by Dana Halawi
BEIRUT, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The sanctions imposed lately by the United States against Lebanon's former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and former Public Works and Transportation Minister Youssef Fenianos are "alarming" for the ruling class in Lebanon, experts said.
Makram Rabah, a lecturer of the Department of History at American University of Beirut, told Xinhua that the new sanctions aim at conveying a message to all Lebanese political parties that sanctions will be imposed on all those who work closely with Hezbollah.
"This implies that the U.S. has gone to the next level in its sanctions against parties or individuals dealing with Hezbollah," Rabah said.
The U.S. Treasury Department issued a statement on Tuesday, accusing the two former ministers of providing material support to Hezbollah and corruption.
Geraldine Griffith, U.S. State Department's official, announced on Wednesday that the U.S. is working on all levels to fight against corruption in Lebanon.
Youssef Diab, political analyst from the Lebanese University, told Xinhua that these new sanctions convey a message to Lebanese political parties that French President Emmanuel Macron's initiative in Lebanon and his meeting with all parties including Hezbollah does not mean that the U.S. will ever change its policies towards the Shiite party.
According to Diab, the sanctions mean that the U.S. does not want Hezbollah or people close to the party to have a role in the next Lebanese government.
Lebanon's newly-appointed Prime Minister Mustapha Adib has been trying for a few days to form a new cabinet capable of implementing necessary reforms to enable the country to reach a deal with the International Monetary Fund.
"This may complicate the government formation process since Hezbollah will not accept without having a role in the new cabinet, while political parties may be hesitant to provide Hezbollah with a share in the government after these sanctions," Diab said.
Meanwhile, Amal Abou Zeid, parliament member of Change and Reform Parliamentary bloc, believed that the sanctions came ahead of the presidential elections in the United States, which are meant to improve the chances of U.S. President Donald Trump to be re-elected in November.
Hezbollah condemned on Wednesday the U.S. sanctions policy, saying that the U.S. will not achieve its objectives in Lebanon and it will not force the Lebanese to give up on their sovereign national rights.
Lebanon's Amal Movement, with which Khalil is affiliated, also condemned the decision to slap sanctions on a former finance minister, saying that the move was an attack on the country's sovereignty as a whole. Enditem
