Further Israeli attacks on Syria or Lebanon would lead to a tough response from Hizbullah against Israel, the Lebanon-based movement's chief warned Friday.
"(Israeli leader Ariel) Sharon and his government are at an
impasse. The Israeli army is in an impasse. If Sharon tries to get out of his internal impasse (by attacking) Lebanon and Syria, this will lead him to the abyss," Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah told a Hizbullah rally south of Beirut.
Nasrallah described last week's Israeli air strike inside Syria - the first in three decades - as "a very grave development."
"If Sharon attacks Lebanon and Syria, we will definitely be faced with a new challenge," Nasrallah said. "We will be obliged to confront him in Lebanon... The only choice for us is to defend our country."
Nasrallah also said Friday night that negotiations with Israel on an exchange of prisoners were in their final stages, but that they were being held up by an internal Israeli political dispute.
Nasrallah said that the problem would be solved, adding that names of prisoners to be released are currently being discussed. He also said that some 400 Palestinian prisoners would be released in the deal.
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
