LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 06/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 15:21-28. Then Jesus went from that place and
withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that
district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter
is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His
disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after
us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said
in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the
dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from
the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is
your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed
from that hour.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Release: ICC Calls on Pakistan's
President Zardari to Defend Christians after Muslim Mob Ravages Two Towns in
Pakistan
05/08/09
September this year. By: Elie
Fawaz/Now Lebanon/August 5, 2009
With or without a war, Lebanon will still be picking up the pieces.
The -Daily Star 05/08/09
We’re discovering the worst of Bush in Barack Obama.By
Naomi Wolf 05/08/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
05/09
Aoun: Jumblat Did Not Join
Opposition but Is 'More than Welcome'-Naharnet
Jumblat
From Baabda: Earlier Statements Were Misunderstood, I Won't Abandon Hariri and
March 14 Principles-Naharnet
March
14 Warns against March 8 'Maneuvers' to Delay Government Formation-Naharnet
Wahhab:
Damascus Road Open for Jumblat-Naharnet
British Foreign Office
Minister Arrives in Lebanon-Naharnet
Maronite Bishops: Delay in
Government Shape-Up Unfortunate-Naharnet
Lavrov: We Continue to
Support Lebanon's Sovereignty and Stability-Naharnet
Riyadh Tells Jumblat that
his Stances Weaken Hariri and Saudi-Syrian Negotiations-Naharnet
Israel
FM Visits Divided Border Village-Naharnet
Hariri Rejects Personally
Choosing Druze Ministers, Jumblat Might Travel to France-Naharnet
Report: Hizbullah Tripled
Number of Surface-to-Surface Rockets Since 2006-Naharnet
Now Lebanon: Lebanese press
round-up: August 5, 2009
Jumblatt: I did not and will not
abandon PM-designate Hariri-NOW Lebanon 05/08/09
Security cabinet to mull Ghajar's future-Jerusalem
Post
Barak: Beirut responsible for
security of border-Daily
Star
Israeli
Defense
establishment: Hand over northern Ghajar-Ynetnews
Israeli IDF:
Northern calm in danger-Ynetnews
Hezbollah stockpiles 40000 rockets near Israel
border-Times
Online
Barak: PA will be examined after Fatah congress-Ynetnews
Reconnecting America and Syria-guardian.co.uk
Hezbollah cell to face court in Egypt-United
Press International
Hezbollah reacts to Syrian sanctions-United
Press International
IDF: Northern calm in danger-Ynetnews
Britain backs Syria-EU pact despite concerns-Washington
Post
More Sydney terror plot charges-BBC News
Terrorism raids 'brought forward after leak'-ABC
Online
HRW calls on Damascus to free top
rights lawyer-Daily
Star
Muslim Brotherhood linked to
terrorists-By Inter
Press Service
Australian police detain four for
plotting suicide attack-Daily
Star
UK minister presses Syria to
promote Mideast peace-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
Hariri takes holiday as efforts to
form cabinet stumble-Daily
Star
Franjieh to visit Sfeir to shore up
Christian reconciliation efforts-Daily
Star
Geagea leaves Lebanon for summer
vacation-Daily
Star
UN’s Ban to ask for extension of UNIFIL mandate-Daily
Star
Saudi Arabia may shut LBC offices
over ‘sex’ talk show-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
Lebanese man arrested for spying
for Israel-Daily
Star
Italy donates over $10 million to
fund 12 new projects-Daily
Star
Sidon holds urgent meeting to solve
water crisis-Daily
Star
A trail less-traveled: Hiking in Ehden-Daily Star
Security cabinet to mull Ghajar's future
By HERB KEINON/Jerusalem Post
Aug 5, 2009
The security cabinet is likely to meet soon to discuss the fate of Ghajar, with
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman expected to give his recommendation on how
Israel should deal with the northern town that straddles the Lebanese border.
SLIDESHOW: Israel & Region | World In recent weeks, Lieberman - charged by Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with drawing up policy recommendations concerning
the town - has signaled that he supports building a physical barrier on the
international border that divides the city in half, and turning the northern
part of the city over to UNIFIL control. Earlier this year, Israel indicated it
was willing to negotiate with the UN over a pullback in Ghajar. A positive
recommendation by Lieberman on this issue would be the first time an official at
his level came out in favor of this idea. When the IDF pulled out of Lebanon in
May 2000, the UN determined that the border ran through the middle of Ghajar. In
the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Israel maintained a military
presence in the northern part of the town and built a security fence around it.
Some 1,500 residents live in the northern part of the town, and another 500-700
are in the southern part, on the Israeli side of the border. An Israeli
withdrawal would be in line with commitments it made as part of UN Security
Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the 2006 fighting. UN, European and
American officials have been urging Israel to move out of northern Ghajar to
help bolster the moderates in Lebanon
ICC Calls on Pakistan's President Zardari to Defend Christians after Muslim Mob
Ravages Two Towns in Pakistan
Washington, D.C. (August 4, 2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) is
calling on Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari to defend religious freedom by
taking swift measures to prosecute the Muslim mobs that attacked Christian
neighborhoods near Faisalabad, Pakistan, burning over 100 homes and killing at
least eight Christians in two related attacks occurring on July 31 and August 1.
The first riot began in Korian on Friday, July 31, a day after local Muslims
accused a man of desecrating the Qur'an. Muslim clerics decried Talib's
"blasphemy" and called for his death. A mob then gathered and looted and burned
two churches and 75 of the 80 Christian houses in the village, setting up
barricades to impede fire engines and burning alive domestic animals in the
process.Unsatisfied with the wreckage of Korian, the clerics and several radical groups
incited a second mob to gather in Gojra on Saturday morning. They advanced
through the neighborhood shooting in the air, throwing chemical and petrol bombs
on houses, and looting indiscriminately. The mob attacked the residence of the
Bishop of the Church of Pakistan, and again set up barricades in the street to
prevent firefighters from reaching the burning houses. Three churches were also
destroyed.
Seven of those killed were from the same family, including two children. They
lived in Gojra and were burnt alive as they tried to escape their house, which
the Muslim mob - estimated to be at least three thousand strong - looted and
then set alight. The last confirmed casualty was found in the ashes of his
house, burnt nearly beyond recognition.
ICC sources indicate that 35 Christians were critically injured, and 45 women
and children were missing after the attack.
Christians have experienced severe discrimination at the hands of the current
provincial government before, which under Shahbaz Sharif refused to publish or
act on an investigation into the burning of a Christian village in 1997. This
has created an atmosphere of impunity, and if the highest authorities in
Pakistan ignore the current incident it will lead to repeat attacks throughout
the country.
ICC urges all concerned parties to call the Embassy of Pakistan to express their
opposition to this egregious violation of religious freedom and urge the
President to take immediate action to prosecute the leaders of the mob,
especially the radical clerics who called for the attacks.
Pakistan Embassies:
USA: (202) 243-6500
Canada: (613) 238-7881
UK: 0870-005-6967
Reconnecting America and Syria
Internet users could be among the first to benefit as the US prepares to
dismantle trade sanctions
Sakhr al-Makhadhi guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 4 August 2009 19.30 BST Article
historyAmerican officials are preparing to waive some of the sanctions against
Syria imposed by the Bush administration, according to Imad Moustapha, the
Syrian ambassador to Washington. First to go will be the ban on exports of spare
parts and safety equipment for the Syrian civil aviation industry, followed by
that on computer products. Crucially, this will mean Syrian internet users
should be able to download software and buy goods and services online.
The only sticking point is that the rules will not be swept away with one
signature in the Oval Office. Instead they will be handled on a case-by-case
basis. But the US is hinting it will push through each individual waiver request
without too much difficulty. There has been much talk of breaking the
Syrian-Iranian alliance, but this move on sanctions is about more than
international diplomacy and that old neocon favourite, winning hearts and minds.
At present, Syrian internet users have to jump through hoops to do something as
basic as downloading an update to a web browser. US companies do their best to
enforce the sanctions law, by preventing their products reaching Syria. The
change will make life easier for millions of people, although internet-freedom
activist Jillian York says many have already found ways around the embargo:
Syrians have been circumventing the ban in numerous ways by sharing software for
years, and the market is flooded with 'banned' tech products. Therefore, the ban
was low-hanging fruit, so to speak – the easiest way to please a great number of
people quickly. In easing the software ban, the US has chosen its target wisely.
The first to benefit will be the young, tech-savvy middle classes. This is a
vital constituency because they make up the majority of the Syrian blogosphere,
which is becoming the country's most vocal segment of society.
The business community is excited too. Syria's economy has been slowly opening
up over the past decade. But there is virtually no e-commerce, and part of the
reason is because the infrastructure that companies need is off-limits. PayPal,
Amazon and some web-hosting companies have been blocking all transactions from
Syria. In some cases, even logging on to some websites from Syria can end up in
your account being terminated. The painless act of lifting the technology ban
could improve America's image on the internet, and help Syrian businesses end
the country's economic isolation. The US will benefit as its firms gain access
to an untapped market.
The other part of the deal – the agreement to end the aircraft sanctions – seems
to be the result of pressure from one of America's biggest companies, Boeing.
Syrianair has grounded most of its ageing fleet of American planes because it
has not been allowed to buy essential parts. So where did it turn for
replacement aircraft? Europe. Last year the airline is understood to have
started negotiations to buy up to 50 planes from Boeing's biggest rival, Airbus.
The deal still has not been finalised, but if it does go through, it will
deprive the American economy of billions of dollars it desperately needs. These
small changes to the embargo have the potential to benefit millions of Syrian
internet users, help open up the economy and maybe even give America a massive
cash windfall. But why not go all the way and revoke the entire sanctions law?
Imad Moustapha claims that would require the assent of the US Congress, where
President Barack Obama could run into difficulties. Instead, the plan seems to
be to lift parts of the embargo one by one until the law becomes meaningless.
Minister Yossi Peled appointed responsible for former SLA members
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3755737,00.html
Published: 08.02.09, 13:42 / Israel News
The cabinet appointed Minister Yossi Peled as the responsible minister for care
of former Southern Lebanese Army members in Israel.
Peled will head an inter-ministerial team that will address housing, employment,
education, and citizenship needs of former SLA members living in Israel since
2000 when the IDF withdrew from Lebanon. Peled said, "The State of Israel has a
moral obligation to the people of SLA, its allies, who fought alongside it
shoulder to shoulder." (Roni Sofer)
Defense establishment: Hand over northern Ghajar
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3757314,00.html
Israel should hand over control over northern section of Lebanon border village
to United Nations, defense establishment says; political sources estimate that
move will be undertaken as part of US-led regional peace initiative
Roni Sofer Published: 08.05.09, 00:27 / Israel News
The defense establishment is recommending that Israel transfer control over the
northern part of Ghajar – a village located on the Lebanon border – to the
United Nations.
A report on the subject was handed over to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman,
who is expected to present his recommendations to the National Security Cabinet
in the near future. Political officials estimate that handing over control of
northern Ghajar will be part of the regional gestures aimed at advancing the
US-led peace process.
The village of Ghajar is divided into two sections, but the IDF has maintained
control over its northern part since the Second Lebanon War. In the wake of the
war, military officials feared that the village, where some residents possess
Israeli ID cards, will be used to facilitate Hezbollah terror activity.
Following President Barack Obama's election victory, the US has been eager to
advance the issue. However, Israel refrained from taking a decision on the
matter ahead of the recent Lebanese elections, as not to boost Hezbollah.
Although the area was taken from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, both Damascus
and Beirut currently claim that the Har Dov region on the northern border
belongs to Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to discuss the issue in the coming
weeks. The PM asked Foreign Minister Lieberman to prepare a report on the
diplomatic implications of a hand over.
The issues currently examined by the Foreign Ministry include Israel's ability
to monitor crossing points between the two parts of the village, UNIFIL's
ability to prevent the entry of Hezbollah men into the area, and various legal
issues involved in the matter.
Barak: PA will be examined after Fatah congress
Defense minister tells Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that
alongside desire not to intervene in Palestinians' internal issues, they will be
examined according to results of Fatah conference
Amnon Meranda Published: 08.04.09, 14:19 / Israel News
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3756984,00.html
The Israeli defense establishment is closely monitoring the Fatah congress,
which is meeting in Bethlehem to decide on the Palestinian movement's future.
"We do not intervene in the Palestinians' internal issues," Defense Minister
Ehud Barak said Tuesday. "We have allowed anyone who can arrive at the
conference to do so, so that the decisions made there will have the broadest
legitimization.
Nonetheless, the decisions will testify to the Palestinian side's readiness in
terms of continuing the negotiations with Israel," the minister said, in light
of reports that Fatah planned to add to update its platform a clause stating
that it would not recognize Israel as the Jewish state.
Speaking at the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Barak noted
that Israel would insist on keeping the settlement blocs as part of any solution
for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well a solution to the refugee issue
outside the boundaries of the Jewish state.
"My suggestion is not to be too impressed by what will be said at the Fatah
convention as part of the internal dialogue," he added. "We shouldn't ignore it
and shouldn’t be too impressed. The real test will come after the convention –
when a leadership is formed there and a proper amount of legitimacy, and then we
will see what this leadership is willing to bring to the negotiation table."
According to the defense minister, it is important that a future agreement
"reflects the end of the conflict and the lack of mutual demands between Israel
and the Palestinians."
Barak clarified that the Israeli government's relations with the American
administration continued to be close. "Important and tight relations are the
foundation of Israel's foreign policy.
"We ascribe great importance to the relations with the United States on all
aspects – in the political, security and economic fields. We are holding an
intimate dialogue on a variety of issues, in a bid to set President Obama's plan
for a comprehensive regional agreement in motion."
'Lebanon will be responsible for escalation'
Barak reiterated the Israeli stance that Syria was helping terror organizations,
despite its willingness to resume peace talks with Israel.
"Syria is helping Hezbolla arm as well. It sponsors the terror headquarters in
Damascus, he said, but added that "making progress with Syria could also lead to
positive results in terms of progress with Lebanon in the future."
Addressing Hezbollah's rearming, the defense minister clarified that as far as
Israel was concerned, there was only one element responsible for what is taking
place on Lebanese territory.
"We shall not accept an attempt to distinguish between the responsibility of the
Hezbollah organization and the Lebanese government. A future escalation will be
Lebanon's responsibility, as it is not implementing (Security Council)
Resolution 1701 and additional decisions on disarming Hezbollah. Israel will see
itself at liberty to act, with all it entails," Barak said.
The Iranian nuclear issue was also discussed during the meeting, and Barak said
that Israel would not dictate to the Americans how to act on the issue. "But we
do recommend setting a tight timetable," he said, "with milestones and an
organizing cooרrdinated sanctions, in case the dialogue fails to yield the
desired results."
The minister expressed his pessimism over the chance that negotiations would
prompt Iran to abandon its nuclear aspirations.
"Past experience has taught us that such things have not succeeded. In my
previous roles I have seen the past experience with Pakistan and North Korea,
and the similarity between those cases is incredible and troubling. As far as
Israel is concerned, we reiterate that all options are on the table, and
recommend to our friends to do the same."
'IDF abuse affair serious' As for the abuse affair in the Israel Defense Forces,
Barak told Ynet after the meeting that he viewed the incident as extremely
severe, but added that he believed it should be dealt with inside the army and
not at the Knesset. He added that these phenomena have been going on for years,
as well as the attempts to eradicate them.
Asked to address the affair, the defense minister said that "the entire IDF is
working to uproot and reduce such phenomena, at the chief of staff's order. All
I am saying is that these are not things which have been generated in the past
four years or 14 years. "The incident itself is extremely severe. I know that
the chief of staff and commanders are dealing with it as required," he added.
Barak clarified, however, that he does not support the appointment of a
parliamentary commission of inquiry to probe the incident.
Hezbollah has stockpiled up to 40,000 rockets and is training its members to use
missiles capable of hitting Tel Aviv as well as Israeli aircraft, IDF Northern
Command Deputy Chief Alon Friedman told The Times.
Hezbollah stockpiles 40,000 rockets near Israel border
The Times/August 5, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6739175.ece
Richard Beeston on the Israel-Lebanese border and Nicholas Blanford in Beirut
Three years after Israel fought a bloody war in Lebanon against Hezbollah, there
are fears that hostilities could erupt again — this time with the militant group
better armed than ever.
According to Israeli, United Nations and Hezbollah officials, the Shia Muslim
militia is stronger than it was in 2006 when it took on the Israeli army in a
war that killed 1,191 Lebanese and 43 Israeli civilians. Hezbollah has up to
40,000 rockets and is training its forces to use ground-to-ground missiles
capable of hitting Tel Aviv, and anti-aircraft missiles that could challenge
Israel’s dominance of the skies over Lebanon. Brigadier-General Alon Friedman,
the deputy head of the Israeli Northern Command, told The Times from his
headquarters overlooking the Israeli-Lebanese border that the peace of the past
three years could “explode at any minute”. His concerns were due partly to
threats from Hezbollah’s leadership. Last month Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, the
leader of Hezbollah, warned that if the southern suburbs of Beirut were bombed
as they were in the last war, he would strike back against Tel Aviv, the largest
Israeli city. “We have changed the equation that had existed previously,” he
said. “Now the southern suburbs versus Tel Aviv, and not Beirut versus Tel
Aviv.”
Hezbollah’s rearming is in the name of resistance against Israel. The real
reason, however, probably has more to do with its ally Iran. If Israel carries
out its threat to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, the main retaliation is
likely to come from Hezbollah in Lebanon. All sides agreed that the threat was
not a bluff. Last month the scale of the Hezbollah build-up was revealed after
an explosion at an ammunition bunker in the village of Khirbet Slim, 12 miles
from the Israeli border.
Surveillance footage obtained by The Times showed Hezbollah fighters trying to
salvage rockets and munitions from the site. Obstructions were placed in the way
of Unifil peacekeepers going to investigate. Alain Le Roy, the head of UN
peacekeeping operations, told the Security Council last month that the explosion
amounted to a serious violation of UN Resolution 1701, which imposed a ceasefire
and arms ban after the war. “A number of indications suggest that the depot
belonged to Hezbollah and, in contrast to previous discoveries by Unifil and the
Lebanese Armed Forces of weapons and ammunition, that it was not abandoned but,
rather, actively maintained,” he said. Unifil’s mandate is due to be renewed by
the Security Council this month and Israel is pressing for the peacekeepers to
be more robust in stopping Hezbollah and other armed groups from infiltrating
the UN-patrolled region south of the Litani river. Hezbollah, which is armed,
trained and financed by Iran, has been engaged in a recruitment, training and
rearmament drive since the end of the 2006 war. Although basic training on
firing weapons is taught at camps in the mountains flanking the Bekaa Valley,
specialised courses are carried out in Iran. Hundreds of fighters have travelled
to Iran since 2006 to learn about bomb-making, anti-tank missiles, sniping and
firing rockets. “War will definitely come,” said Hussam, a 33-year-old fighter
who joined Hezbollah in 1987 as a scout. “Israel will never leave us alone.”
Military sources close to Hezbollah said that the group wanted to increase the
number and effectiveness of its air defence systems. Hezbollah is believed to
have acquired large numbers of SA18 shoulder-fired missiles that could mount a
challenge to Israeli helicopters and low-flying jets. Western intelligence
sources told The Times that Hezbollah fighters were receiving training in Syria
on the SA8 system. The radar-guided SA8 missiles are launched from tracked
vehicles and have a maximum altitude of 36,000ft (11,000m), which would pose a
serious threat. Israeli jets and drones use Lebanese airspace almost daily.
Israel said that the flights were necessary for reconnaissance purposes,
although the UN considered them violations of Resolution 1701. Israel said that
Hezbollah’s acquisition of advanced anti-aircraft missiles could prompt a
military response to destroy the systems. Israeli warnings relayed to Syria
appear to have forestalled the entry of the SA8 system into Lebanon, the sources
said. Israel claims that Hezbollah has tripled the number of surface-to-surface
rockets since 2006, to about 40,000. “Hezbollah has not only replaced the
munitions but upgraded their missiles,” Danny Ayalon, the Deputy Israeli Foreign
Minister, said. “They are bragging now that they can hit Tel Aviv.” According to
Western intelligence sources, Hezbollah hopes to receive an improved version of
the Iranian-manufactured Fateh-110 rocket, which can carry a 1,100lb (500kg)
warhead more than 125 miles (200km).
Hezbollah officials refused to provide details on its military build-up but they
did not deny that they were prepared for another war. “Hezbollah today is in a
better condition than it was in July 2006,” said Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s
deputy leader, in an interview with The Times. “And if the Israelis think they
will cause more damage against us, they know that we also can inflict more
damage on them.”
U-turn puts Hezbollah in the driving seat
By Sami Moubayed /Asia Times
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KH06Ak01.html
DAMASCUS - Those who rejoiced at the election results in Lebanon on June 7 had a
big surprise this week, as the tables seemed to turn on the pro-Western
coalition in favor of the Hezbollah-led opposition, and Damascus.
During the elections, the March 14 Coalition, which is close to the United
States and France, won 71 seats in parliament, while the opposition, backed by
Syria and Iran, came out with 57, maintaining the minority they had held since
2005. On August 2, however, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, head of the Progressive
Socialist Party in Lebanon and one of the March 14 heavyweights, sent shockwaves
throughout Beirut by announcing that his alliance with March 14 had been "driven
by necessity and must end".
Speaking at the opening of a party assembly at the Beaurivage
Hotel in Beirut, Jumblatt called for a new Lebanese alliance, "free of bias",
claiming that March 14's program, which he had strongly praised and been a part
of for years, had been driven on "sectarian and tribal levels". The Future
Movement, headed by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, was shocked at his
u-turn and issued a statement defending itself, though without mentioning
Jumblatt by name. The Future Movement said it remained committed to the Cedar
Revolution, launched with US backing in response to the assassination of
Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri, Saad's father, in 2005.
Another surprise in Jumblatt's speech was his praise for Syria, and his
description of past visits to Washington and meeting with former president
George W Bush - while the US was trying to change the regime in Damascus - as a
"black spot" in his history. Jumblatt seems to have realized - eight months into
the Barack Obama White House - that the policies of the Bush era are now
obsolete in the Middle East. He appears to have concluded that rather than hold
onto them and become an outsider, it is safer to change course - no matter how
dramatically - to remain influential in Lebanon.
Members of the opposition March 8 alliance have been consistently demanding a
"blocking third" veto power, to obstruct any legislation in Hariri's cabinet
related to Hezbollah relinquishing its arms or the United Nations international
tribunal investigating his Rafik Hariri's assassination.
Saad has struggled to form a government since the election, with the opposition
refusing to join the cabinet unless this blocking third power was granted and
reminding Hariri that they walked out of then Fouad Siniora's cabinet in 2006
for the same reason when he was premier - Siniora is currently serving as
caretaker prime minister.
Last week, a solution had seemingly been reached. It was announced that the
opposition would be allowed to name one of the five ministers appointed to the
government by independent President Michel Suleiman. By consensus, it was agreed
that Suleiman would be able to name the minister of Defense, Interior and three
ministers of state - a Shi'ite, a Sunni and a Christian.
Accordingly, the opposition would get a say in naming the Shi'ite minister,
which would give them control of 11 - rather than 10 ministers. This would
effectively give them the blocking third in Hariri's 30-man cabinet.
Speaker Nabih Berri, a ranking member of the opposition, came out on Monday
saying that the three Druze ministers in the upcoming Hariri cabinet could no
longer be considered members of March 14. He added that Jumblatt's words would
certainly have negative effects on March 14. Jumblatt's u-turn means that March
14 now has to subtract nine parliamentarians from its bloc, bringing them down
to 62.
If Jumblatt decides to defect fully to the opposition, this would give Hariri's
opponents a total of 66 seats - effectively turning the tables on March 14 and
granting March 8 a parliamentary majority. Jumblatt's stance effectively makes
all talk about a blocking third for the opposition meaningless, and sheds
serious doubt on whether Hariri will survive as prime minister.
Additionally, it was reported that Jumblatt might visit Syria soon, under the
wing of Palestinian statesman Azmi Beshara. Adding fuel to the fire, Jumblatt
has told a Tunisian magazine, Realites, that, "I intend to fix my relationship
with Damascus my own way. Looking back, I think I committed the sin of voicing
too many anti-Syrian slogans." He added that Beirut "will not be proud of a
confrontation with Syria".
Jumblatt has also changed his views on who killed Rafik Hariri in 2005. He had
previously accused Syria, but he told the magazine that he was no longer certain
who had carried out the assassination. There has been no response from the
Syrian side on Jumblatt's possible defection, only articles in independent
Syrian websites saying that Jumblatt - who is married to a Damascene woman from
the Sharabati family - will arrive soon in Damascus. And a leak in the Beirut
daily al-Akhbar, saying that Damascus is renovating Jumblatt's residence in the
Syrian capital, which has been vacant since 2004.
Why did Jumblatt - known to be a political chameleon - change his colors so
dramatically? The Druze warlord was a strong ally of Syria during Lebanon's
civil war, and was royally rewarded for his services with government posts for
him and his entourage throughout the 1990s. But when he realized that Syria's
fortunes were turning in 2004 - shortly after the war on Iraq - he shifted
towards the opposition, calling on the Syrians to leave Lebanon, though more
than anyone else it was him that helped legitimize the Syrian presence in
Lebanon, for nearly 20 years.
Jumblatt managed to read the political landscape in Washington well , realizing
that the Bush White House was at daggers end with the Syrian government, because
of its lack of cooperation in the war on Iraq. When Rafik Hariri was killed in
February 2005, Jumblatt unleashed his anger not only at Syria but at its allies
in Lebanon (notably then-president Emille Lahhoud), calling on it to leave and
implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, which, among other
things, calls for the "disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and
non-Lebanese militias".
Right after the war with Israel in 2006, Jumblatt aggressively spoke out against
Damascus, and he was the first member of the March 14 coalition to call for the
disarmament of Hezbollah. He also bluntly accused both Syria and Hezbollah of
involvement in the assassination of Rafik Hariri and other Lebanese figures,
such as journalists Samir al-Kassir and Jibran Tweini.
Jumblatt went to Washington during the heyday of the George W Bush era and got
red-carpet treatment at the White House, famously embracing then-secretary of
state Condoleezza Rice in the midst of the 2006 Israeli war with Lebanon. He
most recently met Rice in November 2008, and has never missed a chance to cozy
up with the Americans - despite the fact that earlier in his career he was a
self-proclaimed opponent of the US and admirer of Gamal Abdul Nasser, the
godfather of modern Arab nationalism.
Jumblatt began to change his tune in May 2008, when members of Hezbollah clashed
militarily with armed men from Saad Hariri's Future Movement. The Future's boys
were no match for the well-trained fighters of Hezbollah and were rounded up in
a matter of hours, and disarmed. This set alarm bells ringing at Jumblatt's
palace on Mount Lebanon.
The entire ordeal was in response to a government attempt at dismantling
Hezbollah's security and telecommunications network at Beirut International
Airport. Jumblatt realized that his team was no match for that of Syria and
Iran, regardless of how much support they had from the US, Saudi Arabia and
France.
He has since then slowly been changing his rhetoric on Hezbollah and Syria, and
this summer he surprised observers by meeting with Hezbollah chief Hassan
Nasrallah. Now, he has made yet another surprising move by abandoning Saad
Hariri and the March 14 coalition, raising the question: Why now?
Jumblatt is a political animal who follows the prevailing wind, whether it comes
from Moscow, Washington or Damascus. When Syria and the US were allies in the
1990s, he reasoned that it was best to be on Syria's side, due to its excellent
relations with the Bill Clinton administration. When he saw that relations were
irreparable between the Syrians and George W Bush, he decided to abandon ship -
especially after the passing of resolution 1559, seeing that a head-on collusion
between Damascus and Washington loomed on the horizon.
That happened when Hariri was killed in 2005, and Jumblatt tried to ally himself
with Washington's "regime change" movement, but by late 2008 it was clear that
Bush was leaving, having repeatedly failed at toppling - or even weakening - the
Syrians. Now with Obama in power, there is no sense in maintaining hostility
with the Syrians, since Obama is interested neither in regime change, not even
instability in Damascus.
Obama's focus is on Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan - not the worries of
Lebanon, and Jumblatt has realized this from day one. The Americans are willing
to tolerate a reborn Syrian influence in Lebanon, if it guarantees peace and
quiet in Beirut and Iraq. Obama saw the Saudis mending their broken fences with
the Syrians - on the last day of Bush's term in office - and has overseen
confidence-building gestures between Damascus and Washington.
One was how the Syrians helped bring about peaceful provincial elections in Iraq
- with Saudi help - much to Obama's pleasure. He then saw how Obama began to
turn a blind eye to sanctions on Syria, and how in July he lifted some sanctions
on Damascus related to information technology and aviation.
Earlier, the US had decided to send an ambassador to Damascus, a post that has
been vacant for four years, and Obama has been sending officials from the State
Department to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. The US needed Syria to deal
with Hezbollah, Hamas and Iraq, and it was likely that unless Jumblatt mended
his ties with the Syrians, a new deal was going to emerge in the Middle East,
and he was going to be left in the cold.
The question remains: will the Syrians forgive Jumblatt, who went to
unbelievable levels of criticism against Syria, using dramatic insults that
remain strongly imprinted in the minds of Syrians, both the government and
public alike? In the complex world of Middle East politics everything is
possible. Jumblatt's u-turn is testimony to how low regional politics have sunk
and how one's word - which meant his pride and honor during the age of Arab
chivalry - can now swiftly be broken.
*Sami Moubayed is editor-in-chief of Forward Magazine in Syria.
(Copyright 2009 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please
contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)
Now Lebanon: Lebanese press round-up: August 5, 2009
Note: There is no press round-up on Sundays.
August 5, 2009
Press round-up for Wednesday, August 5th from the morning edition of Lebanon’s
An-Nahar, Al-Akhbar, As-Safir, and Ad-Diyar newspapers.
Opening Titles
Berri is confident regarding the formation [of the government]; Siniora says
“the Cedar Revolution is a moment summarizing all our history.”
[Saudi] royal envoy Khoja meets with Jumblatt to inquire [about his position].
Hariri evaluates the “major transformation” in France.
Barak holds the Lebanese government responsible for “any escalation along the
border.”
Local News
Saudi Information and Culture Minister Abdel Aziz Khoja arrived in Beirut in his
capacity as King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz’s envoy in order to ask MP Walid
Jumblatt for clarifications regarding his latest positions. Khoja also called
outgoing PM Fouad Siniora.
According to official reports yesterday, PM-designate Saad Hariri headed on
Monday evening to “the south of France on family vacation.”
According to sources, Hariri “is currently reflecting on the major
transformation in MP Jumblatt’s positions and is examining the [current]
political situation in order to come up with the appropriate reaction.”
Outgoing PM Siniora returned to the forefront, stressing the March 14 constants
and heading the meeting of the Future Movement’s parliamentary bloc. Siniora
said that Hariri’s trip “is aimed at allowing him to keep his distance from the
current controversy.”
Jumblatt told An-Nahar, “I decided not to give any statements while waiting for
the storm and the misinterpretations of my positions during the PSP General
Assembly to abate.”
According to opposition sources, no one can say that Syria is behind Jumblatt’s
strategy. These sources expressed their surprise at the absence of any Saudi,
Jordanian, Egyptian or US reaction criticizing the Druze leader’s position.
In response to An-Nahar’s inquiries about PM-designate Saad Hariri’s visit to
France and its impact on the formation of the government, Speaker Berri said,
“No matter how things evolve and how many days elapse, the government will be
formed eventually according to the formula that has been agreed upon.”
Commenting on the positions expressed by MP Walid Jumblatt’s circles, whereby
his parliamentary bloc is still part of the majority, March 14 sources told An-Nahar,
“This is not nearly enough to clarify Jumblatt’s televised declarations.”
During the meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee
yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak held the Lebanese government
responsible for any escalation along the border between the two countries.
Opening Titles
Khoja visits Beirut; Hariri is on vacation.
Sleiman is optimistic; the Future Movement dresses its wound.
Abbas admits making “mistakes”: Fatah’s steadfastness is a miracle.
Local News
According to a source [informed of] the government-formation process, President
Michel Sleiman is still optimistic about the formation of the government “within
ten days, but is naturally not making light of the political surprise resulting
from MP Jumblatt’s re-positioning.”
Citing information from the Baabda presidential palace, the source deemed it
unlikely for PM-designate Saad Hariri to declare his inability to form the
government. The same source denied that the name of former PM Najib Mikati has
been evoked to take up this position.
Several officials learned yesterday that Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz may
not visit the United States following Morocco. Abdullah is now more likely to
head from Morocco to Damascus.
According to a Future Movement activist, the Future Movement is most annoyed at
the timing, shape, content and potential consequences of Jumblatt’s behavior.
A source close to decision-making circles in the Future Movement said that what
he described as “Jumblatt’s immorality” will delay the resumption of talks
concerning the formation of the government pending “the end of Jumblatt’s
party…” and the results of his re-positioning.
A Future Movement MP told Al-Akhbar that “Jumblatt’s behavior calls for looking
into the government formula that has been agreed upon.” The MP refused to
confirm that what he meant is the 15-10-5 formula, rather asking: “Isn’t it the
16-10-4 formula?”
The same MP admitted that Jumblatt’s position has cost the March 14 coalition
its parliamentary majority. At the same time, he asserted that the March 14
forces are still the largest parliamentary gathering, “whereas the minority will
soon lose Speaker Berri’s and MP Franjieh’s blocs, as both will join MP Walid
Jumblatt.”
The Fatah Movement started yesterday its sixth congress, which is being held for
the first time in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in Bethlehem, albeit in
the absence of approximately 400 Fatah members from the Gaza Strip.
Opening Titles
Khoja meets with Jumblatt and calls Berri; Sleiman awaits Hariri’s return within
48 hours.
The formation of the government is on a “leave to think” … while waiting for a
“new surprise.”
Local News
Sources asserted to As-Safir that PM-designate Saad Hariri is due back in Beirut
within 48 hours and that he has informed the president and the parliament
speaker of it. Hariri will then immediately resume the government formation
process.
According to a key political figure, Saudi Information Minister Abdel Aziz
Khoja’s visit is “part of a direct and serious Saudi initiative aimed at
resolving the current situation.” This source revealed that Khoja also called
Speaker Berri yesterday evening.
MP Walid Jumblatt told As-Safir last night that he came to know of the Saudi
minister’s arrival in Beirut through the media, adding that “no meeting was held
between us.”
“Unofficial PSP sources” told As-Safir and other media outlets yesterday that
Khoja met with Jumblatt, but they failed to shed light on what was discussed
during that meeting, merely saying that “the atmosphere [of the meeting] was
excellent.”
Khoja reportedly established political contacts with the Hezbollah leadership,
expressing the wish that it would facilitate the mission of the prime
minister-designate. However, Hezbollah leadership sources denied that any such
contacts had taken place!
In a direct response to Jumblatt, the Future bloc emphasized its “attachment to
the ‘Lebanon First’ slogan, which does not contravene Lebanon’s permanent and
undisputable Arab affiliation.”
Opening Titles
Khoja visits [Jumblatt] to bridge the gap; Sleiman is annoyed by the
complications [hindering the formation of the government].
The attempts to establish direct communication between Hariri and Jumblatt
failed.
The Future Movement insists on [using the expression of] “shameful history”; The
PSP: We shall not recant our positions.
Local News
LF Executive Committee Samir Geagea and his wife reportedly left the country on
a private visit.
Future Movement sources told Ad-Diyar that the movement’s communiqué is clear
and does not require any interpretation, particularly regarding the reference to
[Jumblatt’s] “shameful history.”
Trustworthy sources informed Ad-Diyar that MP Walid Jumblatt and Iranian
Ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani held a meeting that lasted for more than two
hours at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.
According to sources, the contacts established by Democratic Gathering MPs,
especially Marwan Hamadeh, Ghazi Aridi and Wael Abu Faour, with PM-designate
Saad Hariri’s advisers in order to secure a direct communication line between
Hariri and Jumblatt all failed.
According to sources, Hariri asked Jumblatt to clarify his positions during
their latest meeting. The Druze leader reportedly said that his position hinges
on the formation of the government and reassured Hariri that he is committed to
the decisions of the March 14 coalition.
These sources went on to assert that “Hariri was surprised by Jumblatt’s
declarations at the Beaurivage Hotel and seemed quite annoyed by them.”
September… this year
Elie Fawaz , August 5, 2009
Now Lebanon/Wahid Gordji was officially just a translator working for the
Iranian Embassy in Paris in the mid-1980s. In truth, however, he was the No. 2
man at the embassy in charge of the negotiations held with French diplomats over
the issue of French hostages in Lebanon. His name was also associated in the
French media with the string of terrorist attacks that plagued the country in
1986. The problem originated in France’s freezing the Iranian assets of Eurodif,
a company specializing in the production of enriched uranium, in the wake of the
Khomeinist revolution. The Shah of Iran had bought a 10% share in this company’s
assets in 1975 and lent it $180 million during the same year in return for a
right to buy off a certain fraction of its production. The problem was also
rooted in France’s support to Iraq in its war against Iran.
In short, Lebanon was a stage for the settlement of international scores using
Lebanese intermediaries. These events resulted in many victims, such as Michel
Seurat, not to mention several others who were kidnapped, such as Roger Auque,
Jean-Louis Normandin, Michel Carton, Georges Hansen and Jean-Paul Kauffmann.
The wave of terrorism targeting France ended after the payment of $1.6 billion
to Iran, which retained its share in Eurodif. Wahid Gordji returned to his
homeland safe and sound, having appeared before the French judiciary.
Today, Iran is locked in a conflict with the world over far more than some
company assets; rather, it is about a dangerous nuclear program Iran is planning
on defending with all available resources, whether domestically should it come
under attack, or on the foreign level through its allies in Lebanon, Iraq and
Palestine… Indeed, these fronts are reportedly fitted with an Iranian fuse ready
to blow come September if the international community loses its patience with
Iran and enacts sanctions that may prove dangerous for the regime in Tehran.
Is this not in keeping with Hezbollah’s renewed threat and sudden reactivation
of the “southern front” by acting on the field under the guise of the South’s
“inhabitants” and permanently reminding everyone that it has more than 40,000
rockets ready to be fired and capable of hitting any location in the Israeli
heartland? This rhetorical and field escalation adopted by Hezbollah actually
comes at a time when the South is enjoying a period of stability under
Resolution 1701, which has not undergone any changes ever since it was first
implemented.
Lebanon is, once again, filling in as a stage for settling regional scores and
is today of a vital importance for all these forces, with one notable difference
compared to the 1980s: The victims will not be French nationals this time
around.
Will the yellow September be clad in black this year?
This article is a translation from the original, published on the NOW Arabic
site on July 30