Why Lebanon skipped anti-terror meeting in Washington

Lebanon decided not to participate in the three-day Countering Violent Extremism summit held in Washington this week for the countries participating in the international coalition against terrorism. There was extensive discussion in Beirut before it was finally decided to abstain from taking part in the summit, but the issue is still stirring controversy.

A Lebanese government source revealed to Al-Monitor the entire story behind Lebanon’s relationship with the international framework against terrorism. On condition of anonymity, the Lebanese official explained that the issue began during the international coalition’s first meeting, which was held in Jeddah Sept. 9, 2014. The source noted that Hezbollah and individual ministers began to object to Lebanon’s participation in meetings that were sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Several Lebanese parties — Hezbollah and its allies, in particular — are opposed to this regional and international dialogue. However, the final decision was that Lebanon must indeed participate, as the fight against terrorism also concerns it and as the countries participating have good relations with the Lebanese government. An agreement was made between these countries to only discuss the issue of terrorism during the meeting and refrain from addressing other political subjects.

The official said the next meeting took place Dec. 3 in Brussels, where there were further attempts to diverge from the subject and address Hezbollah and the Syrian regime. The confrontation in Brussels was even more severe than in Jeddah, as a number of the participating European countries, in addition to some Arab states, attempted to add clauses putting an end to alliances with the Syrian opposition. Again, the Lebanese delegation restated its position and explained that the Lebanese government has taken an official stance regarding the war taking place on its border, defining it as "self-distancing."