English Translation of the Speech Delivered by Sayyid Hassan
Nasrallah at the Divine Victory Rally on 22nd September 2006
The following is the text of the speech by Hezbollah
Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, during a rally in Beirut
celebrating the victory in the latest hostilities with Israel -
live; broadcast by Lebanese Hezbollah TV Al-Manar on 22 September,
subheadings inserted editorially:
I seek God's protection against the cursed Satan; in the name of
God, the merciful, the compassionate; praise be to almighty God;
blessings and peace be upon our master and prophet, the last of the
prophets, Muhammad; his good, righteous, infallible family members;
his noble companions; and upon all the prophets and messengers;
O beloved and honourable ones; O most honourable, pure, and generous
people, may God's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you;
[applause].
Praise be to God, who fulfilled His promise to us and who granted
us, Lebanon, and the people of Lebanon victory over the enemy of
Lebanon. Praise be to God who made us proud, enabled us to hold
fast, and gave us security. Praise be to God, on whom we relied and
to whom we turned repentantly. As He promised, He has always been
the best protector. Praise be to God for His victory, assistance,
and support.
Brothers and sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen.
On 22 September, you once again surprised the world and truly proved
that you are a great, proud, loyal, and courageous people.
[Applause]
Rally involves risks
For some days now, many people have been waging a psychological war
on this rally, just as they waged a psychological war on the
Resistance. [Boos] They said that this square would be bombed and
that this podium would be destroyed in order to scare people and
keep them from coming. On 22 September, you prove, by crowning the
victory rally, that you are more courageous than [you were on] 12
July and 14 August. [Applause]
Standing before you and amongst you involves risk for you and me.
There were other choices, up until just half an hour ago, we were
discussing [my participation]. However, my heart, mind, and soul did
not allow me to address you from afar nor through a screen.
[Applause]
The utmost one expects is for the enemy to make a mistake or commit
a crime. However, does this enemy not know who we are? We are the
sons of that imam, who said: Are you threatening me with death? We
are used to death and our dignity is derived from the martyrdom God
grants us. [Applause]
You are all welcome - from the fighting and resisting south, to the
steadfast Al-Biqa, to the loyal north, to the proud mountain, to the
Beirut of Arabism, to the [southern] suburb of loftiness and
dignity. You are all welcome - from the Palestinian refugee camps in
Lebanon; you are all welcome - from Syria, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain,
and every country that came to us to celebrate and rejoice.
God's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you; peace be upon your
martyrs and the families of your martyrs; peace be upon your wounded
people and their bleeding wounds; peace be upon your prisoners;
peace be upon your blood and tears; peace be upon your orphans and
widows; peace be upon your demolished houses; peace be upon your
burnt property; peace be upon your souls and strong will, which is
stronger than the mountains of Lebanon.
"Strategic, historic, divine victory"
Brothers and sisters,
We are today celebrating a big strategic, historic, and divine
victory. How can the human mind imagine that a few thousand of your
Lebanese resistance sons - if I wanted, I would give the exact
number - held out for 33 days in a land exposed to the skies against
the strongest air force in the Middle East, which had an air bridge
transporting smart bombs from America, through Britain, to Israel;
against 40,000 officers and soldiers - four brigades of elite
forces, three reserve army divisions; against the strongest tank in
the world; and against the strongest army in the region? How could
only a few thousand people hold out and fight under such harsh
conditions, and [how could] their fighting force the naval warships
out of our territorial waters? By the way, the army and the
resistance are capable of protecting the territorial waters from
being desecrated by any Zionist. [Applause] [And how could their
fighting] also lead to the destruction of the Mirkava tanks, which
are an object of pride for the Israeli industry; damage Israeli
helicopters day and night; and turn the elite brigades - I am not
exaggerating, and you can watch and read the Israeli media - into
rats frightened by your sons? [How did this happen] while you were
relinquished by the Arabs and the world and in light of the
political (human solidarity was profound though) division around
you?
How could this group of mujahidin defeat this army without the
support and assistance of almighty God?
Resistance depends on planning, organization
This resistance experience, which should be conveyed to the world,
depends - on the moral and spiritual level - on faith, certainty,
reliance [on God], and readiness to make sacrifices. It also depends
on reason, planning, organization, armament, and, as is said, on
taking all possible protective procedures.
We are neither a disorganized and sophistic resistance, nor a
resistance pulled to the ground that sees before it nothing but
soil, nor a resistance of chaos. The pious, God-reliant, loving, and
knowledgeable resistance is also the conscious, wise, trained, and
equipped resistance that has plans. This is the secret of the
victory we are today celebrating, brothers and sisters.
This victory requires a courageous stand like your stand today. You
are today sending an extremely important and serious political and
moral message to the Lebanese, the Arabs, and the entire world -
friends and foes. You amazed the world when you, as a people in
Lebanon, held fast from 12 July to 14 August. They wagered on our
division. You - the displaced and those who sheltered [the
displaced] - remained fast throughout this stage. When 14 August
came, their wager was that the presence of the displaced in the
areas to which they were displaced would put pressure on the
resistance to impose more conditions on it. The resistance did not
submit to any conditions.
Once again, you amazed the world when the displaced returned in
their cars and trucks, and some on foot. At 0800, the southern
suburb of Beirut, the south of Lebanon, and Al-Biqa were full of
their proud and honourable residents, who returned with raised
heads.
You are today amazing the world and telling the American, who a few
days said, "we received good signs from Lebanon that the popularity
of the resistance has receded, and it has started to weaken", that
this is the people of resistance. [Applause] These are the masses of
the Resistance.
I tell this American: You should address a message of slander to the
lying writers of reports, who sends you wrong information on which
you build wrong calculations.
Brothers and sisters, we should today stress that this war was an
American war in terms of decision, weapons, planning, and desire,
and by giving several deadlines for the Zionists; one, two, three,
and four weeks. What stopped the war is the failure of the Zionists.
If you recall the last days, the largest number of tanks was
destroyed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; the largest number of the
occupation soldiers was killed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; the
helicopters crashed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Therefore, the
Zionists realized that if they had continued [the war], it would
have been a disaster. The Americans intervened and even accepted the
drafts [of resolutions] for the war to stop. They stopped the war
not for the sake of Lebanon, not for the sake of the children of
Lebanon, not for the sake of the blood of women in Lebanon, and not
for the sake of beautiful Lebanon. They stopped the war only for the
sake of Israel. They came to peddle it to us in Lebanon; namely,
that our American friends stopped the war. [Applause]
In the first two and three days, our American friends did not agree
to stop the war, and they refused [to stop it] on the first, second,
third, and fourth weeks. Could they not see the beauty of Lebanon
for a month? They wagered [changes thought] - this statement was
used in some diplomatic channels - the decision was to crush
Hezbollah, and after crushing Hezbollah, accounts would be settled
with all its friends, allies, and those who follow the nationalist,
truly sovereign and independent line in Lebanon. What stopped the
war - after the help of Almighty God - were your resisting sons and
these loyal, proud, and courageous people, who supported the
resistance from the border to the border, and who embraced its
spirit in their mosques, churches, monasteries, and schools. This is
what stopped the war. If anyone deserves to celebrate the victory,
then it is you who are present here. You deserve it because you made
the victory.
"We feel that we won"
We sometimes differ and ask: Was what happened in Lebanon a victory
or a defeat? I do not want to go into semantics, but I tell you:
Whoever feels that his option, plan, line, and vision has triumphed,
feels the victory and speaks about it. And, whoever feels that he
has been defeated and has fallen, speaks about defeat.
We feel that we won; Lebanon won; Palestine won; the Arab nation
won, and every oppressed, aggrieved person in this world also won.
Our victory is not the victory of a party. I repeat what I said in
Bint Jubayl on 25 May 2000: It is not the victory of a party or a
community; rather it is a victory for true Lebanon, the true
Lebanese people, and every free person in the world.
Don't distort this big historic victory. Do not contain it in party,
sectarian, communal, or regional cans. This victory is too big to be
comprehended by us. The next weeks, months, and years will confirm
this.
Resistance dealt a blow to New Middle East plan
It is enough to say, on the basis of the direct results, that your
resistance and steadfastness foiled all the aims of the aggression,
and that this is a victory. Our resistance and steadfastness dealt a
severe blow to the New Middle East plan, which Condoleezza Rice said
would be born in the July War [Boos]. But it was stillborn because
it was an illegitimate child. Your resistance and steadfastness
exposed the deceptive US policies that speak about human rights,
freedoms, democracy, and respect. Your steadfastness and resistance
exposed the United States and raised the level of awareness before
the level of hostility - the main thing is awareness rather than
hostility. It raised the level of awareness and hostility not only
in the Arab and Islamic world, but in the whole world.
Thanks to your steadfastness and resistance, Chavez, a man about
whom I can say that he is a great Arab indeed, made that statement
in the United Nations yesterday. [Cheers] The Lebanese resistance
today inspires all resistance men, all free men, and all honourable
people in the world, as well as all those who reject US subjugation
and degradation of the world. This is our victory and this is the
result of our battle.
Resistance is model for "steadfastness"
Moreover, your resistance, which offered in the 2000 victory a model
for liberation, offered in the year 2006 a model for steadfastness;
legendary steadfastness and miraculous steadfastness. It is strong
proof for all Arabs and Muslims, and all rulers, armies, and
peoples.
Yesterday, a group of Arab states went to the Security Council to
beg for peace and a settlement. I tell them: I am not speaking to
you about removing Israel, I am speaking to you about the settlement
you want. How can you obtain an honourable settlement, while you
announce day and night that you will not fight? You do not want to
fight for Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, or even Jerusalem. How then
can you obtain a reasonable settlement, while you announce every day
that you will not use the oil weapon? In fact, even if anyone comes
to speak to you about the oil weapon, you deride him, saying: This
is backwardness. You do not want to fight, boycott, use the oil
weapon, or even allow the people to come out in the street, or the
resistance in Palestine to be equipped. You are besieging it and
withholding funds from it. In fact, you are starving it and cutting
off salaries for the sake of Condoleezza Rice [Boos].
How can these states secure a just and honourable settlement between
quotes? Does the Israeli recognize them in the first place? I tell
you: The Israelis today view the Resistance and the resistance men
in Lebanon with great respect. As to all those lowly ones, they are
not worth anything. Even the Arab initiative calls for a stand. It
calls for men and power. If you can't use power, you can at least
threaten with it. The talk that we are weak will not do.
The people of Lebanon gave strong proof to all the peoples of the
world. The Lebanese resistance provided strong proof to all Arab and
Islamic armies. Arab armies and peoples are not only able to
liberate Gaza and the West Bank and East Jerusalem, they are simply
capable of regaining Palestine from sea to river by one small
decision and with some determination. The problem is that when one
is torn between two choices and is asked to choose between his
people and his throne, he chooses his throne. When he is asked to
choose between Jerusalem and his throne, he chooses his throne. When
he is asked to choose between the dignity of his homeland and his
throne, he chooses his throne.
What is distinct about the resistance movements in Lebanon and
Palestine is that they chose the dignity of their people, holy
places, and freedom and offer their leaders, sons, and dear ones as
sacrifices to join the throne of God Almighty.
This is the equation. Today, your resistance broke the image of
Israel. We have done away with the invincible army. We have also
done away with the invincible state. Indeed, we have done away with
it. I am not exaggerating or voicing slogans. It is enough for you
to read what is going on in occupied Palestine, what the Zionists
are saying, and what is going on between the Israeli generals and
commanders.
Olmert protested again today because we are holding a victory rally.
Yediot Aharanot published the results of an Israeli poll today that
asks: Who do you think is suitable to be prime minister in Israel?
How much did Olmert get? He got seven per cent. [Boos] As for the
heroic War Minister Amir Peretz, he got one per cent. [Boos]
The image of this Israel, which is shaken in its political entity
and military establishments and defeated in its intelligence, has
changed today. No Arab ruler or regime can make further concessions
to it, submit to its humiliating terms, or tell the nation: There is
nothing we can do with Israel.
Once, an old man, who knew his time, place, and era, said: If every
one of us carried a bucket of water and threw it on occupied
Palestine, Israel would disappear from existence; yes, just a bucket
of water. Two or three hundred million people standing up to Israel
can defeat it, especially when a few thousand in Lebanon defeated
Israel. This argument has fallen. We should enter a new phase and a
new time; namely, the time when we dictate our conditions and
restore our dignity, freedom, sovereignty, and holy shrines.
Support for Palestinians
Brothers and sisters: On this day, the day of divine victory, there
are those who expect an internal talk about Lebanon, and I will
certainly do that. But before I switch to internal talk, I would
like, as on 12 July, emphasize two points: Our hearts, feelings,
grief, and pain are today in Palestine. They are in Gaza, Ramallah,
and Nablus. They are in Jenin, Jerusalem, and every Palestinian
town, village, and camp that are being bombed daily. The Palestinian
people are being killed every day and Palestinian houses are being
destroyed every day while the whole world is silent; the Arab world
before the world at large.
Until when will this silence continue? Until when will we endure
this shame? Nobody is asking you to deploy your armies to defend the
Palestinian people. Let us just give support to these people, be it
moral, political , financial, or armament. In Palestine, there are
leaders, scholars, factions, movements, youths, men, women, and
children who can repeat the divine miracle on the land of Palestine.
The second message is, before speaking about Lebanon, we as Lebanese
should see Iraq as a model. Had the war in Lebanon succeeded, the
Americans would have applied this model in Lebanon. They wanted to
apply this model in Lebanon. In the war, we the Lebanese offered
martyrs from the Resistance, the army, the security forces, the
civil defence, the Red Cross, the news media, the establishments,
the different parties, and all our beloved people. But how many were
martyrs? Never mind, were they 1,000 or 1,200 martyrs? In Iraq, some
10,000 to 15,000 people are killed every month in a chaotic war that
is administered, financed, and incited by the Americans and the
Mosad. The resistance in Lebanon protected Lebanon from civil war.
[Cheers]
Some say that the resistance in Lebanon pushes for civil war. Never!
Had Israel won, Lebanon would have been pushed to civil war, and you
would have heard voices calling for federalism, cantons, and
division. The Israeli language would have become current anew.
Message to Iraq - patience, calm, unity
Iraq is a model, which we must always ponder. Our message to our
people in Iraq must always be: Patience, calm, unity, wisdom,
communication, avoid sedition, and don't wager on the enemy.
As to Lebanon, our message in Lebanon today is: Come all. No one
should outbid anyone on this subject. We all believe that our
salvation and hope is in building a capable, strong, just, proud,
and clear state. This is the hope. And this is supposed to be the
issue of unanimity among the Lebanese.
We announce from this place, with the blood of our martyrs; we
announce, precede matters, and say, any talk in Lebanon about
partition is an Israeli talk, any talk in Lebanon about federalism
is Israeli talk, and any talk in Lebanon about cantons is Israeli
talk. We the Lebanese, our fate, decision, and wish to God should be
to live together in one state. We are against its partition and
division. We are against its federalism and division into cantons.
What will protect Lebanese unity is a strong, capable, and just
state. What will protect Lebanon's sovereignty from Zionist greed is
a strong, capable, and just state.
What will tackle social and livelihood crises for the Lebanese and
the residents in Lebanon is a strong, capable, just, clean and proud
state. This is what we all aspire to. A strong and capable state
means a state that can proudly regain every inch of its occupied
territory and protect every drop of water from Al-Wazzani River to
Al-Litani River and Al-Hasbani River; that can stop the enemy from
encroaching on its sovereignty daily; and that can assure its people
that it is truly protecting them with arms, power, reason, unity,
organization, planning, and national will. As for tears, they do not
protect anyone.
We want a strong, capable, just, clear, and independent state that
rejects any foreign trusteeship or hegemony; a noble and proud state
that does not succumb to any humiliating terms; and a clean state
where there is no room for theft or waste. This is the state that we
need.
I tell you, while we are in the resistance festival, that this is
the natural key to tackling the issue of the resistance. Here we
come to the issue of the weapons and to those who are dying to
resolve this issue. I tell them: Don't tackle the results. Come and
let us tackle the causes. I am not after slogans, but logic. Argue
with us on the basis of logic.
The resistance is the result of several causes - the occupation, the
arrest of prisoners, the plunder of waters, the threat to Lebanon,
and the attack on Lebanese sovereignty. These are the causes. Tackle
the causes and the results will be tackled easily.
"We do not want to keep the weapons forever"
When we build a strong, capable, and just state that protects
Lebanon and the Lebanese, it will be easy to find an honourable
solution to the question of the resistance and its weapons. I would
like the Lebanese to hear clearly. I and my brothers get excited
sometimes and say all kinds of things. Let us speak with some
responsibility. We do not say that these weapons will remain
forever. And, it is not logical for these weapons to remain forever.
There is bound to be an end to them. The natural key is to tackle
the causes and the results will disappear.
Come and build a strong and just state, protecting the country and
the citizens and their livelihoods, waters, and dignity, and you
will find that the resolution of the resistance issue will not need
even a negotiation table. It is a great deal easier than that.
But, what is happening now? Instead of the Israeli leaving Shab'a
Farms, he is extending the strip northward. Instead of the Israeli
resolving the problem of the border points, he moves forward to
Al-Khiyam and Marwahin. Instead of our benefiting from our legal
right to the Al-Wazzani River, the Israeli builds pipes to steal the
water. Is this how to protect the country and its resources?
Therefore, any talk about disarming the Resistance - to some people
the word "disarming" is a bit heavy; fine, how about surrendering
the resistance weapons? Any talk about surrendering the resistance
weapons under this state, this authority, this regime, and the
existing situation means keeping Lebanon exposed to Israel so it can
kill as it wants, arrest as it wants, bomb as it wants, and plunder
our land and waters. We certainly cannot accept that.
We did not fight since 1982 so that ... [change of thought] You know
the youth in the Resistance. They spent their entire youthful years
in the Resistance. They did not live a life of prosperity, ease,
extravagance, or calm. Some of them spent 24 to 25 years in the
Resistance. The Resistance will not end while Israel is still
occupying our land, violating our honour, undermining our security,
and plundering our waters and resources. Never! I swear to God.
This is the only natural, logical, reasonable, responsible, and
patriotic option. As for the other options, I want this big rally,
which is attended by these good and kind faces, and this public that
comes from all of Lebanon's communities and areas and many political
trends and parties; I want to tell them: Wagering on ending the
resistance through pressure, threats, and siege is a losing wager.
Wagering on ending the resistance by dragging the Resistance into
sedition with the Lebanese army, as some people think, is a losing
wager. The army and the Resistance are two dear, loving brothers
that no one can separate. Those who wager - and I am not talking
about the inside; it can be the outside or the inside, take it as
you like, whoever is behind the wager - on disarming the resistance
through a new war, Israeli or otherwise, I refer them to Livni,
[addressing the audience] you know Livni, right, and Peretz. I refer
them to these two persons; the foreign minister and the war
minister, to hear from them, as well as from former Defence Minister
Moshe Arens, the strategist, a clear sentence, and I repeat it for
them to hear. They say: We wanted to dismantle Hezbollah as a whole,
but we have found out that there is no army in the world that can
dismantle such an organization. [Cheers]
I tell them: No army in the world can make us lay down our arms. No
one can do that, so long as these loyal and brave people believe in
this Resistance. I am not threatening with arms. I am wagering on
this people who embrace the Resistance. I am wagering on that old,
noble woman, who stood among the debris and said: My house in Beirut
was destroyed and my house in the south was destroyed, but we are
for the Resistance and the Resistance weapons. Several others said:
if Al-Sayyid Hasan surrendered the weapons, he would be a traitor. I
tell you: I pledge you, O our brave, loyal, and great people, I do
not aspire to end my life with treason, but with martyrdom. [Cheers]
Therefore, all these wagers are losers, because there are people in
Lebanon and a resistance in Lebanon that reject occupation,
humiliation, and despotism and are ready to sacrifice themselves and
their beloved sons for the sake of their country. Yes, today,
Lebanon, and without exaggeration, is no longer small in the Middle
East. It is a great power with your support. The West and Israel
take it seriously and the oppressed in the world view it with
respect, appreciation, and pride.
Therefore, let me end this point by saying - so that no one will
continue to worry - we do not want to keep the weapons forever. I
reiterate, as in the past 25 years, these weapons are not for the
interior. They were not used in the interior and they will not be
used in the interior. This is not a Shi'i weapon... [words
indistinct] and the Christians. This weapon is for the Sunni, Druze,
and Shi'i. This weapon is for all the Lebanese. It seeks to protect
Lebanon, its sovereignty and independence. I pledge you that the
identity and endowment of this weapon shall remain as it is. This is
a pledge before God, the nation, and the martyrs.
Therefore, the key is, come and let us build a just, strong,
resisting, proud, honourable, and clean state. If this objective is
too big, and so that we will not remain in theory, let us go
straight to the subject. We will not stand today and say: Whoever
has failed in the test has failed and whoever has succeeded has
succeeded. We will not speak this way. I will say: Come all, no
matter how we differed, competed, and matters were difficult between
us on the psychological and political level. We are in a real
impasse in Lebanon now. No one can say, we are a majority, nothing
has changed, the country is proceeding well, and everything is fine.
This is not correct.
Impasse in Lebanon - political, not sectarian dispute
There is a real impasse in Lebanon today, especially after the war.
There is sharp national division and not sectarian division. What
exists now is not a dispute between Shi'is and Sunnis, or between
Muslims and Christians, or among Druze, Sunnis, Shi'is, and
Christians. There is a national political division. There are major
strategic and political options, on which Shi'i, Sunni, Druze, and
Christian political forces agree and others, on which Shi'i, Sunni,
Druze, and Christian political forces disagree. When some Shi'is
said things different from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, they
thought that we would grieve. We were happy when others came forth
in supporting the other stand, which proved that the dispute here is
not sectarian, but political. [Cheers]
Look at the miscalculations. Even when they want to hurt us, they
benefit us. Therefore, we are before a national division. And, my
appeal today in the rally of the victory, which was created by
Lebanese from all communities and areas, I would like to warn and
say: Do not allow anyone to transform political divisions into
sectarian or communal divisions. It is forbidden to manipulate sects
and communities in defence of political options. This is playing
with fire. This is sabotaging the country. This is destroying the
country. Yes, we are split by political divisions. We compete,
discuss, and differ. We attack each other in the news media. We turn
to the street and to the elections. All these peaceful and
democratic mechanisms are legitimate and allowable. This is what we
would like to emphasize.
National unity government is solution to political division
Therefore, as long as there is a political division and serious
challenges - and I will return to these shortly - to confront these
challenges, I say that the team currently ruling in Lebanon cannot
continue in power, cannot work. It cannot. [Applause] The natural
solution is to form a national unity government. When I speak about
a national unity government, I do not mean bringing down anyone,
cancelling anyone, or dismissing anyone but as I said on 25 May:
Come and let us close our ranks and stand side by side to defend
Lebanon, to protect Lebanon, to build and construct Lebanon, and to
preserve Lebanon and unify it.
With all frankness, the current government is not able to protect
Lebanon, reconstruct Lebanon, or unify Lebanon. [Applause] However,
when we say the current government we do not mean that we want to
cancel, remove, or erase anyone at all. We say: Come, all of you,
and let us protect, reconstruct, and defend.
Therefore, building a strong, just, and capable state begins first
by a serious national unity government. Here I am not raising a
slogan for local consumption. Let them hear me. I am not raising a
slogan for local consumption, or to gain time, or to appease allies
or friends. This is our serious project and we will work for it with
the utmost strength during the next stage. [Applause]
Drafting a fair electoral law
The second measure in building the just, capable, and strong state
begins by drafting a fair electoral law in which all communities and
all political currents will have a realistic opportunity to have a
genuine representation, and in which no community will feel that it
has become a follower of another community. That is how we can build
the just, strong, and capable state. That is the way to solve all
our problems.
Resistance has more than 20,000 rockets
Here I will briefly discuss the remaining issues and challenges.
Now, the issue of the Resistance. I said a short while ago that
there is something related to the current reality. They have come to
blockade the sea. Why? To protect Lebanon? No. The German
chancellor, God's peace be upon her [laughter by the crowd], said
that the German navy was playing a historic role in protecting
Israel's right to exist. I like some of these stands and I will talk
about them later. They come from the sea and they want to blockade
the airspace and the borders. I tell them: Blockade and close the
borders, the sea, and the skies. This will neither weaken the will
nor the arms of the Resistance. [Applause] We have engaged in war
for 33 days. This is not mere rhetoric. We had been prepared for a
long war. What we offered in the war was a very small part of our
resources. In Bint Jubayl I said that we had more than 12,000
rockets and the poor ones [Israelis] started calculating, based on
12,000. Then we explained things and said that 12,000 does not mean
13,000. [As heard] There might be more. Today, I say to those who
want to close the seas, the sky, the deserts, and the borders, and I
say to the enemy as well, that the resistance today has more - pay
attention, underline the word "more" - than 20,000 rockets.
[Applause]
Within a very few days and after emerging from a fierce war, the
Resistance restored its entire military and organizational structure
and its armaments. [Applause] The Resistance today is stronger that
it was on the eve of 12 July because during the war it added to its
experience fresh experience and acquired new wisdom and new resolve
and determination. I tell those who wager on the weakness of the
Resistance that they are making a miscalculation.
Today, 22 September 2006, the Resistance is stronger than at any
time since 1982. [Applause] Concerning the resistance, its strength,
and its weapons, we say: Rest completely assured.
Prisoners only to be released as an exchange
The second issue is the prisoners. Your prisoners and children will
return, God willing. All of them will return, God willing.
[Applause] In the name of the resistance, I promised you on 12 July
and I told you in the name of the men of God and not in my name and
the name of my father but in the name of the resistance men that if
the entire universe comes it will not be able to save these two
prisoners except through indirect negotiations and an exchange
process. [Applause] After 12 July, the entire universe came and you
remained steadfast and the prisoners remained in our hands and they
will not be released except with the return of the prisoners whose
release and return we are demanding. [A man among the crowd utters
indistinct words and Nasrallah responds] "God willing". So we ask
the world to be certain about this.
Shab'a Farms will not be relinquished
Thirdly, there is the issue of Shab'a Farms and Kfar Shuba Hills.
Delegations from these good and steadfast towns have been worried of
late as a result of the new arrangements in the border region. I
assure them that the Shab'a Farms and Kfar Shuba Hills will not be
relinquished. Nobody will relinquish a single inch of the occupied
Lebanese territories. Never. [Applause] I tell you that during the
war and the political negotiations there was a genuine opportunity
to liberate the Shab'a Farms, and the Americans were about to agree,
and indeed they agreed, but they went back on their promises, as is
their wont, and said: We cannot return the Shab'a Farms to Lebanon
now. Why, because we do not want to offer a victory to Hezbollah. I
tell them: Return them to whomever you want and offer a victory to
whomever you want, but return them, return them. [Applause]
We could have regained the Shab'a Farms and the Kfar Shuba hills
during the war if there had been a serious political will, a serious
political unity, and an integrated political resistance. But I
stress to you that these are on their way to liberation. All current
violations will then end. The state is the one currently present
there. The Lebanese Army, which is our national army, is present
there and the UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon] has
risen to 5,000 in number. In the past when the Resistance was on the
borders, any bulldozer advancing even 10 meters would be hit and
forced to retreat, and none dared to enter. Now our border is open
and they enter here and there every now and then. What happened has
happened but what about the future? This issue is not linked to the
Lebanese army. The Lebanese army has courage, will, and
determination. Its officers and soldiers are the brothers of these
resistance men. There is no difference between them. The issue is
linked to political decision.
Will the Lebanese government turn the Lebanese army into a unit in
charge of counting complaints and recording violations? This will be
humiliating to the Lebanese army. Neither the army nor the Lebanese
people accept this. Our army's task is not sitting in the border
area and counting the Israeli violations as the United Nations did
in 1972. The task for which our army went to the south upon a
decision from the current government was defending the country and
protecting the citizens and their livelihood and security. The
country's sovereignty and territory are now violated and the
citizens are kidnapped and assaulted every now and then and their
farms are attacked. What is the government's political decision? We
have thus far been patient because we do not want to commit any
violation of Resolution 1701, which is not sacred, of course,
because we know that any simple violation by us even if it is done
in legitimate defence of ourselves, a hue and cry will be raised.
Israel has been committing violations, attacks, and transgressions
all the time but the world remains silent. Be assured that we will
not be patient for long. Hear me well. If the state and government
fail to carry out their responsibility towards protecting the land
and citizens, the Lebanese people will assume this responsibility as
they have done since 1982. [Applause] I tell the Zionists: If
someone gives you security assurances from above or under the table,
these will concern him and not the resistance in Lebanon or the
people of Lebanon. [Applause]
What we are required to do then is sharpen our national zeal and
stand behind and support our national army so that it will be
equipped with the best equipment in order to guard the homeland -
villages, towns, farms, farmers, churches, and mosques - and not
protect anyone else.
UNIFIL to support Lebanese army, not to spy on Hezbollah
To the UNIFIL, which they turned into something that is much larger
than a reinforced UNFIL, we say: We welcomed you and I reiterate our
welcome of you within the framework of your clear mission, which is
supporting the Lebanese army. Your mission is not to spy on
Hezbollah or disarm the Resistance. This is what UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan and several officials said. Thus far, I have not
heard any country participating in the UNIFIL say that it sent its
sons and soldiers to defend Lebanon and the Lebanese. They are
ashamed of us, brothers and sisters. They are ashamed of saying they
came to defend us, but they talk about defending Israel. Well, the
UNIFIL forces are welcomed as long as they abide by their mission. I
call on the UNIFIL command in Lebanon to be alert because I have
received information that there are some who want to drag these UN
forces to collision with the Resistance. I heard that it was said at
some meetings that the presence of the UN forces will restore the
internal balance of power in Lebanon. This is serious talk. The UN
forces came for a specific goal and they should not interfere in
Lebanon's internal affairs or be involved in such things.
The point before the last is about political arguments and
counterarguments. We did not seek political rivalry with anyone. We
heard much harmful talk during the war and we remained silent and
were patient. Political and media rivalry and attack on the
resistance and on us continued after the war. Things reached an
unbearable limit in recent statements. The almighty God wants
believers to have broad minds, patience, and great hearts. But He at
the same time does not accept humiliation for them. The media and
political attacks on the resistance in Lebanon after the war - we
put up with this during the war - reached a limit that could be
tolerated only by prophets and we are not prophets. My brothers and
I are not prophets. [Applause]
Pride in relationship with Iran, Syria
We understand things if one or two persons stand up and say things.
If three persons say them, we will continue to comprehend what they
say. Entire political forces met at Bristol [Hotel]. They brought
their deputies, leaders, and members of political bureaus to show
that the rally was big. They then issued a statement in which they
said the war which took place in Lebanon was an Iranian war for the
sake of the Iranian nuclear file, or a Syrian war to obstruct the
international tribunal. Actually, we did not tolerate that although
we - and I repeat this on the day of victory - take pride in our
relationship and friendship with the Islamic Republic of Iran under
the leadership of His Eminence Imam leader Al-Sayyid Khamene'i, may
God keep his shadow. [Applause] We also take pride in our
relationship with Syria - leadership and people. Yes, leadership and
people under the leadership of President Bashar al-Asad. [Applause]
We are independent and sovereign and our history testifies to this
more than their history. [Applause] But to say that this war - which
America and Israel launched and which Condoleezza Rice said was hard
labour for the birth of a new Middle East and about which Olmert,
Peretz, and others said all sorts of things, and which the Arabs
said was the sixth war while the Zionists said was the first in the
history of Israel - was fought by us for the sake of the nuclear
issue and international tribunal is both shameful and insulting. Our
houses were destroyed and our children and women were killed but we
continued to fight. I care for all those who care for me and for my
turban and beard and those who tell me not to engage in an argument.
The party's youth and leadership can engage in such an argument. But
there is a limit. Even I and my turban and beard are not more
honourable than this resistance and these people. [Applause] If my
turban and beard have honour, it is then an honour bestowed by you
and this resistance and the blood of martyrs. [Applause] I call for
stopping these arguments and avoiding silly, harmful, and harsh
phrases. We must remain within the framework of logical and
reasonable political competition because we have a common destiny
and we must finally build Lebanon together. But I, Hasan Nasrallah,
will not remain silent over any insult to the people of the
resistance. [Applause]
A few days ago, a big leader in the 14 February forces said - I know
some people will ask me why I should say this but I will tell you
[changes thought]. None is allowed to stand up and say even calmly
that the Resistance masses are thoughtless. Are you thoughtless?
[Chants] Who accepts this insult? No, no, no, I respect his masses.
I, however, respect their masses and their youth and women. I
respect their options if they are national. But we will never accept
any insult to the masses of the resistance by anyone. He has to
apologize. Yes, he has to apologize. [Applause and chants] We are
not a totalitarian party, regime, or faction. Neither my father nor
grandfather was a Bek [originally a Turkish title given to rulers of
tribal groups; currently used with the name of Lebanese Druze leader
Walid Junblatt]. Also my son will not be a Bek. [Chants and
applause]
We do not seek political arguments and counterarguments. We are keen
to get out of political division in the country through any dialogue
formula. We are committed and are advocates of the state, the state
project, the building of the state, and the establishment of the
state, but we have dignity. Our dignity is above anything else. We
cannot allow anyone to squander our dignity in return for building
us a house. The house was destroyed for the sake of our dignity.
[Applause] None should imagine that he can satisfy our hunger at the
expense of our dignity. We sacrificed our blood for the sake of our
dignity. This is how we are. What else can we do? This is how things
are for us in Lebanon.
Call for return to calm, reason
Within this context, I call for a return to calm and reason. We are
on the threshold of the blessed month of Ramadan. May God return the
happy occasion to all Lebanese. We pray to the almighty God to grant
us success this month so that we can fast and pray for Him. I hope
that the blessed month of Ramadan will be an opportunity for
meditation and reflection and return to one's self and to seeing
facts. Get out and see facts and do not let things become dubious to
you. Do not build things on miscalculations.
Brothers and sisters, once again I greet the martyrs, the families
of the chaste martyrs among all the Lebanese, the wounded, the
detainees, all communities, movements, and regions which embraced
and helped the resistance. I greet every Arab and Muslim people in
the world. I greet every person, faction, and party. I will not get
into names because the list is long and the ones I forget are more
than those whom I remember. Therefore, we will be satisfied with
this generalization.
Thanks to all. As we said during the war: May God grant you victory
and God has granted your victory. We said may God help you and He
has done so. I will conclude as I did in Bint Jubayl on 25 May 2000.
I told you: O people of Lebanon, O people of Palestine, O peoples of
our Arab nation. The era of victories began on 25 May 2000 and the
era of defeats came to an end. There will absolutely be no defeat.
Happy Ramadan and I wish you well on every historic and strategic
victory. You are the most honourable, generous, and pure among
people. God's peace and blessings be upon you. [Applause and chants]
