On the occasion of the New Hijri Year, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdellatif Deriane stated on Saturday, “We are living in difficult times, marked by severe distress and hardship, notably the failure to elect a new president for the republic after two years of vacancy.”
He urged political forces and concerned parties to “engage in dialogue, make mutual concessions for the country’s benefit, and revive the state and its institutions.” He warned that failure to do so would “cost the nation and its citizens dearly in terms of security, politics, economy, society, and morality.” He placed this responsibility on those obstructing the presidential election, holding them accountable before God and the Lebanese people.
The Grand Mufti thanked Arab countries and friendly nations for their support, emphasizing that Lebanese leaders and political forces should keep up with these efforts. He cautioned that continued disputes and rigid positions threaten to provoke the nation’s collapse.
Deriane warned against those undermining national and social security by spreading lies to ignite discord among Lebanese people. He noted that Lebanon’s problems are greater now than during the 2006 war, ”with less solidarity”.
“However, there is still sympathy for Lebanon, evidenced by Arab and international visits. This reality calls for internal solidarity in action: solidarity to end the war, to elect a president, and to stop the consequences of division that we see in public opinion,” he added.
Deriane condemned Israel’s actions in southern Lebanon and other regions as war crimes against all Lebanese people and institutions. He praised the resilience of the Lebanese people against daily aggression and violations of Resolution 1701, which proved the miscalculations of Israel regarding national cohesion. He concluded, “National unity was and will remain the fundamental basis for resisting occupation and Israel’s aggression.”
