Sayyed Nasrallah: Ruling bloc is punishing Lebanese, `US sent ’’Israel’’ to war `
Source: Compiled by moqawama.org, 07-05-2007
Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said that the ruling bloc headed by Fouad Saniora is punishing the people for their political choice. Sayyed Nasrallah was speaking Sunday during an interview with the Al-Alam television.
Lebanon and reconstruction
The Hizbullah chief stressed the project which the ruling bloc was engaged in has failed. "You cannot control Lebanon, you cannot keep power, you cannot crush the resistance, you cannot settle the Palestinians in Lebanon and you cannot transform Lebanon into a country subject to the American project and the American alliance in the region." Sayyed Nasrallah said that the opposition proposed referring to the people to solve the ongoing political crisis in the country. He said that the constitution says that the people are the source of authorities. "If the political powers failed to solve the crisis then let us have the people decide on it. We have proposed many solutions, however the ruling bloc is still insisting on its proposal citing they possess the majority of MPs; therefore nothing has changed in their position," Sayyed Nasrallah said.
"We could have told them that we are also a fundamental power in this country and we want partnership. However we chose to meet them half way and proposed to let the people decide. We are ready for anything including early elections. There is a problem regarding presidential election and General Michel Aoun proposed that the President be elected by the people, and uproar ensued.
We see in letting the people decide so as to solve any crisis, a very normal choice. Electing the President directly by the people is a democratic, civilized, interesting and developed idea."
Sayyed Nasrallah accused the ruling bloc of undermining referendum since it is not stated in the constitution. "Whenever the ruling bloc wants to find a way out of a crisis, they amend the constitution," he said. His eminence added that he does not insist on referendum. "I am with early elections," he said.
The leader of the resistance said that Hezbullah`s strategy is to defend south Lebanon and all of Lebanon in case of any attack.
"Frankly speaking, we are not waiting for authorization from anyone. When the government assumes its responsibility to defend the country, we will become its soldiers. We will celebrate when the occupied Shibaa Farms return to Lebanon, even if they return it with diplomatic means and I doubt this. But let it be known that in case Lebanon gains back the Farms, it will be because there is resistance in this country, not because of anyone`s smiles or tears," his eminence explained
On reconstruction, Sayyed Nasrallah said that the Waed institution has been commissioned to repair and rebuild residential units, based on a legal accreditation from the owners of these units. He added that this was done away from the media. His eminence assured that the owners will have their homes in a much better condition according to the adopted specifications. "According to the law, if I have a destroyed home, and my house is in fact destroyed, I can authorize someone to go to the Ministry of Displaced, fill the needed application and receive compensation money. However this illegal government disabled this law and therefore I have to personally go to the Ministry, fill the application and collect the money. Even though this is not in line with the law, they took this measure just to cause obstruction," Sayyed Nasrallah said. Regardless of the legitimacy of Saniora`s government, he will explain this issue on Monday. I hope that he would explain it using figures and I also hope that the people would follow these figures up. For example, let him tell us how many homes need reparation and how many are totally destroyed. Then let him tell us how he helped, as a government which has money, eight months after the end of the war. Worth mentioning that all Arab states which said they wanted to help Lebanon have fulfilled their promises and paid money to the Lebanese government. However they are keeping this money while dealing with the reconstruction file on political basis," he added.
Winograd and "Israel"
On the Winograd report, which described the handling of both the "Israeli" political and military leaderships as serious failure, Sayyed Nasrallah said that he has no doubt that the publishing of the Winograd report was curtailed.
"Who really took the decision to go to war against Lebanon? What is behind this decision? The answers are in the secret part of the Winograd report, as well as the US-"Israeli" contacts which were said to have been kept secret and US-Arab contacts and "Israeli" - Arab contacts. The testimony of Olmert and others signaled to a role, not by the Americans or by the "Israelis"; a role played by figures, groups or governments said to have taken the decision of the war and later covered it up. I am sure that if the secret part of the report were published, it would have confirmed our vision, our understanding of the occurrences of the war and how the war began. I believe that there is a deep problem in "Israel"; a problem of leadership. Knowing the problem is not enough. Are there any competent and strong leaders capable of solving these crises and problems? This is a major question,"" Sayyed Nasrallah said.
US sent "Israel" to war
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the United States had ordered the Zionist regime to invade Lebanon last summer.
The war killed over 1,000 Lebanese civilians and destroyed much of Lebanon`s infrastructure in 34 days.
The Lebanese resistance leader told Alalam in an exclusive interview that "Israel" went into war with Hizbullah to serve the US ambitions in the Middle East.
Nasrallah said the main challenge facing the Zionist regime is the lack of an intelligent leadership, stressing that "Israel" is unable to resolve its fundamental problems.
He said the recent war report by the Winograd Commission clearly indicates the failure of the Zionist regime in the Lebanon war.
Appointed by the "Israeli" government in the wake of last year`s war with Hezbollah, the Winograd Commission has published a damning report which blasts the conduct of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, war minister Amir Peretz and the former "Israeli" chief-of-staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz.
The report has resulted in a wave of political and public pressure for Olmert to resign. "Israeli" Minister-without-Portfolio Eitan Cabel resigned from the government stating "I cannot sit in a government headed by Olmert."
Nasrallah said the report must have contained secret information on collaboration between the Zionist regime and some regional states in the war against Hizbullah.
He also said that the US will fail to realize its objectives in the Middle East.
"The Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups as well as Syria and Iran have foiled the US plots in the region," he said.
Nasrallah said the US has failed to isolate Syria and had to withdraw its plans for a military showdown with Iran from its Middle East agenda. He said that Washington is now working to fuel tension among various Lebanese groups.
The US, Iraq and Iran
There is no doubt that the US administration is facing a deadlock.
Any standing in Bush`s shoes would know that he has a problem. Moving forward represents a problem and retreating back constitutes another problem.
As to striking Iran, I cannot anticipate a strike because this is unknown. There is an atmosphere of intimidations and its true that there is a psychological war. Even if a strike is being set for Iran, I believe that it would be either a delayed or a frozen step. Bush has no other option but to go back to the Baker-Hamilton report and start talking to Damascus and Tehran. If he were able to escape scheduling the American withdrawal from Iraq, then let it be. However this does not mean that Bush would not have anything else to do. I believe that the most dangerous thing the American administration will be focusing on in the next stage, is sectarian sedition inside and outside Iraq.
Progress on held soldiers
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah added there has been progress in negotiations to free two "Israeli" soldiers whose abduction by the militant group sparked a 34-day war in Lebanon last summer.
Last month, Nasrallah`s deputy said there were "serious" U.N.-mediated negotiations to secure a prisoner swap involving the captive "Israeli" soldiers. But so far there have been no results.
"It is on the way to be solved," Nasrallah said in the interview. "It`s just a matter of time."
"Israel" and Hizbullah have swapped prisoners in the past. But Hizbullah has refused to release the two "Israelis" without a deal to exchange them for Arab prisoners held by "Israel".
The July 12-Aug. 14 war between Hizbullah and "Israel" erupted when guerrillas crossed the international border, killing three "Israeli" soldiers and capturing two. "Israel" responded with a massive bombardment of Lebanon and a ground offensive, and Hizbullah lobbed several thousands rockets into "Israel".
At least 1,000 Lebanese and 119 "Israeli" soldiers were killed. In Hizbullah rocket barrages on northern "Israel", 39 settlers were killed.
No international intervention on Hariri tribunal
Nasrallah also commented on a demand by Lebanon`s pro-West parliamentary majority that the Security Council mandate an international tribunal in the February 2005 assassination of Hariri after the opposition balked at approving it. The matter has since been stalled in Parliament.
"We consider that any resolution issued by the Security Council (on the tribunal) illegitimate and illegal and has no value because it violates the Lebanese national interest," he said.
"We hope that things don`t get there."
The comments by Nasrallah amounted to a warning to the United Nations that his group could undermine the tribunal if it is created without agreement between the government and the Hizbullah-backed opposition.
The Lebanese opposition insists on receiving a veto-wielding share in a new Cabinet before any action on the tribunal.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has warned that if Lebanese parties fail to agree, the Security Council could establish the tribunal under a section of the U.N. Charter that deals with threats to international peace and security. The section, called Chapter 7, authorizes a range of measures from breaking diplomatic and trade relations to military intervention.
Azmi Bishara
Sayyed Nasrallah denied late Sunday that former Arab Knesset
member Azmi Bishara helped direct the resistance to target
missiles at occupied territories during "Israel`s" 33-day war against Lebanon. "Such accusations against Bishara are fabricated and baseless," said Sayyed Nasrallah. "We do not need to be aided by anyone, and with all due respect to Dr. Bishara, he is incapable of helping in such a mission." His eminence said that the "Israeli" government was using the accusations against Bishara to distract from its own failures in the Lebanon war.
Bishara is accused of treason for allegedly helping Hezbollah
direct missiles at "sensitive military targets" during July and
August. He has denied the charges as "unbelievable hysteria" and
accused "Israel" of political persecution.
Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said that the ruling bloc headed by Fouad Saniora is punishing the people for their political choice. Sayyed Nasrallah was speaking Sunday during an interview with the Al-Alam television.
Lebanon and reconstruction
The Hizbullah chief stressed the project which the ruling bloc was engaged in has failed. "You cannot control Lebanon, you cannot keep power, you cannot crush the resistance, you cannot settle the Palestinians in Lebanon and you cannot transform Lebanon into a country subject to the American project and the American alliance in the region." Sayyed Nasrallah said that the opposition proposed referring to the people to solve the ongoing political crisis in the country. He said that the constitution says that the people are the source of authorities. "If the political powers failed to solve the crisis then let us have the people decide on it. We have proposed many solutions, however the ruling bloc is still insisting on its proposal citing they possess the majority of MPs; therefore nothing has changed in their position," Sayyed Nasrallah said.
"We could have told them that we are also a fundamental power in this country and we want partnership. However we chose to meet them half way and proposed to let the people decide. We are ready for anything including early elections. There is a problem regarding presidential election and General Michel Aoun proposed that the President be elected by the people, and uproar ensued.
We see in letting the people decide so as to solve any crisis, a very normal choice. Electing the President directly by the people is a democratic, civilized, interesting and developed idea."
Sayyed Nasrallah accused the ruling bloc of undermining referendum since it is not stated in the constitution. "Whenever the ruling bloc wants to find a way out of a crisis, they amend the constitution," he said. His eminence added that he does not insist on referendum. "I am with early elections," he said.
The leader of the resistance said that Hezbullah`s strategy is to defend south Lebanon and all of Lebanon in case of any attack.
"Frankly speaking, we are not waiting for authorization from anyone. When the government assumes its responsibility to defend the country, we will become its soldiers. We will celebrate when the occupied Shibaa Farms return to Lebanon, even if they return it with diplomatic means and I doubt this. But let it be known that in case Lebanon gains back the Farms, it will be because there is resistance in this country, not because of anyone`s smiles or tears," his eminence explained
On reconstruction, Sayyed Nasrallah said that the Waed institution has been commissioned to repair and rebuild residential units, based on a legal accreditation from the owners of these units. He added that this was done away from the media. His eminence assured that the owners will have their homes in a much better condition according to the adopted specifications. "According to the law, if I have a destroyed home, and my house is in fact destroyed, I can authorize someone to go to the Ministry of Displaced, fill the needed application and receive compensation money. However this illegal government disabled this law and therefore I have to personally go to the Ministry, fill the application and collect the money. Even though this is not in line with the law, they took this measure just to cause obstruction," Sayyed Nasrallah said. Regardless of the legitimacy of Saniora`s government, he will explain this issue on Monday. I hope that he would explain it using figures and I also hope that the people would follow these figures up. For example, let him tell us how many homes need reparation and how many are totally destroyed. Then let him tell us how he helped, as a government which has money, eight months after the end of the war. Worth mentioning that all Arab states which said they wanted to help Lebanon have fulfilled their promises and paid money to the Lebanese government. However they are keeping this money while dealing with the reconstruction file on political basis," he added.
Winograd and "Israel"
On the Winograd report, which described the handling of both the "Israeli" political and military leaderships as serious failure, Sayyed Nasrallah said that he has no doubt that the publishing of the Winograd report was curtailed.
"Who really took the decision to go to war against Lebanon? What is behind this decision? The answers are in the secret part of the Winograd report, as well as the US-"Israeli" contacts which were said to have been kept secret and US-Arab contacts and "Israeli" - Arab contacts. The testimony of Olmert and others signaled to a role, not by the Americans or by the "Israelis"; a role played by figures, groups or governments said to have taken the decision of the war and later covered it up. I am sure that if the secret part of the report were published, it would have confirmed our vision, our understanding of the occurrences of the war and how the war began. I believe that there is a deep problem in "Israel"; a problem of leadership. Knowing the problem is not enough. Are there any competent and strong leaders capable of solving these crises and problems? This is a major question,"" Sayyed Nasrallah said.
US sent "Israel" to war
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the United States had ordered the Zionist regime to invade Lebanon last summer.
The war killed over 1,000 Lebanese civilians and destroyed much of Lebanon`s infrastructure in 34 days.
The Lebanese resistance leader told Alalam in an exclusive interview that "Israel" went into war with Hizbullah to serve the US ambitions in the Middle East.
Nasrallah said the main challenge facing the Zionist regime is the lack of an intelligent leadership, stressing that "Israel" is unable to resolve its fundamental problems.
He said the recent war report by the Winograd Commission clearly indicates the failure of the Zionist regime in the Lebanon war.
Appointed by the "Israeli" government in the wake of last year`s war with Hezbollah, the Winograd Commission has published a damning report which blasts the conduct of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, war minister Amir Peretz and the former "Israeli" chief-of-staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz.
The report has resulted in a wave of political and public pressure for Olmert to resign. "Israeli" Minister-without-Portfolio Eitan Cabel resigned from the government stating "I cannot sit in a government headed by Olmert."
Nasrallah said the report must have contained secret information on collaboration between the Zionist regime and some regional states in the war against Hizbullah.
He also said that the US will fail to realize its objectives in the Middle East.
"The Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups as well as Syria and Iran have foiled the US plots in the region," he said.
Nasrallah said the US has failed to isolate Syria and had to withdraw its plans for a military showdown with Iran from its Middle East agenda. He said that Washington is now working to fuel tension among various Lebanese groups.
The US, Iraq and Iran
There is no doubt that the US administration is facing a deadlock.
Any standing in Bush`s shoes would know that he has a problem. Moving forward represents a problem and retreating back constitutes another problem.
As to striking Iran, I cannot anticipate a strike because this is unknown. There is an atmosphere of intimidations and its true that there is a psychological war. Even if a strike is being set for Iran, I believe that it would be either a delayed or a frozen step. Bush has no other option but to go back to the Baker-Hamilton report and start talking to Damascus and Tehran. If he were able to escape scheduling the American withdrawal from Iraq, then let it be. However this does not mean that Bush would not have anything else to do. I believe that the most dangerous thing the American administration will be focusing on in the next stage, is sectarian sedition inside and outside Iraq.
Progress on held soldiers
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah added there has been progress in negotiations to free two "Israeli" soldiers whose abduction by the militant group sparked a 34-day war in Lebanon last summer.
Last month, Nasrallah`s deputy said there were "serious" U.N.-mediated negotiations to secure a prisoner swap involving the captive "Israeli" soldiers. But so far there have been no results.
"It is on the way to be solved," Nasrallah said in the interview. "It`s just a matter of time."
"Israel" and Hizbullah have swapped prisoners in the past. But Hizbullah has refused to release the two "Israelis" without a deal to exchange them for Arab prisoners held by "Israel".
The July 12-Aug. 14 war between Hizbullah and "Israel" erupted when guerrillas crossed the international border, killing three "Israeli" soldiers and capturing two. "Israel" responded with a massive bombardment of Lebanon and a ground offensive, and Hizbullah lobbed several thousands rockets into "Israel".
At least 1,000 Lebanese and 119 "Israeli" soldiers were killed. In Hizbullah rocket barrages on northern "Israel", 39 settlers were killed.
No international intervention on Hariri tribunal
Nasrallah also commented on a demand by Lebanon`s pro-West parliamentary majority that the Security Council mandate an international tribunal in the February 2005 assassination of Hariri after the opposition balked at approving it. The matter has since been stalled in Parliament.
"We consider that any resolution issued by the Security Council (on the tribunal) illegitimate and illegal and has no value because it violates the Lebanese national interest," he said.
"We hope that things don`t get there."
The comments by Nasrallah amounted to a warning to the United Nations that his group could undermine the tribunal if it is created without agreement between the government and the Hizbullah-backed opposition.
The Lebanese opposition insists on receiving a veto-wielding share in a new Cabinet before any action on the tribunal.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has warned that if Lebanese parties fail to agree, the Security Council could establish the tribunal under a section of the U.N. Charter that deals with threats to international peace and security. The section, called Chapter 7, authorizes a range of measures from breaking diplomatic and trade relations to military intervention.
Azmi Bishara
Sayyed Nasrallah denied late Sunday that former Arab Knesset
member Azmi Bishara helped direct the resistance to target
missiles at occupied territories during "Israel`s" 33-day war against Lebanon. "Such accusations against Bishara are fabricated and baseless," said Sayyed Nasrallah. "We do not need to be aided by anyone, and with all due respect to Dr. Bishara, he is incapable of helping in such a mission." His eminence said that the "Israeli" government was using the accusations against Bishara to distract from its own failures in the Lebanon war.
Bishara is accused of treason for allegedly helping Hezbollah
direct missiles at "sensitive military targets" during July and
August. He has denied the charges as "unbelievable hysteria" and
accused "Israel" of political persecution.
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