Spotlight: Experts say no new civil war on horizon for Lebanon - Xinhua | English.news.cn - Xinhua

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by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Local experts rule out the possibility of a new civil war amid Lebanon's occasional clashes between protesters and the two Shiite political parties Hezbollah and Amal Movement.

"There will be no civil war because no one is ready to confront Hezbollah," Hilal Khashan, chair of the Political Studies Department at the American University of Beirut, told Xinhua.

"When groups such as Hezbollah and Amal come under pressure it is likely that they will respond. This is why clashes took place with protesters but it is unlikely for any conflict to happen between these groups and the army, for instance," Khashan explained while adding that the army is highly aware of the repercussions of such incidents.

Khashan noted that the United States supports the Lebanese army which made it clear on several occasions that they won't be attacking Hezbollah.

Lebanon has been witnessing nationwide protests since Oct. 17 with several clashes erupting between the two Shiite political parties, Hezbollah and Amal Movement, on the one hand, and protesters who are supported by other parties such as the Lebanese Forces, Future Movement, Progressive Socialist Party and Kataeb Party on the other hand.

Demonstrations were held all over Lebanon to protest against the current political ruling class which was accused by protesters of being corrupted while leading the country into an economic collapse due to its failed policies over the past 30 years.

While Hezbollah has, on many occasions, voiced its commitment to the fight against corruption in Lebanon, the Shiite political group is keen to protect its position in the cabinet amid mounting pressure by the U.S. to weaken the group by disarming it.

This has caused supporters of Hezbollah to clash in several areas of Lebanon in the past days with protesters who are demanding complete change in the country.

Political analyst Kamal Yaziji also said there appears to be no civil war on the horizon in Lebanon.

Yaziji said that protesters are keen not to lose the public support as they can make it in a peaceful way.

For his part, Political analyst Assaad Bechara said that clashes will not escalate into violent ones because of the great role played by the Lebanese security agencies to prevent chaos in the streets.

"Also, the Lebanese have also become highly aware that the civil war experience must not be repeated," Bechara said.

Lebanon had already experienced a deadly civil war that erupted in 1975 as all sects and classes of Lebanon were drawn into the conflict.

Experts also voiced mixed opinions about the possible outcome of protests.

"I do not see any positive developments taking place soon in Lebanon. It will get worse on the economic and social levels," Khashan said.

While Bechara believes that the current protests are offering the possibility to take Lebanon to a better place.

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Spotlight: Experts say no new civil war on horizon for Lebanon - Xinhua | English.news.cn - Xinhua
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