Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday visited for the first time on the Lebanese-Israeli border. The Iranian leader was within four kilometers of the Jewish state during his two-day visit to Lebanon.
Before heading south, Ahmadinejad lunched with Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri. He also delivered a speech at the state-run Lebanese University, which presented him with an honorary doctorate in political science. During his speech, Ahmadinejad defended his country's nuclear plans and accused the West of seeking to curtail any progress in the Middle East.
In the southern town of Bint Jbeil, the Iranian president told the crowd: "Bint Jbeil is alive and well." And added: "I salute you, people of the resistance. "You are a solid mountain. We are proud of you and will remain forever by your side."
"Hadn't it been for your resistance and heroic steadfastness, it wouldn't have been known if the border between Lebanon and Israel would be liberated now, you have proved that your jihad is stronger than armadas and tanks," Ahmadinejad stated.
Ahmadinejad reiterated his words about the inevitable demise of Israel. "The whole world knows that the Zionists are going to disappear," he said. "The occupying Zionists today have no choice but to accept reality and go back to their countries of origin."
"Bint Jbeil is alive and well," Ahmadinejad told the crowd. "I salute you, people of the resistance.
"You are a solid mountain. We are proud of you and will remain forever by your side."
"Hadn't it been for your resistance and heroic steadfastness, it wouldn't have been known if the border between Lebanon and Israel would be liberated now, you have proved that your jihad is stronger than armadas and tanks," Ahmadinejad told the cheering crowd.
The visit to the south brought the Iranian leader the closest he has ever been to arch-foe Israel and was seen as a joint show of defiance with ally Hizbullah.
"The resistance of the Lebanese people stems from faith and patience, and today the resisting human has turned into an example to be copied, the resistance is the symbol of the victory of the peoples of Lebanon and all the region," said the Iranian leader.
Ahmadinejad reiterated his trademark rhetoric on the inevitable demise of Israel and hailed Lebanon's resistance to the Jewish state.
"The whole world knows that the Zionists are going to disappear," he said to thunderous applause. "The occupying Zionists today have no choice but to accept reality and go back to their countries of origin."
Ahmadinejad addressed the Lebanese people by saying: "There's no doubt that your enemies fear your unity. Unity is the symbol of endurance, steadfastness and victory."
