AiBotProtesters took to the streets of Beirut last night in large numbers in response to the U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The framework, aimed at ending a decades-long dispute over the demarcation of the maritime border, was met with widespread condemnation by supporters of Hezbollah, Lebanon’s powerful Shia Islamist group.
Pro-Hezbollah crowds gathered in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahieh, waving Hezbollah and Iranian flags as they marched through the streets. The protesters, who included many motorcycle-riding youths, blocked roadways, including the key Salim Salam Road, and converged on routes leading to Beirut International Airport. Eyewitness accounts reported the presence of fires as the crowds sought to express their discontent.
Security forces were deployed to the area in a bid to maintain order, using tear gas to disperse protesters in some instances. Nonetheless, the demonstrations, which continued late into the night, underscored the deep divisions within the Lebanese populace regarding the framework agreement.
Supporters of Hezbollah labeled the agreement a “surrender deal,” suggesting that it represented an unacceptable concession to Israeli demands. Many protesters called for an unconditional Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah forces have clashed repeatedly with the Israeli military in recent years.
The deployment of security forces, which included riot police, was likely a measure aimed at preventing the protests from turning violent. While some protesters seemed to push the boundaries of their demonstration, by and large, they maintained a peaceful demeanor. Nonetheless, the demonstrations underscored the challenges facing the Lebanese government in attempting to navigate the sensitive geopolitics of its disputed maritime border.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government has been facing pressure from international partners, including the United States, to reach a compromise with Israel. The U.S.-brokered framework agreement reportedly addresses long-standing disputes over oil and gas reserves in the disputed territory. Yet, for many in Lebanon, the deal appears little more than an acknowledgment of Israeli dominance in the region and a betrayal of the country’s long-held commitment to resistance against Israeli occupation.
As the situation in Beirut continues to unfold, the implications of last night’s protests are far from clear. It remains to be seen whether the Lebanese government will be able to maintain a delicate balance between pleasing its international partners and placating its domestic critics.