Hezb rejects demand to disarm

[bemildred]

Scroll down a little.

New Delhi, Oct. 31: The Hezbollah has rejected US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice�s demand that the Lebanese resistance group disarm and surrender its weapons. Hezbollah�s spokesperson in Beirut told this correspondent over the telephone that there was simply no question of laying down weapons as there were several issues that still needed to be resolved.

Dr Ali Fayad, a political adviser to the Hezbollah, said, "This is the usual American attitude, there is no question of disarming, it is impossible." He also said that the problems of Lebanon were "not over" and these would have to be resolved before Hezbollah could officially declare an end to the hostilities and give up its weapons. Dr Fayad cited the dispute over the Shebaa farms, Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails and the daily violation of Lebanese airspace by Israeli fighter aircraft as the unresolved issues pointing out that "no one" can make the Hezbollah disarm until these are resolved.

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Dr Fayad said that the relations between the resistance and the Lebanese Army as well as the Unifil forces deployed for peace keeping in south Lebanon were "very good". The Unifil commanders have joined issue with Israel for repeated violations of Lebanese air space and have taken up the matter with the United Nations. A top commander recently said that the peacekeeping forces would have to deploy anti-aircraft guns if Israel continued to ignore their warnings. India continues to be part of the peace keeping efforts in Lebanon. European Union�s top diplomat Javier Solana, during a visit to Beirut, told reporters that he had made it "seriously clear" to Israeli officials that the military flights over Lebanese airspace must stop and the UN resolution of a ceasefire honoured. Dr Fayad further said that all the outstanding issues had been taken up at the highest levels with the EU chief.

The confrontation between the Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army, that had been predicted at the time by some politicians in Lebanon, has not happened. Dr Fayad said that there were no problems at all, and that the Lebanese troops had destroyed a fence that Israel was constructing to partition a Lebanese village in the south. The Lebanese Army was reportedly authorised to disarm the Hezbollah but has made no move till date to do so largely because of the wide popularity and support the resistance enjoys in the country. Hezbollah secretary-general Syed Nasrallah has made it clear repeatedly that the resistance would not disarm as it had still not called an end to the hostilities with Israel that has also refused to stop its military forays into Lebanon�s air space with the plea that the Hezbollah is receiving arms from Syria and Iran. Mr Solana announced that the Unifil strength in Lebanon will increase from the present 7,000 to 10,000 by early December. "We are with you," he has been quoted by news agencies as telling the top leaders, who are now openly sparring with each other on different issues, foremost being the Hezbollah�s role in the emerging politics. Mr Solana pledged support for the fragile government during his visit over the weekend and said that the EU was prepared to extend all help to rebuild the country.

Asian Age

[acmavm]

1. Damn them! And here Israel gave up all their weapons and

bombs.

Didn't they?

[sabbat hunter]

6. there is a huge difference

Hizbollah is an illegal milita/terrorist group. Israel is a legitimate country, whom are allowed to have a national armed forces.

see the difference?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Aside from the obvious imbalance of power if Hezb. were to

disarm, do you seriously think they'd do it considering:

1. It's a demand, not a negotiation whereby they get something in return whether it's a conferred benefit or an imposition applied to whoever's making the exchange.

2. The United States is making the demand. Aside from being viewed as the "Great Satan" by the majority of the population that claims allegiance to Hezb., the U.S. is also seen as having a bias in favor of Israel, which does not induce trust in our favor.

3. As much as I'm a feminist, Condi Rice is seen as a woman, not a diplomat or an officer of the U.S. administration. Hezb. taking marching orders from a woman would be untenable in their eyes and values. Don't forget, it's how THEY view the situation, not the way we would.

[mom cat]

3. They should also raise the question of Israeli nukes. Perhaps they should agree

to disarm when Isreal does!

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Israel doesn't have a right to defense?

Israel is a nation. To my knowledge, there is not a single nation that doesn't have some kind of defensive body. Hizb'allah is a militant group. No one is asking Lebanon to disarm, just the terrorist scumbags that are investing the south of Lebanon. Your statement is short-sighted.

[mom cat]

5. Calling people scumbags does not solve anything.

[sabbat hunter]

7. isnt israel

as a independent country allowed to have an army/airforce etc? last time i checked Hizbollah is illegal milita/terror group. they do not answer to the lebanese government (instead they are sponsored by syria and iran)

see the difference?