Lebanon’s prime minister at the time of the final war with Israel in 2006 told the BBC that his country had been abandoned by the international community.
Fouad Siniora said it was unacceptable to let Lebanon fall and there was a lack of initiative when trying to restore peace.
“We are currently in a very difficult situation that requires real efforts locally, as well as on the Arab and international side.
“You can push things – sometimes to the brink of collapse – in a major disaster without really realizing its significance later.
“It happened at a time when the US government was too busy with elections.
“And we cannot elect a president, because some groups in the country, especially Hezbollah, have insisted that they want a president who does not stab that group in the back,” Siniora said.
The last war between Lebanon and Israel, nearly 20 years ago, began when Hezbollah fighters crossed the border and attacked Israeli soldiers. Two people were kidnapped and three were killed, sparking a month-long conflict.
In the days that followed, Siniora issued a public statement distancing the Lebanese government from what had happened.
He said the country’s current leaders have let the people down by not doing the same.
“This government did not do what my government did that day. My government very clearly and firmly stated that we did not know and were not informed about Hezbollah’s plans to cross the Line.” Green at the border and kidnapping and killing.” Israeli soldiers.
“This time there was no move by the Lebanese government. The advantage of what we did was that we created a gap between the Lebanese government and Lebanon on the one hand and Hezbollah on the other hand,” he explained. “.
Siniora is unflinching in his assessment of Lebanon’s lost sovereignty.
“In fact, Lebanon as a country has been kidnapped by Hezbollah. And behind Hezbollah is Iran.
“This gun held by Hezbollah, instead of being pointed towards Israel, began to be pointed inside the country and began to be used as a way for Iran to intervene in Syria, Iraq, Yemen. Lebanon cannot get involved in these things.” such thing.” a war.”
Siniora was also one of the architects of United Nations resolution 1701, the 2006 agreement to end the war.
Among its conditions is that an enclave of southern Lebanon – the area south of the Litani River – must be kept as a buffer zone between the two sides, free of any Hezbollah fighters or weapons.
Despite the deployment of the United Nations Unifil peacekeeping force and the presence of the Lebanese army, that did not happen. Hezbollah’s personnel and its military infrastructure remain scattered in the area.
This vacuum at the top of Lebanon’s political system has made Hezbollah’s influence over the country particularly difficult to control.
Lebanon has not had a functioning government since the last election in 2022, instead being run by an interim administration.
When President Michel Aoun’s term ended nearly two years ago, lawmakers could not agree on a replacement for him – so the position remains vacant. Many Lebanese believe leadership is in short supply.
Siniora also made it clear that the conflict in Lebanon should not be inextricably linked to the year-long war in Gaza.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited regional capitals, calling for a simultaneous ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza.
“Since October 2023, things are getting longer and longer and getting worse. Many opportunities have been created to separate the Lebanese situation from Gaza. From the Arab point of view, the association with Gaza is very important nationally and from the Arab point of view,” Siniora said.
“But especially now, in principle, Lebanon cannot afford to get involved in such an issue.
“When the situation in Gaza leaves 2.2 million Palestinians homeless and all of Gaza is destroyed, continuing to link Lebanon’s situation with Gaza is unwise.”
