I suppose there could be a first time for anything. The European Union is joining the US in calling for pressure on Syria to be constructive in helping Lebanon get past its current, dangerous political crisis. Hezbollah does not agree.
What Solana said is far from being objective. It is an echo of the United States‘ position,” Hizbullah said in a statement.
“An independent European policy on Lebanon is more beneficial to Europe than simply repeating the US position,” the statement added.
Now, I am sure there is more to both Hezbollah's statement and to the EU position. But it is perhaps telling that it reads as if Hezbollah objects to Syria being asked to play a positive role. To this author, that doesn't seem too much to ask.
Meanwhile, a top Shi’ite cleric protests that Hezbollah only has arms for self-defense, and, if Israel would stop attacking, there would be no need for weapons.
BKIRKI: Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Monday that Hizbullah “gathers its weapons for self-defense.”
“If attacks against us stop, with the presence of firm guarantees, then there will be no need for weapons,” Fadlallah said before a delegation of American businessmen and religious figures. “Why doesn't Israel drop its weapons which have killed our people?”
“We encourage all people to get rid of weapons and have arms of love instead,” he added. “But when our enemies try to kill us, what will we do?”
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