Media coverage of the Lebanese crisis.

Spring 2008

Media coverage of the Lebanese crisis in 2008

Since the Lebanese war was over in 1990, Lebanon has been in a continuing conflict. After the year 1990, the country had witnessed variable development in many fields like tourism, agriculture, arts, literature and alike. The conflict has started again in 2005 when Mr Rafeek Al Hareery, the Lebanese ex prime minister, was assassinated by a massive car bomb explosion. Following that, Lebanon entered a big conflict, especially with Israel and Syria. Consequently, a war erupted, in 2006 between Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist party and Israel. Then, this was followed by a series of assassinations of Lebanese political figures during the last three years. The several investigations in these assassinations failed to generate any clues or clear results.

The Lebanese Constitution, agreed on and endorsed in May 23 1926, states that the elected Lebanese president should be a Christian Maronite, the prime minister a Muslim Sunni and the Parliament Speaker a Muslim Shiite. Also in the Lebanese Constitution, the period of the presidency is limited to 6 years without re-election for another term. In 2004, there was a change in the constitution to allow extending the period of the President, Emel Lahoud, for extra 3 years. It was widely claimed that this decision was taken as a result of Syrian pressure. This decision has lead opposition parties to stand against the appointed Lebanese government and the whole political system. Accordingly, General Emel Lahoud’s period was due in November 2007. Since then, Lebanon has failed to elect the next president leaving the country without a president until now. The Army Chief, General Michel Soliman has been nominated as the accepted candidate for the Lebanese presidency election by almost all parties. However, a big argument does exist about him and not everyone agrees on that before fulfilling certain political demands and conditions. Some parties stand against him and others advocate for his candidature. There have been intensive efforts from some countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France and United States to solve this problem. The presidency election in the Parliament was postponed for 17 times. The Lebanese parliamentarians tried to choose the president for the 18th time on 22 April 2008 and again failed to accomplish their task.
The media coverage for this complicated crisis was extended to include Major Arab and international media. This article will scan the coverage by Saudi, Egyptian and of course Syrian and Lebanese Newspapers. Each of these countries expressed different opinions and stands in this issue.

First, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has covered this important issue because this country is considered as an active player in helping Lebanon solves the presidency crisis. Saudi Arabia always calls Lebanon and Syria to meet to discuss and improve their bilateral relations in all aspects with a focus on the political ones. Also, Saudi Arabia always asks Syria to stop interfering in Lebanese internal affairs. Many other Arab countries believe that Syria is interfering in Lebanese internal affairs and claiming that Syria represents the main cause of the Lebanese current crisis. AlHayat newspaper, the Saudi newspaper issued in London, mentioned that Syria claims that the current Lebanese government is illegitimate. However, Lebanon declined that notion by the evidence made by the Syria invitation to Lebanon to participate in the Arab summit that was held recently in Damascus. This shows that the Saudi Arabian media position is against Syria and stresses on issues opposing Syrian politics. In 29 of March 2008, the Arab summit was held in Damascus to discuss the Arab issues; the Lebanese issue was included in the agenda so Syria sent an invitation to Lebanon to participate. However, Lebanon refused to participate. I think that Lebanon should have participated so the Arab countries may have heard the Lebanese position and could have found solutions to Lebanon’s problems. Such position clearly indicates that Lebanon doesn’t have the will to cooperate with Syria. This clearly uncovers Saudis and other Arab countries claim that the Syria is the side refusing to help solving the Lebanese problem. As a matter of fact, Syria preferred that Lebanon chooses their president before the Arab summit but the Lebanese government failed to choose the president for the 17th time. The Saudi press mentions that the Saudi and Egyptian governments first decided to boycott the Arab summit in Damascus but changed their opinion hoping they may find solutions to the Lebanese crisis. The Saudi press all the time illustrates that Syria doesn’t cooperate to solve the Lebanese problem and just talking without doing any action for that. The Saudi Arabia press also thinks that Syria is cooperating with Iran to keep the Lebanese crisis unsolved

The second coverage of the Lebanese crisis is the Egyptian media coverage. Egypt plays with the Saudi Arabia an important role in trying to solve the Lebanese crisis. According to some Egyptian newspapers such as Al Ahram and Al Masry Al youm, the Egyptian position stands that Lebanon has to choose the president as soon as possible for the good of the Lebanese people. The coverage shows how Lebanon is upset about the way how they got the invitation of Arab summit. Also, the Egyptian media reported that Lebanon wouldn’t be able to choose their president before the Arab summit as the Saudi Arabia coverage mentioned. It was reported that the Syrian minister of foreign affairs said that Lebanon missed a golden chance to discuss their problem and improve the Lebanese-Syrian relations. In my opinion, I agree on that because Lebanon should have participate in the Arab summit to show that they are independent and Syria can not interfere with their internal affairs as they claim. Also, the Egyptian media expressed the Egyptian government stands against the boycott of Lebanon to the Arab summit. On other hand, it was mentioned in Al Ahram newspaper that Lebanon boycotted the Arab summit because they had enough from the Syrian interference in Lebanese business by sending terrorists and weapons to Lebanon. Moreover, the majority of Lebanese politicians think that the decision of the Lebanese government not to participate in the Arab summit was a wise one. The Egyptian press didn’t take a side of any of the two sides of the Lebanese issue. They show the Syrian and Lebanese position and support the right position.
The third coverage of the Lebanese crisis is the Syrian coverage. Syria is considered the main reason for the Lebanese problem as many believe and claim. The Syrian coverage pointed out that what Lebanon claims that Syria is the main reason for the Lebanese problem is not true. The Syrian government said that only the Lebanese people can solve the problems without any help from other countries. When the Lebanese prime minster, Fouad Al Saneyora, claimed in his speech that Syria is the main reason for the Lebanese crisis, Syria wouldn’t care about the Lebanese prime minster’s speech because they believe it’s untrue. Also, the Syrian minster of foreign affairs claims that Lebanese politicians do not want to solve the problem and the majority of the Lebanese government is related to the United States and France. Also, the Syrian media coverage shows how the Syrian government decided that the country that has no representative in the Arab summit would not be able to tell a speech. As s result, this shows that Syria doesn’t care if Lebanon participate or not and the Arab summit would be held with and without the participation of Lebanon. This also indicates that Syria did what should be done and held the Arab summit in Damascus as an attempt to discuss and solve the Lebanese problem but Lebanon just ignored all that.

The most important converge is the Lebanese coverage itself. The various Lebanese newspapers and magazines have covered the situation. The Lebanese position is clear that Syria should stop the interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs. Lebanon decided to boycot the Arab summit because it was held in Damascus, the Syrian capital. It was mentioned that the Lebanese prime minister asked the Arab countries to have the Arab foreign affairs ministers meeting to discuss and solve the Lebanese problem. What I think is that Lebanon can discuss the Lebanese issue in the Arab summit instead of holding another meeting. Fouad Al Sanyoura, the Lebanese prime minister, insists on that Lebanon can not participate in the Arab summit without a president. Also, Lebanon thinks that Syria plays a big role in preventing the Lebanese from choosing the candidate Michel Soliman as a president of Lebanon to keep Lebanon unstable. On the other hand, the Lebanese prime minister still believes on building good relations with Syria because Syria is a neighbored country that Lebanon respects.

In conclusion, the situation in Lebanon is still as it is and until now the Lebanese parliament has failed to choose the new president. The next session for electing the president was postponed for unlimited time until they reach an agreement. The different parties are still arguing whether Michel Soliman is the one or not. Lebanon is insisting on preventing Syria from interfering in their business. Lebanese people should participate and decide who is going to be the president to make Lebanon more stable and solve their problems. At the same time, Syria should cooperate more with Lebanon to solve the problem.