The Kataeb’s political bureau held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of party leader Samy Gemayel to review the rapidly evolving security and political developments in Lebanon. The bureau issued the following statement:

1. The political bureau renews its call for the deployment of Lebanese Army units and all other State security forces across the entire national territory, and reiterates the need for the immediate implementation of the Cabinet decision banning the military and security activities of the Hezbollah militia.

It also stresses the need for legitimate State authorities to assume responsibility for displacement centers and prevent any outbreaks of violence. Authorities must also ensure the protection of the resilient southern villages in a way that preserves their stability and eases the pressures they are facing.

The Kataeb Party calls on the President of the Republic to immediately convene the Higher Defense Council and keep its sessions open in order to oversee the implementation of these measures and closely monitor security developments.

2. The political bureau calls on the Speaker of Parliament to convene a special session dedicated to discussing the war and its repercussions for Lebanon, and to place the issue of the country’s involvement in the regional conflict on the table for a frank national debate.

Such a debate would compel parliamentary blocs—particularly Hezbollah’s bloc—to assume their responsibilities in light of their continued political cover for the activities of the outlawed militia linked to them, which exposes Lebanon to further destruction, displacement and forced migration.

3. The political bureau stresses the need to prosecute all those involved in illegal military and security activities and to impose strict and deterrent penalties against them.

The Kataeb Party also renews its call for the abolition of exceptional courts and for the adoption of the draft law submitted by MP Samy Gemayel in 2016, which seeks to limit the jurisdiction of the military court to cases involving military personnel.