LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
November 05/09
Bible Reading of the day
John 17/14-26: I have given
them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as
I am not of the world. I pray not that you would take them from the world,
but that you would keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world even
as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.*
As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.
For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified
in truth. Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who believe in
me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are
in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe
that you sent me. The glory which you have given me, I have given to them;
that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that
they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and
loved them, even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you
have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have
given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous
Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent
me. I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love
with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
USJ polls blaze the proportional
path/The Daily
Star/November
04/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November 04/09
Maronite Bishops: Bkirki Adopts Same Stance as Sfeir/Naharnet
Jouzo:
No Insult Intended Against Maronite Sect/Naharnet
Israel Navy Intercepts Ship it Said
Bound for Hizbullah/Naharnet
Peres on vessel seizure: Syria, Iran continue to
arm terror groups/Ynetnews
Der Spiegel: Ahmadinejad and Assad at loggerheads
over nuclear collaboration/Ha'aretz
Military: Israel navy captures arms ship/The
Associated Press
Clashes in Tehran on Anniversary of US Embassy
Takeover/New
York Times
Aoun rejects five-portfolio pitch,
douses cabinet hopes/Daily
Star
Opposition Christian parties prepare lawsuit over Jouzou comments/Daily
Star
Italian president voices hope for
Mideast peace/Daily
Star
Israel says Hizbullah 'amassing
weapons' in civilian homes/Daily
Star
Beirut bourse activity down 45
percent to $882 million/Daily
Star
Lebanese power firm
calls for
electricity upgrade/Daily
Star
SF officials return from US visit
aimed to study community policing practices
/Daily Star
Landmark USJ polls characterized by
proportional representation
/Daily Star
Clinton announces host of new
business initiatives in the Muslim world/AFP
March
14 Calls for Speedy Government Formation for Sake of Lebanon's Integrity/Naharnet
Geagea: Lay Off
Christians' Back/Naharnet
Jumblat Has No Intention
to Launch Initiative, Says Good Times Gone/Naharnet
Aoun Demands Economy
Ministry, Bassil Keeps His Post/Naharnet
Clinton: Lebanese Must
Form Cabinet That Represents Lebanon in all its Diversity/Naharnet
Sfeir Criticizing
Elections: We Saw Winners Lose and Losers Win/Naharnet
March 14 Wins Student
Elections at St. Joseph University/Naharnet
Ban Ki-moon: Disarming All
Armed Groups in Lebanon to be Achieved through Political Process/Naharnet
Raad: Cabinet Formation
Nears Decisive Final Resolution/Naharnet
Syria Hands Over Body of Deceased
Lebanese Detainee
Naharnet/Committee of Lebanese Detainees in Syria told the Central News Agency
that the Syrian authorities handed over on Monday night the body of the Lebanese
citizen Amer Safi after his death in a Syrian prison. As the reasons of death
remained unknown, whether for natural causes or due to torture, some sources
assumed that Safi may have died 15 days ago. The funeral was held on Tuesday in
Safi's village Kamid al-Lawz in Western Beqaa, knowing that Safi's father was
informed of his son's death through the Internal Security Forces. Reports said
that Safi's parents visited him several times in his Syrian prison.
Safi was arrested for a political charge since around a year and half
while he was attending university in Syria. He was asked to renounce his
political affiliation in return to his release but he refused. Ex-Minister Abdul
Raheem Murad had previously demanded that Safi be released prior to June 7
parliamentary elections. The committee's president Ali Abu Dehn wondered "if
Syrian authorities hand over Lebanese detainees only as corpses". Abu Dehn also
called on the Syrian authorities to release the Lebanese detainees jailed in
Syria between the years 1980-2000 and to inform their parents of their
whereabouts. "If they were still alive, let their parents visit them, but if
they were deceased, let their bodies be handed over to attain burial in a decent
way," concluded Abu Dehn. Beirut, 03 Nov 09, 18:26
Ban Ki-moon: Disarming All Armed Groups in Lebanon to be
Achieved through Political Process
Naharnet/United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his eleventh
report on the implementation of Resolution 1701 that disarming the weapons of
all armed groups in Lebanon has to be implemented through a political process
led by the Lebanese State.Ban said that the presence of armed groups in Lebanon
represents a threat for the state's ability to enjoy its complete sovereignty
and control over its land. The U.N. Secretary-General condemned "all the
violations of Resolution 1701" from both Lebanese and Israeli sides. He urged
both parties to practice ultimate self restraint in addition to respecting the
blue line and halting all hostile acts. Ban expressed
his deep concerns regarding the rockets launched from Lebanon on September 11
and October 27 being the fourth and fifth such attacks on Israel from the
Lebanese territories. He also expressed his concerns
regarding the arms and ammunitions caches discovered in Kherbet Selem reportedly
related to Hizbullah.Ban urged the need to achieve progress in border
demarcation between Lebanon and Syria in Shebaa Farms area. He vowed to continue
his diplomatic efforts aiming to solve the Shebaa Farms issue.
The U.N. Secretary-General urged Israel to immediately halt its air
violations to Lebanese airspace, he also expressed his concerns about the Ghajar
village part still under occupation by Israel. Ban called on the United Nations
to improve the living in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon since it was a
factor that maintains stability. On the other hand, Ban expressed his regret for
not forming a new government in Lebanon after more than 4 months from the June 7
elections. He said he was hopeful that the negotiations led by PM-designate Saad
Hariri may reach a new cabinet soon. Beirut, 03 Nov 09, 22:33
Clinton: Lebanese Must Form Cabinet That Represents Lebanon
in all its Diversity
Naharnet/U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described as "deplorable" the
situation in Lebanon and urged various political parties to "put their personal
interests aside and form a government that represents the vast diversity in
Lebanon."Clinton, who arrived in Cairo Tuesday coming from Morocco where she
participated in the Forum for the Future, told al-Hurra TV that "the time has
come to form a government." She urged the Lebanese
people and the leadership in Lebanon to "work for Lebanon and not for any
foreign influence." Clinton also called on the Lebanese to "put their own
interests and personal ambitions aside for the good of the country and form a
government that represents the vast diversity in Lebanon, so decisions can be
taken to improve the future of Lebanon."Clinton, who is in Cairo for talks with
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, denied she had plans to visit Syria in the
near future, and hoped to see a "change in Syrian behavior," saying "things
should not be confined to words but deeds." Beirut, 04 Nov 09, 09:06
Maronite Bishops: Bkirki Adopts Same Stance as Sfeir
Naharnet/The Council of Maronite Bishops said Wednesday that Bkirki adopts the
same stance as being advocated by Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir or the bishops. "The
role of the Maronite Patriarchate (Bkirki) is well-known and whether
instructions were issued from the patriarch personally or the Synod of Bishops
they express one opinion," said a statement at the end of their monthly meeting.
The statement, read by Monsignor Youssef Tawk, said inability to form a
government "demonstrates a lack of responsibility and a state of confusion."
"Bickering between the political parties does not demonstrate a good national
spirit, while duty requires intensive efforts by everybody to the good of the
country," added the statement.
Beirut, 04 Nov 09, 12:00
Sfeir Criticizing Elections: We Saw Winners Lose and Losers
Win
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has reportedly expressed his
resentment at the situation and showed indifference toward the campaigns waged
against him following his recent statement. The daily Ad-Diyar on Wednesday
quoted the Patriarch's visitors as saying that Sfeir criticized those who left a
vacuum in parliamentary elections. "Elections took
place and we saw winners lose and losers win," Sfeir reportedly told visitors.
"We ate sweet and drank as if we didn't eat or drink," he added. "It's time to
tell the truth, and politicians have to their job," Sfeir said, "He who likes to
take in our view is welcome." Beirut, 04 Nov 09, 08:07
March 14 Wins Student Elections at St. Joseph University
Naharnet/March 14-affiliated students won elections at St. Joseph University on
Tuesday, beating out rival candidates from the Opposition March 8 coalition.
They claimed the majority of seats in the student bodies in 15 faculties in a
landslide victory over March 8-affiliated classmates with links to Free
Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun. March 14 got 139 delegates at the 15
colleges in return for 96 delegates for March 8 in 4 faculties, and 28
independent delegates at two other schools. Beirut, 04 Nov 09, 10:42
March 14 Calls for Speedy Government Formation for Sake of
Lebanon's Integrity
Naharnet/March 14 General-Secretariat on Wednesday called for the speedy
government formation in order to maintain Lebanon's integrity. A statement
issued following its weekly meeting hailed remarks by Maronite Patriarch
Nasrallah Sfeir. "The positions of Patriarch Sfeir and the Church express
commitment to the fundamental principles of independence and statehood," said
March 14. Beirut, 04 Nov 09, 14:55
Geagea: Lay Off Christians' Back
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday congratulated St.
Joseph University students on their election victory, saying elections took
place "democratically."
March 14-affiliated students won elections at St. Joseph University on Tuesday,
beating out rival candidates from the Opposition March 8 coalition.
Addressing St. Joseph University students, Geagea said: "Student results
came out democratically at a minor-level. So you told them "bye-bye ya hilween,"
while we intend to tell them "bye-bye ya hilween at a major-level.""But it's not
easy as they did not accept the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections,
despite the presence of all election supervision committees," Geagea added.
"The importance of the victory achieved by the students is that a certain
look of Lebanon won over another and it is important that those concerned hear
the voice of the people," the LF boss stressed, calling on them to "stay off
Christians' back "Let them think about how to build Lebanon because Christians
do not want to achieve gains but want to build a functioning state," Geagea
pleaded. Beirut, 04 Nov 09, 11:35
Israel Navy Intercepts Ship it Said Bound for Hizbullah
Naharnet/The Israeli military said on Wednesday that a ship seized at sea was
carrying "hundreds of kilograms of arms bound for Hizbullah from Iran."
Previously, Israel's military radio said that the Israeli navy intercepted a
ship carrying weapons bound for Hizbullah. The report said the shipment,
including anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets, was from Iran, bound for
Hizbullah.
The Israeli spokeswoman said the ship was intercepted 100 nautical miles (185
kilometers) off its coastline overnight. "During the night a special marine
force intercepted a ship that was supposed to be carrying cargo around 100
(nautical) miles from our shore," she said, adding that the ship was sailing
under an Antigua flag. "We suspected it was carrying weapons and when we
inspected it that turned out to be true," she said, pointing that the ship has
been taken to port for further investigation. Israel's Defense Minister Ehud
Barak hailed the operation, calling it a "new success in our struggle against
weapons smuggling aimed at reinforcing terrorist organizations that are
threatening the security of Israel." His remarks were carried in a defense
ministry statement that said the ship was captured "near Cyprus" but did not
provide further details. Israel has long accused arch-foes Syria and Iran of
supplying weapons to Hizbullah and to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip,
which has been ruled by the Islamist Hamas movement since June 2007. On Tuesday,
a senior Israeli general warned that Hamas had successfully test-fired a rocket
out to sea capable of reaching Tel Aviv from Gaza. The rocket, believed to be
Iranian-made, has a range of about 60 kilometers (37 miles), putting Israel's
major population centers in range, said Major General Amos Yadlin, head of
military intelligence. Hamas called the claim a "fabrication" designed to
mobilize world opinion against the Islamist group before the U.N. General
Assembly which was on Wednesday to discuss a controversial report on the Gaza
war. "This is a pre-emptive step by the Zionist enemy to influence international
opinion," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said, adding that the report had put
Israel in a state of "crisis."Beirut, 04 Nov 09, 11:54
Jouzo: No Insult Intended Against Maronite Sect
Naharnet/Lebanese Sunni Mufti of Mount Lebanon Sheikh Muhammed Ali al-Jouzo said
that the statement he declared last Monday did not aim to insult the Maronite
sect. It rather aimed to condemn those who crippled political life and proved
that Lebanon needs tutelage since it was incompetent of forming a cabinet.
"I regret that some understood my words in a wrong way, or deviated my words in
a manner that serves their sectarian aims dumped in backwardness," clarified
Jouzo.
The Mufti of Mount Lebanon said that he didn't ask that Maronites be extradited
and returned to Syria where they came from, but rather he addressed all Lebanese
sects about the fact of Lebanon nowadays.
"Why don't all of its (Lebanon's) people immigrate and present it as a gift to
Syria and its agents? How do the people of Lebanon still bear Lebanon and not
regret the days of Anjar and its officers. Hadn't the Maronites come from Syria,
let them return to it, and let all of Lebanon return to Syria and not that who
yearns for Syria alone," added Jouzo.
He said that part of his speech had aimed to ridicule those who had forgotten
the past, the same ones who feel nostalgia toward Anjar after Lebanon had freed
itself of the tutelage era.
"I highly appreciate the statement issued by the press office of the Maronite
International League, that was full of manners and wisdom, and showed profound
understanding to what we said in our statement of precise description to the
deteriorating state the politicians in Lebanon got us into, and which we did not
aim to insult the dear Maronite sect through it," concluded Jouzo. Beirut, 04
Nov 09, 15:25
Jumblat Has No Intention to Launch Initiative, Says Good
Times Gone
Naharnet/Druze leader Walid Jumblat said he has no intention to launch a new
initiative toward a Cabinet lineup, insisting that he has no knowledge about
whether delay in the formation of a new government was related to domestic or
external factors. In remarks published by the daily
al-Akhbar on Wednesday, Jumblat pointed to "clear indications" from Syria and
Saudi Arabia as well as the United States that reflect their desire to see
formation of a new Lebanon government. Jumblat said that he recently received a
call from Jeffrey Feltman in which he said the U.S. administration "Okays any
(Cabinet) formula approved by the Lebanese." The PSP boss said he doesn't mind
granting the ministry of displaced people to Free Patriotic Movement leader
Michel Aoun. Jumblat believed the "good times are gone."It's the time for
conflicts and fragmentation of the region and countries," he thought. Beirut, 04
Nov 09, 10:51
Aoun Demands Economy Ministry, Bassil Keeps His Post
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has reportedly set new
conditions for the formation of a national unity government.
News reports on Wednesday said the obstacle now revolved around the
fourth portfolio allocated for Aoun's Change and Reform bloc after Aoun rejected
the education ministry. They said Aoun now insists on having the economy
ministry. The daily As-Safir, meanwhile, pointed to
another knot that is still pending – Aoun's refusal to let go of the telecoms
ministry and insisting that his son-in-law retains his post. Beirut, 04 Nov 09,
10:15
Raad: Cabinet Formation Nears Decisive Final Resolution
Naharnet/Head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohamad
Raad said that the issue of forming a national unity government is in the close
vicinity of "decisive final resolution, that either leads to forming a
government that reflects the craving of all citizens for national unity and true
partnership, or we will face a long crisis which nobody would know its time
limit.""We can hardly believe that the (cabinet) form -- that we are waiting for
its conclusion in the coming few hours -- is an obstacle hindering the formation
of a national unity government," concluded Raad. Beirut, 03 Nov 09, 19:27
Military: Israel navy captures arms ship
(AP) – JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says its navy has captured an arms
vessel 100 miles (160 kilometers) off Israel's coast. Israel's main TV, radio
stations and newspaper Web sites said authorities suspected the vessel was
headed from Iran to Syria. The boat was being taken to the Israeli port of
Ashdod on Wednesday, officials said. Col. Avital Leibovich said the ship was
carrying weapons but did not specify which kind. She said it was flying an
Antigua flag. Other defense ministry officials said the arms cache included
anti-tank missiles.
Iran twitchy since Israel strike on Syria nuke reactor
By Ofer Aderet /Last update - 04/11/2009
Haaretz/BERLIN - Relations have been tense between Iran and Syria in recent
weeks, according to the German weekly Der Spiegel, which quotes Western
intelligence sources. Iran has demanded that Syria return the uranium delivered
to it prior to the Israeli bombing of the Syrian reactor two years ago, says the
weekly. Moreover, Iran reportedly wants the radioactive material restored in its
entirety and without Syria's receiving compensation in any form, as it has
remained unused since the destruction of the reactor. The Der Spiegel article
says Syrian President Bashar Assad considered recently an unusual political
move: to publicly expose his nuclear program to the West - but without revealing
the collaboration between Syria, Iran and North Korea in the field. The idea was
to follow in the footsteps of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddhafi, who was rewarded
by the international community for his candor in a thawing of relations with the
West. According to the report, North Korea was quick to dispatch a senior envoy
to Assad when it learned of his intentions, warning that all cooperation with
Damascus on chemical weapons would cease if he proceeded with unveiling his
nuclear program.
Tehran was reportedly more severe in its response: Saeed Jalili, secretary of
Iran's National Security Council, sent a letter to Assad on behalf of Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei: "Unacceptable; end of the strategic alliance; severe blow to
relations." The article in Der Spiegel was written by veteran journalist Erich
Follath, who is considered well-connected in the Middle East. He told Haaretz on
Tuesday that "this is very interesting news." In May, he broke the news that a
secret United Nations report on the assassination of former Lebanese prime
minister Rafik Hariri, which concluded that the killing was not the work of
Syria but of Hezbollah. The report on friction between Iran and Syria completes
a Der Spiegel expose earlier this week on the Israeli bombing of the Syrian
reactor. The weekly uncovers the events on the night of September 6-7, 2007 in
the Syrian desert near Deir al-Zur "as one of the greatest mysteries of modern
history." The article, entitled Operation Orchard, is based on the name given to
the operation by Israel. The article claims that the incriminating evidence on
activities at the Syrian reactor was collected by the Mossad by hacking into the
computer of a senior Syrian official and by tapping into conversations between
Syrians and North Koreans at the nuclear installation.
A month prior to the bombing, a special Israel Defense Forces unit went into
Syria, and collected on site intelligence.
Israel says Hizbullah 'amassing weapons' in civilian homes
UNIFIL insists there is no official proof to back up the claims
By Patrick Galey
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
BEIRUT: Israel’s military intelligence chief on Tuesday accused Hizbullah of
stockpiling weapons inside civilian homes in south Lebanon, a charge dismissed
by current and former UNIFIL officials as either premature or disingenuous.
During a briefing with Israel’s foreign affairs and defense committee, Major
General Amos Yadlin said that Hizbullah’s arms were proliferating and being
stored in areas in which international peacekeeping troops operate.
“The organization continues to arm itself and it is amassing many weapons by
[procuring them from] Iran via Syria,” a parliamentary spokesperson quoted
Yadlin as saying. It is accumulating these arms south of the Litani River,
inside civilian homes in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”
Also addressing the issue of Hamas’ rockets – which were said to have a range
capable of hitting Tel Aviv from Gaza – Yadlin suggested that Syria was the main
hoarder of arms destined for Hizbullah’s stocks.
“Syria has turned into the main factory and weapons cache for Hamas and
Hizbullah,” he continued.
However, UNIFIL deputy spokesman Andrea Tenenti said there was no official proof
to back up Yadlin’s claims.
“From what we have seen during our monitoring with the Lebanese Army, we haven’t
found any evidence that any militia is arming or having weapons [in UNIFIL’s
jurisdiction],” he said.
Tenenti added that probes into suspected arms depot blasts were continuing in
conjunction with the LAF.
“Investigations are still ongoing and we are waiting [to see] the Secretary
General’s report [on the implementation of Resolution 1701] before we can know
what happened,” tenenti said.
Former long-time UNIFIL adviser Timur Goksel called the latest Israeli
accusations a pre-emptive tactic.
“To say something like this is pretty standard,” he said. “First of all it
covers your behind, so you can say ‘I told you so,’ should allegations prove
true. Whether they have any information to suggest that there are weapons in
houses [in south Lebanon], I doubt it,” he told The Daily Star.
The explosions of suspected Hizbullah arms caches near the southern villages of
Khirbet Silim in July and Tayr Felsay in October reignited the debate about the
Shiite group’s arsenal.
The events drew international condemnation and the former was labeled “a clear
violation of Security Council Resolution 1701,” by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Resolution 1701 was written to bring to a close the Israel’s war on Lebanon in
2006 – in which more than 1,200 Lebanese died, mostly civilians – and stipulates
that arms must not be kept in the country outside of state control.
It also expressly forbids the presence of weapons between the Litani River and
the Blue Line – the line of Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon.
Hizbullah officials, when contacted by The Daily Star, declined to comment
specifically on the Israeli allegations, but confirmed that an official response
would be issued in the coming days.
Last month’s report from Ban to the Security Council on the implementation of
Resolution 1559 said that non-state-owned weapons were a risk to Lebanese
sovereignty.
“The continued presence of weapons outside the government’s control and
activities of militias constitute a challenge to the government’s exclusive
military authority,” it said.
Ban called for better monitoring of the porous Lebanon-Syria border in order to
“prevent unauthorized flows of weapons, munitions and personnel into [Lebanon].”
Israel admitted over the weekend that it was maintaining spy networks within
Lebanon and would continue to do so for as long as Hizbullah posed a threat.
Goksel said that Israel’s claims were designed to elicit a response from
Hizbullah.
“They know that they are annoying Hizbullah and prompting them to say
something,” he added. “[Israel] has said this a number of times. It keeps the
tension going.”