Suleiman mentioned the “Israeli threat” because that’s Arab boiler plate. What is important here is to note the Saudi interest is in strengthening the Army over Hezbollah which is the Iranian threat. Key here is the desire to help UNIFIL enforce Res 1701 as quickly as possible.
Mohamad Chatah, was assassinated a few days ago. According to Elliot Abrams, Chatah was a brave foe of Hezbollah and Assad, Hezbollah hass been pushing to have the same power over Lebanon as Syria did. No doubt this was a factor in Saudi arabia stressing the urgency and providing the money.
The thrust of this resolution is for Lebanon to deploy troops in south Lebanon and to stop smuggling of arms and to disarm Hezbollah.
Perhaps this is part of a deal in which The Saudis ensure that Hezbollah will not reign rockets down on Israel and Israel attacks Iran. Ted Belman
+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon)
President Michel Suleiman on Sunday[29 Dec.] announced that Saudi Arabia has
decided to donate three billion dollars with the aim of purchasing French
weapons for the Lebanese army as soon as possible.
“Enhancing the army’s capabilities is a unifying national and popular demand
and a source of pride and it is a dream that I always had during my 41 years
of military service, and it is the dream of every Lebanese since
independence to confront the Israeli threat, protect democracy, face
terrorism and put an end to the proliferation of arms,” said the president.
“This support will contribute to confronting terrorism and helping UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) implement (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1701,” Suleiman noted.
Suleiman hoped the French government “will back this initiative and support
the army.”
“The king noted that the weapons will be purchased from France as soon as
possible,” Suleiman said.
He described the move as “the biggest support in Lebanon’s history,”
pointing out that it is “sufficient to enable the army to perform its
missions.”
Suleiman revealed that another 1.6 billion dollars might be offered during
an international meeting in Italy in 2014.
“The initiative is an honest reflection of the kingdom’s efforts to preserve
Lebanon,” Suleiman said.
“The International Support Group issued recommendations that were endorsed
by the U.N. Security Council and they aim to support Lebanon’s stability and
the ongoing efforts to resolve the refugee crisis, and these recommendations
will be followed up and implemented,” he noted.
But the Lebanese state “cannot implement any of these policies without a
real political will and without follow-up, which means without active
constitutional institutions, specifically without a brave judicial authority
and a capable and strong army,” Suleiman explained.
Separately, the president stressed that he never discussed with Saudi Arabia
the issue of the stalled cabinet formation process or the extension of his
term as president.
“I have always sought to serve Lebanon and I never discussed during my
foreign visits the issue of the cabinet formation process or the extension
of my presidential term and no one has raised this issue with me at all,”
Suleiman underlined.
Addressing the Lebanese, the president called on them to “close ranks and
show solidarity with the legitimate institutions and with the army which is
the guarantor of unity and stability,” saluting the “martyrs, officers and
soldiers” of the military institution.
Suleiman’s announcement came as French President Francois Hollande arrived
in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah.
During a press conference, Hollande announced that Paris “will respond
positively to any Lebanese request,” in response to a question about the
Saudi initiative to arm the Lebanese army with French weapons.
“We have a common stance with Riyadh over the issue of Lebanon’s unity and
independence,” said Hollande.
“We are interested in having a stable Lebanon and we will respond positively
to any Lebanese request,” he stressed.
The French president will meet former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian
opposition leader Ahmed Jarba in Saudi Arabia, said a member of his
entourage.
The meeting with Hariri comes amid heightening tensions in Lebanon after the
assassination of his close aide, former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, in
a car bombing on Friday[27 Dec.in Beirut
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