LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 29/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 13:36-43. Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into
the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of
the weeds in the field."He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of
Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The
weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the
devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as
weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the
age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his
kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into
the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the
righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has
ears ought to hear.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Now Lebanon: Lebanese press
round-up: July 28, 2009
Nabih Berri-Now Lebanon
28/07/09
Working on our image. Now Lebanon.
July 28, 2009
One month on: Lebanese government
yet to be born. By Jumana Al Tamimi, Gulf News 28/07/09
Border Control / The thin blue
line.By Akiva Eldar- Haaretz 28/07/09
Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet seems to be taking a long summer vacation.
The Daily Star 28/07/09
The Gulf
states and Israel: more than meets the eye-By
Sultan Al-Qassemi. Daily Star 28/07/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July
28/09
Druze Council: UNIFIL Was
Never an Enemy to the Lebanese and Must Never Turn into One-Naharnet
Raad from Baabda: No
Obstacles in Cabinet Formation-Naharnet
Hizbullah
Training Lebanese Army, Report-Naharnet
U.N. Warns Against Deteriorating
Security Situation in South-Naharnet
IDF chief: New Israel-Hezbollah war
unlikely-Haaretz
Israel to UN: Explosion shows 'volatile reality' in Lebanon-Jerusalem
Post
Israel's UN envoy: Lebanese fear Hezbollah-Ynetnews
Obama lifts some sanctions on Syria-United
Press International
US calls
on Arabs to normalize Israel ties-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
Raad
from Baabda: No Obstacles in Cabinet Formation-Naharnet
Franjieh: Opposition Holds Onto Veto Power-Naharnet
Hariri, Jumblat Propose
Appointment of Arslan-Naharnet
Karam: Efforts Underway to
Unite Geagea-Franjieh-Naharnet
Hizbullah Cell Faces
Hanging in Egypt, Nasrallah Personally Ordered it to Carry Out Attacks-Naharnet
Berri-Hizbullah meeting in
Search of Exit for Veto Power Demand-Naharnet
Cabinet Faces 'Test of
Intentions' as Suleiman against 'Neutral' Minister-Naharnet
Israel Expects Escalation
of Tension with Hizbullah, Trains for Urban and Guerilla Warfare-Naharnet
Graziano Meets Local
Officials in Tibnin to Deal with Aftermath of Khirbet Selm Mishap-Naharnet
Gemayel: Meeting with
Franjieh Not at Expense of LF, Allies-Naharnet
Unity
cabinet may be formed ‘in next 48 hours-Daily
Star
Gunmen
open fire on army soldier in Majdel Aanjar-Daily
Star
‘Zahle
in our Heart’ leader demands vital ministries-Daily
Star
Sfeir
stresses Sleiman’s role in cabinet formation-Daily
Star
Fadlallah: ‘Lebanon now facing most dangerous period-Daily
Star
Berri
says Lebanese unity will safeguard security-Daily
Star
UNIFIL
meets Hizbullah, Amal to discuss Khirbet Silim blasts-Daily
Star
Surprising events have created awkward situation for Hizbullah-Daily
Star
Lebanon’s brand perception gets boost – report-Daily
Star
Property
sales in Lebanon fall by 3.3 percent-Daily
Star
AUB
appoints new dean of Arts, Sciences-Daily
Star
West
must engage with Islamist parties, scholars say-Daily
Star
Farmers
demand more pay for tobacco harvest-Daily
Star
Puppet
theater helps young Iraqis regain lost childhood-Daily
Star
Model
United Nations makes Middle East debut-Daily
Star
Now
Lebanon: Lebanese press round-up: July 28, 2009
July 28, 2009
Press round-up for Tuesday, July 28th from the morning edition of Lebanon’s An-Nahar,
Al-Akhbar, As-Safir, and Ad-Diyar newspapers.
Opening Titles
Hariri holds intensive meetings at night; Sleiman does not accept the “super
minister” formula.
Imminent attempt to make a breakthrough regarding the formation of the
government.
Will the opposition relinquish the obstructing-third vote [condition]?
Local News
Sources told An-Nahar that the formation of the government has reached a
critical stage, which will decide very soon the actual course this process will
take.
According to sources, this test period will allow Prime Minister-designate Saad
Hariri to know whether the opposition has genuinely relinquished [its demands
for] the obstructing-third vote. According to these sources, the situation will
become clear within the next 24 hours.
The PM-designate met with former President Amin Gemayel yesterday evening, then
with MP Walid Jumblatt, Ministers Ghazi Aridi and Wael Abu Faour and MP Marwan
Hamadeh in order to discuss the ongoing deliberations aiming to form the
government.
According to sources who visited the Baabda Presidential Palace yesterday, what
President Sleiman is being quoted as saying is often inaccurate, and the
president’s sole wish is for the government to be one of national unity.
Sources close to the Presidential Palace did not give any indication that the
government will be formed before August 1. Meanwhile, noticeable efforts are
made in order to allow PM-designate Saad Hariri’s participation in the Army Day
ceremony according to protocol.
Marada sources told An-Nahar that yesterday’s meeting between President Michel
Sleiman and MP Sleiman Franjieh was positive and was reportedly aimed at
clearing misunderstandings between the two men.
The meeting held yesterday in the building housing the Serail of Tebnin was yet
another measure aiming to address the repercussions of the Kherbet Selem
incident between the village residents and UNIFIL under the aegis of the LAF’s
Intelligence Directorate.
Opening Titles
The [visit of the Saudi] king to Syria will put Saad in the Serail.
Berri’s optimism is passed along to Hariri and does not reach Rabieh.
Israel [says] to UNIFIL: Take action or we will!
Local News
The formation of the government hovered yesterday between cautious optimism
displayed by circles close to Ain al-Tineh and Qoreitem, and widespread
pessimism among the majority of other parties.
An MP close to the prime minister-designate asserted that Saad Hariri has
completed a government formula, which he will disclose to President Sleiman and
other parties within the coming hours.
The president reportedly proposed the appointment of either Adnan Sayyed Hussein
or Talal al-Moqdad provided that they are not subjected to any Shia veto.
MP Walid Jumblatt declined to comment on Berri’s inquiry about how the
Democratic Gathering ministers will be accounted for. Jumblatt insisted on the
re-appointment of Minister Talal Arslan.
Israel has been making increasingly tense statements ever since the Kherbet
Selem explosion and even threatened yesterday to take action against Hezbollah
if UNIFIL does not confront it. Meanwhile, the Israeli army has been placed in a
state of maximum alert along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
Opening Titles
Adnan Sayyed Hussein is the opposition’s guarantee within the president’s share;
the majority is to obtain a Sunni minister.
Jumblatt proposes the appointment of Arslan as minister and Hariri accepts,
albeit conditionally.
Local News
As As-Safir predicted yesterday, the “camouflaged obstructing-third vote”
formula has allowed the formation of the government, as names and portfolios
will be discussed starting today.
As-Safir has learned that President Sleiman met yesterday with a Hezbollah and
Amal leadership delegation who conveyed to him Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s and
Speaker Berri’s approval of one of the names he had proposed. This would grant
the opposition an “implicit guaranteeing-third vote” while this minister would
still be part of the president’s share.
Dr. Adnan Sayyed Hussein, a Shia teacher at the Lebanese University, has been
officially notified of the agreement on his being appointed as the
“super-minister”.
MP Walid Jumblatt proposed the appointment of MP Talal Arslan as one of the
three Druze ministers on condition of deeming him part of the opposition’s
share.
Speaker Berri “has made it plainly clear to everyone” that he is not about to
relinquish any of three Shia seats allotted to the Amal Movement.
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri met at night with the political advisor to
Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hajji Hussein Khalil, who conveyed to him
Hezbollah’s and Amal’s approval of Dr. Adnan Sayyed Hussein’s appointment.
MP Michel Aoun has yet to publicly recant his position regarding proportionality
in the government. This is likely to require a round of discussions with the
prime minister-designate and with the remaining parties to the opposition.
According to an official report, President Sleiman called his Syrian counterpart
Bashar Al-Assad and the two men “discussed the latest regional developments and
touched on the discussions held by Assad with US presidential envoy George
Mitchell.”
Mitchell had called President Sleiman the day before last, saying that his talks
“with President Assad have been quite useful.” Mitchell stressed once again that
“no negotiations will lead to a settlement at Lebanon’s expense.”
Opening Titles
The formation of the government hovers between optimism and pessimism; Sleiman
and Berri are to meet tomorrow to settle the timing.
The opposition [says] hampering comes from abroad; the majority: We will not
grant the minority the obstructing-third vote.
Gemayel: The Bikfaya meeting will pave the way for another one between the
Lebanese Forces and the Marada Movement soon.
Presidents Sleiman and Assad agree on [maintaining] a unified position and
promoting solidarity.
Local News
Several sources have revealed that this week is a decisive one. Things have now
moved to the next stage, that of discussing and portfolios, and rumor has it
that some development will occur within the coming 48 hours.
Sources told Ad-Diyar that the opposition has agreed on the president’s request
to have the sixth Shia minister appointed out of his own share, but divergences
remain as to the name of this minister, who has to gain General Michel Aoun’s
approval.
According to opposition sources, optimism is still theoretical, and no new
development has occurred. The appointment of a minister “in consignment”, which
had previously been rejected by the president, will be discussed during
Wednesday’s meeting between President Sleiman and Speaker Berri. This meeting
will determine the outcome of the discussions [regarding the formation of the
government].
Former President Amin Gemayel asserted that “the Bikfaya meeting will pave the
way for another meeting set to be held soon between the Lebanese Forces and the
Marada Movement and lay the foundations of a good relation among Christian
parties.”
Working
on our image
July 28, 2009
Now Lebanon
This is the view most people outside the Middle East have of Lebanon. (AFP)
While Messrs Aoun, Nasrallah, Franjieh and the fabulously-named Zahle in the
Heart bloc are hunkering down for the final showdown over who gets what
portfolios, something called the National Brand Perception Index or NBPI has
published its findings. Lebanon ranked 174th among 200 countries around the
world and – and this part is really disgraceful – 15th among the 19 countries
that make up the MENA region. The ranking is supposed to indicate the strength
of a country’s brand by monitoring how often it appears in the media, but warns
that frequency does not necessarily reflect quality. Ouch!
It is probably a dream too far to suppose that one of the priorities of the next
government will be to improve on this mediocre placing; a feat made even more
mediocre when one considers that much of Lebanon’s brand awareness is negative.
A random survey taken in any major capital would probably indicate that people
associate Lebanon more with instability, kidnapping, war, Hezbollah and
terrorism than its undisputed assets. Wars have a habit of making it onto the
front pages with greater ease than the Temple of Jupiter or a bottle of Chateau
Musar.
Other, less-smug countries spend hundreds of millions every year in advertising
themselves. They sell a dream to encourage investment, to promote key products
or simply just to tell people to come and visit. You might argue, especially
today when finding a decent table at a restaurant or a place to park is a
herculean struggle, that Lebanon has enough visitors, but if the country is to
move beyond its role as a playground for Gulf visitors and the diaspora, it
needs to evolve.
The country benefitted from 9/11. When smoke cleared from Ground Zero and the US
saddled up its horses, downtown Beirut opened for business, conveniently
offering Arabs wary of vacationing in Europe and the US an alternative
destination, one that spoke their language, didn’t judge their habits and
wouldn’t humiliate them at passport control. They came and they spent, and we
loved them for it.
But Lebanon has been sitting on its laurels and the world has moved on. This
week in London, a 5-star hotel hosted an exhibition of luxury goods – watches,
cars, and jewelry and the like – aimed at an Arab market perceived as being
unaffected by the recent recession. Unabashed in its ostentation, it was an
equally brazen attempt to woo Gulf high-rollers, perceived as the world’s
biggest consumers of high-end items. The message was clear. London, at least,
was screaming “we want you back.” If the rest of Europe behaves in a similar
way, Lebanon will lose some of its luster. And then what?
Lebanon is not geared up for the non-Arab tourist: security perceptions,
environmental realities and the lack of an infrastructure for anything more
adventurous than a nargelieh will ensure they choose Croatia, Slovenia or any of
the obscure Balkan or Baltic nations that have recognized and are selling their
potential in the global marketplace.
It’s been said so often it’s become a cliché, but with the right focus Lebanon
could be a truly international destination offering a glittering bouquet of
attractions in such a small area. So far, all attempts to burnish Lebanon’s
reputation have come from the private sector with almost zero government help.
No wonder no one wants the Tourism Ministry.
Sfeir:
Presidency has Active Role in Cabinet Formation
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir stressed Monday that the presidency
has an active role in forming the cabinet and safeguarding the constitution.
Sfeir also hoped that the situation would improve in the country and the
government would be formed as soon as possible. The patriarch told his visitors
in Diman that Lebanese expatriates should maintain ties with their home country
and continuously visit Lebanon. Sfeir asked during Sunday's sermon whether those
who are "obstructing" the government formation "hear the voice of God, which is
that of conscience."He said the question should be answered by "all those
involved today" in the formation process. Beirut, 27 Jul 09, 14:34
Hizbullah Cell Faces Hanging in Egypt, Nasrallah Personally Ordered it to Carry
Out Attacks
Naharnet/Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has personally tasked the head
of the Hizbullah cell in Egypt to carry out attacks in the country, pan-Arab
daily al-Hayat reported Tuesday. The newspaper, based on records of
investigation, said that Nasrallah ordered the leader of the network, Mohammed
Qabalan, who is on the run, to prepare for attacks in Egypt, and the man in his
turn tasked Lebanese Mohammed Youssef Mansour to plan for such operations. The
two men agreed that they would carry out an attack while Nasrallah was making a
speech on the occasion of Ashoura. The green light, according to al-Hayat, would
be given when the Hizbullah chief states the words "armed forces" in his
address. However, the arrest of members of the network thwarted the planned
operation, the daily said, citing the Egyptian investigation. The probe also
revealed that Qabalan and Mansour, who is known as Sami Shehab, were pushed by
the Hizbullah leadership to organize the network in Egypt. The men were able to
recruit members who were divided into small groups that functioned under their
orders, al-Hayat said. The report came as Egyptian lawyer Muntasar al-Zayyat
announced that he planned to stop defending the accused in the Hizbullah cell
case in protest against Cairo's decision to try the 26 men at an emergency state
security court. He told al-Mustaqbal daily that he hoped the case would be
referred to the criminal court so that the verdict would be appealed. State
security courts were set up under Egypt's emergency laws and have been in place
since 1981 and their verdicts are final. Legal sources told pan-Arab daily
Asharq al-Awsat that several members of the network could be hanged if convicted
by the court. Charges include conspiracy to murder, spying for a foreign
organization with the intent of conducting terrorist attacks and weapons
possession. Beirut, 28 Jul 09, 09:46
U.N. Warns Against Deteriorating
Security Situation in South
Naharnet/The United Nations has warned against the deteriorating security
situation in south Lebanon in view of the Kfarshouba and Khirbet Selm incidents
which "represent a threat to stability in the region."
The warning was made by Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for
Political Affairs, during a Security Council meeting on the Middle East. Taranco
urged both the Israeli and Lebanese sides to "end" their violations of Security
Council Resolution 1701 which halted a 34-day war between the Jewish state and
Hizbullah in the summer of 2006.
In Lebanon, he said, investigations into violations of Resolution 1701 in south
Lebanon were ongoing, while Israeli air violations took place almost daily.
Taranco said that in meetings with Lebanese and Israeli officials and political
leaders in the past week, Michael Williams, United Nations Special Coordinator
for Lebanon, had stressed the gravity of violations of Resolution 1701. "To
defuse the situation, the Special Coordinator had also visited Israel, where he
had raised the question about the newly erected watchtower in Kfarshouba and
requested its removal," Taranco added.
Gabriela Shalev of Israel read an excerpt from a letter appearing in al-Mustaqbal
on 16 July on the explosion of the arms depot in Khirbet Selm. Written by
residents of the town, the letter addressed President Michel Suleiman and the
leaders of Hizbullah. A line from the letter stated: "If you, as you claim, tie
your activity with the religion and with Allah, then you must empty the
residential areas of weaponry and ammunition, and of all else that threatens our
lives."
She said the explosion had demonstrated that Hizbullah, together with its two
sponsors, who were members of the United Nations, continued to operate south of
the Litani River in overt violation of Resolution 1701. "It had demonstrated the
volatile reality on the ground and that there were challenges to the
implementation of resolution 1701, including an un-enforced arms embargo along
the Lebanon-Syria border and the presence of Hizbullah on the ground," Shalev
said. She said Hizbullah threatened Israel, Lebanon and the wider region, while
continuing to build its military infrastructure north and south of the Litani
River."Hizbullah's repeated breaches of the Council's demands indicated the
danger posed by Iran," she believed. "From southern Lebanon to Gaza, the arming,
training and financing of terrorists bore the same certificate of origin:
Tehran. Moreover, Iran continued to pursue the development of nuclear weapons
and long-range missiles, which was a clear threat to peace and security. "Israel
called on the Council to act urgently and effectively to end the Iranian nuclear
threat and stem Iran's terrorist interference. The Council must consider more
effective ways to impose its arms embargo along the Lebanon-Syria border,
strengthen UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces and establish clear benchmarks
to disarm and dismantle Hizbullah," Shalev added.
Beirut, 28 Jul 09, 08:20
Raad from Baabda: No Obstacles in
Cabinet Formation
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad on Tuesday denied there were obstacles
facing formation of a national unity government. "I sensed progress somewhere
and there is a chance to build on this progress," Raad said following a meeting
in Baabda with President Michel Suleiman. "We want a coherent government that
reflects the aspirations of the Lebanese and that would fortify Lebanon against
the risks and challenges," he told reporters. Raad said Hizbullah's share in the
new government would be fulfilled when a national unity government is achieved
in a harmonious atmosphere. Beirut, 28 Jul 09, 13:50
Meeting in Naqoura to Discuss
Violations of Blue Line
Naharnet/A meeting was held at the United Nations headquarters in the border
town of Naqoura between Lebanese and Israeli army representatives to discuss
violations of the Blue Line as well as the Khirbet Selm incident. A statement
was expected to be issued following the nearly four-hour meeting. Beirut, 28 Jul
09, 14:21
Franjieh: Opposition Holds Onto Veto Power
Naharnet/Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh stressed on Tuesday that the opposition
is clinging to its demand for veto power. "Let them give us the 11th minister
and we won't argue about shares," the MP said after holding talks with French
ambassador Andre Parant. Franjieh also stressed to his visitor in Bnashii that
all his reconciliation meetings are carried out in coordination with his allies
in the opposition. Parant, in his turn, said that Paris hopes a Lebanese cabinet
would be formed as soon as possible. He added that Franjieh's meeting with the
Gemayel family in Bikfaya over the weekend safeguards security and stability in
the country. Beirut, 28 Jul 09, 14:08
Hariri, Jumblat Propose Appointment
of Arslan
Naharnet/Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party
leader Walid Jumblat have proposed the appointment of former MP Talal Arslan for
one of the three Druze Cabinet seats. This means that it would Hizbullah would
have to abandon one of the two Shiite seats in its share in return for Arslan's
appointment., the daily An Nahar wrote Tuesday. It said the meeting took place
overnight at Hariri's so-called "Center House" in downtown Beirut.
Speaker Nabih Berri had informed the various political parties his unwillingness
to abandon any of the three Shiite seats allotted for his AMAL Movement. Beirut,
28 Jul 09, 10:13
Karam: Efforts Underway to Unite Geagea-Franjieh
Naharnet/Caretaker Environment Minister Tony Karam said Tuesday that efforts
were underway to bring together Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh and
head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea. "Nothing prevents such a meeting,"
Karam told LBC TV. Beirut, 28 Jul 09, 13:07
Berri-Hizbullah meeting in Search of
Exit for Veto Power Demand
Naharnet/A lengthy meeting has taken place between Speaker Nabih Berri and
political aide to Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hussein Khalil in an
effort to find a way out of an Opposition demand for veto power. Pan-Arab daily
Al-Hayat, which carried the report on Tuesday, said the meeting was held
Saturday evening following a lengthy telephone conversation between Berri and
Hariri. Al Hayat quoted Berri as telling visitors when asked about the
Opposition demand to get 11 Cabinet seats: "If we get 10 (seats) where will you
put Walid Jumblat?" "Let no one bet on the sharp split that had occurred (in the
past)," the daily quoted Berri as saying. Beirut, 28 Jul 09, 12:00
Cabinet Faces 'Test of Intentions' as Suleiman against 'Neutral' Minister
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman, just like PM-designate Saad Hariri, has also
rejected a Cabinet lineup that includes a "neutral" minister, the daily An Nahar
reported Tuesday. According to information obtained by An Nahar, the process of
government formation has reached a "delicate experimental stage" that will soon
decide the course of action Hariri can take.
An Nahar recalled that talks on creating a government of national unity were
launched end of June with an Opposition demand for veto power. When Hariri
rejected this demand, the Opposition proposed a Cabinet lineup that would
include a so-called "neutral" minister in which a ministerial seat from
Suleiman's share would be given to someone accepted by both March 8 and March 14
forces, An Nahar went on to say. It said the Opposition had wanted to
"personally" pick the neutral minister, an offer rejected by both Suleiman and
Hariri.
At this point, according to An Nahar, the Opposition began sending signals that
it no longer was holding on to veto power. Hariri grabbed these signals to
"test" the Opposition which coincided with Suleiman's insistence on naming a
minister from his side, given that the Opposition acknowledges the President's
consensus role. Sources told An Nahar that the current situation has reached a
final test stage. They said Hariri will examine the Opposition's intentions and
see if March 8 Forces had "really" given up their veto power call. Only then, a
real breakthrough could be announced, the sources said. They said, however, that
things are likely to develop in the next 24 hours. Beirut, 28 Jul 09, 11:02
IDF chief: New Israel-Hezbollah war unlikely
By Anshel Pfeffer and Barak Ravid,
Haaretz Correspondents, and Reuters
Last update - 11:25 28/07/2009
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103440.html
The Israel Defense Forces is closely monitoring the situation along the border
with Lebanon though no eruption of hostilities is expected on this front, army
chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi said on Tuesday. Ashkenazi addressed the matter
during a visit to the IDF's main induction center at Tel Hashomer. Israeli
officials have recently expressed apprehension over events in southern Lebanon
which suggest that Hezbollah, the Shi'ite militia with whom it fought a war in
the summer of 2006, is seeking to provoke another round of conflict.
"At the moment, there is quiet all along the border," Ashkenazi told recruits of
the Kfir infantry brigade on Tuesday. "There was an incident which to our
understanding was an explosion of a weapons cache belonging to Hezbollah, which
is being handled by UNIFIL and the Lebanese government." "We view the event with
gravity, but we do not anticipate a disruption of quiet in the area," the IDF
chief said. Israeli officials said Monday that they believe Hezbollah will try
to escalate the tension on the Lebanon border by organizing civilian
demonstrations and protests in the Har Dov area, as it did about a week ago, as
part of an effort to launch a popular uprising against Israel. Israel has warned
Beirut through the United Nations that it would be held responsible for any
hostile action launched from Lebanese territory. Defense Minister Ehud Barak met
on Monday with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and told him Israel was
concerned by the developments on the Lebanon border and various Hezbollah
statements and moves.
Netanyahu tells Obama envoy: Israel doing all it can for peace
By Haaretz Service and Reuters
23:31 27/07/2009
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103225.html
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday with U.S. President Barack
Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, in Jerusalem on
Tuesday.
The premier told Mitchell that Israel was doing all it could to advance the
peace process with the Palestinians. Mitchell said that there are understandings
that have been reached that could aid in advancing the process.
Meanwhile, the Arab language daily newspaper Al-Hayyat reported on Tuesday that
a senior aide to Mitchell told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that final
status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will be limited to a
timeframe of a year-and-a-half.
According to the report, Mitchell is trying to coax Israel into freezing
settlement construction in order to restart peace negotiations with the
Palestinians.
Aides to Abbas told the newspaper that the Palestinian leader is insisting on a
freeze in Israeli settlements as a condition for the renewal of peace talks with
Jerusalem.
Mitchell told Abbas on Monday he was still working on a deal with Israel to halt
West Bank settlement activity so peace talks can resume.
"We are discussing the issue but we didn't conclude an agreement yet with the
Israelis," a senior Palestinian official quoted Mitchell as saying over a
working dinner with Abbas.
Obama's envoy has held top-level talks in Britain, the United Arab Emirates,
Syria, Egypt, and Israel over the past week. The official reported him as
telling Abbas that everyone involved must do more over the coming weeks.
Mitchell told reporters Washington was doing "everything we can to achieve a
comprehensive peace ... between Israelis and Palestinians, between Syria and the
Israelis, between Israel and Lebanon and the normalization of relations between
Israel and all of the countries in the region".
The envoy said Obama wanted "an early return to meaningful negotiations and a
prompt resolution of those negotiations", and "that means that everyone must
take steps, some of them difficult, some of them controversial to create the
context ..."
Mitchell told Abbas that Obama was committed to the peace process, and was
"determined and consistent".
Obama's demand for a freeze of Israeli settlements is in accordance with a 2003
U.S.-backed peace "road map." It has met stiff resistance from Netanyahu,
causing the most serious rift in U.S.-Israeli ties in a decade. In talks with
Israel leaders on Sunday and Monday, Mitchell emphasized American friendship and
the U.S. commitment to
Israel's security.
He informed Abbas there was "still a gap between us and the Israelis on the
settlements issue," the Palestinian official told Reuters.
Abbas refuses to resume peace talks frozen for the last six months until
Netanyahu agrees to freeze all settlement activity in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat issued a statement after Monday's talks
saying "the only way to return credibility to the peace process" is for everyone
to honor his commitments.
Erekat said the "Quartet" of Middle East peace mediators - made up of the United
States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - must "play a
constructive role in holding the parties accountable for honoring their
commitments."
"The success of the peace process will depend on the effective ability of the
Quartet to oversee and report on ... both sides in carrying out their
obligations," he said.
"Israel shows no intention of stopping its illegal settlement activity,
particularly in and around occupied East Jerusalem," Erekat said.
Mitchell earlier praised Israel for easing Palestinian movement in the West Bank
by removing some of its checkpoints. But Erekat said moving a "handful" of
roadblocks changed little.
"There are still currently more than 600 obstacles to movement and access in the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These obstacles serve no security purpose.
In fact, 80 percent of them serve only to divide Palestinians from
Palestinians."
Border Control
/ The thin blue line
By Akiva Eldar
Haaretz 29 july/09
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103416.html
The regional approach Defense Minister Ehud Barak is so fond of talking about
has revived the long-stagnant Lebanese track.
In the case of Lebanon, Israel is being asked to withdraw to the Blue Line - the
boundary recognized by the international community as the withdrawal line from
Lebanon in 2000 - before the negotiating teams hold their first meeting.
During his first visit to Jerusalem, the American envoy to the Middle East,
George Mitchell, asked that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abide by the
promise of his predecessor, Ehud Olmert, to withdraw from the northern part of
the village of Ghajar. This was part of UN Resolution 1701 which put an end to
the Second Lebanon War.
Advertisement
The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is showing special interest in
any move that can strengthen the status of Fuad Siniora's government, as an
appendix to former American president George W. Bush's democratization policy.
Officials in Washington believe that a withdrawal to the Blue Line (including
the northern sector of Ghajar village and the Shaba Farms area) would pull the
carpet out from under the feet of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah
misses no opportunity to draw attention to the fact that Siniora's American
friends are not capable of putting an end to the Israeli presence in southern
Lebanon.
Israeli analysts agreed that a withdrawal from Ghajar would strengthen Siniora's
government in the elections that took place at the beginning of last month. Last
May, a short while before he paid his first visit to Obama, Netanyahu was ready
to give the American president Ghajar as housewarming gift to mark his re-entry
into the premiership.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini
during his visit to Rome that the Israeli government understands that it is
important to complete the move before the polls open in Beirut.
In the end, however, the prime minister decided that he had his hands full
enough with dismantling the outposts and freezing the building in the West Bank.
Why should he now have to deal with demonstrations and petitions to the High
Court of Justice against the transfer of the village to the Lebanese?
The residents of Ghajar who, like Syrian President Bashar Assad, are members of
the Alawi sect, are adamant about their Syrian identity and demand that they be
returned to Syrian sovereignty. They will no doubt find interest in a new study
relating to their village that will be published by an Israeli scholar in the
upcoming edition of The Middle East Journal.
The study, by Dr. Asher Kaufman, questions the reliability of the Blue Line
which has marked the partition of the village since the withdrawal of the Israel
Defense Forces from Lebanon in May 2000. Kaufman, who teaches history at the
University of Notre Dame in the United States, is writing a book about the
tri-border region between Syria, Lebanon and Israel. In the book, he argues that
the line is wrong from the cartographic and historical points of view and he
brings maps and documents from various periods to illustrate the points.
Kaufman contends that there has never at any time been an agreement about the
exact location of the boundary with regard to Ghajar and its vicinity or the
area of the Shaba Farms. In the case of the Shaba Farms, he says, "most maps
placed them within Syrian sovereignty even if in practice locals perceived the
region to be under Lebanese control."
In the case of Ghajar, even maps produced prior to 1967 have been extremely
inconsistent, placing the village occasionally in Syria, at different times in
Lebanon and less frequently, divided between the two states. Kaufman therefore
concludes that "any attempt to determine where the boundary line lies between
Syria and Lebanon ... is, in essence, arbitrary."
When Ghajar was under full Syrian control before 1967, Kaufman further argues,
it included "both sections of the village that in 2000 were divided by the Blue
Line" - both the southern section that was annexed by Israel and the northern
part that Israel is being asked to return to Lebanon.
"This is clearly seen in reports of, and sketches made by the U.S. Embassy in
Beirut that tried to decipher the problems of sovereignty in the tri-border
region during the 'water wars' of the early 1960s between Israel and its Arab
neighbors," he writes.
Kaufman adds that "the village has been divided into two neighborhoods that in
2000 were mistakenly thought to be two different villages - Ghajar in the south
and al-Wazzani in the north." He points out that there never was a village by
the name of al-Wazzani, but rather "a small community called al-Wazzani, more
known as Arab al-Luweiza," which is located across from Ghajar and west of the
Hatzbani river.
According to the scholar, these facts were not known to the UN's cartographers
when they drew the Blue Line through the village of Ghajar. The decision to
partition the village, he says, was a product of heavy pressure to finish
marking the line of the Israeli withdrawal.
Kaufman ponders whether time could be turned back and the entire village be left
as a deposit in Israeli hands until such time as an agreement is reached with
Damascus. However, "with the belligerent atmosphere between Israel and Lebanon,"
he writes, "it will take much effort on Lebanon's part to 'give up' territory
that was liberated - to use the Lebanese term - and return it to Israeli
control."
Kaufman concludes with the hope that, "the time will come when Syria and Israel
reach a peace accord that will involve an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan
Heights. Then it will be possible for the residents of Ghajar to take a bus to
Quneitra in Syria and to go shopping in the mall in Kiryat Shmona."
Breaking the silence in Congress
Officials of the Prime Minister's Bureau are used to seeing letters from the
U.S. Congress containing petitions of support for Israel. A letter of protest
from six Congressmen about the siege in Gaza therefore came, no doubt, as a
surprise.
The six remind Netanyahu that Congress recently approved Obama's request to
allocate $300 million to provide reconstruction and humanitarian aid to Gaza
following Operation Cast Lead. The congressmen first make it clear that they
understand Israel's security needs but then they share with the prime minister
their impressions of their visit to Gaza, which they describe as being in "dire"
condition - 3,900 families living in makeshift shelters, 25,000 in damaged
buildings, and many schools, kindergartens and hospitals in need of repair.
Basic infrastructure, including water and sewage, are also in need of urgent
repair, they point out.
A Western diplomat last week reported that the ruins are still standing
untouched. On the other hand, he witnessed a scene where Hamas received a large
supply of cement through the underground tunnels and sold the remnants on the
black market.
One month on: Lebanese government yet to be born
http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Lebanon/10335293.html
By Jumana Al Tamimi, Associate Editor
Published: July 27, 2009, 23:02
Dubai: Political differences among rival Christian parties continue to present a
major hurdle as Prime Minister-designate Sa'ad Hariri endeavours to put together
a government in Lebanon, sources said, adding that no agreement seems to have
been reached on the allocation of portfolios.
Almost a month after Hariri was named the man who would be prime minister (on
June 27), sources said government-formation talks were being held in total
secrecy to avoid any confusion that could "thwart" the consultations.
"The designated premier is very secretive about the consultations," one source
told Gulf News.
Prominent Lebanese columnist Sati Noor Al Deen averred that the divergence of
views among Christian groups continue to be the main obstacle to any definitive
agreement. "There is still the problem of differences among the Christians
themselves."
The Christian groups had formed associations with rival alliances, the March 8,
led by Hezbollah, and the March 14, led by Hariri.
Michel Aoun's demands are touching the 'ceiling', Al Deen said.
At the beginning of the consultations, Aoun, who enjoys the popular support of
nearly half of all Lebanese Christians, sought all the seats allocated for
Christians.
Two days ago, he revised that wish list to include six ministerial posts for his
bloc, which has 27 seats in the 128-member Lebanese parliament.
The portfolios he has sought include the interior ministry - a post to which
Lebanese President Michel Sulaiman has been given the liberty to name a
candidate.
Aoun's demands were strongly criticised by other Christian groups.
Samir Geagea, head of the Lebanese Forces, said Aoun's demand for six
ministerial berths was "illogical".
Lebanese press quoted Geagea as saying that the former general was satisfied
"with five ministers in the cabinet at the time he was supported by 70 per cent
of the Christians".
"How can you ask for six ministers when your Christian support dropped to 50 per
cent?" Geagea was quoted as asking.
Meanwhile, Sunni and Shiite groups have shown greater flexibility during the
talks and are seen heading towards accepting the 15+10+5 formula, which implies
that the majority in parliament led by Sa'ad Hariri be given 15 cabinet berths,
the opposition 10 with 5 berths being left to the president's discretion.
While the formula doesn't give the "veto power" to either the majority or the
opposition, it vests in Sulaiman the power to cast a deciding vote when if
called for.
"Publicly, both [the] majority and minority say they accept allocating five
portfolios to the president, including the defence and interior ministry," Al
Deen said. "But, privately, they don't feel comfortable with it."
Meanwhile, the delay in forming the new government in Lebanon has raised
speculation about the role played by both Syria and Saudi Arabia.
However, Sulaiman was quoted as saying on Saturday that the cabinet's formation
process was "taking time" because the government was, for the first time, being
shaped away from any foreign interference or pressure. In the same breath, he
described Lebanon's relations with other Arab countries, as "excellent".
"The president's statement is a precise one," Al Deen said. "The government
agreement won't be reached outside Lebanon. Both countries [Saudi Arabia and
Syria] will not be choosing the names, though they have some names that they
wish will be included in the new cabinet."
Analysts say the countdown for forming the cabinet has already begun though
there is no constitutional time-frame for government formation.
"Yet, the physiological pressure and the race with time has become more
intense," Al Deen said.
Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet seems to be taking a long summer vacation
By The Daily Star /Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Editorial
Thousands and thousands of people are making Lebanon their summer destination in
2009, whether various types of expatriate Lebanese, foreign tourists from a
range of countries, or other visitors and guests. They’ve come to see friends
and family, relax and see the sights, and in general, have a nice vacation.
Unfortunately, the members of our caretaker Cabinet have taken their cue from
this phenomenon, joining our visitors and tourists on vacation.
It’s been more than a month since Fouad Siniora’s government tendered its
resignation and Saad Hariri was named to come up with a successor. In this time,
the Cabinet hasn’t met; ministers do show up for work and complete some of the
most mundane and routine business of government, but it’s only the bare minimum.
At the same time, during a vibrant summer season which could see a record two
million visitors arrive in Lebanon, and with probably an extra one million
people here at any given time, give or take, the country is in the grip of the
following: extraordinary power cuts, water supply problems, chronic traffic
congestion, and prices that are either high or felt to be too high.
There’s always speculation that the stumbling cabinet-formation process will get
a shot in the arm in a few days’ time. The stalemate can’t last for too long,
right? We won’t be going two or three months, instead of one, without a
government, will we?
Perhaps one will be formed tomorrow. But what if it does take weeks, or months?
Politicians spend the off season talking about how important the summer is, and
how Lebanon should be or could be a tourist paradise, but when the game is on
the line, we face not only power cuts, but a power vacuum.
The Interior Ministry, under Ziad Baroud, has been making efforts to ease some
traffic woes, but we’re all aware of the budget constraints that tie his hands –
if politicians were engaging in any serious planning during the rest of the
year, they would have set aside some money for such future needs, instead of
just praising Lebanon’s tourist past.
We have dozens of summer festivals to attract visitors, but allow key road works
projects to sprout up in Greater Beirut, when we should be making it easier for
people to get around. Everyone’s complaining about the summer prices, whether
it’s at the beach, downtown Beirut, or up in the mountains.
The Cabinet could meet and devote its final energies to doing something serious
about making the summer just a little bit better for people, to encourage them
to come back in the future. Just leave off the politicized or divisive issues,
and do something that can make a difference.
Caretaking is serious business, if a key sector of your economy is at stake.
Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet seems to be taking a long
summer vacation
By The Daily Star /Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Editorial
Thousands and thousands of people are making Lebanon their summer destination in
2009, whether various types of expatriate Lebanese, foreign tourists from a
range of countries, or other visitors and guests. They’ve come to see friends
and family, relax and see the sights, and in general, have a nice vacation.
Unfortunately, the members of our caretaker Cabinet have taken their cue from
this phenomenon, joining our visitors and tourists on vacation.
It’s been more than a month since Fouad Siniora’s government tendered its
resignation and Saad Hariri was named to come up with a successor. In this time,
the Cabinet hasn’t met; ministers do show up for work and complete some of the
most mundane and routine business of government, but it’s only the bare minimum.
At the same time, during a vibrant summer season which could see a record two
million visitors arrive in Lebanon, and with probably an extra one million
people here at any given time, give or take, the country is in the grip of the
following: extraordinary power cuts, water supply problems, chronic traffic
congestion, and prices that are either high or felt to be too high.
There’s always speculation that the stumbling cabinet-formation process will get
a shot in the arm in a few days’ time. The stalemate can’t last for too long,
right? We won’t be going two or three months, instead of one, without a
government, will we?
Perhaps one will be formed tomorrow. But what if it does take weeks, or months?
Politicians spend the off season talking about how important the summer is, and
how Lebanon should be or could be a tourist paradise, but when the game is on
the line, we face not only power cuts, but a power vacuum.
The Interior Ministry, under Ziad Baroud, has been making efforts to ease some
traffic woes, but we’re all aware of the budget constraints that tie his hands –
if politicians were engaging in any serious planning during the rest of the
year, they would have set aside some money for such future needs, instead of
just praising Lebanon’s tourist past.
We have dozens of summer festivals to attract visitors, but allow key road works
projects to sprout up in Greater Beirut, when we should be making it easier for
people to get around. Everyone’s complaining about the summer prices, whether
it’s at the beach, downtown Beirut, or up in the mountains.
The Cabinet could meet and devote its final energies to doing something serious
about making the summer just a little bit better for people, to encourage them
to come back in the future. Just leave off the politicized or divisive issues,
and do something that can make a difference.
Caretaking is serious business, if a key sector of your economy is at stake.
Nabih Berri
July 27, 2009
On July 27, the pro-government An-Nahar daily carried the following report by
Radwan Akil:
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri talked proudly about the relations between
himself, Amal and UNIFIL commanders and soldiers in the South, ever since these
troops came to the Lebanese territories in March of 1978. Moreover, following
the issuance of Resolution 1701 and the enhancement of these troops after the
Israeli aggression in July 2006 along with the expansion of their prerogatives
and role, the head of the Amal movement, in more than one meeting with their
cadres and the heads of Southern municipalities, reiterated the calls to
maintain the best relations with the international forces.
However, since the Kfar Shouba and Kherbet Selem incidents during the last
couple of weeks, he has been following the developments and engaging in contacts
with the two towns and their officials, as well as with the army command... In
this context, Berri was not surprised by the visits being conducted by the
European diplomacy chiefs, considering that their communities held their
governments and political leaders accountable whenever something happened to a
soldier partaking in their units, differentiating between the American
insistence on saying that what happened in the South was a violation of
resolution 1701 and the calm speech of the Europeans...
Berri firstly addressed UNIFIL commander Claudio Graziano by saying:
“You have come to discuss the Kfar Shouba case, knowing in advance that the
Israelis were the ones who crossed the sand barrier,” adding: “General, what
have the Lebanese among the inhabitants of Kfar Shouba done wrong? All they did
was raise their country’s flag over their land and restore a point over which
the Israelis have gained control. What is wrong about them leading their herds
to the Baathail Lake and why did the Israelis erect a cement barrier in that
Lebanese spot?”…
He continued: “Israel my General is the one violating both our land and
resolution 1701 and our people in the South are entitled to restore every inch
of their land. What they did in Kfar Shouba conveyed vitality and patriotism and
will not be recanted.”… On the other hand, Berri’s reception of French
Ambassador Andre Parant turned into a trial session” as the first party tried to
defend the relations between UNIFIL and the Southerners. He then surrendered to
Parant the memo of Israel’s envoy to the United Nations before it was delivered
to the media, which was very surprising to the French diplomat. He then put
forward the following elements:
1- We were not the ones who assassinated United Nations representative and
international peace mediator Count Folke Bernadotte in September of 1948, for he
was assassinated by Jewish gangs that existed at the time.
2- We were not the ones who attacked UNIFIL headquarters in Qana in April 1996
and carried out the famous massacre.
3- We were not the ones who attacked the Spanish and Indian soldiers.
4- We were not the ones who destroyed a UNIFIL headquarters in Khiam.
5- Since March 24, 1978 our blood was mixed with that of the officers and
soldiers of the UNIFIL force. There were mixed marriages and a group of retired
military men bought houses in Tyre to spend the remaining of their lives in the
South. Moreover, our people are highly attached to the cultural and artistic
activities staged by the French, Italian and Spanish in our towns...
He added: “We have lived with the international troops and will continue doing
so, while upholding the strength of this relation in which we take pride. The
Kherbet Selem incident has ended and we will secure cooperation between the
Lebanese army command, UNIFIL command and the heads of municipalities through
activities and meetings, in order to develop the relations with troops we love
and who love us,” concluding: “For my part, and based on my position, I oppose
all those rejecting the changing of the rules of engagement, for let this change
begin with the withdrawal of the Israelis from the last inch of Lebanese soil.
We will protect this soil with our eyes and with all our power and will not
recant this right...”