Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on Friday evening for urgent and comprehensive Arab and international support for the direct talks his government is conducting with Israel. At the same time, he leveled sharp criticism at Hezbollah, accusing it of dragging Lebanon into what he described as a “futile” and reckless war, which he said threatens internal stability in the country.
Rallying support to strengthen Lebanon’s negotiating position
In a significant political address delivered at an official dinner hosted by a non-governmental organization in Beirut, the Prime Minister expressed his strong hope that his country would succeed in “mobilizing Arab support and international backing to strengthen and solidify Lebanon’s negotiating position.” These remarks came in the context of the ongoing talks with the Israeli side.
These important statements come shortly after the conclusion of the third round of these arduous political negotiations, hosted by the US capital, Washington. The outcome was an extension of the existing ceasefire agreement between the two sides for an additional 45 days. This decision provides diplomacy with a new opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement.
An attack on “absurd adventures” and the state’s weapon
In a strongly worded and implicitly political message directed at the leadership of Hezbollah and its armed factions, Nawaf Salam stated unequivocally: “The country is utterly fed up with engaging in futile adventures and destructive confrontations waged primarily to serve regional agendas or the interests of foreign powers.”
He added: “The latest of these adventures is the recent war whose repercussions we are now experiencing—a war we, as a nation and a people, did not choose, but rather one imposed upon us by a unilateral decision that bypassed constitutional institutions.”
In concluding his speech, which sparked widespread reactions in Lebanese political circles, Prime Minister Salam reiterated his firm commitment to the principle of state sovereignty. He also stressed the necessity of having only one legitimate armed force in Lebanon, namely the Lebanese army and official security forces. He deemed this the sole guarantor of border security and the rule of law. He further emphasized the importance of preventing the country from sliding into renewed cycles of violence that would not serve the supreme national interest.
