Former Minister Rashid Darbass stated in an interview with "Wardna" that "we are in an environment filled with warnings, where every envoy coming to Lebanon warns of Israeli escalation while hinting from afar at border demarcation or establishing the border demarcation, but as I see it, the tempo of the war in Gaza and the escalation in the assassinations of leaders, whether from Hezbollah or Hamas in Lebanon, do not indicate that we are going towards a settlement anytime soon." He clarified that "at the beginning of the war in Gaza, we were concerned about reactions in support of Gaza originating from our territory, especially from the south, but to be fair, we must acknowledge that Hezbollah and Hamas have committed and acted with restraint to a certain extent. Today, the fear is not from within Lebanon; as Prime Minister Najib Mikati said, the decision for peace is in our hands, but the decision for war is in Israel's hands. Israeli leaders are threatening to turn Beirut into Gaza, and we must not forget that Israel, through military operations, aims to achieve political and economic gains in the future and has an interest in destroying Beirut, as well as its port and airport."
Regarding the election of a president and the possibility that escalation in the south could apply pressure on the parties involved to elect a president in the near future, particularly in light of discussions about settlements following the Gaza war, Darbass told our site: "The resistance team is still insisting on its candidate, and I don’t see that the internal atmosphere has ripened for an agreement on a president. The media back-and-forth and the sharp political positions between both concerned parties are at their peak. In this case, one cannot say that we are close to electing a president. History teaches us in Lebanon that we cannot set any date for any entitlement as matters can change overnight."
He confirmed that "Israel is currently trying to obtain what it wants through threats without overlooking the possibility of military intervention; however, I believe that the Israelis will not dare a ground invasion of Lebanon, but they are currently using their war from a distance, which is dangerous because air combat and the assassination of leaders can lead to dire consequences."
On the topic of a settlement in the region, Darbass viewed that "the Arab movement is at its minimum level of solidarity, as Egypt and Jordan are interested in not relocating Palestinians to their lands. Syria is concerned with its internal affairs, while Iran moves its tools from afar. Today, the Americans are discussing the Palestinian cause, seeking solutions that align with their and Israel's methods without facing objections. Thus, no one knows if the conflict in Gaza will lead to a somewhat balanced settlement."
