LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِJune
01/2010
Bible Of
the Day
The Good News According to John 15/1-11
15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 15:2 Every branch in me
that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he
prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 15:3 You are already pruned clean because
of the word which I have spoken to you. 15:4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the
branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can
you, unless you remain in me. 15:5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who
remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you
can do nothing. 15:6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a
branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and
they are burned. 15:7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will
ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
15:8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will
be my disciples. 15:9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you.
Remain in my love. 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my
love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
15:11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that
your joy may be made full
Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Reconnecting with
reality/Now Lebanon/May
31/10
Coptic Church Protests Egyptian
Court Ruling on Marriage License/AINA/May
31/10
The media-assisted psychological war between
Israel/By Amos Harel/Ha'aretz/May
31/10
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for May 31/10
Israeli minister says Tel Aviv
warned aid convoy ahead of time/Now Lebanon
Ten
dead after Israel boards
Gaza-bound ships: military/Reuters
Netanyahu Assures Assad Israel Does Not Intend to Attack Syria, Lebanon/Naharnet
North
Municipal Elections: Batroun for FPM, Bsharri for LF, Zghorta for Marada,
Tripoli for Consensus Alliance/Naharnet
Abul
Gheit: Tehran's Influence on Hizbullah, Hamas Becoming 'Clearer'/Naharnet
Israel
Sending Nuclear Subs to Iran Coast to Deter Hizbullah-Allies Missile Attack/Naharnet
Hariri, Assad Condemn 'Israeli
Crime,' Urge International Action/Naharnet
Killer
of 2 Saleh Brothers Turns Himself in to Authorities/Naharnet
Israeli radio plays 1962 interview with famous spy/The
Associated Press
Lebanese vote in final round of municipal elections/AFP
Beirut ranked 172nd in the world
for its quality of living - survey/Daily
Star
Turkish PM says West unfair,
insincere in Iran row/AFP
Israel rejects new drive to ban
nukes from Mideast/AFP&
Daily Star
Israel carries out mock air raids
on south Lebanon/Daily
Star
Rafsanjani boosts pressure on
regime before anniversary/AFP
Future Palestinian state must be
demilitarized - Netanyahu/Daily
Star
North Lenanon:
Voting calm, slow in most of Tripoli, Akkar, Minieh/Daily Star
Lebanese PM heads to Syria/AFP
Israeli minister says Tel Aviv warned aid convoy ahead of time
May 31, 2010 /Israel knew what might happen to a Gaza aid convoy that was the
target of a deadly commando raid and had warned pro-Palestinian activists
against proceeding, Israeli Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer
told AFP on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum summit on Monday. The
Israeli army said that at least 10 people died when commandos stormed a flotilla
of aid-carrying ships in international waters off the northern Israeli port city
of Haifa. "The results [are] unfortunate. I am quite sorry about the losses, and
about every drop of blood that happened," Ben Eliezer said. However, he added
that a number of the activists carried knives and pistols. "When it comes to
defending yourself, you'll have to do whatever you can, and definitely, when you
have to defend your country," he said. -AFP/NOW Lebanon
Israeli prime minister cancels White House meeting
By The Associated Press
JERUSALEM - Israel's prime minister has called off a planned visit to the White
House to deal with a crisis over a botched naval raid that killed 10
pro-Palestinian activists.
Netanyahu, who is in Canada, was set to travel to Washington to meet with
President Barack Obama on Tuesday. But his office says he decided to return home
early after Monday's commando raid. The commandos intercepted a flotilla of
activists trying to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. The deadly crackdown has
drawn widespread international condemnations
Israel in eye of storm over deadly Gaza ship raid
ANKARA (AFP) - Israel's allies froze military ties and summoned its ambassadors
Monday over the storming of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, as Muslim leaders
slammed the deadly raid as "criminal" and "inhuman".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "shocked" by the Israeli navy's
assault on a convoy carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, lawmakers
and journalists through international waters towards besieged Gaza.
Ban called on Israel to "urgently" explain itself over the raid, which Israel's
Channel 10 TV left 19 passengers killed and 36 wounded, many of them Turks.
Israel's closest ally Washington described the loss of life as a "tragedy," on
the eve of talks between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
"The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained and is
currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy," a
White House spokesman said.
As the Vatican voiced "deep sadness and concern" and Middle East peace envoy
Tony Blair expressed "deep regret and shock" at the loss of life, capitals
across Europe summoned Israel's ambassadors to explain the assault.
Ankara responded with fury, recalling its ambassador from Tel Aviv and warning
the assault would have "irreparable consequences" to bilateral ties.
Police held back angry crowds shouting "Damn Israel" outside Israel's missions
to the country, as Turkey accused Israel of a "flagrant breach of international
law," and "disregard for human life and peaceful initiatives."
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc also said plans for three joint military
exercises with Israel had been scrapped.
Greece, which had dozens of nationals in the convoy, pulled out of joint
military exercises with Israel and cancelled a visit by its air force chief, as
an aid group claimed that commandos in helicopters had fired on a Greek vessel.
Israel said its troops were attacked after they stormed six ships loaded with
thousands of tonnes of aid and with hundreds of activists aboard, and that both
sides used live fire.
Muslim leaders united in condemning what Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas
called a "massacre" and Arab League chief Amr Mussa said was a "crime."
The Islamist movement Hamas which rules Gaza urged world Muslims to "rise up" in
protest, as Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denounced the raid as "inhuman
Zionist regime action."Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri called for an
emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which his country currently
chairs.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani "strongly condemned" the attack on
a "peaceful flotilla," as politicians, lawmakers and journalists staged a
peaceful protest in Islamabad against Israel.Egypt condemned the "acts of
killing" by Israel forces while Kuwait's parliament speaker said the storming of
the flotilla, which was carrying 16 Kuwaitis including an MP, was a "heinous
Israeli crime."And Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, said
"there was no basis" for Israel's assault.
In Europe, condemnation was equally swift.
The European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton demanded Israel mount
a "full inquiry," as member states ordered an emergency meeting of their
ambassadors to the EU.
Spain -- the current European Union president -- France, Sweden, Norway,
Denmark, Austria and Greece summoned Israel's respective ambassadors, with
Madrid slamming the operation as "unacceptable".
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy accused Israel of a "disproportionate use of
force."
Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he was "deeply concerned"
about the deaths, while Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini "deplored" the
loss of civilian life.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague similarly deplored the loss of life,
saying Israel must "act with restraint" -- but also said London had warned of
the risks of attempting to access Gaza in defiance of the blockade. Thousands of
Palestinian refugees and activists demonstrated across Lebanon to denounce the
raid, some chanting slogans like "Give us weapons, give us weapons and send us
on to Gaza."
Maen Bashur, a Lebanese coordinator for the mission, said activists considered
those seized on board the ship as "war prisoners".
A Cyprus MEP Kyriacos Triantafyllides, who was involved with the mission, said
activists had "expected a strong reaction from Israel."
"But nobody believed it would come to this point, where they would face
something akin to an invading army," he said.
New Opinion: Reconnecting with reality
May 31, 2010 /Now Lebanon
Body text: Last week, the London Times reported that Hezbollah had been
transferring weapons from secret arms depots in Syria to the party’s bases in
Lebanon. It was the latest installment in a story that has been running since
April and which has highlighted not only the heightened tension in an
already-bristling region, but the voracity with which Hezbollah has rearmed
after its 2006 war with Israel and the apparent inability of the Lebanese state
to curb the party’s appetite for confrontation and conflict.
The ongoing story, along with NOW Lebanon’s constant editorials arguing that
Hezbollah’s non-state activities are not only criminal but that they will
ultimately visit death and destruction upon the nation, have created an ongoing
cyber polemic. The debate is occurring among those who oppose Hezbollah’s
activities because they lie outside the state and yet have consequences that
will involve the state up its national hilt, and those who, for political, moral
or religious reasons, believe in the party’s right to keep Lebanon teetering on
the edge of an apocalyptic cauldron.
“It doesn’t matter if the decision of war was taken in the parliament building
or in Damascus or Tehran since the majority of the Lebanese citizens and the
majority of the parliament will back Hezbollah's militarism,” commented one NOW
Lebanon reader. Another declared “Those who support the resistance will die for
Sayyed Hassan. You will have to kill us all, before Hezbollah is gone.”
It is easy to lose touch in cyberspace, to get enmeshed in political and
sectarian one-upmanship and forget of the dangerous reality of the times in
which we live.
Hezbollah’s self-proclaimed Divine Victory of 2006 has a lot to answer for. It
was a cynical PR stunt that gave many Lebanese still reeling from the speed and
ferocity of the month-long conflict something to cling to. It justified the
slaughter and made us forget just how lucky we were to emerge from that conflict
as relatively unscathed as we did. Of course those who lost their homes and
loved ones did not consider themselves lucky. For them the harsh and terrible
realities of the conflict will stay with them forever. In moments of honest
reflection it is unlikely that they believe the price they paid was either
divine or victorious.
Scanning the comments by those NOW Lebanon readers who endorse Hezbollah’s right
to arm and wage war (one advocated that the party have the right to a nuclear
program, the fear is that political debate has left many people detached from
reality. Reconnecting with reality means recognizing that the next conflict that
everyone is so certain will happen will be a final, dreadful showdown, the
parameters of which will be expanded to include the whole nation.
The Israelis have said on many occasions that they will hold the Lebanese
government responsible for the activities of Hezbollah. This message was
conveyed once again on Saturday when it was reported in An-Nahar that Israeli
Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon warned that Lebanese Prime Minister Saad
Hariri and his government, which includes Hezbollah, “will pay a heavy price in
any war between Israel and Lebanon.”
Those who had a “quiet” war in 2006 and who cheered Hezbollah from the safety of
the ideological sidelines might be in for a rude awakening.
Hariri,
Assad Condemn 'Israeli Crime,' Urge International Action
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian President Bashar Assad condemned
on Monday the deadly Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
"Syria and Lebanon condemn the Israeli crime committed by Israel at dawn against
unarmed civilians," Hariri and Assad said in a joint statement.
They also urged the Arab League and the U.N. to take steps to put an end to the
crimes.
"The Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese Republic strongly condemn the heinous
crime committed by Israel this morning through the brutal attack on unarmed
civilians on board of the freedom flotilla carrying relief supplies and
humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Both
sides called on the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the
Security Council and the international community to act immediately and take
practical steps to put an end to Israel's crimes and its flagrant violations of
the basic humanitarian norms and international laws, which are threatening to
plunge the Middle East into a war whose impact will not be restricted on the
countries of the region," said the statement.
The statement added: "President Assad and Prime Minister Hariri paid tribute to
all those who were on board the freedom flotilla, and the parties who sent this
flotilla for the relief of the people of Gaza, expressing their heartfelt
condolences to the families of martyrs who fell as a result of the Israeli
brutal aggression, and wished for a quick recovery to the injured. They also
paid tribute to the Turkish government and the brotherly people of Turkey for
their noble position in supporting the Palestinian people against the aggression
and siege."
Hariri's visit to Damascus was his second to the Syrian capital in 10 days.
Syria's state-run news agency, SANA, said the two leaders discussed "developing
bilateral ties and the high-level of coordination between the two countries."
Assad stressed to Hariri that Damascus stood by Lebanon against continuous
Israeli threats, it said.
The Lebanese premier and the Syrian president also discussed about the results
of Hariri's talks with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington and his meeting
with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York last week. Pan-Arab
daily al-Hayat reported that Hariri kept contacts with Assad since their last
meeting in Damascus, saying the premier held a telephone conversation with the
Syrian leader upon his return to Beirut from his U.S. visit. The newspaper said
that Hariri's trip to Damascus comes as part of an Arab tour that would include
Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. It also quoted Damascus visitors as saying that
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem asked his Lebanese counterpart Ali al-Shami
to postpone his trip that was scheduled for Monday because he would have a busy
schedule with Hariri. Beirut, 31 May 10, 08:02
Lebanon Demands Emergency U.N. Meeting over Israeli Raid on Gaza Aid Boats
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Monday called for an emergency meeting of
the U.N. Security Council, currently chaired by Lebanon, to discuss the deadly
Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, a government official said. "Prime
Minister Hariri has asked the Lebanese delegation at the UN to call for an
emergency meeting over what happened today," the official, who spoke on
condition of anonymity, told AFP. Lebanon chairs the U.N. Security Council until
0400 GMT Tuesday, or midnight in New York. Israeli naval forces stormed the aid
flotilla in international waters early Monday, killing up to 19 pro-Palestinian
activists, most of them reportedly Turkish nationals. Hariri earlier denounced
the Israeli raid as "a dangerous and crazy step that will exacerbate tensions in
the region." "Lebanon firmly denounces this attack and calls on the
international community, notably major powers... to take action in order to end
this continued violation of human rights and threat to international peace," he
said in a statement.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 31 May 10, 14:30
Coptic Church Protests Egyptian Court Ruling on
Marriage License
GMT 5-30-2010 21:8:17/Naharnet
Assyrian International News Agency
(AINA) -- An Egyptian court issued a controversial ruling on Saturday, May 29,
which deprived the head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church of the control
over matters of divorce and marriage, giving the civil courts the authority to
oversee affairs which the Church considers are in its core religious
competencies.
The Supreme Administrative Court's ruling compels HH Pope Shenouda III, Pope of
the Coptic Orthodox Church, to give a license for marriage for the second time
to a divorced Coptic man, rejecting Pope Shenouda's appeal and upholding the
ruling by a lower court.
The Supreme Administrative Court, headed by Justice Mohammed Husseini, based its
ruling on the "right to family formation is a constitutional right, which is
above all other considerations." It went on to say that although the court
respects religious feelings, it has to govern in accordance with the law. The
provision of the Supreme Administrative Court is final and no further appeals
are possible.
The verdict comes on the heels a lawsuit filed by Hani Wasfi Naguib against
Coptic Pope Shenouda, challenging the grounds on which the Church refused to
grant him a license to marry again after his divorce from his first wife.
An Administrative Court (first instance) had previously issued in 2009 a ruling
in favor of the plaintiff Naguib, ruling that he was entitled to receive the
Church's license, but the Pope lodged an appeal against it before the Supreme
Administrative Court. At that time, Pope Shenouda said that the ruling of the
administrative court to oblige the Egyptian church to issue a license for a
divorced man is non-binding. He added: "We are only bound by the teachings of
the Holy Bible. We cannot go against our conscience and comply with a court
ruling which is a civilian ruling and not ecclesiastical."
In response to today's ruling, Bishop Armiya, Secretary to Pope Shenouda, issued
a statement stressing the respect of the Coptic Orthodox Church for the Egyptian
judiciary and its rulings, but saying "there is no force on earth that can force
the Church to violate the teachings of the Bible and Church laws, based on "What
God has joined together let no man separate." He added that Islamic law allows
the Copts to resort to their own laws, and the state respects the freedom of
religion.
Bishop Armiya said that during the coming period the Church plans to take legal
action to revoke the ruling, at the same time it will not allow a second
marriage for anyone, whoever he may be.
The ruling of the Supreme Administrative has angered Copts and several senior
Coptic lawyers, who viewed the resolution as not serious and in violates the
Constitution. Article VI of the Act 462 of 1955 confirms that the judicial rules
in matters of personal status for non-Muslims has to be in accordance with their
law. Lawyers view this Court provision "as contrary to our Christian religion."
Attoney Nabil Gabriel believes that the Court must not interfere with the
privacy of the church and its religious rituals. "Can the Court oblige the Al-Azhar
Grand Imam to make prayers 6 times a day instead of 5? Why does the Court
intervene in religious rituals of the Copts which stem from the Bible." Gabriel
explained that the Pope cannot follow provisions of the judiciary that are not
consistent with Christian teachings. He anticipates that the provision will lead
to a crisis with the Copts and clashes with the Church.
He asked church officials to resort to the Constitutional Court to stop the
ruling and block its implementation, because it opens the door for people who
want to marry again, disregarding religious teachings.
Coptic lawyer and activist Mamdooh Ramzi said Pope Shenouda does not need to
comply with this ruling, as he is not a public servant. "Article 123 of the
Penal Code does not apply to Pope Shenouda III for failing to implement this
provision, because the text is clear: Each public employee who refrains from
enforcing a judicial ruling would be imprisoned."
Commenting on the ruling, Dr. Naguib Gobraeel, President of the Egyptian Union
of Human Rights and legal adviser to the Coptic Church, said "the ruling is
non-binding, because a license to marry lies within the core jurisdiction of the
religious authority based on the Bible. There is no control or supervision on
this purely religious aspect by any authority."
He went on to explain that a church marriage, which is one of the seven
Sacraments of the Church is not like a civil marriage, which can be dissolved by
any party if the second party breached his/her obligations."
Gobraeel also said that this ruling has erred in the application of the law, as
it is not permissible for the President of the Supreme Administrative Court,
Counselor Mohammad Husseini, to look into this case, as he had already ruled on
this case once before when he was head of the administrative court. Gobraeel
said he is going to appeal the ruling to the Board meeting of the Administrative
Tribunal.
"Church is for marriage and courts for divorce," says Coptic lawyer Mamdouh
Nakhla, who is also director of the Al-Kalema Center for human rights. He
commented that the ruling is not binding to the church, which has a special
marriage ritual which is different from other marriages and should be respected
by the judiciary. Nakhla is determined to fight this ruling and prevent its
implementation "because it is detrimental to our Christian faith and interferes
in its core principles."
By Mary Abdelmassih
Copyright (C) 2010, Assyrian International News Agency. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use.
The media-assisted psychological war between
Israel
Israel is very troubled by the increasingly close operational ties between Syria
and Hezbollah and by the flow of advanced weapons into Lebanon.
By Amos Harel
Haaretz/ 31 May/10
Israel is currently waging a war of nerves with the members of the radical axis
of the Middle East: Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. Against that backdrop,
reports have been stepping up of improved rocket-firing capability of the
members of that axis and the possibility of an Israeli response.
The danger that a regional war will break out shortly has decreased somewhat,
according to intelligence officials, but that also means the cold (er ) war is
being waged elsewhere.
There's an arms race and competition over operational plans, intelligence
gathering and deterrence - and of course, there's media-assisted psychological
warfare.
You've got to be naive to believe there's no connection between Friday's (London
) Times report about Hezbollah's secret arms depots in Syria and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's warning to European officials about the same exact topic
just a few days earlier.
Sunday's Haaretz report about satellite photographs of Syrian military
installations, which are available online via Google Earth, is also related.
Israel is very troubled by the increasingly close operational ties between Syria
and Hezbollah and by the flow of advanced weapons into Lebanon.
Since Syria continues to deny all accusations of involvement in the matter, one
way to prove it is to work through the media.
Invisible hands make sure to bring up-to-date satellite photos to reporters with
a reliable record in the West.
The officials take care of the follow-up - both Israelis, like Netanyahu last
week, and those from other countries.
Witness the worried statements about Hezbollah's arms made by senior American
officials and others over the past two months.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which has helped bring a quiet to Israel's
northern border since August 2006, failed miserably regarding anything connected
to the weapons being smuggled from Iran and Syria to Lebanon.
The factual discrepancies, conflicting reports and mutual threats are expected
to continue throughout the summer, even if no conflagration breaks out.
In the meantime, Syria and Hezbollah are benefiting from the shift in world
attention to issues like the aid flotilla to Gaza, even if they have no direct
link to it.
In addition, there has been a steady drip to the media of information concerning
Iran and the progress of its nuclear program.
In this case, the Western press has been functioning for years as a conduit to
put intelligence information in the hands of intelligence agencies in countries
fighting the prospect of a nuclear Iran.
On Sunday, Britain's Sunday Times reported that Israel would be deploying three
submarines equipped with nuclear capable cruise missiles in the Persian Gulf,
near the Iranian coastline. Over the past year, Israeli submarine movement has
been recorded in the Suez Canal, but from there to a permanent presence in the
Persian Gulf is a long way to go - and not just geographically speaking.
Nonetheless, if the combination of Israel, Iran and the nuclear bomb continues
to sell papers abroad, one can hope that it also helps a little bit when it
comes to Israel's deterrent capability.
Ten dead after Israel boards
Gaza-bound ships: military
By Jeffrey Heller and Alastair Macdonald
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli commandos stormed Gaza-bound aid ships on Monday
and at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists on board were killed, unleashing a
diplomatic crisis and charges of a "massacre" from the Palestinian president.
The violent end to a Turkish-backed attempt to break Israel's blockade of the
Gaza Strip by six ships carrying some 600 people and relief supplies raised a
storm of protest across the Middle East and far beyond.
As the navy escorted the ships toward the Israeli port of Ashdod, accounts
remained sketchy of the pre-dawn interception out in the Mediterranean.
But the use of lethal force angered Israel's long-time Muslim ally Turkey, which
had supported the convoy. The United Nations condemned the violence and demanded
an explanation from Israel, European Union demanded an inquiry and France said
it was "profoundly shocked."
Israeli officials said the marines were met with knives and staves when they
boarded the ships, which included a large ferry flying the Turkish flag. In at
least one incident, an activist seized a gun from the boarding party, they said.
A military spokesman said two pistols were found on the captured vessels.
Independent accounts of the clash were not available since the navy cut
ship-to-shore communications and Israel imposed military censorship on reports
of the operation.
Israel's attempts to maintain its three-year-old blockade on the Hamas
Islamist-ruled enclave while avoiding bloodshed that would spark an
international outcry collapsed in spectacular fashion. "It's going to be a big
scandal, no doubt about it," Israel's Trade Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told
Reuters.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: "What Israel has committed on board
the Freedom Flotilla was a massacre." He declared three days of official
mourning for the dead.
Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, blamed the activists for the
violence and branded them allies of Israel's Islamist enemies in Hamas and al
Qaeda. Had they got through, he said, they would have opened an arms smuggling
route to Gaza.
There was no question of easing the blockade, he said.
In a statement, the Israeli military said there "over 10 deaths among the
demonstrators and numerous injured." It said at least five soldiers were hurt.
HIGH ALERT, PEACE TALKS DOUBT
Israeli forces were on high alert on the Gaza, Syrian and Lebanese borders as
well as around Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and areas of northern Israel
where much of the country's Arab population lives. Israeli officials denied
reports that a leading Israeli Arab Islamist had been killed on the convoy.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Ottawa and officials said he was
considering whether to cancel a White House meeting on Tuesday with U.S.
President Barack Obama and fly home early.
Those talks had been expected to focus on U.S. efforts to advance tentative
negotiations with Abbas. But peace talks, mediated by Obama's envoy, seem
unlikely to continue for now.
Israel's Arab enemy Syria, which hosts the exile leadership of Gaza's ruling
Hamas movement, called for an emergency Arab League meeting to discuss the
incident.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel's interception of the ships
was "inhuman."
The United Nations' coordinator for Middle East peace, Robert Serry, and the
head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, Filippo Grandi, expressed
shock at the killings aboard boats carrying humanitarian supplies in
international waters.
"Such tragedies are entirely avoidable if Israel heeds the repeated calls of the
international community to end its counterproductive and unacceptable blockade
of Gaza," they said in a joint statement.
More worryingly for Israel, its allies were unlikely to show much sympathy. The
Turkish government, long Israel's lone friend in the Muslim Middle East,
"strongly protested." It marked a new low in an already crumbling Israeli
relationship with Ankara.
"Israel will have to suffer the consequences of this behavior," a Turkish
Foreign Ministry statement said.
Greece, some of whose citizens were on the convoy, halted a joint naval exercise
with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador in Athens. Ireland, another
country whose citizens were aboard, said it was "gravely concerned."
DEFIANCE, AID REQUESTS
The convoy, carrying 10,000 tones of supplies, set off from international waters
near Cyprus on Sunday in defiance of warnings that it would be intercepted.
Israel had hoped to end the operation without bloodshed and had prepared
air-conditioned tents at Ashdod for detainees.
Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said: "We made repeated offers that they should
bring the boats to the port of Ashdod and from there we guaranteed that all
humanitarian cargo would be transferred to the people of Gaza."Greta Berlin, a spokeswoman for the Free Gaza Movement that organized the
convoy, said: "How could the Israeli military attack civilians like this? Do
they think that because they can attack Palestinians indiscriminately they can
attack anyone?"
Israel's Western allies have been critical of the embargo on the 1.5 million
people of Gaza, which the Jewish state says is aimed at preventing arms supplies
from reaching Hamas.
In the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh described the Israeli action as
piracy and praised the activists as heroes.
Turkey and Arab states were highly critical of Israel's attack on Gaza 18 months
ago, in which 1,400 Palestinians died.
The United Nations and Western powers have urged Israel to ease its restrictions
to prevent a humanitarian crisis and allow for postwar reconstruction. Israel
says food, medicine and medical equipment are allowed in regularly.
Television channels aired video of a woman in a Muslim headress holding a
stretcher with a large bloodstain on it. Below her lay a man, apparently
injured, in a blanket.
Others showed pictures of a commando apparently rappelling down a rope and
clashing with a man wielding a stick.
(Writing by Alastair Macdonald, Additional reporting by Michele Kambas in
Nicosia and Tulay Karadeniz in Ankara bureau
IDF Soldier Shot, Critically
Wounded on Flotilla Boat
by Rachel Sylvetsky and Eli Stutz
The IDF reports that the passengers on the Gaza-bound flotilla lay in wait for
the IDF to board their vessel and then attacked IDF soldiers, opening fire on
them. One IDF soldier was critically wounded. A crew member reportedly snatched
a gun from an IDF soldier and then opened fire on the troops. Another soldier
was stabbed in the stomach with a sharp object. The soldier is in moderate
condition and was transferred for medical treatment by helicopter to Rambam
Hospital in Haifa. Doctors there determined he would require surgery. At least
fourteen soldiers were wounded and were transferred to hospitals. Raad Salah,
anti-Semitic head of northern branch of Israeli Islamic Movement, is reported to
be severely injured.
The IDF spokesperson said that the crew of the flotilla were not peaceful
humanitarians, but rather militants who were preparing for provocation and
violence, and were planning to stage a "lynch" of the Israeli soldiers.
Other people wounded in the operation were transferred to various hospitals in
Israel via helicopter. Foreign news agencies including Turkey's news agency are
claiming that Israeli forces wounded dozens of the crew and that several were
killed. Footage from the operation has already reached some news sites. In the
footage, Israeli soldiers wearing gas masks can be seen. In one video, an IDF
doctor can be seen treating one of the wounded.
Soldiers are still checking the boats for explosives and hiding militants.
More On This Story:
Late Sunday night, the Israeli Navy surprised the six-boat flotilla bound for
Hamas-controlled Gaza in international waters and hundreds of IDF soldiers who
came by air and sea boarded the ships and announced to all passengers that they
are under arrest.
One of the crew said that one “Navy warship” had contacted the six boats in the
flotilla and asked them to identify themselves. They were told the Navy would
board the boats if the ships's crew and passengers do not agree to head for the
Ashdod port instead of the Gaza Coast, where Israel maintains sovereignty under
the Oslo Accords and does not allow ships to approach without searching them for
arms.
International law allows for countries to ask suspicious boats to identify
themselves. The vessels' passengers did not cooperate and called the move "scare
tactics" on their streamed broadcasts.
The IDF searched the boats for arms immediately after the takeover. The soldiers
were forced to use tear gas after they were attacked with knives, daggers and
cudgels, putting their lives in danger. Unofficial reports that ten persons have
been killed and another ten wounded were admitted to Rambam Hospital in Haifa
were changed by the Arab television station Al Jazeera, to two killed and four
wounded. An Al Jazeera reporter on one of the boats reported hearing gunshots.
The IDF has not issued a complete report on casualties or wounded in the
operation. However, hospitals were put on alert to accept possible wounded.
The IDF released a terse statement shortly after midnight Sunday, stating,
"Israeli Navy soldiers left this evening in order to stop the flotilla's
provocative trip to Gaza. During the last few days, the soldiers have been
conducting drills to ensure the mission's success."
Turkey's government called an emergency meeting to discuss the IDF action.
Defense Minister Barak is holding ongoing meetings with his advisors.
The flotilla activists, some of whom are identified with terrorist Muslim
groups, did not expect a confrontation with the Navy until Monday morning, when
the flotilla expected to near the Gaza coast.
The flotilla sailed on Sunday, more than two days later than planned and without
two of the ships that did not join because of malfunctions but which were
expected to set sail after repairs.
“We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation of threats of
violence against us,” said activist Huwaida Araf from the ships. “They are going
to have to forcefully stop us.”
Israel was determined not to allow the boats to reach Gaza and set a precedent
that would break Israeli sovereignty over the waters in order to prevent
terrorists and arms from being smuggled from the Mediterranean Sea as they are
from Egypt.
The flotilla included three ships of passengers and three cargo ships with aid.
The Israeli military and Foreign Ministry accused the activists of being more
interested in trying to stage an anti-Israel stunt and strengthen Hamas rather
than trying to help Gaza Arabs. Government spokesmen pointed out repeatedly that
aid always can be shipped to Gaza through the Ashdod port, and that the alleged
“humanitarian crisis” is a ruse because Israel oversees daily shipments of
hundreds of tons of food, merchandise and supplies.
International Response to Gaza Boats Clash
by Maayana Miskin /Arutz Sheva
Greece, Turkey and Spain, all of which had citizens on the Gaza-bound flotilla
that clashed with the IDF Monday morning, have summoned Israel's ambassadors in
their countries for explanations of the incident. Turkey even announced that it
was recalling its own ambassador from Israel, the second time in a year it has
taken this move. Greek officials demanded immediate information regarding the
health of Greek citizens aboard the boats. Greece has also canceled an air force
drill that was to be conducted alongside the Israel Air Force.
IDF sources say at least 10 activists were killed in the clashes, which began
when passengers on the flotilla attacked soldiers with knives, clubs and guns as
they attempted to board. Dozens of passengers were wounded, as were several
soldiers. One soldier is in critical condition with gunshot wounds. Defense
Minister Ehud Barak spoke to Turkey's Defense Minister and to the Turkish
ambassador to Israel. The flotilla was organized by a Turkish group, and many of
those aboard were Turkish citizens.The European Union has called for an inquiry
into the incident. Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative for foreign
policy, “expresses her deep regret at the news of loss of life and violence and
extends her sympathies to families of the dead and wounded," EU diplomats
said.Ashton also demanded the immediate opening of Gaza crossings following the
event.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon faced reporters Monday and defended the
closure on Gaza. The closure was, and remains, a response to Hamas attacks, and
a vital component in Israel's self defense against terrorism, he said.Ayalon
called on all countries which had citizens aboard the Gaza flotilla to do their
best to maintain calm despite the violent clash.
Israel may face angry responses from within as well. The IDF and police geared
up for the possibility of violent riots as reports circulated that Islamic
Movement head Sheikh Raed Salah had been wounded, reports that the IDF denied.
However, police feared Israel could face Arab riots even if Salah is healthy.
Aftershocks and Repercussions of Flotilla Operation
by Eli Stutz /Arutz Sheva
The aftershocks of the Israeli boarding of the Gaza-bound flotilla are being
felt in Israel and abroad:
In Canada, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who there for a state visit, is
receiving updates on the incident despite the fact that it is late night time
there. He is in consultation with the heads of Israel's security establishment
and is expected to deliver a response to the situation in the coming hours. He
spoke with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who held an emergency meeting with IDF
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi. Barak also spoke with the head of the
Shin Bet, Yuval Diskin, and the Turkish Secretary of Defense, Foreign Minister,
and Ambassador in Israel. In Istanbul, Turkey, hundreds of people are protesting
Israel's Gaza flotilla operation outside Israel's consulate. Israel's ambassador
to Turkey has been summoned for a rebuke by Turkey's foreign ministry, which
blames Israel for the incident, calling it, "an unprecedented criminal act which
has sent Israel-Turkey relations into a tailspin." Turkey has also called off
three scheduled upcoming joint military exercises with Israel.
In Israel, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon will hold a press conference at
10:30 AM in Jerusalem on the flotilla operation. Opposition leader Tzippi Livni
has offered to assist the government in its PR efforts. Security forces and
Magen David Adom, on highest alert, are preparing for possible violence across
Israel due to the IDF flotilla operation. In Gaza, Hamas terrorists are calling
on Arabs to take to the streets and "take revenge on Israel." Arab MK Taleb A-Sanaa
issued a press release in which he called IDF soldiers “Nazis” for stopping the
pro-Gaza flotilla. PA Chairman Machmoud Abbas announced three days of mourning
for the flotilla "victims".Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is convening an
emergency meeting in Jerusalem on the flotilla operation. The Foreign Ministry
may call for Israelis in Turkey to leave the country, and for other Israelis to
cancel their travel plans to Turkey, due to the risk of violence. Deputy Foreign
Minister Yossi Gal will hold a briefing for Israel's foreign ambassadors at noon
today. Israel plans to demand that Turkey take responsibility for its citizens
in Israeli territory.
Netanyahu in Canada, 'Thank You for Standing Up for Truth'
by Maayana Miskin/Arutz Sheva
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed a pro-Israel crowd Sunday at the
United Jewish Appeal's annual Walk for Israel in Toronto. “Thank you for
standing up for truth... Thank you for standing up for Israel,” he told his
audience. Netanyahu noted that 32 years had passed since an Israeli prime
minister visited Toronto. “Now everyone knows what they've been missing,” he
joked."The ties between Israel and Canada have never been stronger,” he
continued. “I want to take this opportunity to thank Prime Minister Harper.
Prime Minister Harper has been an unwavering friend of Israel.” Harper has stood
up to efforts to delegitimize the Jewish state, he added. Netanyahu then praised
the crowd of several thousand. “Year after year, you show us that we are not
alone. Even though we are thousands of miles away, we know that you stand by our
side” he said. The prime minister mentioned Israel's negotiations with the
Palestinian Authority. “Israel must ensure that peace is anchored in security.
We must not repeat the mistakes of the past,” he said. "When Israel left
Lebanon, Iran moved in. When Israel left Gaza, Iran moved in again... We cannot
afford a third Iranian presence in the hills overlooking Tel Aviv,” he
explained. A PA state would need to be demilitarized, and to recognize Israel as
the Jewish state, he added. He also spoke of the importance of maintaining
Israel's right to self-defense, and of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear
weapons.
Following the speech Netanyahu and his family proceeded to Ottawa, where he will
meet Monday with Harper.
One Small Step for Toronto, One Big Step for Israel
by Eli Stutz/Arutz Sheva
It was a hot Sunday in downtown Toronto, as more than seven thousand Jews and
supporters of Israel patiently waited to pass extensive airport-level security
checks yesterday at RICOH Coliseum. They arrived to greet Israeli Prime Minister
Binyamin Netanyahu and to walk the streets of Toronto. The occasion: the annual
UJA Walk for Israel. Every the year, the walk is a special event, in which Jews
of all ages take part, raising funds for Israel. This year, though, was even
more remarkable, with the walk being kicked off by the Israeli Prime Minister.
"When I arrived, the kids around me were raring to go. But Netanyahu's speech
was delayed by an hour and a half, and families with small kids and strollers
were getting somewhat impatient," said one attendee. "But in the end, his speech
was wonderful."
Netanyahu said that Torontonians are “surprisingly warm people,” as he described
a walk that he took the day before in the city. He was given Toronto Maple Leaf
hockey team sweatshirts for himself and his wife and children. “If you get me
tickets to a hockey game, then I’ll definitely come back,” he quipped.
Several high-ranking Canadian officials also spoke. Noteworthy among them was
Peter Kent, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Americas in the
Canadian Cabinet, who impressed the crowd with his statements of support for
Israel. “The Economist reported that Canada’s strong ties with Israel are
unusual,” said Kent. “But there is nothing unusual about it. We have so many
shared values of human rights.” Kent also spoke out against the world media who
are biased against Israel. “Everyone attacks Israel, but where is the moral
outrage on the other side? Palestinian squares are being named after terrorists.
Where is the moral outrage of the media?”
Finally, two hours late, the walk got off to a start. Most of the walkers were
families with young children and teenagers, many of whom were part of youth
groups who walked in matching colors. One group sported T-shirts which read,
“Offspring of Israelis in Canada.”
Kortney Shapiro, a twenty-something student of McGill University completed the
whole route (she is pictured below, standing with Peter Kent). “There were so
many volunteers at stations along with way. It was very heartwarming to see. To
have Bibi here was really wonderful,” she said. When asked why she was walking,
Shapiro replied, “If not now, when? If I don’t walk, then who will walk? We walk
because we care about Israel. If we don’t support Israel, it may be gone
tomorrow. We walk because we care. It’s who we are. Israel is my homeland.”
The walk itself spanned the Toronto lakefront, and then doubled back through the
city streets toward the RICOH Coliseum, its last stop. Each station along the
way was named for a different Israeli city: Eilat, Sederot, Bat Yam, Akko and
Haztor Haglillit, Metulah, and finally Jerusalem.” The walkers were pleased to
walk along the shore of Lake Ontario. “The route was very beautiful,” said one
walker.
The Jewish Defense League (JDL) also attended the walk, but much earlier, and
for a somewhat different purpose. Israel National News spoke with Eta and Julius
Surasky, two JDL activists, who stood with approximately 100 JDL activists
outside the RICHO Coliseum early that morning, across the street from a similar
number of anti-Israel protesters.
The Surasky’s reported that the protest and anti-protest did not come to blows,
with the Canadian police successfully keeping the protesters in check.
“We try to show up at any event where Israel’s reputation is besmirched, “ said
Eta. “All of these anti Israel protests are organized by “Palestine House” a
Toronto-based organization who operates under the guise of being an immigration
organization, but whose real purpose is to demonize Israel. It’s a hotbed of
anti-Israel activity, but it’s already under investigation by the Canadian
government for receiving three million Federal tax dollars.”
“Jewish people really appreciate our efforts,” said Julius, “they honked as they
passed by us this morning. We’re here in order to stand in the face of those who
hate Israel, and to be a physical presence to confront them. That sends a
message that we will not be victimized. When people hear Palestine House
activists calling Netanyahu a war criminal and ridiculing our Prime Minister
Stephen Harper, they understand them for what they really are. We are going to
stand up and defend our rights for Israel
Obama's Approval Drops, Despite Gestures to Arab World
by Maayana Miskin/Arutz Sheva
United States President Barack Obama enjoys lower approval ratings in Arab
countries in 2010 than he did in 2009, despite overtures to the Arab world. A
Gallup poll showed approval of Obama's performance dropping in Egypt, Algeria,
Mauritania and Lebanon.
Approval was lowest in the Palestinian Authority at just 16%, but was not
significantly lower than in 2009. The highest rate of approval by far was in
Mauritania, where Obama had 69% support; next in line was Algeria with just 30%
approval.
Polls were conducted in February and April of 2010, in advance of the one-year
anniversary of Obama's Cairo address, in which he expressed the desire to
rebuild America's ties with the Muslim world. Obama's approval rose
significantly in several Arab League nations following the address.
Gallup researchers noted that the largest swing in public opinion was in Egypt,
where Obama enjoyed 37% approval in 2009, compared to only 6% approval for his
predecessor, George Bush. However, Egyptian approval dropped sharply in early
2010, and was down to 19% by April.
This, despite Obama's efforts to continue reaching out to the Muslim world.
Since his Cairo address, the U.S. president has moved to shut down the American
detainment facility for terrorism suspects in Guantanamo Bay, to support
entrepreneurs in the Muslim world, and to withdraw troops from Iraq.
He has also supported the Arab world in many of its demands regarding Israel.
For example, he had condemned Israel for building in northern Jerusalem, which
the Arab League has claimed as Arab land, and more recently signed a Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty call that singles Israel out for criticism.
Lebanon: Who is Telling the Truth?
31/05/2010
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid
Asharq Al- Awsat
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=2&id=21139
The only individual who risked his neck to publicly and explicitly announce his
rejection of Hezbollah arming itself was the leader of the Lebanese Forces,
Samir Geagea. As for the rest of the Sunni, Shiite, and Christian leaders,
whether they are politicians or government officials, they all expressed their
support in one way or another to the issue of Hezbollah arming itself.
Given the present circumstances, their support of Hezbollah's weapons is
extremely dangerous. However regardless of this risk, they supported this
arming; either out of fear of hypocrisy, and even though these weapons are a
clear violation of the Taif Agreement and the principle of State sovereignty.
They supported this even though these weapons are the direct cause for all the
devastation wrought upon Lebanon by Israel, and despite the fact that this
arming is taking place in the name of the resistance, at a time when no Lebanese
territory is under Israeli occupation with the exception of the Shebaa Farms,
which is still subject to dispute between Lebanon and Syria. They are supporting
Hezbollah's arms even though everybody knows for sure that these are Iranian
weapons, and that the order to use them will come from Tehran.
What is new is that supporting Hezbollah's right to arm itself has far more
dangerous consequences today than the usual political prattle, for this gives
Israel the justification to intensify its military strikes tomorrow. Lebanese
politicians will also be unable to object to Hezbollah's right to undertake any
action that could bring war upon Lebanon, for they cannot give their blessings
to Hezbollah and legitimize its arms, and then protest its actions.
Lebanese state officials, the presidency, the government, and the politician,
are giving Israel the pretext that it needs to launch a possible offensive
against the Lebanese army which has crossed the Litani River, and taken up
positions opposite the Israelis. Israel has deliberately avoided attacking the
Lebanese army because Lebanon says it is not involved in the war [between
Hezbollah and Israel] and because Israel knows that the army does not support
Hezbollah. However today, thanks to the collective blessing given to Hezbollah's
arms, and due to the Lebanese army's presence on the frontline, around15,000
poorly equipped Lebanese soldiers are in danger. This is in comparison to the
Hezbollah militia which is far larger (around 40,000 fighters) and which possess
a communication network, and is heavily armed with a variety of missiles.
If the war was confined between Hezbollah and Israel, perhaps the consequences
risked by Lebanese politicians to their country, their cities, their villages,
and their citizens, would be less dangerous with regards to supporting
Hezbollah's right to bear arms. Their recent statements have given Hezbollah the
right to declare wars, and this is something that gives Israel the pretext to
destroy everything that is Lebanese!
The frightening thing is that there is that nobody amongst them, with the
exception of the Hezbollah leadership, truly and sincerely supports Hezbollah's
right to bear arms. Rather they are either afraid to say no to Hezbollah, or are
agreeing to this for political reasons. Hezbollah's arms are illegitimate, as
they are outside of the institution of the state, and Hezbollah's militia and
arms outmatches those of the State. Hezbollah's arms previously implicated
Lebanon in devastating external wars, and it also used these arms previously in
internal clashes within Lebanon as well. Hezbollah shelled the Sunni districts
of Beirut the day that it attacked western Beirut, and it also destroyed Druze
villages in the mountains.
Israel doesn't care who will pay the price in Lebanon so long as they cut
Hezbollah's military capabilities down to size, and this is something which is
based upon the principle of hitting Hezbollah's arsenal whenever this exceeds a
certain acceptable level. The Israelis believe that if Hezbollah is not
concerned about the consequences of arming itself with missiles and rockets,
then they similarly are unconcerned with who pay the price or this. In this
scenario, the most likely victim will be the Lebanese people and economy.
Hezbollah considers its arms and the right to bear arms a necessity for its
continued existence as an ideological party, a political project, and the price
for its special relationship with the Supreme Leader of Iran's regime,
especially since in Iran today there is growing opposition to the idea of
providing Hezbollah with arms. We understand Hezbollah's justification for
arming itself, however what are the justifications of the Lebanese politicians
who accept this?