c. Linking Stability to Compliance: Emphasizing that "stability cannot be achieved in Lebanon as long as Israel continues its violations" and its occupation of Lebanese territories.
3. SS: What progress has Lebanon made in implementing the national defense strategy outlined in its ministerial statement?
YC: A complete or explicit "National Defense Strategy" has not been approved yet, due to the profound disagreement regarding Hezbollah's weapons and role. While the Ministerial Statement affirms the State's exclusive right to arms (monopoly of force), other factions view the "Resistance" as a central component of national security, thus impeding the adoption of a unified strategy.
Reliance on International Support:
The government is actively lobbying for substantial American and international military support for the Lebanese Army, aiming to enable it to assert its full sovereignty and establish the monopoly of force (confine the weapons), viewing this as an essential prerequisite for implementing Lebanon's international commitments.
4. SS: What role is Hezbollah playing in Lebanons internal security, and how does this affect the armys deployment along the southern border?
YC: Hezbollah's Role in Internal Security:
Duality of Authority (Sovereignty Challenge): The organization's armament presents a fundamental challenge to the concept of the State's exclusive right to arms (monopoly of force), leading to a duality in security and sovereign decision-making.
Security Component Controversy: Some domestic and regional powers view Hezbollah as the "Resistance" and a central component of national security against Israel, while others perceive it as an armed militia threatening the State's internal security and unity.
5. SS: How are French and American diplomatic efforts influencing Lebanon's security and reconstruction plans?
YC: American & French diplomatic efforts influence Lebanon's plans through conditional linkage: substantial financial and military support (for reconstruction and army support) is offered in exchange for Beirut's commitment to structural reforms and establishing full sovereignty by confining weapons exclusively to the State (the Army and security forces) and implementing Resolution 1701 effectively makes reconstruction and security plans contingent on abandoning the duality of authority.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.
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