It is a historic picture, one that is eloquent and filled with indications. Its importance hinges on the names of the persons in it, on the place where it was taken, and on the timing. Like the picture, the historic visit's success turns the page of rushing towards the abyss. Its failure, on the other hand, precipitates the fall into the abyss. In the picture appears King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, the sovereign of the country that sponsored the Taef agreement among the Lebanese, as per an arrangement with Syria. He is a symbol of moderation in the region and the sponsor of the train of Arab reconciliations. The picture also shows President Bashar Assad, whose country went through the most difficult decade in its modern history. He restored his country to a mandatory passageway for the creation of stability in the region. In the picture there is also President Michel Sleiman, the general whose presidency was born after a “field revision operation” of the Taef agreement, which became known as the Doha Agreement. King Abdullah came to Beirut from Damascus. The plane carrying him and President Assad landed in the Rafic Hariri International Airport, i.e. in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Standing next to President Sleiman in the airport was Nabih Berri. He looked relaxed, as he has lived for a long time according to the “SS” slogan – i.e. that the solution resides in a Saudi-Syrian understanding. Also, Prime Minister Saad Hariri was present. He received a special mention by the Syrian President, thus showing that there is chemistry between the two men. The tripartite appearance from the Baabda presidential palace makes revelations but no announcements. The phase of the inter-Arab conflict on the Lebanese territory ended with the earthquake started by the assassination of PM Rafic Hariri. It is the end of a phase in Saudi-Syrian relations and also in Syrian-Lebanese relations. This appearance is an umbrella to help Lebanon avoid the collapse or the suicide attempt. It is also a promise to prevent the indictment in Hariri's assassination from turning into a new earthquake. The tripartite appearance is a message of reassurance. It is most probable that the Saudi king did not just come to reassure his country's friends, but also their opponents, and that the Syrian President did not just come to reassure his country's allies but also their opponents. Despite the circumspection imposed by the scarce information, it seems that something has changed in the approaches, interpretations, and roles. It is most probable that the change will be calm and slow, and will express itself in the Syrian sponsorship of the Lebanese stability with Arab support – without forgetting Ahmet Davutoglu. The Lebanese like to make interpretations based on pictures. They will recall the pictures of the past months. A picture in Damascus gathering Assad with Ahmadinejad and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. A picture in Istanbul gathering Assad, Erdogan, and the prince of Qatar who arrived last night to Beirut. A picture in Damascus gathering Assad, Davutoglu, and Hariri. The Lebanese will attempt to interpret the pictures: their similarities, and their differences; what is related to the present and the past, and what is related to the present and the future. The picture experts of this complicated Middle East advise slowness in interpreting pictures and slowness in reaching hasty or decisive conclusions. We can add to the tripartite picture other pictures in the Baabda palace – one of which featured Hezbollah deputies. This is in addition to King Abdullah's visit to the “middle house”, Hariri's home. The message contained in the pictures was translated by the statement issued by the Baabda palace: confirming the legitimacy, the Taef agreement, the Doha agreement, consensus, and dialogue; avoiding violence; and making the national interest prevail over any group interest and preventing sectarian strife. Yesterday was the day of pictures in Lebanon. Today, the post-picture phase begins. This phase requires deep discussions, calm deliberations, and judicious and impartial sponsorship. It also requires appropriate climates and difficult decisions that are perhaps painful. I'm thinking of two men: PM Saad Hariri and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The post-picture phase is also extremely sensitive in a country that was destined since its birth to live in the Intensive Care Unit.
