MSEILEH, Lebanon: Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urged world powers Monday to exert pressure on Israel to end its violations of Lebanese sovereignty in the air, on land, and at sea.

“We call on the international community to pressure Israel to cease its violations of Lebanese sovereignty,” Berri told a crowd of around 300 including President Michel Sleiman, Army chief Jean Kahwaji and other officials.

The speaker also turned to the subject of Hezbollah’s arms, telling the audience: “Don’t be afraid of the resistance, be afraid for the resistance.”

His remarks came ahead of a luncheon hosted by Berri for Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai at his hometown of Mseileh in south Lebanon as the patriarch wrapped up his three-day visit to south Lebanon.

Speaking at the luncheon, Rai hailed villagers of southern Lebanon who he said had “overwhelmed me with love and generosity.”

He also lauded U.N. peacekeepers serving in Lebanon as well as the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces for their “sacrifices.”

“I testify to the coexistence among all the cities, towns and villages that I visited,” Rai said.

“Southerners have turned the page on the past and opened a new page based on love and partnership,” he added.

Rai held a Mass in the border town of Rmeish before traveling to the coastal town of Mseileh.

In speeches made during his tour of the south Rai called on rival factions to engage in national dialogue in order to salvage Lebanon, and said Lebanon could not evade U.N. Security Council resolutions.