Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, on Nov.1, 2023, during a government meeting at the Grand Serail in Beirut. (Credit: Nabil Ismail)
BEIRUT — Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on Wednesday for a five-day ceasefire in Gaza during a government meeting at the Grand Serail in Beirut. He stated that Lebanon opts for peace, holding Israel responsible for any decision of war with Lebanon, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
Mikati called for the prompt election of a president, as Lebanon, mired in a severe economic and political crisis since 2019, has been without a head of state for exactly one year, following the expiration of Michel Aoun's term.
"A five-day ceasefire is needed, from a humanitarian standpoint. During this period, international contacts will be made to ensure the exchange of prisoners [between Hamas and Israel]. These contacts will serve to establish a permanent ceasefire with the goal of outlining the path to peace in the region," Mikati said at the beginning of the meeting, as reported in a statement posted on the government's X (formerly Twitter) account.
In this context, Mikati referred to "the Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon, the martyrs, victims, destroyed homes, crop fires and economic and financial damage" in the country to urge the international community to respond.
'We choose peace'
The ongoing bombardments between Hezbollah and its allies among Palestinian factions on one side, and Israel on the other, have so far resulted in more than fifty deaths in southern Lebanon, mostly fighters from the party, as well as several civilians. "We have had enough wars in Lebanon, and we choose peace. The decision for war now rests in the hands of Israel," he stated.
The daily clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli Army on the southern border of Lebanon, which began following the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 on Israel as part of the "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," continue.
'A much better situation'
Commenting on the ongoing presidential vacancy for one year, Mikati believed that "the situation is much better today" compared to the same time last year when President Michel Aoun left office. "This is due to the efforts of all ministries to preserve the state and its institutions. Even financially, everyone sees the efforts made," he said.
"We call for the election of a president as soon as possible, despite the difficulties the country is facing," Mikati added.
On Wednesday, the US State Department called on Lebanese parliamentarians to elect a President of the Republic, form a government "without corruption" and implement the necessary reforms to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Lebanese Parliament has held 12 electoral sessions to elect a new president, but all have failed due to a lack of political consensus on a candidate. Mikati called on all members of his cabinet to attend government meetings. "They must be present and work together, especially as the country is going through delicate circumstances on political, security, economic, health and social levels," he said.
Since the end of Aoun's term, ministers close to the former head of state have refused to participate in meetings of the outgoing cabinet and accused Mikati of attempting to assume the prerogatives of the previous president.
Speaking at the end of the government meeting, caretaker Information Minister Makari reiterated Mikati's stance on rejecting war in Lebanon and called for a five-day ceasefire in Gaza.
However, no concrete decisions were announced at the end of the cabinet meeting. L'Orient Today attempted to reach out to Makari for comment, but he was not immediately available.
