June 4, 2026
From: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CehjWXqm9/
If we think objectively—and acknowledge that the "Greater Lebanon" experiment, led by the Maronites, was a failed endeavor that proved incapable of securing the necessary peace between Muslims and Christians over the course of a century—then the optimal solution lies in a peaceful separation between Lebanon’s Christians and its Muslims. We ought to view the cause of this "divorce" between Lebanon’s religious communities as akin to the situation of a couple who have been bound to one another for a hundred years, yet have remained in perpetual conflict—literally over everything—since the very first day of their marriage. Furthermore—and above all else—they have no children, nor is there any compelling reason for them to preserve the unity of this "family."
This is our reality—as viewed with absolute objectivity and complete impartiality!
What, then, is wrong with them separating amicably, thereby allowing each party to live in peace within its own home?
I swear by God: there is no fault or shame in separation. In fact—and in accordance with the teachings of Christ—if we examine this matter of "divorce" from the perspective of religious differences, we find that it poses absolutely no threat to non-Christians. This is because Christian religious culture does not instill fear in the hearts of adherents of other faiths; the reason being that Christ’s own commandment to our Phoenician people—specifically in the cities of Tyre and Sidon—was crystal clear: it not only calls for unconditional love among all human beings, but also obliges Christians to pray even for their very enemies. This commandment rests upon theological pillars and principles that mandate the propagation of peace—thereby imposing upon the Christian, with even greater urgency, the duty *not* to create enemies for himself in the first place; lest he find himself compelled to pray for those who seek to kill him—simply for being a Christian.
Indeed, the conspiracy against the continued existence of my Phoenician-humanist identity in Lebanon shall not be repeated—nor shall I, as a Christian, stand idly by, contenting myself with prayer alone! Consequently, a separation grounded in love would serve to entrench peace rather than to create enemies—unless, of course, there exists a specific religious mindset that continues to harbor ill intentions toward the "Other," regardless of whether such a separation takes place or not.
Let us now return to the heart of the matter: examining the path leading to a peaceful separation between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon. Quite frankly—and speaking as a Phoenician who once fought against Muslims in defense of Tripoli—I will not stand as an obstacle in the path of a million individuals from the Sunni community who choose to place themselves under the mantle of Syria's "Ahmad al-Sharaa, ak.a. al-Joulani." If this is truly what the people of Tripoli desire, then let the separation be amicable; the Christians would have absolutely no objection to it. What I mean is this: were you to ask me whether I—as a Phoenician—would consent to ceding "Phoenician Tripoli" to Syria, my answer would be "Yes." However, my acceptance is conditional upon Syria, in return, ceding those Christian-majority regions in the north known as "Wadi al-Nasara" ((The Valley of the Christians). As for the East, I advocate for expanding Lebanon’s borders to encompass Saydnaya and the adjacent Christian territories.
If such an amicable separation were to foster peace between Muslims and Christians, what possible objection could be raised against this concept? What, specifically, is wrong with the idea of establishing a Christian state within Lebanon—modeled after the Jewish state currently existing in Israel, and just as we are surrounded by numerous Muslim states throughout the region? And what, then, is wrong with extending a hand of peace to our Jewish neighbors—precisely as we ask them to extend a hand of peace to us?
And what is wrong with extending a hand of peace to our Muslim neighbors—precisely as we ask them to extend a hand of peace to us?
Perhaps the time has come to abandon religious instincts as a basis for human interaction, and to allow reason to govern our human affairs!
The contradictory statements issued by Christian and Muslim religious leaders, following last week's "Spiritual Summit" between the heads of all the religious communities, confirm that the Lebanese people are left with no choice but to call for another gathering—one dedicated to discussing the optimal path toward an amicable separation. Or perhaps we should all simply go to sleep with our fingers on the triggers, poised for another round of violence—only to survive long enough to face yet another round of fighting.
If such an amicable separation were to foster peace between Muslims and Christians, what possible objection could be raised against this concept? What, specifically, is wrong with the idea of establishing a Christian state within Lebanon—modeled after the Jewish state currently existing in Israel, and just as we are surrounded by numerous Muslim states throughout the region? And what, then, is wrong with extending a hand of peace to our Jewish neighbors—precisely as we ask them to extend a hand of peace to us?
And what is wrong with extending a hand of peace to our Muslim neighbors—precisely as we ask them to extend a hand of peace to us?
Perhaps the time has come to abandon religious instincts as a basis for human interaction, and to allow reason to govern our human affairs!
The contradictory statements issued by Christian and Muslim religious leaders, following last week's "Spiritual Summit" between the heads of all the religious communities, confirm that the Lebanese people are left with no choice but to call for another gathering—one dedicated to discussing the optimal path toward an amicable separation. Or perhaps we should all simply go to sleep with our fingers on the triggers, poised for another round of violence—only to survive long enough to face yet another round of fighting.
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