US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus’ warning on Friday that Hezbollah should not be part of the new Lebanese government has upended efforts to form a new cabinet.
The formation process had already hit a snag with disputes over the name of the fifth Shiite minister. The remaining four have been named by the Shiite duo of Hezbollah and Amal.
The new American administration’s position will further complicate the process with the likely formation of a camp that will heed the warning and another that will cling on to Hezbollah’s participation.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the French foreign ministry said on Friday that Paris fully trusts the Lebanese authorities’ ability to form a new government that represents all segments of the country.
Replying to a question about Ortagus’ warning, the spokesperson said France hopes Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam will find a way to resolve the crisis.
Ortagus spoke after meeting President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda presidential palace.
She told reporters the US has set a "red line" that armed group Hezbollah should not be a member of Lebanon's next government after its military setbacks against Israel last year.
Ortagus said she was "not afraid" of the Iran-backed party "because they've been defeated militarily", a reference to last year's war between the group and Israel.
"And we have set clear red lines from the United States that they won't be able to terrorize the Lebanese people, and that includes by being a part of the government," she said.
Further complication
The Lebanese people will now have to wait and see how Aoun and Salam will handle the warning and if they really are capable of leaving Hezbollah out of the new government.
A source following the formation process held Amal movement leader and parliament Speaker Nabih Berri responsible for the latest setback, explaining that had he not insisted on naming the fifth Shiite minister on Thursday, a new government would have been formed already.
Had a new cabinet been formed, Salam would have persuaded Ortagus that Hezbollah was ready to join financial and economic reform efforts and implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1701, it added.
The US would have had to deal with the new government but with some reservations, continued the source on condition of anonymity.
"The new warning now deeply complicates the situation," it lamented.
"Ortagus’ stance has put the Lebanese state in a difficult position and it is now necessary for those involved in the government formation process to take the very clear and frank American statements seriously. They must not be ignored," it urged.
Firm message
Head of the Saydet el-Jabal Gathering former MP Fares Soaid said Ortagus’ message has upended the formation efforts.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he explained that the deputy envoy clearly outlined the new American administration’s stance that is in "absolute support to Israel and confrontation with Iran."
"Ortagus was clear over the need to keep Hezbollah out of government," he said.
"The president and PM-designate now have one choice and that is to keep all parties out of government, whether through direct or indirect representation. This is the only solution that would salvage the situation and all parties must understand this," Soaid went on to say.
Before the warning, Lebanese parties were willing to have Hezbollah in government where they would work on curbing its influence, he went on to say.
"Now, all parties are forced to stay out of government, which will be non-partisan. The new cabinet lineup will then be presented to parliament and whoever dares to withhold confidence will be held responsible for the choice," Soaid said.
"Defying the American official’s warning will make it impossible for the new government to have any international presence," he added.
