Frem urges the Lebanese state to make a decision to cease fire: I fear forced displacement, and Resolution 1701 must be fully implemented

The Chairman of Project Watan’s Executive Board, MP Neemat Frem, called on the Lebanese state to “make a decision to cease fire, neutralize Lebanon from the grave danger looming over it, and fully implement Resolution 1701.”

“We must prove to the international community that we are serious about implementing international resolutions and are determined to do so,” he stressed in a statement.

Frem said: “We are facing destruction, killing, and terror.  Today, for the first time in history, we are witnessing a sixth-generation war against a party fighting with fifth or fourth-generation weapons and technology in an unequal conflict where deterrence seems to be absent. Therefore, we must stop the ongoing bloodshed and shift away from the concept of the ‘unity of fronts’ to embrace the unity of the Lebanese arena under the protection of the state. We must raise our voice and tell the world and the international community that legitimate Lebanon does not want war.”

The lawmaker continued: “Israel is still saying that it is fighting ‘Hezbollah’ and not official Lebanon. However, I fear that Israel may soon change this stance, creating internal fragmentation akin to ticking time bombs within our society, which could result in major crises. What is required today is to close the chapter of war by separating the fronts and initiating an immediate ceasefire in coordination with Hezbollah on the ground. Either we implement Resolution 1701, or we will neither reach a ceasefire nor elect a president; Israel’s goals likely extend beyond that.”

Frem then remarked that “the war in support of Gaza was a misstep.” “It is not our war, and we must find a way out of it as soon as possible,” he stressed, expressing concern about the “return of the era of forced displacement, which was thought to have ended after World War I.”

He explained: “Today, I am deeply worried about its return after witnessing the forced displacement in Nagorno-Karabakh. I fear that the ‘unity of fronts’ has opened this door for us. Moreover, I am concerned that, to bypass the fortifications of the resistance on the Lebanese borders and the fighters who are engaging with their bare lives in the South, the Israelis might resort to penetrating Lebanese territory through the Golan Heights. This could lead to drastic military and geopolitical changes, and possibly the redrawing of maps.”

Frem also revealed that “Speaker Nabih Berri is under strong pressure amid a very delicate and difficult situation, and there has been a noticeable shift in the political scene following the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister. The pressure on Lebanese legitimacy is increasing, and we might be heading toward a scenario where Israel targets state institutions and infrastructure. What happened in Nabatiyeh, with the targeting of the municipality building, serves as a new kind of message. On the other hand, Bkerke’s spiritual summit was of utmost importance, as its spiritual components are entrusted with safeguarding the Lebanese entity. This summit supported Lebanon’s legitimate stance and the convergence on common grounds, particularly regarding the election of a president, extending the state’s authority over all its territory, and seriously implementing all international resolutions.”

He concluded by saying: “In summary, we must find common ground to rebuild the state and lead Lebanon into its second century. I truly hope that in the coming days, we will reach a decision that will be beneficial to our bleeding and wounded nation, and help extricate it from the dark and closed tunnel.”