Christian March 14 leaders

 

 

First, the Syrian attack on Lebanon has reached an unprecedented level in the past few days. It seemed clear that the suspicious campaign carried out by the Syrian regime against Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir is no longer restricted to criticism to express their displeasure with Bkirki, but has rather moved to a systematic assault on a position, as the Syrian regime intends to topple the head of the Maronite Church – which resisted all sorts of foreign hegemony – in preparation to subjugate the Maronites, the Christians and the Lebanese people.

 

Second, targeting the Lord of Bkirki comes in the context of striking at an active Christian presence. The Syrian scheme started with eliminating the presidency under weak pretexts. The second round was represented by targeting the Lebanese army and its command in the Nahr al-Bared battle and by assassinating Brigadier General François al-Hajj, in addition to hindering the election of General Michel Sleiman. The third round has now reached Bkirki and targeted its national Christian role by attacking Patriarch Sfeir, the symbol of historical steadfastness in the face of foreign dominion.

 

Third, Jesus said that the doors of hell are incapable of attacking the Church, which will survive the most harmful campaigns. The Church, headed by Patriarch Sfeir, broke all political taboos in the period of political taboos – as admitted by all Lebanese – and achieved reconciliation in the Mountain and condemned oppression that targeted its far and near fellows.

 

Fourth, a number of realities, starting with the by-elections in the Metn and the union and student elections, have proven that the Christians refuse to restrict their representation to one side. Thus, the majority of Christians reject targeting the head of the Maronite Church and insist that this behavior doesn’t pertain to the history of Maronites and their affiliation to both their Church and Lebanon.