By Ali Rizk 

The extent of "Israel's" penetration deep into Lebanon's telecommunications sector was revealed in a press conference held by the telecommunications minister, together with the head of the parliamentary committee for media and telecommunications Hassan Fadlallah and a number of telecommunications experts.

I speak of the participants in the conference first and foremost to show that this was not a podium for Hizbullah or for a specific party to accuse "Israel" despite the fact that one of the participants happens to be a Hizbullah member of parliament.

The participants and the way this conference was held with all the technical explanation and data that was displayed together with the field work carried out leaves no doubt whatsoever with respect to the credibility of what has been said all along: "Israel" has completely infiltrated Lebanon's telecom networks. So this scientific conference or presentation (call it what you want) stamps down this reality.

Now, after certifying this reality we can make a number of important points:

First of all this adds even more to the argument that "Israel" is the aggressor and that Lebanon is the victim. This in turn means that Lebanon must always be prepared to defend itself against any "Israeli" aggression ,and by aggression here I mean not just military but also in other areas including the telecom sector. This press conference is just one small step in this process of self defense.

Second of all this should end once and for all any argument against the resistance possessing its own telecom network at least for the time being while the state's telecom system is this vulnerable to sabotage. It also highlights what Hizbullah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said about the vital role of telecommunications in military warfare with the enemy.(if Hizbullah had depended on normal telecom systems it would easily have been subject to espionage which would have turned the results of the war the other way around.)

Third, with people knowing that "Israel" can easily play around with phone data by planting numbers and creating phone calls they will be more and more convinced that this is an arrow aimed at the heart of the Lebanese resistance.

This all brings me to the concluding point. It is unfortunately not enough for the average citizen and the public to realize these factors if Lebanon is to be in its best possible situation.
There must be a realization on the part of some Lebanese leaders including those who occupy high posts in the state. Lebanese statesmen and some party leaders no longer have any justifications for saying that the resistance is behind the problems we are facing and that Hizbullah wants to deliberately put Lebanon on the forefront of war, instead of only striving to defend the country.

Hence they must join in with the efforts to further enhance Lebanese defensive capabilities in all areas instead of criticizing those who have already begun carrying out this duty.
And Finally, Lebanese statesmen and some party leaders no longer have any justification in questioning (at least for the time being) the means and the technology which the resistance uses in its confrontations with "Israel".