Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah spoke in Dahiyeh during a celebration of International al-Quds day.  The following are excerpts from Nasrallah’s speech:

On Lebanese affairs

-We resort to the elections and to the people. Parliamentary blocs will be formed; a majority and a minority will be formed. However, Lebanon is a special case. It might be ruled by a majority, but, in this way its, conflicts will never be resolved.

-We are serious, real, and cautious in all reconciliations that aim to create a positive atmosphere. Details are not important. We are ready to comfort all Lebanese, especially in Beirut.

-Reconciliation does not mean new political alliances. We assure this and so do they. Their aim is to create a positive atmosphere and pave the way to the democratic 2009 parliamentary elections, which will be the deciding factor. We have always sought these elections. People will make their choices in these elections.

-If the opposition wins a majority, Hezbollah will be committed to a national unity cabinet that makes others partners in the decision making process. We do not want to deny anyone a voice, we must learn from the past. Lebanon cannot be ruled on a majority/minority principle, this principle is not suitable to resolve issues.  

-We believe that Lebanon’s interest and our interest in Lebanon, is to work, build and face the challenges together. This is what we look up to. On this basis we resisted the enemy, and went to the national dialogue to discuss how to strengthen our country.

-The media spoke of Israeli opposition to the US decision to offer military aid to Lebanon.  Should we wait for Israel or the US to take decisions to arm our army?

-From the national unity cabinet, we need a courageous decision, which says that we want to equip our army and prepare it to defend our country. The state must buy weapons for its army, even form black markets like the resistance does, if we wait for Rice she will not give our country anything except weak military vehicles.

-National force cannot be built from the outside; it can only come from national will.

-We have always said we were cautious in preserving peace and stability. We have always talked of national unity and demanded dialogue. 

-Let the tense political language stop for a while. Let this country take a chance to relax, to rethink and revise matters. An electoral law will be adopted and elections will occur on time.

On the Palestinians in Lebanon

-In Lebanon, it is not sufficient to oppose the naturalization of the Palestinians; we must make every effort, at every level, to preserve the Palestinian’s right to return to their country.

-We support any amendment of the constitution that forbids naturalization, which is an American-Israeli project financed by the Arabs.

-It is Lebanon’s responsibility is to improve the situation in the refugee camps. I hail the wise and correct Palestinian decision in Lebanon to remain neutral toward Lebanese divisions and disputes.

On Israel and the Palestinians

-Jerusalem is, and always has been, subject to elimination Jerusalem and Palestine belong to the Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims and nobody has the right to concede any single part of this sacred territory
 
-This nation must feel the depth of the insult against Christian and Muslim sacred lands occupied by the Zionists. 

-Israel is not only the enemy of Palestinians but also of Lebanon, the Arab world and Islam

-The only way to retrieve the sacred land is through resistance: Palestinian and Lebanese. Today, this is more possible than ever before. Today, the dreams of the Zionists are over and our dreams have started to become true.

-There is no horizon of settlement today. Gaza is under siege and the Palestinians are being killed…Palestinians, united, will not concede Jerusalem. 

-The nation must remove this siege. It is not impossible; all it requires is the will to do it.

-Media and political support for Palestinian pain is legitimate, but not adequately applied. The nation must make every effort to bring about reconciliation among the Palestinians.

-If the nation lives up to its responsibility, retrieving Jerusalem and Palestine will not be far off, in fact it will happen shortly.

-Many developments have occurred with this international al-Quds day. The fall of the last symbol of the 2006 July War, PM Ehud Olmert. He admitted the end of the dream of ‘Greater Israel.’ Israel has a deficiency in its leadership today.

-Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine has overcome all dangers that threaten its existence.

-We have seen the failure of the American project in the region. Tension reigns in the international arena after the war in Georgia failed, and the American axis collapsed, and along with it has come the recent international financial crisis. All these are developments have opened the door to a future where the interests of this region will be achieved.
-We must strengthen our positions, because the future will witness more victories.

-NOW Staff