The leader of Hizbollah movement warned Saturday that his group would do “anything and everything” to recover prisoners still languishing in Israeli prisons, reported The Associated Press.
Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, speaking at a rally to express solidarity with former detainees, also called on Palestinians to follow the Lebanese example of resisting Israeli occupation, said the agency.
Nasrallah spoke to more than 10,000 supporters of the group on a soccer field in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam.
Nineteen vacant plastic chairs were lined up across the stage, representing prisoners still held in Israel.
“Let the (Israeli) enemy and the whole word hear us: We will do anything and everything to fill these chairs, ... no matter what the price or sacrifice,” Nasrallah warned.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, said the army has information that Hizbollah is planning attacks across the Israeli border and against Israeli targets abroad after Lebanese parliamentary elections, slated for August 27th and September 3rd.
Hizbollah is fielding several candidates in the elections.
Referring to the Israeli reports, Nasrallah said Saturday that Hizbollah fighters will keep the Israelis guessing.
Earlier Saturday, Nasrallah paid a visit to the notorious former Khiam prison, which was run by Israel's Lebanese militia allies during the occupation of south Lebanon.
Human rights groups had charged the prison was the site of torture and detention without trial before it was abandoned as Israel withdrew from south Lebanon.
In his speech, Nasrallah urged the Lebanese government to compensate former detainees for the years they spent in Khiam. He also suggested they be integrated into the Lebanese army, the AP added.
The movement leader also called on Palestinians to rise up and learn from Hizbollah's experience.
“The Palestinian people should benefit from this historic and golden opportunity to recover their land with blood - not through negotiations,” he said.
Hinting that his group will not be content with Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, Nasrallah said the liberation marks the beginning of a new era in fighting Israel, added the agency.
“This victory will not be the only one. It will be the title of the coming stage” in Lebanon and the Palestinian areas, he said – Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
