A sharp diplomatic crisis in Lebanon's relations with the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, threatens the survival of the new Lebanese government, formed only in mid-September. This in turn stands to further damage the collapsing Lebanese economy.
Over the weekend Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates instructed their ambassadors to Lebanon to leave Beirut, following social media coverage of an old statement by the Lebanese information minister – a Christian from the Hezbollah camp – expressing support for Houthis in Yemen and criticizing Saudi Arabia's campaign against them. This response is a step up in Saudi Arabia's recent vigorous campaign against Hezbollah and the current government, which in Saudi eyes is controlled by the organization.
The Lebanese leadership's efforts to resolve the crisis have so far borne no fruit. Hezbollah, for its part, was quick to support the minister's statement and threatened that if he is fired, the ministers aligned with Hezbollah would also resign. This threat once again exposes the organization's ability to obstruct government activity and influence its policies for the benefit of its own interests. For example, the government has not convened for several weeks following the organization's demand to dismiss the judge appointed to investigate the Beirut Port explosion. It seems that this crisis, if left unresolved, is another nail in the coffin of Lebanon of yesteryear.
A sharp diplomatic crisis in Lebanon's relations with the Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, threatens the survival of the new Lebanese government, formed only in mid-September. This in turn stands to further damage the collapsing Lebanese economy.
Over the weekend Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates instructed their ambassadors to Lebanon to leave Beirut, following social media coverage of an old statement by the Lebanese information minister – a Christian from the Hezbollah camp – expressing support for Houthis in Yemen and criticizing Saudi Arabia's campaign against them. This response is a step up in Saudi Arabia's recent vigorous campaign against Hezbollah and the current government, which in Saudi eyes is controlled by the organization.
The Lebanese leadership's efforts to resolve the crisis have so far borne no fruit. Hezbollah, for its part, was quick to support the minister's statement and threatened that if he is fired, the ministers aligned with Hezbollah would also resign. This threat once again exposes the organization's ability to obstruct government activity and influence its policies for the benefit of its own interests. For example, the government has not convened for several weeks following the organization's demand to dismiss the judge appointed to investigate the Beirut Port explosion. It seems that this crisis, if left unresolved, is another nail in the coffin of Lebanon of yesteryear.