Al-Rahi lauds Aoun and Haykal, says Israel occupation hindering disarmament plan

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has said that Israel's occupation of five hills in south Lebanon is obstructing Hezbollah's disarmament, as he called for unity among Christians and for keeping Lebanon out from regional conflicts.

In an interview Tuesday with al-Jadeed, al-Rahi praised President Joseph Aoun and Army chief Rodolphe Haykal. "Aoun is making diplomatic efforts and Haykal is doing a great job," he said, explaining that he is against pressuring the army to disarm Hezbollah by force.

Al-Rahi urged the Lebanese to support Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and said Lebanon is not receiving help from the international community to disarm Hezbollah and end the Israeli occupation. "Can't the U.S. convince Israel to withdraw from the south," he rhetorically asked.

"Lebanon must be neutral, and Iran shouldn't interfere through Hezbollah in domestic affairs. Hezbollah must hand over its weapons to the Lebanese army and the government alone should have the right to take the war and peace decisions."

Al-Rahi also called for administrative decentralization in Lebanon and voiced his support for amending the electoral law that only allows the large Lebanese diaspora to vote for 6 new seats in the parliamentary elections instead of voting for the 128 MPs.