 A politicial crisis that has been brewing since seven weeks ago came to an end on Thursday with ministers of the country's mainstream (!) Shiite Muslim groups Amal and Hezbollah declaring that they would resume taking part in cabinet meetings. MP Hassan Khalil of Amal read a statement on behalf of the five Shiite ministers saying that the executives would resume attending the sessions on basis of a declaration, made earlier in the day, by Prime Minister Fuad Al-Sanioura during a parliament session, affirming that the government would always call the resistance as resistance. The remark was intended to assuage fears by Hezbollah as a result of a UN resolution that referred to the resistance as a militia. "We appreciate restoration of sovereignty as a result of the liberation of the land and the resistance is credited for this achievement," the prime minister had told the legislators, alluding to the liberation of southern Lebanon, in 2000, from Israeli occupation as a result of the resistance, led by Hezbollah. "We have always called the resistance as resistance and we have always referred to it as the national resistance and we will always call it the Lebanese national resistance," Al-Sanioura stressed. Although the officials' decision may defuse high tension in the politicial atmosphere in the country, political observers forecast follow-up heated debates on several controversial issues namely the UN resolution 1559 and the nature of the ties with neighboring Syria.| And a peek into Leb politix: |
Hezbollah is represented in the 24-seat cabinet by Mohammed Feneish who serves in the energy portfolio. MP Trad Hmadeh is loyal to the Islamic organization. Amal is represented by Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallouk, Minister of Agriculture Talal Al-Saheli and Minister of Health Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh.The cabinet was formed in July following parliamentary polls, held in May and June, only a month after withdrawal of the Syrian forces from the country. |