Dear fellow citizens,
In light of the worrying developments taking place in the south of our country, particularly in the Hasbaya and Marjeyoun regions, where anxiety weighs heavily on hearts and fears grow among residents, we now face a national and moral responsibility to raise our voices in defense of people’s safety and peace of mind.
The people of this region, who have always embodied resilience, moderation, and coexistence, need more than ever the presence of the state and the protection provided by its legitimate institutions.
Therefore, we call on the Lebanese Army and security leadership to remain in the Hasbaya and Marjeyoun districts, as their permanent presence represents the first guarantee of the safety of the people, the stability of the region, and a refuge for citizens in times of worry and unrest.
At moments like these, the state is the embrace that shelters its people and the roof that protects everyone without exception. The continued presence of military and security institutions alongside their citizens sends a message of reassurance.
At the same time, we urge all residents of the region, across all communities, institutions, and leaderships, to exercise the utmost wisdom and reason, and to fulfill their national and moral responsibilities as required in these delicate circumstances. This phase calls for sincere cooperation, true solidarity, and mutual support, because the strength of a society lies in its unity, steadfastness, and belief that wisdom is the shortest path to safety.
South Lebanon has always been a land of dignity, patience, and hope, and it will remain so as long as its people uphold the spirit of solidarity and as long as the state is present among them as support and a guarantee of stability.
Let us preserve this land with wisdom,
Let us protect its people through solidarity,
And let the interest of the nation come above all else.
Sheikh Wissam Sleika
President of the Cultural Committee of the Religious Council of the Druze Unitarian Sect
