Syriac Maronite Patriarch al-Rai calls for transparent joint UN-Lebanese investigation into UNIFIL incident

BETH KERKE, Lebanon — During his sermon on Sunday in Beth Kerke (Bkerke), Lebanon, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Bechara Butros al-Rai denounced the attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol that killed an Irish soldier and wounded three others.

Patriarch al-Rai stated that Irish soldier Pte Seán Rooney, who came to Lebanon to ensure peace in the south, was martyred by a bullet of hatred:

“We were very saddened by the killing of the Irish soldier of the UNIFIL three days ago. We strongly condemn it and offer condolences to his country, family, the Irish contingent, and UNIFIL commander and soldiers. We pray for a speedy recovery for his injured companions.”

The Patriarch stated that time has come for the Lebanese state to put its hand on every illegal weapon and implement Resolution 170, which has so far been selectively and arbitrarily implemented.

He added that what is happening at the presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and military levels in the south and on the borders confirms the necessity of renewing the call for active and positive neutrality. An international conference on Lebanon to restore its identity and preserve its pluralistic and democratic culture that made Lebanon “a model in the East and West”, as Pope John Paul II said, the Patriarch added.

In the area of Rmaich, groups affiliated with Hezbollah, under the cover of an environmental association bearing the name “Green Without Borders”, reforested the border area with Israel.

Such repeated incidents constitute an attack on the private lands of people of the region.

“We regret the encroachments on the town’s lands in the Smoukhia farm, which is adjacent to the international borders, by the de-facto forces affiliated with one of the parties in the region,” Patriarch al-Rai proclaimed.

Al-Rai called on the security services to protect the residents and their livelihoods, as well as withdraw the foreign elements from the town and put an end to all transgressions that undermine the country’s coexistence.