A protest movement called by the Amal Movement and Hezbollah for Wednesday afternoon was cancelled, a decision seen as wise from two perspectives: firstly, the street protests could provoke opposing street movements. This was hinted at by the Mufti of Baalbek and Hermel, Bakr Al-Rifai, who warned from the government headquarters that “taking to the streets is a double-edged sword whose effects are unpredictable.” The memory of the March 8, 2005 demonstration organized by Hezbollah in Riyad Al-Solh Square remains fresh. This was followed two days later by a protest titled ‘Thank You Syria’ amid the repercussions of the assassination of President Rafic Hariri. That demonstration provoked most Lebanese political forces and sects, who responded with the largest protest in Lebanon’s history on March 14, 2005, highlighting a major imbalance in the country’s political equilibrium, at a time when Hezbollah was at the height of its power along with many pro-Syrian allies.