France Meddling in Lebanon’s Politics
France has expanded its circle of contacts as its initiative for Lebanon. It has recently communicated with the US, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
For eight months, Lebanon has been waiting for the political wheel to turn so that Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri can form a government of experts from outside the traditional political parties.
The difference in visions, lack of convergence of viewpoints, and war of words between Labanese President Michel Aoun and Saad Hariri, complicated the situation internally. This has prompted their third partner, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, to say that Lebanon would drown if the government is not formed as soon as possible. This tension is accompanied by a madly high exchange rate of dollar and a deepening economic crisis which the country has not seen since the civil war.
Lebanon is always influenced by foreign factors. The disagreement between the first and second presidencies shows Lebanon’s relationship with international decision-makers, who are asking for the forming of a new government as a condition of helping it and rescuing it from financial and economic crisis.
French president Emmanuel Macron has discovered recently that Lebanon is more complicated than he had expected. With the changing of time, the alliances also change. Many Lebanese have lost confidence in France and Macron himself, particularly since the authorities which prevent the formation of the government are not publicly disclosed, as they are referred to in French official statements as if they are ghosts without a face.
(by Mohammad Al Hajji in Alaraby)
How Arabs Voted for the Knesset?
In March, fourth general elections were held in Israel for its Knesset in less than two years, in which the Arab parties won 10 seats. They have won 15 seats in the previous elections which were held before 2020. What happened this time is due to the division of Arab political forces into two; the Joint Arab List and the United Arab List. Both the parties failed to mobilise Arab voters due to the decline in their influence, and the widening gap between the expectations and aspirations of the Arabs and their representatives regarding the treatment of the problems faced by the Palestinian Arabs within the Green Line.
The ratio of Arab participation in these elections recorded a significant decrease. It was reflected in the results. The Joint List won 6 seats, and the United Arab List won 4 seats.
These results of the Knesset show the disappointment of Palestinians from the lists of the candidates. This is why there was an unprecedented increase in the ratio of boycotters and those who did not vote. The Arabs are looking for parliamentary political discourse and performance based on an approach to civil issues with patriotism. They want to be treated as part of the nation and not immigrants. The time has come to develop a political discourse based on nationalism as was in 90s. If this does not happen, conservative Arab-Israelis will rise and will have a populist cover.
(Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies)
Compiled and translated by Faizul Haque