Gulf Official Says ‘Difficult’ Stage Awaiting Lebanon

A Gulf official said in remarks he made to the pan-Arab al-Hayat daily on Saturday that the results of the parliamentary elections in Lebanon represented a “significant decline in favor of Hizbullah,” and that the party has “strengthened” its presence in the country’s state institutions.

He said the Gulf should deal with Lebanon with the same “non-sectarian” logic of dealing with Iraq, “we deal with all sects similarly and not on a sectarian basis. Not all Shiites are pro-Iranian,” he said.

Pointing to what he noted as “positive signs” represented in the elections results achieved by the Lebanese Forces, “LF results are encouraging because it indicates a Christian rejection of the large alliance between the mass of President Michel Aoun and Hizbullah. This is what should be built on,” he said.

“Gulf states must continue to follow the situation and communicate with Lebanon in order to make some influence. It should be made on a non-sectarian basis with all groups that see the significance of the state, and don’t see Lebanon an Iranian platform. Lebanon must be independent,” he added.

The official who declined to be named, added: “It was a mistake for (Prime Minister-designate Saad) Hariri to assume this position in such circumstances, although it was marketed that there were no options ahead but Hariri,” he concluded.

Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal Movement lost a third of its seats on May 6, when Lebanon held its first legislative election in nine years and voters reinforced Hizbullah’s parliamentary weight.