Nasrallah: State Not Lifting a Finger to Stop Networks from Planting Booby-Trapped Cars in Lebanon
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah criticized on Monday the state for failing to address the networks that are planting booby-trapped cars in Lebanon.
He said: “The state is aware of the activity of these networks, but is not lifting a finger to stop them.”
He made his remarks during a speech marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Great Prophet Hospital.
“The state is aware of the various security threats in Lebanon and it cannot be selective in tackling them,” he added.
Nasrallah therefore demanded that the caretaker government convene in order to address security threats, saying: “It should not convene only after an explosion takes place. These issues cannot be postponed.”
Addressing the clashes in the northern city of Tripoli, the Hizbullah chief urged the cabinet to take a “firm decision” to put an end to the instability in the city.
“The army and security forces should take over control in Tripoli and the people should provide them with the necessary support while they perform their duties,” he continued.
Commenting on the political deadlock in Lebanon and failure to form a new government, Nasrallah accused the March 14 camp of only prolonging the impasse by imposing various conditions on forming a cabinet.
He noted that the camp was and is still banking on the developments in Syria in order to take any political decision in this matter, saying that such actions will only maintain the deadlock.
“Doesn't ending the deadlock require some sacrifices? We won't present any sacrifices as we have already presented enough of them,” declared Nasrallah.
He therefore suggested that the March 14 camp “exercise some humility” and accept the formation of a cabinet that grants nine ministers to itself and the March 8 camp, while the remaining six be granted to centrists.
“We have exercised humility by accepting this formula seeing as nine ministers is less than what we deserve given our political weight,” he remarked.
Since his appointment in April, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has faced conditions and counter-conditions from the rival March 8 and 14 camps over the formation of a new government.
Furthermore, Nasrallah stressed the need for the caretaker government to convene in order to tackle the oil file and in order to order the army and security forces to take control of Tripoli.
He stated however that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati is being pressured by Saudi Arabia and the March 14 camp against calling cabinet to session.
On the recent release of the Lebanese pilgrims who were held in Syria's Aazaz region, he congratulated them on their safe return to Beirut, hoping that this development would pave the way for resolving the case of Lebanese held in Israel and Syria and who have gone missing over the past two years or since the Lebanese civil war.
He therefore suggested that mechanisms be set in place to tackle these issues.
“A state that respects itself will address these humanitarian affairs,” Nasrallah said.
He revealed: “I have received word from Syria that it is willing to help resolve the cases of missing persons and we hope these efforts will yield happy endings.”
Nine Lebanese pilgrims, who were kidnapped and held in Syria since 2011, were released some two weeks ago and they returned to Lebanon on October 19.
Turning to the crisis in Syria, Nasrallah said: “The recent developments in Syria have helped us realize that there can only be a political solution, not a military one, to the unrest.”
“All concerned sides should approach dialogue in Syria without preconditions,” he demanded, while accusing Saudi Arabia of resorting to “all means” to topple the Syrian regime.
“Obstructing the political solution in Syria will lead to more death and destruction and negative repercussions on Lebanon and all other countries neighboring Syria,” he warned.
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