Lebanon: Maronite Patriarch Denounces the “Peace Plan of the Century”

President Donald Trump's special advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was tasked with developing a peace plan to try to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, the announcement of this project, repeatedly postponed, should take place at the summit planned in Bahrain on June 25, 2019.

According to information published in the press and relayed by L'Orient-Le Jour, a part of the American plan would seek to permanently settle the refugees—mostly Muslims—in the countries where they have moved to, including Lebanon in particular. This is an unacceptable solution for the head of the Maronite Catholic Church.

Speaking at the synod of Maronite bishops gathered in Bkerke, Lebanon on June 5, 2019, Cardinal Rai warned: the Deal of the Century “threatens the identity of Lebanon and its citizens” because it “aims to settle displaced Palestinians and Syrians in their host countries,” in exchange for financial compensation.

The past sufferings of Lebanon lend weighty support to the cardinal’s words. Who does not remember that Palestinian refugees were the main cause of the first Lebanon war (1975-1982)? Troubles that have continued to shake this country since and are still caused by the influx of Palestinian and Syrian refugees.