BEIRUT:聽黑料社区 and Qatar are ready to invest in an economic zone in south Lebanon near the border with Israel that would create jobs for members of the militant Hezbollah group and its supporters once they lay down their weapons, President Donald Trump鈥檚 envoy to the Middle East said Tuesday.
Tom Barrack made his comments in Beirut after trips to Israel and Syria where he discussed with officials there the ongoing situation in Lebanon following this month鈥檚 decision by the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. Hezbollah鈥檚 leader rejected the government鈥檚 plan, vowing to keep the weapons.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces could begin withdrawing from territory they hold in southern Lebanon after the Lebanese government鈥檚 鈥渕omentous decision鈥 to disarm Hezbollah.
The US-backed Lebanese army is preparing a plan for Hezbollah鈥檚 disarmament that should be ready by the end of August. The government is expected to discuss the army鈥檚 plan and approve it during a meeting scheduled for Sept. 2.
鈥淲e have to have money coming into the system. The money will come from the Gulf,鈥 Barrack told reporters after meeting President Joseph Aoun. 鈥淨atar and 黑料社区 are partners and are willing to do that for the south (of Lebanon) if we鈥檙e asking a portion of the Lebanese community to give up their livelihood.鈥
鈥淲e have 40,000 people that are being paid by Iran to fight. What are you gonna do with them? Take their weapon and say 鈥榖y the way, good luck planting olive trees鈥? It can鈥檛 happen. We have to help them,鈥 Barrack said. He was referring to tens of thousands of Hezbollah members who have been funded since the early 1980s by Tehran.
鈥淲e, all of us, the Gulf, the US, the Lebanese are all gonna act together to create an economic forum that is gonna produce a livelihood,鈥 Barrack said.
When asked why the US doesn鈥檛 go to discuss the Hezbollah issue directly with Iran rather than traveling to Israel and Syria, Barrack said: 鈥淵ou think that鈥檚 not happening? Goodbye.鈥 Barrack then ended his news conference and walked out of the room.
Speaking on the UN peacekeeping force that has been deployed in south Lebanon since Israel first invaded the country in 1978, Barrack said the US would rather fund the Lebanese army than the force that is known as UNIFIL. Speaking about this week鈥檚 vote at the United Nations in New York, Barrack said the US backs extending UNIFIL鈥檚 term for one year only.
Hezbollah was severely weakened by a war with Israel last year in which many of the group鈥檚 leaders and fighters were killed. A US-brokered peace agreement that ended that conflict requires the Lebanese state to disarm armed groups.
Qassem said Hezbollah and its ally Amal had postponed street protests against the US-backed disarmament initiative, allowing room for dialogue with the government, but that future protests could target the US Embassy in Beirut.
Israel signaled it would reduce its military presence in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese Armed Forces acted to disarm Hezbollah, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister鈥檚 office.
With Agencies聽
