ELECTRONIC LEBANON
Opinion/Editorial
The Opinion/Editorial section of Electronic Lebanon, a project from the Electronic Intifada, offering commentary, analysis, human rights and development information, and diaries from on the ground. Quality submissions are welcomed, preferably from contributors with an organisational affiliation.
Lebanon in crisis: an interview with editor Samah Idriss
Stefan Christoff, Electronic Lebanon, 10 May 2008
Lebanon is currently facing a major political crisis, as armed battles have erupted in multiple districts of Beirut between pro-government and opposition forces forces led the Lebanese resistance movement Hizballah. Hizballah-led opposition forces took control of West Beirut, and handed certain areas over to the Lebanese army as the political standoff in the country continues. Stefan Christoff speaks with editor Samah Idriss in Beirut about the tense situation in Lebanon.
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Meet the Lebanese Press: From dialogue to declarations
Hicham Safieddine, Electronic Lebanon, 30 April 2008
The merry-go-round of dialogue sessions between the government loyalist and the opposition camps just got a fresh push when persistent parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri called for yet another set of roundtable negotiations after several months' hiatus. The press is abuzz with weighing the pros and cons, as well as gauging the chances of success or failure, of such talks. [MORE]
The "humanitarian" sidelining of Nahr al-Bared
Ray Smith, Electronic Lebanon, 8 April 2008
On the rare occasions the media have covered the situation of destroyed Nahr al-Bared camp's more than 30,000 inhabitants, they have done so with only a narrow focus on the humanitarian problems they face -- ignoring the glaring political questions that only the camp residents seem to be left asking. Ray Smith analyzes such a report for Electronic Lebanon. [MORE]
Meet the Lebanese Press: Post-summit syndrome
Hicham Safieddine, Electronic Lebanon, 7 April 2008
What's next for Lebanon after the Arab Summit that concluded last weekend in Damascus? Marx said history repeats itself first as tragedy, second as farce. Arab summits tend to repeat themselves as tragedies and farces at one and the same time, and the latest summit in Damascus was no exception. Summit soap opera moves by top and low-level delegates over closing statements, the tone of speeches, and other trivialities were the norm. [MORE]
Meet the Lebanese Press: US military "tourism"
Hicham Safieddine, Electronic Lebanon, 17 March 2008
Supporters of Lebanon's March 14 movement tend to complain about the damage to tourism caused by the current status quo in Lebanon. Many of them cheered recently when the wheels of fortune seemed to swing their way as the US destroyer USS Cole approached Lebanese shores. [MORE]
The killing of Imad Moughniya
Raid Khoury, Electronic Lebanon, 22 February 2008
Imad Moughniya's death, like his life, will remain shrouded in mystery and secrecy, but what few things we can learn for certain about this person's life we already have. Before Moughniya, Carlos "the Jackal" and Abu Nidal were featured stars in the sensational news-entertainment industry. As a result we do not have an accurate picture of Moughniya (which may not be possible anyway), but more importantly, we have been presented with a distorted reality of the decades-long, bloody struggle between Israel and Hizballah.. Raid Khoury comments for Electronic Lebanon. [MORE]
Meet the Lebanese Press: A cold civil war
Hicham Safieddine, Electronic Lebanon, 18 February 2008
Commentary in the Lebanese press affirms that the regional dimension has become more important following the assassination of Hizballah figure Imad Mughniyeh, which could translate into a change in the rules of engagement of all parties to Lebanon's brewing internal conflict. And in this new framework, the international tribunal's inquiry into the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri will become more significant as a tool of international pressure and as a stage on which Syria is battling its rivals. [MORE]
Living, but in denial
Sami Hermez, Electronic Lebanon, 14 February 2008
I cannot remember a time, especially in the last three years, when the collective that comprises Lebanese social life was not anticipating some form of political violence, elevated at times to an outright expectation of civil war. Traversing through different parts of Lebanon the conversation is the same: will war break out? When? Who will start it? Who will fight? Sami Hermez comments for Electronic Lebanon. [MORE]
Lebanon's new proxy force
Matthew Cassel, Electronic Lebanon, 13 February 2008
The US and Israel -- the two states committing the only military occupations in the region -- are having an adverse influence on Lebanese internal affairs. But the people wait, unsure of what the future holds for Lebanon. The question for many is no longer if, but when will the situation quickly deteriorate into an armed internal conflict reminiscent of Lebanon's recent history. EI editor Matthew Cassel comments. [MORE]
Meet the Lebanese Press: The end of the tether?
Hicham Safieddine, Electronic Lebanon, 31 January 2008
There will be blood. That was the message this week in the neglected southern suburbs of Beirut. At least eight persons were killed and more than twenty injured when shots were fired at crowds of demonstrators protesting the power outages that have been plaguing their areas.* Details of the incident that took place near the Mar Mikhael square remain clouded in controversy. This much is known: that some of the shots were fired by the Lebanese army who clashed with protesters and that several of the victims, if not most, were unarmed. [MORE]
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