LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِNovember 14/2010

Bible Of The Day
Learn What God Hates/Proberbs 6/16-19: "There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: 6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood; 6:18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, 6:19 a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers"

Hillary Clinton
Interview from Annahar daily with An US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton/13 November/10/Arabic/English

Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Hezbollah Propagandist Marc Sirois busts himself/By: John Hajjar/National Director, The World Council of The Cedars Revolution/12 November/10
Hezbollah and its sacred challenge/By: Hanin Ghaddar/November 13/10

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November 13/10
U.N. Stresses that STL Contributes to Stability: We Call on All Sides to Cooperate with it/Naharnet
Abul Gheit: International Community is Confronting those Using STL to Destabilize Lebanon/Naharnet
There is an absurd war against Lebanon, President Gemayel says/Now Lebanon
Minister of Social Affairs Selim Sayegh: There is mismanagement by Hezbollah/Now Lebanon
Lebanon First bloc MP Khaled Daher : Power is the only concern of some/Now Lebanon
Lebanon First bloc MP Khaled Daher : Power is the only concern of some
Lebanon Sentences 24, Including Syrian Militant, to Life in Prison/New York Times
March 14 officials rap Nasrallah's claims/Daily Star
Clinton rules out bargaining over Lebanon, Tribunal/Daily Star
Authorities free Ogero employee suspected of spying for Israel/Daily Star
Commander of UN task force says situation with southerners calm/AFP
Holidays buy time for Syria-Saudi efforts/Daily Star
STL indictment to be based on testimony by an Iranian, report/Ya Libnan
Jumblat Visit to Tehran Possible at the Right Time: Finding a Settlement in the Region is Almost Impossible/Naharnet
Nasrallah: Options are Open if Indictment Targeted Party Members/Naharnet
Erdogan in Beirut on November 25, to Meet Major Officials/Naharnet
U.S. Lawmaker Lifts Hold on Lebanon Military Aid/Naharnet
Valero Denies Kouchner Suggested Amending Taef Accord/Naharnet
Berri Stresses Implementation of Taif Accord: Lebanon Cannot Rise Without Elimination of Political Sectarianism/Naharnet
Hariri Telephones Qatari Counterpart To Visit Russia Monday, Saudi Arabia Tuesday, and Iran at End of November/Naharnet
Geagea: Chances of Strife Higher after Nasrallah's Speech, We Advise Him Not to Pave Way for it/Naharnet
Shooting from Car with MP License Plate in Zouk Mosbeh/Naharnet
Saniora: Since Nasrallah has Documents then He Should Present Them to the Public/Naharnet
Hariri Reiterates to Williams Government's Commitment to 1701/Naharnet


U.N. Stresses that STL Contributes to Stability
We Call on All Sides to Cooperate with it
Naharnet/U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq called on Friday all forces in Lebanon to cooperate with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, urging them against interfering in its work. "The tribunal is helping instill stability in this country," he said during his daily press conference. "The U.N. Secretary General believes that the STL can perform honest and impartial work and he continues on encouraging all sides to cooperate with it," he continued. Addressing Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's call for people not to cooperate with the STL, Haq said: "Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was very clear in his statements a few weeks ago that it is fundamental that all sides cooperate with it." Beirut, 13 Nov 10, 11:53

There is an absurd war against Lebanon, Gemayel says
November 13, 2010 /Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel said Saturday that there is an absurd war against Lebanon which is obstructing its development, according to a statement issued by Gemayel’s press office. “This war [is] a battle on constitutional, security, judicial and political institutions… Today there is a battle on justice,” Gemayel said, asking “what the alternative for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will be when they pull down the Lebanese judiciary and prevent the judges from carrying out their work.”
Gemayel voiced hope that state institutions have been strengthened and that the Lebanese do not engage in internal struggles that have a negative impact on the country’s interests.
Tension is high in Lebanon amid unconfirmed reports that the STL will soon issue its indictment in its investigation of the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. There are fears that should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May Events – when gunmen led by the party took over half of Beirut.
-NOW Lebanon

Minister of Social Affairs Selim Sayegh: There is mismanagement by Hezbollah,
November 13, 2010
Minister of Social Affairs Selim Sayegh said Saturday that there has been mismanagement by Hezbollah.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) “should not have been discussed through the media but rather addressed secretly,” Sayegh said, adding that Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into a tunnel. “Either all of us get out of it, or it collapses on all of us.”Sayegh told New TV that the “false witnesses” issue would not be resolved in the cabinet but instead through political understanding, adding that the solution will be through Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Speaker Nabih Berri and President Michel Sleiman.Regarding his resignation from his post in the Kataeb Party, Sayegh said that those who hold a position of authority must dedicate their energy to it and free themselves from partisan responsibilities in order to carry out their ministerial work. Al-Markaziya news agency reported on Friday that Sayegh resigned from his post as the deputy leader of the Kataeb party.
March 8 politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the investigation of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination. However, March 14 figures have said that the regular judiciary should handle the matter.-NOW Lebanon

Lebanon First bloc MP Khaled Daher : Power is the only concern of some
November 13, 2010
Lebanon First bloc MP Khaled Daher told Future News television on Saturday that some think only of their power and arms and disregard the constitution and laws.
“[He] who will take us to the abyss will not frighten us because either both of us survive or both of us [fall into it]. So enough threats.”“We will not allow [anyone to offend former] Prime Minister Rafik Hariri any more,” Daher said, adding that the bloc will treat the March 8 coalition the same way in which it treats them. Verbally attacking former PM Fouad Siniora’s cabinet is slander that no one believes, the MP also said.“Their goal is clear. They want to [accuse] everyone who disagrees with them of treason.”During a speech on Thursday, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah accused Siniora’s cabinet of trying to prolong the 2006 July War. Tension is high in Lebanon amid unconfirmed reports that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will soon issue its indictment in its investigation of the 2005 assassination of Rafik Hariri. There are fears that should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May Events – when gunmen led by the party took over half of Beirut. The Hezbollah chief has repeatedly said that the UN-probe is an “Israeli project” that will indict members of his party.  -NOW Lebanon

Hezbollah and its sacred challenge
Hanin Ghaddar, Now Lebanon
November 13, 2010
A Lebanese woman carries a picture of her relative, a killed Hezbollah fighter, along with a poster of Nasrallah (AFP/Joseph Eid).
We’ve had it. No amount of wishful thinking can make us believe that Hezbollah might resort to dialogue or respect Lebanese institutions. It is over. The Saudi-Syrian deal, the Doha agreement and Hezbollah’s reassurances that it will not resort to street violence, are today all meaningless as far as the Party of God is concerned.
On Thursday, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah gave us one last chance to “save the country,” otherwise his party would "cut off the hand" of anyone who tries to arrest any of its members if they are indicted in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
"Whoever thinks the Resistance could possibly accept any accusation against any of its jihadists or leaders is mistaken – no matter the pressures and threats," Nasrallah said in a speech to mark his group's Martyrs’ Day.
Nasrallah did not specify “how” the party of God would cut off these hands. He just reminded us of previous instances, what Hezbollah wants us to understand as “lessons learnt”, such as the 2006 July war and the May 7, 2008 street violence.
The arrogance is breathtaking. It doesn’t matter to the leader of the Resistance that most Lebanese, including many Shia, are alarmed by his threats. It didn’t matter that those in the crowd cheering him are only a small percentage of the Shia community and do not in any way represent the wishes of the greater Lebanese population.
Such a level self-importance comes from power and ideology. The power of arms has allowed Hezbollah to form not only a state-within-a-state, but also a state that is more powerful than the Lebanese state itself. The ideology has turned all their deeds and beliefs into sacred entities that are above criticism.
Resistance is sacred. The arms of the resistance are sacred. The leaders behind the resistance are sacred. The media of the resistance is sacred. The people of the resistance are the most honorable. Ergo, there is no need for dialogue.
Today, Nasrallah is telling us that there is an international conspiracy against the sacred, in the shape of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). And since the Resistance, the sacred Resistance, is infallible, any indictment against any of its members is immoral and must be challenged.
The problem is that we have no choice in the matter. Because Hezbollah wants to challenge the international community, the Shia will be used as fuel, again, and the rest of the Lebanese will have to pay the price. The international community, as usual, will sit back and watch how things will unfold.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government gets weaker by the day. After the last Cabinet meeting, which ended in a postponement of the discussion on the issue of the false witnesses, it seems that paralysis will continue to afflict the government until further notice.
This will give Hezbollah the opportunity to challenge the indictment on political and economic levels, without having to resort to arms. More campaigns against state institutions and further stalemate of the country might become the trend from now on, leading to real decay in all sectors and communities.
A violent coup d’état could backfire on many levels. Israel could use it as an opportunity to intervene again, while Syria might also see a golden opportunity to reinforce its political influence or even get involved militarily. Maintaining a slow disintegration can keep the power of decision making in Hezbollah’s hands.
So how can we survive the sacred Resistance’s plan to paralyze the country?
Internally, the only solution is to resist; that is, refuse to give in to the threats. Maybe we can also see this as an opportunity to reassess our strategies and options. We can ask what went wrong and determine what March 14th’s long-term strategy is (if indeed we have one). We can ask if we all agree on one civil, secular and democratic state. Will urgent social concerns and human rights issue ever be considered as priorities? Did we really try to open up to the Shia community? Is it too late to do so?
These are some of the questions that need to be addressed sooner than later. There are so many Lebanese who used to support Hezbollah or Free Patriotic Leader MP Michel Aoun and are now disillusioned and trying to find an alternative. March 14 makes sense (indeed many of those disillusioned Hezbollah and FPM supporters took to the street on March 14, 2005) but somehow its leaders’ personalities or practices had driven them away.
On the international stage, the West, especially the US and France, have adopted a firmer stance towards Syria, which currently seems to be holding the key to Hezbollah’s behavior. This will also be reflected through the performance of Syria’s allies in Lebanon, and whether they will distance themselves from Hezbollah on certain critical issues.
Until these efforts mature, we will have to plan our daily lives according to what Nasrallah tells us. And each time he speaks, he will keep telling us that Hezbollah is in trouble and that we, the Lebanese, will have to find a way to get him out of it. Hanin Ghaddar is managing editor of NOW Lebanon

Hillary Clinton
November 12, 2010
An-Nahar newspaper’s interview with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton published on Friday:
Q: Recently, we have seen increased American focus on Lebanon, including your call to Prime Minister Hariri, additional funds for the STL, and stepped up criticism of Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. Is this driven mainly by the visit of Iranian President Ahmadinejad as some Lebanese are alleging, or caused by concern that Lebanon could unravel.
Thank you for the question. First, let me say that America’s support for a sovereign, independent, and stable Lebanon is rock solid and unwavering. We are committed to a strong partnership with Lebanon and to Lebanon’s future, and we stay in close contact with Lebanon’s leaders and consult with them regularly. That is also why the United States will continue to speak out against those who would undermine Lebanon’s stability and its sovereignty.
We will continue to encourage actors within Lebanon and across the region to act responsibly and in the best interests of the Lebanese people. When a party makes inflammatory statements or violates international norms, we feel it is important to say, publicly, what we believe to be true: responsible actors on the international stage should work to help resolve conflicts, not reignite them. They need to uphold their commitments and responsibilities, not seek to evade them. And responsible actors in Lebanon need to pursue their political agendas through peaceful means, not via intimidation or threats.
Of course, President [Barack Obama] and I also respect the leadership demonstrated by President Sleiman and Prime Minister Hariri, especially during this challenging period. And I have reaffirmed this recently in conversations I have had with both the president and the prime minister.
Q: What can the US do in practical terms to help the Lebanese government fend off the campaign waged by Hezbollah and Syria to undermine and discredit the STL as an Israeli-American plot, now that Hezbollah is using "the multitudes" against the STL's investigators as we have seen recently.
The recent assault on [Special] Tribunal [for Lebanon] investigators, which you alluded to, should be of grave concern to all Lebanon’s friends and supporters. Strong statements were made at the UN and elsewhere condemning any actions that attempt to frustrate or undermine the tribunal and its work. Intimidation and interference should not be tolerated.
The problem in Lebanon is not the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The problem is that some are threatening violence in order to try to stop justice. The Special Tribunal is an independent judicial entity, established in response to a terrible time in Lebanon’s history by an agreement between the Lebanese government and the United Nations, and brought into force by a UN Security Council resolution with wide international support. Its work is legitimate and necessary.
We should not lose sight of the fact that the tribunal symbolizes something larger than the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. It represents a chance for Lebanon to begin moving beyond its long history of political violence. Tragically, Lebanese of all communities and confessions have been plagued for years by violence and threats. And yet very few have ever been held accountable for their crimes. This history is a major source of instability and the tension that people in Lebanon feel today. They deserve a return to the rule of law and justice for all – these are crucial building blocks for stability and peace in Lebanon.
Q: There is concern in Lebanon and the region, that if the STL issued indictments against some Hezbollah operatives or leaders, that Hezbollah would resort to force as it did in 2008 to create new facts on the ground. What would the US do in this case?
First, it bears repeating that no one knows what the Special Tribunal is going to do, who it might indict, or when it might choose to move forward. This is an independent process. Hezbollah should know that resorting once again to violence in Lebanon runs completely counter to the interests of the Lebanese people, the interests of the region, and of the United States. They should also know that if the goal of violence is to stop the tribunal, it won’t work. And more importantly, there is simply no justification or excuse for more political violence. That is the position of the United States and it will not change.
Q: There is concern in Lebanon that the country could pay a steep price if it became an arena for renewed regional and international conflicts, and that the US may not appreciate fully the inherent danger in such a situation.
We know this is not the first time Lebanon has faced real challenges and rising tensions. The Lebanese people have shed too many tears and buried too many loved ones. They deserve lasting peace and an end to political violence once and for all. The United States is committed to that goal, and we will continue supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure they have the capacity to protect Lebanon’s security from threats both internal and external. We also work hard to avoid actions or statements that would raise temperatures higher or inflame tensions further.
Lebanon has many friends, in addition to the United States, who are strong supporters of its sovereignty and security. We are in frequent contact with our friends and allies about how we can work together to support the Lebanese people and their elected government.
President Sleiman, of course, came to power after the Doha Agreement of 2008, and as his election showed, he has widespread support in Lebanon. He is in a position to help unify Lebanon and maintain the country’s peace and stability.
Q: Where is the policy of engaging Syria heading? After almost 20 months, Syria's behavior and policies in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq have not been altered, and its alliance with Iran is as strong as ever. It seems that the Syrians believe that there are no disincentives or consequences for them to desist.
Syria’s behavior has not met our hopes and expectations over the past 20 months – and Syria’s actions have not met its international obligations. Syria can still choose another path and we hope that it does.
Let me be clear – we are not engaging for engagement’s sake. We are engaging to advance our interests and to find areas where cooperation can promote mutual interests. Our engagement with Syria will never come at Lebanon’s expense. Nor will it come at the expense of holding Syria accountable for its behavior.
We have had some useful conversations – for example, Special Envoy George Mitchell has engaged with Syria on the Middle East peace progress, and my Assistant Secretary Jeff Feltman has had good consultations with Syrian officials about Iraq. And our engagement has enabled us to present Syria’s leaders, and the Syrian people, with a more balanced and optimistic vision for the region’s future than the messages of war and destruction carried by Iran and Hezbollah.

But we have also had some very difficult discussions with Damascus about its actions in Lebanon and elsewhere. Syria lives with consequences of pursuing policies that are outside established international norms – which is largely why the region’s economic development of the past decade has left Syria behind. So again, as I said, the choice is up to Syria – and we hope that it chooses to embrace its responsibilities.
Q: What is the status of your contacts with Congress, regarding lifting the hold on supplying US weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces? Do you expect the Lame duck Congress will do that, and are you concerned that the Republican House will continue the hold?
It has been our longstanding policy to support the Lebanese Armed Forces. The LAF helps to ensure stability and protect the people of Lebanon. It is a truly national institution and a strong symbol of national unity, which includes members of all of Lebanon’s diverse faiths and communities. It is representative and accountable. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress to maintain this support, which we believe is in the best interests of the Lebanese people and contributes to stability in Lebanon and in the region.
Q: The US and Syria have been exchanging accusations of meddling in domestic Lebanese affairs, but Syria's friends in Lebanon always claim that the US talks the talk but it does not walk the walk, and that its allies in Lebanon cannot be sure it will not enter into bargains, including with Syria at their expense.
America’s support for a sovereign, independent Lebanon is a key element of our policy in the region. It is non-negotiable. It is not something we are prepared to bargain with or exchange. It is as simple as that. We have been clear about this commitment and transparent in our relations with the Lebanese government. That stands in stark contrast to others, including certain internal actors in Lebanon, whose actions are neither transparent nor accountable to the proper national authorities.
We will continue our policy of supporting the independence of the Lebanese state and strengthening Lebanese institutions, and we will raise our concerns about Syrian interference in Lebanon during our continuing discussions with Damascus.
Q: To what extent could Syria's behavior in Lebanon influence America's efforts to revive the Syrian-Israeli track? Can Syria expect to re-engage in peace negotiations without altering its posture vis-à-vis Iran, and or Hezbollah in Lebanon?
The Obama administration is deeply committed to achieving comprehensive regional peace in the Middle East, including peace between Israel and Syria and Israel and Lebanon and the full normalization of relations between Israel and its neighbors. That is also the vision of the Arab Peace Initiative, which was announced in Beirut. The United States firmly believes that the various tracks are mutually reinforcing. Syria itself has said that it wants to have its territorial expectations met through a peace deal with Israel. So we are going to keep working to get there.
More broadly, we welcome Lebanon and Syria having a positive, normal bilateral relationship. When Syria and Lebanon have had bad relations, there have been negative consequences not just for Lebanon but for the wider region. But a positive and constructive bilateral relationship is built on mutual interests and mutual respect, on international norms, and must be based on the idea you don't interfere in the sovereignty of the other country.
Q: What can you tell us about persistent media reports regarding continued Syrian provisions of missiles, including Scuds to Hezbollah, and joint training on these missiles in Syria.
Reports of the transfer of increasingly sophisticated weapons from Syria to Hezbollah is of serious concern to the United States and to the international community. It threatens regional security. It threatens Lebanon’s security. It destabilizes the region in a way that serves no one’s interests. Let’s not forget that Hezbollah, in 2008, did just what it swore it would never do: turn its weapons against the Lebanese people—the very people it swore to defend—and that’s something that should never be encouraged, enabled, or repeated.
We have been warning everyone, including Syria, about the dangers of miscalculation and the dangers associated with the transfer of sophisticated technologies and weaponry.

Abul Gheit: International Community is Confronting those Using STL to Destabilize Lebanon
Naharnet/Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit voiced his country's support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, noting that it has halted the assassinations in the country "because of the international community." He told the daily Al-Hayat on Saturday: "The international community will confront those seeking to use the STL in order to destabilize Lebanon." "No one can get rid of the tribunal and no camp can reject it because it was formed under Chapter seven of the U.N. Charter and the Security Council will not eliminate it," he continued. "Egypt does not aim to increase its interests in Lebanon, but we see it as an important country in the Middle East and our leaders have called for leaving it alone, this is still Egypt's motto and we are committed to it," Abul Gheit added. He denied that Egypt's interest in Lebanon stems from its dispute with Syria, saying that Syria has its own way of conducting itself and so does Egypt. Furthermore, the foreign minister revealed that this talks in the U.S. and France not only addressed Lebanon, but Iraq, Sudan, and other issues as well. Beirut, 13 Nov 10, 11:04

Jumblat Visit to Tehran Possible at the Right Time: Finding a Settlement in the Region is Almost Impossible
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed on Friday that the situation in Lebanon is "very critical", which requires all political forces to act vigilantly and "be aware of the size of the dangers facing Lebanon and the region."He told the Iran's IRNA: "There are political talks in regional capitals concerned with the situation in Lebanon, but that does not eliminate the Lebanese' responsibility in settling disputes and ongoing tensions."Addressing the regional scene, he said that despite U.S. President Barack Obama's positive intentions, the American administration is cornered by Zionist lobbies, "which makes finding a settlement in the region almost impossible."Asked about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the Druze leader said: "Justice and stability cannot be separated and we cannot address the tribunal without taking into consideration the various regional and international developments."
Assessing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad's recent visit to Lebanon, Jumblat said: "Iran has stood by Lebanon in the darkest times … and there is no doubt that economic cooperation can be bolstered between the two sides in several fields."Addressing his ties with Iran, he stated that he has restored his old relationship with it after a long period of separation, adding that his visit to Tehran will take place at the appropriate time. Beirut, 13 Nov 10, 14:37

BAINI: SENIORA SAVED HEZBOLLAH IN 2006 BY NOT GOING FOR CHAPTER 7
CR News 12th Nov 2010/Washington,
In an interview with Cedars Revolution News, to be released in the next few days, the President of the World Council for the Cedars Revolution (WCCR) Joe Baini said "it is true that the Seniora Government refused to call the UN Security Council to implement Chapter 7 of the Charter." We in the Diaspora, and our executive committee was urging the Seniora Government and the March 14 politicians to accept our initiative at the United Nations to implement Chapter 7 but they refused. March 14 and the Cabinet told us that Hezbollah has accepted the cease fire and was urging them not to call for Chapter 7. Seniora and his allies made a strategic mistake. They should have listened to us not to Hezbollah. I will reveal the information that we have soon and the Lebanese public will realize that indeed it was the Seniora Government that saved Hezbollah from the actions by the international community."

March 14 officials rap Nasrallah's claims
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff
Saturday, November 13, 2010
BEIRUT: March 14 officials described Friday Hizbullah’s accusations against the 2006 Cabinet of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as misleading attempts aimed at discrediting March 14 groups and pressuring them to relinquish support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).
Siniora denied Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s claims that his government demanded the prolongation of the July 2006 Israeli war against Lebanon to bring the resistance to its knees. The former premier said he initiated diplomatic efforts to halt the Israeli assault immediately after the war broke out, but was met by opposition from Israel and the United States.
The Cabinet’s opposition to early negotiations to cease hostilities came after the international community proposed draft resolutions in line with Israeli rather than Lebanese interests, Siniora said. “Since Sayyed Nasrallah has documents, tapes and minutes of government meetings that prove his claims, then it is his duty to release them to the public,” Siniora said in reference to Nasrallah’s accusations that the government asked for prolonging the war during a meeting with French officials.
Information Minister Tarek Mitri said the government opposed the French draft resolutions because they called on Israel “to halt aggressive acts” and thus indirectly allowed Israel to carry out operations “labeled as defensive.”
Mitri added that the proposal also failed to mention the need for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Lebanese territories and called for the deployment of peacekeeping forces under Chapter Seven of the United Nations charter, which Hizbullah rejected.
“The draft resolution was not in line with the interest of Lebanon, whose Cabinet insisted on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and clearly demanded the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territories, and the reinforcement of peacekeeping forces under Chapter Six,” Mitri said.
Under Chapter Six, the peacekeeping troops would lack authorization to use force.
Separately, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea advised Nasrallah to refrain from provocative discourse if he truly feared Israeli plans to fuel strife, rather than granting the Jewish state a pretext to promote schism among the Lebanese. “If Hizbullah is sure of its innocence, then why is it concerned?” Geagea asked.
In similar tone, Future Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat said Nasrallah’s unfounded accusations served Israeli interests. Fatfat added that no one had designs against the resistance if its weapons were aimed against Israel. However, the resistance should be the first to try any rogue operatives, Fatfat added in reference to Nasrallah’s warning that the party would “cut off the hands” of anyone who tries to arrest any of its members if indicted by the STL.
“If we support the resistance’s weapons when they are aimed against Israel and oppose them when aimed at internal targets, Nasrallah cannot protect individuals if indicted under the pretext of belonging to the resistance because this is against the logic of law and justice,” Fatfat said. “If Nasrallah proves that the STL is an Israeli and American instrument, we will oppose it, but so far the accusations remain claims, without any solid evidence that the court is biased,” Fatfat added.
Phalange Party official and Zahle MP Elie Marouni said Nasrallah’s accusations would fail to pressure the March 14 coalition and influence its positions.
Marouni added that March 14 parties had embraced southerners with open arms after they fled areas of conflict in south Lebanon during the July 2006 war. He noted that at the time, Nasrallah praised all Lebanese for their support of the resistance. During Nasrallah’s address on Thursday, the Hizbullah leader described what he called five different stages of targeting the resistance by outside powers, which had taken different forms since 2004. One of them involved “tempting” Hizbullah to obtain more political power in exchange for ending its military activity. Nasrallah said his party had rejected any deals with regard to handing over its weapons in exchange for a greater share of formal political power, as it entered the executive branch for the first time in 2005. Geagea took issue with the notion that France was behind the move, and said it was actually Hizbullah’s backers in Tehran who had floated the proposal. He said French officials conveyed to March 14 parties an Iranian suggestion to the French to consider granting Hizbullah a greater share of power in return for the party’s weapons.
In his address, Nasrallah said the French suggested amending the 1989 Taif Accord to turn parity between Christians and Muslims to a tripartite distribution of prerogatives among Shiites, Sunnis and Christians.

Clinton rules out bargaining over Lebanon, Tribunal
By The Daily Star
Saturday, November 13, 2010
BEIRUT: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quoted Friday as saying violence would not impede the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and added that the US would not bargain over its support for Lebanon. “Violence will not stop the work of the STL,” she said in an interview published by the daily An-Nahar. Clinton added that “no one knows when and who” the STL will charge. Hizbullah officials have said the indictment will target rogue members of the party, and have rejected the STL as Israeli-inspired. “Hizbullah should realize that resorting to violence is incompatible with the interests of the whole of Lebanon, the interests of the Lebanese people, the interests of the region and the interests of the United States,” Clinton said. Clinton voiced concern over the recent incident at a clinic in Beirut’s southern suburbs that pitted women supportive of Hizbullah against investigators from the STL prosecutor’s office, adding that threats of violence were the problem rather than the STL. Clinton reiterated that US support for a sovereign and independent Lebanon was set in stone, while criticizing Damascus for its dealings with its neighbor. “Syrian behavior has not lived up to the level of our hopes and our expectations during the past 20 months,” she said, warning Syria against miscalculating the repercussions of providing Hizbullah with advanced weapons. – The Daily Star

Authorities free Ogero employee suspected of spying for Israel
By The Daily Star /Friday, November 12, 2010
BEIRUT: A telecoms employee arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel was released Thursday, the state-run National News Agency reported. Milad Eid, who worked for the state’s fixed-line operator Ogero, was arrested in August on suspicion of collaborating with Israel. Lebanon has already charged two employees working for state-owned mobile telecoms firm Alfa with spying for Israel. In April 2009, Lebanon – which is technically in a state of war with Israel – launched a nationwide crackdown on Israeli spy cells, arresting nearly 100 people on suspicion of spying for Israel. A number of the suspects have admitted to their role in helping Israel identify targets inside Lebanon, mostly belonging to Hizbullah, which Tel Aviv bombed during its 2006 war against the country. If convicted, the spies will face life sentences with hard labor. If found guilty of contributing to the loss of Lebanese life, the agents will face the capital punishment. – The Daily Star

Commander of UN task force says situation with southerners calm
By Mohammed Zaatari and Agence France Presse (AFP)
Friday, November 12, 2010 /BINT JBEIL: Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said he was interested in learning about any contraventions by peacekeepers.
“UNIFIL peacekeepers hail from 32 countries and they work as members of one body for the purposes of one mission and they operate upon my orders and I’m interested in learning about any contraventions by peacekeepers,” Major General Alberto Cuevas Asarta told officials in the southern town of Bint Jbeil.
In July, southerners clashed with French peacekeepers operating as part of UNIFIL but since then the relationship between southerners and the UNIFIL force have returned to normal.
Asarta said United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, clearly defines the role of UNIFIL peacekeepers as that of monitoring the cessation of hostilities in south Lebanon. “We are not here to fight, we are here to establish peace and calm,” he said.
Asarta said the key to the success of the UNIFIL mission was the support of the Lebanese Army and southerners. “We have been closely cooperating with the Lebanese Army since September 2006 so that the army can take over the situation in south Lebanon at a later stage,” he said. After Lebanon’s summer 2006 war, the UN beefed up UNIFIL to monitor adherence to the terms of Resolution 1701, which brought about the ceasefire between Israel and Hizbullah.
Asarta told officials that the overall situation in south Lebanon was “good.” “This is thanks to our understanding and cooperation, because we consider you [residents] as being a pillar in the success of our mission.” He also hailed the southerners “who were able to rise again and reconstruct [their villages].”
Asarta did not touch upon the issue of Israel’s withdrawal from the northern part of the occupied village of Ghajar.
UNIFIL has been pressing Israel to withdraw from Ghajar in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The village lies on the border of Lebanon, Syria and the Golan Heights which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in 1981.
The northern part of the village is located in Lebanon and the rest lies in the Golan Heights, but Israel took over the Lebanese half during the 34-day war in 2006.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Monday of an Israeli plan to withdraw troops from the northern part of Ghajar and handover control to the UN task force. “The premier said he intends to convene the security cabinet upon his return to Israel in order to approve an arrangement regarding Ghajar, based among other things on Israel’s discussions with UNIFIL,” Netanyahu’s spokesman said after the meeting with Ban.
US sources told An-Nahar newspaper in comments published Thursday that the Israeli Cabinet was likely to task Israel’s hawkish Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to coordinate with the UNIFIL concerning the village of Ghajar. The sources said the UNIFIL commander and UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams have closely discussed the issue of Ghajar with Israeli officials. Most Ghajar residents are against re-partitioning the village, which would leave 1,700 people in the Lebanese part and 500 on the Israeli side. – Mohammed Zaatari, with AFP

Holidays buy time for Syria-Saudi efforts
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff
Saturday, November 13, 2010
BEIRUT: Local holidays overlapping with the travel schedules of the country’s senior officials appear set to give Lebanon’s rival camps breathing space by delaying new rounds of Cabinet meetings and National Dialogue talks, to give regional contacts the opportunity to end the political crisis.
Cabinet meetings and National Dialogue talks are set to be postponed until after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan’s visit to Beirut on November 23 as officials take a break for Eid al-Adha and Independence Day.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri is scheduled to travel to Moscow Monday on a two-day official visit, after which he will head to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, before returning to Beirut on the eve of Independence Day on November 22.
The break comes at a time when rival Lebanese camps appear to have agreed to buy time awaiting the outcome of Syrian-Saudi contacts in a bid to break the political deadlock over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), the UN-backed court tasked with bringing to justice those involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. An indictment to be issued by the international court is believed to accuse Hizbullah members in the 2005 killing.
Following a meeting with Prime Minister Saad Hariri Friday, United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams voiced concerns over the situation in the country.
But Williams praised the premier’s efforts along with President Michel Sleiman to reach a solution to disputed issues through dialogue and within the framework of constitutional institutions.
“We hope these efforts will be strongly supported by Lebanon’s friends,” Williams said.
For his part, Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali said Damascus and Saudi Arabia were pursuing their efforts in order to achieve Lebanese consensus. “The awareness by both the Syrian and Saudi leaders of the sensitivity of the situation and the dangers of what is being plotted for Lebanon and the region have led to discussions and coordination in the hope that chaos in Lebanon can be avoided,” Ali said. Political sources said Hizbullah and its allies plan to escalate their stances if no compromise is reached after the holidays, after Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah made it clear Thursday his party would not allow the arrest of any of its members suspected by the STL.
Hizbullah politburo member Ghaleb Abu Zeinab said Friday that Saudi-Syrian efforts would overcome the indictment by the STL to find a fundamental solution for Lebanon’s domestic crisis. Abu Zeinab added that attempts by some domestic groups and foreign powers to jeopardize a solution and to fuel tension would be confronted.
But Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the Saudi-Syrian negotiations were not aimed at securing a compromise over the STL, but instead represented an attempt to pressure Hizbullah to preserve stability in Lebanon. In an indirect criticism of March 14 parties, Abu Zeinab said some leaders, who stood behind the “false witnesses” in the Hariri case, “panicked” vis-a-vis demands to refer the issue to the Judicial Council. Sources close to the Future Movement said its parliamentary bloc discussed intimidation attempts Friday that accompanied this week’s Cabinet meeting in a bid to put pressure on the March 14 coalition. According to the sources, the bloc praised Sleiman and MP Walid Jumblatt’s stances following their opposition to seeing ministers vote on whether to refer the issue to the Judicial Council. The sources added that during the meeting chaired by Hariri, Future Movement lawmakers described Nasrallah’s reference to current Syrian-Saudi efforts as positive. During his visit to Russia, Hariri is to meet with President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to discuss the latest regional developments and other issues of mutual concern.
 

Falling from professionalism, the journalist turned online thug resorts to unprofessional narrative. He writes:  "Phares closes with a flourish by declaring: “When the Special Tribunal issues its final verdict, let’s hope for Lebanon and the region’s sake that the UN and the West [i.e. the Security Council and the United States] will have the courage to enforce the prosecutors’ findings”. Having been prepared in a latrine (sic) rather than a kitchen, it is no surprise that this one fails the smell test with gusto." Sirois, in his bid to serve the Terrorists uses a language unused by Hezbollah itself. For dogs do what masters can't: bark and dirty the alleys. Sirois shamed himself and it would be a long-long shot if his resume can be accepted by credible institutions. His only real shot is to adopt Khomeinism, wear Hezbollah's bandana and walk behind the Pasdaran like parades in south Beirut.