08/14/2021 Lebanon (International Christian Concern) –  After Hezbollah launched 19 rockets into Israel from a civilian village in southern Lebanon on August 6, Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai condemned the provocation. He condemned their use of human shields by firing from a civilian village, the provoking of Israel, and the attention-grab away from the anniversary of the August 2020 Beirut explosion.

Al-Rai’s comments brought threats on his life by Hezbollah’s staunch supporters, even including public effigies with the Patriarch with a noose around his neck. Al-Rai was accused of surrendering and supporting Zionism as well.

In response to the threats, Lebanese President Michel Auon publicly condemned the violence targeted towards Al-Rai. Aoun is a Maronite ally of Hezbollah, which is also the major political party in Lebanon in addition to its military wing. Either the military wing or the whole party is deemed a terrorist organization by many international governments.

Aoun called for a cessation of the threats between the Lebanese groups in efforts to safeguard national unity. With Lebanon teetering on the brink of war and increased tensions with Israel, Patriarch Al-Rai commented saying, “[the Lebanese people] are tired—as they should be—of war, killing, displacement and destruction. We do not want to involve Lebanon in military operations that provoke devastating reactions.”

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