Al-Rahi: Solution to Hizbullah Arms Should Not Hinge on Mideast Solution
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi announced Thursday that “the solution to the issue of Hizbullah and its arms should not hinge on a Middle East solution,” noting that “the Arab and international communities have a role to play in this regard.”
Al-Rahi was commenting on remarks by President Michel Aoun, who said Monday that “a solution in the Middle East would lead to a solution for the issue of Hizbullah's arms.”
“The issue of Hizbullah is not purely Lebanese anymore and it is linked to Arab and international affairs,” the patriarch added in an interview on LBCI television.
“No one can overlook the role of Hizbullah and Iran in Lebanon and it played a part in the election of the president and filling the vacuum. Yes there is a significant influence but we must build our strong, capable and just state – a state that has its entity, role and justice,” al-Rahi went on to say.
“It is not up to us to find the solution but the solution should not be imposed on us,” the patriarch noted.
Asked about the invitation he has received to visit Saudi Arabia, al-Rahi confirmed that he will visit the kingdom in two weeks.
As for his stance should he be asked by Saudi officials about Hizbullah's controversial arsenal of arms, the patriarch said “even Hizbullah does not accept” the notion that its weapons could coexist with those of the Lebanese Army.
“We must look into the situation from all its aspects,” he added.
Al-Rahi also said that “no preconditions” for the visit have been imposed on him by Riyadh and that his rhetoric will be “a rhetoric of peace, partnership and love” despite the current tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and Hizbullah.
“I'm not a politician to side with a certain party,” he added.
03 November 2017, 00:04
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Obvious truth. Any one saying otherwise is effectively acting as a foreign agent to benefit terrorist states at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, dignity justice and economic survival. The economic cost of Hizb actions is in the hundreds of billion dollars from direct cost to reduced growth to wasted economic opportunities, to isolationism... Not to mention they are a criminal organization with a long list of assassinations, money laundering, and drug dealing.
03 November 2017, 18:53
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I'm going to write it more clearly for you now.
Israel wants a new confrontation with Hezbollah, yes we all know that it will happen.
You also realize we have a new government, and a new President.
The system is that in the end, the Christian President have a say say in LAF actions.
If Israel attacks Lebanon again, the LAF will have to defend Lebanon, that is the order for all soldiers, not an evacuation team is in 2006.
Next time LAF and Hezb will fight side by side if Israel attacks Lebanon. A few shipments are lost here and there, but Israel is still nervous, they know our warriors are alot tougher now, than they were in 2006.
03 November 2017, 18:55
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Why do you think the U.S delivers bad weapons to the LAF?
They will never send anything that could endanger Israel, only low range weapons that can hit a few salafis in the mountains and barrens.
Because the U.S knows that the LAF is ordered to defend if Israel attacks Lebanon.
03 November 2017, 02:28
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Al-Rahi: Solution to Hizbullah Arms Should Not Hinge on Mideast Solution
but that's not what your commander in chief said the other day. Do we see a split in the FPM already?
03 November 2017, 07:08
126
But Hezbollah arms brought your fpm leader to the presidency.
