LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 02/09
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 12:1-12. He began to speak
to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a
wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a
journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them
some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him
away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat
over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So,
too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send,
a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, 'They will respect my
son.' But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us
kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they seized him and killed him,
and threw him out of the vineyard. What (then) will the owner of the vineyard
do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others.
Have you not read this scripture passage: 'The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful
in our eyes'?" They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for
they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and
went away.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
We are not scared/Future
News 01/06/09
Balancing act for Lebanon's
opposition-The
National 01/06/09
Lebanese elections expose community faultlines-GulfNews
01/06/09
Hezbollah Unlikely to Remain Angry at Biden-By: Chris Carter
01/06/09
Canadians fly on free tickets to vote in Lebanese
election-CBC.ca - 01/06/09
N. Korea's nuclear defiance may embolden Iran,
Israelis worry-Christian
Science Monitor 01/06/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for June
01/09
No
New Date Set for Next Dialogue Session Amid Calls for Calm-Naharnet
2
Lebanese on Board Missing Air France Plane-Naharnet
Hariri to Protest Arrests of Lebanese in Syria 'Just for Meeting Me'-Naharnet
Aoun vows a new Israeli war on
Lebanon-Future
News
Siniora: Israeli maneuvers have no
hostile objectives-Future
News
Najjar to almustaqbal.org: Doha
Agreement expires after elections-Future
News
Kazzi: Aoun is running the
elections against Sfeir and Sleiman-Future
News
Sfeir: Listen to Your Conscience and Do What Is Best for the Country-Naharnet
Another Army Colonel Arrested on
Suspicion of Spying for Israel-Naharnet
Contacts Underway to Solve Hizbullah's Violation of Doha Accord in Beirut 2-Naharnet
First Firefighting Helicopter Arrives in Beirut-Naharnet
Egypt Denies Election
Intervention-Naharnet
Comprehensive Security
Plan to Guarantee Electoral Success-Naharnet
Raad: Resistance No
Substitute for Army-Naharnet
Halutz: Israel failed to kill Nasrallah-Jerusalem
Post
The Battle of Lebanon-The Nation.
Lebanon arrests two more in Israeli spy inquiry-Reuters
Envoy to visit Syria as Obama ups detente-Financial
Times
Israel begins its biggest military drill to date-Daily
Star
Berri:
Lebanese will show support for Resistance-Daily
Star
Hezbollah plot to bomb Azerbaijan embassy foiled-Jewish
Telegraphic Agency
Azerbaijan tries Hizbullah suspects over alleged plot to attack Israeli embassy-Daily
Star
Authorities charge four more suspects with spying for Israel-Daily
Star
Major
security plan drawn up for election day - Baroud-(AFP)
Organic farmers in Lebanon face export hurdles-Daily
Star
Balancing act for Lebanon's opposition-Daily
Star
Lebanon confirms three cases of swine flu-(AFP)
Hundreds attend launch of book by lesbians-Daily
Star
New
company offers walking tours of Beirut-Daily
Star
Space and time for artists emerging from, and in, Beirut-Daily
Star
Leading Syrian dissident backs detente with West-Daily
Star
2
Lebanese on Board Missing Air France Plane
Naharnet/Two Lebanese passengers are among a missing Air France jet carrying 228
people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.
The plane ran into lightning and strong thunderstorms over the Atlantic Ocean,
officials said Monday. Brazil began a search mission off its northeastern coast.
Chief Air France spokesman Francois Brousse said it is possible the plane was
hit by lightning. Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330, left Rio on Sunday at 7
p.m. local time (2200 GMT, 6 p.m. EDT) with 216 passengers and 12 crew members
on board, company spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand. About four hours later, the
plane sent an automatic signal indicating electrical problems while going
through strong turbulence, Air France said.
The plane "crossed through a thunderous zone with strong turbulence" at 0200 GMT
Monday (10 p.m. EDT Sunday). An automatic message was received fourteen minutes
later "signaling electrical circuit malfunction." Brazil's air force did not
know where the aircraft disappeared, but a spokesman said it was searching near
the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha because if an accident had happened in
Brazilian waters, it would be in that area. The spokesman said there was no
immediate indication of what might have happened to the plane. He spoke on
condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. Two Brazilian Air
Force planes were searching the waters about 300 kilometers northeast of the
coastal city of Natal near the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, a Brazilian
air force spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with air
force policy. The region is about 1,500 miles northeast of Rio. A police
official on Fernando de Noronha said the weather was clear last night into this
morning. "It's going to take a long time to carry out this search," Douglas
Ferreira Machado, head of investigation and accident prevention for Brazil's
Civil Aeronautics Agency, or ANAC, told Globo news. "It could be a long, sad
story. The black box will be at the bottom of the sea." Air France-KLM CEO
Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, at a news conference in Paris, said the pilot had 11,000
hours of flying experience, including 1,700 hours flying this aircraft. No name
was released. Aviation experts said it was clear the plane was not in the air
any longer, due to the amount of fuel it would have been carrying.
"The conclusion to be drawn is that something catastrophic happened on board
that has caused this airplane to ditch in a controlled or an uncontrolled
fashion," Jane's Aviation analyst Chris Yates told The Associated Press. "I
would suggest that potentially it went down very quickly and so quickly that the
pilot on board didn't have a chance to make that emergency call," Yates said,
adding that the possibilities ranged from mechanical failure to terrorism.
Barrand said the airline set up an information center at Paris' Charles de
Gaulle airport for the families of those on board. That center said 60 French
citizens were on the plane. Italy said at least three passengers were Italian.
"Air France shares the emotion and worry of the families concerned," she said.
The flight was supposed to arrive in Paris at 0915 GMT (5:15 a.m. EDT),
according to the airport. Airbus declined to comment until more details emerge.
The Airbus A330-200 is a twin-engine, long-haul, medium-capacity passenger jet,
and is 58.8 meters (190 feet) long, according to Airbus. It is a shortened
version of the standard A330, and can hold up to 253 passengers. It first went
into service in 1998, there are 341 in use worldwide today. It can fly up to
7,760 miles (12,500 kilometers). French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his
"extreme worry" and sent ministers to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport to
monitor the situation.(AP-Naharnet) Beirut, 01 Jun 09, 17:31
No New Date Set for Next Dialogue Session Amid Calls for
Calm
Naharnet/The seventh national dialogue session at Baabda palace was adjourned on
Monday without setting a new date for the resumption of talks but the
participants agreed to urge the Lebanese to exercise their voting rights and
accept the results of the polls with calm. Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen.
Michel Aoun did not attend the all-party talks, the last before the elections.
Sources said his absence is due to "the long day he had in Batroun" on Sunday
and because Monday's session would only call for calm rather than discussing any
issue on the agenda.MP Ghassan Tueni was also not present. The leaders who
attended the session called on the Lebanese to exercise their right and head to
the polls on June 7 and to accept the results of the elections in a civilized
manner. The statement issued after the meeting also said that only security
forces should solve security-related incidents. Dialogue participants reiterated
their commitment to the "Pact of Honor" that they had reached on March 2, 2009.
Media reports had said President Michel Suleiman will urge the dialogue leaders
to adopt calm political rhetoric and to make sure there is a peaceful atmosphere
in the week before the elections. Speaker Nabih Berri stressed to As Safir
newspaper that "dialogue is necessary at all times and is useful for the country
under any circumstance, particularly that it reduces the gap between all
Lebanese." He said he supported continued dialogue among the Lebanese in the
upcoming stage as decided by the president. Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad also told
As Safir that he will take part in Monday's session by insisting on calling for
calm and tension-free elections. He stressed that Hizbullah doesn't believe
Monday's session will be the last, adding that the party supports resumption of
all-party talks after the elections in order to reach a decision that reassures
the Lebanese about their country's ability to defend them from any possible
Israeli aggression. Beirut, 01 Jun 09, 08:58
Hariri to Protest Arrests of Lebanese in Syria 'Just for Meeting Me'
Naharnet/MP Saad Hariri said he will submit a formal objection to Syria for
arresting 10 Lebanese in Syria "just because they met me."He did not say when
the men -- all from east Lebanon's town of Majdal Anjar --were arrested. Hariri
said they were later released. Beirut, 01 Jun 09, 16:43
Politics - MP Jumblatt: Voting for March 14th is a completion to the Arab project facing Israel
NNA - 01/06/2007 Progressive
Socialist Party Head, Deputy Walid Jumblatt, said in a statement accorded to his
weekly editorial Al-Anbaa, to be published tomorrow, Tuesday, that upcoming
Sunday all the Lebanese are invited to partake in a "cross road" elections in
which voters will be choosing between two different projects, policies,
directions and logic. He said it is the day where all aught to distinguish
between the respect of diversity, and suspicious proposals. He went on to deem
any vote coming for the interest of March 14th as a further completion to the
Arab project facing the Israeli one.
With regards
to the post elections era and on the economic level in specific, Jumblatt said
that a choice should be made between an atrocious liberal one, which has proved
to be a failure on the international level, and the construction of productive
institutions on the Public Sector level which aims at giving back attention to
local production in all its forms and away from the random privatization
policies.
Azerbaijan tries Hizbullah suspects over alleged
plot to attack Israeli embassy
By Nicholas Kimbrell/Daily Star staff
Monday, June 01, 2009
BEIRUT: The closed-door trial of two Lebanese and four Azeris accused of
plotting an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Baku to avenge the assassination of
Hizbullah commander Imad Mughniyeh began in Azerbaijan last week, according to
sources close to the investigation.
The suspects, including two alleged members of Hizbullah, face several felony
charges, including terrorism and espionage, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh told The Daily Star Sunday that he had
no official information on the case and that he had not been notified by the
Azeri authorities. Lebanon does not have an embassy in Azerbaijan, but Salloukh
noted that contact could be made with the Azeri Foreign Ministry.
The two Lebanese, identified as Ali Karaki and Ali Najem Aladine, were
reportedly arrested last year while trying to flee the Azeri capital.
Explosives, pistols, binoculars, cameras and incriminating photographs were
found in the men's possession, the US daily reported.
Sources close to the prosecution told the Pan-Arab daily Ash-Sharq al-Awsat that
the thwarted plot had been conceived by Iran and Hizbullah as a response to the
assassination of Mughniyeh, Hizbullah's top military commander and strategist.
Mughniyeh was killed in a car bomb in Damascus early last year and Hizbullah
immediately placed blame for the hit on Israeli intelligence services.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has on several occasions vowed revenge
for the assassination, saying that his group would choose the time and place for
its retaliation.
Quoting counter-terrorism sources, the LA Times reported that Karaki, allegedly
a longtime Hizbullah operative, and Aladine, labeled a "lower-ranking explosives
expert," travelled back and forth between Baku, Iran and Lebanon during 2008
staying in five-star hotels and preparing the attack.
The men, with the help of Azeri and Iranian operatives, were planning to set off
three or four car bombs next to the Israeli embassy, which is located in a
high-rise complex along with the Japanese and Thai embassies, the US daily said,
adding that the group was in possession of hundreds of pounds of explosives.
According to the Azeri prosecution, other targets were scouted as well,
including a radar tower.
The LA Times said that investigators believe the cell was larger, but that some
of Lebanese, Iranian and Azeri operatives became aware of security surveillance
in May 2008 and escaped to Iran.
Iran has officially denied any connection to the alleged plot, but the
investigation is said to implicate Iranian officials, notably a Revolutionary
Guards officer known as "Fadhli."
Israeli intelligence sources told the Times that their knowledge of the foiled
plot largely corroborated the Azeri prosecution's account.
The LA Times also noted that Azerbaijan has a unique regional role, having close
ethnic and trade ties to Iran and strong diplomatic relations with the US and
Israel. A key pipeline runs from Azerbaijan to Turkey, passing through Georgia.
The trial comes at a pivotal time for Lebanon. The country holds parliamentary
elections in one week that analysts say could bring the Hizbullah-led opposition
to power.
Egypt to start trial of Hizbullah's 'operatives'
BEIRUT: Cairo will send to trial this week a number of suspects charged with
belonging to a Hizbullah cell and planning to attack Egyptian and Israeli
interests, the independent Egyptian daily As-Shorouq reported over the weekend.
Quoting informed Egyptian sources, the paper said that Egyptian Public
Prosecutor Abdel-Maguid Mahmoud would refer the men's cases to a state security
emergency court in coming days, just ahead of Lebanon's June 7 parliamentary
elections.
Since late 2008, Egypt has arrested over two dozen suspects it says belong to a
Hizbullah cell tasked with carrying out attacks against Egyptian targets and
Israeli tourists on the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal. Security officials
say the cell includes 49 individuals, mostly Egyptians, Palestinians and
Sudanese, of whom 27 have been apprehended.
One of the men in Egyptian custody is Mohammad Mansour, a Lebanese member of
Hizbullah also known as Sami Shehab. Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
admitted in April that Shehab was a member of the group, but said that any
Hizbullah operatives in Egypt were there only to provide supplies to
Palestinians in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
Tensions between Hizbullah, a close partner of Egypt's Iranian rivals, and Cairo
worsened in December and January during Israel's three-week bombardment of Gaza.
- The Daily Star
MI: Iran
could have bomb by year's end
Head of research division of Military Intelligence tells Knesset's Foreign
Affairs and Defense Committee that Islamic republic could have enough fissile
material for its first nuclear weapon by end of 2009. 'Iran's speed is extremely
troubling,' he adds
Amnon Meranda Published: 06.01.09, 11:31 / Israel News
Iran could have enough fissile material for a first nuclear bomb by the end of
the year, the head of the research division of Military Intelligence told the
Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. According to
Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, "Iran is extremely troubling because of its
speed. It has missiles which could reach Israel. The Iranian clock precedes the
international dialogue clock."
Islamic Republic
Israel: Ties to South America aiding Iran's nuclear program / Roni Sofer
Official Foreign Ministry report obtained by Ynet details extensive ties Tehran
has forged in Latin America with help of Venezuela', which also provides Tehran
with uranium; dossier further claims Islamic Republic setting up Hizbullah cells
in South America .In the meantime, the United States is determined to continue
its diplomatic dialogue with the Islamic republic.
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi told the Knesset committee recently that the
army was preparing for all options. "Iran continues with its plans. The
existence of nuclear weapons in Iran's possession could destabilize the
situation in the entire Middle East," Ashkenazi had said."There is a dialogue
between the US and Iran which will undoubtedly fail, but as far as we are
concerned this is also the preferred way to halt the project. However, as an
army chief it is my duty to prepare all the options, and that's what we're
doing." Addressing the situation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, Baidatz said
that "Hamas is successfully continuing the smuggling. Abu Mazen (Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas) expects American pressure on Israel. "Hizbullah has
deployed north and south of the Litani, with missiles which could reach deep
inside Israel."
Raad: Resistance No Substitute for Army
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad on Sunday said the resistance is "no
substitute for the Lebanese army."
"Rather, the resistance will stay alongside the army until it is capable of
defending Lebanon," Raad said during a luncheon hosted by Guinea's consul in
Lebanon in honor of Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc.
"We want a strong Lebanon … because when Lebanon is weak it will be a launch pad
for interventions and meddling in internal affairs," Raad demanded.
"We want Lebanon committed to the resistance option because all other
alternatives have failed to safeguard Lebanon," he said. Beirut, 31 May 09,
16:15
We are
not scared
Date: June 1st, 2009
Future News
We will not be intimidated by their weapons and the communication devices they
display in the neighborhoods to ‘discipline’ us and keep us from participating
in the June 7 parliamentary elections. We were not intimidated by the bombings
or the assassinations, though we still remember them very well, because we know
that no revolution thrives without sacrifice and sweat. Our lives are not more
precious than the lives of Rafic Hariri, Bassel Fleihan, Samir Kaseer, George
Hawi, Gebran Tueini, Pierre Gemayel, Antoine Ghanem, Walid Eido, Francois el
Hajj, Wissam Eid, and Samer Hanna.
We will not be intimidated by their hurling fingers and their discordant voices
that crave for blood, because the 30-year Syrian intelligence governance stuffed
with oppression, tyranny, arrests, and murders did not and will not impede us
from saying “Lebanon First”.
Neither sectary ghettoes, nor security hubs will scare us, because we are the
ones who carry the country and its burdens. We are those who fought in
international forums to legalize resistance in the ‘April Understanding’. We are
those who paid tolls of blood and wealth due to their “arbitrary adventures”,
and we are those who built the country’s economy and dragged it from under ruins
setting it out soaring as a “Phoenix”. We will not be terrorized by the
accusations of treason because we were not the ones who declared loyalty to
“Vilayat Al Faqih” or to the Syrian regime. It is quite the opposite, we just
said “Lebanon First”.
We did not spray rice at the Israeli enemy to welcome it when it occupied
Lebanon to batter the Palestinian resistance. We did not follow up Ariel
Sharon’s mission to smear the Palestinian resistance in Bekaa and Tripoli, and
we did not siege the Palestinian refugee camps in Tal el Zaatar, and Sabra and
Shatila.
We will not be intimidated by the ‘red lines’ because we crushed them during the
confrontations of Nahr el Bared camp and by sending the Lebanese Army to the
South to return it to the nation and smashed their plan to pound the Taef
agreement.
We will not be terrorized by the sectarian aggravation because we belong to all
of Lebanon and because Beirut has taught us love and taught us that love cannot
be fulfilled unless we recognize our partners in their diversity and difference
and their cultural privacy.
Beirut, the capital of cultures, embraced the Lebanese from all four directions
of the country without questioning their identity, sect, color, or affiliation
and its streets, its homes, and its people embraced the deprived and were the
habitat of freedom, warmth, and support.
For all of the above, they will not terrorize us and they will not intimidate
us. And for all of the above we will meet with you on the 7th of June for the
triumph of our nation, all of our nation.
Aoun vows a new Israeli war on Lebanon Date: June 1st, 2009
Future News/One week separates us from the legislative elections slated for June
7, when the Lebanese would choose new deputies to represent them in the
parliament. Amid the electoral rallies throughout the Lebanese territories, the
pragmatic rhetoric of the ‘March 14’ alliance stressed on the importance of
establishing a Lebanese state based on a full respect to the stature of the
presidency, as well as the state’s institutions.
The March 14 adopts a different approach from the opposition in the preparatory
period prior the decisive date. March 14 undergo the preparatory period before
the elections in a distinguished civilized approach away from insults, verbal
abuse and irresponsible showing offs.
However, General Michel Aoun attacked the independents’ list in Jbeil whose
members support the decisions of President Sleiman. It is clear that the people
of Jbeil have been unnerved by this especially since Aoun held his festival in
Sleiman’s stronghold, Jbeil.
Aoun’s creativity
The inspiration level within the March 8 is dramatically rising day after day.
Ironically the change and reform bloc leader Michel Aoun implored the Marada
leader to cover his pathetic popularity by using his partisans to cheerlead
during the festival and save his face before the Christian community.
But the intensity of his invention escalated in the middle of the rally when he
started pouring arbitrary accusations, bringing back reminiscent memories of the
civil war and accusing others of spying.
That was not enough, the general made sure to impress the public by his
political analytical skills, in which he said “if the pro-government wins the
elections the country would be subject to an imminent Israeli aggression,
because Israel needs an internal player inside Lebanon to help it implement its
conspiracy theory, and the opposition would never accept the compromise.
Although Aoun deep inside is not convinced that the pro-government victory would
jeopardize the country, he allowed his son-in-law, the telecommunication
minister Gibran Bassil to brief the voters of his long-awaited project, he said
“We are proud that we will change the system and the republic, this is a medal
of honor pinned on our chests.”
While the former MP Sleiman Franjieh adamantly defended his ally Aoun as saying
“we have always heard of frustration waves within the Christian communities, but
the presence of General Aoun as the leader of Christians dropped the
argumentative allegations.”
Akkar remains loyal
Almustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri resumed his electoral tour in the
north and told his supporters on Sunday at a rally in Akkar that March 14 will
be the fort of moderation in the face of all extremism, and the immune bloc in
the face of strife.
Hariri hailed the major role played by Akkar citizens toward achieving Lebanon’s
freedom, sovereignty and independence.
He promised the citizens to implement developmental programs to boost the
region, and pledged that the March 14 alliance will work to develop all deprived
areas in Lebanon.
Hariri during his speech briefed the public reiterated the electoral program of
Almustaqbal saying “we have proposed a socio-economic draft aimed at boosting
the economy and creating job opportunities for the youth. “Youth of Lebanon are
the real capital in this country,” he confirmed.
“We will remain here as long as the sky is blue, and we tell them that our
voters will not be afraid of their threats, and we will fill the ballots with
our complete lists on June 7,” he declared.
“Someone suddenly tells us that this election will change the face of the
region, (in reference to Iranian President Ahmadinejad speech,) what do you say
after his words? Is this election not fateful? He concluded?
Sidon - Rachaya face fateful battles
From Sidon, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told reporters on Sunday that the
purpose of his candidacy is not to cause a conflict in his city. On the
contrary, he said he will extend his hand to all the people of Sidon after the
elections so they can work together for the interests of the city.
Siniora said he has just as much of a right to be a candidate in Sidon as any
other candidate, rejecting criticisms that he is breaking the “Sidon duo” of MPs
Mustafa Saad and Bahia Hariri present since 1992. Siniora stressed that the
experience the Lebanese undergone proves the importance of ending all conflicts
and division.
During a tour of the Hasbaya-Rashaya district, Democratic Gathering bloc leader
MP Walid Jumblatt said he hoped that the district’s electoral list would be
unified, despite including diverse political parties, because the area had been
one of the first to confront Israel. He said the outcomes of the elections will
determine Lebanon’s politics.
March 14 General Secretariat Coordinator Fares Soueid spoke in a political rally
in Jbeil on Sunday evening that “the fate of Jbeil is in your hands because June
7 is the day of democratic accountability for Michel Aoun because under the
slogan of reform and change he wants to tie the Christians to imaginary
projects.”
He also said that voters will face the choice between “loyalty to Lebanon, or to
Syria and Iran; loyalty to truth and justice, or to outlaws; loyalty to the
Lebanese Armed Forces, or to those who set a red line for Nahr al-Bared.”
“We will triumph on June 7 because we hold on firmly to defending Lebanon,” he
concluded.
Bkirki wisdom
During Sunday prayers at Bkirki, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir
called on Lebanese voters to be conscientious when choosing their
representatives on June 7 and to favor national interests over personal ones.
“Do not care about threats and intimidations, and do not believe fake promises,”
he told voters.
Siniora: Israeli maneuvers have no hostile objectives
Date: June 1st, 2009 /Future News
Source: Russia Today /Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Monday that the Lebanese
government has received guarantees through UN contacts that Israel’s five-day
maneuvers are not intended against Lebanon in any way. “Our government has
conducted contacts with UN representatives and the UN interim force in Lebanon
which led to a series of guarantees that the Israeli maneuvers do not hold any
violent intentions towards Lebanon,” he said to Russia Today Television. “Since
Israel declared its intention to carry out these maneuvers, direction were given
to the military and security leaderships to be extremely aware to confront any
confrontation by Israel, and not to lure Lebanon into any plots planned by
Israel” Siniora said. "The Israeli maneuvers are defensive exercises with no
hostile objectives," a statement by the office of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora quoted UNIFIL as saying. On Wednesday, the Lebanese government sent a
complaint to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, protesting against Israeli
military maneuvers and asking for UNIFIL's help in extraditing Lebanese
fugitives who fled to Israel after uncovering Israeli-linked spying networks in
Lebanon.
Najjar to almustaqbal.org: Doha Agreement expires after elections
Date: June 1st, 2009
Amer Chibani/Future News
Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar said, Monday the Doha agreement would expire
automatically on June 8, the day parliamentary elections’ results are announced
and the current government resigns.
The Doha Agreement was abrogated by Lebanese politicians on May 2008 in Qatar
after a week-long bloody violence by Hizbullah and proxy militiamen against
peaceful neighborhood of the capital that claimed 52 innocent lives.
“Its political purpose aimed at strengthening the national entente hence it
doesn’t contradict with the Taef accord,” Najjar told Almustaqbal.org.
“But if the opposition is holding on Doha for the purpose of the veto power
share in the cabinet then it would be a clear violation of the constitution as
it was never consecrated in the Taef,” he added.
The Taëf Accord was reached in 1989 to provide the basis for ending of the
Lebanese civil war and the return to political normalcy in Lebanon. It
consecrated the rule of the majority provided that Christians and Muslims are
given equal powers in the state’s institutions.
Najjar hoped that elections be held in an atmosphere of calm and security and
away from external interference “the ministry of interior and municipalities is
responsible for ensuring the success of the elections, and the ministry of
defense is bound to preserve the security of people during the electoral
process.”
“The task of the Justice Ministry starts when the ballot boxes are sealed and
the process of counting votes begins. Lebanon’s General prosecuting council and
the attorney general will then start looking into all alleged cases of bribery,
forgery, pressure as well as security breaches,” he added.
“After the results of the elections are announced, electoral appeals and
challenges are usually presented to the constitutional council which is part of
the justice system,” he added.
Najjar said he is happy that an international observation by several foreign
monitors will be conducted during the elections day to “prevent some factions
from pressing voters in zones not fully under the authority of the government.”
On the positive side he said: “Lebanon is the only Arab democratic state that
practices strict and professional democracy. The presence of observers is the
best evidence of the well being of democracy in Lebanon.”
On the delay in appointing the governors and the director-general of the
ministry of interior, Najjar said that the delay has no legal effect on the
electoral process since the duties are limited to the administrative governors
and the committee election supervisors that were appointed by the interior
minister.
On the issue of the system of the three thirds the opposition camp is reportedly
holding on after the elections, Najjar said: “The president must be given a fair
share in the cabinet without amending the constitution, in order to break away
from the issue of power share veto or ‘obstructing third’.”
The Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, is trying to impose the tripartite rule
which violates the Taef accord, by adding the Shiite faction to the Lebanese
equation.
Sfeir: Listen to Your Conscience and Do What Is Best for
the Country
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Sunday urged the Lebanese to
"listen to the voice of conscience" as the date of elections draws closer. In
Sunday's sermon, Sfeir said: "Listen to your conscience and to what is best for
the country, your future and the future of your children. Do not pay attention
to intimidation and spectacular promises being made from in and outside
Lebanon."He also reminded listeners of the code of political conduct outlined by
the church. Sfeir also said Lebanon must be "neutralized" in regional conflicts
and international wrangling. Beirut, 31 May 09, 11:51
Contacts Underway to Solve Hizbullah's Violation of Doha
Accord in Beirut 2
Naharnet/Al-Liwaa daily said Monday that some parties will inform Qatar and Arab
League chief Amr Moussa that Hizbullah continues not to abide by the Doha Accord
by refusing to withdraw the candidacy of former MP Adnan Araqji in Beirut 2
district. The newspaper said that contacts will be made with Doha and Moussa on
Monday.
Nuhad Mashnouq and Hani Qobeisi were not able to get uncontested wins as a
result of Araqji's insistence, backed by Hizbullah, to run in the elections
against al-Mustaqbal movement candidate Mashnouq. Amal candidate Qobeisi told
Future News on Monday that voting in Beirut 2 will stress commitment to the Doha
accord and what has been agreed upon regarding the district. "Not a single party
is trying to breach the agreement," he stressed. Al-Liwaa said that the Tashnag
party is also mulling to take a stance similar to Hizbullah by renouncing a
decision in Doha to divide the Beirut 2 seats equally between majority and
minority. Beirut, 01 Jun 09, 08:42
Another Army Colonel Arrested on Suspicion of Spying for Israel
Naharnet/Military intelligence arrested several days ago an army colonel named
Shahid Toumiyeh less than ten days after the arrest of Col. Mansour Diab on
suspicion of spying for Israel, Lebanese media reported Monday. Sources told An
Nahar daily that Toumiyeh, who is the brother of four officers, was
collaborating with Israel for more than 10 years. Toumiyeh hails from Beit
Mallat-Akkar. Security sources told As Safir daily that another man, who is a
retired customs officer, was arrested along with Toumiyeh. The army colonel
admitted to collaborating with Israel, according to the sources. But another
source told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that the officer hasn't been charged yet
unlike some media outlets reported Sunday. A court official said during the
weekend that four more people were charged with collaborating with Israel,
raising to 23 the number of suspected spies who have been charged in the last
few months. Since the recent crackdown began in April, Lebanon has arrested 35
people on suspicion of spying for Israel, Police commander Brig. Gen. Ashraf
Rifi told The Associated Press. Army chief commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji has vowed
to continue the crackdown against Israeli spies and the military sent a message
to its troops warning them against Israeli attempts to infiltrate the army. The
news of the new arrests in Lebanon came as the Jewish state's media reported
that an Israeli army colonel shot himself to death with his personal gun. They
said the officer was "in charge of delicate security and intelligence affairs."
Meanwhile, al-Hayat said that Nasser Nader, whom Rifi had described the most
important suspect, had a double mission: Monitoring the activities of Hizbullah
leaders and second planning for the assassination of the group's top officials.
Initial investigation revealed that Nader was directly involved in the
assassination of Ghaleb Awali in July 19, 2004 in Beirut's southern suburbs.
Awali was a senior commander of Hizbullah's military arm, the Islamic
Resistance. Al-Hayat said that although Nader hasn't admitted yet, he might have
been the person who pushed the button of the remote control that triggered the
powerful explosive charge in Awali's vehicle. Nader has also reportedly traveled
to Israel several times, including a visit to the Jewish state by sea in 2002.
Beirut, 01 Jun 09, 08:05
First Firefighting Helicopter Arrives in Beirut
Naharnet/The interior ministry announced that the first Sikorsky helicopter to
fight fires arrived in Beirut and a ceremony will be held on the occasion at
Beirut airport on Tuesday.
Interior Minister Ziad Baroud and a delegation from Akhdar Dayem association
will then fly to Baabda palace to hand over the helicopter's key to President
Michel Suleiman on the first anniversary of his election. Lebanon bought three
helicopters through funds from the private sector and civil society. Beirut, 01
Jun 09, 09:35
Egypt Denies Election Intervention
Naharnet/Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Suleiman Awad denied his country is
intervening in Lebanon's parliamentary elections. "Intervention in the Lebanese
elections in not on Egypt's agenda, this is not Egypt's policy and this is not
the policy of president Hosni Mubarak," the presidential spokesman said. He was
responding to accusations made by Hizbullah against certain Arab regimes that
are working on influencing the outcome of the legislative elections. He
expressed hope that Lebanon would hold free and honest elections according to
the Lebanese' aspirations "Because Egypt shall continue to remain the big sister
that cares for Lebanon's security, stability, popular and political harmony
among all."Awad was asked to comment on the issue of the recently uncovered
Hizbullah cell in Egypt. "President Hosni Mubarak has affirmed that the case
against the Hizbullah cell is in the hands of the judiciary. This case has legal
ramifications subject to the full independence the Egyptian bench," Awad said.
Beirut, 01 Jun 09, 09:02
Comprehensive Security Plan to Guarantee Electoral Success
Naharnet/The Lebanese army has launched a nationwide security plan, believed to
be one of its kind throughout the history of Lebanese parliamentary elections
since the country's independence. Aiming at guaranteeing the success of the
elections on June 7, the scheme is implemented in coordination with the Internal
Security Forces, Lebanese military sources told As-Safir daily in remarks
published on Monday. Some 42,000 soldiers and 12,000 ISF members will cooperate
under the supervision of one operations room to bring the electoral process to
safe shores and to contain post-electoral tension that could result in possible
clashes.Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji instructed both army officers and soldiers
to disregard accusations addressed to the military institution, stressing the
importance of remaining at equidistance from all. Qahwaji also called for rigor
and impartiality "regardless of the perpetrator's identity, since military men
are asked to provide security to the elections and to be up to the expectations
of the Lebanese." Interior Minister Ziad Baroud expressed to pan-Arab al-Hayat
daily his "confidence in the comprehensive security plan that was set by the
Lebanese army and the ISF, and we, as a political authority, trust these
security bodies." "Maintaining calm and security does not rely only on the plan;
it requires the cooperation of our principle partners who are firstly the
political forces, the government, and citizens who are supposed to withhold from
engaging in clashes to avoid bloodsheds," Baroud said. "Blood should not be
spilled during the elections but rather in confrontation with the enemy," he
added. Beirut, 01 Jun 09, 12:58
Raad: Resistance No Substitute for Army
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad on Sunday said the resistance is "no
substitute for the Lebanese army.""Rather, the resistance will stay alongside
the army until it is capable of defending Lebanon," Raad said during a luncheon
hosted by Guinea's consul in Lebanon in honor of Hizbullah's Loyalty to the
Resistance parliamentary bloc.
"We want a strong Lebanon … because when Lebanon is weak it will be a launch pad
for interventions and meddling in internal affairs," Raad demanded.
"We want Lebanon committed to the resistance option because all other
alternatives have failed to safeguard Lebanon," he said. Beirut, 31 May 09,
16:15
Hezbollah Unlikely to Remain
Angry at Biden
By: Chris Carter
International Analyst Network
31 May 2009
On May 22, U.S. vice president Joe Biden traveled to Lebanon to express support
for the Lebanese government. Biden's trip has drawn criticism from the
Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, but considering Biden's history
regarding Hezbollah and their handlers, the anger isn't likely to be long-lived.
The Central News Agency reported that Biden would deliver a message from
President Obama expressing U.S. support for Lebanese stability, discussing
cooperation with the Lebanese military, and calling for the implementation of
security resolutions, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,
which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Biden's trip was the second trip in two months by a high-ranking American
official (Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited in April) and was the first
by an American vice president in 26 years. George H.W. Bush traveled there in
1983, two days after Hezbollah terrorists killed 241 American Marines, sailors,
and soldiers.
“Lebanon has suffered terribly from war and we have a real opportunity now ...
for peace,” Biden said after meeting with President Michel Suleiman. “So I urge
those who think about standing with the spoilers of peace not to miss this
opportunity to walk away from the spoilers.”
Hezbollah is now accusing the U.S. of trying to influence the vote in favor of
the pro-freedom, Western-backed March 14 Alliance. They claim that the visits by
Clinton and now Biden raised “strong suspicion and amounted to a clear and
detailed interference in Lebanon's affairs.”
“The U.S. will evaluate the shape of its assistance program based on the
composition of the new government and the policies it is advocating.” Biden said
of future American assistance to Lebanon. Since 2006, the U.S. has contributed
over $400 million worth of military assistance alone to Lebanon – including
ammunition, artillery, M60 battle tanks, Raven unmanned aerial vehicles, and
other weapons systems.
“The high American interest in Lebanon raises strong suspicion as to the real
reason behind it,” said Hezbollah in a statement, “especially since it has
become a clear and detailed intervention in Lebanese affairs.” Apparently
Biden's call for “fair, free and transparent elections” classifies as an
“intervention in Lebanese affairs” to Hezbollah.
But the terrorist group will not likely remain angry at Biden. Back in 2007,
Biden voted against a Senate amendment that would name Iran's Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Hezbollah's benefactor – as a terrorist
organization.
In 1983, then-Senator Biden and other Senate Democrats demanded under the War
Powers Act (which all presidents except Obama have called unconstitutional since
the act's passage) that President Reagan announce when the Marine peacekeeping
force would leave Lebanon. Despite a warning from Marine Corps Commandant Gen.
P.X. Kelley that a partisan debate over timelines would encourage attacks on our
troops, Democrats still voted to end the deployment. Once they knew that the
American resolve was exhausted, Hezbollah simply had to kill a few Marines and
the rest would be withdrawn. Less than a month after the Senate vote, the Marine
headquarters in Beirut was attacked.
In an interview with the New Republic in 1986, Biden bragged about personally
stopping covert operations by threatening to “go public.” It is entirely
possible that one or more of the operations Biden shut down were directed at
Hezbollah or the IRGC. But if Biden had his way in 1974, those covert operations
would have been illegal to begin with as Biden was one of 17 senators who voted
to make covert operations and espionage illegal.
As military analyst W. Thomas Smith, Jr. has said, “Joe Biden should be an
honorary soldier in the IRGC.”
Ashkar:
Gemayel chose Koreytem as an alternative to represent the Christians
iloubnan.info - June 01, 2009,
BEIRUT – Maronite seat candidate in Beirut I district Massoud Ashkar replied on
Monday to the statements of his rival in the district and for the same seat
Nadim Gemayel and journalist Walid Abboud, that targeted him in a MTV channel
talk-show yesterday evening. Ashkar said in a statement that Abboud’s
introductory word was an electoral maneuver that damages Ashakar’s reputation
and favors Gemayel. Ashkar reminded Gemayel that he has ever been and was still
the companion of his father Bachir Gemayel, and he was not obliged at all to
justify his political choices and was very aware of hi stances. Ashkar also
stated that gemayel and his allies must be ashamed to say “a Christian bloc
within March 14 coalition is not necessary because the coalition powers were
committed to the same political project”. He added that the fact that Gemayel
was proud of his coalition with Future Movement, confirmed, once again, that he
had found an alternative to Christian representation in Koreytem
Canadians fly on free tickets to vote in Lebanese election
Monday, June 1, 2009 | CBC News
Canadians who are flying to Lebanon on free plane tickets provided by party
supporters could tip the difference in a close parliamentary election in that
country.
Corporate sponsors are paying for hundreds of supporters of the pro-Western
Future Movement in Calgary and in other Canadian cities to vote on June 7, CBC
News has learned. Dual citizens must be physically present in Lebanon to cast a
ballot in its elections.
"This is a big election, and it is a lot of people who [would] love to vote but
they cannot vote because of funds … so those companies are making it easy for
them," said Faouzi Salem, a Future Movement co-ordinator in Calgary.
"There [are] sponsors in the world who [pay] for those tickets … European
companies, Middle Eastern companies who … they would love to see free Lebanon,
independent Lebanon. They want to see democratic government in the future, so
they're dedicating all their supports."
'This is shaping up to be the most expensive election of all times, anywhere,
per capita. We're talking something that will be more expensive than elections
in the U.S.'
—Marie-Joelle Zahar, professorThe party has rented an office in a Calgary mosque
where volunteers have been working to match people of Lebanese descent with
tickets to Beirut.
Sam Hammoud's uncle is one of the people flying to Lebanon for the election.
"It's the sense that I have a say in my own country. I still have ties to my own
country, whether I live here or not," said Hammoud.
"He said, 'why not, why not?' So he's going. All he has to do is vote and head
right back home to Canada."
Hezbollah trying to increase political influence
The Future Movement is part of a pro-Western alliance, composed mainly of
Sunnis, which is trying to wrest political influence away from a
Hezbollah-dominated coalition.
An Arabic election banner for Hezbollah, right, reads in part, "Justice homeland
for all its citizens, resist with your vote" as another for the Free Patriotic
Movement hangs on the left along the airport highway in Beirut. (Hussein Malla/Associated
Press)
Hezbollah, listed as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government, and
its allies hold veto power in the current government. The coalition dominated by
the heavily armed Shia group is backed by U.S. foes Iran and Syria.
The majority of the 1.5 million people that left Lebanon in the last 30 years —
including during the civil war from 1976 to 1990 — for Canada, the United States
and Australia oppose Hezbollah, which is why there's such an effort to have
their votes counted, said Elias Bejjani, chairman of the Lebanese Canadian Co-ordinating
Council in Toronto.
"This is where the focus is on, because we all have still our citizenship and we
are all qualified according to the Lebanese constitution to vote," he said.
There are rumours in the Lebanese-Canadian community that the pro-Hezbollah side
is also paying to fly supporters to Lebanon for the election.
"The other side too, they're doing the same thing, no? They're taking people
from all over the world," said Salem.
Marie-Joelle Zahar, a political science professor at the Université de Montréal
and a former journalist who covered the Lebanese civil war, said the election
could ring up record-breaking expenditures.
"It is a phenomenal amount of money. This is shaping up to be the most expensive
election of all times, anywhere, per capita. We're talking something that will
be more expensive than elections in the U.S. That is quite mind-boggling.
There's a lot riding on this election internally."
With files from Erin Collins and The Canadian Press