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Last update - 22:10 03/12/2006 A test of strength in Lebanon By Haaretz Editorial The demonstrations launched by Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut are meant to topple Fouad Siniora's elected government and replace it with a new one. The immediate pretext was the Siniora government's approval of a resolution to establish an international tribunal to try those responsible for the assassination of Rafik Hariri in February 2005. The tribunal's opponents, in both Damascus and Lebanon, fear that senior officials in the Syrian and Lebanese regimes, including political leaders, might find themselves accused, and the tribunal would thereby serve not only as a court, but also as a political tool to bring about a political revolution. But it seems that the argument over the tribunal is merely serving as a launching pad for Nasrallah's political ambitions. These are evident in his efforts to empty a significant portion of Security Council Resolution 1701 of all content, to prevent his organization's disarmament and, in the long run, to establish a new political structure in Lebanon whose composition and goals he himself would determine. Nasrallah's ambitions have a basis on which to build: The country's majority Shi'ite population is under-represented in government institutions and suffers from chronic budgetary discrimination. The years of neglect of southern Lebanon and the Bekaa are now liable to exact a heavy political price from the Siniora government: What appears to be an internal political demonstration - so far conducted nonviolently - against a government that the demonstrators view as illegal, corrupt and unrepresentative is liable to end with the establishment of a pro-Syrian government, which would be under the influence of Nasrallah and his supporters, including the Christian Michel Aoun. The explosiveness of Lebanon's political situation is, first and foremost, a matter of concern for Lebanon's citizens, who carry with them the tragic memories of civil war. Even though Nasrallah stressed he has no intention of waging street battles, and his rivals in the government have instructed their supporters not to clash with the demonstrators, one cannot ignore the potential for a flare-up in Lebanon. This threat impacts directly on other countries in the region, including Israel. Violent clashes would provide a convenient environment in which terrorist organizations could act more freely; they would weaken the central government's ability to impose order and maintain control over the nation's borders; and they might well give Syria a pretext for intervening directly. Advertisement Therefore, this is a situation in which the international community, which mobilized quickly to adopt Resolutions 1559 and 1701, cannot behave as a mere bystander, watching as the progress achieved in Lebanon is blown to bits. The Siniora government currently needs more than declarations of support. A meeting of donor states, which would help the Lebanese government to extricate itself from the economic crisis that engulfed it after the war, is an urgent necessity. At the same time, it would be wise to move forward on an Israeli withdrawal from Shaba Farms, which would grant the Siniora government a diplomatic achievement. And more important than either of these is the conducting of effective negotiations with Syria, whose goal would be to remove Syria's label as an "evil state" that supports terror in exchange for its keeping its hands off Lebanon, completely and permanently. This is a task of the greatest importance if the international community, the region and Israel do not wish to see the start of another local war. Bookmark to del.icio.us   The gift of dignity T.A. charity provides female drug addicts with shower, meal and counseling. Sign of life Hamas leader says Gilad Shalit is still alive after two years in captivity.   1.   Haaretz, one more time you show wisdom 01:55  |  Tarek 04/12/06   2.   democracy 02:14  |  lebanse 04/12/06   3.   leaving Shaba Farms 02:31  |  Shelley 04/12/06   4.   Israel role as a good neighbor 02:42  |  Lebanese 04/12/06   5.   israel should act immediately 03:38  |  Rita 04/12/06   6.   democracy 04:02  |  David 04/12/06   7.   Shaba farms is Israel`s 04:19  |  Kapule David Mabuta 04/12/06   8.   A Test of Strength... 04:53  |  Michael 04/12/06   9.   To Lebanese #2 05:06  |  Otto Rand 04/12/06   10.   Hi Lebanese once again 05:17  |  Otto Rand 04/12/06   11.   To Rita from Sweden 05:19  |  Otto Rand 04/12/06   12.   To Michael from Australia 05:24  |  otto Rand 04/12/06   13.   #8: Hezbollah represents more Lebanese than the traitor Siniora 06:16  |  cc 04/12/06   14.   To Michael 06:45  |  Neddy 04/12/06   15.   Reply to Otto Rand 07:58  |  Michael 04/12/06   16.   WHAT ABOUT SHEIKH YASIN, WHY ONLY HARIRI 08:03  |  indrajaya 04/12/06   17.   To Indrajaya 08:40  |  Otto Rand 04/12/06   18.   The Exact Opposite 08:54  |  Chris 04/12/06   19.   siniora government 12:49  |  bobby goodman 04/12/06   20.   hezballah issue 15:48  |  Fady 04/12/06   21.   Greetings to All Lebanese and to All Shia Lebanese.. 16:58  |  BP DIP 04/12/06   22.   Pro syrian gov 17:11  |  RM 04/12/06   23.   #5 response; israel bombed lebanon 17:53  |  ballistic 04/12/06   24.   follow up to otto rand re: indrajaya 18:05  |  clinton gates 04/12/06   25.   To #5 Rita. What`s wrong? 18:08  |  Fabio 04/12/06   26.   A test of strength inLebanon 18:58  |  JB the Pragmatist 04/12/06   27.   To Fabio 19:01  |  Jean-Pierre Zahar 04/12/06   28.   current Lebanese quagmire 19:42  |  Pierre Paul Dupont 04/12/06   29.   Is this a Comedy Act or What??? 20:55  |  George 04/12/06   30.   A test of Strength in Levanon 21:36  |  Ali 04/12/06   31.   Shebaa Farms 21:39  |  Rick D 04/12/06   32.   seniora and gorbachav 22:35  |  lebanon will survive 04/12/06   33.   Hypocrisy of the WESt 14:09  |  Nina 05/12/06   34.   lebanese # 2 14:11  |  nina 05/12/06   35.   Kapule David Mabuta 14:15  |  nina 05/12/06   36.   George From Toronto , It does look like a comedy 14:16  |  nina 05/12/06   37.   Shaba farms belongs to Lebanon 09:35  |  A christian Lebanese 01/04/08

Today Online Jerusalem council okays 600 new Jewish homes in Arab area Responses: 257 Yishai: Israel must negotiate with Hamas over Shalit release Responses: 149 Editorial: Peace talks, even on Jerusalem, must be secret Responses: 62 MK Swaid: Demolition of Arab homes will lead to an explosion Responses: 68 More Headlines 05:38 Russia's UN envoy: Moscow summit would energize peace process 07:31 Hamas: IDF special forces kill two militants in Gaza raid 05:42 Barak heeds Rice call, reverses course to back PA border plan 05:50 Hamas TV puppet 'kills' Bush as revenge for U.S., Israeli actions 05:53 PMO to bear financial cost of Israel Radio's Farsi broadcasts 05:56 Vatican looks to assuage Jews' anger over controversial prayer 09:50 Carcinogenic materials found in 2 additional F-16I fighter jets 06:08 U.K. archives shed light on female spy who led anti-Nazi resistance 03:57 Coming soon - kosher financial instruments 04:16 Palestinians approve $3.337 billion draft budget for 2008 04:42 Restless Druze employ boycotts, arson to combat cellular antennas 04:52 Court extends remand of Ramle couple suspected of abusing their eight children 05:00 How did the bee cross the road? Via a bee bridge, of course 05:04 Court to rule in former minister Benizri bribery case on Tuesday Previous Editions Select Day 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar

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