Some media portray it as an opposition takeover of the Shouf, but that is simplistic as best. What we saw was a decision made by those in power in the region—two Druze leaders who themselves oppose each other—to jointly agree to withdraw in order to avoid more bloodshed, in favor of having the army move in to maintain the peace. Again, a wonderful thing, that the army is respected by all and has managed to stay neutral.
The Prime Minister called for a minute of silence Sunday at 12:00. We were at the health club at the time (so grateful it had reopened so we could burn off some steam) and asked them to turn off the music, which they did.
Other positive: The cabinet is to meet today and presumably will reverse the decisions it had taken that set off Hezbollah. If Hezbolah stands by its word, the fighting should stop.
Other negative: The US has sent its warship to hover off the coast and add to the tension and the perception that the current government are US puppets.
Other inscrutable: The Arab league is sending a Sunni delegation to mediate this Sunni-Shiite conflict.
Heavily weighing on our minds: the idea that we could leave, but the people we have come to love, these beautiful generous Lebanese souls, along with the thousands of Palestinians trapped for 60 years in a world in which they have no control, have no such choice to make.
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