Member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Hasan Fadlallah said the Lebanese government must establish an effective state presence in southern Lebanon before addressing the monopoly of arms or decisions concerning war and peace.
“Give me a state presence in the south before discussing the monopoly of arms and decisions regarding war and peace,” MP Fadlallah said in an interview with Al-Mayadeen TV on Saturday, arguing that a government incapable of protecting its people has no right to prevent them from defending themselves.
He stressed that Hezbollah is prepared to engage in dialogue over a national security and defense strategy once Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory.
In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen marking the second anniversary of Sayyed Hashem Safieddine’s martyrdom, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah reflected on his legacy, describing him as a man of vision who transformed thought into action. Fadlallah recalled the period following Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s martyrdom, saying Sayyed Hashem carried the banner during those critical days before his own martyrdom. He said Sayyed Safieddine’s vision extended across politics, economics, culture, religious scholarship, and the confrontation with "Israel", while remaining firmly grounded in practice. Fadlallah also highlighted Sayyed Safieddine’s close relationship with Sayyed Nasrallah, recalling his words: “I work with the breath and spirit of Sayyed Hassan,” whom he regarded as “the leader, the symbol, the teacher, and the source of inspiration.”
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“It is impossible to govern the country by alienating half the Lebanese population,” the Hezbollah lawmaker said, accusing the government of neglecting southern Lebanon.
Addressing the war’s aftermath, he said the government must assume responsibility for addressing the damage caused by the Israeli aggression, noting that a World Bank loan allocated for this purpose has yet to be disbursed.
MP Fadlallah described the delay as “deliberate obstruction,” arguing that the funds are available to the government but are being subject to “intentional negligence.”
He said Hezbollah is implementing a decision by Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem to provide shelter and relief to affected residents.
In this context, he noted: “We will not reveal the total amount of funds allocated to support our people in shelters, because the figure would shock the US.”
On regional developments, the Hezbollah MP said Iran has established a deterrence equation that Lebanon should leverage.
“It is impossible to destabilize the regime in Iran,” he said, stressing that Lebanese authorities should negotiate on their own behalf while making use of Iran’s leverage.
Fadlallah also criticized the handling of the so-called “Framework Agreement,” saying it was approached as a matter of simply signing a document rather than through careful deliberation and consultation with experts.
Source: Al-Manar English Website