The opposition MPs addressed the Arab summit with the following message: "Your Majesties, Highnesses, Excellencies, and Esteemed Arab Leaders: We extend our greetings from Lebanon, a founding member of the League of Arab States, hoping that your summit convened today marks the beginning of a new era that closes the chapters of violence, chaos, and wars, and establishes the foundations of peace and prosperity. As MPs representing the diverse Lebanese people, it is important for you, as leaders of sister Arab nations, to be aware of the Lebanese people's perspectives on what is occurring in the region and in Lebanon, and their aspirations during this difficult phase."
The statement added: "The Lebanese Republic, which has always supported the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state to live in dignity, has paid heavy prices over the past seven decades — in its land, its people, its economy, and its security and stability — leading to the loss of its sovereignty over its national decision in favor of a regional axis that boasts control over four Arab capitals. Given the threats of a devastating war facing Lebanon, we, as representatives of the Lebanese nation, affirm the following:
Firstly: We wholly reject the continuation of the Israeli war on Gaza, where the Palestinian people are subjected to the most horrific war crimes and crimes against humanity that any nation might face. From Beirut, we pay tribute to the souls of thousands of innocent Palestinians and condemn the world’s double standards in dealing with the people of Gaza. What is happening in Gaza requires immediate intervention, not just to arrange a humanitarian ceasefire or halt the fire but to initiate a political solution based on the Arab Peace Initiative announced at the Beirut Summit in 2002, which adopted the two-state solution, thus making the establishment of an independent Palestinian state a prerequisite for peace and stability in the Middle East, for the triumph of moderation over extremism, and for the implementation of all relevant UN resolutions and the recognition of the right of return for refugees.
Secondly: It is evident that Lebanon is at the heart of the crisis facing the region, and the Lebanese people fear the war that has started to encroach upon their country, which does not serve them nor do they have a say in it. The Lebanese state’s opinion and decision remain seized by an armed group outside of legitimacy, serving a regional axis at the expense of its strategic interests, security, and stability amidst a series of political crises that have led to the complete paralysis and dissolution of the state and its constitutional institutions, alongside a comprehensive economic, social, and financial collapse. Amidst the obstruction to elect a president, with an unfortunate acknowledgment from the Lebanese Prime Minister of the lack of a decision regarding war and peace, the Lebanese reject having Lebanon forcibly dragged into a comprehensive war after being effectively thrust into a limited conflict against their will that has claimed lives, including those of children, civilians, and journalists, as well as causing destruction and displacing tens of thousands of our people. They also reject any foreign minister speaking on behalf of Lebanon or any armed internal party seizing its sovereign decision. Therefore, we ask for your assistance in preventing attempts to drag Lebanon into war while its sovereignty is compromised and its decision seized. We believe that your summit has the influence necessary to rescue Lebanon and restore it, lifting its guardianship, and we look forward to the summit producing clear decisions that reject any subjugation of Lebanon to any regional influence project, which aligns with the Lebanese people's struggle for liberation and the restoration of their abducted state.
We also request your summit's assistance in all international forums, specifically at the United Nations and the Security Council, for the full implementation of Resolution 1701, which constitutes the constitutional and international umbrella for protecting Lebanon and militarily neutralizing it to avoid the expansion of war in the region by halting hostilities and establishing a region south of the Litani River free of any armed presence, whether Lebanese or non-Lebanese, outside of the Lebanese army and international peacekeeping forces, and to pressure the international community to deter Israel from its aggression along the border and against the Lebanese interior, followed by the full application of Resolutions 1559 and 1680, leading to effective border control and the full sovereignty of the state—and only its legitimate forces—over all Lebanese territory.
Thirdly: Protecting Lebanon requires a return to the institutional order established by the Taif Agreement, through the election of a president as a gateway to reconstituting a legitimate authority with full powers, allowing the Lebanese state to regain its sovereign decisions, particularly regarding war and peace, to protect Lebanon from the repercussions of ongoing events at all levels, leading to the establishment of an actual state and the operationalization of constitutional institutions, to initiate a reform and rescue effort.
Esteemed members of the Arab Summit, Lebanon is a precious trust; we recognize how the Arab world views it with respect and brotherhood. The people of Lebanon aspire to regain their position and vital presence in both the Arab and international communities. We believe that their struggle for sovereignty, freedom, and peace will receive the support of their friends, and you have always been at the forefront in this regard.
We wish for your conference to succeed for a peaceful and prosperous Arab world that solidifies a model of respectful and brotherly relations among our Arab states."
