Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai on April 8, 2026, during a visit to the village of Kawkaba in the Marjeyoun district of South Lebanon. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai told the press he supports "the language of negotiations and dialogue," a day after a meeting at the State Department in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors, marking the first step in talks aimed at "ending the ongoing war."
In an interview with the Kuwaiti daily al-Anbaa, Rai said he "supports negotiation and strongly calls for an immediate end to the ongoing war." "Wars have proven their uselessness," he emphasized, insinuating that Hezbollah, which he did not name, "get the country out of the war" and maintaining that "everyone must be under the authority of the state."
Arguing that the "destruction" caused by Israel is "not surprising," the religious leader called on all Lebanese to "unite to protect the country" and reiterated his solidarity with the Lebanese Army and its commander, Rodolph Haykal, who have been accused by Israel and the United States of not doing enough to disarm Hezbollah. Rai added that the army "is doing what is necessary, within the limits of its means and capabilities, and is working to preserve national unity and prevent a slide into internal conflict."
Israel agreed to hold direct negotiations with Lebanon after weeks of requests from Lebanese authorities. A preparatory meeting was held at the State Department in Washington on Tuesday and concluded with an announcement about the upcoming launch of those talks. While part of the political spectrum welcomed this step to try to end the renewed war on Lebanon since March 2, Hezbollah denounced the negotiations.
