Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri refuses to surrender to the obstacles that continue to prevent the disengagement of security and political repercussions that resulted from the al-Jabal incident.
Hariri wants to overcome the troubles that are preventing the resumption of the government sessions and to end the stalemate that could hinder tackling the economic and social issues that are in urgent need of solutions.
Hariri is trying to compensate the non-resumed cabinet sessions through financial meetings, which he said would ease the negative repercussions of the inability to hold government sessions.
In this context, Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Hariri is supporting the efforts of General Director of Security General Major General Abbas Ibrahim, aimed to contain the repercussions of al-Jabal incident and conditioning the holding of the government’s session with referring the incident to the Judicial Council.
Ibrahim is also in contact with Walid Jumblatt, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, whom he met after holding talks with the head of the Lebanese Democratic Party, MP Talal Arslan, at the presence of Minister of State Saleh al-Gharib for the first time since the incident.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah affirmed his support to Arslan in a recent television interview, supporting Arslan's request to refer the incident to the Judicial Council.
Circles are looking forward to Hariri’s move, in the light of the government's inability to convene for an emergency session prior to a parliamentary session to discuss the budget. They do not rule out the possibility that the premier discussed with the President the post-budget adoption stage.
Some are inquiring about the position of Speaker Berri, in light of Hezbollah’s support for Arslan, and his battle in settling accounts with the Progressive Party.
Others are also asking about the President’s position regarding Hariri's insistence on re-activating the government, especially since ministerial sources suggest that this particular issue may have been discussed between Aoun and Hariri.
