A problem in Lebanese discourse

The debates and speculation surrounding Arab, and here I mostly mean Arabs of the Fertile Crescent, prefer complexity as opposed to simplicity.

We have noticed this earlier being practiced by a few while trying to understand the recent Saudi discourse toward the Lebanese-Iranian Hezbollah, its relationship with the Lebanese state, and Riyadh’s open confrontation with this armed group that extends terror outside of Lebanon specifically to Saudi Arabia through Yemen, eastern Saudi cities and Bahrain.

Saad al-Hariri’s resignation should be seen in this context of stripping the yellow party down to what it is – stripping it of its legitimacy or its “Sunni” cover, or even the cover of the Lebanese civil state. The leader of the yellow party Hassan Nasrallah’s speech is a prime example of this notion. It is part of a complicated culture, which rejects clarity.

Also read: Khamenei’s advisor threatened Hariri: ‘you will meet your father’s fate’

When Nasrallah commented on Hariri’s resignation, he easternized and westernized. May be it was more easternization considering that Iran, his guardian, and the headquarters of the “guardian of Muslims”, as Ali Khamenei describes and believes, lies in the east.

Nasrallah said may be Hariri has been arrested in Riyadh. Hariri visited Abu Dhabi yesterday and he spoke as well. Yet he didn’t stop talking about a political dispute in Riyadh. Then his dark humor reached its peak. Describing himself as “serious” he said he was worried about Hariri’s safety and even said: “give us back our prime minister.”

It was as if the partymen were not accused of the assassination of Hariri’s father, the worst political crime led allegedly by the accused Mustafa Badr al-Din and the rest in 2005.

Satellite channels

I followed some Lebanese discussions on satellite channels even those that claim to be against the culture of Hezbollah, which concluded that no one can hold Lebanon accountable for the responsibilities of the state.

In other words, why is Saudi Arabia now troubled by Hezbollah? Why now? Didn’t Hezbollah do this before?”

This is crooked logic that disregards the interests of others. The confrontation with the Lebanese-Iranian Hezbollah did not stop at all, and it took many forms, including granting Lebanese politicians the opportunity to modify the party’s behavior, and to support the Lebanese army and the state’s tools to withdraw excuses from the Khomeini Party.

Also read: Further details surface linking Iran to Hariri assassination attempt

There are changes that have taken place other than the boldness of the Iranian proxy in Yemen, the Houthi militias, revelations regarding the Qatari role, and the role of the Muslim Brotherhood ... there is a new administration in Washington that has decided to work with Riyadh and the Arabs to confront all the terrorists.

Sunni terrorism and Shiite terrorism are the same, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Iraqi sectarian gangs. Can Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, for example, be blamed if they intend to adopt policies and take steps?

The Lebanese media discourse, we mean most of them, need to see things clearly this time without deceiving itself.

This article is also available in Arabic.
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Saudi journalist Mashari Althaydi presents Al Arabiya News Channel’s “views on the news” daily show “Maraya.” He has previously held the position of a managing senior editor for Saudi Arabia & Gulf region at pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. Althaydi has published several papers on political Islam and social history of Saudi Arabia. He appears as a guest on several radio and television programs to discuss the ideologies of extremist groups and terrorists. He tweets under @MAlthaydy.