Three MPs criticized on Monday a French petition calling for the withdrawal of the Syrian Army from Lebanon as âblatant interference into Lebanese affairs.â
| "Have the foreign occupiers pull out of our country? Leave us to our own devices? Never!" |
Some 110 French MPs signed a petition urging President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin to work with the international community to implement UN Resolution 520 stipulating the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon.
| "But... Tha'd leave us with nobody to tell us what to do!" |
Jezzine MP George Najm said that any condemnation made by a foreign country regarding Lebanese-Syrian relations was an intrusion into Lebanonâs affairs.
| "Yeah. So butt out, froggies!" |
He added that such relations were determined by the Lebanese and Syrian governments, which were in the best position to judge both peopleâs interests, rather than any foreign government.
| "'Specially the Syrian government. Ours ain't squat. That's why we need to be occupied." |
Najm accused the French legislators of being âmanipulated by Israeli and US interests that are working to separate Lebanese and Syrian relations in order to target and weaken Lebanon and deprive its Islamic resistance from preventing the resettlement of Palestinians in Lebanon.â
| "If we dump Syria, what'll happen to poor Hezbollah? They'll be all alone!" |
Beirut MP Nasser Qandil said that a number of French MPs were often influenced by the Zionist lobby, adding that some had previously signed a petition in support of former army commander General Michel Aoun.
| You know how those Zionists are always pushing the Frenchies around... |
However, he also said that France will always support Arab causes, Lebanonâs sovereignty and its cooperation with Syria against the Israeli scheme, asserting that âFrance will not alter its policies based on such political movements.â
| So what the hell did he actually mean when he said two contradictory things? |
Sidon MP Osama Saad said that such foreign interference did not serve Lebanonâs aspiration to develop relations with Europe. âWe know our interests better than anybody else,â he said. He asked: âWhere were they when Lebanon and the Lebanese suffered from Zionist occupation?â
| We might ask where Syria was, too. |
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