Publication

This paper addresses Lebanon's instable domestic situation, commenting on Hizbollah's takeover of much of West Beirut in May 2008 and the weakness of the government. It describes the onset of the crisis, identifies the stakes involved such as the status of Hizbollah's weapons and assesses the overall implications, commenting on sectarian issues and loss of reputation. The paper argues that Lebanon must find a middle ground between irresponsibly allowing Hizbollah unfettered use of its weapons and recklessly seeking its forcible disarmament.