All Lebanese parties now acknowledge Saudi Arabia’s role in the selection of Tammam Salam to head the next Lebanese government. Visits in recent days by the Wahhabi kingdom’s ambassador to Lebanon to several political parties and to the prime minister-designate are only the tip of the iceberg.

It remains unclear why exactly Saudi officials preferred the most moderate and atypical Sunni and March 14 figure to form the next government. The selection of Salam surprised the March 14 coalition as well as its political rivals. Hezbollah and its allies voted for him as a gesture of goodwill, but are uncertain about the next step. According to the Hezbollah camp, there are several explanations for the elevation of Salam.

Foremost, the country’s security situation has become alarming to many, especially in regard to the Sunni-Shiite dispute, as evidenced by incidents in Beirut (aggression against the sheikhs of Dar al-Fatwa) and Sidon (attacks against Shiite minibus drivers on the road to the south). Saudi officials may have decided to get involved because they understand the balance of power in Lebanon and are trying to protect the Sunni community from another operation like the one from May 7, 2008, when Shiites gained control of the Muslim sector of the capital. If so, choosing Salam was designed deliberately to address the concerns of the Shiites, especially Hezbollah, at this particular stage. What might follow, however, raises a number of questions.

If Saudi Arabia acted with US approval and sincerely wishes to protect Lebanon from the Syrian contagion, choosing Salam was not just a sign of goodwill, but also a strong message in support of stability in Lebanon and a signal that the country needs a unity government.