What they said فهمي ×

You must be very cautious.

What is happening in the south is unacceptable.

Practical and constructive steps.

An unacceptable matter.

An Israeli methodology based on demolishing residential clusters, seizing land and attempting to displace citizens.

It is working with Lebanon and the international community to secure the borders with international forces.

There are, of course, no direct contacts with the Israeli side, which continues its illegal practices, but there are many Arab efforts with international parties to pressure Israel to stop its attacks and respect Lebanese sovereignty.

What we are witnessing in the south is unacceptable, and the Israeli violations are completely rejected.

We will continue supporting Lebanon and its institutions

Lebanon is a priority for the Arab League, and for me personally in my capacity as secretary-general

I also listened and held a number of meetings with members of the Lebanese Parliament, and I will continue that today before making a visit outside Beirut, after which I will return to Cairo, to the General Secretariat, carrying a complete assessment and an accurate understanding of Lebanese priorities.

For my part, I conveyed to them the support of the Arab League and my personal support for Lebanon, and the priority it enjoys in the issues of the Arab League, which was reflected in a strong decision issued by the League's recent Ministerial Council, including support for Lebanon as a state, its institutions and positions, support for Lebanese-Lebanese accord, support for the Lebanese national state, and emphasis on seeking to back Lebanese efforts to resolve issues, as well as providing for the needs of Lebanese citizens.

Today I met the Prime Minister, after meeting the President and the Speaker. These were high-level meetings during which I had the opportunity to listen to the Lebanese leaders and learn about their assessment of the difficult political situation in the region in general, as well as the circumstances Lebanon is going through in particular.

I conveyed to them the support of the Arab League and my personal support for Lebanon, and the priority it enjoys in the issues of the Arab League.

We are working with Lebanon, of course, and working with the international community to secure the borders with international forces, and I hope it will also be with international legitimacy through a comprehensive international resolution, and this path is not easy.

The Arab League's position is firm: the presence of UNIFIL with an official political cover from the United Nations is the best option, because it places the international community on the ground and makes everyone responsible for exposure to the international community. Unfortunately, there is a strong trend toward ending this mission, and we are still trying to counter that. There are other proposals by states to take a position in place of UNIFIL. This is ultimately governed by two things: first, there must be a positive Lebanese position on this; second, and I believe this is often also a Lebanese position, the formed forces must be given an international framework and international legitimacy, so that any infringement upon them by the Israeli side is an infringement upon an international position, not only the position of the participating states. We are working with Lebanon, of course, and with the international community to secure the border with international forces, and I hope there will also be international legitimacy through a comprehensive international resolution, but the matter is not easy.

I intended to visit the south because the Israeli position and the Israeli aggression against Lebanon are rejected. The Israeli occupation and aggression against Lebanese institutions are rejected, and this is an official position of all Arab states, and of course also my personal position. The goals of the visit at this stage are political and to see the situation personally on the ground, and it will be an incentive for political movement on my part afterward with Arab states regarding aid, the needs of Lebanese institutions including the Lebanese Army, and also the material aspect in support of harsh conditions, in addition to political movement at the international level. So this is a first step, but it is a beginning, not the end, of the coming effort.

I am very happy to be honored to meet the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Nabih Berri. It is my second meeting with His Excellency; the first was a long time ago when I was Egypt's foreign minister, and now as Secretary-General of the Arab League. My presence and my message at this specific time both have meaning and significance. My presence in Lebanon — one of the first countries I am visiting as Secretary-General — reflects an Arab and personal commitment to the Lebanese cause, to Lebanese concerns, to the Lebanese state, its institutions, and to the Lebanese citizen and people.

A first step, but it is a beginning, not the end of the coming effort.

I heard from him some ideas, and I intend to follow up on that in international and Arab forums.

Unfortunately, there is a strong push to end this mission, and we are still trying to counter that

The Arab League's position is firm: UNIFIL's presence under an official and political UN cover is the best option

My presence and my message, at this specific timing, both have meaning and significance

Lebanon is a priority for the Arab League and a priority for me as secretary-general.

I affirmed to President Aoun that Lebanon is among our priorities

I affirmed to President Aoun that Lebanon is among our priorities.

I carried a message to Lebanon of support for it following the Arab ministerial meeting.

There is full Arab support for the Lebanese negotiations with Israel

his intention to visit the south, amid repeated Israeli attacks on citizens and Lebanese interests

Supporting the Lebanese state with all its institutions and standing by it politically, economically and socially