Maronite Bishops: New History Book Must Not Lead to More Division in Lebanon

The Maronite bishops council condemned on Wednesday the ongoing dispute over the new official history book that is being prepared to be taught at schools, saying that it should serve the country’s interests and recount events objectively.

It said in a statement after its monthly meeting: “The new history book should include the whole of Lebanon otherwise it will create more division among the Lebanon.”

“An agreement over the issue must be reached through consensus and objectivity,” it stressed.

The dispute over the book erupted when some March 14 camp officials objected to some historic omissions in the book and the labeling of certain events.

On February 28, Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel criticized the book, saying that it lacks objectivity and it selectively recounts historic events.

Addressing the ongoing disputes between the March 8 and 14 camps over government spending and the wage hike, the Maronite bishops said: “The dispute over the exercise of power will lead to greater conflicts in the country.”

“Rules that remedy the flaws in the system need to be devised,” they added.

In addition, they called on officials to reach a “comprehensive and binding economic plan” that can resolve the wage hike disagreement.

Addressing the Syrian crisis, they noted: “The fate of peoples cannot be determined through violence.”

They also praised the role of the security forces and army in protecting the Lebanese borders in light of the unrest in Syria.