'US, Israel, moderate Arabs, Qaeda in consensus on Syria'

TEHRAN,Feb.18(MNA)--Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Al-Qaeda are on the same page on Syria since all are seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad’s government. "Isn't it strange how America, the West, the moderate Arab states as well as Al-Qaeda all have one position, [which is that the Syrian] government must be toppled? Can anyone argue that the Syrian government is not part of the resistance? This government did not submit to America and Israel and did not sell out the resistance… This government has some negative points, but its leadership is aware of them and is seeking reforms," Nasrallah said in a televised address on Thursday marking the fourth anniversary of the assassination of former Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyah, Al-Manar TV reported. “Any alternative in Syria is better for Israel as the opposition is being sponsored by the U.S. and the Arabs whose history is well-known… Israel believes that any new regime is better than Bashar al-Assad’s government,” the Hezbollah leader added. He highlighted Hezbollah's strategic ties with Damascus and expressed optimism that Syria will take major steps toward significant reforms in the face of Western media propaganda and foreign-funded unrest in the country. Nasrallah added that Syrian officials know that reforms are needed and that they are taking steps towards major changes. He blamed the U.S. for “seeking destruction in Syria while ridiculing the reforms launched by President Assad.” The Hezbollah chief also accused Lebanon’s March 14 alliance of funding and transferring weapons to Syria’s opposition. “Do laws in Syria permit you [Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea] and the March 14 coalition to send arms to Syria and money for those who had honorably fought against the Arab nation’s enemy [Israel]?” Nasrallah asked. At a March 14 gathering Tuesday commemorating the seventh anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Geagea voiced support to the Syrian opposition and called on Arab and international communities to exhaust all efforts to stop the bloodshed in Syria, The Daily Star reported. In his speech, Geagea said: “To Hezbollah I say ... enough is enough. Democracy and freedom have arrived [in Syria].” The Hezbollah secretary general also accused the Lebanese opposition group of possessing arms and questioned the group’s source of funding. “We have said we have weapons and we have been increasing our power in quality and quantity. We have talked about weapons but theirs are hidden arms ... You [March 14] should confess that you have arms,” Nasrallah said. “Why not show your weapons?” he asked. Nasrallah said his resistance movement was honest on how it sought financing. "I announced [last week] that we receive funding from Iran, but what about you [March 14]? Where does your source of money come from?" he asked. Last week Nasrallah, on the occasion of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)’s birthday, said the resistance movement was proud of receiving funding from the Islamic Republic and denied being financed by means such as money laundering or through Lebanese businessmen. “Where is all [your] money coming from?” Nasrallah, addressing the March 14 alliance, asked. The Hezbollah secretary general, however, left the door open to a resumption of dialogue with the March 14 alliance. “We are open to dialogue,” Nasrallah said. “However, If the call for dialogue is accompanied by certain conditions, this is not a real call for dialogue,” he added. Denouncing certain Arab states for their hostile stance against Damascus, Nasrallah said “When we tell the Arab governments to negotiate with Syria on a political solution they answer that there is no time. How do you accept negotiation with Israel while you do not accept to negotiate with an Arab state?” Turning to Israel’s role in the region he said, “We should observe Israel’s stance on what is going on today in the region, especially on what is happening in Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon.” Elsewhere in his remarks, Nasrallah said the Zionist scheme poses a threat to the entire region by its continued occupation of Palestine, judaization of al-Quds (Jerusalem) and violation of the rights of the Palestinian people inside and outside the occupied territories. “And because we believe that this scheme poses a threat to all the components of the region, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or cultural identity and therefore we must confront it and topple it,” he pointed out. Nasrallah recalled years of “fruitless” negotiations with Israel and highlighted the significance of resistance as the only feasible way to counter the Zionist plots. He also addressed the crackdown on popular protests in Bahrain and the international silence on the violent repression, saying the move is aimed at securing Israel's interests in the region, arguing that an elected government in Bahrain would support the Palestinian nation.