Bassil says Hezbollah can't 'restore deterrence', rejects Geagea's remarks

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has said that he will be happy if Israel “does not triumph over Lebanon or occupy it.”

“Of course we support the resistance in preventing Israel from occupying the country, but whatever happens will not restore Lebanon’s force of deterrence, because this force could not prevent the destruction of Lebanon and the displacement of its people,” Bassil said in an interview on Egypt’s al-Ghad television.

“We believed in a certain strength for the Axis of Resistance, but it has not showed until now, knowing that there are weapons and capabilities that are yet to be used by this Axis, and I believe that they are deliberately being concealed in order not to harm Lebanon, especially its infrastructure,” Bassil added.

“Lebanon cannot regain the equation of deterrence, because Hezbollah had built its combat capabilities over time and amid many circumstances, with the supply routes passing through Iraq and Syria all the way to Lebanon. Can these internal and external circumstances be formed again?” the FPM chief explained.

He also doubted that the Lebanese would want to “repeat the experience” and engage in a similar war.

“Hezbollah has lost its popular legitimacy as to its ability to protect Lebanon, whereas it is carrying out defensive missions today in a good manner,” Bassil added.

Noting that a solution involving Israeli security hegemony over Lebanon would be a “disaster,” the FPM chief said that “any bet on an imminent ceasefire in Lebanon would be a mistake.”

“All the papers that are reaching Hezbollah’s leadership and Speaker Nabih Berri include the same Gaza scenario,” Bassil added.

Asked about Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s call for the election of a president without Shiite participation in the electoral session, Bassil said he cannot be with “a Lebanon without Shiites.”

“As much as I defend the rights of Christians, I will defend the rights of any sect when someone wants to isolate it -- be it Sunni, Shiite or whatever,” Bassil added.

“When I told LF leader Samir Geagea that I supported his ambition but not his plans, I meant these crazy plans that would only take us to an internal war and which I certainly don’t support,” Bassil said.