Protest organized by Islamic Jihad; demonstrators express support for Hizbullah, Syria. Hamas leader says intra-Palestinian talks may fail

By Ali Waked

GAZA - Thousands of Palestinians attended a rally in support of Syria and the Hizbullah Friday in Gaza.

The rally was organized by the Islamic Jihad and followed Friday prayer sessions. Protestors expressed their support for Lebanon’s pro-Syrian regime and called on Damascus to stand up to international pressure.

The protestors also expressed their support for Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and called on the group to continue fighting against Israel and resist calls to disarm.

The demonstrators said international pressures exerted on Syria and the Hizbullah are meant to serve Israel’s interests...

Nation Must Withdraw From Lebanon or Face Isolation

A top U.N. envoy will tell President Bashar Assad that Syria will face political and economic isolation if he does not completely and quickly withdraw from Lebanon, U.N. and U.S. officials said yesterday.

In a meeting set for tomorrow, Terje Roed-Larsen plans to inform Syria that the international community is united in insisting that Damascus comply with U.N. Resolution 1559 -- and is prepared to impose wide punitive sanctions if it does not act quickly, the officials said.

"If he doesn't deliver, there will be total political and economic isolation of his country. There is a steel-hard consensus in the international community," a senior U.N. official said.

In preparation for the diplomatic confrontation, Roed-Larsen has met over the past week with top U.S., European and Arab officials to determine the positions and parameters of action. In a final round of talks, he met yesterday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and also won backing from the Arab League in talks with its secretary general, Amr Mousa, earlier this week -- discussions aimed at leaving Syria no political escape routes, the source said.

The U.N. official said Roed-Larsen had found "remarkable" support for a tough showdown with Assad. The fury over Syria's domination of Lebanon for almost three decades erupted quickly after the Feb. 14 assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, who had resigned to protest Syria's political manipulation last fall to keep Lebanese President Emile Lahoud in power three years beyond the constitutional limit...

Part of the ongoing work of the MEMRI TV Monitor Project is to monitor statements by leading terrorist organizations such as Al-Qa'ida and Hizbullah. This includes the March 8, 2005 appearance of Hizbullah Leader Hassan Nasrallah to a pro-Syrian rally in Beirut which as aired on Al-Manar TV. To view this clip, visit http://memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=594. The following are excerpts from Nasrallah's speech:

"We say to Syria, as your president, Bashar Al-Assad has said: "In Lebanon, your presence in not material or military. You are present in the souls, the hearts, the minds, the present, the past, and the future…" I say to you, no one can get Syria out of Lebanon, or out of its mind, its heart, and its future.

"We emphasize that any mechanism for Syria's remaining or withdrawing from Lebanon must be subject only to the Al-Taef agreement. We, who are gathered here, have come to tell the world that we reject resolution 1559.

"Lebanon is a unique case. Lebanon is not like Somalia, in case you are thinking of military intervention. Lebanon is not Ukraine. Lebanon is not Ukraine. Lebanon is not Georgia. Lebanon is Lebanon, a unique case in this world. If there are those who think that they can bring this country down, with its regime, its security, its stability, and its strategic choices, with their connections, their positions and sponsors, with some demonstrations, some scarves, some slogans, and some the media - then they are wrong.

"I address the following to America… I address the following to America. I say to President Bush… And to Ms. Condoleezza Rice… and to the American-Lebanese field commander, Satterfield: You are wrong about Lebanon. You are wrong about Lebanon. Lebanon rejects the partition. Lebanon rejects civil strife.

"Lebanon rejects defeat. And I say to you, this Lebanon rejects death. Never will Lebanon change its name, its history, its identity, or its attire. Lebanon will not tear off its skin, or throw its heart to your soldiers' dogs so they will eat it. Lebanon will remain the Lebanon of the homeland, of Arab identity, the Lebanon of the resistance, the Lebanon of the entire nation.

"I ask you… You can make yourself heard by the commander of the American forces in the region, who is of Lebanese origin, John Abizaid – Are you Lebanese afraid of the American naval fleets? These naval fleets have come in the past, and were defeated, and if they come again, they will be defeated again. I say to the Americans: 'Don't interfere in our internal affairs...