Transcript (en)

The Israel today, look what they did to Gaza. And there's another example that will be similar to what Lebanon is going through, and that's Syria. Syria is weaker than ever. When Syria was more powerful under Assad, you wouldn't see Israel decide to bomb him whenever they feel like it. And then we saw what happens right after Assad fell. And now Al-Shara is trying, you know, you can like him, dislike him. He is trying to unify Syria. And, you know, he got the endorsement of Trump and other political leaders around the world. yet Israel decides to bomb Syria and offer any justification that has nothing to do with Israeli security. And they're still inside Syrian territory. So how do you know if Hezbollah is disarmed that Israel won't do the same thing in Lebanon? The only entity that can actually guarantee that is the United States of America. The only country that can pressure a deal and make sure that Israel will respect is the United States of America. It's very clear. Because now what Netanyahu is saying, Prime Minister Netanyahu, is saying very clearly, I'm waiting for the green light from the United States of America. Now, let's take that a step further. If today, and this is the first time in the history of the Lebanese-American relationship, I have a president that he brought the ambassador of Lebanon and the ambassador of Israel into the Oval Office to say, I would love to help Lebanon, But I would like to see that you're willing to live in peace in this region. If we were now to go to the President of the United States and say, we're willing to go along with you, we're willing to go for peace, I would like you to guarantee for me that if we start this process of strengthening the army and moving south to try to take over from the Israelis that you will guarantee that Israel will withdraw and that Israel will respect that agreement But they can guarantee they couldn guarantee a ceasefire in Gaza Gaza is still getting attacked And Syria. Mario, I'm a Lebanese. I do not want to get into discussion about Gaza or Syria. But you have to look at them to see if you can trust them. For me, I trust the United States of America. If what President Trump is saying publicly, Why should I be challenged? That's not correct. He is saying, I'm willing to support you. Actually, the tweet from the embassy a few days ago saying, if you were to actually implement the disarmament, if you're willing to live in peace in the region, we are willing to give you all the support that you need. Why would I, as a Lebanese, challenge a statement by the embassy of the United States of America based on a position of the president of the United States and say, I don't trust you? As far as I'm concerned, until proven otherwise, I believe that's a very important statement. Let's put it on the test. Okay. You said, unless proven otherwise. Well, they've asked Israel to stop striking Syria. Israel has not abided by U.S. requests there. They've asked Israel to stop striking Lebanon. Now I'm talking about not the last ceasefire, the one after Iran. They're still striking Lebanon. No, no, no. Before Hezbollah attacked. No. No, the 27th of November, 2024, everybody heard about the so-called appendix to the agreement. Now, people say, but we haven't seen it, but it was leaked all over the place. It says that there will be a ceasefire between Lebanon and Syria south of Lebanon and Israel south of Litani They have the right to move bomb anything they feel is against their national system I not referring to it I know The one before Listen listen And they said as far as North of Litani they created a so mechanism that is supposedly coordinating with each other, whereby the Israelis will inform the Lebanese army that we believe there is a threat in point A. The army should move there to investigate. And And if there is a threat, then they have to make sure that it is non-existent, and then we can move forward. Twice the Lebanese army attempted to do that in Dahi. Twice they went to investigate, twice Hezbollah forbid them from entering these places, twice Israel bombed them, and there was all kinds of weapons that were stored there. So I'm not defending Israel, I'm not defending, I'm defending Lebanon. That's all what I'm interested in. But we have a mechanism that if we put it to the test, then I agree with you. If it is proven to be wrong, I'll be more than happy to say that we were tricked into that. But if we are refusing because of Hezbollah to be implemented, how could I make a statement that I don't trust the Americans or the Israelis if we are not willing to implement what was given to us as a way out in case we want it? I still think my point is valid, but I think your response is also very valid. So my point is there should be concern, because I wasn't referring to the 2024 ceasefire, I'm referring to the one now after the Iran ceasefire. He's asked Israel very clearly in very strong terms in a true social post, not a strike. He says surgical intervention. The term that President Trump said surgical intervention Now I not a military man so I don understand what that means No they not striking Beirut So yes the ceasefire is active You right The bombing now in Lebanon is very different to what it was during the Iran war So that is accurate. Israel is still advancing in South Lebanon. So that's where the lack of trust exists. But Hezbollah is still firing rockets. Sure, they're still fighting. And there's a counter-argument to be made. Syria is more clear. Al-Shahra is not attacking Israel in any way. He's trying to improve relations between the two countries. and Israel seems adamant on doing the opposite and destabilizing Syria. So there is, I know it's not Lebanon, but you understand the people that don't trust Israel. And what you're saying is that we don't have any other solution. The only option we have on the table, it could be once in a lifetime opportunity, is the one that Trump is offering. You said it may not work, but we have no better option. The alternative is to maintain the status quo, but that has been disastrous. Exactly. You know, look, if today the only option we have, I have a proposal from the United States of America through the president and through the embassy, which say we are willing to give you all the support to rebuild Lebanon and to be, you know, to live and to have a reconstruction of the South. What choices do I have? I would like to use that option to put it to the test. But Hezbollah is saying, I don't care what the government does or they are willing to be discussing with others. I'm not in agreement. So the question now is not anymore that there is an alternative that we're discussing. It's a question that now Hezbollah is saying, I'm out of the state. I'm not willing to implement what you're putting. And you have no choice but to listen to me. We're not ready for that.