Al-Mustaqbal Denies 'Assumptions' on Rejection of Anti-Israel Resistance Concept

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc reiterated on Thursday that the Baabda Declaration should be part of the cabinet's policy statement and denied “assumptions” that the March 14 alliance was rejecting a clause on the resistance of Hizbullah against Israel.

Following its meeting under MP Fouad Saniora, the bloc slammed “claims” and “untrue assumptions” made by some March 8 camp officials that March 14 was rejecting to put the “concept of resistance against the Israeli enemy in the policy statement.”

The Mustaqbal MPs accused the March 8 officials of insisting to legitimize the use of weapons from outside the authority of the Lebanese state.

“This is rejected and we cannot accept it,” they said in the statement they issued after the meeting at the Center House in downtown Beirut.

The blueprint should be adopted in a way that meets the exceptions of the Lebanese people and allows the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam to start working in the interest of the Lebanese, they said.

The lawmakers rejected the “arrogant” language used by Hizbullah and its allies against President Michel Suleiman following his speech at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik last week.

The president said that Lebanese parties should not hold onto inflexible equations that hinder the adoption of the government's policy statement.

His remark drew a sharp retort from Hizbullah, which said the president needed “specialized care.”

The committee tasked with drafting the policy statement has failed to narrow differences on the resistance clause after March 14 stressed that the resistance should be placed under “the authority of the Lebanese state.”

But the Hizbullah-led March 8 camp rejected this demand, wanting to legitimize the party's armed resistance against Israel.

The Mustaqbal bloc statement said the constitution guarantees the right of the president to make a patriotic stance.

“Those who disagreed with him, should have responded by making a political statement and not attacking him and launching media campaigns against him,” it said.

The MPs also lauded Suleiman's role in the International Support Group for Lebanon meeting that was held in Paris on Wednesday.

The meeting of the major powers, who appealed for nations to extend pledges of financial help for Lebanon, expresses the keenness of those countries to protect Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis, they said.

The lawmakers hoped that the support for Lebanon would take

“practical and financial measures” mainly in helping resolve the crisis of Syrian refugees.