LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 08/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 9:32-38. As they were going out, a demoniac who could
not speak was brought to him, and when the demon was driven out the mute person
spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in
Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He drives out demons by the prince of
demons."Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and
illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he
said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask
the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
ICC Release: Jihad Attack on over
100 Christian Homes in Pakistan 07/07/09
ICC Release: Pakistani Police
Brutalize Christians after Robbing their Homes 07/07/09
Lebanon's response to Netanyahu's threats must go beyond denunciation.The
Daily Star 07/07/09
The Arabs' blanket rejection of Netanyahu's speech
is short-sighted-By Abdel Monem Said -Daily Star
07/07/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July
07/09
German FM: I Hope National Dialogue Would Show Much Progress and Success-Naharnet
Israeli Spy Parachutes Invade
Sky above South Lebanon-Naharnet
Suleiman: Britain Has to Press Israel to Accept Arab Peace Initiative-Naharnet
Central Security Council Bans Gunfire Approves Security Plan for Tourist Season-Naharnet
Arslan: We Won't Accept
Marginal Role in Cabinet, Syria Not Pressing Opposition-Naharnet
Iran reform leaders seek to
rekindle movement-AP
'Absolutely' no green light for
Israel to strike Iran: Obama-Future News
Hariri acts in silence…and the
“evil axis” is marginalized-Future News
Pasdaran scenario to get rid of the
opposition-Future News
Jumblatt: I will not obstruct the
cabinet formation-Future News
UN Security Council to discuss
Ban's report on Resolution 1701-Future News
Israeli Spy Parachutes Invade Sky
above South Lebanon-Naharnet
Wanted
Man Jumps from Justice Palace's Fourth Floor-Naharnet
Franjieh: We Decide Our Shares in Cabinet, Assad Cannot Decide for Opposition-Naharnet
Hariri
Launches Talks with Opposition on Cabinet Line-Up-Naharnet
France Confident Lebanon
Capable of Forming Cabinet Away from Foreign Meddling-Naharnet
German FM: Hizbullah,
Hamas Not Interested in Success of Peace Talks-Naharnet
Doctor's Death Stirs Row,
Doubts about Suicide Hypothesis-Naharnet
Rival Fatah Gunmen Trade
Gunfire in Ain el-Hilweh-Naharnet
Aoun Fears No Role For
Lebanese in Cabinet Formation-Naharnet
Jumblat Warns against
Ongoing Internal Divide, Criticizes Biden-Naharnet
Hariri Slams Netanyahu's
'Negative Messages and Distortion of Facts'-Naharnet
Laurent: Hariri Has EU's
Full Support in His Mission to Form 'Important' Cabinet-Naharnet
Suleiman: Damascus
Declaration Will Not Be Used to Push Cabinet Formation; Lebanese-Syrian Ties Are
Enjoying 'Mutual Trust'-Naharnet
Phalange Party Calls for
'Strict' Security Plan in aftermath of Street Violence-Naharnet
US, Saudis push Syria over IDF withdrawal
from Shaba Farms-Ha'aretz
US floats ideas on next envoy
to Syria-Jerusalem Post
Sleiman, Hariri denounce Israeli premier's threat
to hit Lebanon-Daily Star
Riyadh urges independent Lebanese cabinet
formation-Daily Star
Candidates ready to challenge poll results as
deadline looms-Daily Star
Netanyahu trying to shape cabinet makeup-Daily
Star
Hariri dispatches adviser to meet with Maronite
patriarch-Daily Star
Lebanon expected to achieve higher economic growth-Daily
Star
ISF continue investigation into Jamal al-Samad
death-Daily Star
Eight detained over Aisha Bakkar clashes released-Daily
Star
Films help Lebanese come to terms with war-Daily
Star
UN office in Beirut begins training seminar on
human rights-Daily Star
Nostalgia as Brummana High School alumni reunite-Daily
Star
City of Tyre offers glimpse into ancient grandeur-Daily
Star
ICC
Release: Pakistani Police Brutalize Christians after Robbing their Homes
Pakistani authorities raid slum after dispute between Christian and Muslim
workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7, 2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) has
learned that on June 4th, local police entered a Christian village in Pakistan,
arrested several men, and dragged women out of their homes and through the
streets by their hair.
The village of Ali Nagar is a suburb of Wazirabad, in northern Pakistan, and
contains a slum populated by around 100 Christian families - nearly all of whom
are sanitation workers. Several days before the raid, Muslim sanitation workers
accused the Christians of not keeping the sewage lines clean enough. After the
Christians protested the accusation, the Muslims filed a complaint against the
Christian workers living in Ali Nagar.
Stephen Gill, a local Christian leader, contends that the Muslims' accusations
were unfounded, and recounts how police immediately acted on the complaint and
raided the slum with an elite unit: "The police raided and ransacked Christian
homes and stole our valuables, including cell phones, cash, jewelry, and other
expensive household items."
Police beat 11 Christian men who protested the raid and then threw them into
police vans. They were all taken to the police station and later thrown into
jail.
The police also grabbed the women by their hair and dragged them out of their
homes and into the street, where they "ripped apart" their clothes as they
mocked them, calling them "choohra" (a derogative word for "Christian"). They
arrested at least six women.
When ICC contacted the police, they claimed that the purpose of the raid was "to
arrest men involved in bootlegging." The government has ignored the incident.
Jeremy Sewall, ICC's Advocacy Director, said, "This shameful violation of
justice and Christians' human rights illustrates how the Pakistani government
sanctions and participates in the regular persecution of Christians. When the
government who is supposed to protect you turns against you and robs your house
and abuses your family, where are you supposed to turn? Please pray for the
speedy release of those wrongfully held and that justice would be served."
# # #
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and
Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for
an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC
(International Christian Concern) and include our web address,
www.persecution.org.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Update: Jihad Attack on over 100 Christian Homes in Pakistan
Washington, D.C. (July 7, 2009) - International Christian Concern (ICC) has
received additional details on a Muslim mob that assaulted and robbed Christians
before burning over 100 of their homes in the Kasur District, near Lahore,
Pakistan. ICC first reported this story on July 1.
The mob, estimated at three to four hundred, waited until the men had left the
village and attacked Christian women and children in their houses with sticks,
hatchets, and acid on the evening of June 30th. Over 100 homes were burned, and
dozens of injuries were reported, including two women burned with acid. The
Muslims robbed the families of their money and jewelry and vandalized the
church.
This violence erupted after a dispute between a Christian and a Muslim on June
29th. The Muslim, Muhammad Riaz, had parked his motorcycle in the street of the
village Bhanmini, when Sardar Masih asked him to move it aside so that he could
drive his tractor past. Riaz, who was drunk, refused and began cursing and
beating Sardar. Sardar's son ran home to get help from his uncles, who came and
rescued Sardar.
Later that evening, Riaz came to Sardar's house with a group of friends and beat
his family. A council-member of the village asked Sardar not to file a complaint
against Riaz, in the "interests of reconciliation." The same council-member then
helped Riaz go to the police station and lodge a complaint against Sardar. After
hearing about it, Sardar tried to file a complaint of his own, but the police
refused to accept it.
The next day, the imam at the local mosque accused Sardar of blasphemy and asked
Muslims to "teach the Christians a lesson." He went on to say, "Kidnap the
Christian women, destroy their belongings, and get ready for Jihad." A mob then
assembled, and attacked at 7 pm.
Noreen was in her home taking a shower when the mob attacked. Frightened, she
tried to run onto the roof, but the Muslims dragged her out by her hair and
threw acid on her. She later tried to commit suicide.
Allah Rakhi said, "I was sitting in my home when the mob came in and started
breaking furniture and other things. They beat me with a stick, ripped my
clothes off, and took the money in the house."
Another woman miscarried her unborn child after being beaten.
After the attacks, the imam told his followers not to sell any food to the
Christians, and anyone who did would be "thrown out of the community." The
homeless Christians went hungry for two days until relief arrived.
Despite promises of support from local politicians and officials, no arrests
have been made. Local churches and ministries have offered emergency aid to the
victims, but until police prosecute the attackers, these Christians will not be
safe.
Please call the Pakistani embassy in your country to protest this assault.
Pakistan Embassies:
USA: (202) 243-6500
Canada: (613) 238-7881
UK: 0870-005-6967
# # #
ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and
Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for
an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
U.S., Saudis push Syria over IDF withdrawal from
Shaba Farms
By Zvi Bar'el
Saudi Arabia and the United States are pressing Syria to demarcate its border
with Lebanon, in order to allow for the beginning of an Israeli withdrawal from
the disputed Shaba Farms area, straddling the border between Lebanon and the
Golan Heights.
These moves come amid warming relations between Damascus and Washington. This
past weekend Syrian President Bashar Assad issued an unofficial invitation to
his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama to visit the Syrian capital.
Marking the Syrian-Lebanese border would neutralize the Israeli claim that Shaba
Farms was previously Syrian territory, and that a withdrawal must be carried out
only in the course of negotiations with Damascus. The United Nations also
defines the area as Syrian territory, and did not call on Israel to pull back
from it during its 2000 withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Withdrawing from the disputed area would also obviate one of Hezbollah's primary
pretexts for continuing to maintain weapons to fight Israel's presence on what
it considers Lebanese soil. In marking its border, however, Syria would be
sending a strong message to Hezbollah that the militant group's accumulation of
arms is no longer part of the country's military strategy.
Such a move would likely bolster the position of Saad Hariri, Lebanon's pro-West
prime minister-delegate, as well. Hariri has stated that the Lebanese parliament
must tackle the issue of disarming Hezbollah. He has also conditioned forming a
government on the Hezbollah-led opposition holding no more than a third of the
seats in parliament, thus preventing it from being able to veto key government
decisions. The Lebanese Constitution stipulates that certain important decisions
must be made with the ascent of two-thirds of parliamentarians.
Lebanese sources said recently that they expected Syria to agree to mark the
border in an effort to win favor with both the United States and Egypt; Lebanon
engaged in a diplomatic confrontation with the latter during Israel's operation
in Gaza earlier this year.
The border delineation may occur after a new American ambassador is appointed to
Syria. One of the leading candidates for the post is Daniel Kurtzer, a former
U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Talks over the border issue began before the June 7 election in Lebanon, when
acting U.S. assistant secretary of state Jeffrey Feltman and Daniel Shapiro, a
Middle East expert with the National Security Council, presented the request to
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem. Moallem rejected the request, telling
them, "Until the Farms are liberated from Israeli occupation, we won't mark the
border."
Nonetheless, Moallem seems to have changed his position in recent days,
announcing that the border mapping would begin in two months, but that
demarcation would begin at Syria's northern frontier.
Meanwhile, Syria is also feeling pressure from Saudi Arabia, as King Abdullah
has begun reaching out to Damascus after long-strained relations. Reports from
Saudi Arabia indicate Abdullah is scheduled to travel to Damascus on Monday, and
may convene a limited summit of Saudi, Syrian, Lebanese and Egyptian officials
in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Nasrallah Demands Guarantees
Regarding International Tribunal
Naharnet/Well-informed sources uncovered that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
has returned to the fore as a major knot in the face of formation of a new
Cabinet. The sources told the daily al-Liwaa in remarks published Monday that
contacts regarding the issue of the STL had slowed down the process of Cabinet
formation. They said Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made a hush hush
visit to Syria last week. The sources said Nasrallah has asked for "guarantees"
with regard to alleged reports about the STL's indictment against him.
Beirut, 06 Jul 09, 11:07
German FM: Hizbullah, Hamas Not Interested in Success of Peace Talks
Naharnet/German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Syria on Tuesday
to do its part to ensure the success of Middle East peace efforts and said
"destructive elements" in the region needed to be reined in. "Syria has an
objective interest in the success of the Middle East peace process and I call on
Syria and also my counterpart Mr Muallem to do its part," he said at a joint
press conference in Damascus with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem. "There
is no time to lose," Steinmeier said after meeting Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad and Muallem on the latest leg of a Middle East tour. But he said
Hizbullah and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas had shown "no interest in
the success of the peace talks."
"In my view, the peace process can only proceed when destructive elements in the
region are reined in," the German foreign minister added. Germany's FM left for
Israel Sunday at the start of a two-day tour that will also take in Syria and
Lebanon and is aimed at lending support to the new U.S. engagement in the
region.
Steinmeier is to hold talks with President Bashar al-Assad before meeting with
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and designated Prime Minister Saad Hariri in
Beirut. He will return to Berlin late Tuesday. Steinmeier held talks in
Jerusalem Monday with Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres
and the leader of the opposition Kadima party, Tzipi Livni.
He also paid his respects at the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem and met
representatives of the Palestinian Authority.
Steinmeier, who is also vice-chancellor and is challenging conservative
Chancellor Angela Merkel in a September general election, is on his 14th Middle
East tour since taking office in November 2005 in a left-right government.
He aims to underline Germany's desire to actively back U.S. President Barack
Obama's drive to kick start the dormant peace process between Israelis and
Palestinians and enlist the support of regional neighbors. "We have had new
momentum in the Middle East peace process since the new government took office
in Washington and support its fresh efforts to reach a two-state solution and a
return to negotiations," a ministry spokesman, Andreas Peschke, told reporters
Friday.
Germany sees the absence of violence surrounding the Lebanese elections on June
7 and improved relations between Lebanon and Syria as factors that present a
"window of opportunity" that Europe must help to seize. Peschke said Germany was
pursuing a Middle East policy, in close consultations with its European partners
and the United States, that moved away from "slogans" and focused on practical
assistance on the ground. Such steps include development assistance for the
Palestinians and training for security forces in the territories to help prepare
for eventual statehood. Steinmeier faced criticism from the chancellery, the
United States and France for earlier efforts to engage Syria. But each has since
softened its stance toward the country. The Obama administration has said it
would send an ambassador back to Damascus after a four-year hiatus amid a
region-wide drive to lay the groundwork for Middle East peace.(AFP-Naharnet)
Beirut, 07 Jul 09, 08:28
Hariri Launches Talks with Opposition on Cabinet Line-Up
Naharnet/Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri kicks off Tuesday a series of
meetings with the Hizbullah-led opposition to discuss formation of a national
unity government. Hariri on Tuesday met Free Patriotic Movement envoy,
Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil. Bassil told reporters as he left
Qoreitem that the meeting was "very good." Al-Liwaa newspaper said a second
meeting is likely to take place between Hariri and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah. Pan-Arab al-Hayat daily, meanwhile, said discussions focused on the
makeup of the government without entering the name game or distribution of
portfolios. Political sources, meanwhile, told As-Safir newspaper that President
Michel Suleiman grabbed on to his demand for at least six ministers in the new
cabinet, including four Christians and two Muslims. They ruled out that Hariri
would bring in lawmakers who lost elections to the new government, pointing out
that Aoun still insists that his son-in-law Bassil and Elias Skaff be given
cabinet portfolios. Channels of communication remain open between Hariri and
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as well as between Qoreitem and Hart Hreik.
Hariri met Monday night Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel who expressed
satisfaction over talks on the formation of the next government. Gemayel, in
remarks published by al-Liwaa on Tuesday, called on the various political
leaders to help Hariri establish a government of national consensus as soon as
possible.
Beirut, 07 Jul 09, 08:38
France Confident Lebanon Capable of Forming Cabinet Away from Foreign Meddling
Naharnet/France has affirmed anew that formation of a national unity government
was a "purely Lebanese affair" and expressed confidence in Lebanese political
leaders "who are capable of forming a cabinet away from foreign intervention."
Paris' stance was made by French foreign ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier.
Asked whether France would take part in consultations between Damascus,
Washington and Riyadh regarding formation of a new Lebanon cabinet, Chevallier
said that creation of a government is a Lebanese internal issue.
Beirut, 07 Jul 09, 09:01
Israeli Spy Parachutes Invade Sky above South Lebanon
Naharnet/Parachute-like objects lit up the sky above southern Lebanon overnight
in what appeared to be a new Israeli spy method. Security reports said a
"shining object" resembling a gas cylinder fell over the southern village of
Nmaireh around 10:30pm Monday and another over Zafta in the Nabatiyeh province.
Security forces rushed to the scene and went straight into on a fact-finding
mission to find out the truth about these objects. The daily An-Nahar on Tuesday
described the parachute-like objects as a "new kind of Israeli espionage war on
Lebanon." It said Israel has been recently dropping these objects over the
mountainous terrain of southern Lebanon and near residential houses. Al-Akhbar
newspaper, however, quoted local sources as saying the object over Zafta was
likely a meteor that fell from the sky or an Israeli parachute or even a spy
device. But security sources said the object could be an "explosive arrow" that
was shot from a nearby location. Beirut, 07 Jul 09, 07:45
Wanted Man Jumps from Justice Palace's Fourth Floor
Naharnet/A wanted man from the Mallah family committed suicide after jumping
from the Justice Palace's fourth floor, the National News Agency reported
Tuesday. NNA said the man jumped from the office window of Judge Maisar Shukr,
who was questioning him, and fell in a parking lot. Security forces immediately
arrived to the area and opened an investigation into the incident. The man is
wanted by the state of Kuwait, according to NNA. Beirut, 07 Jul 09, 14:24
Franjieh: We Decide Our Shares in Cabinet, Assad
Cannot Decide for Opposition
Naharnet/Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh on Tuesday said the Opposition
decided its shares in the new Cabinet, adding that Syrian President Bashar Assad
cannot decide on behalf of the opposition unless he consults with the March 8
coalition. Following a meeting in Rabiyeh with Free Patriotic Movement leader
Gen. Michel Aoun, Franjieh told reporters that the Opposition insists on its
demand for veto power. "The Opposition respects the President (Suleiman) and his
shares in the government, but our shares are ours and his shares are his,"
Franjieh said. He hoped that the government would be formed in Lebanon. Franjieh,
however, described as "very important" Saudi efforts toward a Syrian-Lebanese
summit to be held in Damascus. Beirut, 07 Jul 09, 13:35
Rival Fatah Gunmen Trade Gunfire in Ain el-Hilweh
Naharnet/Two armed groups within the Palestinian Fatah movement battled each
other at the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh Monday night, al-Akhbar
daily reported. The newspaper said Tuesday that a Palestinian named Hassan Abou
Arab, who is the brother of Fatah's chief of staff Sobhi, was injured during the
armed clashes. Ain el-Hilweh sources told al-Akhbar the dispute degenerated into
a gunfight between Hassan Abou Arab backed by his supporters and other Fatah
members from the Abul Kul family. During the gunfight, Fatah members blocked the
camp's road while Abu Arab's supporters raided the home of a man from the Abul
Kul family and seized arms from the house. Beirut, 07 Jul 09, 09:54
Aoun Fears No Role For Lebanese in Cabinet Formation
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun on Monday expressed
regret that the formation of a national unity government has shifted from and
internal to n external role. "The general scene is negative. There is no role
for the Lebanese people in the formation of their government," Aoun said in an
interview on Al-Manar TV. "Where are those who claimed to be keen on sovereignty
and independence?" he asked. "We tell the Arabs that it's fine if they had a
role in (efforts) to create a government," Aoun said. "But having a government
set up by the Arabs is not desirable." "We are the axis of evil as they claim.
We demand Lebanon's soverienty and independence," he added. "We demand that
(Cabinet) formation be made in Lebanon. No one can marginalize us." Beirut, 06
Jul 09, 21:03
Jumblat Warns against Ongoing Internal Divide, Criticizes Biden
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Monday warned
against ongoing internal divide. "Regional and global changes push us to
recognize the risks of ongoing internal divide," Jumblat wrote in his weekly al-Anbaa.
Jumblat hailed a weekend visit by a Hizbullah religious delegation to the Shouf
Mountains. "This step is a translation of what has been agreed upon during the
meeting with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah which will be followed by similar steps to
strengthen the climate of calm and internal stability," he said. Jumblat said
the initiative has had a "positive impact on turning the painful page of May 7
(events) for good and open a new page through cooperation and restoring
confidence." He criticized a statement by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden in
which he gave Israel the right to attack Iran. "What if Israel also decided to
stage a pre-emptive attack on Lebanon and the Resistance?" he asked. Beirut, 06
Jul 09, 20:32
Nasrallah and Asaad discuss election results
Date: July 7th, 2009 Source: Al Akhbar /Syria is still following up the results
of the Lebanese legislative elections on two different axes. One related to
holding discussions with its allies in the Lebanese opposition, the other is
internal and related to the manner the Syrian authorities’ handle this
entitlement, the minority-run Al-Akhbar newspaper said. Related to the first
axis, a meeting joined the Syrian President Bashar Al-Asaad and Hizbullah
Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah who paid Damascus an undisclosed
visit. The paper said: “Issues concerning the Lebanese elections were discussed
to pin point the things that the opposition and Syria were able to do during the
elections and did not. The results of the debate pointed to a lack of follow up
on the details of what was happening on the ground, and to misestimating the
rival’s strenght, which resulted in a big loss for the opposition in major
positions.”The paper added: “Influential figures at different positions said
that Damascus is reorganizing the Lebanese file in a mechanism that prevents
multiplicity of authorities in charge of the opposition. They believe that such
practices led to false election expectations, to the extent that even Syrian
President Bashar Al-Asaad himself told one of his visitors a week before the
election, ‘we must be ready to face a possible loss of the opposition.’
Pasdaran scenario to get rid of the opposition
Date: July 7th, 2009 Source: Future News/Iran is still enduring the
repercussions of the popular protests that followed declaring Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad winner in the June 7 presidential elections. The protestors accused
Ahmadinejad of forgery and called for repeating the elections, but the Iranian
authorities backed by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the
Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran) deployed the Basij in the streets of the Iranian
cities which left tens dead and wounded. An informed source who spoke on
condition of anonymity told almustaqbal.org that the Iranian regime is preparing
for a political and security operation to eradicate the opposition within the
regime on the one hand and among people on the other.
The political and security plan is divided into several phases. The Iranian
authorities intend to issue arrest warrants for each of the, Head of the
Expediency Council Hashemi Rafsanjani, Former President Mohammad Khatami and the
defeated candidates for presidency Mir Hussein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi as
well as about 75 religious men.
The source added that the authorities had arrested last week the seven “Harem”
of Sheikh Rafsanjani, or the women closely related to him that are his wife,
daughter and granddaughters and linked their release to Rafsanjani’s declaring
his support for the regime against the protests.
Moreover preparations to oust Rafsanjani from his post are underway as a prelude
to replace him with president Ahmadinejad who has the right, according to the
Iranian constitution, to hold these two posts. In the following stage Mousavi,
Khatami and Rafsanjani will face charges of law violation and will be deprived
of their right to run for the presidential elections or any other elections
later. Furthermore Rafsanjani and Khatami will be put under an undeclared house
arrest under the pretext that the Pasdaran intends to put them to trial while in
fact the Supreme leader only aims at hampering their political and social
movement. The next step that the regime intends to take is still not clear yet.
There are speculations that the Supreme leader would start a pacific cleansing
within the opposition ranks or he would listen to some Pasdaran leaders who call
for a revolutionary response yet without deploying the army openly in the
streets in order to maintain the façade of a democratic Iranian Islamic
Republic. The revolutionary response that Pasdaran leaders call for without
deploying the army requires a plan. Their suggestion is to allow thousands of
the regime supporters to rally in the streets of Tehran and announce an open
sit-in. In the midst of anarchy, opposition leaders and activists are to be
killed before the army is deployed to control the situation and declare a sort
of martial law for few days. The source noted that the two options are still
examined by the Iranian top leaders and either of them might be executed at any
moment.
US floats ideas on next envoy to Syria
By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT IN WASHINGTON
Daniel Kurtzer
Former US ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer sharply denied reports Monday that
he is under consideration to become the next American ambassador to Damascus.
His name had been floated along with that of outgoing US Consul General in
Jerusalem Jacob Walles following the recent announcement from US officials that
America would be returning an envoy to Syria for the first time since 2005.
The US ambassador had been recalled following the assassination of anti-Syrian
Lebanese leader Rafik Hariri, with Syrian involvement suspected but not proved.
The move to return an ambassador is a sign of further efforts by the Obama
administration to engage Damascus and try to wean the Iranian ally from
Teheran's orbit.
Syria expert David Schenker of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy,
said of the timing of the announcement that it was definitely connected to the
turmoil in Iran and the administration's efforts to take advantage of Teheran's
perilous moment.
"[They want] to maximize the press on Iran, to make them concerned that Syria is
contemplating a change of camps," he said. The announcement of the intention to
return an ambassador was a gesture in and of itself, he noted, and urged the
Obama administration to see whether Syria's positive words towards America would
be met with actions before taking the additional step of designating an envoy.
"I don't think there's any rush," he said.
Among the factors to be weighed will be how high-profile an appointment the
United States wants to make. While the Syrians would like a big-name
representative, the US might be inclined to follow tradition by appointment a
career foreign service officer to the post.
State Department officials said they had no further information on who was
likely to be tapped for the post.