Gemayel calls for Judicial Council referral of Dahr el-Baidar weapons case
Kataeb Party leader MP Samy Gemayel stressed that the immediate priority was securing the referral of a Hezbollah weapons shipment seized in Dahr el-Baidar to the Judicial Council, reaffirming his party’s determination to establish exclusive state control over weapons.
In an interview with L’Orient-Le Jour, Gemayel dismissed Hezbollah’s warnings of possible internal confrontation as attempts to intimidate political officials, arguing that the group had neither the interest nor the capacity to provoke such clashes.
He said Justice Minister Adel Nassar had initiated the proposed referral, citing the Judicial Council’s jurisdiction over national security matters.
Gemayel noted that Hezbollah had acknowledged ownership of the seized weapons, which it said were intended for use against Israel, warning that their potential use domestically would threaten national security.
He added that Nassar had defended the referral during a 45-minute Cabinet discussion and intended to raise the issue again at the next session.
Gemayel clarified that the matter had not been discussed during his meeting with President Joseph Aoun.
Addressing criticism over delays in implementing decisions concerning Hezbollah’s weapons, Gemayel said sovereignty-oriented political forces, President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam shared common objectives but differed over the methods required to achieve them.
He called for firmer measures to prevent Hezbollah from exposing Lebanon to further threats, while acknowledging that senior officials might possess information unavailable to other political figures.
On regional developments, Gemayel accused Hezbollah of prioritizing Iran’s interests and suggested that Tehran could seek the group’s involvement in another confrontation with the United States.
He also argued that a change in Israel’s prime minister would be unlikely to substantially alter Israeli policy toward Lebanon.
Gemayel concluded by urging closer coordination among political forces, President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam, warning that domestic divisions ultimately benefited Hezbollah.
