The city of Baalbek witnessed an inclusive national meeting organized by Lebanese national parties, forces and figures under the title of rejecting normalization and direct negotiation with Israel, with the participation of political, party, municipal and religious leaders, and in the presence of the head of the Baalbek parliamentary bloc, MP Hussein al-Haj Hassan, MP Qablan Qablan, MP Ali al-Miqdad, former minister Hamad Hassan, the Secretary-General of the National Banner Party, Ali Hijazi, and the Secretary of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, George Jreij, along with representatives of the Amal Movement. Hezbollah, the Free Patriotic Movement, Palestinian factions, and other actors.
In his speech, Representative Hussein Al-Haj Hassan affirmed his rejection of the option of direct negotiations with Israel, considering that this path only achieved “empty promises” in light of the continued attacks and military escalation. He called on the political authority to immediately withdraw from this option and return to strengthening national unity and restoring internal immunity among the Lebanese.
He also stressed the rejection of all forms of normalization and American security proposals, stressing adherence to the ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the return of people to their villages, reconstruction and the release of prisoners, in addition to preserving civil peace and national unity and fully implementing the Taif Agreement.
In turn, MP Qabalan Qabalan criticized the direct negotiation process, questioning the results achieved by the political authority, and stressing that the priority must be to protect national unity and address internal challenges. He also stressed adherence to Resolution 1701 and the October Agreement, which stipulates a ceasefire, a cessation of violations, Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction, and the return of residents.
For his part, Secretary-General of the National Banner Party, Ali Hijazi, affirmed adherence to the resistance option until the liberation of all Lebanese territories, considering that the resistance weapons are an internal Lebanese matter to be discussed through the national dialogue in a way that preserves national security and prevents any attack on Lebanon.
As for the Secretary of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, George Jreige, he stressed his party’s principles based on resisting Israel in the field and preserving national unity at home, stressing that national dialogue is the natural gateway to addressing controversial issues and fortifying internal stability.
At the conclusion of its work, the National Meeting issued a statement affirming support for the resistance and the right of the Lebanese to defend their homeland, rejecting direct negotiations and normalization with Israel, demanding Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the return of the people to their villages, launching a reconstruction workshop, recovering Lebanese prisoners, and stopping Israeli attacks and violations.
The statement also stressed adherence to civil peace, national unity, and the Taif Agreement, support for the Lebanese army as the unifying national institution, and the call to formulate a national defense strategy through internal dialogue, while emphasizing that the issue of resistance weapons remains an internal Lebanese matter, far from any external pressures or dictates.
