Rift erupts between Hezbollah, anti-Syrian bloc in Lebanon

[Phx_Dem]

BEIRUT - A deep rift erupted Thursday between two of the major political blocs in Lebanese politics, the Shiite Hezbollah group and the anti-Syrian majority bloc known as the March 14 forces.

The rift is the culmination of a period of intense tension and bitter exchanges of accusations related to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, in which more than 1,200 people were killed.

The crisis surfaced after Hezbollah chief Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah accused the majority bloc of "stabbing his guerrillas in the back" while fighting Israel.

more at:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=762839&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1

[MADem]

1. I'm surprised it took this long for things to boil over...

....MP Samir Franjiyeh, member of the March 14 forces, said that the current dispute with Hezbollah reflected a crisis inside the party.

Franjiyeh called on Hezbollah to open up to all political forces in order to confront the crisis that resulted from the war and learn from mistakes to avoid another disaster.

"What is needed is for Hezbollah to admit that what happened was wrong ... to return to calm and stop accusations of treason," Franjiyeh said.

Sources close to Shiite House Speaker Nabih Berri, who has close links to Hezbollah but also maintains good relations with the majority, said Berri had sent his aide Ali Hassan Khalil to meet majority leader Saad Hariri and some Hezbollah officials.

Khalil was quoted Thursday as saying that "the priority now should be given to ways to reinforce the government, not to changing it," indicating a difference in views between the movement headed by Berri and Hezbollah.

[breakaleg]

2. This is a good thing. I think they should deal with Hezbollah from

inside the Lebanese government.

[geek tragedy]

3. It's in the interest of the entire planet--minus Iran and Syria--to have

Lebanon's government and army be strong enough to rein Hezbollah in and disarm it. This fact was apparently lost on Olmert.