A Historic Day

Today, after a long wait, the International Tribunal will be established. The next priority is to build bridges, mend fences and restore unity and confidence in this country.

This afternoon, NYC time, a resolution which establishes an International Tribunal to try the murderers of some of Lebanon’s finest men and women, is expected to pass the vote (with the expected abstention of Russia and a Qatari “No” vote).

Passing the Tribunal this way was unfortunate but necessary. It was not guided by vengefulness, but by the necessity of deterring a killing machine that plagued this country for 30 years. It has to be established once and for all that it is not okay to use assassination as a political tool.

Admittingly, passing the tribunal by force has caused a lot of acrimony in Lebanon. Not because the Lebanese don’t want the tribunal, but because some parties were cajoled and threatened to stand in its way, and in the process unleashed a vicious spiral of distrust by resurrecting wartime resentments.

This is why, the tribunal secured, it is time to start building confidence among various Lebanese sides. Not because there is any love lost between the parties, but because it is their duty to restore calm and face the various threats and challenges to our nation as a united front.

The challenges are many: Destroyed buildings in Dahieh and the south that need to be reconstructed, terrorists hiding among civilians in the Palestinian camps who need to be rooted out, a shrinking economy that needs to be boosted and a country’s reputation that needs to be fixed.

Perhaps one could Learn from the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who after winning a divisive election, successfully mended the fences in France. He did so by listening not only to the people who voted for him, but also to those who voted against him and formed a very inclusive cabinet. He climbed from a voting percentage of 53% to an approval rate of 66%.

We can learn a lot from him.