Christian Front: Lebanon’s only path towards prosperity is signing of peace treaty with Israel

BEIRUT — The Christian Front has called on the Lebanese government to enter into direct negotiations with its southern neighbor Israel. In a statement released today, the Front stated two objectives for the negotiations: (1) to resolve all outstanding conflicts, including border disputes, and (2) reach a peace agreement between the two countries that have been at odds for years.

A peace agreement would mean normalization of relations. The Christian Front stated that such normalization between the two countries would bring enormous improvements in the fields of economics, commerce, tourism, and will “open new horizons for growth and stability.”

A necessary condition for normalization is that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, designated by many countries as a terrorist organization, is disarmed. The Christian Front called on the Lebanese government to quickly disarm the Hezbollah militia, but also all other militias on Lebanese territory. In addition, the leaders of these militias must be brought to justice for their role in bringing Lebanon into a war with Israel, a war with enormous material effects and which has claimed many lives.

The Front’s call comes against the backdrop of heavy skirmishes on the Lebanese-Syrian border. It therefore strongly warns that Lebanon must not be drawn into a war with Syria on the orders of Iran or its allied militias. A war with Syria is the last thing that the already badly damaged Lebanon needs now, the Front states. The sole purpose of the current “incitements,” according to the Front, “is to discourage the implementation of international resolutions and to prevent Lebanon from becoming a truly functioning state.”

Christian Front

The Christian Front in Lebanon is an advocacy platform and voice for the Christians of Lebanon, of which Syriac Maronites are the largest group. Its members are the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP), Guardians of the Cedars Party – Movement of Lebanese Nationalism (MLN), World Maronite Union (WMU), Al-Mashriq Party, Maronite Union Tur Levnon, Lebanese Federal Gathering, Federal Lebanon, Assyrian League, General Maronite Council (GMC), and Majd (Glory) Movement

Lebanese Forces and Kataeb Party have no official representation in the Christian Front, but have delegates who attend in a personal capacity.

The Christian Front’s Secretary General is USUP President Ibrahim Mrad.