Latest news with #MinisterialStatement
Nahar Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Report: Shiite Duo won't withdraw from govt. or resort to street action
by Naharnet Newsdesk 08 August 2025, 17:13 The Shiite Duo's rejection of the government's decisions on arms monopolization 'will remain limited to political action and state institutions,' the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying. The Shiite Duo 'has informed those concerned that its MPs and ministers will remain in the parliament and government and that it will not use the street as a detonator or to create internal strife,' the sources added. A prominent Hezbollah source also confirmed to al-Joumhouria newspaper that the Shiite Duo will not resign from the government, adding that Hezbollah "will not hand over the weapons and will not spark clashes on the street or with the army." "We can agree on a format for army monopoly as mentioned in the Ministerial Statement without giving timetables and we support any agreement that begins with compelling Israel to withdraw, halt the violations and attacks and hand over the captives," the source added. "Weapons need a thorough discussion in which we should address Lebanon's interest first, and this would happen with the Lebanese Army by agreeing on a national strategy," the source said. The government on Tuesday took a historic decision to monopolize arms in the hands of the state before the year's end and on Thursday it approved the objectives of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack's paper, which focuses on the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups in the country. The ministers of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement walked out of both sessions in protest.
Nahar Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Aoun: Arms monopoly to be achieved despite difficulties, obstacles
by Naharnet Newsdesk 9 hours President Joseph Aoun has said that 'arms monopoly will be achieved despite the difficulties and obstacles,' adding that authorities are 'awaiting the army's plan' on weapons monopolization to 'discuss it and approve it.' 'The implementation of the U.S. paper also requires approval from Syria and Israel as well as guarantees from the U.S. and France,' Aoun added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya TV. 'Achieving arms monopoly in the hand of the state does not harm Lebanon's rights and sovereignty,' he emphasized, adding that 'Cabinet's session today will continue the approval of decisions to implement arms monopolization.' 'We will press on with the implementation of the presidential inauguration speech and the Ministerial Statement,' the president went on to say. His remarks come after Cabinet approved Tuesday a historic decision to disarm Hezbollah and all other armed groups by the year's end, with the army being tasked with presenting a plan to the government before the end of August. Hezbollah rejected the decision and said it will deal with it 'as if it does not exist,' after the ministers of the Shiite Duo walked out of Cabinet in protest.
Nahar Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Aoun: Arms monopoly to be achieved despite difficulties, obstacles
by Naharnet Newsdesk 07 August 2025, 12:42 President Joseph Aoun has said that 'arms monopoly will be achieved despite the difficulties and obstacles,' adding that authorities are 'awaiting the army's plan' on weapons monopolization to 'discuss it and approve it.' 'The implementation of the U.S. paper also requires approval from Syria and Israel as well as guarantees from the U.S. and France,' Aoun added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya TV. 'Achieving arms monopoly in the hand of the state does not harm Lebanon's rights and sovereignty,' he emphasized, adding that 'Cabinet's session today will continue the approval of decisions to implement arms monopolization.' 'We will press on with the implementation of the presidential inauguration speech and the Ministerial Statement,' the president went on to say. His remarks come after Cabinet approved Tuesday a historic decision to disarm Hezbollah and all other armed groups by the year's end, with the army being tasked with presenting a plan to the government before the end of August. Hezbollah rejected the decision and said it will deal with it 'as if it does not exist,' after the ministers of the Shiite Duo walked out of Cabinet in protest.
Nahar Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Amal says govt. violated ministerial statement, Thursday session a 'chance for correction'
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 August 2025, 17:11 The Amal Movement announced Wednesday that the Lebanese government 'should have dedicated its efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and put an end to the Israeli killing machine' instead of taking its Tuesday decision to monopolize arms in the state's hand before the year's end. The government 'contradicted what was mentioned in the president's inaugural speech and violated its Ministerial Statement, and accordingly tomorrow's session represents a chance for correction and for restoring Lebanese solidarity,' the Movement added in a statement. Amal's minister Tamara al-Zein and Hezbollah minister Rakan Nassereddine had walked out of Tuesday's session in protest at its decisions. The government "tasked the Lebanese Army with setting an implementation plan to restrict weapons" to the army and other government forces "before the end of this year," with the plan to be presented to the cabinet by the end of this month, PM Nawaf Salam told a press conference after a nearly six-hour cabinet session headed by President Joseph Aoun. Salam also announced that Cabinet would discuss the latest U.S. paper in its session on Thursday. The Iran-backed Hezbollah emerged badly weakened from more than a year of hostilities with Israel, including two months of all-out war that saw its arsenal pummeled and a slew of senior commanders killed, among them leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Long the strongest political force in Lebanon -- with detractors accusing it of using the threat of its weaponry to impose its will on domestic decisions -- Hezbollah has also seen that influence diminish since the conflict. Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem, in a televised address while the cabinet meeting was underway, said the Iran-backed group would not disarm while Israeli attacks continue. "Any timetable presented for implementation under... Israeli aggression cannot be agreed to," he said. Israel has kept up regular raids on Lebanon despite the November truce, mostly saying it is striking Hezbollah targets, and has threatened to keep doing so until the group has been disarmed. Qassem also criticized a recent proposal presented by Barrack on disarming the group. Hezbollah is the only faction that kept its weapons after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, doing so in the name of "resistance" against Israel, which occupied the country's south until 2000. Last month, Barrack urged Lebanon to "act now" to impose a state weapons monopoly.
Nahar Net
5 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Hezbollah says will deal with govt. decision 'as if it doesn't exist'
Hezbollah announced Wednesday that it will deal with the cabinet's decision on disarming it by the year's end 'as if it does not exist,' adding that it is 'open to dialogue' and to 'discussing a national security strategy.' In a statement issued by its Media Relations Department, the party described the government's decision as 'grave sin,' a 'clear violation of the National Pact' and a violation of the Ministerial Statement. "Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government committed a grave sin by taking the decision to disarm Lebanon of its weapons to resist the Israeli enemy," the party said. "This decision undermines Lebanon's sovereignty and gives Israel a free hand to tamper with its security, geography, politics and future existence. Therefore, we will treat this decision as if it does not exist," it added. Amid U.S. pressure and fears of Israel expanding its strikes on Lebanon, Salam said Tuesday that the government "tasked the Lebanese army with setting an implementation plan to restrict weapons" to the army and other state forces "before the end of this year." The plan is to be presented to the cabinet by the end of August for discussion and approval. Hezbollah said it views the decision as "the result of dictates from U.S. envoy" Tom Barrack, referring to a proposal he submitted to authorities calling for the group's disarmament within a timetable. It "fully serves Israel's interests and leaves Lebanon exposed to the Israeli enemy without any deterrence," according to Hezbollah. The government said its decision came as part of the implementation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel on November 27. The agreement stipulated that government authorities including the army and Internal Security Forces should be the exclusive bearers of weapons in Lebanon. In its statement, Hezbollah reiterated its condition that Israel must halt its strikes on Lebanon before a new defense strategy is discussed. "We are open to dialogue, ending the Israeli aggression against Lebanon, liberating its land, releasing prisoners, working to build the state, and rebuilding what was destroyed by the brutal aggression," the group said, adding that it was "prepared to discuss a national security strategy," but not under Israeli fire. Hezbollah-affiliated Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine and Environment Minister Tamara al-Zein, who is affiliated with its ally Amal Movement, walked out of Tuesday's meeting. Hezbollah described the move as "an expression of rejection" of the government's decision and "the decision to subject Lebanon to American tutelage and Israeli occupation."
