A religious leader is blasted by a terrorist group for visiting Israel. Bechara Rai, the head of the Maronite Catholic Church in Lebanon, has been facing heavy criticism from the terrorist group Hezbollah for accompanying Pope Francis on his visit to the Holy Land last week. Hezbollah MP Ali Meqdad referred to the Maronite Cardinal as an “Israeli agent” who went on a mission to convince other Israeli agents to come to Lebanon.
Hezbollah is a terrorist group in Lebanon that receives support from Iran and has been a stark ally of Bashar Al-Assad in helping the Syrian president fuel the Civil War there. Israel is concerned about Hezbollah’s efforts to stockpile missiles in order to attack Israel’s civilians, like it did in the 2006 Second Lebanon War. While in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s increasing grip on the government has limited Lebanese civilians’ personal freedoms and deepened the strife between the country’s Muslim, Christian, and Druze populations.
Lebanon is a country currently in chaos, it is unfortunately no surprise that their citizens would not even have the freedom to travel to a place vital to one’s religious heritage. The leader of the Maronite Catholic Church may strongly sympathize with the Palestinian cause, but Hezbollah would rather he not even visit Israel. Hezbollah would rather continue the current belligerence between Lebanon and Israel than promote cultural mixing. Israel, on the other hand, will always welcome Cardinal Bechara Rai and any others interested in promoting peace–regardless of race, religion, gender, or background.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-blasts-lebanese-cardinal-for-meeting-israeli-agents/
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