Reforms, Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah's weapons and the Israeli-Zionist project: "The challenges are enormous, but we will stand by the president," said former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Joumblatt on Thursday, after a meeting with President Joseph Aoun in Baabda. "After a long wait, Lebanon finally has a president, a prime minister and a new team, with whom we hope for a better future for stability and reform," stated Joumblatt to journalists. "The challenges are immense, but we will stand by the president to face them, while remaining aware of the dangers that surround us, starting with the Israeli occupation in the South."

The Israeli army remains positioned in at least five strategic points of high altitude in Lebanese territory, despite its withdrawal from southern Lebanon being postponed to Feb. 18 by the cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel that came into effect on Nov. 27. Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that his country had received the "green light" from the U.S. to remain in "buffer zones" in Lebanon and Syria "without a time limit, depending on the situation."

Asked about Arab and international support for Lebanon, Joumblatt replied, "I don't think we will get [the necessary aid] without undertaking the essential reforms. The president of the Republic and the prime minister have formed a team that, I believe, can accomplish these tasks," referring to the government that received Parliament's confidence on Wednesday. Regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah, now back on the table as the party is weakened after its war against Israel, Joumblatt recalled: "This is part of the Taif Agreement and the cease-fire and is a major point mentioned in the inauguration speech." While the Lebanese head of state and the prime minister want to ensure the state has a 'monopoly' on weapons, Hezbollah argues for a 'national security and defense strategy.'

Joumblatt reacted to statements made Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that southern Syria must be completely demilitarized. "The Israeli-Zionist project aims to divide the entire region, which concerns me. It is imperative to face this situation. Lebanon's stability depends on Syria's," he said. "The Zionist danger extends: It destroys Gaza, invades the West Bank, establishes itself on Mount Hermon and cancels previous agreements, such as the one of 1974. The Arabs cannot stay in their back trenches, as the protection of Arab national security begins with Lebanon, Syria and Jordan," he added, commenting on the extraordinary Arab League summit on Gaza, scheduled for March 4 in Cairo, to which Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has been invited.