Special – Refusal to Surrender Weapons: An Obstacle to Reconstruction
The “Party” is striving to accelerate the reconstruction process in southern Lebanon after the conflict and destruction that have affected the region. It justifies this with humanitarian and national reasons, urging the government and the international community to find urgent mechanisms for rebuilding the area. However, this effort contradicts the political reality on the ground, where it appears that the key to obstructing this reconstruction and preventing the necessary funds from flowing lies in the hands of the “Party” itself. Its insistence on retaining weapons remains the major obstacle to rebuilding the south and achieving the required stability.
The “Party” is pushing the international community and the Lebanese government to speed up the reconstruction process, arguing that the situation in the south requires swift action to assist citizens suffering from the consequences of the wars it has caused. While this demand is important, the party itself is hindering this reconstruction by clinging to weapons that pose a constant threat to the stability of the region.
Arab diplomatic sources, in a statement via the Lebanese Forces website, state that in reality, no donor countries or international entities are willing to provide the necessary funds for the reconstruction process if the weapons remain outside the framework of the state. Donor countries often require that Lebanon’s state, as the sole sovereign authority, has the ability to control the land, both in terms of security and the ability to determine how funds are spent.
The sources point out that the issue of southern Lebanon’s reconstruction is closely linked to the question of national sovereignty, which the international community considers fundamental. If the Lebanese government truly seeks to achieve reconstruction in this region, it faces a major challenge due to the “Party’s” rigid stance on possessing weapons outside the state’s control.
The sources emphasize that even if a settlement or concessions are made on this issue, the funds flowing for reconstruction will be subject to the oversight of the Lebanese state, not any party or militia. If the “Party” continues to refuse to surrender its weapons, international funds will not flow as hoped; they will remain mere promises, and the Lebanese state will not be able to make the necessary decisions to manage these funds effectively.
The sources reveal that there will be no hope for effective and comprehensive reconstruction of the south unless the Lebanese state is the sole entity capable of managing the reconstruction process, which includes fighting corruption and ensuring transparency in the expenditure of funds. Donor countries set strict conditions to ensure that reconstruction funds will go where they are needed and will be used for the benefit of the entire Lebanese people, away from any political compromises or manipulation.