Speech by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on May 7, 2018, after the legislative elections in Lebanon (won by Hezbollah and its allies).
Translation: unz.com/sayedhasan
Transcript:
[…] We believe that the composition of the new Parliament [following the May 6 elections] is a guarantee and a great force for the protection of this strategic choice [Resistance] and for the protection of the gold equation Army-People-Resistance, which we believe is the only one that, under current conditions, given the situation in the region, the balance of forces and developments, it is so far the only one that can protect the country, especially now that we are going back to the new challenges, the question of oil and gas, the maritime boundary, etc. And according to reports, Israel has threatened to start building the wall on Lebanese territory, on land which we consider Lebanese, even if the United Nations considers it disputed. Ultimately, it is this equation that can protect the country in such circumstances. […]
We now have a new Parliament, and we must elect its Speaker, its Office, the Parliament must start working in order not to fall behind. It should appoint a Head of Government, form the government, and now, discussions about it should start, we must not waste time. It is true that the former Parliament and the former government will still operate for a few days but we must not waste time and we should seize every opportunity (to go forward). Because we do not know (what can happen), and even the situation in the region (is unpredictable).
Recently, we were all busy with the elections, but a number of us, and myself, followed daily Israeli declarations, their threats, promises, against Lebanon, Syria, the problem between Israel and Iran, and what is happening in Palestine, in Gaza in particular, where great things happen, developments in Palestine are very important. So we do not know where the region is heading. This is why in Lebanon, we have no time to lose. We have no right to spend 8 months, a year or more to form the next government. Neither the domestic situation allows it, nor our presence in such turmoil in the regions, and nor the expectations of the Lebanese people. […]
The israelis are desperate, and they are cowards. A very nasty combination. They need the usa to rescue their yinon plan, their failing dreams of grandeur. They will try anything to get things turned around, as long as other do the dying.
Murka and Israel seem desperate to get that war started, going out of their way to turn the world against them. And it’s working.
All I have to say is ‘careful what you wish for’.
“The israelis are desperate”
They seem more self-assured than ever. They can slaughter Palestinians at will and nobody will say boo. If it was another Serbia or Libya the UN resolutions and no fly zones would already be in place.
The Russian ambassador to Israel has clearly stated the pre-eminence of Israeli national security, Putin is giving Bibi hugs in Moskva while Trump and Kushner are doing the same in Jerusalem.
They are acting with impunity exactly as they wish, everywhere.
What tf are they desperate about?
The plan is 100% smooth.
Hezbollah has won the responsibility to lead the nation’s government. Lebanon has been turning toward Russia and Eurasia for security and economic assistance. With China, the Belt and Road Initiative can benefit greatly the people of Lebanon. With Russia nearby in Syria, there can be a firm national security.
Saudi Arabia and Israel have been playing dirty games against Lebanon. The people see it all and know that their future is not with the West or those neighbors. That’s why the vote went to the defenders of their sovereignty. Hezbollah helped the Army to destroy and drive out al Nusra terrorists.
Turkey Recalls US, Israel Ambassadors Over Gaza Slaughter
https://sputniknews.com/world/201805141064453871-turkey-recalls-us-israeli-ambassadors/
“In response to Israel’s ongoing violent suppression of Palestinian protesters in Gaza, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has recalled his country’s ambassadors to both the US and Israel, accusing Israel of “state terror” and “genocide.”
According to reports, Erdogan is recalling the ambassadors for consultations over Israel’s brutal crackdown on the ongoing March of Return protests in the Gaza Strip, which came to a deadly head Monday as at least 55 Palestinians were killed while protesting the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. Nearly 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in the protests so far.
“Turkey will react to this harshly. We have withdrawn our ambassadors from Washington and Tel Aviv for consultations,” Erdogan said on NTV Television during his visit to the UK. “We also propose to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. We will hold talks with many leaders.”
Erdogan also declared a three-day national mourning period starting tomorrow for Palestinian victims.
South Africa also recalled its ambassador to Israel on Monday. A statement released by the country’s Foreign Ministry said that its ambassador to Israel would be recalled “with immediate effect until further notice.” The South African government has previously criticized Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians as “the only state in the world that can be called an apartheid state,” Sputnik reported in January.”
Turkey recalls ambassadors from US, Israel after over 50 Palestinians killed in Gaza
https://www.rt.com/news/426711-turkey-ambassadors-us-israel-gaza/
“Turkey will react to this harshly,” said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara condemned the “massacre” of Palestinians carried out by Israeli security forces, adding that regional and global peace and stability will not exist until a lasting a just solution to the Palestinian question is reached.
“We strongly condemn the decision of the U.S. Administration to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, violating international law and all relevant UN Resolutions. We reiterate that this action is legally null and void,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Turkey has also called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Friday over the killings in Gaza, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told the Anadolu Agency.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Istanbul on Monday, chanting slogans condemning Israel.
Moscow has condemned the decision by US President Donald Trump to move the embassy to Jerusalem.
“International resolutions declare that the status of Jerusalem – one of the most important issues of the entire peace process – must be resolved in direct negotiations between Israel and Palestine,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.”
‘Engineering the Demography’: Israeli Laws as Well as Bullets Erase Palestinians
https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201805151064456745-jerusalem-embassy-opening-us-israel/
“The US opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, officially recognizing the city as Israel’s capital. As the ceremony took place and officials clinked their glasses, some 55 Palestinians were killed and thousands of others were injured while protesting the move.
Speaking with Radio Sputnik news analyst Bob Schlehuber, Soheir Asaad, a lawyer with Adalah — The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, said that Israel’s continued aggression toward Palestinians is in an effort to change the demographics of Israel and Jerusalem.
“In the recent months we’ve witnessed so many laws that have the aim of controlling the demography,” Asaad told Schlehuber. “Engineering the demography of the population of Jerusalem in general and East Jerusalem especially, and the annexation of land… for example, just recently there were three bills… two for annexation, which will annex around five settlements around Jerusalem, which means around 280,000 settlers would be added to Jerusalem.”
“So while settlers are being added… more and more Palestinians are being pushed out outside of the city in complete violation of international law,” she added.
In addition to the annexation bills, Asaad explained that Israeli lawmakers had also brought up an amendment that would “limit” the chances of Palestinians ever seeing Jerusalem become the capital of an independent Palestinian state, since its text would prevent lands considered part of Jerusalem from ever being handed over to another entity.
“Now, as we stand here, we keep looking at our phones and count victims of killing in the border of Gaza, which means the US and Israel are backing the embassy, while the US is giving the green light to Israel to kill more and more demonstrators in Gaza… we are witnessing a huge massacre,” she stressed, adding that billions were “going into projects to increase Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem.”
“Of course it is not a mediator,” she said. “We are in a day, again, where massacres have been happening while the US is celebrating with Israel here.”
“We are witnessing a complete partnership between Israel and the United States towards oppressing Palestinians and violating their rights, not only in Jerusalem but oppressing Palestinians in the West Bank… so basically the US is playing a major role in pushing toward more and more injustice and crisis in the region,” the lawyer pointed out.
With Israel appearing unlikely to cease its aggression, Asaad said Palestinians may soon “try to get more international allies.”
Israeli ‘toxic influence’ responsible for extreme US policy – Max Blumenthal
https://www.rt.com/usa/426720-israel-jerusalem-gaza-blumenthal/
“Allied with the hardline Israeli government, the Trump administration has adopted the “most extreme policy in history” on Israel and Palestine, author and political analyst Max Blumenthal tells RT.
Blumenthal, the director of ‘Killing Gaza’ documentary about the 2014 Israeli attack on the Hamas-run Palestinian territory, answered RT.com’s questions and later spoke to RT International in the wake of Monday’s bloodshed, in which over 50 people were killed and almost 3,000 injured on the Israel-Gaza border.
RT: Can you comment on the media coverage focusing on the embassy ceremony rather than the fatalities among protesters?
Max Blumenthal: The overall framing in mainstream American print media of the killings by Israeli soldiers has tended towards language about Israel “responding” or resorting to live fire in order to prevent Palestinians from entering Israel. To have noted that Palestinians were, in fact, responding to a decade-long siege, decades of displacement, or [US President Donald] Trump’s opening of an American embassy in Jerusalem would have been off-limits in such forums.
RT: How does the embassy move serve as a win for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu?
MB: With the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem and the American exit from the Iran deal, Netanyahu has achieved two of his biggest priorities under Trump. It is worth noting that Trump was also a beneficiary of donations from the same Likudnik billionaires ‒ Sheldon Adelson, Bernard Marcus, and Paul Singer ‒ that have supported Netanyahu’s political empire.
Now, Israel’s colonial project in Jerusalem has been consolidated, and Netanyahu has helped set the US back on course for confrontation with Iran.
RT: Will this further embolden Netanyahu to conduct another ‘mowing the lawn’ in Gaza?
MB: Since at least 1967, the Israeli military has enjoyed a green light from Washington to carry out an uninterrupted string of attacks on civilian populations in occupied Palestine as well as in the cities of its Arab neighbors. This has not changed under Trump. Indeed, Trump and his inner circle have given Israel all the diplomatic cover it needs to “mow the lawn” down to its roots.
I also expect Israel to begin exporting the teargas drones it has tested on Gaza protesters as well as the deadly tactics it is honing.
RT: Can you speak about the US delegation, with regards to its support for Israel and settlements?
MB: The US delegation to Jerusalem is a perfect portrait of Israel’s toxic influence over American politics and foreign policy. The presidential son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is the director of a family foundation that has directed millions to pro-Israel outfits, including illegal settlements in the West Bank where violent attacks on Palestinian civilians have been staged.
David Friedman, the US ambassador, is the chairman of the American Friends of Beit El, a foundation supporting an illegal Jews-only settlement. He has also donated to Jewish extremist groups like Qomemiyut, which are connected to the Kahanist terror network. Sheldon Adelson is the Likudnik warlord who donated close to $40 million to pro-Trump Super PACs in 2016 and just dumped $30 million on the congressional Republicans. These figures are part of a wider lobby that is helping to shape the most extreme US policy towards Israel-Palestine in history, and with the general acquiescence of Democrats also under the sway of that lobby.
RT: On the eve of Nakba, what message does the embassy opening send to Palestinians waiting for their right of return to be granted?
MB: The timing of the US embassy opening for the date of the anniversary of Palestinian mass dispossession and ethnic cleansing was a flagrant provocation. It was the equivalent of pouring salt and tear gas on an open Palestinian wound.
RT: Do you think Israel is using press coverage of the embassy ceremony to go harder on protesters today?
MB: A CNN headline today reported that “Palestinians died” in Gaza. They simply died and who knows how? Maybe they were sick, or they died of old age? The passive voice is practically the American corporate media industry standard whenever Israel kills.
Israel has also demonstrated its ability to influence the mainstream narrative with its own version of events, which hold that Hamas is responsible for the mass killings committed by Israeli snipers by compelling protesters to die. The message at the White House press briefing today was delivered exactly according to the Israeli script.”
‘Terrible massacre’: Israel kills 58, injures 2,771 Gaza protesters as US embassy opens in Jerusalem
https://www.rt.com/news/426617-gaza-protests-embassy-jerusalem/
“Fifty-five Palestinian protesters, including six children under 18, have been killed by Israeli fire during demonstrations on the day of the US embassy’s inauguration in Jerusalem, the Palestinian health ministry said Monday.
More than 2,700 protesters have been injured in Gaza on what has been the most violent day of the six week long Great March of Return. Those wounded on Monday include 203 children and 78 women, according to the ministry.
The Palestinian government denounced Monday’s violence as a “terrible massacre” perpetrated “by the forces of the Israeli occupation”, and called for an immediate international intervention to prevent further deaths. A day of national mourning has been declared by the government in Ramallah, to be held Tuesday.
The first of Monday’s deaths was 21-year-old Anas Hamdan Qudeih, killed east of Khan Yunis, a spokesperson for the ministry said. A 29-year-old man, Mosaab Yousef Ibrahim Abu Laila, was later killed east of Jabalya. Some of the dead have yet to be identified. Six children under the age of 18, including one girl, are among the fatalities.
Around half of all injuries were caused by live bullets while hundreds more were targeted with teargas, according to the ministry. The Palestinian Health Ministry claims that Israeli forces are directly targeting emergency services and journalists and are calling on citizens to urgently donate blood to help save the lives of those wounded.
Six journalists have reportedly been injured while covering Monday’s demonstrations, according to the Journalist Support Committee.
The latest deaths bring the number killed since the Great March of Return protests began six weeks ago to 103.”
A massacre, indeed. That’s what the headlines this morning should be:
» Jewish State marks anniversary by horrible bloodbath «
» Butcher Netanyahu gloats as Tsahal perpetrates massacre «
» Israel celebrates existence wading in Palestinian blood «
Why is nobody calling for Netanyahu to resign? Sanctions against Israel? Responsibility to protect?
The sectarianism of the Palestinian leadership continues to be the weak link in the chain of the Resistance.
The continued deference shown to Riyadh by those who are in leadership positions in Palestine, dooms the Palestinian cause.
The Saudis have covertly sabotaged the Palestinians for years, and now they openly cavort with the murderers and tormentors of the people of Palestine, and still the leadership continues to trek to the Gulf to consult with those who stab them in the back.
Today Israel killed upwards of 50 and maimed close to 3000 and nary a word of protest from the Gulf.
Yet tomorrw, Abbas will be shuttling across the region calling on the worthless Arab League to convene and issue another useless statement.
Instead of broadining the appeal of the Resistance and ensuring that the Palestinian cause trancends sectarianism, they are seemingly content in playing short-sighted sectarian games.
The leadership continues to let their enemies determine how they conduct themselves and with whom they associate.
Syria is the only Arab country that openly backs the Palestinians and plays hosts to thousands of Palestinian refugees, yet Khaled Mesaal betrayed Assad at the outbreak of hostilities and quickly decamped from Damascus to the Gulf, to be with his Sunni backers.
Today the majority of the leadership is still holed up in the Gulf and Abbas whose term expired years ago, continues to look to Riyadh for support and guidance in confronting Israel.
The Palestinians deserve better leadership.
Nothing short of a paradigm shift at the leadership level, will be suffice, if the muderous and criminal regime that occupies Palestine is to be confronted and rolled back.
Palestinians will have to choose which of the 2 is more important:
Sectarianism or saving Palestine!