Bassil: Hezbollah Stabbed Us

Caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil revealed that Hezbollah " has stabbed us and democracy" in terms of the extension of Parliament's mandate, saying the party "continued to thurst the knife" by crippling the Constitutional Council's task in examining the legality of the extension.

"It turned out that our ally is part of the political framework" prevailing in the country and "has fallen under the influence of bigger strategic choices," Bassil told Asharq Al Awsat daily.

"However, this won't affect the strategic alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement," Bassil said, admitting that discrepancies between the two political forces have always been clear.

"We should preserve our good relations with Hizbullah as part of our responsibility in consolidating stability," he noted.

Although understanging Hezbollah's motives to get involved in Syria's Al Qusayr battle "in order to defend Lebanon and itself", Bassil noted that the Lebanese party should not push its engagement in Syria's fighting too far.

Bassil underscored that the FPM's understanding with Hezbollah has certain limits in terms of defending Lebanon.

"The limits consist in not allowing Lebanon to get involved deeeper in Syria's fighting and to be truly protecting Lebanon."

The minister admitted that Hezbollah's involvement is negatively affecting Lebanon's ties with Arab countries, hoping that the Gulf officials would not penalize Lebanese nationals based on sectarian and political criteria and noting that every Lebanese who violates the host country's laws and rules deserves then to be expelled.