President of the National Dialogue Party, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, visited the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, at Dar al-Fatwa. He was accompanied by the head of the National Dialogue Party’s Political Bureau, former Ambassador Dr. Bassam Naamani; the party’s Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Duraid Oweidat; member of the Higher Islamic Sharia Council, Mr. Kamel Dimyati; the party’s Administrative Director, Mr. Talal Qaisi; Samer Safah, Director General of the Makhzoumi Foundation; and lawyer Hassan Kashli. They discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as the latest developments regarding the war in Lebanon.

Following the meeting, Makhzoumi congratulated His Eminence on the Christian-Islamic Spiritual Summit recently held in Bkerke, which had received a very positive and significant response, particularly with regard to the formation of a committee to follow up on the issue of displaced persons.

Makhzoumi and His Eminence also discussed the outcomes and resolutions of the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh. Makhzoumi commended the decision to establish a ministerial committee headed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to follow up on the Lebanese file and help the country overcome its crises, particularly by bringing an end to the devastating war currently underway. He noted that the problem today lies in the clear absence of political leadership among those concerned, amid the paralysis of Parliament, the poor management of the displacement crisis, and the political positions adopted by the government, which neither serve the country’s interests nor encourage the international community to assist it.

Makhzoumi stressed that the top priorities today are to end the war, fully implement all provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, elect a President of the Republic, and strengthen and support the role of the Lebanese Army. He also emphasized the need to form a government and activate Parliament’s role in passing reform legislation, noting that progress on these matters depends on domestic decisions.

Makhzoumi and His Eminence further discussed the displacement crisis and ways to mitigate its repercussions and negative consequences, particularly for the capital, Beirut, which has been among the areas most severely affected at this stage. While affirming that displaced persons are part of our own community, Makhzoumi firmly rejected the encroachments and violations taking place. He reiterated the need to prevent Beirut students from being transferred to schools outside the capital in order to keep displaced persons accommodated in Beirut’s public schools, calling for efforts to find a fundamental, long-term solution to this issue.