Hezbollah's decision to join the fighting against the IDF on the Lebanese border, in parallel with Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza, has aroused much discontent and deep concerns among the political leadership and the general public in Lebanon, particularly among those who are not part of the country's Shiite population. Clear opposition to Lebanon's involvement in the war, which it has no interest in, has been expressed publicly since the outbreak of the conflict by Prime Minister Najib Mikati (Sunni) and his Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib (Christian). They are intent on showing solidarity with the Palestinians, but at the same time make it clear that no one in Lebanon is interested in opening another front against Israel and that the Lebanese will not be able to bear it and its consequences. The two are also conducting extensive diplomatic contacts with international and regional parties to prevent further escalation on the Lebanese border. Indeed, “Lebanon knows the price of war,” the Foreign Minister said in an interview with al-Jazeera on October 21. This is joined by public statements by other Lebanese politicians, mainly from the Christian parties, who call on Hezbollah not to involve Lebanon, which is already beset by the worst economic crisis in its history, in the war against Israel.
A main expression of the population's fears about the approaching war is the movement north of the residents of southern Lebanon and the evacuation of the villages near the border with Israel. In addition, already now – only two weeks since the beginning of the conflict on the Lebanese border – an impact on the Lebanese economy is evident in view of the apparent reduction in the number of tourists arriving in the country, alongside the call by international and regional elements for their citizens to leave Lebanon. The past year saw a certain recovery in the tourism industry, which is an important and central source of income in Lebanon, and a reversal in this trend bodes poorly for its economy.
Hezbollah is aware of the criticism toward it within Lebanon, and its leaders even publicly admit they receive requests not to intervene in the war. In order to justify the fighting of its operatives against the IDF, the organization's spokespersons, while creating a forced link between “Israeli aggression” in Gaza and the threat posed by Israel to Lebanon, claim that the fighting serves the interests of Lebanon and protects the country.
It seems that the opposition within Lebanon to Hezbollah's involvement in the war will increase as the fighting between the organization and the IDF continues, and even more so in the event of further escalation between the parties, and this will likewise influence Nasrallah's considerations in his campaign against Israel in the future.
Hezbollah's decision to join the fighting against the IDF on the Lebanese border, in parallel with Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza, has aroused much discontent and deep concerns among the political leadership and the general public in Lebanon, particularly among those who are not part of the country's Shiite population. Clear opposition to Lebanon's involvement in the war, which it has no interest in, has been expressed publicly since the outbreak of the conflict by Prime Minister Najib Mikati (Sunni) and his Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib (Christian). They are intent on showing solidarity with the Palestinians, but at the same time make it clear that no one in Lebanon is interested in opening another front against Israel and that the Lebanese will not be able to bear it and its consequences. The two are also conducting extensive diplomatic contacts with international and regional parties to prevent further escalation on the Lebanese border. Indeed, “Lebanon knows the price of war,” the Foreign Minister said in an interview with al-Jazeera on October 21. This is joined by public statements by other Lebanese politicians, mainly from the Christian parties, who call on Hezbollah not to involve Lebanon, which is already beset by the worst economic crisis in its history, in the war against Israel.
A main expression of the population's fears about the approaching war is the movement north of the residents of southern Lebanon and the evacuation of the villages near the border with Israel. In addition, already now – only two weeks since the beginning of the conflict on the Lebanese border – an impact on the Lebanese economy is evident in view of the apparent reduction in the number of tourists arriving in the country, alongside the call by international and regional elements for their citizens to leave Lebanon. The past year saw a certain recovery in the tourism industry, which is an important and central source of income in Lebanon, and a reversal in this trend bodes poorly for its economy.
Hezbollah is aware of the criticism toward it within Lebanon, and its leaders even publicly admit they receive requests not to intervene in the war. In order to justify the fighting of its operatives against the IDF, the organization's spokespersons, while creating a forced link between “Israeli aggression” in Gaza and the threat posed by Israel to Lebanon, claim that the fighting serves the interests of Lebanon and protects the country.
It seems that the opposition within Lebanon to Hezbollah's involvement in the war will increase as the fighting between the organization and the IDF continues, and even more so in the event of further escalation between the parties, and this will likewise influence Nasrallah's considerations in his campaign against Israel in the future.