Hezb Deaf To Syrian Cries

By Ahmed al-Jarallah

This commentary was published in The Arab Times on 29/03/2011

SOME days ago Hassan Nasrallah appeared on television to announce, as usual, his support for what he calls the ‘people’s revolution’ in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt. He also presented the capabilities of his group to those behind the revolutions in these countries. Nasrallah fumed and raged when he delivered his speech, envisaging himself as the ‘Salahuddin’ of his time — the savior of his people. However, he remained silent over the recent incidents in Syria, similar to what he did in Iran during the Green Revolution. He did not even go out to express support for the protesters, who demanded freedom in Tehran, as well as in Damascus, Dara’a and other towns in Syria. Despite the roaring voices and cries of the Syrians, he has opted to remain silent. He said nothing about the suffering and rising unemployment rate in Syria and Lebanon, caused by the war and confrontation against Israel to implement the ‘liberation’ project that has been a hot topic over the last 40 years. The Syrians have been living in harmony and peace since 1974 and they have never fired a single bullet to liberate Palestine.

Nasrallah kept quiet when Iran killed its own people — those who revolted against the regime. We know the Iranians have endured the unjust acts of the regime in the hope that their savior will arrive soon, only to find out later that he has spent billions of money to form strategic alliance with a host of terrorist organizations.

For several years, the Syrians have regarded Nasrallah as their national hero. Every house, corner and building in Syria is filled with his pictures, especially in Dara’a, yet he has not bothered to send condolences for the martyrs of this town. These martyrs have endured a relative’s ruthlessness, which is more painful than that of an enemy.

Does Nasrallah watch the Arab and international television channels that have reported the crimes committed against the Iranians in various towns and cities in the country? Does he hear the cries of thousands of people, calling for freedom on the streets of Damascus, Dara’a, Lazkiye and Jubb Al-Hummus? Is this not the revolution of the people that should be encouraged by someone who considers himself the Arab ‘Che Guevarra’? Since these people are closer to him geographically than those in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt, is it not his priority to extend a helping hand to the Iranians, who have suffered so much in the hands of their government that has spent hundreds of millions of public funds on Hezbollah?

The stand of Nasrallah is not surprising at all, because he kept quiet in spite of the massacres committed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on the streets of Tehran, Shiraz and other Iranian towns against the participants of the peaceful Green Revolution. This happened after the regime silenced the voice of the people and manipulated the presidential election results without any regard for the people’s right to choose their own leader.

Maybe Nasrallah will soon understand that the people, who have genuine aspirations for freedom, do not expect support from the Iranian intelligence that works for their paymasters. These people are not scared of the gun of the coward, who cannot face Israel but has the guts to confront his own weapon-less people. Maybe he will realize now more than ever that the revolution of the Syrians, which he did not support and will never support, is the beginning of a Lebanese revolution against the ‘authority of arms’ that jeopardized their future. In case this revolution occurs, Iran or any other country, for that matter, will no longer look at Nasrallah and he might not be able to come out of his hiding place.