Facing a Historic Test

Lebanon is facing a historic test after having been dragged into a perilous war against its will. Lebanese blood was spilled, infrastructure was destroyed, and tens of thousands of families were displaced for long periods. The enemy has erased border towns, depriving residents of shelter.
All the Lebanese deserve a safe and stable life, and they are facing a historic test to reclaim their hijacked state, retrieve its power to make decisions, and reinforce sovereignty. This challenge revolves around the ceasefire that began on November 27, albeit with Israeli violations. The agreement affirms "the cessation of hostilities... and the enhancement of security arrangements toward the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701" with the aim of achieving "a sustainable end to the current escalation of hostilities across the Blue Line and are each prepared to take steps to promote conditions for a permanent and comprehensive solution.”
Negotiated by Lebanon’s permanent Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who agreed to it on behalf of Hezbollah, the agreement calls for the "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon" in its preamble, identifies the forces allowed to bear arms, and calls for dismantling of military structures across the country, starting from south of the Litani River.
The ceasefire ushers in an era in which Lebanon has a bidding obligation to bid farewell to illegitimate arms. In practice, "Chapter VII" now applies in Resolution 1701, with international powers overseeing the implementation mechanism, which is under the control of CENTCOM. This new era comes after decades where citizens had been made into victims since the "revolution" of 1958, through to the era of "Fatah Land" and the civil war, Israeli and Syrian occupation, and Iranian hegemony through Hezbollah, which play a crucial role in the defense strategy of the Iranian regime!
The new state of affairs leaves no room for ploys, and reinforcing the ceasefire must take precedence over all other priorities. Israel's serious violations, which show that the enemy's appetite for killing and destruction remains unchecked, demand that the Lebanese strictly implement Resolution 1701. This resolution is seen as an insurance policy for restoring the state that, in turn, protects everyone by restoring stability and taking Lebanon on a journey toward recovery that closes the chapter of vacancies at the upper echelons of power and social fragmentation. It also demands that the era of taking decision-making hostage to the "blocking third" that facilitated the party's transformation into a transnational force be ended, which led to the current conflict.
There is no place for sly maneuvers by Hezbollah. Any attempt to maintain its status, regardless of the justifications, will be rejected. The narrative of "we protect and build," which has left Lebanon with burdens it cannot carry, has fallen apart. The arsenal outside the state's control failed to protect those who held it, bringing destruction instead. Beyond the lives lost, priceless memories, places, neighborhoods, homes, and livelihoods have been eradicated. The 60-day truce is an opportunity for Hezbollah to conduct a serious reassessment of its political and military behavior and take the decision the people are demanding: to abandon its arms.
The remnants of the government and the political class must also reexamine their actions, as everyone, albeit to varying degrees, bears responsibility for covering up the hijacking of the state and the country becoming easy prey to the enemy.
The decision to delay the parliamentary call to elect a president until January 9 is alarming: we have seen the implosion of the situation in northern Syria, which could have repercussions for Lebanon, and several calamities have hit the country. Indeed, under these circumstances, the delay reflects the authorities’ disregard for the people suffering, the overwhelming majority of Lebanese citizens. This delay, which passed without objection, is concerning because it signals, at the very least, that the president is beholden to sectarian forces. That would mean tasking him with reshaping the authorities to suit the interests of those responsible for the era of systematic plunder that impoverished the country and its people, seized justice, and brought citizens to their knees. At most, it signals the intent of the "sectarian duo" to elect a president that meets Hezbollah's conditions, allowing the party to regain the initiative and continue to control Lebanon.
In this context, the lack of transparency regarding the content of the agreement seems very suspicious. It is unacceptable that the state’s narrative about the agreement seems to limit its scope to south of the Litani River... And those returning to their villages found ashes and pressure by the enemy to perpetuate displacement due to the neglect of this priority.
While the implementation mechanism of the UN resolution places responsibility on the Lebanese government, the country currently has no government. It cannot be formed until after a president is elected. This situation may have negative implications, undermining political cover for the army, which has been made responsible for restoring stability, peace, and security.
Lebanon has never been in this situation at any point in its history. This phase presents an opportunity to rebuild the republic and extend its sovereignty without partners. Accordingly, Lebanon deserves a president of a different caliber- someone who understands the deep-seated pain and its causes and who has a reformist vision that allows him to form a competent government that is not sullied by the sectarian-quotas power-sharing regime.
Such a government would restore domestic confidence in and global respect for the state, which could introduce a period of durable solutions during which institutions are reestablished on sound grounds that accelerate the country's recovery. This recovery should begin with a transparent accountability process, and this duty must not be neglected.
To that end, it is time for Lebanese citizens to reclaim their role as political actors, fostering a mass awakening that could lead to reformation and genuine authorities through early parliamentary elections. These elections must ensure proper representation, especially after the catastrophic performance of the current parliament, which has refused even to discuss the war that destroyed Lebanon for 14 months.