Hezbollah Political Bureau Member Ghalib Abu Zeinab: 'Turkey can be a locomotive in the region against the US-Israel axis'
Hezbollah Political Bureau Member Ghalib Abu Zeinab commented on Israel and the US's policies toward the Middle East, pressures for disarmament in Lebanon, and Turkey's role, stating, "Turkey can be a locomotive in the region against the US-Israel axis."
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Hezbollah Political Bureau Member Ghalib Abu Zeinab, in an interview where he answered questions from Harici Editor-in-Chief Tunç Akkoç and Harici Editor Mehmet Kıvanç, made statements regarding the policies of Israel and the US in the Middle East, the current situation in Lebanon, and Turkey's position in the region.
The interview was conducted in the office of Hezbollah Political Bureau Member Ghalib Abu Zeinab in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut.
“THE ENTIRE REGION IS BEING TARGETED”
Arguing that Israel's plans are not limited to Lebanon, Abu Zeinab claimed that a strategy covering the entire region is being pursued in conjunction with the United States. Stating that this approach targets a vast geography including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, the Hezbollah official expressed that this policy aims to weaken the countries of the region.
“WEAPONS ARE FOR THE DEFENSE OF LEBANON”
Touching upon the pressures regarding Hezbollah's armed presence, Abu Zeinab said that the organization operates not only for the Palestinian cause but also for the defense of Lebanon. Suggesting that disarming the resistance would leave the country defenseless, Abu Zeinab stated that this issue has been discussed with the Lebanese government and the President.
“WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE CEASEFIRE”
Evaluating the situation in southern Lebanon, the Hezbollah official stated that they have withdrawn from south of the Litani River and remain committed to the ceasefire. Arguing that Israel maintains a presence in some areas and that attacks continue, Abu Zeinab expressed that the agreement is not being fully implemented.
"If Israel wants to launch a large-scale attack against Lebanon, we are ready to fight fiercely to defend Lebanon. However, at the current stage, we are committed to the ceasefire."
'TEL AVIV SEES TURKEY AS A THREAT AND AN ENEMY'
Opening a separate section for Turkey in the interview, Abu Zeinab defined Turkey as a major regional power. Suggesting that Israel views Turkey as a long-term threat, the Hezbollah official argued that Ankara should take on a more active political and diplomatic role in the face of regional developments.
"It is not possible for Turkey to raise its voice against Israel on one hand, and on the other hand, for any reason, to turn a blind eye to Israel occupying parts of Syria or the division of Syria. If Turkey accepts this, it would be making a strategic and historical mistake.
In this case, Israel's borders would reach Turkey's borders, and Israel would work to divide Turkey. This is exactly the Israeli project. Israel believes that Turkey is a real danger in every sense of the word. It thinks that the Iranian threat has somehow receded, but it sees Turkey as a major power that is still standing and most capable of leading the Islamic world.
Even if one assumes that Turkey thinks positively, the issue is not Turkey's stance or how it behaves; the issue is the Israeli enemy's attitude toward Turkey. Therefore, Turkey must conduct this diplomatic and political struggle and be active on this front; because this is mandatory for Turkey to protect itself."
'TURKEY CAN BE A LOCOMOTIVE IN THE REGION AGAINST THE US-ISRAEL AXIS'
Abu Zeinab stated that the Kurdish issue is viewed by Israel as part of a wider fragmentation process that could affect regional balances and include Turkey and Iran. In this context, he emphasized that Turkey has a responsibility to defend itself against Israel's regional policies and to increase cooperation with regional countries.
In this context, he made the following assessment:
“The Kurdish issue is not simple. For Israel, the Kurdish issue is the fuse it aims to use to later initiate fragmentation processes in Turkey and even in Iran. Therefore, I say this: Turkey is in a position of self-defense and must cooperate with the components of the region; because it can play a locomotive role. If Turkey stands against these Israeli projects today—whether in Syria, in Lebanon, or together with the Iranians—it can protect itself and others, and it can form a cooperation bloc that can stand against the Israeli project now, and the American project later.”