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; the party’s Administrative Director, Mr. Talal Qaisi; and Samer Safah, Director General of the Makhzoumi Foundation. They discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region, as well as the latest developments concerning the war in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Following the meeting, Makhzoumi said that His Eminence had briefed him on the Ninth Conference of Ministers of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, which he had attended and which was hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the holy city of Mecca. He noted that the conference reflected the genuine spirit of moderation embodied by both the Kingdom and Dar al-Fatwa. He stressed that this approach must be translated into concrete action through solidarity and the strengthening of national unity, in order to protect Lebanon from the risk of the war spreading within the country and to safeguard the people of southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, Baalbek, and all other Lebanese regions.

Makhzoumi affirmed to His Eminence that he opposed the genocide taking place in Palestine and that Israel must be held accountable before the International Court of Justice for the crimes it is committing against the Palestinian people. He stressed the need to take serious steps to end the war in southern Lebanon and engage with the international community to achieve this goal, particularly given the government’s absence from effective action and its failure to develop practical plans to protect civilians in the event of war.

Makhzoumi stated that the most important priority remains the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 by all parties. He also emphasized the need to accelerate the election of a President of the Republic, form a government, and implement reforms. He noted that there can be no winner in this war, which will lead nowhere, while the economic, social, and livelihood-related losses are substantial, compounded by destruction, displacement, forced uprooting, and the loss of innocent lives.