Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 08, 2009 Cheshvan 21, 5770 | | Israel Time: 13:00 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 12:55 07/11/2009
Hezbollah agrees to join Lebanon unity government
By Avi Issacharoff and Reuters
Tags: Hezbollah, Israel News 

Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri will announce a new national unity government in the next two days after clinching a deal with the opposition on its make-up, politicians from both sides said on Saturday.

Lebanon has been without a functioning government since Hariri led his coalition, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, to victory in a June parliamentary election against Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah and its allies.

A government acceptable to all main parties is seen as key to maintaining stability in a country facing sectarian and political tensions, as well as a huge debt burden.
Advertisement
"The government is as good as formed," member of parliament Okab Sakr, who is close to Hariri, told New TV station. "It's all about the final touches now and its formation will be completed this weekend."

Other MPs from both camps made similar remarks.

Leaders of the opposition, including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, agreed to join the proposed government during a meeting on Friday night.

"Participants at the talks have agreed to forge ahead with the formation of the national unity government in accordance with the regulations that were agreed upon during the negotiations that had been conducted," Hezbollah said in a statement after the meeting, held at a secret location.

Political sources said the opposition would officially inform Hariri of its decision and hand him over the names of their proposed ministers.

Lebanese media reported on Saturday that it was Iran's approval which paved the way for Hezbollah to join Hariri' cabinet, one which Tehran had refused to give in past talks.

It was also reported that a recent visit by the Syrian foreign minister to the Islamic Republic centered around Hezbollah's joining a Lebanese unity government.

Breakthrough deal

Hariri has spent more than four months trying to broker a deal with the opposition to join a unity cabinet. A warming of ties between the two sides' main backers Syria and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks helped ease the rift in Beirut and led eventually to the breakthrough.

The rival factions had agreed in July on the broad division of seats in the new cabinet. But Hariri, son of assassinated billionaire statesman Rafik al-Hariri, had struggled to reach agreement with opposition politicians on the details.

At the heart of the dispute were the demands of Christian leader Michel Aoun, an ally of Hezbollah. Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement holds more seats in parliament than any other Christian party.

The new 30-minister cabinet is set to include 15 ministers from Hariri's coalition, 10 from the opposition including two Hezbollah ministers, and five, including the key interior and defence portfolios, will be nominated by President Michel Suleiman.

Incumbents Ziad Baroud and Elias al-Murr, loyal to the president, are set to keep their interior and defence portfolios, while new foreign and finance ministers are expected to be named.

Hariri had named Raya Hassan for finance minister, responsible for managing Lebanon's public debt burden, in an earlier proposal that was rejected by the opposition.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the main Shi'ite Muslim ally of Hezbollah, is set to name the new foreign minister who was likely to be retired university professor Ali al-Shami, the sources said.

Related articles:
  • Lebanon authorities detain 'arms ship' crew for questioning
  • UN condemns Israel, Hezbollah violations
  • Iran may have tested nuclear warhead design, secret IAEA report says
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Folkie fights demolition
    Pete Seeger uses 'Turn, Turn, Turn' to help end Israeli razing of Palestinian homes.
    Coach Hitler
    U.K. children believe the Fuhrer managed Germany's national soccer team, a poll shows.
      1.   Terms of the agreement 10:24  |  Colin 07/11/09
      2.   Hezbollah joining a government 11:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/09
      3.   Lebanon Gov. screwed until it get S-300 system soon 12:00  |  Bloodyscot 07/11/09
      4.   Colin # 1 13:15  |  K, K, & K 07/11/09
      5.   #4 Bloodyscot 14:05  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/09
      6.   Fracop aftermath?! 14:26  |  Abecassis 07/11/09
      7.   Lebanon: A joke of a democracy! 14:54  |  Maurice 07/11/09
      8.   Beter to have to deal with politicians than more bloodshed... 14:55  |  Tcherkessi 07/11/09
      9.   Chris Linthwaite 15:12  |  Peter Williams 07/11/09
      10.   #8 Peter Williams of Brisbane 17:10  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/09
      11.   10 - Chris Linthwaite: Talk of nonesense... 18:34  |  Maurice 07/11/09
      12.   To no. 4 19:15  |  Colin 07/11/09
      13.   A defeat for Hizbollah 19:50  |  Mark Lincoln 07/11/09
      14.   Next rocket shot at Israel or arms smuggling by Hezbollah = war! 19:52  |  arthur 07/11/09
      15.   arthur in israel 22:48  |  northern neighbor 07/11/09
      16.   maurice mon ami 23:00  |  northern neighbor 07/11/09
      17.   Future misdemeanors of Hez will implicate entire government 23:31  |  Esther 07/11/09
      18.   Iran`s Trojan Horse of Terror Now Stabled Within Lebanon`s Palace 00:29  |  Lavi 08/11/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    12:45 Mofaz: Talk to Hamas, Palestinian state in a year
    11:21 Obama cancels Jewish Communities GA address
    08:45 Report: Hezbollah rearming for imminent conflict with Israel
    07:25 Israel to coordinate with allies to ensure Goldstone veto
    07:24 U.S. top brass: Nuclear Iran is existential threat to Israel
    12:01 Report: Suspected Fort Hood shooter prayed at same mosque as 9/11 terrorists
    12:25 Hitler bypasses Apple censors: Mein Kampf for your iPhone
    23:50 TV ROUND-UP: Leaders speak at Rabin memorial; parachuter crashes
    12:43 PM heads to U.S. under threat of Palestinian statehood declaration
    10:24 Netanyahu, stop being afraid and sowing fear
    09:59 Israel's apartheid is worse than South Africa's
    12:30 Settler women cry sexual harassment by Israel Police
    07:17 Abbas expected to stay, despite retirement announcement
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved