Gemayel: Hizbullah Expands Military Capacities from Jezzine to Laqlouq
Phalange Party leader and former President Amin Gemayel accused Hizbullah of expanding its military capabilities into non-Shiite areas – from Jezzine in the south to Laqlouq in Mount Lebanon, raising doubt about the resistance.
"There is some sort of military preparation starting from Niha in Jezzine all the way across the entire Western mountain range with military surveillance posts set up from Jezzine to Sannine all the way up to Laqlouq" in Mount Lebanon, Gemayel told Kalam el-Nass talk show late Thursday.
He said other military surveillance posts were also obvious across the Eastern mountain range.
Gemayel said that the preparations became evident after an incident two weeks ago when hooded gunmen kidnapped a number of youths who were vacationing in Sannine.
He said after that incident a "fully equipped encampment with wireless radios was discovered" in the area.
Asked whether Hizbullah was behind this move, Gemayel said: "Who else but Hizbullah is capable of carrying out these activities in Jezzine and Sannine?"
Gemayel questioned Hizbullah”s "resistance" in light of its military expansion.
On the issue of peace talks with Israel, Gemayel favored indirect negotiations with the Jewish state and through a mediator "just as it is done with Hizbullah … and Syria."
"Why does Hizbullah have the right to hold negotiations through a German mediator on the prisoners” issue, while it is not right for the Lebanese government to negotiate via a mediator on the issue of the Shebaa Farms?" Gemayel wondered.