Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel on Sunday declared that the “myth of resisting Israel has ended,” accusing Hezbollah of turning its arsenal into a tool of intimidation against the Lebanese people rather than a defense against external threats.

“We will remain the voice of truth, and Lebanon will always come first,” Gemayel told veteran Kataeb members honored on Golden Badge Day for fifty years of service to the party. “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for Lebanon. Our goal is to move beyond endless debates about sovereignty and similar issues. What we want is a break from conflicts so we can restore our greatest strength, which is our people, and build a better future for our families and children.”

Gemayel argued that Hezbollah’s arms had become “a sword hanging over the necks of Lebanese people and anyone who seeks freedom,” blocking the establishment of the State and the rule of law.

“The issue is no longer Israel but Rawshe Rock as the fight has shifted to liberating it, not Jerusalem,” he said, calling on the government to treat Hezbollah’s weapons as a tool of domestic coercion rather than of resistance.

“Yesterday we heard a Hezbollah official say he was promised implementation of Resolution 1701 only south of the Litani. But aren’t you supposed to be a resistance movement whose mission is to defend Lebanon against Israel?” Gemayel asked. “If you’re willing to give up your weapons in the south, then what purpose do they serve? Admit that your arms are meant for something else and stop using Israel as the excuse. By agreeing to lay down your weapons in the south, you’ve shown they are no longer about resistance but the tools of gangs, turned against the State whenever it makes a decision.”

The Kataeb chief also pointed to his party’s historic role, saying it had always chosen principle over self-interest.

“The Kataeb Party has never erred in its choices — from independence to 1958, to 1975, and through the years of Syrian tutelage. There were times when we could have pursued our own advantage, but instead we sacrificed ourselves to remain true to Lebanon. Soon we will mark ninety years of struggle and service to the nation.”

He voiced cautious optimism, pointing to Lebanon’s current leadership.

“For the first time since the Syrian army entered Baabda Palace, we have a president, a prime minister, and a cabinet that state clearly: we reject any weapons outside the authority of the State,” he said. “The task is not easy, but the train has been set back on the right track, despite the obstacles we will always strive to remove.”

Gemayel affirmed that the Kataeb stood firmly behind the country’s State institutions.

“It has long been known that the Kataeb stand with the presidency. We stepped away when the presidency became nothing more than a scribe for the Syrians. After 35 years, we have returned to the side of legitimacy, standing beside the authority that restores our dignity and sovereignty,” he said. “Politics is about building and developing the country, and you can count on the Kataeb never to let you down or allow a single member to bow his head in compromise.”

The ceremony opened with remarks by MP Salim Sayegh, who said the party’s strength lies in its commitment.

“Commitment is born of freedom, and the highest form of freedom is a commitment that carries meaning only when it is the result of a free choice,” he said.

“History is written by heroes and by those who uphold values like love, dialogue, solidarity and courage — lessons we learned from the Kataeb founder and that Bashir renewed,” he said. “We turned the slogan ‘Lebanon First’ into a rallying cry for all Lebanese. That is the greatness of the Kataeb, measured not by the number of MPs but by the freedom of our choices and the boldness of our leadership.”

Sayegh warned that Lebanon’s very existence faced daily threats that must be met with “an education of austerity, openness and love."

“I am not afraid of Hezbollah’s weapons, but of Hezbollah’s culture,” he said. “We are not afraid because we belong to Lebanon, all 10,452 square kilometers of it. We are the party of beginnings, not endings, and we will carry on the journey, renewing our promise and our covenant.”