In Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri said that he was putting his announced resignation on hold after a meeting with the nation’s President Michel Aoun, in an effort to provide more consultation and ensure the best outcome for the Lebanese people. It’s been almost three weeks since Hariri said he was stepping aside, citing the difficulties of leading a nation whose political future is effectively controlled by Hezbollah and its external influences that lead all the way back to the regime in Tehran.
These are difficult times for the people of Lebanon, a nation that faces the challenges of providing a strong and stable economic future for all while also facing the difficulties and pressures of so many displaced Syrians struggling to make ends meet, or to simply survive, within its borders. Those external pressures, combined with the fact that Iran has essentially a veto on Lebanon’s future through its undue influence from south Beirut all the way to the border with Israel, makes the governing of Lebanon an arduous task. And Hariri, given his family’s history, knows all too well the dangers posed by Hezbollah.
The meeting with Aoun followed Hariri’s return from an extended visit to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Cyprus and France, and Hariri has said that he is willing to work closely with the veteran Aoun to ensure that they can meet the challenges facing the nation. Putting his resignation on hold for now affords an opportunity for a meaningful national dialogue. Hariri’s move has highlighted the dangers posed by Hezbollah, even though it remains a partner in his government. This is an opportunity now that must be grasped if Lebanon is to truly change for the better.
