Latest news with #Gemayel
L'Orient-Le Jour
15 hours ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Hezbollah and Iran want to drag Amal into a conflict it does not want: Gemayel
Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel accused Iran and Hezbollah of trying to "forcibly drag" the Amal Movement into a conflict "it does not want," as both Tehran and the party push back against the Lebanese government's decision to disarm Amal. At the start of August, the government tasked the Lebanese Army with developing a plan to disarm Hezbollah and restore the state's monopoly on weapons, following the latest war with Israel. Hezbollah rejects the measure as long as Israeli forces remain in south Lebanon and continue their near-daily attacks. "It is clear that Iran is trying to forcibly drag the Amal Movement into the conflict," Gemayel said in an interview with the Kuwaiti daily al-Siyassa published Tuesday. "Although Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri spoke clearly about the exclusivity of arms, Hezbollah and the Iranian envoy [Ali Larijani, who visited Beirut last week] reaffirmed their alliance with Amal and rejected disarmament." "The ball is in the Shiite community's court" Gemayel said there is "no other choice but to hand over the weapons, either by putting pressure on Iran or by letting the Lebanese state assume its responsibilities." He added that "about 90 percent of Parliament supports weapons being exclusively in the army's hands. It is not permissible for 10 percent of MPs to hold Parliament hostage." "Hezbollah's weapons have not protected Lebanon, but instead attracted war, since the country is now under Israeli occupation," Gemayel said. "There is no country in the world where resistance exists alongside the army. It is time for a change of approach and for weapons to be exclusively under the Lebanese Army's control, as is the case everywhere else." According to him, Hezbollah and Amal must realize "some are dragging them into wars against Israel, at times against the Lebanese interior, or even against each other. It is time to say to that camp: enough is enough." For Gemayel, the solution "lies within the Shiite community, which must free itself from Iran's grip and its desire to drag it into more violence." Gemayel said he is awaiting the army's plan but cautioned that "things will not be easy as long as the Shiite community has not risen up against Tehran's diktat." He also accused Iran of damaging Lebanon's ties with the Gulf by backing Hezbollah and enabling drug smuggling to GCC countries. "Our goal today is to restore these relations, and this is what the current authority, led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, is doing. They are accomplishing remarkable work and making very courageous decisions," he said. "Our Arab friends are called upon to stand by us during this period so we can bring Lebanon back into the Arab fold."
L'Orient-Le Jour
11-08-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Gemayel denounces 'Iranian interference' in Lebanon
BEIRUT — Kataeb Party leader and MP Samy Gemayel reiterated his party's rejection of all Iranian statements on Monday after a meeting at the Grand Serail with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and called on the country to "treat Lebanon with more respect," following Iran's opposition to Hezbollah's disarmament. On Saturday, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had stated that his country "certainly" opposed the Lebanese government's decision to disarm Hezbollah. "The Kataeb Party categorically rejects all Iranian statements, whether they come from Khamenei's advisor, the foreign minister, his deputy, or commanders of the Revolutionary Guards," the statement, published on Kataeb's website reads, "because they represent a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and an infringement on the decision-making of the Lebanese state." The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, is expected in Beirut on Wednesday, a visit that has angered Kataeb MP Elias Hankache, who was also present at the Gemayel-Salam meeting. "These statements are rejected both in form and in substance," Gemayel continued, "Iran must respect Lebanon's decision, sovereignty, and interests." "Lebanon has paid a heavy price for Iran's policy," he argued, "And its direct interference through the funding and arming of Hezbollah and its training for battles whose cost all Lebanese have paid." Gemayel also addressed the deaths of six Lebanese soldiers who died on Saturday in an explosion while dismantling a weapons depot near Sour district's Majdel Zoun village, saying they "made sacrifices for the sovereignty and legitimacy of Lebanon, and for the establishment of state authority over the whole of its territory." The soldiers' deaths "make it necessary to continue working to enforce the authority of the state over all its land," Gemayel said. It is still unclear whether the weapons depot in question belonged to Hezbollah. Gemayel also praised Salam, who himself announced plans for Hezbollah's disarmament after Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, for his "firmness and his courageous stances." "Today, the challenges before him are certainly great, but we are convinced that with his presence, that of His Excellency the President [Joseph Aoun], and the ministers in the government, we have a historic opportunity for Lebanon to recover once again," Gemayel said. The Lebanese Army was mandated by Cabinet last week to devise a plan, by the end of August, to ensure the state's monopoly on arms before the end of 2025.
MTV Lebanon
11-08-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Salam meets Kataeb delegation, reaffirms support for Army and Lebanese sovereignty
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed Kataeb Party leader, MP Samy Gemayel, accompanied by MPs Salim Sayegh, Nadim Gemayel, and Elias Hankach, at the Grand Serail. Speaking after the meeting, Sami Gemayel said the visit was to congratulate Salam, commend his resolve and courage, and wish him success amid Lebanon's many challenges. He expressed confidence that, with the prime minister, president, and cabinet working together, Lebanon has a 'historic opportunity' to recover and offer hope for a better future. Gemayel paid tribute to the Lebanese Army soldiers killed the previous day, calling them 'martyrs of sovereignty and legitimacy,' and vowed continued Kataeb support for the army. Addressing recent Iranian statements on Lebanese affairs, Gemayel said the Kataeb rejects all such remarks from Iranian officials, calling them an infringement on Lebanon's sovereignty. He accused Iran of fueling instability through its support for Hezbollah, urging Tehran to treat Lebanon with greater respect. Prime Minister Salam also met MP Hadi Aboul Hosn, with whom he discussed national and development issues, MP Abdel Aziz Al-Samad on general conditions, and Maronite Foundation for Diaspora head Rose Choueiri on pending nationality restoration decrees requiring government action.
L'Orient-Le Jour
31-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Gemayel and Moawad praise Aoun's speech on arms monopoly.
BEIRUT — Leader of the Kataeb party, MP Samy Gemayel, hoped that the government will translate President Joseph Aoun's statement earlier on Thursday into "practical steps to enforce the law on everyone and restore the state's sovereignty", referring to Hezbollah's disarmament. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Lebanese Army, Aoun delivered a forceful speech calling for the army and security forces to hold the exclusive right to bear arms 'across all Lebanese territory,' and to do so 'starting today.' Greatly weakened militarily by the thirteen-month war with Israel, Hezbollah is conditioning any concession on its weapons to clear guarantees regarding the intentions of Tel Aviv and Washington. The cease-fire agreement between the pro-Iran group and Israel, in force since Nov. 27, provided for a total withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, where they still occupy five positions on Lebanese territory and carry out almost daily strikes. "On the army's 80th anniversary, we heard a clear and unambiguous statement from the president on the need to confined all weapons [to the state] today rather than tomorrow. We hope that on Tuesday, the government will translate this into practical steps to enforce the law on everyone and restore the state's sovereignty and authority", Gemayel posted on X on Thursday. The cabinet is expected to discuss the arms monopoly on Tuesday at Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's request. This comes after mounting U.S. pressure on Lebanon to hold a Cabinet meeting for this purpose. In his message on Thursday, Gemayel expressed hope that the Lebanese government would translate Aoun's recent statements into 'concrete measures to enforce the law equally and restore state sovereignty.' 'On the occasion of the army's 80th anniversary, we heard a clear and unequivocal statement from the president on the need to confine all weapons to state authority — today, not tomorrow. We hope that by Tuesday, the government will turn this into action to uphold the rule of law and restore the state's sovereignty and authority,' Gemayel wrote on X. Michel Moawad described the speech as 'an important step toward affirming the principle of state sovereignty over all its territory and borders.' 'President Aoun's affirmation of setting a clear timeline to achieve this goal marks a serious beginning for moving toward the practical phase that the Lebanese people have long awaited — an essential step to save Lebanon, end its Arab and international isolation, and finally turn the page on war, destruction, and impoverishment,' he added.
MTV Lebanon
01-07-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Gemayel says shiite diaspora vote seen as threat to political monopoly
Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel warned that efforts to block full voting rights for Lebanese expatriates are part of a broader political scheme aimed at suppressing dissenting voices within the Shiite community and preserving outdated power structures. Following a meeting with MP Mark Daou at the Kataeb Party's headquarters in Saifi, Gemayel issued sharp criticism of the latest legislative session, from which opposition lawmakers withdrew after Speaker Nabih Berri declined to add a proposed draft law on diaspora voting to the agenda. 'Our goal was never to disrupt the session,' Gemayel said. 'There were important items up for discussion, and we wanted to attend, debate, and vote on what matters. But the way the expatriate voting issue was being manipulated left us no choice but to walk out.' Gemayel said the campaign to restrict non-resident Lebanese from voting for all 128 parliamentary seats is being driven by fear of one specific group: Shiite expatriates. 'It is becoming increasingly clear that this fear stems from the belief that Shiite voters abroad would support the Lebanese state and the project of state-building,' he said. 'The attempt to cancel their vote is not about ensuring equality between Lebanese citizens, as some claim; it is about eliminating the impact of a Shiite voice abroad that could break the current monopoly and bring diversity into the Shiite community, just as we see in other sects.' Gemayel accused opponents of using misleading rhetoric to mask their intentions. 'All the slogans raised by the other side are smokescreens to hide the truth. This only makes us more determined to ensure that expatriates can vote for the full parliamentary seats, across all districts,' he said. 'Their votes are key to liberating and rebuilding this country, and ushering in a new era of peace, openness, prosperity, reform, and modernization.' Echoing Gemayel's concerns, MP Mark Daou said his visit to the Kataeb headquarters was part of ongoing coordination with political allies on the growing crisis in Parliament and the battle for diaspora voting rights. 'I came to discuss the developments in Parliament, especially the right of over 1.5 million Lebanese expatriates to vote,' Daou said. 'More than half the chamber is committed to this right and has signed a petition that will be formally submitted to the Speaker and the Bureau of Parliament.' Daou blamed the recent legislative deadlocks on what he called a 'sweeping commitment among MPs to ensure that the diaspora is treated fairly and allowed to vote based on their home districts for all 128 lawmakers, just like residents.' 'We coordinated on how to escalate pressure, activate Parliament's internal rules, and push to place the urgent diaspora voting bill on the legislative agenda,' Daou said. 'We want it to be put to a vote and passed, as demanded by a clear majority of the Lebanese people.' Daou described the push for diaspora voting as a "decisive battle" that could reshape Lebanon's political future. 'This fight will define political participation for all Lebanese. It will also determine the real balance of power on which we can begin building a new post-conflict Lebanon—one that reopens to the world, protects its sovereignty, and gives citizens the hope of meaningful change,' he said. 'This opportunity cannot be wasted due to the obstruction of parties that remain trapped in the past,' he warned. Daou stressed that the battle is not limited to the electoral law. 'The issues of exclusive state control over weapons, full political participation, and judicial independence are core to the Lebanon we want to build,' he said. 'These are essential fights for entering a new phase in Lebanon's future.'
