Beirut: Lebanese Forces Party Leader, Samir Geagea, on Thursday welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's recent visit to Lebanon, describing him as 'the first Arab president to visit under the new presidency.' In a statement, Geagea praised Abbas for 'always holding Lebanon close to his heart' and for taking bold steps toward fostering healthy Lebanese-Palestinian relations.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Geagea commended Abbas's unequivocal stance on the issue of Palestinian arms in Lebanon, noting that 'he clearly and repeatedly stated there is no need for any Palestinian weapons-neither inside nor outside the camps.'
Moreover, Geagea criticized Lebanese officials who, he said, have failed to make such a firm declaration. Citing Abbas's affirmation that all Palestinians must respect Lebanon's sovereignty and laws and that military action should be the sole domain of the Lebanese Army, Geagea said this 'undermines all the pretexts used by the resistance axis to justify illegal arms.'
Geagea went on to call on the Lebanese government to 'immediately set a timeline-within weeks-for disarming all Palestinian factions, securing the camps and surrounding areas, and preparing for the broader disarmament of all non-state groups in Lebanon.'
'It's time for Lebanon to become a real state that exclusively controls its arms,' Geagea concluded.