Monday, August 29, 2011
Speech delivered by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the occasion of Al Qods International Day
I take refuge in Allah from the stoned devil. In The Name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Most Merciful. Peace be upon our Master and Prophet – the Seal of prophets – Abi Al Qassem Mohammad and on his chaste and pure Household, his chosen companions and on all prophets and messengers.
Allah Al Mighty says in the Qoran: "So when the second of the warnings came to pass, (we permitted your enemies) to disfigure your faces, and to enter your Temple as they had entered it before, and to visit with destruction all that fell into their power. It may be that your Lord may (yet) show mercy unto you; but if ye revert (to your sins), we shall revert (to Our punishments): and We have made Hell a prison for those who reject (all Faith)"
First, I welcome you all, Brothers and sisters! Ladies and gentlemen! I ask Allah Al Mighty to accept from you your offerings and to regard these hours which you spent under the sun as part of your worship and jihad in this month of worship, martyrdom, righteousness and speaking out the truth. Thus Imam Khomeini (May Allah glorify his holy secret) assigned the last Friday in the holy Month of Ramadan to be a day for Al Qods for the specialty, holiness, loftiness, virtue and honor of this timing, this month, these days and this day in particular. This year we chose that our meeting and our commemoration of Al Qods Day be in this village and this locality.
How lucky you are indeed as you are feasting your eyes with the view of the hills of Palestine and smelling its aromatic fragrance! We also chose this spot for the implication of the place. The sacrifices of our people in Lebanon and especially in the South as well as the sacrifices and the jihad of the Resistance fighters and the Lebanese Army have turned many cities, villages, towns, hills and valleys into symbols. When you mention their names you recall along the sublime jihadi, domestic, national, humanistic, faithful and moral values and indications. Among these symbols is the town of Maroon Al Ras and what it stands for especially to the effect of its position, sacrifices and the steadfastness of its people and Resistance fighters during July War.
Moreover, this spot witnessed few months ago a heroic stance by the Palestinian men, women and youths in Lebanese camps who stressed their adherence to the right to return to their homes and land saying to the world with their blood that scores of years won't make the land of Palestine a forgotten land for its people and nation.
We meet today here to commemorate this occasion which Imam Khomeini followed by Imam Khamenai wanted an occasion to revive a cause the hegemonies and the west with all their agents wanted to thrust in the circle of forgetfulness. We are marking it to keep it in the circle of remembrance, in our memory and in our conscience. We also mark it to keep it in the circle of responsibility and to assume responsibility on all perspectives whether jihadi, political, media, financial, steadfastness, cultural or faithful so as to assert that Al Qods and Palestine are part of our religion, culture, civilization, fasting in the Month of Ramadan, values, prayers and jihad. Without Al Qods and Palestine our prayers, fasting, jihad and all these values lose much of their implications and originality.
Brothers and sisters! In the time limit I am given I will talk about a number of developments concerning Palestine. I will talk briefly about Palestine and its current situation first, Egypt from the Palestinian perspective, Libya, Syria before wrapping my speech with Lebanon.
We will start with Palestine and its existing conditions.
First, as far as Al Qods the holy city is concerned, we must be aware and we must call high against the judaizing campaigns this holy city is daily being subject to whether concerning the Islamic and Christian sanctities which are being subject to the risk of demolition or building new Jewish synagogues or restraining on the lives, livelihood, residences of Maqdessis or displacing the people of Al Qods or building new settlements in and around Al Qods. Days ago, the annual report was issued by the International Al Qods Institution. The report is issued annually on like these days and it is really disgusting.
There are media, political and financial obligations towards Al Qods if we are not to talk about direct jihadi obligations to protect the sanctities and keep the Maqdessis firm in their lands. These obligations must be assumed by the states, governments and peoples of our Arab and Islamic world along with the Palestinian people. I name in particular the states of the Arab League, the Arab League and the Organization of the Arab Conference.
Second as for Palestine, we assert on Al Qods Day, that Palestine which we believe in and which is the right of the Palestinians and this nation is from the Sea to the River. Thus we call again for the right that no one might give in one grain of Palestinian soil or one drop of Palestinian water. Today we must add to this list that no one might give in one drop of Palestinian oil or gas which Israel is robbing, and no one must give in one letter of the name of Palestine as Ghaddafi is marketing for the state of Isratine. Every letter of the word Palestine is as worthy as every grain of soil and drop of water which no one has the right to give in. No one is entitled to give them in. As for establishing a Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, that is a Palestinian affair which is decided upon by our Palestinian people. However we add that any Palestinian entity or Palestinian state must not be on the expense of the rest of Palestine or the rest of the Palestinian land, soil and people.
Our true aspiration is that a day comes when an independent Palestinian state is established on the entire land of Palestine from the Sea to the River, and this state will be established Inshallah.
On Al Qods Day, we must remember the Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli prisons. We must recall the besieged Gaza Strip which is subject to daily aggressions and which is offering martyrs everyday. We must remember the West Bank where more land is detached from it for settlement building. We must remember the territories occupied since 1948 and our dear and faithful people there as they are working forcefully at judaizing this land through new projects. We must remember the Palestinian refugees in exodus and especially in Lebanon, and I will go back to this issue when talking about Lebanon.
However brothers and sisters! As we recall all of these titles and these difficult, harsh and painful problems and instead of addressing the resulting problems in retail and search for solutions for this cause, that problem and this crisis, we must head towards addressing the main cause.
If we managed to put an end to the occupation there will not be anymore the cause of Al Qods, the refugees, the settlements, the independent state, the detainees in prisons and the robbed wealth. This is the call of Imam Khomeini on Al Qods Day. It's that we head towards addressing the main reason which is occupation – the occupation of Palestine. Let's muster all our efforts to address this cause and not the results. This is exactly similar to what happened in Lebanon. When the main cause was addressed, the resulting effects and problems of direct occupation of the Lebanese territories stopped to exist. If Lebanon and the region are suffering from any problems from Israel, that's because of the occupation of Palestine. So the occupation of Palestine is not a cause of suffering for the Palestinians only. It has always been the reason of sufferings for the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians and the entire region and nation.
Thus we must focus our efforts on this point in particular especially after reaching a dead end with negotiations. Day after day the Palestinian people whether in exodus or in occupied Palestine are showing that the resistance is their choice. The latest qualitative operation in Eilat which shook the Zionist entity and its political leaderships and military and security institutions is but an evidence on the feebleness of the enemy and the determination of this people who are resisting and fighting and tolerating the repercussions and sacrifices following every operation as what took place and is taking place against our people in Gaza Strip. This is the road that leads to the goal. The Palestinian people made their choice. No one pointed the way for them. No one imposed the way on them.
As for the nation, its responsibility on Al Qods Day is to stand by the Palestinian people to support, back and strengthen them. As the Lebanese, with their Resistance and the support of the friends and faithful in this nation could liberate their land, the Palestinians will also be able with our support, backing and standing by their side to liberate their land. Indeed the changes taking place in the region now are very important and to the interest of Palestine and the Palestinian cause. As we are standing now before some of these developments, we must push these positive developments more to the interest of Palestine. If there were developments or changes which have negative impact on Palestine and the Palestinian cause, we must address the negative developments with wisdom, intellect and logic.
I will start with Egypt. What we are witnessing during these days in Egypt is an official and popular stance no matter of what magnitude or evaluation or expectation or demands it is. Surely it is an indicator of a new stage in Egypt. Was the regime of Husni Mubarak or the leadership of Husni Mubarak having control and hegemony, the reaction would have been different and the Egyptian wrath would have descended on the Palestinians holding them responsible for the consequences of Eilat operation and the consequences of the martyrdom of Egyptian officers and soldiers on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders. Today the official stance and popular stance are important. Thousands are still lying down before the Embassy of "Israel" in Cairo calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador. This used not to take place in the past. There is a great difference between Egypt addressing a message to the Zionists warning them against staging an aggression against Gaza as is taking place now and between Egypt covering the aggression against Gaza as what took place in 2008 when the aggression against Gaza was unfortunately announced from Cairo. There is a great difference between Egyptians demonstrating and taking the Israeli flag of the Egyptian Embassy and between what used to take place under Husni Mubarak when they used to open fire on the chests of demonstrators showing solidarity with Gaza in 2008.
When Egypt makes a move, that means that there is an important strategic turning point in the region. Brothers and sisters! See what took place in the past few days. I do not call that an Egyptian move. I use the colloquial term of hemming. That means when Egypt hemmed a little, Israel was shaken. Despite the harshness and the consequences of Eilat qualitative operation and despite the fighters in Gaza responding on the aggression with shelling the settlements to the south of Palestine with Katusha, Netanyahu showed up to tell the Israelis: We can't head towards a territorial broad operation against Gaza because that will influence our relation with Egypt. The Egyptians did not do anything other than hemming. What if the Egyptian stance gradually changed towards what's better? This is what we bargain on and expect as a result of our knowledge of the originality and greatness of the Egyptian people and army.
We move now to Libya. No doubt Gaddafi’s regime had committed many crimes and mistakes against his people as well as the Palestinian cause. One of his crimes against the Palestinian cause and against Lebanon was kidnapping Imam Sayyed Mussa al-Sadre and his companions - His Eminence Sheikh Mohammad Yaqoub and Mr. Abbass Badriddine. On like these days, they were abducted while they were guests of Gaddafi. The abduction crime was a favor to the Israeli project. We all know what does Sayyed Mussa al-Sadre mean, what does Imam Mussa Sadre represent for the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, what he means to the Palestinian cause and what he means for Al Qods. Palestine was in his mind, will and decision. You know what the Palestinian Resistance meant for him? He used to say I protect the Palestinian Resistance with my turban, mihrab and platform. In the years when the Palestinian Resistance was being subject to the danger of liquidation, the Imam was kidnapped what led to what took place following the detention. That was among the results which used to target the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance alike, and I do not want to go back to that stage.
This was the greatest crime which was committed. If it was destined that Imam Mussa Sadre was still present in this square since 1978 onwards, there would have been great changes to the interest of the Palestinian Resistance, the Lebanese Resistance, the national unity and the Palestinian cause in Lebanon and in the region.
Today we look forward to the Libyan brethrens and the revolutionists and fighters in Libya to put a decisive end for this catastrophic cause and criminal detention. We hope and we are full of hope that the Imam and his friends would return to Lebanon alive and safe and sound Inshallah.
Also among the crimes of this regime is that it distanced Libya from Palestine and the Arab world. Once he wanted to go to Latin America. At other times he wanted to go to Africa. He abandoned Palestine and the Palestinian cause. Today, we hope the rebels and fighters in Libya would return Libya to the Arab world and Palestine. We know the culture of this people and the conscience of this people. It's impossible that a people who have resisted the occupation – any occupation – and offered in their resistance hundreds of martyrs and leader martyrs such as Omar Mukhtar but to return to Palestine so that they remain strong in their decision, policy and plan though we know that the Libyan people today is before great responsibilities to preserve their security, unity and rebuild the state. However, the greatest event is the independence and sovereignty in face of the expected US-western onslaught of the country’s resources and decision. The bet today again is on the originality of the Libyan people.
Now I come to the developments in Syria and I will handle it from the Palestinian perspective. On the Day of Al Qods, we must say what is right and what no one must be blamed when being said by whomsoever. The right saying which must be said and must not be neglected or forgotten by anyone is the true status of Syria: the Syrian leadership in the Arab-Israeli struggle and in the Palestinian cause in particular. As I am being brief today, I will be content by mentioning two points:
The first point is the adherence of the Syrian leadership along with the dear Syrian people and brave army to the national fixed points as concerning the Syrian rights, every grain of soil and every Syrian drop of water as well as the adherence of this leadership to the Arab rights. This adherence in face of the international, American and Western pressures for the past decades which witnessed great collapses starting with the Soviet Union to the Arab world to the direct US invasion of the Gulf and recently of Iraq did not shake this leadership and influenced its adherence to the Syrian rights and Arab rights. Should the Syrian leadership have yielded and weakened – let's speak in colloquial language – settlement would have find its way in the region and Palestine would have lost as well as the Palestinian cause. Pressure has often been practiced on the Syrian track to reach somewhere to besiege Palestine. Still the Syrian did not give in.
Brothers and sisters! Arab and Palestinians! The Syrians remained steadfast and the Palestinian track is being fragmented by negotiations. What if the Syrians gave in? What if the Syrians settled their problem with the Israelis and let the Palestinian cause and the Palestinians to their fate? Where would the Palestinian cause have been? Thanks for the Syrian leadership the Palestinian cause was preserved and guarded and not liquidated as it was the goal of all the US and western invasions and conspiracies against our region.
This is first and this must not be forgotten. The persistence of the Syrian position is a primary condition to the persistence of the Palestinian cause and preventing its liquidation.
The second point which we must be reminded of is Syria's stance and in particular this leadership's stance next to the Resistance and especially in Lebanon and Palestine. It did not only stand by it, it also supported the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine. This is one of the main influential elements. Even today when they talk a great part of the Iranian support passes through Syrian. Was it not for the Syrian administration and its stance even the Iranian support would have been prevented from Lebanon and from Palestine.
The land on which you sit now in the South of Lebanon in Jabal Amel where people are seeing you on the TV screen wouldn't have been liberated was it not to the victorious Resistance in 2000. The Resistance was not to gain victory in 2000 was it not for several reasons the most important of which is Syria's support and backing. Today you are sitting on the land of Maroon Al Ras which made Lebanon and the Arabs proud. This land fought and resisted with Syria's support. I will not go now into details not to embarrass the Syrian leadership. It's not only moral support and political support. It also backed the resistance in Palestine, the steadfastness in Gaza in 2008 and the strength of Gaza Strip today. Here also I will not go into details not to embarrass anyone. However at least the Palestinian resistance leaderships and movements in Gaza know the conduct, behavior and gratitude of the Syrian leadership so that Gaza remain steadfast and strong though this performance and support used always to bring along the Syrian leadership more US pressure and threats. These two points must not be forgotten by anyone on one hand.
On the other hand, we all call for and back great and important reforms in Syria for Syria's further development, enhancement and strength for its people, nation and the region as a result of its important position in the region.
So, we want to preserve this national position for Syria. I am saying all of us – the Syrians, the Lebanese, the Arab and Islamic peoples as well as all the lovers of Palestine and Al Qods – want Syria to be strong with reforms and developments.
What does that mean? That means that everyone who claims friendship and says Syria is a friendly and fraternal state and everyone who claims caring for Syria and its people, blood, future and national unity must muster efforts to calm down the situation in Syria and to push things towards dialogue and a sound address.
Any other trend or conduct would pose a threat on Syria and Palestine and on the entire region. Do those seeking NATO military intervention in Syria want the future of Syria or its destruction?
To those who want to push Syria towards a civil war and those who deliver speeches today on many TV screens and use sectarian and factional incitement, I say Syria's strength has always been in that it is ruled with domestic and national feelings. They want to make Syria like Lebanon. They want it to rife with sectarianism, disintegration and combat. In Lebanon, every trivial or major incident takes a sectarian aspect. Lebanon always resides on the verge of a civil war prepared for it from abroad or by some wicked within. Syria has always preserved its unity all through history because it is controlled with domestic and national feelings. That's how it has been and that's how it must remain. Whoever seeks to revive sectarian and factional instigations is leading Syria towards destruction, ruin and toppling its position.
Today some are seeking to break up Syria as part of a new Middle East agenda, which we destroyed in Lebanon along with Syria, Iran and all the brethrens in July War and during 2008 War. Thus on Al Qods Day, I frankly say we must be faithful to Al Qods, to Palestine and to Lebanon. So even those among the Lebanese who are aiding tensing the situation in Syria and are sending arms and evoking instigations will not remain as such. Lebanon is not apart from the developments in Syria which will extend to reach the whole region. Any passive or negative development would reach the whole region, and any positive development would be to the interest of the entire region. As President Assad said days ago, America and the west want concessions and not reform. The last point which America cares for is reforms. The evidence is that there are other states in the world which are governed with severe dictatorships. I do not want to mention names. There is no room for democracy, freedom of expression or even personal freedoms. Still they enjoy the support, backing and support of America, France, Britain and the West.
So the issue is not that of reforms. The issue is that of concessions. All of us must stand with Syria so that it does not yield and preserve its national post and power and so that it would be able to make reforms with peace, serenity and confidence. That's because pressure slows reform. No one may move quickly in reform under pressure because that causes worry. Peace, confidence, serenity, openness, cooperation and adhering to national unity open the gate for reforms wide open. We know that the Syrian leadership is serious in its reforms.
Now we come to Lebanon.
Brothers and sisters! We are talking today in 2011 from Maroon Al Ras. Lebanon's position in the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli struggle has become a totally different position. The Lebanese always used to have fears that any solution in the region would take place at Lebanon’s expense. Why? That's because Lebanon is the weakest link. Now we are through with that.
Let the whole world hear that. Lebanon is no longer the weakest link in the region, and the day will not be when Lebanon will be the weakest link in the region.
Lebanon the strong would protect its sovereignty, independence and interests. Some talk about the fears of settlement. If Lebanon is weak, settlement would take place in Lebanon but if Lebanon is strong settlement would not take place in it. If the whole world wanted settlement and the Lebanese and the Palestinians in Lebanon refused it, they may refuse it.
The Palestinians residing in Lebanon refuse settlement. This is what they express every day and in every occasion. Their chaste blood which was shed in Maroon Al Ras witnesses that they refuse settlement and do not accept any substitute to Palestine. If the Lebanese agreed collectively on the Resistance-Army-People formula, no one may impose settlement on them.
If some Lebanese are in power and conspired to sell Lebanon and Palestine to their American masters and accepted on that, we will not accept that.
So if Lebanon the strong - Lebanon which owns a will to refuse settlement along with the Palestinian refugees who reside in Lebanon - refuses settlement, then there will be no settlement. There will be no solution at the expense of Lebanon.
Second: It has always been feared that regional congestion would be discharged in Lebanon. If there is a crisis between Israel and Syria, then Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is a problem between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. Now it is releasing its tension in Gaza. If there is a crisis between Israel and Iran, it would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is be a crisis between Israel and Egypt, it would release its tension in Lebanon. This era is over.
If there is an internal tension, Israel used to run to Lebanon. My dear! This era is over. This is not valid anymore after 2000 and 2006. This is over. Lebanon has become a dilemma to Israel which it is seeking to escape and not to run to. Lebanon has become a trap to Israel where it may fall and not erect for anyone. Thus from this perspective also we are assured.
Israel always used to have greed in Lebanon, Lebanon's waters, Lebanon's resources and Lebanon's land and hills –especially southern Lebanon. Now there are those who hamper this greed from taking place.
Who imposed this new situation in Lebanon? It was imposed by the Army-People-Resistance formula. We are not talking about a theoretical formula. We are talking about a true real formula which was written with blood and sacrifices made by the people who remained steadfast, were displaced but remained steadfast, supported, backed and offered their children to fight in the Resistance and got enrolled in the Army. With the Resistance which fought and the Army which remained steadfast, Lebanon became strong.
On Al Qods Day, I also say that it's the responsibility of the Lebanese to guard this formula for the sake of Lebanon, Palestine and Al Qods. Frankly speaking, some are working abroad, and some are helping from inside – I will not say that some are working from inside because those inside are weaker than being able to target. They are rather a part of a machinery run by a foreign power whether America, the West or Israel – to strike this formula and disintegrate it. They want to separate the army, the people and the resistance apart from each other, to target each element alone and if possible to make them collide with each other. This has been worked at for years. They have often sought to cause sedition and struggle between the Resistance and the people. They have often sought to cause sedition between the Army and the Resistance and have bet on that. They have often sought to target the Resistance directly. Today on the contrary, our responsibility is to maintain this formula.
As for the Resistance, following the military targeting – the last of which was July War – and the security targeting - the last of which was assassinating Leader Hajj Imad Moghniyeh because his blood made us stronger, more insistent, adherent, and faithful in our cause and our sublime goal – there has been a stream of accusations. Today targeting reached the stage of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. I have no time to talk about the STL but I will wrap up what I started and my brethrens rounded off. I commented on the indictment which was published. Following that a legal, lawful, political conference and a technical conference which has to do with communication were held. So two press conferences were held and tackled the legal and technical aspects of the indictment and what was mentioned in it. Now I will wrap up what I have on this issue saying: Day after day, it is revealed to what extent this tribunal is politicized and why it was established. Everyone knows how it was established, why it was established, how it was formed, how its law was set, how trials in abstentia took place in an unprecedented way in the history of international tribunals, how the investigation took place, how Syria and the four officers and others were targeted, how the targeting was then turned to Hezbollah, how the investigation was leaked, how the false witnesses were fabricated, how the false witnesses were protected and are still protected and how the investigation refused any indication or evidence on the accusation of Israel. The indictment came to say that the evidences are feeble evidences without any legal or judicial value. All of that assert the nature and magnitude of targeting.
Today when my brethrens and I explain and illustrate, we do so not to convince the US administration, the International Security Council, Bellemare, Fransen, Cassese or some political personalities in Lebanon. That's because they willfully premeditated and fabricated this agenda and are moving in it to the end. We are rather addressing the public opinion whom we bet on their mind, logic, acceptance of proofs, support of the Resistance and awareness of the aspects of the new conspiracy. With the awareness of our people and the awareness of the peoples of our nations and with this public opinion that have always backed the Resistance, this Resistance will overpass this risk and this new conspiracy.
As for the STL and what was issued by it and what will be issued from it, as I said before, I will say again, they are worthless. The noble Resistance fighters are falsely accused. They are oppressed and they will have their reward on Judgment Day for the oppression which afflicted them. That will also be a source of pride for them in this world because they are bearing the consequences of the strength, firmness and victories of the Resistance.
The Army is an element in the formula. We all know that the successive governments did not work at strengthening the army. All of us know the story of the balance, arming, figures and equipment. And now even Israel is working on the international level so that the Lebanese Army is not armed and equipped. There are political forces which are also calling on world states to besiege the government and the state and to stop any support to the Lebanese Army and other sides. With what does that meet? With my respect to all other state institutions, the efforts and the sacrifices of the various security forces and the Army remains the national institution which guarantees civil peace, integrated livelihood, coexistence and the strength, firmness and unity of the country. Still some challenge and target the Army. We know that is not a personal inclination but rather the inclination of political currents and not only one current. Some of these political currents express their view through statements and others fought the Army in the past and rose generations on loathing the Army in the past. For whose interest is targeting the Army especially on these days as an institution and as a leadership, accusing the Army, instigating against it and calling on the officers and soldiers to rebel? Lebanon? Palestine? The Cause of the Resistance? They deceive people saying they are with the Resistance while they claim that is an internal dispute.
Also when we come to the people, they work day and night to strike this national texture and to revive sectarian and factional instincts with every minor and major incident. If there are trivial incidents they magnify them. They fabricate evidences for baseless incidents. They label as true what is not so. For whose interest is the sectarian and factional instigation which has been taking place since years to strike the united texture of the people? When a Lebanese party cooperates with sides abroad, statements on sovereignty, freedom and independence become meaningless. Following Wikileaks, it has become clear that the Cedar Revolution was directed by Jeffrey Feltman and the French Ambassador. Shame on them. They also used to backbite each other in Feltman's presence. Is this freedom, sovereignty and independence? Why are they targeting this formula?
On Al Qods day I say: It's the responsibility of the Lebanese people to maintain the Army-people-Equation formula, and to guard the Army, Resistance and the people's unity and put an end to all of that. I frankly say that when you hear anyone in this country provoking against the Resistance, he would be serving Israel. Anyone who provokes against the Lebanese Army is serving Israel. Whoever talks in a sectarian or factional language would be serving Israel whether he knows or not. That's another story. Soon they will say the Sayyed is saying we are collaborators. I'm not accusing anyone of collaboration. Yes, you'd be serving Israel whether you are aware of that or not. That's because what prevents Israel from attacking Lebanon, having greed in its waters and wealth, harming the security and sovereignty of Lebanon and imposing settlements on Lebanon is this equation. That's because what might turn Lebanon into a support to Palestine and the people of Palestine is this equation. Here I am frankly saying that I am looking forward to that day when you will not stand at Maroon Al Ras Hills to inhale the smell of Palestine. You will inhale the smell of Palestine from the heart of Palestine and from inside Palestine. The day will come when we will not hail Al Qods from afar but rather pray there on the day of Al Qods, on the land of Al Qods, in Al Maqdes, in Al Aqsa Mosque and the Resurrection Church. That's what we are looking forward to. How may strong Lebanon be present in this equation and this struggle and this future? That's possible via the protection of this formula. Brothers and sisters! Today, you are the people of Resistance and the people of steadfastness and firmness. You remained under the sun for hours for the sake of Palestine and for expressing your loyalty and love. In your name, in the name of all Resistance fighters, martyrs, martyrs' families, the wounded and all the honorable in this nation, I tell you and those Zionist soldiers who are mobilized on the other side – whom I am seeing through the screen and they are seeing me through the screen but you are seeing live – this good land will be restored to its people. This is Allah's will and this is the will of the faithful fighters. Imam Sader used to tell Abi Ammar in UNESCO Palace in the 70s: Be sure Abi Ammar that the honor of Al Qods declines to be liberated but on the hands of the faithful. These faithful people are inside Palestine, in the territories occupied since 48, in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Egypt, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Iraq, in Iran, in Libya, in Tunisia and in all our Arab and Islamic world. These believers are getting ready for that day in which they will restore their land for their people and nation and restore Al Qods and the sanctities to perfect their prayers, fasting and supplications. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
Allah Al Mighty says in the Qoran: "So when the second of the warnings came to pass, (we permitted your enemies) to disfigure your faces, and to enter your Temple as they had entered it before, and to visit with destruction all that fell into their power. It may be that your Lord may (yet) show mercy unto you; but if ye revert (to your sins), we shall revert (to Our punishments): and We have made Hell a prison for those who reject (all Faith)"
First, I welcome you all, Brothers and sisters! Ladies and gentlemen! I ask Allah Al Mighty to accept from you your offerings and to regard these hours which you spent under the sun as part of your worship and jihad in this month of worship, martyrdom, righteousness and speaking out the truth. Thus Imam Khomeini (May Allah glorify his holy secret) assigned the last Friday in the holy Month of Ramadan to be a day for Al Qods for the specialty, holiness, loftiness, virtue and honor of this timing, this month, these days and this day in particular. This year we chose that our meeting and our commemoration of Al Qods Day be in this village and this locality.
How lucky you are indeed as you are feasting your eyes with the view of the hills of Palestine and smelling its aromatic fragrance! We also chose this spot for the implication of the place. The sacrifices of our people in Lebanon and especially in the South as well as the sacrifices and the jihad of the Resistance fighters and the Lebanese Army have turned many cities, villages, towns, hills and valleys into symbols. When you mention their names you recall along the sublime jihadi, domestic, national, humanistic, faithful and moral values and indications. Among these symbols is the town of Maroon Al Ras and what it stands for especially to the effect of its position, sacrifices and the steadfastness of its people and Resistance fighters during July War.
Moreover, this spot witnessed few months ago a heroic stance by the Palestinian men, women and youths in Lebanese camps who stressed their adherence to the right to return to their homes and land saying to the world with their blood that scores of years won't make the land of Palestine a forgotten land for its people and nation.
We meet today here to commemorate this occasion which Imam Khomeini followed by Imam Khamenai wanted an occasion to revive a cause the hegemonies and the west with all their agents wanted to thrust in the circle of forgetfulness. We are marking it to keep it in the circle of remembrance, in our memory and in our conscience. We also mark it to keep it in the circle of responsibility and to assume responsibility on all perspectives whether jihadi, political, media, financial, steadfastness, cultural or faithful so as to assert that Al Qods and Palestine are part of our religion, culture, civilization, fasting in the Month of Ramadan, values, prayers and jihad. Without Al Qods and Palestine our prayers, fasting, jihad and all these values lose much of their implications and originality.
Brothers and sisters! In the time limit I am given I will talk about a number of developments concerning Palestine. I will talk briefly about Palestine and its current situation first, Egypt from the Palestinian perspective, Libya, Syria before wrapping my speech with Lebanon.
We will start with Palestine and its existing conditions.
First, as far as Al Qods the holy city is concerned, we must be aware and we must call high against the judaizing campaigns this holy city is daily being subject to whether concerning the Islamic and Christian sanctities which are being subject to the risk of demolition or building new Jewish synagogues or restraining on the lives, livelihood, residences of Maqdessis or displacing the people of Al Qods or building new settlements in and around Al Qods. Days ago, the annual report was issued by the International Al Qods Institution. The report is issued annually on like these days and it is really disgusting.
There are media, political and financial obligations towards Al Qods if we are not to talk about direct jihadi obligations to protect the sanctities and keep the Maqdessis firm in their lands. These obligations must be assumed by the states, governments and peoples of our Arab and Islamic world along with the Palestinian people. I name in particular the states of the Arab League, the Arab League and the Organization of the Arab Conference.
Second as for Palestine, we assert on Al Qods Day, that Palestine which we believe in and which is the right of the Palestinians and this nation is from the Sea to the River. Thus we call again for the right that no one might give in one grain of Palestinian soil or one drop of Palestinian water. Today we must add to this list that no one might give in one drop of Palestinian oil or gas which Israel is robbing, and no one must give in one letter of the name of Palestine as Ghaddafi is marketing for the state of Isratine. Every letter of the word Palestine is as worthy as every grain of soil and drop of water which no one has the right to give in. No one is entitled to give them in. As for establishing a Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, that is a Palestinian affair which is decided upon by our Palestinian people. However we add that any Palestinian entity or Palestinian state must not be on the expense of the rest of Palestine or the rest of the Palestinian land, soil and people.
Our true aspiration is that a day comes when an independent Palestinian state is established on the entire land of Palestine from the Sea to the River, and this state will be established Inshallah.
On Al Qods Day, we must remember the Palestinian and Arab detainees in Israeli prisons. We must recall the besieged Gaza Strip which is subject to daily aggressions and which is offering martyrs everyday. We must remember the West Bank where more land is detached from it for settlement building. We must remember the territories occupied since 1948 and our dear and faithful people there as they are working forcefully at judaizing this land through new projects. We must remember the Palestinian refugees in exodus and especially in Lebanon, and I will go back to this issue when talking about Lebanon.
However brothers and sisters! As we recall all of these titles and these difficult, harsh and painful problems and instead of addressing the resulting problems in retail and search for solutions for this cause, that problem and this crisis, we must head towards addressing the main cause.
If we managed to put an end to the occupation there will not be anymore the cause of Al Qods, the refugees, the settlements, the independent state, the detainees in prisons and the robbed wealth. This is the call of Imam Khomeini on Al Qods Day. It's that we head towards addressing the main reason which is occupation – the occupation of Palestine. Let's muster all our efforts to address this cause and not the results. This is exactly similar to what happened in Lebanon. When the main cause was addressed, the resulting effects and problems of direct occupation of the Lebanese territories stopped to exist. If Lebanon and the region are suffering from any problems from Israel, that's because of the occupation of Palestine. So the occupation of Palestine is not a cause of suffering for the Palestinians only. It has always been the reason of sufferings for the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians and the entire region and nation.
Thus we must focus our efforts on this point in particular especially after reaching a dead end with negotiations. Day after day the Palestinian people whether in exodus or in occupied Palestine are showing that the resistance is their choice. The latest qualitative operation in Eilat which shook the Zionist entity and its political leaderships and military and security institutions is but an evidence on the feebleness of the enemy and the determination of this people who are resisting and fighting and tolerating the repercussions and sacrifices following every operation as what took place and is taking place against our people in Gaza Strip. This is the road that leads to the goal. The Palestinian people made their choice. No one pointed the way for them. No one imposed the way on them.
As for the nation, its responsibility on Al Qods Day is to stand by the Palestinian people to support, back and strengthen them. As the Lebanese, with their Resistance and the support of the friends and faithful in this nation could liberate their land, the Palestinians will also be able with our support, backing and standing by their side to liberate their land. Indeed the changes taking place in the region now are very important and to the interest of Palestine and the Palestinian cause. As we are standing now before some of these developments, we must push these positive developments more to the interest of Palestine. If there were developments or changes which have negative impact on Palestine and the Palestinian cause, we must address the negative developments with wisdom, intellect and logic.
I will start with Egypt. What we are witnessing during these days in Egypt is an official and popular stance no matter of what magnitude or evaluation or expectation or demands it is. Surely it is an indicator of a new stage in Egypt. Was the regime of Husni Mubarak or the leadership of Husni Mubarak having control and hegemony, the reaction would have been different and the Egyptian wrath would have descended on the Palestinians holding them responsible for the consequences of Eilat operation and the consequences of the martyrdom of Egyptian officers and soldiers on the Egyptian-Palestinian borders. Today the official stance and popular stance are important. Thousands are still lying down before the Embassy of "Israel" in Cairo calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador. This used not to take place in the past. There is a great difference between Egypt addressing a message to the Zionists warning them against staging an aggression against Gaza as is taking place now and between Egypt covering the aggression against Gaza as what took place in 2008 when the aggression against Gaza was unfortunately announced from Cairo. There is a great difference between Egyptians demonstrating and taking the Israeli flag of the Egyptian Embassy and between what used to take place under Husni Mubarak when they used to open fire on the chests of demonstrators showing solidarity with Gaza in 2008.
When Egypt makes a move, that means that there is an important strategic turning point in the region. Brothers and sisters! See what took place in the past few days. I do not call that an Egyptian move. I use the colloquial term of hemming. That means when Egypt hemmed a little, Israel was shaken. Despite the harshness and the consequences of Eilat qualitative operation and despite the fighters in Gaza responding on the aggression with shelling the settlements to the south of Palestine with Katusha, Netanyahu showed up to tell the Israelis: We can't head towards a territorial broad operation against Gaza because that will influence our relation with Egypt. The Egyptians did not do anything other than hemming. What if the Egyptian stance gradually changed towards what's better? This is what we bargain on and expect as a result of our knowledge of the originality and greatness of the Egyptian people and army.
We move now to Libya. No doubt Gaddafi’s regime had committed many crimes and mistakes against his people as well as the Palestinian cause. One of his crimes against the Palestinian cause and against Lebanon was kidnapping Imam Sayyed Mussa al-Sadre and his companions - His Eminence Sheikh Mohammad Yaqoub and Mr. Abbass Badriddine. On like these days, they were abducted while they were guests of Gaddafi. The abduction crime was a favor to the Israeli project. We all know what does Sayyed Mussa al-Sadre mean, what does Imam Mussa Sadre represent for the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, what he means to the Palestinian cause and what he means for Al Qods. Palestine was in his mind, will and decision. You know what the Palestinian Resistance meant for him? He used to say I protect the Palestinian Resistance with my turban, mihrab and platform. In the years when the Palestinian Resistance was being subject to the danger of liquidation, the Imam was kidnapped what led to what took place following the detention. That was among the results which used to target the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance alike, and I do not want to go back to that stage.
This was the greatest crime which was committed. If it was destined that Imam Mussa Sadre was still present in this square since 1978 onwards, there would have been great changes to the interest of the Palestinian Resistance, the Lebanese Resistance, the national unity and the Palestinian cause in Lebanon and in the region.
Today we look forward to the Libyan brethrens and the revolutionists and fighters in Libya to put a decisive end for this catastrophic cause and criminal detention. We hope and we are full of hope that the Imam and his friends would return to Lebanon alive and safe and sound Inshallah.
Also among the crimes of this regime is that it distanced Libya from Palestine and the Arab world. Once he wanted to go to Latin America. At other times he wanted to go to Africa. He abandoned Palestine and the Palestinian cause. Today, we hope the rebels and fighters in Libya would return Libya to the Arab world and Palestine. We know the culture of this people and the conscience of this people. It's impossible that a people who have resisted the occupation – any occupation – and offered in their resistance hundreds of martyrs and leader martyrs such as Omar Mukhtar but to return to Palestine so that they remain strong in their decision, policy and plan though we know that the Libyan people today is before great responsibilities to preserve their security, unity and rebuild the state. However, the greatest event is the independence and sovereignty in face of the expected US-western onslaught of the country’s resources and decision. The bet today again is on the originality of the Libyan people.
Now I come to the developments in Syria and I will handle it from the Palestinian perspective. On the Day of Al Qods, we must say what is right and what no one must be blamed when being said by whomsoever. The right saying which must be said and must not be neglected or forgotten by anyone is the true status of Syria: the Syrian leadership in the Arab-Israeli struggle and in the Palestinian cause in particular. As I am being brief today, I will be content by mentioning two points:
The first point is the adherence of the Syrian leadership along with the dear Syrian people and brave army to the national fixed points as concerning the Syrian rights, every grain of soil and every Syrian drop of water as well as the adherence of this leadership to the Arab rights. This adherence in face of the international, American and Western pressures for the past decades which witnessed great collapses starting with the Soviet Union to the Arab world to the direct US invasion of the Gulf and recently of Iraq did not shake this leadership and influenced its adherence to the Syrian rights and Arab rights. Should the Syrian leadership have yielded and weakened – let's speak in colloquial language – settlement would have find its way in the region and Palestine would have lost as well as the Palestinian cause. Pressure has often been practiced on the Syrian track to reach somewhere to besiege Palestine. Still the Syrian did not give in.
Brothers and sisters! Arab and Palestinians! The Syrians remained steadfast and the Palestinian track is being fragmented by negotiations. What if the Syrians gave in? What if the Syrians settled their problem with the Israelis and let the Palestinian cause and the Palestinians to their fate? Where would the Palestinian cause have been? Thanks for the Syrian leadership the Palestinian cause was preserved and guarded and not liquidated as it was the goal of all the US and western invasions and conspiracies against our region.
This is first and this must not be forgotten. The persistence of the Syrian position is a primary condition to the persistence of the Palestinian cause and preventing its liquidation.
The second point which we must be reminded of is Syria's stance and in particular this leadership's stance next to the Resistance and especially in Lebanon and Palestine. It did not only stand by it, it also supported the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine. This is one of the main influential elements. Even today when they talk a great part of the Iranian support passes through Syrian. Was it not for the Syrian administration and its stance even the Iranian support would have been prevented from Lebanon and from Palestine.
The land on which you sit now in the South of Lebanon in Jabal Amel where people are seeing you on the TV screen wouldn't have been liberated was it not to the victorious Resistance in 2000. The Resistance was not to gain victory in 2000 was it not for several reasons the most important of which is Syria's support and backing. Today you are sitting on the land of Maroon Al Ras which made Lebanon and the Arabs proud. This land fought and resisted with Syria's support. I will not go now into details not to embarrass the Syrian leadership. It's not only moral support and political support. It also backed the resistance in Palestine, the steadfastness in Gaza in 2008 and the strength of Gaza Strip today. Here also I will not go into details not to embarrass anyone. However at least the Palestinian resistance leaderships and movements in Gaza know the conduct, behavior and gratitude of the Syrian leadership so that Gaza remain steadfast and strong though this performance and support used always to bring along the Syrian leadership more US pressure and threats. These two points must not be forgotten by anyone on one hand.
On the other hand, we all call for and back great and important reforms in Syria for Syria's further development, enhancement and strength for its people, nation and the region as a result of its important position in the region.
So, we want to preserve this national position for Syria. I am saying all of us – the Syrians, the Lebanese, the Arab and Islamic peoples as well as all the lovers of Palestine and Al Qods – want Syria to be strong with reforms and developments.
What does that mean? That means that everyone who claims friendship and says Syria is a friendly and fraternal state and everyone who claims caring for Syria and its people, blood, future and national unity must muster efforts to calm down the situation in Syria and to push things towards dialogue and a sound address.
Any other trend or conduct would pose a threat on Syria and Palestine and on the entire region. Do those seeking NATO military intervention in Syria want the future of Syria or its destruction?
To those who want to push Syria towards a civil war and those who deliver speeches today on many TV screens and use sectarian and factional incitement, I say Syria's strength has always been in that it is ruled with domestic and national feelings. They want to make Syria like Lebanon. They want it to rife with sectarianism, disintegration and combat. In Lebanon, every trivial or major incident takes a sectarian aspect. Lebanon always resides on the verge of a civil war prepared for it from abroad or by some wicked within. Syria has always preserved its unity all through history because it is controlled with domestic and national feelings. That's how it has been and that's how it must remain. Whoever seeks to revive sectarian and factional instigations is leading Syria towards destruction, ruin and toppling its position.
Today some are seeking to break up Syria as part of a new Middle East agenda, which we destroyed in Lebanon along with Syria, Iran and all the brethrens in July War and during 2008 War. Thus on Al Qods Day, I frankly say we must be faithful to Al Qods, to Palestine and to Lebanon. So even those among the Lebanese who are aiding tensing the situation in Syria and are sending arms and evoking instigations will not remain as such. Lebanon is not apart from the developments in Syria which will extend to reach the whole region. Any passive or negative development would reach the whole region, and any positive development would be to the interest of the entire region. As President Assad said days ago, America and the west want concessions and not reform. The last point which America cares for is reforms. The evidence is that there are other states in the world which are governed with severe dictatorships. I do not want to mention names. There is no room for democracy, freedom of expression or even personal freedoms. Still they enjoy the support, backing and support of America, France, Britain and the West.
So the issue is not that of reforms. The issue is that of concessions. All of us must stand with Syria so that it does not yield and preserve its national post and power and so that it would be able to make reforms with peace, serenity and confidence. That's because pressure slows reform. No one may move quickly in reform under pressure because that causes worry. Peace, confidence, serenity, openness, cooperation and adhering to national unity open the gate for reforms wide open. We know that the Syrian leadership is serious in its reforms.
Now we come to Lebanon.
Brothers and sisters! We are talking today in 2011 from Maroon Al Ras. Lebanon's position in the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli struggle has become a totally different position. The Lebanese always used to have fears that any solution in the region would take place at Lebanon’s expense. Why? That's because Lebanon is the weakest link. Now we are through with that.
Let the whole world hear that. Lebanon is no longer the weakest link in the region, and the day will not be when Lebanon will be the weakest link in the region.
Lebanon the strong would protect its sovereignty, independence and interests. Some talk about the fears of settlement. If Lebanon is weak, settlement would take place in Lebanon but if Lebanon is strong settlement would not take place in it. If the whole world wanted settlement and the Lebanese and the Palestinians in Lebanon refused it, they may refuse it.
The Palestinians residing in Lebanon refuse settlement. This is what they express every day and in every occasion. Their chaste blood which was shed in Maroon Al Ras witnesses that they refuse settlement and do not accept any substitute to Palestine. If the Lebanese agreed collectively on the Resistance-Army-People formula, no one may impose settlement on them.
If some Lebanese are in power and conspired to sell Lebanon and Palestine to their American masters and accepted on that, we will not accept that.
So if Lebanon the strong - Lebanon which owns a will to refuse settlement along with the Palestinian refugees who reside in Lebanon - refuses settlement, then there will be no settlement. There will be no solution at the expense of Lebanon.
Second: It has always been feared that regional congestion would be discharged in Lebanon. If there is a crisis between Israel and Syria, then Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is a problem between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Israel would release its tension in Lebanon. Now it is releasing its tension in Gaza. If there is a crisis between Israel and Iran, it would release its tension in Lebanon. If there is be a crisis between Israel and Egypt, it would release its tension in Lebanon. This era is over.
If there is an internal tension, Israel used to run to Lebanon. My dear! This era is over. This is not valid anymore after 2000 and 2006. This is over. Lebanon has become a dilemma to Israel which it is seeking to escape and not to run to. Lebanon has become a trap to Israel where it may fall and not erect for anyone. Thus from this perspective also we are assured.
Israel always used to have greed in Lebanon, Lebanon's waters, Lebanon's resources and Lebanon's land and hills –especially southern Lebanon. Now there are those who hamper this greed from taking place.
Who imposed this new situation in Lebanon? It was imposed by the Army-People-Resistance formula. We are not talking about a theoretical formula. We are talking about a true real formula which was written with blood and sacrifices made by the people who remained steadfast, were displaced but remained steadfast, supported, backed and offered their children to fight in the Resistance and got enrolled in the Army. With the Resistance which fought and the Army which remained steadfast, Lebanon became strong.
On Al Qods Day, I also say that it's the responsibility of the Lebanese to guard this formula for the sake of Lebanon, Palestine and Al Qods. Frankly speaking, some are working abroad, and some are helping from inside – I will not say that some are working from inside because those inside are weaker than being able to target. They are rather a part of a machinery run by a foreign power whether America, the West or Israel – to strike this formula and disintegrate it. They want to separate the army, the people and the resistance apart from each other, to target each element alone and if possible to make them collide with each other. This has been worked at for years. They have often sought to cause sedition and struggle between the Resistance and the people. They have often sought to cause sedition between the Army and the Resistance and have bet on that. They have often sought to target the Resistance directly. Today on the contrary, our responsibility is to maintain this formula.
As for the Resistance, following the military targeting – the last of which was July War – and the security targeting - the last of which was assassinating Leader Hajj Imad Moghniyeh because his blood made us stronger, more insistent, adherent, and faithful in our cause and our sublime goal – there has been a stream of accusations. Today targeting reached the stage of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. I have no time to talk about the STL but I will wrap up what I started and my brethrens rounded off. I commented on the indictment which was published. Following that a legal, lawful, political conference and a technical conference which has to do with communication were held. So two press conferences were held and tackled the legal and technical aspects of the indictment and what was mentioned in it. Now I will wrap up what I have on this issue saying: Day after day, it is revealed to what extent this tribunal is politicized and why it was established. Everyone knows how it was established, why it was established, how it was formed, how its law was set, how trials in abstentia took place in an unprecedented way in the history of international tribunals, how the investigation took place, how Syria and the four officers and others were targeted, how the targeting was then turned to Hezbollah, how the investigation was leaked, how the false witnesses were fabricated, how the false witnesses were protected and are still protected and how the investigation refused any indication or evidence on the accusation of Israel. The indictment came to say that the evidences are feeble evidences without any legal or judicial value. All of that assert the nature and magnitude of targeting.
Today when my brethrens and I explain and illustrate, we do so not to convince the US administration, the International Security Council, Bellemare, Fransen, Cassese or some political personalities in Lebanon. That's because they willfully premeditated and fabricated this agenda and are moving in it to the end. We are rather addressing the public opinion whom we bet on their mind, logic, acceptance of proofs, support of the Resistance and awareness of the aspects of the new conspiracy. With the awareness of our people and the awareness of the peoples of our nations and with this public opinion that have always backed the Resistance, this Resistance will overpass this risk and this new conspiracy.
As for the STL and what was issued by it and what will be issued from it, as I said before, I will say again, they are worthless. The noble Resistance fighters are falsely accused. They are oppressed and they will have their reward on Judgment Day for the oppression which afflicted them. That will also be a source of pride for them in this world because they are bearing the consequences of the strength, firmness and victories of the Resistance.
The Army is an element in the formula. We all know that the successive governments did not work at strengthening the army. All of us know the story of the balance, arming, figures and equipment. And now even Israel is working on the international level so that the Lebanese Army is not armed and equipped. There are political forces which are also calling on world states to besiege the government and the state and to stop any support to the Lebanese Army and other sides. With what does that meet? With my respect to all other state institutions, the efforts and the sacrifices of the various security forces and the Army remains the national institution which guarantees civil peace, integrated livelihood, coexistence and the strength, firmness and unity of the country. Still some challenge and target the Army. We know that is not a personal inclination but rather the inclination of political currents and not only one current. Some of these political currents express their view through statements and others fought the Army in the past and rose generations on loathing the Army in the past. For whose interest is targeting the Army especially on these days as an institution and as a leadership, accusing the Army, instigating against it and calling on the officers and soldiers to rebel? Lebanon? Palestine? The Cause of the Resistance? They deceive people saying they are with the Resistance while they claim that is an internal dispute.
Also when we come to the people, they work day and night to strike this national texture and to revive sectarian and factional instincts with every minor and major incident. If there are trivial incidents they magnify them. They fabricate evidences for baseless incidents. They label as true what is not so. For whose interest is the sectarian and factional instigation which has been taking place since years to strike the united texture of the people? When a Lebanese party cooperates with sides abroad, statements on sovereignty, freedom and independence become meaningless. Following Wikileaks, it has become clear that the Cedar Revolution was directed by Jeffrey Feltman and the French Ambassador. Shame on them. They also used to backbite each other in Feltman's presence. Is this freedom, sovereignty and independence? Why are they targeting this formula?
On Al Qods day I say: It's the responsibility of the Lebanese people to maintain the Army-people-Equation formula, and to guard the Army, Resistance and the people's unity and put an end to all of that. I frankly say that when you hear anyone in this country provoking against the Resistance, he would be serving Israel. Anyone who provokes against the Lebanese Army is serving Israel. Whoever talks in a sectarian or factional language would be serving Israel whether he knows or not. That's another story. Soon they will say the Sayyed is saying we are collaborators. I'm not accusing anyone of collaboration. Yes, you'd be serving Israel whether you are aware of that or not. That's because what prevents Israel from attacking Lebanon, having greed in its waters and wealth, harming the security and sovereignty of Lebanon and imposing settlements on Lebanon is this equation. That's because what might turn Lebanon into a support to Palestine and the people of Palestine is this equation. Here I am frankly saying that I am looking forward to that day when you will not stand at Maroon Al Ras Hills to inhale the smell of Palestine. You will inhale the smell of Palestine from the heart of Palestine and from inside Palestine. The day will come when we will not hail Al Qods from afar but rather pray there on the day of Al Qods, on the land of Al Qods, in Al Maqdes, in Al Aqsa Mosque and the Resurrection Church. That's what we are looking forward to. How may strong Lebanon be present in this equation and this struggle and this future? That's possible via the protection of this formula. Brothers and sisters! Today, you are the people of Resistance and the people of steadfastness and firmness. You remained under the sun for hours for the sake of Palestine and for expressing your loyalty and love. In your name, in the name of all Resistance fighters, martyrs, martyrs' families, the wounded and all the honorable in this nation, I tell you and those Zionist soldiers who are mobilized on the other side – whom I am seeing through the screen and they are seeing me through the screen but you are seeing live – this good land will be restored to its people. This is Allah's will and this is the will of the faithful fighters. Imam Sader used to tell Abi Ammar in UNESCO Palace in the 70s: Be sure Abi Ammar that the honor of Al Qods declines to be liberated but on the hands of the faithful. These faithful people are inside Palestine, in the territories occupied since 48, in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Egypt, in Syria, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in Iraq, in Iran, in Libya, in Tunisia and in all our Arab and Islamic world. These believers are getting ready for that day in which they will restore their land for their people and nation and restore Al Qods and the sanctities to perfect their prayers, fasting and supplications. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.