Waching daily Jan 3 2018

My speech tonight will be devoted exclusively to this point (the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri).

In order not to begin by analysis or not simply rely on (disputable) analyzes,

I want to start with (well-established) facts and data.

Facts known by all ministers of the current government, that they heard directly from him, the head of government,

and especially the ministers who gathered at the Council of Ministers responsible for implementing the (new) election law.

What I will say now is (already) widespread in the media, but I want to stress it because our ministers have also heard directly and witnessed the whole process I am about to describe.

And that is why we consider this as data, facts, and not an analysis made by far.

You know that a few days ago, a Saudi official spoke and made long and acrimonious statements against Lebanon and Hezbollah,

and spoke to hunt Hezbollah from the government and denied the intention to bring down the government.

He made threats, solemn promises, vituperation, ranting,

and it was then said that the head of the (Lebanese) government was quickly summoned to Saudi Arabia.

And it is absolutely reliable information because he has canceled all his appointments and visited Saudi Arabia.

The whole country - the leaders, ministers, political forces - were awaiting the outcome of this visit.

I mean the first visit, and not the second, during which he announced his resignation.

And everyone was awaiting the result.

Of course, everyone expected during that first visit, that pressure be exerted on Prime Minister Saad Hariri for him to resign and thus take down the government.

But when the prime minister returned from Saudi Arabia, and the Council of Ministers met as well as the various ministerial committees,

and all the guests who met him, this is something certain and known to all,

he said to all, and he also announced, in different ways, that Saudi Arabia supports the stability and security in Lebanon,

the maintaining of the current government and dialogue among the Lebanese, and more, that he had obtained promises of very substantial subsidies,

that they were prepared to set a fourth Paris Conference, and that we would get further aid for the Lebanese army.

He said all this (many times and to different people, publicly and privately).

He was comfortable, enthusiastic, and his behavior showed it clearly,

and he announced for Monday or Tuesday a meeting of the Ministerial Committee responsible for implementing the (new) election law.

Then again, the prime minister traveled to Saudi Arabia, and he announced his resignation from there.

This is (indisputable) data.

Naturally, you have seen the announcement of his resignation, its form.

First, the news was broadcast by the (official Saudi) channel Al-Arabiya, and not by Future Movement (Saad Hariri's party) channel or by the Lebanese official channels.

And secondly, the statement was recorded by Al-Arabiya channel, and other channels have only rebroadcasted it.

The form of the statement, how this statement was read (laboriously and without any conviction from a printed paper), its content and scope, that you all saw, and to which I will return shortly.

I began with this introduction that summarizes the facts.

These are the facts.

So far, no one knows exactly what happened.

The government leader Saad Hariri visited Saudi Arabia, and during the 24 hours that followed, no one knows yet what exactly happened, and we must ponder over it.

Between (the announcement that) Saudi Arabia supports the maintenance of the government, stability and security in Lebanon, the preparation of the 4th Conference of Paris,

assistance to the Lebanese army, etc., etc., etc., until the sudden resignation in this way.

These data lead us to clear and absolutely certain conclusions, not assumptions.

The decision was a Saudi decision imposed to Prime Minister Saad Hariri that he was forced to accept,

and resigning was neither his intention nor his desire nor his will nor his choice.

Final point.

And I consider that all the Lebanese, be they politicians or journalists or (ordinary citizens) who followed the case

agree with this conclusion.

So. Even the way (which was made this resignation confirms) the statement was from Saudi Arabia.

Why he has the man not allowed to return to Lebanon and to announce his resignation from Lebanon?

It also raises a question mark.

Even the written text (confirmed): we Lebanese know our customs and expressions (local and national)

we know the formulas and about qu'utilisait Prime Minister Hariri, written or unwritten.

This text (resignation) is not a Lebanese text.

This text was written by a Saudi, this style of expression is a Saudi style

and the head of government has only read it.

It is also clear (and undisputed).

And everyone was surprised to Lebanon.

Now, if someone says he expected it, he expected it in politics but no in this way, not at this time and not so quickly.

Everybody was surprised: the President of the Republic, the President of the Council, who are most concerned by this,

the (various) political forces, and even the leaders, MPs and ministers of the Future movement (led by Hariri).

There is no doubt that this resignation has created an atmosphere of anxiety in Lebanon

and especially the analysis, slogans and threats that accompanied it.

This calls all Lebanese political groups to announce their interpretation, position and views on how to take action on this important political event.

That's why we Hezbollah tonight, declare the following:

First, we in no way wanted the resignation.

In all sincerity.

We saw that things were moving in a reasonable manner.

I'm not saying that all was well for everyone, but in general, things progressed reasonably,

everyone met in government, ministerial committees and on the sidelines of the Ministerial Committees...

The various issues were discussed,

perhaps with some difficulties emerging in the discussions and for which outcomes were sought in order to go on,

and that is why very important achievements have occurred since the formation of the government and so far as part of the current agreement (which allowed its constitution).

And we consider that the government had the ability to maintain and achieve new accomplishments

until the next legislative elections.

The government was even able to organize the next elections.

The atmosphere in the country was reasonable.

That's the first point.

Second, we ponder on the way the resignation was announced, and what it (clearly) shows.

What (I'm about to say) has already been said in Lebanon, sometimes in an acerbic manner, sometimes not, but I'll just say it in two sentences:

we ponder over the form in which the resignation was announced - the form, place, manner -

and what it actually contains of evidence relating to the sovereignty and honor of Lebanon, as well as the honor of the head of government himself.

Because even if he was forced to resign, it would have been more suitable and preferable that this man be allowed to return to Lebanon,

to present himself to His Excellency the President of the Republic and to hand him his resignation, announcing it from the Baabda Palace, and then may the best happen by the grace of God.

And this is not the first time a head of government resigns.

Anyway, this resignation in this form reveals how the Saudi interference in Lebanese internal affairs and processes is,

while Saudi Arabia calls and attacks others (Iran) on the pretext that these countries interfere themselves in Lebanese, Arab or other internal affairs.

This is a clear proof. This is striking evidence of the extent, magnitude and shape of the Saudi interference. Even in this unseemly and unworthy form.

Thirdly, about the contents of the statement read by the Prime Minister (Hariri),

we will not comment on them, and will not discuss its political content,

despite the fact that this is a very violent statement with very serious and very dangerous accusations,

but I will not get into a debate, and Hezbollah as a whole will not enter into any argument about the political content of the resignation announcement.

Because we believe that this text is a Saudi text, a Saudi statement.

And therefore, if we get into a debate on its political content, it would lead us to speak directly to Saudi Arabia.

The adverse party would not be Saad Hariri or the Future Movement (to which he belongs).

Because we believe, as I said, that this statement is not his.

And what is written in that statement is (fundamentally) different with all that has been said by Saad Hariri since he became Prime Minister:

the vocabulary he used, the expressions used, the way of thinking and acting, the political path taken since

are totally inconsistent with the text and content.