Subscribe Today
Request a Clip
Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said in a July 7, 2020 address that aired on Newsgate (Lebanon) that Hizbullah does not constitute an obstacle preventing the United States from helping Lebanon, and that U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has been acting like a military governor and as if she has moral authority. He criticized Ambassador Shea, claiming that she has threatened Lebanese officials and that she has made demands regarding which people should be given financial appointments in the government. In addition, he accused her of pitting the Lebanese people against one another and against Hizbullah, and of pushing them towards infighting, discord, and civil war. Nasrallah added that this will only strengthen Hizbullah and weaken American allies and influence. For more about recent events in Lebanon concerning Ambassador Shea, see MEMRI TV Clips No 8099. and No. 8814.
Hassan Nasrallah: "With regard to [my call] to turn to the East – when I raised this issue in many of my speeches, and especially the last one, I was very clear in saying that turning to the East does not mean turning our back to the West, or cutting us off of anybody. No. I was very clear in saying that we should be open to the whole world – any country in the world, with the exception of Israel. I had the courage to say that even though we see America as an enemy – in keeping with our ideology and political culture, as well as in our political reality... Nevertheless, we do not constitute an obstacle preventing the U.S. from helping Lebanon – like any other country in the world – to emerge from its crisis or economic troubles.
[...]
"In the past few months, ever since a new [U.S.] ambassador came to Lebanon – and allow me to welcome her and all the other ambassadors... Instead of abiding by the international agreements and by the role of an ambassador, she has been acting as if she is the military governor or high commissioner of Lebanon, as if she has some moral authority, and as if everybody in Lebanon must fear her, please her, listen to her, and receive her approval. This is how she has behaved.
[...]
"How come financial appointments are any of the U.S. ambassador's business? Why does she interfere and say that one person should be appointed and another must not? This happened. I've talked to many officials. She threatened many officials. She told them they must appoint so-and-so as Deputy Governor of Banque du Liban, and if not, he must be appointed as head of the Baking Control Commission.
[...]
"Worse still is [her] pitting Lebanese people against one another. The U.S. ambassador goes to political leaders in Lebanon and incites them against Hizbullah and its allies in the resistance. She pushes the Lebanese domestic front towards infighting, discord, and civil war.
[...]
"Your policy in Lebanon – the policy of strangulation, siege, and sanctions... Let me tell you how it is, Americans: This policy will not weaken Hizbullah. Rather, it will strengthen it. It will weaken your allies. It will weaken your influence. This policy will not make our base turn against the resistance. Your policy will make the rest of the Lebanese sectors – at the end of the day, when you push Lebanon to collapse and hunger... They will find no one to resort to except for the resistance and its allies in Lebanon and in the region."
Latest Clips
