A new Christmas tree has been installed in the square of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Tripoli's Zahiriya region. It is meant to replace the first tree, which was completely burnt down by flames caused by a Molotov cocktail thrown at it by unknown assailants at dawn on Sunday. The reinstallation of the Christmas tree was entirely financed by the Al-Tawarek ("Emergencies") Foundation, which was behind the initiative.
The incident was denounced by many political and religious leaders in the region as a "suspicious act" damaging Tripoli's image. In a statement, Tripoli MP Elie Khoury said the city would "remain the city of peace" and coexistence. He stressed that he had been following the case closely and had made the necessary contacts with the parties concerned to ensure that the Christmas tree would be once again installed in the square.
Achraf Rifi, member of Parliament for the region, called for the “apprehension of troublemakers who operate at night.” “They are fools who know nothing of the values of divine holidays,” he wrote on his X account. “They don’t belong to Tripoli, which is proud of its diversity and moderation. The Christmas tree is a symbol of fraternity, peace and joy. It will remain in Tripoli as long as the followers of faith and wisdom constitute the majority.”
Misbah Ahdab, former MP for Tripoli, asserted that Lebanon cannot be built without "coexistence." "We have repeatedly warned against mercenaries who sow fear in Tripoli and want to damage civil peace in the city," he wrote on his X account.
President of the Tripoli municipal council Ahmad Kamareddine called the act "a crime against Tripolitans" and an attempt to "damage the image of the city of science and its pioneering role throughout history."
Maya Habib Hafez, president of the Al-Tawarek Foundation, which installed the first tree, pointed out that a "fifth column is working to create an atmosphere that is out of character with Tripolitans, who are committed to living together. They will not succeed in tarnishing the city's image," she insisted.
Habib Hafez affirmed that the foundation will continue to light up the Christmas tree in Tripoli, as it has done since 2017.
The incident was denounced by many political and religious leaders in the region as a "suspicious act" damaging Tripoli's image. In a statement, Tripoli MP Elie Khoury said the city would "remain the city of peace" and coexistence. He stressed that he had been following the case closely and had made the necessary contacts with the parties concerned to ensure that the Christmas tree would be once again installed in the square.
Achraf Rifi, member of Parliament for the region, called for the “apprehension of troublemakers who operate at night.” “They are fools who know nothing of the values of divine holidays,” he wrote on his X account. “They don’t belong to Tripoli, which is proud of its diversity and moderation. The Christmas tree is a symbol of fraternity, peace and joy. It will remain in Tripoli as long as the followers of faith and wisdom constitute the majority.”
Misbah Ahdab, former MP for Tripoli, asserted that Lebanon cannot be built without "coexistence." "We have repeatedly warned against mercenaries who sow fear in Tripoli and want to damage civil peace in the city," he wrote on his X account.
President of the Tripoli municipal council Ahmad Kamareddine called the act "a crime against Tripolitans" and an attempt to "damage the image of the city of science and its pioneering role throughout history."
Maya Habib Hafez, president of the Al-Tawarek Foundation, which installed the first tree, pointed out that a "fifth column is working to create an atmosphere that is out of character with Tripolitans, who are committed to living together. They will not succeed in tarnishing the city's image," she insisted.
Habib Hafez affirmed that the foundation will continue to light up the Christmas tree in Tripoli, as it has done since 2017.
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