Lebanese President Emile Lahoud condemned all terrorist acts Monday but stressed the need to “distinguish between such acts and resistance activities aimed at liberating land from occupation.”
The president addressed an Italian delegation, including members of political parties, the European Parliament, and the Arab-Italian Friendship Association, who had come to Lebanon in solidarity with the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples on the 19th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres, reported the Daily Star newspaper.
Lahoud said the international community had supported resistance of an occupation throughout history.
The president cautioned that Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon might take advantage of the prevailing atmosphere following the New York and Washington attacks and “escalate the situation” in the Middle East.
“This will not be at all in the interest of peace in the region. Everyone should draw a lesson from the past. Our problems cannot be solved by force. The alternative must be negotiating a just, real and comprehensive peace,” he said.
He added that the “aggressive and terrorist policy” followed by Israel was mainly to blame for undermining regional and international stability.
“Part of the world’s problems at present are due to persistent Israeli behavior based on terrorism, including mass expulsion, individual assassination and endangering the lives of civilians.”
He said that such Israeli behavior in itself “constitutes a school in terrorism and plunges the whole world into a cycle of action and counter-action.”
Lahoud said Europe should play a role in solving the Arab-Israeli conflict in light of its neutral and just stand. “We wish to see Europe in the forefront of those working for peace in the region,” Lahoud added.
European Parliament member Luisa Morgantini said the purpose of the visit was to affirm solidarity with the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples and determine the country’s stand on current developments.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri said that the country valued democracy and human rights and was directing its attention to the US.
“The unjustified killing of the innocent is deplored by all Lebanese, Arabs and Muslims as well as by all countries and peoples on this planet,” he added.
The prime minister said Lebanon, “because it has experienced the sufferings of war and terrorism on its territory for many years,” was particularly sympathetic to the US’ pain, the paper quoted him as saying.
“Lebanon was exposed to organized terrorism by Israel, which had spared no village or family, and had killed unjustly and aggressively.”
He added, “We condemn without reservation the brutal, barbaric action which contradicts our beliefs, principles, ways of living and religions, both Muslims and Christians.”
Hariri said he hoped US reaction to the attacks would be “well considered and based on accurate and true information,” adding that the “whole world will stand together to punish the perpetrators.”
He stressed the need for the entire world to direct its attention to the hardships that the Arab people under occupation were experiencing, whether in Palestine or in other occupied Arab territories, especially in the Golan Heights in Syria.
He described the occupation of territories in other countries as “a terrorist act in the full sense of the word” and said this fact should be admitted by everyone – Albawaba.com
