No security possible amid continued Israeli aggression: Lebanese PM
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Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam says security is impossible amid continued "Israeli" aggression, as his government pushes forward with IMF talks, reconstruction efforts, and plans for border control and judicial reform.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaks to journalists after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, January 14, 2025. (AP)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed that security cannot be achieved in Lebanon as long as the Israeli aggression persists, stressing that the government will continue its efforts to pressure the occupation into withdrawing.
"No one can fix everything in 100 days or even in 12 months. Everyone knows time is costly, and we are working on more than one front," Salam said.
On the Syrian front, Salam noted that efforts are underway to form committees to manage the borders with Syria and ensure the return of Syrian refugees to their country.
Lebanon's financial system
Salam revealed that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are progressing and that his government is aiming to sign an agreement within its current mandate. He also announced that preparations for parliamentary elections have begun, describing the coming phase as “a critical juncture in Lebanon’s history.”
The prime minister reiterated the government's commitment to protecting Lebanon’s banking sector and restoring confidence in it, particularly emphasizing the importance of restoring trust in the judiciary, noting that a draft law on judicial confidentiality has been approved to shield the judicial system from external interference.
He further stated that reconstruction is a top government priority, revealing that a $250 million loan has been secured from the World Bank to support this effort.
In this context, the Lebanese official revealed that Lebanon will participate in two major upcoming international conferences: one focused on reconstruction, and another on attracting investment to the country.
Hezbollah and reconstruction
Yesterday, Salam met with a Hezbollah parliamentary delegation headed by MP Mohammad Raad, who affirmed that Hezbollah's priorities remain clear and consistent. "Our priority is ending the occupation, returning the prisoners, addressing violations, and launching reconstruction," Raad said.
Yet while these goals align with urgent national needs, Lebanon's ability to rebuild has been severely constrained. Reconstruction funding, estimated at over $11 billion, has been slow to materialize, with international donors and institutions calling for major reforms.
While the IMF and World Bank have stressed economic restructuring, some Western governments have indirectly linked aid to reducing Hezbollah’s power and advancing normalization with "Israel", conditions the movement rejects as infringements on Lebanese sovereignty.
Read more: No normalization in Lebanon: Hezbollah Political Bureau member
