Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Hostility and Peace in the Lebanese Constitution and The UNSC Resolutions Related To Lebanon…Is Israel labeled an “enemy” of Lebanon according to the Lebanese Constitution?.
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Hostility and Peace in the Lebanese Constitution and The UNSC Resolutions Related To Lebanon…Is Israel labeled an “enemy” of Lebanon according to the Lebanese Constitution ? Elias Bejjani/November 02/2024
Is Israel really labeled an “enemy” of Lebanon according to the Lebanese Constitution? Simply put, no. There is no text in the Lebanese Constitution that defines or mandates enmity toward Israel, or any specific nation. On the contrary, the legal and historical framework governing Lebanon’s relations with Israel is shaped by the 1949 General Armistice Agreement, which established a ceasefire between the two countries and remains a foundational point in the 1989 Taif Accord that transformed into the current Lebanese Constitution. Additionally, the international resolutions pertinent to Lebanon, especially UNSC Resolutions 1559, 1680, and 1701, emphasize Lebanon’s sovereignty without any explicit labeling of Israel as an enemy.
Yet, despite these facts, Hezbollah, along with certain Lebanese leftists, Arabists, and Sunni and Shia Islamist groups, forcefully impose an agenda of hostility toward Israel. This stance is not based on legal grounds but rather stems from their own ideological and political motives. Through accusations of treason, threats, and propaganda, these factions terrorize and coerce the Lebanese public into accepting their version of “Israel as an enemy,” even though this designation lacks constitutional support and is incongruent with international norms, especially now as many Arab nations have formalized diplomatic relations with Israel.
In their perspective, hostility serves as a necessary tool for perpetuating fear, validating their armed presence, and justifying their militaristic agendas. They rely on this manufactured enmity to sustain their authority and to promote an endless cycle of conflict under the guise of “resistance.” However, their actions and ideology run counter to Lebanon’s path toward peace and the state’s right to sovereignty, free from the dominance of these militias.
Reviewing Lebanese and international legal texts clarifies the misconception about Lebanon’s “enmity” toward Israel and exposes the groundlessness of these hostile stances. The Taif Accord calls for an end to foreign occupations, the disbanding of militias, and a return to the 1949 Armistice Agreement. Likewise, UNSC Resolution 1559 mandates the withdrawal of all foreign forces and the disarmament of militias. Similarly, Resolution 1680 calls for establishing diplomatic relations with neighboring states to enhance Lebanon’s independence and stability. Resolution 1701 further supports these points, aiming for a demilitarized zone in southern Lebanon, governed solely by the Lebanese state and UNIFIL, to pave the way toward peace in the Middle East.
Hezbollah and its allies have consistently violated these terms, turning southern Lebanon into a stronghold for their arsenal. This behavior not only defies the essence of Lebanon’s sovereignty but also hinders peace efforts across the region. According to the constitution and these resolutions, Lebanon should disband all militias and secure its sovereignty without outside interference.
In Lebanon’s legal framework, the term “enemy” in criminal laws is a reference to hostile acts against the state. The term is not exclusively directed toward Israel but applies to any foreign power that jeopardizes Lebanon’s security. For instance, Article 273 of the Penal Code criminalizes Lebanese nationals who join foreign armies against Lebanon, including, historically, those who allied with Syrian forces during the Syrian occupation.
The obsession with painting Israel as Lebanon’s perpetual enemy, despite the absence of constitutional or legal basis, reflects a destructive ideology that sustains Lebanon’s internal division. These forces have politicized enmity to manipulate public perception, suppress dissent, and maintain power. Their fabricated rhetoric has polarized the Lebanese and entrenched hostility, deviating from the spirit of peace that Lebanon’s constitution and international obligations strive for.
