Lebanon
Fundamental information for understanding the state of political reform in Lebanon
Prospects for Political Reform
» Lebanon Update: The Latest
After the Lebanese army dismantled eight rockets aimed at Israel, March 8 coalition MPs reportedly stated that they were not connected with the Hizbullah resistance.
Lebanese protesters demonstrated in front of the Egyptian embassy in response to the Israeli strikes on Gaza. The choice of the Egyptian embassy is likely due to the fact that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni stated in Cairo that she would strike back at Hamas after an uptick in violence following the end of a ceasefire.
The Daily Star delivered a strong endorsement of the Lebanese cabinet in an editorial this morning. On Saturday, the cabinet agreed on judicial appointments and selected Lebanon’s first ambassador to Syria. While both the March 14 and March 8 coalitions needed a legislative win going into next year’s elections, it is still encouraging given the astounding amount of deadlock the government produced over the past year.
» From The POMED Wire
The Jewish Right on Syrian-Israeli Peace
[Dec 23] Josh Landis at Syria Comment says, “Syria is the only game in town for those wishing to advance peace between Arabs and Israel. This has the Jewish right apoplectic.”
Thereafter,…
Dialogue in Lebanon
[Dec 22] In the Daily Star, Rayyan al-Shawaf discusses the resumption of the national dialogue in Lebanon between the opposing March 8 and March 14 coalitions. He is…
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The State of Political Reform
Political Parties and Participation
- The New Lebanese Equation: The Christians' Central Role
International Crisis Group, July 2008 - Lebanon: Hizbullah's Weapons Turn Inward
International Crisis Group, May 2008 - Lebanon's Sunni Islamists--A Growing Force
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, January 2008 - more »
Human Rights
- Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-2007, Lebanon
U.S. State Department, March 2008 - 2008 Annual Report for Lebanon
Amnesty International, 2008 - World Report 2008-Lebanon
Human Rights Watch, 2008 - more »
Elections
- Ending (or Deepening) the Crisis in Lebanon: The Role of Electoral Reform
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, June 2008 - What Lebanon Needs Now
Brookings Institution, June 2008 - Syrian/Israeli Peace Talks and Political Deal in Lebanon: Teleconference with Carnegie Experts
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 2008 - more »
Press Freedom
- Lebanon Annual Report
Reporters Without Borders, 2008 - Press Freedom in Lebanon-2007
Freedom House - Comparative Report on the State of Media in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco
International Foundation for Electoral Systems, May 2007 - more »
Political Institutions
- Comparative Report on the State of the Judiciary in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco (English)
International Federation of Electoral Systems-May 2007 - Civil Society Profile-Lebanon (English)
United Nations Development Program-Program on Governance in the Arab Region - Lebanon-Public Administration Country Profile (English)
United Nations, October 2004 - more »
U.S. Democracy Promotion Policy
Legislation
For an overview of U.S. legislation relating to political reform in Lebanon, see the Congressional Policy and Foreign Assistance section of the Lebanon backgrounder
H. Res. 1194 Reaffirming the support of the House of Representatives for the legitimate, democratically-elected Government of Lebanon under Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. (Summary | Full Text)
S.Res 353 Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon and the need for free and fair presidential elections in Lebanon without intimidation or foreign interference, 2007 (Summary | Full Text)
S. Res. 328 A resolution condemning the assassination on September 19, 2007, of Antoine Ghanem, a member of the Parliament of Lebanon who opposed Syrian interference in Lebanon, 2007
(Summary | Full Text)
Congressional Hearings
Hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs-Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia: “Update on the Situation in Lebanon” July 29, 2008-Statement of Jeffrey D. Feltman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Near Eastern Affairs Bureau-State Department (Transcript)
Hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs-Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia: “Lebanon On The Brink” November 8, 2007 (Transcript)
Hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee-”Syria: Options and Implications for Lebanon and the Region” November 8, 2007-Statement of C. David Welch, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, State Department (Transcript)
Hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs-Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia: “The Political Situation in Lebanon” April 18, 2007 (Transcript)
Hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: “Lebanon: Securing a Permanent Ceasefire” September 13, 2006-Statement of C. David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, State Department (Transcript)
Assistance Programs
S. 3288-2009 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009, July 2008
Congressional Budget Justification-Foreign Operations-Fiscal Year 2009, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), February 2008
Encouraging Good Governance Program, United States Agency for International Development|Lebanon, January 2008
Public Statements
Representative Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Hearing of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, (”Update on the Situation in Lebanon”), 7/29/08: Comments on how the Doha Agreement is, at best, a beginning to a political solution and that Hezbollah’s insurrection “forced a new and unjust status quo.”
Sean McCormack, Daily Press Briefing, 7/11/08: Comments on the formation of Lebanon’s unity government, remarking that the U.S. will not deal with Hezbollah members of the cabinet.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 6/16/08: Comments on the Hariri Assassination and continuing U.S. support for Lebanese democratic efforts.
