Lebanon: Hezbollah Links National Security Strategy Talks to Reconstruction Efforts

Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah officials continued in southern Lebanon as the party maintains that discussions of its arsenal or the national security strategy hinge on several key issues, mainly the reconstruction efforts.

Hezbollah continues to link any discussion of its weapons to a set of conditions, hindering the government’s process for reform.
Hezbollah MP Hasan Fadlallah accused the government of shunning its responsibilities, although the international community has made it clear that aid for reconstruction after Israel’s war on Lebanon is contingent on the country implementing political and economic reforms, as well as ensuring that weapons are solely in the hands of the state.

“Positions made by some in the government are not only outside the bounds of the ministerial statement, but also contradict it entirely, shunning the responsibilities the government has vowed to the Lebanese people”, said Fadlallah at a ceremony held by the party.

He added that the parliament granted the government its vote of confidence based on the vows the government made in the ministerial statement, “but it seems some are trying to be selective in these commitments based on personal wishes, preferences, or even foreign dictates”, said the MP.

Fadlallah went on to say “the first clause of the ministerial statement commits the government to expediting the reconstruction of what the Israeli enemy has destroyed. The second clause tasks the government with bearing full responsibility for national security, protecting Lebanon’s borders and entry points, and deterring aggression. The third calls for all necessary measures to liberate occupied Lebanese territories”.

He questioned the government’s performance and priorities saying: “What have they done regarding these three clauses?..Has the government fulfilled its commitment to reconstruction? There are five or six provisions that need to be implemented first, after which the discussion about Lebanon’s defense, that requires a comprehensive national security strategy, can be addressed.”

He underscored that “once these clauses are implemented, only then we can discuss other matters."

Also, Hezbollah officials have escalated criticisms towards Prime Minister Nawaf Salam after the latter’s “decisive” statements regarding the party’s disarmament.
“The relations between Hezbollah and PM Nawaf Salam remain based on what is left of goodwill and has not been severed. Channels of communication are still active”, said Hezbollah bloc member Amin Sherri.

Regarding the atmosphere surrounding last week’s meeting between Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc and President Joseph Aoun, Sherri said in a radio interview that it was “excellent and positive,” with discussions focused on key agreed-upon issues.

aawsat.com