Nasrallah challenges critics of Hizbullah to prove their loyalty on 26-11-2005
source: Daily Star, 26-11-2005.
summary: BEIRUT: Those who question Hizbullah`s loyalty to Lebanon must show their credentials first, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday in his toughest response yet to critics who believe the resistance acts upon Syrian and Iranian orders. Nasrallah was speaking to a mass rally in Beirut`s southern suburbs, gathered for a funeral procession for the three resistance fighters killed during Monday`s clashes with "Israeli" troops.
"While encouraging dialogue and discussion," the cleric stressed "the resistance will not tolerate being named a traitor or an agent for foreign countries."
"Hizbullah appreciates the different points of views over many Lebanese internal issues and invites all parties for a dialogue," he said. "But before we hold a dialogue with someone, we will ask, `Who are you and what have you done for Lebanon? What are your relations with embassies and ambassadors? What are your relations with "Israel" and Western countries?`"
Nasrallah emphasized that Hizbullah values its friendships with Damascus and Tehran, calling on the Lebanese people to do the same because the resistance`s ties with the two capitals have benefited Lebanon and "freed it from occupation."
"Hizbullah`s orders do not come from Damascus, or Tehran; they come from Beirut," he said.
According to Nasrallah, Hizbullah has a duty to try to capture "Israeli" soldiers and swap them for Arab prisoners in "Israel".
"Our experience with the "Israelis" shows that if you want to regain detainees or prisoners ... you have to capture "Israeli" soldiers," he said.
"It is not a shame, a crime or a terrorist act. It is our right and our duty which one day we might fulfil," Nasrallah asserted to thunderous chants of "death to "Israel"."
Addressing those who may be worried about such continued attempts, he suggested ""Israel" release all prisoners and foil this threat."
Unfazed by a statement released Thursday by the UN Security Council for this week`s violence along the border, Nasrallah criticized the Council for failing to condemn continuous "Israeli" violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
"The resistance exerted great constraints on its fighters not to be provoked by the "Israeli" violations, just to wait for an international reaction or condemnation," Nasrallah said, "But nothing happened."
He further said "Israel" and the international community do not care for Arab and Lebanese prisoners or detainees.
Nasrallah said the resistance`s attacks on Monday came in response to repeated "Israeli" violations and intrusions into Lebanon that had intensified in the last few weeks.
""Israeli" experts and political analysts had wrongly concluded Hizbullah was in its weakest state following the dramatic changes over the last few months," Nasrallah said. "The latest clashes were meant to be very harsh, to send a message that Hizbullah is stronger than before and that the "Israelis" betting on the internal differences were mere illusions."
The cleric stressed that Hizbullah remains "steadfast in its course" against "Israel", liberating occupied Lebanese territory and defending the country`s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in reference to the occupied Shibaa Farms.
"Despite all events since September 11, 2001, until the occupation of Iraq and the Syrian troop withdrawal, Hizbullah remains the same - dedicated to sacrifice for the country and never losing its direction," he said.
Tens of thousands of supporters, including families of the slain guerrillas and top Hizbullah officials, were present as the procession of coffins was showered with rice and flowers in celebration.
"Israel" had handed the bodies over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Naquora, who passed them on to Hizbullah.
The three coffins were wrapped in Hizbullah`s yellow flags and brought into the hall as thousands of supporters chanted "death to "Israel"; death to America."
A brass band played Lebanese and Hizbullah anthems as comrades saluted their fallen comrades.
The bodies will remain in Beirut until Saturday when Hizbullah and the families will bury them in their respective villages in Bekaa and the South.
summary: BEIRUT: Those who question Hizbullah`s loyalty to Lebanon must show their credentials first, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday in his toughest response yet to critics who believe the resistance acts upon Syrian and Iranian orders. Nasrallah was speaking to a mass rally in Beirut`s southern suburbs, gathered for a funeral procession for the three resistance fighters killed during Monday`s clashes with "Israeli" troops.
"While encouraging dialogue and discussion," the cleric stressed "the resistance will not tolerate being named a traitor or an agent for foreign countries."
"Hizbullah appreciates the different points of views over many Lebanese internal issues and invites all parties for a dialogue," he said. "But before we hold a dialogue with someone, we will ask, `Who are you and what have you done for Lebanon? What are your relations with embassies and ambassadors? What are your relations with "Israel" and Western countries?`"
Nasrallah emphasized that Hizbullah values its friendships with Damascus and Tehran, calling on the Lebanese people to do the same because the resistance`s ties with the two capitals have benefited Lebanon and "freed it from occupation."
"Hizbullah`s orders do not come from Damascus, or Tehran; they come from Beirut," he said.
According to Nasrallah, Hizbullah has a duty to try to capture "Israeli" soldiers and swap them for Arab prisoners in "Israel".
"Our experience with the "Israelis" shows that if you want to regain detainees or prisoners ... you have to capture "Israeli" soldiers," he said.
"It is not a shame, a crime or a terrorist act. It is our right and our duty which one day we might fulfil," Nasrallah asserted to thunderous chants of "death to "Israel"."
Addressing those who may be worried about such continued attempts, he suggested ""Israel" release all prisoners and foil this threat."
Unfazed by a statement released Thursday by the UN Security Council for this week`s violence along the border, Nasrallah criticized the Council for failing to condemn continuous "Israeli" violations of Lebanese sovereignty.
"The resistance exerted great constraints on its fighters not to be provoked by the "Israeli" violations, just to wait for an international reaction or condemnation," Nasrallah said, "But nothing happened."
He further said "Israel" and the international community do not care for Arab and Lebanese prisoners or detainees.
Nasrallah said the resistance`s attacks on Monday came in response to repeated "Israeli" violations and intrusions into Lebanon that had intensified in the last few weeks.
""Israeli" experts and political analysts had wrongly concluded Hizbullah was in its weakest state following the dramatic changes over the last few months," Nasrallah said. "The latest clashes were meant to be very harsh, to send a message that Hizbullah is stronger than before and that the "Israelis" betting on the internal differences were mere illusions."
The cleric stressed that Hizbullah remains "steadfast in its course" against "Israel", liberating occupied Lebanese territory and defending the country`s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in reference to the occupied Shibaa Farms.
"Despite all events since September 11, 2001, until the occupation of Iraq and the Syrian troop withdrawal, Hizbullah remains the same - dedicated to sacrifice for the country and never losing its direction," he said.
Tens of thousands of supporters, including families of the slain guerrillas and top Hizbullah officials, were present as the procession of coffins was showered with rice and flowers in celebration.
"Israel" had handed the bodies over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Naquora, who passed them on to Hizbullah.
The three coffins were wrapped in Hizbullah`s yellow flags and brought into the hall as thousands of supporters chanted "death to "Israel"; death to America."
A brass band played Lebanese and Hizbullah anthems as comrades saluted their fallen comrades.
The bodies will remain in Beirut until Saturday when Hizbullah and the families will bury them in their respective villages in Bekaa and the South.
