Hizbullah rep says no talks on hostage swap
There are currently no negotiations for prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizbullah, Lebanese Hizbullah parliamentarian Hasan Haballah says. Haballah warns group may launch civil revolt in Lebanon if ‘doors closed in our face’
There are currently no negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizbullah, according to Lebanese parliamentarian from Hizbullah Hasan Haballah.
Hizbullah kidnapped Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser in a cross-border attack last summer, which sparked the war in Lebanon. Hizbullah demands the release of Lebanese prisoners in return for the Israeli hostages, but mediated negotiations have thus far been futile.
In an interview with Nazareth newspaper Kul al-Arab, Haballah said, “We have two hostages and we cannot release them, except for as part of a prisoner exchange deal. We demand the release of all Lebanese prisoners as well as Arab and Palestinian prisoners (held in Israeli prisons) in the frame of an indirect deal between us and the Zionist enemy.
“At the moment, however, no contacts are being mediated to complete the deal,” he said.
Haballah said Hizbullah was willing and ready for another confrontation with Israel: “We are on-call and fully prepared for any aggression at any moment.”
“The resistance (Hizbullah) is militarily ready to block any possible attack on Lebanon, but right now there are no signs Israel will attack soon. The enemy knows it cannot achieve any of its goals. Israel regularly violates Lebanese airspace, and this is the answer to the Lebanese people who are relying on the international community, which cannot stop any aggression against Lebanon. Therefore, the resistance will respond to these violations at the right time and place,” he warned.
The Hizbullah representative did not spare his wrath for the Lebanese administration either. Hizbullah, he said, was considering launching a civil uprising against Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s government and coalition, if their demands failed to be met.
'Revolution may be necessary'
He said the United States was to blame for the current tensions in Lebanon. “We place full responsibility (for the crisis in Lebanon) on the American regime which is working to prevent Lebanese stability. The opposition may turn to revolution if all the doors are closed to it. We rely on the fact that all doors are open to us, and that mutual understanding can be reached," he said.
“The February 14th group (term for Lebanese coalition headed by Siniora) cannot keep listening to American dictates,” he declared.
The timing of such a conflict, should it erupt, was vague. “There is no zero-hour,” Haballah said. “It is an idea which will be raised for discussion if all the doors become closed. The opposition did
not set a date for the civil rebellion.
"The opposition will continue its activities until the end of this month, and then we will speak openly about our ensuing steps. Chairman of Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri will speak for the opposition about the efforts invested in the past three months and who it is that stands behind destroying the coalition.
“After that,” he added, “we’ll set a timeline for the civil revolt.”
