BEIRUT —  Israel does not recognize Jerusalem as being Palestinian. According to the Zionists, this land is their capital and they want their counterparts to thank them for allowing them to live on its eastern outskirts. 

Visiting the occupied lands is only possible by complying with the occupation authorities, who are in charge of letting people in or keeping them out. No matter by whom, such visits could be used to promote normalization in any case, especially if the visitor is an Arab. So how about if the visitor was the head of the Church of Antioch and All the East?

The late Coptic Pope Shenouda III refused to travel through Israel to visit the Holy Land, so he prohibited all Copts from visiting Jerusalem, as long as it remains under occupation. This was also the position of every Lebanese patriarch since 1948, although they appointed bishops at the head of the [Jerusalem] Diocese.

This month, however, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai will break the taboo, under the pretext of accompanying Pope Francis in is his tour of the region. But Lebanese public opinion is split between those who defend Rai’s patriotism and those who oppose the visit because it violates the Lebanese constitution. Rai is a Lebanese citizen, regardless of having become a religious figure.

However, the majority of political parties are still hesitant to give their position, including Hizbullah. Sources from [the seat of the Maronite patriarch in] Bkirki said that there had been “indirect correspondences” between the two sides. “[Hizbullah] expressed wishes that the Patriarch would not visit the Holy Land,” the sources said.

“[Hizbullah] does not want to raise media controversy over the issue, because they are not interested in creating a dispute with Rai.” But the message “has reached the Vatican.” In conclusion, the sources replied that Vatican will ask Rai to only accompany the Pope to Jordan, “to safeguard Lebanon’s special situation.”

However, sources close to Hizbullah categorically denied that the party had sent a message to Rai, “neither directly nor indirectly. And if such a message reached Rai through a friend, the party had nothing to do with it and knew nothing about it.” The sources also maintained that Hizbullah has not yet decided how to treat the issue in the media.

Officially, the visit is still scheduled to happen. The Christian Gathering (a gathering of Lebanese bishops and Christian politicians) is expected to announce its opposition. It will hold an emergency meeting to issue a statement, “expressing the opinion of the Christians of Lebanon and the Levant regarding the timing and connotations of the visit, at a time when peace negotiations are stalling,” according to a member in the Christian Gathering.

The source indicated that the position will be founded on that of previous patriarchs who refused to pass through the occupation authorities. However, the source refused to accuse the patriarch of anything. “He just wants to play a pivotal role, which goes beyond the Lebanese borders. But this does not justify the visit [to Israel].”

According to the same source, Rai should not be compared to Arab countries or “heads of states” who have “a quasi-relationship” with the occupier. Nor should the visit “be justified by the presence of a Maronite diocese in Jerusalem. No one spoke of Bishop Paul Sayyah. Taking care of the congregation used to happen without media fanfare, contrary to Rai’s visit.”

It is still difficult to find a Christian politician who clearly rejects the visit. Most March 14 politicians defended Rai’s prospective visit to Jerusalem. The other side is silent, except for the former head of the Phalange, Karim Pakradouni, who wishes that Rai would reconsider his visit, “since he will be extremely embarrassed during the visit.”

Pakradouni said the step was more of an adventure. He said he expects that Rai might change his mind when he returns to Lebanon. “It will not help the Christians there and there are many risks,” he explained. “It could turn into another May 17 [agreement between Lebanon and Israel under the Amin Gemayel government in 1983 that was later abrogated]. We have enough problems and we don’t need this.”

On the other hand, former deputy speaker of parliament, Elie Ferzli, defended the visit in his own way. He said he is currently “waiting.” He delved into history and concluded that the issue should not be “from the perspective a Lebanese patriarch visiting the Holy Land. Israel is behind the campaign against the Christian presence there and experiences starting in 1948 are proof of its intentions.”

According to Ferzli, the Israelis want to achieve three goals out of the visit. First, “harming Christians and saying that the Muslims are to blame, thus reviving Islamophobia.” The second goal is “emptying the region, which witnessed the birth of Christ, to become a place without a soul.” The third goal would be to “destroy the Levantine Church, allowing Israel to propose the equation of Mecca for the Muslims, the Vatican for the Christians, and Jerusalem for the Jews.” 

This forced the Vatican to ask for a “Levantine cover, which is the Lebanese Maronite Church,” added Ferzli. 

Still according to Ferzli, the Vatican did not decide to plan the visit without an objective, “it is working on a long-term strategy. The issue cannot be put in a narrow framework.” 

– By Lea al-Qazzi. Printed first in Al-Akhbar