Who’s the Grinch that Will Steal Lebanon’s Christmas?

The Grinch, the anti-holiday spirited hermit, will have a new address this year. Either the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut or Rabieh.

Premier Najib Miqati, who has threatened to resign if the cabinet failed to approve the funding of the special Tribunal for Lebanon, would put the country in disarray if he goes ahead with his move.

Any resignation would come in response to the rejection of the Free Patriotic Movement and Hizbullah, the two main forces that make up the cabinet, to back the funding.

The STL has indicted four Hizbullah members in the Feb. 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and 21 others. Lebanon is responsible for meeting 49 percent of the STL's financing, which amounts to some $33 million this year.

But the PM’s possible resignation would make him the captive of a caretaking cabinet and would help boost the March 14-led opposition which has been seeking to topple his government since the Hizbullah-backed March 8 coalition forced the collapse of ex-Premier Saad Hariri’s cabinet and brought Miqati to power earlier this year.

If he resigns, Miqati would be seen by some Lebanese as the person who refused to give consultations more time to resolve the funding crisis and would be criticized for ruining the holiday season a day before the start of the month of December.

The crucial cabinet session set to discuss the funding is scheduled for Nov. 30. If the meeting isn’t postponed, Miqati would most likely announce his resignation on Wednesday.

But the Grinch’s address this year could also be in Rabieh, the residence of FPM leader Michel Aoun. His ministers have punished Miqati over his resignation plans by boycotting a cabinet session last Friday.

Over the weekend, they announced that they would continue with their boycott if he doesn’t meet their request to accelerate the government approval of several development projects, make appointments at the Higher Judicial Council and have the final say on the wage crisis.

Their attempt to avenge Miqati could also continue by announcing their resignation.

If so, Rabieh would be seen as the trouble-maker and the Grinch who stole this year’s Christmas.