[Al Arabiya Latest] Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri stressed on Tuesday Hezbollah will be part of the next cabinet "whether Israel likes it or not," as he called on the all parties to unite to form a coalition to face the country's challenges."The national unity government will include the (ruling) March 14 alliance, and I also want to assure the Israeli enemy that Hezbollah will be in this government whether it likes it or not because Lebanon's interests require all parties be involved in this cabinet," Hariri said at a Ramadan dinner at his residence.
| That's nice. Israel said that if Hizb'allah is included in the government, then Israel will treat Hizb'allah attacks as acts of war by the government... and respond accordingly. PM-designate Hariri seems to have difficulty grasping this basic concept. |
The prime minister-designate, however, added that national unity "should not marginalize the principles of democracy and freedom.
Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reported that Hariri held talks Monday night with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's political assistant Hussein Khalil, who told Hariri his party supported the demands of the Free Patriotic Movement's leader Michel Aoun.
Hariri, son of slain billionaire ex-premier Rafik Hariri, was named prime minister on June 27 after his alliance defeated a Hezbollah-led coalition.
Tough negotiations have led to a deal on the number of ministers each political camp will have in Lebanon's 30-seat cabinet, with 15 going to Hariri's ruling alliance, 10 to the Hezbollah-led opposition and the president appointing five.