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Following are excerpts from an interview with Maronite Lebanese Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on June 18, 2010.
Nasrallah Sfeir: Some people strengthen their friendship with Syria out of personal interests. They do this in order to attain a position or something they keep secret. But this does not do Lebanon any good.
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Interviewer: Do you still believe that Hizbullah will not be incorporated into the army?
Nasrallah Sfeir: Yes. The current situation is considered abnormal, because countries generally make do with their regular armies. If another force is established, alongside the regular military, and this force does not obey the orders of the state – I don’t think this is acceptable in other countries.
Interviewer: Do you have doubts whether Hizbullah intends to lay down its arms?
Nasrallah Sfeir: It’s not about doubts. I want to follow the norm. Show me another country in the world where there are two militaries – a national army and an army that does not belong to the state.
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Interviewer: Do you fear that the weapons [of Hizbullah] will be used against the state or against the Christians?
Nasrallah Sfeir: I fear for the entire country, because whoever holds weapons can turn them in any direction he wants.
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Interviewer: Do you believe that Hizbullah is planning to rule the country?
Nasrallah Sfeir: Perhaps not today, but after some time, when it feels it is strong enough to take over the country, it will do so.
Interviewer: Isn’t it capable of taking over the country right now? It tested this already.
Nasrallah Sfeir: Maybe. I do not know.
[...]
Lebanon is a small country. Things that apply to other Arab countries do not apply to Lebanon. The Arab countries are large. They can resettle the Palestinians, provide them with work, and confer citizenship on them. In Lebanon, however, this cannot be done.
Interviewer: So you support resettling the Palestinians in other Arab countries, but not in Lebanon?
Nasrallah Sfeir: Yes. I support them returning to their own country, but if this is not feasible, they can go to another country. What is really happening is that they are leaving the Arab East altogether, and are going to the countries of the West. This is undeniable.
Interviewer: Since the Palestinians are not resettled [in Lebanon] – why aren’t the laws being changed to enable Palestinians to live in dignity in Lebanon?
Nasrallah Sfeir: Because Lebanon is a small country, hardly large enough for its own citizens. They too are emigrating in large numbers. Therefore, if the Palestinians resettle here, thus replacing the Lebanese, the country will lose its well-known makeup.