Rai expresses optimism about National Moderation bloc initiative, quintet efforts

The head of the Maronite church, Bechara al-Rai, expressed his "optimism" on Sunday about the National Moderation bloc initiative and the efforts made by the quintet countries (France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt) to put an end to the presidential vacancy that has lasted for almost a year and a half in Lebanon.

"We look with great optimism at the initiative of the National Moderation bloc and the efforts of the ambassadors of the quintet, and wish them every success," said the prelate during his Sunday homily. He also called on politicians to stop putting "their personal interests first," saying they were "responsible for the paralysis within the state and its institutions."

The National Moderation bloc, made up of mainly Sunni MPs who formerly supported Saad Hariri, has been touring the local protagonists in recent days to promote its proposal, put forward nearly a fortnight ago, to hold consultations in Parliament followed by open electoral sessions until a new head of state is elected. The elected representatives will continue their contacts with the various political groupings on Tuesday, a source within the bloc told our publication.

At the same time, the quintet countries' ambassadors in Beirut held their third consultation meeting on Thursday, with the aim of helping to unblock this the presidential deadlock "as soon as possible." Local media outlets reported that the five ambassadors expressed their support for all initiatives to put an end to the presidential vacuum, in particular that of the National Moderation bloc.

For his part, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Elias Audi, called on the Lebanese to "call to account the members of Parliament" who have still not succeeded in electing a new president. "We need statesmen, not people who use their power to oppress people and satisfy their [own] interests," he said in his Sunday homily.

'Avoid being drawn into the war'

On the security front, Rai once again condemned "the genocidal war under way in Gaza" and called on "the world to put an end to it."

"In Lebanon, we want to avoid being dragged into this indiscriminate war, to protect southern Lebanon and its inhabitants, and to proceed immediately to the election of a president in order to regularize the work of Parliament, the government and the rest of the constitutional institutions," the prelate said.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in almost daily fighting on the Lebanese-Israeli border since Oct. 8. According to our count, 306 people have been killed during these 155 days of clashes, including at least 46 civilians.