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The Lebanese government on Thursday made a landmark decision, committing to the disarmament of Hezbollah by the end of the year. It approved the “goals” of US envoy Tom Barrack’s paper on “strengthening” the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The government stated that the army will present an action plan by the end of August.

Hezbollah was appalled by the decision. Mohammed Raad, a Hezbollah member of parliament, said that the group would rather die than surrender its arms. He added that the group’s arms are its honor. Hezbollah sent protesters to the streets in an attempt to put pressure on the government. However, they were quickly dispersed by the army.

Lebanon is required to abide by international law and by UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The US is pressuring Lebanon to do so. And it should abide by international law, there is no question about it. However, when it comes to the Israeli side of the equation, Barrack’s paper only promises that the US will “facilitate” mediation with Israel over its withdrawal from the “five points” inside Lebanon and ceasing hostilities. Barrack was very clear when the Lebanese asked him whether Israel would withdraw and stop its raids on Lebanon if Hezbollah were to disarm: he said that there are no guarantees. Basically, Lebanon should abide by international law, while Israel can go by the law of the jungle.

Israel constantly emphasizes its right to “self-defense,” which is a very elastic concept. Any aggression can be justified as self-defense or a preemptive strike. The Lebanese army has a very difficult task. The Americans are making it even harder. It is an open secret that the US is biased toward Israel for many reasons. However, if the US really wants the Lebanese state and the Lebanese army to succeed in disarming Hezbollah, it should empower them. It should at least show that it is being an honest broker. It should show that it can pressure Israel. It should show that both parties must abide by international law.

If the US really wants the Lebanese state and the Lebanese army to succeed in disarming Hezbollah, it should empower them

Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib

Israel has been living by the law of the jungle since its inception. It has been able to do so because of US and Western complicity. According to advocacy group If Americans Knew, Israel is the target of at least 78 UN resolutions. But Israel violates international law every day under the guise of self-defense and anyone who points a finger at its misdeeds is immediately labeled as antisemitic.

The question is: until when? The Lebanese case is only one small example of how Israel receives preferential treatment in international affairs. This preferential treatment is secured by the world’s major superpower, the US. However, it reduces the credibility of the US as an honest broker. Maybe the Americans do not care because the world needs them and they can impose their will on whoever they want. However, this attitude creates problems.

What if the Lebanese army uses coercion and disarms Hezbollah, which will probably result in internal unrest, and Israel does not withdraw? This would reinforce the group’s narrative and give it a new boost. This would revive the idea of resistance. If this idea is revived, then the movement will be revived. However, Israel has the luxury of only looking at its own side of the story because it has the US to back it up whenever needed.

The US could make the task of the Lebanese state and army much easier by giving guarantees that Israel would withdraw and cease hostilities. The hostilities are mainly targeting Hezbollah operatives and officials. As long as the US does not give such guarantees, Hezbollah will not feel secure enough to willingly disarm.

Israel has the luxury of only looking at its own side of the story because it has the US to back it up whenever needed

Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib

Hezbollah is convincing its audience that this is an existential issue. This is why Raad said that they would rather die than surrender their arms. The state may have taken the decision to disarm Hezbollah, but this does not mean the implementation will be easy or seamless. The protests that followed the decision could be renewed and could become violent. But all this could be avoided if the US showed that both parties must abide by international law, while guaranteeing that Israel will withdraw and cease hostilities.

If not treated carefully, this could lead to a clash between Hezbollah and the army. Of course, Hezbollah is weak now but it still — along with the Amal Movement — represents the majority of the country’s Shiite population. Hence, the group cannot be discounted.

Of course, a state cannot thrive with the existence of an armed militia. This is a fact. The aim is for Hezbollah to surrender its arms and become a political party. However, for this to happen, the US cannot apply the double standard of Lebanon having to abide by international law while Israel ignores it.

This will only boost Hezbollah’s narrative and increase the sense of insecurity among the Shiite community. It could lead to clashes between the group and the army, as well as the Shiites and the rest of the Lebanese. Hence, for the sake of peace and stability, the US should act wisely and offer the Lebanese the guarantee that, if Hezbollah disarms, Israel will withdraw and stop targeting Lebanon.

• Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.