Lebanon’s government must uphold and implement decisions it has made toward the Lebanese people and the international community, Kataeb MP Elias Hankach said.

“We’re not asking for anything extraordinary,” Hankach said in an interview with Al Jadeed television. “Let’s start by implementing the basic measures and enforcing the decisions that have already been made. Our security forces are doing tremendous work, and the conference to support the army is about giving the security agencies the capabilities they need to carry out those decisions.”

Hankach said the government should be encouraged and supported as it moves to implement the decisions, including by providing the security forces with the equipment and resources they need and giving the authorities an opportunity to act.

He blamed Hezbollah for what he described as years of wars fought in the name of supporting others without seeking the country's approval, saying those conflicts had contributed to Lebanon's current situation.

“Hezbollah convinced people that it could protect them and make them stronger, and for years it sold them a dream,” Hankach said. “But Hezbollah is still not convinced that it should give up its weapons, while everyone in parliament agrees that weapons must be exclusively in the hands of the state.”

Hankach rejected the idea that security could be maintained through political consensus, saying the state must assert its authority across the country.

“There can be no security based on everyone simply agreeing to it,” he said. “The state has to assert its authority over everyone. We want Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory, and we also want Hezbollah and Palestinian factions to give up their weapons.”

Hankach said there was no reason to fear a new civil war, adding that political forces were prepared to stand behind the country's security institutions.

“There is no reason to fear a civil war,” he said. “Everyone is ready to stand behind the security forces.”

Hankach said Hezbollah needed to make a choice about its political allegiance.

“Hezbollah has to decide which country it wants to be part of,” Hankach said.