July 25, 2010 - Naharnet - Nasrallah Urges Establishment of Lebanese Committee to Investigate False Witnesses in Hariri Case

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called Sunday for the establishment of a Lebanese committee to investigate the issue of false witnesses in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri.
"Let them set up a committee -- a parliamentary, judicial, security, or ministerial committee—and bring witnesses and Mohammed Siddiq … and ask them who provided them with the information," Nasrallah said via video link during a celebration in honor of Hizbullah martyrs at Shahed Institute in Beirut's southern suburbs.
"If they really want a serious start, the beginning starts here," he said after paying tribute to martyrs.

"The investigating committee had, since Day 1, worked on one assumption. It has fabricated an accusation (against Hizbullah) and came out with a ruling and then went ahead to seek evidence," he said in reference to the U.N. probe into Hariri's Feb.14, 2005 murder.

Hizbullah leader said the truth is achieved through a "transparent, technical and scientific probe."

"Should an Investigation Committee made of Americans and the British government where investigating officers are brought from intelligence services closely linked to the Israeli Mossad be entrusted with a big issue at this level?" Nasrallah asked.

"Is the behavior of some political forces in Lebanon and the Prosecutor and the International Tribunal the behavior of those who seek the truth?" he argued.

"Isn't it the Lebanese right to bring the false witnesses, who have misled the investigation four years, and hold them accountable? Or at least expel them instead of keeping them under your protection," he shouted.

"Distortion of the Resistance, the dearest to us, will not be allowed. We shall preserve the Resistance and carry on the path of Resistance," Nasrallah vowed.

He said Hizbullah demands justice for Hariri, but not at the expense of the Resistance.

"If truth was not found, there will be no justice," he added. "We demand justice. Justice to punish Hariri's killers. And anything other than that is unjust."

"We are the side that is being accused. What the Israeli media is saying in this respect overlaps with our data," Nasrallah confirmed.

Nasrallah said that Hizbullah chose July 25 to celebrate "because it coincides with the martyrdom of Ahmed Jagbir who, along with his comrades, reiterated the saying 'Israel is weaker than a spider's web'."

"The Resistance is the most precious thing we have and we won't allow anyone in the world -- small or big -- to hurt its dignity.

He recalled that in 2006, the "Resistance was able to crush the 'new Middle East plan,' during which wars were waged on several countries in the region and other countries were threatened with war in which many people from outside and inside were involved."

"This Resistance made Lebanon in the heart of the regional equation after it was inferior. It made Lebanon a player.

"Many people helped the Resistance in Lebanon, from Iran to Syria to all honorable people, but the Resistance was the one that fought and everyone, but the Lebanese, knows the value of the Resistance.

"The Resistance made Lebanon strong where officials visit to Lebanon. The Resistance is the reason that leaders meet you abroad," Nasrallah said, addressing Lebanese political leaders.

"Unfortunately, the enemies of Lebanon realize the value of what Lebanon has more than some Lebanese.

"This is why they plan to take away this thing that Lebanon owns. They may bargain on gas and oil, but they can never bargain on the Resistance.

"Hizbullah won't allow anybody in this world to impose conditions on it. It rejects the U.S.-Israeli compromise which desires to confiscate land and deny millions of Palestinians their right to return to their homes.

"War on the Resistance will continue, and Feltman himself admitted this before Congress, and Israel unanimously acknowledged its defeat in 2006 and the Americans know that they were defeated in Lebanon.

"Distortion of the Resistance, the dearest to us, will not be allowed. We shall preserve the Resistance and carry on the path of Resistance," Nasrallah promised.

Nasrallah said celebrations to mark Hizbullah's victory in the July 2006 war will take place Aug. 3 and not July 30 as planned.

He also called for political support and talks.


"There are a lot of preparations being made against Lebanon and the Resistance.

"If the Cabinet or the national dialogue committee meets to discuss the issue, we will support that," Nasrallah said.

"There is something being prepared (against Hizbullah). So we must together consider how to confront it, how to deal with this matter," Nasrallah added.