Berri Defends Hizbullah’s Arms and Challenges Hariri

Speaker Nabih Berri snapped back at Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri saying a country’s “capital would collapse if there is no presence of strong arms on its border.”

“This is exactly what happened in 1982,” Berri told As Safir daily in remarks published Tuesday. “Hadn’t the resistance planted its seeds in the infamous Khalde battle, Israel wouldn’t have gradually pulled out.”

“We will continue to hold onto these weapons until (Israel) withdraws from the Shebaa farms, Kfarshouba hills and the Lebanese part of Ghajar,” he said.

Without mentioning Hariri, Berri advised him “to live the real experience in the south” rather than making speculations.

He also said that members from the March 14 forces should reside in the border town of Yaroun for a few days and realize how Israel monitors the area. “Let them then tell me if they insist on holding onto their stance.”

Berri added that critics of Hizbullah’s arms “never sympathized with southerners.”