On November 7, the Lebanese privately-owned En-Nashra news website carried the following exclusive report by Maher al-Khatib: “Despite the fact that President of the Republic General Michel Aoun is obviously taking his time in settling the fate of Prime Minister Sa’d al-Hariri’s resignation…, many scenarios are currently being discussed, especially since Saudi Arabia might undertake a new step to confirm that Al-Hariri made his decision willingly and far away from any pressures. At this level, knowledgeable sources indicated to En-Nashra that the information saying that the prime minister was forced to resign was 100% accurate, despite the announcement of his trip to the UAE to meet with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed. And while they continued that Al-Hariri might conduct another visit to the French capital Paris to confirm his freedom, they assured that Riyadh was controlling all his movements…

“Accordingly, the sources believed that the prime minister will not recant his resignation, seeing as how the repercussions of such a step would be much greater than the one he had announced on Saturday, whether on the personal level or at the level of Lebanese-Saudi relations… And they stressed the importance of the president of the republic’s actions and assured that Lebanon had managed to defuse the crisis on the economic, security and political levels…, but insisted that all the information pointed to the fact that no government will be formed any time soon, especially since the March 8 forces want this process to take as long as possible to avoid provoking the Sunni street and fuelling the tensions. The sources continued that upon the end of the current stage and once the resignation of the prime minister is accepted, the president of the republic will have to summon binding parliamentary consultations to name a new prime minister-designate.

“According to the sources, the March 8 forces, with the exception of Hezbollah, are inclined to rename Al-Hariri…, especially if this inclination is shared by the March 14 forces. But in case it is not, in light of Al-Hariri’s talk about security circumstances preventing his return to Lebanon, the sources indicated that the March 8 forces will name a moderate Sunni figure who would not provoke the Sunni street, though what is categorically rejected is the talk being circulated within some circles about the formation of a government of technocrats. This is due to the fact that the Saudi goal from this option, as per the sources, is to expel Hezbollah from the government, a thing which the party can in no way allow at this stage. And it is a Saudi request which Minister of State for Gulf Affairs Thamer as-Sabhan did not hesitate to announce...

“On the other hand, the sources indicated that according to the information they have, Al-Hariri’s resignation was on the table since before he headed to Riyadh, but was expected to be presented around two months prior to the next parliamentary elections to prevent their organization, seeing as how the prime minister preferred the postponement of the elections until the improvement of his position on the Sunni street…”