LEBANON: Siniora speaks angrily but calls for dialogue

Lebanon will not fall, and the Lebanese citizens will not accept to lose their freedom and will not return to hegemony and terrorism. Beirut has become a forest where hatred prevails and innocent blood floods. Hezbollah stabbed the Lebanese and took over their properties and homes. Beloved Lebanese, we thought and we still think that Israel is our real enemy, but our experience these past days has shown that our democratic regime has come under the menace from a brother who only sees the weapon is the way to understanding. They were calling for dialogue but preparing for escalations; they were talking of calm and preparing for war. We freed the land and won the war against Israel with the unity of all Lebanese, and the world is a witness. Yet they accused us of division among the Lebanese, treachery and conspiracy with Israel. What is Hezbollah doing in the streets of Beirut? What is Hezbollah doing blocking the road of Rafik Hariri Airport? By doing so, are they cutting off the road to Tel Aviv? This road is for all Lebanese. Did we have a problem with Hezbollah? Has the government said that it wants to disarm Hezbollah forcefully? Definitely not. We said that openly in the international community. Did we have a problem with Hezbollah and are we diverging from who our enemy is? No. Israel is our enemy, and Syria is our sister despite all its cruelty in Lebanon, and it will remain our sister but built on mutual respect and common interest. Did the government declare war on Hezbollah? We did not and will not declare war on Hezbollah, because we all together have been building the country. Hezbollah alone decided what the fate and future of Lebanon will be. Our problem is that they decided to monopolize the decision of when and where to go to war or make peace. Hezbollah alone decided that whoever does not agree with them is a traitor and a spy. This is the core problem we have with Hezbollah. Let me be clear. The problem is that Hezbollah decided to force its culture and beliefs on the Lebanese and oblige them with the options it thinks are the most suitable without any dialogue with the others concerned in the matter.... We have not and will not declare war on Hezbollah, and the proof is that there were no fighters pointing back at them. We will not accept the break-ins of homes and the killings of innocent civilians. We will not accept that Hezbollah forces its will on the Lebanese and the government without discussing it with the constitutional institutions. The government will not declare war. But Hezbollah is. The Lebanese decide the defense strategy, and if Hezbollah wants to use the communication network, the government should make the decision. Yesterday, what we heard were only words to kill time to revolt against the government. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said yesterday that Hezbollah’s logic was that of the government, and that the government was a gang. But we can’t understand where the logic is in killing people, burning the press and cutting off the roads. This is a weird logic.... Today Hezbollah’s problem is with all Lebanon, and no longer with the government. We should solve the problem. We cannot go on like this. We never doubted for a day that Hezbollah can militarily occupy Beirut. But we had believed them when they said that their arms would never be turned inward. But Hezbollah should know that its arms will not scare us and it will not force us to back off our stand. We will not accept the attacks and killings that have happened. We protect ourselves with the law. We hope that Hezbollah feels that force will not solve the problem. The solution is in agreement and dialogue. We want dialogue concerning the real problems of our citizens. We are open to dialogue. We both know each other very well -- no need to play smart anymore. First, neither of us is nonpartisan any longer, and we must agree on a neutral mediator to help us reach a solution. Second, the arms of Hezbollah are now more than ever an issue that needs to be discussed. Lebanon won’t remain if Hezbollah does not get convinced that its arms should be pointed only at resisting Israel. If the arms are used for any other reason, they become illegal. Therefore, we must search with Hezbollah for a solution through constitutional institutions. Third, we should adjust the Lebanese democratic solution, and to do so we need a transitional formula: The two decisions of the government have not yet been decreed, and will be implemented by the government. Withdraw gunmen from the streets, end the sit-ins, open the roads and hand security over to the national army. Discuss an electoral law in parliament. Promise of all parties to abide by a code of media ethics that we can discuss together to take our country from this situation. We request the army to fulfill their role in protecting the Lebanese. I ask them to enforce stability in all the regions and withdraw the arms from the streets, end the sit-in and bring back life to the capital and Lebanon. We have brought a state of oppression down before, and we will not allow it to return. I call upon all Lebanese to participate in finding a solution and hold a minute of silence at 12 p.m. tomorrow as a sign of regret, and denouncement of violence and internal terrorism. I called upon you to stand on the streets raising the Lebanese flag.