Bassil: We Are for Peace, Not Negotiations Under Fire… Lebanon Is Being Used as a Battleground and the Lebanese Are Paying the Price

President of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Gebran Bassil stressed that "it is unacceptable for Lebanon to remain without a unified Lebanese position regarding the negotiations," saying: "We are for peace, not surrender; for honorable negotiations, not negotiations conducted under fire that give Israel a free pass to continue its killings."
He emphasized that "there must be a unified national position rather than betting on internal divisions," adding that "Lebanon is capable of presenting a proposal to the world that offers an alternative both to Israeli occupation and to Hezbollah’s weapons namely the Lebanese state, its army, and its diplomacy."
Bassil noted that "from the very beginning, our position was not opposed to negotiations, because whoever seeks peace must negotiate." However, he added that "the issue lies in the outcome of those negotiations," lamenting that “the negotiations have unfortunately become a form of cover used by Israel to continue its attacks on southern villages.”
He stressed that “the destruction taking place is systematic, and Israel is working through it to erase all signs of life in southern Lebanon.”
In an interview with MFM Radio, Bassil said: “Those who benefit from the continuation of war are those who hold military superiority, and Hezbollah does not possess military superiority. What Hezbollah and Lebanon want is an end to the war.”
He added: “Regardless of whether we agree with Hezbollah aligning itself with the Iranian agenda which we do not support Lebanon today is being used as a battleground, and it is the Lebanese people who are paying the price.”
Bassil warned that “it is wrong to believe that anyone in Lebanon is immune from the consequences, as the entire country is bearing the burden of displacement.”
He stressed that “all of Lebanon is paying the price of displacement because it represents a demographic and social transformation of Lebanon’s national fabric that the country cannot withstand.”
Bassil noted that “the threat today extends beyond Lebanon’s 10,452 square kilometers, as even Lebanon’s history is being destroyed.”
He added: “The bombing of Tyre in the manner we are witnessing is a message in itself and an attempt to erase Lebanese civilization, as though there is a new expansionist project targeting southern Lebanon, all while the Lebanese authorities remain silent.”
Bassil pointed out that “a ceasefire had previously been declared but was never respected, and what is happening today is the clearest proof of that.”
He asked: “Can anyone watching what is happening in the Bekaa, the South, and Beirut truly consider this a ceasefire guaranteed by a major power like the United States, whose influence over Israel is well known, and which effectively says that everything taking place has American approval?”
Bassil added: “At the very least, the Lebanese authorities should issue a position affirming support for negotiations, the limitation of arms to the authority of the state, and that what Hezbollah is doing cannot continue in this manner. However, neither the Lebanese army nor the state can implement such measures while Israel continues to occupy and destroy villages on a daily basis.”
He stressed that “this is no longer negotiation but rather acquiescence and surrender, especially following the issuance of a statement or memorandum of understanding between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. sponsorship, affirming coordination between Lebanon and Israel to eliminate armed groups, which was understood as Lebanese approval.”
Bassil noted that “since October 7, 2023, Hezbollah has pursued a misguided policy toward both Lebanon and itself.”
He said: “Unfortunately, it has become difficult for Hezbollah to reverse this mistaken course, which has dragged both Lebanon and Hezbollah into avoidable military losses, as well as severe economic, social, and financial consequences. Hezbollah cannot simply stop what it is doing because that would amount to complete surrender and total defeat.”
Responding to a question regarding whether the Presidency of the Republic had failed in handling the issues of negotiations and weapons, Bassil said that “there has been a failure to fulfill the commitments made in the inaugural address and ministerial statement, namely the establishment of a national security strategy, which Lebanon has yet to develop.”
He argued that “this is not merely a simple mistake but rather a deliberate one, based on the assumption that no one is capable of producing a solution.”
Bassil added: “Whether Hezbollah agrees or disagrees is not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to present a solution that compels Hezbollah to accept it, and if it refuses, then it bears even greater responsibility.”
He stressed that “we do not present Hezbollah with a solution while simultaneously telling it to surrender. If you leave it with no option except being killed, it will inevitably defend itself.”
Bassil affirmed: “We support limiting arms to the authority of the state, and Hezbollah is realistic enough to understand that it cannot continue in the same manner as before.”
At the same time, he stressed that “disarming Hezbollah by force is a recipe for civil war. Therefore, the solution must be gradual and based on a clear agenda.”
He added: “We should use Hezbollah’s remaining weapons to secure Lebanon’s rights rather than act as though Lebanon has no remaining negotiating leverage.”
Bassil continued: “We support the principle of limiting arms and implementing the relevant resolution, and this is something no one should oppose. We are confident that Hezbollah and some of its leaders possess sufficient awareness and understanding, which is why we insist on the necessity of establishing a national security strategy.”
He reiterated that “disarmament by force is out of the question because it would lead to civil war,” emphasizing once again that “the solution must be gradual.”
Bassil also stressed that “no one denies Hezbollah or the Shiite community their existence or rights. They are a fundamental component of Lebanon, and there can be no Lebanon without them, especially given that they are part of the state and their rights are protected.”
He added: “We will not accept any infringement on those rights, and they must be reassured that they will neither be killed nor marginalized, whether as individuals or as a community.”
Bassil described “talk of deporting them to Iraq” as “neither reasonable nor realistic.”
He added: “The Lebanese people also need reassurance. In 2006, the late Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah provided that reassurance, and Hezbollah did not exploit its military strength for political gain. There was no political translation of that military victory.”
“However, in 2022, Hezbollah used its surplus of power in an attempt to impose a president or prime minister, which we rejected and confronted.”
Bassil stressed: “Our responsibility is not only to reassure them; they must also reassure us and the entire Lebanese public that they genuinely want to be part of the Lebanese state and are not tied to a non-Lebanese agenda.”
He added: “They must reassure us that neither their weapons nor their financial resources will lead them to prioritize the interests of other countries over Lebanon’s interests, and that they will not translate military power into political privileges domestically. This is unacceptable, and we need guarantees regarding this matter.”
Regarding the relationship between the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah, Bassil said: “We are not in a state of hostility with anyone internally, but there remains a major political disagreement because we do not believe there is sufficient responsiveness or responsible discourse.”
On the issue of peace, Bassil stated: “Since 2017, I have openly said that I support peace, and all hell broke loose at the time, yet I still maintain the same position.”
He explained that “the process must be gradual: first a truce, then peace, and ultimately normalization.”
“However, in return for these three stages, Lebanon must secure its rights through the recovery of occupied land, the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland, and the ability to invest in its natural resources, which Israel does not want Lebanon to exploit because it does not want Lebanon to become an economic power.”
Bassil added: “Even if there is an internal problem with Hezbollah, we must not forget that Israel has occupied and attacked our land since 1948.”
“Our anger toward Hezbollah must not cause us to forget the external threats facing Lebanon. That is why we support peace, not surrender, and honorable negotiations, not negotiations conducted under fire, amid killing and destruction, through which we effectively hand Israel a free pass to continue its aggression against Lebanon.”
Bassil said: “As complex as I find the international, regional, and Lebanese situation especially given the involvement of major powers such as China and Russia the two sides in conflict are ultimately bound to reach a solution.”
He added: “It is clear that the military option has failed to produce the necessary outcome, and despite both sides raising their political ceilings and hardening their positions, they are ultimately compelled to reach some form of settlement.”
“On one side, Iran is facing internal and financial instability, and on the other side, U.S. President Donald Trump is dealing with a domestic situation that is not favorable to him, particularly as the World Cup and the midterm elections approach.”
Bassil noted: “In Lebanon, fuel prices can rise by four or five dollars without major consequences, but in the United States, even a quarter-dollar increase in fuel prices can trigger major political reactions.”
He added that “polls are not in Trump’s favor, which means both sides are under pressure and are attempting to adjust their demands in order to reach a compromise within 60 days, thereby postponing a second round of confrontation.”
Regarding general amnesty, Bassil said that “a state that grants a general amnesty every ten years is encouraging crime.”