Lebanese President Committed to Disarming Hezbollah, Says Former US Envoy

Former US Ambassador to Lebanon, David Hale, stated in an interview with Kan News that he believes Lebanese President Michel Aoun is committed to "going all the way" in disarming Hezbollah. Hale, who met with Aoun last week, conveyed that the President, a "professional military man," sees an opportunity, spurred by IDF actions, to assert the army's authority over militias challenging state control.

Aoun reportedly believes Lebanon's stability hinges on removing Iranian influence and ending Hezbollah's status as an independent militia. Hale, who served in Lebanon for nine years across different periods, suggested Aoun desires full relations with Israel, aiming to move beyond the security annex of the framework agreement and achieve peace more rapidly.

Hale dismissed concerns that Aoun fears a civil war, stating he has not heard such fears from the President. He noted that Hezbollah's call for civil disobedience after the framework agreement in June saw little public support, indicating a potential shift in Lebanese public sentiment. Hale also addressed Israeli distrust of the Lebanese army and leadership, asserting "This is not the same Lebanon" and emphasizing the need for smart engagement to support those who view Hezbollah as a problem and Iranian influence as detrimental.

For the first time in his career, Hale expressed optimism about Israeli-Lebanese relations, stressing that Israel should support the Lebanese army to regain control of its country, disarm Hezbollah, and establish a monopoly on weapons. He indicated that a meeting between Aoun and Israeli leadership would occur as part of normalizing relations but would "take time."

Hale also touched upon the effort to return the remains of Jewish community leaders murdered during Lebanon's civil war in the 1980s. He reported a genuine effort to find the remains, acknowledging that some found were not authentic, but highlighted the ongoing attempts as a means to build trust with Israel, similar to prisoner exchanges.