A Lapse in Diplomacy: The (now former) Lebanese FM provokes nationalist outrage in the Gulf
Opinion Analysis by Naif Al Rogi, Featured Writer and Alissar Azzam, Contributor
May 27th, 2021
Appearing on the U.S. funded Arabic satellite network Al Hurra to discuss recent fissures in the Saudi-Lebanese relationship, the foreign minister in Lebanon’s perennial caretaker government, Charbel Wehbe, managed to gravely offend the Gulf Arab countries on two counts. The first, which has received less attention and umbrage, was his claim that certain “neighboring countries”, by which he seemingly meant members of the GCC, enabled the rise of Daesh/ISIS. The second, spewed out as he got up to abruptly leave the presenter and other guest, Saudi commentator Salman Al-Ansari, triggered a virtual hailstorm across Arabic cyberspace. “I am in Lebanon, and am being insulted by someone from Bedouin stock”, would be a fair translation of the damning words. Wehbe must have realized not soon after, doubtless having regained some sense, the tragic blunder he had just made; reportedly going so far as to try getting the broadcast pulled before airing.
The remark landed in a climate already heightened by nationalistic zeal, and Saudis and other Gulf Arabs online propelled the hashtag حنا_بدو# (‘we are Bedouin’) to the top global trends. Public figures joined the fray, too. Turki Al Asheikh, advisor to the Royal Court and confidante to the Crown Prince, was inspired to pick up the pen and compile lines of verse, among other less creative tweets. As the Kingdom’s master of ceremonies, Al Asheikh also elicited apologies on behalf of the Lebanese people from Lebanese artists, which he dutifully retweeted. “I am proud that I am a Bedouin and of being a goat herder…”, Al Asheikh wrote, “All I can say is God help the Lebanese people, our brothers, for among them are those we love and who are kind and creative and honorable and generous…!” Others had responses that were curter; the Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud shared a picture of a desert excursion, captioned simply: “I am proud”.
Lebanon, even in the best of times, can ill afford a diplomatic crisis with the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia. And not only did Wehbe breach the most basic of rules of diplomatic conduct, but he also jeopardized strategic ties, $3-3.5 billion per year in remittances from the gulf, and the jobs of 200,000 Lebanese in KSA alone! To add to that, last month’s Captagon stink had already deprived Lebanon of $24 million annually when Saudi banned all fruit and vegetable shipments from the country.
Amid an ongoing economic crisis where thousands of families’ survival depends on Gulf remittances, Lebanon is in need of those ties now more than ever. Once again, the government has failed the Lebanese citizen – resident and expatriate. Once again, the monopoly over the political scene comes to light – only this time voicing positions and opinions that do not in any way, shape or form reflect its people’s. And the fact that it comes from no less than the Minister of Foreign Affairs, someone supposedly responsible for the state’s diplomacy and external relations and must hold Lebanon’s interest in highest regard at all times is totally and utterly unacceptable, offensive and irresponsible. Even in political terms, the comment comes as unnecessary with the countries opposing strong Lebanese ties with the gulf are now themselves forging relations with them.
Trying to insult the show’s Saudi guest by dismissing and demeaning him as a ‘Bedouin’, Wehbe managed to only insult himself. Statements, calls of condemnation, and solidarity were followed promptly. Knowing well the possible ramifications of the incident, even the presidential palace distanced itself and at first tried to play down Wehbe’s comments as “personal opinion”; of course, Wehbe belongs to President Aoun’s camp of loyalists. What was notable, however, is that the Saudi ambassador issued a statement assuring the Lebanese people that no expat will be expelled from the kingdom, signifying a distinction between the will and voice of the people and that of their government. It also implies a willingness to go about the relations of fraternity, loyalty and respect that have dominated Lebanese-Saudi relations for so long.
All this had the expected result of Wehbe’s resignation on Wednesday, May 19. The nationalist fervor aroused by his remark, however, shows no sign of abating. On the same day as Wehbe’s stepping down, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari—who it ought to be mentioned is not a Bedouin in the patrimonial sense—held court over prominent Lebanese politicians and personalities inside of a Bedouin’s tent. That Bukhari is not himself of Bedouin heritage does not matter; the Saudi state has subsumed a Bedouin identity, and wherever its nationals go abroad, they carry that with them. Inside the country, though, Saudis (and for that matter other Gulf Arabs in their own countries) are quick to point out who is a Bedouin and who is not. Yet as far as the rest of the world is concerned, a Saudi is a Bedouin—and Saudis are quite fine with that.