Gemayel: Hizbullah's Border Tour Tarnished State's Image

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Kataeb party leader Sami Gemayel said a tour organized for reporters by Hizbullah along Lebanon's southern border to brief them about the defense measures set up by Israel in recent months “has insulted and tarnished the image of the State," media reports said.

“The tour organized by Hizbullah's military command along a border area under resolution 1701--which stipulates that the region should be free of any military force other than UNIFIL and the Lebanese army-- is considered an insult to the Lebanese State's standing and a new threat to Lebanon's relationship with the international community,” said Gemayel.

“Where is the government of all that is happening in Lebanon? What are the authority's concerns?" asked Gemayel.

He went on accusing the government and said: "It is not concerned with the sovereign affairs or extending the authority of the state and law on its territory."

Hizbullah sought Thursday to show that Israel is building up defenses in anticipation of another conflict, after a string of statements from Israeli officials warning of a potential confrontation.

The party, which fought a devastating war with the Jewish state in 2006, brought dozens of journalists on a rare and highly-choreographed trip to the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.

A military commander identified as Haj Ihab, dressed in digital camouflage and sunglasses, said the Israeli army was erecting earth berms up to 10 meters (30 feet) high, as well as reinforcing a military position near the Israeli border town of Hanita.

There has been rising speculation about the possibility of a new war between Israel and Hizbullah, more than a decade after their last direct confrontation.

The 34-day conflict in 2006 led to the deaths of 1,200 people in Lebanon, mainly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

Comments 4
Thumb janoubi 21 April 2017, 11:20

Gemayel: Hizbullah's Border Tour Tarnished State's Image

what image and what state; this is hezbollah state and that is is its image.

Thumb i.report 21 April 2017, 13:20

indeed, our national army didn't even try to stop the terrorist militiamen when they crossed the checkpoints. The Israeli shill who commented below me is right, it's a violation of the UN resolution approved and signed by Russia and China plus the usual countries and has been accepted by Hizbalaflouz and Israhell. they're terrorizing the local populace by showing them who's in charge, and it obviously isn't the lebanese army.

next time I visit Lebanon, remind me not to stop at army checkpoints, I'm sick of this hypocrisy and double standards.

Missing phillipo 21 April 2017, 13:11

So, when Hizaballah takes journalists to the border fence it is not a violation of 1701, but when Israel only goes up to the fence, it is a violation.
Must be an incorrect Arabic translation of the resolution.

Missing mohammad_ca 21 April 2017, 16:27

You mean Farsi