Weakening Hezbollah permanently will be difficult, but for once the goal is attainable—if Beirut has the courage to keep the group out of Lebanon’s coffers and make the army do its job.
For Hezbollah, these are trying times. And as is usually the case, Hezbollah’s loss is Lebanon’s gain. In fact, the group’s deterioration is giving Lebanese officials a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reassert their presence and restore their failed state. At least some of Lebanon’s leaders seem ready to take advantage. Together, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam could usher in a new era for their country and its long-suffering residents. Yet Hezbollah and its allies still control 53 seats in the 128-member parliament, enough to sway important decisions. If they can work with the Druze leader Walid Jumblatt’s Democratic Gathering bloc and former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s National Moderation party, they will have a majority of seats. The group can also physically attack or threaten representatives who do not follow their wishes, as well as other domestic actors who stand in their way. No one should be surprised if Hezbollah resorts to such intimidation…
