Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, from Nabatieh, re-presented his approach to the future of the south, stressing the achievement of complete Israeli withdrawal, and the rebuilding of a “capable and effective” state, with one army and one decision, “especially the decision of war and peace,” and at the same time refusing to keep Lebanon suspended waiting for a “major regional settlement” that may be delayed or come “at its expense.”
Salam's positions came days after his visit to Washington, where he stressed during his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio the activation of the tripartite framework, achieving complete Israeli withdrawal, extending the state's authority and confining weapons to its hands, within two parallel tracks and a clear timetable, according to what his media office announced.
From Nabatieh, Salam was keen to stress that he would not change his position between inside and outside, saying: “I know that among those in this room there are those who may have a different approach than mine. This is his right. But I say before you what I say in Beirut, what I said in Washington, and what I say anywhere; Because I am not one of those who change their words according to place or time.”
Salam put the Israeli withdrawal and the rebuilding of the state on one track, saying: “The real guarantee before us is to proceed, at the same time, in mobilizing the capabilities and support we can to achieve the complete Israeli withdrawal and to rebuild the state. A capable and effective state, one state for all its people, one army, and one decision, especially the decision of war and peace.
He added: “This is the way so that we do not find ourselves again facing a new war, new pretexts for attacking Lebanon, or a new expansion of the occupation.” This position was consistent with the lines presented by Salam during his American tour, especially the link between restoring sovereignty and extending the authority of state institutions.
Salam outlined his government’s priorities in the south, saying: “I want you to know that your priorities will remain our priorities: stopping Israeli attacks, Israel’s complete withdrawal from our lands, the safe and dignified return of people to their homes, restoring their sources of livelihood, and restoring life to the cities, towns and villages of the south.”
In the political aspect of his speech, Salam went on to refuse to condition the treatment of the Lebanese situation on the outcome of conflicts and regional settlements, saying: “As for saying that we can wait for a major regional settlement, this, for me, is not an option for Lebanon; Because this settlement may or may not come, or may be delayed for years, and if it does happen, it may be at our expense.”
He asked: “What if a new war breaks out in the region?” Do we accept that Lebanon and the South pay the price again? Do we remain waiting, while our people remain displaced, our land remains occupied, our prisoners remain in captivity, reconstruction remains postponed, and do we remain suspended on what others decide for us? Certainly, no rational person can accept this.”
He concluded this part of his speech with a call to rally around the state: “Let us all rally under the banner of our state, for it is strengthened by our unity and we are strengthened by it. It is our first and last refuge, and the only guarantee for our security, stability, and the future of our children.”
Salam linked his tour in the south to his recent foreign movements, stressing that he carried the region’s files with him to New York and Washington. He said: “Your needs and concerns were with me in New York and Washington, in each of my meetings with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, American officials, and the President of the World Bank. “In an effort to secure the resources required to implement our recovery and reconstruction plan.”
Salam had stressed, during his meeting with Rubio on September 28, that Lebanon was looking forward to a partnership with the United States that would accompany the rebuilding of the state and the strengthening of its legitimate institutions, while his office later confirmed that the Lebanese proposal included complete Israeli withdrawal, confining weapons to the state, and establishing a reliable mechanism to verify the implementation of commitments.
In parallel with the political message, Salam acknowledged the extent of the difficulties facing reconstruction, saying: “My responsibility today is to be frank with you as well. I realize the scale of the crisis. I know your fatigue and I understand the suffering of those who lost their home, those who lost their work or their source of livelihood, and those who are waiting to be able to restore their home or return to their town and restore their lives.”
He added: “But the size of the needs exceeds the capabilities of the Lebanese state and its ability to bear these burdens alone. I am not here to sell you illusions, nor to promise you something that I cannot deliver. We still need significant funding.” He continued: “But I want you to be confident that we are striving, and we will continue to strive, to secure everything we can to advance the south.”
Salam announced that the Council for Development and Reconstruction had launched 23 tenders in the Nabatieh district, including, among other projects, removing obstacles and restoring roads, rehabilitating shelter centers, and securing ambulances, medical equipment, and wireless and satellite communications devices.
He also announced that the Council is working to launch 12 additional tenders during October, which include the restoration of five hospitals, including Nabatieh Governmental Hospital, in addition to supplying rescue and firefighting mechanisms, in conjunction with work on awarding projects to rehabilitate electricity stations and water networks. He pointed out that the Southern Council, after surveying the damage and removing the rubble, will begin building the new Civil Defense headquarters, the foundation stone of which was laid during the tour.
Salam stressed that the goal is not limited to inaugurating what has been accomplished or announcing new projects, “but to confirm that the process of recovery and reconstruction has only begun and continues.”
Salam placed the restart of official institutions within the process of establishing the state’s presence in Nabatieh, saying: “I am here today to confirm the return of state institutions to their work. It is an essential part of the return of life to this dear city, and it will be in the service of supporting the steadfastness of its good people and stabilizing their survival in their land.”
He announced the completion of the restoration of the Nabatieh Palace, and the reopening of the State Security Center, the Civil Status Department, and the Public Security Center, with the Palace of Justice reopening soon. The tour also included the reopening of the Government Palace and the announcement of its name as the “State Security Martyrs’ Palace.”
For his part, Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmed Al-Hajjar stressed that the municipalities of the south are committed to “the land and the state,” and said: “We tell the people of the south that the state will not abandon its south, and we are working hard to liberate the south, and we hope that in the near future Lebanese flags will fly in all regions of the south.”
He stressed that “the state’s absolute priority is to liberate the south and extend the authority of the security forces over the last shred of the south’s soil,” stressing that this is the government’s goal.
