Al-Rahi-Jumblat Mark 15th Anniversary of Mountain Reconciliation in Moukhtara

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi visited Mount Lebanon on Sunday where he marked the 15th anniversary of the mountain reconciliation between the Christians and Druze and to inaugurate a church in the Shouf town of al-Moukhtara.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan received the Patriarch in the presence of former President Amin Gemayel, Michel Suleiman, former minister Walid Daouk representing ex-PM Najib Miqati, Papal Ambassador to Lebanon Gabriel Caccia, MP Ali Fayyad, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and a number of bishops and priests.

Rahi headed a mass at the al-Saydeh Church in Moukhtara where he marked the anniversary.

He said: “On this occasion we are all committed, each from his own position, to continue this conciliation and provide it with the spiritual, economic and social frameworks to protect the mountain area.”

He highlighted the necessity to primarily elect a president before addressing other pending issues in the country, he said: “What is the point of addressing issues before electing a head of state.”

For his part, the Druze leader Jumblat assured that there will be no return to any mountain war, he said: “No return to war. Lebanon provides a unique example of diversity and we are committed to coexistence.”

Earlier, Bkirki sources had told al-Joumhouria daily that al-Rahi will “focus on the importance of coexistence between the Christians and Druze, and will reinforce the reconciliation between the two communities.”

The 1983 Mountain War occurred at the mountainous Shouf District located south-east of the capital Beirut between the Progressive Socialist Party and the Lebanese Forces.

The Lebanese Forces was driven out of the area and Christian civilians in Shouf, mainly the mixed town of Brih, were displaced.

The reconciliation was first initiated by former Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in 2001.