Nasrallah Criticizes Sfeir”s “Dangerous” Statement on Election Eve, Vows to Seek Legal Action against Election Violators
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah criticized Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir”s statement on election eve and pledged to follow up on voting violations in a peaceful manner.
Sfeir said on the eve of the June 7 elections that Lebanon is facing a threat to its entity and Arab identity.
"National duty calls on all of us to be aware of what is being planned. We must work hard on thwarting all attempts that, if successful, could change the face of Lebanon," Sfeir has said.
Addressing Sfeir, Nasrallah said: "I did not see how Lebanon”s entity would have been threatened if the opposition won (elections)."
He demanded an explanation from the patriarch on how the opposition victory would have threatened Lebanon”s Arab identity.
Nasrallah wondered whether the opposition was more dangerous than the Israelis.
"Throughout the eighties and the years that followed, I never heard the patriarch talk about threats to the Lebanese entity," Nasrallah said.
He recalled that during Sfeir”s presence in Bkirki, "we have seen Israeli massacres and aggressions and he never spoke of threats against the Lebanese entity. We never heard the patriarch warning against Israeli attacks."
"It is shameful that the patriarch did not view the Israeli dangers as a threat to the Lebanese entity," Nasrallah added.
Regarding the Arab identity, Nasrallah went on to say, "I believe that the opposition, Syria and Iran are all Arabs," stressing that Iran was no longer Persian.
He called on Sfeir to put forward a "series of studies and proposals" for strengthening the Arab identity in Lebanon and demanded that the patriarch make a public announcement about it.
Nasrallah”s remarks came in a speech broadcast live on Hizbullah”s al-Manar television late Wednesday.
Turning to the issue on Wilayat al-Fakih, Nasrallah said this subject is "part of our religious ideology. Attacking it is tantamount to attacking our religious beliefs."
He was speaking during a ceremony to honor electoral machines in Beirut, Mount and northern Lebanon.
Regarding elections, Nasrallah said the opposition”s goal was to obtain a parliamentary majority "in order to carry out reform plans."
"This, however, has not been achieved," he acknowledged.
"I will not conceal that we were looking forward to winning the elections because winning meant confronting major challenges," he added.
"However, we dealt realistically with election results. We were not shaken because we are still where we were, and nothing has changed as far as we are concerned.
He said he will continue to maintain the atmosphere of calm.
Nasrallah said elections took place under U.S., Western and Arab "intimidation in an effort to impose their options that may not coincide with the will of the Lebanese."
"The opposition did not lose its status, but has stood fast in the face of a true global war: lies, money and America.
Nasrallah stressed that the opposition enjoys a "popular majority," while the parliamentary majority is a "reality under the electoral system."
He interrupted himself to tell the pro-government parliamentary majority jokingly: "I advise March 14 (forces) not to interfere in the Iranian elections because this is an issue that they don”t understand."
Turning to the issue of vote-buying, Nasrallah said: "There is no equality of opportunity between the loyalists and the opposition regarding the issue of brining in expatriates, particularly with regards to money."
"We will follow up on election violations through the law and will not resort to street" protests," he said.
He stressed that one has bought Shiite votes.
"Instead, they responded to (Israeli Defense Minister Ehud)Barak, who threatened to attack Lebanon in the event Hizbullah won (elections). They told him (Barak) “Get lost”.
On the question of a new government, the Hizbullah chief said: "We were a forgotten, neglected and excluded. All we seek is true partnership," adding that the opposition wants Nabih Berri to be re-elected as Speaker.