From the headquarters of the Druze community, we reiterate our call for Lebanon to be protected and kept militarily neutral from any adventure that could lead to destruction and devastation.
At this esteemed residence, we met with His Eminence Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna, the spiritual leader of the Unitarian Druze community, as part of the ongoing consultations conducted by Tajadod Bloc with all religious authorities and political leaders, amid the urgent need to establish a safety net in the face of existential risks threatening Lebanon.
In meeting with the religious authority of the Unitarian Druze community, we reflect on the major role this deeply rooted component of Lebanese society has played in the founding of Lebanon, in defending it, and in enriching the Lebanese model of pluralism through invaluable contributions that cannot be erased, as well as in strengthening ties with the Arab world and the wider international community.
Today, in light of the grave developments unfolding across the region and in Lebanon, we affirm that Lebanese people must rally around Lebanon first. In this spirit, Tajadod Bloc is working to forge the broadest possible consensus against exposing Lebanon to war and destruction. We likewise reaffirm our rejection of the systematic killing of civilians and the wholesale destruction of the Gaza Strip inflicted on the Palestinian people. We stress our support for the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people’s right to live in security and dignity, and to establish their own state in accordance with the two-state solution enshrined in the Arab Peace Initiative announced at the 2002 Beirut Summit.
On these grounds, we declare that the state’s sovereign decision-making authority over matters of war and peace must not be usurped, and that it is unacceptable for the Lebanese authorities to be absent from decision-making and from exercising influence.
It is unacceptable to impose new equations, such as the so-called “rules of engagement,” that take Lebanon outside the framework of the Constitution and international legitimacy resolutions, placing the country’s decisions and the fate of its people in the hands of armed Lebanese and non-Lebanese forces operating outside the state.
What is therefore required, without delay, is the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and all other relevant international resolutions.
We are not neutral on the Palestinian cause. However, we are committed to preventing Lebanon from becoming an arena for regional power plays.
We want Lebanon to weather this storm without its people once again paying an unbearable price. We also want Palestine to regain peace through the establishment of an independent state. We call on all countries around the world to make every effort to protect the Palestinian people and restore the path toward a just and comprehensive peace—the only guarantee of lasting stability in the region.
Tajadod Bloc will continue its consultations and meetings with all parties. The responsibility entrusted to us by the Lebanese people who placed their confidence in us demands continuous efforts to protect Lebanon. God willing, we will pursue this path to the very end.