Kataeb Party Will Not Succumb to Defamation, Continues to Escalate Political Matters

The Kataeb Party persists on affirming its solid and deep-rooted political stances, underscoring the importance of keeping Lebanon away from war, and prioritizing the renewal of stability along with the implementation of international resolutions in southern Lebanon.

Kataeb Leader MP Samy Gemayel, aims to address southern residents in his statements, acknowledging the diversity of their affiliations.

He emphasizes that Lebanon, brimming with aspirations for a peaceful existence, awaits the contribution of all the Lebanese.

This comes at a time when the Kataeb Party faces a "vile campaign" against its leader due to his participation in a French televised interview featuring a journalist and political analyst of Israeli nationality.

The Kataeb Political Bureau only condemned the amplified accusations  of politicians or bloggers aligned with the "Axis of Resistance" on social media platforms, some of these accusations suggested the trial of Samy Gemayel or the withdrawl of his Lebanese identity.

Kataeb members adopted an "offensive stance" in response, countering targeted accusations and employing an attack strategy rather than a defensive one.

Some do not appreciate the gist of Kataeb Leader's discourse regarding the necessity of keeping southern Lebanon out of the war in Gaza Strip which exacerbated the smear campaigns . This is based on the interpretation of Kataeb officials who point out that political tools and media outlets aligned with the "Resistance" have been intentionally exerting psychological pressure on sovereign forces for years, sometimes leading to assassinations.

The Kataeb Party will not succumb to defamation. Sovereign parties are used to such political approach and is well-versed in the art of confrontation.

The "Resistance" had criticized opposition blocs rejecting the ongoing military skirmishes on the southern borders for some time. The Kataeb Party notes that its leader has escalated matters with the aim of safeguarding the Lebanese cause during his visits to the United States and France. Gemayel will not hesitate to emphasize the importance of achieving Lebanese stability.

The Kataeb Party will not let unfounded allegations go unnoticed, especially in the face of death threats. This comes after the cyber army of the "Resistance Axis" joined the journalists aligned with Hezbollah, demanding the trial of the Kataeb Leader.

Head of the Kataeb Media Department Patrick Richa voiced his rejection over Hezbollah's accusations, stating that "Hezbollah" should not direct accusations towards national forces that have always defended Lebanon's sovereignty and protected its territories.

In an interview with "Annahar" newspaper, Richa emphasized that "the response will be to escalate the political discourse against the considerations that Hezbollah wants to use to turn Lebanon into a 'destination' for Iranian ambitions."

Richa called for "assessing the level of solidarity with the Kataeb Leader through social media platforms and the extent of confirmed support for his political principles. Those who are trying to intensify divisions in the country, in line with the seventies that led to a civil war, must stop their defamation campaigns against those who oppose them, as silence is no longer an option."

If the defamation campaigns surpass reasonable bounds, the Kataeb will have a different stance, one far from concession or rectification. If we engage in a debate about the hostility of the 'Resistance' towards the Kataeb and their defamatory accusations, why do they seek to reach a dialogue with opposition figures if their intention is to undermine the patriotism of Samy Gemayel?

Based on the conclusions of Head of the Kataeb Media Department, the campaign against Gemayel seeks to divert attention from political conflicts, including the cutting of citizens' funds through taxes and fees outlined in the budget project. This is especially true after Gemayel's calls directed at Hezbollah supporters to aspire to a decent life instead of the horrors of war, which apparently provoked Hezbollah politicians and officials who could not tolerate the shift towards their popular environment. This resembles organized campaigns against Lokman Slim before his assassination and against several journalists.

Richa questioned :"Why do some Hezbollah supporters wave the UNSC Resolution 1701 as a guarantee for what they call the security of northern Israeli settlements and the residents of southern Lebanese villages, if they cannot tolerate a political analysis if Samy Gemayel outlining the features of the current phase?"

He also questioned the double standards when supporters of the "Resistance Axis" express the possibility of reaching final demarcation of the Lebanese-Israeli land borders after a maritime demarcation agreement with Israel through the Israeli mediator Amos Hochstein. Still, then they attempt to undermine the patriotism of Samy Gemayel for his participation in a televised episode where an Israeli-nationality-holding analyst appeared without Gemayel's prior knowledge.

According to Richa, what happened in the past few confirmed that "it has somewhat diminished the fear barrier among residents of the south who do not desire war. The campaign will not affect the political stance taken, and it is noted that Samyy Gemayel has not received any personal threats so far. If the harassments faced by the martyrs of March 14 camp led to assassinations or the fabrication of files, the Kataeb Party supports the security measures taken for its leader in a country lacking security stability."

This article was orginally published in arabic Annahar Newspaper, translated by Christina Rai.