Hizballebanon Update. “Lebanese Rivals Reach Agreement Seen as Major Triumph for Hezbollah,” from the Associated Press, May 21:
BEIRUT, Lebanon “” Lebanon’s feuding factions reached a breakthrough deal Wednesday that ends the country’s long political stalemate, but also gives the militant Hezbollah group and allies the key power they sought “” a veto over any decision of the U.S.-backed government.
The deal, reached with the help of Arab mediators, was immediately praised by Hezbollah’s backers Iran and Syria. But it seems certain to accelerate fears in the West over Hezbollah’s new power.
Pro-government politician and parliament majority leader Saad Hariri seemed to acknowledge that his side had largely caved in in the talks “” spurred by a sharp outbreak of violence earlier this month after 18 months of deadlock.
“I know that the wounds are deep and my injury is deep, but we only have each other to build Lebanon,” he said after the deal was announced in Qatar.
Parliament is now expected to elect a compromise president “” the head of Lebanon’s mostly neutral army “” on Sunday, the state news agency reported.
The Hezbollah-led opposition won both its demands with the deal: veto power in a new national unity government, and an electoral law that divides the country into smaller districts with the aim of better representation of the various sects.
Hezbollah’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Raad, downplayed Hezbollah’s win.
“Neither side got all it demanded, but (the agreement) is a good balance between all parties’ demands,” he said.
The Bush administration seemed to try to put the best face on the deal even though it gave more power to Hezbollah, considered a terrorist group by Washington and Israel. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch called the agreement “a necessary and positive step.”
A few bursts of celebratory gunfire broke out in Beirut after the announcement. Television stations, which broadcast the Qatar ceremony live, showed Lebanese politicians and their Arab hosts congratulating and hugging one another.
The mood in Beirut’s streets was jubilant, with Lebanese, tired of the protracted deadlock, greeting each other with “Mabrouk,” or “Congratulations” in Arabic.
The talks in Qatar and the deal were a dramatic cap to Lebanon’s worst internal fighting since the 1975-90 civil war “” a series of violent street clashes between pro-government groups and the opposition raging in Beirut and elsewhere earlier this month. At least 67 people died.
As Lebanon came close to an all-out war, Arab League mediators intervened and got the sides to agree to hold negotiations in Qatar on resolving the crisis that has paralyzed the country.
The deal that resulted was a major victory for Hezbollah.
Opposition-allied Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said an opposition tent encampment across from the government building in downtown Beirut would be dismantled Wednesday.
Berri, who participated in the Doha talks, called that action a “gift” from the opposition and hailed the agreement.
Within an hour, pickup trucks began hauling mattresses and supplies away from the encampment, which has paralyzed the commercial heart of the Lebanese capital for more than a year. Opposition supporters dismantled tents.
In Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said the deal was an “example of regional integration for achieving stability and tranquility.”
Syria also promptly endorsed the deal.
No surprises there.