Sayyed Nasrallah on the 9th anniversary of the Resistance and Liberation of Baalbek: the opposition to build a strong state & army, "Israel" is afraid of our victory in the elections

Hizbullah organized a massive festival to mark the 9th Anniversary of the Resistance and Liberation in Marjet Ras al-Ain - Baalbek at five thirty this Friday afternoon 29/5/2009. The Secretary General of Hizbullah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's address was broadcast on a giant screen. This is its full text:

I seek refuge in God from Satan, the accursed. In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate; praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds; may the peace and blessings of God be upon our Lord and Prophet, the seal of the prophets Abu el-Kassem Muhammad Bin Abdullah and his good and chaste family members, righteous companions, and all the Apostles and messengers.

Dear honorable religious authorities, brothers and sisters... peace and God's mercy and blessings upon you all.

At the outset, I wish to address you our folk and families, our dear people in the Bekaa, especially in Baalbek-Hermel region. I congratulate you on the 9th anniversary of the Resistance and Liberation Day. This Day that you fully contributed in achieving and this resistance that you spearheaded be it in founding it or in sacrificing in its ranks, and in embracing it, this Day is yours par excellence. This noble and dignified region of Lebanon formed a launch pad of the resistance from the very first day through its people, mountains and valleys, in which the first core of the party of resistance-Hizbullah was formed in Baalbek city, in the Imam Montazar hawza (pbuh) in the bosom, guardianship, care and paternal supervision of our great teacher, leader and guide His Eminence Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi (may God be pleased with his soul.)

In a very fast pace, the Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel embraced everyone who migrated to it from south Lebanon, Western Bekaa and Rashayya, Beirut's southern suburb and Mount Lebanon after the Zionists had occupied them.

The Bekaa opened its heart and arms, and so recruitment, training, arming and rehabilitating stations were established... and the resistance rose.

This region's participation was not only logistic or limited to this embracing, but its sons have sacrificed and fought in the Western Bekaa, in Rashayya until [liberation was achieved in] 2000. They also fought in the Dahiyeh, in Beirut and in south Lebanon, even after the "Israelis" withdrew to the security zone.

You have offered martyrs and bore the burdens of the resistance since its first days until now when your sons are still in its ranks. During the 2006 war, your brothers and sons were fighting in the battlefield, in Ayta Shaab, Bint Jubail, and Maroun el-Raas and on all the frontlines.

Your regions used to be bombarded because it is a region of resistance and not because it supports and embraces the resistance or because it is a rear base for it.

We all remember the bombing that led to the martyrdom of many of your loved ones in Imam Sadr city along the road to Baalbek, and in ‘Sayyar Darak', ‘Janta', the hills surrounding Baalbek city, in Khawam centre, and the many locations inside the city and the rest of the Bekaa region.

Sacrifice reached its peak when the Bekaa partnered the south in the harsh and savage destruction and displacement of residents suffered by both regions during the July war. You could have said you have nothing to do with this battle, or that the then occupied south or the border zone after 1985 (Bint Jbail, Hasbayya, Jezzine, Shibaa, Kafr Shouba and Naqourah) was far away from Baalbek and the Bekaa-Hermel (Zahleh and its surroundings, your villages) but you did not-this is something everyone must know.

Throughout history there is the Mujahideen front and the front of the seated.
The seated always found excuses, reasons and even `fatwas` (religious edict or opinion that gives legitimacy to certain conduct or practice). You could have said you live in a deprived and neglected region or you could have found yourselves other excuses, but you did not.

I hereby bare witness in front of God and for history that: before and after 1982, and throughout the years of your embracing of this resistance, the party of resistance and Hizbullah... you acted with a clear background of faith, ethics and patriotism...that you looked at the homeland in its entirety, that you embarked from the very essence ...God Almighty made you, gallantry, noble-mindedness, faith and from your love of God's prophets, and for your love of Mohammad and his chaste household...

You stood up, resisted, endured and fulfilled your duty, but you did not wait for anyone in this world - even in Lebanon - to support you, you resisted and bore the hardship of resistance, just like those who had faith in the resistance and embraced it; you did not wait for national consensus, although we would have loved such consensus to take place.

Since the very beginning, there was no national consensus on the resistance. I would like to bring to mind that there was never a resistance movement in the world in ancient or modern history that enjoyed national consensus. Whenever an enemy occupied a country, people became divided between resistance fighters, the seated, the disheartening, collaborators and wagers on non-resistance choices.

Since the beginning the resistance did not enjoy national consensus and therefore did not lose national consensus, because you cannot lose what you don't have.

When someone now makes the claim that the resistance lost national consensus because of internal policy, we say ‘Even before Hizbullah entered internal politics was there national consensus in 1982, '85, after '85, in 2000, or after 2000?'

There are political forces in Lebanon from 1982 till today that have not issued a single statement or stand that backs, supports, or at least sympathizes with the resistance!

There never was national consensus though that would be preferable.

Nonetheless, there was a very wide popular embrace by all the patriots and all who believe in Lebanon...those who believes in its dignity, honor and its sovereignty.

I would like to ask here, ‘how can Lebanon come first (as is the claim by some politicians) yet no one makes a move when "Israel" is violating its airspace every day?!'

How can Lebanon come first, and the Shibaa Farms and the Kafar Shouba Hills are still occupied?

How can Lebanon come first, and it is still in the circle of danger and threats, at a time we are not taking real action to confront this?

1-The Bekaa and the resistance
Since the beginning the resistance was embraced by its folk, you were its folk and the first to have embraced it.

Despite the government's abandoning you, you did not abandon your duty toward your homeland.

Despite the greed of consecutive governments depriving you your much needed water, you in your generosity offered your blood for the country...

This is your Day brothers and sisters.

This is the Day of the families of the martyrs, the injured, the liberated detainees and the owners of destroyed homes...

This is your Day because among you is the memory and spirit of martyrs Sayyed Abbas Moussawi, his wife Um Yasser and their child Hussein and all the martyrs.
This is the Day of all the martyrs of this resistance that you took part in founding and launching as well as in its path, victories, sacrifices and challenges... and today this resistance faces new and serious challenges.

Here I would like to remind again, as has become my habit, of the titles in today's speech:
1. The Bekaa and the resistance
2. The current and forthcoming challenges of the resistance and our responsibilities toward it.
3. The Bekaa and the State
4. The elections in a few days time on June 7.

O People of the resistance, your resistance was and still is facing major serious challenges that prompt us to assume great responsibilities.

Following the 25 May, 2000 victory, whose 9th victory we revive today, the Zionists have worked on a new strategy which was frequently declared by former Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom.

He said that "Israel" will work on placing the whole international community will be put in the opposition of Hizbullah. He also said that "Israel" will work on issuing international resolutions to put an end to Hizbullah and establish it as a terrorist organization.

The Zionists exerted massive efforts. Some countries responded to the Zionists and listed Hizbullah on their terror lists like the United States and after year 2000, other countries responded to "Israeli" efforts and did the same, such as Holland, however other countries like France refused this notion.

There are countries that had also refused the terrorist notion from the beginning like the United Kingdom but established something it calls the Foreign Security Section to which it recently added something it called the 'military wing.'

The Zionist lobby spared no effort to convince world governments to list Hizbullah on their terror organizations lists. This is not an analysis; this is what Shalom had admitted to. He also admitted that UNSCR 1559 was made by "Israel" in the United Nations.

Some of the Lebanese may have contributed in issuing this resolution, whether they were aware of it or not. I do not wish to charge anyone with treason, but interests had intersected and eventually led to this resolution.

But Shalom acknowledges that this is an "Israeli"-made resolution in the first place. Pressuring the resistance was followed by the 9/11 events, the occupation of Afghanistan, the occupation of Iraq, the assassination of martyr Rafik Hariri, the pullout of Syrian forces from Lebanon and the general elections that followed which brought the current political bloc at the helm of rule.

Ever since, and despite our quadripartite alliance, our openness and our cooperation, the focus of this bloc has been on the arms of the resistance.

The resistance was been pressured by two choices, one spoke about disarming the resistance the other handing over its arms.

The only difference among them was in the choice of two notions. One was to 'Disarm', to take the resistance weapon through the use of force, as some wanted. Others did not talk about disarming, because they know the resistance can never be disarmed by force, so they started to raise the notion of handing Hizbullah's arms to the state.

We were placed face to face with disarming as a matter-of-fact from year 2005 regardless of who we sat with Lebanese politicians and foreign delegations... All they ever discussed was 'the resistance weapons' as if there was no problem in Lebanon but the arms of the resistance.

As if there was no economic problem, no financial problem, no social or living standard problems and no deprived regions.

As if Lebanon was in a good state, and as if the problem of the $40 to $50 billion debt did not exist, the detainees in "Israeli" jails and daily violation of the Lebanese sovereignty were not there.

To them there was no problem in Lebanon but the arms of the resistance that liberated Lebanon and defended it against the 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

Pressure, discussions and efforts were funnuled into one subject; this was one of the most serious errors committed by the other political team the ruling political bloc in the recent phase.

I used to tell that ruling political bloc 'solve the problems of the people of deprivation and neglect, make them feel safe and that you are a responsible government... consolidate the army and then assail the arms of the resistance; you will find all the people with you against us.'

And as we heard in the recent few days about pledges that had been given back then, to resolve the subject of weapons, whether through use of force or dialogue... that issue is another discussion all together.

But it seems that they had limited time within which to achieve this objective.

On the other hand, we called for dialogue and for a 'national defensive strategy'-a term introduced by Hizbullah-for Lebanon, and this was mentioned in our understanding with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM). We invited them to come to a dialogue.

Throughout the past years, we sensed that some sides did not give heed to ways to protect this country, to liberate the remaining occupied lands, to release the rest of the detainees from "Israeli" jails and to confront the daily violation of Lebanon's sovereignty. All they care about is how to disarm this resistance...But should the resistance be disarmed, what happens next did not matter to them at all!

This is the same mentality that left Lebanon exposed for decades, the mentality of refusing to answer the question of how to protect Lebanon and the Lebanese?
How to defend Lebanon and its sovereignty?
How to preserver Lebanon and its water resources?

The answer was always 'Lebanon's strength is in its weakness!'

Hence, the occupations, invasions repeated abuse of Lebanon, a situation that reached a stage when "Israelis" ridiculed us in 1967 when the "Israeli" chief of staff was asked: You have designated different divisions and parts of your army to fight each of Syria, Jordan, Egypt the West Bank and Gaza, what about Lebanon, you have not designated a division, platoon or a regiment there, nothing?
His reply was '(invading) Lebanon only needs a military orchestra.'

What has made Lebanon strong, ready and undaunted to confront not just a military orchestra, but the "Israeli" army's five divisions, even all its divisions and... is you and your resistance, not the logic of weakness and feebleness or the logic of ostriches that hide their heads in the ground.

We never get replies. No problem.

We came under implicit threats and psychological warfare, under tremendous pressure. Yet we held on to our right, our faith, our way, and our arms.

When political efforts failed, the 2006 war was waged on us with the aim to crush the resistance and the popular base that embraces it; however this war also failed with the help of God and your steadfastness, sacrifices, as well as the bravery of our fighters.

After the July war, we went back to square one. They returned to raising the issue of disarming the resistance, as if there were no other problems caused by the 2006 war, the inflictions on Lebanon, all the regional developments, all the internal Lebanese issues and political crisis did not exist. To some the only problem that existed was the resistance weapons.

"Israel" acknowledged its defeat three years ago and embarked on tackling its mistakes and defects. For three years, "Israel" has been training, conducting maneuvers, and in a few days time it will hold maneuvers at a level involving the entire entity. It is arming itself and procuring more modern fighter jets when it has plenty of them.

"Israel" is working on restoring its broken image and strength. On the other hand, for the past three years, the resistance that defeated "Israel" has been engaged in arguments and discussions with those who are demanding it lays down its arms.

Where is the logic in this? How can this be fair? "Israel" prepares itself and strengthens its weakness while Lebanon is not taking concrete action to strengthen the army and arming it, or even to adopt a defensive strategy, to the contrary, we are working on eliminating the element of strength the resistance that achieved victory in the 2006 war.

Let's speak responsibly.

We (the resistance) have been calling for building a strong state and we will be very relieved to have a strong state. But who is ready to finance and arm the Lebanese army? After all these experiences, we all know that the US and the West as well as the vast majority of the world are not willing to arm the Lebanese army against "Israel."

Their justification is that the weapons will reach Hizbullah is ridiculous, is a practical joke. Hizbullah has enough weapons that can destroy the "Israeli" army's divisions does not need the weapons that the US will give to anyone in Lebanon.

The real reason is that the US does not consent to giving the Lebanese army weapons to fight "Israel." The same goes for other countries.

Even the Russian initiative, by the way we did not comment in the past on the Russian present, but what can its present of 10 MIG fighters change in the equation?

You wouldn't go to buy fighter jets because there is no possibility of creating a balance of power against "Israel" on that level, instead you would go buy air defense systems. Those who really want a strong army in Lebanon, they would arm it with air defense system, weapons against tanks and armored vehicles, long and medium range missiles, to create a balance of power. Other than that the army cannot protect the country in the face of an army with the strength of "Israel's."

So, who is ready to arm the Lebanese army? Vote for the opposition and then I will tell you who.

For instance, did the Lebanese government ask for weapons, rockets and capabilities from Syria and it said no? No.

I followed up on President Suleiman's visit to Iran. True, Iran did not offer arms to Lebanon and will not offer. But until this moment, Lebanon did not ask for weapons from Iran. It is not logical for Iran to offer. It has been under constant accusation of interference without having offered weapons. How would it look if it did make an offer to the Lebanese army?

They would have said that Tehran wants to push Lebanon into war and include it in the Syrian-Iranian axis through arming the national army.

This is why no one should wait for Iran to offer arms, however any Lebanese government in the future that goes to Iran and says to the leadership of Iran: 'we are a country targeted by "Israel". We want a strong army. No country is arming us and that we want the necessary weapons-the "necessary" weapons!'

The few tanks, few cannons and trucks brought to us by US Vice President Biden; what are they good for?

Should Lebanon ask Iran for weapons, we will see what the Islamic Republic's response would be. Will it help Lebanon or not? I know the answer but I will not say it; you all know it. I know that the Islamic Republic in Iran, Imam Khamenei in particular, will not withhold anything that could render Lebanon a strong and honorable country, without preconditions...no preconditions at all.

I tell you this: if the opposition alliance won the upcoming elections and formed a national government, all of us in the opposition, and Hizbullah at their forefront who is accused of not wanting a strong army, this opposition with Hizbullah at their forefront will work on having a strong national army capable of defending Lebanon.

They ask us to hand over our arms to the Lebanese army thus making it strong, this is incorrect and a simplification. Because the types of weapons we have are of no use for a regular army; they are only useful for a popular resistance. These same weapons give them to a regular army they cannot establish any balance of power against the "Israeli" army.

The value of this weapon is that it is in the hands of an organised popular network with its own tactics, school of principles and procedures, culture and secrecy. A regular army that belongs to a formal political authority cannot work the way the resistance does now.

Hence, these weapons if given to the Lebanese army will not enable it to defend Lebanon the way it can when in the hands of popular parties.

What is important, brothers and sisters, is for the politicians and the political forces in Lebanon to reach a serious genuine conviction that we need a strong army and for some to have dropped, in all honesty and earnestness, the theory of 'Lebanon's strength comes from its weakness.'

2-The current and forthcoming challenges of the resistance and our responsibilities toward it.

Brothers and sisters, these challenges facing the resistance still exist.

Yes, the war that the Zionists are threatening to wage is still standing, though unlikely. They know very well that "Israeli" wars have failed in the past and they will fail in the future to eliminate the resistance.

This is why they will probably continue working on assassinations as they did with our dear brother martyr Imad Moghniyeh. This also explains the huge number of spy cells and collaborators seeking targets and personalities. Yet, the most important and most dangerous challenge we are facing is the persistence of Shalom's strategy after 2000, which is to introduce Hizbullah as a terrorist organization that attacks nations and peoples and threatens international security.

The worst is the attempt to accuse Hizbullah of assassinating martyr PM Rafik Hariri so as to create a sectarian and confessional sedition in Lebanon.

Brothers and sisters,

I want to assure you concerning what Der Spiegel recently published... some said its source was Beirut. It is possible that someone from Beirut may be participating in that campaign, just like the story of resolution 1559 of the UN Security Council, but the information that has become available to us in the last few days is that the Der Spiegel report is "Israeli" made par excellence and that the accusation involved is purely "Israeli."

You have noticed how the "Israelis" swiftly launched statements which, unfortunately, speak clearly of the entity's relation with the international investigation.

Let us be honest and not hide. Since year 2000 and the reverberating victory of the resistance against "Israel", there have been sides making schemes against Hizbullah and the arms of the resistance as well as its popular base.

They have been preparing security, military and political schemes while others have been working on redirecting the course of the Hariri investigation against Hizbullah because they have consumed everything within their reach. They have killed Sayyed Abbas, they have killed Hajj Imad, and they have destroyed homes over the heads of women and children and waged wars... all in vain.

They launched the war they called 'Settling the Scores' in 1993, then 'Grapes of Wrath' war in 1996 and the July war in 2006, all in vain, and this resistance remains incomprehensible to them. The resistance they are facing is one which can only be truthfully described as in the words of Sayyed Abbas quoting Imam Khomeini: "Kill us and our people grow more aware."

What is the worst thing they can threaten us with?

What can they threaten our men, elders and children, what? Death?

Our answer has been ready and clear, not with Hizbullah, but our answer has been ready for hundreds of years... it is fed to us as infants with our mothers' milk, and we are raised on it by our fathers... throughout history we say to those that threaten us with death: 'Is it with death you threaten us? It is hour habitude to be killed and the honor God has granted us is martyrdom.'

They realized well that killings, massacres, assassinations, destruction and instigation are futile when it comes to Hizbullah, the Islamic Resistance and the blessed people who support us.

What do they have left?

The accusation of assassination, the terrorist organization and the sectarian incitement against Hizbullah through everything and what is more dangerous now, is their directing the poisonous pens of writers to consolidate the last accusation (Der Spiegel's).

We have passed through a dangerous phase, but thanks to God and the awareness of officials and leaders, and the responsible Lebanese stand, the Der Spiegel report became exposed, "Israeli" and Zionist wise.

However, the challenge is still standing because there are some who have decided to go on this course with this conduct since there is no other way. We will face this challenge with cooperation, awareness and wisdom and God willing and we will come out of this challenge with our heads high, just like we have always done in all the tests and challenges.

I assure you that we want a national unity government following the June 7 elections. We want understanding and cooperation even if we had to follow a review policy to draw lessons.

Even with relation to the resistance and its weapons, some say "if the opposition wins the elections the national dialogue will end". No, we support the continuation of the national dialogue because we want a real national defensive strategy that the government, the people and the resistance would commit to.

Regarding the Bekaa and the title of deprivation and neglect, the permanent and principal opening question-the key to the entire debate is: 'does Lebanon, as a state or regime and successive governments, as governments, consider the Bekaa a part of Lebanon?

Is the Bekaa considered a Lebanese region or not, is it a 'son' of the state, a neighbouring state or a forgotten son?'

The state must answer this principal question.

This is about the state's mentality and that of the officials since the establishment of this state of Lebanon. The problem does not lie in the Bekaa alone, but in Akkar in the north- the Christian and Muslim north, in south Lebanon and in all peripheral areas of the homeland and on the capital's peripheries.

You remember how in recent years, someone told the Bekaa residents that their problem was in their political choice, you are being punished because you support Hizbullah and the resistance.

This is not true. Because before 1982 there was no Hizbullah... yet back then they told you that you had been punished because before 1982 you were with Imam Moussa Sadr!

What about the period before 1960? There was no Imam Moussa Sadr then!

Since 1948 or since the Bekaa has become part of Greater Lebanon, it has been crossed out, neglected and forgotten.

In south Lebanon's festival, I read an important text by Imam Sayyed Abdul Hussain Sharafeddine. The importance of that text is not only because it was written by Imam Sayyed Sharafeddine, but more importantly in its date and its age.

Today I will read you another text from that same period by the Imam himself directed to then President Bechara el-Khouri.

Back then a problem had occurred in the Bekaa and some members of the region's tribes escaped to barren mountains in the Hermel area.

The government dispatched a massive armed force after them, and a catastrophe was on the brink of occurring between the armed forces and the tribes of the region.

Imam Sharafeddine sent a letter to the President in September 1949 saying:
"The tribes in Hermel did not rise against the authorities nor did they abandon any community. Alas! After who are the horsemen released and the spears wielded?"

Listen to what the Imam says next for you have been known since time immemorial...
"Are they, besides their rejection of injustice, who refuse humiliation and disgrace, in an age of a downpour of open minds and eyes from Lebanon has drunk until it became the Qiblah ("Qibla" for Muslims - the place toward which all world Muslims turned in prayer) of all gazes, from which they got not even a drop, not even distant left-overs from the comforts or blessings of this downpour reached them...overtaken by vengeance, plagued with sickness and poverty, to the extent they are now between two fires: the lit fire of the government authority and that of their closed shut situation.
I fear of weepers filling every house in Lebanon should these two fronts merge, for the military campaign is by no means meager in equipage and numbers, and those sitting-in the barren hills of Hermel, hold positions which can influence the developments of armed conflict...and blood calling for more blood.
Would your Excellency consider reviewing the methods of disciplining the delinquent, and raiding the rebellious?
Wouldn't you rather consider approaching them with an army of tolerance? Thus you give feathers of growth to the sapless nation's wing, and heal its sickened side.
Wouldn't you see reason in re-considering disciplining them by taking them from unemployment to employment and from despair to hope?
Don't you believe that building schools and hospitals would be more useful than building prisons and digging graves?
To build streets and roads is more beneficial than piling grief, pain and funerals?
Yes, we are sure that your noble character is enough to make this happen and to guarantee Lebanon development and prosperity, and for its sons happiness and stability... and Peace be upon you as you spread peace and give protection."

...And Peace be upon Imam Sharafeddine who did not receive any reply.

This was in 1949, since then the same logic, mentality and position is still maintained.
Since the establishment of the state of Lebanon, the Bekaa has been seen as the land of the escapees rather than a part of the homeland, yet this part has proven through its patriotic conduct and sacrifices that it is one of the dearest parts of this country.
Hence the issue resides in the mentality.

Throughout the past years, we tried - as Hizbullah - with our capabilities to treat some of the aspects of deprivation, to heal some wounds in this region. Our MP brothers have worked incessantly to realize something in recent years, despite the boycott, disassociation and political cunning, they managed to reach good accomplishments, and however there is no party or side that can take the full responsibility with respect to this region as the government ought to.

In the elections of 2005, we had a chance. We had hoped that we would be able to serve the deprived regions, al-Bekaa at the forefront, through our joining government and the quart-partite alliance. Unfortunately, the former government's priorities were different. It had other political commitments that proceeded developmental, social or economic priorities.

Whenever we talked to them about Baalbek-Hermel province, they returned with discussions of the arms of the resistance.

Their priorities were different on everything...four years wasted in political conflict in Lebanon's interest, the Lebanese people and particularly the deprived.
Now, in the elections of 2009, we have another even better chance.

The better chance is that we can now elect a cohesive political alliance in the national opposition, from firm and compatible parties of similar visions.

This alliance is mainly of the poor and deprived from the underprivileged and deprived regions.

An alliance proved strong against tough challenges.

This is why we are before a new opportunity, should we help this alliance to win, and we would see a new government with a new mentality towards deprived precincts and balanced development in those regions.

We have spent efforts over many years with many past governments before we could win a government decision to officially and formally form the provinces of Baalbek-Hermel and Akkar, with the cooperation of many friends, as we believed that forming a formal provincial entity helps these areas' development.

When the idea of Baalbek-Hermel Development Council was rejected and we were told that all development councils are to be abolished, and replaced by a Ministry of Planning, thus political cunning has even deprived Baalbek-Hermel of having its own mayor.

In the recent appointments we insisted, seeing there were still vacancies, that so long as we are in government we will refuse any appointments until mayors are designated and appointed in the provinces of Baalbek-Hermel and Akkar, and until the consolidation and confirmation of the status of the two provinces.

Baalbek-Hermel region stands before a real opportunity.

I would like to stress that we will also work and cooperate on the issue of the tens of thousands of arrest warrants in Bekaa. If the opposition wins the coming elections, it will call for the formation of a joint ministerial-judicial-legal panel to study this file from a to z.

Since I do not lie to anyone, I am therefore not promising or talking about a full amnesty or a general pardon. There are arrest warrants against thieves and killers who shed the blood of innocent people; I cannot call for their pardon, such a right belongs to the kin of those whose blood was shed...we are spiritual people who abide by the laws; we are God fearing people who believe in Judgment Day.

I cannot demand for a pardon for murderers who shed the blood of the innocent, that is the right of the next of kin; on the other hand there are thousands of arrests warrants for other reasons that can be studied, particularly seeing there are too many legal problems in this region; problems consecutive governments are responsible for, such as the water and electricity crisis, land divisions, public property, green zones, etc...

This file must be dealt with in a legal, ethical, and humane way, without anyone loosing their rights, and without causing injustice... in a serious manner.

If an error occurs in their attempt to arrest anyone of the tens of thousands wanted, the and the army or security forces end up killing a person, a wife or a family member, the problem grows, in turn dragging action and reaction.

We do not want to see any armed conflict with the army and security forces in this region. They are our brothers and our sons just as the people are our families, brothers and sons. We cannot continue in the vicious circle of results in this file.

Some now and then come out to claim Hizbullah knew about this or that incident, that Hizbullah was providing cover or hiding something here or there. Such talk is all fabrications and lies.

Regarding this subject, we should not settle for temporary or localized solutions; like if a dispute occurs between the army and this or that family, we will no longer settle for a temporary local solution of treating the issue at that level only. After the elections, what we need is a radical solution to this issue.

The file is to be discussed in its entirety, legally and judicially, through a process that preserves rights. Then we will see what the best approach is.

It is no longer logical or reasonable for the army to be required to arrest more than 30,000 people from the Bekaa!

Among the coming government's top priorities is agricultural development.

Care in this regard will be important. They campaigned against illegal cultivation and we agreed with them, but alternative crops should be provided also?

If the opposition wins elections, the government will deal with the entire Bekaa region in mutual respect, an area that will benefit economically as the new government will not be engaged in a conflict with Syria, which will soothe Lebanese - Syrian political atmosphere. We now have diplomatic relations since that the Syrian ambassador arrived in Beirut the other day-whom we welcome of course.

You saw how up until 2005 there was a noticeable rise in development between Shtura and Masna'a (the Lebanese-Syrian border point)... one of the most important markets in Lebanon, an important economic region, prices of land, businesses and homes rose considerably... an economic and building resurgence occurred in this area...

From year 2005 until today, when going on that road we feel as if we are going off-road to some remote village in the mountains. Is this not the truth? the reality?
With ease in the political climate, conditions will be very different.

There are those who frighten people in case the opposition wins. They try to say that Lebanon would turn into another Gaza.

Now there is not enough time to explain about Gaza and the injustices it suffers, and the targeting of its citizens, the brothers in its resistance in particular the brothers Hamas...but the differences are wide and vast, the circumstances in Lebanon are totally different, and there's no time now to explain further, but at any rate this gets used in the elections.

Brothers and sisters,

You face huge responsibilities on June 7, in the coming days and phase, we have 3 election battles in the Bekaa in the following 3 districts:

1- Western Bekaa-Rashayya
2- Central Bekaa-Zahleh
3- Baalbek-Hermel

There is a competition in the Zahleh district, the Western Bekaa also, but no competition in Baalbek-Hermel district.

We should compete where there is competition.

Some might ask, ‘what is the importance of competing in Baalbek-Hermel when there is no competition?'

Where no competition exists, our votes become a referendum of the resistance and its arms, seeing the south is the primary party concerned for this referendum. Baalbek-Hermel too and side by side with the south is also concerned for this referendum.
Why?

Because always and since 1982, the south and Baalbek-Hermel are getting bombarded...Baalbek-Hermel is not merely a rear-line support base, it is a full partner of the south in the fighting, confrontation and the martyrs.

That is why Baalbek-Hermel is also concerned for making its voice heard on the 7th of June.

In Zahleh and western Bekaa, we clearly, openly and proudly back the tickets of the opposition.

I hereby call on our supporters in the Bekaa, Rashayya and central Bekaa to consider every opposition candidate a Hizbullah candidate, as a candidate or the resistance and as Sayyed Abbas Moussawi's candidate.

As this may be my last speech in the run up to the elections, I would like to renew my gratitude to the Loyalty to the Resistance deputies, MP Dr. Jamal Taqsh, MP Hajj Hassan Hobballah, MP Hajj Mohammad Haydar and MP Amine Sherri who worked for years and sacrificed for the sake of the resistance and the alliance.

I would also like to thank MPs and dear brothers Dr. Ismail Sukkariyeh and Dr. Pierre Serhal.

After giving thanks, I would like to address you and all the Lebanese through you; we are facing an election in which the US administration is directly involved, they form candidacy lists, deal with arising obstacles, spend money making them, even resorting to utilizing the highest political level possible, not only the US Secretary of State has been used but the US Vice President in person.

If they had the capacity to bring President Obama to Lebanon they would have done so.

The elections we are face are also plagued with rumors, accusations and stirring of instigation all the way to Der Spiegel, overstepping all red-lines and limits.

When the Iranian President Dr. Ahmadinejad spoke about the elections but did not interfere in them, he did not even call for voting in favor of this or that group, all he did was give an analysis of what the situation would be like in case the opposition won the elections; he said "in such a case things will change in the region and the resistance will be stronger."

That is true. Who can claim otherwise?

Because under one scenario, there is a Cabinet and a Parliament in the country whose sole focus and nearly only agenda item, is to tighten the grip on the resistance, all they ever ask for is for it to 'hand over its arms', all they discuss is the resistance.

Under a different scenario the state's Cabinet and Parliament approach on the resistance subject changes, acknowledging its successes on behalf of the nation, and instead, discusses ways to see what can be done...now under such a scenario, would the resistance become stronger or not?

Wouldn't that ease the climates within the country?

Additionally, according to one of the scenarios Lebanon is harmonious with its neighbour, while under the other a campaign of animosity is waged against neighboring Syria for four years.

Naturally the situation would change in the region.

Furthermore, the man did not interfere. He merely analyzed the situation, and his analysis is correct. Yet what's astonishing is that all those who commented on President Ahmadinejad's words have not yet commented on ("Israeli" War Minister) Ehud Barak's threats to Lebanon!

He did not say 'I ask the Lebanese not to vote for Hizbullah'. No, he threatened saying "I warn the Lebanese against voting for Hizbullah!"...And after that he warns: "if the opposition wins, the Lebanese people will have to face the might of the 'Israeli' army!"

Is that true or not?

Isn't that what Barak said?

Has anyone replied to him yet?

Has anyone criticized him yet?

Most definitely not.

But Barak himself does not know that this scarecrow he calls 'the might of the 'Israeli' army' has been crushed not only under our fighters' feet in Lebanon, but under the feet of our children.

Barak thinks he still lives in 1948, 1967 or 1982.

"Israel" today is engaged in the Lebanese parliamentary elections, through warning, threatening, and showing force, through the International Tribunal (IT) and Der Spiegel, the conferences held in Tel Aviv universities... all because "Israel" is scared.

It is in fear, because the opposition's triumph means:
• The project of blockading and liquidating the resistance in Lebanon failed...
• New leaderships in Lebanon who will be true believers in Lebanon's clout resides in its strength not its weakness.
• New leaderships who truly believe in Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, strength, dignity and pride.
• New leaderships not frightened by "Israel's" intimidations or threats.

That is why "Israel" is concerned to this level in these parliamentary elections.

The say is yours; your decision on the 7th of June in the ballots is the answer.

I will not employ Barak's words as some did with the words of President Ahmadinejad-and there is a great difference between the two; but the choices before us are clear.

You, the people of Baalbek and Hermel have voted in 1992, 1996 and in 2000 to take the voice of the resistance into parliament, and in 2005 to protect the resistance and build the country.

You protected the resistance, but the country was not rebuilt because of what happened.

The 2009 elections are different.

This election is to:
• Protect the resistance that protects the country
• Build the country
• Unite the country
• Strengthen the country

You, the patriotic people who have rushed to sacrifice themselves will also rush to vote.

We count on you, but who is it that you count on?

You are the proud and dignified people, the spirits of ardor, you who did not give obedience to the wicked, when the Zionist and world callers placed you between two choices, disproportionate confrontation or humiliation and a disgraceful surrender, between rising up and submission?

You responded with your voices and blood, awareness and resolve, young and old, men and women, loudly shouting echoing your Imam's historic cry in Karbala (City where Imam Hussain [P] the grandson of Prophet Mohammad [pbuh] fell martyr refusing to pay allegiance to a tyrannical ruler) "disgrace ....how remote".

You sacrificed and you showed patience in the battlefield, and the result was the resistance, jihad and victory.

You, the protectors of the country, the martyrs of resistance, the trustful, the loyal to the vow, the gallantry, the enthusiastic and the arduous , the 7th of June is waiting for you, the people who took the pledge with Imam Moussa Sadr at this very square. You, who renewed your pledge with Sayyed Abbas Moussawi at this square also and were loyal to your vow all these years while facing all the challenges and harsh living conditions. You are invited to show a strong presence and a new vow and a new gallantry on the 7th of June.

We bargain on you to show strong presence at the ballot boxes where there is no competition but referendum, on the 7th of June come from every village, town, farm and city in Baalbek-Hermel, carrying your yellow flags and Lebanon flags, to turn the voting into a celebration of the resistance.

I would like to stress to you and ask you to consider each of the candidates on the Baalbek-Hermel ticket, as Sayyed Abbas Moussawi, Sheikh Ragheb Harb and Imad Moghniyeh.

And because I know you, since I have lived among you in the fervor of youth, and had close experiences with you, just as the entire Hizbullah did in past years... we bargain on you, your loyalty, your sincerity, your love, your presence and your will to renew your pledge of allegiance to the resistance on the 7th of June.

Brothers and sisters,

I congratulate you on the glorious Day you made with blood, tears, patience, sincerity and sacrifices.

You opened to Lebanon and the nation the door to victories, and closed the door to defeats.

With you, with your men and women, your sincerity and loyalty, and your presence there will be no defeats but only an era of victories.

Long may you live, long live your defiant resistance and long live Lebanon.

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon all of you."