Nasrallah says understanding real reason for Hariri's resignation

Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, addressed the Lebanese in a televised speech on Sunday evening, dwelling on the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the need to look for the reasons behind this sudden resignation.

"Understanding the real reason is the key to future developments," stressed Nasrallah.

The Secretary-General outlined the events that preceded the sudden resignation, which caught the Lebanese by surprise, especially in light of Premier Hariri's recent reassuring statements over the Saudi Kingdom's support for Lebanon's stability and government persistence, and its promised aids to the government and Lebanese Army, which triggered an atmosphere of tranquility in the country.

However, Nasrallah indicated that "Prime Minister Hariri traveled to Saudi Arabia and submitted his resignation from there," noting that he had submitted his resignation via Al-Arabiya Channel and not Future TV or the Lebanese Television and that "the text was recorded."

"So far, one does not know what happened, whether the resignation was a Saudi decision and not his intention or decision," Nasrallah went on, noting, "All Lebanese and observers agree with this conclusion."

"Why was he not allowed to return to Lebanon and resign from here?" questioned Nasrallah, adding that the text of the resignation was not Lebanese, but rather Saudi in both manner and content.

The Secretary-General referred to the Lebanese people's sudden surprise to learn about the resignation, most prominently President Michel Aoun and House Speaker Nabih Berri, far-reaching all other Lebanese officials. He considered that said resignation has "raised concern in Lebanon, especially with the accompanying rumors."

On behalf of Hezbollah, Nasrallah regretfully said, "We did not hope for this resignation. Everyone is meeting within the government and the ministerial committees, and solutions are being sought. There have been important achievements for this government during the current mandate, and had the government continued to hold the elections, it would have reached great accomplishments."

He continued to touch on the manner in which the resignation was submitted, and the place from which it was read out, which involves the dignity of Lebanon and its Prime Minister.

"This reveals the way and means of Saudi Arabia's intervention in Lebanese internal affairs, even though it accuses others of interfering," Nasrallah underscored.

"The resignation is Saudi in content, and does not conform to the speech and language of Prime Minister Hariri ever since he has headed the government," the Secretary-General asserted.

Nasrallah urged all "not to rush to hasty analyses and measures," stressing that "what is needed is primarily to understand the reason," noting, "So far I know that everyone in Lebanon does not know the real reason for the resignation."

He also denied that PM Hariri's resignation was due to internal causes, since he was "active and effective in meeting with everyone."

Nasrallah stressed on the need to "search for the reason within Saudi Arabia...whether the resignation was the result of an internal conflict between princes in the monarchy, in the middle of which Hariri got caught up, or a conflict over money...or whether Saudi Arabia is unhappy with Hariri and wishes to replace him with a 'hawk' committed to its policy...?"

Raising more questions about the resignation, the Secretary-General said, "Is this step in the context of a major battle over the situation in the region, and is Hariri in house arrest, as rumored? Will Hariri not be allowed to return to Lebanon?"

"It is our right to be concerned and to look for him," asserted Nasrallah, reiterating that" the move is Saudi, and learning the reason for the resignation is the key to knowing the developments."

He, thus, called for "maintaining calmness and patience while awaiting matters to clarify, avoiding listening to rumors and intimidations."

Nasrallah also reassured, in the name of his Party, on "preserving stability in Lebanon," urging all "not to worry, and to maintain security and civil peace."

The Secretary-General moved on to explain that "his meeting with the Lebanese Resistance Brigades yesterday was pre-scheduled, and had nothing to do with the subject of resignation."

Nasrallah disclosed that certain sides favor escalation against Hezbollah and the President of the Republic. However, he indicated that such escalation would negatively affect the economic situation in the country. Hence, he called for "staying away from the climate of incitement or cutting off roads; in other words, staying away from the street."

Moreover, Nasrallah stressed that "the channels of communication remain open to all," reminding that "the President is currently in charge of the situation, and has initiated deliberations with various parties and with Speaker Berri, who is playing his national role in this respect, awaiting the return of Prime Minister Hariri, if allowed to do so."

He reiterated the need to "maintain tranquility," and "keenness on meeting together, since it is not in anyone's interest that Lebanon returns to what it used to be in the past."

Touching on the circulated rumors during these two days, Nasrallah noted that Al-Arabiya TV Channel was the only one to refer to an attempted assassination against Hariri, which was later denied by the security forces in the country.

"Al-Arabiya made such reference so that there will be an alibi for preventing Hariri from returning to Lebanon," Nasrallah explained, regretting the hastiness of some in adopting news such as the assassination plot against Hariri, and calling on the judiciary to investigate this matter.

He also ruled out speculations that PM Hariri's resignation was due to Israel's intention to wage a war against Lebanon, saying, "Israel does not work for Saudi Arabia, and the Israeli aggression is subject to Israeli calculations...Israel will not go to war with Lebanon, unless if guaranteed that its cost would be minimal."

Commenting on rumors about a Saudi intended aggression against Lebanon, Nasrallah reiterated his call "to wait and see what is going on inside Saudi Arabia, before talking about its measures towards Lebanon."

The Secretary-General concluded by urging all Lebanese to "rest assured, remain calm, communicate and to have no worry...and to wait for the responsible national steps that President Michel Aoun will adopt, in cooperation with the House Speaker and the existing forces

Source: NNA