Rahi Doubts Loyalty of Lebanese Politicians towards their Country

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi met Wednesday with Caretaker Minister of Justice, Henry Khoury (NNA)
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi met Wednesday with Caretaker Minister of Justice, Henry Khoury (NNA)
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Rahi Doubts Loyalty of Lebanese Politicians towards their Country

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi met Wednesday with Caretaker Minister of Justice, Henry Khoury (NNA)
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi met Wednesday with Caretaker Minister of Justice, Henry Khoury (NNA)

Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi expressed on Wednesday his doubts about the sincerity of Lebanon’s politicians toward their country, also accusing the ruling class of being “beholden to their own interests.”

The Patriarch was speaking on Wednesday at the launching ceremony of the document titled “A New Vision for Lebanon Tomorrow: A Secular, Decentralized, and Neutral State.”

Rahi reiterated his call for an international conference on Lebanon because “the Lebanese politicians escaped dialogue because they are beholden to their personal interests.”

He then expressed his doubts about the sincerity of politicians toward the country, saying “there is no salvation for Lebanon if we remain as we are. Lebanon is ill, and officials do not want to treat its illness or know its cause.”

Rahi added: “It is not the right of officials to devastate a country and its people by destroying the system and the constitution.”

For his part, Sheikh Sami Abdel Khalek representing Sheikh Akl of the Druze Community Sheikh Naim Hassan, said during the ceremony that the Lebanese must work for the interest of the country and not for the interest of the sect and the party.”

Meanwhile, Bishop Samir Mazloum expressed his regret that there are Lebanese politicians who assassinated the State in order to make profit.

Last November, Rahi urged to the United Nations to save Lebanon by holding an international conference – a call that was supported by the country’s opposition parties and rejected by Shiites.



UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Lebanon Has Recorded over 30 Incidents Resulting in Damage

A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
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UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Lebanon Has Recorded over 30 Incidents Resulting in Damage

A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
A Lebanese army soldier stands near UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles in Marjayoun, near the border with Israel, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, southern Lebanon October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher

The UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon says it has recorded over 30 incidents resulting in damage to UN property or premises or injuring peacekeepers
Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for the mission known as UNIFIL, told a video press conference from Beirut Wednesday that it attributed about 20 of the incidents to Israeli military fire or actions, “with seven being clearly deliberate.”
In an incident Tuesday, he said, a rocket likely fired by Hezbollah or an affiliated group hit UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqura, setting a workshop on fire, with some peacekeepers suffering minor injuries, according to The Associated Press.
The origin of the fire couldn’t be determined for about a dozen incidents, he said.
“What has been very concerning are incidents where peacekeepers performing their monitoring tasks, as well as our cameras, lighting and entire watch towners, have been deliberately targeted,” Tenenti said.
He stressed that the actions of both Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters are putting peacekeepers in danger, whether through deliberate acts or crossfire.
“Despite a very tense situation, UNIFIL continues to stay in contact with Lebanese and Israeli authorities urging de-escalation,” he said.
Even with the dramatic surge in exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in the past few weeks, Tenenti said UNIFIL has also been working hard behind the scenes to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid by UN agencies and their local partners.