The Director General of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, confirmed that "the salvation of Lebanon lies in our unity," reiterating that General Security executed a judicial decision concerning Bishop Moussa Al-Hajj and that it is our duty to implement this directive. He revealed that he canceled a visit from a General Security delegation to Bkerke "for reasons to be discussed later." Ibrahim emphasized the necessity of not allowing "partition" and stated, "I am for anything that unites Beirut, as the unity of Beirut is the unity of the nation." He confirmed that the passport crisis "will be resolved gradually starting from October, marking the beginning of a final resolution to the crisis by next year." He urged people to understand that they are not the ones to open budgets; otherwise, we would not have reached the current crisis, and the platform was intended to facilitate people's affairs.
Ibrahim's remarks came during a dialogue session organized with the Association of Graduates of Islamic Charitable Institutions at their headquarters in Sanayeh, titled "Lebanon in the Context of Current Local and International Requisites." The meeting was attended by MP Amin Sherri, Sheikh Salah Fakhr representing the Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdul-Latif Deryan, Dr. Ghazi Qanso representing the Deputy Head of the Higher Shia Islamic Council Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, former Minister Dr. Khaled Qabani, journalists and notable figures from Beirut, members of the association, and a crowd of interested individuals.
The meeting, which began with the national anthem and the General Security anthem, featured remarks from the head of the graduates' association, Mohamed Sharbi, who welcomed Major General Ibrahim and the attendees, stating: "We are honored to meet today with the man of difficult missions both domestically and abroad, the man whose efforts transcend the area of the 10452 km², starting from the recovery of soldiers and the remains of martyrs from extremist terrorism, to the nuns of Maaloula and the abductees from A'zaz, and he also previously helped free flour and fuel, was involved in the release of detained Taj Al-Din from the United States, the release of Americans in Iran, and Nizar Zakka, and worked with Russia to uphold the truce in northern Syria. Recently, he has been working on maritime border demarcation, characterized by effective endeavors, as he became known for resolving issues regionally and internationally."
He added: "We take this opportunity to call for respecting the presidential requisites and holding municipal elections on time, and to do what is necessary to return employees to work based on a decent living for all. On this occasion, we denounce the decision of the Central Bank Governor to grant judges double salaries, which increases the resentment of remaining state employees." Sharbi concluded by stating, "We welcome Major General Ibrahim in his home among his people, and we all have questions about the security situation in Lebanon and the realities of Syrian and Palestinian refugees, passing through internal and external requisites."
In his speech, Major General Ibrahim said: "Greetings to the charitable institutions that sow good and reap success. Greetings to this city, the cradle of diversity and the symbol of our homeland, Lebanon, Beirut, the mother of laws and the exporter of knowledge to the world. Beirut, the city that tests troubles and crises, just as it is a haven of peace and a maker of glory, from which this region had a bank, a hospital, a press, and universities. It spread light over the entire area, Beirut that gives without expectation, Beirut of poets, intellectuals, workers, modernity, and diversity, Beirut of legendary resilience in 1982, Beirut that was enveloped in sadness on August 4, 2020, awaits to regain its role and joy."
He added: "Today, on the occasion of this meeting with you, we once again enter the country, from Beirut and its charitable institutions, under the banner 'Lebanon in the Path of Current Local and International Requisites,' in the most difficult political, economic, and social conditions, at a moment when everything is changing, both in Lebanon and in the region, as well as internationally. There are no longer any political finals we can rely on in the economy and society."
He continued, "We are here to be honest and to present the reality as it is, without gloves or pink hopes. In practice, many who believe that Lebanon, which was in our consciousness and in the eyes of the whole world, still exists are taking a huge risk. This Lebanon as we knew it has become history, and the Lebanese must redefine their national identity and specifically their identity, to know thereafter what type of Lebanon they want, and determine its role in a world changing at lightning speed, surrounded by opposing political, security, economic, and trade alliances."
Major General Ibrahim pointedly asked: "What about Lebanon in the face of this complicated local, regional, and international reality?" He stated: "The correct beginning requires us to acknowledge that we have lost all previous identification cards. We are no longer the university of the East and its tourist destination. We are no longer the hospital of the East or its media and printing press. We are no longer the bank of the East, and we are no longer a place of trust for depositors. Unfortunately, our nation has become a battleground for everyone, and a mailbox for all directions. Because of this, it is a candidate for further deterioration. Despite the steadfastness of its land and the authenticity of its people, we are in a country that floats on quicksand. This volume and type of danger are what we currently face. The success of our dialogue begins with an accurate determination of the internal situation, to read it correctly in relation to its regional and international contexts."
He continued: "The overall picture suggests that the country is collapsing upon the Lebanese. Is this true or an illusion? The reality is that the state is collapsing rapidly, with only the military and security institutions remaining, whose members fight for the people and the entity of Lebanon and its unity and security as best as they can. The clearest evidence of this was what came out of the Jeddah Summit, where Lebanon was not politically present on this regional-international map. Its concern was limited to assisting its military and security forces only, without examining how to help it overcome the ordeal and difficulties it faces. This particular point necessitates that we as Lebanese stand with ourselves to crystallize an urgent vision for rescue and recovery."
He added, "Talking about the collapse of the state means that all frameworks for Lebanon are open for discussion. It has also become impossible to move ahead without confronting realities with courage and an open mind. We have reached this point because we lack statesmen who think about the future and work for it, while in reality, we are surrounded by individuals preoccupied with electoral gains rather than national ones. Those who claimed that the parliamentary elections were the gateway to change are now like the ostrich that buries its head in the sand. It is true, the elections were conducted with standards of transparency and safety, but what comes next? What can the elected deputies do now while administrations and institutions are collapsing consecutively? Everyone is right, and everyone is justified in their demands to adjust salaries that are no longer sufficient to cover the cost of bread and medicine and healthcare and electricity. What has transpired in Lebanon over the past thirty months does not bode well, nor does it hold out any promise of future hope. We have seen how the entire world interacted with us. Is there any need to say that the outcome was zero, as nothing new was born and the old has vanished, while we, as a people and politicians, do not fulfill our responsibilities and duties?
Currently, there are no indications that Lebanon and its components are capable of extricating themselves from the intertwining of internal complexities with external ones. Not because it is fate, but because everyone has external connections calling them in. No one is exempt from this.
He concluded: "Our near and distant history makes this very clear. The glaring truth that we do not want to confront is that Lebanon in the context of external preconditions can only be seen from its geopolitical position and not from its actual capabilities that have ended. We all witnessed their tragic end and contributed to it knowingly or unknowingly. What is even clearer in this context is that we have entered the presidential prerequisite from the widest doors, and everyone has engaged or is in the process of engaging in the race for the presidency, while it seems that the formation of the government has been postponed due to the political obstacles that have arisen."
Major General Ibrahim addressed the attendees: "The arc of crises has surrounded everything in Lebanon, which has now become a country of counters, and its entire map is made up of red signals warning of dangers. Political disasters accompany their financial counterparts to engulf Lebanon. Public administrations are closed, and Lebanese are suffocating. Essential goods are largely unavailable, and what is available is obtained with great difficulty. We do not yet know when surrender will occur, while we observe the value of the lira on a descending line of persistent collapse."
He continued: "Unfortunately, this is the state of Lebanon, which faces a Middle East living through a moment of new alignments characterized by regional and international security, and fierce competition for resources. And I do not hide from you that Lebanon is not present on the tables of regional and international gatherings except as a potential haven or alternative homeland for refugees and displaced people, which all Lebanese reject, and they agreed on in their Constitution through a clear text affirming the finality of the Lebanese entity for its citizens. In discussing the situation in the Middle East, what is most important is to closely examine the regional realities, as the horse of normalization has embarked across the Gulf states. Israel has now become present, and its influence is growing more and more, benefiting from the crises in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, by portraying Iran as the enemy, rather than being the usurping entity in occupied Palestine. However, what everyone must know is that Iran is having dialogues and meetings with several Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, prioritizing understanding and good neighborly relations with countries in the region sometimes even above reviving the nuclear agreement. All of this has direct effects on the political, economic, and social reality in Lebanon, and the Lebanese should be alerted to this instead of going along the path of gratuitous hostilities that will later reflect as pure political losses."
He said: "On the international level, one must take into consideration the developments of the Russian-Ukrainian war and its impact on Lebanon and the world in areas of food security and global economies. The first results manifested in the prices of wheat, followed by heightened conflict over strategic gas resources, which has placed Lebanon on the edge of regional and international tensions and increased the complications of national crisis elements."
Ibrahim asked, "Is there a glimmer of hope?" He answered: "Regret is not in our lexicon, and surrender is not in our national culture. What is necessary today is to hasten the search for how to rise again. This cannot succeed if we use the tools of the past. There is something new that we should pursue with a shared national spirit, as we face a disastrous failure in everything. The new must be a Lebanese product, adapting to changing internal and external pathways. As I have previously stated, the old can no longer persist, and the new has not yet been born... Not for any reason other than that the Lebanese refuse to confront their reality and the state of affairs that have led to fragmentation, erosion, and decay."
He added: "I do not hide from you that what I fear is that the status quo continues as it is, particularly in relation to the prevailing mindset or in relying on external powers, invoking them from this or that team to clash with others."
He continued: "Lebanon has repeatedly exploded due to these gambling adventures, and also due to the belief that this component or that is the guarantee of the homeland, and its insurance policy comes from regional or international affiliations. However, all of these were misguided bets that we all have paid dearly for and continue to do so. What is needed now are Lebanese options that stem from the history of Beirut and every city and town across Lebanese geography that has embraced a people that lived and grew in a melting pot of unmatched cultural, civilizational, and religious pluralism. Our bet will remain on this proud people to rebuild our homeland. I honestly say that those who call out to a team or accuse it of dependency are doing so merely to replace one dependency with another that serves their interests and not for any other reason, nor to distill everything into a clear and pure national vision. Let us be united by genuine citizenship to deserve Lebanon and emerge from the shawl of sects and sectarianism as a first step towards rebuilding the state."
Major General Ibrahim concluded: "Lebanon is a rich country, not a poor one, and I am convinced of that. Let us search together for the sources of its wealth and extract them from the veil of fighting, bickering, and strife. We find its wealth in the unity of its people and with a clear economic developmental vision that restores to Lebanon and its people the stage of prosperity we enjoyed before the fateful war." He thanked the president and administration of the Association of Graduates of Islamic Charitable Institutions in Beirut for the dialogue meeting, expressing hope for openings that he wishes for all of Lebanon as a path towards salvation.
A dialogue followed between Ibrahim and the attendees. In response to a question regarding the return of Syrian displaced people to their homeland, he stated: "I confirm from Beirut what I said a week ago at the Tripoli Bar Association that the international community does not want a solution for the return of the displaced to Syria, despite the fact that our experience since 2017 in returning the displaced was encouraging and no one was harmed in Syria, but international will ties matters to its special political agenda for Syria."
Regarding his visit to Iraq the day before, Ibrahim said: "My relationship with President Al-Kadhimi is very special, and I have utilized it in assisting Lebanon, previously translated into a million tons of oil provided to secure some of the electrical supply needs. However, yesterday, I told President Al-Kadhimi that we do not seek to renew the million tons but to double it to two million tons, and Al-Kadhimi immediately responded to this request and called the Minister of Oil who promised to secure this quantity, especially since there is still no specific date for the start of pumping Egyptian gas, as the approval has not yet been conveyed to the Egyptian side regarding the exemption from the Caesar Law sanctions. During the meeting, we asked him about flour, and Al-Kadhimi said we secure the wheat, and he immediately contacted the Minister of Commerce and requested him to communicate with his Lebanese counterpart to submit a file regarding the wheat needs to help alleviate people's suffering in front of the bread ovens. We will discuss all the issues of Lebanese businessmen in Iraq."
Ibrahim affirmed, "Our salvation in Lebanon lies in our unity, for our strength is in our unity. My concluding remark was clear that Lebanon is rich, and every time Lebanon has fallen, it has risen again. However, the foundation of our strength lies in our unity, and this is not poetry but a reality. When we began to disintegrate, and each of us sought help from an external team, we found ourselves here. We must return to our Arab identity, which is our unity."
Regarding the passport crisis, Major General Ibrahim confirmed that "the crisis will be resolved gradually starting from October, marking the beginning of a final resolution to the crisis by next year. People need to understand that we are not the ones to open budgets; otherwise, we would not have reached the current crisis, and the platform was intended to facilitate people's affairs."
On the topic of potential partitioning of Beirut, he said, "I am for everything that unites Beirut, and the martyr President Rafik Hariri used to tour 'house by house' in Beirut to maintain the unity of Beirut because the unity of Beirut is the unity of the nation."
On the issue of demarcation and Egyptian gas, he stated: "The negotiations on maritime border demarcation are ongoing, and Lebanon's strength is that it is united in one stance. A new mechanism is expected next September with the return of the American envoy. In Lebanon, we have a strength we must benefit from, which is the resistance in the conflict with the enemy, and any solution in the region must prominently address the Palestinian cause."
He concluded, in response to a question about the prospects for solutions in Lebanon, by saying: "The solution in Lebanon is linked to the regional reality, and we are facing a meeting that will be held in Baghdad in the coming days between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia, which is expected to have a positive impact on the Lebanese reality."
In response to a question regarding the detention of Bishop Moussa Al-Hajj, Major General Ibrahim said: "We executed a judicial decision. We issued a statement referring to this, and it is our duty to implement this directive, and the bishop has reported how he was treated."
Regarding the relationship with Bkerke, Major General Ibrahim stated: "I canceled a visit from a General Security delegation to Bkerke for reasons we will discuss later."
