Lebanese Leader Gebran Bassil Criticizes ‘Framework Agreement’ with Israel
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Gebran Bassil, the head of Lebanon‘s Free Patriotic Movement, has articulated the movement’s political stance on negotiations with the Israeli regime, emphasizing that while dialogue is preferred over conflict, it must serve to advance Lebanese rights and achieve peace, not submission.
Bassil underscored the paramount importance of the Lebanese government’s exclusive sovereignty over decision-making and weaponry, stating, “We support any path that leads to the end of occupation and the realization of national sovereignty. However, the current ‘framework agreement’ suffers from numerous formal and substantive flaws.”
The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement pointed out the asymmetry in the agreement’s obligations, noting, “This text imposes heavy commitments on Lebanon, while no reciprocal commitments have been included for Israel. Furthermore, this agreement provides no guarantee for an Israeli withdrawal, and the issue of refugees has been entirely overlooked.”
Bassil warned that one of the Israeli regime’s objectives with this agreement is to foster confrontation between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah. He stated, “Entrusting the responsibility of disarming Hezbollah to the army will only lead to internal tension and problems.”
He also cautioned against the removal of the current defensive sovereignty without a reliable alternative, stressing that senior Lebanese officials, including the President and Prime Minister, should have proceeded based on a “unified national roadmap” prior to entering any negotiations.
