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Q&A with Sheik Muhammad Kawtharani

By SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN
Published May 15, 2005

	Muhammad Kawtharani

The following is a transcript of an interview by St. Petersburg Times Senior Correspondent Susan Taylor Martin with Sheik Muhammad Kawtharani, a member of the decision-making council of Hezbollah, the Lebanese political and military organization that the United States and Israel deem a terrorist organization. Interpretation was done by a professional interpreter who works with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp.

Q. Syria, which along with Iran is a main backer of Hezbollah, recently withdrew its troops from Lebanon. What effect will that have on Hezbollah?

A. Analysts do not agree on the type of repercussions, but there are two opinions: 1) The withdrawal will weaken Hezbollah because it will have lost a political backer or pillar in the country, and thus Hezbollah will have lost political cover for its resistance work. 2) Another group thinks Hezbollah has not lost anything, on the contrary it has gained and the withdrawal has not led to weakening.

In reality, Hezbollah has convened in small meetings to evaluate the situation, and found that the Syrian withdrawal will be in Hezbollah's interest and strengthen its role. That is because Hezbollah did not get its power from the Syrian presence. Maybe the Syrian presence in Lebanon strengthened factions other than Hezbollah, maybe even sometimes it strengthened Hezbollah, but the Hezbollah resistance in Lebanon existed before it became an ally of Syria. Our decisions were never Syrian decisions, though we shared goals, mainly in the struggle with Israel.

Q. What is Hezbollah's relation with Iran?

A. The relation is religious and was never purely political, even though we look at Iran as our partner in accomplishing our objectives because it was the first real supporter of the resistance. That does not mean our decisions are subject to Iranians.

Q. Now that Syria has withdrawn, will Hezbollah become more active politically in Lebanon?

A. Hezbollah has been discussing its participation through the years. It was asking the question, "Is Hezbollah a political movement doing resistance actions, or is it a resistance movement handling politics?' This is the point that the outside world is not getting. The result of this internal discussion and questioning is that as long as our land is occupied, our priority is resistance work, but if Lebanon is fully liberated then Hezbollah would ask again, "Is it time to participate in political life in a wide and effective way?' and that has nothing to do with Syria and others. The outside world has a misconception that all parties in Lebanon follow Syria but this is an illusion. From the beginning, ours was an independence movement and even on lots of occasions we contradicted The Syrians.

Since 1992, we have participated in economic and foreign committees (in the Lebanese Parliament, where Hezbollah has 14 members.) When we talk about a political role, it's when do we enter the ministries.

Q. Why are there no Hezbollah Cabinet ministers?

A. This is an issue of priorities. Hezbollah did not do a miracle in Lebanon. Its strength was in setting priorities where other factions did not succeed in setting their priorities. That's why there's a political crisis in Lebanon. Hezbollah did not set complex goals and objectives, its first priority was simple and clear - to bring all Lebanese around the liberation of Lebanon. When the liberation happens in full, we will again ask the question, "Will Hezbollah participate widely and effectively?'

Q. Do you think the answer will be yes?

A. I expect this only when Hezbollah's conditions are filled because Lebanese political society is corrupted, the government and the state are corrupted. It's not convenient for Hezbollah to participate in a government based on corruption with no integrity and no confidence. But if the government sees the light and its only goal is to serve the Lebanese and liberate them from their problems and crises with sincerity, then the issue of Hezbollah's participation would be accepted. Personally, I expect that will soon be the direction.

Q. What are Hezbollah's political goals?

A. (Addressing) negligence and deprivation, the same way we have achieved security and peace for all Lebanese.

Q. Does Hezbollah still hope to create an Islamic state in Lebanon?

A. NO! NO! NO! We refuse this point of view completely. On the contrary, we look at the diverseness and richness of Lebanon - this is what makes it of unique value in the Middle East. It cannot be governed by one color.

Q. Where does Hezbollah get its financial support? From Iran?

A. Hezbollah never received financial support from Iran and this belief is wrong. We receive political and moral support from Iran, and in all problems and crises it used to stand up for us.

Q. Why then is there such a widespread belief that Iran finances Hezbollah?

A. This is in the imagination of the CIA, which is responsible for spreading this atmosphere because it is always in support of Israel.

We get it from Lebanese assistance and aid. We are able to establish and organize constant support from the Lebanese, and Muslim contributions as well. A lot of Christian friends do support the resistance.

Q. Do you get support from outside Lebanon?

A. We receive support of people from all the world, not from states, only individuals. Maybe you're not aware of the Shiite structure - how we receive our support. In our religion we have a system whereby you donate money and Lebanese do contribute through this. This is a source of money that doesn't end and it's stronger than the support of governments and states.

Q. When will Hezbollah give up its weapons, as the Bush administration and others demand?

A. When Lebanon is liberated and we receive full and sufficient guarantees Israel is not going to start its aggression against the Lebanese. The international community should provide the guarantees because Israel still constitutes a threat to the Lebanese. Do we surrender this strength and leave Lebanon weak and a theater for Israeli action and operations? If the land is liberated and we receive such a guarantee, then the question of arms becomes a topic of discussion on the Lebanese table.

Q. What would it take to convince Hezbollah that Israel is no longer a threat?

A. Israel is built on aggression so we don't believe that one day it will surrender its racism and aggression. When the international community asks us to put our arms down, aren't they ensuring the security of Israel? Isn't it a priority to provide security for us?

Q. How does the international community guarantee your security?

A. They are the ones who should find a way. It's not my job to do this.

Q. If it WAS your job, what would you do?

A. If it was up to us, we do not believe in the existence of Israel. This is Palestine.

Q. Does the United States face a threat from Hezbollah?

A. It's good you ask this question. We do differentiate between the American people and the American administration. Our problem is with the political administration in the United States because it is always taking the part of Israel. But we know that a lot or even most American people, if free from the Zionist media, would be more fair. That's why Hezbollah is not going to target an American except in self-defense.

Q. The U.S. State Department just warned Americans about travel to Lebanon because of the possibility of anti-American violence.

A. Your administration likes to make these spectacles. The American government is trying to turn the truth upside down. They try to give an image that people of the region are against America when it's not true.

Q. How can you say that, given the insurgent attacks against Americans in Iraq?

A. Iraq is occupied, and it is normal in a military occupation for people to be against the army. Look at how long nothing has happened against Americans in Lebanon. That was a problem only when Americans were occupying Lebanon in the '80s, since then there is no problem.

Q. By demanding that Hezbollah give up its weapons, do you think the Bush administration is interferring in Lebanese politics?

A. It is inferring in the globe. It gave itself the right to interfere in all the world. Most important, the American administration excels perfectly in the art of political trickery. It publicly shows a different side than what it does privately. It puts threats to Hezbollah at the same time is sending attractive offers to Hezbollah under the table.

The American administration does not have a permanent friend or a permanent enemy. It has a permanent interest. At the same time it's threatening Iran, it is sending offers under the table to Iran.

Q. What kind of offers have been made to Hezbollah?

A. They're offering so many things, such as taking the whole government, taking the whole Parliament. What do you want - only you have nothing to do with what's happening in Palestine. This is the price. We'll give you the whole government if you're willing to change. The last offer was regarding arms. We'll give you Chebaa Farms and assistance to rebuild, release all the people Israel is holding, all the detainees. We'll give you what you want in government and you will become the essential power in Lebanon. But leave your arms. It never stopped.

At the same time, Mr. Bush is threatening in the White House, he sent mediators, and the threats are a cover. He's doing the same thing to Syria.

Q. Do you think the Bush administration is serious about regime change in Syria?

A. In my opinion, the American administration is serious about changing the regime in Syria because Mr. Bush's democracy cannot support the existence of such an Arab society established on a minority. (Editor's note: Syria's authoritarian ruler, Bashar Assad, belongs to the minority Alawite sect.) It gave Shiites in Iraq power because they are a majority, and they think of reforms to the Syrian system that allow the majority to rule.

Q. Do you think Syria needs reforms?

A. Yes, and President Assad is working for that. Soon there will be reforms.

The American administration does not have principles. It buys and sells in order to dominate and control and reach areas of power. It compromises always, it is a first-degree negotiator.

Q. Does Hezbollah have any private dealings with Israel?

A. There is not any contact at all. This is because we don't believe in the presence of Israel.

Q. What do you say about U.S. and Israeli claims that Hezbollah has trained members of other militant organizations at its camps in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley? Is that true?

A. We do not deny we helped Palestinians in regaining their rights. We have offered them all types of support. That is before. Now the Palestinian organizations are inside Palestine, they are not here. But we do not deny supporting them and training them. (Now) there is no need - the Palestinian organizations are mature by themselves.

Q. How about al-Qaida?

A. We are against al-Qaida. We are not in harmony with the ideas of al-Qaida or its vision. Al-Qaida and other related organizations look at us as enemies too - maybe this is a point of agreement between us and the United States.

Q. Given that Hezbollah is Shiite and al-Qaida is Sunni, is it a Shiite-Sunni issue?

A. They look at us as non-Muslims. Al-Qaida and organizations related to it look at most Muslims as non-Muslims. This is what is happening in Iraq, the killing of innocents. The problem is the mentality of al-Qaida and the organizations related to them. Their ideas are destructive and make Islam look bad.

Q. Do you support suicide attacks?

A. We do not call them suicide attacks. They are martyrs. This is related to liberating our country and this is what distinguishes us from al-Qaida. We don't support any operations that might lead to killing innocents.

Q. But what about Israeli civilians killed in rocket attacks?

A. During 1993 and 1996, when Israeli planes were destroying Lebanese vital institutions and killing innocent Lebanese, yes, we set rockets on Israeli establishments. Just as Israel sometimes kills innocents, it is possible at times our rockets did kill innocents.

Q. In recent months, Hezbollah has sent unmanned drone aircraft into Israeli territory. Why?

A. Israel is violating Lebanese air and naval territory, so the purpose is (to show that) we are able to penetrate Israel's sovereignity if we are required to. If Israel won't respect our sovereignty, why are we asked to respect Israel's sovereignty? What country violates another's airspace?

Q. Are the drone flights in preparation for attacks against Israel?

A. Everything is possible for us. Any act of resistance is a reaction to occupation. We never start until we are aggressed against. We do not have preventive wars like America.

[Last modified May 13, 2005, 18:22:02]