Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah has ruled out a $500 million deal with the United States to neutralize his movement and remove its fighters off Israel's northern border, stressing that "the resistance is not for sale," a Beirut-based newspaper reported Monday.
Nasrallah was commenting on local media reports that US Congressman Darryl Issa visited in Beirut over the weekend to offer the Lebanese government $500 million in investments in return for Hizbullah's neutralization.
Issa had denied the reported deal that was first published last week in A Saffir newspaper. Nasrallah, however, seemed dissatisfied with the denial.
"If this report is accurate, it will constitute an insult to Lebanon," Nasrallah said in a mass rally held in Baalbek Sunday, An Nahar reported on Monday. "Weapons of the resistance are not for sale at the slavery market," the resistance leader was quoted as saying.
Nasrallah also condemned US President George W. Bush’s upcoming Sharm el-Sheikh summit with Arab leaders as well as other summits, saying that they aimed to improve the image of Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon.
Additionally, Nasrallah denounced Arab leaders’ praise for Sharon in accepting the “road map” plan, saying Sharon had already undermined the plan by refusing the right of return for Palestinian refugees. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
