Hizbullah”s Islamic Resistance Moves into Policy Statement Deliberations
The controversy over drafting a policy statement for the new cabinet remained deadlocked over how to agree on a version that maintains the "right" of Hizbullah”s resistance to liberate Israeli-occupied territories and the "right" of the Lebanese government to spread its authority over Lebanese territories.
A ministerial committee drafting the policy statement is to hold its 12th session later in the day Wednesday in an effort to combine the two rights in a joint version as Hizbullah moved in to bolster the stand of its resistance by warning against the "non-accepted provocative escalation by … the Israeli enemy" across the Blue Line in south Lebanon.
Hizbullah”s Islamic resistance, in a rather rare statement issued late Tuesday, said the "Israeli enemy”s persistence with violating Lebanon”s airspace, waters and land … is a non-accepted provocative escalation that requires condemnation and serious efforts by the concerned Lebanese authorities and the United Nations."
Hizbullah”s al-Manar television network, in its main news broadcast on Tuesday evening commented that "agitators of rhetoric targeting the resistance are active in proposing versions to get rid of the resistance weapons and they disregard what Israel is doing daily to Lebanese sovereignty, while the Mujahideen (holy warriors) remain on guard against the evil that the enemy is preparing for the homeland."
Both, the Islamic Resistance communiqué and the al-Manar television comment appear aimed at bolstering the stand of Hizbullah representatives at the ministerial committee drafting the policy statement and embarrassing majority representatives trying to safeguard the government”s sole decision-making right, especially when related to war and peace.
Predictions had it that the policy statement for the new cabinet would be worked out Wednesday, or by no later than Friday to coincide with Army Day, a national event of a particular significance this year after former Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman was elected President by consensus support of the feuding factions in line with the Doha Accord parcel.
Premier Fouad Saniora visited Baabda Palace late Tuesday and briefed Suleiman on efforts exerted by the policy statement committee.
The two leaders went through "horizons of solutions to work out the statement as soon as possible," the daily An Nahar reported.
Cabinet Minister Wael Abou Faour had also visited Suleiman earlier in the day Tuesday and briefed him on the policy statement committee”s efforts.
An Nahar said Suleiman "did not propose a version, but commented on versions under consideration. He is interested in speeding up the effort."