Naim Kassem: “We have delivered our response. We are waiting for that of Israel »

For the first time since the escalation of the war in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s new secretary general, Naïm Kassem, appears to have opened the door to a ceasefire with Israel in his speech on Wednesday. First by implicitly evoking relative progress in the talks led by Amos Hochstein, considering that the ball was now in Israel’s court where the American envoy went on Wednesday, while until now the party refused any negotiations before the ceasefire. Then by not linking this ceasefire to a ceasefire in Gaza, detaching itself for the first time from the principle of the unity of the fronts. Finally, by evoking the post-war period, in particular the election of a President of the Republic, a deadline at which Hezbollah says it wants to “make its effective contribution” in compliance with the Taif agreement. But Naïm Kassem at the same time wanted to define the two conditions of his training to conclude a deal, one of which could constitute the main reason for this agreement finally falling through.

“We received the negotiation document, we studied it carefully and made our comments. Our remarks and those of President (of Parliament Nabih) Berry, which are in harmony, were transmitted to the American envoy,” indicated the number one of Hezbollah, affirming that “Israel cannot (..) impose on us its conditions. At the end of his last visit to Beirut, Mr. Hochstein exuded a positive atmosphere, reporting “additional progress” in the discussions on Wednesday, an hour before the Secretary General’s intervention. “We negotiated under two principles: the first, a complete and total ceasefire, and the second, the preservation of Lebanese sovereignty,” added Naïm Kassem. The leader of the Shiite party affirmed that “the occupation (Israel) will not be able to obtain through an agreement what it could not obtain on the ground”. “The Israeli enemy cannot enter Lebanese territory whenever it wants in the event of a ceasefire,” he said, at a time when Israel is demanding the right to intervene militarily in Lebanon. South to prevent Hezbollah from establishing itself there, even after the ceasefire. The conclusion of an agreement now depends “on the Israeli response and the seriousness of (Benjamin) Netanyahu”, the Israeli Prime Minister, said Naïm Kassem in this context. And to assure that his party was preparing for “a long battle” with Israel and a “war of attrition” in the event of failure of the negotiations.

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“Hit Tel Aviv”

The leader of Hezbollah devoted a long presentation on the situation at the front to respond to all those who consider that the “resistance” is losing ground, at a time when reports indicate an advance of the Israeli army in South Lebanon. “The resistance works to eliminate the enemy and prevent the continuation of its occupation, and we have presented an exceptional model in this sense. Resistance has the capacity to continue at this rate for a long time. Israel cannot defeat us,” he said. The party leader justified the advance of Israeli soldiers into Lebanese territory – which experts estimate to be almost 5 km deep in certain areas – by the fact that his group operates with tactics completely different from those of a conventional army. . “The resistance is not a regular army, it fights against the enemy wherever it tries to advance. This is the work of the resistance and its method of confrontation,” he continued.

Acknowledging the significant losses inflicted on Hezbollah, he explained that they were due to the party facing “a savage enemy.” He stressed that the Israeli army “is also under fire” and is recording significant losses, “more than 100 soldiers killed and more wounded.” According to an AFP count, which is based on losses recognized by Tel Aviv, 49 Israeli soldiers were killed in South Lebanon. Kassem also assured that Hezbollah, which experienced a period of “confusion lasting around ten days” after the assassination of its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, quickly regained its “vigor in all areas”. “We have the means necessary to face the challenges,” he assured.

In this context, the leader of Hezbollah affirmed that his group would target “the center of Tel Aviv”, in response to three Israeli strikes on Beirut on Sunday and Monday, one of which killed the movement’s media manager, Mohammad Afif. Israel “attacked the heart of the capital. This is why he should expect a response on central Tel Aviv,” he said.

“We think about the future”

It was only towards the end of the speech that Naïm Kassem mentioned the political aspect, as if to say that the party is willing, after the war, to facilitate the resumption of the functioning of the institutions, starting with the election of a president. This deadline has been blocked for more than two and a half years by the Amal tandem and Hezbollah, who were attached to their candidate, the leader of the Marada, Sleiman Frangié. In his speech, however, the Secretary General seemed to throw some weight away. “We are thinking about the future of our country. We will make our effective contribution to the election of a President of the Republic through Parliament,” he said, insisting that these “internal steps will be taken within the framework of the Taif agreement, in cooperation with political forces. “We will rebuild together, with the help of the State and third countries. Lebanon will become even more beautiful again,” he promised, before recalling the famous “Army-people-resistance” triptych, to which Hezbollah says it is attached, despite ups and downs in relations with the troops.