Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 30 Nov. - 6 Dec. 2000 Issue No.510

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Damascus gesture

By Dalal Saoud

Since the opening of the new session of the Lebanese parliament a few weeks ago, the Syrian presence has been spoken about publicly in the most explicit terms.

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, a leader of the campaign for a Syrian withdrawal, reiterated his concern about the presence but also sounded a surprisingly conciliatory note. A continued Syrian presence impinges on Lebanon's sovereignty, said Sfeir, who then called on Damascus to "stop interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs." Regarding a pullout, however, he said that such an operation would take time and would best be conducted within the context of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

House Speaker Nabih Berri, considered a long-time ally of Syria, tried to assuage Sfeir's concerns by stating that the re-deployment of Syrian troops would be completed soon. Berri added that a meeting between the command of Lebanese and Syrian army officials to discuss the re-deployment was imminent. But following Berri's comments, Syria sought to dispel the impression that he was acting on instructions from Damascus, characterising his remarks as a "personal" initiative.

The Syrian army has maintained a presence in Lebanon since the beginning of the civil war in 1976. In an effort to minimise the impact of its 35,000-man presence, the Syrian army began in April to be re-stationed outside of major population centres.

A Lebanese student uses a slingshot to throw stones at the Israeli post at the Sheikh Abbad hill along the Lebanese Israeli borders (photo:AP)

Focusing on Sfeir's criticism of his country's presence in Lebanon, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Sharaa bluntly noted his country's "great sacrifices" for its neighbour.

However, in a gesture that seems to suggest that Syria is at least open to discussing the issue, President Bashar Al-Assad invited to Damascus a number of Lebanese political personalities, including some Christian moderates, to listen to their points of view on Syrian-Lebanese relations.

Although some observers believe that the climate might be appropriate for a Syrian withdrawal following Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon on 24 May, others suggest that Syria is unlikely to withdraw if such calls are only made by a portion of the Lebanese Christian community.

Arab countries, such as Egypt, view Syria's military presence as a necessary "element of balance" in Lebanon.

In other Lebanese news, Hizbullah's attack on an Israeli patrol in the Shebaa Farms that killed an Israeli soldier and wounded two others, has prompted renewed warnings from the US and the United Nations that such operations could lead to an escalation of tensions in the region. The Shebaa Farms is an area in the south-east corner of Lebanon that Israel continues to occupy, claiming that it is Syrian territory.

Hizbullah chief Sayed Hassan Nasrallah reiterated pledges to continue fighting Israel until the Shebaa Farms are liberated and the 19 Lebanese prisoners held by Israel are released.

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