'Israel' seeks to weaken Lebanon, Resistance to persist: Sheikh Qassem
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Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem stresses that "Israel" seeks to dominate Lebanon, calls for an end to aggression, and reaffirms resistance and state-building as Lebanon’s path to strength.
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Hezbollah's leader Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, July 2, 2024. (AP)
Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, reaffirmed in a televised speech on Monday that "Israel" seeks to weaken Lebanon through continued aggression, occupation, and political pressure, stressing that Lebanon’s strength lies in its Resistance, army, and people.
Speaking on the ongoing escalation, Sheikh Qassem declared, "Israel wants to dominate Lebanon, to build settlements within its territory, and to weaken it. Whoever does not believe this should explain why Israel remained in Lebanon for 18 years and only left due to the Resistance."
Strength in resistance and unity
The Hezbollah leader stressed that Lebanon will remain strong through the unity of its Resistance, army, and people, asserting that the Lebanese will not abandon their defensive capabilities.
Addressing Lebanese officials directly, Sheikh Qassem warned against making further concessions to the Israeli regime, stating, "Netanyahu is in a very difficult position and cannot achieve his objectives, and there must be no further concessions to him."
Three priorities: Ending aggression, reconstruction, state-building
Sheikh Qassem outlined three main priorities for Lebanon at this critical juncture. "The first priority is to stop the Israeli aggression, ensure the withdrawal from South Lebanon, and secure the release of captives," he stated firmly.
He also criticized delays in national reconstruction efforts, saying, "The second priority is reconstruction, and the government has been severely delayed in reconstruction; this is our duty."
He added that Hezbollah has taken on the burden of supporting displaced and affected communities, "So far, we have sheltered 50,755 people whose homes were completely destroyed and have repaired 332,000 homes. This was the responsibility of the state, and we carried it out ourselves through great personal sacrifice."
Regarding governance, he stressed, "The third priority is state-building, and our entire path is one of supporting the construction of the state."
On ceasefire violations and foreign interference
On the issue of the ceasefire, Sheikh Qassem highlighted, "No violations of the ceasefire agreement have been recorded against us, while the Israeli side has breached it more than 3,000 times." He called on the Lebanese state to act, saying, "The Lebanese state is responsible for following up on the ceasefire agreement by pressuring the guarantor states."
He criticized some Lebanese officials for their stance, noting, "Some officials tell envoys that they are ready to restrict weapons while the other side has not fulfilled its obligations."
Referring to recent Israeli attacks, he stated, "Yesterday's attack on the southern suburbs was carried out under American cover," and warned, "America has interests in Lebanon, and it must understand that its interests cannot be realized without Lebanon’s stability."
Gaza’s resilience and regional solidarity
Turning to Gaza, Sheikh Qassem praised the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, saying, "I say to the people of Gaza: Your legendary steadfastness prevents the enemy from achieving its goals, and this resilience is a prelude to victory."
He also extended his condolences to Iran, its leadership, government, and people, following the tragic Bandar Abbas Port explosion, which left over a thousand victims, between injured and killed.
In a similar context, Sheikh Naim offered his "condolences to the Christian world for the death of Pope Francis."
Internal affairs: Political alliances, electoral participation
Sheikh Naim Qassem touched on Lebanon's internal political dynamics further, particularly the upcoming municipal and electoral processes. He revealed that Hezbollah has solidified its cooperation with the Amal Movement to ensure stability and effective governance.
"We have formed an alliance with the Amal Movement to manage the elections and shift from crisis and conflict to agreement," he stated, emphasizing the importance of unity in navigating Lebanon’s internal challenges.
Highlighting the need for broad-based representation, Sheikh Qassem stressed, "We want to develop the principle of participation and ensure that families, tribes, social groups, and political forces are all properly represented."
Encouraging civic engagement, he concluded, "I call for a strong turnout in the municipal and electoral elections."
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