레바논내 전투는 끝났으나 마로니트 가톨릭교도들 지역의 주민들에게 평화는 아직 돌아오지 않고 있다. 헤즈볼라가 레바논을 이스람 국가로 만들까 두려운 것이다. 마로니트 가톨릭이 대부분인 그리스도교도들은 현재 레바논인구의 40%로 되었다. 이 나라는 한때 그리스도교도가 다수였으나 이제는 호전적인 헤즈볼라가 대변하는 시아파의 무슬림 인구가 점차 증가하고 있다. 안티오크의 마로니트 총대주교 나스랄라 피에르 스페어 추기경은 헤즈볼라가 이란이 밀고 있는 국가 안의 국가이고, 전쟁 후 사태를 받아 들일 수가 없다고 비난하였다. 티레의 추크랄라나빌 엘하주 대주교는 가장 중요한 일은 이 땅에 남아 있는 것이라고 말했다. (2006. 10. 2. 가톨릭통신사)
 
 MARONITE CATHOLICS: “LET HEZBOLLAH GO TO IRAN OR SYRIA”
 Beirut, Oct. 02, 2006 (CNA) - Although the conflict in Lebanon has ended, peace has yet returned for the inhabitants of a mostly Maronite Catholic town who fear Hezbollah will turn their country into an Islamic nation.
 
 Christians, mostly Maronite Catholics, now make up only 40% of the population of Lebanon. The middle-eastern country once boasted a majority Christian population, but is now being increasingly populated by Muslims, including Shiites who are represented, in large part by, militant group Hezbollah.
 
 A reporter working for the Mexican daily “El Universal” published a story last week, focusing on the shifting circumstances in Rmaich, a Maronite town of 8,000 inhabitants located two kilometers from the Israeli border. The town was not destroyed during the recent conflict between Hezbollah and neighboring Israel, but residents still live in constant fear.
 
 Residents say Hezbollah is not welcome in Lebanon and that their goals are not shared by most Lebanese.
 
 “Let them go to Iran or Syria. They are not Lebanese and they are destroying our country,” said one man identified as Elias Sumani about Hezbollah. His family had to live two months without gas and water due to the conflict that began on July 12.
 According to the story, Rmaich “was an enclave where more than 30,000 displaced Shiites found refuge in homes and schools during the conflict, which forced them to live in almost precarious conditions.”
 
 “Like good Christians we took in those who were in need. The inhabitants of Aaita ech Chaab (controlled by Hezbollah) took refuge here and families gave them assistance,” a local resident said.
 “We act this way, but in reality we fear them,” Sumani explained. “The Shiites are dangerous. If they want an Islamic nation, let it not be in Lebanon. If you listen to them you see they are not Lebanese. We need to be clear about this,” he said.
 
 Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch has denounced Hezbollah as “a state within a state, supported by Iran. After the war this is something we will not accept.”
 Archbishop Chucrallah-Nabil El-Hage of Tyre said, “The most important thing is to stay in this land” despite other daily problems, such as unemployment, that Christians face amidst a Muslim majority.