NNA - Hizbollah marked Saturday the 13th commemoration of "Resistance and Liberation Day" in a ceremony held in the town of Mashghara in West Beqaa. A crowd of political, military, spiritual and diplomatic dignitaries attended the ceremony, which took place under the headline: "Undefeated Will."


In his word on the occasion, Hizbollah Secretary General, Al-Sayid Hasan Nasrallah, addressed a huge anticipating audience through a giant screen, paying tribute to all fallen martyrs of the Resistance and Lebanese Army. He praised the endless sacrifices of the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian people, Army and Resistance. He also expressed a word of appreciation to the people of West Beqaa for their warm welcome and central role in the Resistance's Jihad, sacrifices and victory.


"The Day of May 25th, 2000, is rightfully a day in which the mercy of the Lord, His kindness and victorious support to His patient people, were greatly witnessed and gloriously evident in the victory over the Zionist enemy," said Nasrallah. "Hence, we had had our historical victory versus their defeat," he added.


Nasrallah vowed that said day ought to, and shall remain, alive in the memory of all, passed on from generation to generation. "It is the open road towards a glorified future," Nasrallah added, since it summarizes a deep national experience, huge sacrifices and lessons marked by pains and hopes, he noted.


Meanwhile, Nasrallah urged all to recall the defeats of May 1948 and 1967, in comparison with the many achieved victories. He pointed, herein, to particular sides that harbor wishes for the Arab world to be with "no history and no memory." He referred to the numerous challenges and dangers confronting the region at the current stage, namely the danger of Israel and the transformations in Syria.


Nasrallah pointed to the "Ministry of Home Front Defense" as being an entity in itself in Israel, highlighting Israel's continuous threats against Lebanon and Syria. He indicated that Israel has been equipping itself since the year 2006, working on covering its flaws. On the other hand, he questioned about the kind of preparations the Lebanese State has undergone, thus far, to confront the possible dangers of an Israeli attach?


"We are at a historical critical moment and there is no room for cordial words or hiding behind our fingers; instead it is time for confrontation of hurricanes and bearing of responsibilities," said Nasrallah.


Nasrallah went on to question the whereabouts of equipping of the Lebanese Army, so as to render it capable enough to deter the enemy? "What has the government done ever since the year 2005 in light of State sovereignty?" he questioned. He stressed that the Lebanese Army soldiers are men of national and resistance culture, and "if weapons were available, they would have resisted," he noted.


Nasrallah referred to Israel's possession of the most powerful naval arms in the region. However, on the other hand, he pointed to the absence of any solutions or plans on part of the Lebanese State in the wake of such Israeli power.


Nasrallah reminded that the Resistance was the one to force Israel out of the lands it had occupied in Lebanon. He added that the Resistance was also the one to stand in confrontation of Israel in the year 2006, for which reasons Israel fears Lebanon, he noted. Hence, he criticized those attempting to disarm the Resistance.

He questioned how the State can be entrusted with the Resistance's arms when it is unable to protect a mere funeral convoy or a city like Tripoli, and has failed to come up with a new electoral law? "Can such a State protect a nation?" asked Nasrallah.


Nasrallah called for building a just and capable, courageous State, whilst urging the government to show awareness towards the real Israeli danger, for Israel is maneuvering and equipping itself with arms, he reminded.


Nasrallah vowed that the Resistance Movement shall pursue shouldering its responsibilities, in spite of all media campaigns and terrorism accusations waged against it, which have no effect whatsoever, he noted.


Moreover, Nasrallah considered that the presence of a "State" is better than any conflict or chaos. He added that all campaigns targeting March 8th Forces and accusations against Hizbollah of dragging the country into "complete void" instead of a "real state" have been proven false and groundless. He noted that Hizbollah has even agreed to hold the parliamentary elections on basis of the 1960 electoral law!


"We are confronted with 3 choices," he added, "either holding the elections on basis of the 1960 law or prolonging the current Parliament mandate or agreeing on a new electoral law." Nasrallah reiterated, herein, rejection of a state of void or plunging the country into security chaos. He stressed on distancing Lebanon from bloodshed, voicing daily commitment to such a matter.


Nasrallah also called for distancing the City of Tripoli from all clashes and disputes while urging combatants to resort to the Army, "since it denotes the country's internal guarantee," he said.


As for developments in Syria, Nasrallah highlighted the critical and dangerous nature of such a delicate phase the whole region is witnessing, in the wake of Syrian incidents. He pointed to the many attempts of Syrian President, Bashar El Asad, to work on a political solution, which the Syrian opposition had refused, and still refuses all calls for dialogue, in hopes of defeating the Syrian regime, harboring belief that America, Europe and some Arab oil nations are supportive of their moves.


"However, incidents in Syria developed into an axis led by America and supported by Israel, both of which are complementary projects in the region, involving the Qaeda and extremist trends," he added. Nasrallah went on to criticize "friends of Syria" for showing no objection to such combatants whilst disapproving of the interference of a few Hizbollah's fighters in Syria.

Nasrallah referred to the stronger power controlling the Syrian scene at the moment, namely the extremist forces. He considered that such forces shall pay the price of any settlement occurring in Syria; reminding that the Arab nations wish to be rid of such extremist powers together with the Syrian regime!


"The issue is no longer the case of a revolutionary people aiming for reform, but instead it has become a different matter," added Nasrallah, pointing to the danger of such extremist groups. He warned of the threat they pose to Lebanon and all Lebanese, of all sects, and to coexistence in the country. Hence, he urged all Lebanese to remain alert towards the epidemic nature of such extremist groups, citing herein Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Tunisia and Libya which have suffered hugely of their presence. He referred to the danger of said extremist groups against the whole region, adding that Syria is no longer a revolutionary field but has transformed into a battlefield for the American-Zionist project.


Nasrallah also warned that in the wake of Syria's fall into the hands of American and Israeli administrations, then the Resistance Movement shall be cornered, and Lebanon, once again, shall be plunged into the Israeli era.


"The Resistance has changed the local and regional equation, and through our stand, we are defending Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, which shall expose us to many media campaigns," said Nasrallah.


Nevertheless, Nasrallah indicated that a new phase has clearly begun, namely a phase of fortifying and protecting the Resistance, and Lebanon, which is a responsibility to be shouldered by all, he noted.


======================= R.Sh.