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Abul Gheit: Palestinian Cause Remaining Unsolved Has Led to Regional Instability

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit | Photo: Reuters
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit | Photo: Reuters
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Abul Gheit: Palestinian Cause Remaining Unsolved Has Led to Regional Instability

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit | Photo: Reuters
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit | Photo: Reuters

Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit has underpinned that as long as the Palestinian cause remains unsolved, instability will remain in the Middle East and the Arab region.

The continuity of the Israeli occupation to the Palestinian lands has led to mounting rage among Arabs, impacting the stability, security, economic growth, and joint action, he added.

Abul Gheit continued that the Arab region needs economic and social reforms to fulfill the ambitions of the youth, who represent more than 60 percent of the population.

A source from the AL said that these statements were made on the sidelines of the two-day conference 'Roma MED – Dialoghi mediterranei' (Mediterranean Dialogues) on Friday.

The conference, hosted by Rome annually, is seen as a key platform to discuss the region’s issues and possible ways to tackle them. A number of leaders and foreign ministers take part in the conference.

Abul Gheit was keen during his intervention to shed light on the huge movements in the Arab world, especially in Iraq and Lebanon, the source added, saying that they represent the people’s rejection of failure in fulfilling economic aspirations and their refusal to regional intervention from non-Arab parties.

The Secretary-General affirmed that the region suffered from strategic void for several reasons including the inconstancy of the US administration and the rising international rivalries, which encouraged terrorist groups and regional parties to seek to fill this void.

The only project that deserves support, he continued, is that of "a national state that rejects sectarianism and terrorism and is based on good governance."

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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.