Minister Sarkis slams Hezbollah’s presence in Sannine
Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis told Al-Sharq al-Awsat daily that the recent arrests of Lebanese youths in Sannine by Hezbollah members is a sign of the party’s “dangerous expansion across Lebanese soil” as part of its “plan to control the country through undemocratic means.”
The arrested parties said that the gunmen informed them that they were in a forbidden zone, which was a military point established to prevent any Israeli air-to-land drop in the region. Hezbollah has denied any involvement in this matter.
Sarkis called on Hezbollah to remove itself from the Sannine region. “The party has nothing to do in this area, and its presence is not legal. Only the state and its security services have the right to deploy there. In addition, Mount Sannine is very far from Israel, and therefore, the party cannot claim it as a strategic spot.”
“Hezbollah’s objective is to control the country. It is following the Guardianship of the Jurist’s [Wilayat al-Faqih’s] project, which contradicts the project of the state,” he added.
Sarkis noted that since Hezbollah’s invasion of Beirut in May, its intention to control the country has become very clear, adding that the party has short-, medium-, and long-term goals for expanding its power.
Sarkis said that the state must first and foremost reach an agreement with Hezbollah. “An understanding could be reached through national dialogue, which must be held in accordance with the Doha Agreement and the Phoenicia declaration. Hezbollah thinks that resistance should be the motto for all Lebanese, while there are other opinions that must discussed through dialogue, or else Lebanon is at risk of division.”
“They want us to adopt confrontational postures, while we don’t want this to happen,” he added.
Sarkis said that Hezbollah must become loyal to Lebanon again and desist from imposing a foreign project on the country.