Abdallah Bouhabib, Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, addresses the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 26, 2024. (Credit: Michael M. Santiago/AFP)
"Lebanon is currently going through a crisis that threatens its existence, the future of its people and its well-being, and requires urgent international intervention before the situation becomes uncontrollable," caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told the U.N. General Assembly.
The minister welcomed "the declaration made by the United States and France, supported by friendly countries, to provide an opportunity to establish a lasting calm that will stabilize the borders and bring displaced persons back to their homes." He called for "all necessary measures to be taken to implement it."
"As long as there is occupation, there will be instability and wars. We have tried several times, through the United Nations, to resolve the outstanding border issues with Israel, but the latter has shied away or ignored the issue," he said in his speech, before adding: "We say it clearly: End the occupation [of some territories in south Lebanon by Israel], it is the cause of everything we are experiencing, otherwise it would be a waste of time."
The Shebaa Farms region, which was part of Lebanon, was occupied by Syria since the 1950s. Israel has occupied it since June 1967 and the Six-Day War.
Strengthen the army
“Despite the tragedy we are experiencing and our bitter reality, we are still waiting for constructive dialogue as an alternative to the language of weapons to resolve conflicts. Lebanon has proven its ability to be a reliable partner in building agreements, as was the case in October 2022 with the demarcation of the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel. This is the best proof of Lebanon's commitment to negotiate to resolve disputes through peaceful means,” Bou Habib added.
On Oct. 27, 2022, Lebanon signed a historic agreement with Israel to demarcate the maritime borders separating the two countries, following negotiations led by the United States.
"Today, we reiterate our call for a cease-fire on all fronts, as a prelude to the full implementation ... of Security Council Resolution 1701," the senior Lebanese official continued.
"We also count on the international community and friendly countries to support the Lebanese government in strengthening the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani [River], providing it with the equipment it needs and helping it increase its numbers after the government opened the door to a new recruitment campaign so that there are no weapons without the government's approval and there is no authority other than that of the Lebanese authorities, as stipulated in the said resolution," he stated.
During a cabinet session held on Aug. 14, the caretaker government gave its "agreement in principle" to a plan to recruit nearly 1,500 new soldiers. The process should ultimately increase the number of troops by at least 6,000 men who will be deployed in south Lebanon, where Hezbollah is strongly established and armed. A measure taken "despite the economic crisis" that the country has been going through since 2019, Bou Habib stressed, to highlight the goodwill of the Lebanese authorities.
Responding to Israeli statements that it would use force as long as necessary to ensure the return of its displaced people from northern Israel, Bou Habib said that more violence would not achieve this goal.
"The shortest path to their return is a global and immediate cease-fire, in accordance with the Franco-American statement published yesterday and supported by friendly countries," he insisted.
"Hasn't Israel grown weary of the incessant wars since 1948?? When will the time come for Israel to give peace a real chance? Don't you want to try the path of peace at least once to its conclusion, instead of the language of iron, fire, blood and destruction?" he finally asked.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.