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France Invites Lebanon’s Prime Minister for a Visit. Or Is It Exile? France Invites Lebanon’s Prime Minister for a Visit. Or Is It Exile?
(about 3 hours later)
PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron of France on Wednesday invited the Lebanese prime minister to come to France with his family, appearing to offer him a way to leave Saudi Arabia, where he has remained under mysterious circumstances since he unexpectedly declared his resignation 11 days ago in a speech broadcast from the country.PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron of France on Wednesday invited the Lebanese prime minister to come to France with his family, appearing to offer him a way to leave Saudi Arabia, where he has remained under mysterious circumstances since he unexpectedly declared his resignation 11 days ago in a speech broadcast from the country.
In a bizarre diplomatic situation, concern has mounted that the prime minister, Saad Hariri, has been coerced by Saudi Arabia and may be a de facto prisoner there. His insistence in a television interview on Sunday that he was “free” did little to dispel the questions.In a bizarre diplomatic situation, concern has mounted that the prime minister, Saad Hariri, has been coerced by Saudi Arabia and may be a de facto prisoner there. His insistence in a television interview on Sunday that he was “free” did little to dispel the questions.
Saudi Arabia, Mr. Hariri’s political patron, has been intensifying its efforts to confront increasing Iranian influence and power in the region. Mr. Hariri’s resignation was widely seen as part of a Saudi strategy to isolate Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, which is part of the coalition government Mr. Hariri has headed for a yearSaudi Arabia, Mr. Hariri’s political patron, has been intensifying its efforts to confront increasing Iranian influence and power in the region. Mr. Hariri’s resignation was widely seen as part of a Saudi strategy to isolate Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, which is part of the coalition government Mr. Hariri has headed for a year
Also on Wednesday, Mr. Hariri’s older brother, Bahaa, made his first public statement since the crisis began. He appeared to be signaling that he was willing to tow the Saudi line, perhaps more enthusiastically than his brother, who Riyadh wanted to take a more confrontational approach to Hezbollah. Also on Wednesday, Mr. Hariri’s older brother, Bahaa, made his first public statement since the crisis began. He appeared to be signaling that he was willing to toe the Saudi line, perhaps more enthusiastically than his brother, who Riyadh wanted to take a more confrontational approach to Hezbollah.
In a statement to The Associated Press from Monaco, Bahaa Hariri thanked the Saudis for what he called “decades of support” for Lebanon and said Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group and political party, were trying to “take control” of the country.In a statement to The Associated Press from Monaco, Bahaa Hariri thanked the Saudis for what he called “decades of support” for Lebanon and said Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group and political party, were trying to “take control” of the country.
The French invitation and Bahaa Hariri’s statement came as the Lebanese government, along with the European Union and several Western European countries, ramped up public pressure on the Saudis to make clear that Mr. Hariri is free to leave their country. As diplomats across Europe and the Middle East scrambled to find a way out of the crisis, France was taking a leading role.The French invitation and Bahaa Hariri’s statement came as the Lebanese government, along with the European Union and several Western European countries, ramped up public pressure on the Saudis to make clear that Mr. Hariri is free to leave their country. As diplomats across Europe and the Middle East scrambled to find a way out of the crisis, France was taking a leading role.
France has close ties both to Lebanon — where it was a former colonial ruler — and to the Hariri family.France has close ties both to Lebanon — where it was a former colonial ruler — and to the Hariri family.
Yet the French invitation, made in a terse announcement Wednesday evening from the Élysée, the presidential palace, raised further questions.Yet the French invitation, made in a terse announcement Wednesday evening from the Élysée, the presidential palace, raised further questions.
For one, it prompted speculation in Lebanon that Saad Hariri could be being eased out to exile in France. Mr. Macron later clarified to reporters that he was not inviting Mr. Hariri to life in “exile,” but just for a visit of “a few days.” Yet the very fact that such a clarification was necessary added to the oddity of the situation.For one, it prompted speculation in Lebanon that Saad Hariri could be being eased out to exile in France. Mr. Macron later clarified to reporters that he was not inviting Mr. Hariri to life in “exile,” but just for a visit of “a few days.” Yet the very fact that such a clarification was necessary added to the oddity of the situation.
Other questions were raised by the statement, which said, “After discussing it with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri, the president of the republic invited Saad Hariri and his family to come to France.”Other questions were raised by the statement, which said, “After discussing it with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri, the president of the republic invited Saad Hariri and his family to come to France.”
Reading between the lines, social media commenters suggested that Mr. Hariri may not be acting freely: Why else would Mr. Macron need to speak to the crown prince before issuing the invitation?Reading between the lines, social media commenters suggested that Mr. Hariri may not be acting freely: Why else would Mr. Macron need to speak to the crown prince before issuing the invitation?
The statement’s emphasis on the invitation of Mr. Hariri’s family also seemed significant, given that Mr. Hariri had written in a Twitter post on Tuesday that he would be back in Lebanon soon but that his family would stay in Saudi Arabia — raising concerns that his family was being held as de facto hostages.The statement’s emphasis on the invitation of Mr. Hariri’s family also seemed significant, given that Mr. Hariri had written in a Twitter post on Tuesday that he would be back in Lebanon soon but that his family would stay in Saudi Arabia — raising concerns that his family was being held as de facto hostages.
Mr. Macron’s statement also referred to Mr. Hariri as prime minister, suggesting that France, like Lebanon, does not view his resignation earlier this month as a valid one.Mr. Macron’s statement also referred to Mr. Hariri as prime minister, suggesting that France, like Lebanon, does not view his resignation earlier this month as a valid one.
Earlier on Wednesday, Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, a political ally of Hezbollah, accused Saudi Arabia of committing “a hostile act against Lebanon,” saying he had appealed for help to envoys from Security Council member countries. He said the Lebanese government considered Mr. Hariri “detained, arrested” in violation of international law.Earlier on Wednesday, Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, a political ally of Hezbollah, accused Saudi Arabia of committing “a hostile act against Lebanon,” saying he had appealed for help to envoys from Security Council member countries. He said the Lebanese government considered Mr. Hariri “detained, arrested” in violation of international law.
Shortly afterward, Mr. Hariri issued another tweet trying to reassure Lebanon that he was “totally, totally fine.”Shortly afterward, Mr. Hariri issued another tweet trying to reassure Lebanon that he was “totally, totally fine.”
France announced its invitation to Mr. Hariri as its foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, arrived in Riyadh for a previously unannounced two-day trip, in which he is meeting both with King Salman and with Mohammed Bin Salman, the crown prince, who is effectively running the country.France announced its invitation to Mr. Hariri as its foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, arrived in Riyadh for a previously unannounced two-day trip, in which he is meeting both with King Salman and with Mohammed Bin Salman, the crown prince, who is effectively running the country.
The French ambassador to Saudi visited Mr. Hariri soon after his arrival along with other European diplomats. Mr. Macron, who was traveling in the region last week for the opening of a branch of the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, also stopped in Riyadh and met for the first time with the crown prince.The French ambassador to Saudi visited Mr. Hariri soon after his arrival along with other European diplomats. Mr. Macron, who was traveling in the region last week for the opening of a branch of the Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi, also stopped in Riyadh and met for the first time with the crown prince.
On Wednesday’s trip, the foreign ministry said Mr. Drian would reaffirm “the importance of avoiding any interference and of respecting the principle of sovereignty in the region” and ”France’s attachment to Lebanon’s stability.”On Wednesday’s trip, the foreign ministry said Mr. Drian would reaffirm “the importance of avoiding any interference and of respecting the principle of sovereignty in the region” and ”France’s attachment to Lebanon’s stability.”
Saudi Arabia has great financial and political power over the Hariri family, dual Lebanese and Saudi citizens. They have extensive business interests in Saudi Arabia, and Saad Hariri is dependent on its backing for his political clout and patronage network.Saudi Arabia has great financial and political power over the Hariri family, dual Lebanese and Saudi citizens. They have extensive business interests in Saudi Arabia, and Saad Hariri is dependent on its backing for his political clout and patronage network.
In his resignation statement, Mr. Hariri said he feared for his life in Lebanon, implying it had been threatened by Iran and Hezbollah, which denies accusations it was involved in the assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister, in 2005. Lebanese authorities say they have no information about a plot against him.In his resignation statement, Mr. Hariri said he feared for his life in Lebanon, implying it had been threatened by Iran and Hezbollah, which denies accusations it was involved in the assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister, in 2005. Lebanese authorities say they have no information about a plot against him.
Saad Hariri, the father’s favorite, was chosen to take over the family political and business empire over the older brother, Bahaa, reportedly fueling resentment between the two.Saad Hariri, the father’s favorite, was chosen to take over the family political and business empire over the older brother, Bahaa, reportedly fueling resentment between the two.