Lebanese MP rejects US envoy's proposal to include Hezbollah in negotiations

American envoy Tom Barrack has proposed that any settlement regarding the Lebanese-Israeli track must involve Hezbollah and Iran. Barrack suggested that because Hezbollah is a primary decision-maker on the ground, direct engagement with the group is necessary to reach a serious agreement.

Lebanese MP Ghassan Hasbani responded to these remarks with an open letter, rejecting the notion of negotiating with Hezbollah outside of state institutions. Hasbani argued that Lebanon possesses a legitimate, elected authority and constitutional institutions that alone hold the right to make decisions for the state and its people.

Hasbani further contested Barrack’s assessment that Hezbollah is stronger than the Lebanese Army, asserting that the military remains the superior force when supported by political will and international backing. He emphasized that granting parallel legitimacy to non-state actors with Iranian weapons undermines Lebanese sovereignty and the constitutional order.