Lebanon’s Jaafari mufti calls Israel an “absolute evil”

Lebanon’s Jaafari mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, described Israel as an “absolute evil” and accused Washington and Tel Aviv of pursuing policies aimed at creating divisions and internal disputes in Lebanon, according to remarks reported by Iran’s IRNA, citing Al Nashra.

Qabalan said sectarian and political divisions threatened Lebanon’s existence and claimed that some regional and international actors were seeking to fragment the country. He urged President Joseph Aoun to prevent what he called dangerous foreign interference and said Lebanon could endure only through a comprehensive national decision and broad consensus.

He warned that Lebanon was facing one of the most serious national crises in its history and said abandoning southern Lebanon would weaken state sovereignty, undermine political participation and erode the concept of the state. Qabalan called for a Lebanon based on the participation of all groups, national sovereignty and solidarity.

Qabalan also defended the role of the Lebanese resistance, saying it had fought to protect the south and the country as a whole. He called on Muslim and Christian religious institutions to raise a unified national voice.

He said security agreements and annexes were unacceptable and described abandoning the national defense of southern Lebanon as a major betrayal. In closing, he addressed resistance fighters, saying Lebanon had achieved victory and would remain stable through their efforts.