. On October 19, Congress resolved to ostensibly advance them to March to avoid having candidates campaign during Ramadan. This solidifies our view of port surveys. For example, Geagea will use Bitar’s support to strengthen support among his Christian bases (many of the most devastated areas near the eastern port of Beirut are historically Christians. is).
There is no logic to resume the civil war. Hezbollah is by far the strongest faction in Lebanon and is better equipped than the army. The enemy lacks the muscles to challenge it. But if war is unlikely, so is stability. Thousands of soldiers have reportedly abandoned their troops, and conscription is now bringing back only $ 60 a month (compared to $ 800 two years ago). The crisis has created a huge pool of unemployed and angry young people. Mr Nasrara may be confident that his militia can dodge rival warlords. But no one can maintain peace unless the cabinet moves swiftly to prevent the collapse of Lebanon, which Hezbollah and Amal are making difficult. ■■
This article was published in the printed Middle East and Africa section under the heading “Probing to odeep”.
How the investigation led to a shootout in Lebanon
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