Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif al-Derian slammed on Sunday the Hezbollah party, without naming, accusing it of "destroying everything the Lebanese have accomplished in a century."

 

"Nothing is left in Lebanon but the militia and the ruling class that has terribly ruined the state, society and Lebanon's relations Arab and international relations," he said in an address to the people on the occasion of Isra and Miraj.

 

"Religious occasions should be joyous ones," he said, "But in Lebanon, we no longer have joy. Where has it all gone?"

 

He blamed the misery on "destructive campaigns carried out in broad daylight" that included the "occupation of Beirut, assassination of people and looting of billions of dollars in public funds" that directly led to the collapse of banks and the freezing of the depositors' savings.

 

Lebanon's ties with its Arab brothers underlines the country's Arab identity, Derian added. Its Arab identity and belonging are stipulated in the constitution and Taif Accord.

 

"There can be no dignified life in Lebanon without its Arab identity no matter how hard the saboteurs try to change this," he stressed.

 

He also congratulated Saudi Arabia on the occasion of its Founding Day, hailing the economic reforms it is undertaking, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as part of Vision 2030.

 

Derian also addressed the May parliamentary elections, saying constitutional institutions defend the people's interests.

 

He lamented, however, how elections in recent years have done little to change the reality in Lebanon.

 

"We reject the continuation of the status quo and call for a heavy turnout at the ballot boxes," he said.

 

"Heavy voting is a message of hope and a sign of faith in the future of the nation and country," he remarked.