Lebanon: High Wire Act for New Government

In Foreign Policy, Elias Muhanna describes how the recently announced government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Lebanon is attempting to hold together its long-fought-for coalition in the face international pressure. Muhanna argues that it is an “oversimplification” to say that the government will be dominated by Hizbullah. Though, he notes the choice of Mikati and not a ”more divisive ‘pro-Syrian’ figure suggested from the very beginning that the March 8 coalition was wary of letting this government be painted as being ‘Made in Damascus and Tehran.” In his Qifa Nabki blog, he adds that Mikati may also hold the government together through a tempered majority for March 8th and by catering to rival March 14th coalition’s voting base in Tripoli.

A Dar al Hayat [Arabic]article Washington argues that Washington-Beirut relations may not be threatened due to changing regional realities and the desire for continued military cooperation. David Schenker of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy comments that “no one expected such a strong and direct Hizbullah presence” in the government. However, he echoed Muhanna in adding, “the American position will depend on the ministerial statement and how Mikati deals with the issue of the [UN Special] Tribunal.” Mikati has 30 days to get parliamentary approval for his government. The piece also points out that Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman’s myriad meetings with Lebanese political figures as evidence that the U.S. government’s openness. State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner validated the analysts’ insights saying, “we’re going to wait and let the process play itself out.”