Latest news with #CedarRevolution
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Lebanon looks back, but is April 13 best forgotten?
Do we really have to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the Lebanese civil war? We are still too busy still thinking of the more recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and we are not even sure it is over yet. More importantly, the people who fought each other in that so-called civil war are now the staunchest of allies in a political confrontation with Hezbollah about its arms and its role in the current war. What is the point of reminding them that at one point they were killing each other? Memory, as the philosopher Bashshar Haydar explained, is internalized. This ideally means that past events are digested and what remains are the useful lessons, with the useless toxic bits discarded. Historically, the Lebanese norm is a form of amnesia, but ignoring a painful past also means a desire to move on, a will to forgive and forget, of looking forward instead of back. The point is to take measures for it not to happen again, and there are many popular proverbs that support this attitude of 'turning the page,' 'mention it but never repeat it,' 'stuff it in the saddle bag,' and ignore it. This is not South Africa with truth commissions and accountability, unsure how it helps the healing if you have to reopen old wounds. Accountability also needs a clear picture of the guilty party, which may not help if you have to find a way of living together again. Clarity is also overrated — each side deals with the truth in their own way, and there develops a common language. After the 1860 massacres in Mount Lebanon there was an agreement that 'what is past is past' and the parties resisted European suggestions of separate cantons. The result was a formula for coexistence that remains to this day, a council with representation from all communities, and where none can dominate over the others. This was repeated over the years: in the constitution of 1926, the National Pact of 1943 and the Taif agreement of 1989. The Lebanese love their freedom to the point of anarchy Nadim Shehadi In 2005, during the Cedar Revolution, demonstrators asked for the truth and for accountability via a UN-sponsored investigation and a Special Tribunal for Lebanon. But when the truth came and was confirmed by the tribunal, it was too hot to handle and was quietly ignored. Nobody is asking for accountability; the truth became a memory, and was internalized, and we moved on. Agreements are, of course, always broken, and they are repaired or patched up with slogans such as 'no victor and no vanquished'' after 1958, 'one Lebanon and not two,' or the Baabda Declaration of 2012 where the different parties pledged to recuse themselves from following their instincts to interfere in the Syrian war and respect Lebanese sovereignty. This was again broken by Hezbollah, which not only joined the action in Syria, but also dragged the country into another destructive war with Israel. A new generation seems to think differently and is asking. what is wrong with us? Hezbollah did not exist before 1982, so it cannot be the only problem. They are asking for a radical revision of the system almost to the point of destroying it. The revolt of October 2019 had a nihilistic and populist bent to it; the masses were shouting slogans against the whole political class, political parties, banks, the economic system, and the power-sharing formula which they describe as sectarianism. Some even ask for a strong leader, an Ataturk or a benevolent dictator because we have all failed and deserve no better. What they seem to be asking for resembles nothing in Lebanon. But my hope is that through these discussions they will end up appreciating their history better and maintaining the spirit of the power-sharing formula that characterizes the country. What makes me optimistic is that sometimes there is a difference between what people think, what they say, and what they end up doing. The best way to understand this is to observe what is happening now. Hezbollah is not being held responsible — there are no calls for accountability for the destruction, deaths and human suffering that resulted from a war that it chose to wage with no consultation with the rest of the country. It is not being asked for damages; the whole country is accepting it will assume responsibility for reconstruction. Instead Hezbollah is being encouraged to apply the Taif Agreement by disarming and joining the political process. It is a subconscious repetition of the old slogans, letting bygones be bygones, 'the past is past,' there are 'no winners and no losers,' and there is 'one Lebanon, not two.' During the war this fall, displaced Hezbollah supporters were received with open arms, even in the areas that opposed it most. Those who fought each other are now the staunchest of allies Nadim Shehadi It is almost like a selective memory is paving the way again for an eventual amnesia, forgetting what happened and moving on. Even though it sounds like I am advocating against the commemoration of April 13, I find one reasoning for doing so to be valid, that of historian Makram Rabah of the American University of Beirut. Rabah, who specializes in memory and oral history, advocates for the commemoration in order to avoid the misuse of memory by spoilers and trouble-makers. This does not necessarily mean that there should be an official common account of history, but of a continuous discussion of a variety of perspectives. One danger is that an official version of a common history has sometimes accompanied the call for memory. This is done with the best of intentions — such as the aim to maintain social cohesiveness and preserve national unity, sovereignty, and equality among citizens, similar to Kemalist Turkiye. This can, in fact, hinder a positive discussion, with anyone who thinks critically of the official version then accused of fomenting division and becoming a threat to national unity and social cohesion. Then the common version becomes like an oppressive big brother-type narrative, with its own vocabulary that no one can question. Another obvious conclusion to avoid is that there is a zero-sum game between freedom and security. The Lebanese love their freedom to the point of anarchy. But when chaos sets in, they become more accepting of authority to the point they also tolerate limits to their freedoms. The argument is that both the PLO in the 1960s and Hezbollah as states within a state were regional phenomena which could only flourish in Lebanon because of the weak state and excessive freedom. Neither could have succeeded in an authoritarian society such Assad's Syria or Saddam's Iraq, but we should also avoid moving toward seeing them as desirable models.
MTV Lebanon
14-03-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Gemayel marks 20 years since March 14 uprising, reaffirms fight for sovereignty
Lebanese Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel marked the 20th anniversary of March 14, 2005, with a message reaffirming Lebanon's resilience and continued fight for sovereignty. "Twenty years since March 14, 2005. This year, the anniversary carries a different meaning, as the state returns to the nation, institutions to the state, and the Lebanese remain determined to reclaim their country — sovereign, free, and independent," Gemayel wrote on X. "Let this anniversary be a renewed promise to all those who fought against the Syrian occupation and to all the martyrs of the Cedar Revolution that Lebanon endures and will resist any occupation," he affirmed. March 14, 2005, marked a pivotal moment in Lebanon's modern history. Following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005, widespread protests erupted across the country. The demonstrations, known as the Cedar Revolution, saw hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens taking to the streets to demand an end to Syrian occupation and the withdrawal of Syrian troops, which had been stationed in Lebanon since the early years of the country's 1975-1990 civil war. Under mounting domestic and international pressure, Syria announced the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon on April 26, 2005, ending nearly three decades of military presence.
National News
14-03-2025
- Politics
- National News
Gemayel Marks 20 Years Since March 14 Uprising, Reaffirms Fight for Sovereignty
NNA - Lebanese Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel marked the 20th anniversary of March 14, 2005, with a message reaffirming Lebanon's resilience and continued fight for sovereignty. "Twenty years since March 14, 2005. This year, the anniversary carries a different meaning, as the state returns to the nation, institutions to the state, and the Lebanese remain determined to reclaim their country — sovereign, free, and independent," Gemayel wrote on X. "Let this anniversary be a renewed promise to all those who fought against the Syrian occupation and to all the martyrs of the Cedar Revolution that Lebanon endures and will resist any occupation," he affirmed. March 14, 2005, marked a pivotal moment in Lebanon's modern history. Following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005, widespread protests erupted across the country. The demonstrations, known as the Cedar Revolution, saw hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens taking to the streets to demand an end to Syrian occupation and the withdrawal of Syrian troops, which had been stationed in Lebanon since the early years of the country's 1975-1990 civil war. Under mounting domestic and international pressure, Syria announced the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon on April 26, 2005, ending nearly three decades of military presence.
Nahar Net
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Aoun, Salam commemorate Rafik Hariri as thousands rally in central Beirut
by Naharnet Newsdesk 14 February 2025, 14:16 Thousands of supporters gathered in downtown Beirut Friday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination, which comes amid seismic regional political shifts. The ousting of Bashar Assad in December after 54 years of family rule in Syria marked the fall of a government long accused of orchestrating Hariri's assassination and other political killings in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah — of which some members were convicted by a U.N.-backed tribunal for their role in Hariri's murder — now faces its own turning point following the assassination of its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike in September. Nasrallah's funeral is set for February 23. "This is the beginning of justice. If the justice of the earth did not serve us, no one escapes the justice of heaven," said Hariri's son, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, as he addressed a huge crowd in the capital Beirut. "After 20 years, Rafik Hariri's project is continuing, and those who tried to kill the project, look where they are now," Saad added. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, appointed in early February, visited Hariri's burial site earlier Friday. "Today, we remember the legacy of the great martyr in serving Lebanon, preserving its national unity, and working for its prosperity," Salam wrote on X. "He was greatly respected in the Arab world and the world, leaving Lebanon with a remarkable moral and political legacy." President Joseph Aoun also paid tribute to Hariri, saying on X that Hariri's "national stances were a fundamental building block in strengthening national unity and protecting civil peace." Hariri was killed on Feb. 14, 2005, when a massive bomb exploded near the St. Georges Hotel, a historic landmark on Beirut's waterfront. The blast killed 21 other people and injured over 200. In 2020, a U.N.-backed tribunal convicted one member of Hezbollah and acquitted three others of involvement in the assassination. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Salim Ayyash was guilty as a co-conspirator of five charges linked to his involvement in the suicide truck bombing. None of the suspects was ever arrested or attended court to hear the verdicts. The assassination of Hariri ignited the "Cedar Revolution," leading to massive protests against Syria's nearly three-decade military presence in Lebanon, ultimately culminating in the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005. The assassination also intensified sectarian divisions within Lebanon and bolstered the political influence of Assad's ally, Hezbollah. - Hopes that Lebanon 'would unite' - Buses from across Lebanon arrived early, bringing supporters to downtown Beirut to commemorate the anniversary. Thousands of people filled the streets and waved Lebanese flags and the blue flag of Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement to songs honoring Hariri's memory. "After the Syrian and Iranian guardianship ended and the ousting of the Syrian regime, the Lebanese state alone rules us," Mohammad Kanaan told The Associated Press. "In this square, you expelled Bashar Assad from Lebanon," Saad said during his speech. "And after twenty years of sectarian rule, detention and brutality, the heroic Syrian people rose up and expelled the criminal from Syria." Another supporter, Ahmad Serhal, said he hoped that "Lebanon would unite" after the departure of Assad. "All the political shifts are for the good of this country. Lebanon is for all the Lebanese, we need to reach an agreement and unite." "God took revenge upon those who assassinated president Rafik — from ousting Assad, from ousting the system that is allied with Iran," Ahmad Trab said. "We hope for a better future now with Syria." - Israeli withdrawal deadline looms - The anniversary of Hariri's death comes just four days before the deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement that ended a 14-month war with Hezbollah in late November. The ceasefire deal also stipulates that Hezbollah must end its military presence south of the Litani River, with the Lebanese Army and U.N. peacekeepers deploying in the vacated areas. The pullout deadline, initially set for Jan. 26, was postponed to Feb. 18. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Lebanon "absolutely rejects" an Israeli proposal to keep troops in five strategic border points after the withdrawal. "It is the responsibility of the Americans to impose (the withdrawal), otherwise they will have caused the biggest setback for the government," he said. Aoun has also insisted that Israel must adhere to the agreed-upon timeline. During his speech, Saad also emphasized the need for the Israeli army's withdrawal from Lebanon. Saad addressed the people of southern and eastern Lebanon, regions largely supporters of and influenced by Hezbollah, urging them to seize Lebanon's golden opportunity while dispelling any perception of being "a force of obstruction." - Renewed Arab engagement - On Feb. 8, Lebanon formed a new government led by Salam, the first fully empowered administration since 2022. Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice, was appointed following the election of Aoun in January. The 24-member cabinet includes a mix of technocrats and political figures, representing various sects, including Hezbollah's allies. Although Hezbollah did not formally endorse Salam's appointment, the group negotiated during the government formation process. The United States has expressed support for the new government, emphasizing the importance of stability and reforms, though opposing Hezbollah's direct participation in the cabinet. Salam's government now faces Lebanon's longstanding economic crisis and an urgent need to implement key financial reforms. The political shift has reopened the door for renewed Arab engagement, particularly from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which had previously distanced themselves from Lebanon due to the growing influence of Iran and its ally, Hezbollah. These countries, which had strong ties with Lebanon under Hariri, are now reassessing their approach, with hopes of reintegrating Lebanon into the Arab fold.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanon marks 20th anniversary of Rafik Hariri's assassination amid political shifts
BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of supporters gathered in downtown Beirut Friday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination, which comes amid seismic regional political shifts. The ousting of Bashar Assad in December after 54 years of family rule in Syria marked the fall of a government long accused of orchestrating Hariri's assassination and other political killings in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah — whose members were convicted by a U.N.-backed tribunal for their role in Hariri's murder — now faces its own turning point following the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike in September. Nasrallah's funeral is set for February 23. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'This is the beginning of justice. If the justice of the earth did not serve us, no one escapes the justice of heaven," said Hariri's son, former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, as he addressed a huge crowd in the capital Beirut. "After 20 years, Rafik Hariri's project is continuing, and those who tried to kill the project, look where they are now," Saad added. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, appointed in early February, visited Hariri's burial site earlier Friday. 'Today, we remember the legacy of the great martyr in serving Lebanon, preserving its national unity, and working for its prosperity,' Salam wrote on X. 'He was greatly respected in the Arab world and the world, leaving Lebanon with a remarkable moral and political legacy.' Lebanon's president Joseph Aoun also paid tribute to Hariri, saying on X that Hariri's "national stances were a fundamental building block in strengthening national unity and protecting civil peace.' Hariri was killed on Feb. 14, 2005, when a massive bomb exploded near the St. Georges Hotel, a historic landmark on Beirut's waterfront. The blast killed 21 other people and injured over 200. In 2020, a U.N.-backed tribunal convicted one member of the Hezbollah militant group and acquitted three others of involvement in the assassination. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Salim Ayyash was guilty as a co-conspirator of five charges linked to his involvement in the suicide truck bombing. None of the suspects was ever arrested or attended court to hear the verdicts. The assassination of Hariri ignited the 'Cedar Revolution,' leading to massive protests against Syria's nearly three-decade military presence in Lebanon, ultimately culminating in the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005. The assassination also intensified sectarian divisions within Lebanon and bolstered the political influence of Assad's ally, Hezbollah. Hopes that Lebanon 'would unite' Buses from across Lebanon arrived early, bringing supporters to downtown Beirut to commemorate the anniversary. Thousands of people filled the streets and waved Lebanese flags and the blue flag of Hariri's Future Movement to songs honoring Hariri's memory. 'After the Syrian and Iranian guardianship ended and the ousting of the Syrian regime, the Lebanese state alone rules us,' Mohammad Kanaan told The Associated Press. 'In this square, you expelled Bashar Assad from Lebanon,' Saad said during his speech. 'And after twenty years of sectarian rule, detention and brutality, the heroic Syrian people rose up and expelled the criminal from Syria.' Another supporter, Ahmad Serhal, said he hoped that 'Lebanon would unite' after the departure of Assad. 'All the political shifts are for the good of this country. Lebanon is for all the Lebanese, we need to reach an agreement and unite.' 'God took revenge upon those who assassinated president Rafik — from ousting Assad, from ousting the system that is allied with Iran,' Ahmad Trab said. 'We hope for a better future now with Syria.' Israeli withdrawal deadline looms The anniversary of Hariri's death comes just four days before the deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement that ended a 14-month war with Hezbollah in late November. The ceasefire deal also stipulates that Hezbollah must end its military presence south of the Litani River, with the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers deploying in the vacated areas. The pullout deadline, initially set for Jan. 26, was postponed to Feb. 18. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Lebanon 'absolutely rejects' an Israeli proposal to keep troops in five strategic border points after the withdrawal. 'It is the responsibility of the Americans to impose (the withdrawal), otherwise they will have caused the biggest setback for the government,' he said. Aoun has also insisted that Israel must adhere to the agreed-upon timeline. During his speech, Saad also emphasized the need for the Israeli army's withdrawal from Lebanon. Saad addressed the people of southern and eastern Lebanon, regions largely supporters of and influenced by Hezbollah, urging them to seize Lebanon's golden opportunity while dispelling any perception of being 'a force of obstruction.' Renewed Arab engagement On Feb. 8, Lebanon formed a new government led by Salam, the first fully empowered administration since 2022. Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice, was appointed following the election of Aoun in January. The 24-member cabinet includes a mix of technocrats and political figures, representing various sects, including Hezbollah's allies. Although Hezbollah did not formally endorse Salam's appointment, the group negotiated during the government formation process. The United States has expressed support for the new government, emphasizing the importance of stability and reforms, though opposing Hezbollah's direct participation in the cabinet. Salam's government now faces Lebanon's longstanding economic crisis and an urgent need to implement key financial reforms. The political shift has reopened the door for renewed Arab engagement, particularly from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which had previously distanced themselves from Lebanon due to the growing influence of Iran and its ally, Hezbollah. These countries, which had strong ties with Lebanon under Hariri, are now reassessing their approach, with hopes of reintegrating Lebanon into the Arab fold.
