Sheikh Qassem: We call for national concord and not for throwing the ball in the other´s court

Hizbollah Site Staff, 09-09-2009

On September 8, the Lebanese National News Agency carried the following speech delivered by Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem, during the annual Iftar of the workers and syndicates unit of the party at the Golden Plaza Hotel:

"Look at the logic of some politicians, clerics and figures in this country. Their logic is based on bigotry and extremism under the headline that each of them is responsible for his sect. You are responsible for your sect to treat it fairly, not to walk along the corrupt in it and cover their devious acts against the country... Our main disease in Lebanon is that of sectarianism and the sectarians among those who hide behind their sects to control them, fill their pockets and earn positions".

"Sectarianism is the work tool of some hiding behind their sects while cursing them, even though they claim to defend them. They thus put their personal interests and those of their families and surrounding ahead of the interests of the country, then when they start speaking, they begin allocating shares of patriotism on all. But what have the latter achieved? Did they liberate the country? Did they offer sacrifices? Or did they join parties, deal with the enemy and engage in experiences which completely distanced them from any national interest?"

"In Lebanon, we are located in an Arab surrounding with a sacred cause that is the Palestinian cause. This cause has directly affected our situation in Lebanon and in the region. We cannot disregard the fact that we are part of this Arab region and the fact that we are affected by what is happening inside Palestine. To those trying to elude the responsibility I therefore say: Can you live in Lebanon without any regard for what is happening in Palestine or for the presence of the "Israeli" entity which invaded Lebanon time and time again? How can you disregard this Palestinian cause which is carrying direct repercussions on us?"

"Some say that Lebanon offered a lot for the sake of the Palestinian cause, but allow me to tell you that Lebanon offered a lot of things to us and to our country before offering anything to the Palestinian cause. When we win, we win for ourselves and serve the Palestinian cause. When we oust "Israel", we do it ourselves and not on behalf of anyone, and then serve the Palestinians. It is in our own interest to remain in the camp preventing "Israel" from occupying, killing and promoting its projects. We do not want Lebanon to be neutral...

"O Arabs, are you not hearing what "Israel" is saying? And if you are hearing, do you not understand what it is saying? How can we face this? Some are saying they will not tolerate naturalization, but those who accepted the settlement under American sponsorship have accepted naturalization and America's dictations, since the settlement will naturally lead to "Israel's" official existence, the undermining of the Palestinian cause and the naturalization of the Palestinians in the areas where they are residing, including Lebanon. Those rejecting naturalization should start resisting, because only the resistance can topple the "Israeli" project and prevent the expansion of its ramifications."

"On the other hand, he said regarding the governmental formation: "The country has previously gone through two experiences: that of a national provocation government and that of a national unity government. In the first experience, all the facilities were blocked and instability prevailed at the political, security, social and economic levels. As for the second experience which emerged following the Doha Accord, it was a successful one because it restored stability and rendered the discussion of the issues a matter of national interest. It thus allowed us to elect a president and hold parliamentary elections and to launch discussions over issues of interest to the people".

"However, this government was temporary and was not given enough time to offer all it had to give. Therefore, between the national provocation government and the national unity government, the latter was most successful. So let us return to the national unity government, now that we have conducted the parliamentary elections..."

He then reiterated Hizbullah's call for real participation not the participation in form, saying: "We call for national concord and not for throwing the ball in the other's court as a defiance means. We call for the minimum level of solidarity to mend the trust between the different sides and implement the remaining articles of the Taif, to see where the problems reside".

"Let us at least finish implementing the Taif to detect the shortcomings and deal with sectarianism at the level of the positions, so that it is replaced with competence. Only then will we be serving the country, instead of serving the sects and the cheap and narrow calculations, and only then will the country be freed of monopoly with the collaboration of all sides to secure its prosperity and its rise."