Zahle MPs Urge Suleiman, Miqati to Ask Hizbullah to Remove Its Telecom Grid
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Zahle's MPs on Monday called on President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati to ask Hizbullah to remove its controversial telecom network from their city.
“The region is characterized by harmony and interaction among all the Bekaa residents and we will launch an initiative out of our faith in our unifying political role,” Lebanese Forces bloc MP Tony Abou Khater said at a news conference, reciting a statement issued by Zahle's lawmakers.
“We tell Hizbullah's military and political officials that Zahle is a city of peace ... What is the use from extending the grid to Zahle?” the statement added.
“It is a pretext for you to invade public property and stir security disturbances,” it said, in reference to Hizbullah.
The MPs noted that the installation of the network is “part of Hizbullah's security grip on the Lebanese society and its tapping of phone calls.”
“Out of our faith in the state and its sovereignty and in the army and all security forces, we urge President Michel Suleiman and caretaker PM Najib Miqati to enforce the law immediately and ask Hizbullah to dismantle the grid. We stress that we won't allow Hizbullah's network to go through Zahle,” they added.
“After crossing all the red lines in Syria, Hizbullah is pressing on with its violations” in Lebanon, the lawmakers went on to say.
“We must all close ranks if there is a threat from the Israeli enemy, but Zahle is not (the southern bordert town of) Maroun al-Ras,” said the statement.
It added: “Legitimacy is our weapon, that's why we're calling for the implementation of laws and we can't contain the public opinion's reactions all the time.”
But the MPs pointed out that they do not intend to “escalate the situation,” adding that they want to turn Zahle into “the bastion of legitimacy.”
For his part, Phalange bloc MP Elie Marouni, another Zahle representative, told reporters: “We did not aggrieve anyone and we didn't stir a clash. Huge cables were brought and a maintenance operation does not require all those cables. The cables were extended before we were elected as MPs and the telecom minister provided them with political cover."
"The same as they are keen on the resistance's telecommunications, we are also keen on our privacy, and the same as some parties are installing cables, other parties might remove them," Marouni threatened.
"Where are those who had signed MOUs with Hizbullah? This is an assault on Zahle and we won't remain silent," he warned.
"We are fed up with the insults and we also have 'black shirts.' We can dismantle cables and install other cables," Marouni went on to say.
Tensions were running high in Zahle after members of Hizbullah attempted to expand the party's telecommunications network in the area on Sunday evening.
Residents of the city protested the move and temporarily blocked the road in the area.
The army soon intervened and set up checkpoints in the industrial zone and security forces deployed patrols in the city, which led to Hizbullah's withdrawal from the area.
Soon after however, some 15 party gunmen in a white van returned to the vicinity of the Mar Charbel church, according to media reports.
The locals staged a sit-in in front of the church and were joined by MPs Abou Khater, Marouni and Joseph al-Maalouf.
There was an uproar in October 2011 when Hizbullah allegedly attempted to expand its telecommunications network in the Tarshish region on the outskirts of Zahle.
The residents thwarted the attempts and Telecommunications Ministry at the time denied any party actions in the region.
16 September 2013, 20:08
1210
Lebanese forces, RESISTING against Syria influence in lebanon, want to put a telecom system in Baalbeck. What do Hezb think about that?
16 September 2013, 23:18
145
another may 2008 if ever they try to go against hezbi will! LOL! they spit on the state and its laws....
17 September 2013, 00:04
144
These idiotic self proclaimed party of God can't afford to threaten or attack anyone at this point. They are already blacklisted as a terrorist party and are fighting a war in another country. Cut the lines down and tell them to go kiss our rear ends if they don't like it. For all you dipsticks on here threatening another May 2008, you can pucker up as well as your leash is far shorter these days with your bullying tactics. All your big brothers are hurting real bad these days and have very little ability to protect you.
17 September 2013, 00:11
143
Maybe the Zahle MP's can petition the Great Protector of Christian's Aoun to stop his Iranian friends from infringing on right's of Lebanese.
17 September 2013, 02:04
05
Is Israel an enemy of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, etc.? Meaning, have these governments fired a bullet against Israel in the past 50 years? Israel is an enemy of Lebanon because your puppet masters, your mob bosses, your executioners (Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran) have made Israel your enemy. Get it through your thick heads: that land belongs to both the Palestinians and the Jews, but it does not belong to the Jews at the expense/detriment of the Palestinians. They must figure it out. By brainwashing you to think that "Zionism" is your enemy (also because conveniently your Arab/Muslim brothers have given their blessing to bring in the Palestinians, build camps and allow them to maintain weapons on Lebanese soil without State supervision across the boarder from Israel), you have been forced to take the position not to recognize Israel, a Jewish State, which has directly lead to the disbursement of the Palestinians from their lands into Lebanon and elsewhere.
17 September 2013, 02:04
05
Two can play that game, and Israel has been motivated and placed in a better position to turn the table against the Palestinians because of the Arab's insistent on Zionism as a threat instead of facing the facts and help establish a Palestinian State so they can all go back to their homes and accept the fact that just as Arab/Muslims do, the Christians, Jews, Druze also have an equal claim in the Middle East to establish as they see fit. It is not up to you or Lebanon to make a judgment whether the Jews have deeply rooted claim in that land to establish a Jewish State. Personally, as Lebanese, my goal is to find a way to make peace with Israel for the sake of the return of the Palestinians to their homes. Meanwhile, Iran, Saudi Arabia or Qatar can look after the Palestinians. They have lots of oil/gas money. Not Lebanon. Let them fight Zionism/Israel from their own lands
17 September 2013, 02:29
28
Hi stop_deleting_myaccount,
I am Lebanese and I just learned about that website here.
I noticed a lot of people on this site are "israel" lovers instead of praising and defending the interests of their own country.
This is ridiculous and this is the reason we don't have a "proper" country.
17 September 2013, 03:25
05
Our loyalty should be to our "Wattan". If you can find a rich and powerful ally that can arm and protect Lebanon w/o any repercussions or strings attached, then we're all for it. Where was Iran when they, through their proxy army H.A., provoked the 2006 Israel/Lebanon war? When we take this position, it does not mean that we are pro M-14, M-16 or M-69. Get it. When we say your loyalty should be to your "Wattan", we mean people like me respects and includes the interest of all Lebanese irrespective of their religion, secs, etc.
17 September 2013, 06:18
123
Those bastards along with their Iranian masters and you as their puppet have ruined Lebanon.
17 September 2013, 06:27
133
Go back to Iran where you belong you foolish puppet- have those Shiite Mullah's dictate to you how you should act- you should be ashamed of yourself taking orders from others and doing their bidding. The Lebanese should ban all Iranian supporters and banish them to Iran-
17 September 2013, 06:31
123
It is obvious that he reports to the Islamic mullahs in Qom- he is a puppet and has no voice but to speak volumes of garbage like his Iranian masters.
17 September 2013, 08:34
74
Nobody here supports Israel, but you surely support Iran. Your constant accusation of others that they are Israeli supporter if they don't support the Persian agenda is a pathetic and failed attempt to hide the truth. Unfaithful and morally corrupt people step outside the tent and piss inside, and the rest rather be inside the tent and aim outside so they don't "crap where they eat". The Iranian regime is not Lebanon's friend. If they were, Lebanon would not be divided today, otherwise they would have had the majority support in Lebanon with no agenda. Same goes to Saudi Arabia. Heck if they were, I would give my right arm.
17 September 2013, 09:43
120
stopdeleting... this is what the likes of you do better... threaten!
17 September 2013, 11:30
92
Dear Leb Nationalist!
You will also notice that many here, like your little friend stop_deleting, are Iran Lovers, and Syrian Lovers... and frankly... not much better!
Now buzz off!
17 September 2013, 16:55
22
The Zahlewieh are the most fiercely independent in all Lebanon. We are Lebanese rednecks and never back down from any one, any time.
