Statement by the [Sunni] Islamic Group (Jama'a al-Islamiya) in Lebanon about Washington Agreement

Translation of the Statement by the [Sunni] Islamic Group (Jama'a al-Islamiya) in Lebanon about Washington Agreement:

After three months of the Israeli war of aggression against Lebanon, and the widespread destruction, forced displacement, assassinations, and attacks on civilians and infrastructure it has left behind, and following the statement issued today from Washington—which may represent an entry point toward stopping the Israeli war machine but remains shrouded in considerable ambiguity and contains broad and vague language open to multiple interpretations, raising legitimate concerns about attempts to circumvent Lebanon’s national rights—the Islamic Group wishes to affirm the following:

First: Any understanding or agreement that does not clearly and explicitly stipulate an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, an end to all attacks and violations by air, land, and sea, an end to the policy of assassinations, the complete and unconditional withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory, and the release of prisoners and detainees, cannot be considered a just or sustainable settlement. Rather, it remains an incomplete agreement that provides the enemy with another opportunity to maneuver, gain time, and continue its aggressive plans.

Second: The Islamic Group rejects any formula or understanding that would lead to the establishment of buffer zones or security arrangements that undermine Lebanese sovereignty, place any part of Lebanese territory under direct or indirect tutelage, or turn Lebanon into an arena for settling regional and international scores. It affirms that the state's sovereignty over all its territory and its freedom of national decision-making are fixed rights that are not subject to bargaining or diminution under any pretext or title.

Third: The Islamic Group calls on the Lebanese government to handle this phase with the highest degree of responsibility and transparency, to inform the Lebanese people of the reality of what is being negotiated, and to reject any clause that infringes upon national sovereignty, threatens civil peace, or grants the Israeli enemy security or political gains at the expense of Lebanon and the rights of its people.

Fourth: We reaffirm our full support for the Lebanese Army as the national institution that unites the country and guarantees national unity and civil peace. We call for strengthening its military and logistical capabilities and enabling it to carry out its national role throughout Lebanese territory. We also reject any attempt to involve it in ambiguous security arrangements or understandings that the enemy could exploit to achieve its objectives or provoke divisions among the Lebanese.

Fifth: We have repeatedly affirmed that addressing major national issues, foremost among them the question of weapons, cannot be achieved through external pressure or international dictates. Rather, it must come through comprehensive and responsible national dialogue leading to a national defense strategy that protects Lebanon, preserves its sovereignty, safeguards its resources, and secures for its people the right to security, stability, and dignity.

Sixth: We warn against any projects or understandings proposed for Lebanon under attractive slogans while their real aim is to weaken the country, isolate it from its surroundings, and leave it politically and militarily vulnerable, thereby granting the enemy an opportunity to reorganize its position and prepare for a new aggression at a time of its choosing.

"Seventh: The suffering of the displaced and those forced from their homes must be among the highest priorities of the Lebanese state and its institutions. Accordingly, we call for the provision of all requirements for shelter, relief, and social care in a manner that preserves the dignity of citizens uprooted from their homes by the aggression. We also call on the Ministry of Social Affairs and the relevant authorities to improve their performance and strengthen their human and financial capacities in line with the scale of the crisis and its consequences. At the same time, we reject any exploitation of the displacement crisis to stir tensions or undermine civil peace.

Eighth: We call upon all Lebanese to uphold their national unity, place the national interest above all other considerations, reject all forms of incitement, strife, and division, and thwart the enemy's attempts to undermine internal stability and tear apart the national fabric in service of its projects and agendas.

Lebanon, which confronted the aggression through the steadfastness of its people, the sacrifices of its sons and daughters, and the unity of its national positions, is capable of overcoming this sensitive stage, provided it adheres to its national constants—foremost among them full sovereignty over its land and decision-making—and rejects any infringement upon its legitimate national rights.

 

Arabic text of  thestatement by the Lebanese "Islamic Group" (aljamaa al-islamiyya):