In light of the dangerous military escalation in the region following the brutal US-Jewish attack on Iran on February 28, 2016—an attack that occurred while Iran was aligned with the US and had provided services to it in many parts of the region, services that ultimately proved insufficient—and the subsequent exchange of military responses, the widening scope of the confrontation, and the criminal attacks on Lebanon, statements and initiatives from within the Lebanese government have begun to emerge, suggesting the possibility of entering into direct negotiations with the Jewish entity. These statements have coincided with leaks about international initiatives, particularly French ones, that propose opening the door to negotiations leading to official recognition of this usurping entity, at a time when the region in general, and Lebanon in particular, are under immense political, military, and security pressure.

The succession of these contradictory statements and leaks, between confirmation and denial, and the accompanying American and European positions, indicates that there are attempts secretly taking place to prepare the atmosphere for a dangerous political project, which is being passed through what is known in politics as "trial balloons" to feel the pulse of the street and measure its reaction before taking fateful steps related to the future of the country and its people!

Making fateful decisions concerning Lebanon's relations and political future under the pressure of bombardment and threats can only be considered submission to international dictates. Negotiations conducted under war and military pressure, with the imbalance of power, are in reality an imposition of will by force, which the Trump administration today calls a policy of "peace through strength"—that is, imposing political solutions under the influence of war and destruction.

The undeniable truth is that recognizing the Jewish entity or opening negotiations with it has not brought security to any country in the region. The Gulf States, for example, have not benefited from peace agreements with Israel, nor from military agreements with America and Europe, in maintaining their security. Rather, these agreements have consistently served as a gateway to further political, economic, and military domination, and a means of imposing subservience to Western policies at the expense of the Ummah's interests and sovereignty.

We address our remarks here to the people of Lebanon in general, and to Muslims in particular:

The responsibility for rejecting this dangerous path rests upon you. Such fateful projects cannot be allowed to proceed without a clear stance from the people of the land who have suffered from this entity's aggression and crimes. Beware of being drawn into this perilous precipice, and do not permit the passage of projects recognizing the Jewish entity under the pressure of war, threats, displacement, or suffering. While the wars raging today are driven by international interests and regional conflicts, it is unacceptable—and a grave sin—for their outcome to be the imposition of political surrender—disguised as peace—on the peoples of the region, or forcing them to accept what they have rejected for decades.

The Jewish entity that is being forced to be recognized today was established only with the support of the major powers, foremost among them America and Europe, and it is incapable of surviving on its own without this support, as Allah Almighty said:

[ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوا إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ]

“They will be stricken with disgrace wherever they go, unless they are protected by a covenant with Allah or a treaty with the people.” [Aali’ Imran 3:112]. The arrogance and tyranny this entity displays today is based on the support of major powers, not on any genuine inherent strength.However, Allah Almighty has informed us that this arrogance will ultimately lead to their downfall and manifest loss. He (swt) said regarding the destruction of the Jews after their arrogance and tyranny:

[فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ الْآخِرَةِ لِيَسُوءُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَلِيَدْخُلُوا الْمَسْجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَلِيُتَبِّرُوا مَا عَلَوْا تَتْبِيراً]

“If you act rightly, it is for your own good, but if you do wrong, it is to your own loss. “And when the second warning would come to pass, your enemies would ˹be left to˺ totally disgrace you and enter that place of worship as they entered it the first time, and utterly destroy whatever would fall into their hands.” [Al-Isra 17:7]. Indeed, there is a promise from Allah that He will send against them until the Day of Resurrection those who will inflict upon them the worst of punishments. Allah Almighty said:

[وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكَ لَيَبْعَثَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَن يَسُومُهُمْ سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ]

“And ˹remember, O Prophet,˺ when your Lord declared that He would send against them others who would make them suffer terribly until the Day of Judgment” [Al-A’raf 7:167].

Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Lebanon calls upon you to adhere to what Allah Almighty has guided you to regarding the path of honor and salvation. He (swt) said:

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ تِجَارَةٍ تُنجِيكُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ * تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ * يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ * وَأُخْرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ]

“O believers! Shall I guide you to an exchange that will save you from a painful punishment? ˹It is to˺ have faith in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if only you knew. He will forgive your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and ˹house you in˺ splendid homes in the Gardens of Eternity. That is the ultimate triumph. ˹He will also give you˺ another favour that you long for: help from Allah and an imminent victory. ˹So˺ give good news ˹O Prophet˺ to the believers” [As-Saf 61:10-13].

Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Lebanon affirms and reiterates—until Allah decrees what He has ordained—that the Ummah's glory and strength lie in the return of its unified political entity, which will consolidate its energies, protect its sacred sites, and safeguard its lands.This entity is the Khilafah Rashidah (rightly guided Caliphate), established according to the methodology of the Prophethood, which will restore the Ummah's glory, deter its enemies, and make them think a thousand times before attacking it. Allah (swt) says:

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ]

“O believers! Patiently endure, persevere, stand on guard, and be mindful of Allah, so you may be successful” [Aali 'Imran 3:200].