Region | Lebanon
Israel gaining nothing in Lebanon war, says Komati
A Hezbollah leader yesterday said that Israel's offensive in Lebanon has achieved nothing militarily, and praised Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for withdrawing his country's top diplomat from Israel in protest.
- AP
- Published: 23:34 May 3, 2009
Caracas, Venezuela: A Hezbollah leader yesterday said that Israel's offensive in Lebanon has achieved nothing militarily, and praised Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for withdrawing his country's top diplomat from Israel in protest.
Mahmoud Komati, a top Hezbollah official, told the Venezuela-based TV channel Telesur in an interview in Lebanon that Chavez's decision to call back the diplomat from Israel was "an example for revolutionaries" in defending "the oppressed, enslaved and humble peoples of the world".
"It's astonishing that President Chavez makes a brave decision like this while Arab countries haven't done it," Komati, deputy chief of the Hezbollah's political arm, said through an interpreter.
Chavez announced on Thursday that he is recalling his envoy to Israel to express his indignation at what he called the "genocide" Israel was committing in Lebanon, as well as its actions toward Palestinians. Israel said on Friday that it was concerned over the diplomat's recall but had not yet decided how to respond.
Komati said in the interview that Israel's bombardments have only "killed many innocents" and forced people to flee their homes.
"At a military level, Israel has not achieved anything," he said. "After 23 days of combat, Israel finds itself in a dilemma: It couldn't weaken the leadership of Hezbollah, nor could it impede the firing of missiles toward the north of Israel, nor could it create a security zone on the border with Lebanon."
Komati also said international opinion is against Israel. "We know there is an international consensus," he said.
"All are asking for there to be a ceasefire as soon as possible. Only the United States, Great Britain and Israel want to prolong the war to achieve a military objective."
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