Hezbollah Plays Down Israeli Election Results’ Impact on Lebanon
Naim Qassem has downplayed the election outcome despite the Netanyahu government’s role in weakening Hezbollah, killing leading figures including former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, and occupying large areas of southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that his movement was not concerned with who governs Israel. “But the occupier will not be able to maintain its occupation and must leave Lebanese territory,” he said in a statement following the announcement of preliminary results from Tuesday’s Knesset election.
His remarks came despite Benjamin Netanyahu’s role in weakening Hezbollah, killing several of its longstanding leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, and occupying large parts of southern Lebanon. Netanyahu’s right-wing government also continues to insist on the group’s disarmament.
“The resistance will continue and will confront aggression against it and against Lebanon. There is no room for discussing its disarmament as long as the occupation remains and its aggression continues,” Qassem said.
“The enemy must withdraw in accordance with the November 27, 2024 agreement and Resolution 1701, and the Lebanese army must deploy south of the Litani River,” he added.
Adopted by the United Nations Security Council in August 2006, Resolution 1701 sets out the international framework for ending the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah at that time. It includes security arrangements for the area between the Blue Line and the Litani River, as well as provisions concerning the Lebanese army and international forces in southern Lebanon.
Qassem also emphasised the importance his movement attaches to the agreement between Iran and the United States.
“We are concerned with the Iran-US agreement because it is the only available source of strength alongside the steadfastness of the resistance, our people and its supporters. The agreement demonstrated its effectiveness as soon as the memorandum of understanding was announced in Islamabad, by reducing the intensity of the aggression against Lebanon,” he said.
He added that Iran places ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon and securing Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory among its highest priorities. He praised this as “a great sacrifice” by a country he described as “an icon for free peoples around the world”.
On Wednesday evening, with 85% of the votes counted, excluding sealed-envelope ballots, preliminary results gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp 53 seats, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
The change bloc, led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, secured 48 seats, while the Arab lists won 19.
No camp therefore reached the 61-seat majority required to form a government in the 120-member Knesset.
Counting is continuing amid discrepancies between partial results and the exit poll projections released on Tuesday evening.
Lebanon and Israel reached an agreement on November 27, 2024 that brought about a ceasefire between the Israeli military and Hezbollah. It provided for an international military committee chaired by the United States to help ensure the cessation of hostilities and the extension of Lebanese army authority across southern Lebanon.
On June 26, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-backed framework agreement providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the deployment of the Lebanese army in the vacated areas, and Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Hezbollah rejected the agreement, demanding that the Israeli army first withdraw from southern Lebanon before any discussion of its weapons.
Despite the agreement, Israel continues near-daily violations in southern Lebanon and still occupies several areas. Some have been under occupation for decades, while others were seized during recent wars and military operations.
