ISRAEL Bkerké: Lebanese religious leaders call for peace (but with the Shiite distinctive)

The main leaders of the 18 religious communities recognized in the country met at the headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate. For Card. Raï is “a sign of hope.” The urgency of a ceasefire, the election of a new president of the Republic who enjoys “consensus”, national unity and the Palestinian cause among the points of the final communiqué.

Beirut () – The religious communities of Lebanon met yesterday in Bkerké, headquarters of the Maronite Patriarchate, to hold an emergency general assembly in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Paolo Borgia, representing the Holy See. At the end of the meeting, the leaders of the different faiths called on the UN Security Council to “convene quickly to vote on a resolution imposing a ceasefire” in the Land of the Cedars. This request came as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant once again dismissively dismissed the prospect of a truce, stating that any negotiations aimed at ending the fighting with Hezbollah should only be carried out “under fire” (in weapons).

Before about thirty personalities representing the 18 recognized religious communities in Lebanon, the Maronite Primate Card. Beshara Rai; the mufti of the Republic, Abdel Latif Derian; the vice president of the Shiite Higher Council, Ali el-Khatib; the Druze Akl sheikh, Sami Abil-Mouna; Greek Orthodox Patriarch Youhanna X Yazigi; and the head of the Alawite community, Ali Kaddour.

These parallel speeches converged on certain points considered fundamental, although with some distinctions that emerged in the speech given by the Shiite exponent: the urgency of a ceasefire, the absolute need to elect a president, the importance of national unity, the centrality of the State, the centrality of the Palestinian cause and respect for the Taif Agreement.

Patriarch Beshara Raï began his speech by welcoming those present and pointing out that the assembly should represent “a sign of hope” for the Lebanese. Especially in a historical phase in which social relations, characterized by tensions, “run the risk of falling apart” due to the path taken by the internal crisis and the blockage of institutions. In essence, the head of the Maronite Church urged all parties involved to leave the settling of internal political scores for later and, instead, focus their speeches and efforts on “reinforcing the sense of belonging of all communities in Lebanon.” ».

The only dissonance with this slogan came from the Shiite side: Sheikh Ali el-Khatib gave an ambiguous speech, in which he welcomed the resistance and justified its existence by the fact that “it is the State that has abandoned its sovereignty for decades.” and he has shown himself incapable of defending his people (…)». The vice president of the Shiite High Council also called for the election of a “consensual” president, a problematic term in the Country of the Cedars, where it is synonymous with political accommodation and agreements incompatible with sovereignty.

With this speech, it was clear how the Shiite community continues to want to give legitimacy to a parallel resistance to the Lebanese armed forces. [iniciada y alimentada por Hezbolá] and beyond his control. This is the same entity that plunged Lebanon into the current crisis by unilaterally deciding on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, to support the fighting in Gaza with a “low intensity” war. ».

It should be noted that Jafari Mufti Ahmad Kabalan, unofficial spokesperson for Hezbollah and possible successor to Sheikh Ali el-Khatib, was part of the delegation of the Shiite Supreme Council that spoke in Bkerké. In his opening speech, Druze Sheikh Akl quoted Saint John Paul II. “What about Lebanon as a message?” he exclaimed, referring to a proposal in which Pope Wojtyla described the country of cedars as “a model of pluralism for East and West.” This phrase, which includes the key concept of pluralism and which appeared in the preparatory draft of the final communiqué, was omitted by him in the final and definitive draft.

Full implementation of resolution 1701

Following the speeches, the summit called for “the full implementation of resolution 1701, in particular with regard to support for the army and its deployment south of the Litani River.” He also called for “the immediate election of a president in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, who enjoys the confidence of all Lebanese, the broadest understanding and the greatest consensus.” While thanking the communities that have welcomed the displaced, the statement stressed “respect for individual property and rejects any form of usurpation of it.” Finally, the participants in the interreligious meeting thanked “the Arab and foreign countries […] their political support and their material, medical and food aid” and asked for their help to rebuild what the Israeli army continues to systematically destroy. The statement concludes with a call for peace, remembering that the Palestinian cause is the central cause of the entire Arab world.