The May 2022 elections revealed the depth of the division in Lebanon and the roots of the entire political and sectarian crisis. Despite the loss of the majority of “Hezbollah” and its allies in the parliament, a key player which hindered the investigation (of the Beirut blast), the parliament remained incapable of making effective decisions, including the election of a president after the end of Michel Aoun’s term.
The Lebanese system felt threatened by the investigating judge. Therefore, the attorney general, who dared to be accused by the judge, rejected all the decisions and even charged him with “rebellion against the judiciary and usurpation of authority.” He issued a travel ban against him and released all detainees in the case, leaving the families of the victims, seeking justice, isolated in the face of the system’s repression.
The incident which destroyed half of the Lebanese strength was a massive explosion considered the third most powerful in the world. It was also the fiery sign of immense corruption, terrible mismanagement, and a grand betrayal of the Lebanese people, perpetrated by an elite hiding behind their sectarian garbs, and placing themselves above the Lebanese people. They betrayed the Lebanese people during their scramble for power, positions, money, and allegiance to foreign powers.
The explosion highlighted the political crime which led to an economic collapse, where people’s savings were stolen, the currency’s value plummeted by 90%, and the country was pushed into an abyss of which no resolution is seen.
[Editorial Al-Quds Al-Arabi]