Raad Says Forces 'Unable to Resolve Waste Crisis' Can't Have Say in War Decisions
Head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad noted Sunday that political parties that are not being able to “resolve the waste management crisis” cannot ask to have a say in the country's war and peace decision.
“It is reasonable that a country in the world cannot find a solution to its garbage crisis?” asked Raad rhetorically during a speech he delivered in the southern town of Ain Qana.
“The crisis only exists in Lebanon, and the reason is that there is a crisis of splitting shares and the presence of greed and rottenness inside state institutions,” the MP added.
“The state is too weak to be able to address a garbage crisis,” he underlined.
The lawmaker said certain political parties in the government are asking the people to grant them “an authorization for deciding war and peace with the Israeli enemy.”
“If you can't resolve a waste crisis, how will you be able to resolve a war crisis or to confront the enemy that is backed by all countries in the world?” Raad asked.
Ever since Israel withdrew its forces from south Lebanon in 2000, a lot of political forces in Lebanon have accused Hizbullah of maintaining an “illegitimate” arsenal of arms and of monopolizing the decisions of war and peace. The party argues that its military might has deterred Israel from launching new attacks against Lebanon.
The unprecedented waste-management crisis erupted in July after the closure of the Naameh landfill. It saw streets overflowing with waste and the air filled with the smell of rotting garbage in the capital Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
The government pledged last year that Naameh would be closed on July 17 and an alternative site be found, which never happened.
A temporary deal was found later on to begin taking trash to several landfills in undisclosed locations. The chosen locations have filled with trash in light of the absence of a substitute for Naameh, triggering a major concern.
Last week, three private companies submitted bids to manage Beirut's waste without declaring a disposing ground.
Y.R.
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