Latest news with #FreePatrioticMovement
Nahar Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Bassil says govt. approval of 'American' paper shameful
by Naharnet Newsdesk 08 August 2025, 12:54 Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has criticized the government's approval of the objectives of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack's paper, saying Cabinet should have approved a 'Lebanese' paper instead. 'Let them at least preserve the form! And let them adopt a Lebanese paper, not an American, Syrian, Iranian or any other country's paper! What a shame!' Bassil said in a post on X. 'We were born from the heart of legitimacy and the womb of the Lebanese Army and we're the ones who want arms monopoly and to have the decisions inside state institutions, but we cannot but cry when we see this subservience to foreign forces,' the FPM chief added. Cabinet's decision on Thursday prompted the ministers of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement to withdraw from the session. They had also walked out of a cabinet session on Tuesday when the government decided to task the army with presenting a plan to monopolize arms in the country before the month's end.
L'Orient-Le Jour
3 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Gebran Bassil recalls Aug. 7, 2001, 'symbol of struggle against political class'
The head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Member of Parliament Gebran Bassil commemorated, in a message on his X account Thursday, the raids of Aug. 7, 2001, calling it "more than a single day, an ongoing path of struggle against a political class that fears freedom of expression." The FPM leader was referring to the major raids carried out by Syrian troops (who were still occupying Lebanon at the time), along with Lebanese security forces affiliated with them, targeting student committees opposed to the regime, mainly students from the FPM and the Lebanese Forces. Dozens of young people were arbitrarily detained, some for weeks, and often tortured by their jailers who sought to extract false confessions. Aug. 7, 2001, remains a key date in the long campaign against the Syrian occupation, which ended in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the mass protests that followed. "We protested, we were beaten, we were detained... but we never kept silent," Bassil said Thursday in his message. He concluded, "Those who believe in a cause never give up, and those who belong to a school of freedom, sovereignty and independence are never defeated." The founder of the FPM, former President Michel Aoun, was exiled in France for fifteen years (1990–2005) because of his opposition to the Syrian regime. Gebran Bassil, son-in-law and successor of Michel Aoun at the head of the FPM, appears eager to rekindle the energy that once mobilized a broad section of the Christian street at the time. However, the FPM's participation in government and its alliances — often criticized — with figures or groups close to the former Syrian-backed regime, such as Hezbollah, have cost it some of its popularity. Since the beginning of Joseph Aoun's new mandate as president in January 2025, succeeding Michel Aoun, and under the government of Nawaf Salam, Bassil and his party have positioned themselves in the opposition. In addition, Bassil has regularly expressed concerns about the new regime in Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024.
LBCI
3 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
FPM calls for Hezbollah to hand over weapons to Lebanese Army, blames Israel for delays
In a statement following its regular meeting chaired by MP Gebran Bassil, the political council of the Free Patriotic Movement said the future of Hezbollah's weapons has become a critical issue, citing Lebanon's obligations under the ceasefire agreement and commitments made in the presidential oath and ministerial statement. The council reiterated its long-standing position that all arms must be placed under the authority of the Lebanese Army and security forces, and that only the state should have the power to decide when and how they are used. It proposed that Hezbollah's weapons be handed over to the army, not to be dismantled or discarded, but to strengthen Lebanon's defense capabilities. The council also blamed Israel's ongoing violations of Lebanese sovereignty and refusal to abide by a ceasefire for obstructing a resolution to the weapons issue, saying such actions give Hezbollah grounds to keep its arsenal until Israel withdraws, stops its attacks, and Lebanese prisoners are returned. On the broader regional file, the council stressed that the return of Syrian refugees must be part of a comprehensive solution — one that also includes demarcating Lebanon's borders with Israel and Syria and ensuring Lebanon can benefit from its natural resources, including water, oil, and gas. The statement concluded that Hezbollah, as part of the Lebanese state, must contribute to reaching a point where only the Lebanese Army holds weapons and the state alone decides how Lebanon is defended.
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Received by Bassil, Hezbollah delegation says priority is 'the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy'
BEIRUT — A Hezbollah delegation led by MP Ali Fayad met Tuesday with Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Gebran Bassil to stress the need for Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon. The delegation also met former President Michel Aoun to discuss the return of Lebanese prisoners and reconstruction of war-damaged areas. This meeting comes a few hours ahead of a decisive Cabinet meeting expected to address the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament. The party does not reject in principle a debate on the state's monopoly over arms, but it conditions any disarmament on a prior Israeli withdrawal and the cessation of cease-fire violations, as well as the release of prisoners and a post-war reconstruction process. In a video released Monday night, Hezbollah affirmed that resistance was 'the only choice and support for the Lebanese Army.' Political contacts continued Monday night in an effort to reach a formula the government could adopt on Tuesday. 'We discussed with the FPM leader many issues, notably the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, and we shared our views on the current and potential dangers the country is facing,' MP Fayad stressed. He also indicated that 'the greatest danger Lebanon faces is turning the conflict from a Lebanese-Israeli problem into a Lebanese-Lebanese one,' considering that 'the more united the Lebanese internal stance, the better we are able to limit the risks for the country.' Bassil also specified that 'the dangers do not concern any one component or region in particular.' 'We are aware that the situation is delicate and difficult, but Lebanon must not give up its interests,' he continued. He added: 'We want a single and coherent official Lebanese position, and we all hold on to the priorities, particularly the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy, the return of prisoners and the launch of reconstruction as a starting point for a resolution process to be led by the Lebanese themselves.' He finally indicated that Hezbollah had agreed with the FPM that 'the opportunity is favorable to build a state, but the current obstacle is the Israeli enemy and its aggressions, which hinder the process of recovery and state-building.' Michel Aoun was allied with Hezbollah during his term (2016-2022) before ties between the FPM (Aounist) and the yellow party became strained. The FPM had notably strongly criticized Hezbollah's decision to open a 'support front' for Hamas in Gaza on Oct.8, 2023, the day after the deadly attack by the Palestinian movement in Israel and the start of the Israeli army's violent offensive on the enclave. The relationship between the two former allies, who had sealed their agreement on Feb. 6, 2006, also became tense because of Hezbollah's support for a presidential bid by Sleiman Frangieh, a well-known opponent of the FPM leader (and Michel Aoun's son-in-law), Bassil. After more than two years of presidential vacancy, Joseph Aoun was finally elected in January 2025.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
After meeting Gebran Bassil, Hezbollah warns of risks of internal fragmentation
A Hezbollah delegation met Tuesday with Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil, amid heightened political and security tensions. Following the meeting, MP Ali Fayyad stressed the need for a unified national stance, warning that 'the situation is delicate and difficult, but Lebanon must not compromise its core interests.' Fayyad, speaking on behalf of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, said that 'the more united Lebanon is internally, the more capable it will be in resisting external pressure.' He called for a single, official Lebanese position centered on three priorities: an Israeli withdrawal, an end to hostile actions, and the release of detainees— describing these as the starting points for a Lebanese-led resolution process. Fayyad also warned that the risks facing Lebanon do not target one group or region alone. 'The worst-case scenario would be turning the conflict from a Lebanese-Israeli one into a Lebanese-Lebanese crisis — and that is something we must avoid,' he said.
