Maronite bishops welcome appointment of civilian negotiators in cease-fire monitoring committee

BEIRUT — Lebanon's Maronite bishops released a collective statement on Tuesday following their monthly meeting in Bkirki saying they are "closely following the launch of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, under international supervision," within the cease-fire monitoring committee, and welcome the appointment of civilians among the negotiators.

In early December, President Joseph Aoun appointed former ambassador Simon Karam as the civilian representative within the committee, which is also known as 'the Mechanism.' Karam's appointment marked the first direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in over 40 years.

"The bishops believe that the addition of civilian members to both countries' delegations shows a willingness to resolve outstanding issues," the statement reads, "provided that sovereignty and existing agreements are respected."

The bishops, who met under the chairmanship of Patriarch Bechara Rai, also emphasized the "presidential" aspect of this appointment in Lebanon.

The statement also addresses the financial gap law adopted in December by Cabinet, which the bishops said they were also "closely monitoring."

They called for consideration of the future of the banking sector "without overlooking the rights of individuals, institutions, and unions, and without neglecting ways to ensure trust and the reopening of multisectoral investments."

The bishops also welcomed the resumption of the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue process on handing over weapons from refugee camps to the Lebanese state.

They further warned against "reports of attempts to transfer chronic Syrian conflicts to Lebanon."

"The bishops sincerely hope for cooperation between Beirut and Damascus in order to ease the conflicts threatening both countries and to work together toward a better future," the statement concluded.