In a firm declaration of principles, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General, Sheikh Na'im Qassim, has categorically rejected the inclusion of any civilian president in the monitoring mechanism for the cessation of hostilities agreement along the Lebanese-Israeli border. During a speech on Friday, Sheikh Qassim framed the proposed step as a significant misstep and a clear violation of prior assurances.
Addressing a crowd at the "Najie' wa Midad" festival honoring martyred scholars, Qassim stated that involving a civilian in the monitoring "mechanism" while hostilities persist constitutes an "additional stumble added to the sin of the August 5 decision." He emphasized that his party’s consent was conditional on a full halt to Israeli military operations, a condition he implies remains unfulfilled. "Every step presented in this context will be nothing but an integral part of Israel's demands," he asserted, according to a report by Al Mayadeen.
The Sheikh positioned the ongoing Israeli attacks as rooted in a "project of gradual occupation," explicitly denying that Hezbollah’s military presence is the cause. He sharply delineated the limits of external influence, stating, "America and Israel have no relation to organizing our internal affairs," and that Lebanon’s engagement with them should be confined strictly to the agreement concerning the area south of the Litani River.
Central to his address was an uncompromising vow regarding the group’s military capacity. "No one in the world can prevent the party from possessing defensive capabilities," Qassim declared, underscoring that Hezbollah will neither retreat nor surrender, nor will it pay any heed to Israel, the United States, or their "servants."
Shifting to the domestic front, Sheikh Qassim defended Hezbollah’s role within Lebanon’s fractured political landscape. He insisted the party is not isolated but has always been part of a comprehensive national resistance, claiming it "did not impose its opinion on anyone" but instead cooperated with all parties, offering what he termed a "pioneering experience."
He also addressed criticism of Hezbollah’s recent statement on the Pope’s visit to Lebanon, suggesting that "some affected parties confronted Hezbollah’s statement instead of focusing on the visit itself." He interpreted the criticism as "proof of its influence," vowing it would only increase the party’s resolve.
In closing, Qassim reaffirmed Hezbollah’s dual-track mission of domestic cooperation and resistance. "The party cooperates with everyone to build the state and liberate the land," he said, adding that it neither awaits certification from anyone nor grants it to others. He concluded with a defiant note, accusing Americans and Israelis of seeking Hezbollah's eradication but promising they would never succeed.
Photo: Al Mayadeen