Christian Figures Prepare ‘Arab Spring’ Principles to Respond to al-Rahi

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s recent position on Syria has created further divisions between the March 14 camp and Jamaa Islamiya on the one hand, and the March 8 camp on the other.

The daily Al-Liwaa reported on Saturday that academic, political, and cultural Christian figures have agreed to hold a conference, under the preliminary title of “Christians and the Arab Spring,” to produce a number of principles on Christians’ positions on the upcoming phase in the Arab world.

A leading Christians figure told the daily that the Christian March 14 leaders are determined to hold a workshop with al-Rahi upon his return to Lebanon from France to discuss his recent stances on Syria.

The patriarch had stated from France that Syrian President Bashar Assad should be given “a second chance” in the face of anti-regime protests because he has started to implement reform.

The March 14 source said: “We are determined to confront the patriarch on this position and his vision of the Christians’ role in this transitional period in the region.”

“We will determine our stand on Bkirki and our political and national ties with based on the answers we receive from him,” it added.