'Best Way to Prevent War is to Be Ready For it'
Mohamad Shmaysani
A summary for al-Sayyed Nasrallah?s interview on NBN on 2nd of January, 2008.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said Wednesday that the solution to the Lebanese crisis lies in the partnership that is realized through a constitutional guarantee, namely the guaranteeing one-third of ministers within a national unity government. "The governing coalition's refusing all attempts to set the foundations for a true partnership has proved to be the main obstacle hindering any solution," Sayyed Nasrallah said during an interview with NBN television. He added that Hezbollah and the opposition were fighting against US plans for this country rather than against the ruling team. His eminence also accused the February 14 bloc of obstructing all international initiatives to solve the crisis in Lebanon.
A summary for al-Sayyed Nasrallah?s interview on NBN on 2nd of January, 2008.
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said Wednesday that the solution to the Lebanese crisis lies in the partnership that is realized through a constitutional guarantee, namely the guaranteeing one-third of ministers within a national unity government. "The governing coalition's refusing all attempts to set the foundations for a true partnership has proved to be the main obstacle hindering any solution," Sayyed Nasrallah said during an interview with NBN television. He added that Hezbollah and the opposition were fighting against US plans for this country rather than against the ruling team. His eminence also accused the February 14 bloc of obstructing all international initiatives to solve the crisis in Lebanon.



Comments on this journal
On the possibility of another Israeli war against Lebanon Sayyed Nasrallah said that everything is possible. "In fact the Israelis are the one talking about war. When we hear Ashkenazi (Israeli army chief of staff) saying that 'clear and decisive triumph will be on our side' in the next war with Lebanon, it means that he (Ashkenazi) is talking about a coming war." The Hezbollah chief added that the resistance is on full alert. "The best way to prevent a war is to be ready for it," Sayyed Nasrallah said. "I tell the Israelis that we can target any point in occupied Palestine. I'm not only in the process of a psychological war; I tell the Israelis that the war will be very costly."
The Hezbollah Secretary General also accused Israel for 'sluggish' pace of negotiations over fate of two captured soldiers. "After the last deal we were optimistic and things seemed to be progressing positively, but we were surprised by Israel's lackadaisical attitude towards the negotiations." Sayyed Nasrallah revealed that Hezbollah still holds the remains of Israeli soldiers killed on Lebanese soil during the Israeli war against Lebanon in 2006.
"We don't consider the Taif Accord as the core to the problem; we never called for it to be amended and we will never do, unless all the Lebanese agree to that," he said. He acknowledged, however, that Hezbollah had "comments" on Taif Accord, and called for "accurate implementation" of the agreement, which altered Lebanon's system of confessional power-sharing. "We demand that some unclear constitutional articles be interpreted or at least explained, such as the quorum to elect the next president or shares of Cabinet seats," he said.
Addressing the issue of media reports alleging divisions inside his party, Sayyed Nasrallah said they "make Hezbollah officials laugh and these are attempts to mutilate our image." "Hezbollah is one of the most homogenous groups?There is harmony among us all."
Sayyed Nasrallah also confirmed that Hezbollah backed the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Michel Suleiman, for the presidency. But he warned that electing General Suleiman will not solve the problem unless a national unity government, in which the opposition has a guaranteeing one-third of ministers, is formed. "As long as there is a U.S. decision not to give the opposition a guaranteeing one-third, this means there won't be a presidential election," he said.
His eminence said the opposition would not remain silent in face of the ruling coalition's attempts to monopolize rule. He added that France's mediation with Syria on Lebanon's political crisis would go on despite the two countries breaking off contacts over the issue.
Sayyed Nasrallah's last public appearance came on the eleventh of November 2007, when he delivered a speech to commemorate "Martyrs Day".