Washington Report On Middle East Affairs – October 2018

lution is not by replanting trees,” Nemer

said. “First, we need to take care of the

health of the ecosystem in which the cedar

trees and other trees are living. I am afraid

that we will not be able to confront climate

change at the speed it is going on. We

might also have new types of insects ap-

pearing because of warmer weather.”

In the 1960s and 1970s, Lebanon had a

Green Plan that replanted many cedars,

but the plan was forgotten during the 15-

year civil war.

“In the past ten years we have planted

more than 740 acres (in the Chouf bios-

phere),” Hani said. “These include other

species of trees, like oaks and pines.

When we do restoration it is not only with

cedar trees but with all the species that

exist in the cedar forest.”

Cedars grow slowly, bearing no cones

until they are 40-50 years old. When they

are young by cedar standards, they look

much like other conifers but, after about

100 years, they develop their distinctive

shape with branches stretching parallel to

the ground.

The majestic tree that is emblazoned on

Lebanon’s national flag, currency and na-

tional airline is seen as a unifying emblem

by the Lebanese and a reflection of their

country’s resilience to the mishaps of an-

cient and modern history.

has saved Lebanon’s economy has been

the creative methods Lebanese financial

authorities have employed to avoid them.

WithHezbollahsharingthesamefoxhole

withIran,itisthusverydifficultforwhatever

governmentthattakesthereinsinBeirutto

fully comply with the newest American

sanctionsontheIslamicRepublic.

IRAQ’S PUSH AND PULL

Iraq fares no differently. Results from its

May parliamentary elections, after a man-

ual recount following allegations of elec-

toral fraud and corruption, have showed a

diffuse power distribution of parliamentary

seats between centrists and pro-Iranian

political forces.

Caretaker Prime Minister Haider al-

Abadi, whose coalition came in third with

42 seats, is still considered to be the most

acceptable politician to form Iraq’s new

government.

He has very good relations with the

United States and is seen as having done

well in fighting the Islamic State. His main

domestic supporter is cleric Muqtada al-

Sadr who currently challenges Iran’s influ-

ence among Iraq’s Shia and controls a

parliamentary coalition of 54 seats.

But Abadi’s announcement on Aug. 7

that his government will abide by the

American sanctions on Iran put his

prospects as premier in jeopardy.

Surprised and disappointed by his

stance, Tehran also berated him for his

“disloyal attitude” and for supposedly dis-

honoring the Iranian “martyrs” who fought

for Iraq against the Islamic State. Conse-

quently, he felt compelled to cancel a visit

he had planned to Iran.

In the end, Abadi had to temper his

commitment to the American sanctions,

and even offered a concession to the Is-

lamic Republic. It is thus plainly evident

that his difficulties make it hard for him to

be a reliable partner in the Trump admin-

istration’s strategy against Iran.

The coalition of states the Trump admin-

istration hopes to build to impose a solid

front on Iran has two very weak links.

Pushing Beirut and Baghdad to fully

comply with sanctions may very well col-

lapse whatever political stability they still

possess, and deprive Washington of two

crucial allies. 

OCTOBER 1018 WASHINGTON REPORT ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS 43

Middle East Children’s Alliance

A PA Project of

(Advertisement)

of Birzeit Unive

American FrieAmerica n F r i en

of of i B rzrze i t n U iveve

rsity

ndsnds

rsrsityty

Tax Exemption is ax Exemption is Applied fo

your generous donatio

can reach their potentia

Gifted Palestinian stu

(T

or)

on.

al with

udents

American Friends of Birzeit Un

AFBU

Thank you in adva

ki d ib

niversity

ance for

b i

(Advertisement)

Iranian Sanctions

Continued from page 41

kadi_42-43.qxp_Special Report 8/30/18 5:31 PM Page 43