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Lebanese Politicians Criticize Hezbollah After Attack on Israel

by TheTower.org Staff |

Prominent Lebanese politicians have criticized Hezbollah after the Iran-backed terror organization fired an anti-tank missile at an Israeli army convoy, killing two soldiers and wounding seven others.

Samir Geagea, a leader of the anti-Hezbollah March 14 movement, today charged that”Hezbollah is more and more expanding its regional schemes against the Lebanese state.”

The Daily Star quoted Geagea’s statement:

“Today’s development indicates that Hezbollah is more and more expanding its regional schemes against the Lebanese state. Hezbollah has no right to implicate the Lebanese people in a battle with Israel. There is a government and a parliament which can decide on that.”

Geagea also charged Hezbollah of having a “lack of transparency” in its dealings with its political rivals.

Former Lebanese President Michael Sleiman, who was supported by Hezbollah during his presidential campaign in 2008, also criticized the terror group, writing on Facebook:

Where is Lebanon’s interest in being dragged into a war that Israel needs? Netanyahu, for domestic electoral reasons and due to his clear alliance with US President Barack Obama, is trying to cause Lebanon to violate [UN Security Council Resolution] 1701 and initiate battles from which Israel stands to gain.

Resolution 1701 called for the disarming of Hezbollah and forbids the shipping of weapons to any non-governmental group in Lebanon. Sleiman’s rebuke is notable because in the past he has been associated with Hezbollah.

Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria’s civil war has caused an erosion of its Lebanese support due to the war’s spillover into Lebanon. In addition, according to Lebanese analyst Hussein Abdul-Hussein, Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria has undermined the position of Lebanese Shiites, the based of its support.

Geagea has been outspoken in his criticism of Hezbollah in the past. He has accused Hezbollah of trying to manufacture a crisis with Israel over drilling rights, and blasted it for preventing Lebanon from forming a government.

[Photo: MTVLebanonNews / YouTube ]

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