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).



Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
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Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 

As the Houthi threat to international shipping grows ever more serious - most recently with the sinking of two Greek vessels, killing three sailors and leaving twelve missing - there has been little substantial reaction from major world powers. The United States, Germany’s foreign minister, and the UN envoy to Yemen were among the few to voice concern and call for de-escalation.

While Houthi attacks intensify across the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, insurance premiums for commercial ships in these waters have surged to as much as 1% of a vessel’s value, according to leading global insurers. This underscores the scale of the risk and the declining confidence in protecting this vital maritime corridor.

The two assaults targeted the cargo ships Magic Seas and True Confidence between Sunday and Tuesday last week. According to the EU naval mission Aspides, tasked with safeguarding Red Sea navigation, the attacks killed at least three sailors, wounded others, and left a dozen unaccounted for.

The strike on the Liberian-flagged Greek-operated True Confidence marked a dangerous escalation. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they used an explosive-laden drone boat and six ballistic and cruise missiles. They alleged the ship was heading to Israel’s port of Eilat, though independent verification was lacking.

Despite the scale of the violence, most global capitals limited their responses to brief statements. Only the US ambassador to the UN issued a pointed condemnation, along with remarks from a State Department spokesperson and a statement by UN envoy Hans Grundberg.

The US denounced the attacks as “terrorist and unjustified,” describing them as evidence of the “ongoing threat posed by Iranian-backed Houthis to regional maritime security and commerce.” The US ambassador stressed Washington’s commitment to denying the Houthis resources to fund such operations and called on the UN Security Council to remove obstacles blocking its expert monitoring teams in Yemen.

The State Department likewise condemned the attacks as a threat to the freedom of navigation and economic stability. “We will continue to take necessary steps to protect commercial shipping,” the statement warned, urging the broader international community to condemn the Houthis’ actions.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Iran must use its influence to halt Houthi attacks. Speaking in Vienna alongside his Israeli and Austrian counterparts, he declared: “We strongly condemn these attacks and expect Iran to act to stop them.”

UN envoy Grundberg expressed deep concern about the sinking of True Confidence, warning of the humanitarian and environmental consequences of such operations, which violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2722. He urged the Houthis to provide sustainable guarantees to end attacks and build on prior understandings with the United States.

Oman had brokered a limited agreement last May under which the Houthis pledged to stop targeting American ships in return for a suspension of broad US-led military action - though the deal excluded Israel.

A Dangerous Precedent

Yemeni officials say the tepid reactions from much of the world send the Houthis the wrong message, reinforcing their sense of impunity. On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi boasted in his weekly address about sinking the vessels, calling it a “clear lesson” to any shipping company doing business with Israel.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out over 150 attacks, disrupting global trade flows through the Red Sea. Their operations have sunk British and Greek ships and damaged many more, including hijacking the Galaxy Leader and holding its crew for over a year.