Hezbollah withdraws from gov't confidence vote to 'save face' as MPs confront lawmakers over war

Lebanon's Parliament approved Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government with a 68-12 vote on Wednesday. Hezbollah lawmakers withdrew from the session, opting not to vote against the government, a move journalist Youssef Diab suggested was “to save face” given their diminished influence. Members of the Amal Movement, part of the Shi'ite bloc, voted for the government despite personal reservations. The session saw heated exchanges, particularly regarding Hezbollah's role in the war and its refusal to transfer land to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).

• Independent MP Michael Moawad confronted Hezbollah, stating their “losing of wars is what brings Israeli occupation” and that their refusal to cede Ali Taher Ridge to the LAF could lead to it being “handed over to the Israelis.”
• MP Ziad Hawat also accused Hezbollah of bringing the IDF back into the country, leading to a shouting match with Hezbollah MP Hussein Jachi.
• Other lawmakers, including Paula Yakoubian and Ibrahim Mneimné, questioned Hezbollah's refusal to disarm and called for them to acknowledge their responsibility for recent events.
• Lt.-Col. (res.) Sarit Zehavi noted that while the parliamentary condemnations of Hezbollah were significant, they do not alter the Lebanese government's ongoing failure to disarm the group.