Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai in the Baabda Presidential Palace. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai ruled out on Monday, after meeting President Joseph Aoun, a potential new Israeli war on Lebanon, noting that the "Americans have leverage over the Israelis," according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
"I don't know why Israel continues to threaten war. The Americans seem capable of influencing it, and the fact that they have agreed to negotiations is a positive sign," added Rai, recalling that, on the Lebanese side, "the Lebanese Army is doing its job and deploying as it should south of the Litani River, which Israel and the Americans are well aware of."
Fears of a new war between Hezbollah and Israel have increased in recent weeks as Israel escalated its attacks against Lebanon, including the assassination of the group's chief of staff Haytham Tabataba'i in the southern suburbs of Beirut last month.
In parallel, aggressive statements and accusations towards Hezbollah have been heavily circulating in the media. However, things seem to have de-escalated after the appointment of a civilian to the Mechanism committee for negotiations with Israel.
"We are in a time of negotiation ... and diplomacy, and the dawn of peace has arrived," Rai said.
When asked whether Hezbollah's intransigence regarding the negotiations and the surrender of its arsenal could complicate the talks, Rai expressed his hope that "everyone will understand the position of the president and the importance of the negotiations."
He stressed that "negotiating does not mean that we are going to conclude an agreement with Israel: it is a preliminary step. No one will be left out." He added that "the president is listening to them," in a probable reference to the Shiite party, and that they "are not on the sidelines of the process." The dignitary added that "there is no question of giving everything away to Israel."
He stated that it is "shameful" to imagine a "divide between Bkirki and the presidency. "The president is above everyone, even above the patriarch, and therefore there can be no such divide. That is what I wanted to convey to the public, and those are the objectives of my visit today," he added.
Last week, Aoun decided, after consulting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, to appoint lawyer and former Lebanese ambassador to Washington in the early 1990s, Simon Karam, to the cease-fire committee, which also includes Israel, France, the U.S. and the UNIFIL.
As a result, civilian representatives from Lebanon and Israel participated in a committee meeting last Wednesday, marking the first direct talks between the two countries in over 40 years.
"The start of negotiations is a good sign, and Ambassador Karam is an excellent person for this mission," Rai added.
This appointment was criticized by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who noted last Friday that with this appointment, the Lebanese state has made a “free concession” to Israel.
Rai also noted that the Lebanese Army is carrying out its duties south of the Litani River. After the Lebanese government decided in early August to regain the monopoly on arms and tasked the army with drafting a plan, which was approved a month later, the troops have been working to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure in this region.
Finally, Rai said that "Aoun is above everyone, even the Patriarch." "There is no rift between us, and we rejoice in the dawn of peace after the pope’s visit [to Lebanon]."
During Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, Rai appeared to have taken a step back from the visit compared to former Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, who was everywhere to be seen during Pope John Paul II's visit to Lebanon in 1997.
This raised questions in the media about the relationship between Aoun and Rai, and whether it was part of the competition among Christian leaders in the country.
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil