Jaber attacked on social media for backing 'arms monopoly'

Hezbollah supporters have attacked Finance Minister Yassine Jaber of the Amal Movement on social media for saying the monopoly of arms in the hand of the state is one of the current priorities.

“Our priority is building the state, strengthening all its institutions, and activating and bolstering its role, topped by the Lebanese Army and all security forces, in addition to the monopoly of arms in its hand,” Jaber said from Nabatieh.

“This is what was asserted in the Ministerial Statement and it is a matter that enjoys consensus,” Jaber added.

While Jaber was attacked by Hezbollah supporters, a large number of politicians lauded his stance, especially that it came after two cabinet sessions that he did not attend for being abroad.

His statement comes after the Lebanese government decided last week to disarm Hezbollah and tasked the army with drawing up a plan to complete the process by year end.

Hezbollah has said it will ignore the cabinet's decision, which came under heavy U.S. pressure, while the group's backer Iran said Saturday it opposed the effort.

Under the November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, arms are to be restricted to Lebanese state institutions.

The government has tasked the army with presenting a plan by the end of August for disarming non-state actors.

On Thursday, the government also discussed a U.S. proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament.

The government endorsed the introduction of the U.S. text without discussing specific timelines, and called for the deployment of Lebanese troops in border areas.

It also called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from five areas of the south they continue to occupy.

Israeli has kept up its strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon despite the truce and has vowed to continue them until the militant group has been disarmed.