Speaker Nabih Berri realized early on that the government was protected “from above,” and that bringing it down or even weakening it to the point of paralysis was therefore impossible. It enjoys Arab, American, and even European backing. All the protest activity being orchestrated by “remote control” is not enough to topple it. This is a reality that the party challenging the state’s authority by refusing to hand over its weapons to the state needs to recognize. Although Speaker Nabih Berri largely shields Hezbollah’s conduct, he does not cross the red lines that have been in place since October 7, 2023. Crossing them comes at a heavy price.
Berri knows this, while Hezbollah continues to live under the illusion of the strength it once possessed, before Israel inflicted defeats on it in the two wars it waged in support of Gaza and then Iran. It continues to raise slogans that it has no ability to translate into realities on the ground. It criticizes the state for entering into direct negotiations with Israel and for taking steps to place weapons exclusively in the hands of the state and ban its security and military activities, while at the same time continuing to pave the way for Israel to expand its occupation and intensify the bombing, destruction, and displacement of residents of the south.
Even launching a strike drone at Israeli forces means wiping dozens of homes off the map and displacing more residents of this beloved region, under a new military doctrine whereby Israel has shifted from restraint in responding to threats from the party to launching extremely heavy attacks in response to any move. Thus, the slogan of resistance has become a recipe for the destruction of the south and the Shiite community everywhere.
Instead of Hezbollah turning its attention to the affairs of its own community within the framework of Lebanon’s national interests, which would bring security and prosperity, it chooses instead to become embroiled in wars driven by Iranian interests and to drag Lebanon into them, bringing death, destruction, and extremely dangerous displacement, as the window for a swift return grows narrower by the day. The displacement is accompanied by severe economic hardship for a population with limited incomes and financial means.
Added to all of this is the death toll, which at a minimum is approaching 12,000, while the number of wounded stands at around 20,000. These figures are rising daily as Israel expands its occupation of areas in southern Lebanon. Speaker Nabih said that Israel is capable of occupying new areas, which means there is little hope of any improvement in Hezbollah’s military position, while discontent within its support base is growing particularly as people there see the party mired in unrealistic demagoguery, while bringing catastrophe upon an established Lebanese community that helped found the Lebanese state. All of this is being done in the name of blind allegiance to Iran.
Meanwhile, direct negotiations continue at several levels and through multiple channels, making up for the suspension of the negotiating rounds in Rome for several reasons, most notably the approaching elections in Israel and the United States, as well as the crowded international calendar of engagements stretching from Paris to New York.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Annahar
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