Save Lebanon
Randa Takieddin


The degree of solidarity with former President Amin Gemayel shown following the assassination of his son, martyr Pierre Gemayel, is great enough to stir all the people of Lebanon to rise to the need to save their country.
Visits of condolence from resigned opposition ministers, Hezbollah MPs, and the expected visits by former minister Suleiman Franjieh, Talal Arslan, and perhaps even General Michel Aoun are signs of hope for this country.
Minister Pierre Gemayel's blood may be the price for saving the Lebanon he loved and worked and died for. Lebanon is in danger. Even Jordan's King Abdullah sounded the alarm bells when he warned that the region is threatened with civil wars: one in Lebanon, another in Iraq and the third in Palestine.
Still, there is a glimmer of hope that all the parties, from the opposition to the majority, will rise to save the situation, because the opposition and the majority are fully aware that a civil war is not in the interests of Lebanon.
The Resistance and Hezbollah confronted the Israeli enemy who sought to ruin and destroy Lebanon and start a civil war in the country, as well as in the Palestinian territories, to displace the Christians. Israel also wants Syria to be weakened, and for it to remain that way.
Did not the head of the Israeli Prime Minister's office himself say as much during the war on Lebanon? He was asked why Israel accused Syria of sending arms to Lebanon, and why it was destroying Lebanon's infrastructure; and why, consequently, did Israel blame Lebanon.
The answer was that Israel could quickly and ruthlessly strike Syria to change the status quo, but that it could not predict the outcome of such a change in the future.
It is obvious that Israel is working to provoke a new civil war in Lebanon, because it is convinced that this would rid it of Hezbollah. It is also clear that Syria is afraid of the International Tribunal, because it is aware of the impact of its outcome on it. Especially since the head of the International Investigation Committee, Judge Serge Brammertz, has asked for a six-month extension on the grounds of the evidence and significant amount of information he collected, and that he seeks further information in order to reveal the truth in a scientific and a professional manner unaffected by political interference.
Today, all the parties in Lebanon must make a move; in the same way they acted to express their condolences to President Amin Gemayel. They also have to be aware of the responsibilities that face the people, who endured many tragedies, destructive wars and worsening economic conditions.
It is impossible for all the people of Lebanon to immigrate to greener pastures. A great majority of the youth have become increasingly fed up with politics and politicians. They suffer because of the country's capricious situation and are tempted to abandon their country.
But where can they go? The doors of Europe are closed due to the high rate of unemployment and it is difficult for many to go abroad because they lack the means.
It is impossible, as any given Lebanese side cannot simply eliminate the others, or pretend that they do not exist. Therefore, it is the duty of every citizen of Lebanon to demand a better future that safeguards national dignity and sovereignty, and by extension, support the legitimate demand for the creation of the International Tribunal.
Hezbollah and the Aoun movement represent an important segment of the Lebanese people, and both should play a role in the nation's political decision-making process. Accordingly, the offer made by Minister Marwan Hamada to save the situation, which was turned down by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry, is a golden opportunity for everyone.
Berry could have played the same role of the peacemaker and the savior, the role which is now being played by Amin Gemayel, whose son was martyred, like Ghassan Tueini's son, Gibran, and who has come to realize that salvation lies in reconciliation, not revenge.
Saving Lebanon from foreign intervention and from its enemies that seek to destabilize it internally has indeed become an urgent need.

The degree of solidarity with former President Amin Gemayel shown following the assassination of his son, martyr Pierre Gemayel, is great enough to stir all the people of Lebanon to rise to the need to save their country.

Visits of condolence from resigned opposition ministers, Hezbollah MPs, and the expected visits by former minister Suleiman Franjieh, Talal Arslan, and perhaps even General Michel Aoun are signs of hope for this country.

Minister Pierre Gemayel's blood may be the price for saving the Lebanon he loved and worked and died for. Lebanon is in danger. Even Jordan's King Abdullah sounded the alarm bells when he warned that the region is threatened with civil wars: one in Lebanon, another in Iraq and the third in Palestine.

Still, there is a glimmer of hope that all the parties, from the opposition to the majority, will rise to save the situation, because the opposition and the majority are fully aware that a civil war is not in the interests of Lebanon.

The Resistance and Hezbollah confronted the Israeli enemy who sought to ruin and destroy Lebanon and start a civil war in the country, as well as in the Palestinian territories, to displace the Christians. Israel also wants Syria to be weakened, and for it to remain that way.

Did not the head of the Israeli Prime Minister's office himself say as much during the war on Lebanon? He was asked why Israel accused Syria of sending arms to Lebanon, and why it was destroying Lebanon's infrastructure; and why, consequently, did Israel blame Lebanon.

The answer was that Israel could quickly and ruthlessly strike Syria to change the status quo, but that it could not predict the outcome of such a change in the future.

It is obvious that Israel is working to provoke a new civil war in Lebanon, because it is convinced that this would rid it of Hezbollah. It is also clear that Syria is afraid of the International Tribunal, because it is aware of the impact of its outcome on it. Especially since the head of the International Investigation Committee, Judge Serge Brammertz, has asked for a six-month extension on the grounds of the evidence and significant amount of information he collected, and that he seeks further information in order to reveal the truth in a scientific and a professional manner unaffected by political interference.

Today, all the parties in Lebanon must make a move; in the same way they acted to express their condolences to President Amin Gemayel. They also have to be aware of the responsibilities that face the people, who endured many tragedies, destructive wars and worsening economic conditions.

It is impossible for all the people of Lebanon to immigrate to greener pastures. A great majority of the youth have become increasingly fed up with politics and politicians. They suffer because of the country's capricious situation and are tempted to abandon their country.

But where can they go? The doors of Europe are closed due to the high rate of unemployment and it is difficult for many to go abroad because they lack the means.

It is impossible, as any given Lebanese side cannot simply eliminate the others, or pretend that they do not exist. Therefore, it is the duty of every citizen of Lebanon to demand a better future that safeguards national dignity and sovereignty, and by extension, support the legitimate demand for the creation of the International Tribunal.

Hezbollah and the Aoun movement represent an important segment of the Lebanese people, and both should play a role in the nation's political decision-making process. Accordingly, the offer made by Minister Marwan Hamada to save the situation, which was turned down by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry, is a golden opportunity for everyone.

Berry could have played the same role of the peacemaker and the savior, the role which is now being played by Amin Gemayel, whose son was martyred, like Ghassan Tueini's son, Gibran, and who has come to realize that salvation lies in reconciliation, not revenge.

Saving Lebanon from foreign intervention and from its enemies that seek to destabilize it internally has indeed become an urgent need.