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Following are excerpts from a speech given by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, which was broadcast on the Al-Manar TV (Lebanon) on November 25, 2005
Hassan Nassrallah: Martyrdom, according to our culture and thought, is the door through which one passes from false life to real life. It is the door through which one passes from mortal life to eternal life. It is the door through which one passes from a life of amusement, games, procreation and pride, to a life of eternal bliss, continuous peace, happiness and bounty, where there are things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and no concern burdens the human heart.
The wise man passes through this door, the rational man passes through this door, and the passionate man passes through this door.
Today's martyrs have passed through this door – these martyrs, as well as the martyrs of the past. They have passed through this door with wisdom, rationality, and passion.
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Some Lebanese may know more than us about economics or politics – maybe they do, maybe they don't. I don't want to go into this. But with all due respect, on the issue of Israel – we do claim to be experts.
The people who follow the statements of Israeli officials in recent months - they do not really follow them, because Israel means nothing to them, as Lebanon is isolated from Israel. Maybe they read what is written in Tishreen or in Al-Ba'th, but what's written in Ha'aretz, Yediot Aharonot, or Ma'ariv – if they happen to hear about it, it's only by chance. It's different with us. We are experts on Israel, we follow what the Israeli officials say, we follow what is written in the Israeli press, and we have a (military) presence on the ground, and follow what they are doing in detail.
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Some people say – and the Israelis repeat it daily – that Hizbullah, or the resistance, wants to kidnap, or to take Israeli soldiers hostage. As if this is a crime. It's not a crime at all. From now we must be clear and agree on this. If anybody in Lebanon thinks that capturing an Israeli soldier is a crime or an act of terrorism he should let us know.
I am talking about Lebanon. I care about Lebanon. The international community, the Security Council – I personally gave up on them long ago, and so have you. If anybody has not despaired of them, that's his own business.
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It is our natural right to capture Israeli soldiers. Can I say it any more clearly? It is our right. I say it is more than just our right - it is our duty. It is our duty to do so.
Ok, how long has it been since the last prisoner exchange? It has been two years. Some prisoners remained in (Israeli) prisons. That fisherman, Faran – who is concerned with his fate? Who will get him back? For two year we've been negotiating the second phase of the exchange – but to no avail.
Who in the world takes an interest in our prisoners? There are no results. Our experience with the Israelis has shown that if you want to get prisoners back, and to find out what has happened to the MIA's - you have to capture Israeli soldiers. Am I right or not?
What I say today is that this is not a disgrace, nor is it a crime, or an act of terrorism. It is our right and our duty, and we may carry this out some day. We may carry it out some day, and it shouldn't surprise anyone.
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