Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib expressed disappointment with US President Joe Biden’s stance, which called Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel “unprovoked,” during the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
At an event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Habib spoke on Biden’s speech at the General Assembly, saying that despite his disappointment, he hoped that Washington could still intervene to help “despite disappointments of the past.”
“It was not strong. It is not promising, and it would not solve this problem,” Habib said, “I [am] still hoping. The United States is the only country that can really make a difference in the Middle East and with regard to Lebanon.”
During the event, he also said that Prime Minister Najib Mikati hoped to meet with US officials in the coming days.
Additionally, Habib stated his belief that war in Lebanon will not help Israelis get back to their homes; only negotiations can do that, adding that the number of people displaced by the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in southern Lebanon was “probably” approaching one-half million.
Biden’s Speech
In Biden’s last speech before the UN as president, he reiterated that the blame for the war in Gaza lay with Hamas.
“The world must not flinch from the horrors of October 7,” he said.
“Any country, would have the right and responsibility to ensure that such an attack can never happen again. Thousands of armed Hamas terrorists invaded a sovereign state, slaughtering and massacring more than 1,200 people, including 46 Americans.”
Biden went on to call for a ceasefire once more, saying, “Now is the time for the parties to finalize [the ceasefire] terms. Bring the hostages home.”
Additionally, Biden recognized that the northern Israel-Lebanon conflict – which the IDF named “Northern Arrows” on Monday, was initiated by Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah, unprovoked, joined the October 7 attack, launching rockets at Israel,” he said.
Finally, Biden emphasized his belief in a diplomatic solution.
“Even as the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible. In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security, to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes and the border safely.”
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