Hizbollah rally against Trump largest yet in Lebanon
Tens of thousands rallied in Beirut’s southern suburbs yesterday, chanting “death to America” and “death to Israel”, and declaring that Jerusalem will always be the capital of Palestine.
The rally, organised by Hizbollah, was Lebanon’s largest demonstration yet against US president Donald Trump’s decision last week to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah addressed the crowd via video, praising Palestinian demonstrators who have clashed daily with Israeli security forces in Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories since the announcement.
“The most important response to Trump today is to announce an intifada,” Mr Nasrallah said, referring to previous uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation.
“We are proud of our Lebanese unity around the Palestinian cause and the righteous cause of Al Quds,” Mr Nasrallah said of Jerusalem.
Mr Nasrallah called on the “resistance axis” – a reference to Hizbollah and its Syrian and Iranian allies and patrons – to “devote all its power and time to the Palestinians”.
Mr Nasrallah referred to Mr Trump’s announcement as arrogant and pointed out that most governments around the world consider Jerusalem an occupied city and that control of it should be part of a deal negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians. “The US decision is not isolated, it came in the context of a regional plot to destroy our nation,” Mr Nasrallah said.
“America is not a sponsor of peace in the region, it is the sponsor of war and terrorism, it is the sponsor of ISIL, it is the enemy that everyone must stand in its face and chant ‘death to America’.”
The notion that the US provides support for ISIL – even while supporting the Iraqi government in its campaign against the group – has wide currency in Syria and Iraq, and touches on regional dynamics that are becoming sharper as Hizbollah emerges emboldened from its successful military intervention on behalf of the Syrian and Iraqi governments and refocuses on Israel.
Hizbollah’s growing power has led to fears of a contiguous geographical area of Iranian influence that stretches from Tehran to Beirut.
A video that emerged last week of an Iranian-supported Iraqi militia leader visiting southern Lebanon in the company of Hizbollah members drew criticism from some Lebanese leaders, with prime minister Saad Hariri calling the visit “a violation of Lebanese law”.
The militia leader, Qais Al Khazali, is the head of Asaib Ahl Al Haq, a group that once fought US troops in Iraq and more recently has aided the Iraqi government in its battle against ISIL.
US officials have said moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will take at least two to three years to be implemented.