Lebanese government receives proposed military weapon strategy
In a tense Cabinet session, Hezbollah and its allies objected to a plan that would establish a state monopoly on arms, citing Israel's failure to fulfill its ceasefire obligations as a major concern.
The Lebanese Armed Forces had presented a plan to restrict the possession of weapons to state personnel. However, Hezbollah, along with the Amal Movement and a neutral Shiite minister, walked out in protest.
Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati considered the session an opportunity to return to wisdom and reason, preventing the country from slipping into the unknown. Minister of Administrative Development Fadi Makki threatened to resign if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Minister of Labour Mohammed Haidar, a Hezbollah representative, stated that the group withdrew from the session, but not from the government, and will await the results of the session to build upon what is required. The government, however, confirmed its intention to proceed with the plan, giving the Lebanese Army Command a month to develop, present, and implement it by the end of the year.
Hezbollah has rejected handing over its weapons since disarmament talks began earlier this year. The group negotiated a ceasefire agreement with Israel in November, but the Lebanese government has yet to receive the full details.
Israel, meanwhile, refuses to implement the agreement before Lebanon implements the clause related to the disarmament of Hezbollah. This impasse has led to a political standoff, with calls for protests in Beirut's southern suburbs in support of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.
However, a security source said a call for a motorcycle rally in the area was "incorrect." Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar confirmed that the security situation was under control before entering the Cabinet session.
It is important to note that Hezbollah and Amal boycotted the last government formation in Beirut due to disagreements over the selection of cabinet ministers and political disputes within Lebanon. Mekki, the Minister of Public Works and Transport, threatened to resign if the situation continues to deteriorate and offered his resignation to President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Mekki sought to overcome obstacles in the Cabinet session and called for discussion within the agreed-upon ministerial statement. He urged ministers and political leaders to prioritize the nation's interests, the welfare of the south, and civil peace above all else.
This development marks a significant turn in Lebanon's ongoing political and military tensions, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming weeks.
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