LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
October 26/09
Bible Reading of the day
’Matthews:
For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants,
and entrusted his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another
two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his
journey. Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with
them, and made another five talents. In the same way, he also who got the
two gained another two. But he who received the one went away and dug in
the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts
with them. He who received the five talents came and brought another five
talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained
another five talents besides them.’ “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and
faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over
many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “He also who got the two talents
came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained
another two talents besides them.’ “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and
faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over
many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “He also who had received
the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping
where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25:25 I was
afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is
yours.’
“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I
reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 25:27 You ought
therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should
have received back my own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from
him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be
given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that
which he has will be taken away. Throw out the unprofitable servant into
the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Hezbollah has sections of a private
school history textbook censored/By: Maya Khourchid/Lebanon Now/October
25/09
Expect more trickery from Iran in
nuclear talks/ By Amos Harel/Haaretz/October
25/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for October 25/09
UN Nuclear Inspectors to Tour
Iran's Second Enrichment Plant Near Qom/Voice Of A merica
Washington caught off guard by
Netanyahu visit/Israel News
UN Resolution 1559 report, closed
discussions Tuesday/Future News
Al-Watan: Lebanese playing waiting
game, Aoun-Hariri deliberations determine cabinet formation/Now Lebanon
Sfeir
Warns: Appointments should Respect 'Sectarian Balance'/Naharnet
Terro: Only legitimate arms protect
Lebanon/Future News
Khalifeh: Amal Movement does not
have any catch ministries to concede/Now Lebanon
Hariri, Aoun Discuss Alternatives
to Telecoms Ministry as Aoun's Eye is on Justice Portfolio/Naharnet
White House calls on Syria to release rights lawyer/AFP
60 Lashes Ordered for Saudi Woman/New
York Times
Lebanon: 11 convicted of al-Qaida
links/Jerusalem
Post
Berri sets coming week as deadline
to agree on cabinet formation/Now
Lebanon
Khalife:
Death of Pregnant Woman in Riyaq under Investigation/Naharnet
Saudi
Female Journalist to be Whipped over TV Show/Naharnet
Shiite Clans Seek New,
Good Image/Naharnet
Germany to Gradually
Withdraw its UNIFIL Marine Force/Naharnet
Jumblat Calls for
Returning to Taef Accord Resolutions Regarding Israel, Syria/Naharnet
Camille
Khouri: Jumblatt must stop acting
as a Prince/Future News
Trial of Hizbullah Cell
Members Postponed till Wednesday/Naharnet
Aoun: No Agreement Yet on
'Telecoms' or Any Other Portfolio/Naharnet
Geagea: Those Obstructing
Cabinet Don't Believe in Taef Accord/Naharnet
Boutros Harb: Lebanon
Facing Critical Crossroads/Naharnet
Israel Police battling Arab rioters
on Temple Mount; PA official arrested/Haaretz
Obama Looks Forward to Working with a Lebanese Cabinet that Promotes Regional
Stability
/Naharnet/U.S. President Barack Obama expressed hope on Friday that Lebanon's
factions would finally form a new cabinet as he marked the 26th anniversary of
what he called the "senseless" Beirut bombing of a U.S. Marine barracks.
"We remember today the 241 American Marines, soldiers, and sailors who
lost their lives 26 years ago as the result of a horrific terrorist attack that
destroyed the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon," Obama said.
"The murder of our soldiers, sailors, and Marines on this day on 1983
remains a senseless tragedy," Obama said in a statement.
While remembering the victims of the bombing, their families and all U.S.
service personnel abroad, Obama also looked to the future in Lebanon, where a
political crisis has prevented cabinet formation since the parliamentary
elections in June. "In remembering this terrible day
of loss, we are at the same time hopeful that a new government in Lebanon will
soon be formed," Obama said. "We look forward to
working with a Lebanese government that works actively to promote stability in
the region and prosperity for its people."
The U.S. State Department also issued a statement on the anniversary of the
attack on the Marine barracks. "The Marine barracks
memorial on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut reads, 'They came in
peace.' So too have the troops of the current U.N. peacekeeping mission in
southern Lebanon come in peace," the statement said.
"On this somber occasion, the United States also commends the brave men and
women of that mission and of all international peacekeeping missions who work to
protect civilians and prevent the outbreak of conflict," it added.(AFP-Naharnet)
Beirut, 24 Oct 09, 08:06
Aoun: No Agreement Yet on 'Telecoms' or Any Other Portfolio
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, after meeting twice on
Saturday with PM-designate Saad Hariri, said that there was no agreement yet
with Hariri regarding the telecommunications ministry or any other cabinet
portfolios. Aoun also said that the leaks to the press
conducted by some people would not benefit them nor benefit those seeking to
reach solutions. Aoun stressed that "there is a price for every solution".
Earlier on Saturday, PM-designate Hariri visited Rabieh to meet with Aoun
as part of consultations aimed at breaking the cabinet deadlock. After the
meeting that lasted for about an hour Hariri refused to give any statement to
the media regarding the talks except for saying that "the atmosphere was
positive". Hariri was reported of conducting a second visit to Rabieh after a
short time of finishing the first visit. Meanwhile, on
Friday, Aoun told Iran's Press TV on Friday that he had exchanged viewpoints
with Hariri during previous meetings but no agreement was reached on names or
portfolios. "If they (the majority) want a solution
they should give us fair alternatives. If we want to be fair we (Change and
Reform bloc) should get six ministries. But we could make a concession by giving
up one seat but not more," the MP said. Asked about
his condition for dropping demands to keep the Telecommunications Ministry with
his bloc, Aoun said: "I have to know the reasons in order to give it up. If the
reasons are worth it then I could drop it. But I won't do it without valid
reasons." Beirut, 24 Oct 09, 09:17
Trial of Hizbullah Cell Members Postponed till Wednesday
Naharnet/An Egyptian court postponed on Saturday the trial of 26 members of the
so-called Hizbullah cell accused of plotting attacks in Egypt till next
Wednesday. The court will then start the hearing of witnesses' testimonies.
The Egyptian military general prosecution charged the accused, among them
two Lebanese, five Palestinians and 19 Egyptians, of several charges. The
charges included spying for a foreign organization with intent of conducting
terrorist attacks inside Egypt in the period extending from 2005 till November
25, 2008.The accused allegedly cooperated with two Hizbullah top officials "to
plot terrorist attacks against commercial and military ships passing in the Suez
Canal, foreigner tourists and tourist locations". They also allegedly cooperated
in preparing explosives for use in terrorist acts, and in travel facilitation
for some suspects in legitimate and illegitimate ways so that they receive
military training as well as surveillance and information gathering training.
Beirut, 24 Oct 09, 21:09
Sfeir Warns: Appointments should Respect 'Sectarian Balance'
Naharnet/Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Sunday warned against
appointments that do not respect the "sectarian balance" in Lebanon. "Any
appointment in Beirut Municipality that does not take into account the sectarian
balance has a negative impact on citizens," Sfeir warned during his Sunday
sermon. Beirut, 25 Oct 09, 10:10
Geagea: Those Obstructing Cabinet Don't Believe in Taef
Accord
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has accused Lebanese parties that
don't believe in the Taef agreement of putting obstacles in the path of
government formation.
"Those who are most causing problems and obstructing the cabinet lineup are the
parties that don't believe in the structure of the Lebanese system which is
based on the Taef accord," Geagea said Friday night during a dinner hosted by LF
businessmen. "These sides seek to depict the Lebanese
as incapable of forming the government to put doubts on the system," the LF
leader said. "The other team wants a consensus cabinet based on its own concept
or else it won't let the government to be formed." "We
will not accept making steps that would take Lebanon away from the project that
we are working for," he added. Geagea reiterated that those who don't accept the
PM-designate's cabinet lineup should join the opposition rather than putting
obstacles to government formation, a clear reference to Free Patriotic Movement
leader Gen. Michel Aoun. The opposition, according to Geagea, wants a Lebanon
that has neither borders nor a strategy. Beirut, 24 Oct 09, 13:22
Germany to Gradually Withdraw its UNIFIL Marine Force
Naharnet/The upcoming governmental coalition in Germany is considering a gradual
withdrawal of the German marine force situated facing the Lebanese coast, the
German news agency mentioned on Saturday. The agreement between German Counselor
Angela Merkel's party, the Democratic Christian Union, and the Free Democratic
Party, includes a clause that says Germany would gradually decrease the number
of its marine forces positioned facing the Lebanese coast among UNIFIL forces,
in coordination with United Nations. The agreement does not mention any specific
date for the withdrawal of the German marine force. Beirut, 24 Oct 09, 20:24
Jumblat Calls for Returning to Taef Accord Resolutions Regarding Israel, Syria
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat urged on Saturday
the necessity to "return to Taef Accord resolutions which has among its items
the truce agreement with Israel, rejection of any normalization or settlement
with the enemy, and special relations with Syria," During a meeting with an
educational delegation in Moukhtara, Jumblat called for a politically-neutral
educational sector, and for keeping it away from the current division between
"March 8" and "March 14". Jumblat urged support for the official education
sector and to legitimize the work of syndicates. He also called for a unified
civics school book. Beirut, 24 Oct 09, 19:27
Hariri, Aoun Discuss Alternatives to Telecoms Ministry as Aoun's Eye is on
Justice Portfolio
Discussions during a fresh round of talks between Prime Minister-designate Saad
Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun reportedly focused on
studying the alternatives to the telecommunications ministry that would satisfy
Aoun. Hariri held a rare one-on-one meeting with Aoun in Rabiyeh at 5 pm
Saturday. Following the meeting which lasted 70 minutes, Hariri told reporters
that the "atmosphere is positive and God willing, everything is okay."LBC
television, however, described the meeting as "unproductive." From Aoun's
mansion, Hariri headed to the residence of Deputy Speaker Farid Makari only to
return 15 minutes later to Rabiyeh to meet up Aoun and spend some time with him
privately. This time Hariri left without making any statements. Aoun, however,
told his Orange TV that "no agreement has yet been reached -- neither on the
Telecoms Ministry nor on any other portfolio."
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Sunday that Marada Movement leader Suleiman
Franjieh had played a role in paving the way for a Hariri-Aoun get-together
after Hariri's distress over Aoun's ambivalent stance towards ministerial
portfolios. Hariri has reportedly voiced shock after Aoun announced he was
holding onto his current ministerial portfolios, including the telecoms
ministry, and his demand for an extra seat. Sources in the Opposition told al-Hayat
that Aoun was "not" held onto the telecommunications seat, but wants a powerful
portfolio as a substitute for the telecoms ministry. The sources said the offer
made to Aoun includes the ministries of Education, Social Affairs, Displaced
People and Culture in addition to a state minister from Franjieh's bloc. Aoun,
however, deemed the proposal as "insufficient."The sources said Aoun would be
pleased if he was given the Justice Ministry. But they ruled out such a deal.
Ad-Diyar, meanwhile, said Hariri has offered Aoun the ministries of Education,
Social Affairs, Displace and Labor, but added that Hariri did not hear back from
Aoun. Beirut, 25 Oct 09, 08:18
Khalife: Death of Pregnant Woman in Riyaq under
Investigation
Naharnet/Health Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalife on Sunday urged pregnant women
to "worry" about swine flu. He said investigation is underway to determine the
cause of death of a pregnant woman in Riyaq.In an interview with the Voice of
Lebanon radio station, Khalife said the severity of the flu in Lebanon did not
so far lead to serious situations in classrooms. Khalife accused both parents
and schools of "negligence."He blamed "parents who send their children to school
although they have symptoms of the virus, and at the same time, schools that
receive children with these cases.' Beirut, 25 Oct 09, 10:06
Shiite Clans Seek New, Good Image
Naharnet/It started with a small traffic incident and ended in yet another
murderous showdown in the age-old vendetta wars between the powerful Shiite
Muslim clans who rule Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley.
But unlike past feuds, this time clan elders and Hizbullah stepped in to defuse
tensions, handing over to authorities the suspect accused of murdering a rival
clan member and agreeing on a pact to end the revenge killings. The "gentleman's
agreement", drawn up earlier this month, marked a first step in clan efforts to
do away with their reputation as outlaws who have long ruled supreme in the
remote arid plain of the northern Bekaa, a Hizbullah stronghold traditionally
ignored by successive Lebanese governments.
"Our customs date to pre-Islamic times and dictate that each family is
responsible for the security of its members," said Moflih Allaw, a member of one
of the most powerful clans in Hermel and whose relative was involved in the
recent killing. "If someone from a clan was murdered, a member of the opposing
clan had to die and that was part of our tradition," added Allaw, 67, a local
councilor in Hermel who helped formulate the recent pact. "But we have evolved
with the times and are now trying to raise awareness among the families that we
must move beyond vendettas and become more active citizens. "That is why we took
the unusual step of handing over the clan member accused in the recent killing."
Hizbullah, which draws grassroots support from the clans and has for the most
part turned a blind eye to their criminal activities, in recent years has also
become more active in trying to tame them.
"Before, when someone got killed, the vendetta would target any member of the
opposing clan regardless of whether he was involved or not," a local Hezbollah
official who did not wish to be identified told AFP.
"In recent years, however, they have only gone after the killer himself. It has
become more personal," he added. There are an estimated 100 clans in the Bekaa,
among them a handful of powerful families such as the Jaafars, the Zaayters, the
Dandash and the Hamadehs, whose names have become legend and are evoked with awe
and fear among the Lebanese.
Several of the families, who are well armed, live off the hashish and opium
trade as well as car theft and counterfeiting. The majority of the villages that
dot the vast expanses of the northern Bekaa are poor and are controlled by the
clans whose loyalties are ensured by blood relationships and arranged marriages.
The vendettas typically are over land and women.
"Clan tradition held that a girl had to marry her cousin," Allaw said. "If she
eloped without her family's consent, she would be killed along with her husband
and maybe other members of his family." His own cousin eloped years back and
paid the ultimate price for her action, he recalled. Though such incidents have
become rare, they still occur from time to time, clan members say. "About 10
years ago, I was asked to intervene in a case involving a girl who eloped with a
guy wanted for murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison in absentia," said
Hajj Moussa Zaayter, 82, who for years has ruled over disputes between the
clans.
"Her family was offered five million pounds (3,333 dollars) compensation but
they wanted in addition a girl from the rival family," added Zaayter sporting a
traditional head dress and abaya.
"We resolved the matter by giving them the groom's sister to prevent a
showdown."
Zaayter himself is wanted over the 1974 murder of a rival clan member, an
incident that forced him to flee the Bekaa with his wife and 10 children for two
years before striking an agreement with the victim's family. He said his job in
recent years has been made harder by a younger generation that no longer
respects its elders or clan traditions.
Sheikh Rashid Jaafar, 59, said the clans in recent years have managed to chip
away at their negative image thanks to better education among their children who
are now becoming lawyers, engineers, doctors and politicians, as well as efforts
to respect the state's authority.
"This recent handover of the crime suspect and the pact send a message that no
one is immune from the law anymore and that the clans won't harbor criminals,"
Jaafar said, sitting in his palatial residence near Hermel. "But this can only
work if the state, which has ignored our region for years, also begins to make
its presence known through development and security measures." Boutros Labaki, a
historian and economist, said the change taking place among the clans
constitutes a transition from a tribal society to a confessional one.
"The pact recently agreed is part of this slow historic transition that is
weakening the clans," Labaki said. "Those intervening in the clan affairs are
increasingly religious leaders or major parties -- meaning the higher Shiite
council, Hizbullah or (its ally) AMAL-- rather than tribal leaders. "Before,
conflicts were dealt with in a traditional way, through blood money," Labaki
added. "Today you have parties such as Hizbullah and AMAL trying to accelerate
the integration of the clans within the larger community."(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut,
25 Oct 09, 09:12
Saudi Female Journalist to be Whipped over TV Show
Naharnet/A Saudi female journalist said Saturday that a court has ordered her to
receive 60 lashes for working at a television network that aired the sexual
confessions of a man. Rozana al-Yami said a judge in the Red Sea coastal town of
Jeddah dropped all charges that she had been directly involved with the episode
of a program on LBC, a Saudi-owned Lebanese network, in July. However, Yami said
the judge sentenced her to 60 lashes for having been a part-time employee for
LBC's Saudi operations. The judge mentioned LBC had lacked the appropriate
operating license, she said without elaborating. "It's a punishment for all
journalists through me," Yami told AFP by telephone.
"They just said the channel was illegal. But the Saudi minister of information
himself appeared on LBC a couple of weeks ago," she said. Saudi judges base
their rulings on strict Islamic sharia law, but it was not immediately clear how
the judge in this case reached the verdict.
Yami, 22, until recently a reporter for the Arabic women's magazine Roaa, said
she did not know when her sentence would be carried out. She does not plan an
appeal, saying she feared she could end up with a harsher sentence. Her
sentencing comes after Saudi airline sales clerk Mazen Abdul Jawad was convicted
of offensive behavior and sentenced to five years in jail and 1,000 lashes on
October 7 for his appearance on the LBC show "Bold Red Line," in which he talked
about picking up girls and having sex with them.
Three friends who appeared on the show with him were given two-year terms and
300 lashes each, while a cameraman who helped film the episode was sentenced to
two months in jail.
Abdul Jawad's lawyer Sulaiman al-Jimaie expressed shock at Yami's sentence
because she had nothing to do with him or the episode of the program he appeared
in.
Jimaie said the court produced evidence that Yami had helped solicit people to
appear on other episodes of "Bold Red Line", a hit talk show for LBC hosted by
TV star Malik Maktebi.
Jimaie was not in the court to hear the judge's final ruling, but said it is
simply because of Yami connection to the show, which features discussion about
subjects often taboo in conservative Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia that
are in LBC's broad satellite footprint. "For me it's about the same program," he
said of her conviction.
"She made an announcement for this program, an email to find others to take
part. "It's an incredible decision," he said, comparing it to the recent trials
in Sudan of female journalists for wearing "indecent" trousers. He called it an
attack on journalism generally, and questioned why the case was heard in a
criminal court rather than a special media tribunal linked to the information
ministry. "They made this decision because she is a journalist," he told AFP.
"It will be difficult for any journalist to work in the future after this."
The program has also drawn criticism against LBC and its flamboyant, progressive
owner, Saudi multi-billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal from conservative Saudi
clerics.
Alwaleed has in recent years pushed hard against Saudi rules banning cinemas and
music in public places through his Rotana and LBC media groups. However,
according to media reports Saturday, LBC has decided to stop broadcasting "Bold
Red Line" outside of Lebanon.(AFP) Beirut, 25 Oct 09, 09:00
Al-Watan: Lebanese playing waiting game, Aoun-Hariri deliberations determine
cabinet formation
October 25, 2009 /NOW Lebanon/Al-Watan Syrian newspaper reported on Sunday that
some Lebanese parties are playing a waiting game, explaining that majority
leaders are "betting" on cabinet-formation delays and cited as an example
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s “continuing escalating tone.”The daily
quoted "observers" as saying that the meeting between Change and Reform bloc
leader MP Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri will determine
the outlook of the government. Al-Watan added that for the deliberations to
succeed, "Hariri should approach the process in a manner that pleases Aoun,
bearing in mind that he leads the second largest parliamentary bloc and the
largest Christian bloc." "Hariri should be aware by now that every trade-off has
a price," the daily stated. -NOW Lebanon
Terro: Only legitimate arms protect Lebanon
Date: October 24th, 2009
Source: Sawt El Mada /Majority MP Alaa Eddine Terro said Saturday that the
Progressive Socialist Party considers the legitimate arms are only qualified to
ensure the protection of Lebanon. In an interview with Sawt El Mada radio, Terro
noted that “the withdrawal of the party from the March 14 coalition aimed at
openness to all political sides and not to join the March 8 camp.” Terro, member
of the Democratic Gathering, said that the party “demanded from the start the
formation of a government of national sharing and the 15-10-5 lineup.”
During Premier Saad Hariri’s first designation, the Lebanese leaders agreed on a
government formula that grants 15 ministers to the majority, 10 to the minority
and the decisive five to President Michel Sleiman. The PSP official added that
the problem over the arms of Hizbullah is to be solved with dialogue, as “we
cannot admit its legitimization after the end of its mission.”
As for the meeting between Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun and
Druze leader MP Walid Jumblatt, Terro considered that the details are delaying
this meeting, calling on the politicians to facilitate this meeting and “to
avoid being affected by foreign stances hindering the meeting of the Lebanese.”
Khouri: Jumblatt must stop acting as a Prince
Date: October 24th, 2009
Source: Sawt El Mada /Former MP Kamil Khouri called Saturday on MP Walid
Jumblatt to stop acting as a Prince in the Mount Lebanon districts of Chouf and
Aley and to cooperate with his Christian counterparts. “This would speed the
meeting between General Michel Aoun (the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement)
and MP Walid Jumblatt,” noted Khouri in an interview with Sawt El Mada radio.
Khouri, member of the FPM, asserted that the problem of the movement is not with
Premier-designate Saad Hariri but with his allies, calling on Hariri to form the
government in coordination with the minority and General Aoun “otherwise we will
resort to new strategies.” The former MP considered that the visit of French
Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Koushner to Lebanon helped Premier Hariri and
that its results will materialize soon. Khouri accused outgoing Prime Minister
Fouad Siniora of being “the man of US stances, as the Americans are content with
his policies because he supervises their projects in Lebanon.”
Hezbollah has sections of a private school history textbook censored
As controversy over history lessons are again ignited, a much-needed unified
historical narrative is unlikely in the near future.
Maya Khourchid , October 25, 2009
Now Lebanon
Lebanon may have a rich history, but it does not have a unified historical
narrative, and controversy continues over history text books and lessons. (AFP)
This week, Beirut’s International College (IC), one of Lebanon’s most renowned
private schools agreed to plaster opaque stickers over pages of a middle school
textbook that has irked the opposition, in particular Hezbollah.
MP Mohammed Fneish, a Hezbollah party member and the minister of labor in the
outgoing cabinet, took issue with a US textbook called Modern World History that
is taught at IC as a part of the middle school curriculum and last Sunday,
according to Associated Press, called for the ministry of education to remove
the book from the school.
Imad al-Ashkar, head of private education for the ministry of education,
believes Fneish was encouraged to take action after a recent broadcast by
Hezbollah-run television station, Al-Manar.
“Manar television spoke about it and showed the part of the book that contains
some information [stating] that Hezbollah and Hamas and Islamic Jihad are
terrorist organizations,” said Ashkar.
Ashkar said that the ministry of education responded by calling an urgent
meeting on Monday with the school’s president, John Johnson, who arrived with
members of the International College staff and a copy of the controversial book
in hand.
Although the pages with which Al-Manar, and subsequently Fneish, took issue were
not removed, as has been reported, Johnson did agree to have the section covered
with stickers.
“The part [of the book] talking about what I told you is hidden totally… so no
one can read anything under it. If you try to remove the sticker to read the
text, it would take apart the page,” said Ashkar.
The International College administration has refused to comment further on the
subject. According to the secretary to the school’s Vice President of Alumni
Affairs and Public Relations, queries on this subject should instead be
redirected to the ministry of education.
“The book [has been used] in IC from 2003, so why now?” asked Ashkar. This
thought has been echoed by many across the country who see the move as a
below-the-belt attack on Education Minister Bahia Harir. While there is no
clear-cut answer why the book has only now become a problem for Hezbollah,
controversy over history lessons is certainly not a new phenomenon in the
country. As those educated in Lebanese schools know, and the international press
has noted, the country’s modern history is seldom taught in classrooms. Due to
deep sectarian divisions and continual disagreements between political factions
over the tumultuous series of events that have characterized Lebanon’s more
recent history, a unified historical narrative that goes past the beginning of
the civil war has never materialized. The country’s modern history is not taught
as a part of the national curriculum and it is equally overlooked in private
schools, which tend to follow other international curricula, despite the fact
that government-approved textbooks with varying spins on Lebanon’s past exist
for use in private schools.
As noted by BBC in an October, many such academic institutions avoid teaching
the subject altogether so as to deter sectarian and political tension which, as
this week’s controversy over the history book used at the International College
demonstrates, are easily incited.
In place of learning the country’s history together in a classroom, school
children are more than likely to learn about Lebanese history from their parents
– a practice that reinforces the individual narratives of each of the divided
country’s communities and in turn serves to further perpetuate sectarian
divisions.
“It’s a real problem,” Ohaness Goktchian, professor of political science at the
American University in Beirut, said to BBC. “We are raising another generation
of children who identify themselves with their communities and not their nation…
history is what unities people. Without history we can’t have unity.”
Washington caught off guard by Netanyahu visit
Israel says PM did not consult Obama ahead of trip because meeting on peace
process unnecessary
Yitzhak Benhorin Published: 10.25.09, 09:32 / Israel News
WASHINGTON – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intention to visit Washington
for the annual UJC General Assembly has surprised many on Capitol Hill and was
apparently not coordinated with the Obama administration.
An American source told Ynet Sunday that news of the visit had been received
with reserved
The Obama administration has not yet responded to questions of whether a meeting
with Netanyahu was forthcoming due to their surprise over the unscheduled visit.
On the other hand, failure to invite Netanyahu to the White House may be
perceived as a diplomatic crisis.
Sources in Jerusalem say Netanyahu did indeed decide to attend the GA without
first consulting President Barack Obama, but that since the latter would also be
present at the event the two may meet in any case. The sources say a summit
between the two leaders would be superfluous at this point in the peace process,
and for this reason an official meeting has not been scheduled. An official
statement regarding Netanyahu's visit is scheduled to be published soon in the
US, and an unofficial oral announcement has already been given by the Jewish
Federations' leaders. The prime minister's visit is scheduled to take place on
November 8-10.
Expect more trickery from Iran in nuclear talks
By Amos/ Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
The excited responses, in praise or condemnation, proved to have been too soon.
Iran continues operating at its own pace. The last deadline that the
international negotiators set was Friday, and the Iranians did not bother to
issue an official response to the draft agreement on giving most of their
enriched uranium to Europe to be treated.
Instead of a response, Iran issued a rather murky promise of one toward the
middle of the week, accompanied, as is customary, by contradictory signals. Last
Wednesday's initial positive declaration was replaced with skepticism and
further preconditions. We can assume fairly certainly that this is how Tehran
will conduct itself in the future: more conditions, more delays, a strategy of
making the powers believe is still possible to resolve the crisis by peaceful
means while squeezing out more concessions and buying more time for the
centrifuges.
From Israel's point of view, there is an inkling of positive news in last week's
developments. The draft agreement, as it was presented last week, would not end
Iran's nuclear program, only postpone it. If it is adopted, it would make Israel
appear to be an eternal skeptic. If on the other hand Iran rejects the deal, it
will emerge as the refusenik.
A failure in the negotiations may expedite stricter sanctions against Iran. This
will probably not be a Security Council initiative because China opposes this,
but rather an American-European plan, which would have a shot at convincing the
Iranians to reconsider freezing their race for the bomb. But we are still far
from that. On the way there will be further ups and downs, certainly accompanied
by other acts of trickery by Tehran.
Israel has responded wisely - it has kept a low profile, while retaining one
advantage: its intelligence on the Iranian program is considered largely
reliable and accurate, and is readily welcomed by the powers. The difficulty
lies elsewhere. The international community, at least at this stage, does not
favorably view an attack - by the U.S. or Israel - on the Iranian nuclear sites.
It also appears that the declarations of the Iranian leadership, in particular
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, cause more fear in Israel than in the West.
Senior officers, most of them from Europe, visited Israel last week, and one of
the hosts was surprised to note that most of their questions were about the
Palestinians. When the issue of Iran was raised, the host was told that Israel's
two basic assumptions - that Iran poses a serious existential threat, and that
the Iranian threat precedes the need for a breakthrough on the Palestinian track
- are not convincing.
Lebanese Federalism and Decentralization: Its Proponents and Discontents
By Phillip Smyth
Additionally, many Lebanese Christians claim a separate non-Arab identity,
namely the Maronites, who are of Syriac-Aramaean heritage.1 While there are many
areas of mixed population, there are geographic zones that specific Lebanese
groups inhabit. Maronites and other Christian groups mainly reside in the Mt.
Lebanon area, north of Beirut. Shia Muslims have majorities in the northern
Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon, while the Druze predominate the Chouf
District. These ethno-religious differences combined with regional realities
continually contribute to conflict.
Often, the terms, “cantonization”, “confederalism”, “federalism”, or
“decentralization” have been suggested by politicians as possible solutions to
the ethno-religious problems of Lebanon. Even though there are marked
differences in what these forms of national organization propose, they have
often been grouped under the title of , “federalism”. Nevertheless, the push for
federalism and what it would entail has changed over the course of Lebanese
history.
In the eyes of many Lebanese federalists, a formula creating sectarian based
states, with loyalty to a decentralized, Beirut based, national government would
be the end goal. This appeal was bolstered by the fact that many stable and
modern Western states are organized along federalist lines, namely the United
States and Germany. A proposed federalist system may look and function much like
the canton system in Switzerland. A confederation would theoretically call for
an alliance of different, more independent sectarian states. Confederalists
favor stronger state governments with a weaker central government. However, in a
federal solution, the centrally based Beirut government would bequeath more
powers to regional governing bodies. However, sectarian-state power would be
shared with a central government. In any of these systems the central
government’s power would be limited.
Lebanese federalism has not been with out its detractors. Secular nationalists
don’t agree with any perceived partition of the country, especially on
ethno-religious grounds. Many Arabists and Islamists believe that any federalism
in Lebanon could bring down potential pan-Arab or Islamic unity. In fact,
Arabist Syria, Lebanon’s neighbor and former occupier, sees any moves towards
federalism, either in neighboring Iraq or Lebanon as an existential threat.
Criticism of Lebanese federalism has also concentrated on the idea that it is
merely an effort to preserve Christian power. Furthermore, to some, federalism
was merely a method to fully-partition the country into separate confessional
countries. William Harris notes that, “When … confidence [in maintaining
Christian control over Greater Lebanon] declined, as after 1975, Little Lebanon
resurfaced as an option in some quarters, under its new cover of ‘federalism’”.2
Matthew Preston wrote that amongst the Lebanese Forces, a Christian party which
pushed for federalism, “the federalist position was a mere fig-leaf to cover the
absence of a political project.”3
Federalism is promoted by some as the best solution to Lebanon’s ethnic and
religious problems and safeguard Lebanese unity. It’s often looked at by
proponents as not just a way to not only protect their group’s rights, but as a
way to respect the rights of other groups. Interestingly, to those opposed to
federalism, the word “federalism” has been turned into a epithet for partition,
war and disunity. As a consequence, federalism in Lebanon will remain a
contentious issue for some time to come.
The Christian Push For Federalism
Throughout the Middle East, some Christian political groups have either opted
for complete autonomy or some version of federalism.4 This often arises out of
contemporary and historic repression suffered by many Christians at the hands of
hegemonic Muslim groups. Lebanese Christians have maintained a proud history of
resisting Arab and/or Islamic foes. They are also unique in the Middle East for
maintaining their political independence. Thus, in many respects federalism is
has been seen as a way to preserve not just their culture, but also some level
of political independence.
With de facto sectarian cantons already drawn, Lebanon’s first view of some form
of federalism came during the 15 year long Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). As a
result of the fighting, many Christians were forcibly expelled from their homes,
finding safety with their coreligionists in Mt. Lebanon. During, and following
the war, many Lebanese Christians viewed federalism as a legalistic way to
preserve the state in its entirety, while still preserving their political
rights and different culture in their respective zones.
The first real declaration of support for federalism by major Christian
political parties came in 1980. This was at a time when some outside observers
felt that Christians would adopt a fully partitionist outlook and declare their
independence from the Muslim controlled areas of the country.5 At the time, the
dominant Christian political grouping was the Lebanese Front. The Front was
political grouping that represented two large Christian parties, the National
Liberal Party (NLP) and Kataeb Party. The Front also included its military arm
called the Lebanese Forces (LF). The LF, represented the Guardians of the
Cedars, Tanzim, Kataeb and the NLP’s Numour (Tigers) militias. The grouping
served a unique social-military function and would later be a main advocate for
federalism. In the Front’s official manifesto, entitled, “The Lebanon We Want to
Build”, federalism was strongly considered as a possible solution to the ongoing
war,
The Lebanese Front believes in the necessity of reconsidering the structural
formula which has determined the politics of Lebanon since 1943, with a view to
modifying it in such a way as to prevent any friction or clash between the
members of the same Lebanese family.
This reconsideration might issue in an alteration of the structural formula into
some kind of decentralization or federation or confederation within a
comprehensive framework of a single unified Lebanon. Such has been the trend of
the modern constitutional systems throughout the world. The aim of the
alteration is to ensure that no disaster like the many disasters which befell
Lebanon since 1840 will recur in the future.6
Populist Kataeb leader and Lebanese Forces founder Bachir Gemayel suggested
adopting federalism before he was elected to the presidency of Lebanon.
Following his election he opted against adopting a federalist position, and
instead, supported a strong central government in all of the 10452 km of
Lebanon.7 His turn away from federalism had much to do with his political and
military ascendancy. With the presidency in his hands, there was less of a
threat to the Christian community, thus federalism was not seen as a pressing
concern. However, in 1982, Gemayel was killed weeks after his election, by a
bomb placed by Syrian intelligence. With the legacy of Bachir Gemayel an ever
present reality amongst Lebanese Christians, his murder left the question open,
as to whether federalism would be pursued.
In the years following the death of Bachir, some LF leaders such as Elie Hobeika,
would adopt anti-federalist positions. In some cases this was due to many
Christian leaders hoping to embody the legacy of Bachir, pressure from Lebanese
president Amine Gemayel (who, at the time, was anti-federalism), or Syrian
influence. In 1985 as Hobeika moved into the pro-Syrian camp, he signed the
Damascus sponsored Tripartite Agreement. The agreement, “rejected all forms of
partition, federalism, confederalism, and cantonization”.8 The signing of the
Tripartite Agreement actually effected a coup inside of the LF, allowing Samir
Geagea to take control of the organization. As the LF’s new leader, Samir Geagea
adopted federalism and made it a main goal of the organization. In the late
1980s, with the ascension of secular nationalist general, Michel Aoun, the
ideological differences between Christians in Aoun’s camp and the Christian
nationalists that identified with the LF came to a forefront, often with deadly
consequences.
As late as 1990, Geagea stated, “When we propose federalism, it is to move from
partition to a more unifying step. I think other internal sides are now
convinced that no one can dominate Lebanon.”9 Further complicating his position
was Geagea’s approval of the Syrian and Saudi endorsed Taif Accord which ended
the Lebanese Civil War. The Accord states, “[t]he State of Lebanon shall be a
single and united state with a strong central authority.” Before Geagea was sent
to prison it caused him to downplay the LF’s devotion to the federalist goal.
Even following the Syrian invasion and signing of the Taif Accord, Geagea’s
dream of a federal Lebanon only came to a de facto end when the Syrian backed
government of Lebanon imprisoned him in 1994.
In 2005, after eleven years of imprisonment, his full adoption of the Taif
Accord and immediately following his entry into the anti-Syrian, March 14th
alliance (with the Sunni Muslim, al Mustaqbal and the Druze, Popular Socialist
Party [PSP]), Geagea dropped all of his demands for a federalist solution in
Lebanon. When Geagea announced this fundamental change in policy he said, “[w]e
used to describe our territory in the past as stretching from Kfarshima to
Madfoun [both areas in the former canton the LF controlled] and we can say
nowadays it stretches from Kbayyet to Kleiaa [Kbayyet is in northern Lebanon
while Kleiaa is on the Israel-Lebanon border]”.10
Nevertheless, even with Geagea’s public abandonment of federalism, much of the
LF’s rank and file still support a federalist and decentralized Lebanon. This
support was best personified by Antoine Najm, an original supporter of
federalism and former advisor to both Geagea and Bachir Gemayel during the Civil
War. As a writer for the pro-LF magazine, al Massira during the Syrian
occupation of Lebanon, his articles often dealt with the efficacy of federalism
in Lebanon. These articles often found a wide audience among the LF base of
supporters.
After the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005 and the subsequent deadlock
between the government and pro-Syrian, Hizballah led opposition, a new push for
what could be termed, “soft-federalism” has been adopted by many Christian
leaders. The new soft-federalism is based around a policy of administrative
decentralization for the central government. By empowering different locales, it
is hoped by some that, gradually, Lebanon will be lead into full-fledged
federalism.
Some Christian leaders in the March 14th alliance embraced the federalist
concept, albeit in the soft-federalist form of promoting government
decentralization as a stepping stone to federalism. As early as 1992 in his
treatise on an improving Lebanese governance, former president and current
leader of the Kataeb party, Amine Gemayel alluded to the need for a
decentralized-federal solution in his book, Rebuilding Lebanon.11 In 2006, Amine
Gemayel’s son, Samy, embarked on his own political exploit with a group called
Loubnanouna (Our Lebanon).
At first Loubnanouna was a pro-federalist political organization and party
proposing a new Lebanese constitution. Later it became a pro-federalism lobby
group after Samy Gemayel rejoined the Kataeb Party. Even following Samy’s return
to Kataeb, he continued to pursue the soft-federalism of decentralization as a
Kataeb Party goal. Even Bachir Gemayel’s son, Nadim, currently the MP for
Achrafieh, stated that if federalism was an answer for Lebanese problems he
would accept it. Nadim also embraced the concept of soft-federalism, “in my
opinion the application of administrative decentralization is the solution.”12
As recently as October, 2009, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud announced that his
ministry would draft plans for administrative decentralization. NOW Lebanon
reported that, “Baroud said administrative decentralization is essential to
achieving balanced development in Lebanon”.13 Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped
some Christian leaders from publicly embracing the full form of federalism. Dori
Chamoun, leader of the NLP even remarked that, “It is inevitable that the
Christians will have a smaller share of the country. I only see one solution,
cantonization. Everybody wants it. Nobody says it out loud.”14
Christian Opposition to Federalism
Regardless of the support it has received in Christian circles, Lebanese
federalism does have its Christian critics. In Christian groups there is a
marked difference in the perception of what Lebanon encompasses. For the
Lebanese secular nationalists, such as in Michel Aoun’s mainly Christian, Free
Patriotic Movement (FPM), Lebanon and the Lebanese people are one unitary
entity. To the FPM, which currently has a strong alliance with Syrian and
Iranian backed Hizballah, this has resulted in an anti-federalist outlook. While
the Christian nationalist camp, currently represented by the Lebanese Forces,
Kataeb Party and the NLP, sees Lebanon as the pluralistic home and safe haven
for the consistently oppressed Christians of the Middle East.15
During the Lebanese Civil War, when Michel Aoun was fighting the Syrians, his
closest ideological support from mainly Christian militias came from the secular
nationalist Guardians of the Cedars and al Tanzim (The Organizaion). Both
groups, while integral to the original Lebanese Forces, were, and remain
anti-federalist. Also, despite their mainly Christian membership they maintained
secular outlooks.
Because of federalism’s connection with the war and with possible partition
schemes, it has been used as a rhetorical flourish by political groups to
demonize their opposition. Suliemein Franjieh’s, Marada, a pro-Syrian Christian
party and key Christian ally of Aoun’s, had an aversion to the concept of
federalism as one of its founding principles for the party.16 While visiting
Iran, Franjieh commented, with dismay, that Geagea’s leadership in March 14th
alliance, “means the return of the projects of divisions and federalism.” 17
Currently, Christians that oppose a federalist solution belong to a number of
different camps. Some groups, such as the independent, Jebha al Horriye (The
Liberty Front) adopted Bachir Gemayel’s concept of a unified centralized
Lebanon, albeit, they now support regionalism, as seen in Italy. Regionalism is
actually a far-more centralized governing system when compared to federal or
confederal models. In Italy the policy of regionalism has allowed for certain
regions to remain loosely linked to one another, maintain their respective
culture, language(s) and customs under a strong central government. One Jebha
official commented that, “we believe that regionalism is the best alternative …
the central government needs to be strong…[To make a strong central government
work, we need to] remove the religious pressure on it”18 Although Jebha al
Horiyye maintains their independence, the current trend in most anti-federalist
Christian parties is one of being in the pro-Syrian camp.
Muslims, Arabism & Federalism
Arabism, while originally started by Christians, found a wider Muslim adherence
during it’s over one-hundred year development as an ideology. Historically, due
to their hegemonic position in the region, Islamic groups have rarely supported
federalism.19 The Arabist ideology called for the unification of “Arab lands”
and applied the label of being an “Arab” to whomever spoke Arabic or shared the
culture (often this so-called Arab culture was intertwined with Islam). States
embracing Arabism often included large non-Arab or non-Muslim minorities,
creating a fear that any federalist reforms would further internal disunity.20
Syria, currently ruled by the Arabist Ba’athist Party, has long hated the
prospect of Lebanon becoming a federated state. Damascus sees that in the event
of a federation, their power and control over Lebanon would be greatly
reduced.21 There is the additional threat that the autonomy gained through
federalism may influence the many minority groups that reside in Syria. Syria’s
former president, Hafez Asad saw any decentralization, cantonization or the
adoption of federalism as a fundamental threat to his regime’s Arabist ideology,
“[federalism or partition] is a conspiracy against Islam, and a conspiracy
against Arabism”.22 Syria’s foreign minister, Abdul Khaddam stated in 1985 that,
“Any partition or federalism or cantonization … is completely unacceptable to us
-- we prefer to deal with one country with one head”.23
Regionally and locally there are numerous reasons for Lebanese Sunni opposition
to federalism. In most Middle Eastern states Sunnis form majorities or, as was
the case during Saddam Hussein’s rule of Iraq, formed the dominant sectarian
group. In Lebanon this is hardly the case. Unlike the Sunnis of Iraq, who
dominate al Anbar province, the Sunni Muslim population of Lebanon is
concentrated in urban centers. In areas where there is a Sunni majority, such as
West Beirut, often the neighborhoods are quite mixed. Outside of the urban
environment, many more rural Sunni majority zones are geographically
disconnected from other areas dominated by their coreligionists.
Opposition to federalism in the Sunni Muslim community has made the topic a
somewhat taboo for Sunnis to embrace. Despite the fact that the Sunni leader of
al Mustaqbal, Saad Hariri, has adopted an anti-federalism view, this has not
stopped his opposition from accusing him of being a federalist. Following the
May-June 2005 parliamentary elections, his opposition would accuse him of having
federalist sympathies. Even before Michel Aoun officially cemented his alliance
with Hizballah, Aoun’s reaction to the Mustaqbal-PSP electoral alliance was to
accuse Hariri of trying to, “make true his dream of federalism.”24
Shia Muslims make-up a significant Middle Eastern minority that have, at times,
suffered under Sunni dominance. Regardless, they, like the Sunnis, have refused
federalism as a solution to Lebanon‘s problems. According to Augustus Norton,
one of Lebanon‘s largest Shia parties, the pro-Syrian Amal Movement, “has
expressly excluded federalist or confederalist solutions.”25 The Shia Islamist
Hizballah, also rejects federalism because the group maintains a theoretical
philosophy of attempting to impose the Iranian concept of an Islamist state
(Wilayat-e-Faqih) on all of Lebanon.26
Interestingly, despite Hizballah’s anti-federalism, during the Civil War, it was
actually looked upon by the LF as, “de facto allies, regardless of their public
orientations, because of their sectarian character and usurpation of state
functions.”27 Currently, the group functions in much the same way as it did
during the Civil War, maintaining a militia and essentially militarily holding
onto cantons. As with the example of Bachir Gemayel demonstrates, when a person
or group has military or political superiority (as Hizballah currently
maintains) it often rejects federalism.
Will Lebanon Choose Federalism?
With strong opposition to federalism in Lebanon, it may be difficult to pursue
this goal. However, support is growing in many Christian circles. The new form
of federalism that is being engaged in by some groups may not be as pervasive as
anything proposed by Samir Geagea during the Civil War. Instead the push for a
federal Lebanon has evolved into a step based plan. For the time being, parties
that have shown an interest in federalism will try to attain a more
decentralized government.
Federalism may in fact be a successful solution for Lebanon’s internal problems
considering de facto federalist conditions presently exist. Loubnanouna’s public
relations director, Jean-Pierre Katrib commented that, “[e]ven our basketball
teams are divided along the confessions. The Christian Blue Stars played the
Sunni Riyadeh team the other day, and to rile each other up, Christian and
Islamic religious slogans were being chanted on either side.”28 Nonetheless,
with strong ideological, regional and local opposition it is doubtful that
federalism will find many sympathetic ears.
Hizballah’s deputy secretary general, Sheikh Naim Qasim once said, “federalism
yields to devastation”.29 However, historically speaking, it seems that only out
of devastation or deadlock does federalism come up as a solution. When a
community feels its autonomy, rights, or security is under threat, federalism is
an obvious choice. Currently, the myriad of centrally run Lebanese security
services and the army have, in the eyes of many Christians, done little to
safeguard the community.30 So long as different communities feel threatened, the
option will still be on the table.
Notes
1 See: Matti Moosa, The Maronites In History, (Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University
Press, 1986)
2 Willian Harris, The New Face of Lebanon: History's Revenge, (Princeton, NJ,
Markus Wiener Publishers, 2005)P. 76
3 Matthew Preston, Ending Civil War: Rhodesia and Lebanon In Perspective, (New
York; Tauris Academic Studies, 2004), P. 137
4 Examples include the Christian Sudanese fighting the central government in
Khartoum for an independent state in southern Sudan. Currently, the
Iraqi-Assyrian supporters of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa) are
supporting a federalized Iraq.
5 Samih Farsoun, Lebanon Explodes: Toward A Maronite Zion, MERIP, February,
1976, pp. 15-18
6 The Lebanon We Want to Build, 1980
7 Kamal Dib, Warlords and Merchants: The Lebanese Business and Political
Establishment, (Reading, UK, Garnet Publishing Limited, 2004), P.8, footnote
[8].
8 Kristen E. Shulze, The Jews of Lebanon: Between Coexistence and
Conflict,(Portland, OR, Sussex Academic Press, 2001) P.171
9 Quoted in Charles E. Waterman, Geagea's Solution: Cantonization, Washington
Report On Middle Eastern Affairs, April 1990, P.7
10 Daily Star, October 3, 2005
11 Amine Gemayel, Rebuilding Lebanon, (Lanham, MD, University Press of America,
1992), P. 13
12 Lebanon Files, March 7, 2009 <Link: http://www.lebanonfiles.com/news_desc.php?id=84017
>
13 NOW Lebanon, October 2, 2009 <Link: http://nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=117470
>
14 Washington Post, September 10, 2006
15 See: Ghassan Michel Rubeiz, Christian Politics in Lebanon, Mideast Monitor,
January-March, 2008, for a breakdown regarding the difference in positions and
actions by the Christian nationalist and secular nationalist camps. <link:
http://www.mideastmonitor.org/issues/0801/0801_5.htm >
16 Lebanon Wire, July 1, 2006
17 Daily Star, April 24, 2008
18 Personal conversation with Jebha official, October 5, 2009
19 It’s important to note that at times the Druze, an esoteric offshoot of Shia
Islam, and 5-7% of the Lebanese population have supported a more decentralized
government. During the Civil War they controlled the Shouf region and ran it as
an ethno-religious canton.
20 Daily Star, August 24, 2005
21 William Harris,“Syria in Lebanon”, MERIP Reports, Jul. - Aug,1985, pp. 9-14
22 Asad, Speech from July 20, 1976, P.2, quoted in Naomi Joy Weinberger, Syrian
Intervention In Lebanon, (New York, Oxford University Press, 1986), P.279
23 As Safir, June 23, 1985, quoted in William Harris,“Syria in Lebanon”, MERIP
Reports, Jul. - Aug,1985, P. 14
24 Naharnet, May 15, 2005 http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&ED5C009952435EE4C22570020021D271>.
25 Augustus Richard Norton,“Harakat Amal,” in Edward E. Azar (ed.), The
Emergence of A New Lebanon: Fantasy or Reality? (New York; Praeger Publishers,
1984) P.191
26 H.E. Chehabi and Hassan I. Mneimneh, “Five Centuries of Lebanese-Iranian
Encounters,” in H.E. Chehabi (ed.), Distant Relations: Iran and Lebanon In The
Last 500 Years, (New York, I.B. Taurus, 2006), pp. 40-41
27 William Harris, “Lebanon”, in Ami Ayalon, Haim Shaked (ed.), Middle East
Contemporary Survey, 1988, (Boulder, CO, Westview Press, 1990) P.625
28 Al Jazeera English, June, 2007 <Link: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2007/06/2008525184747179802.html>
29 Al Manar TV website, BBC Monitoring Middle East, December 1, 2008
30 Some of the more major instances have included the 2006 Hizballah backed
protests that targeted Christian areas of Beirut following the airing of the TV
show Basmat Watan, which featured a controversial skit involving Hizballah
leader Hasan Nasrallah. Also in 2006, Muslim protests opposing Danish cartoon
caricatures of Muhammed resulted in churches and Christian private property
being attacked.