Hizbullah MP calls on Siniora to come clean on 1559

source: Daily Star, 14-11-2005.
summary: BEIRUT: MP Mohammad Raad demanded a definitive statement from Prime Minister Foaud Siniora regarding his position on UN Security Council Resolution 1559. The demand followed a claim made by UN envoy Terje-Roed Larsen in his report on 1559 that the prime minister was committed to its full implementation. Raad, who is head of Hizbullah`s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, said the bloc will call for a parliamentary interrogation if it is not given a clear answer.
Raad argued if Siniora has committed to such a position, he must be bold enough to announce the news to the people.‏‏
"We are in a consensual government and we have taken part in it based on the fact the resistance and its arms are an internal Lebanese affair that should be dealt with by the Lebanese through dialogue."‏‏
Commenting on the withdrawal of Hizbullah and Amal ministers from a Cabinet session Thursday, Raad said the officials were not trying to monopolize the country`s position but were acting to save the last remaining hope of Lebanon mending its ties with Syria.‏‏
Meanwhile, Hizbullah`s Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said the party does not fear UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which it described as a "hostile "Israeli" resolution."‏‏
Qassem made the comment during a ceremony in Khodr to commemorate one year since the death of Hizbullah central council member Zakaria Hamzeh.‏‏
Qassem questioned America`s sudden interest in Lebanon.‏‏
"Is it because the U.S. has lost on more than one front, nowhere more than in Iraq, which is drowned in chaos?"‏‏
He denounced the international community`s failure to speak out after "Israel" fired more than 80 rockets into Lebanese territory last week as it continues to violate the UN-drawn Blue Line.‏‏
He urged the government to reduce the time spent meeting with foreign dignitaries and focus on addressing pressing social and development issues.‏‏
MP Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hizbullah`s parliamentary bloc, also said the government must give more attention to the people`s needs.‏‏
Commenting on the "Israeli" violations, Fadlallah said the resistance knows how to respond to the attacks and will choose the opportune moment to prove to the Lebanese that these breaches can only be confronted by the resistance.‏‏
He said: "Those calling for a dialogue on the disarmament of the resistance have already made up their mind so there is no need for dialogue."‏‏