Lebanese Christians Divided Over Action in Syria
In Lebanon, the Christians in the March 14th coalition are divided over events in Syria, some calling for more direct action supporting the revolution while others stand along the line of cautiousness and neutrality, reports Elie Hajj.
Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces and the main Christian pillar in Lebanon’s March 14th coalition, repudiated the tenacious suggestions of some of his allies to go further than words in his support for the revolution against Assad’s regime.
Geagea’s stance is the farthest from what the Christians of March 14th want in terms of the crisis taking place in their neighboring country. The March 14th Secretariat General has made an exception for this concern. The political-intellectual group that makes up the Secretariat General has a leftist background closely tied to Geagea and is comprised of both Christians and Muslims. Former MP Samir Frangieh is its secretary general and former MP Fares Soueid acts as the coalition’s coordinator. The March 14th coalition has incited tensions through statements regarding its willingness to reach an understanding with the “upcoming regime” in Syria.
The Kataeb Party, which has adhered to a policy of “self-distancing” itself from the Syrian crisis — a policy first adopted by Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati’s government — now acts as the mouthpiece for smaller parties and independent politicians. The prominent members of Kataeb have expressed disapproval in private discussions over the enthusiastic, overly emotional and media-heavy tactics their Muslim and leftist allies in the March 14th coalition have embraced regarding the conflict in Syria. The Kataeb deputy leader Sejaan Azzi has repeated humorously: “Have we finished addressing our major security, political and economic problems in Lebanon? Are we ready to solve the issues of other Arab countries?”
A few weeks ago, when media affiliated with the March 8th coalition, which is led by Hezbollah, highlighted the case of MP Okab Sakr’s audio recordings hinting at his involvement in the arming of Syrian rebels, the steel-arm of the Kataeb, MP Samy Gemayel, condemned such behavior.
