The Head of the Kataeb Party’s Foreign Affairs Department, Marwan Abdallah, said Lebanon may be meeting some of its international obligations but has “yet to meet the expectations of the international community.” He warned that political infighting continues to spill over externally, blocking progress on multiple fronts.

In an interview with Sputnik, Abdallah questioned the logic behind growing speculation about an imminent war in Lebanon.

“What would drive Israel to launch a major strike on Lebanon?” he asked. “Israel already does whatever it wants; it carries out assassinations almost daily, and its aircraft violate our airspace regularly. There’s no need for another war that would only destroy Lebanon again.”

He said this reality should serve as “an incentive to finally settle this issue once and for all” and focus on rebuilding the country and reviving its economy.

Abdallah argued that any “large-scale Israeli strike” could only be recognized through “mass displacement in the south and renewed warnings from Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee urging residents to evacuate southern towns.”

“The current problem lies in Israel’s claims that Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities,” he said. “As a mediator, the United States should verify such claims directly with Israel.”

Abdallah also pointed to Egypt’s role as a guarantor of the Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement, noting that Cairo “is engaging with regional countries to ensure the accord is respected, particularly regarding Palestinian camps and Hezbollah’s activities in Lebanon.”

Recalling past confrontations, he said that “even at the peak of Hezbollah’s power, Israel managed to defeat it within two months, after which the party signed a surrender agreement and handed over its weapons.”

Abdallah urged Lebanese leaders to consider diplomatic engagement with Israel rather than relying on military confrontation.

“The military option has brought us nothing but destruction,” he said. “Why not open a channel of communication with Israel — in any form — to resolve the outstanding issues between our two countries?”

He revealed that in 2021, Israel had proposed negotiations with Lebanon to demarcate land and maritime borders, but Hezbollah rejected the offer, fearing that defining the land borders would strip it of its pretext for keeping its weapons under the guise of defending the south.

“This requires a political decision by the cabinet,” Abdallah added. “As a party, we support negotiations with Israel because the path of war has failed. Why not try diplomacy instead?”

Abdallah outlined several issues that should be included in any potential talks: The return of Lebanese detainees and missing persons, ending Israeli violations of Lebanese territory, land border demarcation, and renewable natural resources.

“Israel will raise its demands, and we should raise ours,” he said. “Ultimately, negotiations should aim for mutually acceptable solutions to these longstanding disputes.”

Abdallah criticized Hezbollah for refusing to disarm despite the Lebanese government’s unanimous endorsement of the ceasefire agreement, which clearly stipulates that only the State may possess weapons.

“Hezbollah continues to delude its supporters into thinking it remains strong,” he said. “It must acknowledge its defeat, hand over its weapons, and return to the authority of the Lebanese state.”

Turning to domestic politics, Abdallah confirmed that the Kataeb Party will boycott Tuesday’s parliamentary session, accusing Speaker Nabih Berri of blocking democratic debate by refusing to include the electoral law bill on the agenda.

“We’re not in North Korea to be ruled by one man,” he said. “In a democratic parliamentary system, no one has the right to prevent the majority from expressing its opinion.”

He rejected claims that the proposed law targets the Shiite community, stressing that “Shiite voters abroad will cast their ballots just like those in Lebanon.”

“This law gives equal rights to everyone,” he said. “Why was it acceptable in 2018 and 2022, but suddenly not in 2026?”

Abdallah accused one political faction of dragging Lebanon into “destruction and war,” warning that the Lebanese people, including many Shiites, would eventually hold it accountable.

Finally, he called for stronger engagement with the Lebanese diaspora.

“We shouldn’t just wait for expatriates’ money and services,” he said. “They deserve a full role, equal to residents, in shaping Lebanon’s future. It’s their legitimate right.”