Fadlallah tears strip off selfish politicians

Source: Daily Star, 14-06-2008

BEIRUT: Senior Shiaa cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Friday that the confessional regime in Lebanon cannot build a state, "particularly when the majority of the political class is only concerned about its personal interests."

In his weekly Friday sermon delivered from the Imamayn Hassanayn Mosque in Haret Hreik, Fadlallah said: "Lebanese politicians are still busy with ministerial portfolios through which they hope to promote their positions during the upcoming electoral battle and their positions as sectarian leaders."

"At the same time, security problems are still plaguing the country, through which some parties want to reshuffle cards to achieve political profits," Fadlallah added.

According to the cleric, sectarian discourses are mounting in the country, "while those who are delivering them do not know what they are doing and with what fire they are playing."

"The Lebanese people now have to serve politicians who are doing nothing but adding to their poverty, debts and acquiescence to 'big players,'" he said.

He also called on Arab officials "not to respond to American pressure to normalize relations with the enemy [‘Israel']."