Moussawi Apologizes to Berri, but Gemayel Hopes Hizbullah Knows it Can’t Abolish Anyone
Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Moussawi apologized on Thursday to Speaker Nabih Berri and the lawmakers over the words he used during his verbal clash with Phalange deputy Sami Gemayel the day before.
In a statement issued by Hizbullah’s press office, Moussawi said: “Out of my respect to the party’s values and ethics, I apologize to Speaker Nabih Berri and fellow lawmakers over the offensive word I used in my response yesterday.”
But the MP stressed that he was committed to the “political context” of his words.
During a Question and Answer session held at the parliament on Wednesday, Gemayel criticized Hizbullah over its “illegal excavation and installation works in the town of Tarshish.”
But Moussawi snapped back, saying the resistance would take suitable measures to protect Lebanon and its telecommunications network.
The dispute culminated when the Hizbullah lawmaker told Gemayel - a member of the March 14-led opposition - “my shoe is more honorable than you.”
Responding to Moussawi’s apology later Thursday, Gemayel thanked Berri for his mediation efforts and hoped things will be back to normal and MPs would be able to express their viewpoints without reaching the degrading level of speech.
At a press conference he held in parliament, the Metn MP hoped that the apology would help Hizbullah understand that it can neither abolish nor threaten any party in Lebanon.
“We dedicate this apology to all the Lebanese and the free people in Lebanon because the insult was not directed at us but the Lebanese people whom we represent,” he added.
In remarks published in al-Mustaqbal daily, Gemayel said that it was the duty of all lawmakers to reject the “illegal” measures taken by Hizbullah.
“What happened is an insult to the parliament and the lawmakers and should be solved inside the legislature and in front of them through a public apology by Moussawi,” the MP added.
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