Aoun: The Lebanese Are Exhausted and Cannot Endure Another War
'The Lebanese are tired,' Aoun said, 'and they can no longer bear another war. We do not want to drag the country into more bloodshed. We have significant opportunities ahead, especially with our Arab brothers extending a hand. We must seize these chances and lift Lebanon out of its current state.'
He made his comments during a meeting with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, who was accompanied by a delegation of regional muftis, at the Baabda presidential palace. The gathering also included Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Aoun voiced concern over some political actors who, he said, 'lack a sense of responsibility and insist on spreading groundless rumors and fostering a negative atmosphere.'
He emphasized the important contributions of all Lebanese communities, particularly the Sunni community, which he said brings 'two vital values to Lebanon: internal moderation and a firm affirmation of Lebanon's Arab identity.'
In turn, Derian expressed his full support for Aoun, praising him as 'a symbol of Lebanese unity and guardian of the Taif Agreement and the Constitution.'
He stressed that only national unity and adherence to state institutions can protect Lebanon at this critical juncture.
Derian condemned ongoing Israeli violations, calling for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which he said has only been honored by the Lebanese side.
'Instead of proposing new agreements, we should insist on applying all provisions of this resolution,' he said.
Following the meeting, Derian echoed Berri's optimism that the situation in the country is heading in a positive direction, despite public concern. He described Berri as a 'genuine national guarantor' working diligently to protect Lebanon from war and resolve ongoing crises.
'We are optimistic and confident that any challenges can only be overcome through unity,' he added. 'At Dar al-Fatwa, our message is clear: we speak not in sectarian terms, but in the language of national inclusion.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Sectarianism is in the eye of the beholder
I know it is never easy, but if we are about to have a reset then we should do the same with our perceptions of the region. Analysis of the Middle East has been dominated by two widely held beliefs: one is that conflicts are our fault because we are sectarian, and the other is that our problems are the West's fault because we have been divided into artificial states by colonialism. Both these myths belong to an era dominated by secular nationalist ideas that academia largely favored. For positive change to happen, we have to believe in ourselves and remind ourselves that, in our region, it is coexistence between sects that has been the norm and sectarian conflict the exception. We must also note that the Arab state system has been rather stable, especially if compared to that of Europe. Let me explain. First of all, sectarianism is often in the eye of the beholder. Some see it everywhere because they believe it is there. They look for it in situations that we consider mostly as normal politics. Of course, there are politicians who use sectarian speech and sometimes it works in their favor: they create the problems that they then offer to resolve. Some academics even study 'de-sectarianization' (my spellcheck insists that the word does not exist). It is as if there is a disease called sectarianism that can be treated by de-sectarianization. This blurred vision happens to people who expect complete homogeneity and do not understand coexistence. The Arab proverb that says 'me and my brother against my cousin and me and my cousin against the stranger' may be a source of confusion. This is often used to explain family and tribal solidarity, but in reality it is prescriptive rather than descriptive: it means you should stand by your brother against your cousin and stand by your cousin against a stranger, because it is often not the case. We all know that the most intense conflicts, since Cain and Abel, are between brothers. Family feuds or internal fights are driven by what Freud described as the narcissism of small differences. You do not really have to stand by your kin — in fact, this is how alliances and coalitions can develop across religious, tribal or ethnic boundaries. The debate over that proverb is also that, morally, you should stand by what is right, even if it is against your own kin. Moral sentiments, or what is culturally acceptable as a norm, are the product of numerous interactions between people. A feel for what is considered right in a society develops over time and through millions of daily exchanges. That is why societies differ — what is considered normal in one is an anomaly in the other. There are also traditional ways of resolving conflicts; sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. In a society where they do work, you will find a diverse population living together despite their sectarian, ethnic or tribal differences. They also share norms developed through long-term coexistence. In Europe, after centuries of conflict, it was resolved that people should adopt the religion of their prince, resulting in largely homogeneous divisions. In former Ottoman lands, it is diversity rather than homogeneity that is the norm — we are children of an empire that ruled over many nations. Someone coming from a society where homogeneity is the norm will find diversity abnormal and confusing; for them, everything becomes sectarian. We have to believe that diverse populations can coexist in states that cooperate, while respecting each other's sovereignty. Another misconception about the region is that the state system is artificial and therefore not viable — that we are not real nation states. This is based on the absurd notion that real states do exist and that there is a natural nation state. The whole idea of nationalism is in fact barely 150 years old and has been the cause of conflicts, rather than their solution. It is true that our borders were artificially drawn, mainly by Europeans, in the aftermath of the First World War. This was a messy affair and they did a bad job following a disastrous war and the collapse of three empires: Ottoman, Russian and Austro-Hungarian. The idea that the European state system is stable is even more of a myth than the one we are questioning about the Middle East. Nadim Shehadi The idea that three politicians, David Lloyd George of Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson of the US, could get it right was absurd to start with. But they did a worse job in Europe and the result was another devastating war where the boundaries of Europe were again redrawn. They came to their senses after that and worked on creating what later became the EU, which now has 27 members. The idea that the European state system is a stable one is even more of a myth than the one we are questioning about the states of the Middle East being unstable. Since the rise of nation states in the 1870s, Europe has destroyed itself twice, while borders kept changing well into the end of the 20th century. By contrast, the borders of the Arab states have been far more stable. The League of Arab States was also created post-Second World War and it has now expanded to 22 members from the original seven signatories. The Alexandria Protocol of 1944 promised cooperation in economic and cultural matters, as well as respect for each other's sovereignty. The fall of the Assad regime promises that we can go back to that. A new beginning is possible thanks to the end of an era where Arab nationalist parties sought to suppress local identities, exploit tensions between them and claim an agenda of regional domination, while deriving legitimacy from their claim of leading the Arabs in the conflict with Israel.
Leaders
7 hours ago
- Leaders
Syria Wants Russia ‘By our Side', FM Said in Official Visit to Moscow
In his first official visit to Russia, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani has led a high-level delegation to strengthen relations with Moscow amid Syria's political transition, according to Arab News. First Official Engagement Al-Shaibani's visit to Moscow serves as the first official engagement between the two nations since the fall of former President Bashar Al-Assad – a move that ended almost five decades of Assad family rule. During the visit, Al-Shaibani held a significant meeting with his Russian Counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the Russian Foreign Ministry's Guest House. He unveiled Syria's keenness to build a 'correct and sound relationship' with Moscow based on 'cooperation and mutual respect.' Moreover, he underscored that the new government represents a vision of unity and reconstruction for Syria, which has suffered long years of conflict and instability. 'We are here today to represent the new Syria, and we have worked since December 8th to fill the political, civil, and service vacuum. We have preserved civil institutions and are working to reunite Syrians at home and abroad,' Al-Shaibani said. Russia's Interest in Backing Syria Meanwhile, Lavrov emphasized Russia's interest in supporting Syria during its transitional phase. 'We are closely following the ongoing events in Syria. We sincerely hope the friendly Syrian people, with whom we have historically cooperative relations, will overcome current challenges,' he said. Lavrov also expressed hope that Syria's President Ahmad Al-Sharaa would attend the first Russian-Arab summit on October 15th. Current Challenges Crucially, uncertainty still lingers over the future of Russia's military presence in Syria. The naval base in Tartus and the air base at Hmeimim—Moscow's only official military outposts beyond the former Soviet Union—are now in question. It is still unclear whether the new Syrian government will permit their continued operation. Al-Shaibani acknowledged these challenges. However, he called the moment an opportunity to 'build a united and strong Syria,' expressing hope that Moscow would support Damascus in this endeavor. 'The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path,' Al-Shaibani said. Related Topics: Saudi Arabia, Syria Boost Energy Cooperation High-level Saudi Delegation Eyes Investment Opportunities in Syria Syria, US and France Hold Frank, Productive Talks in Paris Short link : Post Views: 11
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Jordanian king says Gaza catastrophe ‘unlike anything witnessed' in recent history
LONDON: King Abdullah II of Jordan said on Wednesday that the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is among the worst in modern history, as the Israeli military campaign in the Palestinian coastal enclave reaches its 22nd month. He affirmed that 'Jordan has been, and will remain, the greatest support for Gaza's people, who are suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe unlike anything witnessed in recent history.' During a meeting with media representatives at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah emphasized Jordan's ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict. He highlighted discussions with Germany and Canada, as well as coordination with Arab leaders and international partners, aimed at enhancing the humanitarian response in Gaza. 'The suffering of our brethren in Gaza strikes at the very sense of our humanity, not just because it is happening at our doorstep, but also because this country was built on compassion, on standing with those who suffer,' he said. 'No matter how much we do, it can never measure up to the scale of the horror Palestinians in Gaza endure every single day, not when entire families are being erased and children are being starved. 'But that doesn't mean that we are not doing everything in our power. We are. And we will continue to do so, relentlessly and without hesitation,' he said, Petra news agency reported. The Jordanian leadership has been steadfast in its support of Palestinian rights, including the establishment of statehood and an end to Israeli occupation policies. Jordan was one of the first countries to conduct airlift missions in the early days of the Israeli war, delivering relief to Gaza, and dispatching hundreds of aid convoy trucks to the territory since late 2023.
