The political body of the "Free Patriotic Movement" emphasized the necessity of "doing everything required to keep Lebanon away from war," urging all Lebanese to "commit to Lebanon's right to defend itself against any Israeli aggression and to prepare for all possibilities in light of the Israeli trajectory of escalating violence, and not to live in fear and panic since Israel cannot win any war it wages against Lebanon, but will suffer losses significantly greater than those of Lebanon."
In a statement, the body noted that "protecting Lebanon also requires a cohesive internal situation, beginning with the parliament assuming its responsibilities and hastening the election of a president, as a basis for reconstructing authority and organizing its work. This would lead to the formation of a reformative, rescue government to fill gaps and vacancies in the state, initiate the reform process, revitalize the economy, and restore life to institutions.
It is important to emphasize the principle of the movement's rejection of any extension for any official whose term has ended, a principle the movement has adhered to since its engagement in political life, having even practiced it against itself twice when its deputies refused to extend the parliament's term, as well as refusing extensions in several cases within the administration and security agencies."
The statement continued: "As for those who depart from their principles by proposing a law to extend someone's term under the pretext of fearing a vacuum when other legal means exist to prevent this vacuum, and who break their principle of rejecting the legislation of necessity, not for any reason other than political rivalries and private interests, this is their concern and it remains for public opinion to judge their inconsistencies and performance."
The body condemned the "genocidal war being waged by Israel against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the latest of which occurred yesterday in Jabalia, amid the shameful silence of nations that claim to respect human rights and dignity," warning that "Israeli massacres will generate cases of anger and extremism that respond to violence with violence and will plunge the world into a whirlpool of divisions and confrontations based on religious and ideological backgrounds that cannot be controlled."
