*Nasrallah: Return of Jerusalem and Palestine closer than ever* By Yoav Stern <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies Last update - 03:44 27/09/2008 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1024832.html <http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1024832.html>
Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah supporters, wave Palestinian flags during a rally marking "Al-Quds Day". (Reuters) Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah on Friday told a crowd of supporters in a televised address that Jerusalem and Palestine would soon be returned to their rightful owners. "I think that if you consider current developments," Nasrallah told thousands of Shiite Hezbollah backers at a rally in Beirut, "the return of Jerusalem and Palestine is not far off, and could even happen in the near future." Speaking at a rally marking Al-Quds Day, traditionally held on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the chief of the Lebanese militia added that the very presence of Palestinian families within Jerusalem is a form of "resistance against the occupation." Day of Al-Quds, the Arabic name for Jerusalem, was first initiated by then Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It has since been observed by Shiite Muslims as a way of support for the Palestinians and emphasizing the importance of Jerusalem to Muslims. "No one has the right to give up a grain of soil in the holy land," said Nasrallah, speaking through a video link on a giant screen. He added that "Jerusalem must return to its rightful owners and it will, God willing." "The Palestinian nation expects Arab nations to act in order to bring the blockade on the Gaza Strip to an end," said Nasrallah. "However," he added, "only foreigners are sailing on the ships to Gaza. As a Lebanese Arab and Muslim I feel great shame that the Palestinians are dying of hunger," he said. During his speech, Nasrallah stressed that the Lebanese state should arm its forces even "by obtaining arms from the black market as the resistance [Hezbollah] does." "Can we build a strong and patriotic army capable of defending our territories by asking the American's and Israelis' permission to give us arms and equipments?" Nasrallah asked the crowd. Nasrallah reiterated that backing the resistance [Hezbollah] was essential because "the resistance is the only way to liberate Palestine and occupied lands by Israel." He said his organization hides weapons from the enemy and its allies because this is the only way the movement can build up its power. The movement's leader also said on Friday that Hezbollah is ready for whatever it takes to implement peace and stability in Beirut, but ruled out new alliances with the anti-Syrian majority. "Reconciliation doesn't mean building new alliances," Nasrallah said. "We are ready to do whatever it takes to reassure all the Lebanese and especially the citizens of Beirut," Nasrallah stressed, adding "we are serious and devoted to the reconciliation." Rival Lebanese factions are attempting to reconcile differences between the political groups - an effort that many officials in Beirut believe is only going to offer a temporary solution, until other regional problems are solved. A major meeting between the leader of the anti-Syrian ruling majority Saad Hariri and Nasrallah is expected to take place in the near future, though no date has been announced. *Related articles:* # _Nasrallah: No peace in Middle East as long as Israel exists _ <http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1020326.html> # _Iranians chant 'death to Israel', unveil book mocking Holocaust at Al-Quds Day rally _ <http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1024821.html> # _Full text of Ahmadinejad's speech to the UN General Assembly_ <http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1024097.html> # _Rival Lebanese factions begin dialogue on Hezbollah weapons _ <http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1021733.html> Linda *http://freedetainees.org <http://freedetainees.org/> * --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "bangla-vision" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bangla-vision?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
