Amal and Hizbullah quit cabinet

Amal and Hizbullah ministers have just resigned from the Lebanese cabinet.

The resignations come after the fourth consultations session held today failed to reach a settlement, with Hizbullah and its allies insisting on a national unity government, and March 14 refusing to give them veto power over cabinet decisions.

But most importantly, the resignation comes after the UN delivered a draft outlining the Hariri tribunal.The cabinet was expected to discuss the draft soon before sending it to parliament to pass as a law.

The ministers said their resignation was due to the "authorities insistance on imposing pre-conditions and pre-determined results for the consultations." Of course this makes no sense, since Hizbullah and Amal are the ones who set the agenda and refused to discuss anything but their own demands on the negotiations table.

The news of the resignation interrupted a post I was preparing on the UN draft, which itself was subject to intense negotiations at the UN, with Russia reportedly succeeding in putting limits on the jurisdiction of the tribunal. 

I have not read the draft yet, but Reuters quoted a "Lebanese official" as saying that the tribunal would "have no power to try or question heads of states as the killing would not be defined as a 'crime against humanity' or a 'terrorist attack'. " 

The New York Times reported this differently, implying that the text is ambiguous on this matter.

The final draft stakes out no clear position on whether top leaders will be liable to prosecution by the court or whether they can claim head-of-state immunity.

Whatever it is, the failed Saturday talks were reportedly "very strained, particularly over the issue of the international tribunal."  There were earlier rumors that suggested March 14 had agreed to giving Hizbullah and Aoun veto power in return for their endorsement of the tribunal's draft.  Marwan Hamadeh denied those rumors, saying that the tribunal is "a moral — not political issue and Rafik Hariri's blood will not be sold on any negotiating table."

Today's resignation probably confirms that the intention was not so much a greater participation in the cabinet as much as it was to obstruct decisions on issues such as the tribunal. Jumblatt during those sessions often asked Hizbullah why they were so afraid of the tribunal, especially that former chief investigator Mehlis had not pointed the finger at Hizbullah, and Hizbullah's ally Bashar Assad seems to be off the hook after Russia's intervention.

The five Hizbullah and Amal ministers had suspended their membership in the cabinet for many weeks after the cabinet endorsed the formation of the tribunal. In their resignation statement today, they said they won't "cover what's against our convictions, and that hurts the national interest."

Many would argue that the rule of law can never hurt the national interest, but not Amal and Hizbullah, whose own interests seem to be at stake.

Update. Siniora has rejected the resignation of the five ministers, which he heard about through the media. Nasrallah's deputy Mohammad Raad described it as a "warning" to March 14. Siniora summoned the cabinet to discuss the draft this Monday, but Lahoud has refused, alleging he needed more time to review it with his "legal team."

Comments

[Amir from Tel Aviv]

Looks as if it was a honey trap after all...

[charlie]

It is about time these ministers left, March 14 did the right thing by not compromising on this one. A cabinet should not have obstructionist members in it. Elections took place by a law they (March-8) themselves drafted and lost, respect the results and move on. The country has huge obstacles to overcome, the last thing it needs a paralyzed cabinet.
This could be an opening for Aoun and his supporters to modify their stand and go back to adopting a Lebanese agenda and shedding that Syrian stand they have so proudly adopted.

[e]

March 14 is not backing down and calling HA's bluff. Forget Aoun and FPM. The US will put them on the terror list so fast if they do anything that their head will spin. The next step is not to be provoked and let HA throw the first stone. This is a tricky situation and a lot of patience is required. Everything needs to be taken one day at a time. I think HA is bluffing and that they are not prepared for a violent confrontation.

Berri is still a mystery to me. I just can't understand what he is doing exactly.

e

[jay]

So what are the consequences of Hizballah and Amal withdrawing from the Cabinet? Will this break it down completely?

[another someone]

4 more minsters have to quit before the cabinet is dissolved.

[Ghassan Karam]

Good riddance. Those of you who have been regular reader of this blog know that many of us have been asking for over a year and a half for the March 14 grouping to dismiss HA and Amal from the cabinet. Let them take their rightful place in the opposition.

March 14 committed a near fatal mistake when it formed a coalition of convenience with HA for the last parliamentary election. This error was compounded when HA and Amal were asked to join the cabinet and was compounded again when the majority decided to allow HA and Amal cabinet ministers to rejoin the cabinet after they had walked out without having toeven pay a price for that onstructionist move.

It is high time to rule and to rise to the challenge of becoming statesmen. March 14 has finally found the backbone that it has been lacking for months. To take power is not sufficient, the tough part of the equation now starts. March 14 has to deliver.

[R]

Ghassan, I disagree with your opinion that March 14 has found the backbone it has been lacking. I think that March 14 has been consistently predictable from day 1. There was going to be no way that they accept to give HA, Amal and Aoun veto power in government. On the other hand , watch them keep trying to get these idiots back into government now. I expect that we start hearing about Shiite representation in governmeny pretty soon.

What I think is going on is the March 8 group executing a plan to undermine and destabilize siniora's government... As time goes on we will see more of this plan unfolding, while March 14 is left only to react. Of course, on the bright side, htere is not much that HA, amal and allies can do without risking civil strife. March 14 is banking on that being a bluff. What if its not ?

[Ghassan Karam]

R, histoy says that you are rightin saying that soon March 14 will start to talk again about getting HA and Amal into the government. I am hoping against hope that this will not occur:-) because I truly believe that Lebanon needs to start building institutions in order to get used to the idea that in a democracy a party or a coalition rules while the others must be satisfied with their role in the opposition. Furthermore the ruling party must govern so as to improve the welfare of all its citizens.

[JoseyWales]

1) Seniora makes me puke. He should have kicked them out a long time ago and appeared strong, which he needs badly. Now it looks HA is in charge again.

2) Berry is worthless (we knew that). Just yesterday he said he was against changing gvmnts. His guys pulling out can only mean one of 2 things:

a-He sees himself, rightly, as a ZERO without HA.

b-He got threatened with his life (by HA or Assad or both)

[john]

Will UNIFIL's beefed-up contingent in any way influence HA's decision-making? Can the presence of UNIFIL deter HA from provoking the government?

[Amir from Tel Aviv]

Isn't Taef agreement say that Lebanese government must include Shia members?
If so, the resignation is a breach of Taef.
.

[jeha]

if the US does not make a deal with Syria, Hezb and Amal will have to come back to the government. Unless Aoun makes the mistake of backing them; but Siniora effectively "disabled" him by nominally accepting his ministers into the government.

For now, no demos in Downtown; it doest not look good for ShaterHassan not to act on his promises. Damned if they do, Damned if don't...

[jeha]

Amir,

no. not unless you're Emile Lahouss... In any case, the constitution is ambiguous enough, and I do not that there is a constitutional court yet, where they could go file a suit. Even if there were, we'd get the answer in 15 years.

Taef has been breached so many times as to be rendered meaningless. It is all about who has the better cards, not who's right.