The decision by Hezbollah to hold the commemoration ceremony of its martyrs Ragheb Harb, Abbas Moussawi, and Imad Mughniyeh Tuesday at St. Joseph-Sagesse-Jdeideh School stirred a wave of tension and questions.
The school was reportedly surprised because the hall was rented for a charity event and not for holding commemoration ceremonies according to the Central News Agency CNA.
CNA reported that intensified contacts between Beirut Maronite Archbishopric Boulos Matar and some concerned sides led to containing the tension by limiting the ceremony to inside the school hall without any external manifestations such as flags, pictures, or loud speakers.
Phalange MP Sami Gemayel reportedly asked the residents of the area to practice restraint and calm and not to ignite any problem that may lead to a tense atmosphere.
“Can Phalange Party or Lebanese Forces organize a ceremony to commemorate (slain President) Bashir Gemayel in Rawdat al-Shahedein?” March 14 General-Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soaid wondered in reference to Hezbollah stronghold south of Beirut. He urged Free Patriotic Movement to convince its ally, Hezbollah, to cancel the event, especially since the church was not aware that Hezbollah planned to hold a ceremony
Mughniyeh was assassinated in Damascus on Feb 13, 2008
Moussawi was assassinated by an Israeli helicopter on February 16 1992
Harb was assassinated by the Israelis on February 16, 1984
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