Project Watan: Upholding the ceasefire and Lebanon’s unifying, influential, and just role

Project Watan’s Executive Board held its weekly meeting, chaired by MP Neemat Frem and attended by all members, to discuss the latest developments. The following statement was issued afterward:

• Project Watan calls for unwavering adherence to the ceasefire agreement and for the Lebanese state to fully commit to implementing the cessation of hostilities, along with the complete enforcement of all relevant international resolutions. This includes, in particular, restricting the possession of weapons to the Lebanese Army and extending the state’s security and military authority across the entire Lebanese territory. Simultaneously, efforts should be intensified at both the Arab and international levels to pressure Israel into completing its withdrawal from South Lebanon and relinquishing the five remaining occupied positions.
• The Board emphasized that Lebanon’s role transcends the limitations imposed on this small country, recalling the words of Lebanese and global diplomat and thinker Charles Malik, who described Lebanon as the only nation in history that harmoniously bridges Western and Eastern civilizations through its Christians and Muslims, with full justice and mutual respect. Accordingly, Project Watan believes that confronting looming threats requires rallying around Lebanon’s unifying, influential, and just role.
• Project Watan asserts that the quota-based employment system, which has persisted for over thirty years, is the primary cause of institutional and sectoral collapse and has entrenched corruption within state administrations. Therefore, the Board stresses the importance of adopting the appointment mechanism approved by the Council of Ministers, as it reflects a commitment to the rule of law and institutions while prioritizing competence and integrity over quotas.
• The attendees discussed the alarming findings of the United Nations’ 2025 World Happiness Report, which ranked Lebanon 145^th out of 147 countries – placing it among the most unhappy nations in the world, alongside Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. At Project Watan, we believe that what unites us as citizens is the pursuit of happiness, which, according to international indicators, is achieved through key factors such as health, income, social support, trust, freedom, and societal generosity. As a movement that has placed human happiness at the core of its objectives, we pledge to spare no effort in changing this grim reality.