Al-Rahi Urges Hezbollah to Learn from Destructive War

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has urged Hezbollah to reflect on the ongoing war with Israel, describing its devastating impact on Lebanon. He emphasized that Hezbollah should consider the lessons from a conflict that has led to the displacement of 1.5 million Lebanese, claimed thousands of lives, and injured tens of thousands. Al-Rahi highlighted that while this destruction continues, Lebanon has repeatedly borne the costs of its conflict with Israel, met with relative silence from Arab and international communities.

When asked about implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 without enforcing Resolutions 1559 and 1680, al-Rahi noted that current discussions are centered solely on Resolution 1701.

Regarding views that attribute Lebanon’s decline to “political Shiism,” al-Rahi said that while political Shiism is not solely responsible, general corruption, recurring governmental failures, a prolonged presidential void, and poor management have all contributed significantly to Lebanon’s struggles.