"Palestine's cause demands our unwavering support," says Lebanese President

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said in the Emergency Arab Summit in Egypt that "Lebanon’s wars have taught me, brothers, that the Palestinian dimension of Palestine’s cause requires us to always stand with its people—both in principle and in action."

The president underscored Lebanon’s historical stance, declaring, "Lebanon has first taught me that Palestine is a cause of justice. And justice always requires strength." He elaborated, "Strength in the struggles of nations is found in the power of logic, the power of stance, the power to persuade the world, the power to rally public opinion, and the power of comprehensive balances of power."

Highlighting Palestine’s significance, Aoun added, "Lebanon has also taught me that Palestine is a threefold cause: a national Palestinian right, an Arab national right, and a universal human right. The more we succeed in showcasing these noble dimensions, the more we support Palestine and triumph with it."

He warned against reducing Palestine’s struggle to factional disputes, stating, "Whenever we minimize Palestine’s cause to the limits of a sect, a group, or a political faction… whenever we allow it to be dragged into power struggles here or regional conflicts there… we lose it, and we lose with it."

Aoun stressed that standing with Palestine means respecting the choices of its people, stating, "To truly support Palestine, we must stand with its choices and decisions, with its legitimate authorities and representatives. We must accept what its people accept and reject what they reject."

He further emphasized Arab unity, saying, "Lebanon’s wars have also taught me that the Arab dimension of the Palestinian cause compels us all to be strong, so that Palestine may be strong." He pointed out that instability in Arab capitals weakens the Palestinian cause, warning, "When Beirut is occupied, when Damascus is destroyed, when Amman is threatened, when Baghdad suffers, or when Sana’a falls… no one can claim this serves the cause of Palestine."

In his closing remarks, Aoun highlighted the importance of Arab sovereignty and stability, asserting, "For our Arab nations to be strong, they must be stable, prosperous, peaceful, open, developed, and exemplary in their message." He linked Lebanon’s sovereignty to regional stability, stating, "Just as Lebanon’s full and unwavering sovereignty is reinforced by Syria’s recovery, so too is it strengthened by Palestine’s complete independence."