The Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem, delivering a televised speech from an undisclosed location. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Friday that with the appointment of a civilian to the November 2024 cease-fire monitoring committee (the 'mechanism'), the Lebanese state has made a “free concession” to Israel, which has only increased pressure.
He also reaffirmed that Hezbollah refuses to hand over its weapons and that it is “ready for the greatest sacrifices,” while expressing openness to internal dialogue about a “defense strategy.”
President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday appointed a civilian for the first time, Simon Karam, a former ambassador to Washington, to represent Lebanon at meetings of the “mechanism.”
An Israeli civilian official is also on the committee. The move is presented as marking the first direct discussions in several decades between the two countries, which are still officially at war.
Speaking at a ceremony honoring Hezbollah’s “martyred ulema,” Qassem broke Hezollah’s silence over the civilian appointment.
He denounced an “initiative that clearly contradicts all official statements,” stressing that any involvement of civilians in discussions with Israel must be conditional on “a halt to attacks.” “You are granting Israel concessions that yield no result,” he said.
“Allowing the state to implement the agreement and participate with a civilian representative in the cease-fire commission is a mistake,” he added. “It will not change the enemy’s attitude. The civilian delegate attended the meeting, which only increased the pressure.”
Qassem continued: “We consider this measure an additional mistake, adding to that of August 5,” the date when authorities formalized their decision to reclaim the arms monopoly.
The Hezbollah leader also reiterated his refusal to surrender weapons. “Lebanon is facing a dangerous, expansionist Israeli aggression that must be confronted by all means and methods,” he said.
“We will defend ourselves, we will defend our people and our country, and we are ready for the ultimate sacrifice,” he assured.
“The United States and Israel have nothing to do with how we organize our internal affairs, nor with our disagreements or decisions in Lebanon,” he insisted, adding that the “limits we must now adhere to, in all our relations as the Lebanese state with the enemy, are those of the agreement that concerns only the area south of the Litani.”
Qassem also denounced those who “want to disarm, dry up financial resources, stop services, close schools and hospitals,” referring to Hezbollah's disarmament.
“They are banning reconstruction and donations, they are destroying homes,” he said, before calling on the Lebanese government to fulfill its duties by “protecting sovereignty, building the state and the economy, and serving the citizens.”
Nevertheless, Qassem assured that his party supports the Lebanese government’s diplomatic approach to end Israeli strikes in the south, despite the cease-fire that came into effect a year ago. Beirut has chosen “diplomacy to end Israeli aggression,” and “we support this approach,” he emphasized.
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil