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Lebanese Minister to Israeli Paper: Hezbollah Operation "Legitimate Resistance"

Posted on: Friday, 1 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

Text of interview with Lebanese Information Minister Charles Rizq by Ma'ariv correspondent Or Heller in Paris on 30 June, published by Israeli NRG Ma'ariv website on 1 July; subheading as published

"The operation that Hezbollah carried out was legitimate resistance to the Israeli occupation," says Lebanese Information Minister Charles Rizq in an exclusive interview with Ma'ariv, referring to the incident at the Shab'a Farms [disputed territory in the border area between Lebanon, Syria and Israel] in which Corporal Uzi Peretz, of blessed memory, was killed.

Rizq, who arrived on a visit to Paris on 29 June, yesterday granted a rare interview to an Israeli newspaper. "We wish to resolve the problem on the Israeli-Lebanese border, but as part of a solution with all the Arab states," he explained. "There is indeed a Hezbollah presence, but that is because of Israel's presence and the past Israeli occupation of South Lebanon."

The information minister added: "The UN Security Council must exert pressure on Israel to withdraw from the Shab'a Farms before it presses the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah. But even if Israel does withdraw, Hezbollah will not necessarily be disarmed. Hezbollah has to be integrated into politics as a party. A withdrawal from the Shab'a Farms would be the first step preceding any negotiations, but it must be accompanied by other steps."

Parliament wields renewed power

[Heller] Why does the Lebanese government support Hezbollah's Al- Manar television, an anti-Semitic channel that preaches for the perpetration of terrorist attacks, which even the French government took off the air because of its pernicious content?

[Rizq] Whether it is an anti-Semitic channel or not is a matter of outlook. It is a channel that we launched in Lebanon. In recent months, I have been watching their programmes and I think that they have made great progress. It is your right to think that there are anti-Semitic programmes on this channel. For my part, I think that closing down an information channel is an anomaly and would be a mistake.

[Heller] Can Israel expect stability in Lebanon, now that the Syrian forces have withdrawn?

[Rizq] The civilian population of Lebanon is mature, quiet and peace-seeking. Following the elections, our parliament wields renewed power. Today, Lebanese politics is consensual. About the withdrawal of Syria's soldiers from Lebanon, I say that both sides - Syrian and Lebanese - understand it is a situation in which both of them gain.

[Heller] You are also minister of tourism in the Lebanese cabinet. Do you now expect a rise in the number of tourists following the Syrians' withdrawal?

[Rizq] In Lebanon, tourism is a matter of politics too. When there is stability in Lebanon, and things are agreed, and parliament works, the tourists will also come.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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