Hizbullah Leader Commits to Lebanese Unity Talks
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has pledged his commitment to the ongoing unity talks in Lebanon. Saying that the nation could only be effectively governed through cooperation, Nasrallah emphasized that “If the opposition wins in the next parliamentary elections, Hizbullah will insist on the formation of a national unity government … we do not want to eliminate any party.” In May of last year, Hizbullah was responsible for the violent takeover of western Beirut, but Nasrallah insists that the group remains cooperative and committed to national reconciliation talks. The ultimate focus and goal, according to Hizbullah, is to build Lebanon’s power independent of foreign pressures, particularly those of the United States: said Nasrallah, “We should not wait for permission from Israel and the United States to upgrade the capabilities of the Lebanese army.” He also took the opportunity to address the Palestinian issue, stressing that “We cannot liberate our lands through begging other countries to help us do so … we can only do that through resistance,” and encouraging the Lebanese government to aid Palestinian refugees until such a resistance proves successful.
Stefanie Demetriades
