The chief of the free patriotic current (CPL) Gebran Bassil. (Credit: AFP)
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil said that he does not “think Lebanon will achieve any objectives through this war," in an interview with Russia Today on Wednesday.
"It might have been possible to demarcate the land border diplomatically," he added. This comes as Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly argued that, as a result of his party joining the war, Lebanon will be able to benefit by negotiating an advantageous land demarcation agreement with Israel.
Lebanon "pays the price of more destruction every day," as Hezbollah and Israel exchange attacks daily mainly in southern Lebanon following Hamas's Oct. 7 operation, he added.
"Israel would be destined for loss in case it moved [its war] to its northern front, and Lebanon has to avoid the war unless Israel wanted it, then we become in defense mode," Bassil argued. The FPM leader went on to say that the war “will not end any time soon in Gaza.”
Bassil also said that the biggest negotiators with Lebanon regarding the end of the war are the Americans and that they are doing that through talks between US convoy Amos Hochstein – who is also an Israeli citizen – and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri. Hochstein had successfully mediated a maritime border deal between Lebanon and Israel in 2022. “Hezbollah cannot decide the end of the war,” he continued.
Bassil said that Lebanon is waiting for a truce in Gaza for the war on its front to stop and that "he does not agree with this equation." Lebanon has been experiencing daily attacks between Israel and Hezbollah that are mainly contained in south Lebanon but occasionally extend to the east of the country. Hezbollah has consistently said that it will not stop its attacks until a cease-fire is reached in Gaza.
He went on to say that Hezbollah “should not be angry” with FPM if it opposes its entry into the war and the principle of “unity of fronts” with other resistance groups, given that the agreement between the two parties did not mention “the responsibility of liberating Jerusalem.” In 2006, the FPM and Hezbollah formed an alliance, but disagreements over the war in Gaza – and the presidential election – have severely impacted ties between the two groups.
Bassil added that he rejects the link between the Lebanese presidency file and the war in Gaza as Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun left office on Oct. 31. This file needs "a sovereign approach," he said.
Syrian refugees
Regarding Syrian refugees after a $1 billion by the EU was announced last week to assist Lebanon in its economic crisis and to tackle illegal immigration Bassil said that "the solution is not through supporting the Lebanese army to tackle immigration to Europe but to help sending them back to Syria."
Bassil also said that there "will be a political cooperation between Syrian President Bachar al-Asad and Saudi Arabia, as well as others." He indicated that "the problem is the submission of the Lebanese political class to the foreign will" and said that "every economic Syrian migrant should be sent back, as for refugees that have a political or security problem [with the Syrian regime] should be dealt with in a different way, either they go to a third country or to stay temporary in Lebanon until their issue is solved." He is also suggested sending those who support the opposition to Bachar al-Assad to the "few areas" controlled by anti-government groups in Syria, echoing a proposal made by Samir Geagea, who heads the Lebanese Forces, a rival Christian party.
The $1 billion support from the EU has gotten wide criticism among Lebanese politicians including FPM, Lebanese Forces the Maronite Patriarch, the head of the Higher Shiite Council, and some Change MPs. Some considered it a bribe for Lebanon to take the Syrian refugees.
