Lebanese factions discuss defense strategy

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Lebanon's president told rival factions on Monday that creating a national defense strategy which could eventually integrate Hizbullah's weapons into the country's army will take time. Michel Suleiman spoke during the fifth round of talks on developing the strategy. The talks are part of a deal reached in May that defused a long-running political crisis. A national defense strategy is a divisive issue in Lebanon. The anti-Syrian bloc wants Hizbullah to give up its arsenal, but the group said that its weapons were necessary to protect against Israeli attacks.