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US Ambassador to Israel Chooses to ‘Pace’ Himself Before Judging Netanyahu

Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Knesset member Aryeh Deri of the Haredi religious party Shas during a session to elect the new speaker of the assembly at its Plenum Hall in Jerusalem on December 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)
Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Knesset member Aryeh Deri of the Haredi religious party Shas during a session to elect the new speaker of the assembly at its Plenum Hall in Jerusalem on December 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)
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US Ambassador to Israel Chooses to ‘Pace’ Himself Before Judging Netanyahu

Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Knesset member Aryeh Deri of the Haredi religious party Shas during a session to elect the new speaker of the assembly at its Plenum Hall in Jerusalem on December 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)
Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Knesset member Aryeh Deri of the Haredi religious party Shas during a session to elect the new speaker of the assembly at its Plenum Hall in Jerusalem on December 13, 2022. (Photo by Gil COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

US ambassador to Israel Tom Nides praised in statements on Monday the incoming Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and called for ‘pacing oneself’ and awaiting for Netanyahu's government's actions before judging his policy.

Nides affirmed in a lengthy interview with Haaretz on Sunday that Netanyahu has a “very good” relationship with US President Joe Biden.

“We believe that he is very smart, understands American politics very well, and we believe that he has a very good relationship with Biden,” Nides said.

Despite the differences in their views on some issues, they will work together in friendship, partnership and cooperation, the ambassador stressed.

He called for judging the government on its actions not on what some politicians may say during the campaign.

“I’ve known him (Netanyahu) for a long time,” Nides said, noting that he has talked to him a lot since the election and discussed almost all issues.

Nides first met Netanyahu when he was serving as Hillary Clinton’s deputy secretary of state for management and resources between 2010-2013.

He made it clear that the administration will persist in its intention to reopen the consulate in Jerusalem and will pressure the new government in Jerusalem to consent to the move.

However, he said that the US has a very robust office in Jerusalem, basically the same size as the office that it had in 2018 when Trump’s administration decided to cancel the role of consul for Palestinian affairs in Jerusalem.

“We have 65 or 70 individuals who work every day on the West Bank and Gaza under the leadership of George Knoll, working on almost half a billion dollars of USAID programs for the Palestinian people," he said.

Nides also explained that the Biden administration does not work by giving instructions and orders to friends, and therefore it does not impose anything on Israel.

However, he said that the “friendship between them” allows it to voice concern about the two-state solution, refuse to expand settlements, and be wary of the extreme positions of senior figures in the impending coalition.” But he affirmed that it chooses to wait and see.

He added that the administration is following statements by Netanyahu, in which he affirms he will not abandon democracy, adding that it is also following statement by far-right politicians against the Palestinians, in general, and the Arabs in Israel, in particular, and against the judiciary and is voicing its concerns to Israel in this regard.

But at the end of the day, he stressed that the US has Israel’s back.

“Make no mistake, there are many things that we will agree with. These include the threat of Iran, the threat of the proxies, trying to eliminate any kind of security threat to this country and we’ll work closely with the Israelis to accomplish that.”

Nides made the remarks after The New York Times published an editorial on Saturday warning that Netanyahu’s presumed incoming hard-right, ultra-religious government represents a danger to Israel’s democracy.

The article, titled “The Ideal of Democracy in a Jewish State Is in Jeopardy,” stated that while Netanyahu clearly has the support of the Israeli electorate, his coalition’s victory was narrow and cannot be seen as a broad mandate to make concessions to ultra religious and ultranationalist parties that are putting the ideal of a democratic Jewish state in jeopardy.

“This board has been a strong supporter of Israel and a two-state solution for many years, and we remain committed to that support. Netanyahu’s government, however, is a significant threat to the future of Israel — its direction, its security and even the idea of a Jewish homeland,” the newspaper stressed.

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Lebanese Parties Warn Against Hezbollah Keeping Light Weapons

Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)
Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)
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Lebanese Parties Warn Against Hezbollah Keeping Light Weapons

Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)
Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)

A recent proposal circulating in Lebanon that would allow Hezbollah to retain its light weapons while surrendering heavy and medium arms has triggered widespread political backlash, with critics warning it poses a grave threat to state sovereignty and public safety.

The suggestion, floated amid long-running debate over the group’s arsenal, argues that other political parties and armed groups also possess light weapons for various reasons. But key political factions have rejected the idea outright, citing Lebanon’s bloody past and the potential for renewed violence.

Opponents of the proposal have pointed to the events of May 7, 2008, when Hezbollah fighters overran parts of Beirut and Mount Lebanon in a show of military force, underscoring the dangers of allowing any non-state group to keep arms.

“Classifying weapons as heavy, medium or light is useless,” said Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel in a post on X. “If heavy arms threaten Lebanon’s regional security, light weapons are even more dangerous to the foundations of the state.”

Gemayel reiterated that only the Lebanese army and legitimate security forces should bear arms, calling for the country to be entirely free of weapons held by non-state actors.

MP Ghada Ayoub, of the Lebanese Forces-led "Strong Republic" bloc, echoed that view, insisting the state must assert full sovereignty over all Lebanese territory and outlaw any form of armed presence outside the official security apparatus.

“There is only one armed group operating outside the state, and that is Hezbollah,” Ayoub told Asharq al-Awsat. “It must become a purely political party and clearly, unequivocally declare an end to its military activity.”

Ayoub also criticized recent remarks by Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who vowed the group’s “resistance” would continue “without asking anyone’s permission.”

“The Lebanese state is responsible for enforcing a monopoly on the use of arms,” she said. “It must stop playing the role of a mediator or hiding behind the fear of war and internal strife. Time is not on Lebanon’s side.”

Ahmad Al-Kheir, a lawmaker with the “National Moderation” bloc, dismissed the proposal as “stillborn,” warning that light weapons have already been used to intimidate citizens and skew political dynamics.

“We saw yesterday how light arms were paraded through Beirut’s streets in a blatant attempt at provocation and coercion,” he said. “This is the real danger - using these weapons as leverage in political life, as we saw in the May 7 events and the occupation of downtown Beirut.”

“No one in Lebanon will accept this,” Al-Kheir added.

Additionally, critics warn that allowing any non-state entity to retain weapons threatens state authority and risks further destabilizing the country.

Al-Kheir urged Hezbollah and any other party in possession of light weapons to hand them over to the state, citing the recent example set by former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt.

“Jumblatt announced that his party had surrendered its weapons weeks ago. This is the model to follow,” he told Asharq al-Awsat.

MP Waddah Al-Sadek, of the Change Coalition, said he had no objection to a phased disarmament process that begins with heavy and medium weapons, followed by light arms. He dismissed fears of civil war, saying only one side is armed.

“Armed conflict requires two sides. The army will not engage in internal fighting,” he said. “This talk of civil war is just fear-mongering unless Hezbollah resorts again to something like the May 7 scenario to avoid disarming.”

Al-Sadek stressed that Lebanon’s response to the US proposal - reportedly outlining phased disarmament - will be critical. “Does anyone really have an alternative to engaging with this proposal?” he asked.

Deputy head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Naji Hayek, said all weapons must be handed over, rejecting the idea that civilians or political groups should be allowed to keep light arms for self-defense.

“This theory no longer holds,” Hayek told Asharq al-Awsat, adding that training camps used to militarize society should be shut down. “Light and medium weapons are not only with Hezbollah - they exist with other parties that have military structures, and these too must be dismantled.”

Political analyst Qassem Qassir, who is close to Hezbollah’s thinking, said there is no internal consensus, nor any agreement with Hezbollah, to give up its heavy and medium arms while retaining light weapons.

“The party insists the issue is still the Israeli occupation and ongoing aggression,” he said. “For Hezbollah, no discussion on disarmament is possible until those threats end.”

Qassir warned that if a political solution to the weapons issue is not reached, “we will inevitably face military risks and internal conflict.”

Jumblatt announced in late June that his party had handed over its remaining weapons, including light and medium arms that were gradually accumulated after the May 7 clashes in 2008 during a period of heightened tension with Hezbollah.

He said the weapons had been centrally stored and fully turned over to the Lebanese state.