BEIRUT: Lebanon’s political parties seem to agree on one point concerning the hostage crisis: that the government should, in principle, engage in talks to free 25 servicemen being held by the Nusra Front and ISIS.
They differ, however, on how such talks ought to be conducted, and the concessions Lebanon should be prepared to make in return for winning the freedom of the captives.
The Future Movement called for a firm and serious approach to be adopted in the handling of the issue, according to a statement released Tuesday after the bloc held its weekly meeting. The movement supports a swap deal so long as it follows the dictates of due process, Future MP Jamal Jarrah told The Daily Star.
“We support negotiations to free the captured soldiers and to swap some prisoners asked for by the terrorists, but to find a legal way to free them,” he said.
Jarrah clarified that prisoners detained for several years without a conviction ought to be freed in the swap. Those with sentences could potentially be pardoned through a parliamentary decree, “if and when we reach that stage.”
The identities of those wanted by the militants have been known to the government since the beginning of September, he said.
“The legal process has to be quickened,” he added.
With respect to appointing a mediator, he said: “We have no problem with the person; we have a problem with losing time.”
Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk has said that there is consensus that General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim should lead talks, having had previous successes in negotiations to free the Azaz hostages and the Maaloula nuns.
“There must be a united political stand in the government to allow for this process to take place in a quick and precise way, but to date opinion is not united in the Cabinet concerning this,” Jarrah added.
In his view, agreeing to a swap deal was the primary sticking point sparking division. Despite its pronouncements, the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah stood against exchanging Islamist prisoners in Roumieh for the servicemen, according to Jarrah.
However, when contacted by The Daily Star, Hezbollah MP Mohammad Fneish said the party’s position remained unaltered from a speech delivered by its leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah in September, giving no details on wether his group supported a swap deal.
In his speech, Nasrallah dismissed rumors that his party stood against the principle of negotiating with militants, saying engaging in them was imperative to bring back the troops. But he added that talks should be conducted from a position of power.
Machnouk has said in his latest statement that the government would only resume negotiations if the Nusra Front and ISIS pledged to stop executing captives.
Reiterating comments made by Speaker Nabih Berri, MP Qassem Hashem, from Berri’s bloc, said that the negotiation dossier should be handled exclusively by one group. Hashem said he favored placing the hostage file in the hands of security forces rather than politicians.
Not only did Hashem express his support for Ibrahim’s lead on negotiations, but he said that the General Security chief was the only one who could use strong cards to pressure the captors to release the hostages.
Echoing Nasrallah, he said the method of negotiations should be conducted from a position of strength, emphasizing the importance of using strong-cards as leverage against the captors.
Hashem said the Amal movement “may” support a swap-deal, so long as it didn’t involve blackmail.
The Cabinet can only approve a swap deal if the move is backed by all its 24 ministers who represent most parties in the country.
Earlier in August, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun had said that states cannot negotiate with terrorists, indicating his rejection of negotiating with the militants altogether. Five months into the hostage crisis the FPM appears to have altered its rhetorical tune.
“We had our opinions on what was wrong in the beginning [of the crisis] but now the most important thing is to finish this up,” said MP Alain Aoun, from Aoun’s bloc. “We will deal with accountability later.”
“We should all agree on any solution the government finds to save the soldiers’ lives,” he added.
Alain Aoun said the FPM was not in a “front line” position with respect to the hostage crisis. He said that a lack of shared data precluded him taking a firm stance on how to proceed with the file.
The Progressive Socialist Party of MP Walid Jumblatt has clamorously supported a swap deal and any other measures required to solve the crisis.
“The priority is to take all necessary measures to secure the release of the hostages, especially since it’s the holidays,” said MP Henry Helou, from Jumblatt’s bloc.
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