Hariri warns of civil war in Lebanon

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri warned on Thursday evening of the imminent danger of a civil war in the country.

This came in an interview with MTV (a local private TV channel), in which Hariri asserted: “Hezbollah is behind the crisis in Lebanon.”

Hariri expressed his concerns about: “The collapse of the state due to the ongoing arms race and military parades that take place in most of the streets of Beirut and Baalbek-Hermel.”

He blamed Hezbollah factions for all the problems in Lebanon, noting that: “The Lebanese people are not responsible for the sanctions imposed on them,” adding “Hezbollah has to let people live.”

The former official referred to the situation in Syria, explaining that Hezbollah: “Wants to treat the Sunnis in Lebanon the same way they [the Sunnis were treated there [in Syria].”

He asked: “Some people describe me as a weak person. Have they seen what happened in Syria? Have they seen what happened to 85 per cent of the Sunni population? Where are they now? Certainly, I will not cause the Lebanese people to suffer the way the Syrian people did.”

Hariri confirmed his support for the peaceful Syrian revolution against Bashar Al-Assad: “Who committed crimes that nobody has ever done before.”

Border demarcation with Israel

Regarding the demarcation of land and sea borders between Lebanon and Israel, Hariri noted: “This will be beneficial for Lebanon, but it should have started three years ago.”

He considers that the border demarcation file: “Has now been worked on, because some people are threatened with sanctions, and everyone wants to protect themselves.”

Earlier this month, Speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri announced that the negotiations on the demarcation of land and sea borders with Israel will be held in mid-October under the auspices of the United Nations.

Last September, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two former Lebanese ministers, namely, Ali Hassan Khalil (Amal Movement) and Youssef Fenianos (Marada Movement), on charges of supporting Hezbollah and corruption.

MEMO