Lebanon and the train of change in the Middle East !!
Lebanon and the train of change in the Middle East !!
Lebanon And the train of change in the Middle East – with the acceleration of the pace of political and strategic changes in the Middle East, the question is due to the interface: Is Lebanon become ready to keep pace with this change, or is it still stuck in its internal crises that hinder any real opportunity to advance? In light of major regional and international transformations, the Lebanese readiness appears to be surrounded by hesitation and apprehension.
Trump’s visit and peace file
Coinciding with the local interest in the municipal and optional elections, the Lebanese minds are not absent from the accelerating developments in the region, especially in light of the visit of the American President at the time, Donald TrumpTo the Middle East, which included Saudi ArabiaEmirates and Qatar. This visit, titled “Peace”, was accompanied by a heavy political speech on a new American vision of the region, based on economic, security and political foundations that are completely different from what prevailed since the Second World War.
But the peace sought by the United States may not coincide with the aspirations of the peoples of the region, especially the Palestinians who are still demanding an independent, sovereign state. True peace begins with recognition of the legitimate rights of the people, away from the political biases and the biases that disrupted any real path for a fair and comprehensive settlement.
External guardianship or independence of decision? Lebanon and the train of change in the Middle East
One of the most prominent conditions of any real change in Lebanon lies in its ability to get rid of the effects of the external commandments that I have for decades. Independence in the political decision is a prerequisite for building a just and stable state, which is able to neutralize itself from the conflicts of the axes in the region. But the reality shows that Lebanon is still an arena for the intersection of international and regional interests, which makes its exit from the circle of attraction conditional on external variables that may not be within its reach.
If the region is heading towards a new vision of peace, then Lebanon should be in the position of the recipient and the actor, not the victim. What is required is to fortify the Lebanese interior politically and economically, and to achieve a minimum level of institutional stability, allowing it to negotiate from a strength site and not from the site of fragility and division.
The Israeli role and the “New Middle East” project
It is not possible to talk about the future of Lebanon in isolation from the Israeli plans that are still seeking to impose a new reality in the region.
The Prime Minister of the Occupation Government, Benjamin Netanyahu, has repeatedly talked about the “New Middle East” project, which aims to redraw the maps of influence and domination, to serve Israeli interests first.
Observers unanimously agree that Tel Aviv still adopts the policy of expansion and pre -emptive strikes,
Whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or even in the Syrian and Lebanese depth.
In light of the continuation of this aggressive approach, the idea of ”peace” promoted appears unrealistic, unless it is associated with real guarantees that obliges Israel to respect the rights of peoples.
Lebanon, in this context, must remain vigilant for any project that might affect its sovereignty or reproduce regional equations at its expense.
Iran, America, and major understandings: Lebanon and the train of change in the Middle East?
The Iranian role in regional equations cannot be overlooked, especially in light of the stumbling of indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran on the nuclear file. Iran is, of course,
To be part of any comprehensive settlement in the region, and offering itself as an irreplaceable regional power.
Lebanon, by virtue of its historical relationship with Iran through Hezbollah,
He finds himself an indirect party in this American -Iranian conflict, which imposes an accurate balance between maintaining his relations with the Arab Ocean, and not neglecting the internal reality, which was greatly affected by this relationship.
And if an American -Iranian understanding is reached, this may carry a relative breakthrough for Lebanon,
Provided that it is translated with serious internal settlements that rearrange power and build institutions on clear and transparent foundations.
Vision 2030: The Middle East from a Saudi perspective
The influence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on drawing the features of the next stage cannot be overlooked.
“Vision 2030” launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,
It seeks to create a new Middle East based on stability, growth and economic openness. Lebanon is called to be part of this project, not to remain in political or economic isolation.
But engaging in such a project requires a unified political will, and radical reforms that start from the judiciary, education and economy, and do not end with the formation of an active and transparent government.
Has the course of recovery actually started?
At the local level, the election of the former army commander, General Joseph Aoun, was the President of the Republic,
After a presidential vacuum that lasted for more than two years, a positive indication that the state train is moving again.
This event reflects an internal and external desire to end political paralysis, and open the door to a new stage of reform and recovery.
However, the challenges are still many. Lebanon needs a clear economic plan,
A reform program that addresses public debt problems, currency collapse, and infrastructure.
Also, the need is appropriate to rebuild the confidence of the Lebanese citizen in the country and its institutions, which is the confidence that has eroded by corruption and political quotas.
Is Lebanon really ready for change?
The fundamental question that arises today: Is Lebanon really ready to ride the train of regional and international change?
The answer is still hanging between hope and fear, between the desire for change and the reality.
Lebanon has human energies and resources that qualify it to be an active part of any renaissance project in the region.
But this requires a comprehensive national decision, which goes beyond narrow accounts, and places the interest of the country above any other consideration.
In light of the major transformations taking place in the Middle East,
Lebanon stands at a decisive crossroads. Either he invests the opportunity to be a partner in a new future for the region,
Or to remain late, steeped in its structural and political crises.
The train of change does not wait for anyone, and whoever wants to catch up with it, he must prepare himself well. Does Lebanon do it?
