Commenting on the ceasefire agreement, Kataeb Political Bureau Member Alain Hakim, highlighted that during the Kataeb Party's visits to decision-making countries abroad, their primary demand was a ceasefire.

 

He noted that the Kataeb Party lacks details of the agreement since it was neither discussed in Parliament nor deliberated among political stakeholders.

 

Speaking to Safa News, Hakim stated: “We must move away from the narratives of victory or defeat, as both are more devastating than the battles themselves. They harm Lebanon, and we must transition to building a state that includes everyone.”

 

He added: “Lebanon faces three potential paths: the first, resembling Ukraine, with prolonged war; the second, akin to Syria, as an exploited land; or the third, reconstruction and full restoration of state sovereignty through national solidarity to establish the rule of law.”

 

Regarding the end of the war between Hezbollah and Israel, Hakim attributed the resolution to U.S.-Iranian discussions on Iran’s nuclear file.

 

Hakim emphasized: “The next phase is pivotal. First, there is no turning back to the previous stages. Following the ceasefire, we must urge regional and international powers to ensure that arms are exclusively in the hands of the Lebanese Armed Forces, ending the phenomenon of illegal weapons.”

On Hezbollah’s military presence south of the Litani River, Hakim remarked that after the agreement, there is no justification for Hezbollah to retain arms.

He noted that had Hezbollah accepted the Litani Agreement earlier, Lebanon could have avoided disaster and destruction.

He highlighted that the presence of illegal weapons in a non-border area under international monitoring raises significant questions, with clear indications from the ceasefire discussions that this issue is an internal Lebanese matter requiring international assistance to resolve.

Hakim expressed confidence in Lebanon’s potential, stating that the funds in the Central Bank and Lebanese expatriates’ savings could help kickstart the economy.

“We cannot consider economic reforms or external financial investments without ensuring that arms are solely under the Lebanese Armed Forces' control,” he noted.

Hakim reiterated the Kataeb Party’s stance that a ceasefire and centralized weapons are prerequisites for substantial reforms in Lebanon’s economic, social, and financial sectors.

He stressed that the next step involves institutional consensus, beginning with electing a president and building state institutions to achieve practical solutions through Lebanese unity. This includes integrating Hezbollah as a political party into Lebanese life while resolving the issue of arms exclusivity.

Hakim also commented on Moody’s latest report, which underscored financial stability but highlighted declining investment, consumption, and battered sectors such as education, tourism, and construction.

He called for serious economic reforms to achieve practical solutions.

“The potential exists to overcome this challenging phase economically and financially—not easily, but with determination and rigor,” he said.

 

Hakim estimated that Lebanon has mere months to restore economic vitality, provided practical solutions are implemented and the destructive victory-defeat narrative is abandoned.

On depositors’ funds, Hakim explained that as the economic cycle resumes and stabilizes, financial matters will improve, pointing to recent circulars, particularly 166 and 158, which provide partial relief to depositors.

Regarding the return of displaced individuals to their homes, Hakim described it as a monumental step, affirming that their return is a social and demographic priority.

He noted the immense strain internal displacement caused on safer regions in Lebanon, emphasizing that this return reinforces Lebanese citizens’ ties to their villages, reflecting a strong national will and connection to the land.