Thursday afternoon, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah spoke to the Lebanese people about the state of the government. His remarks indicate that Hezbollah intends to do whatever is necessary to bring the Siniora government to its knees. Nasrallah has called upon the Lebanese to demonstrate and go on strike in Beirut tomorrow as a sign of solidarity with Hezbollah.
HASSAN NASRALLAH: In the name of God, the Beneficent and the Merciful. Praise be to God Almighty, and peace and blessings be upon our prophet - Abu Al-Qassem, Mohammad - and upon his good-hearted family and companions, and upon all the prophets and messengers. Peace and blessings of God be upon you.
Dear Lebanese, a year and few months have passed since the formation of the current Lebanese government. This government presented a huge, important, clear and specific ministerial declaration, and also presented important and sensitive assurances to the Lebanese, but after all this time, it is clear that it the government is impotent, unsuccessful and incapable of fulfilling its promises or accomplishing any significant achievements.
We even find that the crises have become worse in all spheres - politically, socially and economically, regarding security and financial aspects and more.
We think that the main reason for the impotency and failure of the government is that it is a one-team government. It is true that the Amal movement and Hezbollah were participating in this government, but they were never actually allowed to be seriously or effectively involved, because the government was a mere superficial legal framework to pass decisions taken within a framework of leadership outside the government, and it is the leadership of the March 14th forces.
Lebanon, with all its complexity, variety, nature and aspects can never be governed or have its crises solved by one side or by a certain coalition, especially given these harsh internal circumstances, and even much harsher regional situation, and very dangerous international situation.
So we called for and are still calling for the formation of a national unity government, because if we want to protect Lebanon's independence and sovereignty, and prevent any external guardianship over Lebanon - because if we want to consolidate and strengthen the support for security, stability and civil peace in Lebanon, because if we want to seriously cooperate to deal with the suffocating social and economic crisis, because if we want to deal with our political crisis on the basis of granting actual representation to all the Lebanese streams and groups, and actual participation in governing the country, because if we want to deal with the various crises and confront the various present challenges - locally, regionally and internationally at this stage - we must cooperate, unite and gather all our efforts. This can only achieved by a real national unity government.
When we talk about a national unity government, we are talking about integration, unity, cooperation and solidarity. We are not talking of cancellation, omitting, uprooting, a monopoly or exclusivity.
In any case, we found that all peaceful attempts at dialogue, negotiation and consultation were met with closed doors because the ruling party insists on its exclusive authority, contrary to the actual national interest and despite its impotency, failure and inability to accomplish any achievements on any level.
