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| Nasrallah urges supporters to elect Hizbullah-Amal list
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THE DAILY STAR, BEIRUT, LEBANON | ELIAS SAKR AND MOHAMMED
ZAATARI
| Fri, May 21, 8:08 PM
May 22--BEIRUT -- Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday urged
his party's followers to toe the Hizbullah-Amal alliance's
line in Sunday's local elections, saying that it takes
precedence over family loyalties.
"We believe that our alliance with Amal in the municipal
elections is part of the strategic alliance that protects
the resistance's popular base," Hizbullah's secretary
general said, addressing supporters via video link in the
south Lebanon village of Mlita.
Nasrallah delivered his speech during the inauguration of a
touristic complex in the village, one that showcases the
resistance's military operations against Israeli forces
prior to the liberation of May 2000.
The elections will coincide with Israeli defense drills, and
Hizbullah has mobilized thousands of fighters in response, a
party official said.
"The Hizbullah fighters have [been instructed] to be
completely ready to confront Israeli maneuvers on Sunday,"
Nabil Qaouk told AFP.
"Thousands of our fighters will not go to the polls [for
municipal elections on Sunday] and will be prepared from
today" for any eventuality, Hizbullah's deputy added.
"In the event of any new attack on Lebanon, the Israelis
will not find anywhere in Palestine to hide," Qaouk said.
Dubbed "Turning Point 4," the exercises are designed to
prepare emergency responses to rocket strikes on Israel,
with sirens due to ring out across the country on Wednesday
and Israelis head for shelters.
In the local elections, the Amal-Hizbullah alliance will be
put to the test in southern villages and towns, where many
have resented the two parties' agreement as a blow against
free competition. In a number of municipal races, local
families and other political parties and movements have been
engaged in weeks of efforts to field competitive rival
lists.
Nasrallah indicated that the pull of local loyalties were an
appealing alternative, but urged party supporters not to
elect those who are running against the Hizbullah-Amal
ticket.
"I call on Hizbullah supporters to commit fully to the
Hizbullah and Amal electoral lists and urge them not to be
influenced by personal or family interests because the
success of these lists holds major political value," he
said.
Last month, Hizbullah and Amal signed a memorandum
elaborating the aspects of their alliance throughout Lebanon
in the four rounds of municipal polls that kicked off on May
2. Nasrallah said the agreement "wasn't an easy task" for
either party.
The "Development and Loyalty" electoral lists are to compete
in Sunday's elections in several towns in South Lebanon
district against a coalition of families. "No candidate
outside these electoral lists can claim he is a candidate of
Hizbullah ... I ask anyone who considers himself a member of
Hizbullah and is running in the elections [against the
Development and Loyalty lists] to withdraw from the
elections," Nasrallah said.
But Nasrallah denied resorting to a religious directive by
making the appeal for support. "We ask them to vote in favor
of the alliance's list as a political party that adheres to
its commitments and agreements," Nasrallah said.
He urged a huge turnout in Sunday's polls, reassuring voters
against fears of Israeli military maneuvers. "Do not fear
[Israeli] maneuvers, because in the south there will be
electoral celebrations, while in Israel millions will go
hide in shelters and follow an emergency plan after being
scared by the resistance," he said.
Elaborating on the Mlita Museum, Nasrallah said the location
was chosen because it was one of the oldest posts used by
the resistance since it established itself in the Iqlim al-Tuffah
region to face Israeli occupation.
The Mlita complex, the first of its kind in Lebanon, is
spread over more than 60,000 square meters of gardens and
forests with more than 4,500 square meters of built-up areas
both below and above ground. The complex highlights the
experience of the resistance in fighting Israeli occupation
beginning with the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
With a cafeteria designed to receive more than 150 visitors
indoors and 750 outdoors along with parking lots for more
than 200 cars and 20 buses, the site is expected to draw
local and foreign tourists.
A panoramic scene of more than 3,000 square meters at its
center, with war booty left by the Israeli army, was built
to portray the defeat of Israeli forces in Lebanon.
There is also a rocky path that reconstructs the path that
resistance fighters followed to launch attacks against
Israeli posts, featured fighting positions held by units
along a 250-meter-long downhill track.
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Mleeta the Pride
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By: Nassir Mohammad al Khorafi
May, 29, 2010
I had the honor to visit Mleeta tourist edifice after I
received a generous invitation from Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah.
I toured the parts of this town of courage, closely
encountered this tourist landmark that the resistance brave
fighters built to become a beacon for each visitor who
should be proud of what the achievements of the resistance.
When I arrived in Mleeta, I was welcomed by the resistance
men who accompanied me for a tour throughout this historic
village, the landmarks of which witnessed the best battles
that the resistance militants fought successfully, giving
the Israelis a hard lesson, which they will never forget.
I felt that the spirit of heroism was inspiring faith into
the hearts of the Mujahideen. I saw with my own eyes the
enemy tanks, weapons, equipment and arsenal being taken by
those proud and highly-esteemed men. I could even sense how
enemy soldiers ran away from battlefields, leaving behind
their helmets and shoes, in fear of meeting the resistance
heroes and their brave army. They also showed me a movie and
pieces of the film of the great victory inside a hall that
also displayed accurate and valuable information on the
enemy and its weapons, army, structure, system, programs,
and other things the enemy thought was unreachable.
Everyone who visits this edifice will find all enemy taboos
available on sight. Hence, where is the legend of that army,
which claims to be invincible? What drew my attention most
was the reality of that board that noted words of the
Zionist entity leaders, settlers and soldiers, admitting the
might and readiness of the resistance coupled with rigidity
and strong will of its men.
I was moved to tears by a grave that was prepared by one of
those heroes for his final rest, informing the enemy that
the Mujahidoon have sworn to death in the way of Allah, and
that they love to meet Allah the Exalted unlike the enemies
who love adhering to this mortal life. However, the shells
of the enemy army deprived him of his sight and of
fulfilling his wish. Hence, he would cry in tears because he
did not win the honor of being martyred and buried inside
that grave.
I was truly impressed by the information on the enemy, which
the resistance men had in possession. “Abu Ali” one of the
heroes explained to me their psychology, shattered morale,
how they swiftly ran away from the battlefield, how the
enemy tried to inspire this spirit of defeat within our
lines in an attempt to frustrate us to reach the point where
we would subdue to coexist with them; away with them.
“Abu Ali” gave me an example, “A small fish and a large fish
with a glassy barrier between them. Whenever the large fish
tries to reach the small fish it bumps into the glassy
barrier. In the end, the large fish accepts coexistence with
the small fish; but in our case, away with them. Besides,
the enemy in all cases tries to resolve the battles quickly
in order to avoid costly losses and keep its soldiers morale
high, otherwise it would lead to losing the battle.
Therefore, the Mujahidoon worked on stretching the fight
hence, the Islamic resistance succeeded in inflicting defeat
upon the Israeli army. All its intelligence attempts failed
in guessing the time and place of the resistance attacks,
thus lost the advantage for a pre-emptive strike.
The enemy’s culture is based on initiation and surprise
attack thinking that this issue will break the bones of the
resistance. This was never the case. The resistance fighters
broke this rule along with all these illusions and they
refused all methods of coexistence with the enemy. They
managed to defeat the enemy, which was the one that
initiated tyranny and attack, which in fact was a suicide
mission for the enemy. In fact, describing the case can take
long time. The issues that I saw gratified me.
I advise my fellow Arabs, should they visit beautiful
Lebanon some day, to give part of their time in order to
visit this great fort because it contains images of pride
and self-esteem. I assure my fellow Muslims and Arabs that
anyone who visits Mleeta will be graced and will breathe the
pure air that is filled with dignity, pride and self-esteem.
It is the production of the blood of martyrs who are living
in a paradise of eternity, God willing.
Finally, I repeat my appreciation and gratitude to the
resistance heroes and the master of the divine victory who
made me proud. To them I say, “God bless you all.
Congratulations for the anniversary of the glorious
liberation, which broke the legend of the Zionist army.
Congratulations to all Moslems and Arabs for these heroes
who made us proud with our heads high. They struck the
Zionist enemy right in its weak spot. God bless you all and
rendered you succeed on your way to defeating your enemies.
God strengthen you with righteousness.”
“If ye will aid (the cause of) God, He will aid you…”
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