by Naharnet — Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday called on Lebanese authorities to “control the Lebanese-Israeli border” and “prevent the use of Lebanese territory as a launchpad for rockets,” after three rockets were fired recently from Lebanon at the sea off Israel amid a major Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Beware that some become implicated in the events, directly or through proxies, which would subject Lebanon to new wars,” al-Rahi warned in his Sunday Mass sermon. He noted that all Lebanese “have paid enough in such uncontrolled conflicts.” “The Lebanese people are not ready to see their country destroyed once again more than it is already destroyed,” al-Rahi went on to say.

by the nationalnews — “We call on authorities in Lebanon to control the Lebanese-Israeli borders and prevent Lebanese territory from becoming a launching pad for missiles,” the Maronite patriarch said. The Israeli military reported that three rockets were launched from south Lebanon towards Israel on Thursday, causing no damage. Three other rockets were fired on Friday from Syria towards Israel, with one landing inside Syria. In both cases, it was unclear who fired the rockets. “Beware that some are involved directly or through auxiliary parties in what is happening and exposing Lebanon to new wars,” said Patriarch Al Rai during his Sunday sermon, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah, which denied organising the protests. “All the Lebanese have paid enough due to these uncontrolled conflicts. The Lebanese people are not ready to destroy their country again any more than it already is,” said Patriarch Al Rai. “There are peaceful ways of [expressing] solidarity with the Palestinian people without getting involved militarily. It is Lebanon’s duty to be balanced between neutrality, which preserves its safety and message, and its commitment to upholding the rights of the Palestinian people.” Patriarch Al Rai criticised Israeli air strikes in Gaza. “What the Palestinians are exposed to is heart-wrenching, especially that children, women and the elderly are among the victims,” he said. “The time has come to stop the cycle of violence, demolition and killing and to endorse a final solution to the Palestinian issue after 73 years of wars, destruction and Israeli oppression.”