Beirut |
July 15, 2007
Paris-Hosted Lebanon Dialogue 'Kowtowing' to Hizbullah, Analysis
Beirut - July 15, 2007
It looks like the Israeli dilemma of whether Hizbullah emerged from last summer's war strengthened or weakened has been resolved by France, according to an analysis by the Israeli daily Haaretz.
It said this was the first time that Hizbullah has been invited to France as a political entity equal to the other factions, for a meeting aimed at ending the worst political crisis in Lebanon.
To everyone participating in this meeting, Hizbullah's political power is clear, Haaretz said.
So clear, in fact, that the French president's special envoy, Jean Claude Cousseran, traveled specially to Tehran on Wednesday for the second time in 10 days, to persuade Iran to soften Nasrallah's stance on the issue of forming a national unity government in Lebanon, Haaretz added.
It said Nasrallah, thereby, not only became Iran's representative in Lebanon, but also introduced Iran as an active partner in the political process, not only the military one, and gave it standing that Tehran will be able to exploit in discussions with France on other issues such as nuclear power and the future of Iraq.
Hizbullah's status has also made Saudi Arabia realize that it must cooperate with Iran on the matter of Lebanon, the analysis went on.
Thus, it said, the two countries conveyed to the Lebanese parties suggestions for a solution that might get political life out of the deep freeze into which it sank after the war.
It looks like the Israeli dilemma of whether Hizbullah emerged from last summer's war strengthened or weakened has been resolved by France, according to an analysis by the Israeli daily Haaretz.
It said this was the first time that Hizbullah has been invited to France as a political entity equal to the other factions, for a meeting aimed at ending the worst political crisis in Lebanon.
To everyone participating in this meeting, Hizbullah's political power is clear, Haaretz said.
So clear, in fact, that the French president's special envoy, Jean Claude Cousseran, traveled specially to Tehran on Wednesday for the second time in 10 days, to persuade Iran to soften Nasrallah's stance on the issue of forming a national unity government in Lebanon, Haaretz added.
It said Nasrallah, thereby, not only became Iran's representative in Lebanon, but also introduced Iran as an active partner in the political process, not only the military one, and gave it standing that Tehran will be able to exploit in discussions with France on other issues such as nuclear power and the future of Iraq.
Hizbullah's status has also made Saudi Arabia realize that it must cooperate with Iran on the matter of Lebanon, the analysis went on.
Thus, it said, the two countries conveyed to the Lebanese parties suggestions for a solution that might get political life out of the deep freeze into which it sank after the war.
