Hussein al-Husseini: The Guardian of the Taif Accord

The late Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, receiving Al-Husseini in Jeddah in October 1989 (Getty Images)
The late Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, receiving Al-Husseini in Jeddah in October 1989 (Getty Images)
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Hussein al-Husseini: The Guardian of the Taif Accord

The late Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, receiving Al-Husseini in Jeddah in October 1989 (Getty Images)
The late Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, receiving Al-Husseini in Jeddah in October 1989 (Getty Images)

Late Lebanese Parliament Speaker Hussein al-Husseini was known as the “godfather” of the Taif Agreement, thanks to his ingenuity in resolving disputes and mediating between the country’s conflicting parties, before the signing of the Lebanese national reconciliation agreement in 1989.

Many see him as the guardian of the Taif Accord and the most prominent advocate of its implementation. He has also pushed for the development of the political system in Lebanon “in a way that guarantees loyalty to the state and its institutions.”

Illness has prevented Al-Husseini from attending the Taif Forum, which was sponsored by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut last month. His health condition worsened, until he passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86, leaving behind a rich political career and a leading role in the signing of the historic agreement that ended Lebanon’s civil war.

Under the sponsorship of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon’s disputing leaders met in the Saudi city of Taif in September 1989 and signed what has become known as the Lebanese national reconciliation agreement, putting an end to 15 years of civil war.

Since 1989, Al-Husseini has kept the minutes of those meetings locked in his office, and refused to make them public. Those who know him say that he did so to prevent opening old wounds, or provoking political crises.

In this sense, he has always been the guardian of national unity. His diplomacy and moderation qualified him to be the link between the warring parties at that time.

Al-Husseini’s clean reputation and neutrality towards the disputing sides at that time were acclaimed by the Lebanese people from all components.

His “patriotism and honesty,” as stated in his obituaries on Wednesday, made him keen not to reveal any “useless” disputes that would obstruct the Lebanese pact that was established between the sects, and distinguished Lebanon in terms of coexistence among its people regardless of their various affiliations.

Al-Husseini would not have achieved this unifying role, had it not been for his experience, which was characterized by moderation and diplomacy. He was a man of dialogue, and did not get involved in the Lebanese war as a party, although he was one of the founders of the Amal Movement in 1973, and assumed its presidency between 1978 and 1980, after the disappearance of its founder, Imam Musa al-Sadr.

Al-Husseini was elected deputy for the Baalbek-Hermel constituency in the Bekaa region for five consecutive terms, the first in 1972 until his resignation from Parliament in 2008.

In 2018, he announced his abstention from running in the parliamentary elections, which practically marked the end of his political career. He presided over the House of Representatives during the Lebanese Civil War between 1984 and 1992.

Al-Husseini is known for his moderation and diplomacy, and his remoteness from political disputes that have marked the political scene in Lebanon since the end of the civil war and repeatedly paralyzed the institutions and government work.

With his departure, Lebanon and the Arab world lose one of the pillars of legislation, humanity and high-end diplomacy, as stated by Lebanon’s National New Agency (NNA).



Starmer: Britain Moving Jets to Middle East to Support Regional Security

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Ministers' Questions session in parliament in London, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Ministers' Questions session in parliament in London, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Starmer: Britain Moving Jets to Middle East to Support Regional Security

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Ministers' Questions session in parliament in London, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Ministers' Questions session in parliament in London, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Britain is moving additional military assets, including fighter jets, to the Middle East to provide support across the region, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters on Saturday as he was en route to a Group of Seven meeting in Canada.

Iran and Israel traded missiles and airstrikes on Saturday, the day after Israel launched an air offensive against its old enemy, killing commanders and scientists and bombing nuclear sites in a stated bid to stop it building an atomic weapon.

"We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region," Starmer said.

Britain already has fighter jets in the Middle East as part of an operation to counter threats in Iraq and Syria.

Crews began deployment preparations on Friday morning, when it was clear the situation in the region was deteriorating, a spokesperson for the prime minister said.

Further refueling aircraft from British bases have been deployed, and additional fighter jets will be sent, the spokesperson added.

Iran warned the United States, United Kingdom and France that their bases and ships in the region will be targeted if they help stop Tehran's strikes on Israel, Iran state media reported Saturday.