Gemayel Demands Hizbullah to Give Safety Guarantees for Citizens
Hizbullah should provide safety guarantees for citizens touring areas that fall under its control, especially Jezzine, Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel said Wednesday after talks with the director the Italian foreign ministry”s Middle East department Cesar Ragallini.
Gemayel”s comments came in reaction to a court decision earlier to release on bail Hizbullah member Mustafa Hassan Muqdim, accused of "unintentionally killing" army pilot Samer Hanna last year in the region of Jezzine.
Remarking on the opposition”s demands for assurances in the new government, Gemayel asked: "What are the guarantees that Hizbullah can provide for the Lebanese citizen(s) that (they) can safely tour the Lebanese territories without being killed and without the killer receiving a medal of honor?"
"Let us know which side is the authority. Is it Hizbullah, the Lebanese state or the judiciary, which must not have double standards? There are people who have power surpassing that of the army, the judiciary, parliament, cabinet and the president," he added.
Expressing surprise at the court”s ruling, Gemayel said: "The military court could only have released Hanna”s killer based on an army recommendation or a military report."
The court”s decision "indicates that Hizbullah”s presence in Jezzine and shooting at a military chopper are considered natural and rightful for some. This is why there was a recommendation for (Muqdim”s) release," he added.
In his defense, Muqdim said he mistook the Lebanese army helicopter Hanna was manning for an Israeli aircraft.