Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati reaffirmed today that he "continues his external and internal communications aimed at keeping Lebanon as far away as possible from the repercussions of the ongoing war in Gaza, while intensifying government meetings to take precautionary measures in response to any emergencies that may arise." During the seventh meeting of the "National Disaster and Crisis Management Authority" he chaired this afternoon at the Grand Serail, he explained that "the purpose of today’s meeting was to hear from the concerned ministers and relevant departments about the national response plan and discuss potential crises that could arise if events in the south escalate. The goal is not at all to instill fear among the people, but to implement all necessary precautions."
He noted that "the breadth of internal and external communications we have undertaken has shown a genuine concern for Lebanon and its stability, and to distance it as much as possible from the surrounding flames. We continue our communications to restore stability to the south, with the priority being the necessity of a unified Lebanese stance on the Palestinian issue, which we have seen during this crisis, and we hope all leaders remain steadfast on this. Lebanese unity is essential to overcoming this difficult phase and strengthening the Lebanese position regarding developments."
Mikati stated, "Despite the political and operational work we are doing, some insist on directing accusations at us and the government of negligence, without offering practical proposals and alternative solutions. They resort to defamation and populist statements; the current situation is not suitable for disputes at all, and everyone should recognize this. Those who believe we are negligent should present practical suggestions for us to adopt. The quickest way to a solution is cooperation among members of the Parliament to elect a new president and form a new government as soon as possible." He emphasized that "we bear the responsibility in this moment to keep the state's wheel and its institutions running, and we will continue in this responsibility and not be affected by defamation and campaigns."
