A wave of response came yesterday in response to the annual statement issued Wednesday by the Maronite Bishops League on developments in the country over the past year. While calling for holding internal dialogue regarding the complete implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, the league noted the "confusing impact" 1559 has had on the country and indirectly called for the disarmament of Islamic resistance group Hizbullah. "The participation of a category of the Lebanese in the official authority through MPs and ministers and the carrying of arms outside official armed forces are two contradictory things. Therefore, this issue should be solved through a sincere internal dialogue," the statement said.
Sources from Hizbullah refused to comment on the bishops' statement. However, the bishops' position regarding the resistance was met with strong criticism during a news conference in Sidon yesterday held by Sheikh Afif Naboulsi, the president of Jabal Amel Scholars Committee, who said the statement was based on "dangerous sectarian stands, which hurts the resistance and its role in defending the country."
| Y'see, if you suggest that Hezbollah not be allowed to maintain its own private armed force, then you're a dangerous sectarian. |
"We reply to the bishops' invitation to disarm the resistance by inviting them to carry weapons and have the honor to join us in defending our country," he said. "The resistance's arms cannot be subject to sectarian categorization; they transcend sects and communities to reach national, Islamic and humanitarian levels." |