The Council of Ministers meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, at the Serail on July 31, 2024. (Credit: Mikati's press office)
An Israeli strike in the heart of Beirut's southern suburbs, Hezbollah's stronghold, jolted the Lebanese government from its lethargy. After months of passivity, especially following Saturday's deadly strike in Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan, blamed on Hezbollah by Tel Aviv, the Council of Ministers finally met on Wednesday at the Serail. The meeting came a few hours after the Israeli attack in Haret Hreik, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting Fouad Shukur, a key figure in Hezbollah's military wing.
But no one is under any illusions. Pragmatic as he is, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has been aware of his limitations in dealing with Hezbollah since the start of hostilities in Oct. 2023. "The decision on peace and war is not a matter for the government," he said a few days after the Hamas operation dubbed al-Aqsa flood. Nine months later, nothing seems to have changed: the government has confined itself to "strongly denouncing the aggression against the southern suburbs of Beirut," saying it "fears the worst" if "the international community does not curb" Israel. In Mikati's view, his cabinet's balanced stance is a way to avoid alienating Hezbollah. However, it also highlights the powerlessness of the Lebanese government in the face of Hezbollah.
"We're not in Sweden," a caretaker minister, requesting anonymity, told L'Orient-Le Jour. "We pleaded for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah," he added, referring to Mikati's appeal at the start of the meeting. "We urge the world, witness to Israel's crimes, to compel it to cease-fire and comply with international resolutions and laws, particularly 1701," said Mikati. "Lebanon does not want war, but seeks to defend its rights without compromise," he added.
"I agree," commented Druze leader Walid Joumblatt, expressing his continued hope in American envoy Amos Hochstein's efforts to restore calm "through the government and the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berry."
According to L'Orient-Le Jour, the Council of Ministers meeting lasted only 45 minutes. The Mikati team did not require more time to review a statement previously drafted at the Serail. Our information indicates that the paragraph addressing last Saturday's attack on Majdal Shams was incorporated into the text during the meeting, with the Amal-Hezbollah ministers remaining silent on the matter.
Free Patriotic Movement criticized for boycott
Despite the "urgent" nature of the developments, the government session proceeded without the ministers affiliated with the Free Patriotic Movement. They have been boycotting Cabinet meetings since December 2022 during periods of presidential vacancy. Ironically, caretaker ministers of Defense Maurice Slim and Foreign Affairs Abdallah Bou Habib — those expected to be most directly involved — were among those absent.
Absences did not go unnoticed. Mikati criticized their absence, stating, "I wished those who boycott cabinet sessions would have been present today. This policy is unhelpful in these dangerous circumstances." Additionally, caretaker Information Minister Ziad Makary pointed out a "lack of responsibility" among the absent colleagues. "It is unacceptable, given the delicate circumstances, for the concerned ministers, including those of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Energy [Walid Fayad,] to be absent," Makary lamented after the meeting.
"We are aware of the gravity of the situation, but we stand by our principled position to express our opposition to the Prime Minister's management of the country during this presidential vacuum," retorted caretaker Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar. However, he expressed willingness to participate in meetings of the crisis management unit, affiliated with the Prime Minister's office, established last October to implement the emergency plan in case of an all-out war. According to Hajjar, this unit "has only met twice since the war began."
Caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassine dismissed this criticism, stating, "The unit is monitoring developments and will intensify its meetings in the next phase," he told L’Orient-Le Jour.
The assurances given on Wednesday by caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad on his way out of the Serail are part of this unit's efforts. "We have enough medicine for six months," he said. Similarly, fuel sector officials stated that there was enough petrol in stock for the next phase.
'Anything is possible,' said French Ambassador to Lebanon
At the same time, Mikati and Bou Habib continued their diplomatic contacts to avoid escalation.
On Wednesday, Mikati met with U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Lisa Johnson and her French counterpart, Herve Magro. "We've reached the situation we've always feared... Anything is possible, but we have no choice but to continue our efforts to de-escalate the situation," the French diplomat told channel MTV on his way out.
Meanwhile, Bou Habib met with U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, along with the U.N. Special Representative in Beirut, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL Commander Aroldo Lazaro. According to a press release from the Bustros Palace, Bou Habib considered that "the military option favored by Israel aims to lead the region towards total war."
"The solution for lasting peace in South Lebanon lies in a cease-fire and the implementation of international resolutions, particularly 1701," he concluded.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour
