Sheikh Qassem gave a speech during the ceremony, which included the following: "The ‘Israeli' noises you hear today talking about Hizbullah and Hamas arming themselves and the injustices allegedly suffered by "Israel", are but "Israeli" attempts to pretend to weep before world community that the world is against it, using expressions of peace when it in fact employs lethal phrases and weapons against the women, children and the elderly such as in the cases of Palestine and Lebanon."

Sheikh Qassem said: "This ‘Israeli' uproar is composing aims at three things at this stage:
1) ‘Israel' wants to distract the world from the Goldstone report, a report we ought not to underestimate as this is the first time an international body issues a condemnation against ‘Israeli' of committing genocide against humanity.

2) ‘Israel' wants to distract the world of its disruption of all negotiation settlements, and of trying to enter negotiations with the Palestinians having nothing in the hands. Do you know what the ‘Israeli'-Palestinian negotiations have been about since their start until now? They have not been negotiations, they merely dictates called negotiations table.

3) It wants to provide a cover up for the joint ‘Israeli'-US exercises, because for America to directly join the arena, means ‘Israel' is living a state of powerlessness in meeting its challenges and therefore wants to fill this weakness by a direct implication of the U.S.

With regards to the government subject, his Eminence considered five titles to be the government's major tasks in the current stage: 

1) Economic advancement.
2) Tackling social issues and providing job opportunities.
3) Fighting corruption in all sectors without exception.
4) That ministries work under national rather than sectarian mentality.
5) Face the challenges posed by "Israel's" threats and occupation with all the requirements it takes to face these challenges of abilities and capabilities including support for the National Lebanese Army, this government's insistence on resistance, and to stand united in the face of challenges.