Lebanon20 September, 20262 min read
Hezbollah And FPM Move To Contain Fallout After War Of Words
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Hezbollah and Free Patriotic Movement intervene to contain fallout and prevent deeper rift. Public exchange of insults prompted leaderships to intervene.
3 outlets told this the same way.
Containment after insults
Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement moved to “contain the fallout and prevent a deeper rift” after a “war of words” between the two parties, with Asharq al-Awsat reporting that political leaderships intervened to limit escalation. Sources close to Hezbollah told the daily that “despite the heated dispute that broke out, the relationship between the two parties remains intact.” Hezbollah’s delegation visited Bassil in early September, and the sources described the atmosphere as “good and positive,” with Bassil raising the possibility of resuming meetings and coming up with a new shared vision.
Nawaf al-Moussawi reacted to Bassil’s recent statements, and the sources said the positions taken by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement were deemed unacceptable by Hezbollah's popular base. FPM deputy head Naji Hayek confirmed to the newspaper that “parliamentary communication continues -- even with our political opponents -- and will continue with Hezbollah despite the current exchange of insults between the supporters of both parties.”
Bassil, Moussawi trade barbs
The Free Patriotic Movement hit back at Hezbollah official Nawaf al-Moussawi after he criticized FPM chief Gebran Bassil, with the FPM saying it expected him “to adhere to the limits of politeness and decency in expression.” The FPM argued that “the literal text of the FPM leader's full statement is clear,” and it said the statement referred to “all Lebanese -- including the FPM, its members, and its supporters -- who are suffering from the consequences of a war.” Moussawi had commented on Bassil’s remarks by saying: “I am certain that no one in Lebanon likes this person; only Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah used to tolerate him, and his words are disgraceful.”
Bassil, in turn, said Hezbollah implicated the FPM in a war, adding: “I’m blaming Hezbollah because it implicated us in a war that we should not have engaged in.” The dispute centered on Bassil’s claim that Hezbollah and its supporters are still present after “the latest two wars with Israel” but have become “destitute, displaced, emigrant and bankrupt.”
Resistance message and stakes
Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's Secretary General in Lebanon, emphasized that Hezbollah “have directly tested the option of resistance in Lebanon,” saying it “liberates the land and its people.” Qassem told Defapress that “Resistance is the only way to liberate the land, and all other ways are a waste of time,” and he added that “there is no military balance with the enemy.” Hezbollah’s Secretary General also said, “Even if the situation in Lebanon lasts for days and months, we are victorious, because we stood firm and did not let the enemy achieve its goals.”
In the political dispute, Libnanews described a backdrop where “communications would be maintained” and where “a definitive rupture is not desired by either side.” Libnanews also said Nabih Berri could intervene to reduce tension, describing the Speaker of Parliament as maintaining “a structural relationship with Hezbollah” while having channels with “practically all political forces.”