As the uprising rages on in Syria, some Lebanese leaders are calling for isolating the country from regional conflict, while many, including Druze leader Walid Jumblatt are still hedging their bets. The changing dynamic poses challenges on the unity of the cabinet and threatens the country's internal security and economic well-being.

Although Jumblatt said in a press conference that he would not be meeting with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, members of his party met with the Party's leaders and said there was an ongoing dialogue despite divergent views on the Syrian conflict. Jumblatt's criticism of Syria pits him against Hezbollah and brings him closer to Premier Najib Mikati, currently leading a "centrist" bloc in government.

Mikati has met with numerous international delegations to confirm Lebanon's adherence to international resolutions. Last week, he said Lebanon has an "intrinsic interest" in maintaining good relations with the international community. This week, he met with European Union ambassadors in Beirut as well as U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly, who cautioned against repercussions of the Syrian conflict on Lebanon.

Mikati is due to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Friday, to discuss security concerns, the role of the UN peacekeepers in the South, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, among other issues. The STL's mandate will be up for renewal end of February, and it is not certain that the cabinet will easily approve the extension.

Hezbollah officials will not be meeting with the UN chief. Hezbollah, for one, does not recognize the legitimacy of UN institutions, including the STL, or its resolutions calling for the disarmament of non-state groups. Despite heavy criticism, Hezbollah remains committed to the Syrian regime and is betting on the decline of the protest movement. Its pro-Syrian allies caused an uproar last week by indirectly blaming November's explosions in Damascus on terrorist groups residing in Lebanon.

The comment drew fire from the March 14 coalition, who argued that such unfounded remarks throw Lebanon into regional mayhem. They urged their peers to distance Lebanon's security situation from Syria's and criticized Syrian President Bashar Assad's recent speech. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea argued that Lebanon will be empowered to start the process of state-building after Assad's downfall.

With opposing leaders steering Lebanon into different directions, and the lingering regional instability, Lebanon's future remains unpredictable. However, it is clear that without a serious strategy that involves defining relations between Syria and Lebanon, demarcating borders and ensuring the army's sovereign control of the Israeli-Lebanese and Israeli-Syrian borders, Lebanon will continue to be pulled into regional conflict.