Dana Takieddine | Staff Writer

Since earning the confidence vote on February 26, Nawaf Salam’s government has been focusing its plans on rebuilding the nation post-war with Israel. Although the Lebanese state did not issue the war and was directly impacted by the decision of Hezbollah to retaliate in defense of Palestine, the weight of rebuilding the country rests in the government’s hands.

In 2006, Hezbollah immediately strategized to rebuild the south by promising “15,000 families with year’s rent and furniture funded by Iran for $150 million” (2006). On February 15 of this year, Naim Qassem, Secretary General of Hezbollah, declared in his speech that it is the government’s sole responsibility to rebuild the nation.

What changed from 2006 to today? In 2006, Lebanon received help from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, pledging $1.3 billion to rebuild a total of 4 towns and 25 villages (Ward, 2024). Today, Saudi Arabia is facing economic difficulties as it is shifting its economy away from dependency on oil to focusing on Project 2030 by increasing its GDP. Coupled with the absence of its trusted ally, the Hariri family, Saudi Arabia is unlikely to provide Lebanon with the massive financial support it once offered. With the Iranian regime currently focused on its nuclear deal and recovery from its economic crisis, its attention is not directed towards supporting Hezbollah’s role in rebuilding the south.

With this context in mind, we begin to understand why Naim Qassem’s speech was focused on the government’s responsibility while pledging to cooperate politically. From an international perspective, all aid in the past was linked to strong economic and political reforms the country must undergo. With failure to comply, Lebanon was not able to secure aid from the International Monetary Fund. To receive international aid in today’s reconstruction efforts, Nawaf Salam is currently focused on dismantling illegal weapons in the country, since aid and reconstruction are heavily related to this issue. Rebuilding the country is a long process that cannot be achieved within the 1-year time frame that this government has in mind. Ideally, this means that the government must begin with the fundamental steps of monopolizing legitimate power, setting a financial and economic reform framework, organizing elections, and cooperating with both regional and international entities.

Rebuilding Lebanon must strongly promote its national sovereignty, ensuring that the country’s future is not subject to, nor accountable to, any political power in the region.

References:

Guardian News and Media. (2006, August 17). After 34 days of war, Hizbullah turns its attention to rebuilding Southern Lebanon. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/aug/17/syria.israelandthepalestinians1

Ward, C. (n.d.). Who will rebuild Lebanon after Israel’s war? The New Arab. https://www.newarab.com/analysis/who-will-rebuild-lebanon-after-israels-war