Events Detail

The Emergence of a Hezballah State?

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Following the recent decision of Prime Minister Siniora’s government to sanction and dismantle Hezballah’s illegal activities, the organization and its allied militias have begun instigating violent clashes in the streets of Beirut. After taking control of several Beirut neighborhoods and media outlets, the Iranian and Syrian-backed group is now attempting a military takeover of Beirut.

These events mark the latest blow to Lebanon’s governing coalition following the 17-month political standoff over presidential succession between the Hezbollah-led opposition supported by Iran and Syria and the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Given the muted U.S. and Arab response to the current and most violent stage of this crisis, is a free Lebanon on the brink of collapse? How will the potential defeat of moderate and democratic forces in a free Lebanon reverberate across the country and the region? How is this crisis empowering regional actors, particularly Iran and Syria? To discuss these and related questions, Hudson Institute’s Center for Middle East Policy assembled a panel of many of the most prolific and insightful commentators on Lebanon.