Maronite Bishops Synod Call on Arab, Islamic States to Safeguard Lebanon

The Maronite bishops synod called Saturday on the Arab and Islamic countries to aid Lebanon and help it resolve its crises that were caused by the war raging in the Middle East.

“The Arab and Islamic countries should assume their historic responsibilities to combat extremism and fanaticism and preserve the Christians' existence in the region,” the synod said in its final statement that was read by Maronite Bishop of Batroun Mounir Khairallah.

The statement stressed the importance of the Christian existence in the region, considering that it “plays an important role in forming the Arab world.

“Christians should withstand the storm that will subside. They should remain in their land and preserve their property.”

In Syria, IS kidnapped some 220 Assyrian Christians last month, prompting 5,000 people to flee the countryside in fear of the jihadist advance.

IS militants have also attacked Christians in neighboring Iraq, where it seized swathes of territory in a lightning June offensive last year.

The Synod also called on these countries to “aid Lebanon and support it to resolve its political, economic and security crises, which were caused by the conflicts and wars in the Middle East.”

They reiterated calls on lawmakers to attend parliamentary sessions set to elect a new head of state, saying: “They should carry out their constitutional duty and elect a new president.”

MPs failed for the 20th time on Wednesday to elect a new head of state over lack of quorum.

President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May without the election of a successor.

Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc have been boycotting electoral sessions due to a disagreement with the March 14 camp over a compromise presidential candidate.

H.K.

D.A.