Hizbullah Delegation to Visit Bkirki to 'Dissuade al-Rahi from Jerusalem Visit'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A delegation from Hizbullah is expected to visit Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Tuesday on the occasion of Liberation Day and a time of heated debates over his visit to Jerusalem, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Sunday.
The daily said that the delegation will indirectly attempt to persuade the patriarch against making the trip or thank him for canceling it should he do so before Tuesday.
Liberation Day, marking the end of Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, falls on May 25.
President Michel Suleiman had recently informed al-Rahi that it was preferable for him not to visit the Holy Land later this month over controversy over the planned trip.
The president also expressed readiness to provide political cover to any stance made by the Maronite patriarchate to go back on the decision to go ahead with the visit.
Al-Rahi had however reportedly defended his decision to accompany Pope Francis to Jerusalem and hinted that he would not change his mind, saying that as Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, it is his duty to welcome the Pope in any country in the region.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Thursday al-Rahi was not part of the official delegation heading to the Holy Land and was going on his own initiative.
Al-Rahi would be the first patriarch to travel to Israel since the Jewish state was created in 1948.
M.T.
11 May 2014, 09:50
49
so now this terrorist extremist Iranian militia wants to dictate to the patriarch where he can and cannot go?
11 May 2014, 10:29
32
Ok let's ignore the source for a moment , if this was true what would your response be? FT?
11 May 2014, 10:33
27
If the patriach can sow the seed of any future peace agreement I'm all for it
11 May 2014, 12:51
37
i truly do not understand what is the big deal in the patriarch not only visiting jerusalem but meeting who ever he see fit? shu el mashkal? egypt and jordan have israeli embassies,syrian officials unofficially were meeting with israeli all these years, eih shu etre plus royaliste que le roi or is all this a show and a game?
11 May 2014, 12:54
33
HA has always been against this, regardless of what crush says wasnt on al manar.
11 May 2014, 12:59
36
How can Hizballah try to stop the Patriarch from visiting Jerusalem, when for years they have been claiming that they intend to march on Jerusalem.
What are they scared of, that he will get there before they do.
If the Patriarch were to met with Israeli officials, as Egyptian and Jordanians he done for years, it can only bring about a clearer understanding between Lebanon and Israel, and what exactly is wrong with that ?
11 May 2014, 13:11
35
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Thursday al-Rahi was not part of the official delegation heading to the Holy Land and was going on his own initiative.
Pretty courageous move to go there without being part of the official delegation.
11 May 2014, 13:45
23
Are "normal" citizens allowed pilgrimage to Jerusalem? As in is there a law against that?
11 May 2014, 16:51
24
I wouldn't be surprised if this was accurate, not after the way the Cardinal's visit is being portrayed in As-Safir and Al-Akhbar editorials going as far as using biblical analogies to condemn it.
11 May 2014, 19:02
22
LOL, so iranians are controlling parliament via Berri,FPM,SSNP,Marada and HA, controlling army intelligence and LAF through colonel Ali Chahrour and many others, controlling our southern and eastern borders, choosing our president and even trying to control the batrak...
11 May 2014, 22:33
00
sooner or later you and israel will be trodden under the shoes of HA .
12 May 2014, 00:57
00
Seems Hezbollah illiterates don't get the message. If you're against Rahi going to Jerusalem, then you are not welcome to Bkirki.
In fact, Hezbollah is a foreign Iranian organisation so should not interfere in Lebanese politics. It's enough they are trying to hijack the country.
It's simply non of their damned god's business (God of Kalashnikov that is !)
12 May 2014, 01:02
00
sayedna la 2awal marra batrak byetkhatta el mosta7il ma tredd 3a 7ada khalleh el maronite rasson marfou3 eksor el jedar metel ma kasaro el el batrak el m3oushe ne7na ma3ak 2alla ms3ak lebnen ma3ak redeyt el 3ezz la lebnen wa redeyt el 2amal ta nerja3 be yawm mnel eyem alla ytawel 3omrak wa y2awik wa tred 3a 7ada 7a22ak wa 7a2na nzour matra7 ma khele2 yesou3 wa ma 7ada 2elo 7a2 yemna3ak ma tkhef wa 2ela el amam serr
