Raji: "Hezbollah" Lebanese in Name... And the Priority is Disarmament!

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji considered that "the visit of President of the Republic Joseph Aoun contributed to breaking the deadlock in the file of the experimental zones," pointing out that "the Lebanese army has actually begun its deployment in the first of these zones, and the bet now is on the continuation of this step and that the army expands its control to include the entire south, a region that is supposed to be free, eventually, like the rest of Lebanese territory, from any weapon outside the framework of the state's security forces."

Raji renewed, in an interview with the French weekly newspaper "Journal Du Dimanche," his description of the agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel under American sponsorship as a "framework agreement," considering that "every clause in it constitutes a basis upon which future negotiations will be built." He explained that "the Lebanese government took a decision a year and a half ago to disarm Hezbollah and consider all its military operations illegal, after previously turning a blind eye to the party's weapons and military activities," noting that "the government is determined to fully re-establish state authority, which requires dismantling Hezbollah's military structure and handing over its weapons."

He stressed that "the problem is not with the Shiite sect but with the party specifically," explaining that "Hezbollah is Lebanese in name, Iranian in essence, and does not describe itself as the Lebanese resistance but as the Islamic resistance in Lebanon, reflecting a goal that transcends the national framework." He rejected "the idea of separating the party's military and political wings," affirming that "the utmost priority is disarmament, and that the issue of the party transforming into a purely political organization is a subsequent matter that concerns it alone." He pointed out that "the vast majority of Lebanese, including a growing segment within the Shiite sect itself, aspire to the state reclaiming its legitimate monopoly on force, although many avoid saying so publicly out of fear for their safety."

In response to a question about ways to achieve Lebanon's full sovereignty, he said that "the country has, for the first time, a government with a clear sovereign orientation, and Hezbollah has become a minority within it. The state has actually begun to show its determination to restore its authority and that it possesses the necessary means for that. The Lebanese army today has the required capabilities, and Hezbollah has been significantly weakened militarily, and its stockpile of ballistic missiles does not represent the main challenge for the government, as any potential rebellion by the party against the state would not be through this type of weapon," affirming that "the Lebanese goal is clear: to restore the monopoly of legitimate force in the hands of the state without any ambiguity, enabling the army to exercise its responsibilities fully." He called on the international community to "continue supporting this path, provided that this support is a tributary to an institution with pre-defined tasks, not a substitute for political decision nor a precondition for it to exercise its powers."

Regarding the role of the United States and the guarantees it can provide for implementing the agreement, he considered that "Washington is the most capable party to influence Israel, which prompted Lebanon to welcome its mediation." He explained that "the Americans pressured the Israeli side, and as a result they obtained an official confirmation that Tel Aviv harbors no regional ambitions towards Lebanon," considering that "a very important element, especially given the personal involvement of US President Donald Trump in this path, which explains Lebanese confidence in the US administration." He pointed out that "Washington confirmed to the Lebanese authorities that finalizing the agreement will obligate each party to fully comply with what it signed."

Regarding the French role in implementing the framework agreement and the possibility of Paris contributing to reconstruction, he affirmed that "France has a role to play in Lebanon, and it tried in good faith to push the path forward, although its position was not always understood correctly by Lebanese in the past." He expressed his hope that "Paris, after the final conclusion of the agreement, would contribute to strengthening institutions, supporting the armed forces, reconstruction, and economic recovery, in addition to continuing its cultural activity in Lebanon."

At the conclusion of his remarks, and in response to a question about the future of Lebanon, Raji expressed his hope for "a Lebanon liberated from any occupation and from any illegal weapon, a Lebanon rebuilt, prosperous, and democratic, welcoming tourists again, and living in peace with its neighbors and with the entire world."