Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan said that the interior and defense ministries had to give “honest” answers for the people on security issues, because he said those who hinder security should not remain unidentified. It undermines the authority of the state and the security institutions, and the elections would not be able to be held in a relaxed and democratic atmosphere, he said.
After meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Sunday, Adwan questioned the “sudden” security incidents across Lebanon, which began with the kidnapping of MEA employee Youssef Sader on his way to work at the Beirut International Airport; the murder of MEA pilot Ghassan Maqdad; and the killing of Lutfi Zeineddine during attacks on March 14 supporters following the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Saturday, February 14. He said that the grenades thrown at political party offices and in public places was intended to create confusion and instability, as was the reemergence of rocket-launching in the South.
“There is an atmosphere of insecurity, which indicates that the state’s authority is at stake and the effectiveness of the security services is at question,” he said.
Asked about Israel’s insistence on holding the Lebanese state responsible for the rockets in South Lebanon, Adwan replied that both launching rockets and responding to them was a violation of the UNSCR 1701. “It is natural that the enemy exploits every issue that serves its interests,” he said.