https://arab.news/jggur
On Friday, the Lebanese government is due to discuss and vote on a plan for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Hezbollah is in a tough spot. The group has been told it must disarm before the US has any “discussion” with the Israelis about withdrawal.
Basically, Washington is asking Hezbollah to give up its last card without giving the Lebanese government any guarantees it can use when negotiating with the group. The government is also in a tough spot. A paper presented by US envoy Tom Barrack does not offer any commitment that Israel will withdraw or cease hostilities. It states: “The US and France press for Israel’s commitment to the full implementation of this memorandum.” Barrack said that he cannot offer any guarantees. Israel made a statement with a catch. It said it “could” withdraw if Hezbollah disarms but offered no guarantees.
The Alma Research and Education Center, a think tank close to decision-making circles in Tel Aviv, published a report in early August saying that Israel should not withdraw from Lebanon or Syria and that only continuous airstrikes and occasional ground raids would ensure that Hezbollah does not rebuild its capabilities.
Hezbollah is facing growing internal pressure to disarm. Its opponents say that disarming the group is a sovereignty issue regardless of Israel, as the army is in charge of defending the country. Disarmament was clearly stated in President Joseph Aoun’s inaugural speech and in the ministerial declaration. Hezbollah’s opponents also point to the fact that the group agreed to disarm when it signed the ceasefire agreement with Israel last year.
