“In any confrontation between Israel and Hizbullah, the international community will stand by Israel, but if the confrontation was between Israel and the Lebanese State, we’d have at least 50% chance of gaining the international community’s support,” Geagea said.

Geagea noted that “Hizbullah’s arms are of no use as long as the international community stands by Israel,” warning that “we have started to head toward the storm due to the behavior taking place on the Lebanese territory.”

“Lebanon is actually in the eye of the storm and the intensive visits of foreign and Arab diplomats to Beirut prove that,” Geagea added during an interview on Future News TV.

“The build-up of Hizbullah’s military capabilities does not strengthen Lebanon and I don’t think that Hizbullah would use its weapons in the Lebanese interior, but it is very important that these arms be placed under the command of the State.”

Answering a question on his recent criticism of President Michel Suleiman, Geagea said: “The president’s reformist approach is immaculate and he takes the major credit, together with (Interior) Minister (Ziad) Baroud, for the occurrence of the municipal elections.”

“I disagree with the president over one point: Hizbullah’s arms, and at least half of the Lebanese share me this viewpoint,” Geagea added.

“The March 14 Alliance, at the political and popular levels, is not with the ‘people-army-resistance’ theory, and the national dialogue table convened because there is an essential dispute over this topic; and President Suleiman must take that into consideration.”

Geagea called on Suleiman “to truly remain a president for all the Lebanese, especially regarding this issue.”

The message is that Israel does not intend to attack Syria or Lebanon and that Damascus should stop transferring weapons to Hezbollah and training its fighters in Syria.

Israeli Radio reported on Sunday that Claude Guéant, the general secretary of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, relayed the message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Israel in April accused Syria of transferring Scud missiles to Hezbollah, which Damascus denies.

The British newspaper said one of the submarines – designed to act as a deterrent and collect intelligence — was already sent for fear of any possible missile attack on Israeli sites by Hebzollah, Iran and Syria.

Israel also fears that these attacks could include air bases and missile launchers, The Sunday Times said.

It said the German-built submarines of Flotilla 7 have visited the Gulf before. Israel only now has decided to keep at least one there permanently.

The Sunday Times quoted the flotilla’s commander, identified as “Col. O,” as telling an unidentified Israeli newspaper: “We are an underwater assault force. We’re operating deep and far, very far, from our borders.”

The submarines, each carrying up to 50 crew members, can stay at sea about 50 days and remain submerged at least a week, according to the report.

It said some of the cruise missiles the subs contain carry the most advanced nuclear warheads in Israel’s arsenal.

The Sunday Times cited an Israeli navy officer as saying that the warheads could be used if Iran continues its nuclear program.

The officer warned that the 1,500-kilometer range cruise missiles can reach any target in Iran.

An Iranian admiral hit back, telling The Sunday Times: “Anyone who wishes to do an evil act in the Persian Gulf will receive a forceful response from us.”

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He told Israel Radio: “There is nothing worrisome or frightening in Hizbullah’s arsenal, whether it’s the Scud or the anti-aircraft missiles that it received and still receives from Syria.”

“Israel has the power to hit Hizbullah if the situation calls for it,” Halutz stated.

He also called on all Israeli political and military officials to halt talk about Hizbullah and its Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s threats against Israel.

He pointed out: “These statements will only serve to give weight to Nasrallah’s threats, which he issues from a basement in Beirut in order to increase his power in Lebanon.”

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“The region is unstable and boiling and Hezbollah is putting Lebanon in a hot oil cooking pot,” Geagea said during a press conference.

The Hezbollah leader’s remarks are “rejected and totally unacceptable,” Geagea told reporters.

In his Tuesday speech marking Liberation Day, Nasrallah threatened to bomb Israeli ships if Tel Aviv attacks the Lebanese coastline.

Geagea refuted Nasrallah’s remarks “that anyone who does not support the notion that the Lebanese army, people and Resistance are all legitimate means of facing the recurrent Israeli threats – is intentionally exposing Lebanon [to war].”

“As long as Hezbollah pursues this [conduct], it drags Lebanon towards confrontation.”

The LF leader also said that he “did not – and will not – attack President [Michel Suleiman].”

“Does every person who disagrees with Sayyed Nasrallah want to expose Lebanon to the enemy and become a conspirator?” he wondered.

The LF leader also defended himself against critics who accused him of verbally attacking President Michel Suleiman when he said the head of state was making contradictory remarks.

“I didn’t attack the president. He has constructive stances but we don’t agree with him in the issue of Hizbullah, its arms and strategy,” Geagea stressed.

Lebanese Forces member MP Antoine Zahra noted: “There are those who are trying to imply that there is a problem between Suleiman and Geagea” and are aiming create tension between them, but these attempts will fail.

He said that Suleiman’s recent statements differ from what he said during his presidential address, where he stressed Lebanon’s right to defend itself through all means, including resistance.

“What we oppose is his talk of the existence of the army, people, and the Resistance” where the latter is trying to make the people and army abandon their national duty, he stated.

Zahra stressed: “We are a main political party in the country and we are in agreement over the government’s policy except the one concerning the Resistance that contradicts with the foundations of building the state.”

“The state in Lebanon lacks sovereignty because there are those who issue threats in its name,” he added.

Zahra said that while Hariri called for dialogue and peace in his Wednesday address to the UN Security Council, “someone is raising the voice of war.”

Naharnet & Now Lebanon

“This is a mobilizing speech. Israel could step up its attacks and threats because of this political speech,” Fatfat said. He said no one should give Tel Aviv a pretext to attack Lebanon again.

Since last month, Israel has repeatedly accused Syria of arming Hezbollah with Scud missiles and other weaponry, and warned that in the event of a new conflict it will hold Lebanon, not just Hezbollah, responsible for an attack from its territory.

Fatfat said the big problem in Nasrallah’s speech was that he gave the “impression that defense strategy matters have been settled.”

In a speech marking Liberation Day on Tuesday, Nasrallah said the Ministerial Statement clause which stipulates the Lebanese army, people and Resistance are all legitimate means to face the recurrent Israeli threats, “represents the official Lebanese position.”

Just a day earlier, President Michel Sleiman told Al-Manar television that he is committed to the Ministerial Statement clause that the Lebanese army, people and Resistance are all legitimate means to face the recurrent Israeli threats.

In response, Fatfat said the president should leave “the defense strategy to the dialogue table rather than to media arguments.”

Sleiman’s comments also drew criticism from Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who said the president should only express positions backed by all the Lebanese people.

Now Lebanon

The daily An-Nahar on Thursday, which carried the report, quoted ministerial sources as saying that Obama will also ask Netanhayu to facilitate success of the U.S.-brokered Middle East peace process.

Netanyahu will hold talks with Obama in Washington June 1 after White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel handed him a personal invitation from the U.S. president on Wednesday.

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“If you launch a new war on Lebanon, if you blockade our coastline, all military, civilian or commercial ships heading through the Mediterranean to occupied Palestine will be targeted by the Islamic Resistance,” said Nasrallah in a speech transmitted via video link to thousands of supporters massed in Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Celebratory gunfire rattled through Beirut and fireworks exploded into the sky as Nasrallah started his speech.

“Whether along the northern or southern Israeli shore, we can target ships, bomb them and hit them God willing,” he added, speaking on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after a 22-year occupation.

“When the world sees how these ships are destroyed, no one will dare go there (Israel),” he added. “And I am only speaking about the Mediterranean; I haven’t reached the Red Sea yet.”

“The enemy is scared and we will keep it scared,” he said, referring to Israel. “But you (the Lebanese) should feel assured because the equation has changed.

“In the next war, we will resist, come out victorious and change the face of the region God willing,” he added to applause.

Nasrallah accused Israeli leaders of spreading allegations that Syria was transferring Scud missiles to Hizbullah in order to garner further U.S. financial assistance.

“The whole hullabaloo over the Scuds was so that Israel could get 200 or 250 million dollars in aid from the U.S. Congress,” he said.

“Despite its economic crisis, the U.S. finds money to assist Israel.”

He said his party stood ready for a new war even though it was not seeking a conflict and added that he would neither confirm nor deny Israel’s allegations concerning the Scuds.

“If you are strong, the world respects you and talks to you and takes you into account,” he said. “And as such we can impose our conditions.

“If you are weak, you will be eaten.”

Referring to the start last Sunday of the Israeli drill, codenamed “Turning Point 4″, Nasrallah thanked the people of the South “for their presence last Sunday in the South to perform their electoral duty without fearing anyone.”

“Many essential factors led to the victory (in 2000), topped by the people’s will, steadfastness, endurance and embracing of the Resistance.

“I’m talking about people’s will, about a popular majority and not about a consensus (on the resistance) in Lebanon.”

Nasrallah stressed that “the Iranian and Syrian support for the Resistance in addition to its triumph over the enemy on every occasion is what defeated the Israeli army and the people of Israel.”

“We are the ones who dictated the timing, scenario, and conditions for the enemy’s defeat and escape from Lebanon,” he added.

Hizbullah number one stressed that “the equation that defeated Israel is the equation of ‘the people, the army and the Resistance’ which is adopted by the president (Michel Suleiman), rather than the opinions voiced by some people about the Resistance.”

Nasrallah said that peace efforts in the region are suffering a “major dilemma”, noting that Lebanon and Syria are “in the spotlight and everyone is wondering about the possibility of war.”

“Israel acknowledges the existence of real challenges, that’s why it is conducting one drill after the other, the thing that affects its economy and the psychological state of the Israelis. Israel wants to benefit from the July war experience,” Nasrallah added.

He noted that Israeli drills aim “at reassuring this (Israeli) interior and this people, and the Iron Dome (anti-missile system) has not proved its effectiveness until this moment.”

As to the recent Israeli reassurances carried by foreign envoys to Lebanese officials, Nasrallah said: “The Israeli pacification stances are intended for the Israeli interior in order to reassure their people and of course not to reassure the Lebanese government or people.”

“Lebanon’s main strength lies in the equation of ‘the people, the army and the resistance’ which we should preserve to face the challenges of the future. Anyone who forsakes the equation of ‘the people, the army and the Resistance’ wants to intentionally expose Lebanon to Israeli aggression.”

Naharnet

Full text of speech by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah

I give my blessings to all Lebanese, Arabs, Muslims and the free [people] of the world on this occasion of [Liberation Day] on the 10th anniversary of the army and people’s victory, the triumph of justice and determination.

I would like to thank the [residents of] the districts of South Lebanon, who did not fear [Israeli military drills] on Sunday. Despite all rumors, people headed to celebrate the freedom of expression and democracy, [a reference to the South municipal and mukhtar elections held on May 23].

I would also like to thank the Lebanese who participated in the first two rounds of municipal elections in Mount Lebanon, Beirut and Bekaa.

I hope the last round [of the elections on May 30 in the North] would [be held calmly].

The 1982 Israeli invasion [of Lebanon] was part of a regional plan. Lebanon, Syria and Palestine were part of this plan. In 2000, this US-Israeli plan failed.

Another plan, which was uncovered a while back, was Israel’s aim to build settlements in South Lebanon.

The project to build settlements failed largely due to the martyrdom operations, and the historical triumph came in 2000.

I ask all Arabs and the world: Who would have expected Israel to withdraw [from South Lebanon] in 2000? But that was the case.

There are several factors that ensured the victory in 2000. First, it was the people’s will, endurance and embracing of the Resistance, especially the people of the South and the Bekaa, [that helped with reaching that victory].

[The second factor] was the political stability in the country during the 1990s.

Thirdly, it was by the distribution of roles between the Lebanese army and the Resistance. The Resistance did not intervene in [Lebanon’s] domestic security situation.

Fourth, it was the government’s [ability] to face international pressures at that time.

Also, it was Syria and Iran’s support [for Lebanon against Israel], which we are grateful for.

Now, we reach the primary factor [that led to the triumph], which is the Resistance and its martyrs. They [pushed] Israel to withdraw [from South Lebanon]. We are the ones who imposed humiliating conditions on Israel during its pullout.

The clause of the Ministerial Statement [that the Lebanese army, people and Resistance are all legitimate means to face the recurrent Israeli threats], and as President [Michel Sleiman] said [on Monday], represents the official Lebanese position.

The president expresses the position of the majority of the Lebanese, but not all of the Lebanese.

There is no unanimous Lebanese stance with or against the Resistance, but there is always a majority [that supports] the Resistance.

Reaching compromise in [the Middle East], especially regarding the Palestinian [cause], is [difficult].

Lebanon and Syria are in the circle of concern regionally and internationally. The question that everyone is asking is whether or not there will be a new war.

No one denies that Israel is currently anxious and confused. We see [the Israelis] training and holding drills [in reference to Turning Point 4 drills]. These affect their economy, tourism and security. However, they are to deal with Israel’s shortcomings of the 2006 July War.

Victory paved the way [for introducing] of new balances.

We know that during the 2006 [July War], some asked Israel not to end the war so that Hezbollah and Lebanon would not be triumphant, and this remains a plausible possibility.

Why is Israel holding such drills for the first time?

Israel wants to reassure [its people] and tell them that they are strong and ready to confront any possible war. They are also fooling their [people by telling them so].

[Addressing Israel]: Carry out your drills, but when rockets shower the occupied territories, let us see how these drills have benefited you.

Now Lebanon

He added: “If it does launch one, victory will be ours as we have overcome the fear of death a long time ago.”

“Our support for the Resistance is a solid national choice regardless of where we are politically,” he concluded.

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