The Sheikh Aql of the Unitarian Druze community, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, met at the Community House in Beirut with a delegation from the Lebanese Forces party and the "Strong Republic" bloc, sent by party leader Dr. Samir Geagea, headed by MP Ghassan Hasbani and including: MP Nazih Matta and Messrs: Dr. Ghassan Yared, George Eid, Antoine Mourad, Marie Abi Nader, George Mezher, and Joseph Sabet. The delegation conveyed Dr. Geagea's greetings to the Sheikh Aql, his congratulations on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, and an invitation to the annual Iftar held in Maarab for this purpose. The meeting also addressed a number of issues on the agenda and the security developments on the southern border and Israeli attacks on Lebanese regions.
After the meeting, MP Hasbani stated: "We were honored today as a delegation to meet with the Sheikh Aql, delegated by Dr. Samir Geagea to congratulate him on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan and invite him to the annual Iftar in Maarab. We reviewed the general situation, and we expressed our hope for progress on the issues raised in order to reach the election of a President of the Republic. As for the initiatives currently being proposed, we receive them positively, especially regarding the consultation on reaching presidential approaches and the request to the Speaker of Parliament to open the doors of the Parliament to MPs to hold a session that would serve as the gateway to holding successive sessions to elect the President, with all parties committed not to disrupt the quorum, in order to produce a President of the Republic with specifications that we see as very close to implementing the Constitution. The role of the President of the Republic is essential in this, and he must be far from political and financial corruption, unite the Lebanese, have the ability to interact with the international community, lead the reform process that is required and urgent today, and interact with the Lebanese in extending the state's sovereignty over all its territories and uniting all Lebanese around one national path, especially in the current stage that the region is going through, full of crises and military and political and economic confrontations."
He added: "We hope that the month will be blessed for everyone and return to the Lebanese with goodness, blessing, stability, and peace, and that it will ward off the cup of wars and being dragged into military confrontations, which the Lebanese society cannot bear in any way."
In response to a question about the 'Moderation' initiative, Hasbani said: "The Moderation initiative is not based on holding a dialogue table. There is a big difference between consultation among political parties within constitutional frameworks so as not to bypass the Constitution and the organized dialogue, and a table that is chaired, has minutes, and objectives far from the Constitution, so that the matter does not become a custom and a condition for implementing the Constitution, which states that when the presidency is vacant, the Parliament convenes by law and not by invitation, and this is important in the Constitution. But any prior condition to implement this Constitution within an official capacity or state makes it a custom that would create new customs, and it becomes a rule for any situation; we would thus be tearing page after page of this Constitution, and then we would have no Constitution left and would face a customary regime, which is a very dangerous matter for the country, while respecting all the intentions from which any initiatives start. Therefore, we considered the Moderation initiative better for the Constitution, as it allows for consultation among us on a bilateral level or multilateral, etc. It is important that a person talks to others and mediations interact; this is something that has happened and perhaps happens in the wide space available to MPs, but it does not violate the Constitution and does not create a custom as a substitute for the Constitution."
In response to another question about the loss of opportunities, he said: "Those who waste opportunities see them as a waste of time. We see that the waste of time is in not going to Parliament and electing a President of the Republic and in anything that distances us from the Constitution. That is a waste of time and opportunities for the Lebanese."
Chahayeb
The Sheikh Aql also met with the member of the "Democratic Gathering," MP Akram Chahayeb, who visited him in appreciation of his role in ending the dispute that occurred between young men from the towns of Aramoun and Aitat at the Balamand University in Souk El Gharb and for overseeing a reconciliation between the two sides, valuing his role as a host for his spiritual and general national community. During the meeting, general issues and matters related to the Mountain region were discussed.
Reconciliation
The Sheikh Aql had overseen in his residence in Shanay a reconciliation meeting between a group of young men and families from the towns of Aramoun and Aitat following a dispute that occurred months ago at the Balamand University in Souk El Gharb, in which shooting occurred and resulted in the injury of one of them from the Al-Taymani family. The meeting was attended by a number of Sheikhs and families from the Al-Mehtar and Al-Jawhari families from Aramoun, with essential participation from the Sheikhs of the Al-Mehtar family and a number of its men, including Lawyer Bassam Al-Mehtar and Mr. Mohammed Al-Mehtar. A delegation from the Al-Taymani family from Aitat also attended, including the Mayor Amin Al-Taymani, Sheikh Imad Al-Taymani, and Salah Al-Taymani. The meeting took place after good offices overseen by the Sheikh Aql with the help of well-meaning people, and in the presence of Notary Public Mr. Waseem Zeineddine, where lawsuits were dropped from both sides and duties were performed towards the injured.
The Sheikh Aql delivered a speech in which he thanked "the seekers of good" and valued "the high responsiveness of the Al-Mehtar and Al-Taymani families and everyone. He warned against the consequences of repeating such disputes among young men and called on them to have more vigilance, awareness, and insight into the consequences of matters. He also reiterated his position on the necessity of addressing any dispute or incident that occurs in our regions to avoid its repercussions and to hold a reconciliation between the disputants on the basis of lifting injustice, establishing justice, and spreading the spirit of tolerance and brotherhood in society."
Sheikh Abi Al-Muna also stressed "upholding the importance of consensus and cohesion, and that our unity is above all considerations, stemming from our monotheistic faith and according to the saying: 'The example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion is like the body; when one member suffers, the rest of the body responds with wakefulness and fever.' That is a rule we must remain committed to, no matter how opinions vary and ideas arise, especially since we are members of one monotheistic path in which a brother repels harm from his brother and helps him in goodness, so that he is not afflicted with any deficiency. We must strive to embody that rule, so that we can rise together with the hadith: 'A believer to a believer is like a building, each part strengthening the other.' Therefore, we must join hands and be at the level of our existence and responsibilities, each in their own field and position, and look forward to what pleases our Creator, our society, our national conscience, and our Lebanon, which is living today a delicate stage in its destiny and future."
Visitors
Among the visitors of the Sheikh Aql were the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zakat Fund, Consul Mohammed Al-Jouzo, the Director General Sheikh Zuhair Kabbi, and an accompanying delegation, to invite him to the Zakat Fund's annual Iftar. He also received businessman Sheikh Fayez Al-Rasmani. Then Mr. Kamal Halawi on behalf of the "World Assembly of Muslim Youth." He also held a meeting with the Social Committee of the Druze Council, in the presence of its head, Lawyer Ghada Joumblatt. As well as with the Cultural Committee in the presence of its head, Sheikh Imad Faraj.
Condolences
Sheikh Abi Al-Muna renewed his condolences for the representative of the Sheikhdom in the United States, Sheikh Fouad Salim, which were held at the Community House in Beirut.
