Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday voiced support for the Palestinians and their campaign to counter Israel's plan to apply sovereignty in parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, calling it an "extremely dangerous plot."
"Our focus on our economic situation should not overshadow the need to stand alongside the Palestinians in their fight against the [Israeli] annexation plan," Nasrallah said in a televised speech on Tuesday. "We stand by our Palestinian brothers as a state and as a people, and are ready to do anything against this plot, the consequences of which are extremely dangerous for Lebanon."
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
During the speech, the vast majority of which was devoted to the country's economic issues, Nasrallah also lambasted US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea for what he described as interference in the country's affairs and US efforts to incite the Lebanese people against Hezbollah.
"We saw ambassador Shea come to Lebanon, we welcomed her, but rather she has not adhered to diplomatic customs and is acting like a governor," he said.
"I say to the Americans: Hezbollah will not surrender and the resistance in Lebanon will not surrender. You will not weaken Hezbollah – you will weaken your allies," Nasrallah added.
Hezbollah lawmakers will submit a petition to the Lebanese foreign ministry to summon her to ask that she adheres to agreements on diplomatic norms, he said.
A Shiite judge last month issued a ruling banning media in Lebanon from interviewing Shea after she heaped criticism on Hezbollah, saying her comments had incited sectarian strife.
Shea was later summoned for a meeting at the foreign ministry, after which she said the page had been turned on the incident. Lebanese Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti emphasized the importance of media freedom and the right to free expression during the meeting, the ministry said in a statement.
Addressing Lebanon's severe economic crisis, Nasrallah said the Iran-backed Shiite terrorist organization was in talks with the Lebanese government about the possibility of Iran supplying the country with refined oil products in exchange for Lebanese pounds.
Nasrallah said a "calm discussion" was underway with the Beirut government over the idea that would ease the pressure on Beirut's hard currency reserves.
Lebanon is suffering an acute financial crisis and a currency crunch. The Lebanese pound has lost some 80% of its value since October, when the long-brewing crisis came to a head.
"We started a discussion...to see where this option can go," Nasrallah said. "This track is moving ... What's the result going to be? I don't know. But we have to try," he said. Iran will announce its official position on the matter at the appropriate moment, he added.
The Hezbollah leader also argued that Lebanon must start looking east to China and engage Chinese companies to invest in Lebanon.
"We mustn't fear America's reactions," he said. "We are not trying to impose the Iranian model or turn Lebanon communist. All we mean by turning eastward," he said, was to accept offers from whoever will help.
He suggested that Lebanon's economy is based on elites and luxury goods, tourism, and bourgeoisie mentalities, saying the people must get back to the land and plant and turn the country to agriculture.
"Iran eats what it plants. It has sophisticated facilities. In the Iranian model, fuel and everything else is produced in Iran," and the Islamic republic has held on in this manner for 40 years, Nasrallah said. "The main challenge is to prevent hunger; when we eat what we plant and wear what we sow, we will become a sovereign country."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
