Bassil warns against 'surrender', wants 'just peace' in exchange for disarmament

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has said Hezbollah's disarmament should only happen when Lebanon's rights are secured and the country is protected.

In an interview late on Sunday, Bassil stressed that indirect negotiations with Israel should give Lebanon its rights and "a just, permanent, and long-lasting peace". "What is important is that these negotiations don't lead to surrender, our airspace and land and sea borders are constantly violated, and our sovereignty is violated. When Lebanon regains its rights and when it is actually protected, there will no longer be a need for weapons."

Bassil said he supported that Hezbollah hand over its arms to the Lebanese army but not without something in return. He said Hezbollah's armament was a result of an "exceptional situation" and asked for security guarantees in exchange for the group's disarmament.

Bassil also said direct negotiations with Israel in the future are not out of question and that what matters is not if the negotiations are direct or indirect but that the negotiations give Lebanon its rights.