Maha Al-Azar
Daily Star staff

Qornet Shehwan Gathering member Samir Franjieh on Tuesday warned that those accusing opposition groups of being traitors were the “greatest threat” to Lebanon and Syria’s interests.
During a seminar at the Democratic Renewal Movement’s offices in Starco, Franjieh raised questions on political discourse, arguing that while there was general recognition of the threats facing the region, including Lebanon and Syria ­ under pressure to toe the US line ­ the responses by some to these threats were “incomprehensible.”
“Suddenly, without any warning signs, a sustained campaign dubbed ‘Protecting Syria from internal Zionists’ was launched against the Qornet Shehwan Gathering,” he said. “Is it truly in Syria’s interests to renew its conflict with a large segment of Lebanese society or is there a plot to perturb the internal situation in order to disturb Syria?”
Qornet Shehwan and opposition Maronite groups came under heavy criticism after the Maronite World Congress in Los Angeles last month, which urged the end of Syrian “occupation” and the strengthening of Lebanese sovereignty.
But Franjieh interpreted the the criticism, which began to surface some 10 days after the congress’ end, as a means to thwart Qornet Shehwan moves toward dialogue with non-Christians.
“A delegation had met with (Speaker) Berri, (former Speaker) Husseini and (former Prime Minister) Karami, and that’s what probably irked (those detractors),” he said during a question-and-answer session following the talk, which was attended by Karami, as well as Metn MP Nassib Lahoud and Jbeil MP Fares Soueid.
Accusing the establishment of “constantly generating extremism,” Franjieh called for facing upcoming challenges with “moderation,” which should not mean “acquiescence to the balance of powers and the status quo … for this would be resignation to the current situation.” Instead, Franjieh defined moderation as “courage to hold oneself accountable, modesty to learn from mistakes and maturity to accept the other as part of building oneself.”
Moreover, moderation should be grounded in the freedom to “manage our internal affairs,” and should allow for participation in deciding local and regional affairs.
Franjieh urged opposition forces to widen their reach to create a “historic coalition”
responsible for building a true peace after having reconciled the nation with the memory of its bloody past, “not for retribution but for documenting the truth,” he said.

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