Bassil meets Aoun, says Hezbollah disarmament should not be a free ride
Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil said Friday there should be a quid pro quo for Hezbollah's disarmament after he met President Joseph Aoun in Baabda.
According to Bassil, it goes without saying that Israel must in return withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories, halt its attacks and its exploitation of Lebanese natural resources - including water, oil, and gas.
"Everyone should feel that these weapons are not being given away for nothing in return," Bassil said.
An old but no longer ally of Hezbollah, Bassil had in the past supported Lebanon's defense but criticized Hezbollah for dragging the crisis-hit country into a war with Israel in support of Hamas and Gaza.
Bassil said he hopes Hezbollah "would seize the opportunity" and would not feel defeated. "We should all feel that we have won what's in Lebanon's interest and that no party has been defeated."
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