Washington has called on Lebanese leaders to respond to the "legitimate" demands of their citizens, who have been demonstrating heavily for more than a week because of deteriorating living conditions and government services.
David Schenker, who is in charge of the Middle East file at the State Department, said the United States is "ready to assist the Lebanese government" in taking action, while declining to comment on the reform plan presented by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Schenker said the demonstrations show the need for a "frank discussion" between leaders and citizens about "the demands long expressed by the Lebanese people who want economic reforms and the end of chronic corruption."
"It is up to the Lebanese people to decide whether these reforms meet their legitimate desire to live in a prosperous country free from corruption, which has limited their capabilities for a long time," he said.
The latest protests in Lebanon erupted after a new tax on free communications via WhatsApp was announced on October 17th. This tax angered the Lebanese in a country where the state was unable to meet basic needs such as water, electricity and health 30 years after the end of the civil war (1975-1990).
Washington supported the Taif accord, which restored peace to Lebanon after 15 years of civil war, but has since focused its diplomatic efforts on countering Iran's ally Hezbollah, which controls government decision-making.
By Craig Melon October 24, 2019
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