LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 02/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 7,21-27. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
The Sick State-By Mshari Al-Zaydi.Asharq Al-Awsa 01/06/08
Robert Fisk: Horrors we have no choice but to forget-Independent 01/06/08
Lebanon: the Domino That Wouldn't Fall-CounterPunch 01/06/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June 01/08

German Foreign Minister Begins Talks in Lebanon-Deutsche Welle

Hizbullah Turns Over Remains of Israeli Soldiers in Exchange for Lebanese Detainee-Naharnet

Convicted Hezbollah spy crosses into Lebanon-The Associated Press

Syria: US must take part in talks with Israel-Ynetnews

Battle over Cabinet Seats Continues Between Majority, Opposition-Naharnet

Suleiman Demands Removal of Provocative Signs-Naharnet

Edelman: U.S. Wants Closer Military Cooperation with Lebanon-Naharnet
Apparent Suicide Operation Thwarted-Naharnet
U.S. Defense Official Meets Lebanese Leaders-Naharnet

Apparent Suicide Operation Thwarted-Naharnet

Nissim Nasser to return to Lebanon as apparent Israeli gesture-Ynetnews

Iran: Painful consequences for those who dare attack us-Ynetnews

Iran Achieves a Four-Front Missile Command, Breakthrough on ...DEBKA file

Jund al-Sham Militant Shot Dead by Army at Ein al-Hilweh-Naharnet

Lebanese Soldier Killed in Abdeh Blast-Naharnet

Saniora Concludes Consultations, No Deadline Set to Form Cabinet-Naharnet

Lebanese troops kill man strapped with explosives-Reuters

Michel Aoun praises Iran’s constructive role in Lebanon-MehrNews.com

U.S. Defense Official Meets Lebanese Leaders-Naharnet

Beirut Motorbike Ban Eased-Naharnet

Lebanese troops kill man strapped with explosives
Naharnet/Sat May 31, 2008 Lebanon (Reuters) - Lebanese soldiers shot dead a man carrying explosives strapped around his body as he left a Palestinian refugee camp in south Lebanon, security sources said. They said soldiers manning a checkpoint at the entrance of Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near the southern port city of Sidon stopped a car and when they asked its occupants for identification papers, a man fled on foot.
The soldiers opened fire and killed the man only to find the explosives as they approached his body, the sources said. There were no details on the identity of the man or his possible motive or target. Ain al-Hilweh camp is a hotbed for Muslim militants, some of whom are believed linked to or supporters of al Qaeda.Earlier in the day, an explosion killed a Lebanese soldier at a guard post to the Abdeh military base near the city of Tripoli in north Lebanon. It was not clear whether the dawn blast was an attack or an accident, the sources said.

Hizbullah Turns Over Remains of Israeli Soldiers in Exchange for Lebanese Detainee
Naharnet/Hizbullah released the remains of Israeli soldiers killed in the 2006 war in Lebanon to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Sunday in exchange for a Lebanese detainee."We turned over to the ICRC some remains of Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 war," Hizbullah mediator Wafiq Safa told reporters.He declined to elaborate and refused to take questions from reporters.Israel earlier freed Lebanese detainee Nassim Nisr after spending six years in jail on charges of spying for Hizbullah and took him to the Naqoura border crossing. "Nassim Nisr has been released from prison. He will be taken to the border crossing at Rosh Hanikra" between Israel and Lebanon, an Israeli police spokeswoman said.
"The Lebanese will be in charge of him and the International Committee of the Red Cross will transfer him to Lebanon at 11:00 local time (0800 GMT)," she added.
Nisr, born in 1968 to an Israeli Jewish mother and a Lebanese Muslim father, held Israeli citizenship at the time of his arrest in 2002. He was sentenced to six years in prison for collaborating with Hizbullah.His release is being seen as part of a broader prisoner exchange deal between the Jewish state and Hizbullah, which captured two Israeli soldiers in a deadly cross-border raid on July 12, 2006. Israeli army radio reported on Monday that Israel was prepared to release five Lebanese prisoners and return the bodies of 10 Hizbullah fighters in exchange for the two servicemen. Earlier this week, Nisr's family in Lebanon said he had called them to inform them of his imminent release. Nisr left Lebanon during the Israeli invasion of 1982 and joined his mother's family in Israel, where he settled near Tel Aviv. Nisr's brother Mohammed said Nassim had told him in a phone call a month ago that "his jailers had placed him in solitary confinement in a bid to persuade him to abandon his plans to return to Lebanon with his two daughters, who are Israeli citizens."Israel and Hizbullah fought a devastating 34-day war in 2006 during which Israeli troops invaded Lebanon in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the soldiers.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 01 Jun 08, 12:26

Suleiman Demands Removal of Provocative Signs
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman demanded the removal of all provocative signs and called on the various Lebanese groups to get rid of posters, banners and slogans hoisted across Lebanon. A statement issued by the directorate-general of the presidency said Suleiman calls on all the Lebanese as well as municipal, cultural or public bodies to "remove all posters and banners put up across Lebanese territory."Suleiman demanded that concerned public authorities see to it that "his wish is carried out beginning Monday." Beirut, 01 Jun 08, 10:40

Battle over Cabinet Seats Continues Between Majority, Opposition
Naharnet/Prime Minister Fouad Saniora will hold more discussions with the main players from the opposition and majority camps before announcing his cabinet line-up as the battle over government seats continued. Saniora on Saturday wrapped up two days of consultations with leaders of rival parliamentary blocs on forming a national unity government but gave no date for a new line-up. "I am not setting any specific date," Saniora said of his efforts to form a new government after a deal last week between rival politicians ended an 18-month crisis that erupted into street battles that killed 65 people.
"We want the government to reflect Lebanese consensus and the (terms) of the Doha accord, and I will strive to do that in the next few days," said Saniora, who was reappointed on Wednesday by President Michel Suleiman. The prime minister has briefed Suleiman on the results of his talks with MPs from the Western-backed ruling parliamentary majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition backed by Syria and Iran.
Suleiman has reportedly told Saniora during a late Saturday meeting that he wants "fair representation of cabinet seats in accordance with the Doha deal."
Cabinet seats are allocated to allow each major sect representation, as well as splitting seats equally between Muslim and Christian sects.
Press reports on Sunday said it is likely that the defense ministry will stay with Elias Murr, while the interior ministry post would be given to a Maronite to be chosen by Suleiman. They said retired Brig. Gen. Nabil al-Ghafri and former military police chief, from the southern village of Alma al-Shaab, is presumably nominated for the interior ministry portfolio. The two other key ministries – the foreign and finance – would subsequently be given to a Sunni and a Shiite.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly requested the foreign ministry and was quoted as saying that he would chose a qualified man for the post – likely to be retired ambassador Jihad Murtada. Press reports said there was a chance that the finance ministry, which automatically goes to a Sunni in that case, would be headed by Saniora personally. Beirut, 01 Jun 08, 08:22

Edelman: U.S. Wants Closer Military Cooperation with Lebanon
Naharnet/A senior U.S. defense official said that his government wants to strengthen military cooperation with Lebanon.
Visiting U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman "stressed the United States' commitment to enhancing the LAF's (Lebanese armed forces) capabilities," the U.S. embassy said. "The United States will continue to support the government of Lebanon and the LAF as they continued to safeguard the peace, unity and sovereignty of Lebanon," a statement added.Edelman had met earlier with newly elected President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora, caretaker Defense Minister Elias Murr, acting army chief Maj. Gen. Shawki al-Masri and parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri.
The statement said they continued discussions of plans to strengthen the bilateral defense relationship.Since 2006, Washington has committed more than 371 million dollars in security assistance to Lebanon. Edelman's visit comes as Saniora works to form a government of national unity and bring an end to 18 months of political feuding that burst into deadly violence earlier in May and took the country to the brink of a new civil war. After mediation by Qatar, the opposing sides agreed to put their weapons aside and work toward national unity. Asked whether Washington would continue its support for the government if politicians from the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hizbullah were included, Edelman said only that future ministers "will represent the Lebanese people."(AFP) Beirut, 01 Jun 08, 08:54

Apparent Suicide Operation Thwarted
Naharnet/The Lebanese Army on Saturday thwarted an apparent attack by a suicide bomber from the fanatic Jund al-Sham group at the entrance to the southern refugee camp of Ein al-Hilweh. Reliable sources said the attacker, who had an explosive belt around his waist, was equipped with a hand grenade which he tried to hurl at an army checkpoint prior to storming a nearby army post to blow himself up. The hand grenade dropped from the apparent assailant's pocket as a soldier shouted at him to stop, one source said. As the assailant moved his hand towards his waist, troops opened fire at him, assuming he had a side arm. He was killed instantly. After searching his body, the explosive belt was found and he was assumed to be trying to pull the trigger when the troops opened fire, one source explained. Jund al-Sham is a militant group made up of Lebanese and Palestinian militants. It is headed by a wanted Lebanese extremist known as Ghandy Sahmarani, who goes by the code name of Abu Ramez. Beirut, 31 May 08, 19:55

Michel Aoun praises Iran’s constructive role in Lebanon
BEIRUT, May 31 (MNA) – Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has praised Iran for its “positive and constructive role” in helping resolve the Lebanon crisis. “Iran surely had a positive and constructive role in helping Lebanese to achieve an accord and we thanked this country for this positive role,” Aoun told. He made the remarks in an interview with the Mehr News Agency reporter in Beirut concurrent with the election of Michel Suleiman as Lebanon’s president last week. Aoun said, “I have a message of friendship and brotherhood for Iranians and I see them as Lebanon lovers.” Under Arab League auspices, rival Lebanese leaders clinched a deal in the Qatari capital Doha to end the political feud between government and the Hezbollah-led opposition. Under the Doha agreement, which defused a crisis that had caused the worst civil strife since Lebanon’s 1975-1990 war, Lebanon’s parliament on Sunday elected army chief Michel Sleiman as new president. Aoun, who also heads the Change and Reform Bloc, expressed hope that the election of Michel Suleiman would help end the crisis and open a “new era in Lebanon”. He called on all “foreign friends and parties” to respect Lebanon’s “independence and sovereignty” and avoid blocking efforts to resolve the problems. Aoun also advised Lebanese to make decisions “independently and in line with their national interests”. Asked about a new Middle East proposed by the U.S., he said, “We are always in the new Middle East, but not the one (U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza) Rice talks about.”

Saniora Concludes Consultations, No Deadline Set to Form Cabinet
Naharnet/Premier-designate Fouad Saniora concluded two days of consultations with Parliamentary blocs to form a new cabinet without setting a deadline to announce the outcome of his efforts. None of the opposition or pro-opposition Sunni MPs who met Saniora expressed a wish to join the cabinet, which reflected a desire to avoid the embarrassment of accepting a cabinet seat offered by Hizbullah that is at odds with the Sunni Majority represented by Saad Hariri's Mustaqbal Movement. MP Ousama Saad, who heads the Hizbullah-allied Popular Nasserite Organization, clearly stated that he is not interested in a cabinet seat.
MP Bahij Tabbara, who had broken away from the decision adopted by the March 14 majority and refused to nominate Saniora for premier, also said he is not interested in a cabinet seat. Saniora, talking to reporters after concluding his consultations, said he would review the details with President Michel Suleiman prior to forming his cabinet. "I am optimistic by nature," Saniora said in answering a question.
Saniora, stressing that he is committed to forming a "national unity government in line with the Doha Accord," said he would hold further contacts after meeting with the president prior to determining on the final structure of his cabinet. Mp Musbah Ahdab, who represents the northern town of Tripolli and is allied with the March 14 majority, said he wants a cabinet seat to represent his constituency.MP Solange Gemayel said she would not support a cabinet if it included ministers who do not believe in Lebanon's sovereignty. Saniora, when asked when he would announce his cabinet, said "As usual I wouldn't commit my self to a deadline. If the mission requires one hour, I wouldn't give it 65 minutes." Beirut, 30 May 08, 21:44

U.S. Defense Official Meets Lebanese Leaders
Naharnet/U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ambassador Eric S. Edelman held talks with Lebanese officials on plans to strengthen the bilateral defense relations, a U.S. embassy statement. Edelman held separate meetings with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora, Minister of Defense Elias Murr, Acting Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Major General Shawki Al-Masri, and Parliamentary Majority Leader Saad Hariri.
Edelman's talks, according to the embassy statement, focused on "plans to strengthen the U.S.-Lebanon bilateral defense relationship."
Since 2006, te United States has committed over $371 million in security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and the United States will continue to provide equipment and training to the LAF, The statement said. Part of this assistance is modern body armor and helmets which were delivered to the LAF during Edelman's visit, the statement added. In his meetings, Edelman stressed the United States' commitment to enhancing the LAF's capabilities, it concluded. Beirut, 31 May 08, 18:05

Jund al-Sham Militant Shot Dead by Army at Ein al-Hilweh
Naharnet/A militant of the Jund al-Sham group was shot dead by Lebanese troops at the entrance to the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ein al-Hilweh after a grenade fell from his pocket at a checkpoint, witnesses said. The militant, whose name was not immediately available, did not respond to orders from the army checkpoint to stop and while running away a hand grenade dropped from his pocket, witnesses told Naharnet. Troops, apparently on a state of alert after a bomb blast at an army post in north Lebanon, opened fire after the militant moved his hand towards his waist in what appeared to be an attempt to draw a pistol, added the witness who asked not to be identified. Beirut, 31 May 08, 17:33

Beirut Motorbike Ban Eased
Naharnet/A ban on motorbikes in Beirut, introduced to calm tensions between rival political factions, has been eased, the interior ministry announced on Saturday. The ministry on Tuesday banned motorbikes, provocative convoys, slogans or flag waving in the city after violent street clashes between Hizbullah and supporters of the Mustaqbal Movement. But the move sparked outrage among motorcycle courier firms and restaurants, many of whom rely on motorbikes and scooters to transport food to customers. "Motorbikes registered with the authorities and have legal license documents are allowed to commute in Beirut between 5 am (0200 GMT) and 6 pm (1500 GMT)," the ministry said on Saturday. Dispatch riders working with companies and restaurants are allowed to commute around the city until midnight (2100 GMT), the statement added. The restrictions were introduced after clashes in Beirut on Monday night between supporters of the anti-Syrian majority and the opposition, following a speech by Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Shiite militant group, wounded at least 23 people.(AFP-Naharnet)
Beirut, 31 May 08, 17:11

The Sick State
By Mshari Al-Zaydi

Asharq Al-Awsat’
31/05/2008
A Saudi journalist and expert on Islamic movements and Islamic fundamentalism as well as Saudi affairs. Mshari is Asharq Al-Awsat’s opinion page Editor, where he also contributes a weekly column. Has worked for the local Saudi press occupying several posts at Al -Madina newspaper amongst others. He has been a guest on numerous news and current affairs programs as an expert on Islamic extremism.
Did the Doha “Agreement” introduce anything new on the levels of imagination, thoughts and ideas in Lebanon or has put predatory monsters to sleep temporarily in some place or other?
Doha has appeased the zeal of opponents and has laid Hezbollah’s arms down but can we say once and for all? Just as Samir Geagea often says, the crisis of this major small country has not been solved in essence. He also does not tire of mentioning the sovereignty of the Lebanese state over all of its territory and decisions.
The truth is that nothing more could have been expected from the Doha Agreement because the real problem lies with the Lebanese, not the Qataris or the Arabs.
What the Doha Agreement did, in the wake of the mutual understanding between regional powers, was to push the Lebanese towards tranquility and towards abandoning the idea of power and military conflict even though it was Hezbollah and its supporters that were first to take up arms, still possess weapons and have the ability to use these weapons in practice.
Doha does not need to create a new non-sectarian, non-doctrinal or non-feudal political Lebanon since this disease has plagued the Lebanese body for a long time.
Even though we do hope for an everlasting peace, we are unsure of how long this agreement will last. We do not know when Tehran and Syria will decide to terminate the agreement and launch a battle once again whether based on a pretext related to Israel, prisoners, the government or Hezbollah’s “disconnected telephone wires”. Igniting this fire is subject to a regional decision by Tehran and Damascus, especially as we see the region prepare for some war or other. This time, it seems that the dogs of war are heading towards the mullah state of Iran.
However, let us not talk about the current state of political affairs, the maneuvers of confrontation between the Damascus-Tehran alliance and the rest of the world and how the Lebanese, Iraqi and Palestinian cards are being played in this Iranian-Syrian game…
Let us talk about a terminal illness that has spread to the cultural Lebanese body, which has been torn apart microscopically and that summarizes the numerous ailments of this vast Arab land.
I read the Doha Agreement, which, among other things, states upon “Implementing the law and upholding the sovereignty of the state throughout Lebanon so as not to have regions that serve as safe havens for outlaws, out of respect for the supremacy of the law, and referring all those who commit crimes and contraventions to the Lebanese judiciary.” This is clearly a reference to areas under Hezbollah’s control that are not governed by the state.
Is this emphasis upon the extension of the state’s hegemony something new? Absolutely not!
The Taif Accord (1989), which was considered a new Lebanese “pact” by many Lebanese because it was confined to members of parliament, stated: “Given the agreement among the Lebanese parties on the existence of a strong and able state based on national reconciliation the national accord government shall outline a detailed security plan for a one-year period whose aim shall be: the gradual extension of the sovereignty of the Lebanese government over all Lebanese lands through the State’s intrinsic resources.”
There is more; the Taif Accord stipulated clearly that “every” militia would be disarmed within six months of the agreement being signed and this is yet to be achieved.
The Taif Accord stated that political sectarianism would be abolished and that positions would not be given based on sectarian affiliation. Moreover, the mentioning of religion and sect on identity cards would also be abolished.
Today, the Doha Agreement has emerged approximately two decades later to warn, once again, against sectarianism and to call for opponents to vow not to use the discourse of treachery and sectarian conflict! Is it difficult for Lebanon to comprehend the danger of sectarianism?
It is odd that this country has produced distinctive intellects of philosophy, art, sciences and media who have influenced the entire Arab world. Yet there are vast differences between Lebanese in and outside of Lebanon.
This disease of sectarianism and the paralyzed Lebanese state is nothing new and is not the reason behind Iranian intervention through Hezbollah, the Syrian-backed Amal movement and others, or Saudi and Egyptian support of the 14 March Alliance; this disease and paralyzed state is a result of Lebanon itself.
The issue goes back further than this; there is a strong tendency to increase one’s power through a foreign party, or sect or strong leader. It was completely normal for groups to ally with one another if one party became stronger than others and imposed control.
When Ibrahim Pasha, son of the Egyptian ruler Muhammad Ali, invaded the Levant, he formed an alliance with the powerful Emir of Mount Lebanon Bashir Shihab II. What is odd is that when Bashir, who is considered a symbol of power and of the early Lebanese state by the Lebanese, and especially Christians, sought the help of Ibrahim Pasha to impose a central authority, the rest of the Lebanese pounced upon him at the instruction of Western countries that were skeptical of the Egyptian pasha’s power in what was a rare moment of sectarian Lebanese unanimity!
In brief, when Ibrahim Pasha sought to introduce modern principles to Lebanon and mountainous villages regarding imposing taxes, disarming people and introducing compulsory conscription, the Lebanese population did not respond well.
When Ibrahim Pasha triumphed over the Ottomans at the Battle of Nezib and advanced towards Anatolia, he caused panic amongst the major Western countries, which, in turn, decided to disable the Egyptian progress. The Western countries entered an alliance to force Muhammad Ali and his armies to withdraw not only from Anatolia but also Syria. One measure that was taken involved providing weapons to those who resented his presence in Lebanon. An armed revolution flared up against him and Bashir Shihab II.
What is interesting about this revolution is that a sectarian alliance was formed among various Lebanese sects in order to prevent Bashir and Ibrahim from imposing central governance, from disarming [groups] and handing these weapons over to the authority.
In 1840, leaders of various sects met at the church of St Elias in Antelias near Beirut and vowed that they would work against Bashir Shihab and Ibrahim Pasha. They signed an agreement that stated: ‘We, who are present at Mar Elias in Antelias, including Druze, Christians, Shia and Sunnis who are well known in the villages of Mount Lebanon, have taken an oath at the Saint’s altar not to betray or harm each other no matter what. Our word and opinion is one.’ This was quoted by the Lebanese historian Mikhail Mishaqa (1888) in Albert Hourani’s ‘Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age.’
Lebanon’s politicians and leaders have not tired of stressing the consensus approach amongst ruling sects such as [Michel] Aoun, [Samir] Geagea, [Amine] Gemayel, [Walid] Jumblatt, [Saad] Hariri, [Nabih] Berri and even [Sayyed Hassan] Nasrallah just as [Bachir] Gemayel, [Kamal] Jumblatt, [Camille] Chamoun, [Bishara] al Khouri, [Riad] as-Sulh and [Rachid] Karami did so before them.
Does the consensus of sects mean in definition a modern state? Do we have a state in the real sense of the word? Do we stand before a complete and full-fledged state with a final identity, vision, role and institutions? Or are all of these “trivialities”?
The discussion is about Lebanon on the basis that it is a real example of state destruction. But what about the other Arab countries…don’t they have problems like Lebanon? Or is there an illness that lurks there too?
We all remember when Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Guide Mahdi Akef said “To hell with Egypt,” and discussions amongst Iraqis about partition and federations that would not be based on a solid foundation like the West and could not bear the burdens of federalism. Look at the “states” of Sudan, Somalia and Yemen: have they all been saved from the Lebanese disease or do they also suffer?
Disease afflicts everyone; however, it seems to be overt in some places and covert in others.
Let us ask once again: Does an Arab state exist in the full sense of the word, in the ideological sense and as part of the social and political contract, or are we living under the kings of sectarianism?
This is what people should examine so that superficial conflicts do not spread to become social and political malaises.

Robert Fisk: Horrors we have no choice but to forget
Only a poet could come up with the idea of a poem that would clear amnesia
Saturday, 31 May 2008
I have a clear memory of a terrible crime that was committed in southern Lebanon in 1978. Israeli soldiers, landing at night on the beach near Sarafand – the city of Sarepta in antiquity – were looking for "terrorists" and opened fire on a car load of female Palestinian refugees.
It took the Israelis a day before they admitted shooting at the car with an anti-tank weapons, by which time I had watched civil defence workers pulling the dead women from the vehicle, their faces slopping off on to the road, an AP correspondent holding his hands to his face in shock, leaning against an ambulance, crying "Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ. I suppose all this is because of what Hitler did to the Jews." Save for his remark, however, all I remember is silence. As if the whole scene was muted, sound smothered by the dead.
Yet I was running a tape recorder for part of the time, and when I listened to the old tape again a few days ago, I could hear many women, weeping, cars passing, honking horns above the shrieks of grief. My own original notes state, in my handwriting, that "a throng of women stood crying and wailing". Yet all I remember now is silence. A child was on a stretcher, cut in half, a girl in the back seat of the car, curled in death into the arms of an older woman. But silence.
I was reminded of all this by an especially powerful interview conducted at Cannes with the Israeli director Ari Folman, who has made a remarkable film – Waltz with Bashir – about Israel's later, 1982 invasion of Lebanon and about the "collective amnesia" of the soldiers who participated in this hopeless adventure.
Bashir Gemayel was the name of Israel's favourite Christian Maronite militia leader who was elected president but almost immediately assassinated. It's an animated film – a film of cartoons, if you like – because Folman is trying to fill in the empty space which the war occupies in his mind. Because he can't remember it.
"I never talked about my army service," Folman said. "I got on with my life without talking about it, without thinking about it. It was like something I didn't want to be connected with whatsoever." In one astonishing scene, Israeli soldiers come ashore in Lebanon – only to find that there is no one there. They are entering an empty country, washed clean of memory.
Alas, Lebanon was not empty; more than 17,000 Lebanese and Palestinians, almost all civilians, died in that terrible war, and at the end of Folman's movie, the animation turns to reality with photographs of some of the 1,700 Palestinian dead of the Sabra and Chatila massacre, murdered by Israel's Phalangist allies while the Israelis watched from high-rise buildings. It is Folman's dream that this film should be shown in an Arab country – given the dotage and stupidity of most Arab ministers, that is surely a hope that will not be realised – but it did almost win the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
Amnesia is real. And it afflicts us all. But it is also a block to memory. Take my old letter-writing friend, poet Don Newton. He dropped me a note the other day, asking why humans have to create wars and mentioning, at the start, that he remembered the Second World War and, in 1944, Germany's V2 missiles. What grabbed me by the throat, however, was the penultimate paragraph of his letter, written with an eloquence I cannot match – and whose power and suddenness will shock you, as readers, just as it shocked me. This is what Don wrote:
"I saw some of my friends killed around me when I was 12, when a V2 punched into the road near where we were playing ... I was lucky and survived but ran over the road to find my father lying dead by our front gate. He looked for all the world like a grey, dusty broken puppet with his left arm laying next to him. It had been sliced off just above the elbow by a piece of shrapnel that had also cut through the oak gatepost behind him.
"Strangely enough, that sight seems to have wiped from my conscious mind all but a handful of memories of him and those are mostly unpleasant in their associations, like the time I burst into the toilet when I was only six, to find him sitting reading a newspaper, and blurted out that my younger brother by a year had been run over. Peter died in hospital the next day without ever recovering consciousness. This 'amnesia' is, I suppose, a defence mechanism but I find it weird and unable to break. I am struggling to put this problem into a poem and, hopefully, when it is out on paper maybe the fog will clear?"
I find this letter – horror and the mundane inextricably, unbelievably mixed together – unanswerable. The V2 explosion turns into a father's death, the interruption in the lavatory into a child's death. And a poem to clear the amnesia? Only a poet could suggest that. I didn't see my father die but I was sitting beside my own mother when she died from the results of Parkinson's. My memory is clear – she choked on her own saliva because she could no longer clear her throat – and I do remember sitting by her body and thinking (and here I quote another Israeli, a fine and brilliant novelist), "I'm next!"
So I turned, of course, to a haiku in Don's latest collection of poetry, The Soup Stone, called "Mum's Death, 1982" – the same date as Folman's Israeli invasion when he (and I) were trying to stay alive in Lebanon:
"Just sitting, waiting,
For your last slow breath.
Suddenly – it's here."
Which is about as close to death as you can get in verse. And there really is a silence at the end.
**Robert Fisk's new book, 'The Age of the Warrior: Selected Writings', a selection of his Saturday columns in 'The Independent', is published by Fourth Estate