BEIRUT: Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, retracted a joint invitation issued on Monday to their supporters to take to the streets in protest of a government decision limiting the possession of weapons to the Lebanese state.
This move came hours after the two groups had called on “workers and their unions” to gather on Wednesday afternoon in Riyad Al-Solh Square in the heart of Beirut, just meters away from the government headquarters, to denounce the Cabinet decision and defend “the sanctity of the resistance and its noble weapon,” a ruling which they called “a decision contrary to the supreme national interest and the formula for coexistence.”
The call to take to the streets and the subsequent announcement of its postponement came on the eve of pivotal meetings with US Envoy Thomas Barrack, who is expected in Beirut on Tuesday to relay Israel’s response to a US-Lebanese proposal on implementing the ceasefire terms between Israel and Hezbollah. The protest suspension signals that Hezbollah and Amal are awaiting the outcome of Barrack’s talks before escalating their opposition to the government ruling.
A ministerial source told Arab News that “communications took place between decision makers, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the architect of the ceasefire agreement, and concluded that it is not permissible to preempt Barrack’s arrival in Beirut and what Israeli responses he may be carrying, nor to preempt the next session of the Council of Ministers, during which the Lebanese army is scheduled to present its plan for withdrawing illegal weapons.”
Barrack, who has so far employed a “step-by-step” approach in his diplomatic efforts, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv last weekend. The latter’s office stated on Monday that “Israel will gradually reduce its presence in Lebanon if the Lebanese security forces take steps to disarm Hezbollah.”
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that Tel Aviv “appreciates Lebanon’s steps regarding the restriction of arms by the end of this year, and considers this decision fundamental and an opportunity for Lebanon to regain its sovereignty and build its institutions.
“Israel will take reciprocal steps, including a gradual reduction of the Israeli army’s presence, in coordination with the United States.”
The statement added that “the time has come to work with Lebanon in a spirit of cooperation with the aim of disarming Hezbollah. Israel is ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and work together towards a safer and more stable future for both countries.”
The Israeli Army Radio reported that Tel Aviv agreed to a “gradual withdrawal” from the five points along the border with Lebanon, “provided that the disarmament of Hezbollah begins,” and that these positions are not part of the ceasefire agreement, but rather a fait accompli imposed by Israel, which will establish these positions.
Since the end of the war between Hezbollah and Israel in October, Lebanon has repeatedly demanded Israel’s withdrawal from five strategic hills in the border area that it occupied during its latest ground war against the group, an end to aggressions against Lebanon, the release of prisoners, and reconstruction for the scorched border region.
The Lebanese government’s decision to restrict arms control to the state sparked internal tension over the past two weeks, particularly evident between Hezbollah on one side, and the president and prime minister on the other.
Last week, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem threatened to take to the streets in response to the government decision. In mid-August, he declared that Hezbollah “will not hand over its weapons” and that the party “will wage a battle, if necessary,” threatening that “there will be no life for Lebanon” if the government confronts the group. He warned of possible disorder and civil war if Hezbollah were disarmed. His stance was met with condemnatory internal reactions.
Over the past 48 hours, Hezbollah, through its activists on social media, circulated information from unspecified sources about an “Israeli intention to establish a buffer zone in southern Lebanon encompassing 14 villages,” accompanied by a map used by Israel in its field operations in the region.
However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was quick to deny the claims on Sunday night, affirming that “Lebanon has not been officially informed of anything that was circulated regarding the establishment of a buffer zone.” Aoun stressed “the importance of renewing (the mandate of) UNIFIL forces, until Resolution 1701 is fully implemented, including Israel’s withdrawal from the territories it controls, the release of detainees, and the complete deployment of the Lebanese army up to the internationally recognized border.”
Political writer Ali Al-Amin told Arab News that “Hezbollah is moving without a political horizon. Every stance its officials take, the latest being the call to take to the streets, leads to further losses in the party’s standing and traps it in one predicament after another.”
Al-Amin believes that “by political calculations, Hezbollah is a loser and may become an easy target both internally and externally. If it remains committed to these unconsidered positions, the losses will expand within its own environment, and many Shiites may later disavow its actions.”
The first phase of the handover of weapons from Palestinian refugee camps to the Lebanese army began last Thursday, marking the start of a process set to unfold in stages over the coming weeks.
On Monday, Israeli reconnaissance aircraft violated the airspace of Beirut and its southern suburbs.
