Fadlallah accuses Washington of using Lebanon to pressure regional foes

Source: Daily Star, 17-04-2008
BEIRUT: Senior Muslim cleric Ayatullah Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah slammed the United States on Wednesday and accused it of exploiting Lebanon. "The United States is using Lebanon to pressure its regional enemies," Fadlallah said, in reference to Syria and Iran. Fadlallah on Wednesday met with Australian Ambassador Lyndall Sachs at his residence in Haret Hreik.
He and the ambassador discussed Muslim-Australian ties, and the relationship in general between Muslims and administrations and governments of the West.
Fadlallah told Sachs Islam calls on its followers to "abide by and respect the laws and regulations of their host countries."
In separate developments, Fadlallah sharply criticized 'Israeli' Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's visit to Qatar and said Tuesday her comments about Hizbullah and Hamas reflect 'Israel's' "brazenness and arrogance." Livni's two-day visit to Doha was her first to any Gulf state. Qatar has no diplomatic ties with 'Israel', but the two nations maintain low-level trade relations.
Speaking at a democracy and trade forum Monday, Livni said 'Israel' and Arab states are mired in the same struggle with so-called extremists like Iranian-backed Hizbullah and Hamas.
"We, the moderates of the region, are all members of the same camp," Livni said.
On Tuesday, Fadlallah issued a statement calling Livni's trip and her remarks "a big insult to all Arabs and Muslims." Such trips are designed to drive a wedge between Arab countries willing to make peace with 'Israel', and those who are not, it said.
"The visits ... are not only meant to normalize [‘Israel's' ties with Arab countries] ... but are also designed to pave the way for an Arab-‘Israeli' alliance against other Arabs and Muslims who refuse to let the usurper entity [‘Israel'] liquidate the Palestinian people," Fadlallah was quoted as saying.