Life in Lebanon has returned to normal after the Christmas and New Year holidays, with much discussion about efforts to resolve the presidential election crisis. This comes alongside a position announced by Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who rejected any trade-off between the presidency and Resolution 1701. Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros Al-Rai is focusing on demanding the election of a new president and implementing the Taif Agreement, according to "Al-Anbaa" newspaper.
Equally important is the "fire belt" that surrounds the border areas and those relatively distant from the "rules of engagement," which is becoming increasingly dangerous. This situation has been imposed by the Israeli enemy, who is negotiating through American envoy Amos Hochstein, under the banner of pushing "Hezbollah" north of the Litani River. On the first day of the new year, a surprising escalation was recorded, starting with an attack on the parking lot of Mays Al-Jabal Hospital. The occupying army chose to focus its bombardment on Kfar Kila and its surroundings with airstrikes targeting it, as well as villages in the central sector and Markaba.
Additionally, as part of the government program, discussions continue regarding the appointment of a Chief of Staff for the army and members of the military council. The other concern troubling the Lebanese, alongside the difficult living conditions, is the presidential election, as there has been no indication of any agreement regarding who will bear the title of "His Excellency the President."
The first activity of Maronite Patriarch Beshara Al-Rai was a meeting yesterday with Minister of Information Ziad Makari, who stated after the meeting: "I am one of those who say we should not tie our fate to foreign entities, whether in politics or during major crises. We, as Lebanese, should make the decision to elect a president of the republic, which should be 100% a Lebanese-made choice, whether in nominating or selecting names, even on the election date."
In response to a question, Makari pointed out that "the ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement should have participated in the session to extend the military leadership," confirming "that the new relationship between the Marada and the Progressive Socialist Party is excellent, and that the topic of the Chief of Staff depends on a legal step that puts matters on the right track."
Furthermore, President Fouad Siniora, after meeting with Patriarch Al-Rai, called for "the election of a president for the republic who embodies hope and unites the Lebanese, and for the state to exercise its authority over all lands." He emphasized that "Hezbollah cannot impose a president on the Lebanese, and we must not repeat the mistake we made in 2016." Member of the Strong Lebanon Bloc, MP Strida Geagea, wife of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, also urged Speaker Nabih Berri, during her chairing of a meeting of the Cedar Foundation at its headquarters in Maarab, "to continue the efforts he had started regarding the extension of the army commander in the same manner, to extend the file of electing the president so we can reach that as quickly as possible, especially since we are going through a very difficult situation on the security, military, and financial fronts, and the country can no longer endure any additional day of vacancy."
