IT is time for Lebanon to break free from the bottle of chronic crisis caused by a policy that prioritizes the personal interests of certain parties over the national interests of Lebanon. The time has come for a new era, one that differs from the previous one marked by a lack of openness among the nation’s components. No state, no matter how weak, should be ruled by a party that, at best, represents only 15 percent of one of its sects.

This statement is proven by the facts, as this party has oppressively controlled all members of its sect, and has been holding the state captive. It is now clear to everyone, including the Lebanese President and the Council of Ministers, that there will be no reconstruction as long as Hezbollah continues to control decision-making, whether directly or indirectly. The rocket fire incident was nothing more than an attempt to provoke a new war. Unfortunately, most Lebanese have yet to recognize this truth. Even the Speaker of Parliament, a close ally of Hezbollah, recently commented on the launch of a few rockets at Israel, stating, “Lebanon is committed to implementing Resolution No. 1701.”

 In doing so, the Prime Minister absolves himself of any responsibility for these attacks. As a result, the entire Lebanese political class, as protesters chanted in 2019 “All of you means all of you”, must come to terms with the fact that neither the European Union, the West, nor the Gulf states will contribute a single penny as long as Hezbollah continues to oppress the Lebanese with its weapons. Hezbollah must stop issuing empty slogans about defeating Israel, and other actions that have led to destruction and bloodshed in the last war. Hezbollah’s only goal was to achieve a foreign agenda, which can only be described as a “midsummer night’s dream.”

The rational members of Hezbollah, if any, must realize that hot-headed extremists are working to change Lebanon’s demographics and even its geography. If such rational members do exist in Hezbollah, they must make every effort to “Lebanonize” their party, as is the case with all other political factions. They must prioritize the interests of their country, rather than becoming pawns on a chessboard manipulated by foreign powers for their own agendas, with no regard for the value of Arab blood. The statements Iran has made over the past decades only reinforce this reality. In response to the U.S. president’s message, Tehran quickly disavowed all its affiliates in the region, except for Hezbollah, a fragment of which remains defiant. What is really ironic is the excessive naivety with which both the Lebanese and Israeli governments responded to the recent “rocket launch party.”

While Beirut may be attempting to avoid escalating tensions with Hezbollah, Tel Aviv has the technical capabilities to determine who launched those missiles. Meanwhile, the Lebanese political class has no power, and Israel, through its violent response, seeks to establish a new equation at the expense of innocent Lebanese people. This situation is a direct result of the “illegal weapons”, as the Lebanese government and presidency have described them, for controlling decision-making in the country.

To this day, Lebanon has not fully realized the truth: Hezbollah’s authority has become limited, especially now that Syria and Iraq have slipped from Iran’s control, which has weakened Iran significantly. As for Yemen, the United States and the Guardian of Prosperity International coalition know how to handle the situation there. Recently, Hezbollah deliberately provoked Syria, not as falsely claimed, by the “tribes.” No one can fire a single bullet without the approval of the state, any state. We witnessed how Hezbollah instigated clashes that led to the loss of innocent lives in both eastern Lebanon and western Syria, where Hezbollah used a massive missile force.

Does this serve Lebanon, or does it simply exacerbate its crises? The world does not respect hesitant policies. It is either black or white. A gray stance indicates weakness. Therefore, the Lebanese must make a decision and consider canceling trips for Lebanon’s supporters during the Eid holiday season in response to the launch of five missiles. The Lebanese must understand that the world, and the GCC states that care for them, will not continue the endless reconstruction of their country whenever Hezbollah attempts to impose foreign policies. May God protect Lebanon from the madness of this satanic party called Hezbollah.