Nasrallah Ambiguous on Hariri’s Naming for Premiership

Hassan Nasrallah (NNA)
Hassan Nasrallah (NNA)
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Nasrallah Ambiguous on Hariri’s Naming for Premiership

Hassan Nasrallah (NNA)
Hassan Nasrallah (NNA)

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah failed in his Friday speech to give a clear stance on next week’s binding parliamentary consultations to name a new Lebanese Prime Minister.

In a televised speech, the Shiite leader said that consultations would take place on Monday and that the government should be led by caretaker PM Saad Hariri or a figure enjoying his support.

The Hezbollah leader deemed the resignation of the government a step backward.

“The resignation of Hariri was a mere waste of time due to the fact that the institutions that must carry out the reforms have been disabled," he said.

Lebanon's main parties failed to reach consensus on a new Prime Minister since Hariri resigned in late October amid huge protests against the ruling elite in the country.

Nasrallah said that the prevailing crisis needs everyone to come together, a thing which a one-sided government can't do.

He stressed the importance of forming a government capable of implementing reforms and said his party insisted on the participation of the Future Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement as well.

However, Nasrallah remained unclear on the identity of the Sunni figure that both Hezbollah and the Amal Movement are expected to name during the parliamentary consultations with President Michel Aoun.

Ministerial sources close to Aoun told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that efforts were being exerted to compel Hariri into softening his conditions regarding the formation of the new cabinet. Failure to do so would hinder his arrival to the premiership.

“Hariri should be more logical,” the sources said, adding that a technocrat government should be headed by a technocrat Prime Minister or else political forces should back a techno-political cabinet representing all parties.

However, Hariri’s sources said the caretaker PM does not consider responding to anyone’s stance. “Hariri’s positions are clear. He should only head a new government that rebuts the traditional quota logic, meets the demands of the popular movement, is capable of addressing the economic and financial crisis, and respects the positions of Lebanon’s friends,” the sources said.



Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will likely have a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to release more Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group. 

Netanyahu said 50 hostages were still being held captive by Hamas. Of that figure, he said, only 20 are believed to be alive. 

"I want to take them all out. We now have a deal that supposedly will get half of the living and half of the dead out," Netanyahu said in an interview on Newsmax show "The Record with Greta Van Susteren" that aired on Thursday. 

"And so we'll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages, but I'll get them out, too. I hope we can complete it in a few days." 

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. 

The two sides have had two ceasefires - one in November 2023 and another in January 2025- since the fighting started. 

Netanyahu said Israel and Hamas will likely have a 60-day ceasefire, which the two sides could use to try to end the conflict. 

Hamas said on Wednesday there were several sticking points in the ongoing ceasefire talks including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and "genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire." 

Netanyahu's interview with Newsmax comes as he wraps his third visit to Washington since President Donald Trump took office in January. 

Speaking of Trump, the Israeli leader said his country has never had "such a friend, such a support of Israel, the Jewish state in the White House." 

Last month, the US joined Israel in striking Iran, a move that Trump has said "obliterated" three of Iran's nuclear sites. 

When asked about a damage assessment, Netanyahu said, "Within months, they could have produced atomic bombs."