Israel Matzav

The beginning of the end for Lebanon?

During the past week, I told you that Hezbullah chieftain Hassan Nasrallah was planning a 'million man march' that was essentially designed to overthrow the Lebanese government. The march was to be held this coming Monday if the Lebanese government didn't accede to Nasrallah's demands. And his demands? A "national unity" government that would greatly increase Hezbullah's power beyond the fourteen seats it currently holds in the Lebanese parliament, followed by elections.... The schedule has just been accelerated.

Al-AP is reporting from Hezbullah's al-Manar TV that Hezbullah and Amal Cabinet ministers resigned from the Lebanese government on Saturday.

Al-Manar said that the ministers stated that they were resigning "because all-party talks have fallen through and the government was trying to impose conditions for negotiation on a new government."

The TV announcement came after the failure earlier Saturday of a weeklong attempt to 'agree' on a Hizbullah demand for a national unity government.

Based on an earlier Al-AP report, it doesn't sound like it was much of an effort. The talks failed a day after a day after the government received a draft document setting up an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Anyone want to bet on how long UNIFIL will stay in Lebanon if the government collapses?

Update 8:35 PM

Al-AP is reporting that Lebanese President Fouad Siniora has rejected the resginations. Right.... (From JPost's Israel Alert Update service - no link yet).

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:56 PM