In an exclusive interview with a Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent, addressed specifically to the people of Palestine and the entire world, Monsignor Ignatz Moubar, Archbishop of the Maronite Church in Beirut, a Catholic church whose Arab members comprise a majority of the Christian population of Lebanon, today charged that the sub-committee of the Anglo-American inquiry committee did not hear the true voice of Lebanese public opinion, when it took testimony here.
“If the committee had heard the true voice, it would have heard that voice declaring support of Jewish reconstruction in Palestine–support of Zionism as a symbol of progress and security of all peoples of the Middle East,” Monsignor Moubar declared. He insisted that the Christian majority in Lebanon is not represented in the present Government.
He made it clear that his views also represent those of the Maronite Patriarch, spiritual leader of the Maronite Christian world, “who has often expressed his sympathy with Judaism and Zionism.
CHARGES LEBANESE PRESIDENT DID NOT GIVE TRUE VIEWS ON PALESTINE
“The Anglo-American committee heard only chosen Government spokesmen who have said what the Government wanted them to say,” the Archbishop declared. “I charge our President did not give his true views, because he is fearful of the Arab League. He himself holds views contrary to those he expressed, and I, myself, told him so. The present Government would not now be in power without my help. I brought Christian support to the President of the Republic, whom I now charge with not having expressed his real feelings before the commission.”
Speaking of the ties between Palestine and his country, Monsignor Moubar said that the development of Lebanon is tied up with the development of Palestine. “We Christian Lebanese know this,” he continued. “We realize that Zionism is bringing civilization to Palestine and to the entire Middle East. I am very much in favor of Zionism because I have the good of Palestine at heart. The desire of the Moslem Arabs is to dominate the country and cast out the Christians. I tell you frankly, opposition to Zionism in Palestine means returning the people to the domination of savagery, and the return of the country to that state of anarchy and bribery in which it existed of the height of the Ottoman sultans.
“If anyone in this part of the world has sought to unite all communities, it is I,” he asserted, adding “but I am sorry to state that we have found nothing on the part of the Moslems, except fanaticism, hate, and a desire to dominate the country. You can be sure that in this country, where Christians represent the majority of the population, the great majority of the Christians are against reactionary Arab anti-Zionist opinion, and support the Jews because they have the best relations with them and that together with the Jews they can best work out their salvation.”
LEBANESE CHRISTIANS CONSIDER JEWS IN PALESTINE A SYMBOL OF CIVILIZATION
“We realize,” he continued, “that there is a struggle here between civilization and regression, and the Jews symbolize civilization. We Christian Lebanese have always been pioneers of civilization, not only in Lebanon but in the entire Middle last.”
Warning that the Middle East was witnessing a test case in the march of civilization, he stated: “In the desire of the Jews to rebuild Palestine there burns a very pure flame. We must not extinguish it! The Jews of Palestine and the Christians of Palestine can work together, and if the Moslem Arabs would assist, it would be magnificent, but, unfortunately, they are opposed to anything which means progress. I was in Palestine thirty years ago. It was an arid, forgotten land. I’ve seen it since–I tell you, we Lebanese are jealous of the good fate of Palestine.”
He pointed out that the “Moslem Arabs of Palestine, Damascus, and Beirut sold their land holdings in Palestine to Jews for high prices, and now the Moslem Arabs here wish to regain those lands and cast out the Jews.
“These are my views,” Monsignor Moubar concluded “and I am not afraid to voice them. Last night I was invited to a dinner tendered by the Foreign Ministry to the members of the Anglo-American inquiry committee and I refused to attend, lest my presence give the impression that I agreed with the opinions expressed before the committee.”
At the conclusion of his interview, the Archbishop signed a statement embracing the essence of his remarks, adding “I propose to speak on this subject in the same way from the pulpit, this coming week-end.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
