Allergy to Resistance, Not to 1660 "Israeli" Violations?
Source: Al-Manar TV, 31-7-2008
Could number 13 be good luck to Lebanon?
Nothing seems to have changed Thursday on the level of the political rhetoric that could signal a close end to the ministerial statement ordeal. But Lebanon has always been the country of last minute changes; at least that's what's keeping the Lebanese hopeful that the thirteenth meeting Thursday afternoon of the ministerial committee in charge with drafting the policy statement would hold a happy ending. If not, we will see Information Minister Tarek Mitri telling reporters for the 13th time that "it needs more time so we are going to meet again on Friday."
Indeed, after a dozen of lengthy meetings, the committee has failed to reach agreement on a policy statement that would allow the newly formed government to operate effectively. Following its twelfth meeting, Mitri said the discussions revolved around the phrasing of the document. "Hopefully I will read a statement to you that is as clear as sunshine," Mitri said, adding that the committee would meet again on Thursday.
Meanwhile, pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat said Thursday that the formula that seems "luckiest" to be adopted is the one that stresses on the "right of Lebanon and its resistance to liberate land."
"Resistance": This is the word that some "March 14" leaders have become more or less allergic to. They have even criticized Hizbullah's strong-worded condemnation of 1660 "Israeli" violations of Lebanese sovereignty in nearly one month. According to the Lebanese Army, "Israel" violated the Lebanese sovereignty 1660 times between May and July 2008; that's 1660 violations of UNSCR 1701.
MP Samir Franjieh, a key figure in the "March 14" bloc, claimed that legitimizing the Resistance's weapons in the ministerial statement contradicts UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Speaking to Voice of Lebanon, he accused Hizbullah of trying to torpedo the Doha agreement.
However, Hizbullah rejected Wednesday such claims and recalled of the role the Resistance has played and is still playing to safeguard the sovereignty of the country.
For his part, member of the Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc MP Michel Mussa said Thursday that the "March 14" forces have been refusing to mention the Resistance's role in the policy statement. He also noted that the crisis in the country revolves around certain issues, especially the Resistance's weapons.
In this context, Hizbullah Secretary General political advisor Hajj Hussein Khalil delivered a strong message to the ministerial statement committee, emphasizing the fact that "Lebanon does not exist without the Resistance and the policy statement cannot be completed without the Resistance."
After meeting the head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun in Rabiyeh, Khalil said that the issue of a national defense strategy should be discussed during the roundtable dialogue under the auspices of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, not during policy statement committee sessions, as stipulated in the Doha Agreement.
Khalil reiterated his belief that the Resistance's role was to face "Israeli" attacks and defend Lebanese territories. He also questioned whether the United States was ready to provide Lebanese Army with anti-aircraft missiles while "Israeli" violations of Lebanon's airspace continued "from Naqoura to Hermel." The US bans the sale of arms to the Lebanese Army to preserve "Israel's" military superiority in the region.
For his part, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohammad Raad said Wednesday that the right to resist "Israel" is sacred and is not a topic for discussion.
He expected the new cabinet policy statement to be finalized soon "despite some difficulties".
Raad said that parliamentary election were the "key to resolving the dispute" between the national opposition and the "March 14" forces. "The dispute between the loyalists and the opposition will only be resolved through parliamentary elections when the opposition would have a majority," Raad said during a ceremony held by Hizbullah in Beirut's southern suburb.
Could number 13 be good luck to Lebanon?
Nothing seems to have changed Thursday on the level of the political rhetoric that could signal a close end to the ministerial statement ordeal. But Lebanon has always been the country of last minute changes; at least that's what's keeping the Lebanese hopeful that the thirteenth meeting Thursday afternoon of the ministerial committee in charge with drafting the policy statement would hold a happy ending. If not, we will see Information Minister Tarek Mitri telling reporters for the 13th time that "it needs more time so we are going to meet again on Friday."
Indeed, after a dozen of lengthy meetings, the committee has failed to reach agreement on a policy statement that would allow the newly formed government to operate effectively. Following its twelfth meeting, Mitri said the discussions revolved around the phrasing of the document. "Hopefully I will read a statement to you that is as clear as sunshine," Mitri said, adding that the committee would meet again on Thursday.
Meanwhile, pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat said Thursday that the formula that seems "luckiest" to be adopted is the one that stresses on the "right of Lebanon and its resistance to liberate land."
"Resistance": This is the word that some "March 14" leaders have become more or less allergic to. They have even criticized Hizbullah's strong-worded condemnation of 1660 "Israeli" violations of Lebanese sovereignty in nearly one month. According to the Lebanese Army, "Israel" violated the Lebanese sovereignty 1660 times between May and July 2008; that's 1660 violations of UNSCR 1701.
MP Samir Franjieh, a key figure in the "March 14" bloc, claimed that legitimizing the Resistance's weapons in the ministerial statement contradicts UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Speaking to Voice of Lebanon, he accused Hizbullah of trying to torpedo the Doha agreement.
However, Hizbullah rejected Wednesday such claims and recalled of the role the Resistance has played and is still playing to safeguard the sovereignty of the country.
For his part, member of the Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc MP Michel Mussa said Thursday that the "March 14" forces have been refusing to mention the Resistance's role in the policy statement. He also noted that the crisis in the country revolves around certain issues, especially the Resistance's weapons.
In this context, Hizbullah Secretary General political advisor Hajj Hussein Khalil delivered a strong message to the ministerial statement committee, emphasizing the fact that "Lebanon does not exist without the Resistance and the policy statement cannot be completed without the Resistance."
After meeting the head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun in Rabiyeh, Khalil said that the issue of a national defense strategy should be discussed during the roundtable dialogue under the auspices of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, not during policy statement committee sessions, as stipulated in the Doha Agreement.
Khalil reiterated his belief that the Resistance's role was to face "Israeli" attacks and defend Lebanese territories. He also questioned whether the United States was ready to provide Lebanese Army with anti-aircraft missiles while "Israeli" violations of Lebanon's airspace continued "from Naqoura to Hermel." The US bans the sale of arms to the Lebanese Army to preserve "Israel's" military superiority in the region.
For his part, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohammad Raad said Wednesday that the right to resist "Israel" is sacred and is not a topic for discussion.
He expected the new cabinet policy statement to be finalized soon "despite some difficulties".
Raad said that parliamentary election were the "key to resolving the dispute" between the national opposition and the "March 14" forces. "The dispute between the loyalists and the opposition will only be resolved through parliamentary elections when the opposition would have a majority," Raad said during a ceremony held by Hizbullah in Beirut's southern suburb.
