The proposed deal to take Lebanon off the brink of civil war gives Hizbullah its long-demanded veto power in the Cabinet, The New York Times reported. The anti-Syrian majority previously has refused to concede on the issue because it would give the opposition the power to stymie virtually every major government decision.

The accord is subject to parliamentary approval later this week. "An agreement has been reached" between the majority and the opposition legislator Ali Hasan Khalil told reporters. "We expect a vote to elect a president on Thursday or Friday." Lebanon has been without a president for more than half a year because of Hizbullah opposition, which sparked violence that left Israel's northern neighbor virtually in anarchy for a short period of time.