"There are strategic observers in America and Israel who confirm that Trump's strategy has failed," said Nasrallah

NASRALLAH on Hezbollah's "Martyr Day": Judiciary Must Combat Corruption

11 Nov 2019

Lebanon - Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, affirmed Monday that "responding to people's sufferings today depends on the judiciary," adding that "the judiciary must fight corruption."

"This is the duty of the judiciary, not the government or parliament council," he said.

Addressing the Lebanese in a televised speech marking Hezbollah's "Martyr Day" this afternoon, Nasrallah said: "There are ongoing meetings with regards to the government formation issue," without disclosing anything at this point.

Pointing to the popular movement, Nasrallah said: "I have always called for capitalizing on the positive," noting that consensus points currently exist among all movement members, such as their call for recovering looted money and holding the corrupt accountable, and various other demands.

He stated that this requires having "an independent judiciary and judges of integrity and conscience," in addition to holding fair trials, having a prison for the corrupt and mechanisms to recover the stolen money. "These mechanisms cannot be achieved by a party or individual side," he said.

"Today, no one can protect a corrupt party or a political or religious authority or sect," said Nasrallah, deeming this as a "positive development."

"There are judges, laws and individuals who believe in fighting corruption, but today the Higher Judicial Council and the judges themselves are required to carry out a revolution because they have the historic opportunity to do so," he confirmed.

Addressing the judges, he urged them to follow the example of the fallen martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for their homeland, in having the courage not to bow to any side in the country especially that they are backed by all the Lebanese.

Nasrallah called on the Higher Judicial Council, in his capacity as Hezbollah's Secretary-General, to tackle any corruption file involving any Hezbollah official. "You can start by us," he said.

Moreover, he considered that the corrupt have no religion or sect, likening them to the collaborators with the enemy.

The Hezbollah Chief disclosed that a law proposal will be submitted by the deputies of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" and the "Development and Liberation" Blocs to the Parliament Council, to "lift the immunity off their current and former ministers and deputies since 1992."

On the prevailing economic situation, Nasrallah considered that opportunities to activate the economic cycle in Lebanon are available, but America is preventing that from happening. "The United States is behind the sanctions we are living, and its working to deepen this crisis," he said.

"America is disrupting the country's economy by preventing Chinese companies from undertaking projects that drive the economy and create job vacancies," Nasrallah maintained.

He said that sanctions on banks are meant to draw a wedge and create strife among the Lebanese, noting that these sanctions have also impacted the Lebanese emigrants' money transfers to Lebanon.

Furthermore, Nasrallah indicated that the United States is creating obstacles in the oil and gas issue, upon which the Lebanese are pinning great hopes.

Responding to US State Secretary Mike Pompeo, the Hezbollah Chief asked, "Where is the Iranian influence in Lebanon? Where is the influence over banks and the army?"

Meanwhile, Nasrallah pointed to an existing opportunity for the Lebanese, which is Iraqi market, especially in the agricultural and industrial fields. He stressed that "the Iraqi market is able to absorb the Lebanese products," saying that this depends on one step by the Lebanese government, namely in reaching an understanding with the Syrian government to export these products by land.

He reiterated that the country's salvation and rescue lies in activating its production cycle, and not through loans.

In a word of tribute to the Party's fallen martyrs, Nasrallah said: "The martyrs of the resistance are people of faith and morals," while criticizing US President Donald Trump "who sends his soldiers as mercenaries."

"If the ferocious takfiri attack had succeeded, it would have changed the facet of Lebanon," he asserted.

Nasrallah outlined the achievements of the martyrs, especially in deterring the Israeli enemy through their blessed blood sacrifices.

Over the Yemeni situation, Nasrallah considered that the Houthis' declared readiness to face any Israeli attack has entered Yemen into the resistance axis and the confrontation zone, deeming it a "greatly significant development."

As for the ghost of an American war on Iran, the Hezbollah Secretary-General reassured that "there will be no war on Iran in the region," calling on the region's countries to revise their calculations.

"There are strategic observers in America and Israel who confirm that Trump's strategy has failed," said Nasrallah, noting that Iran has emerged stronger than before.

In a final word to Hezbollah's audience and supporters, Nasrallah urged them to demonstrate "more awareness and insight". He pledged, on Martyr's Day, "to preserve the dignity, resistance and sanctities, regardless of the difficulties."