Maronite Bishops Call for End of Assault on Suleiman's Dignity
Maronite bishops regretted on Wednesday Hizbullah's campaign against President Michel Suleiman and condemned the "assault on his dignity" as the symbol of the nation's unity.
Following its monthly meeting under Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki, the council of Maronite bishops “urged all parties to stop the campaign against the president … out of respect for the nation.”
The tension between Suleiman and Hizbullah reached unprecedented levels over the weekend when the president said during a speech that Lebanese parties should not hold onto inflexible equations that hinder the adoption of the new government's policy statement.
His remark drew a sharp retort from Hizbullah, which said the president needed “specialized care.”
“There are no need for differences … which should be resolved at the national dialogue table,” the bishops said.
“After the consensus on the National Charter, the bishops would have hoped that the policy statement would be inspired by it,” said the statement issued by the council.
The Maronite church unveiled the charter last month. It calls for holding the elections of a new president on time and for Muslim-Christian partnership to run the country's affairs.
The bishops lauded the army in its confrontation of terrorism, saying providing it with assistance is a necessity after the security chaos that the country witnessed and after attempts by some parties to impose self-rule.
The Maronite bishops hoped that a meeting by world powers in Paris on Wednesday would succeed.
During the conference, which is hosted by the International Support Group for Lebanon, the major powers are set to pledge aid to Lebanon to help it cope with the repercussions of Syria's civil war.
The bishops condemned the latest Israeli raid on Lebanon, which came after warplanes bombarded a Hizbullah position in Janta on the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Israel neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the Feb. 24 strikes.
The bishops also condemned the continued shelling from Syria on Lebanese territories.
They regretted the assaults by some Takfiri groups on Christians in Syria, urging the United Nations and Arab and Islamic countries to “immediately interfere” to stop the attacks that in no way are linked to Islam.
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