Nasrallah Address Opens New Confrontation with March 14 Forces
Friday”s evening address by Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayed Hassan Nasrallah opened a many wounds among March 14 Forces particularly regarding the events of May 7 last year, ushering new political confrontation in the country.
Government sources told the daily An-Nahar on Saturday: "Nasrallah”s speech speaks for itself." Refusing to provide further comments. However, MP Samir al-Jisser spoke to the Future News TV saying: "His speech is part of a new political aggravation in the region on the level on Syrian-U.S. relations."
Al-Jisser denied Nasrallah”s claim that residents of Akkar came down to Beirut before May 7 fully armed saying: "if they were armed they would have appeared on television screens but that was not the case."
The head of the “Democratic Gathering” and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblat told An-Nahar: "I am more determined that ever to maintaining calm [in the country]."
Sources from within the parliamentary majority saw that the secretary-general”s address reflected "much tensions regarding the negative aspects that surround him with his ally Gen. Michel Aoun, and is related to what happened at the last cabinet meeting when President Michel Suleiman called the cabinet to vote [on the issue of administrative appointments].
Hizbullah”s al-Manar TV stated that the secretary-general”s appearance "ushers in a new period that would be managed by minds that have defeated giants…he issued a message in more than one direction internally and externally for those that need to understand."
The Free Patriotic Movement”s OTV concluded that the "other side [March 14 Forces] main concern [last May 7] was to aim against General Aoun and put us at odds against the armed forces."
The daily As-Safir said that al-Mustaqbal Movement circles expressed surprise concerning Nasrallah”s speech saying: "How could he consider the military breaking into Beirut on May 7 a glorious day for the resistance?"
The paper added that al-Mustaqbal is expecting a harsh response to Nasrallah”s "unacceptable" speech.
Informed sources close to the opposition told As-Safir that Nasrallah”s speech was influenced by the negative and tense political tones waged by March 14 Forces "the aim was to strike against this tone of political address and tensions created by the other side."
The daily Pan-Arab al-Hayat said that talk of May 7 as a glorious day for the resistance "would receive negative response by undetermined and non-allied voters to benefit the parliamentary majority."
While the daily al-Liwaa replied saying "No Sayed Nasrallah May 7 was a bad omen and not glorious in the history f the resistance in Lebanon."
The paper added that the secretary-general”s speech returns tensions to the streets, escalates the political tone in the country making the holding of calm and quiet elections difficult.
Al-Liwaa described Nasrallah”s speech as non-electoral but a speech of political escalation making Lebanon a tense regional spot where the will of settlement and conflict clash.
Former PM Najib Miqati said that for Nasrallah to consider events of May 7 a glorious day for the resistance is a call for sorrow. This does not serve clam in the country it rather carries the worst effect on political stability in Lebanon.