President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, accompanied by Political Adviser Carol Zouein, visited Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai at the Patriarchal See in Bkerke. They discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region.

Makhzoumi said he was visiting this national landmark because His Beatitude represents a key point of reference in affirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and upholding the national position amid the critical circumstances the country is facing.

Makhzoumi added: “There is no doubt that we are currently in a state of war, even if it is not a war affecting the entire country. Any attack on the South is an attack on all of Lebanon.” He noted that the Palestinian cause is the central cause, but stressed that supporting the Palestinian cause is one thing, while protecting our country and rejecting attempts to drag it into a war is another.

Makhzoumi said that several essential measures are needed to protect Lebanon. The first is safeguarding the military institution. He called for extending the Army Commander’s term and postponing his retirement to ensure that the military institution is not left without wise leadership.

He identified the second measure as keeping Lebanon under the framework of international legitimacy by fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. He questioned the Prime Minister about Lebanon’s sovereignty in light of Hamas’s announcement regarding the establishment of the “Vanguards of the Al-Aqsa Flood” in Lebanon. He stressed the need to declare a state of emergency, place the South directly under the authority of the military institution, and prevent violations of Resolution 1701. He also noted that the presidential vacuum has had a significant impact on the current situation.

Makhzoumi concluded by calling on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to convene Parliament for open-ended sessions held in successive rounds until a President of the Republic is elected, enabling the country to move forward with reforms. He stressed that the Lebanese people deserve far more than what is currently being offered to them.