Posted on 05/25/2005 1:54:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BINT JBEIL, Lebanon (AP) - Under international pressure to disarm, Hezbollah's leader vowed Wednesday to fight anyone who tries to take away the group's weapons, which he said included more than 12,000 rockets capable of hitting northern Israel.
Sheik Hassan Nasrallah stressed that the guerrillas' weapons were necessary for Lebanon's defense, and rejected talk of their removal.
"There is talk about disarming the resistance. I say any thinking of disarming the resistance is madness," he told tens of thousands of supporters in his southern Lebanese stronghold near the Israeli border.
"We are among the biggest proponents of peace, stability and national unity. We don't seek to attack anyone and we will not allow anyone to attack Lebanon. But, listen to me, if anyone thinks - anyone - of disarming the resistance, we would fight them until martyrdom," he said.
Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim militant group backed by Iran and Syria, has been labeled a terrorist group by the United States, which wants the group to abandon its weapons.
September's United Nations resolution that forced Syrian forces to leave Lebanon also demands militias in Lebanon give up their weapons.
Hezbollah has refused to disarm, and Lebanese authorities have resisted pressuring the group, calling it a resistance movement, not a militia. The Lebanese army has not deployed in southern Lebanon after Israel's withdrawal in 2000, allowing Hezbollah to retain control.
Nasrallah's speech came on Liberation and Resistance Day, a Lebanese holiday that commemorates the fifth anniversary of end of the Israeli occupation.
Nasrallah, whose guerrillas take credit for forcing the Israelis out, said Hezbollah is open to dialogue about its weapons, but any attempt to forcibly disarm it will be met with force. The group says its weapons are needed to protect Lebanon from any future Israeli attack.
"Any such act is considered an Israeli act," he said. "We will consider any hand that tries to get to our weapons an Israeli hand and we will chop it off."
The crowd cheered and shouted "Death to Israel."
"All of the north of occupied Palestine, its settlements, airports, seaports, fields, factories and farms is under the feet and hands of the Islamic resistance," he said.
Hezbollah occasionally fires rockets across the Israeli border, but the inaccurate, unguided munitions are rarely effective, usually falling harmlessly on farm fields. Israel, however, considers the rockets a threat to its northern residents and at times responds with airstrikes.
"They (the Israelis) want to take this power away from Lebanon," Nasrallah said. "They say 12,000 rockets ... I say more than 12,000 rockets."
Nasrallah's statement that Hezbollah has more than 12,000 rockets was the first time he quantified the guerrillas' arsenal. The revelation came as the country was headed into parliamentary elections in which Hezbollah is fielding candidates.
Hezbollah has been seeking a greater political role after its ally Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon last month, weakening Damascus' role in the country.
In Israel, the Defense Ministry refused to comment on Nasrallah's comments about his missiles.
Israeli officials have accused the Iranian and Syrian-backed Hezbollah of acquiring longer-range rockets that could strike deep into Israel.
Hezbollah has refused to confirm or deny the missile claims, but it is known to possess thousands of 127mm Katyusha rockets with a range of up to 17 miles. These are inaccurate unguided munitions. Israel has responded to the usually ineffective rocket strikes with airstrikes.
Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah speaks on a podium decorated with his group's flag during a Resistance and Liberation Day rally organized by the Hezbollah militia group, in Bint Jbeil, Southern Lebanon, Wednesday, May 25, 2005. Hezbollah supporters celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon on May 25, which in Lebanon is called Resistance and Liberation Day.
""We are among the biggest proponents of peace, stability and national unity."
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
(((CATCH MY BREATH)))
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!
Should have fragged him at the rally. Along with the rest of the crowd.
Jeff
To quote KMFDM: "Bomb the bejeepers out of those people."
I second the motion.
As they should. Terrorists need weapons, and no one is going to complain if Hizbollah keeps theirs. In fact they'll probably be adding to their arsenal.
He looks just like Al Sadr don't he? They must clone these sorry bastards.
ROFL....Thanks for that...cracked me up....made my day.
More accurate.
We are among the biggest proponents of pieces, stupidity and national degenerates.
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