Hizbullah's arms "are part of the national defense strategy, which has yet to be discussed," Hizbullah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan said Thursday. In an interview with The Daily Star, Hajj Hassan said that there have been several proposals regarding the defense strategy and the issue of the party's weapon's, including "integrating" Hizbullah's fighters into the Lebanese Army.As the Lebanese Army started its deployment in South Lebanese towns early Thursday, international calls became for Hizbullah to disarm picked up momentum. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that Hizbullah should not be keeping its arms south of the Litani River. Hajj Hassan objected to the French minister's call. "This is an internal affair which should be discussed between the Lebanese," he said. "We [Hizbullah] have decided that the issue of the resistance is a Lebanese matter that is to be discussed within the proper political frames. Whether south or north of the Litani River, this is his [Douste-Blazy's] own opinion. As for us, whatever decision the Lebanese government takes is the important thing and will be followed ... There is plenty of international pressure on Lebanon to implement such thoughts; a war was launched on Lebanon for this matter [disarming Hizbullah]."
The MP also addressed fears of a possible civil war because of Hizbullah's arms, saying: "An internal war will not occur in Lebanon. The Lebanese are more aware and too smart to be drawn by certain sides into a civil war." In response to a question on a possible rekindling of clashes between Hizbullah and Israel, Hajj Hassan said: "Israel's history is based on aggressions and wars. The last Israeli offensive was in fact a US attack on Lebanon."