Lebanon's cabinet policy statement to allow Hezbollah keep arms as before: reports

Lebanese new cabinet's policy statement has been finalized on Wednesday night as Hezbollah can keep their arms to resist Israel, local Daily Star reported on Thursday.

The report said that the committee tasked with drafting the solicit platform for the cabinet agreed to adopt the same clause approved by the previous cabinet over the arms of the resistance, referring to Shiite armed group Hezbollah. The previous one allowed the group to maintain their arms in hand to resist Israel.

However, the al-Nahar reported on Thursday that the Phalange Party and Lebanese Forces, both in the majority March 14 Alliance, argued that Hezbollah's arsenal undermines state authority and runs counter to UN resolutions.

Al-Nahar said that two ministers from the majority expressed reservations on an article which deals with the resistance. It reported that the article on the state was accepted by all committee members.

The committee is expected to document the statement on Thursday afternoon.

Lebanese new cabinet was formed on Nov. 9 after more than five months of parliamentary election, in which Western and Saudi-backed March 14 Alliance won over Hezbollah-dominant March 8 supported by Syria and Iran. The March 14 Alliance called for putting all arms under state control in the election campaign.

A committee began to draft the policy statement, which serves as the political agenda of the cabinet, after the formation of cabinet. However, the issue of the resistance's arms became a focus of discussion and delayed the statement.

Hezbollah, a group holding a well-equipped and trained military is suspected of rearmament after the 2006 war against Israel, following a series of weapons blasts in recent months in South Lebanon.

The UN Resolution 1701 ended the 2006 war, and demanded Hezbollah to be disarmed. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated in the latest report on the implementation of Resolution 1701 that all militants in Lebanon, especially Hezbollah, should be disarmed immediately.

However, Hezbollah has made it clear its arms are not up for debate.

Source: Xinhua