In a remarkable political stance that reflects the escalation of the Lebanese official discourse towards Iran and Hezbollah, Minister of Justice Adel Nassar revealed that the Lebanese state has become more convinced that the party receives its directives from Tehran, considering that this reality is now clearly reflected in the performance of official institutions and the state’s approach to sovereign and negotiating files.
Speaking to Al-Jumhuriya newspaper after his return from a visit to the United States of America, Nassar confirmed that his tour represented an opportunity to put Lebanon back on the international legal map, explaining that during his meetings at the United Nations and the US State Department, he presented the reality of the country that finds itself between Iranian pressure and ongoing Israeli attacks.
He pointed out that Lebanon has a basic demand of confining weapons to the state and stopping Israeli attacks, stressing that this approach does not come in response to any external pressures, but rather is based on a national need to build a capable state and extend its sovereignty over its entire territory.
Nassar explained that he stressed during his speech at the United Nations the importance of strengthening the rule of law and protecting human rights, while during his meetings with American officials he focused on the necessity of continued American support for the success of the ongoing negotiations between Lebanon and Israel and the establishment of a ceasefire.
The Minister of Justice confirmed that the choice before Lebanon has become clear, saying: “Either we will be at the negotiating table or we will be at the table of others,” noting that he sensed during his meetings an American insistence on the success of the negotiating path between the two sides.
In his reading of the recent escalation between Iran and Israel, Nassar considered that Tehran is seeking to re-seize the Lebanese card and use it in its negotiations with the United States, suggesting that Lebanon’s fate is being managed by an Iranian decision, not a Lebanese decision. He added that Iran is trying to take advantage of the Lebanese arena as a pressure card without endangering its negotiations with Washington.
In the most sensitive situation, the Minister of Justice revealed that the presidency and the government were no longer dealing with the Hezbollah file with the caution or courtesy that characterized the previous stage, pointing to the growing official dissatisfaction with Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs and the increasing level of this objection in the official political discourse.
He also announced that he raised during ministerial discussions held yesterday the issue of Hezbollah’s performance, considering that its positions and practices impede the negotiations conducted by the Lebanese state and weaken its negotiating position. He stressed that remaining silent about this matter was no longer possible, calling for consideration of appropriate measures to address what he described as obstructing the state’s official path.
Regarding the judicial aspect, Nassar announced that the Supreme Judicial Council is continuing its intensive meetings to put the final touches on the draft law on the independence of the judiciary, in preparation for referring it to the Council of Ministers and then to the House of Representatives during the next month after completing the final amendments to it.
He also revealed the near completion of the partial judicial formations that the Supreme Judicial Council is working on, indicating that they will soon be referred to the Ministry of Justice to complete and approve the necessary legal procedures.
Nassar’s positions gain special importance in light of the delicate political and security phase that Lebanon is experiencing, as indirect negotiations with Israel coincide with the escalation of the regional confrontation between Tehran and Tel Aviv, while the Lebanese state faces increasing international pressure to continue implementing its obligations related to restricting weapons to the hands of legitimate institutions and implementing international resolutions.
These statements also come at a time when the Lebanese interior is witnessing an escalating debate about the future of Hezbollah’s role after the recent war, amid a sharp internal discrepancy between those who believe that this stage requires strengthening the state’s authority and confining security and military decisions to its institutions, and those who consider that the party’s weapons still form part of the deterrence equation against Israel.
As for the judicial level, the draft law on the independence of the judiciary is considered one of the most prominent reform items required internally and internationally, given its direct connection to the political and judicial reform plan demanded by the international community and donor financial institutions as an essential gateway to restoring confidence in the Lebanese state and its institutions.
