In statements to “Al-Arabiya,” Rajji expressed his hope that the United States would continue to pressure the Israeli side to “convince them that Lebanon’s appointment of a civilian figure to the mechanism negotiations is a sufficient step as a first stage to spare Lebanon any potential military action.”
Rajji added: “Nothing is certain yet, there are mixed indications, and let us wait for the results of the mechanism’s work after the introduction of civilians into it, knowing that its mission will not change, which is to implement the provisions of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed on November 27, 2024.”
He stressed that “the negotiations within the mechanism will not change, and they are exclusively military, knowing that the Israeli side is insisting on implementing international resolutions to disarm Hezbollah from all of Lebanon.”
Rajji affirmed that “the disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantling of its military structure is a Lebanese demand regardless of international demands, and this is what I said before the UN Security Council delegation yesterday.”
He clarified that “Lebanon is very far from signing a peace agreement with Israel, and Ambassador Simon Karam is only tasked with talking about the cessation of hostilities, the Israeli withdrawal from the points it still occupies, and the handover of prisoners, i.e., purely military issues.”
Rajji pointed out that “talk about an economic zone in the south is still a project in the absolute, and nothing is serious yet, while the war has not ended in the south, and Israeli attacks are continuing, and the threats of a wide military campaign still exist.”
Rajji also expressed his regret that “Hezbollah is not convinced that it is in the interest of Lebanon and its interest as a party to hand over its weapons to the state, and the credibility of the state today depends on the extent to which it extends its authority over all Lebanese territory and confines the weapons of all armed organizations to the hands of the legitimate forces.”
He continued, saying: “Events have proven that Hezbollah was not able to support Gaza, liberate Jerusalem, or defend Lebanon as it claims, but on the contrary, it suffered a great defeat.”
He added: “There is no solution except through diplomacy, and the success of this solution is measured by the extent to which the state controls its territory with its legitimate forces and confines weapons to its hands. Only then will the international community deal with us seriously.”
In this context, Rajji affirmed that “Hezbollah cannot hand over its weapons without an Iranian decision, and its concern today is to buy time and preserve itself internally to restore its power.”
He completed: “Hezbollah is rebuilding itself in many ways, including money, which is what its officials said, in order to restore its authority internally whenever the opportunity arises, and its work now is no longer focused on the south and fighting Israel.”
Rajji clarified that he “discussed these matters seriously with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi during meetings on the sidelines of regional conferences, but the response to his invitation for a bilateral meeting will be through a diplomatic note.”
Regarding the plan to confine weapons south of the Litani, which ends at the end of the year, after which the second phase begins, which includes the area north of the Litani, Rajji explained that “the second phase of the plan begins next January, and it is between south of the Litani and the Awali River.”
He pointed out that “there is American resentment towards the army as a result of several accumulations, as they say, and the issue is not military or technical, but rather political, linked to the Lebanese authorities announcing a clear and explicit position on Hezbollah’s weapons.”
Rajji concluded his speech by saying: “Hezbollah challenges and provokes the government every day with the talk of its Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem about rearming, while the Lebanese state does not act firmly to implement what it has pledged.”
