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Lebanon cannot survive without Hezbollah: Aoun
Aoun, a close ally of Hezbollah, noted that Lebanon’s future was closely tied to the permanence of the resistance, describing Israel as an aggressive state that only wants to “control and expand.”
Aoun, a close ally of Hezbollah, noted that Lebanon’s future was closely tied to the permanence of the resistance, describing Israel as an aggressive state that only wants to “control and expand.”

BEIRUT: Lebanon needs Hezbollah in order to survive against Israel, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun said Sunday.

“We cannot survive as a country without this resisting strength or without the support of the resistance,” Aoun told a local radio station during a discussion about the July 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel. “This is where formula of the people, the army and the resistance comes from. [Those three] are united and connected to each other against the enemy.” 

Aoun, a close ally of Hezbollah, noted that Lebanon’s future was closely tied to the permanence of the resistance, describing Israel as an aggressive state that only wants to “control and expand.”

Aoun also said that Israel’s defeat in the 34-day war, which resulted in the death of 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, would remain in Israeli consciousness for a long time, and ruled out the possibility of any attack from Israel in the near future. 

The FPM leader also said that Israel’s strength has been declining since 2006. “As long as Israel has not created peace with its surroundings … 2006 marked the beginning of the collapse and you can't stop this collapse because it is really difficult to bring back morale to Israelis.” 

He also criticized Israel for having no intention of creating peace, adding that the Jewish state has been talking about peace for over 63 years with no results.

“There is no doubt that the Israeli people want peace because no human being can live to only fight placing [their] life at risk. But the Zionist leadership is thinking of something else [other than peace]. This is why they talk about peace but they really don't want to achieve it,” Aoun added.

Aoun’s comments come amid escalating tensions between the March 14 coalition and the March 8 alliance over Hezbollah’s weapons. March 14 has repeatedly demanded that Hezbollah surrender their weapons to the state and that a national dialogue be restarted to discuss only the issue of the party’s arsenal.

However, Hezbollah Saturday announced that the issue of its arms was not up for discussion if the national dialogue committee is to resume its work, as President Michel Sleiman has requested.

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Comments  
Guy Sutton July 24, 2011 03:29 PM

I wish to comment on Aoun's nonsense.
Israel is a democratic country. As such it never attacks another country without a good reason as aggression or acts of war. Lebanon is safer with Israel than with Syria. Hizbellah is the lowest form of a terror organization with a killer at its head hiding in a bunker. Aoun, for political reason is a serving dog for Syria.

lubnan Awalan July 24, 2011 04:26 PM

Dear National ClAoun
Your future and survival,as well as your party's depends on the Mullahs in Iran and their allies in Lebanon, not Lebanon's survival, without your masters and you, Lebanon would be in a great shape, hope you and your followers will wake up from the comas soon, before it is too late...Nothing of what you call resistance. They demonstrated that they are nothing but a bunch of armed criminals, drug dealers very well known, who are destroying Lebanon and its reputation.
I am wondering how much you are paid by your Fakih friends for such stupid speeches and declarations ....

jack myster July 24, 2011 04:33 PM

Aoun is an idiot there would not of been a war in 2006 if Hizbullah did not fire rockets into Israel and Israel won that war coward Hizbullah hid behind its civilians and used the media to get nations to pressure Israel to leave. Lets tell the truth Hizbullah is bringing your country down. Get rid of them

Imad nasal July 24, 2011 05:07 PM

One thing for sure, Lebanon and Christian Lebanese can do with you Aoun,since you seem to embody what is wrong with Lebanon, nothing but ego , willing to play anybody willing to you, it seems your lesson from your solitary war with the previous Assad taught you to remain loyal to the Assads even when their ship is clearly sinking .
Come on Aoun we want you to change again. Before you become too old, who knows maybe it is already late for you, one more thing you seem to be like Assad : you are more important than Lebanon as he is more important than Syria.You really have learned lots from your Lebanese. And Syrian masters. Viva Aoun

Antoine Aho July 24, 2011 07:23 PM

Aoun's failed military carrier and his wicked political alliances are proof he is NOT a man of principle, save a stooge for the Assad clan and hizb Allah.

Michael Anderson July 24, 2011 07:38 PM

It amazes me how partisan politics exists across the world. It also amazes me how blind some people can be to the facts vs what they're told. If Israel wanted peace, as the more powerful and long term strategic thinking party in this negotiation (or so they used to be), they can get peace. Anyone can get peace, if they are reasonable in their negotiations and fair. The fact is, Israel has been an aggressor when it comes to Lebanon, they are sitting on Lebanese territory, you don't need more proof than that. So whether Israel-sympathists think so or not, at least before, it has never been in the interest of Israel to have peace, until now. You sell a home at the top of the market, right. I think Israel has too many factors out their control now and if they don't make peace soon, they will simply have less to negotiate with as time goes by, which is why I am optimistic it will happen soon (because I assume the Israelis are smart enough to see it). Now, if they're being held hostage internally by people like the Tea Party in the US, then we're all in trouble anyway. Let's see what happens.

James July 24, 2011 11:29 PM

Lebanon cannot win with Hezbollah. Israel will gladly complete a peace treaty with Lebanon, however Lebanon says it would be the last country to complete a peace deal. Israel's original incursion into Lebanon was because Lebanon's weak central government allowed the Palestinians to set up a terrorist base in Lebanon. Now Hezbollah says they are standing up for the Palestinians but look at how badly Lebanon treats their Palestinian "guests".

Justis July 24, 2011 11:31 PM

Michel Aoun is a has-been general who is an egotistical maniac.
Someone please inform the general Israel fought the 34 day war against Hizbullah not Lebanon.
Lebanon could be in great shape if and when the Lebanese people wake up from their slumber and vote out all their so-called leaders from office.
Lebanese leaders are all me me me and the hell with everyone else.

haissam July 25, 2011 12:48 AM

Why is this senile idiot still around? He has done enough damage to begin with.

Mike hughes July 25, 2011 02:49 AM

Your statement that Israel strength has been declining since 2006 is a false statement and good luck if you start another war with Israel because you will need it your radio message is pure hate. And the world is watching you Aoun.

Gilberto Abr?o July 25, 2011 03:17 AM

Come on, guys! Who are you trying to fool? We all know that Israel wants to attack Lebanon at any time. How can you say it's a democracy? Maybe for Jewish people only, but for the Arab population that tries to survive in the Palestinian territories - or what's left from Palestine. For them it's been hell!
No honest or free Arab should ever make peace with Israel, unless the territories before the 1967 war are fully returned to their true owners and that includes al-Quds (East Jerusalem). Yes, Israel is the enemy, and should remain as such until a real and just peace is achieved. Therefore, General Aoun and all the honest, noble and patriot Arabs in the region are 100% correct. So, let those Zionist and American lovers cry as much as they want! 80% of the Lebanese people don't want a humiliating peace with the Zionist State. In fact, the vast majority of the Arab population are adamantly against any imposed humiliating peace. To finalize, Viva Hizbullah!!!! Down with the Zionist State.

mazi July 25, 2011 10:53 AM

Can't believe the commentary...first of Israel's power is vastly diminishing, in 2006 they couldn't even dent a guerrilla force....they lost 118 commandos, 4 apaches over 40 merkhava tanks and 1 frigate ALL IN 1 month!!!...Secondly Israel cannot be a democracy if its a Jewish state ...its a democracy but the millions of Palestinians in Gaza and west bank can't vote if they did the European that call themselves 'Israeli ' will have a Muslim Arab prime minister tomorrow...thirdly despite the Zionist propaganda controlling your American media Israel is a fascist state looking to expand at every opportunity THIS IS WHY THEY WILL NEVER GIVE THE PALESTINIANS A STATE OR DEFINE THEIR OWN BORDERS....C'MON AMERICANS THE REST OF THE WORLD IS WAKING UP...THE ZIONISTS HAVE BROKEN YOUR ECONOMY badly and you still do not have a revolution!!!! Funny how there are more protests in the Middle East then I've ever seen in so called 'free' countries....peace out y'all.

Hermes Trismegistus July 26, 2011 12:58 AM

What rock did these idiotic defenders of Israel, an aggressive and militaristic state, crawl out from under. Say anything about Israel, right or wrong doesn't matter, the religious wing-nuts go bananas with illogical and ignorant rants about how Israel is picked on.

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