Kataeb Political Bureau member Joelle Bou Abboud said Lebanon is at a “very serious moment,” describing Lebanon as standing at a crossroads between remaining in a state of war and moving toward a settlement that restores sovereignty and stability.

Speaking in an interview with LCI, Bou Abboud said Hezbollah’s rhetoric reflects a long-standing pattern of sidelining the Lebanese State.

“Hezbollah is still the same,” she said. “It is putting the Lebanese State aside, as if it has no role in negotiations, and once again declaring victory.”

She warned that the group is unlikely to respect the current ceasefire, pointing to its refusal to disarm following a 2024 agreement.

“It’s very clear they will not respect the ceasefire because they have not handed over their weapons, neither south nor north of the Litani,” she said.

Bou Abboud described the situation as increasingly dangerous, citing threats allegedly made by a Hezbollah figure against Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

“They are threatening to kill Lebanese leaders,” she said, referencing remarks comparing Aoun’s potential fate to that of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat after signing a peace treaty.

She also linked the recent killing of a French UN peacekeeper to what she described as a broader pattern.

“It is not the first UNIFIL soldier to be killed,” she said, citing similar incidents in March and earlier years. “All of this follows the same logic and pattern of Hezbollah’s actions.”

Bou Abboud argued that Lebanon has effectively been “held hostage” by Hezbollah for decades, adding that some view the country as being under Iranian influence.

“For 40 years, we have been taken hostage by Hezbollah… even under what many call Iranian occupation,” she said.

Despite the challenges, she said the current moment offers an opportunity for change.

“We, as Lebanese, want peace,” she said. “We want an agreement that respects sovereignty, the national interest, and the dignity of the Lebanese people.”

She drew a parallel with the 1983 agreement negotiated under former President Amine Gemayel, saying that while it ultimately failed, it demonstrated political courage.

“After 43 years, history is repeating itself—but the conditions today are far more favorable,” she said.

According to Bou Abboud, Hezbollah is now isolated domestically in its opposition to peace talks.

“All Lebanese, except Hezbollah, want to move beyond this culture of war and allegiance to Iran,” she said, adding that both the international community and Arab states are more supportive of Lebanon than in the past.

She pointed to shifting regional dynamics as evidence that change is possible.

“Who would have said a year and a half ago that Bashar al-Assad would fall?” she asked, also noting arrests of Hezbollah members over illegal weapons and a growing consensus around the need for the state to hold a monopoly on arms.

Bou Abboud said the Lebanese government has taken an important step by asserting its independence in negotiations.

“They wanted to negotiate on behalf of Lebanon, but the government said no—we will conduct our own negotiations,” she said, describing the move as a “very positive” break from Iranian influence.

Still, she acknowledged that disarming Hezbollah remains a major challenge.

“For Hezbollah, weapons are part of its identity,” she said, stressing that the outcome will depend on the Lebanese state’s political will and international support.

She argued that Hezbollah benefits from ongoing conflict. “A ceasefire is not in their interest,” she said.

“They need Israeli strikes to justify their existence and to tell their base they must keep their weapons.”

Addressing the killing of the French peacekeeper, Bou Abboud said control on the ground in southern Lebanon makes responsibility clear.

“Nothing happens in the south without Hezbollah’s approval,” she said, noting the presence of UNIFIL, the Israeli army, the Lebanese army, and Hezbollah.

She also referenced a March 30 incident in which two UN peacekeepers were killed, saying a UN report suggested Hezbollah involvement based on the type of explosive device used.

Bou Abboud said Lebanon has reached a turning point, with both the government and the public openly calling for peace—something that was once taboo.

“We want a fair peace,” she said.

She concluded by stressing the importance of renewed international support, particularly for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Referring to a donor conference that was postponed due to the war, she said: “We need this support to strengthen the state and the army. The stronger the State becomes, the weaker Hezbollah will be.”