Lebanon 's priorities: Israel's withdrawal or Hezbollah's disarmament?

Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad said Monday that the Israeli withdrawal should be the priority and not Hezbollah's disarmament, adding that "unbiased polls have showed that the majority of the Lebanese people reject the government's decision (to disarm Hezbollah)."

Fayyad assured that the army, which was tasked with the disarmament plan, won't be dragged into a conflict with Hezbollah. "The Lebanese army is keen on maintaining unity and peace," he said.

In August, under heavy U.S. pressure and fearing Israel would intensify its strikes, Lebanon's government ordered the army to draw up a plan for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year.

Last week, the government approved the army's plan but decided to keep its details confidential.

The five Shiite ministers had walked out of the session as Army Commander General Joseph Haykal joined it to present the army’s plan. They were followed by independent Shiite minister Fadi Makki.