Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Rajji. (Credit: NNA)
Foreign Minister Joe Rajji said on Wednesday that "Hezbollah's ostrich policy will not save Lebanon." In an interview with the an-Nahar, he stated, in response to the statements of the party's secretary-general, Naim Qassem, that "the supreme interest [of the nation] requires handing over weapons [to the state]," and expressed surprise at the comments made by Qassem on Sunday.
During his first interview with Hezbollah's broadcaster al-Manar since taking office on Oct. 29, Qassem stated that he supported "the monopoly of weapons" in the hands of the state, but that this only concerned the disarmament "of militias, not the resistance." In other words, Hezbollah, which considers itself a "resistance," rejected the idea of laying down its arms.
"The state, which has committed, in the inaugural address [of the head of state] or the ministerial statement, to assume its responsibility to liberate Lebanese territory and extend its full authority there, intends to do so in deeds and not words," Rajji said. This requires adopting the options at its disposal to resort to political and diplomatic pressure, in the absence of other options.
The Foreign Minister noted that "the other option desired by Hezbollah, namely a return to the so-called resistance, has led us to the situation we are in."
"If this resistance, at the height of its power, could not prevent Israel from occupying our lands in the south, violating our airspace and sovereignty, committing assassinations and destroying cities and villages in the south up to the capital, can it do so today," he asked.
The minister was referring notably to the Israeli army's maintenance of its positions at five points it considers strategic along the Blue Line, at Labbouneh/Alma al-Shaab (Sour), Jabal Blat (Bint Jbeil), Jal al-Deir south of Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil), on the road between Markaba and Houla (Marjayoun), and on the Hamames hill near Khiam (Marjayoun).
"Israel justifies its presence in the points it occupies by saying it will not leave until Hezbollah is disarmed and the Lebanese army has taken control of the territory," said the minister. "On the other hand, Hezbollah justifies its return to what it calls resistance and bearing arms by the continued Israeli occupation, despite the state's decision to disarm it and its commitment to hand over its arms to the army."
The conflict that began in Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023, with Hezbollah opening a support front for Gaza, following the bloody Hamas attack on Israel, resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and 16,600 injuries in Lebanon according to UNICEF, the United Nations children's fund. Nearly 100,000 homes were destroyed or partially damaged.
Rajji said that the state had no other choice but to fulfill its obligations and exert the strongest diplomatic pressure and efforts on the concerned countries so that Israel would withdraw. He said "the enormous international pressures on Lebanon," which condition any aid and funding on implementing international resolutions, notably U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 intended to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah since 2006.
"The only possible option is to let the state function. And overbidding will not discourage the state from doing its duty," stated the minister, who also dismissed suggestions of a return to civil war. "To make war, it takes two," referring to the political forces' engagement alongside the government.
Rajji reminded Hezbollah of the important role it is meant to play, and its responsibility to help the state "and not to provide pretexts that increase international pressure on Lebanon and deprive the Lebanese of financial support to launch the reconstruction project."
"The longer we delay implementing our commitments, the stronger the pressure, the higher the cost, and the more we will be forced to accept harsher conditions," he observed. He added that the deployment of the army south of the Litani is not considered sufficient by the international community, "because it remains incomplete if it is not complemented by a deployment to the north, as stipulated by the cease-fire agreement, which Hezbollah interprets differently."
The minister also emphasized the need for the government to open communication channels with Hezbollah through Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who played a role in brokering the cease-fire agreement.
"The government is playing its role in implementing the international resolution and the cease-fire agreement. Hezbollah should do the same, and hand over its weapons because it is in the supreme interest of the country and the security of the Lebanese," said Rajji, adding that the army was assuming its responsibilities in maintaining security and sovereignty over the entire territory.
'Immediate and unconditional withdrawal'
The foreign minister also met on Wednesday with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs, Natasha Franceschi, accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson. The meeting focused on political and security developments in Lebanon and Syria.
Rajji asked his interlocutors for the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territories and the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. He also thanked the United States for its mediation to release Lebanese prisoners held by Israel and for the aid provided to the Lebanese army.
"The Lebanese government is determined to undertake the necessary economic, financial, and administrative reforms," he stated. "The economic development of Syria and the lifting of sanctions against it is a national interest for Lebanon, as they contribute to the return of displaced Syrians to their country,"
Rajji reiterated his statements during a meeting with the German Parliamentary State Secretary, Niels Annen, visiting Lebanon, in the presence of the German Ambassador in Beirut, Kurt Georg Stoeckl-Stillfried. "The immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon and the implementation of Resolution 1701 are an urgent necessity and a key factor for stability," said Rajji, who called on Germany to "pressure Israel to implement this resolution."