Gemayel slams govt. for 'preparing for war instead of avoiding it'

Kataeb Party chief Sami Gemayel has lamented that “Lebanon is hijacked” and that “the legitimate Lebanese authorities do not have any decision in their hands,” amid the daily clashes between Hezbollah and Israel on the border.

“The government is only preparing to deal with the war’s repercussions and there is not a single attempt to avoid it. This official surrender is lamentable and it is clear that the Lebanese have no decision in what is related to their future and their country’s future,” Gemayel told Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath television.

“Hezbollah’s control would not have manifested itself like we’re seeing today had the government tackled what’s happening in south Lebanon. Instead of sending the Lebanese Army to the south and deploying it to prevent friction, prevent dragging Lebanon into the battle and implementing Resolution 1701 in cooperation with UNIFIL, we see the south abandoned and the state absent,” Gemayel decried.

“There are no orders for the Lebanese Army to prevent escalation and prevent the scenes that we are seeing in the south,” he added.

“What mobilizes Hezbollah and Tehran’s allies is Iran’s interest,” Gemayel pointed out.

“Instead of standing idly by, let everyone press Iran to liberate Lebanon from its hegemony. The international community’s role is to stand by Lebanon’s sovereignty and press Iran to stop sending money and arms as is happening today,” Gemayel added.

“We are people who believe in peace and sovereignty, not blood, wars and killing,” the Kataeb leader went on to say.