Al-Hayat newspaper quoted on Sunday a prominent French source as expressing surprise at Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai’s statements on Syria.
 
“It is very strange that the patriarch spoke in the name of Syria’s Christians and said that President Bashar al-Assad, who is killing and oppressing his people, should be given more chances,” the source added.
 
The source also noted that French President Nicolas Sarkozy explained to Rai that he had given Assad more chances, but the Syrian president chose to be radical and killed his people.”
 
The source also said that during the patriarch’s meeting with French Foreign Minister Alain Jupee, Rai expressed his concern of the Muslim Brotherhood danger in Syria, and when Juppe asked Rai “what about Hezbollah in Lebanon?” Rai said that “coexistence with Hezbollah is good and normal.”
 
On Thursday, Rai said that “the international community must help liberate the land [occupied by Israel] and [achieve] the Palestinians’ right of return. Then, we will tell Hezbollah to hand over its weapons because they will no longer be needed.”
 
Rai also said that Assad is “open-minded” and should be given more chances to implement the reforms he already announced.