Hours before a second meeting between Israeli and Lebanese Ambassadors is scheduled to take place in Washington, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized that “the state's monopoly on weapons is in Lebanon's interest, regardless of Israeli demands.”
Speaking to the Washington Post, the Prime Minister said Lebanon cannot sign any agreement that does not include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces.
“We cannot live with a so-called buffer zone, with an Israeli presence where displaced Lebanese are not allowed to return, and where destroyed villages and towns cannot be rebuilt,” Salam said.
He stressed that disarmament was a process that could not happen overnight, but that “the most important thing is that we have shown seriousness in this regard.”
The statements come as Israel has pushed Beirut to take firmer steps toward Hezbollah disarmament and as a ceasefire between the two countries is set to expire on Sunday, April 26.
‘Two Armies’
The Prime Minister stressed that “a state cannot have two armies,” appealing to Washington and Paris to strengthen the military which he said was “suffering from a financial crisis in equipment and training.”
“We have taken bold decisions,” Salam said, “and made progress in confiscating weapons and banning Hezbollah's military operations.” The army has been widely criticized for responding belatedly and insufficiently to Hezbollah, especially given the militia’s retrenchment south of the Litani and Lebanese Army claims to control the area.
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