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SOUTH LEBANON HOSTILITIES

Samy Gemayel called for the 'closure of the southern Lebanon front'

Samy Gemayel called for the 'closure of the southern Lebanon front'

A delegation from the Kataeb office in Zahle during a meeting with Samy Gemayel, on July 16, 2024 in Bikfaya. (Credit: NNA)

Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb party, called on Monday for the "closure of the southern Lebanon front," where Hezbollah has engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire with Israel since last October. He criticized what he described as Hezbollah's control over Lebanon, highlighting that the ongoing indirect cease-fire talks between Hezbollah and Israel fail to consider the viewpoints of the Lebanese people.

"The most important thing is to close the southern Lebanon front so that we can focus on our country, its economy, hospitals, and education sector," Gemayel stated during a meeting in Bikfaya with the Kataeb office from Zahle. He highlighted Lebanon's transformation into a "perpetual confrontation zone" and stressed the necessity for a comprehensive national dialogue once hostilities cease, regardless of the conflict's outcome.

"We oppose that talks on ceasing hostilities occur solely between Hezbollah and Israel without considering the opinion of the Lebanese people," Gemayel added.

He reiterated his support for the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, adopted in 2004, which calls for disarming militias in Lebanon. Gemayel argued that Resolution 1701, intended to end the July 2006 war, "is inadequate." This resolution mandates the deployment of only the Lebanese army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the South, excluding Israeli forces and militias such as Hezbollah.

Gemayel also addressed the issue of compensating civilians affected by the conflict in southern Lebanon, saying, "We do not oppose compensating victims in southern Lebanon, provided that the same applies to the martyrs of the Lebanese resistance [of Kataeb during the 1975-1990 civil war.]"

Regarding the presidential election, Samy Gemayel accused Hezbollah of obstructing the process. "Hezbollah is preventing the election of a President of the Republic by undermining quorum in parliamentary meetings and urging Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri not to convene electoral sessions," Gemayel denounced.

He further accused Hezbollah of "insisting on imposing a president to maintain its control over the country."

Samy Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb party, called on Monday for the "closure of the southern Lebanon front," where Hezbollah has engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire with Israel since last October. He criticized what he described as Hezbollah's control over Lebanon, highlighting that the ongoing indirect cease-fire talks between Hezbollah and Israel fail to consider the viewpoints of the...