Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's visit to Lebanon on Feb. 14 lasted no more than 10 days. Once again, his quick departure was no surprise. On Aug. 8, 2014, he made a short visit to Beirut that only lasted a couple of days, bearing a Saudi grant of $1 billion to the Lebanese army, three years after he was forced to leave the country when his government was overthrown and replaced by that of Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
The main reason behind the shortness of his visits to Beirut is the lack of security to ensure his safety. These conditions do not seem to be improving, despite the dialogue between his party, the Future Movement, and Hezbollah that has been ongoing since December and focuses on key political and security issues, such as facing the Salafist threat and electing a president. The heated speech he made in Beirut on Feb. 14, during a ceremony at the BIEL complex to mark the 10th anniversary of the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, did not help reduce the risks to his personal security.
His return seems to have somehow revived political life in the country's institutional vacuum, triggering a series of meetings by officials. His return was also endorsed by his allies such as Walid Jumblatt and the Christian parties, which wanted him to stay in Lebanon. Yesterday’s opponents, namely the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), welcomed the visit in the meeting between Hariri and FPM head Gen. Michel Aoun, two days after Hariri’s return. FPM members were also present among the audience at the BIEL complex, where the ceremony was held, for the first time. Nevertheless, the rapprochement did not dissipate the deep dispute with Hezbollah.
The conflict with Hezbollah revolves around security and political issues, including Hezbollah's weapons outside the framework of the state, its involvement in the Syrian war and the distribution of weapons in several Lebanese areas to the “Resistance Brigades.” There is also Hezbollah’s refusal to hand over the suspects in Hariri’s assassination and the March 14 accusation against Hezbollah of obstructing parliament sessions to elect a president and causing a constitutional vacuum. If prolonged, this vacuum could bring down the political system, whose foundations were re-established in accordance with the 1989 Taif Agreement, to which the Future Movement clings.
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