Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon, the restoration of state sovereignty, and the deployment of the army across the entire territory as the sole force entitled to protect the country.

“The priority is to stop the fighting, assert the authority of the State and the army, and then begin rebuilding Lebanon on new foundations. We will not go back to what we were living before this bitter experience,” Gemayel said in an interview on LBCI. ‘Only the Lebanese State and the army can truly protect Lebanon, and it is diplomacy that ensures the country’s safety.’

Gemayel stressed that the State ought to reclaim its decision-making power in order to be able to engage in any upcoming negotiations, saying it was time for Hezbollah to hand over its arsenal to the official and legitimate authorities.

‘Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri must convince Hezbollah to allow the State to fulfill its role,’ he said. “Handing over Hezbollah’s weapons to the army is not an act of sur
render; it is a return to the State’s fold. Lebanon cannot be built by infringing on the rights of others. We want to build the country on the foundations of partnership, respect, equality, and full sovereignty.”

“We cannot accept that the country be rebuilt while weapons remain in the hands of non-state actors and without full sovereignty and respect for the State’s authority,” he added.

Gemayel also stressed the importance of avoiding sectarian isolation, drawing on past experiences.

“When we talk about not breaking any faction, we mean the people and the sects, not the political parties. We refuse for others to feel the isolation we once experienced.”

He further discussed Iran’s influence through Hezbollah, stating that Tehran is actively obstructing any resolution to the crisis.

“Iran is obstructing any possibility of an exit from this crisis, and through Hezbollah, it is preventing the election of a president. Pressure needs to be directed toward both Iran and Hezbollah,” he said.

Gemayel welcomed
any initiative that could lead to a peaceful resolution but emphasized that the situation requires steering Lebanon clear of regional conflicts. He, thus, pointed to Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s and Speaker Nabih Berri’s latest positions as a step in the right direction, adding that the moment has arrived for their words to be turned into actions in terms of halting Israel’s ground operation, enforcing a ceasefire, ensuring the return of the displaced citizens, and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

On the topic of dialogue with Hezbollah, Gemayel maintained that it is not the Kataeb Party’s role to engage in such discussions.

“It is neither our role nor our place to engage in dialogue with Hezbollah. That responsibility falls on Speaker Berri and Prime Minister Mikati.”

‘We are part of the opposition. We are not in power. The responsibility lies with those in positions of authority, who can engage with other nations.’

Gemayel expressed concern about the absence of leadership wit
hin Hezbollah to negotiate with and stressed the need for Hezbollah to stop the war and hand control over to the Lebanese army.

“The problem today is that there are no leaders within Hezbollah to talk to. They must decide to stop the war and hand control to the army,” he noted. ‘If the State fails to assert its authority and deploy the army in the south, we are heading toward further destruction.’

He warned that continuing Hezbollah’s military actions in support of regional interests would only lead to more calamities in Lebanon.

“If Hezbollah continues its war in support of Gaza, we will face difficulties and more destruction of what remains of Lebanon. More deaths will be witnessed,’ he cautioned. ‘Hezbollah will bear responsibility for that.”

Reflecting on Lebanon’s past, Gemayel argued that the State was once strong enough to protect the country without external interference.

“We must return to a Lebanon where, when the State was strong, no one dared approach us. But when Hezbollah began implementing
foreign agendas, we ended up where we are today,” he said.

‘For 18 years, up until 2024, not a single incident of violence occurred in the south. Border agreements were reached, and deals were made between Hezbollah and Israel without consulting the Lebanese people. The borders remained calm. However, a decision was made to initiate a conflict in support of Gaza, and in doing so, Hezbollah and Iran sacrificed Lebanon for the sake of this war.’

‘The State and the army protected Lebanon from 1949 to 1969. However, when the south became “Fatah Land,” followed by “Hezbollah Land,” and when we allowed militias, serving regional interests, to take control of the south, we witnessed Lebanon’s devastation. Hezbollah neither protected Lebanon nor established a balance of deterrence,’ he stated.

Gemayel called for Lebanon to reclaim the reins of its own future and defend itself as a sovereign State whenever a threat arises.

“It is time for Lebanon to defend itself and take responsibility for its own future. When th
at happens, the world will be on our side. However, if we continue to support Gaza, as the Iranian minister suggested, it means leaving Lebanon trapped in a cycle of destruction.’

In closing, he called for an end to the cycle of destruction and urged Lebanese leaders to prioritize the country’s interests above all else.

‘Time has come to realize that our only salvation lies in the State and national unity because neither Hezbollah nor Iran care for the well-being of the Lebanese people.’

“Enough suffering, destruction, and humiliation. It is now crucial to return to Lebanese interests and institutions, as they alone can safeguard the Lebanese people,’ he asserted. ‘It is time for Lebanon to stop being used as a testing ground, and for the Lebanese people to no longer pay the price for the interests of others.’

Source: National news agency – Lebanon