Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon, arrives in Spain at a notably delicate moment for the Middle East. The ceasefire agreed in his country between Israel and the Shiite militia party Hezbollah was followed,a few days later,by the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. While the pieces of the regional puzzle are being reassembled to give life to a new order that is still difficult to imagine, the situation in Lebanon is extremely intricate. For more than two years Mikati (Tripoli, 69 years old) has been labeled as an interim leader who governs alone due to the parties’ inability to agree on a president. This institutional vacuum and Israel’s war with Hezbollah have worsened an economic crisis that by 2022 had already left 80% of citizens in poverty.
Mikati is second Forbesthe richest man in Lebanon. In a context of maximum fragility of the country, this moderate Sunni politician – a community to which, according to the distribution of powers, the office of prime minister is reserved - avoided entering into controversy this Wednesday in the interview given to EL PAÍS. He did not want to evaluate either the actions of the Israeli government or the implications of the overthrow of the Assad regime. He insisted,however,that his priority is Lebanon’s stability and security.An objective that he said he shares with President Pedro Sánchez, with whom they met that same day. “I want to thank Spain for its support for Lebanon, its participation in the [misión de cascos azules de la ONU] “Unifil and its support for the Arab cause, in particular the recognition of Palestine,” he began.
Answer. My government condemns the Israeli occupation of the lebanese territories, as well as the continued ceasefire violations – more than 100 – since we reached agreement to implement resolution 1701 [de la ONU, que prevé la retirada de tropas y armas del sur de Líbano tanto de Israel como de Hezbolá]. We now await the successful implementation of the ceasefire, as the technical committee chaired by the United States and France, together with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the UN and the Israeli army, has started the monitoring process.The first meeting of this committee,convened by the United States,was held on Monday. This will give us assurance that ther will be no further violations of the agreement.
R.Israel has 60 days to wholly withdraw from the occupied territories in Lebanon. the retreat started today [el miércoles] and our army is ready to take charge of that area.
R. The Government of Lebanon supported the ceasefire agreement, called for the full implementation of resolution 1701, and granted full authority to our armed forces to implement the resolution.
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The head of the Lebanese government, Najib Mikati, during a conversation with this newspaper in Madrid. Claudio Álvarez
P. Do you fear that Donald Trump’s return to the White House means a blank check for the Israeli government?
R. President Trump is a pragmatic man. We hope that he will be able to impose a solution to the Palestinian issue on the countries of the region. The Abraham Accords [que supusieron la normalización de relaciones de Israel con Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Baréin y Marruecos] I am an example. The agreements cannot succeed without a just, equitable and sustainable solution to the Palestinian conflict. It’s time for this to happen. We need someone like President trump to make this happen.
R. We are in contact with [Massad] Boulos and the whole team [de trump]. Trump is committed to the situation, which is why he appointed Boulos as envoy to the Arab and Islamic world, which is very important because he knows the region very well and has lived in Lebanon. We are confident that this will promote the country’s long-term stability. I am sure that Trump will try to impose a solution to the palestinian problem.Already in his first mandate he demonstrated that he seeks peace in the region and in the world. This is what he said he will do to Ukraine, Russia and the Palestinians.
R. It is premature to make judgements. As you said, it all started with the war in Gaza, then with lebanon and Hezbollah and today with Syria. For us, our priority is to protect and ensure security for Lebanon, and also safeguarding our national interests, avoiding internal divisions and political strife.
R. This question should be asked of Netanyahu himself. The two states remain a solution. Without a solution that allows the Palestinian people to live with freedom and independence, this situation will repeat itself periodically. A conference will be held in June in which Saudi Arabia and all influential countries in the region, as well as regional and international organizations and the EU, will participate. I am optimistic that a solution can be reached. As the Saudis say,this solution will prevail,irrespective of who agrees and who does not. Israel should recognize that if it wants to live in peace with its neighbors it must create a peaceful surroundings.
R. we must give everything necessary for the Lebanese army to do its job. In the Council of Ministers we gave our full support to the army support plan [en su despliegue] in the south. In the last four or five years we have gone through four different crises in
P. “What’s wrong with me?”. This phrase, which can be translated as “There is no State”, summarizes the Lebanese’s distrust towards the political class. How does your government intend to combat this perception?
R. We are trying to elect a new president to form a government in which all parties are represented and thus initiate the necessary reforms. This is very critically important. over the last five years we have gone through very difficult times. First, the coronavirus pandemic and the most serious economic crisis ever experienced by a country; and then the war.Despite everything, we still have a Public Administration. We are making progress. But it’s not enough. We need to make reforms and get the country back on the right path.
R. I ask the people to understand that we have no choice but to seek the unity of the country. If we have a united Lebanon, we can save the country. Lebanon must be able to protect itself. We have different religious communities. It’s a privilege. And the way to save the country is to balance these different communities.
R. For us the most important thing is the stability of Lebanon, for which a new president is needed, which we have not had in the last 24 months. We hope that he will be elected in the session on January 9th. The Speaker of Parliament said he would not leave his post until he achieved it. It’s an important signal. I’m optimistic.
R. We have very few resources, but Western countries have promised us help. The army needs almost 1 billion dollars (950 million euros) for the next three years. Although the Paris conference focused on humanitarian aid, 200 million where allocated to the Lebanese armed forces. There will be another conference to get more support.
R. The situation is changing. We had 1.2 million internally displaced people, but about 94% have returned or are trying to return home. This is very important. We also have 1.5 million Syrians in our country, who feel in danger with Assad in power. They feared they would be hurt or imprisoned if they returned home.But the regime has fallen and they can return to Syria.
R. It would not be a question of turning Hezbollah into a classic political party, as it is indeed already a very influential party in Lebanon. Let’s move forward step by step. The most critically important thing now is to fully implement resolution 1701 and then address the situation across the country. I am sure that hezbollah wants stability in the country.
R. We haven’t contacted them yet, but I’m going to congratulate the new prime minister. But I insist, my priority is Lebanon.
How could lebanon strengthen its relationships with Israel and Syria in the coming years?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Dr. Samir haddad, Middle East Policy Expert
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Dr.Haddad. The situation in Lebanon is extraordinarily complex right now, especially following the recently agreed ceasefire and the upheaval in Syria. What are your thoughts on Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s leadership during this tumultuous period?
Dr. Haddad: Thank you for having me. Indeed, Prime Minister Mikati is navigating a very delicate landscape. His position is especially precarious, not just because of internal fragmentation but also due to external pressures. Over the past two years, his government has been described as an interim one, which places him in a somewhat weakened position when addressing national security and stability.
Editor: Mikati has mentioned the importance of Lebanon’s security and stability, aiming to avoid internal divisions. Given the context of the ongoing economic crisis that affects 80% of Lebanese citizens, how effective can his leadership be in truly uniting the contry?
Dr.Haddad: That is a meaningful challenge. The socioeconomic situation in Lebanon is dire, and Mikati’s wealth, while notable, dose not equate to political power.He faces immense pressure to stabilize the economy, especially with the looming threat of poverty affecting a majority of the population.His commitment to national stability may resonate, but actual results depend on genuine coalition-building with the fragmented political parties in Lebanon which have largely been at odds with each other.
Editor: During his recent interviews, Mikati avoided criticizing the Israeli government and focused on maintaining a ceasefire. How strategic do you think this approach is,considering the historical tensions between Lebanon and Israel?
Dr. Haddad: Mikati’s diplomatic caution can be viewed as a strategy to preserve Lebanon’s fragile peace. His administration’s joint efforts with the United States and France to monitor the ceasefire underscore a focused approach towards stability rather than escalation. He recognizes that any confrontational rhetoric could further exacerbate the situation and invite additional cycles of violence.
editor: He also expressed hopes for a pragmatic solution to the Palestinian issue under a potential Trump presidency, suggesting that Trump’s previous agreements might indicate a new approach. What is your perspective on that?
Dr. Haddad: While mikati’s optimism is understandable, it is somewhat naive. The success of the Abraham Accords was very context-specific and did not resolve the core issues of the Palestinian question. Moving forward,any lasting peace will require a fair resolution for the Palestinians allowing for their sovereignty. Whether Trump or any leader can facilitate this remains uncertain, as regional dynamics are continually shifting.
Editor: In your opinion, what would constitute a viable solution for Lebanon amidst this turmoil?
Dr. Haddad: The immediate priority must be the establishment of a strong governmental unity, which involves overcoming the institutional vacuum. The Lebanese Armed Forces should be granted more authority to maintain order if necessary. additionally, international support, particularly from France and the United States, must continue to ensure that Lebanon is not left to navigate these tumultuous waters alone. A real effort must be made to address both the humanitarian crisis and the governance issues that have allowed the precarious situation to persist.
Editor: With the geopolitical intricacies at play, how do you see the future of Lebanon and its relationships with Israel, Syria, and broader Arab movements shaping up in the next few years?
Dr.Haddad: The next few years will be critical. If Mikati can manage to unify the country and stabilize the economy, lebanon could find itself in a stronger position to engage with Israel and Syria. However, any shifts in power either regionally or internally could derail this potential progress. It’s critically important to watch how these relationships evolve post-ceasefire and the forthcoming implications of the Syrian situation. Ultimately, Lebanon’s ability to foster enduring peace will depend upon both domestic strength and international alliances.
Editor: Thank you, Dr.Haddad, for providing such valuable insights. The situation remains elaborate yet pivotal for the entire region. We appreciate your time today.
Dr. Haddad: Thank you for having me.I hope for peace and stability in Lebanon and beyond.