(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - Former Lebanese Army commander General Michel Aoun, 81, the new president of Lebanon, is the Arab world's oldest politician. A Maronite Christian from southern Lebanon, his Hizbullah-backed election is a reflection of the deep changes in Lebanese society where the traditional elite Maronite families from northern Lebanon have been pushed aside. In a typical Lebanese manner, Aoun has no dogmatic positions. His view is mainly influenced by the Maronite struggle for survival in a Middle East shaken by the tremors generated by the radical Islamic tsunami aimed at the destruction of Christian presence in the area. When Aoun was in exile in Paris (1990-2005), he had numerous encounters with Israelis and discussed with them ways to ensure the presence of Christianity in the Middle East and ways of cooperation with Israel. After his return to Lebanon following the departure of the Syrian Army, Aoun understood that the future of the Christians in Lebanon could no more be ensured by the U.S., France, or Israel. His understanding was that only through cooperation with Hizbullah and its Iranian patron could the Lebanese Christians guarantee their independent survival in the Middle East. The writer is a special analyst for the Middle East at the Jerusalem Center.
2016-11-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive