Sheikh Qassem: We Will Not Accept Any Indictment against Hizbullah

Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General His Eminence Sheikh Naim Qassem said that Hizbullah has not forgotten the issue of the Martyred Leader Imad Moghnieh, and that the party will retaliate to his assassination in due time. 

His Eminence highlighted that Hizbullah's stand today is much better than during the 2006 July War, stressing that the Resistance "Will break "Israel's" legs" in case it enters South Lebanon."

During an interview on the Lebanese LBC channel, addressing the special tribunal for Lebanon and the false witnesses issue, Sheikh Qassem underlined that Hizbullah SG's appearance will take place soon in the coming few weeks, as he (H.E. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah) will address the tribunal and its latest developments.

Concerning the statement of the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu Al Gheit, H.E. Sheikh Qassem said answered "We reject any indictment accusing Hizbullah (of the Hariri assassination), and we consider it as unjust and unfair." He added "A political accusation turned the region upside down in the past, and when the accusation becomes judicial, its repercussions become bigger."

Sheikh Qassem pointed out that "The tribunal is on one track while revealing the truth is on an opposite track," assuring that "Hizbullah has no trust in the international community because there is a problem with the special tribunal," highlighting that there are leaks, and other issues that have become clear and by that it is the wrong track.

Moreover, His Eminence clarified that Lebanese PM Saad Hariri could make "the appropriate phone calls" so that Hizbullah is not accused, adding "As for the political accusation, we have to be alert, as those close to Hariri said that the elimination of a political indictment does not mean the elimination of the judicial indictment."

Hizbullah Deputy SG questioned "Why weren't fingers of accusation pointed at "Israel", we gave all our evidences to the tribunal and those in charge. Were any "Israelis" or Mossad agents summoned for investigation?"

His Eminence Sheikh Qassem further said "Hizbullah will not start a civil strife, there others who aim at doing so, but we must put an end to civil strife by any means necessary as we did before," adding that Hizbullah will defend itself whether through politics or media.

As for Hizbullah's relationship with Egypt, Sheikh Qassem said that meeting with Egyptian officials opens a door to a new relation and enables getting beyond the past.

Sheikh Qassem expressed his belief that what was published in the German weekly Der Spiegel "had aimed at testing Hizbullah's reaction so that they would be able to take advantage of such a reaction and close the holes in the indictment."

On the false witnesses issue, Sheikh Qassem said that "The normal solution is to start (investigating) with the false witnesses, as all the "given" was coined in "dark rooms" that fabricated the false witnesses," clarifying "Some Lebanese that have connections with foreign sides fabricated the false witnesses file."

Hizbullah Deputy SG explained that "crimes are fabricated to innocent people, of whom the four generals (who were detained for four years upon false accusation) is the proof."

"We are not discomfited, because we did not assassinate Martyr (Rafiq) Hariri. Even our opponents know very well how facts can be fabricated; we reject any false accusation pointed towards Hizbullah," Sheikh Qassem added.

On a separate note, His Eminence said that the information branch, despite its several accomplishments, is not an apparatus Hizbullah trusts.