Nasrallah: ‘Mercenaries’ oppose our arms

dailystar.com.lb

BEIRUT: Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah slammed as “mercenaries” those who criticize his party’s possession of arms. “Has it become a shame to possess the power of resistance and defense, and own the ability to harm the enemy and create the right balance?” the secretary general of Hizbullah asked during a speech to mark the third night of Ashura.

Nasrallah said certain politicians were still being bribed to continue criticizing the Hizbullah and its weapons.

“If they stop criticizing us they won’t be paid,” he said, adding that the Resistance’s arms were now strong enough to defeat Israel.

Nasrallah also said on the occasion of Ashura that religious and cultural differences could be overcome because the Lebanese have the same fate and common objectives.

The Day of Ashura, which falls on Sunday, is commemorated by Shiites as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, at the Battle of Karbala on the 10th day of the Islamic Calendar of the month of Muharram in the year 61 AH (October 10, 680 AD).

The Hizbullah leader added that racial and ethnic conflicts have long existed, but some people use the tensions to their own advantage.

Nasrallah also commented on Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s landmark visit to Damascus on Saturday, saying it was likely to promote a calm and relaxing atmosphere in Lebanon.

It was Hariri’s first trip to Damascus since the 2005 assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri – a killing that he and his allies in Beirut blamed on Syria.

Turning to the United States, Nasrallah accused Washington of launching wars in the region. He also described Israel as the “barracks of the American project” in the Middle East.

Also commenting on the Resistance’s arms, Hizbullah’s second-in-command Sheikh Naeem Qassem said Sunday his party refused to relinquish the “path of resistance and embrace that of failed diplomacy.

He added that without the Resistance, south Lebanon would have not been liberated from Israeli occupation in 2000.

Qassem lashed out at comments by US President Barack Obama, who told Lebanese President Michel Sleiman that Washington was concerned with arms smuggling into Lebanon, “because the arms harm Israel’s security.”

“Are you not worried that Israel possesses 400 nuclear heads and mass destruction weapons?” he asked Obama.

Hizbullah’s number two also warned against targeting the Resistance, and urged all groups to join the Resistance against Israel.

“No one has the right to expose the Resistance, the Lebanese army and people,” Qassem said, He also called on those “who are not resisting” to take adequate measures and participate in the Resistance. Read more…

Related posts:

1. Hizbullah warns Israel against action www.irishtimes.com February 16, 2010 Hizbullah’s leader warned Israel tonight that...
2. Hezbollah Warns Israel Against Launching New War www.presstv.ir Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah says he is...
3. Lebanon: Syria has not supplied Scud missiles to Hezbollah Israeli claims that Syria has enabled Hezbollah to further destabilise...
4. Hezbollah warns Israel against attack www.presstv.ir 25 May 2010 The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah’s secretary...
5. Hezbollah reacts to Israeli photo release www.presstv.ir Sun, 11 Jul 2010 Hezbollah has the intelligence necessary...
6. Lebanon, Egypt condemn Israeli threat www.presstv.ir Fri, 18 Jun 2010 The Lebanese and Egyptian premiers...
7. Hezbollah denies arms ship claims news.bbc.co.uk Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has denied Israeli allegations it...
8. ‘Hamas will fight alongside Hezbollah in next war’ presstv.ir The Hamas political representative in Lebanon says the Palestinian...
9. Gaza-Bound Missions: Lebanon Rejects Threats; Hezbollah Denies Link www.almanar.com.lb 18/06/2010 One day after the new Israeli threats against...
10. Lebanon warns of new ‘Israeli war’ www.presstv.ir Thu, 01 Jul 2010 Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has...