Mariam Zreik

On the beat of martyrdom, wounds, and the stands of challenge made by the detainees in Zionist detention centers was the liberation of May. Its spring breeze tickled every freedom lover all around the world; and it was a storming wind of humiliation for every collaborator and supporter of the enemy's entity or even neutral people. The Zionists and their collaborators were withdrawn on the 25th of this month in 2000.

They were chased by the cheering calls of resistance fighters upon storming into each of their positions, deafening their ears. They left behind all their military equipment and ammunition and a humiliating image in the memory of a sacrificing people. They fled, and with that, the land of the south and West Bekaa was freed. The detainees in "Khiam Detention Center" were set free. However, the "Israeli" enemy - stupid as they are - kept their hand on Shebaa Farms and Lebanese heroes as detainees in prisons within the entity....

Not far away from the liberated villages in the Secretive Facility "1391" to the north of Occupied Palestine, the mornings of these days murmured in the ears of Sheikh Abdul Karim Obeid and Hajj Abu Ali Mustafa Al Dirani that the sun of freedom will rise soon. The resistance men are at the proximity of the borders of the holy land.

"We were following the events of the days of liberation on the TV screen. We would rejoice with the scenes of return of residents and the footages of the detainees as they break the chains of detention in Khiam", says Sheikh Obeid recalling that stage and its chapters which are still carved in his memory as the 23rd of May of that year waved the good tidings of freedom.

As for his companion in prison - Hajj Abu Ali Mustafa Al Dirani, May for him holds special secrets and concepts. With the first days of freedom - on the 21st of that month - Al Dirani wrote on the walls of his cell a sign marking his sixth year of detention that followed his kidnapping on the night of Eid Al Adha in 1994.
"The matching days were a nice coincidence for him: the day of the beginning of his detention coincides with the day of the beginning of the land liberation written with blood, wounds, and sufferings," says Hajj Dirani. Perhaps that connotes that no matter how much a tyrant was brutal, his defeat would be dyed with multiples of humiliation and shame. That had been clear on the wake of the withdrawal of the Zionists from the south.

On the morn of May 25th, as the masses were celebrating victory, Sheikh Obeid and Hajj Abu Ali were facing the "provocation" of the Zionist judge and lawyer in the military court with their patience and faith in Allah first and with their trust in the Resistance second: "Strange enough you were not freed by the liberation!"

"It is not that the Zionists decided to flee from Lebanon," asserts Abu Sajed, "Ehud Barak's electoral campaign at that time was under the slogan of withdrawing from Lebanon; he was not to win the elections was it not for giving promises of withdrawing." Sheikh Obeid makes clear that "the Zionists have their own considerations when it comes to the balances of political and military forces". For them, their interest is the first priority. The victory of May was the result of the pressure exerted by the "Israeli" community on the politicians following the repetitive casualties in souls especially in their confrontations with the Resistance.

In this framework, Hajj Mustafa talks about the "Four Mothers" "Israeli" organization that did not spare knocking any door begging for stances that support the governmental decision to withdraw from Lebanon, as they were tired, heavily burdened, and full of fear from the hits of the fighters. Each of their soldier sons who would go to the battlefield with Hizbullah is viewed as "missed", and when he returns, he is viewed as "born again" and is welcomed with flowers by his parents.

Unknowingly, the Zionist media played a great role in the process of pressuring the politicians at that time as it showed the extent of the authenticity of the Resistance and its leader contrary to the alleged claims of their leaders about victory and the advance of the militants.

At that time and on the eve of the victory, their media was broadcasting footages for soldiers on the ground weeping and wailing. "This made Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah a faithful source whose speeches are never seen as controversial," explains Sheikh Obeid.

On the other side of the border is a Resistance which is growing stronger and stronger. It owns the elements of force which is manifested by a resisting society too - a firm society determined to achieve victory," says Abu Ali.

All the above made a fertile ground for the victory of May. However, what was to come next? What about the detainees in the prisons?

"Our determination was renewed following the victory, though despair had always lost its way to our souls," asserts Hajj Abu Ali. He adds saying: "However, we have always believed that our liberation can't be at the expense of our enmity to the Zionists, as we have always known that our cause is fair and rightful in face of a spiteful oppressive enemy."

The promise of the Resistance was much closer than our expectations. "The victory of 2000 virtually paved the way to our liberation from "Israeli" detention," says Sheikh Obeid, "The sun of September of that year penetrated the fog of oppression and tyranny: The Resistance kidnapped enemy soldiers in Shebaa Farms."

"That was a turning point," says Dirani recalling the heartbeats of that moment when he and Sheikh Obeid heard that piece of news on the TV screen.

Few moments passed before the blind grudge of the enemy surfaced coupled with their fear; they rushed to stop the TV broadcast in the prison for a whole week," says Abu Sajed as they feared even the feelings of pride and dignity that filled the brothers in resistance and patience following that news.

As such the good tidings of May were conveyed by September to Palestine. Three years passed followed by three months, and the promise of the near freedom was fulfilled. "We were performing sunset prayers on Saturday 24/1/2004, when we heard a sign from the prisoners of the adjacent cells to the effect that there is a piece of news which we have to follow on TV screens: The negotiations between Hizbullah and the enemy via the German mediator had taken a positive track," narrates Sheikh Obeid.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah appeared the following day on TV screens holding a press conference. Hajj Abu Ali Dirani recalls saying: "We tried to connect to Al Manar to get acquainted with the procedures of the press conference, and we could one way or another."

The Secretary General professed the good tidings, announcing that the negotiations had worked out. However, he warned: "We are accustomed to the betrayal of the enemy who disavow their oaths always". Things took place pursuant to the agreement. Routine steps separated Sheikh Obeid and Al Dirani and the other detainees - Lebanese and Arabs - from the moment of freedom.

"When we arrived at Germany, and there on the gate of the airplane when the Zionist soldier unlocked my handcuffs, and I was about to climb down the stairs, I realized that I was freed and that though I am before him, he cannot touch my freedom," says Sheikh Obeid as he inhales the breezes of freedom deep into his lungs again.

On the eve of Thursday (29/1/2004), the wheels of the German plane touched the plane route of Beirut Airport. They emerged from it breathing the fragrance of victory from the very first beginnings, passing through the Day of the Resistance and Liberation, until reaching their liberation along with the other prisoners from detention.

"The view of welcoming the detainees along the road extending from the airport until reaching Sayyed Ashuhadaa (pbuh) Complex in Beirut Southern Suburb then was more like one of the liberation festivals witnessed by the villages and towns in 2000 marking the great achievement made by the Resistance," says Al Dirani recalling even the minute details of that day.

"O my brethrens! O revolutionists! You are like sea waves. If you stop, you cease to be," echoed Hajj Dirani today on the anniversary of Resistance and Liberation still keeping in his heart words for absenteed Sayyed Moussa Sader which have always been taken by the resistance men - along with other eternal words for Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenai and other martyr scholars such as Sheikh Ragheb Harb and Sayyed Abbass Mussawi - as icons they hold high in the path of jihad and martyrdom.

All through times, the route of freedom was paved with sacrifices. Today too, it is as such against the enemies of humanity - the Zionists and the Takfiris and all those backing them say Sheikh Obeid and Hajj Dirani as they assert move along in confronting them, stressing that the victory of May was but the beginning and the end will absolutely bring along dignity and victory for these offering sacrifices on the altar of freedom.

Source: al-Ahed news