Nasrallah a hero to many Egyptians
Source: The National, 13-05-2008
By Nadia Abou el Magd
CAIRO // For many Egyptians, Hassan Nasrallah is a hero despite the fighting that has erupted between Shiite gunmen allied to the Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition and supporters of the US-backed government of Fouad Siniora, the prime minister.
Some Egyptians and other Arabs have named their babies Hizbullah and Nasrallah. On an Islamic website based in Egypt many women said they would love to marry someone like Nasrallah.
"Of course Hassan Nasrallah is still my hero," said Howaida Taha, an Egyptian television producer with Al Jazeera who considers herself to be secular. "He represents a national liberation project against an imperialist one."
In Aug 2006, just after the war with 'Israel', Ms Taha wrote a column for Al Quds al Arabi newspaper in which she said: "The last thing I expected is to fall in love with a turbaned cleric. I don't like them, and of course they will never like somebody like me ... [but] I feel I've been searching for Nasrallah with my eyes, heart and mind. I feel Nasrallah lives within me."
Violence in Lebanon broke out seven days ago after the western-backed government threatened to dismantle a Hizbullah telecommunications network at Beirut's international airport and fired the head of airport security.
Nasrallah, however, defended the installation of the once-secret surveillance system, and said it was needed to protect Lebanon from 'Israeli' invasion.
To date, the fighting has killed about 40 people.
Calm returned to Beirut after Mr Siniora allowed the military to reinstate the head of airport security and left the phone lines under Hizbullah's control. Hizbullah subsequently handed control of Beirut to the Lebanese army. The Shiite Muslim (occupation resistance) party and its allies, including Michel Aoun, a Christian leader, and the Amal Movement, have been trying to oust Mr Siniora's government for 18 months, since the militant Islamic group's lawmakers walked out of the cabinet after demanding veto powers.
"Nasrallah is the Arabs' defense line against 'Israel'," said Kazem Fouad, 34, a dentist, as he sipped coffee at a cafe in Cairo. "He is the real power in Lebanon; there is no government in Lebanon."
Hesham Salah, a pharmacist, agreed. "Nasrallah's reaction is very normal," he said. "Why would we hate him? He's standing against 'Israel' and its allies in the region."
Nasrallah's passionate speeches and staunch anti-'Israeli' stance have captivated the imaginations of many in Egypt and the Arab world, and he has been likened to other revolutionary leaders.
"Hassan Nasrallah is the Arab Che Guevara," said Ibrahim Eissa, editor of the opposition daily newspaper el Destour, whose office is adorned with pictures of the two men he regards as his heroes.
In this way, Nasrallah's appeal extends beyond his religious support base, and he is highly regarded by many Arab secularists.
"The master of resistance should be assured of the Arab nations' understanding and support, who under the resistance flag, don't differentiate between left and right, Lebanese or Egyptian, nor Sunni and Shiite," said Hamdeen Sabahi, a leftist Egyptian parliamentarian. "In Egypt, we believe that supporting Nasrallah is our duty, as he's raising the same banner that late President Gamal Abdel Nasser was carrying."
"I raised Nasrallah's pictures and flags when he was fighting 'Israel' two years ago," said Nagwa Ahmed, 20, a student. "But I don't understand (yet) who he is fighting this time. I'm confused and sad."
"I still have Hizbullah's yellow flag hung in my room," said Zizi Thabet, 72, as she was leaving a bank downtown. "But I look at it, and feel saddened at what's happening in Lebanon."
By Nadia Abou el Magd
CAIRO // For many Egyptians, Hassan Nasrallah is a hero despite the fighting that has erupted between Shiite gunmen allied to the Hizbullah-led Lebanese opposition and supporters of the US-backed government of Fouad Siniora, the prime minister.
Some Egyptians and other Arabs have named their babies Hizbullah and Nasrallah. On an Islamic website based in Egypt many women said they would love to marry someone like Nasrallah.
"Of course Hassan Nasrallah is still my hero," said Howaida Taha, an Egyptian television producer with Al Jazeera who considers herself to be secular. "He represents a national liberation project against an imperialist one."
In Aug 2006, just after the war with 'Israel', Ms Taha wrote a column for Al Quds al Arabi newspaper in which she said: "The last thing I expected is to fall in love with a turbaned cleric. I don't like them, and of course they will never like somebody like me ... [but] I feel I've been searching for Nasrallah with my eyes, heart and mind. I feel Nasrallah lives within me."
Violence in Lebanon broke out seven days ago after the western-backed government threatened to dismantle a Hizbullah telecommunications network at Beirut's international airport and fired the head of airport security.
Nasrallah, however, defended the installation of the once-secret surveillance system, and said it was needed to protect Lebanon from 'Israeli' invasion.
To date, the fighting has killed about 40 people.
Calm returned to Beirut after Mr Siniora allowed the military to reinstate the head of airport security and left the phone lines under Hizbullah's control. Hizbullah subsequently handed control of Beirut to the Lebanese army. The Shiite Muslim (occupation resistance) party and its allies, including Michel Aoun, a Christian leader, and the Amal Movement, have been trying to oust Mr Siniora's government for 18 months, since the militant Islamic group's lawmakers walked out of the cabinet after demanding veto powers.
"Nasrallah is the Arabs' defense line against 'Israel'," said Kazem Fouad, 34, a dentist, as he sipped coffee at a cafe in Cairo. "He is the real power in Lebanon; there is no government in Lebanon."
Hesham Salah, a pharmacist, agreed. "Nasrallah's reaction is very normal," he said. "Why would we hate him? He's standing against 'Israel' and its allies in the region."
Nasrallah's passionate speeches and staunch anti-'Israeli' stance have captivated the imaginations of many in Egypt and the Arab world, and he has been likened to other revolutionary leaders.
"Hassan Nasrallah is the Arab Che Guevara," said Ibrahim Eissa, editor of the opposition daily newspaper el Destour, whose office is adorned with pictures of the two men he regards as his heroes.
In this way, Nasrallah's appeal extends beyond his religious support base, and he is highly regarded by many Arab secularists.
"The master of resistance should be assured of the Arab nations' understanding and support, who under the resistance flag, don't differentiate between left and right, Lebanese or Egyptian, nor Sunni and Shiite," said Hamdeen Sabahi, a leftist Egyptian parliamentarian. "In Egypt, we believe that supporting Nasrallah is our duty, as he's raising the same banner that late President Gamal Abdel Nasser was carrying."
"I raised Nasrallah's pictures and flags when he was fighting 'Israel' two years ago," said Nagwa Ahmed, 20, a student. "But I don't understand (yet) who he is fighting this time. I'm confused and sad."
"I still have Hizbullah's yellow flag hung in my room," said Zizi Thabet, 72, as she was leaving a bank downtown. "But I look at it, and feel saddened at what's happening in Lebanon."
