LF Says Hariri Threatened Resignation for Advocates of Syria Ties

The Lebanese Forces party said the formation of the Cabinet has been delayed because of “domestic obstacles,” noting that quests to include a clause in the ministerial statement calling for naturalization of ties with Syria was what prompted Hariri to raise the "red card," the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Thursday.

“The major obstacles delaying the Cabinet lineup are still internal ones,” a senior LF source told the daily on condition of anonymity.

He said Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has “waved the flag of resignation” in the face of advocates calling for restoration of ties with Syria.

Hariri’s remarks against restoration of ties with the neighboring country came “in answer to questions on a possibility to include the naturalization of ties with Syria in the ministerial statement,” added the source.

The source stressed that Hariri “has conveyed a strong message and has drawn red lines for all political parties to make them respect their limits and apply (the agreed) dissociation policy.”

On Tuesday, Hariri said he does not agree to restoration of ties with the neighboring country and that a new government “will not be formed” should the pro-Damascus camp “insist on that.”

“If others insist on restoring Lebanese-Syrian ties from the gateway of the reopened Nassib border crossing, then the government will not be formed,” Hariri said, referring to a key border crossing on the Syrian-Jordanian border that has been recently recaptured by Damascus.

Hariri “waved the red card, the government resignation, if anyone tries to restore those ties,” added the source.

Pointing to remarks made by Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday, the source said the man did not say “we want restorations of ties. He only said positions must not be rushed and that we better wait for the developments coming ahead,” in Syria.

Hariri was tasked with forming a new government on May 24. His mission is being hampered by political wrangling over shares, especially over Christian and Druze representation.