The Daily Star - Lebanon's Arabic press digest - Sept. 11, 2011

Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Sunday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
Ad-Diyar
Rai: We will not compromise on the protection of Christians in the Middle East
Days after a meeting between the patriarch of Bkirki and March 14, there was silence. It was clear the Kataeb did not want public debate against Bkirki. Sami Gemayel will visit Bkirki later to discuss his party's positions.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea questioned why the patriarch was giving words of support to the Syrian government when he said last week that Syria protects its Christian minority. He noted that Syria did not protect Christians in Lebanon and instead persecuted them. He said the Christians of March 14 stood against Bkirki, and the patriarch had not taken into account the positions of the international community, particularly European countries, most of which are Christian.
There has been speculation that a delegation from Bkirki will visit Syria, but this has not been confirmed by the patriarch.
An-Nahar
Washington believes Rai’s statements were detrimental to his reputation
A public political debate emerged over the positions of Speaker Nabih Berri [when he backed the statements made by Maronite Patriarch  Rai] and what was announced by Rai on his visit to Paris. An [unidentified] senior U.S. official called the positions of Rai and Hezbollah toward Syria “unjustified and reckless.”
Following the patriarch’s return from Paris, the U.S. official expressed surprise and disappointment over Rai’s statements, saying they had “hurt his reputation and his job.” Similar criticism was directed at Rai from Christian March 14 leaders.
The U.S. official also criticized Hezbollah for its refusal to relinquish its weapons, adding that it did not defend Lebanon, but was rather an extension of Iran.
Al-Mustaqbal
A campaign of insults against the Future Movement, and the Syrian ambassador praises Rai, saying his words reflect the position of the Vatican
Hezbollah and its allies launched a series of threats and insults against the Future Movement, under the pretext of defending Berri, as he voiced his support for Patriarch Rai.
Meanwhile, the Syrian ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali welcomed Rai’s statements, describing them as “an expression of an intellectual vision, politically balanced, responsible and consistent with the role of the church … as [Bkirki's] positions reflect the opinion of the Vatican."
Deputy Speaker Farid Makari described Rai’s statements as “a coup in Bkirki” and asked how one could tolerate the existence of armed mini-states. He said he wished the patriarch had invited Christian leaders to a retreat in order to discuss the strategy of Christianity. Other Future bloc leaders voiced similar concerns.