Derian meets Haykal, praises role of army in maintaining security

BERUT – Lebanon's Grand Mufti, Abdel Latif Derian, praised the "role of the army and its wise leadership in maintaining the country’s security" while receiving Army Commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal on Tuesday in Dar al-Fatwa, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

According to NNA, Derian affirmed "his support for the army and his backing for its efforts to preserve the country’s stability and safety."

Derian's statements made no reference on whether the meeting covered the General Amnesty law, which was passed by Parliament last week. Cherished by the Sunni street, this law, which ultimately allows the release of 86 Islamist detainees, was strongly criticized by the Lebanese Army, which opposed any measure allowing people who had killed soldiers to benefit from it.

Derian also commended after the meeting "the heroism and sacrifices made and continuing to be made by the Lebanese Army in confronting Israeli aggression against Lebanon and maintaining security and stability in the country."

Many Lebanese Army soldiers were killed in Israeli attacks in this year's war between Hezbollah and Israel, which broke out on March 2.

The Lebanese Army is currently tasked with deploying and disarming Hezbollah in "pilot zones" in Southern Lebanon, as per the framework agreement reached in late June between the Lebanese and Israeli governments. According to the agreement, this would be made in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from these areas.

The Israeli army still occupies more than 60 Lebanese villages despite the mid-June "cease-fire," in which it is carrying out daily demolitions of infrastructure.

Derian also received Christian MP Adib Abdel Massih at Dar al-Fatwa on Tuesday, according to NNA. Following the meeting, Abdel Massih said: “At this critical stage that the country is going through, particularly in light of the recent painful and rapidly unfolding events affecting our beloved South, it was important for me to visit Dar al-Fatwa and meet with His Eminence, first to seek his blessing and also to receive his guidance and advice regarding these circumstances.”

"In these days, for each person to turn to their own sect is the biggest mistake we can make in this country," Abdel Massih said, stressing “the need to turn to the Lebanese state and to the principle of coexistence."