LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 19/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6,1-6.16-18. (But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your alms giving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Iran has made plenty of points, and now it's time to cash in- The Daily Star 18/06/08
Full-fledged Acts of Terror”. By: W. Thomas Smith Jr. 18/06/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for June 18/08
Israel Urges Lebanon to Talk Peace-New York Times
A Fair Fight for Lebanon’s Army-New York Times
Suleiman Upset … No Government Soon-Naharnet
Prisoner Swap in Germany, Not along Israel-Lebanon Border-Naharnet
Suleiman Prepares to Host Muslim-Christian Reconciliation Meeting-Naharnet
Israel Ready for Peace Talks with Lebanon-Naharnet
Hizbullah: Liberating Shebaa Farms Ploy to Nail Resistance Arms-Naharnet
New Christian Front to Be Launched Soon-Naharnet
Two Men Indicted in Assassination of Ahmed Jibril's Son-Naharnet
Mustaqbal Accuses Hizbullah of Shipping Weapons to Bekaa-Naharnet
Israel says it's ready for Lebanon talks-The Associated Press
Hamas says Syria won't cut ties for Israel peace-Reuters
Syria: Peace with Israel will be 'bliss'-Jerusalem Post
US pushes for Israel-Lebanon deal on Shaba Farms, peace talks-Ha'aretz
Syrian official predicts peace with Israel will produce harmonious ...Ha'aretz
Army to Host Reconciliation Meeting in Bekaa-Naharnet
Aoun Demands Curtailing Saniora's Powers, Session to Ratify Election Law-Naharnet
Syrian President Arrives in New Delhi on Maiden Visit-Naharnet
No let-up in logjam over new cabinet-Daily Star
Three dead as rival gunmen clash in Bekaa villages-Daily Star
Sfeir receives official invite to Sleiman's spiritual summit-Daily Star
Hariri tribunal concludes negotiations on premises-Daily Star
Moallem says events vindicate policy on Lebanon-Daily Star
Butros plan finds districting middle ground-Daily Star
UNIFIL denies latest talks with Lebanese and Israeli armies dealt with Shebaa-Daily Star
Paris says Assad will join Olmert at Med Union talks-AFP
Thirty-six cars to take part in Rally of Lebanon-Daily Star
AUB opens renovated pediatric library-Daily Star
Tibnin to fete completion of healthcare project-Daily Star
Germany turns over third patrol boat to Lebanese Navy-Daily Star
Tabbouleh celebrations drive home Lebanese commonality-Daily Star
Zakira projects reveals photographic talents of Palestinian youngsters -By IRIN News.org
Damascus detains another dissident-AFP
Mustaqbal Accuses Hizbullah of Shipping Weapons to Beqaa-Naharnet
Aoun Criticizes Rice's Class Room Meeting with March 14 Leaders-Naharnet
Hariri Urges Calm in Bekaa-Naharnet
Mufti Qabbani Criticizes Terrorist Acts against Bekaa, Beirut-Naharnet
Hizbullah-AMAL Blame Bekaa Clashes on Mustaqbal-Naharnet
LEBANON: Condoleeza Rice wants to resolve the Shebaa Farms issue-Los Angeles Times

Mustaqbal Accuses Hizbullah of Shipping Weapons to Beqaa
Naharnet/Mustaqbal Movement accused Hizbullah of provoking clashes in the Beqaa Valley town of Saadnayel to cover up an illegal arms shipment sent to its local official. "Clashes broke out in the central sector of the Beqaa on Monday evening when an army force deployed in Taalabaya observed the unloading of weapons from a truck to the residence of Hizbullah official in Taalabaya Sheik Abdul Jalil Hosheimy," the Mustaqbal statement said. Hizbullah gunmen "opened fire heavily in all directions from machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenade launchers to cover up the arming operation that contradicts the party's declared good will intentions regarding its alleged interest in safeguarding civic order," the statement added.
"once the unloading of weapons was exposed, Hizbullah Militiamen also opened up from artillery pieces that had been deployed across hills overlooking Saadnayel, specifically in the villages of Twiti and Qommol, to distract the army so that it would not focus on the arms shipment to Hizbullah in Taalabaya," the Mustaqbal statement charged. The statement urged Mustaqbal partisans to abide by its leader Saad Hariri's call for self restraint and full cooperation with the army and security forces to avoid escalating the already explosive situation. Beirut, 17 Jun 08, 19:23

Remarks After Meeting With Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Fouad Siniora
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Grand Serail-Beirut, Lebanon
June 16, 2008
Good afternoon. I’ve just had an opportunity to meet with Prime Minister-designate Siniora. We’ve had a very good meeting. It’s one of several that we’ve had over the years, and I expressed to him as I did earlier today to President Suleiman the importance that the United States attaches to Lebanese sovereignty, to Lebanese democracy. I congratulated him on the successful elections – election of the President, and wished him well on the formation of a government.
In these discussions with both President Suleiman and Prime Minister Siniora, I also told them that the United States believes that the time has come to deal with the Shebaa Farms issue, and we believe that it should be dealt with in accordance with UN Security Council 1701 and other relevant resolutions. We intend to ask the UN Secretary General to lend his good offices to this effort, and we believe that the Secretary General should intensify his work, really intensify his work, to see the full implementation of all aspects of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
So it was a very good discussion, and I look forward to the remainder of my meetings. The United States very much looks forward to working with Lebanon to strengthen its democratic institutions and to help bring greater prosperity to its people. I also said to the Prime Minister that the United States looks forward to attending the conference in Vienna for the reconstruction of Nahr el-Bared. Thank you very much. 2008/T17-8-Released on June 17, 2008

Aoun Criticizes Rice's Class Room Meeting with March 14 Leaders
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Tuesday criticized U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for meeting leaders of the March 14 alliance like "students gathered in a class room." Aoun, talking to reporters after a meeting by members of his Change and Reform Bloc (CRB), also said he would ask Speaker Nabih Berri to convene Parliament to ratify the election law adopted during the Doha talks. CRB members also took note of Rice's call for speeding up the Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms and setting up diplomatic ties with Syria. "It seems that the Americans have at last adopted our viewpoint," a smiling Aoun said. However, he emphasized that "one issue remains vague, that is the issue of naturalizing Palestinians in Lebanon." "I learned that Patriarch Sfeir had asked President George Bush about this issue and Bush replied that the Palestinians are satisfied (with) Lebanon," Aoun claimed. Aoun said he cannot give a "final answer"" as to when would the cabinet be formed, stressing that he wants to facilitate efforts to form it. "We want the best relations with President Suleiman," Aoun said. Beirut, 17 Jun 08, 17:35

Hariri Urges Calm in Bekaa
Naharnet/Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri on Tuesday urged supporters in the Bekaa towns of Saadnayel and Taalabaya to practice restraint and cooperate with security forces to prevent renewed clashes. Hariri, in a statement, also declared support to efforts aimed at defusing the explosive situation.
The statement said Hariri made a series of telephone calls to follow up the situation in the volatile area. Hariri's contacts included President Michel Suleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Premier-designate Fouad Saniora and Acting Army Commander Gen. Shawqi al-Masri. Hariri also expressed his condolences to families of the three victims who fell in the clashes on Monday. Four people also were wounded in the clashes with rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds and assault rifles. Beirut, 17 Jun 08, 16:40

Mufti Qabbani Criticizes Terrorist Acts against Bekaa, Beirut
Naharnet/Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani on Tuesday termed attacks by Hizbullah against Bekaa villages, Mount Lebanon and the invasion of Beirut "full-fledged acts of terror." Qabbani made the remark to reporters after talks with President Michel Suleiman at the Republican Palace. Qabbani praised Suleiman's oath address, saying it is the base for the nation's political and security path. He also paid tribute to Suleiman's call to spiritual leaders to hold a summit at Baabda Palace. Qabbani called for speeding up efforts to form the new cabinet, warning against persisting obstacles to ban its formation. Beirut, 17 Jun 08, 16:11

Hizbullah-AMAL Blame Bekaa Clashes on Mustaqbal
Naharnet/Hizbullah and its ally AMAL accused al-Mustaqbal movement on Tuesday of provoking clashes in the Bekaa Valley towns of Taalabaya and Saadnayel.
A joint statement said all factions should follow instructions of the army so that it can help stabilize the situation. "Those who provoked the clashes and the criminals should be brought to justice," the statement added. Overnight clashes in Taalabaya and Saadnayel resulted in killing three people and wounding four. Al-Mustaqbal movement accused Hizbullah and AMAL of opening fire at Lebanese army units and targeting the two towns with rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds.
Beirut, 17 Jun 08, 15:05

Full-fledged Acts of Terror” W. Thomas Smith Jr.
17 Jun 2008
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Hezbollah and Amal gunmen attacked Lebanese Army positions and two-to-four residential areas in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, last night. At least three people have reportedly been killed and several others wounded as of this writing.
All three victims were civilians – including a female school-teacher – killed by Hezbollah’s attack on Bekaa villages “in an attempt to cover up their fight with the army,” according to Lebanon’s Future News.
According to our sources, the gunmen attacked with automatic rifles, machine-guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortars; and the attacks began several hours after Hezbollah purportedly shot-to-death a member of the pro-democracy Cedars Revolution in the western Bekaa.
Details are still sketchy as to the individual shooting (details will be forthcoming), but it is believed – according to our sources – that he was the bodyguard of a top Lebanese official, and some say his death is being misreported in some Arab media as an accident (not surprising considering Hezbollah’s incredibly deceptive media influence in what would otherwise be considered objective media).
We are also learning that since last month’s fighting which was begun by Hezbollah against the Lebanese people in west Beirut, the north near Tripoli, the Bekaa Valley, and the Chouf mountains; Hezbollah has launched several probing operations – and conducted at least one military show-of-force demonstration – against Druze villages in the Chouf-mountain region.
During the demonstration a few days ago, armed Druze confronted Hezbollah, and the latter simply withdrew.
Ya Libnan even reports today: “Hezbollah gunmen have not given up and continue to launch attacks in Toumat Niha area of the Chouf mountains.”
Of course, the Chouf operations are receiving little if any attention in the Lebanese media and zero coverage in the Western press.
Which brings to mind my own reports of a Hezbollah testing-probe (since determined to have been one of a series of probes) and a “show of force” that took place on a date in September that was never reported either by myself or any media (except for a blogger or two who literally created a date to deny any show of force ever took place).
Responding to that – and a piece of analysis published by Stratfor – international terrorism expert Dr. Walid Phares wrote: “Isn’t interesting to see how back in the fall of 2007 Western-based media, friendly to Hezbollah, attacked an American journalist reporting from Beirut, [yours truly], for daring to mention that Hezbollah has ever deployed forces in Beirut, while according to this report, the organization is sending in -not only regular militiamen, but special forces.”
Fact is, what Hezbollah is doing in Lebanon and throughout the world, today, is every bit what Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani said today (after meeting with Pres. Michel Sleiman): “full-fledged acts of terror.”
And so far they are getting away with it.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s staunch ally, Gen. Michel Aoun, reportedly bristled over a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and leaders of the pro-democracy March 14 movement, whom Aoun referred to as “students gathered in a class room.”
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.

The Iranian Roots of Hizbullah
By: Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli *
"Iran is the only country that does not interfere in Lebanon." Mahmoud Ahamdinejad [1]
Introduction
Ahmadinejad's absurd statement coincided ironically with the publication in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat of an extensive interview with Mohammad Hassan Akhteri, who has recently completed a total of 14 years as Iran's ambassador to Syria. By his own admission, Akhteri was the most senior Iranian liaison official with Hizbullah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, and the architect of the special relationship between Iran and Syria. Akhteri was also the founder in Damascus of the Palestinian-Iranian Friendship Society.
In the interview, published in two parts on May 14 and May 15, 2008, Akhteri distinguishes between the spiritual father (al-ab al-rouhi) of Hizbullah, the one who initiated the idea, and the "field father" (al-ab al-midani). Akhteri considers himself the latter, while his predecessor in Damascus, Ali Muhtashemi, was the former. [2]
Akhteri's Background and Proselytizing Activity
Akhteri was born in Qom in 1928, and came to diplomacy from his position as Friday preacher at the Samnan mosque, north of Tehran. He studied religious jurisprudence at a hawza (a Shi'ite religious center) in Qom. Concurrently with his role as ambassador to Damascus, Akhteri has served for the last four years as the head of the International Society of aal-al-beit, the Prophet Mohammad's descendents, who are viewed by the Shi'ite branch of Islam as the legitimate rulers of Islam. The Aal-al-beit Society is also engaged in spreading "Shi'ite Islamic consciousness," essentially a proselytizing organization which seeks converts to Shi'ite Islam.
Akhteri served two terms as ambassador to Damascus: the first, longer term from 1986 to 1997, and the second from 2005 to January 2008. But before serving as ambassador, he had accumulated a record as a proselytizer: He spent some time in Homs, Syria in 1969, and from there he went to Lebanon for two and a half years, through 1972, to carry out religious activities and tabligh (spreading of Islam).
Facing the First Crisis
Akhteri arrived in Syria in 1986, at a time of conflict between the Palestinians and the Shi'ite Movement - Amal - that was created by Imam Moussa al-Sadr in the 1960s as a social-service organization intended to improve the living conditions of the Shi'ite community in southern Lebanon, one of the poorest communities in the country. Al-Sadr, born in Iran and educated in Qom, also established the Shi'ite Supreme Islamic Council in 1969. Al-Sadr flew to Tripoli, Libya on August 25, 1978 and there he disappeared. His disappearance, six months prior to the success of the Iranian revolution, was a key factor in the marginalization of the Amal Movement, and the birth of Hizbullah.
The Splintering of Amal and the Creation of Hizbullah
The Islamic regime of Iran after the revolution regarded the Amal Movement with suspicion because it seemed insufficiently religious, and lacking the suitability or will to be an instrument of spreading the Iranian revolution. In addition, it was led by politicians, many of them were secular, rather than by clerics. In fact, the very name Amal (Hope) lacked religious ring. On its part, Amal was disenchanted with Iran because during its conflict with the Palestinians Iran supported the latter.
As a result, Iran encouraged elements from the Amal Movement to splinter and establish a religious party that would be more in tune with the concept of wilayat al-faqih, [the Rule of the Jurisprudent] introduced by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the spiritual and political leader of the Islamic Republic. Once that party, Hizbullah, was established, Khomeini ordered elements of the Revolutionary Guards to go to Lebanon to train its young cadres.
The Iranian ambassador to Damascus from 1982-85, Ali Akbar Mohtashemi, was quoted by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat as telling an Iranian newspaper that Hizbullah gained part of its battle experience through its participation in the war against Iraq. According to Mohtashemi, more than 100,000 young Lebanese received military training both in Lebanon and in Iran in groups of 300 fighters. Akhteri has also conceded that elements of Hizbullah fought in the war with Iraq "either within our ranks or by themselves."
Akhteri recalls that five planeloads of Revolutionary Guards and Basij (youth militia) landed in Damascus to stand with Hizbullah during the 1982 Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, but Khomeini stopped any further dispatch of Iranian forces to Lebanon because of logistical problems. According to Akhteri, supplying a military contingency in Lebanon would have been difficult with the war raging between Iran and Iraq. The only other alternative would have been to go through Turkey, but Turkey was a member of NATO. Hence, the real alternative was to train Hizbullah's cadres in Lebanon itself.
Syria Allowed the Passage of Military Aid to Hizbullah
The arming of Hizbullah could not have been possible without the support of Syria. When Hizbullah was established, Syria was in control of Lebanon, and no one could come and go without the approval of the Syrian regime. In fact, Akhteri admits that throughout his "diplomatic" mission to Syria he coordinated his activities in Lebanon with Ghazi Kan'an, who was chief of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon from 1982-2001, and who became minister of interior in October 2003 and who in 2005 allegedly committed suicide. (Kan'an may have been involved in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri. As the international investigation of the assassination was beginning to implicate the Syrian regime, Kan'an may have been silenced by a staged - unexplainable - suicide.)
In his interview with Al-Asharq Al-Awsat, Ambassador Akhteri stated with evident pride that Hizbullah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas are the "legitimate children of the Iranian revolution," and that Iran has supported them financially, politically, and morally. There was coordination between Iran and each of these organizations, but Akhteri argues that any final decisions were taken by these groups themselves.
The Establishment of Al-Manar TV
To solidify its control over its supporters and to spread Shi'ite Islamic fervor, Hizbullah needed its own television station, but Lebanon was reluctant to approve an independent station for Hizbullah. According to former Syrian vice president Abdul Halim Khaddam, now living in exile in France, the Iranian president at the time, Hashemi Rafsanjani, called Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad to obtain a license for Al-Manar TV. Assad told then-Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri to grant the permit, and the permit was granted. The establishment of Al-Manar was one of the steps that, Akhteri stresses, "strengthened the independence of Hizbullah on the Lebanese political scene." [3]
Hizbullah's Social Institutions - Identical To Iran's
In addition to Al-Manar TV, Hizbullah was able, with Iran's financing, to establish a wide range of social, financial, and economic institutions that strengthened the loyalty of the Shi'ites in Lebanon to Iran. One of the significant financial arms of Hizbullah is the Shahid Foundation (Martyrs Foundation), an Iran-based organization established in 1982 in Iran to assist victims of the Iran-Iraq war. In 2007, the U.S. Treasury targeted "Iran-based Martyrs Foundation," including its U.S. branch, and the finance firm Al-Qardh al-Hassan (Good Deed Loan) as front organizations for Hizbullah. According to the Treasury, the Martyrs Foundation branches in Lebanon provided financial support to the families of killed or imprisoned Hizbullah and Islamic Jihad members, including suicide bombers in the Palestinian territories. Al-Qardh al-Hassan created the Goodwill Charitable Organization (munathamat al-niyya al-hasana al-khairiya) in Dearborn, Michigan as a fundraising office for the Martyrs Foundation.
According to the U.S. Treasury, Hizbullah used the Al-Qardh al-Hassan's financial arms as cover to manage its financial activity. Al-Qardh al-Hassan is run by Hussein al-Shami, a senior Hizbullah leader who has also served as a member of Hizbullah's Shura Council and as head of several Hizbullah-controlled organizations. [4]
Hussein Raslan, in charge of the social functions in the Martyrs Foundation, told Islamonline on August 13, 2006, that the idea for the Foundation originated with Khomeini, who provided the financing from zakat (alms contributed by Muslims). Raslan said that the first Hizbullah school was established in Beirut in 1988, but that eventually the school was incorporated into the Imam al-Mahdi Foundation in 2002. The flow of funds [from Iran], Raslan said, enabled Hizbullah to establish a series of enterprises including those dealing with food supply, gasoline and printing houses. Hizbullah schools in Lebanon, either under Khomeini or al-Mahdi Foundations, follow the Iranian curriculum.
Hizbullah has also established a network of hospitals (dispensing Iranian-made medicines), banks, and cultural organizations. Finally, there are the Hizbullah police, who are responsible for maintaining "good manners" on the street - meaning, among other things, that women are always veiled in public. Money from Iran keeps this massive apparatus running.
Refusal to Pay for Electricity
One of the least-known facts about the dominance of Hizbullah in parts of Lebanon is the refusal of its members to pay their electric bills. Without the means to force them to do so, the Lebanese government is left with one of its largest budgetary problems - the growing subsidy the government has to pay to the national power company, Electricite du Liban.
The Shi'ization of Syria
The International Aal-Al-Beit Society, which operates under Iran's supreme leader, currently Ali Khamenei, and whose primary function is to spread Shi'ism (tashayu') in the rest of the Muslim world, took advantage of Iran's special relations with Syria in order to establish Shi'ite religious seminaries in Damascus. In fact, Damascus has now at least three hawzas (religious centers,) and is considered the third largest Shi'ite center in the world after Najaf and Qom. While Akhteri minimizes the proselytizing functions of the Aal Al-Beit society in Syria, there are concerns sounded in both Syria and the Arab world about the tashayu' effort - not only in Syria but in other countries, such as Egypt and Sudan.
Conclusion
This paper highlights two significant facts: first, Hizbullah was created and sustained by Iran. Iranian financial support has made it possible for this political organization to build a network of schools, hospitals, social welfare organizations and above all, military prowess. It now serves as an extension of Iran's strategic expansion into the Mediterranean.
Second, it is absolutely evident that Iran's extended arm into Lebanon would not have been possible without the collusion or approval of the Syrian regime. Syria is also the main conduit of arms from Iran to Hizbullah.
*Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli is the Editor of The MEMRI Economic Blog, www.memrieconomicblog.org. This dispatch is based on a presentation made by the author at a panel on "The Iranization of Lebanon?" at the Potomac Institute on May 23, 2008.

UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Last update - 08:46 17/06/2008
A senior United Nations official has harshly criticized Israel's indirect negotiations with Syria, whose second round ended yesterday, charging that "Israel has given Syria a huge gift, without thus far receiving anything in exchange."
Terje Roed-Larsen, the UN secretary-general's special envoy for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, made the comments last week in a conversation with Israeli diplomats. In a classified telegram to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, Israel's UN delegation wrote that Larsen had complained that "Syria is receiving legitimacy for free." "Europe is courting the Syrians because of the negotiations with Israel, and they are no longer being asked to give anything in exchange," the telegram quoted Larsen as saying. Larsen is considered one of the UN's leading experts on Middle Eastern affairs, and especially on Syrian and Lebanese issues. However, he has an extremely negative view of Syrian President Bashar Assad, due to Assad's meddling in Lebanon in general and his suspected involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in particular. The key element of the resolution Roed-Larsen is charged with overseeing, which was adopted in 2004, was a demand that Syrian forces exit Lebanon, though the text also urges the dismantling of all Lebanese militias.
Nor is Larsen the only international player to express reservations about the Israeli-Syrian talks: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said recently that it was more important right now to focus on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. It is not clear whether Rice reiterated this comment to Israeli officials in her talks with them earlier this week.
The second round of talks lasted two days. Once again, the parties refrained from talking directly; rather, Turkish mediators ferried messages back and forth.
According to a senior Israeli official, the session ended with an agreement to continue the discussions intensively, and dates were set for two more meetings over the next few weeks. These sessions, like their predecessors, will take place in Turkey, but the Turks are keen to keep the exact location secret. It is still not known whether the latest round took place in Ankara or Istanbul. Israel's representatives at the talks, Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turgeman, told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the atmosphere was positive and constructive. Turkish officials echoed this assessment.
From Turkey, Turbowicz and Turgeman preceded to France to discuss an upcoming trip to Israel by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the summit Sarkozy will host next month on his plan to establish a union of Mediterranean countries. Assad and Olmert are both among the 47 leaders who received invitations, and an Israeli official told Reuters that Sarkozy is trying to arrange a meeting between them. However, Jerusalem considers it highly unlikely that Assad will agree.

Israel says it's ready for Lebanon talks
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli government is calling on Lebanon to open peace talks. Government spokesman Mark Regev says Israel is interested in "direct, bilateral" talks. He says "every issue of contention" is on the table, including a key border dispute over a small piece of land controlled by Israel. The dispute over the Chebaa Farms enclave is a key sticking point between Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Wednesday's announcement came amid a flurry of developments in the region. Israeli officials say they are close to a prisoner swap with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, and Israel also recently opened peace talks with Syria. Meanwhile, a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas is set to begin on Thursday.

Israel says it's ready to begin peace talks with Lebanon
By Barak Ravid and Yoav Stern
Government spokesman Mark Regev said on Wednesday that Israel is interested in direct, bilateral talks with Lebanon in order to reach a peace deal between the two bordering countries. Regev said that every issue of contention would be on the table, including a key border dispute over the Shaba Farms, a small piece of land controlled by Israel, the dispute over which is a key sticking point between Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
Regev's comments were the government's most explicit overture toward Lebanon. Last week, when Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hinted Israel would be interested in talks with Beirut, the Lebanese government rejected the notion. On Wednesday, a Lebanese government official said that position hadn't changed.
Wednesday's announcement came amid a flurry of developments in the region. Officials say they are close to a prisoner swap with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, and Israel also recently opened peace talks with Syria.
Meanwhile, a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas is set to begin on Thursday.
U.S. pushes for Israel-Lebanon peace talks, deal on Shaba
The United States has begun mediating between Israel and Lebanon in an effort to resolve their dispute over Shaba Farms in the hope they would then start peace talks. U.S. President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice informed Olmert of this during his visit to Washington two weeks ago, and Rice repeated it during her visit here earlier this week. According to a senior Israeli official, Rice gave Lebanon a message from Olmert on this issue on Monday.
The London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat reported Tuesday that during her brief visit to Beirut
on Monday, Rice told Lebanese officials that the U.S. was working to obtain an Israeli withdrawal from Shaba. "Our efforts are continuing, and will be stepped up in the coming weeks," the paper quoted Rice as saying.
Next month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will brief the Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War. His report is expected to clarify the UN's position on the Shaba dispute.
Shaba, located on the border between the Golan Heights and Lebanon, was omitted from Israel's May 2000 withdrawal from Lebanon because the Security Council said it was Syrian territory, not Lebanese. However, both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have since insisted that Shaba is Lebanese, while Syria has refused to either back or dispute this claim. Following the Second Lebanon War two years ago, therefore, the UN agreed to set up a task force to determine where exactly the Lebanese-Syrian border lies.
A senior Israeli official said that both Rice and Bush told Olmert they want to support Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's government in Lebanon and weaken Hezbollah. The best way to do this, they argued, is to cede Shaba to Lebanon, thereby eliminating Hezbollah's claim that only it can liberate Shaba.
Moreover, they argued, progress on Shaba may lead to the opening of peace talks between Lebanon and Israel. Beirut has previously said that a withdrawal from Shaba is a precondition for talks.
Olmert responded that he agreed in principle, but had several conditions. First, he said, any resolution of the Shaba dispute must include full implementation of Resolution 1701, which, inter alia, requires Hezbollah's disarmament and an end to arms smuggling from Syria. Moreover, he said, until the UN decides whether Shaba is Syrian or Lebanese, there is no point in discussing its future.
In general, he said, the outstanding issues between Lebanon and Israel are not complicated, and should be easier to resolve than Israel's disputes with Syria. "I'm willing to sit down to direct negotiations with Lebanon in order to resolve everything necessary, including Shaba Farms," the official quoted him as saying.
European diplomats told Haaretz they also expect Israel to withdraw from Shaba, should the UN indeed declare it Lebanese.
The Lebanese government had proposed in 2006 that Israeli troops be replaced by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which would hand the area over to Lebanon should the UN conclude finally that the area is Lebanese. However, Israel opposes this idea, and this week, Hezbollah said it would still consider Shaba occupied territory even if it were under UNIFIL's control.

Report: Hezbollah willing to negotiate over Shaba Farms
By Haaretz Service
Last update - 15:56 09/06/2008
Hezbollah officials have reportedly told French President Nicolas Sarkozy that the group is not opposed to a diplomatic solution to the Shaba Farms dispute, according to a report published in the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat on Monday.
This would mean a departure from the Shi'ite militia's traditional policy on the matter, which has been to support the use of force in order to return the 8 square mile disputed area in the Golan Heights.
According to Al-Hayat, the matter came up during a meeting held between Sarkozy and senior Lebanese political leaders, including recently elected Lebanese President Gen. Michel Suleiman, during his visit to the country over the weekend.
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Sarkozy also reportedly said that he will bring up the issue of Shaba Farms during his visit to Israel in two weeks. He will reportedly try to encourage Israel to use diplomatic means to resolve the matter.
During his brief visit to Lebanon, Sarkozy stressed his country's support for newly-elected Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and for reconciliation through dialogue.
Sarkozy, the first Western head of state to visit Lebanon since Suleiman took office at the end of May, said the former army commander had "a great responsibility to drive this national reconciliation forward."
"It is essential that all Lebanese political forces display their commitment to dialogue," he added at a luncheon with Sleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, parliament speaker Nabih Berri and representatives of all major Lebanese political factions.
Lebanon has endured a tense 18-month political crisis that drove it to the brink of civil war in early May.
After 65 people were killed in sectarian violence, rival factions reached a deal in Doha on May 21 that led to the election of then army chief and consensus candidate Sleiman after a six-month void in the presidency.
Sleiman himself said the "Doha agreement, in which France took part, has regenerated long-awaited and desired political stability".
Even so, the anti-Syrian ruling bloc, backed by the West and most Arab states, and the Hezbollah-led opposition continue to squabble over the formation of a new government.
Sarkozy said that "once the institutions have stabilized, (Lebanon) must address the reconstruction of the state and the economy's dynamism to open up to reforms".
He said France remained "committed to strengthening the capacities of the Lebanese army within the framework of a national defense strategy to be established through sincere dialogue ... that can no longer be delayed."
His office said France would provide training to the army as part of its economic assistance.
The president also indicated "a new page may be opening" in relations with Damascus that Paris suspended during the crisis. A source close to his office said two senior envoys would soon visit Syria.
France is the former colonial power in Lebanon and neighbouring Syria, which for decades was the powerbroker in Beirut.
On Monday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband visited Lebanon, where he met with President Suliman and pledged UK support for the embattled country.
Miliband says Britain wants to offer practical support to Lebanon, which he says needs to become a force for stability in the region

A Fair Fight for Lebanon’s Army
By NICHOLAS NOE
Published: June 18, 2008
Beirut
IN the wake of a narrowly averted civil war here last month, the United States now has a unique opportunity to help build something that all the parties to the conflict have said they very much want: a strong Lebanese Armed Forces.
Unfortunately, even though the Bush administration has provided more than $300 million in tactical aid to Lebanon since the Syrian withdrawal of 2005, it still apparently refuses to provide the kind of strategic weapons — guided rockets, tanks, modern artillery and intelligence-gathering equipment — that are desperately needed in this task. During her visit to Beirut this week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice didn’t even mention the issue.
The reason for this, American and Lebanese officials say privately, is a longstanding prohibition against supplying Lebanese forces with advanced equipment that could be used against Israel.
This “red line” remains even though Hezbollah has far more dangerous weaponry, and despite Washington’s commitment to build up the authority of the state. It is a testament to how short-sighted and contradictory the American approach to Lebanon has been.
Indeed, last month in Beirut, the army was left without the equipment that would have enabled it to be a more forceful mediator in the street battles involving Hezbollah and its rivals.
The lack of equipment also contributed to the military’s inability last summer to quickly roust a group of Islamist militants from a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. Late in that conflict, the United Arab Emirates donated advanced Gazelle helicopters to Lebanon, but Washington required all advanced rocketry to be removed before shipment. As a result, soldiers were forced to drop shells from the helicopters by hand, destroying much of the camp, when they might have been able to pinpoint the Islamist fighters.
Moreover, when Russia stepped in to offer the Lebanese military essentially anything it wanted, free of charge, according to one former military official involved in the discussions, the Bush administration prohibited the Lebanese government from accepting the offer.
Thankfully, the United States now has an opportunity to right some of the wrongs of the past, and in the process help draw a peaceful roadmap for Hezbollah’s eventual normalization.
The violence in Beirut seems to have reduced support for Hezbollah among some Lebanese, as well as demonstrated just how much the group needs the Lebanese Armed Forces. In fact, without the military, Hezbollah would have been left with the unsavory option of pursuing a Hamas-style takeover of Lebanon in full, something it clearly did not want.
In the end, the presence of the armed forces afforded Hezbollah and its rivals a way to quickly withdraw, clearing the way for negotiations that led to the installation of a president and should shortly lead to a new national unity government.
Hezbollah’s reduced popularity and its reliance on the army set an ideal foundation for the most important task facing the new government: creating a credible defense plan. Give the Lebanese an army able to meet the perceived threats emanating from Israel (primarily involving water, territory and a possible future expulsion of Palestinians to Lebanon), and then, Hezbollah has said, its independent weaponry can be tackled.
Encouraging this dynamic should be at the top of the American agenda in Lebanon, especially since the two primary disputes between Hezbollah and Israel (the status of Shebaa Farms and a prisoner exchange) appear on the verge of a resolution — thus further undercutting Hezbollah’s rationale for bearing arms.
This necessarily means accepting a strong force arrayed defensively against Israel. But ultimately the United States would do far better for Lebanon and its own interests by allowing the country’s military to get what it needs, rather than leaving the field open to Hezbollah.
**Nicholas Noe is the editor in chief of Mideastwire.com and the editor of “Voice of Hezbollah: The Statements of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.”