Frem: The Fuse of War Must Be Pulled, and We Must Move from the “Unity of Fronts” to the “Front of Lebanese Unity”

“What is happening today is a crime that began when some decided to bind Lebanon to the ‘unity of fronts’ against an enemy that we saw in action in Gaza. I was certain that this path was extremely dangerous and have repeatedly said, from Parliament, that the interests of Lebanon and its people must come first.”

With these words, the chairman of Project Watan’s Executive Board, MP Neemat Frem, described the current situation in Lebanon. “Unfortunately, we did not understand that we are witnessing the first war in the history of sixth-generation wars, as Israel is using new weapons with all its capabilities. We should have been more cautious and avoided direct involvement, like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and even Iran did,” he stated.

Frem expressed his “pain to see Lebanon’s youth dying for a cause that is not solely ours, but the cause of all Arabs.”

He then addressed “every wise individual in Hezbollah and the Lebanese state, particularly Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati,” telling them that they have a “great historical responsibility to find a way to a ceasefire.”

“The fuse of war must be pulled, and we must move from the ‘Unity of Fronts’ to the ‘Front of Lebanese Unity,” he stressed.

In this context, Frem commended MP Hussein Hajj Hassan’s statement, in which he expressed “openness to any discussion that may take place after the ceasefire.”

“We have supported [Gaza] enough, and the course must be corrected,” he said.

He continued: “President Berri is the most significant figure today because he is the elected Speaker of Parliament, who has neither resigned nor reached the end of his term. He has also become the political representative of Lebanon’s Shiite community. The Lebanese state currently consists of Speaker Berri and Prime Minister Mikati, in addition to Lebanon’s strategic reserve, represented by Bkerke -- the Maronite Patriarchate that is ‘the father and conscience of Lebanon’.  A spiritual summit for various sects is expected in Bkerke to renew commitments by abandoning the unity of fronts and establishing a ceasefire.”

The lawmaker then pointed out that “the state institutions must be rebuilt and distanced from politics to restore confidence and reinforce the concept of the national contract. The Lebanese entity is jeopardized by the situation that is driving the majority of Lebanese toward despair and disappointment. This must be quickly remedied by rebuilding state institutions, distancing them from politics, and rejecting the policy of axes. An economy must also be built where national security is guaranteed without reliance on external funds, as that compromises the nation’s autonomy.”

In his statement, Frem commented on the remarks made by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beirut, deeming them “provocative, as if Araghchi has a mandate over the lives of our children who are dying in Lebanon.” He urged Iran “to act as a strategic regional player toward Lebanon, for Lebanon should be a space for dialogue between nations, not a tool for war.”

As for the seriousness of the current situation, Frem explained that “we are, without a doubt, on the brink of a new Middle East, and in Lebanon, when eras change, we must protect ourselves.”

He reminded that “throughout history, every adventurer in Lebanon who got involved in major axes ended up paying with the blood of his people.”

“If the USA asked me to die for it, I would certainly refuse, as I only die for my country,” he stressed. “However, we should not gloat over what is happening, but rather recognize the mistakes we have made and learn from them.”

He continued: “Today, I am truly worried that the Israelis may not withdraw from Lebanon if they carry out an invasion. I had expected Hezbollah to be better prepared for a potential confrontation, with alternatives and solutions in place before the outbreak of war, including a clear, well-prepared plan to secure shelters and provisions for citizens and displaced people. From our side, we are doing what we can for the displaced who fled Beirut and the South to Keserwan and Jbeil.”

As for the presidential file, Frem urged “the election of a president capable of ending the ongoing war and leading us into a phase of openness toward the Arab world, the international community, and friendly countries, in order to start a new, different path.”

“Personally, I entered public life not out of a love for it, but because I saw that public affairs had catastrophic consequences on our lives,” he explained. “What is needed today is the election of a president capable of ensuring protection for the army, its commander, and its teams, so they can succeed in their mission, alongside the UNIFIL, to stop the war and implement Resolution 1701.”

He added: “There is no competition between me and Army Commander Joseph Aoun regarding the presidential election, as our qualifications are entirely different. The role of the Lebanese army and security forces is essential in maintaining security and preventing internal conflicts during the current situation. If the intentions are sincere, electing a president should take no more than five days.”

Frem concluded by saying: “If we do not save ourselves and prevent further escalation into a major war, we may reach the point of no return and find ourselves in the midst of a large regional war, possibly even nuclear and global. Just as I warned years before the collapse that we could face a famine similar to the one that occurred during World War I if we did not act – and that is exactly what happened – we must steer clear of the great storm heading toward our region in order to save ourselves. To the 1.4 million suffering and pained displaced people, I say: Lebanon is both your father and mother, and officials must commit to putting Lebanon first and foremost.”