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Arab FMs Prepare Final Recommendations Ahead of Summit

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)
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Arab FMs Prepare Final Recommendations Ahead of Summit

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, November 27, 2018 (Reuters)

Meetings of the Arab foreign ministers will kick off on Friday in Tunis to adopt the agenda of the summit and review draft resolutions and final drafts to be submitted to Arab leaders and presidents on Sunday.

“There is a large number of items that include issues of regional crises, including the Palestinian issue, the crises of Syria, Libya and Yemen, Arab national security, and other key files,” Ambassador Khalid Al-Habas, Arab League Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The Palestinian issue is a priority as usual, and the Arab position on it is unified and strong,” he emphasized.

He added that there would be also a firm stance on the recent US resolution, which recognized the annexation of the Golan Heights to Israel. The Arab League will underline the importance of international resolutions, which stressed the Arab identity of the Golan Heights that Israel occupied in 1967, the ambassador noted.

The summit will also highlight “the total rejection of interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries related to Turkey and Iran, which will constitute an important message to countries that try to destabilize the security and stability of the region,” he added.

Habas said that the Arab Summit in Tunis would constitute a new addition to the previous Arab summits and would support the aspirations of the peoples, countries, and the Arab League to achieve security and stability and formulate firmer positions on the challenges that have plagued the region for several years.

On the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to Tunisia, Habas said it fell within “the context of strengthening Arab solidarity, providing support to Tunisia, and discussing all issues of common interest.”

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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).

Discussions are underway on the role of the Lebanese army in maintaining security in South Lebanon amid rising optimism about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701

As part of these preparations, the Lebanese government has begun strengthening the army by recruiting 1,500 new soldiers out of the 6,000 needed, aligning with the outcomes of the Paris Conference held on October 23, which allocated 200 million euros to support the military institution, from a broader package intended to help the Lebanese people during the Israel-Hezbollah war.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, a security official highlighted that the army currently has 4,500 personnel stationed south of the Litani River but requires additional manpower.

The unidentified official noted, however, that any effective deployment would require a political decision and government support. “The Lebanese military will implement Resolution 1701 as is, with no intention of clashing with any party. However, if Israel violates Lebanese sovereignty, the army is fully prepared to respond,” he said.

Although Hezbollah opposes withdrawing from south of the Litani and handing over border security duties to the Lebanese military and UNIFIL, claiming the army lacks the capabilities to defend against Israeli aggression, the security source clarified that the military has been authorized to repel any attacks but will avoid initiating conflict. The army’s expanded deployment depends on a political decision, which, once made, will see the military act without hesitation to uphold Lebanese sovereignty.

While military preparedness is essential, Brigadier General Wehbeh Qatisha argues that Lebanon’s security requires more than just troops or advanced weaponry at the border. The presence of the Lebanese military as a representative of the Lebanese state is also a significant deterrent. He pointed out that prior to 1970, Israel refrained from attacking Lebanon, despite a much smaller army. However, he cautioned that even with a substantial deployment today, the persistence of Hezbollah’s military presence would continue to undermine Lebanon’s stability and security.

Since the 1969 Cairo Agreement, which allowed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to launch operations against Israel from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army has been restricted in its ability to enforce security along the border. After the PLO’s departure in 1982, Hezbollah took over military operations in the South. Even after the 2006 war and the adoption of Resolution 1701, which called for the Lebanese military and UNIFIL to secure the border, Hezbollah retained its armed presence and continued to conduct exercises simulating conflict with Israel. The latter violated the international resolution thousands of times, until the last war broke out against the background of turning southern Lebanon into a front supporting Gaza.

Qatisha emphasized that the path to stability lies in comprehensive implementation of international resolutions, particularly 1701 and 1559, and restricting arms to the Lebanese army. He argued that achieving balanced deterrence requires not only military force but also a commitment to diplomacy and international support.