[News] The Resistance and the Lebanese State: Clarifying Misconceptions

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The Resistance and the Lebanese State: Clarifying Misconceptions -
AnalysisJanuary
6, 2025
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Hezbollah unveiled specs of newly-used ‘Qader 2’, ‘Nasr 1’ missile. (Photo:
via Hezbollah military media)

*By Palestine Chronicle Staff
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff>*

Writing in the Al Mayadeen Arabic website, Ghassan Melhem, Professor of
Political Science and International Relations at the Lebanese University
argues that the Lebanese Resistance derives its political legitimacy and
legal validity primarily from its embodiment of the people’s will to
confront the Israeli enemy. The Palestine Chronicle translated and
summarized his article below.

There are those who continue to claim, from here and there, that the
resistance, or more accurately, the Party of Resistance, is a “state within
a state” in Lebanon! This statement misleads the public, distorts reality,
and misrepresents both the party and the resistance. It is unacceptable,
illogical, and should not be left unaddressed as if one were accepting or
agreeing with it. Such statements fall under the category of unfairly
attacking the resistance and spreading hatred against it.
*The Question of Sovereignty*

Lebanon’s national sovereignty faces numerous, even significant,
challenges. It appears incomplete and fragmented, lacking full structure,
conditions, and descriptions. The same applies to Lebanon’s national
independence.

The reason for this is the continued Israeli occupation and aggression, in
addition to external interventions—both international and regional—that
influence Lebanon’s internal affairs, as well as the foreign domination
over the Lebanese state and political authority.

Notably, Western influence in general and American influence in particular,
along with internal subordination to foreign hegemony, only worsened
Lebanon’s dependency.

>From this perspective, Lebanese resistance gains even greater importance.
This resistance is driven by the national will for independence,
sovereignty, dignity, and national interests.
*Government, Military, and Official Legitimacy*

There is no doubt that the logic of the Lebanese state, with its dual
aspects—sovereignty and national legitimacy—leads to a clear national
equation. This equation asserts that the government, on the political
level, and the military, on the military and security levels, as well as
the Lebanese armed forces and security forces, form the foundation of
Lebanon’s official legitimacy.

The Lebanese political authority must empower the military and security
institutions within the country’s overall state policy. This includes
equipping and developing the military’s capabilities—both combat and
logistical—regardless of international decisions, particularly Western
ones, on this matter.
*Resistance and Popular Legitimacy*

The Lebanese resistance against the Israeli occupation or aggression is a
manifestation of the popular will to confront the continuing threat of
Israeli occupation and aggression.

Thus, the Lebanese resistance gains both political legitimacy and legal
validity, primarily due to the existence of the Israeli threat. It also
derives its legitimacy as a representation of the people’s will—or a part
of the people’s will—to stand against the Israeli enemy.

This is in line with the United Nations Charter’s provision of the natural
right to self-defense, as well as the Lebanese National Accord Document,
which affirms the right to take actions and measures to confront Israeli
occupation and liberate Lebanese territories.

Therefore, the Lebanese resistance is not a militia, and its weapons are
not illegitimate. The Lebanese resistance is the core and backbone of
Lebanon’s popular legitimacy. It is not outside the framework of Lebanon’s
official legitimacy or the state’s national legitimacy.

Official legitimacy and popular legitimacy are two sides of the same coin,
integral to Lebanon’s national legitimacy. Official legitimacy cannot
contradict or oppose popular legitimacy; rather, it is based on it.
*Lebanon and the War with Israel*

The state of war between Lebanon and Israel remains in force under
international law, whether the war is hot or cold. This is true even in the
case of a return to a ceasefire or suspension of military operations and
hostilities.

To this day, the Lebanese state remains incapable of shouldering national
responsibility in confronting the Israeli enemy.

This is a reality, and while we do not want to believe or accept that
Lebanon does not wish to assume this responsibility, it is, unfortunately,
weak and fragile. Lebanon suffers from political weakness, making it
incapable of independently facing Israeli threats and dangers.

Thus, resistance remains, and for the time being continues to be, a
national interest and necessity, supporting the state and under its
umbrella—not at its expense.
*Lebanon vs. Israel*

The enduring state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel goes beyond the
war itself. It is a long-term, far-reaching enmity with multiple
dimensions. It is ideological, historical, political, military, and
strategic. This enmity is of great importance and poses serious risks to
Lebanon’s national interests.

This ongoing hostility renders any possibility of normalization, peace, or
even neutrality untenable. The Lebanese model stands in stark contrast to
the Israeli model, and this discrepancy endures throughout the entire
journey, until the very end. Hence, resistance remains an urgent,
indispensable national need, especially as Israel will not leave Lebanon in
peace.
*The State-Building Project in Lebanon*

As we turn to the present political and historical moment and attempt to
outline the features and parameters of the next political and historical
phase, we review past political and historical experiences to draw lessons
from them. The discussion inevitably turns to the project of state-building
and the need to prioritize and implement it.

Calls for rebuilding the Lebanese state have surfaced once again. This is
not the first time, and it may not be the last. At this critical juncture,
it is essential to affirm that the existence and continuation of the
Lebanese resistance is a national guarantee for protecting the newly
established Lebanese state from Israeli violations and aggressions.

In this context, the resistance can stand with the army against any Israeli
attempt or conspiracy aimed at undermining the Lebanese state or targeting
it.

The Lebanese resistance is an inseparable part of the Lebanese state,
alongside its people and military. The “triple equation” is not surreal; it
is not detached from reality. The resistance belongs to the people,
defending and protecting both them and the country as a whole.

The role of the resistance in defending Lebanon complements the role of the
army in confronting Israel as Lebanon’s enemy. This is a historical and
essential truth, one that is fixed and inevitable. It is the highest
national interest.

*(Al Mayadeen Arabic Website – Translated and prepared by the Palestine
Chronicle)*
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