Amid intertwined regional developments and increasing internal anxiety, President General Joseph Aoun delivered a speech today characterized by an unusually positive tone, reflecting a serious desire to reassure the Lebanese people and affirming that the specter of war has receded, while maintaining caution and not completely ruling it out.
This speech sparked widespread debate about the extent of the realism of this orientation, and about the international guarantees and diplomatic efforts made to protect Lebanon from any potential conflict.
In this context, journalist and political writer George Alam believes, in an interview with , that “what the President of the Republic announced constitutes a message of peace directed to the Lebanese and to everyone who loves Lebanon, the gist of which is that the coming year should be a year of stability and prosperity, noting that these wishes express the aspirations of all Lebanese without exception, after they have been exhausted by wars and the repercussions of successive crises and disturbances.”
Alam believes that “when the President of the Republic speaks with this positive spirit, it means that he is based on some kind of international guarantees that enhance the validity of this statement, but he points out in return that major question marks remain, in light of the presence of an Israeli enemy on Lebanon’s southern border, who has not adhered to the ceasefire agreement, and has continued its attacks under slogans that have become well known, but cause great damage to Lebanon.”
Alam describes this issue as “the fundamental gap that makes the President of the Republic’s words closer to political guarantees than to tangible facts, expressing his hope that the new year will be a practical confirmation of these assurances, allowing the return of stability to Lebanon.”
Alam explains that “if we look at the results of the talks that took place between the American President and the Israeli Prime Minister, it seems that Lebanon has not yet received any new title capable of changing the existing reality, as the American administration still allows Israel to continue its military actions under the slogan of weakening Hezbollah and disarming it, in addition to protecting its interests, which gives it room to continue its attacks.”
Alam concluded his speech, based on the available information, saying: “The atmosphere is still negative for Lebanon, especially with the continuation of Israeli attacks and military measures, warning that the development of events in the region may lead to the creation of a new war climate in the Middle East, which poses a direct threat to Lebanese and regional stability.”
