Amid an open presidential vacancy and a war in the south led by Hezbollah without internal consensus, the country is swinging, and the scene within it is strongly shaken. There are fears of expanding confrontations in the south, which have practically affected other areas including the Bekaa in its northern and western divisions, and the plain stretching from Sidon to Zahrani and Nabatiyeh, reaching towns adjacent to the southern borders with occupied Palestine. However, all of this does not negate the existence of doses of hope for making a breakthrough in the internal scene, actively pursued by the quintet group of ambassadors from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt.
In their latest move, they are attempting to narrow the gaps of disagreement between one team that conditions dialogue as a precondition to open the parliamentary hall in the Martyr's Square, and another team that refuses to institutionalize a custom that precedes the election of every president of the republic. Prime Minister Najib Mikati also visited Speaker of the House Nabih Berri to coordinate ahead of the upcoming parliamentary session. Mikati informed the Speaker of the results of his visit to France.
The hustle of political and diplomatic activity in the Lebanese arena seems to be operating on two parallel tracks that do not intersect. On the first track regarding the presidential entitlement, the quintet committee concluded its tour with the leaders, returning to the starting point after receiving questions and tentative answers from President Berri that require further consultation.
In this context, a knowledgeable source told "Anbaa" that the Speaker won a round in facing those opposing dialogue and his opponents, with acknowledgment from the committee or the majority of parties that dialogue is the last refuge as long as the disagreements are significant, despite differing views on the mechanism of this dialogue regarding its form or substance, concerning the determination of a timeline or the number of sessions and who calls for them before opening the ballot box to elect a president.
Additionally, the "National Moderation" bloc returned to activate its initiative by reaching out to the involved parties, affirming that this initiative acts as a link between all and does not favor one team at the expense of another.
The second line is related to the southern borders. "Anbaa" learned that there are preparations for a near visit by the French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian to Lebanon. French Ambassador Hervé Magro confirmed this visit from Ein Tineh, without specifying its date. The aim of the new French tour is to revitalize the initiative after France intensified its efforts through the visit of Mikati and Army Commander Joseph Aoun to Paris, followed by communications made by President Macron on several levels to stop the deterioration along the borders and resume the French initiative. The French move is supported by American coordination led by Le Drian with the U.S. envoy to the region, Amos Hochstein, whose visit to Lebanon is also anticipated, to break the diplomatic stalemate that has reflected in increased tensions on the ground.
