The head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," MP Gebran Bassil, indicated that "Hezbollah has clearly weakened against Israel, but it remains strong in the internal Lebanese equation. For this reason, no incorrect calculations should be made by considering that Hezbollah can be eliminated."
In an interview on the Hungarian channel Hir Tv, he noted that "Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese people and should be accepted as such. However, it must also realize that its military role in this form is no longer acceptable."
He continued: "He cannot protect Lebanon alone with his policies. The Lebanese state must take on this responsibility, and Hezbollah should be integrated into a national defense strategy. It is a part of it, but it can no longer have its own policies."
He confirmed that "we had an understanding that no longer exists. In the idea of protecting Lebanon, it went too far, going to war rather than the interest of Lebanon, which significantly weakened our relations. But it is a Lebanese faction we deal with as we deal with all parties, but it must adhere to the Lebanese constitution and its rules."
He added: "We seek temporary stability and lasting peace, which we must achieve on both internal and external levels." He explained: "It is possible, if internal understanding is achieved, to keep Lebanon away from the region's conflicts and not to involve it in them," emphasizing that "Lebanon should play the role of a bridge as it is the land of dialogue and tolerance."
He concluded by saying: "We must protect our country from any aggression from Israel or extremists in the region, but we should not enter into battles that are not ours."