Hizbullah”s Arms Are Result of Conflict in the Region
MP Michel Aoun on Monday said that Hizbullah”s possession of weapons came as a result of the decades-long Arab-Israeli conflict and added that Lebanon did not expect any good will gestures from Israel.
After his bloc”s weekly meeting, Aoun defended Hizbullah saying the party”s possession of its own arsenal "was the product of a political and military situation in the Middle East and in Lebanon."
"We must first resolve (the conflict) before removing the pin that bothers them.
"You can keep denying it but today Lebanon is capable of protecting itself and no one protected us from the 60-year old Palestinian problem," he added.
The Israeli government last week indicated it will soon announce plans to evacuate troops from the northern part of Ghajar but press reports Monday said a withdrawal was not possible if Hizbullah wins the June 7 elections.
"No one expects from the Israeli to do any favors for Lebanon. He can withdraw or not withdraw from our land but we do not expect an act of goodwill," Aoun said.
Aoun then lashed out at President Michel Suleiman for "keeping silent" as the former”s political opponents wage "a campaign of lies" against him.
"I will not accept the silence of the president and the public prosecution when I am being conspired against. Any one who turns a blind eye is himself a conspirator," Aoun said.
The MP recalled asking the president for "a clear position" in response to a newspaper report claiming Aoun advocates a constitutional amendment that would reduce Suleiman”s term in office.
"The president has a right to support whomever he wants in the elections. However, it is unacceptable for security forces to interfere by promoting the candidates that he backs," Aoun added.
"Some people have been receiving phone calls telling them that the president was in danger and if they do not vote for a certain list his term will be cut short," Aoun said.
He also said some municipalities are using their offices for electoral campaigning and called for their phone lines to be monitored.
Aoun then turned his attention to ad-Diyar newspaper saying its "attacks have gone too far."
"What is the role of the National Media Council and the public prosecution in cases of false reports, libel and slander?" he asked.