Hezbollah uproar over EU refugee stance aims to deflect criticism

The European Parliament has not forgotten the tragic incident of the Beirut port explosion in August 2020. It continues to call for a transparent, independent, impartial, and effective investigation into the explosion, emphasising its priority and the need to ensure justice.

The parliament has demanded an "international fact-finding mission" under the auspices of the United Nations, and the cooperation of the authorities with the investigating judge, Tariq Bitar.

Furthermore, its resolution emphasises that Syrian refugees should not be forcibly repatriated and highlights the necessity for the European Commission to collaborate with the United Nations and Lebanese authorities to find a peaceful solution that guarantees the voluntary and safe return of refugees to their home country.

Misinformation

The European Parliament resolution acknowledges and commends the efforts of the Lebanese people in hosting Syrian refugees. It also condemns hate speech used by certain Lebanese political parties for political gain.

The resolution does not explicitly – or implicitly – mention the settlement of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. However, some Lebanese parties, activists, and even media professionals have accused the European Parliament of attempting to do so.

This is likely due to the misinterpretation of the resolution by a French representative of the National Front, Thierry Mariani. He accused the European parliamentary majority of conspiring against Lebanon's identity and aiming to settle Syrian refugees, describing it as a betrayal.

Alongside the resolution's calls for sanctions against those obstructing the democratic process and the election of a president, it also criticises the postponement of municipal elections.

This demonstrates European concern for maintaining the functioning of institutions in Lebanon. It connects the crisis in the country to illegal weapons – particularly Hezbollah's arsenal, and its association with corruption. Some media outlets and politicians have manipulated the resolution's intentions in order to distract attention from the truth it conveyed.

And so instead of the resolution being seen as a victory for those in Lebanon standing against Hezbollah's corruption and its weapons, this false attribution has put attention onto the refugee issue, and anti-refugee propaganda.

That amounts to a setback for the country's alliance of groups opposed to the rule of the Iran-backed coalition in Lebanon, with the opposition groups known as the "sovereign forces", including the October 17 movement.

Confrontational stance

Certainly, Hezbollah and its allies have a vested interest in distorting the content of the resolution. The EU, known for its emphasis on promoting dialogue among the Lebanese, has now taken a stance calling for confrontation with Hezbollah, citing its actions in Lebanon and other criminal activities.

However, it raises a peculiar question: Why would Hezbollah's opponents adopt this inaccurate narrative? It is crucial to consider whether it is in Lebanon's best interest to antagonise the EU, especially considering the damage caused by Hezbollah to Lebanon's relations with its Arab neighbours.

It appears that Hezbollah was fully aware of the political significance of the EU decision and deliberately set a trap, successfully manoeuvring its opponents to its advantage.

Despite the resolution consisting of 13 paragraphs, the singular focus has been on one sentence: the non-admissibility of forcibly returning Syrian refugees, which is in line with Lebanon's obligations under international law. The exaggerated uproar it has generated seems calculated.

It is a cunningly planned scheme to cover the other 12 provisions, which plainly discuss the political problem in Lebanon, its causes and the people behind it.

The resolution itself is a non-binding directive to the Executive Council of the European Union. However, the response from those in power in Lebanon and their supporters reveals their level of fear and the fragility of their position and logic.

Much like forces that thrive in darkness, Hezbollah is apprehensive of any ray of light that may expose its true nature. Even a flicker of illumination, symbolised by the candle lit by the European Parliament, is met with fear and resistance by those seeking to obscure their own misdeeds.