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Since last Wednesday, the political scene in Lebanon has been beset by unjustified controversy and a populist disinformation campaign, all of which revolve around the European Parliament resolution addressing the situation prevailing in Lebanon.

The emergence of this disinformation outbreak was triggered by a videotaped statement made by Thierry Mariani, a right-wing European parliamentarian. As a matter of fact, in an attempt to manipulate the media, Mariani addressed the “Lebanese people” and misled them regarding a European Parliament resolution that allegedly advocated for the retention of Syrian displaced persons in Lebanon. Mariani’s sudden concern for the well-being of the Lebanese populace has left many perplexed, given his very cordial and warm relationship with Bashar al-Assad, a bond that speaks for itself and requires no further elaboration. 

However, apart from this particular aspect, a closer reading of the European resolution highlights the blatant disinformation propagated by the far-right MP. Indeed, the resolution in question prominently mirrors the rhetoric, principled stances, and national aspirations of the sovereigntist camp. It is likely that Mariani deliberately focused on the clause regarding Syrian displaced persons, which he completely distorted, to divert attention and obscure the comprehensive content of the resolution. It is important to note that the resolution clearly and consistently denounces the position of Hezbollah and its allies, unequivocally condemning the obstructionist policies and practices of the pro-Iranian group.

Undermining the Presidential Election Process

The resolution’s text boldly confronts the root causes of the political deadlock that is paralyzing the country on different levels, by meticulously examining the exponential pace of decline of living conditions for the Lebanese people.

Specifically, the text raises apprehensions regarding the flagrant disregard of the presidential election deadline, emphasizing that “Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement, and their political allies have resorted to unconstitutional tactics to impede the parliamentary vote for the presidential election.”

The resolution further emphasizes that “the Lebanese Parliament has decided to postpone the municipal elections for one year thanks to the votes of Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement, and their allied political groups.”

August 4 Explosion

Moreover, by reiterating its unwavering condemnation of the obstructionist behavior of the pro-Iranian party, the European resolution sheds light on the significant hindering of the investigation into the Beirut port devastating explosion on August 4, 2020. It specifically emphasizes that these impediments can largely be attributed to the abuse of power by the political players, particularly Hezbollah and its allies (…). 

The European resolution provides a comprehensive portrayal of the hindrances encountered by investigating Judge Tarek Bitar throughout his investigations, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. The report recalls the “massive demonstration, led by Hezbollah and the Amal movement, against Judge Bitar that has morphed into a coordinated assault on the Ain el-Remmaneh neighborhood and the Lebanese Forces party, which has consistently backed the investigation into the Beirut port explosion.” The resolution also emphasizes the urgent need for “establishing an international investigation mission under the auspices of the United Nations Human Rights Council.”

The European resolution further underscores the significance of recalling the series of assassinations of Colonel Joseph Skaff in 2017, “who had alerted his superiors about the hazards associated with the storage” of ammonium nitrate, of Joe Bejjani in December 2020, who “had diligently captured photographs of the warehouse both before and after the explosion,” and last but not least, the execution of Lokman Slim, “an activist and publisher, in February 2021, merely ten days after he publicly accused Hezbollah of supplying ammonium nitrate to the regime of Bashar al-Assad.”

Syrian Refugees

The European Parliament document strongly emphasizes that “the Bashar al-Assad regime has initiated a ruthless campaign of repression against its own people,” with the active support of Hezbollah to “the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel in establishing and training Syrian militias.”

The resolution urges the Lebanese government to undertake a comprehensive set of reforms encompassing the judicial, financial, economic, and political sectors. These efforts include addressing issues such as curbing the “excessive power of the military tribunal”. On the other hand, the text highlights the need to impose sanctions “on those who undermine the democratic and electoral process,” as well as “those who obstruct the national investigation into the Beirut port explosion.”

In reference to the clause pertaining to Syrian refugees, which Mariani presented as “a conspiracy against the Lebanese people,” the resolution mentions obvious facts and clichés highlighting that the prerequisites for a voluntary and dignified return of refugees are not currently met and that the humanitarian aid must be “maintained for both the Lebanese population and refugees.”

In its final remarks, despite some unnecessary awkwardness, the text acknowledges the European Parliament’s apprehension regarding “the increasing prevalence of hostile discourse against refugees by certain Lebanese political parties and ministers.” However, there is no explicit mention of a European position in favor of “maintaining Syrian refugees in Lebanon,” as claimed by the far-right MP.  

It becomes evident that the staunch supporters of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah resorted to a deliberate diversion tactic in order to obscure, with utmost clarity and severity, the obstructive actions carried out by the pro-Iranian party and its deliberate sabotage of Lebanon’s institutions and key vital sectors.