Hezbollah will not have any representatives in Lebanon’s new government, a development that presents a rare opportunity for Western countries to push for the dismantling of the terror group’s military capabilities.
According to Prof. Amatzia Baram, an expert on strategy and the Middle East from the University of Haifa, this marks a significant shift in Lebanon’s political landscape.
The new 24-member government includes five representatives from the Amal Movement, led by parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is also an ally of Hezbollah but has historically been its rival.
Baram noted that even with loyal Shia members, the new government still represents a major change. Under agreements signed in 2008, any party holding a third of the cabinet seats had veto power over decisions.
Hezbollah and Amal together previously controlled more than a third of the government, making it difficult to curb their influence. However, Baram believes Hezbollah’s position is now more vulnerable due to its Christian and Druze allies potentially abandoning them.
This could lead to the government demanding that Hezbollah disarm its heavy weaponry. The US and Western countries see this as an opportunity to push for a resolution on dismantling Hezbollah’s armed capabilities.
The new government may also challenge Hezbollah’s broader control over key sectors, including its influence in banks, airports, ports, and telecommunications networks. For the first time since 2008, the government may address these issues without Hezbollah’s interference.
Baram emphasized that this shift presents a rare chance for the US to push for the dismantling of Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-841301