Catholic Bishops of Lebanon Call for a Ceasefire between Israel and Gaza as they Sound the Alarm with the War Entering Lebanese Territory
Fides reports that the escalation of the war in the Middle East has hit Lebanon, exacerbating the risks of worsening a situation that has already become a kind of "time bomb" due to the presence of more than a million Syrian refugees on Lebanese territory. The bishops of the Maronite Church, who met for their monthly meeting at the Patriarchate of Bkerké on Wednesday, January 3, under the presidency of the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, are therefore sounding the alarm. The escalation, had already caused "casualties and injuries among residents of the region as well as massive destruction in several localities in southern Lebanon, not to mention the use of phosphorus bombs that have burned green spaces". This escalation,on Tuesday killed, among others, Hamas leader Saleh el-Arouri, in an attack that rocked a stronghold of the Lebanese Shiite party Hezbollah. In the first point of their statement, the Maronite bishops call on the Lebanese deputies to "fulfill their constitutional obligation" to elect a new President of the Republic "in order to save the country from collapse and instability." (See more: https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/search/label/Gaza)
Regarding the war in the Holy Land, the Maronite Bishops express their deep regret "at the killings, destruction and violence" carried out, particularly against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, "by the Israeli army and the Israeli settlers" and call for "a final ceasefire" that will form the basis for negotiations between the parties involved on the basis of the so-called "two-state solution". In view of the escalation of the conflict in the areas near the Israeli-Lebanese border, the Maronite Bishops call on the "friends of Lebanon in the world" to "contribute effectively to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), which is the only way forward "to put an end to Israel's aggression and to define a clear and effective framework for peace in southern Lebanon". In another important passage of their statement, the Maronite bishops sounded the alarm about the problems linked to the large presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanese territory. (Fides.org)
On January 8th, 2024, the Patriarch wrote: We, in turn, condemn the war and call for peace by negotiation on every occasion. Also for Israel's war on Gaza, and its extension to south Lebanon without the willingness of any Lebanese, and friendly countries, especially since Lebanon is immune from war with Israel by the power of Security Council resolution 1701. Everyone should abide by it, preventing the extension of the war to Lebanon despite the will of the Lebanese who love their homeland and peace in its quarter. Patriarch Bashara Al-Rai
Statement from the Bishops: On Wednesday, January 3, 2024, the bishops held their monthly meeting at the Patriarchal Palace in Bakarki, presided by His Excellency and His Eminence Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bashara Botros, the patron of the General of the Maronite Priests. And they study church and national affairs. At the conclusion of the meeting, they issued the following statement:
1- Bishops call on the deputies, repeatedly, to fulfill the constitutional obligation of the judge by electing a new President of the Republic, saving the country more collapse and instability.
2- Bishops express their deep contempt of the killing, destruction, and molestation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by the Israeli army and Israeli settlers, injuring civilians first and foremost. They call together with all people of good conscience in the world, for a final ceasefire, in preparation for the start of negotiations between the parties concerned, based on a two-state solution.
3- Bishops also fear the cost of the field escalation in southern Lebanon, which has left casualties and injuries among families and great destruction in a number of villages and towns, as well as the burning of shrines and orchards with phosphorous bombs, this escalation reached yesterday the southern suburb of Beirut.
4- The fathers are reminded that the visit of his father with Patriarch Mar Ignatius Youssef III Jonan and a number of bishops on behalf of the Council of the Patriarch and Catholic Bishops in Lebanon to the city of Syor, the entrance to the border area, was to stand in solidarity with the people of the south in this ordeal, to emphasize the vitality of common living and its national necessity, and to appeal to local concerned and friends Lebanon in the world should contribute effectively to the implementation of resolution 1701 which guarantees deterring Israel from its aggressions, and guarantees a clear, sound and effective framework for peace in the dear South.
5- The bishops have been very concerned about the reality of the Syrians displaced to Lebanon, and what the killing and arrest operations, military and security revealed, of weapons and ammunition in the hands of the displaced, which constitutes a time bomb and a real threat to the security and safety of the Lebanese people. They call on the officials to work hard and strict to control this despicable reality, and to manage the vision and political and diplomatic actions aimed at relieving Lebanon from this burden that exceeds its security, and at the core affects its demography, balance, economy and the livelihood of its children.
6- Bishops register their surprise at the draft general budget and the burdens it imposes on citizens who are originally displaced under the burden of life and living difficulties. They see that the current situation requires officials in the legislative and executive powers to have the courage to address the issue of the state's finances by returning the state's money to its treasury, either in the terms of public utilities or taxes and fees, and within the terms of social justice and its obligations.
7- Bishops welcome the result of a meeting in Kirki sponsored by Sahib Al-Gbata, from forming a committee chaired by the Minister of Higher Education, to study ways to correct legal texts in order to serve the safety of the sector. They renew the urgent demand to protect the freedom of education and education in Lebanon, and to provide the necessary laws and administrative and financial measures to this end, at the same time protect the generous pensions of teachers, the possibilities of the parents, and maintain private schools in different regions.
8- Bishops condemn this perverted and defective extremism, from time to time, exposure to Christian clergymen who are doing their duty and serving in the Holy Land. They recall that the Lebanese inks have no need to justify any of their spiritual, national, and humanitarian behaviors, which are always inspired by the teachings of the Savior, not by the reactions of humans.
9- At Christmas time, and with the beginning of the new year, bishops seek refuge in God, the Almighty, to grant Lebanon and the Lebanese people an abundance of his tenderness and mercy, so that the beloved homeland, finally, takes the path of salvation from what has been plagued with, and regains its freedom, sovereignty, and independence of its decision, and sets off in a desired revival.
1- Bishops call on the deputies, repeatedly, to fulfill the constitutional obligation of the judge by electing a new President of the Republic, saving the country more collapse and instability.
2- Bishops express their deep contempt of the killing, destruction, and molestation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank by the Israeli army and Israeli settlers, injuring civilians first and foremost. They call together with all people of good conscience in the world, for a final ceasefire, in preparation for the start of negotiations between the parties concerned, based on a two-state solution.
3- Bishops also fear the cost of the field escalation in southern Lebanon, which has left casualties and injuries among families and great destruction in a number of villages and towns, as well as the burning of shrines and orchards with phosphorous bombs, this escalation reached yesterday the southern suburb of Beirut.
4- The fathers are reminded that the visit of his father with Patriarch Mar Ignatius Youssef III Jonan and a number of bishops on behalf of the Council of the Patriarch and Catholic Bishops in Lebanon to the city of Syor, the entrance to the border area, was to stand in solidarity with the people of the south in this ordeal, to emphasize the vitality of common living and its national necessity, and to appeal to local concerned and friends Lebanon in the world should contribute effectively to the implementation of resolution 1701 which guarantees deterring Israel from its aggressions, and guarantees a clear, sound and effective framework for peace in the dear South.
5- The bishops have been very concerned about the reality of the Syrians displaced to Lebanon, and what the killing and arrest operations, military and security revealed, of weapons and ammunition in the hands of the displaced, which constitutes a time bomb and a real threat to the security and safety of the Lebanese people. They call on the officials to work hard and strict to control this despicable reality, and to manage the vision and political and diplomatic actions aimed at relieving Lebanon from this burden that exceeds its security, and at the core affects its demography, balance, economy and the livelihood of its children.
6- Bishops register their surprise at the draft general budget and the burdens it imposes on citizens who are originally displaced under the burden of life and living difficulties. They see that the current situation requires officials in the legislative and executive powers to have the courage to address the issue of the state's finances by returning the state's money to its treasury, either in the terms of public utilities or taxes and fees, and within the terms of social justice and its obligations.
7- Bishops welcome the result of a meeting in Kirki sponsored by Sahib Al-Gbata, from forming a committee chaired by the Minister of Higher Education, to study ways to correct legal texts in order to serve the safety of the sector. They renew the urgent demand to protect the freedom of education and education in Lebanon, and to provide the necessary laws and administrative and financial measures to this end, at the same time protect the generous pensions of teachers, the possibilities of the parents, and maintain private schools in different regions.
8- Bishops condemn this perverted and defective extremism, from time to time, exposure to Christian clergymen who are doing their duty and serving in the Holy Land. They recall that the Lebanese inks have no need to justify any of their spiritual, national, and humanitarian behaviors, which are always inspired by the teachings of the Savior, not by the reactions of humans.
9- At Christmas time, and with the beginning of the new year, bishops seek refuge in God, the Almighty, to grant Lebanon and the Lebanese people an abundance of his tenderness and mercy, so that the beloved homeland, finally, takes the path of salvation from what has been plagued with, and regains its freedom, sovereignty, and independence of its decision, and sets off in a desired revival.
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