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Ya Libnan
6 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Lebanon's Diaspora Demands Full Voting Rights: Denying Equal Political Rights Is a Betrayal
By Ali Hussein Millions of Lebanese citizens live abroad—not by choice, but by necessity. They were driven out by war, corruption, economic collapse, and hopelessness. Yet despite the distance, they have never turned their backs on Lebanon. In its darkest hours, they became the country's lifeline, keeping it afloat with remittances, investments, and unwavering emotional and political support. Now, those very people are being told that their voices no longer matter. That their right to full political participation is negotiable. That their role is to send money, not to cast votes. This is nothing short of a betrayal. On July 2, 2025, the Lebanese Private Sector Network (LPSN) issued a powerful statement calling for the restoration of full voting rights to Lebanon's diaspora. 'The Lebanese diaspora must be granted the right to vote for all 128 members of Parliament based on the districts in which they are registered in Lebanon—not be limited to the six continental seats currently allocated to them,' the statement declared. The LPSN also emphasized that expatriates must continue to vote from their countries of residence, as they did during the 2022 elections. To deny them this right is to further alienate a population that has given more to Lebanon than many of its own politicians ever have. 'Restricting diaspora voting rights severs a vital connection between Lebanon and its global citizens,' the statement warned. And it's true. The diaspora's relationship with Lebanon is not symbolic. It is economic, social, emotional—and political. Amid years of failed governance and financial ruin, it was not the Lebanese state that came to the people's rescue. It was the diaspora. They wired money when salaries evaporated. They paid for food when families went hungry. They covered school fees, medical treatments, and emergency bills. Even after losing billions in Lebanon's bank collapse, they did not stop helping. Without the diaspora, entire regions of Lebanon could have faced famine. That is not an exaggeration. It is a fact. And yet, the political establishment, led by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, continues to block a draft law that restores full voting rights to these same citizens. The draft law—already endorsed by 65 members of Parliament, a clear majority—would amend articles 112, 121, and 122 of the Electoral Law, which currently restrict the diaspora to electing just 6 out of 128 MPs. That is 4.7% representation for a population that, by many estimates, far exceeds the number of Lebanese currently living in Lebanon . Denying full rights to this global majority is not only unjust—it is undemocratic and dangerously shortsighted. This is not only unjust—it is dangerous. Lebanon cannot afford to alienate its diaspora. Not morally, not politically, and certainly not economically. The survival of the nation has been deeply tied to its sons and daughters abroad. 'If it weren't for the diaspora, Lebanon might not even exist today as an independent and sovereign country,' said one diaspora member. He is right. To continue denying them equal political rights is to ignore history—and jeopardize the future. Speaker Berri must stop obstructing the will of the people. Parliament must bring the draft law to a vote. And Lebanon must finally recognize the diaspora for what it truly is: not a separate category of citizens, but an essential pillar of the republic. The choice is clear: include them fully—or risk losing them forever.
Ya Libnan
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Mr. Aoun, the Time to Act is Now if You Want Lebanon to Survive
By: Ali Hussein The Lebanese people have long demanded a resolution to the issue of Hezbollah's arms. Today, that demand has become urgent. Many political leaders have even threatened to withdraw from government if President Joseph Aoun does not act. The country stands at a critical crossroads—one that could determine whether Lebanon survives as a sovereign nation or falls further under the influence of regional powers. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack recently warned in an interview with The National , an Emirati newspaper, that Lebanon is at risk of becoming a pawn in a broader regional struggle unless it takes decisive steps to address Hezbollah's weapons. 'Lebanon needs to resolve this issue,' he said. 'Otherwise, it could face an existential threat.' He noted the alarming pressure surrounding Lebanon: 'Israel on one side, Iran on the other, and now Syria is emerging very quickly. If Lebanon doesn't act, it will return to the Levant.' This chilling reminder echoes the words of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, who once said, 'Lebanon and Syria are one country with two different governments.' Israel, for its part, would have every interest in Lebanon's gas reserves, beaches, and geographic vulnerability. Lebanon risks becoming a battleground for others' ambitions unless it asserts control over its own territory—starting with the monopoly on arms. When President Aoun was elected last January, he pledged that the Lebanese Army would be the only institution permitted to carry weapons. But he has since hesitated to implement this promise, fearing it might ignite civil conflict. That fear, however, is increasingly unfounded. Hezbollah is more isolated than ever. Many of Lebanon's neighbors—and even key actors within the Shiite community—are ready to support a transition away from Hezbollah's dominance. In fact, disarming Hezbollah could prove to be a blessing, even for the group itself. Its military arsenal has repeatedly failed to match Israel's firepower and has become a strategic liability rather than an asset. If Hezbollah's political leadership distances itself from the group's weapons and militant posture, it could regain legitimacy within Lebanon's political landscape and open the door for new Shiite leaders to rise—ones committed to the Lebanese state, not to foreign agendas. President Aoun, the moment for caution has passed. The cost of inaction is far greater than the risk of bold leadership. Disarming Hezbollah is not about marginalizing a community; it's about saving a nation. Lebanon cannot survive as a state-within-a-state. It cannot prosper when armed factions answer to foreign powers. It cannot move forward if held hostage by fear. The time to act is now—before Lebanon is lost. Ali Hussein is a Lebanese political analyst, who views Hezbollah as a huge liability for Lebanon and its Shiite community
Ya Libnan
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Time to disband Hezbollah before Lebanon is completely destroyed. This is a national emergency
Hezbollah , a proxy of Iran refused to hand over its arms at the end of the civil war in Lebanon in 1990 . The party is now is Lebanon's greatest burden By: Ali Hussein Lebanon is at a crossroads—and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's recent call to arrest armed men at a Hezbollah-led Ashura gathering in Beirut must be seen as a wake-up call. Video footage showed hundreds of Hezbollah supporters, dressed in black and wielding automatic rifles, parading through Beirut's streets in a theatrical display of force. This wasn't a religious commemoration—it was an armed spectacle designed to intimidate. Salam's decision to intervene is commendable, but the problem is far deeper than a few men with guns. It is Hezbollah itself—an armed militia operating under the flag of a foreign power—that remains the single greatest threat to Lebanon's sovereignty, stability, and future. Hezbollah's arms have not protected Lebanon; they have endangered it. Time and time again, their weapons have proved no match for Israel's overwhelming military power. The 2006 war, the skirmishes since, and the most recent Israeli airstrikes all confirm the same reality: Hezbollah cannot defend Lebanon. On the contrary, its presence gives Israel an excuse to attack. These arms have become a liability not only for Lebanon, but also for Hezbollah itself. In a tragic twist, the very weapons Hezbollah boasts about are like toys compared to Israel's precision-guided missiles and advanced surveillance capabilities. Every time Hezbollah displays its firepower, it invites Israeli retaliation—not just against itself, but against the entire country. By flaunting its weapons during religious processions, Hezbollah is not showing resistance—it is siding with Israel by giving it pretexts to target Lebanon. This is not protection; this is provocation. And Lebanon is the one paying the price. With General Joseph Aoun—Lebanon's respected former army chief—now serving as president, the country has a rare opportunity to reassert state authority. President Aoun must act boldly and decisively. Disarming Hezbollah is no longer a political debate; it is a national emergency. What does Hezbollah—and by extension its master, Iran—stand to gain if Lebanon is reduced to rubble? If its economy collapses, its youth flee, and its institutions disintegrate? Hezbollah was once seen by some as a defender of Lebanon. Today, it is clear: it is Lebanon's greatest burden. The solution is clear: implement UN Security Council Resolution 1559 in full. Disband all militias. Reinforce the Lebanese Armed Forces. Restore sovereignty and the rule of law. End the dangerous illusion that Hezbollah's arms are a shield. They are a trap—one that is dragging Lebanon ever closer to ruin. If Hezbollah truly cares about the people of Lebanon, it should hand over its weapons and join the national effort to rebuild the state—not destroy it.
Ya Libnan
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
The Joke of the Day: Iran's 'divine victory' and Hezbollah's hollow cheers
By Ali Hussein , Op-Ed Hezbollah's latest statement hailing Iran's 'glorious divine victory' over Israel reads more like a punchline than a proclamation. After 12 days of fire and fury, which left southern Lebanon battered and Iran's credibility bruised, Hezbollah has once again dusted off its favorite propaganda script: declare victory, no matter the reality. According to Hezbollah, Iran's war against Israel marked a 'new historical phase' and delivered 'precise and painful strikes.' But let's pause for a moment. What exactly did Iran accomplish besides escalating tensions, inviting counterstrikes, and then scrambling to de-escalate through backdoor channels? Let's talk about that 'victory.' Iran, the self-proclaimed regional superpower, was so eager to avoid a real war with the United States that it pre-warned Qatar before launching missiles toward a U.S. base. Not only did this 'lightning response' lack impact, but the pre-announcement exposed the desperation behind Iran's chest-beating: it needed to show strength without risking a direct clash with Washington. So much for divine wrath. This was divine retreat. And yet Hezbollah, weakened after its own devastating war with Israel last year, rushed to declare Iran's performance a win. It's as if reality has no place in the narrative anymore — only slogans, recycled rhetoric, and shallow triumphalism. The tragedy here is deeper than just propaganda. Hezbollah has a long history of distorting the truth and insulting the intelligence of its supporters. After the 2006 war, which left Lebanon's infrastructure shattered, it claimed a 'divine victory' while the country mourned its dead and counted its losses. Now, with Iran reeling from internal unrest, economic collapse, and military embarrassment, Hezbollah continues to serve as Tehran's mouthpiece — not Lebanon's defender. In fact, this is not just about delusion; it's about deception. The Lebanese people — and particularly the Shiite community — deserve better than a leadership that treats them as pawns in someone else's power game. They deserve honesty. They deserve peace. They deserve the truth: that Iran's strategy is collapsing, that Hezbollah is isolated, and that every false 'victory' comes at the cost of more pain for Lebanon. In the age of smartphones and open communication, it is no longer possible to fool everyone all the time. Hezbollah can issue its grandiose statements, but the people know better. They see through the spin. They feel the cost. And they are growing tired of being asked to sacrifice for foreign agendas that bring no real change — only more devastation. It's time for Hezbollah to drop the slogans and come clean. The era of divine victories is over. The era of accountability must begin.
Ya Libnan
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Hezbollah Still Doesn't Get It
By Ali Hussein Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah recently accused the Lebanese government of shirking the responsibilities it pledged to the Lebanese people. He argued that the government gained the Parliament's vote of confidence based on these commitments. He said, 'Some members of the government have not read, or do not read, the ministerial statement—or perhaps do not know what happened to secure their position of responsibility. These individuals gained Parliament's confidence based on a series of gradual commitments, and some of them want to take a single sentence or word, as if implementing these commitments is a selective process based on what they wish for or desire, or on dictates imposed by external factors.' Fadlallah then cited the government's supposed obligations: He concluded by asking what the government has done to implement these three clauses, implying that Hezbollah bears no responsibility to comply until the government does its part. But Fadlallah is simply making excuses to avoid disarming . Hezbollah itself is the main reason these commitments remain unfulfilled. Let's not forget: the ceasefire agreement that Hezbollah and Israel accepted last November was based on UNSC Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon—including Hezbollah and Palestinian groups. Lebanon's own president and prime minister have publicly and privately told Hezbollah that no country in the world is willing to help rebuild the tens of thousands of homes destroyed during the war while Hezbollah keeps its weapons. International aid is conditional on Hezbollah disarming. As for the five strategic hills, Hezbollah should remember that it was they who unilaterally attacked Israel in 2023 without consulting any Lebanese officials. Hezbollah's reckless actions led to Lebanon losing those hills to Israel. Every time Hezbollah initiates an attack, Lebanon—especially the south—ends up paying the price, losing more territory. In 2006, Hezbollah's war also cost Lebanon the town of Upper Ghajar, which remains under Israeli control to this day. Hezbollah must understand: its arms are not defending Lebanon—they are a tool of Iran's regional ambitions at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty. Reconstruction will never happen while Hezbollah refuses to disarm. Enough excuses. Hand over your weapons to the Lebanese Army. The people of South Lebanon want this, but they are too afraid to say it publicly after suffering so much from Hezbollah's mistakes. It's time for Hezbollah to pledge allegiance to Lebanon. This is your country, not Iran's.
