Nasrallah: STL can’t harm Hezbollah

The Hezbollah leader touched upon the STL, which has recently implicated some Hezbollah members in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and brushed aside Israeli efforts to weaken Hezbollah’s positions.

“Just like your hopes for the [2006] July war were in vain, your hopes for the Washington-funded STL will also be in vain,” said Hezbollah’s secretary general.

In 2007, the UN Security Council passed a US-sponsored resolution, authorizing the formation of an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of Hariri.

The STL, based in The Hague, has recently handed over a copy of its indictments in the Hariri case. The indictments are supposedly confidential; however, media reports have announced the names which are said to be members of Hezbollah.

Nasrallah also pointed out that unlike what others are saying, the party has begun to face the STL’s indictment calmly and by presenting documents.

“A resistance that was not shaken by the most powerful air force in the region will not be shaken by Bellemare, Fransen or Cassese,” he added.

Nasrallah also went on to say that Hezbollah will support any national dialog no matter what subjects are set for its agenda.

The Hezbollah leader has condemned the STL, saying the tribunal has been merely established to turn world public opinion against the resistance and to foment sectarian strife in Lebanon.

The resistance movement also accuses the US-sponsored tribunal of basing its investigations on testimonies provided by “false witnesses.”

Every year, Hezbollah honors over 100 sons and daughters of martyrs, many of whom have gained a good education and reached a stage of financial independence. There are also honors given to the parents of Hezbollah fighters who were killed while fighting Israel in its various wars against Lebanon.

Hezbollah has had over 1,000 martyrs since it was founded in 1982 after Israel’s invasion and occupation of south Lebanon and the capital Beirut.