LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 18/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 19:16-22. Now someone approached him and said,
"Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"He answered him, "Why do you
ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into
life, keep the commandments."He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, "
'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you
shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall
love your neighbor as yourself.'" The young man said to him, "All of these I
have observed. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be
perfect, go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this
statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Syria’s comeback/“Lebanon First”
could protect sovereignty if it embraces everyone/By: Hanin Ghaddar, Now Lebanon
17/08/09
Obama and Mubarak need a
creative ‘restart’ for the peace process-The
Daily Star 17/08/09
Lebanese sectarianism: a mixed
blessing requiring reform-By
Luna Farhat 17/08/09
It takes more than rhetorical
skills to communicate well-By
Joseph S. Nye 17/08/09
Why is development evading the
Arabs?
By
Ghassan Rubeiz 17/08/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
17/09
Sfeir Urges Speeding up Cabinet Formation without Rushing it-Naharnet
Hariri Reacts to Aoun: I
Stayed Away from Political Rivalries since Start of Formation Process-Naharnet
Jumblat: 15-10-5 Still Valid for Government Formation-Naharnet
Ayatollah Fadlallah Urges Safeguarding Al-Hijaz Stability and Security and
Assiri Lebanon's Unity and Diversity-Naharnet
NOW exclusive: Marouni calls for
Hariri to form majority cabinet regardless of consequences-Now
Lebanon
Aoun: I will not meet with Hariri,
unless he stops his “crazy” MPs from attacking me-Now
Lebanon
Aoun: I am Proud of Bassil, We Want
a Key Ministry in Addition to Telecommunications Portfolio-Naharnet
Hariri
Awaits Aoun Response to Lunch Invitation to Discuss Stalled Cabinet Formation-Naharnet
Israel
Removes Disputed Kfarshouba Lookout Post-Naharnet
Taymour
Jumblat at Hizbullah Rally to Strengthen Roots in Confronting Israel-Naharnet
Emile Lahoud Resorts to
Judiciary as Houri Points Finger at Opposition Leaders in Barouk Network-Naharnet
Aridi: Cabinet Formula
Remains 15-10-5, PSP Holds onto Public Works Ministry-Naharnet
Hizbullah: Nasrallah
Statements Prompted by Keenness to Facilitate Hariri's Task-Naharnet
Israel removes disputed Lebanon border post-AFP
Mubarak visits US as Obama pushes
for Mideast peace-Daily
Star
Efforts to form cabinet hit brick
wall over portfolios-Daily
Star
Berri: No more silence over war
compensation-Daily
Star
Bassil denies link to Israeli ‘spy’
internet company-Daily
Star
Lebanon has ‘long way’ to go –
French diplomat-Daily
Star
UNIFIL lay groundwork for fence to
stop Zionist cows-Daily
Star
Assumption Day marked with masses
across country-Daily
Star
Country keeps cool in seventh week
without cabinet-(AFP)
Large fire contained near Chekka tunnel-Daily
Star
In divided Lebanon, farmers market
a model of unity-(AFP)
US may deport youth accused of
manslaughter-Daily
Star
Beirut gaining reputation as sin
city of the Middle East-(AFP)
UNIFIL lay groundwork for
fence to stop Zionist cows
Daily Star staff/Monday, August 17, 2009
KFAR SHUBA: The Spanish contingent operating as part of the United Interim
Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) pursued works to build a fence to surround the
Baathaiil Lake in the southern Kfar Shuba, while talks to dispose of the cadaver
of a cow that recently died came to a halt, according to a report carried by the
state-run National News Agency on Sunday. The UNIFIL is building the fence with
the aim of preventing cows from Israeli flocks crossing the Blue Line and using
Lebanese water supplies. According to the NNA report, the Spaniards laid the
final touches for the fence’s foundations. The fence, which will be made from
fortified iron, will be two meters high and surround the Baathaiil Lake once
finished in three weeks time. Meanwhile, a decision has yet to be reached
concerning the disposal of a cow cadaver recently found near the lake. While
Lebanese authorities refused to burry the cadaver in its territories and
requested that it be moved to the occupied part of Kfar Shuba, the Israelis so
far ignored the matter. –The Daily Star
Sfeir:
Some Politicians Only Looking after Own Interests
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said during Sunday sermon that
"many" politicians were "looking after their own interests" thus hindering the
formation of a government.
"The political squabbling shows that many of those who work in politics do not
care about the good of the country and are looking after their own interests
thus hindering the formation of a government at works for the interest of this
country," Sfeir said. Seven weeks after the start of negotiations on a new
Lebanese government, rival parties agreed on the number of ministers each
political bloc will have but still disagree over who will get such key
portfolios as foreign affairs, finance, interior and telecommunications. Beirut,
16 Aug 09, 10:22
Taymour Jumblat at Hizbullah Rally to Strengthen Roots in
Confronting Israel
Naharnet/Druze leader Walid Jumblat said he the objective behind dispatching his
son, Taymour, to attend Friday's Hizbullah rally was aimed at consolidating his
roots in confronting Israel.
"I grew up (listening) to the voice of (the late Egyptian President Gamal) Abdel
Nasser and (seeing) his image," Jumblat said in remarks published by the daily
As-Safir on Monday.
"I deliberately sent Taymour to the southern suburbs because it's a symbol of
struggle against Israel," Jumblat added. Jumblat said he hopes his son's
presence at the Hizbullah rally which marked the occasion of the third
anniversary of the July war "will be the beginning of a cultural and political
road for him to strengthen the roots of his grandfather Kamal Jumblat in
confronting Israel." Beirut, 17 Aug 09, 10:07
Aoun: I will not meet with Hariri, unless he stops his “crazy” MPs from
attacking me
August 17, 2009
Now Lebanon
During a press conference held at his residence in Rabieh, Free Patriotic
Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Monday he will not meet with Prime
Minister-designate MP Saad Hariri, unless the latter “stops his crazy MPs from
attacking me.” Aoun refused to refer to Hariri as the prime minister-designate,
stressing that Hariri should be called the MP-designate until the new government
is formed. Aoun also attributed the stalled cabinet formation to “external
reasons,” which he said are statements made by the US and Israeli officials,
while accusing the majority of launching a smear campaign against him in order
to “cover up its inability to form a cabinet.”
The movement leader reiterated his demands for adopting proportionality, a
sovereign ministry and the Telecommunications Ministry. He added that
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt “torpedoed” the 15-10-5
cabinet formula – which grants the majority 15 ministers, the opposition 10 and
the president five – when he split from the March 14 alliance. “You do the math,
and you will see that the formula has become 12-10-5-3,” Aoun said, with the
last three being Jumblatt’s share taken from the majority’s.
The FPM leader also fiercely defended his son-in-law, Telecom Minister Gebran
Bassil – who was defeated in the 2009 parliamentary elections – saying that “if
they criticize him, then they are criticizing me.” Aoun listed Bassil’s
accomplishments and expressed his pride in his son-in-law, who “put an end to
stealing and stopped the mafia within the Telecom Ministry.”
Aoun also slammed the Interior Ministry as an institution, describing its
performance to be “unacceptable,” while defending Interior Minister Ziad Baroud,
because “the same parties that are launching campaigns against the FPM are also
preventing Baroud from doing his job properly.”
On whether or not the president’s powers should be enhanced, the FPM leader said
that there is no contradiction in his calls for strengthening the president’s
powers while asking for being granted the Interior Ministry – which is part of
the president’s cabinet share – stressing that “the president should be given
the authority to intervene in all ministries, rather than being granted a
ministerial share.”
Syria’s comeback
“Lebanon First” could protect sovereignty if it embraces everyone
Hanin Ghaddar, Now Lebanon
August 17, 2009
FPM leader Michel Aoun wears a traditional 'abaya' during his visit to the
Omayyad mosque in Damascus on December 4, 2008 (AFP/Louai Beshara).
Ever since its troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2005, the Syrian regime has been
trying to return to a position of dominance in the country it once controlled.
That it is the pro-Syrian Lebanese factions creating the obstacles delaying the
formation of the government is proof enough that the Syrian regime expects a
return ticket.
Syria has long scowled at the idea of Lebanese sovereignty. It never admitted to
Lebanon’s independence, officially gained in 1943, nor did it concede to the
French mandate’s separation of the two countries. And today, regardless of its
diminished presence in the country, the recent rise of “diplomatic relations”
between Beirut and Damascus, and their exchange of embassies, Syria continues to
exert influence over Lebanon through its local proxies, has put off demarcating
borders and has not redressed unfair bilateral agreements skewed in its favor.
Though the West has recently opened up to talks with Syria, Damascus has not
delivered the hoped-for minimum level of cooperation regarding Lebanon. And
although the country did not noticeably interfere in the Lebanese parliamentary
elections, and President Bashar Assad apparently approved of Saad Hariri as PM
designate – arguably due to massive American, European and Saudi pressure –
everything that followed has shown Damascus’ lack of will to cooperate
politically.
Why is that? Because Syria wants a higher prize for its cooperation.
The regime might cooperate with the US in Iraq, and maybe even Palestine, but it
is Iran in the end that has the real say in how far cooperation goes. In
Lebanon, the story is different. Syria wants to maintain its power here on its
own, without going through the usual Iranian channels, despite the strong
coordination between the two countries on the ground, because it wants to
bolster its role regionally.
In order to do that, the Assad regime is taking the “divide and conquer”
approach, promoting the rifts between rival sectarian groups and parties.
It started in 2005, when Syria ordered its Lebanese Shia allies, Hezbollah and
Amal, to distance themselves from the Independence Intifada, which led to the
withdrawal of Syrian troops and the reduction of the country’s influence over
state institutions. Later, it worked to divide Lebanese Christians into two
rival camps. And, to complete its sectarian tour of Lebanon, after the recent
parliamentary elections, Druze leader MP Walid Jumblatt announced he would
distance himself from the March 14 coalition.
Jumblatt’s move, although declared after the elections, was in the works long
before. The main element that convinced Jumblatt to break off from the alliance
he helped found was the 2008 May events, when Hezbollah-led militias attacked
both Beirut and Druze areas of Mount Lebanon, making it clear to him that he was
very much a part of the Sunni-Shia tension that had wracked the capital.
The second turning point for Jumblatt was the release of the Der Spiegel report
earlier this year. The controversial article, which had opposition parties
outraged, implied that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was going to accuse
Hezbollah of playing an active role in the 2005 assassination of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri, the event that sparked the Independence Intifada.
Jumblatt knew that if the tribunal did end up sparing Syria, long accused by the
majority and the West of playing the main role in the Hariri murder, and
pointing the finger at Hezbollah, long-simmering Sunni-Shia tensions could
possibly boil over into a full-blown civil war. In an attempt to protect himself
and his community from a possible sectarian conflict, he moved himself toward
Syria.
But back to the current crisis at hand.
President Assad sold the West and the Saudis his endorsement of Saad Hariri as
prime minister-designate, at the same time deploying his Lebanese allies to
hinder the government-formation process by making unrealistic demands and
complicating negotiations. Since the Jumblatt storm temporarily stalled progress
on the cabinet assembly, head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun, an
ally of Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian figures, has insisted on being granted
certain sovereign portfolios and that his son-in-law, Gebran Bassil, who lost
his bid for a seat in Batroun in the elections, be reappointed as Telecom
minister. March 14 turned down his demands, and Aoun has been adamant about
challenging Hariri, in effect dragging the process on.
Meanwhile, while Hariri has been hitting more and more roadblocks in the seven
weeks since his appointment as PM-designate, the international community has
been talking to the Syrian regime. While many within the majority have been
worried that a deal will be struck between Western powers and Syria at Lebanon’s
expense, the US, Europe and moderate Arab states have assured them that their
country’s sovereignty and independence is still a top priority and will not be
bargained with. But Syria has still not been given what it wants from the talks.
So now, in the post-election period, after one major political realignment and
continuous delays in the cabinet formation, many Lebanese feel that they are at
a crossroads. Should they follow Jumblatt’s lead and choose security over
justice and independence, or should they overcome his defection and the setbacks
in the cabinet formation, and continue rejecting sectarianism and embracing
sovereignty in the spirit of the Independence Intifada. Should they go back to
the civil-war mentality of each sect putting its people first, or should they
embrace the “Lebanon First” slogan as the only way to bridge differences and
protect Lebanon from sectarian divide.
The choice is not easy. Not only does it involve the risk of insecurity, but it
also presents March 14 with the challenge of convincing the Shia of Lebanon to
release themselves from Hezbollah and Amal’s grip and to embrace “Lebanon
First”, a slogan that will become invalid without their participation and leave
Lebanon’s independence incomplete. Syria is rooting for the latter.
Emile Lahoud Resorts to Judiciary as Houri Points Finger at Opposition Leaders
in Barouk Network
Naharnet/Former MP Emile Lahoud threatened he would resort to the judicial
authorities to respond to accusations against him in the issue of the illegal
internet company in the Barouk region with links to Israel. He described as an
"orchestrated campaign" allegations by MP Ammar Houry. Lahoud said the aim
behind filing a lawsuit was to "show the public who collaborated and is still
collaborating with the Israeli enemy at the expense of the homeland, the people,
the military and the resistance."Houry had questioned Telecommunications
Minister Jebran Bassil's involvement in the Barouk issue. Houry alleged that the
internet company was established with the protection of President Emile Lahoud
and ended up under Bassil's shelter. In remarks published Monday by the daily
Al-Liwaa, Houry said the political team under Lahoud's era "benefited
financially from this network; and today Minister Jebran Bassil is profiting."
Houry claimed that the Director of the imaginary company benefiting from the
illegal network belongs to the Armenian Tashnag party, pointing that senior
Opposition figures are implicated in this case. Beirut, 17 Aug 09, 11:01
Aoun: I am Proud of Bassil, We Want a Key Naharnet/Ministry
in Addition to Telecommunications Portfolio
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun said Monday he was proud of his
son-in-law Jebran Bassil and stressed that he wanted a key cabinet portfolio in
addition to the telecommunications ministry. "I am proud of him (Bassil) as an
FPM activist since 1999, as my son-in-law and as a minister," Aoun told a press
conference in Rabiyeh.
He also described campaigns against Bassil as part of attempts to make people
forget about the country's debt "that will increase to 58 billion dollars" and
about the lack of a program to strengthen the country. He defended Bassil by
saying that his son-in-law "obstructed" among other things the "mafias" of
pre-paid mobile phone card trafficking, of illegal wiretapping and of illegal
international phone calls. The FPM leader said Bassil improved mobile phone
services, as the number of users rose from 1,200,000 to 2,200,000 people.
Internet services also improved as a result of the minister's work, according to
Aoun. He accused the majority of slamming him and Bassil as the "obstruction" to
cabinet formation for suffering a blow from Druze leader Walid Jumblat's latest
stance. Aoun said that following Jumblat's withdrawal from the March 14 forces
"there is no longer a majority in the country … No matter how the government is
formed, the majority will become a minority." He told reporters to consider the
new cabinet formula currently as 12-10-5 rather than 15-10-5. He said the FPM
was asking for the key interior ministry in addition to the telecommunications
portfolio. Beirut, 17 Aug 09, 12:23
Hariri Awaits Aoun Response to Lunch Invitation to Discuss Stalled Cabinet
Formation
Naharnet/As government formation entered its eighth week Monday, Prime
Minister-designate Saad Hariri was still awaiting for a response to his request
for a face-to-face meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun
to discuss a Cabinet lineup which remains deadlocked. Senior sources from the
March 14 coalition told the daily An-Nahar in remarks published Monday that
Hariri was still waiting for Aoun's response since last Friday when he
dispatched his advisor Nader Hariri with the invitation for lunch in Qoreitem.
The sources said Hariri left it to Aoun to determine the "suitable" meeting
time. They said Aoun likely has a desire to outline his stances on a number of
issues with regard to government formation before giving Hariri an answer.
Contrary to positions suggested by the Opposition forces, An-Nahar said it had
learned there was no Hizbullah mediation between Hariri and Aoun. It quoted
Opposition circles as saying it is essential that Hariri holds "direct talks"
with Aoun in an effort to create positive climates that would help in reaching
the expected government. As-Safir newspaper, meanwhile, citing political
circles, said the current week is "decisive." "Either the road is paved for
government formation or the birth of a new Cabinet would be postponed for a long
time," As-Safir quoted one political source as saying. The source said that "the
last chance for government formation lies in the direct meeting which is likely
to take place between Hariri and Aoun this week … provided Hariri would come out
with an acceptable outlook that would allow Aoun to meet him half way through on
grounds of making reciprocal concessions." A well-informed source from al-Mustaqbal
Movement told As-Safir that a Hizbullah proposal that suggests each party
chooses its Cabinet portfolio is "not practical," since Hariri is not "just a
post office box where names of ministers are dumped." The source said Hariri and
President Michel Suleiman have agreed not to appoint election losers in the new
Cabinet. He believed that Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil's experience
was "a failure and therefore, does not encourage his re-appointment." Beirut, 17
Aug 09, 08:07
Hizbullah: Nasrallah Statements Prompted by Keenness to Facilitate Hariri's Task
Naharnet/Hizbullah sources have said that statements last week by its secretary
general on the need to accelerate the government formation were driven by "its
concern to support the task of the premier-designate," the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat
reported Sunday. They were referring to Friday's televised speech by leader
Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the third anniversary of the end of the summer 2006
Israel war. The sources said that Hizbullah's "concern to support PM-designate
Saad Hariri's task in forming a government does not prevent the party from
expressing solidarity with the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun
in the face of the campaign he is being subjected to."Meanwhile, sources in the
parliamentary majority told the paper that "statements by Hizbullah leaders, in
which they support Aoun's demands, show a change in the party's attitude toward
the government formation process." "Instead of helping to resolve Aoun's
proposals – as it had promised Hariri – Hizbullah is making matters more
complicated and is pushing Aoun toward showing more inflexibility," they said.
On the same note, an informed source told the pan-Arab daily asharq al-awsat
that "despite backing the demands of its Christian ally, the Free Patriotic
Movement, Hizbullah is waging a battle that is not its own after it had
guaranteed a political formula for the government that eases its concerns." The
source added: "It is a known fact that Hizbullah and Amal will essentially
divide amongst them the ministries of foreign affairs and labor, in addition to
minor portfolios. This is a matter that has nothing to do with standing in
opposition to anyone." "Hizbullah is careful to preserve the government formula
that has been agreed upon and that guarantees the party's participation in
governance and decision-making," the source said. He added that Hizbullah will
"not stop its support for Aoun's demands as long as they do not endanger the
formula." "Hizbullah today feels that Hariri is holding on to the government
shape-up and does not seem to be threatening to abandon the task. This is why
there is no reason for the party to worry about the formula being in danger," he
said. Beirut, 16 Aug 09, 09:42
Aridi: Cabinet Formula Remains 15-10-5, PSP Holds onto
Public Works Ministry
Naharnet/Caretaker Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi said Sunday that the next
cabinet will be formed based on the formula that was agreed on by all Lebanese
parties. "The government will be formed based on the agreed formula ... The
formula has settled on 15-10-5 whether we use (the terms) 8, 14, majority or
minority," Aridi said during a speech in the eastern city of Baalbek. He said
the issue of division of portfolios could be solved through dialogue. "We call
for a serious dialogue to speed up (cabinet) formation so that we all embark on
a single workshop aimed at facing political challenges." Aridi toured Baalbek
and northern Bekaa on Sunday to inspect infrastructure works carried out by his
ministry. Asked if the Progressive Socialist Party's share in the new government
would be the public works ministry, Aridi said: "The PSP holds onto the
ministry." Beirut, 16 Aug 09, 19:31
Lebanon has ‘long way’ to go – French diplomat
Paris showing ‘active support’ for normalizing ties between Beirut, Damascus
By Patrick Galey/Daily Star staff
Monday, August 17, 2009
BEIRUT: Lebanon still has a “long way” to go before normalizing “calm” relations
with its neighbors, a senior French diplomat said over the weekend. Speaking
after attending an Assumption Day mass in Ain Saadeh, French Charge D’Affairs,
Didier Chabert, was quoted as praising the advancement of Lebanon’s regional
diplomatic ties.
“Lebanon has made progress in normalizing Lebanese-Syrian ties, under the
auspices of President Michel Sleiman,” said Chabert, adding France’s “active
support in this regard.”
He reiterated his country’s support of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 –
drafted to end Israel’s 2006 war on Lebanon – and hinted France was seeking the
mandate extension of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He
spoke of France’s “commitment to stability in southern Lebanon, to ensure the
full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and to condemn all
violations of the resolution, including Israeli over-flights and occupation of
the northern part of Ghajar.”
Resolution 1701 stipulates that Lebanese sovereignty must be respected by
Israel, yet maneuvering of Israeli warplanes abounds over this country’s
airspace. On Sunday, the LAF released a communiqué stating that “an Israeli
reconnaissance plane [on Saturday] violated the Lebanese airspace from above
Naqoura village, where it executed a circular flight over the South regions, and
left at 8 p.m. from above Kfar Kila village.”
Chabert also cited his concern over “recent events in the south,” referring to
the explosion of a suspected Hizbullah arms cache near the village of Khirbet
Silim on July 14. Days later, a UNIFIL-LAF investigative team was accosted by
angry locals who hurled rocks and lightly injured more than a dozen peacekeeping
troops.
UNIFIL’s mandate extension is being discussed by Security Council Member States.
A decision is expected by August 27.
Former long-term UNIFIL adviser Timor Goksel told The Daily Star he was
confident UNIFIL’s mandate would be extended as scheduled.
“The only diplomatic action that is happening is the extension of the UNIFIL
mandate. It will be implemented without amendments. There will be no change in
the mandate,” he said.
“You cannot change it [as there] is no support from the UN for a change. Who in
Lebanon is going to make this a [stronger] mandate?” He added that there was
little internal political will to adjust UNIFIL’s mission to curb Hizbullah’s
arms proliferation Retired Lebanese Army General Elias Hanna said the extension
of UNIFIL’s mandate “is obvious because there is no other solution to the
differences between Hizbullah and Israel,” adding that due to pressures to
regain full Lebanese control of the south, “there may not be another extension
in the future.” Goksel said that although patience with UNIFIL’s mission was
necessary, international support was unlikely to continue unless it yielded
visible results.
“The UN cannot continue to give money so there might be a tendency to reduce [UNIFIL’s]
force and its funding,” he said.
“If their endgame is to have the Lebanese take control of their country, they
cannot have a presence there forever.” Chabert also stressed France’s “full
support of the Lebanese army which must someday have exclusive control over the
use of force in Lebanon.” Goksel said that the Lebanese Army (LAF) would never
be fully able to fend for itself on military terms. “We all support the LAF but
this is a country with special requirements and the LAF keeps peace by
negotiation rather than force,” he said.
“The LAF will always be a security force but it won’t be a defense force. From
that point of view, UNIFIL is doing quite a credible job.”
Hanna said that Lebanese and Western opinions differed over the viability of
complete LAF control. “It’s obvious from the Western point of view that the army
has to take over,” but this would prove difficult due to the Lebanon’s political
idiosyncrasies, he said. “We have to take responsibility for what happens in the
south.” Chabert also called for Lebanon to form quickly a cabinet “in the best
conditions.” Goksel said that the cabinet impasse was unlikely to adversely
affect the country’s standing in the region. “In Lebanon, regional negotiations
are not down to the cabinet. It is all down to [decisions] on an international
level. It doesn’t matter if there’s a cabinet or not,” he said. He added that
there wouldn’t be lasting peace between Lebanon and Israel “before there is
lasting peace [between Israel and] Syria. “There are not too many outstanding
issues between Israel and Lebanon,” he said. Hanna said that Lebanese affairs
reflected international political wrangling. “Regional relationships are going
on and they are reflected in the Lebanese situation,” he said, adding that some
Lebanese politicians “may seek to gain their own advantage” from regional power
dynamics. “We have to wait to see what will happen between the US, Syria and
Iran before we can see the picture clearly,” said Hanna.
Bassil denies link to Israeli ‘spy’ internet company
By Dalila Mahdawi/Daily Star staff
Monday, August 17, 2009
BEIRUT: Telecommunications Minister Gibran Bassil on Saturday denied allegations
made by a rival politician that his party was linked to an internet company
recently found to have connections to Israel. Future Movement MP Ammar Houry
told New Television Saturday that the company’s manager was a supporter of
Christian opposition group the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and was “very close
to them, particularly to one of the parties that belongs to this bloc.” Bassil,
a member of the FPM, swiftly refuted Houry’s remarks.
Lebanon’s Prosecutor-General last week ordered the closure of the internet
company, whose name has not been disclosed, based in the Chouf Mountains, after
it was found to have links to Israel. Troops from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
raided the company offices in Barouk last week and discovered its server was
wired to a satellite pointing towards Israel.
Officials discovered the equipment connected to an internet company that
distributes internet lines in the region, including Lebanon, through Israel.
Subsequent interrogations of employees also pointed to an Israeli link, As Safir
newspaper reported, citing unidentified sources. Several government institutions
are reportedly subscribed with the company. Houry also alleged the company was
established during Emile Lahoud’s presidency, and that it was allowed to reopen
for business after two days. Hizbullah’s Al-Manar television last week alleged
the Israeli connection was first unearthed in April, but said intervention from
a large political party had prevented an earlier raid. There may be several
other companies in Lebanon that are violating the law banning contact with
Israel, unidentified sources told As Safir. Beirut remains in a state of war
with Tel Aviv, and Lebanese citizens are forbidden from having contact with
Israelis or from visiting Israel. Lebanon has arrested dozens of people since
January on suspicion of spying for Israel in a high profile campaign to
dismantle espionage cells. Around 40 of those are currently in detention,
according to AFP.
Berri: No more silence over war compensation
Daily Star staff/Monday, August 17, 2009
BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri said on Sunday he will no longer keep silent over
the issue of unpaid compensation for the victims of the summer 2006 war with
Israel. The month-long war in 2006 saw Israeli warplanes destroy villages in
south Lebanon and entire blocks in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The 34-day summer
war killed about 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and about 160
in Israel, mostly soldiers. Speaking to a delegation from the southern village
of Qana, Berri said he wouldn’t remain silent on attempts to deprive those whose
properties were damaged during the 2006 war from compensation. “The people of
the south will not forgive or give up their legal rights to receive
compensation,” the speaker stressed. Berri vowed to his visitors that the
development of south Lebanon would remain a priority for his Development and
Liberation parliamentary bloc and all southern MPs. The speaker added that
choosing not to make statements on the issue of the cabinet formation does not
mean keeping silent on the “difficulties” faced by the Lebanese. “Choosing not
to make statements on the issue of the government does not at all mean
refraining from speaking about demands on living conditions on the eve of the
holy month of Ramadan and before the new academic year starts,” Berri told his
visitors from Qana. – The Daily Star
Efforts
to form cabinet hit brick wall over portfolios
Aoun fingered as obstacle to government formation
Daily Star staff/Monday, August 17, 2009
BEIRUT: While the weekend did not mark any new developments on the government
formation front, reports indicated that all efforts are seemingly back to square
one when it comes to the assignment of portfolios. So far, the share and
portfolios assigned to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) seem to be the main
obstacle in the way of the formation of the cabinet.
On Sunday, Prime Minister- designate Saad Hariri was still waiting for a
response from FPM leader MP Michel Aoun to an invitation for lunch to discuss
pending issues pertaining to the formation of the cabinet. Aoun is expected to
hold a news conference on Monday to reveal his stances concerning the cabinet
formation process. A statement by Aoun’s press office said the news conference
aimed at “responding to the campaign being waged against him by the March 14
Forces.” The March 14 Forces have taken on Aoun over his alleged insistence to
have his son-in-law, caretaker Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil, remain
in cabinet. The March 14 Forces argue that since Bassil failed to make it to
Parliament when he lost the June parliamentary polls in the district of Batroun,
he should not be allowed a seat in the cabinet. However, sources told LBCI
television on Sunday that the problem with Aoun “goes deeper than that and can
be tied to more serious issues.” The sources added that Aoun’s insistence to
retain the Telecommunications Ministry, a demand backed by Hizbullah, was
another source of deadlock. Aoun hopes for the nomination of three Maronite
ministers, which according to the sources would jeopardize the chances of
Maronite figures from the March 14 Forces such as MP Butros Harb and caretaker
Minister of State Nassib Lahoud making it to the cabinet.
A Hizbullah source told pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat in comments published on Sunday
that the party backed Hariri in his efforts to form a national unity cabinet.
“However,” the source said, “supporting Premier-designate Saad Hariri’s does not
prevent the party from expressing solidarity with Aoun in the face of the
campaign against him.”
Sources from the parliamentary majority told Al-Hayat that such a statnce from
Hizbullah “encourages Aoun to show more inflexibility.”
On Sunday, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said during his Sunday sermon that
many politicians were “looking after their own interests” thus hindering the
formation of a cabinet.
“The political squabbling shows that many of those who work in politics do not
care about the good of the country and are looking after their own interests
thus hindering the formation of a government that works for the interest of this
country,” Sfeir said. Caretaker Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi said Sunday
that the next cabinet would be formed based on the formula that was agreed on by
all Lebanese parties. “The government will be formed based on the agreed
formula. The formula has settled on 15-10-5,” Aridi said in the Bekaa city of
Baalbek.
The 15-10-5 make-up grants the majority 15 ministers, the opposition 10 and
President Michel Sleiman five seats, which guarantees him the tipping vote while
both March 14 and the opposition would respectively be denied the absolute
majority or veto power.
Aridi said the issue of portfolios could be solved through dialogue. “We call
for a serious dialogue to speed up [cabinet] formation so that we all focus on
facing political challenges.”
Aridi toured Baalbek and the northern Bekaa on Sunday to inspect infrastructure
works carried out by his ministryAsked whether the Public Works Ministry would
be part of the Progressive Socialist Party’s share in the new government, Aridi
said: “The PSP holds onto the ministry.”
In other news, caretaker Youth and Sports Minister Talal Arslan told Hizbullah’s
politburo head Ibrahim Amine al-Sayyed Saturday he was willing to give up his
own post in a future cabinet but he could not forego the right of his party to
representation. Arslan insisted on the need to reach a shape-up “as soon as
possible for the good of the country and to preserve its unity.” He called for a
government of national unity and of “real national partnership in order to be
able to confront Israeli threats and others on the domestic, regional and
international levels.”
The leader of the Lebanese Democratic party said his meeting with Sayyed was
part of “constant coordination between him and Hizbullah” and stressed that the
“resistance is his strategic path that he cannot deviate from.” For his part,
Sayyed also called for the speedy formation of a government that “can achieve
real and effective partnership.” He said the timing for the government’s birth
was “up to Premier-designate Saad Hariri,” adding that the opposition provided
“all the required facilitations to form a government.”
He accused “some sides of trying to raise malicious points and wanting to settle
political and electoral scores with some members of the opposition in order to
cover up problems or crisis within their ranks.” – The Daily Star
Nasrallah on the anniversary of
Hezbollah's victory over Israel
Monday, 17 August 2009 00:27 Added by PT Editor Nour Scardina
August 17, 2009 (Pal Telegraph)- Hezbollah marked three years of Divine Victory
over Israel on Friday in Beirut's southern suburb.
Political figures attended the gathering including representatives of President
Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, MP
Michel Aoun and MP Walid Jumblatt, along with party chiefs, ministers, MPs and
Ambassadors.
Tens of thousands of people also took part in the ceremony and welcomed with
cheers and tears Hezbollah's Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who
delivered a speech through a giant screen.
Sayyed Nasrallah welcomed the crowd and paid tribute to the martyrs, injured and
those whose homes and properties were destroyed during the Israeli war on
Lebanon in 2006.
"Much has been said about this war, its causes, motives, background. as well as
its course and lessons. There will always be much more to say because what we
went through was an epic and a miracle made in Lebanon and by the Lebanese
people. One of the main lessons that should be taught is: what if the resistance
was defeated in Lebanon? I would like to give priority (in my speech) to the
current Israeli threats and the next stage. I would like to begin with reading a
small text by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu pertaining to the July
war. He said shortly after the war, and before he became Prime Minister:
‘The Six Day War enabled Israel to survive and make peace agreements. The 1967
war signaled the transformation of a state with many question marks surrounding
it into an unbeatable state that expanded its width from 12kms to 70kms. We were
able to control two mountains and the Jews will no longer be thrown into the
sea. Arabs felt they had to acknowledge Israel and then we signed peace treaties
with Egypt and Jordan and we had indications that we can go for reconciliation
with the Palestinians. However, since the unilateral pullout from Lebanon in
2000 and the unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and today, after the
Second Lebanon War, the bearings have changed dramatically. It is evident that
Israel today is no longer an unbeatable state and question marks - from friends
and foes alike - on the survival of the state of Israel have returned.'
In the past few weeks, there had been media and political uproar in Israel
supported by some US and Western stances, particularly British stances. We do
not believe that these threats and all this uproar indicate an imminent Israeli
war on Lebanon. These threats have other goals, including psychological war.
This uproar is also aimed, according to Israeli reports, at the efforts to form
the Lebanese government through warning against the participation of Hezbollah
in the Cabinet. It is clear that the Israelis will be vexed if a national unity
government were formed in Lebanon. Another goal behind this uproar is the
attempt to bring back discord to Lebanon. This is what the Israelis frankly said
but the general atmosphere in Lebanon is positive regardless of some voices. A
third goal is the endeavor to amend the mandate of the UNIFIL. The incident in
the town of Khirbet Selem happened shortly before the release of the UN
Secretary General report over the implementation of UN resolution 1701. The
Americans and the Israeli raised the issue of amending the UNIFIL's mandate. The
UNIFIL has one mission in south Lebanon which is to back the Lebanese army and
other legitimate forces and therefore, the UNIFIL cannot have checkpoints or
raid houses. They wanted to amend its mandate to transform this force into a
multi-national force as suggested back in 2006. This goal also failed due to the
official stance in Lebanon that firmly rejected any amendment.
Another goal is to reopen the file of the arms of the resistance and its power.
They incited the international community and pressured Lebanon, Syria and Iran
and they threatened the region with war. We do not make comments on the armament
of the resistance, but I would like to tell our dear Lebanese people that this
precious land lies next to an aggressive and avarice entity. In a world ruled by
the law of the jungle, not by the international law, one must take advantage of
all past experiences so as not to be sold in the international market of
politics when the right price is paid. Any people are protected by their unity,
will and determination to live with dignity."
Sayyed Nasrallah said that those assessing and studying the July war should
"search for what we are made of" before researching on arms, combat formations,
strategies and tactics.
"In one of Imam Moussa Sadr's words to the people of south Lebanon, when he was
urging them to resist Israeli aggressions, he said: we will fight you with
stones and with our teeth...Ultimately, those who have the determination can
fight and win...I hereby repeat my words with much more confidence than before:
As I used to promise you victory, I promise you victory again, God willing."
The Hezbollah Secretary General pointed out that the Israeli psychological war
bares a negative indication. "Shaul Mofaz said that Hezbollah has become three
times stronger today than in 2006. He is seeking help from the world, but what
message is he conveying to the people living in his entity? Ehud Barak says that
Hezbollah's missile arsenal has grown and today it has the ability to strike Tel
Aviv and any spot in Israel. On the one hand he is instigating the international
community against us, but on the other hand, he is telling the whole Israeli
population that in the next war, you will all flee, not only Keryat Shmona and
Haifa residents. In the past few weeks, Netanyahu retracted the threats and said
that this was a media storm, why? Because settlers expressed resentment and
tourists started to flee out of northern Israel."
Sayyed Nasrallah ruled out an imminent war but said that in case Israel waged
war, there are two options. "To surrender, disarm ourselves and become weak;
this is out of the question. The second option is to be ready and to consolidate
our power factors to prevent war; and in this case if war were waged on us we
will win it. Can we prevent an Israeli war on Lebanon? Yes we can. Can we stop
Israel from thinking about waging war on Lebanon? Yes we can by having a
deterrent force. In Israel, it is not easy any more to take a decision to go to
war with Lebanon. The objective of any coming war will be to eradicate the
resistance, but can this current Israeli army and this Israeli government wage a
war to eradicate the resistance in Lebanon? They cannot. We have been hearing
about the Dahye (Beirut's southern suburb) doctrine or the Dahye strategy based
on certain ideas, but we have not yet heard any response on this, therefore it
is our right to tell the Israelis that if you bomb Dahye or Beirut, we will bomb
Tel Aviv. We have the ability to hit any city or town in your entity. Carry out
as much drills as you want, develop your tanks' armors and train your brigades;
they will be crushed in our towns, villages, valleys and hills. There will be
new surprises, so they have to think a million times before waging war on us."
"According to my knowledge of Israelis, when they jabber they are not to be
feared. We should be vigilant when they are quiet, like snakes," his eminence
said.
Sayyed Nasrallah touched on the issue of Mossad agents in Lebanon. He said
Israel cannot do without spies to gather information. "On behalf of the martyrs,
I demand that security forces complete what they started. What was accomplished
recently is not enough. There is no spy-free town, village and city in Lebanon.
We have heard something about tolerance and leniency with regards to
collaborators. This is unacceptable and the state institutions are responsible
to deal with this file."
His eminence stressed the 2006 war foiled the most dangerous US-Israeli plot in
the region. "Since August 14, 2006, we haven't heard anything about the new
Mideast. Our domestic and regional state is better than our state back in 2006."
Sayyed Nasrallah paid tribute to the martyrs and their suffering families and
stressed "unity in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq is our power factor. Our strength
lies in our resistance and the future is our; we make it with our own hands,
with the blood of our martyrs, with our faith and belief. This is the lesson of
this historic victory."
Source: Al-Manar TV
http://yabeyrouth.net/content/view/27389/15/
http://14march.org/news-details.php?nid=MTU2Njgw
http://www.al-seyassah.com/editor_details.asp?aid=6146&aname=إلياس%20بجاني
http://leilamagazine26.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post_7235.html