Omar al-Rassi, “Akhbar al-Yawm” agency

The debate between the deputy prime minister in the caretaker government, Saade al-Shami, and the Association of banks does not end, as each of them reads in a different book about the money of depositors, most recently the statements exchanged last Tuesday.

At a time when everyone knows that the "sanctity" of private property is one of the fundamental principles of the IMF, a fundamental question arises: why al-Shami, who has been a high-ranking official for 20 years at the fund, is at odds with this fundamental principle?

MP George Adwan pointed out that "the recovery plan approved is contrary to the Constitution because it affects private property, i.e. depositors' money, and it is not important to please the International Monetary Fund, but the search for a way to create growth in the country".

A financial source explains, via "Akhbar al-Yawm" agency that all free economies are based on individual ownership, considering that at a time when Lebanon is going through a severe crisis, it is not permissible to hit it.

He continued: on the other hand, no one can deny that the prosperity in which Lebanon has lived in the past years is due in large part to the banking sector, which financed the state and its deficit and people in many aspects of their lives.

Therefore, the source was asked: why would Saade al-Shami attack the banks, at a time when he is supposed to defend the "free economy"? He replies: it is no longer a secret for anyone that al-Shami has "become a spokesman for the IMF".

He says: behind al-Shami's constant "attack" on banks, it turns out that there is a change in the fundamental position of the fund, which means that there is international pressure exerted on it (i.e. on the IMF). The IMF is firmly convinced that everything that happened and led to the Great Collapse in Lebanon is based on corruption.

The source continues: we are not looking here only at an economic level, but there is a political intervention, which is evidenced by the words of the former US Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, David Schenker, who leaked on the eve of the elections, and talks about the US intervention with the rating agencies in order to reduce the rating of Lebanon.

In other words, the source says, this indicates that something is preparing to further oppress Hezbollah.

But why do all Lebanese have to pay the price? The source said: It seems that the international community will not be ready to help Lebanon until it gets rid of Hezbollah. It is known that Hezbollah has become an integral part of the existing political system in Lebanon, which is difficult to dismantle.

Here, the source recalls a tweet by former foreign policy adviser to former US President Donald Trump Walid Phares, in which he said: "the United States, the European Union and the international community have been unable to dismantle the system of corruption in Lebanon because it is based on the intersection of interests with the private sector."

Therefore, according to the source, the main fundamental fear is that the attack on the banks (which financed the state) is a prelude to dismantling the existing corrupt system, and at the same time expands the scope to hit Hezbollah and its allies.

Here the question arises: Are there international actors that promised to save the Lebanese government when it does what is required?

The source concludes: the banking sector has always been cooperative with the United States and its systems, so the fear that there will be a continuation in the implementation at the local level and dismantle the existing banking sector, in favor of establishing another sector according to the aspirations of the existing system in Lebanon and not according to the aspirations of the international community!!