The Islamic-Christian spiritual summit convened today to address the expanding Israeli war on Lebanon, including the latest massacre in southern Nabatieh earlier.
The summit, held in Bkerki at the invitation of Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, concluded with a call on the UN Security Council to convene immediately and call for a ceasefire in Israel's war on Lebanon.
The gathering called on the Lebanese people to unite, set aside fruitless debates, and work together in solidarity to save the nation, emphasising the need for cooperation, sacrifice, and the strengthening of state institutions to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence against Israeli ambitions.
It urged all Lebanese to fulfil their national duties by re-establishing constitutional institutions, particularly through the immediate election of a president by Parliament, emphasizing unity, and consensus, and prioritising national interests over external ones.
It also called for the immediate implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1071, which includes supporting the Lebanese army, enhancing its capabilities to defend Lebanon, and ensuring its widespread deployment in southern Litani and across Lebanon.
It stressed the importance of unity among all Lebanese people and urged them to work together to serve Lebanon's "best interests", praising initiatives held to help displaced people who were forced to leave their villages and homes.
It concluded by thanking the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "brotherly Arab nations" for their initiatives towards Lebanon through aid and political support.
"These countries must double their efforts to support Lebanon in stopping the aggression and strengthening the resilience of its people," a statement said, adding that the "central issue that concerns all the Arab region remains the Palestinian cause".
"Palestinians deserve to have a homeland and an independent sovereign state, as proposed in the Arab Peace Initiative at the Beirut Summit in 2002. This would be achieved through the imposition of a fair and lasting solution, under the auspices of the United Nations, key capitals, and Arab brothers, ensuring peace and putting an end to this tragedy."