Qmati says Hezbollah won't quit govt. or resort to street action
The deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, Mahmoud Qmati, noted Monday that the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement was "born dead," stressing that his group will not allow it to be implemented.
"We will confront it with all possible means and methods," Qmati said in an interview with The New Arab news portal.
"We want our land and its liberation, and we will hold onto our weapons. The resistance approach will continue, and we will continue to rely on the Islamabad and Switzerland track and the pressure from Iran, which possesses leverage to pressure the Americans so that they, in turn, pressure the Israelis to withdraw from our land," the Hezbollah official added.
Asked why the two Hezbollah ministers have not resigned from the government, Qmati explained: "We maintain a thin thread of communication, and we emphasize that we do not want a complete separation or rupture. We are still giving them opportunities and trying to get them to abandon their misguided ways. "
He added: "If they return, we can correct the course and work together to protect the country. If they persist on this path—and it seems they will—and if they want to incite strife, destroy the country, and create instability, then we are wise and prudent, and we know how to confront them."
Qmati also pointed out that Hezbollah has no intention of resigning from the government "in the near future."
Regarding whether street protests are a means of confrontation, especially after the demonstrations in Beirut by Hezbollah supporters rejecting the agreement, he stated: "This agreement doesn't warrant taking to the streets, and we won't stage a massive popular movement for an agreement that was born dead."
"We will not initiate any action that would destabilize the country. Our priority is confronting the Israeli enemy and its ongoing aggression against our nation," Qmati explained.
He added: "Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's position is clear: the agreement was designed to sow discord, and he will not accept it; it is unacceptable to him."
"As Hezbollah, and as a broad national alliance within the resistance, we never want to create any problems within Lebanon. Yes, the agreement is null and void, it cannot be implemented, and that's the end of it."
In response to a question about the possibility of renewed Israeli aggression, Qmati replied: "All possibilities are open. Therefore, we are placing our bets on the Islamabad track and the meetings in Switzerland. These are the mechanisms to prevent aggression, achieve Israeli withdrawal, and liberate Lebanon."
Qmati also noted that "Hezbollah was supposed to meet with President Joseph Aoun, but he issued statements accusing the party of treason."
"Frankly, we don't know who is controlling him, how he thinks, or whom he is trying to appease," Qmati added.
"What we do know is that the Americans are trying to sabotage everything. They intervened through the Washington track with Lebanon and Israel to undermine the Islamabad track regarding Lebanon, claiming that the Lebanese state, through the agreement, is accepting continued Israeli presence on its territory. However, Iran will not accept this and will insist on withdrawal," Qmati went on to say.
Source: Naharnet
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