Are new talks between Hezbollah and Lebanese Salafist groups on the horizon?
“Time has proven that our point of view was right,” says Salafist Dr. Hassan Chahal, head of the Association of Faith, Justice, and Beneficence, commenting on the “conciliatory dialogue” held at House Speaker Nabih Berri's residence in Ain el-Tineh between the Future Movement and Hezbollah almost seven years ago. Chahal had initiated the dialogue with Hezbollah, which resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two sides on August 18, 2008. However, the agreement only lasted for a few hours, after which Chahal announced that the agreement has been suspended, though not cancelled, following pressure from the Future Movement and Salafi sheikhs in connection to the May 7, 2008 events which pitted the Siniora cabinet at the time against the resistance, leading to street clashes.
Chahal, who belongs to the “Scientific Salafism” faction, says that “the circumstances today are appropriate for resuming dialogue with Hezbollah, in order to reactivate, amend, or forge a new agreement.”