القوات تساير بري و ما يقوم به التيار"محن"إليسا الهاشم لرئيس الحكومة: إنت مش وظيفتك تتعاطف معي اشتغل!

Summary

Writer and political analyst Elissa Al-Hashem argued that Lebanon’s leaders are avoiding clear decisions on peace, security, and reform, leaving the country in what she described as a dangerous state between war and peace.

European Mission and UNIFIL

Al-Hashem questioned what the European mission announced during EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas’s visit to Beirut would actually do. She argued that any security arrangement lacking Israeli acceptance would be unlikely to last. She also criticized UNIFIL for failing, in her view, to prevent Hezbollah’s expansion or ensure the withdrawal of weapons south of the Litani River. She said a peace agreement would make substitute monitoring forces unnecessary.

Negotiations and Hezbollah’s Weapons

Al-Hashem welcomed direct Lebanese-Israeli meetings as an important breach of a longstanding political barrier, but accused Lebanese officials of evading a clear position on peace and delaying implementation of commitments. She said the debate over whether to “contain,” “hand over,” or “disarm” Hezbollah’s weapons was semantic, and argued that the armed presence must end.

She warned that continued delay could worsen Lebanon’s economic and social crisis and increase displacement from the south.

Government and Cost of Living

Responding to the prime minister’s remarks about the rising cost of living, Al-Hashem said expressions of sympathy were inadequate without a concrete plan, deadlines, and accountability. She cited fuel costs, taxes, electricity problems, and alleged corruption as pressures on ordinary people. She also argued that insecurity and the existence of an armed parallel power would deter investment.

Iran and Regional Escalation

On reports of Iranian funds reaching Hezbollah, Al-Hashem said their destination should be assessed by looking for evidence of spending in affected communities, and questioned past claims of large cash transfers. She alleged that money could still enter Lebanon through regional smuggling routes.

Separately, she predicted that a major US-Iran confrontation might be approaching, pointing to military deployments, arms shipments, and high-level regional contacts. She advised judging events on the ground rather than relying on political statements. These were her assessments, not confirmed outcomes.

Energy Ministry Dispute and Government Performance

Al-Hashem said the energy minister should use constitutional procedures—including seeking parliamentary accountability for officials she believes are obstructing solutions—rather than relying on a boycott or resignation. She accused the Lebanese Forces of accommodating Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri for political and electoral reasons.

She also said the government had yet to demonstrate meaningful achievements and questioned President Joseph Aoun’s record to date.

Yemen and Regional Alliances

Al-Hashem described the Saudi-linked joint-defense agreement discussed in the interview as defensive and questioned its practical deterrent effect. She nevertheless argued that the Houthi threat should ultimately be addressed and opposed Iranian-linked forces controlling the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Prison Conditions and Amnesty

Al-Hashem condemned reported conditions in Lebanese prisons, citing overcrowding, illness, hunger, deaths, and long delays in trials. She criticized what she characterized as political maneuvering around the prisoners’ strike and called for urgent action on prisoners’ rights and the general-amnesty issue.

Presenters and Contributors

• Chris: Host
• Elissa Al-Hashem: Guest, writer and political analyst