Geagea: No more excuses, disarmament must begin now

Abbas’s disarmament call as blow to Resistance Axis

Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea issued the following statement:

Palestinian President Mahmoud is the first Arab head of state to visit Lebanon under the new presidency. This is not surprising, as he has always carried Lebanon in his heart and has taken bold steps toward establishing sound and proper Lebanese-Palestinian relations.

What also stands out on this visit is President Abbas's crystal-clear position on the issue of Palestinian arms in Lebanon. He reaffirmed, as he has done repeatedly, that there is no need for any Palestinian weapons to exist in Lebanon, whether inside or outside the camps. Unfortunately, many Lebanese officials have refrained from expressing this stance with such clarity and frankness.

President Abbas’s consistent statements highlighting the need for all Palestinians to respect Lebanese sovereignty and the laws of the Lebanese state, and that no military action should be conducted from Lebanon except by the Lebanese Army, have refuted the excuses long used by the axis of resistance, both Lebanese and Palestinian, to justify the continued possession of illegal weapons for internal Lebanese, Palestinian, or regional agendas that are no longer hidden from anyone.

Based on these firm and explicit positions by the highest Palestinian authority, the Lebanese government must, in its very first meeting and without delay or hesitation, set a clear timeline that does not exceed a few weeks to take practical steps to collect Palestinian weapons both inside and outside the camps. It must also assume responsibility for the security of the camps and the surrounding Lebanese areas. This would be a preparatory step toward collecting all illegal weapons in Lebanon and dissolving all illegitimate military groups, allowing the new presidency to move forward as it should.

The Lebanese people have suffered immensely over the past thirty years due to military, security, and strategic decisions being made outside the state, in addition to the presence of illegal armed and security groups. It is now time for the Lebanese people to enjoy a real state that solely possesses all weapons and has full control over all military and security decisions through its official institutions.