Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated on Sunday his government’s commitment to ensure that decisions of war and peace will be restricted to it alone, vowing that it will impose its sovereignty throughout the country.
Speaking during a dialogue session with relatives of the victims of the August 4, 2020, Beirut Port explosion, he stressed that justice “will be achieved in the case, no matter the delay.”
“There can be no other option but for the truth to prevail,” he declared.
He renewed his government policy pledge to “build a strong, just, sovereign, free and independent state” that will not spare an effort in ending Israeli occupation of all Lebanese territories.
It will be a state of law where impunity does not exist and where justice can be achieved, Salam went on to say.
He also vowed to carry out political, financial and administrative reforms.
The government will hold a highly anticipated meeting on Tuesday that will discuss the state’s efforts to impose its sovereignty throughout the country and to have monopoly over the possession of weapons, which puts it at odds with Hezbollah.
The Iran-backed party has repeatedly said it will not lay down its arms before Israel withdraws from all Lebanese territories.
The Shiite duo of Hezbollah and its ally Amal have yet to declare their position on the cabinet meeting.
Several Lebanese forces and foreign powers, especially the United States, have been pressuring Lebanon to set a timeframe for the disarmament.
The Lebanese Forces has been adamant about the government setting a timeframe during its meeting on Tuesday.
Sources from the LF told Asharq Al-Awsat that failure to do so “will leave the country exposed to all options,” including Israeli strikes and even a new war between Israel and Hezbollah.
“We will not accept anything less than a timeframe,” they added.
The government must make its decision based on the Taif Accord, its policy statement, ceasefire with Israel and President Joseph Aoun’s swearing in speech.
The speech and government were clear that the state should have monopoly over weapons and that all armed groups must lay down their weapons within two to three months, the sources said.
It appears that the majority of the Lebanese powers share this view, save for Hezbollah and Amal.
Justice Minister and Kataeb member Adel Nassar expressed frustration with the duo, posting on X: “Hezbollah will not be allowed to drag Lebanon and its people along with it if it chose suicide by refusing to lay down its arms.”
Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad reiterated the party’s stance that it will not engage in discussions about its weapons before Israel withdraws from Lebanese territories.
“Israel wants the Lebanese to clash with each other, while we are keen that they reach understandings,” he said.
