In a politically significant move both in timing and substance, Kataeb Party leader MP Samy Gemayel announced a proposal to amend Lebanon’s Constitution to enshrine the principle of neutrality in its preamble. Speaking at a press conference in Parliament alongside several co-signing MPs, Gemayel said that the time has come to cement this national choice in a clear constitutional text, stressing that it aims to secure Lebanon’s stability and shield the country from regional conflicts. He emphasized that neutrality is essential to protect the Lebanese State from constant fragmentation and subordination to external powers. 

The announcement has reignited a longstanding debate over what neutrality means and whether it can be implemented in a country that faces pressures from both internal and external actors.

MP Farid Boustani described neutrality as a positive goal but warned that it requires broad regional and international consensus. He said all neighboring countries must recognize and respect Lebanon’s neutrality and stressed that three major challenges must be addressed first: Hezbollah’s weapons, Palestinian refugees, and Syrian displaced persons.

Charles Jabbour, head of communications for the Lebanese Forces Party, traced Lebanon’s state-building project back to 1943, when neutrality was adopted as a key principle. He described a monopoly on arms as a cornerstone of State sovereignty and said that pluralistic countries naturally gravitate toward neutrality. Jabbour added that neutrality was foundational to Lebanon’s independence, earning the country the nickname “Switzerland of the East.” He said the renewed call for neutrality comes in response to some Lebanese aligning with foreign agendas that have harmed the country. He warned that neutrality has weakened since the mid-1960s and said restoring it requires either a domestic consensus between Muslims and Christians, as in 1943, or a UN Security Council decision if internal agreement proves impossible. He stressed that achieving neutrality begins with dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons, since no State or constitution can function otherwise.

Former MP Mustafa Alloush said that, in theory, a constitutional amendment on neutrality is possible, but it requires two-thirds approval in Parliament. He added that while the principle is sound, it must be accompanied by detailed measures, noting that neutrality has many forms and is not merely the avoidance of regional alliances. Given Lebanon’s current political and security conditions, he said, a vote on the proposal is not yet feasible.

MP Fadi Alameh argued that any constitutional reform must be part of a broader set of national reforms. He described Lebanon as currently experiencing an undeclared civil conflict and called for a comprehensive dialogue led by the President. Only after achieving internal consensus, he said, can constitutional changes be pursued.

MP Marc Daou endorsed neutrality as a strategic measure to free Lebanon from exhausting regional alignments. Citing past crises, including the Syrian conflict and Iranian influence, he said Lebanon’s involvement in regional blocs has directly fueled domestic instability. He called on all parties to prioritize a national agenda over external interests, describing neutrality as a path to protect the country and restore internal stability.