This month, Saudi officials said Riyad had withdrawn from efforts
to arrange a reconciliation between Hizbullah and the pro-Western Hariri
government. Within a week, Hizbullah pulled out of the government, causing
it to collapse, and won parliamentary support for a pro-Syrian tycoon to
replace Hariri.
Al Faraj, speaking during a visit to Qatar, said a Hizbullah-led
government would mean an Iranian takeover of Lebanon. He said Hizbullah
could either control the entire country or the southern portion from the
Israeli border until Beirut.
A Hizbullah takeover of Lebanon could spark Israeli intervention. Al
Faraj said this would mark the worst scenario and could result in a regional
war.
Al Faraj said the "best option" would prompt Turkey, a Sunni state, to
stop the radicalization of Lebanon. But he said this would also marginalize
Arab influence in the Levant state.
"But either of the situations that emerges would paint Arabs in a bad light
as it would show that they are weak," Al Faraj said in a briefing on Jan.
24.
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