Syriac Maronite Patriarch al-Rai reviews Archbishop Moussa el-Hage case with UN Special Representative

DIMANE, Lebanon — On Thursday, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rai received Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Lebanon Joanna Wronecka and several political and religious figures, in Dimane, Lebanon.

They discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the need for international support. They also reviewed the details of the illegal detention of Archbishop el-Hage following his visit to Israel. Special Representative Wronecka expressed her support for the Patriarch’s national stances.

She briefed him on her visit to the headquarters of the United Nations Secretariat in Washington, D.C. and stressed the international community’s support for Lebanon.

On the same day, Patriarch al-Rai received former Lebanese MP Fares Saeed who said that the Syriac Maronite Church represents true national resistance.

Regarding the case of Archbishop el-Hage, Saeed indicated that there is an attempt to seize control of Lebanon by disrupting communication and offending the reputation of the Syriac Maronite Church. He also declared that he will make the necessary contacts to develop broad national support for the Patriarch in the coming days.

Patriarch al-Rai also received the coordinator of the preparatory committee in the Arab Resistance Movement Sheikh Abd al-Salam al-Harash.

“No one can assess the patriotism of every person in Lebanon,” Al-Harash stated. “It is absurd for Israel to smuggle money in this naïve way,” he added, referring to the accusations made against Archbishop el-Hage.