Several March 14 leaders attacked Hezbollah on Saturday and condemned the speech of its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah that he delivered via video link on Quds ( Jerusalem ) day last Friday night.
Following Israel’s steps
Phalange party MP Sami Gemayel compared Hezbollah to Israel in the way it has been expanding to take over Lebanon
Gemayel said that Hezbollah is practicing “a unique policy of settlements” similar to Israel’s.
“Hezbollah depended on military power to control a certain area, and the Jews depended on the same thing to take over Palestine,” he told As-Sharq radio station.
The Israelis also used money to control “their areas of authority and buy lands,” and Hezbollah is using “this style to expand inside Lebanon and control the rest of the Lebanese people,” Gemayel added.
“Hezbollah does not act as a Lebanese party or as a partner in the country. Hezbollah accuses everyone who opposes it of being an enemy.”
Hezbollah does not give anyone the chance to have an opposing opinion, the MP also said, adding that the Lebanese people are the “ones who decide whether to cancel or to confront Israel.”
“All Arab countries are in a state of peace with Israel, in an official or a non-official manner. Only the Lebanese people pay the price of regional interests that Lebanon has nothing to do with.”
Gemayel also said it is unlikely for Hezbollah to lose its power if the Syrian regime collapses, saying the group has its own military and financial abilities as well as Iran’s backing.
The MP also said that if Hezbollah is innocent of assassinating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005, it should not “place itself in confrontation with the Lebanese people by protecting the cell that is accused of committing the crime.” This is in reference to the four Hezbollah members who have been indicted by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the murder of former Lebanon PM Rafik Hariri . Hezbollah denied the charges and refused to cooperate with the court.
Can’t impose ideology
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, a key leader of March 14 alliance said Nasrallah cannot imposed his ideology on the Lebanese people
In an interview with Al-Markaziya news agency Geagea said that Nasrallah cannot impose on the “Lebanese state and people his policy and ideology pertaining to the situation in Syria.”
“How does Nasrallah support popular uprisings in Libya and Egypt and oppose to the Syrian popular uprising?” he questioned.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s troops have killed over 2200 protesters who have been calling for freedom and democracy and for end of nearly five decades of Baath Party rule .
Lebanon’s political scene is split between supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime, led by Hezbollah, and supporters of the Syrian people led by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Geagea also condemned Nasrallah’s statement that US Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman controlled the Lebanese Cedar Revolution in 2005.
“March 14 leaders are following and trying to implement the dream expressed by one million Lebanese citizens who gathered in Martyrs’ square on March 14, 2005. It’s they the people who wanted the revolution, and they proved this in the 2009 elections.” March 14 won the elections in 2009 but Hezbollah reportedly used its arms to threaten politicians to switch from March 14 to its March 8 led camp.
Hezbollah serves Israel’s interests
March 14 MP Ahmad Fatfat said on Saturday that Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is the one who serves Israel’s interests
“Didn’t he assassinate leaders in the national resistance? Isn’t he the one who pointed his weapons at the Lebanese people? Doesn’t that serve Israel?,” Fatfat questioned.
Fatfat told Future News that Nasrallah prevented the Lebanese army from entering South Lebanon, drew a red line to prevent the army from entering Nahr al-Bared, and killed First Lieutenant Samer Hanna.”
Fatfat is referring to May, 2008 when Hezbollah gunmen took over West Beirut and tried but failed to take over Mt Lebanon following a government decision to shut down the party’s telecommunications network and replace the security chief at Rafik Hariri International Airport because of his spying activities and ties to Hezbollah.
Fatfat is also referring to May 2007, when Nasrallah warned the Lebanese army not to enter the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp north of Tripoli where it was confronting Islamic militants loyal to the Syrian regime . He said that to enter the camp would be crossing a red line and the Palestinians should not be touched.
First Lieutenant Samer Hanna was killed on August 28, 2008 when Hezbollah gunmen opened fire on his helicopter, which was flying over the village of Tilal Soujoud in southern Lebanon.
Attacking STL doesn’t benefit Hezbollah
March 14 MP Atef Majdalani condemned Hezbollah’s “attacks” against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and its indictment by saying “ These attacks do not benefit Hezbollah.”
Majdalani told the Free Lebanon radio station that his party did not expect Hezbollah to protect those indicted by STL, which is probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
“Standing in court is the only way to exonerate the indicted suspects .” He said
Majdalani added that the Future Movement and March 14 are not “attacking” the Resistance.
“We are attacking their actions that took place in Beirut and other areas and which turned Hezbollah into a militia,” he said in reference to the 2008 May Events
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that “ Our opponents in Lebanon are collaborating with the outside to harm…the Resistance. They have always looked to cause strife.”
Commenting on reports that the Future Movement and its MPs are launching a “campaign” against the army, Majdalani said “we did not attack the army. We want our military institution to be the strongest in Lebanon.”
“However, we want to draw the military institution’s attention to some violations that must be corrected.”
“We are not the ones who tried the harm the army’s credibility, and not the ones who tried to make the army look weak.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.