| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Al-Rahi Says Lebanese who Fled to Israel are Not 'Criminals', Urges 'Reconciliation' |
| 2014-05-31 |
| [AnNahar] Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Friday said the Lebanese state must not deal with its citizens who fled to Israel in 2000 as "criminals," noting that they are not the ones who have "impeded the presidential election." During a visit to the Druze village of Isfiya near the northern Israeli city of Haifa, al-Rahi said he was "profoundly hurt" by those who have criticized his historic visit to Israel and the Holy Land. "Can't we perform our duties? Has compassion died? Have social duties died?" the patriarch asked. "We have several times repeated that this visit is purely religious. I did not come here to make political deals ... I did not come here to make commercial, economic, military or security deals. I came here to see our loving people," al-Rahi underlined. Commenting on the issue of the Lebanese who had fled to Israel after its forces withdrew from south Leb, al-Rahi said: "The solution is reconciliation." "We are not collaborators. I did not see any Lebanese collaborating against Leb," he added. According to LBCI TV, al-Rahi rejected in his speech that their possible return to Leb be tied to "an amnesty or international resolutions." "Had they fought against Leb? Had they fought against the Lebanese state? Had they fought against Lebanese institutions?" al-Rahi asked rhetorically. "Have they paralyzed the presidency? Have they displaced and impoverished the Lebanese? Have they created an economic and social crisis in Leb? I want to know what their crime is," the patriarch added. Mentioning the undermining of state institutions in Leb and the closure of the presidential palace, al-Rahi went on to say: "Who is committing crimes against Leb? You? You who love Leb and carry its flags in your hearts?" Israel has invaded Leb several times, occupying part of the country's territory for 18 years until it withdrew in 2000 following armed resistance. In 2006, a 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah ... Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistanceand purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory... left 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis dead. Leb bars its citizens from visiting Israel or having business dealings with Israelis. However, a hangover is the wrath of grapes... Maronite clergy are exempt from the ban to enable them to stay in touch with the faithful in the Holy Land. On Wednesday, al-Rahi celebrated mass with exiled Lebanese as part of his controversial trip to Israel. Hundreds of Lebanese Maronites came to Saint Peter's church in the village of Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Train |
| Posted by:trailing wife |