Hizbollah Urges Lebanon, Syria and Palestine to Face the 'Israeli Enemy'

Published March 31st, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

The Lebanese Hizbollah movement urged Lebanon, Syria and Palestine to forget past problems and "strength their stand in facing the Israeli enemy," according to the Daily Star newspaper, quoting one of the movement's high-ranking members.  

Sheikh Naim Qassem, the party's deputy secretary-general, was referring to a Syrian-Palestinian reconciliation at this week's Arab summit, said the paper.  

Speaking at a religious ceremony in Damascus, Qassem said Israel "cannot bear to fight, nor can it bear politics. Remarks by (Syrian) President Bashar Assad that Israel is racist created an uproar and America came out in its defense because this word is dangerous and difficult."  

He said Israel's "humiliating" defeat in south Lebanon had encouraged all Arab and Islamic countries to favor jihad.  

In a similar speech on Thursday, Hizbollah's secretary-general said his movement was "ready more than ever" to wage war against Israel.  

"Information is being leaked that Sharon has received US authorization to strike at Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah said.  

"We are not mobilized at the highest level militarily but spiritually and psychologically, we are more ready than can be believed. If Sharon wants to threaten us, let him do so and we shall be waiting," the paper quoted him as saying. 

In another development, the Haaretz newspaper reported Friday that Germany renewed its involvement in negotiations between Israel and Hizbollah regarding the release of three Israeli soldiers kidnapped last October.  

According to the paper, Hizbollah has neither affirmed nor denied the report.  

Nasrallah last week denied reports that Switzerland was involved in the negotiations, but claimed that negotiations were taking place via a different channel, said reports - Albawaba.com 

 

 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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