Abu Zainab Relays Nasrallah's Season's Greetings to al-Rahi

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi met Friday in Bkirki with Hizbullah politburo member Ghaleb Abu Zainab, who passed on Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s season’s greetings to the patriarch, state-run National News Agency reported.

The agency did not elaborate on the topics discussed during the meeting.

The visit by Nasrallah’s envoy comes after al-Rahi on Sunday called on officials in Lebanon to “exert serious efforts to collect weapons and limit their possession to the legitimate Lebanese Armed Forces.”

“It is totally unacceptable any longer that the country’s security remain a hostage under anyone’s mercy,” the patriarch said.

“All defense and security missions should be placed under the jurisdiction of the political authority and security should not remain a hostage in anyone’s hands under any slogan or claim,” said al-Rahi.

In October, the patriarch noted that “resolving the issue of Hizbullah’s arms is not in the hands of the Lebanese alone,” emphasizing the international community’s role in this regard.

“I have said that it will be a major feast in Lebanon when the Resistance hands over its weapons, but what’s more important is that I have said the international community must play a role to solve this Lebanese-international issue.”