An
interview made by the official Italian television with the
Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, about
the prospects of the aggravating crisis in Lebanon…. Here is the
text of the dialogue:
* Do your Eminence see that the situation in
Lebanon is moving towards a civil war as in Iraq?
- In my study of the Lebanese reality, I do
not find any chance for any civil war, because the conflict in
Lebanon is a political one. Hence, the opposition is not a
Shiite opposition against a Sunni government, since the
government in Lebanon is a coalition government. Besides, the
opposition consists of all sects and the majority also comprises
all sects. Therefore, there is no sectarian problem regarding
this issue even if some leaders try to exploit sectarianism in
the current political conflict that has to do with the political
weight of the parties in the government and the position of
Lebanon in the region.
In Iraq, there is a struggle on determining
which sect should have the biggest share in the government, the
Shiites or the Sunnis. In addition, what aggravated the
situation is the American interference in the Iraqi policies
that causes conflicts. These conflicts lead to an aggravated
security chaos which Washington sees that it preserves its
strategic interests. For that reason, I can affirm that a civil
war will not break out in Lebanon, but some partial events may
occur like what happened on Tuesday and Thursday. However, the
Lebanese people have an immunity against civil war.
* Since Lebanon is a free and independent
country, the issue of Hezbullah disarmament is at the top
priority of the U.S. and Europe. Thus, do you consider that
someday Hezbollah may surrender its weapons, and under what
conditions?
- The issue of Hezbollah’s weapons started as
a result of the problem with Israel that threatens Lebanon.
Israel has been aggressing Lebanon for more than a quarter of a
century under a pretence here and a pretence there. For that
reason, Hezbollah’s weapons were meant to fight Israel, since
the Lebanese army did not enjoy the power and abilities that
enable it to protect Lebanon against Israel. The Resistance is
characterized by practicing guerrilla warfare against Israel,
while, the regular army does not enjoy this characteristic.
Thus, the Resistance’s issue is directed against Israel solely
and its weapons are not used internally, therefore, the
Resistance’s cause is not an internal one and I think that
tackling these issues in the way that protect Lebanon may be
done through holding a dialogue among Lebanese. I think that if
America and the European countries equip the Lebanese army with
the weapons that enable it to protect its country against any
Israeli aggression, there will be no need for Hezbollah’s
weapons or any other weapons.
* How do you read the relationship between
Hezbollah and Iran? Can we talk about Hezbollah as an
independent national movement?
- In my view, Iran does not deal with
Hezbollah on the basis of considering it as a means of executing
the Iranian dictates and policies. Form what I had been told, it
seems that the Iranian authorities let Hezbollah act in the
light of what it –Hezbollah- deemes right for the country’s
interests, since Iran acknowledges that Hezbollah enjoys a lot
of experience and political rationality. Accordingly, despite
the strong relationship between Hezbollah and Iran, I think that
it is not a matter of Iranian daily dictations to Hezbollah.
* Italy has taken over the command of the
UNIFIL in the south, what is your point of view regarding the
mission Italy is carrying out?
- The Lebanese people in general, do not have
any negative feelings towards Italy, and we believe that the
Italian government is carrying out its Middle East policy in a
balanced manner. We appreciate the Italian demonstrations that
comprised one million demonstrators, supporting the issues of
justice in the Middle East, especially refusing the war against
Iraq and sympathizing with the Palestinians. Therefore, we
highly appreciate the Italian people and government. I also had
a friendly relationship with the Italian ambassadors to Lebanon.
Besides, we welcome Italy taking over command of the UNIFIL,
because we believe that this command will neither exceed its
defined mission nor go beyond the general guideline, is based on
assisting the Lebanese army in protecting the Lebanese borders.
Consequently, we think that the Italian command of UNIFIL may be
able to carry out an effective role in Lebanon.
* How do you look at the future of Lebanon?
- I am not pessimistic regarding the future
of Lebanon because I believe that many of the Lebanese problems
are caused by the foreign interference in the Lebanese domestic
affairs and not from the inside. According to my information, I
think that the complex Lebanese crisis is resulted from the
American policy that wants to make Lebanon a front for
pressuring on more than one country in the region for the sake
of executing the American plans, including the project of the
new Middle East. This impression was drawn by many, including
those of the Arab initiative, knowing that the sectarian system
in Lebanon is what paves the way for the foreign countries to
interfere in the domestic affairs. Thus, every sect tries to
show that it is strong through relying on a country here and a
country there. But, despite that I do not think that the discord
among the Lebanese may allow the eruption of any big strife or
any civil war in Lebanon. Absolutely, I do not deny that I am
worried from the foreign interference especially that the last
Lebanese civil war broke out as a result of a plan made by the
former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger. The only way for
the Lebanese to liberate is to establish a national system that
will make the Lebanese equal in rights and duties. I do
reiterate what I have said during the days of war that there are
three nos that rule Lebanon: “No division, no collapse, and no
stability”.