MP Ghassan Skaff described the speech delivered yesterday evening by Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah as less threatening than expected, following the assassination of top Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri in an Israeli strike in the southern suburb of Beirut and Israel’s violation of the so-called rules of engagement.
Speaking to Voice of Lebanon Radio, Skaff argued that what happens secretly and behind closed doors matters more for the stability of the region than what is said publicly, in obvious reference to negotiations taking place away from the spotlight between Iranians and Americans.
He expressed hopes that the assassinations of Al-Arouri and, before him, Iranian Revolutionary Guard military advisor Razi Musawi in an Israeli strike in Syria, do not disrupt these negotiations, as Lebanon would then pay a high price.
On the presidential election, Skaff called for “lowering the bar,” or lessening conditions placed by the various political players to facilitate the election of a new head of state.
“Reconciliation is not impossible in parliament if the parties to show a little humility and a lot of responsibility,” he added, referring to the consensus over the extension of Army commander Joseph Aoun’s mandate.
