Patriarch Rahi Received Passionately in South

Patriarch Bechara Rahi was planning to Visit the USA, meet Obama. "During a televised interview on Thursday, the Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stated that “international community must pressure Israel to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories … and fulfill the Palestinians’ right of return, and consequently Hezbollah will have to lay down its arms,”al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Friday." Lebanon’s conscience, March 14 Forces used to say that the "Maronite Patriarch was Lebanon’s conscience, and that when the Patriarch speaks, everyone has to listen and only listen…" but after Patriarch Rahi's statement the New Maronite Patriarch become March 14 Forces’ New Target!. "What was applicable under Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir doesn’t seem to be the same under Patriarch Beshara Rahi in their eyes, for a simple and convincing reason: Patriarch Rahi’s opinions are different!" Nadim Gemayel, the son of Bahsir Gemayel claimed that Al-Rahi’s Stance Encourages Others to Turn to Arms. Nadim condemned "the possession of illegitimate arms in Lebanon, saying that President Michel Suleiman and Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s positions on Hezbollah’s weapons won’t change the fact that “they are illegitimate.” A high-ranking U.S. official expressed to An Nahar newspaper "his astonishment and dissatisfaction with al-Rahi’s speech in France regarding the popular uprising in Syria against President Bashar Assad and Hizbulla’s arms...the Patriarch's statements were "unjustified and reckless....and harms his reputation and his position" An Nahar newspaper said that Al-Rahi Cancels Visit to Washington Over Paris Remarks Controversy, al-Rahi will not meet with top U.S. officials in Washington after he told U.S. "Ambassador Maura Connelly that he held onto his remarks on Hizbullah’s arms and the situation in Syria. "Connelly reportedly told the patriarch that he needed to provide explanations on his statements before setting dates with U.S President Barack Obama and other officials." In his visit to Baalbak al-Rahi vowed to echo the same principles of Imam Moussa al-Sadr, and urged the Lebanese to unite and reject being the followers of other countries. Patriarch Rahi Received Passionately in South

Local Editor

On the second day of his visit to South Lebanon, Patriarch Bechara Rahi arrived to the liberated Al-Khiyam city, where he was received by massive crowds as well as officials including Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf Al-Moussawi, and Amal movement MP Ali Hasan Khalil. As soon as the Patriarch arrived, church bells were rung and calls for prayers were played in concurrence as a symbol of the Islamic-Christian unity. After playing the national anthem, Head of Al-Khiyam Municipality Abbas Awada delivered a speech in which he welcomed Patriarch Rahi, recalling the painful history of Al-Khiyam during the Israeli occupation era, and reminding of the sacrifices that the citizens and the mujahedeen made so that Al-Khiyam became a liberated and safe city. Awada further assured that the Muslims and Christians of this town have always been one hand, and after the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation they all celebrated as that enemy practiced its cruelty on everyone. MP Ali Hasan Khalil delivered a speech after that emphasizing co-existence and expressing the great respect for the patriarch as he took the righteous stance. MP Khalil assured that “together, we will become stronger.” For his part, the pastor of Tyr, Nabil Al-Hajj greeted Patriarch Rahi and said that “Al-Khiyam, during 2005 and during the July 2006 war, stayed for 36 days under bombardment, yet the enemy failed to occupy one grain of its soil, and so Al-Khiyam became a legend in resistance and firmness… on the other hand, you sir (addressing Rahi), in less than 36 seconds successfully occupied Al-Khiyam and all our hearts, so you are most welcome.” MP Nawwaf Al-Moussawi also delivered a speech in which he praised the courageousness of Al-Khiyam, reminding that the first martyr who was killed by the Israeli enemy on this land was the Christian doctor Shukrallah Karam, who was appreciated and elected as head of the municipality by the Muslims of this town. MP Al-Moussawi stressed the firm co-existence that has always been present in Al-Khiyam, and expressed his respect to the awareness of the patriarch as he knew that wherever the arrogant states practiced their policies, they spread suffering, and knew that the scheme drawn for this region is division, and so he chose to confront and prevent these attempts. The celebrations were concluded with a speech for Patriarch Rahi who greeted Al-Khiyam, its firmness, and its martyrs, and recalled that during the July 2006 war, when the citizens of the South resided in Jbeil due to the outrageous attacks that were being waged against their towns, he went to visit them and expressed his deep respect to them. Patriarch Rahi assured that those who sacrificed, suffered, and martyred for the sake of this country, were the reason for our survival, and so we should preserve this. He further indicated that all the pains, wars, occupations, and victims brought awareness to Lebanon and its people, and pointed out that at a time when hatred is dominating the world, the Lebanese people are getting closer together and embracing each other more. Patriarch Bechara Rahi arrived at 5:00 pm (Lebanon timing) to Nabatieh, and after the celebrations are over, he will take off to Bint Jbeil.

Source: Al Manar TV

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