|   | Ahla w sahla to another Sunā day. What a week it's beenāone where the impossible became inevitable and the past refused to stay buried. Lebanese Forces MPs walking through Damascus like they own the place? Check. Saad Hariri reminding everyone he's still breathing and the Future Movement isn't quite dead yet? Double check. Meanwhile, Israeli drones continue their daily symphony over Beirut, because apparently ceasefires are more of a suggestion than a rule. Twenty-one years since Rafic Hariri's assassination, and Lebanon's still trying to figure out what balance even means. Some things change, others remain stubbornly, maddeningly the same. |
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- Historic LF Visit to Damascus: Lebanese Forces MP Melhem Riachi met with Syrian Information Minister Hamza Moustapha in Damascus thisā week, marking an unprecedented diplomatic opening. The visit, authorized by party chief Samir Geagea, would have been unthinkable just months ago. Since Assad's fall on Decā ember 8, 2024, communication channels between Damascus and Meerab have suddenly become possible, reshaping Lebanon's political landscape.
- Hariri Anniversary Draws Crowds: Lebanon commemorated the 21st anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's assassination amid unprecedented regional transformations. Minister Hanine Al-Sayyed represented Pā M Nawaf Salam at the tomb, while Lebanese Forces and Strong Republic bloc delegations also paid their respects. The timing couldn't be more sensitive, coming as Lebanon grapples with fundamental questions about its future direction and sectarian balance.
- Saad Hariri's Conditional Return: "Tell me when parliamentary elections will be held, and I will tell you what the Future Movement will do," Saad Hariri declared to thousands marking his father's assassination anniversary. Speaking from downtown Beirut, Hariri received former PSP leader Walid Jumblatt, who emphasized that "the Taif Agreement is applicable" and praised the Lebanese army's efforts to monopolize arms. The statement signals Hariri's potential political comeback.
- Israeli Strikes Continue: Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians in Gaza attacks while launching several strikes on southern Lebanon, targeting alleged Hezbollah warehouses. The Sunā day attacks marked yet another violation of the US-brokered ceasefire from Octā ober. Medical sources reported five deaths in southern Khan Younis and four in northern al-Faluja, highlighting the fragility of regional peace agreements.
- Expatriate Voting Rights Confirmed: The Legislative and Consultation Body ruled that expatriates can vote from abroad for all 128 MPs across Lebanon's 15 electoral districts, mirroring the 2022 parliamentary elections format. Interior Minister Ahmed al-Hajjar had requested clarification on whether expatriates must return to Lebanon to vote or could participate from overseas. The decision significantly impacts electoral calculations for parties courting diaspora support.
- Sunni Political Vacuum Deepens: Political analysts warn that the massive gap in Sunni street representation continues widening, causing serious disruption to Lebanon's delicate sectarian balance established after the Taif Agreement. The imbalance began when Hafez al-Assad's Syrian regime targeted Christians, then accelerated after Hariri's assassination. This vacuum poses fundamental challenges to Lebanon's consociational democracy and power-sharing arrangements that have governed the country since the civil war's end.
- Secret Electoral Arrangements: A young northern candidate and political heir held clandestine meetings with leaders from a prominent Christian party to arrange his electoral prospects ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections. According to sources, the candidate secured promises for a complete electoral bloc of votes, supplementing his guaranteed popular base. However, the electoral scene in his district features fierce competition, with serious attempts underway to prevent his victory in the upcoming electoral deadline.
- Tripoli's Selective Catastrophe: Analysis reveals that Tripoli's building collapses and infrastructure failures don't affect "all people" or "all of Tripoli," challenging the widespread narrative of "Tripoli the disaster-stricken." The reality is more nuanced than apocalyptic headlines suggest, with poverty indicators and economic measurements creating a broader marketed image of the city. The piece argues against generalizations that paint the entire northern capital with the same brush of neglect and despair.
- Artists Rally Behind UN Rapporteur: More than 100 prominent artists including musicians, actors, and writers signed an open letter supporting UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese after France and Germany called for her resignation. The Artists for Palestine group offered "full support" on Saturā day, defending her critical comments about Israel's actions in occupied Palestinian territory. The international pressure campaign reflects broader tensions over Palestinian rights advocacy within UN institutions.
- Beirut's Drone Symphony: More than a year into the ceasefire, Israeli drones continue their mechanical whir above Beirut, serving as a constant reminder that the war never truly ended. The New York Times dispatch captures life beneath the surveillance aircraft, highlighting how residents have adapted to this new normal. The persistent drone presence underscores the fragile nature of peace agreements and the psychological toll of ongoing military monitoring on civilian populations.
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That's your week in review. Pour yourself some coffee and enjoy the rest of your Sunā dayāwe'll be back toā morrow morning with fresh updates. |
Ā Maalouf writes mainly in French. |
Ā Lebanon news for the diaspora ā delivered every weekday morning. Free, sharp, ~5 minutes. |
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