Lebanese Kataeb Party leader, MP Sami Jamail, noted that Lebanon is hijacked along with its legitimate authorities, pointing out that the government only prepares to deal with the consequences of war instead of avoiding it. He reiterated his stance that the Lebanese people are hostages in the hands of Hezbollah, and have been warning about this for a long time, emphasizing that "we are a people who believe in peace and sovereignty, not in blood and wars." He called for pressure on Iran to liberate Lebanon from its dominance.
Jamail's remarks came during an intervention on Al-Hadath channel coinciding with security developments on the southern border. Regarding the duality of the situation between the official Lebanon represented by Prime Minister Najib Mikati's visit and Army Commander Joseph Aoun's inspection of the front in the south, Jamail stated, "Lebanon is hijacked, and the legitimate Lebanese authorities have no decision-making power. The government is only preparing to deal with the war's outcomes without attempting to avoid or evade it, which is regrettable and represents official surrender." He added, "It is evident that the Lebanese have no say regarding their future and the future of their country."
Jamail further lamented the current scene, as Hezbollah's control has never been more evident than now under the government's handling of the situation in southern Lebanon. Instead of sending the Lebanese army to the south to prevent clashes and drag Lebanon into conflict and implement Resolution 1701 in cooperation with UNIFIL, the south is left abandoned, and the state is absent, with no orders for the Lebanese army to prevent escalation.
In response to Mikati's comment that the state does not control the war and peace decision, Jamail said, "We are the only party that has stopped to reflect on this phrase recently. If this phrase were uttered in a normal state, governments would have fallen."
He pointed out that what drives Hezbollah and Iran's allies is Iran's interest. Their calculations are tied to Iran's influence, and nothing moves them except for regional power that has allies and subgroups. He explained that there are groups directly subordinate to them like Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad and allies like Hamas, and the interest of the axis is fundamental; every action is based on this interest, not the Palestinian cause.
In response to a question, Jamail highlighted that as an opposition, they gathered and issued a statement from the Parliament in which they confirmed their rejection of the abduction that Lebanon is facing. He stressed that he and the Lebanese people reject dragging Lebanon into war and paying the price of conflict, which has been ongoing for 50 years, and the solution is for the international community to take responsibility regarding the Palestinian cause.
Jamail, who emphasized the resilience of the opposition in Lebanon, clarified that Hezbollah paralyzes the country when it cannot achieve its demands, adding, "Today, there is no president for the country; the one who decides is Hezbollah that demarcates the borders with Israel and paralyzes institutions when they do not agree with it."
He reiterated that Lebanon is hijacked and the Lebanese people are hostages in Hezbollah's hands, which is something he has been warning about for a long time. He pointed out that there is no second topic of utility other than talking about restoring the state's sovereignty, asserting that as long as Hezbollah maintains control, Lebanon will not regain its vitality nor escape the crisis, even if a president is elected, as he would be a hostage in the "party's" hands, and the government will remain its hostage as long as weapons, threats, and violence are perpetually present.
The Kataeb leader emphasized in response to a question that all they want is to live in their country as equals and free, and for the "party" to deal with the Lebanese without weapons and abide by the Constitution, noting that "the party" engages with its weapon and condescension towards the Lebanese and the Constitution and disregards others, and when someone disagrees with it, they are eliminated, which is unacceptable.
He continued: "Instead of watching the reality, everyone should pressure Iran to liberate Lebanon from its hegemony. This is the role of the international community, to stand by Lebanon's sovereignty and pressure Iran to stop sending money and weapons as it currently does. We are a people who believe in peace and sovereignty, not in blood, wars, and killings."
He asserted that no one stands beside Lebanon's sovereignty, as the international community is divided between the colluding, the hiding of truths, and those who do not want to engage in conflict with others for Lebanon's sake. No one is prepared to fight to defend the sovereignty of this suffering nation that has offered the world, especially the Arab world, its dearest possessions.
He hoped that the international community has recognized the consequences of Iran's interference in regional affairs and the arming of militias and the harm this causes to the region's countries. He concluded by stating: "We hope that everyone will come to the negotiating table to withdraw all forms of violence and embark on a path of stability because the region cannot bear more wars. We are tired and want to live in safety and peace in the region and in our country, and the one who prevents us from doing so is Hezbollah directly."
