October 17, 2024
By Nasser Kandil
• The spiritual summit joined the call issued by the Ain al-Tineh meeting, which brought together Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Walid Jumblatt, and was endorsed by Hezbollah and Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil. This call emphasised that a ceasefire must take precedence over any other issues, whether it be electing a president or starting negotiations on post-ceasefire arrangements under the banner of implementing Resolution 1701.
• The Americans arrived late, finding that the Lebanese had already unified around a national agenda prioritising a ceasefire and rejecting any presidential election under the fire of aggression. Even among those who did not initially support Hezbollah’s opening of the support front, there is recognition that Hezbollah’s decision to prioritise a ceasefire without tying it to Gaza is an important step toward meeting them halfway. They are aware that the U.S. will not impose anything on the occupying entity, either because it is unable to or unwilling to, and in both cases, only the Resistance’s strength can deter Israel. As long as the demand for a ceasefire remains a national priority, no one will abandon this shared goal.
• In practice, the U.S. is attempting to repeat its 1982 strategy, when Lebanon was invaded, American forces intervened, and the May 17 Agreement was signed under a president elected during the aggression and occupation. However, they overlook two crucial facts: first, that their achievements back then did not last more than a year, after which everything – including the occupation – collapsed. Second, the changes in Lebanon today are unfavourable to both the occupying entity and U.S. goals. The brutal assault on Lebanon, similar to the one in Gaza, orchestrated with Washington’s protection, is counterbalanced by the Resistance’s ability to impose a balance of firepower, which they will not hesitate to fully utilise if events continue down this path.
• When the Occupying Entity’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant states that there will be no ceasefire before negotiations, and that negotiations will take place under fire, it signals that the entity seeks more than just border arrangements – it demands a political and security price that would encroach on Lebanon’s sovereignty. Yet, as the Lebanese have unified around the priority of a ceasefire, they are also determined to safeguard their sovereignty. With the Resistance writing new chapters of heroism, this sovereignty will not be compromised.
