In a speech during the meeting of the Political Committee of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly in the Iranian city of Mashhad, representing the Lebanese Parliament alongside MP Qassem Hashem, Fadlallah stated: “We came from Lebanon carrying its wounds, dignity, and the aspirations of its people, despite the daily threat it faces from the Israeli aggression machine, to affirm our participation in this parliamentary forum held in this holy spot of Iranian land, which was scheduled to be held six months ago to discuss common Asian issues, but the attack on the Islamic Republic led to its postponement.”
He added that “what the government of the Zionist entity has done shows the extent of the aggression that Israel has reached by targeting the sovereignty of states and trying to undermine international peace and security,” stressing Lebanon’s condemnation of the attack on Iran, and praising its steadfastness and its exercise of “its legitimate right to self-defense.” He also condemned the continued attacks on countries in the region, including Qatar and Yemen, the targeting of Syria, and the occupation of part of its lands.
Fadlallah renewed his call for Arab and Islamic countries to confront the major challenges by freezing disputes and strengthening cooperation, pointing out that the forces of hegemony seek to exploit divisions to weaken everyone, and praising any initiative to strengthen relations between these countries.
Regarding Lebanon, he said that Netanyahu’s government continues its “daily attacks against civilians, facilities, and citizens’ property” in addition to detaining Lebanese prisoners and continuing to occupy part of the land, noting that the Israeli army violates the cessation of hostilities agreement daily “according to the United Nations,” while Lebanon adheres to it completely, while the sponsoring countries are not playing their required role.
He continued that Israel is waging a “political and media intimidation campaign” to pressure the Lebanese by threatening a new war or imposing its conditions, but “the steadfastness of the people who adhere to their rights” will not be affected, stressing that the current imbalance of power “cannot last.”
Fadlallah affirmed that Lebanon’s demand is clear: stop the aggression, liberate the land, restore the prisoners, and rebuild the affected areas, so that the Lebanese can live in freedom and dignity, noting that concessions encourage the occupation to commit more attacks, while what is required is steadfastness.
He also addressed the war on the Gaza Strip, describing what the Palestinian people are being subjected to as ongoing genocide and attacks aimed at displacing them from their land, amid great international silence.
He concluded by calling on the participating parliamentarians to convey these issues to their parliaments and work on enacting laws that criminalize violations against peoples and prosecute perpetrators of humanitarian crimes.
On the sidelines of the meetings, the Lebanese Parliament delegation met with the Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, where Fadlallah conveyed the greetings of the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, and thanked him for his supportive stances towards Lebanon. For his part, Qalibaf affirmed Iran’s firm position in supporting Lebanon, extending greetings to the Speaker of Parliament.
