Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addresses supporters via a screen during a religious ceremony in the suburbs of Beirut December 17, 2009.
During a speech marking the Day of Ashura , Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urged Christians to engage in “calm dialogue” but to leave Hezbollah arms alone stressing that Hezbollah will not be dragged into internal conflict over the issue of arms.
“The only thing left to talk about is resistance arms. But we will not be dragged into any provocation,” he warned.
Nasrallah was responding to Phalange party’s objection to article six of the ministerial policy statement which they claim legitimizes the Hezbollah arms. The Phalange party intends to challenge this article before the constitutional council. The party is headed by former president Amin Gemayel, a key leader of the Christian Maronite community
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs to commemorate Ashura and to listen to Nasrallah speech .via video link on a giant screen.
“We have entered a new phase in Lebanon: Reframing relations with Syria based on solid ground and cooperation,” Nasrallah said
“Today we have a national unity government represented by various forces which gives an opportunity for progress. We want to cooperate and join hands,” Nasrallah added
“Christians should not tolerate those who want to push them to commit suicide,” Nasrallah warned.
The Lebanese Muslim Shiites celebrated today The Day of Ashura, which is the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar which marks the climax of the remembrance of Muharram.
It is commemorated by Shiite Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala ( 80 KM south of Baghdad , Iraq) on 10 Muharram in the Hijra ( Islamic) year 61 (October 10, 680 AD.
Hezbollah’s ally , Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun told Kuwaiti newspaper Ad-Diyar that the Muslim Shiite commemoration of Ashura is similar to the Christian church’s commemoration of Good Friday :
“Ashura ritual pain resembles Christ’s pain,” Aoun said; adding that without pain there could be no freedom and independence.
He added that Shiite Muslims and Christians share similar principles, such as the belief in the return of Christ for Christians and the return of the Imam Mahdi for Shiite Muslims.
When people say they want to cooperate and join hands they listen to the other side which has different views.That s why we have two ears.As they say there are two sides to every question!One cannot completely disregard the opinion of others.They have a voice too.
He doesn’t want to be dragged into provocation? lol Say’s the group who turned its arms on its own people, or did Nasralla’s memory desert him?
This man is a master manipulator, and each speech confirms it.
Already they call the shots for lebanon, now he plays like he would never harm teh country.
Lay (Sit) Fauzia…..
I know you have two ears but I think Hasan has two voices, two moods and two visions:
Here is what I think:
He wants to be make Lebanon a Shiaa State….
If you disgree with him, then you are a supported for the State of Israel…
Here is what I think:
Hizbollah’s days are numbered…I am a Shiaa and Dislike Hizbollah and Iran will be dealt with a major defeat (hopefully soon).
Also:
Please be reminded that Hizbollah can not force its vision on Lebanon and even through intimidation. Berri should know that Shiaa’s in Lebanon are better off without Hizbollah (that is if he wanted to keep his job)….
No one is above the Lebanese Government and the rule of law….Not the Quran or Bible and definitely not Hizbollah….
Ali and the rest of you: I’M ALSO NOT A SHIAA, I did use to believe in the propaganda HEZBALLAH WANTS LEBANON AS A SHIAA STATE, but now I highly doubt it. This could have been possible maybe ages ago, but this WONT happen. Hezballah turned it’s weapon’s against the Lebanese, but so did other parties. Let us forget about it!
I think i was misunderstood.I was commenting on what i read in the article .Hassan Nassrallah said that he wants to cooperate and join hands yet he warns the other side and tells them to ¨leave Hezbollah arms alone ¨. They,is Hezbollah.They are the ones who disregard the opinion of the others .I meant to say that the others who oppose them ,have a voice too. This is what I meant ,ALI.I agree with you .
I think all Lebanese factions, strong today weaker tomorrow, and vice versa, if you look at our history it is always like that so we should not bully each other, politics change,major powers change, if somebody is a true statesman and a true nationalist should extend their hand to each other Muslim or Christian, after all God never said you are better then the other so let us not kid ourselves.
Fauzia, no-one said the opposing or allied parties of and with Hezballah have no right to speak, everyone in Lebanon has the right to make statements and talk… Maybe Nasrallah meant by saying ‘Leave our arms alone’, which is actually bate, he doesn’t want dialogue over the arms, because Hezballah believe they have a responsibility, and an aim, ofcourse along with the national army, to liberate occupied lands… Syria might have already said that these lands are Lebanese, but does Israel give a damn!? No. So lets just be a bit more open minded, Hezballah could have forced Wilayat al Faqih along time ago if they wanted. But they wont and it seems now that they can’t.
And plus, if ALL Christians and Muslims got along together SO well, we could sigh in relief. Thank God that there are no deep divisions, and hopefully there wont be.
Well said Louay.
Lebanon is more like a lost ship in stormy seas of politics…always sailing to unknown destination hoping for secure port and sane captain..
Thank you Youssef
& yeh Dlal that can be the sad truth, however we must all deff. agree and say that our President is one of a kind, atleast head of the country and a good man.
Sorry but I cant be that optimistic..all I see is history repeating itself only the major players have changed..perhaps am still angry at the factors of the bloody civil war that threw me at a young age millions of miless across the globe..at an age when I needed my friends, started discovering my social status and had dreams of becoming a jounalist to change a lot of things I felt strong about..my dreams were shattered and the war changed the course of my fate…My brother used to work as an offset printer for a newspaper in Beirut in the ’70s and he brought home newspapers so I used to read and didn’t like what I read..hmm perhaps am still yearning for the lebanon I was taken suddenly away from and I blame these same people and their sons in power today..I don’t believe anyone loved it the way one should.:(
your arms should be cut off at the elbows your majesty Hassan Hizballah.