Lebanon calls on India to help de-escalate West Asia tensions: Ambassador Narsh

Lebanon's Ambassador to India Dr Rabie Narsh has said that India can play a "very good role" in de-escalating the situation in West Asia. His remarks come at a time when his country is facing strikes from Israel, while tensions escalate across the region.

Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, has also launched a volley of rockets into Israel, pushing the situation closer to a potential wider conflict.

Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, Ambassador Narsh said, "We call upon our friends in the Indian government to put more pressure on the Israeli government to end this crazy war...we tell them that we want their good offices with Israel, to de-escalate the war and to end the war."

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The Ambassador also confirmed that India plans to send a medical humanitarian situation to his country very soon. He termed the situation "very bad" in Lebanon and that his governmentis ready to implement UNSC resolution 1701.

Resolution 1701, passed in 2006, aimed to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah by calling for Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon and the militant group's disarmament south of the Litani River. Ambassador Narsh pointed out, "Every item of 1701 we are ready to implement. And there was agreement, from all parties of Lebanon, including Hezbollah."Full interview:

WION: What is the current situation in Lebanon?

Dr Rabie Narsh: The situation is very bad in Lebanon. Of course, we are at an all-out war, Israel is waging an all-out war on Lebanon. So far we have more than 2000 innocent souls perished, and more than 10,000 injured, 1.2 million displaced, which is a heavy burden on Lebanon, given we gave twomillion Syrian refugees also. So the situation is bad, and this reflects the aggressive nature of Israel, which has been waging this war for a twisted and sinister agenda.

WION: What do you expect from the international community at a time when your country is facing the situation?

Dr Rabie Narsh: The international community is our only aim, and our only side to talk to and to ask them to stop this madness from (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, the international community has also to be responsible, and play an important role in de-escalating the situation in the region. They have, of course, many good offices and negotiations going on, but they have been faced with the war mindset of Israel.

WION: How do you see India's role? Have you briefed the Indian side about the current situation your country is facing?

Dr Rabie Narsh: I have, of course, I am in constant contact with the Indian side. The friendly government of India has always supported Lebanon and given that they have good relations with Israel and very good relations with Lebanon. So yes, they can play, and they are playing a very good role in de-escalating the situation. We know for sure that they have contacted but then again, like any other international player or good offices, the Peace Peace lover state, India, is also faced with the insistence of Netanyahu to go on this war. So we call upon our friends in the Indian government to put more pressure on the Israeli government to end this crazy war.

WION: So you just said that India is playing a role in de-escalation you can elaborate on that bit. And also have you sent a message to New Delhi that India can send a message to the government in Israel, to Prime Minister Netanyahu, to, of course, de-escalate? Have you sent any messages?

Dr Rabie Narsh: We can't tell the Indians what to do. Of course, we tell them that we want their good offices with Israel, to de-escalate the war and to end the war. But yes, I know for sure that they are doing their best to see peace prevail in the region.

WION: Around 3000 Indians in Lebanon, if you can talk about, is any evacuation plan being readied? Has the Indian government approached you? And also, there are Indian UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. What is the current condition for them?

Dr Rabie Narsh: The current situation of the Indians in Lebanon, there are, like you said, about three to 4000 Indians, they are as safe as any other Lebanese in the country. I mean, of course, the homes, the companies they work for, they are trying to protect them in the same way that they protect themselves. So hopefully they will be safe. There's no campaign to evacuate them from Lebanon. The Indian government has not approached us for that specific reason, hopefully will not reach that point, but we want to see the war stop.

WION: And Indians in the UN?

Dr Rabie Narsh: Indians in the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon), this is the good part, and the beautiful face of India. India has always been investing in peace. So I think the biggest contingent in UNIFIL, the peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, is Indian. You have about 900 to 1000 peacekeeping personnel, and they are doing a great job. They are very much admired and appreciated in Lebanon. And again, on my behalf, on behalf of my government, I extend my appreciation and thanks to the Government of India.

WION: We know there was a plan for a ceasefire, the French and the American proposal for a ceasefire. What was the status? Is the proposal now dead? And had the Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah agreed to it?

Dr Rabie Narsh: This proposal was botched by Netanyahu himself, and yes, there was a peace almost, I mean, ceasefire agreement. Our government has announced its acceptance of the proposal by the French and the Americans and it was almost about to happen, but it turned out that it was a plot by the Israeli government and by Netanyahu, it was part of the plan to assassinate Nasrallah. Now there's, of course, there's always talk to end this crazy war, but there's no light at the end of the tunnels.

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WION: Any direct conversation happening between the Lebanese government and the Israeli government about the current situation, and how to handle it.

Dr Rabie Narsh: There's no direct contact with the Israeli government, but there's indirect, of course, indirect contact through our friends, as you said, the US, the French, the other European, and of course, there are some talks that are always there. It's always there.

WION: Do you think that this current situation, the war that is happening in your country, can become a larger, broader conflict in the region, which can escalate beyond the borders and can involve other countries?

Dr Rabie Narsh: Of course, there is serious concern that the war would escalate, and we almost at an all out war, but the escalation is always there, and yes, there is a big chance, unfortunately, that this war might even escalate further due to the like I said, the war mindset of Netanyahu And the current Israeli government.

WION: What role Hezbollah has in this war...in your country?

Dr Rabie Narsh: Hezbollah is a Lebanese party. They are Lebanese. All the members of Hezbollah are Lebanese. When it comes to domestic politics Hezbollah plays by the rule of the Lebanese political system. So there is no issue with that. And at the same time, Hezbollah is a resistant group, because our land is occupied. And if you remember, Hezbollah was only created in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon. So had there not been an invasion of Lebanon, we might not have seen Hezbollah created. So any occupation calls for resistance. Resistance in Lebanon to the Israeli occupation started long before Hezbollah. So Hezbollah was not the only resistance group, but maybe because during the, I mean, the years, and because of the demographic composition of Lebanon and geographical area, that's why maybe Hezbollah has lasted more and now Hezbollah is the main resistance group, but again, not alone. It's not a secret that Hezbollah gets the support, full support, from Iran, but as a resistance group, the Lebanese Resistance group and as a political party within the government and the parliament, they are represented there. They play by the rules, and they are a Lebanese political party.

WION: What's the plan for implementing the UNSC Resolution 1701, one of the key points is that all non-state actors need to shun weapons, and violence. What's your assessment on that? Will it be implemented by Lebanon?

Dr Rabie Narsh: 1701 was issued in 2006, it stopped the war also, again, another war from Israel into Lebanon. So we are ready. Currently, since they established the issuance of this 1701 resolution, we have been called, we have been calling for the full, full implementation of 1701, and we are ready. Currently, we are ready. We announced this many times to the international community that we are ready to apply and to fully implement 1701 with all its items, the issue is that you need the other party to abide by 1701 so Israel is the party who is violating 1701 by violating our airspace, our land, our sea, they are violating 1701 since its issuance.

WION: Does it include defanging the Hezbollah?

Dr Rabie Narsh: Every item of 1701 we are ready to implement. And there was agreement, from all parties of Lebanon, including Hezbollah.

WION: We also saw the pager attack. What are your investigations saying? Who is responsible for the pager attack?

Dr Rabie Narsh: First, this is a massacre. This is a war against humanity. It's a war crime. And it's not, by the way, an advent by the Israelis. It was considered before, and I read reports that even the Americans considered using this same plot in Afghanistan, but they refrained, because they were afraid that many innocent lives would also be affected. And this is what happened in Lebanon actually because pagers are not only with Hezbollah, the doctors use them, nurses, social workers, and many of these categories have either lost their lives or have been infected with major injuries. So the investigation is still going on, and I mean, there's maybe not just a single report about the investigation over the result of the investigation, but it's clear enough that Israel is behind this.

WION: Do you have any proof? And if you have any proof, will you present it to the international community?

Dr Rabie Narsh: Some things are very clear. They're too clear to have to need the proof. But no, I don't have proof. But maybe this is the only war crime that they did not claim, but obviously, and everyone knows that Israel is behind.

WION: Do you have proof? If you have proof, can you put it in front of the international community?

Dr Rabie Narsh: We have enough proof about this or other war crimes. And there have been, of course, put in front of the international community and asked them to take responsibility, to hold Israel responsible for all war crimes. There are lots of complaints from the Lebanon side to the United Nations to the General Assembly. So yeah, there are lots of them, and Israel has lots of war crimes for us to sue and to follow.

WION: What next for Hezbollah?

Dr Rabie Narsh: I am not an expert on Hezbollah, I don't know how their system works, but as a resistance group all over the world, they never die if you eliminate their head, if the head of any group was eliminated, then another one would replace because the process of liberating occupied land will continue, so whether with Hezbollah or any other resistance, will not allow Israel to occupy our land, and we will fight till we liberate our land.

WION: You must need humanitarian support. Are you getting any humanitarian support from the international community? And what kind of humanitarian support would you require? Have you reached out to India? Is India sending any humanitarian support to your country?

Dr Rabie Narsh: We are getting lots of humanitarian support from all our friends. We have lots of friends in the world, and India is one of our best friends. Also, India has always rushed, I remember, during the covid pandemic, India has rushed to help Lebanon and to send humanitarian aid, medicines, and others. Currently, yes, India also has voluntarily proposed to send medicine, that is currently a big consignment of medicine we are arranging for to be sent to Lebanon. So India has already been, like I said, investing in peace and in humanitarian aid, and that's very much appreciated by my government.

WION: Do you see a divided neighbourhood? Do you feel that the Arab world is silent when it comes to the situation in Lebanon?

Dr Rabie Narsh: I believe that they are doing their best, their utmost. They are trying what they can do, but, what happened is that they know that even the US themselves, who are, who have the greatest sway on Israel, they said, many American officials said that we can, we have no control over Netanyahu. So if the Americans themselves cannot control Netanyahu, when, when he goes with this all crazy war, then I believe that the other countries in the region would say, I mean, there's nothing much in their hand to do.

WION: What about the Palestinian cause?

Dr Rabie Narsh: The main cause, if we look at the main cause of all this situation that we are currently facing, is because of occupation. Occupation is the root cause of all evils in our region. And the only solution is to apply the two-state resolution.

WION: Here in India, since the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, we have seen, particularly the Shia community, holding marches, whether it is in Jammu and Kashmir, whether it's in Lucknow, or whether it's here in Delhi, Indian national capital. We in fact saw an event where the Iranian and the lead Palestinian ambassador were also present. So how do you see these marches?

Dr Rabie Narsh: It is not only about Hassan Nasrallah, I've seen even since October 23 when the war on Gaza happened, many Indians from all walks of life in India, from all geographical areas in India, have gone to the street and they have demonstrated. They have shown their support for Palestine.