BEIRUT – Prior to Lebanon’s city elections, Hezbollah Secretary Sheikh Naim Qassem’s impressive speech on Monday evening conveyed many political and social messages.
The speech outlined Lebanon’s next stage, and three priorities he believed to form the cornerstone of the country’s stability and renaissance. It will stop attacks on Lebanon, reconstruct the damage caused by Israeli artillery fire and set the stage for economic development.
Sheikh Qassem argued that Lebanon’s stability begins with ending the attack, considering it as a constant threat to any attempt at Lebanon’s revival.
Sheikh Qassem noted that while Israeli enemies continue to attack, resistance is fully compliant with the November ceasefire agreement.
In pursuit of bold action at the International Forum, he noted that despite the deployment of the army south of the Ritani River, the Lebanese state has not put enough pressure on Israel.
Secretary-General Hezbollah criticized the government’s delay in reconstructing areas that had been destroyed by Israel, warning that this would exacerbate poverty and promote discrimination among citizens.
Sheikh Qassem explained that resistance has so far covered tens of thousands of shelter costs where the home has been destroyed, and that the main responsibility remains in the state.
In the political context, Sheikh Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah’s commitment to the nation-building project, recalling that Hezbollah joined the elections of the Republic in cooperation with his allies, based on his belief that the state is the sole guarantor of stability.
Furthermore, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah emphasized that building a strong and just institution requires a clear socioeconomic plan that will ease people’s concerns and open the horizon of development for all Lebanese without exception or discrimination.
He described future local elections as development milestones rather than political investment.
Sheikh Qassem also called for the selection of honest and capable candidates who can manage local governments with transparency, and noted the importance of strengthening the unity of villages and cities and putting aside differences in favour of joint action.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Qassem gave a steady tribute to Gaza and Yemen, expressing solidarity between Iran and the Christian people in their tragedy.
Among the major challenges facing Western Asia and the larger world, Sheikh Naim’s speech provides a clear roadmap for Lebanon’s future, arguing that a country cannot thrive without the dignity of the nation, without the dignity of the nation, without the dignity of the nation, without the dignity of the nation, without the dignity of the nation.
Without a doubt, the roadmap is more than necessary to rescue Lebanon from internal and external crises.