• PAGER Act refers to “Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism,”

• Zeinab Al Saffar discusses why it matters?

Why PAGER Act Matters? The discussion surrounds as American Republican Representative Greg Steube, a staunch supporter of Trump, has reintroduced the Act in US Congress. The PAGER Act or “Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Radicalism,” prohibits aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces. The aid blockade is proposed until the Lebanese government rescinds its recognition of both Hezbollah & Amal Movement.

So, Let’s review the background. The bill was first introduced last September after the terrorist Pager Massacre.

It systematically targets Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and their allies in Lebanon. Moreover, it demands preventing affiliated individuals from holding any senior official positions. This provocative act also stresses that Lebanon must not allow so-called “Iranian influence” within its official institutions. The US draft law proposes to list the head of the military intelligence in southern Lebanon, Brigadier General Suhail Bahij Harb, as a global terrorist after an aggressively fabricated western & Arab media campaign against him.

The draft law further sets a strict deadline for the Lebanese government, not exceeding 60 days from the date of its approval, to implement a series of strict conditions. Otherwise, the American military aid to the Lebanese Army will be stopped.

The PAGER Act requires the Lebanese state to comply with UN Security Council resolution 1559 that calls for disarming Hezbollah. The Act also calls for imposing sanctions on political figures who provided political cover for Hezbollah within the state.

Bottom Line: Why PAGER Act Matters? This senseless draft law that incites sedition flagrantly is a blatant insult to every Lebanese, as it targets the Lebanese government, the Ministry of Defense, the Lebanese Army, and some Lebanese parties that possess a large swathe of constituency and the highest electoral preferential votes.