Lebanese Academic Makram Rabah In Interview That Led To His Detention By Security Agency: Nasrallah Should Pay Out Of His Own Pocket For The Damages Caused By This War; May All Hizbullah's Men March On Jerusalem And Be Martyred One By One

Lebanese academic Makram Rabah, an assistant professor of history at the American University of Beirut, criticized Hizbullah in a March 13, 2024 interview with Spot Shot Online (Lebanon), which led to his detention and interrogation by Lebanon's General Security directorate. In the interview he said that it was Hizbullah that had provoked Israel following October 7. Rabah continued to say that the Lebanese people are not willing to foot Iran's bills and cover the damage caused by Hizbullah in its war with Israel. He said that Nasrallah should pay for it out of his own pocket. Rabah further said that he supports every citizen that is killed in south Lebanon, whether it is by Israel or by Hizbullah hiding behind him. According to reports about the detention, he was interrogated mainly for "exposing" information about Hizbullah that could help the "enemy." Rabah was later released.

Makram Rabah: "It was Hizbullah that provoked Israel on October 8. The 'resistance hero' himself, Hassan Nasrallah, admitted that. He considers this war to be... I don't know what to call it..."

Interviewer: "A war to keep [Israel] preoccupied?"

Rabah: "Right. But he preoccupies the Lebanese. The people of Lebanon have no peace and quiet. The people in south Lebanon cannot sleep peacefully.

"There are villages that were razed to the ground, and he tells us that he is doing all this to support the people of Gaza.

"Before you support the people of Gaza, you should support the Lebanese, who are paying the bill for this continuous Iranian adventure.

[...]

"The last thing we worry about is Hizbullah, and all its men who are martyred on their way to Jerusalem. May they all march on Jerusalem and be martyred, one after the other. I'll be the first to applaud anyone who wants to die for Iran, but as Lebanese, we are unwilling to pay Iran's bill.

[...]

"We are not responsible for what Nasrallah is doing. We are not responsible for what Iran is doing in south Lebanon. Everybody should be held responsible for their actions. They can lecture us all they want about foreign policy and protecting Lebanon, but as Lebanese citizens, we are not responsible for the Israeli-Iranian war. Let Hassan Nasrallah pay out of his own pocket to rebuilt south Lebanon.

"I'm not saying this because I do not support the people of south Lebanon. I support the Lebanese citizens in south Lebanon. I am with every Lebanese civilian who is killed unjustly, whether by Israel or by Hizbullah, who are hiding behind him. However, we are not responsible for this delirium, this military adventure."