Lebanon's new cabinet has agreed on a policy statement that acknowledges Hezbollah's right to use its weapons against Israel, despite disagreement by some members of the ruling majority.
Information Minister Tarek Mitri said late on Wednesday after a cabinet committee set up to draft the statement met for the ninth time. He said the new statement will retain the same clause approved by the previous cabinet concerning the arsenal of Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006 and is considered a terrorist organisation by Washington.
The clause states the right of "Lebanon, its government, its people, its army and its resistance" to liberate all Lebanese territory. Hezbollah is commonly referred to as the resistance in Lebanon. Mitri said that reservations concerning the clause by members of the Western-backed majority would be noted in the government programme. Christian members of the majority, including the Phalange Party and Lebanese Forces, argue that Hezbollah's arsenal undermines state authority and runs counter to UN resolutions.
However the Shia party, which has two ministers in the 30-member unity cabinet, has made it clear that its weapons are not open to discussion. The party argues its arms are necessary to protect the country against any future aggression by Israel, which withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation.
Lebanon's new cabinet is headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whose US- and Western-backed alliance defeated a Hezbollah-led opposition supported by Syria and Iran in a June vote. Lebanon's government has a history of paralysis: in late 2006, all Shia ministers resigned from cabinet, setting in motion what would become an 18-month stalemate. The crisis climaxed in May 2008 when Hezbollah and its allies staged a spectacular takeover of mainly Sunni Muslim west Beirut in protest against a government crackdown on the party. The clashes left more than 100 people dead and brought the country to the brink of renewed civil war. Hezbollah, the only faction that did not disarm after the 1975-1990 civil war, has participated in government since 2005.
Posted by Fred 2009-11-27 00:00||
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File under: Hezbollah
#1 Thank you Mrs. Rice.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2009-11-27 03:48||
2009-11-27 03:48||
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#2 all of Lebanon's a legit target now that Hezb's been given state imprimatur
#3 Frank, I would like to see Israel make that declaration. Probably unlikely though.
I would also like to hear the USoA make that declaration. But I figure that's about as likely as my winning the lottery....without buying a ticket. 8^(
Posted by AlanC">AlanC
2009-11-27 10:12||
2009-11-27 10:12||
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#4 "...Christian members of the majority, including the Phalange Party and Lebanese Forces, argue that Hezbollah's arsenal undermines state authority and runs counter to UN resolutions..."
the Hezbollah weapons could be used against Lebanese civilians at any time and everybody knows it
Posted by lord garth 2009-11-27 10:57||
2009-11-27 10:57||
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#5 Hey if they like being a backward 3rd world country by all means. I think a stearn warning and a Battle ship parked off the coast would do wonders. But then I am a hardass.
Posted by Cyber Sarge 2009-11-27 14:21||
2009-11-27 14:21||
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#6 So I take this to mean that during the next war Israel won't have to bother discriminating between the Hezbo's and Lebanonese right?
I mean assuming the U.N. will even allow Israel to defend itself or its innocent civilians....
Posted by CrazyFool 2009-11-27 14:56||
2009-11-27 14:56||
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#7 Sarge, we tried parking the New Jersey off their shore in 1983. As I recall it didn't end so well for us.
Posted by Steve White 2009-11-27 16:52||
2009-11-27 16:52||
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Lebanon's new cabinet has agreed on a policy statement that acknowledges Hezbollah's right to use its weapons against Israel, despite disagreement by some members of the ruling majority.