"Even if Shebaa Farms are liberated, the weapons of the resistance will remain because these weapons are for defense. We are threatened by Israel, so let us discuss how to defend our country." He said
Nasrallah added : "The decision of war and peace is in the hands of Israel and America. Israel is the one which is threatening Lebanon with war"
Shebaa was captured from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day war with Israel. Israel says Shebaa is Syrian territory and its fate should be determined in future peace talks with Damascus.
Lebanese and Syrian officials claim that Shebaa is a Lebanese territory. Lebanese officials said several residents have land deeds stamped by the Lebanese government.
Israel officially ended its 22-year occupation of southern Lebanon in May 2000.
Nasrallah accused Israel of threatening Lebanon and said his group will destroy "the five (Israeli) brigades in the south, Western Bekaa and everywhere."
Last week, Israeli officials warned that Lebanon's civilian infrastructure could become a legitimate target if Hezbollah attacked Israel.
The warning came after the formation of a unity government in which the Hezbollah-led opposition has 11 ministries as well as veto power over cabinet decisions.
Regarding the downing last week by Hezbollah of the Lebanese army helicopter and the killing of Lebanese officer Samer Hanna Nasrallah said :
The helicopter was not downed but was flying over the area and some brethren got suspicious and opened fire....This type of incident happens in every military in the world... Even in our military training, mistakes happen and members of Hezbollah are killed. The Lebanese army command, the intelligence and the prime minister dealt responsibly with the helicopter issue in Sujod. I express my condolences to the family of Samer Hanna … and we understand more than others what martyrdom means.... The person who opened fire on the helicopter was the one who asked to be turned over to the military judiciary. We do not turn over anyone by force."
Hezbollah turned over to the judiciary the gunman that reportedly shot at the helicopter and killed Hanna, but after investigating the incident the judiciary found out that 3 more gunmen were involved and asked Hezbollah to hand them over. Nasrallah did not mention this discrepancy during his speech
Defense minister Elias Murr revealed that Hezbollah gunmen opened fire at the helicopter when it was less than one foot from the ground and that Samer Hanna was shot in the head and chest from a very close range.
The helicopter incident created an outrage in Lebanon. Hezbollah was considered a national resistance movement but the incident painted the group as a criminal gang that is serving the interest of foreign regional powers ( namely Iran and Syria ) and its goal is to undermine the state by intimidating its institutions. The Lebanese media was attacked by Hezbollah and its allies for keeping the story of the incident alive. Many members of the media received death threats ... Hezbollah ally General Michel Aoun was criticized by the media for calling the helicopter incident "an accident"
The helicopter incident will be on the mind of all the Lebanese during the national dialogue talks which will be chaired by the president . The main item on the agenda is the strategic defense strategy and the arms of the resistance ( Hezbollah) . Yesterday MP Boutros Harb , a key member of the March 14 majority alliance said :
" The president will not delay the launching of the dialogue talks because he knows the importance of the discussions of the strategic defense strategy and Hezbollah arms specially since the recent incident proved that Legal arms and Hezbollah arms cannot coexist "
Tags: hanna, Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Nasrallah, Shebaa Farms, Syria
