22 October 2011
19 October 2011
All cry for the Israeli military
I really can't stand the Western press' coverage of the Arab-Israeli prisoner exchange. It's racist and biased beyond belief and all are guilty. Look at this Guardian article from that dreadful Harriet Sherwood. See even despite the title making it sound like there's some kind of balance if you read the article it's all about that one Israeli occupation soldier. The Palestinian prisoners get exactly one passing reference in the whole thing. Look at the propaganda in these words "The boy soldier, whose abduction" Since when has a soldier in a brutal army of occupation with a long list of war crimes and mas...saces to its name been a 'boy'. See if they ever refer to 19 year old Palestinian fighters as 'boys' to make them sound innocent. And since when do you 'abduct' a soldier of an army who's illegally occupying your land? You capture (or arrest) them. See if they ever use the word 'abduct' to describe Israel's capturing Palestinians from outside its internationally-recognised borders, the Guardian calls that 'arresting'...
On Egypt
Egypt is still in a revolutionary state even if the people at the top haven't really changed bar the Mubaraks. The French Revolution wasn't a revolution in 1789 yet. The country is still seeing unprecedented levels of unrest and struggle for example today the textile workers union just won some concessions from the government over allowances after threatening to strike over the issue. These little workplace victories are happening almost on a daily basis and the Military Council seem impotent at stopping them. This kind of thing just wasn't happening a year ago. Eventually there's going to be some kind of standoff, the closest thing we've had to that lately was the storming of the Israeli embassy, after which the Military Council announced a ban on all demonstrations and that it was reimplementing the Mubarak-era emergency laws (defending Israel is their first priority as usual)
Another big issue at the moment is the Telecom Egypt workers strike. Last Sunday some workers took the CEO hostage demanding he resign and they're in prison now, they need to be got out.
The students are struggling too, there was a mini-battle at Al-Mansurah University today.
Another big issue at the moment is the Telecom Egypt workers strike. Last Sunday some workers took the CEO hostage demanding he resign and they're in prison now, they need to be got out.
The students are struggling too, there was a mini-battle at Al-Mansurah University today.
16 October 2011
Article on Al-Jazeera
Basically Al-Jazeera started because a load of good journalists wanted to leave BBC Arabic because it banned them from criticising Saudi Arabia. Then Al-Jazeera was created as a practical joke by the Qatari royal family on the House of Saud... to piss them off (they're constantly feuding). So Al-Jazeera got more freedom the worse Saudi-Qatari relations were. After the Mubarak was overthrown the Qatari royal family started to freak out and reconciled with the Sauds like never before to work together to crush the revolutionary wave, and thus Al-Jazeera became the channel of the Arab counter-revolution.
15 October 2011
I thought the BBC had no advertising
This article is blatantly just a big advertisement for a consultancy firm for advice to Arab regimes on how to crush uprisings.
On this ridiculous Iranian plot story.
I personally do not understand how the corporate media in the US can report the following things about Manssor Arbabsiar and then go on to repeat with a straight face the US government charges that he was part of a high-level Iranian government assassination plot.
Labour would back 'free schools', says party's new education spokesman
If Miliband is really opposed to Free Schools he would sack this guy right now.
Wahabi idiots
Saudi Arabia is essentially a British Empire creation (since adopted by the Americans). The first two Saudi states were attempts at destablising the Ottoman Empire and both collapsed despite British support, likewise with Ibn Saud (Britain ...paid him a salary of £5,000 a month). Wahabism is imperialism's favourite kind of religion (seeing how they've mostly accepted secularising the Muslim world isn't going to happen), irrational hatred of everyone which would barely exist were it not for the Western powers' unflinching support for the House of Saud. They don't want bombs going off in London but they've decided spreading fanatical lunacy around the region to 1. Divert Muslims away from jihad against tyrants and invaders and 2. To spread fitna and stupidness as Wahabis always do. The fact that doing do has the side effect of the occasional person going route and attacking their creators is a price worth paying (especially since they usually aren't capable of carrying out any real effective attack on Western imperialism on their own and just resort to random killing of civilians Zionist style). God willing we shall prevail against them all.
Ethnic Cleansing in the Negev
While attention is focused on the Palestinian Authority’s UN recognition initiative, Israel is quietly taking hugely significant steps to transfer 30,000 Palestinian Bedouin in the Naqab (Negev) desert from their ancestral lands.
3 October 2011
New York Times lying again
Today police in New York City allowed protesters from the Occupy Wall Street rallies to march onto the Brooklyn Bridge. Shortly after they arrested hundreds of protesters for blocking traffic on the bridge, even though they’d allowed them to enter it.
26 September 2011
Egypt court delays verdict in policemen's trial
"It said the medical experts had uncovered information indicating that "the victim had been subjected to beating and that a roll was stuffed inside his mouth by force while he was unconscious.""
Struggle continues in Yemen
"The violence in the capital, which according to figures obtained from medics, the opposition and tribal sources left 173 people dead in one week, calmed at the weekend though the capital remains tense."
20 September 2011
14 September 2011
Useless Ed
This is the history of Labour party, constant dithering and trying to somehow be on two sides at once. They never seem to notice that the Tories don't bother with this and are pretty firm that they're on the side of big business and are opposed to strikes. But rather than be a proper opposition Labour just says well we support business and we support the unions, we think strikes are wrong at this time though the government is behaving recklessly etc etc. Not only are they too cowardly to take a real position half the time they don't even make sense.
12 September 2011
Guardian deeply worried about Zionist Embassy staff (terrorists)
Look at the opening: "They came armed with sledgehammers, battering rams and a determination to drive the representatives of the Israeli state out of the Egyptian capital. By dawn, three people were dead and more than 1,000 injured" they make it sound like the sledgehammers and battering rams were used by protesters to kill and injure people. Anyone praising the Guardian's Middle East coverage to me can pack their bags for Guantanamo. This is the real nature of Liberals. They feel good for themselves cheering on Arab protesters so long as they follow their rules, but once the natives get out of line they're cheering on a military government/dictatorship as it 'restores order' against 'the mob'.
Sixth Egyptian soldier shot by Israel dies
"Abdel Malak's father told Al-Masry Al-Youm that his son received three bullets to the stomach, and that one exploded inside his body, causing an internal hemorrhage."
Assalamu `alaikum wa rahmatullah
To the brothers and sisters who stormed the Zionist Embassy in Cairo. I salute every one of you.
9 September 2011
God willing Tantawi will soon be in a cage along with Mubarak.
The ruling military council told prime minister Sharaf that his cabinet must take tough measures to halt spreading strikes and protests by workers, and to curb Satellite TV stations
Down with the wall
"Thousands of Egyptians converged on Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday to demand reforms in a turnout dubbed "correcting the path of the revolution."
In another part of the capital, hundreds of protesters broke down part of a newly built wall around the Israeli Embassy."
How Israel is weakening bit by bit
This week's events delivered the death knell to the terminally ill Periphery Doctrine. What allies does Israel have left? Lately Zionist newspapers have been talking a lot about Israel the strengthening relations "...with Turkey’s historic rivals, the Armenians." As is known Armenia is a real power broker in the Middle East.
How US "charities" break tax laws to fund Israeli settlements
In spite of US government statements about its displeasure with the expansion of Israeli settlements, US based organizations are abusing the 501(C)3 section of US tax codes to provide billions in subsidies to do exactly that...
6 September 2011
Speech of Hasan Nasrallah on Al-Quds Day (26-8-2011) in Maroun Ar-Ras
I take refuge in God from the stoned devil. In The Name of God, The Compassionate, The Most Merciful. Peace be upon our Master and Prophet - the Seal of prophets - Abi Al Qassem Muhammad and on his chaste and pure Household, his chosen companions and on all Prophets and Messengers.
God Almighty says in the Quran: "When the second promise arrived, We sent against you the servants of Ours, to abase your faces, to break into the temple as they did once before and to destroy utterly whatever they laid their hands upon. Perhaps your Lord will show you mercy; but if you begin again, We too shall begin again. We have made Hell a dungeon for the unbelievers."
First, I welcome you all, Brothers and sisters! Ladies and gentlemen! I ask God Almighty to accept from you your offerings and to regard these hours which you spent under the sun as part of your worship and jihad in this month of worship, martyrdom, righteousness and speaking out the truth. Thus Imam Khomeini assigned the last Friday in the holy Month of Ramadan to be a day for Al-Quds for the specialty, holiness, loftiness, virtue and honor of this timing, this month, these days and this day in particular. This year we chose that our meeting and our commemoration of Al-Quds Day be in this village and this locality.
How lucky you are indeed as you are feasting your eyes with the view of the hills of Palestine and smelling its aromatic fragrance! We also chose this spot for the implication of the place. The sacrifices of our people in Lebanon and especially in the South as well as the sacrifices and the jihad of the Resistance fighters and the Lebanese Army have turned many cities, villages, towns, hills and valleys into symbols. When you mention their names you recall along the sublime jihadi, domestic, national, humanistic, faithful and moral values and indications. Among these symbols is the town of Maroun Al-Ras and what it stands for especially to the effect of its position, sacrifices and the steadfastness of its people and Resistance fighters during July War.
Moreover, this spot witnessed few months ago a heroic stance by the Palestinian men, women and youths in Lebanese camps who stressed their adherence to the right to return to their homes and land saying to the world with their blood that scores of years won't make the land of Palestine a forgotten land for its people and nation.
We meet today here to commemorate this occasion which Imam Khomeini followed by Imam Khamenai wanted an occasion to revive a cause the hegemonies and the west with all their agents wanted to thrust in the circle of forgetfulness. We are marking it to keep it in the circle of remembrance, in our memory and in our conscience. We also mark it to keep it in the circle of responsibility and to assume responsibility on all perspectives whether jihadi, political, media, financial, steadfastness, cultural or faithful so as to assert that Al-Quds and Palestine are part of our religion, culture, civilization, fasting in the Month of Ramadan, values, prayers and jihad. Without Al-Quds and Palestine our prayers, fasting, jihad and all these values lose much of their implications and originality.
Brothers and sisters! In the time limit I am given I will talk about a number of developments concerning Palestine. I will talk briefly about Palestine and its current situation first, Egypt from the Palestinian perspective, Libya, Syria before wrapping my speech with Lebanon.
We will start with Palestine and its existing conditions.
First, as far as Al-Quds the holy city is concerned, we must be aware and we must call high against the judaizing campaigns this holy city is daily being subject to whether concerning the Islamic and Christian sanctities which are being subject to the risk of demolition or building new Jewish synagogues or restraining on the lives, livelihood, residences of Maqdessis or displacing the people of Al-Quds or building new settlements in and around Al-Quds. Days ago, the annual report was issued by the International Al-Quds Institution. The report is issued annually and it is really disgusting.
There are media, political and financial obligations towards Al-Quds if we are not to talk about direct jihadi obligations to protect the sanctities and keep the Maqdessis firm in their lands. These obligations must be assumed by the states, governments and peoples of our Arab and Islamic world along with the Palestinian people. I name in particular the states of the Arab League, the Arab League and the Organization of the Arab Conference.
Second as for Palestine, we assert on Al-Quds Day, that Palestine which we believe in and which is the right of the Palestinians and this nation is from the Sea to the River. Thus we call again for the right that no one might give in one grain of Palestinian soil or one drop of Palestinian water. Today we must add to this list that no one might give in one drop of Palestinian oil or gas which Israel is robbing, and no one must give in one letter of the name of Palestine as Qadhafi is marketing for the state of "Isratine".
Every letter of the word Palestine is as worthy as every grain of soil and drop of water which no one has the right to give in. No one is entitled to give them in. As for establishing a Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, that is a Palestinian affair which is decided upon by our Palestinian people. However we add that any Palestinian entity or Palestinian state must not be on the expense of the rest of Palestine or the rest of the Palestinian land, soil and people.
Our true aspiration is that a day comes when an independent Palestinian state is established on the entire land of Palestine from the Sea to the River, and this state will be established God willing.
On Al-Quds Day, we must remember the Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli prisons. We must recall the besieged Gaza Strip which is subject to daily aggressions and which is offering martyrs everyday. We must remember the West Bank where more land is detached from it for settlement building. We must remember the territories occupied since 1948 and our dear and faithful people there as they are working forcefully at judaizing this land through new projects. We must remember the Palestinian refugees in exodus and especially in Lebanon, and I will go back to this issue when talking about Lebanon.
However brothers and sisters! As we recall all of these titles and these difficult, harsh and painful problems and instead of addressing the resulting problems in retail and search for solutions for this cause, that problem and this crisis, we must head towards addressing the main cause.
If we managed to put an end to the occupation there will not be anymore the cause of Al-Quds, the refugees, the settlements, the independent state, the detainees in prisons and the robbed wealth.
This is the call of Imam Khomeini on Al-Quds Day. It's that we head towards addressing the main reason which is occupation - the occupation of Palestine. Let's muster all our efforts to address this cause and not the results. This is exactly similar to what happened in Lebanon. When the main cause was addressed, the resulting effects and problems of direct occupation of the Lebanese territories stopped to exist. If Lebanon and the region are suffering from any problems from Israel, that's because of the occupation of Palestine. So the occupation of Palestine is not a cause of suffering for the Palestinians only. It has always been the reason of sufferings for the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians and the entire region and nation.
Thus we must focus our efforts on this point in particular especially after reaching a dead end with negotiations. Day after day the Palestinian people whether in exodus or in occupied Palestine are showing that the resistance is their choice. The latest qualitative operation in Eilat which shook the Zionist entity and its political leaderships and military and security institutions is but an evidence on the feebleness of the enemy and the determination of this people who are resisting and fighting and tolerating the repercussions and sacrifices following every operation as what took place and is taking place against our people in Gaza Strip. This is the road that leads to the goal. The Palestinian people made their choice. No one pointed the way for them. No one imposed the way on them.
As for the nation, its responsibility on Al-Quds Day is to stand by the Palestinian people to support, back and strengthen them. As the Lebanese, with their Resistance and the support of the friends and faithful in this nation could liberate their land, the Palestinians will also be able with our support, backing and standing by their side to liberate their land. Indeed the changes taking place in the region now are very important and to the interest of Palestine and the Palestinian cause. As we are standing now before some of these developments, we must push these positive developments more to the interest of Palestine. If there were developments or changes which have negative impact on Palestine and the Palestinian cause, we must address the negative developments with wisdom, intellect and logic.
I will start with Egypt. What we are witnessing during these days in Egypt is an official and popular stance no matter of what magnitude or evaluation or expectation or demands it is. Surely it is an indicator of a new stage in Egypt. Was the regime of Husni Mubarak or the leadership of Husni Mubarak having control and hegemony, the reaction would have been different and the Egyptian wrath would have descended on the Palestinians holding them responsible for the consequences of Eilat operation and the consequences of the martyrdom of Egyptian officers and soldiers on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders. Today the official stance and popular stance are important.
Thousands are still lying down before the Israeli Embassy in Cairo calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador. This used not to take place in the past. There is a great difference between Egypt addressing a message to the Zionists warning them against staging an aggression against Gaza as is taking place now and between Egypt covering the aggression against Gaza as what took place in 2008 when the aggression against Gaza was unfortunately announced from Cairo. There is a great difference between Egyptians demonstrating and taking the Israeli flag of the Egyptian Embassy and between what used to take place under Husni Mubarak when they used to open fire on the chests of demonstrators showing solidarity with Gaza in 2008.
When Egypt makes a move, that means that there is an important strategic turning point in the region. Brothers and sisters! See what took place in the past few days. I do not call that an Egyptian move. I use the colloquial term of hemming. That means when Egypt hemmed a little, Israel was shaken. Despite the harshness and the consequences of the Eilat operation and despite the fighters in Gaza responding on the aggression with shelling the settlements to the south of Palestine, Netanyahu showed up to tell the Israelis: We can't launch a broad operation against Gaza because that will influence our relations with Egypt.
The Egyptians did not do anything other than hemming. What if the Egyptian stance gradually changed towards the better? This is what we bargain on and expect as a result of our knowledge of the ingenuity and greatness of the Egyptian people and army.
We move now to Libya. No doubt Qadhafi's regime had committed many crimes and mistakes against his people as well as the Palestinian cause. One of his crimes against the Palestinian cause and against Lebanon was kidnapping Imam Musa Al-Sadr and his companions - Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoub and Mr. Abbas Badriddine. On like these days, they were abducted while they were guests of Qadhafi.
The abduction crime was a favour to the Israeli project. We all know what Musa Al-Sadr means, what Musa Al-Sadr represents for the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, what he means to the Palestinian cause and what he means for Al-Quds. Palestine was in his mind, will and decision. You know what the Palestinian Resistance meant for him?
He used to say I protect the Palestinian Resistance with my turban, mihrab and platform. In the years when the Palestinian Resistance was being subject to the danger of liquidation, the Imam was kidnapped leading to what took place following the detention. That was among the results which used to target the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance alike, and I do not want to go back to that stage.
This was a great crime which was committed. If it was destined that Imam Musa Al-Sadr was still present in this square since 1978 onwards, there would have been great changes to the interest of the Palestinian Resistance, the Lebanese Resistance, the national unity and the Palestinian cause in Lebanon and in the region.
Today we look forward to the Libyan brethren and the revolutionaries and fighters in Libya to put a decisive end for this catastrophic cause and criminal detention. We hope and we are full of hope that the Imam and his friends would return to Lebanon alive, safe and sound God willing.
Also among the crimes of this regime is that it distanced Libya from Palestine and the Arab world. Once he wanted to go to Latin America. At other times he wanted to go to Africa. He abandoned Palestine and the Palestinian cause. Today, we hope the rebels and fighters in Libya would return Libya to the Arab world and Palestine. We know the culture of this people and the conscience of this people. It's impossible that a people who have resisted the occupation - any occupation - and offered in their resistance hundreds of martyrs and leader martyrs such as Omar Mukhtar but to return to Palestine so that they remain strong in their decision, policy and plan though we know that the Libyan people today is before great responsibilities to preserve their security, unity and rebuild the state.
However, the greatest event is the independence and sovereignty in face of the expected US-Western onslaught of the country's resources and decision. The bet today again is on the ingenuity of the Libyan people.
Now I come to the developments in Syria and I will handle it from the Palestinian perspective. On the Day of Al-Quds, we must say what is right and what no one must be blamed when being said by whomsoever. The right saying which must be said and must not be neglected or forgotten by anyone is the true status of Syria: the Syrian leadership in the Arab-Israeli struggle and in the Palestinian cause in particular.
As I am being brief today, I will be content by mentioning two points:
The first point is the adherence of the Syrian leadership along with the dear Syrian people and brave army to the national fixed points as concerning the Syrian rights, every grain of soil and every Syrian drop of water as well as the adherence of this leadership to the Arab rights. This adherence in face of the international, American and Western pressures for the past decades which witnessed great collapses starting with the Soviet Union to the Arab world to the direct US invasion of the Gulf and recently of Iraq did not shake this leadership and influenced its adherence to the Syrian rights and Arab rights.
Should the Syrian leadership have yielded and weakened - let's speak in colloquial language - settlement would have find its way in the region and Palestine would have lost as well as the Palestinian cause. Pressure has often been practiced on the Syrian track to reach somewhere to besiege Palestine. Still the Syrians did not give in.
Brothers and sisters! Arab and Palestinians! The Syrians remained steadfast and the Palestinian track is being fragmented by negotiations. What if the Syrians gave in? What if the Syrians settled their problem with the Israelis and left the Palestinian cause and the Palestinians to their fate? Where would the Palestinian cause have been? Thanks for the Syrian leadership the Palestinian cause was preserved and guarded and not liquidated as it was the goal of all the US and Western invasions and conspiracies against our region.
This is first and this must not be forgotten. The persistence of the Syrian position is a primary condition to the persistence of the Palestinian cause and preventing its liquidation.
The second point which we must be reminded of is Syria's stance and in particular this leadership's stance next to the Resistance and especially in Lebanon and Palestine. It did not only stand by it, it also supported the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine. This is one of the main influential elements. Even today when they talk a great part of the Iranian support passes through Syrian. Were it not for the Syrian administration and its stance even the Iranian support would have been prevented from Lebanon and from Palestine.
The land on which you sit now in the South of Lebanon in Jabal Amal where people are seeing you on the TV screen wouldn't have been liberated was it not to the victorious Resistance in 2000. The Resistance was not to gain victory in 2000 was it not for several reasons the most important of which is Syria's support and backing. Today you are sitting on the land of Maroun Al-Ras which made Lebanon and the Arabs proud. This land fought and resisted with Syria's support. I will not go now into details to not embarrass the Syrian leadership. It's not only moral support and political support.
It also backed the resistance in Palestine, the steadfastness in Gaza in 2008 and the strength of Gaza Strip today. Here also I will not go into details to not embarrass anyone. However at least the Palestinian resistance leaderships and movements in Gaza know the conduct, behavior and gratitude of the Syrian leadership so that Gaza remain steadfast and strong though this performance and support used always to bring along the Syrian leadership more US pressure and threats. These two points must not be forgotten by anyone on one hand.
On the other hand, we all call for and back great and important reforms in Syria for Syria's further development, enhancement and strength for its people, nation and the region as a result of its important position in the region.
So, we want to preserve this national position for Syria. I am saying all of us - the Syrians, the Lebanese, the Arab and Islamic peoples as well as all the lovers of Palestine and Al-Quds - want Syria to be strong with reforms and developments.
What does that mean? That means that everyone who claims friendship and says Syria is a friendly and fraternal state and everyone who claims caring for Syria and its people, blood, future and national unity must muster efforts to calm down the situation in Syria and to push things towards dialogue and a sound address.
Any other trend or conduct would pose a threat on Syria and Palestine and on the entire region. Do those seeking NATO military intervention in Syria want the future of Syria or its destruction?
To those who want to push Syria towards a civil war and those who deliver speeches today on many TV screens and use sectarian and factional incitement, I say Syria's strength has always been in that it is ruled with domestic and national feelings. They want to make Syria like Lebanon. They want it to rife with sectarianism, disintegration and combat. In Lebanon, every trivial or major incident takes a sectarian aspect. Lebanon always resides on the verge of a civil war prepared for it from abroad or by some wicked within. Syria has always preserved its unity all through history because it is controlled with domestic and national feelings. That's how it has been and that's how it must remain. Whoever seeks to revive sectarian and factional instigations is leading Syria towards destruction, ruin and toppling its position.
Today some are seeking to break up Syria as part of a new Middle East agenda, which we destroyed in Lebanon along with Syria, Iran and all the brethren in the July War and during the 2008 battles. Thus on Al-Quds Day, I frankly say we must be faithful to Al-Quds, to Palestine and to Lebanon. So even those among the Lebanese who are helping to escalate the situation in Syria and are sending arms and evoking instigations will not remain as such. Lebanon is not apart from the developments in Syria which will extend to reach the whole region. Any passive or negative development would reach the whole region, and any positive development would be to the interest of the entire region.
As President Asad said days ago, the US and the West want concessions and not reform. The last point which the US cares for is reforms. The evidence is that there are other states in the world which are governed by harsh dictatorships, I won't mention names, there is no room for democracy, freedom of expression or even personal freedoms. Still they enjoy the support, backing and support of the US, France, Britain and the West.
So the issue is not that of reforms. The issue is that of concessions. All of us must stand with Syria so that it does not yield and preserve its national position and power and so that it would be able to make reforms with peace, serenity and confidence. That's because pressure slows reform. No one may move quickly in reform under pressure because that causes fear. Peace, confidence, serenity, openness, cooperation and adhering to national unity open the gate for reforms wide open. We believe that the Syrian leadership is serious in its reforms.
Now we come to Lebanon.
Brothers and sisters! We are talking today in 2011 from Maroun Al-Ras. Lebanon's position in the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli struggle has become a totally different position. The Lebanese always used to have fears that any solution in the region would take place at Lebanon's expense. Why? Because Lebanon is the weakest link. Now we are through with that.
Let the whole world hear that Lebanon is no longer the weakest link in the region, and the day will not be when Lebanon will be the weakest link in the region.
Lebanon will protect its sovereignty, independence and interests. Some talk about the fears of settlement. If Lebanon is weak, settlement would take place in Lebanon but if Lebanon is strong settlement would not take place in it. If the whole world wanted settlement and the Lebanese and the Palestinians in Lebanon refused it, they may refuse it.
The Palestinians residing in Lebanon refuse settlement. This is what they express every day and in every occasion. Their pure blood which was shed in Maroun Al-Ras witnesses that they refuse settlement and do not accept any substitute to Palestine. If the Lebanese agreed collectively on the Resistance-Army-People formula, no one may impose settlement on them.
If some Lebanese are in power and conspired to sell Lebanon and Palestine to their American masters and accepted on that, we will not accept that.
So if Lebanon the strong - Lebanon which owns a will to refuse settlement along with the Palestinian refugees who reside in Lebanon - refuses settlement, then there will be no settlement. There will be no solution at the expense of Lebanon.
Second: It has always been feared that regional congestion would be discharged in Lebanon. If there is a crisis between Israel and Syria, then Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is a problem between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. Now it is releasing its tension in Gaza. If there is a crisis between Israel and Iran, it would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is be a crisis between Israel and Egypt, it would release its tension in Lebanon. This era is over.
If there is an internal tension, Israel used to run to Lebanon. My dear! This era is over. This is not valid anymore after 2000 and 2006. This is over. Lebanon has become a dilemma to Israel which it is seeking to escape and not to run to. Lebanon has become a trap for Israel where it may fall. Thus from this perspective also we are assured.
Israel always used to have greed in Lebanon, Lebanon's waters, Lebanon's resources and Lebanon's land and hills -especially southern Lebanon. Now there are those who hamper this greed from taking place.
Who imposed this new situation in Lebanon? It was imposed by the Army-People-Resistance formula. We are not talking about a theoretical formula. We are talking about a true real formula which was written with blood and sacrifices made by the people who remained steadfast, were displaced but remained steadfast, supported, backed and offered their children to fight in the Resistance and got enrolled in the Army. With the Resistance which fought and the Army which remained steadfast, Lebanon became strong.
On Al-Quds Day, I also say that it's the responsibility of the Lebanese to guard this formula for the sake of Lebanon, Palestine and Al-Quds.
Frankly speaking, some are working abroad, and some are helping from inside - I will not say that some are working from inside because those inside are weaker than being able to target. They are rather a part of a machinery run by a foreign power whether America, the West or Israel, to strike this formula and disintegrate it. They want to separate the army, the people and the resistance apart from each other, to target each element alone and if possible to make them collide with each other. This has been worked at for years. They have often sought to cause sedition and struggle between the Resistance and the people. They have often sought to cause sedition between the Army and the Resistance and have bet on that.
They have often sought to target the Resistance directly. Today on the contrary, our responsibility is to maintain this formula.
As for the Resistance, following the military targeting - the last of which was July War - and the security targeting - the last of which was assassinating Hajj Imad Mughniyyah because his blood made us stronger, more insistent, adherent, and faithful in our cause and our sublime goal - there has been a stream of accusations. Today targeting reached the stage of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
I have no time to talk about the STL but I will wrap up what I started and my brethren rounded off. I commented on the indictment which was published. Following that a legal, lawful, political conference and a technical conference which has to do with communication were held. So two press conferences were held and tackled the legal and technical aspects of the indictment and what was mentioned in it. Now I will wrap up what I have on this issue saying: Day after day, it is revealed to what extent this tribunal is politicized and why it was established.
Everyone knows how it was established, why it was established, how it was formed, how its law was set, how trials in abstentia took place in an unprecedented way in the history of international tribunals, how the investigation took place, how Syria and the four officers and others were targeted, how the targeting was then turned to Hizbullah, how the investigation was leaked, how the false witnesses were fabricated, how the false witnesses were protected and are still protected and how the investigation refused any indication or evidence on the accusation of Israel. The indictment came to say that the evidences are feeble evidences without any legal or judicial value. All of that assert the nature and magnitude of targeting.
Today when my brethren and I explain and illustrate, we do so not to convince the US administration, the International Security Council, Bellemare, Fransen, Cassese or some political personalities in Lebanon. That's because they willfully premeditated and fabricated this agenda and are moving in it to the end. We are rather addressing the public opinion whom we bet on their mind, logic, acceptance of proofs, support of the Resistance and awareness of the aspects of the new conspiracy. With the awareness of our people and the awareness of the peoples of our nations and with this public opinion that have always backed the Resistance, this Resistance will overpass this risk and this new conspiracy.
As for the STL and what was issued by it and what will be issued from it, as I said before, I will say again, they are worthless. The noble Resistance fighters are falsely accused. They are oppressed and they will have their reward on Judgment Day for the oppression which afflicted them. That will also be a source of pride for them in this world because they are bearing the consequences of the strength, firmness and victories of the Resistance.
The Army is an element in the formula. We all know that the successive governments did not work at strengthening the army. All of us know the story of the balance, arming, figures and equipment. And now even Israel is working on the international level so that the Lebanese Army is not armed and equipped. There are political forces which are also calling on world states to besiege the government and the state and to stop any support to the Lebanese Army and other sides. With what does that meet?
With my respect to all other state institutions, the efforts and the sacrifices of the various security forces and the Army remains the national institution which guarantees civil peace, integrated livelihood, coexistence and the strength, firmness and unity of the country. Still some challenge and target the Army. We know that is not a personal inclination but rather the inclination of political currents and not only one current. Some of these political currents express their view through statements and others fought the Army in the past and rose generations on loathing the Army in the past.
For whose interest is targeting the Army especially on these days as an institution and as a leadership, accusing the Army, instigating against it and calling on the officers and soldiers to rebel? Lebanon? Palestine? The Cause of the Resistance? They deceive people saying they are with the Resistance while they claim that is an internal dispute.
Also when we come to the people, they work day and night to strike this national texture and to revive sectarian and factional instincts with every minor and major incident. If there are trivial incidents they magnify them. They fabricate evidences for baseless incidents. They label as true what is not so. For whose interest is the sectarian and factional instigation which has been taking place since years to strike the united texture of the people? When a Lebanese party cooperates with sides abroad, statements on sovereignty, freedom and independence become meaningless. Following WikiLeaks, it has become clear that the Cedar Revolution was directed by Jeffrey Feltman and the French Ambassador.
Shame on them. They also used to backbite each other in Feltman's presence. Is this freedom, sovereignty and independence? Why are they targeting this formula?
On Al-Quds day I say: It's the responsibility of the Lebanese people to maintain the Army-people-Equation formula, and to guard the Army, Resistance and the people's unity. I frankly say that when you hear anyone in this country provoking against the Resistance, he would be serving Israel. Anyone who provokes against the Lebanese Army is serving Israel. Whoever talks in a sectarian or factional language would be serving Israel whether he knows or not. That's another story. Soon they will say the Sayyed is saying we are collaborators.
I'm not accusing anyone of collaboration. Yes, you'd be serving Israel whether you are aware of that or not. That's because what prevents Israel from attacking Lebanon, having greed in its waters and wealth, harming the security and sovereignty of Lebanon and imposing settlements on Lebanon is this equation. That's because what might turn Lebanon into a support to Palestine and the people of Palestine is this equation. Here I am frankly saying that I am looking forward to that day when you will not stand at Maroun Al-Ras' hills to inhale the smell of Palestine. You will inhale the smell of Palestine from the heart of Palestine and from inside Palestine.
The day will come when we will not hail Al-Quds from afar but rather pray there on the day of Al-Quds, on the land of Al-Quds, in Al-Maqdes, in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Resurrection Church. That's what we are looking forward to. How may strong Lebanon be present in this equation and this struggle and this future? That's possible via the protection of this formula. Brothers and sisters! Today, you are the people of Resistance and the people of steadfastness and firmness. You remained under the sun for hours for the sake of Palestine and for expressing your loyalty and love.
In your name, in the name of all Resistance fighters, martyrs, martyrs' families, the wounded and all the honorable in this nation, I tell you and those Zionist soldiers who are mobilized on the other side - whom I am seeing through the screen and they are seeing me through the screen but you are seeing live - this good land will be restored to its people. This is God's will and this is the will of the faithful fighters.
Imam Sadr used to tell Abi Ammar in UNESCO Palace in the 70s: Be sure Abi Ammar that the honor of Al-Quds declines to be liberated but on the hands of the faithful. These faithful people are inside Palestine, in the territories occupied since 48, in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Egypt, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Iraq, in Iran, in Libya, in Tunisia and in all our Arab and Islamic world.
These believers are getting ready for that day in which they will restore their land for their people and nation and restore Al-Quds and the sanctities to perfect their prayers, fasting and supplications. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
God Almighty says in the Quran: "When the second promise arrived, We sent against you the servants of Ours, to abase your faces, to break into the temple as they did once before and to destroy utterly whatever they laid their hands upon. Perhaps your Lord will show you mercy; but if you begin again, We too shall begin again. We have made Hell a dungeon for the unbelievers."
First, I welcome you all, Brothers and sisters! Ladies and gentlemen! I ask God Almighty to accept from you your offerings and to regard these hours which you spent under the sun as part of your worship and jihad in this month of worship, martyrdom, righteousness and speaking out the truth. Thus Imam Khomeini assigned the last Friday in the holy Month of Ramadan to be a day for Al-Quds for the specialty, holiness, loftiness, virtue and honor of this timing, this month, these days and this day in particular. This year we chose that our meeting and our commemoration of Al-Quds Day be in this village and this locality.
How lucky you are indeed as you are feasting your eyes with the view of the hills of Palestine and smelling its aromatic fragrance! We also chose this spot for the implication of the place. The sacrifices of our people in Lebanon and especially in the South as well as the sacrifices and the jihad of the Resistance fighters and the Lebanese Army have turned many cities, villages, towns, hills and valleys into symbols. When you mention their names you recall along the sublime jihadi, domestic, national, humanistic, faithful and moral values and indications. Among these symbols is the town of Maroun Al-Ras and what it stands for especially to the effect of its position, sacrifices and the steadfastness of its people and Resistance fighters during July War.
Moreover, this spot witnessed few months ago a heroic stance by the Palestinian men, women and youths in Lebanese camps who stressed their adherence to the right to return to their homes and land saying to the world with their blood that scores of years won't make the land of Palestine a forgotten land for its people and nation.
We meet today here to commemorate this occasion which Imam Khomeini followed by Imam Khamenai wanted an occasion to revive a cause the hegemonies and the west with all their agents wanted to thrust in the circle of forgetfulness. We are marking it to keep it in the circle of remembrance, in our memory and in our conscience. We also mark it to keep it in the circle of responsibility and to assume responsibility on all perspectives whether jihadi, political, media, financial, steadfastness, cultural or faithful so as to assert that Al-Quds and Palestine are part of our religion, culture, civilization, fasting in the Month of Ramadan, values, prayers and jihad. Without Al-Quds and Palestine our prayers, fasting, jihad and all these values lose much of their implications and originality.
Brothers and sisters! In the time limit I am given I will talk about a number of developments concerning Palestine. I will talk briefly about Palestine and its current situation first, Egypt from the Palestinian perspective, Libya, Syria before wrapping my speech with Lebanon.
We will start with Palestine and its existing conditions.
First, as far as Al-Quds the holy city is concerned, we must be aware and we must call high against the judaizing campaigns this holy city is daily being subject to whether concerning the Islamic and Christian sanctities which are being subject to the risk of demolition or building new Jewish synagogues or restraining on the lives, livelihood, residences of Maqdessis or displacing the people of Al-Quds or building new settlements in and around Al-Quds. Days ago, the annual report was issued by the International Al-Quds Institution. The report is issued annually and it is really disgusting.
There are media, political and financial obligations towards Al-Quds if we are not to talk about direct jihadi obligations to protect the sanctities and keep the Maqdessis firm in their lands. These obligations must be assumed by the states, governments and peoples of our Arab and Islamic world along with the Palestinian people. I name in particular the states of the Arab League, the Arab League and the Organization of the Arab Conference.
Second as for Palestine, we assert on Al-Quds Day, that Palestine which we believe in and which is the right of the Palestinians and this nation is from the Sea to the River. Thus we call again for the right that no one might give in one grain of Palestinian soil or one drop of Palestinian water. Today we must add to this list that no one might give in one drop of Palestinian oil or gas which Israel is robbing, and no one must give in one letter of the name of Palestine as Qadhafi is marketing for the state of "Isratine".
Every letter of the word Palestine is as worthy as every grain of soil and drop of water which no one has the right to give in. No one is entitled to give them in. As for establishing a Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, that is a Palestinian affair which is decided upon by our Palestinian people. However we add that any Palestinian entity or Palestinian state must not be on the expense of the rest of Palestine or the rest of the Palestinian land, soil and people.
Our true aspiration is that a day comes when an independent Palestinian state is established on the entire land of Palestine from the Sea to the River, and this state will be established God willing.
On Al-Quds Day, we must remember the Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli prisons. We must recall the besieged Gaza Strip which is subject to daily aggressions and which is offering martyrs everyday. We must remember the West Bank where more land is detached from it for settlement building. We must remember the territories occupied since 1948 and our dear and faithful people there as they are working forcefully at judaizing this land through new projects. We must remember the Palestinian refugees in exodus and especially in Lebanon, and I will go back to this issue when talking about Lebanon.
However brothers and sisters! As we recall all of these titles and these difficult, harsh and painful problems and instead of addressing the resulting problems in retail and search for solutions for this cause, that problem and this crisis, we must head towards addressing the main cause.
If we managed to put an end to the occupation there will not be anymore the cause of Al-Quds, the refugees, the settlements, the independent state, the detainees in prisons and the robbed wealth.
This is the call of Imam Khomeini on Al-Quds Day. It's that we head towards addressing the main reason which is occupation - the occupation of Palestine. Let's muster all our efforts to address this cause and not the results. This is exactly similar to what happened in Lebanon. When the main cause was addressed, the resulting effects and problems of direct occupation of the Lebanese territories stopped to exist. If Lebanon and the region are suffering from any problems from Israel, that's because of the occupation of Palestine. So the occupation of Palestine is not a cause of suffering for the Palestinians only. It has always been the reason of sufferings for the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians and the entire region and nation.
Thus we must focus our efforts on this point in particular especially after reaching a dead end with negotiations. Day after day the Palestinian people whether in exodus or in occupied Palestine are showing that the resistance is their choice. The latest qualitative operation in Eilat which shook the Zionist entity and its political leaderships and military and security institutions is but an evidence on the feebleness of the enemy and the determination of this people who are resisting and fighting and tolerating the repercussions and sacrifices following every operation as what took place and is taking place against our people in Gaza Strip. This is the road that leads to the goal. The Palestinian people made their choice. No one pointed the way for them. No one imposed the way on them.
As for the nation, its responsibility on Al-Quds Day is to stand by the Palestinian people to support, back and strengthen them. As the Lebanese, with their Resistance and the support of the friends and faithful in this nation could liberate their land, the Palestinians will also be able with our support, backing and standing by their side to liberate their land. Indeed the changes taking place in the region now are very important and to the interest of Palestine and the Palestinian cause. As we are standing now before some of these developments, we must push these positive developments more to the interest of Palestine. If there were developments or changes which have negative impact on Palestine and the Palestinian cause, we must address the negative developments with wisdom, intellect and logic.
I will start with Egypt. What we are witnessing during these days in Egypt is an official and popular stance no matter of what magnitude or evaluation or expectation or demands it is. Surely it is an indicator of a new stage in Egypt. Was the regime of Husni Mubarak or the leadership of Husni Mubarak having control and hegemony, the reaction would have been different and the Egyptian wrath would have descended on the Palestinians holding them responsible for the consequences of Eilat operation and the consequences of the martyrdom of Egyptian officers and soldiers on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders. Today the official stance and popular stance are important.
Thousands are still lying down before the Israeli Embassy in Cairo calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador. This used not to take place in the past. There is a great difference between Egypt addressing a message to the Zionists warning them against staging an aggression against Gaza as is taking place now and between Egypt covering the aggression against Gaza as what took place in 2008 when the aggression against Gaza was unfortunately announced from Cairo. There is a great difference between Egyptians demonstrating and taking the Israeli flag of the Egyptian Embassy and between what used to take place under Husni Mubarak when they used to open fire on the chests of demonstrators showing solidarity with Gaza in 2008.
When Egypt makes a move, that means that there is an important strategic turning point in the region. Brothers and sisters! See what took place in the past few days. I do not call that an Egyptian move. I use the colloquial term of hemming. That means when Egypt hemmed a little, Israel was shaken. Despite the harshness and the consequences of the Eilat operation and despite the fighters in Gaza responding on the aggression with shelling the settlements to the south of Palestine, Netanyahu showed up to tell the Israelis: We can't launch a broad operation against Gaza because that will influence our relations with Egypt.
The Egyptians did not do anything other than hemming. What if the Egyptian stance gradually changed towards the better? This is what we bargain on and expect as a result of our knowledge of the ingenuity and greatness of the Egyptian people and army.
We move now to Libya. No doubt Qadhafi's regime had committed many crimes and mistakes against his people as well as the Palestinian cause. One of his crimes against the Palestinian cause and against Lebanon was kidnapping Imam Musa Al-Sadr and his companions - Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoub and Mr. Abbas Badriddine. On like these days, they were abducted while they were guests of Qadhafi.
The abduction crime was a favour to the Israeli project. We all know what Musa Al-Sadr means, what Musa Al-Sadr represents for the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, what he means to the Palestinian cause and what he means for Al-Quds. Palestine was in his mind, will and decision. You know what the Palestinian Resistance meant for him?
He used to say I protect the Palestinian Resistance with my turban, mihrab and platform. In the years when the Palestinian Resistance was being subject to the danger of liquidation, the Imam was kidnapped leading to what took place following the detention. That was among the results which used to target the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance alike, and I do not want to go back to that stage.
This was a great crime which was committed. If it was destined that Imam Musa Al-Sadr was still present in this square since 1978 onwards, there would have been great changes to the interest of the Palestinian Resistance, the Lebanese Resistance, the national unity and the Palestinian cause in Lebanon and in the region.
Today we look forward to the Libyan brethren and the revolutionaries and fighters in Libya to put a decisive end for this catastrophic cause and criminal detention. We hope and we are full of hope that the Imam and his friends would return to Lebanon alive, safe and sound God willing.
Also among the crimes of this regime is that it distanced Libya from Palestine and the Arab world. Once he wanted to go to Latin America. At other times he wanted to go to Africa. He abandoned Palestine and the Palestinian cause. Today, we hope the rebels and fighters in Libya would return Libya to the Arab world and Palestine. We know the culture of this people and the conscience of this people. It's impossible that a people who have resisted the occupation - any occupation - and offered in their resistance hundreds of martyrs and leader martyrs such as Omar Mukhtar but to return to Palestine so that they remain strong in their decision, policy and plan though we know that the Libyan people today is before great responsibilities to preserve their security, unity and rebuild the state.
However, the greatest event is the independence and sovereignty in face of the expected US-Western onslaught of the country's resources and decision. The bet today again is on the ingenuity of the Libyan people.
Now I come to the developments in Syria and I will handle it from the Palestinian perspective. On the Day of Al-Quds, we must say what is right and what no one must be blamed when being said by whomsoever. The right saying which must be said and must not be neglected or forgotten by anyone is the true status of Syria: the Syrian leadership in the Arab-Israeli struggle and in the Palestinian cause in particular.
As I am being brief today, I will be content by mentioning two points:
The first point is the adherence of the Syrian leadership along with the dear Syrian people and brave army to the national fixed points as concerning the Syrian rights, every grain of soil and every Syrian drop of water as well as the adherence of this leadership to the Arab rights. This adherence in face of the international, American and Western pressures for the past decades which witnessed great collapses starting with the Soviet Union to the Arab world to the direct US invasion of the Gulf and recently of Iraq did not shake this leadership and influenced its adherence to the Syrian rights and Arab rights.
Should the Syrian leadership have yielded and weakened - let's speak in colloquial language - settlement would have find its way in the region and Palestine would have lost as well as the Palestinian cause. Pressure has often been practiced on the Syrian track to reach somewhere to besiege Palestine. Still the Syrians did not give in.
Brothers and sisters! Arab and Palestinians! The Syrians remained steadfast and the Palestinian track is being fragmented by negotiations. What if the Syrians gave in? What if the Syrians settled their problem with the Israelis and left the Palestinian cause and the Palestinians to their fate? Where would the Palestinian cause have been? Thanks for the Syrian leadership the Palestinian cause was preserved and guarded and not liquidated as it was the goal of all the US and Western invasions and conspiracies against our region.
This is first and this must not be forgotten. The persistence of the Syrian position is a primary condition to the persistence of the Palestinian cause and preventing its liquidation.
The second point which we must be reminded of is Syria's stance and in particular this leadership's stance next to the Resistance and especially in Lebanon and Palestine. It did not only stand by it, it also supported the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine. This is one of the main influential elements. Even today when they talk a great part of the Iranian support passes through Syrian. Were it not for the Syrian administration and its stance even the Iranian support would have been prevented from Lebanon and from Palestine.
The land on which you sit now in the South of Lebanon in Jabal Amal where people are seeing you on the TV screen wouldn't have been liberated was it not to the victorious Resistance in 2000. The Resistance was not to gain victory in 2000 was it not for several reasons the most important of which is Syria's support and backing. Today you are sitting on the land of Maroun Al-Ras which made Lebanon and the Arabs proud. This land fought and resisted with Syria's support. I will not go now into details to not embarrass the Syrian leadership. It's not only moral support and political support.
It also backed the resistance in Palestine, the steadfastness in Gaza in 2008 and the strength of Gaza Strip today. Here also I will not go into details to not embarrass anyone. However at least the Palestinian resistance leaderships and movements in Gaza know the conduct, behavior and gratitude of the Syrian leadership so that Gaza remain steadfast and strong though this performance and support used always to bring along the Syrian leadership more US pressure and threats. These two points must not be forgotten by anyone on one hand.
On the other hand, we all call for and back great and important reforms in Syria for Syria's further development, enhancement and strength for its people, nation and the region as a result of its important position in the region.
So, we want to preserve this national position for Syria. I am saying all of us - the Syrians, the Lebanese, the Arab and Islamic peoples as well as all the lovers of Palestine and Al-Quds - want Syria to be strong with reforms and developments.
What does that mean? That means that everyone who claims friendship and says Syria is a friendly and fraternal state and everyone who claims caring for Syria and its people, blood, future and national unity must muster efforts to calm down the situation in Syria and to push things towards dialogue and a sound address.
Any other trend or conduct would pose a threat on Syria and Palestine and on the entire region. Do those seeking NATO military intervention in Syria want the future of Syria or its destruction?
To those who want to push Syria towards a civil war and those who deliver speeches today on many TV screens and use sectarian and factional incitement, I say Syria's strength has always been in that it is ruled with domestic and national feelings. They want to make Syria like Lebanon. They want it to rife with sectarianism, disintegration and combat. In Lebanon, every trivial or major incident takes a sectarian aspect. Lebanon always resides on the verge of a civil war prepared for it from abroad or by some wicked within. Syria has always preserved its unity all through history because it is controlled with domestic and national feelings. That's how it has been and that's how it must remain. Whoever seeks to revive sectarian and factional instigations is leading Syria towards destruction, ruin and toppling its position.
Today some are seeking to break up Syria as part of a new Middle East agenda, which we destroyed in Lebanon along with Syria, Iran and all the brethren in the July War and during the 2008 battles. Thus on Al-Quds Day, I frankly say we must be faithful to Al-Quds, to Palestine and to Lebanon. So even those among the Lebanese who are helping to escalate the situation in Syria and are sending arms and evoking instigations will not remain as such. Lebanon is not apart from the developments in Syria which will extend to reach the whole region. Any passive or negative development would reach the whole region, and any positive development would be to the interest of the entire region.
As President Asad said days ago, the US and the West want concessions and not reform. The last point which the US cares for is reforms. The evidence is that there are other states in the world which are governed by harsh dictatorships, I won't mention names, there is no room for democracy, freedom of expression or even personal freedoms. Still they enjoy the support, backing and support of the US, France, Britain and the West.
So the issue is not that of reforms. The issue is that of concessions. All of us must stand with Syria so that it does not yield and preserve its national position and power and so that it would be able to make reforms with peace, serenity and confidence. That's because pressure slows reform. No one may move quickly in reform under pressure because that causes fear. Peace, confidence, serenity, openness, cooperation and adhering to national unity open the gate for reforms wide open. We believe that the Syrian leadership is serious in its reforms.
Now we come to Lebanon.
Brothers and sisters! We are talking today in 2011 from Maroun Al-Ras. Lebanon's position in the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli struggle has become a totally different position. The Lebanese always used to have fears that any solution in the region would take place at Lebanon's expense. Why? Because Lebanon is the weakest link. Now we are through with that.
Let the whole world hear that Lebanon is no longer the weakest link in the region, and the day will not be when Lebanon will be the weakest link in the region.
Lebanon will protect its sovereignty, independence and interests. Some talk about the fears of settlement. If Lebanon is weak, settlement would take place in Lebanon but if Lebanon is strong settlement would not take place in it. If the whole world wanted settlement and the Lebanese and the Palestinians in Lebanon refused it, they may refuse it.
The Palestinians residing in Lebanon refuse settlement. This is what they express every day and in every occasion. Their pure blood which was shed in Maroun Al-Ras witnesses that they refuse settlement and do not accept any substitute to Palestine. If the Lebanese agreed collectively on the Resistance-Army-People formula, no one may impose settlement on them.
If some Lebanese are in power and conspired to sell Lebanon and Palestine to their American masters and accepted on that, we will not accept that.
So if Lebanon the strong - Lebanon which owns a will to refuse settlement along with the Palestinian refugees who reside in Lebanon - refuses settlement, then there will be no settlement. There will be no solution at the expense of Lebanon.
Second: It has always been feared that regional congestion would be discharged in Lebanon. If there is a crisis between Israel and Syria, then Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is a problem between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. Now it is releasing its tension in Gaza. If there is a crisis between Israel and Iran, it would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is be a crisis between Israel and Egypt, it would release its tension in Lebanon. This era is over.
If there is an internal tension, Israel used to run to Lebanon. My dear! This era is over. This is not valid anymore after 2000 and 2006. This is over. Lebanon has become a dilemma to Israel which it is seeking to escape and not to run to. Lebanon has become a trap for Israel where it may fall. Thus from this perspective also we are assured.
Israel always used to have greed in Lebanon, Lebanon's waters, Lebanon's resources and Lebanon's land and hills -especially southern Lebanon. Now there are those who hamper this greed from taking place.
Who imposed this new situation in Lebanon? It was imposed by the Army-People-Resistance formula. We are not talking about a theoretical formula. We are talking about a true real formula which was written with blood and sacrifices made by the people who remained steadfast, were displaced but remained steadfast, supported, backed and offered their children to fight in the Resistance and got enrolled in the Army. With the Resistance which fought and the Army which remained steadfast, Lebanon became strong.
On Al-Quds Day, I also say that it's the responsibility of the Lebanese to guard this formula for the sake of Lebanon, Palestine and Al-Quds.
Frankly speaking, some are working abroad, and some are helping from inside - I will not say that some are working from inside because those inside are weaker than being able to target. They are rather a part of a machinery run by a foreign power whether America, the West or Israel, to strike this formula and disintegrate it. They want to separate the army, the people and the resistance apart from each other, to target each element alone and if possible to make them collide with each other. This has been worked at for years. They have often sought to cause sedition and struggle between the Resistance and the people. They have often sought to cause sedition between the Army and the Resistance and have bet on that.
They have often sought to target the Resistance directly. Today on the contrary, our responsibility is to maintain this formula.
As for the Resistance, following the military targeting - the last of which was July War - and the security targeting - the last of which was assassinating Hajj Imad Mughniyyah because his blood made us stronger, more insistent, adherent, and faithful in our cause and our sublime goal - there has been a stream of accusations. Today targeting reached the stage of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
I have no time to talk about the STL but I will wrap up what I started and my brethren rounded off. I commented on the indictment which was published. Following that a legal, lawful, political conference and a technical conference which has to do with communication were held. So two press conferences were held and tackled the legal and technical aspects of the indictment and what was mentioned in it. Now I will wrap up what I have on this issue saying: Day after day, it is revealed to what extent this tribunal is politicized and why it was established.
Everyone knows how it was established, why it was established, how it was formed, how its law was set, how trials in abstentia took place in an unprecedented way in the history of international tribunals, how the investigation took place, how Syria and the four officers and others were targeted, how the targeting was then turned to Hizbullah, how the investigation was leaked, how the false witnesses were fabricated, how the false witnesses were protected and are still protected and how the investigation refused any indication or evidence on the accusation of Israel. The indictment came to say that the evidences are feeble evidences without any legal or judicial value. All of that assert the nature and magnitude of targeting.
Today when my brethren and I explain and illustrate, we do so not to convince the US administration, the International Security Council, Bellemare, Fransen, Cassese or some political personalities in Lebanon. That's because they willfully premeditated and fabricated this agenda and are moving in it to the end. We are rather addressing the public opinion whom we bet on their mind, logic, acceptance of proofs, support of the Resistance and awareness of the aspects of the new conspiracy. With the awareness of our people and the awareness of the peoples of our nations and with this public opinion that have always backed the Resistance, this Resistance will overpass this risk and this new conspiracy.
As for the STL and what was issued by it and what will be issued from it, as I said before, I will say again, they are worthless. The noble Resistance fighters are falsely accused. They are oppressed and they will have their reward on Judgment Day for the oppression which afflicted them. That will also be a source of pride for them in this world because they are bearing the consequences of the strength, firmness and victories of the Resistance.
The Army is an element in the formula. We all know that the successive governments did not work at strengthening the army. All of us know the story of the balance, arming, figures and equipment. And now even Israel is working on the international level so that the Lebanese Army is not armed and equipped. There are political forces which are also calling on world states to besiege the government and the state and to stop any support to the Lebanese Army and other sides. With what does that meet?
With my respect to all other state institutions, the efforts and the sacrifices of the various security forces and the Army remains the national institution which guarantees civil peace, integrated livelihood, coexistence and the strength, firmness and unity of the country. Still some challenge and target the Army. We know that is not a personal inclination but rather the inclination of political currents and not only one current. Some of these political currents express their view through statements and others fought the Army in the past and rose generations on loathing the Army in the past.
For whose interest is targeting the Army especially on these days as an institution and as a leadership, accusing the Army, instigating against it and calling on the officers and soldiers to rebel? Lebanon? Palestine? The Cause of the Resistance? They deceive people saying they are with the Resistance while they claim that is an internal dispute.
Also when we come to the people, they work day and night to strike this national texture and to revive sectarian and factional instincts with every minor and major incident. If there are trivial incidents they magnify them. They fabricate evidences for baseless incidents. They label as true what is not so. For whose interest is the sectarian and factional instigation which has been taking place since years to strike the united texture of the people? When a Lebanese party cooperates with sides abroad, statements on sovereignty, freedom and independence become meaningless. Following WikiLeaks, it has become clear that the Cedar Revolution was directed by Jeffrey Feltman and the French Ambassador.
Shame on them. They also used to backbite each other in Feltman's presence. Is this freedom, sovereignty and independence? Why are they targeting this formula?
On Al-Quds day I say: It's the responsibility of the Lebanese people to maintain the Army-people-Equation formula, and to guard the Army, Resistance and the people's unity. I frankly say that when you hear anyone in this country provoking against the Resistance, he would be serving Israel. Anyone who provokes against the Lebanese Army is serving Israel. Whoever talks in a sectarian or factional language would be serving Israel whether he knows or not. That's another story. Soon they will say the Sayyed is saying we are collaborators.
I'm not accusing anyone of collaboration. Yes, you'd be serving Israel whether you are aware of that or not. That's because what prevents Israel from attacking Lebanon, having greed in its waters and wealth, harming the security and sovereignty of Lebanon and imposing settlements on Lebanon is this equation. That's because what might turn Lebanon into a support to Palestine and the people of Palestine is this equation. Here I am frankly saying that I am looking forward to that day when you will not stand at Maroun Al-Ras' hills to inhale the smell of Palestine. You will inhale the smell of Palestine from the heart of Palestine and from inside Palestine.
The day will come when we will not hail Al-Quds from afar but rather pray there on the day of Al-Quds, on the land of Al-Quds, in Al-Maqdes, in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Resurrection Church. That's what we are looking forward to. How may strong Lebanon be present in this equation and this struggle and this future? That's possible via the protection of this formula. Brothers and sisters! Today, you are the people of Resistance and the people of steadfastness and firmness. You remained under the sun for hours for the sake of Palestine and for expressing your loyalty and love.
In your name, in the name of all Resistance fighters, martyrs, martyrs' families, the wounded and all the honorable in this nation, I tell you and those Zionist soldiers who are mobilized on the other side - whom I am seeing through the screen and they are seeing me through the screen but you are seeing live - this good land will be restored to its people. This is God's will and this is the will of the faithful fighters.
Imam Sadr used to tell Abi Ammar in UNESCO Palace in the 70s: Be sure Abi Ammar that the honor of Al-Quds declines to be liberated but on the hands of the faithful. These faithful people are inside Palestine, in the territories occupied since 48, in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Egypt, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Iraq, in Iran, in Libya, in Tunisia and in all our Arab and Islamic world.
These believers are getting ready for that day in which they will restore their land for their people and nation and restore Al-Quds and the sanctities to perfect their prayers, fasting and supplications. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
26 August 2011
The SAS being in Libya is almost certainly true though
And I'm sure this section is just for jokes: "It has also been suggested that the tunnels could surface in the sea, from where the Gaddafi family could use a submarine to travel around the Africa.
The tunnels are believed to be so long that they could com up directly at Sirte or Sabha. Alternatively they may surface in the desert, from where Gaddai could travel incognito by jeep, jet, helicopter or even camel to a region where he has support."
But what colour is Qadhafi's submarine Oh Daily Mail? And do you realise that Sirte is 300 miles away from Tripoli? This must be some tunnel system he has built. And of course you can't cover the Arab world without bringing up camel travel. And I'm loving all the qualifications, read that again. "It has also BEEN SUGGESTED (by who???) that the tunnels COULD surface in the sea, from where the Gaddafi family COULD use a submarine to travel around the Africa.
The tunnels ARE BELIEVED (by who???) to be so long that THEY COULD com[e] up directly at Sirte or Sabha. Alternatively THEY MAY surface in the desert, from where Gaddai COULD travel incognito by jeep, jet, helicopter or even camel to a region where he has support." When you see journalism like this you know they're just making it up.
25 August 2011
The Zionist account of events on the Mavi Mamara:
As the world became accustomed to seeing Israel apologizing..." except that Israel didn't apologise to Turkey...
Why Should I Pay for You to go to University
At a time when soaring tuition fees and graduate debt lead both school leavers and financial advisors questioning whether or not a degree is worth the cost, when the UK's economy faces rising competion from highly-skilled workers in China and India - the so-called Global Skills Race - perhaps the real question we should be asking is not whether the taxpayer should fund higher education, but can we afford not to.
This article really gets to the heart of why the way the tutition fees debate is almost always framed in the British media (i.e. education is nice but can we afford it?) is completely wrong. Having an uneducated population costs a society much more in the long run, otherwise why doesn't the government save billions of pounds by closing all state schools? Or is the flaw in that plan obvious? But government policy is not made in the 'national interest' (I don't believe such a thing really exists, the CEO of a FTSE 100 company does not have the same interests as the woman who cleans his office), but rather in the interests of those forces best positioned to influence the state, and those forces nowadays (increasing banks, financial institutionals, multinational corporations and arms/military companies) do not have the same interests as the general population. Just look at the financial crisis the Western world has been in for years now. You're telling me the people responsible for causing and refusing to resolve this crisis have the interests of the general population of their societies at heart?
This article really gets to the heart of why the way the tutition fees debate is almost always framed in the British media (i.e. education is nice but can we afford it?) is completely wrong. Having an uneducated population costs a society much more in the long run, otherwise why doesn't the government save billions of pounds by closing all state schools? Or is the flaw in that plan obvious? But government policy is not made in the 'national interest' (I don't believe such a thing really exists, the CEO of a FTSE 100 company does not have the same interests as the woman who cleans his office), but rather in the interests of those forces best positioned to influence the state, and those forces nowadays (increasing banks, financial institutionals, multinational corporations and arms/military companies) do not have the same interests as the general population. Just look at the financial crisis the Western world has been in for years now. You're telling me the people responsible for causing and refusing to resolve this crisis have the interests of the general population of their societies at heart?
24 August 2011
The speech of Hasan Nasrallah to the Women's Branch of the Islamic Resistance Support Association on August 17 2011
Ladies and dear sisters! Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
I thank you all for your presence on this occasion on the holy Month of Ramadan in which the Women's Branch in the Islamic Resistance Support Association in Lebanon gathers us. I extend my regards to all the presence in the six different places: in Beirut in Sayyeda Khadeja Charity, Baalbeck, Saida, Tyr, Nabatiyeh and Tiri. We ask God Almighty to make it a blessed year and hundred returns with blessings for all.
The Resistance gathers us in this occasion - whether those who believe in it or those who support it. Thus I will go straight into the core of my speech without the need for preludes especially that I want to take few moments from this meeting to comment on what was published today concerning the so called indictment in a way that goes with the occasion and within the time limit though there is much to be said on the text and content of what was published today.
As far as the Resistance is concerned there are several related topics:
First, the magnitude of sacrifices;
Second, the magnitude of achievements;
Third, the magnitude of targeting this Resistance which made many sacrifices and achievements;
Fourth, the magnitude of expectations, hopes and bargains on this Resistance.
As for the first topic, it goes without saying that there hasn't been in history a resistance which hasn't offered sacrifices. When a people decide to restore their occupied land, sovereignty and dignity through efforts and resisting, they have to make sacrifices. The sacrifices of the Resistance in Lebanon were great, huge and very valuable. When I talk about sacrifices, I talk about all the Resistance factions in Lebanon. I do not mean Hizbullah only but rather all the factions and forces which had their share in this Resistance since the very beginning. I also mean the offerings of the Lebanese Army, the Lebanese Security Forces as well as the valuable sacrifices made by the Lebanese people especially women, children and the armless people.
When we talk about sacrifices, we mean tens of thousands of martyrs, tens of thousands of wounded, thousands of Lebanese young men and women who were detained in prisons and detention centers, tens of thousands of residential units which were demolished during the years of occupation and war, what have afflicted people's wealth and fields and what have afflicted the national economy. Our aim from talking about sacrifices is always reminding ourselves that the achievements we made were not for free.
Rather they were the result of these great sacrifices. That makes us more interested in the achievement, in preserving the victory so as not to lose it because its price was this dear and precious blood. Thus also we know the worth of those who offered sacrifices. Even more, we must appreciate those who offered sacrifices in our Lebanese society and in all societies, and give a special status to the families of martyrs, wounded, freed prisoners and prisoners who are still in detention, the people who remained steadfast and offered support and the people who assumed the repercussions of the Resistance. We must respect these sacrifices and the people who offered them.
So as far as the first topic is concerned and as for the Resistance in Lebanon and in any resistance whether in Palestine, Iraq or any place, we are before great sacrifices which we must respect and appreciate. These sacrifices as well make us assume national and moral responsibilities.
Secondly, we will handle the magnitude of the achievements. Since the beginning, this Resistance with all its factions, efforts, very existence and pillars - I reiterate I mean the Resistance, army and people - could make great achievements and victories on the domestic as well as on the national level: liberating the Lebanese territories unconditionally and the withdrawal of the enemy with humiliation and defeat on May 25, 2000 with the exception of some Lebanese territories namely Shebaa Farms, Kfar Shuba Hills and the Lebanese part of Al Ghajar. However the greater and more important part of the territories was restored to the nation.
The prisoners were freed with the exception of some case which must be followed because there is argument between us and the Israelis. We say they are alive; they say they died. There is an argument over their bodies. However, this file remains open. Anyway, at least those who are alive and whose cases are undisputed were freed. Our waters were liberated from the greed of the Israelis in Al Wazani waters. Now if Lebanon is not benefiting from its waters, this is a Lebanese problem which has nothing to do with the struggle with the Israeli enemy. Among the achievements are the victory and the steadfastness which took place during July War and the repercussions on the Israeli entity itself and on the Arab-Israeli conflict in general.
Consequently, the regional dimension of the Resistance achievements on Palestine and the Arab cause in general are among the achievements of the Resistance. In this perspective comes the threefold equation for protecting the country, deterring the Israeli enemy from staging aggressions against Lebanon prior and following July War up till now and despite the greed of the Zionists in our land, water and wealth which has extended lately to reach our oil wealth which we are all aware of and which needs to be protected.
Not only the oil wealth which is in the economic region which is so called disputed need to be protected but also the oil wealth in the economic region which is said to be undisputed needs that. So should excavating and drilling companies come to work even in the Lebanese economic region in the sea which Israel acknowledges is an economic region for Lebanon, these companies and facilities need protection. How are we to offer them protection? Is it through the International Security Council, or through international resolutions or through our own power?
These achievements mounted to make Lebanon - which was always on the margin and outside the equation - forcefully present in the regional equation. It is impossible anymore that any solution and settlement take place in the region at the expense of Lebanon or without taking the interests of Lebanon into consideration as it always used to take place.
The third point is the magnitude of target. Here I would like to say: My sisters! You must know that the Israelis from the very first days along with the Americans and all their accomplices in the project have done all what they are able to do. In the future, they will do all what they can do as well. They have no legal or moral or humanistic or lawful source of deterrence that prevents them from attacking the Resistance whose only sin and crime are that it fought to restore the land, restore the sovereignty and dignity, free the prisoners and preserve the national energy and demand rights.
This is the sin of the Resistance and that is why it is always targeted. That's because it's an element of strength, an element of dignity and an element which enables Lebanon and other countries to stand erect and preserve their rights or demand their usurped rights. This took place in Lebanon, in Palestine and everywhere. Under the title of targets comes killing the cadres and leaders of the Resistance. Martyr Sayyed Abbas Mussawi and Martyr Sheikh Ragheb Harb among a great number of our cadres and leaders were assassinated during all the past years. Other targets are arrests, imprisonments, detentions, drying the financing sources, psychological and moral wars - meaning the incessant threats to Lebanon, the infrastructure, the Lebanese people and the Lebanese Army, the Resistance - and military wars.
This Resistance in Lebanon led at least three military wars: July 1993, April 1996 and July 2006. The aim of the military war is to crush the Resistance and put an end to it. All these wars were frustrated. All attempts of political isolation on the domestic, national and international levels failed. Even killing the leaders and cadres had counter effects. That made the Resistance more determined and furnished it with a great moral thrust, a sense of being oppressed and a greater belief that this path can't be abandoned after offering this great number of martyrs. We also mention what used to take place since the very first day and is still taking place up till now - namely distorting the image and reputation of the Resistance and misleading the public opinion on the Resistance, its targets, background and authenticity.
However what is taking place lately - that's what I want to assert most in my speech - is worse than distorting an image. That's because they failed in their attempt to distort our image. I tell you that they failed as all polls in Lebanon, in the Arab world and in the Islamic world show today that this Resistance still enjoys very great respect in Lebanon and the region. However what is taking place now is worse than the attempt to distort the image which failed and for which millions of dollars were spent. They even acknowledge that hundreds of millions of dollars were spent.
What is taking place now is an attempt to strike and smash up the humanistic and social textile in Lebanon and set the atmosphere and background of factional and sectarian wars and sporadic civil wars. The final goal of such deeds is dragging the Resistance into ordeals and internal wars, and thus hitting the Resistance and toppling the authenticity of the Resistance. This is what is taking place now. I will give examples on that because we are all concerned in confronting what I do not want to call distorting the image of the Resistance. I would rather call it attacking the Resistance through striking the humanistic, social, sectarian textile in Lebanon. Are we able to confront that? Yes. As we could confront all the previous targets and conspiracies, frustrate them and overcome them, we can frustrate this target. I will talk more on this point in a while.
We may confront and frustrate this great event through being aware and responsible as I will clarify in a while. What do I mean by smashing up the social, political and humanistic textile in Lebanon?
Let's not hide behind our fingers. We all know that Lebanon is the country of sects. It is ruled with a sectarian composition. This is a fact. In as much as the relations between sects and their peoples and leaderships are good, strong, humanistic, moral and kind, the country will be ruled with cooperation, development and enhancement and will overcome all risks and challenges. On the other hand, in as much as the relations between and among sects especially are tense, convulsive and disputed and ruled with the logic of enmity and loath, nothing in this country may move forward properly or be reformed.
On the contrary, the leaderships who are responsible of sabotaging relations between sects in Lebanon are putting Lebanon on the path of annihilation, execution and being lost and smashed. This is the status quo in Lebanon. In countries other than Lebanon, things might not be as such. However in Lebanon whether we liked it or not the composition is as such. Everything in Lebanon takes a sectarian dimension instantly. Up till today, if anyone buys a piece of land to build a school on, his act will take a sectarian dimension. A trivial security incident takes a sectarian dimension.
They are working now on sabotaging the relations between the Lebanese sects and taking them to the farthest level of grudge and loathe, mistrust and enmity. Consequently, there remains no place for meeting, dialogue, cooperation and understanding to address local problems and to confront regional challenges thus to blow up the country as what took place in the past and put an end to it. So the target is Lebanon as a whole. However the target in particular is the Resistance which is embraced by the majority of the Lebanese.
If we are to interpret this idea without hiding behind our finger as I like to be transparent and clear we say: How do some internal and external sides act today? They act as if the essential Resistance currently belongs to the Shiite sect in Lebanon. As regarding the geographic fact, the Resistance exists on the border and it has direct contact with the Israelis. However, the majority in Lebanon embrace the Resistance apart from its belonging to a definite sect because they view the Resistance as a national cause, national responsibility and a national stance.
What are they doing? They want to focus on the relations between Christians and Sunnis and the extent to which they can sabotage them as well as the relations between the Christians and Druze and the relations among the Christians. They are working on all these levels. However the focus at this stage has to do with sabotaging all what has to do with the relations between Shiites and Sunnis, Shiites and Christians and Shiites and Druze. They are working on this. Well this has nothing to do with distorting the image but rather with sabotaging relations at a broader level. This is what they are working at through politics, the media, fabrications and accusations. I will not give evidences from a year, two, three, four or five ago. They are evidences which rather took place two or three weeks ago. At most they took place two or three months ago. Though they might be trivial evidences, they show the methodology and the mentality through which they act.
However, I would like to begin with giving evidences by what took place today to give it priority. It has to do with the indictment. Indeed at previous times we talked lengthily to the effect that the STL is moving in this perspective. It focused on one supposition. It refused to work on any other suppositions despite the existence of indications and conditional evidences through which Israel might be accused or investigating Israel would be valid. Still they are moving on that track and through the past period of time they accused four honorable Resistance men. Today either the complete text or the greater part of what is called the indictment of these Resistance men was published.
Some time ago, I was holding a discussion with the brethrens. I told them that if they were smart they won't publish the indictment or its content. They would rather defer that to the tribunal in abstentia and remain manipulating before us for two, three, four or five month. Only God knows until when. However may God make luck at our side and they publish the indictment. That's because when the indictment is published, that'll be something good. People would read and see this indictment and this great operation which they are working on internationally - and allow me to say on the Arab and local level.
What is its magnitude? What is it based on? How much objective, practical and factual is it? Anyway, I advise all those interested as well as the people to read the whole text though it consists of 45 pages because the issue is essential and a turning point. Here I assert to you that the group I will talk about today started since the first day and will hold a campaign in the coming few days in which they would praise the objectivity and practicality of what the indictment was based on saying they are firm, strong and decisive evidences and this is what indictment itself does not say.
I assert that the overwhelming majority of those who will say that did not in fact read the indictment. They will not bother themselves to read 45 pages. However some will write on their behalf and publish under their names. This is what takes place in Lebanon. Indeed in Lebanon when you see 20 to 30 positions issued at a time that does not mean that everyone of them sat down and wrote; rather it was written and published on their names. You know how such things move in Lebanon. Consider what I will say now a primarily comment on my behalf on what was published today. Here I will say the following:
First, what was published stresses the validity of what we have said during the past months and the past two years to the effect that this investigation is neither transparent nor scientific nor professional. This investigation has been leaked through Der Spiegel and Israeli, Arab and foreign newspapers. The Canadian CBC TV also published this indictment.
Frankly speaking, I call on all the Lebanese and non Lebanese to go back to Der Spiegel and the Canadian CBC TV and what was published in the past and compare it with this text. Let them see the faces of congruency and similarity in many places. Now they tried to hide some phone numbers and other details to say that the indictment is not wholly leaked. However this is it.
So everything we used to say on leakage and Bellemare as well as the STL used to deny while saying that no one is getting acquainted with the report and the investigation came to be true. Today their claims have been decisively confirmed. The proof is this published text. See the concordance between the text and Dir Spiegel, Le Figaro, Kuwaiti Asseyassiyeh, Yediot Ahronot, Canadian CBC and others. This asserts that the investigation was not confidential by any means. Everything was written in newspapers since 2009 and 2010 and even back since 2006.
The whole text does not provide any direct evidence. The only thing the indictment is based on is solely telecommunications data. Even more, in communication, the indictment refers to coincidence. So it is not based on that this phone number is in the net that assassinated. It is with so and so. It rather says that the number coincides in place and time with the number of so and so and with another that belongs to so and so. All what it depends on is communication. That needs much interpretation and time. They are few analyses and conclusions which have no legal value. Thus we find that the text repetitively and frequently uses the term "It is possible to conclude" or "It might be concluded in a possible way" or "Since cadres in Hizbullah in the 80s did such operations, it is possible that they did such an operation". What kind of evidence is this?
Anyway, as far as telecommunication is concerned there are two types of discussion:
The first discussion: Through the past year, through official sides, international conferences, international specialists and technicians and the Israeli collaborators who were arrested in the field of communication, the magnitude of Israeli technical and security control on the telecommunication sector in Lebanon was decisively asserted besides the Israeli and others' capability to manipulate the data, fabricating phone numbers and illusionary calls and even using phone numbers that belong to definite persons without their knowledge. This has been proven technically. This alone is enough to challenge the credibility of the communication evidences which the indictment claims resorting to.
Second: Even if we gave in and abandoned all this issue saying that there is no manipulation or Israeli intervention, no one is changing the data, no one fabricated phone calls and no one constructed place coincidences, what was mentioned is not sufficient to be an evidence. It is not a proof. This is even the viewpoint of senior judges who are specialized in this domain.
In all cases, the text is between our hands. It is based on conclusion and analysis and not on direct evidences. They are rather conditional evidences with challenged credibility.
To you sisters and to all the public opinion who are listening to me I say: Today we are more confident that what is taking place is of a high level of injustice, politicization and accusation. These honorable Resistance men should not even be referred to as accused. This is slander, and they are accused by this slander.
Anyway, I will stop here to carry on in my speech. The indictment which was issued today needs more scrutiny and analysis. This is what the brethrens in Hizbullah will dedicate themselves to during the coming few days. The appropriate comments will be thus issued God willing.
Going back to my speech, what does this act mean today? This act took place and names were made public while the ministerial statement was being discussed and confidence was being given to Premier Mikati. So it took place on particular timings just as when this issue was being evoked in the past. It is clear that since 2006 - August 2006 and following the war up till today - there has been a clear effort to sabotage the national relations especially between Sunnis and Shiites. Indeed now we are not talking anymore about martyr Premier Rafiq Hariri. Now we are talking about tens of martyrs, hundreds of wounded and hundreds of harmed and the like.
Well as far as the Shiite-Sunni issue is concerned, lately they tried to broaden the circle of accusation and link operations together until reaching the assassination of the leader of the Resistance Martyr George Hawi. Instead of being an indication to accuse Israel, they added this assassination to the others in which they accuse innocent oppressed at a time we all know that the first one to benefit and the first historic revenge seeker from George Hawi is Israel due to the position of this man and his party in the Resistance.
On the level of the other sects, they work on the same track. I will give small examples as evidences. If we add these evidences, they'll be numerous but I do not want to bother you with saying much.
The first evidence is the blast of Antelias. It is a simple incident. Two young men quarreled over money. It was not even proved that one of them wanted to throw the bomb on the other. Perhaps he was threatening or frightening him - Only God knows. The bomb exploded, and both men died. Their corpses were still on the ground.
O people! I will tell you about the mentality and the methodology. The corpses were still on the ground; still March 14 media outlets and figures started saying - even before the security apparatus and the judiciary body started investigation and before anyone knew what took place - that it was proved these two men came to plant a bomb in Antelias.
What was the topic which was used? They used targeting the security of the Christian regions! As soon as the names of the men were known and it was revealed that they belong to a definite sect - meaning they are Shiites - they immediately started their fabrications. The goal is to plant a bomb to threat and target the security of the Christian region. Can anyone tell me what is the aim of this logic which was not said by one figure or two?
Lengthy statements and wordy speeches were made. TV outlets made a scoop of it. Websites wrote on this topic for days. Some even openly claimed that Hizbullah was behind the incident. They said that Hizbullah dispatched these men to plant a bomb to target the security of the Christian regions. Note that in the case of the bombing in Ain Alaq, though they knew the doer and he was arrested and tried, they still insist on accusing a definite sect - namely Shiites. They mean to tell the Christians in Lebanon: The Shiites are targeting the security of your region, the security of your men, women and children and the security of your economy and tourism.
They waged a campaign based on Antelias bomb. For three or four days they did not stop. They did not take into consideration that it's summer - the tourism season in Lebanon. People might become afraid of going to that place. In fact, it is March 14 Bloc in the first place who is harming morals and afflicting peace, security and economy in the Christian regions. See the accusing conspiring mind they act with any simple incident. Since the first day, we were sure and we knew through the security forces and through sides in the Lebanese judiciary that the issue is that of a bomb and that it is a personal incident. Still, we said let's wait the official investigation and the judicial verdict. Still nobody was ready to listen. With March 14 Bloc, there's nothing called investigation, waiting or a true search for the truth. There is always an anticipated accusation and an anticipated verdict. So it is not only an anticipated accusation but also a ready anticipated verdict. They detect anything to comment on and issue verdicts on. This is one example.
I'll give another example on the Christian level before moving to the Druze level. I move to the conflict in the town of Lassa. I saw faces from March 14 dignitaries who talked on the problem of Lassa as if they were talking about the Resurrection Church in Al Qods. I then praised God. What took place in Lassa - a small village in Jbeil? There is a dispute over real estate between the town's residences and the Maronite church. They shed light on this dispute and made a big story about it. They worked on it for a week or two what complicates and does not solve the story. They accused Hizbullah in particular. Then they broadened the scope of accusation and accused the Shiites in Bin Jbeil of occupying the land of the Christians. This is the language which was used.
I swear by God Almighty that I didn't understand the story before they made their attack. I didn't know that there is a problem in Lassa. I asked the brothers to explain the problem in Lassa around which all this fuzz was made. Then it came to be that the problem is 70 or 80 years old. So it existed before I and perhaps my father was born. It existed before all those who belong to Hizbullah, Amal Movement or the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council were born. The issue has to do with real estate. It is an old rusty issue. It was addressed legally and judicially. A committee from the residences and the patriarchy was formed to address the issue. All of a sudden and at a political moment, the issue of Lassa was evoked to tell the Christians in Lebanon that you are targeted and see what you can do. What is the whole story? The whole story is Lassa.
On the Druze level, the story is funnier and you know I like to say things as they are. Few days ago, one of the brethrens in the Social Progressive Party called me saying that there is a definite state in the Mount. There is a state of fear, panic and anxiety among people. People want arms. They want to get armed. Well what is the story? They said that there is a hill near Aley which overlooks the region. It is a strategic hill and Hezbollah is erecting sand barricades there. Then March 14 Bloc websites were activated and some newspapers wrote headlines saying that cannons and rocket platforms were installed with the aim of addressing Mr. Walid Jumblat and the Socialist Progressive Party with a definite message. So they evoked a bad atmosphere. I started laughing when he told me so.
I asked him: Where? He said in Aley! Who went to erect the barricades in Aley? Well there is no problem. Aren't we the people who search for the truth? Let a man from Hizbullah and another from the Progressive Socialist Party go there and spot the sand which was said to be barricades and ask who brought them there so that we understand the story. Then it was revealed that the story has to do with the mayor. In fact, he is affiliated to the Progressive Socialist Party or a supporter or a friend of the party. As a municipality along with some people, they placed the barricades there.
That had to do with a definite thing that has to do with the municipality and those people in particular. The issue had no security or military characteristic. It has nothing to do with Hizbullah or Shiites by whatever means. Still they fabricated on it for four or five days, security messages or political messages to the effect of targeting alliances and practicing pressure.
Well who benefits from that? Even if we talked about the peace, security and stability of people, who is benefiting from that? Who is making people feel worried? Isn't it this media and these anticipated verdicts?
Even on the economic level, is Aley or Dahiyeh a tourism region? Who is being hurt even on the economic or tourism level? However when that team work, they do not see tourism or economy or people's stability or fears. Well let the people be at peace for a couple of days. But no, that is impossible. They give the true incident magnified untrue dimensions and they also depict the untrue incident as true and try to build endless analyses on it. If I am to give you more evidences that will take much time. However I liked to say that much to say that this methodology and mentality are the very mentality and methodology we saw on February 14, 2005.
The body of Rafiq Hariri was still on the ground to be taken to the hospital when the accusation was made and the verdict was issued: Syria, the joint Lebanese-Syrian security system, the four officials, the security apparatuses... They were unjust to people. They hurled them in jail from the very first hour. They did not wait for the investigation, justice and courts.
I also want to make you laugh a little more. I told them that it seems we have to make a tour over the houses in Dahiyeh for example to make sure there are safety valves so that no gas bottle explodes again.
Now we became responsible even if a gas bottle explodes in Dahiyeh. For four or five days we remained explaining and stressing that it was a gas bottle. They said that so and so was martyred. Then they say the so and so cadre was killed. At times they say the son of the so and so cadre was killed. The Israeli media also adds to their stories. Well is it possible that a leader, a cadre or the son of a cadre in Hizbullah may be martyred and we hide that? Where do we hide our martyrs? Still they insist on their fabrications stubbornly.
Now, I am not joking. There is a team in Lebanon who is linked to a great project which failed in everything. Now you ask me: Is it possible that they do that? They do even more. During July War they provided the Israelis with advice. They made demands on the Israelis and put conditions for the ceasefire which are to the interest of Israel. Allow me along all the jokes we said to say this phrase and relieve myself: The gloomy, dark, miserable, desperate faces which we saw on August 14, 2006 do even more than that.
Well we have this mentality. On the contrary, this is our country. The people are our people. All the sects are our people whether Shiites, Sunnis, Druze or Christians in all regions. We are a people who want to live together. We want to carry on together. We want to solve our problems together. If we did not cooperate, unite, harmonize and agree, how are we to build our country and address our crises? We will confront even this? How? That is possible through being aware and through conformation. I call on the Lebanese not to accept all what is said in the media. I am not saying reject it. I am rather saying confirm and assert, ask and search for the truth. Be aware of the existing target on the national level. Premeditate, do not get excited, and do not issue anticipated verdicts. Through such a way it will be possible to overcome this stage.
I am personally optimistic because in fact, if we can today pass these ordeals that would be due to the presence of truthful faithful national leaderships from among all the various Lebanese sects. They form the guarantee against smashing this national textile and the guarantee against the sabotage of Lebanon and heading with it towards ordeal and partition.
Besides the existence of truthful and aware political, religious, cultural, media and social elites also who partake in the battle of awareness and confronting the conspiracy of sabotage, there is another guarantee - namely the awareness of the Resistance. The Resistance is aware that it is targeted as the Lebanese people are targeted. Because it is primarily targeted, the Resistance is aware in dealing with all these issues. Thus you find that we are not dragged into many political contests. We do not comment on many of the accusations. If we are only to answer back to the lies of these newspapers, magazines and TV outlets, we need some 200 to 300 brothers and sisters to work day and night and still they will not manage to keep pace with them. We do not want to be dragged because we know who is targeted. So through awareness, we may address the issue of being targeted.
We will end up with the hopes and expectation. In a couple of words I say: I assert to you, to all the Lebanese people and to all those who believe and support the Resistance in the Arab and Islamic world that these pressures, conspiracies, distortions and sabotage attempts will not harm the determination, will and belief of the Resistance in Lebanon at all. I assert to you that the Resistance will remain strong and able to protect Lebanon, the Lebanese people, the dignity of Lebanon, the sovereignty of Lebanon, the Lebanese water and oil wealth within the threefold golden equation: the army, the people and the Resistance.
I assert to you that this Resistance will remain adherent to Lebanon and all its people, national unity, civil peace, united army, strength and integrity, and all these conspiracies to sabotage Lebanon and cause sedition and civil war in Lebanon will be gone with the wind.
I assert to you that your Resistance which you support and believe in will be greater than sedition and greater than the oppression afflicting it. It will be greater than the accusations. We have a great tolerance power. This is where our power lies. Our strength is that it is not easy to provoke us.
Our strength is that we are not easily persuaded. Our strength is that our will is not easily harmed. Our strength is that our morals are linked to Heavens; thus the people of earth can not harm them. Whoever depends on God, God suffices him.
I finally say that as this Resistance has always been up to your expectations, it will remain as such. We are proud of your support; you are proud of its credibility and victories God willing.
I thank all the sisters in the Women's Branch in the Resistance Support Association in all regions on their will and efforts especially in holding this meeting. I thank you for this great attendance. I ask God Almighty to make all your days and years full of blessings, kindness and happiness. Hundred returns on you, the Resistance and Lebanon. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
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