Hizbullah officials said on Tuesday that the organization intends to attend a summit of Lebanese political leaders in France this weekend, despite comments made Monday by French President Nicolas Sarkozy characterizing the group's operations as "terrorism." Sarkozy used the term after meeting the parents of Israeli soldiers abducted by Hizbullah.
Hizbullah said it was reviewing Sarkozy's comments. "There is a definite change in circumstances now based on what was said in Paris," said one Hizbullah official. Another, former Minister Mohammed Fneish, was quoted in Lebanon's An-Nahar daily Tuesday as saying "These remarks are meant to satisfy the Zionist lobby" in France.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Pascale Andreani told reporters that France's invitation to the group was still valid. "Hizbullah is an important political force in Lebanese life, and we therefore hope it is fully integrated in the political stakes," Andreani said. "That is why an invitation was addressed" to Hizbullah.