As Lebanon approaches the 50th anniversary of the Civil War’s outbreak, Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel reflects on the lessons learned and the urgent need to prevent history from repeating itself. In an interview with Al-Modon, Gemayel emphasized that the Lebanese people must recognize two fundamental truths to safeguard the country's future.

Gemayel highlighted two crucial lessons Lebanon must learn from the Civil War to avoid repeating its tragic past. The first, he said, is the importance of state sovereignty.

“When the state abandons its responsibility and sovereignty, and allows armed groups—whether Lebanese or foreign—to operate freely, Lebanon is at great risk. This creates an environment where armed clashes can escalate into full-blown war,” he warned.

To prevent such a scenario, Gemayel stressed that “the state must assert its sovereignty through its institutions—the Lebanese Army and security forces—over the entire territory of Lebanon.”

The second lesson, according to Gemayel, concerns the relationship among the Lebanese people. He cautioned that without trust and mutual understanding, the country remains vulnerable to repeating the conflicts of its past.

“When this relationship is weak, and trust and understanding are lacking, Lebanon is at risk of falling into the same pitfalls as before,” he said. For Gemayel, national unity is just as crucial as state authority in ensuring long-term stability, as internal divisions and strife could once again destabilize the country.

"Lebanese Have Yet to Mature Politically"

When asked if the Lebanese people have matured enough to prevent another civil war, Gemayel expressed skepticism.

“There is a major issue with the Lebanese people's lack of political maturity, despite everything that has happened,” he said. “This raises the question of whether true maturity can ever be achieved, and if so, how? After all the bloodshed, the losses, and the destruction, if we fail to show the maturity and courage needed to reexamine the past and look toward the future, then we are a people unworthy of building a country.”

Call for “Truth and Reconciliation” with Hezbollah

Gemayel also discussed his recent call for a “truth and reconciliation” conference in Parliament, particularly addressing Hezbollah. He stressed the need for open dialogue, which he argued has been lacking since the end of the war.

“What should have happened since the war ended is for the Lebanese to engage in conversation with one another. But we didn’t see that in the 1990s, nor in 2005, nor even after the latest war on Lebanon. When grievances remain bottled up, they eventually explode,” he said. “Reconciliation needs to happen within a healthy framework. The right approach is a national conference, like those seen in countries that have faced similar crises, such as South Africa, Yugoslavia, and Ireland. These nations took a moment of national introspection, leading to measures that prevented the recurrence of past tragedies and laid strong foundations for the future.”

According to Gemayel, Lebanon must follow this example.

“Some may not like facing the truth. Some prefer deception and hypocrisy, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But why do we deal with each other in this way?” he asked. “What we need is clarity. Let’s speak the truth and build relationships based on honesty and transparency. If we want to move forward, we must change our approach to avoid repeating the divisions, wars, and destruction of the past. Let’s try something new: clarity and sincerity.”

He reiterated his call for an honest discussion, “without fear, without pretense, and without shying away from criticism or frankness. Let’s give it a try, even just once!”

Hezbollah’s Foreign Allegiances and Weapons

Turning to Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon, Gemayel argued that reconciliation cannot occur as long as the group remains aligned with foreign powers and maintains its weapons.

“I made it clear in my speech in Parliament: truth and reconciliation come with two conditions. The first is foreign allegiance. This cannot be resolved through dialogue. Either your priority is Lebanon, in which case we are obliged to find common ground, or you have other convictions and projects,” he said.

“The second condition is weapons. There can be no real reconciliation if one party remains armed. How can truth be spoken in the presence of weapons? To ensure reconciliation succeeds, Hezbollah must first abandon its foreign agenda, and second, all parties must be equal—meaning no weapons outside state control. These two factors are essential for true reconciliation.”

Reforming Lebanon’s Sectarian System

On Lebanon’s sectarian system, Gemayel emphasized that the problem lies not in religion, but in external allegiances.

“This issue is centuries old. We must acknowledge it and turn it into an asset while seeking common ground among the Lebanese,” he said. “Lebanon can only be built on two fundamental principles: respect for and recognition of the country’s diversity, and the construction of a shared citizenship and sense of belonging to Lebanon.”

He pointed to Switzerland as an example.

“In Switzerland, they built a sense of national belonging despite having three official languages—German, French, and Italian. Even their national anthem exists in three languages,” he explained. “Recognizing diversity while fostering national unity is the key. Every step the state takes to acknowledge and embrace diversity and pluralism is a step toward building a stronger nation.”

Commitment to the Constitution

Gemayel stressed that all proposals put forward by the Kataeb Party are grounded in the Lebanese Constitution.

“The Constitution is the fundamental pillar, as is the process of truth and reassessment,” he stated.

He acknowledged that in this process of evaluation, certain constitutional loopholes may arise, which could require amendments—but always within the existing constitutional framework.

“For us, adherence to the Constitution is non-negotiable,” he emphasized, making it clear that the party is not seeking to reinvent the system, but rather to work within its established mechanisms to ensure proper governance.

Restoring Trust in Political Institutions

Regarding the Lebanese people’s trust in institutions, Gemayel argued that confidence in political parties must be earned.

“Every Lebanese party, whether established or new, will have to earn its trust from the people,” he explained, stressing that public confidence is directly tied to a party’s performance and its handling of key national issues.

“Trust is gained or lost based on how each party handles national issues,” he noted, adding that the ability to restore trust ultimately depends on concrete actions rather than rhetoric.

Strengthening Security in Lebanon

Gemayel emphasized that lasting stability in Lebanon is impossible without full state sovereignty over its entire territory.

“There will be no stability in Lebanon unless the state fully regains its sovereignty over all its territory,” he stated, adding that this requires the disarmament of all non-state groups.

“Only then will we achieve a major milestone, allowing us to engage with the United Nations, international alliances, and global partnerships to ensure Lebanon’s protection,” he continued.

According to Gemayel, the foundation for security lies in the state assuming its responsibility and preventing Lebanese territory from being exploited for foreign agendas.

“Only then can decisions, evaluations, and initiatives be made,” he concluded.

A Return to Normal Politics

Gemayel argued that Lebanon’s political landscape has been dominated by Hezbollah for the past two decades, shaping the country’s discourse around its role and weapons. He suggested that without Hezbollah and its arsenal, Lebanon could function like a normal state.

“Without Hezbollah’s weapons, Lebanon would become a normal country, where politics, like in all other nations, revolves around programs and ideas related to social, economic, and educational policies,” he stated.

In such a scenario, he added, political parties would be judged based on their work and contributions to society.

“Only then will we see which parties are truly serious about governance and reform,” he concluded.

Negotiations with Israel and Stability on the Southern Border

Addressing the geopolitical pressures on Lebanon, Gemayel rejected any false dilemmas regarding peace with Israel.

“For years, when we called for the disarmament of militias, the entire world was complicit with Iran and Hezbollah in maintaining their arms. Our position is not tied to any external pressure. What is needed today is the restoration of full state sovereignty.”

He called for Lebanon to negotiate from a position of strength.

“The state must negotiate with Israel to reclaim its rights—prisoners, land borders, and the demarcation of boundaries, just as it did with the maritime border. The issue of Palestinian refugees must also be addressed to ensure their right of return. Lebanese citizens who were forced into exile in Israel should be part of these discussions as well. All of this will help stabilize our southern border.”

The Kataeb Party’s Role in Lebanon’s History

Reflecting on the Kataeb Party’s journey through the Civil War, Gemayel acknowledged that the party was thrust into a role it never sought.

“The Kataeb was forced to take on responsibilities that were not its own. But despite that, it resisted with courage. Without the Kataeb’s martyrs, Lebanon might not exist today. We would have preferred to avoid such an experience, as we were a political party, not a military force. But we fought defensively to protect Lebanon, our towns, and our homes.”

“Today, our focus is learning from that experience and ensuring it is never repeated. The key is strengthening the state’s sovereignty and fostering reconciliation among the Lebanese.”

"Justice Must Prevail Before Lebanon Can Move Forward"

Asked when Lebanon’s sectarian factions will finally be able to “bury their martyr leaders” and bury their hatchets, Gemayel responded that true healing can only happen when Lebanon regains full sovereignty, and when reconciliation, transparency, and justice prevail among the Lebanese people.

“For us, turning the page without accountability is unacceptable,” he said. “The perpetrators of the assassinations witnessed throughout the country's modern history must take responsibility for their actions.”

“There are open wounds—once the wound is closed and cleaned, healing can begin, and it will be stitched up through constitutional or legal measures,” he concluded. “There can be no closure without accountability. Those responsible for assassinations must be held accountable. Only then can Lebanon truly heal.”