Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., October 20, 2008 Tishrei 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 04:30 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah supporters, wave Palestinian flags during a rally marking "Al-Quds Day". (Reuters)
Last update - 03:44 27/09/2008
Nasrallah: Return of Jerusalem and Palestine closer than ever
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies
Tags: Jerusalem, Nasrallah 

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah on Friday told a crowd of supporters in a televised address that Jerusalem and Palestine would soon be returned to their rightful owners.

"I think that if you consider current developments," Nasrallah told thousands of Shiite Hezbollah backers at a rally in Beirut, "the return of Jerusalem and Palestine is not far off, and could even happen in the near future."

Speaking at a rally marking Al-Quds Day, traditionally held on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the chief of the Lebanese militia added that the very presence of Palestinian families within Jerusalem is a form of "resistance against the occupation."
Advertisement
Day of Al-Quds, the Arabic name for Jerusalem, was first initiated by then Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It has since been observed by Shiite Muslims as a way of support for the Palestinians and emphasizing the importance of Jerusalem to Muslims.

"No one has the right to give up a grain of soil in the holy land," said Nasrallah, speaking through a video link on a giant screen. He added that "Jerusalem must return to its rightful owners and it will, God willing."

"The Palestinian nation expects Arab nations to act in order to bring the blockade on the Gaza Strip to an end," said Nasrallah. "However," he added, "only foreigners are sailing on the ships to Gaza. As a Lebanese Arab and Muslim I feel great shame that the Palestinians are dying of hunger," he said.

During his speech, Nasrallah stressed that the Lebanese state should arm its forces even "by obtaining arms from the black market as the resistance [Hezbollah] does."

"Can we build a strong and patriotic army capable of defending our territories by asking the American's and Israelis' permission to give us arms and equipments?" Nasrallah asked the crowd.

Nasrallah reiterated that backing the resistance [Hezbollah] was essential because "the resistance is the only way to liberate Palestine and occupied lands by Israel."

He said his organization hides weapons from the enemy and its allies because this is the only way the movement can build up its power.

The movement's leader also said on Friday that Hezbollah is ready for whatever it takes to implement peace and stability in Beirut, but ruled out new alliances with the anti-Syrian majority.

"Reconciliation doesn't mean building new alliances," Nasrallah said.

"We are ready to do whatever it takes to reassure all the Lebanese and especially the citizens of Beirut," Nasrallah stressed, adding "we are serious and devoted to the reconciliation."

Rival Lebanese factions are attempting to reconcile differences between the political groups - an effort that many officials in Beirut believe is only going to offer a temporary solution, until other regional problems are solved.

A major meeting between the leader of the anti-Syrian ruling majority Saad Hariri and Nasrallah is expected to take place in the near future, though no date has been announced.

Related articles:
  • Nasrallah: No peace in Middle East as long as Israel exists
  • Iranians chant 'death to Israel', unveil book mocking Holocaust at Al-Quds Day rally
  • Full text of Ahmadinejad's speech to the UN General Assembly
  • Rival Lebanese factions begin dialogue on Hezbollah weapons
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Saudi peace plan
    Barak says it may be time to pursue an overall peace deal for the region.
    Wiesel on Ahmadinejad
    Nobel laureate says president's U.N. speech shows world hasn't learned from Holocaust.
      1.   Nasrallah really should be ashamed 23:44  |  Tzfonit 26/09/08
      2.   YEAH, NO DOUBT 23:51  |  indrajaya 26/09/08
      3.   Israeli Appeasers (and Obama) Ready to Help 00:09  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/09/08
      4.   Return Of Jerusalem? 00:17  |  FulghumInk 27/09/08
      5.   Nasrallah makes no bones of his intentions.. 00:18  |  Harriet 27/09/08
      6.   Nasalnada and his insane ramblings 00:22  |  Adrian de Klerk 27/09/08
      7.   And the rightful owners are, clearly... 00:24  |  Phil 27/09/08
      8.   No nation treats Palestinians worse the Lebanon 00:32  |  Wally 27/09/08
      9.   Not enough arab help 00:36  |  Bjorn 27/09/08
      10.   Nasrallah is Sick 00:49  |  Ron 27/09/08
      11.   So what? 00:49  |  Joe 27/09/08
      12.   "G-D willing"- the refuge of scoundrels 00:59  |  Gregor 27/09/08
      13.   re 9 Let me explain it to you bjorn 01:00  |  alan the real one 27/09/08
      14.   how typical 01:09  |  alan 27/09/08
      15.   WHO IS DYING OF HUNGER 01:11  |  TOBIA 27/09/08
      16.   Why? 01:22  |  Jess Ghannam 27/09/08
      17.   Wow Nasrallah what a great ``Humanist`` you are 01:22  |  Gil 27/09/08
      18.   Nasrallah speaks like a true Zionist! Is he a Jew? 01:26  |  Alicia 27/09/08
      19.   You are only an iranian marionette 01:27  |  Habib 27/09/08
      20.   Seems the cat`s bitten the tongue of some guys 01:51  |  Pete 27/09/08
      21.   The rightfull owners are 01:53  |  The Newyorker 27/09/08
      22.   Same song 01:55  |  Philippe 27/09/08
      23.   When Israel becomes Saudi-Arabia or vice versa 02:13  |  marianne 27/09/08
      24.   Thug Nasrallah 02:17  |  Brod 27/09/08
      25.   And What If God Does Not Will It? 02:18  |  Jeff Northridge 27/09/08
      26.   Not a chance! 02:21  |  Rigma 27/09/08
      27.   brave man hiding in his roach hole sending others to die 02:27  |  Arie 27/09/08
      28.   Yes Nasrallah Jerusalem must return to its rightful owners 02:28  |  Gil 27/09/08
      29.   #5 Harriet - well put but the open secret 02:32  |  Gregor 27/09/08
      30.   tzionit 1 02:35  |  potobac 27/09/08
      31.   Yeah, now you`re getting it Indy :) 02:40  |  Virginia 27/09/08
      32.   to every idiot here who really knows nothing about this. 02:52  |  Allan 27/09/08
      33.   Re: Same song, #22 02:54  |  Mike 27/09/08
      34.   Nasrallah`s False God May Be Willing, But The G-d Of Israel Isn`t 02:58  |  Lavi 27/09/08
      35.   Don`t worry about Nassrallah`s safety 03:00  |  * BEN JABO 27/09/08
      36.   #21 the new yorker rightfully wrong 03:18  |  K 27/09/08
      37.   WHY 03:21  |  Commonsense 27/09/08
      38.   palestine;bogus name thought of by romans after they took control 04:14  |  glenna 27/09/08
      39.   What this is really about! 04:43  |  Barry 27/09/08
      40.   potoboc "anyone but a zionist" 05:06  |  yaheskel 27/09/08
      41.   indrajaya 05:18  |  Jane 27/09/08
      42.   Don`t hold your breath Mr. Nasrallah 06:07  |  Murray of Montreal 27/09/08
      43.   Where are Israel bashers ? 06:09  |  Ami 27/09/08
      44.   Why doesn`t he buys them food insted of weapons with his billions 06:18  |  Dan 27/09/08
      45.   How are they are going to achieve this witout attaking us? 06:19  |  Dan 27/09/08
      46.   I won`t be surprise if they have chemical weapons 06:21  |  Dan 27/09/08
      47.   He is going to get his own show in Las Vegas 06:23  |  Dan 27/09/08
      48.   Allan, resistance to what exactly? 06:31  |  Dan 27/09/08
      49.   Jeruslam is not mentioned in the Quran evern once 06:33  |  Dan 27/09/08
      50.   #41 Jane in Orlando 06:35  |  Big Sur 27/09/08
      51.   Jerusalem was holy to Jews 06:36  |  MaryRose 27/09/08
      52.   #32..right on the money!.. 06:47  |  Edithann, USA 27/09/08
      53.   #32 naive Allan 07:07  |  Gregor 27/09/08
      54.   Edithann, what we `did` 07:14  |  Dan 27/09/08
      55.   #49 You are wrong. Check the Quran 17:1 07:36  |  Muhammad 27/09/08
      56.   Nasrallah`s Crocodile Tears 07:46  |  Puregoldj 27/09/08
      57.   Koran does not mention Al Quds/Jerusalem 07:52  |  Benjamina 27/09/08
      58.   So spend your money on food instead of weapons 07:54  |  Benjamina 27/09/08
      59.   The Headline Shows That Nassaralla Could Politically Joint 07:58  |  Joseph.E 27/09/08
      60.   Actually, Potobac, this Zionist is not interested... 08:02  |  Tzfonit 27/09/08
      61.   SCARED 08:39  |  Beirut 27/09/08
      62.   "return of Jerusalem and Palestine closer than ever" 08:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/09/08
      63.