Late on Tuesday morning, MP Michel Moawad was received in Bkerke by the Maronite Patriarch, Archbishop Bechara al-Rai.
At the end of the visit, he stressed that the meeting had been “an opportunity to discuss the latest dangerous developments” taking place at several levels on the Lebanese scene, referring of course to the military escalation in South Lebanon. In this context, he called for “priority” to be given “to protecting Lebanon and the Lebanese.”
He went on to protest against the decision to wage peace and war that Hezbollah had taken for itself, without any prior consultation with the Lebanese people. “This war into which the country is being dragged, day after day, against the will of all its people, constitutes a danger for the country,” warned the parliamentarian, calling on “the Lebanese to unite around the priority of protecting Lebanon” against this drift.
He also acknowledged that “Hezbollah had frankly announced that it had initiated the opening of the southern front in support of Gaza” as early as October 8. However, Moawad continued, even though the conflict is raging in the south of the country, “all Lebanese are paying the price.”
The MP also asked, “Who gave Hezbollah the right to decide for the Lebanese? What’s in the country’s interest?” considering that “this war could lead us to the worst and divide the Lebanese.”
He also deplored the fact that “the Lebanese always have to foot the bill for other people’s wars on their territory,” insisting that “this war only aims to keep Iran in the regional game.”
“The implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 is a necessity,” said Moawad, asserting that this is what “will protect Lebanon and the Lebanese.”
