Israel Matzav

Hezbullah declines an invitation

Hezbullah has turned down an offer to have its troops officially integrated into the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Hizbullah forces should accept Lebanese Army command, Lebanese Forces party chief Samir Geagea proposed yesterday during high level defense strategy talks between Beirut officials, Lebanese media reported on Friday. His proposal was positioned as a way to solve the problem of Hizbullah's large-scale possession of weaponry even though it is a non-state actor.

Geagea's proposal also included a plan to reinforce the Lebanese Armed Forces deployment in South Lebanon with 3000-4000 special force troops, who could potentially be disguised in civilian dress and dispersed in urban areas throughout the region bordering Israel.

The head of the pro-Hizbullah party Loyalty to Resistance MP Mohammed Raad rejected Geagea's proposal out of hand as an attempt to marginalize Hizbullah's power base.

"The aim of Geagea's proposal is not to defend Lebanon, but rather to get rid of Hizbullah and its arms," Raad was quoted by Lebanese newspaper An Nahar as saying.

But let's keep giving weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces. I'm sure none of it will fall into Hezbullah's hands, eh Barack?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:48 PM