Hezbollah capitalizing on lack of unity among Lebanon’s Christians

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed that “Hizbullah is in full preparedness and capable of severely hurting Israel.”

Answering a question on whether the objective today is to corner March 14 Christians, Qassem said: “There is no need to corner March 14 Christians because they are cornering themselves with their own stances.”

Qassem added that “the party does not accept to be under the guillotine of Israeli intimidation.”

“Israel is suffering a state of confusion because it does not know how to deal with the Lebanese spectrum and fears a repeat of the July 2006 experience,” Qassem said in an interview with al-Osbou al-Arabi and Le Magazine weeklies.

“There is no need for the divergent Lebanese parties to reach a unified rhetoric regarding Israel, since everyone has tangibly realized the Israeli threats. President Michel Suleiman, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and others have stressed that the State is ready to bear its responsibilities.”

On the other hand, Qassem said “Europe has a responsibility to find a solution to the issue of Israeli European passport holders or else we will have to take precautions to protect our country.”

On the renewed relations with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, Qassem described them as “steadily advancing and developing toward the best.”

“Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is playing an important role in the reconciliation between Jumblat and the Syrian leadership,” he added.