Berri calls for liberating all occupied territories, warns that some pursuing reconciliation are afraid to make their al

Source: Nowlebanon.com, 25-9-2008
Speaker Nabih Berri gave a fiery anti-"Israeli" speech during the Amal Movement's annual Iftar on Thursday evening. Berri said that the "issues of Lebanon and Palestine are based on the necessity of confronting "Israel"," and he called for "liberating all occupied territories."
Berri said that "Israel" had admitted to losing the 2006 July War, which, he said, was demonstrated by the recent resignation of "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Berri warned that "Israel's" "military leaders are confused, and they are working to form an emergency cabinet."
Lebanon still faces dangerous challenges and "Israel" is a threat to coexistence in Lebanon, Berri said, adding that ""Israel" always threatens Lebanon and makes military maneuvers."
On domestic issues, Berri said he supported "the national dialogue under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman... political parties have no choice but to support dialogue and democracy. Those who want to help Lebanon should help the army first."
Berri said that it was important to strengthen reconciliation efforts and work toward more agreements in the run-up to the national dialogue's next session on November 5.
Berri said he had told Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri that parties should not change their political alliances just because they were pursuing reconciliation. However, Berri added that "some those who are working on reconciliation are afraid of making their allies angry."
Berri called for removing all political insignia, and said that "tensions threaten the situation in Lebanon, and force more responsibilities and missions on the army, hindering them from controlling the borders."
Berri called on "Palestinian groups to control the security situation in the refugee camps, because security breaches should not influence the agreement among Palestinian and the Palestinian-Lebanese agreement."
"We should approve the electoral law, as stated in Doha Agreement," Berri said. Berri said that he hoped that "the current electoral law, which reflects the difficult situation, only applies to 2009 parliamentary elections."