Nasrallah, the Al Capone of Lebanon

In an unprecedented vitriolic attack on Hizbullah, a Saudi journalist on Wednesday called into question the Arab world's approach to the organization's chief, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and his liaison with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In an opinion piece in the London-based daily Al Hayat, journalist Mussad al Hamis asks whether Nasrallah "wishes to be the Al Capone of Lebanon and the Arabs, to sit in his lair and receive orders from the Great Satan (Iran), and carry them out in exchange for a fistful of dollars"

Hamis blames Nasrallah of being too quick to name Israel the perpetrator of the assassination of Hizbullah terror chief Imad Mughniyeh, and points out that even Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem refused to lay blame until the investigation of the attack is completed.

Attacking Nasrallah's declaration of an "open war" with Israel, Hamis writes: "What war does he mean? Does it make sense to put the decision on whether to declare war or establish peace in Lebanon and the region in the hands of a man like Hassan Nasrallah? If such a war were to break out no one but Allah knows when and how it will end."

Nasrallah issued the threat in a videotaped address at Mughniyeh's funeral last week.

"You have killed Hajj Imad outside the natural battlefield," Nasrallah said, in reference to Hizbullah's contention that it only fights Israel within Lebanon and along their common border. "You have crossed the borders," he continued. "With this murder, its timing, location and method... If you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open."

Le journal panarabe Al Hayyat émet une critique acerbe sans précédent contre Hassan Nasrallah. Le journaliste Moussad al-Hamis assimile l'attitude du chef du Hezbollah à celles des chefs de gangs mafieux. ''Nasrallah aspire-t-il à devenir l'Al Capone libanais et arabe ?'', s'interroge ce journaliste. (Guysen.International.News) Il critique également la déclaration de guerre lancée par Nasrallah à Israël trop précipitée. Selon lui, le sort du Liban ne peut résider dans les mains de cet homme qui même s'il lance la guerre, ne sait pas quand elle s'arrêtera...