Mouna Hraoui: Lebanese Women Had Huge Roles in Times of War, Peace

Former first lady Mouna Hraoui
Former first lady Mouna Hraoui
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Mouna Hraoui: Lebanese Women Had Huge Roles in Times of War, Peace

Former first lady Mouna Hraoui
Former first lady Mouna Hraoui

President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women Mouna Hraoui has said that women have had huge roles in times of war and peace.

The Lebanese woman plays a big role in everyday life, including taking care of her family, in education, in healthcare and in culture, said the former first lady.

“She also proved in the past years to have a role in times of war and peace,” Hraoui told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Women are the backbone of society and have proved to excel in several decision-making positions,” she said.

On Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai’s calls for an international conference to resolve Lebanon’s political and economic crises, Hraoui hailed him, saying he has been exerting strong efforts to salvage the country.

Al-Rai wants to unite all the Lebanese from different confessions by focusing on partnership, she said.

Only neutrality that the patriarch is calling for would help Lebanon establish better relations with the Arab world and the international community, she told the newspaper.

Neutrality is Lebanon’s “sole salvation,” she stressed.



France Highlights Its Role in Brokering Lebanon Ceasefire Deal

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
TT

France Highlights Its Role in Brokering Lebanon Ceasefire Deal

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)

France’s foreign minister underlined his country’s role in brokering an agreement that ended fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group alongside the US, saying the deal wouldn’t have been possible without France’s special relationship with its former protectorate.

“It’s a success for French diplomacy and we can be proud,” said the minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking hours after the ceasefire went into effect Wednesday.

“It is true that the United States have a privileged relationship with Israel. But with Lebanon, it’s France that has very old ties, very close ties,” the minister added. “It would not have been possible to envisage a ceasefire in Lebanon without France being involved on the front line.”

France will be involved in monitoring the ceasefire, Barrot noted, with 700 French soldiers deployed as part of the 10,000-strong United Nations peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, that has been patrolling the border area between Lebanon and Israel for nearly 50 years.

The minister said France will also work to strengthen Lebanese troops that will deploy in the south of the country as part of the ceasefire, although he didn’t specify what that might include.