Alwaght- Recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin after his meeting with US Secretary of State Mark Rubio clearly demonstrate foreign efforts at work to turn the new Lebanese government into a pawn in the Israeli and American political game.
In his meeting with the top American diplomat, Netanyahu said that Israel and the US should work united in the face of a "strong Lebanese government." This explicitly suggests that Lebanon will not have a position of independent and resistance in the regional policies and the American and Israeli-projected duty for it is to turn its official army into an internal Israeli guard sans the right to defend its borders.
No wonders, in the messages of support issued in recent days by Western and Arab capitals for the Lebanese government's iron fist approach, there is no mention of the government's right to maintain Lebanon's territorial sovereignty, and they are limited only to the airport crackdown, while the entire territorial sovereignty at its entirety is constantly being violated.
Meanwhile, the newly-formed government has forgotten its top priority of home issues, including countering the Israeli occupation and economic crisis and has aligned itself with foreign agenda.
While Lebanon is suffering from a crippling economic crisis and the devastation caused by war, the government’s top priority should be rebuilding the country and addressing economic problems. In reality, however, the Lebanese government is more focused on external issues and international pressures than on domestic challenges. Efforts to attract financial assistance from Western and Arab countries are also largely influenced by American and Israeli policies.
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar writes in this connection: “The blocking of [Iran's] Mahan Air plane from landing at Beirut airport, despite being presented as a security issue, was in fact carried out on the orders of Israel and the US. Lebanese officials have acted as if they had no choice but to follow foreign orders, even if this action is detrimental to Lebanon’s national sovereignty."
According to this newspaper, the new Lebanese officials, who are well aware of the public anger at their submission to the US dictates, justify their ban on Iranian flights to Beirut under the ruse of transfer of Iranian finances to Hezbollah and the European sanctions on the Iranian airline.
Hezbollah shows self-restraint for the good of national interests
Hezbollah, which is seen as the face of the resistance to Israel, has lashed out at the government for its recent measures and decisions. Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem asserted that banning Iranian flights to Beirut is not only detrimental to the Lebanese interests, but also serves the Israeli aims.
According to Hezbollah's secretary-general, Lebanese Prime Minister Tamam Salam made this decision "under the guise of civil aviation safety," but according to Naim Qassem, "the problem is not the safety of civilians, but rather this decision was taken in execution of an Israeli order and we are implementing the demands of the occupiers."
Hezbollah is also concerned that these policies will lead to a split in Lebanese society and weaken the domestic front against the continued occupation of the Israeli regime.
Qassem stressed in his speech that Israeli forces must withdraw from all Lebanese territory on February 18 and "not remain under any pretext", otherwise they will be considered as occupiers, and Hezbollah "knows how to deal with an occupier."
He further highlighted the main duties of the Lebanese government in this regard, adding: " The Lebanese government's primary and exclusive responsibility at this stage is to exert all its might, through political pressure, its relations, and any other measures, to ensure that Israel withdraws on February 18. The Lebanese government must take a firm stance in this regard."
Hezbollah chief, moreover, called on the government to concentrate on reconstruction and public welfare and take advantage of its interactions with foreign countries to ensure national interests.
Government's fruitless negotiations
Despite the fact that Hezbollah urged the government not to bow to the foreign pressures and on the other hand the public protests are on the rise, talks between new Precedent Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to find a solution out of the current crisis have gone nowhere, and it seems that the government has no serious resolve to counter the American and Israeli dictates.
Sources familiar with the matter told Al-Akhbar that in the past three days, President Aoun, Prime Minister Tamam Salam, and Ministers of Public Works and Foreign Affairs Fayez Rassami and Youssef Raji have been working on this case and examining possible options.
Among the proposed solutions being considered in these negotiations, according to sources, is the option of landing and inspecting Iranian planes at Baghdad airport before flying for Lebanon, with an American security company being responsible for the inspection. In parallel, Lebanese media circles confirm that “the President and Prime Minister have no intention of resisting American and Israeli dictates, even if it includes a proposal to commit to a full inspection of Beirut airport,” and that this trend is moving toward “announcing a ban on direct flights between Tehran and Beirut.”
This proposal totally runs counter to the sovereignty of the two countries of Lebanon and Iran and is also in conflict with the demand of Lebanese protesters and the demands of Hezbollah’s leader.
Need for government to shift home and foreign policy
Finally, Lebanon is undergoing many challenges. The government should quickly decide if it wants to continue its submission to the foreign dictates, or it should shift to internal priorities.
The government needs a strong and independent approach prioritizing national interests and departing from taking foreign orders. It is under this approach that Lebanon can embark on reconstruction and save its national sovereignty and effectively confront Israeli occupation. Otherwise, the country risks becoming a plaything in the hands of foreign powers, stripped of its own goals and aspirations.
