The BBC reported that the prime minister of Lebanon at the time its last war against Israel in 2006 said his country had been abandoned by the international communities.
Fouad siniora said that it was unacceptable to let Lebanon fall and that there was a lack in initiative when it came down to trying to restore the peace.
“We are in a very challenging situation that requires real efforts locally, on the Arab side as well as internationally.
“You can push something to the edge of collapse in a major disaster without realising its implications later.
“It happens at a time that the American administration is so occupied with the elections.
“And we’re unable to elect president because some groups, especially Hezbollah in the country have been insisting they want a President who won’t stab this group in the back,” Siniora stated.
Hezbollah fighters attacked Israeli soldiers after crossing the border in the last war between Lebanon & Israel, which took place nearly 20 years ago. Two people were kidnapped, and three were killed. This sparked a conflict lasting a month.
In the days following, Siniora issued a public statement distancing himself from the Lebanese Government.
He believes that the current leaders of the country have failed the people by not doing what he did.
“This government didn’t do what my government was doing that day. My government was very clear in stating we were unaware and not informed of Hezbollah’s plan to cross the Blue Line at the border, kidnap Israeli soldiers and kill them.
“This time, the Lebanese Government has not moved.” He explained that the advantage of our actions was that we created distance between the Lebanese Government and Lebanon, on the one side, and Hezbollah, on the other.
Siniora’s assessment of Lebanon’s lost sovereignty is unwavering.
Hezbollah has essentially kidnapped Lebanon as a nation. Iran is behind Hezbollah.
“This gun, which was held by Hezbollah and not pointed at Israel, began to be pointed inwards, and started to used as a means for Iran to interfere with Syria, Iraq, or Yemen. Lebanon cannot get involved in a war like this.”
Siniora is also one of those who drafted UN Resolution 1701, which ended the war in 2006.
One of its conditions was to keep a large area of southern Lebanon, south of the famous Litani River, as a buffer between the two sides. It should be free of Hezbollah weapons or fighters.
This did not happen despite the deployment of UN peacekeeping force Unifil, and the presence the Lebanese Army. Hezbollah, its people and its military infrastructure remained in the area.
Hezbollah has a particularly difficult time controlling its influence in Lebanon because of this vacuum at the top.
Since the last set of elections held in 2022, Lebanon has been run by a caretaker government.
The job of President Michel Aoun remains vacant. Many Lebanese feel that leadership is in short-supply.
Siniora also makes it clear that the conflict between Lebanon and Gaza should not be inextricably connected.
Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, visited regional capitals and called for a simultaneous ceasefire in both Lebanon as well as Gaza.
“Since 2023, things have been getting worse and worse. There were many opportunities to separate the Lebanese and Gaza situations. Siniora stated that it was important to be associated with Gaza from a national and Arab perspective.
“But especially now, Lebanon cannot afford to be involved in such a situation.
“To continue to link the situation in Lebanon with Gaza when 2.2 million Palestinians are homeless and Gaza has been destroyed is not wise.”
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