Tourism Minister, Michael Pharaon, called Monday for "halting all attempts to disable the work of institutions, and to work on coming up with a political package with which we can live, and which can ensure proper representation of the people."

"We need to free ourselves from disruption and try to maintain internal-external compatibility over security," added Pharaon in an issued statement. He also highlighted "the need to prevent political disputes that are prone to escalate in light of the ongoing clashes in several countries in the region, which could affect the country's stability, stand in way of presidential elections and paralyze the proper functioning of institutions."

Pharaon went on to indicate that "Lebanon has shown commitment to the Arab-Israeli conflict and has paid for it; hence, no one can convince us of paying any additional price for regional disputes, if we were able to refrain from it."

"This begins by electing a new President, and working on solutions to the internal and external issues at stake, without provocations that would only serve to immerse Lebanon further and further in foreign disputes," concluded Pharaon.