Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Youssef Rajji said Hezbollah is disavowing the November 27 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, asserting that the deal explicitly authorized only the Lebanese Army (LAF) to bear arms.
Rajji made his remarks on Wednesday during a meeting at the headquarters of the Maronite League in Medawar, Achrafieh, where he was hosted by the league’s president, Ambassador Khalil Karam, to discuss the country's foreign policy priorities.
“The agreement was clear regarding which groups are authorized to carry weapons, namely the Lebanese Army,” Rajji stressed, adding that Hezbollah had “disavowed” the agreement’s stipulations.
Additionally, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to securing an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon through diplomatic channels. He emphasized that Lebanon’s objective remains a return to the 1949 Armistice Agreement with Israel.
“The only solution lies in international pressure, particularly from the United States,” he emphasized, urging the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
“These are strict demands made necessary by the party that led the war and was slow to accept the ceasefire agreement,” Rajji added, without explicitly naming Hezbollah.
Addressing speculation on potential normalization efforts with Israel, Rajji rejected the idea, reiterating Lebanon’s “firm position against any form of normalization.”
Furthermore, he clarified that the US had not raised the topic during diplomatic discussions and emphasized that Lebanon “categorically refuses any direct political negotiations with the Hebrew state.”
On the issue of Syrian refugees, Rajji asserted that there was no longer any justification for their continued stay in Lebanon, describing them as “economically displaced” rather than war refugees.
“This is the responsibility of the new Syrian regime and the international community,” he added, revealing that he had conveyed this message during the Brussels conference on migration.
Rajji further announced Lebanon’s intention to “review the agreements and treaties that were imposed on it under the former Syrian regime,” signaling a potential policy shift regarding bilateral agreements.
Concluding his address, Rajji called for the restoration of internal order and the rule of law, underscoring the need for judicial and security stability to attract foreign investment.
“Creating a secure and stable environment is essential to reassure investors and promote Lebanon’s economic recovery,” he concluded.
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