Ghazi Zeaiter: ‘We will not back down' in response to US sanctions

Two days after the United States announced sanctions against eight Lebanese figures, including two Amal members, lawmaker Ghazi Zeaiter said Saturday that "we will not back down" and "we will not look back, no matter the storms and empty talk," whether "from inside or outside."

The U.S. Treasury specifically named Ahmad Baalbaki, Amal's security chief, a member of Parliament's police force and security adviser to Nabih Berri, as well as Ali Safawi, described as "Amal militia commander in South Lebanon." Both are described as security officials with the Amal movement, which is a "political ally and security partner of Hezbollah."

"We stand on the side of truth, the liberation of the land and the opposition to the enemies of the homeland and Israel, regardless of the pressure or attempts at exhaustion. We will not back down, especially when, the Parliament Speaker and head of the Amal movement, Nabih Berri is targeted … We will not look back, no matter the storms and empty talk … whether they come from inside or outside," the lawmaker said.

Ghazi Zeaiter also reaffirmed "the steadfast positions of the Amal movement," assuring that they will remain unchanged "no matter how intense the pressures and difficulties." According to him, "despite all attempts and pressure exerted on Lebanon to make it yield and surrender to the enemy, the path and approach of the Amal movement will remain firm," especially regarding "the liberation of territory, the return of prisoners, reconstruction, and a complete and unconditional Israeli withdrawal."

Regarding "voices claiming that these sanctions aim to pressure" Mr. Berri, Zeaiter said the parliamentary leader "is a safety valve," a guarantor "of domestic stability and opposed to any incitement of sectarian and communal tensions." He also said that those interpreting the sanctions in this way "are either ignorant, do not know the nature of President Nabih Berri, or are looking to ignore his history even before his time as Parliament Speaker, in his historic struggle and steadfastness against the Zionist enemy and the enemies of the homeland, as well as his commitment to Lebanese unity."