McCain: Israel’s chance for peace with Lebanon depends on the government
US Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain said that Israel”s chance for enduring peace with Lebanon depends on the Lebanese government, which should be the main source of authority within the country”s borders.
“That means no independent militias, no Hezbollah fighters, no weapons and equipment flowing to Hezbollah,” he said in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
“Hezbollah fighters recently took up arms against their fellow Lebanese, starting the worst internal fighting since the civil war ended in 1990,” McCain said in a reference to the military operations undertaken by Hezbollah and Amal gunmen in Beirut and the Mountain in May.
He noted the Doha Agreement reached in May, whereby Hezbollah was able to gain veto power on any governmental decisions with a one-third vote in the cabinet.
McCain called on the international community to assist Lebanon and said that the future of the country must not be left in the hands of Syria and Iran.
“As the leader of Hezbollah often reminds us, the group”s mission is the defeat of Israel. The international community needs to more fully empower our allies in Lebanon, not only with military aid but also with the resources to undermine Hezbollah”s appeal: better schools, hospitals, roads, power generation and the like. We simply cannot afford to cede Lebanon”s future to Syria and Iran.”