A statement from the media office of Prime Minister Najib Mikati reads: "Amid the Israeli aggression on Gaza and Southern Lebanon, a political and media campaign against the government and the President himself began a few days ago, following the position he announced in the Council of Ministers. As usual, the accusations ranged from hijacking the strategic option of the state for internal and external parties, to talk of a coup against the Taif Agreement or tethering Lebanon to foreign axes, among other similar accusations."
The statement continued: "Those who launched this campaign completely ignored an essential issue, which is that the President’s announced position was communicated to all relevant parties during the diplomatic and political contacts and meetings he held from the first day of the Israeli aggression. He demanded that influential countries pressure Israel to stop its aggression on Gaza and reach a ceasefire, and then return to discussing the political solution, which is primarily based on a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian issue, a unified Arab position."
It added: "For those with failing memories, we remind you that in the Council of Ministers session held on October 12, he said in a televised statement, 'The repeated and ongoing aggression against Islamic and Christian sanctities has inflamed feelings not only among Palestinians but among all believers in heavenly religions. We are all concerned about what is happening there nationally, emotionally, and humanely, and we can only stand with right and justice.'"
In his meeting with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on October 16, he emphasized that a ceasefire in Gaza contributes to keeping Lebanon away from regional tensions. He also expressed his fear of "security chaos not only in Lebanon but worries it may extend to the entire region if a ceasefire is not reached in Gaza. A strong testament to the importance of solutions that are away from fighting is the comprehensive humanitarian truce that occurred, where everyone stayed away from combat."
In the last session of the Council of Ministers last week, he reiterated the importance of a ceasefire to begin searching for a sustainable and fair solution through diplomatic means, away from battles. He also called for an emphasis on a peaceful resolution and protecting Lebanon, supporting any diplomatic initiative, especially since Lebanon respects all international resolutions from the 1949 armistice agreement to Resolution 1701.
The statement concluded: "It is evident from the above that what he said falls within the context of a comprehensive position with a clear purpose and vision, and any distortion or alteration of this position does not erase the established truth that the way to resolve all regional crises is through establishing a just solution to the Palestinian issue. The shifting tensions we witness between the Palestinian territories, Southern Lebanon, the Red Sea, and other locations confirm the correctness of what he has always warned about and his call for a comprehensive solution to all crises. In conclusion, he considers that free exploitations on this matter are pointless, and he does not need a certificate of good conduct from anyone. From his precise understanding of the internal and external realities, he always calls for understanding, peaceful choices, and adopting moderation in word and deed. All past experiences have proven the correctness of his position advocating against raising the ceilings of stances and adopting logical and realistic solutions away from exploitations."
