LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِOctober
20/2010
Bible Of The
Day
Luke18/1-8: " He also spoke
a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, 18:2 saying,
“There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect
man. 18:3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend
me from my adversary!’ 18:4 He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to
himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man, 18:5 yet because this
widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her
continual coming.’”
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Egypt Cuts a Deal: Christians Fed
to Muslim 'Lions'/by Raymond Ibrahim/
October 19/10
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for
October 19/10
Ban Concerned by New Lebanon
Tensions/Naharnet
Sami Gemayel holds talks with US
officials/Now Lebanon
Iran: Hariri to visit Tehran before
end of year/Now Lebanon
Assad to Abdullah: Hariri Has to
Reject International Tribunal Which Aims to Destroy Resistance/Naharnet
U.S., France, Britain, Russia
Warn: No Meddling in Hariri Tribunal/Naharnet
Nasrallah-Jumblat Meeting Lasted
5 Hours/Naharnet
UNIFIL Says Lebanese, Israeli
Armies Stressed Commitment to 1701/Naharnet
Kataeb Urges Cabinet to Favor
Justice Principle over Political Interests/Naharnet
Soaid: Ahmadinejad's Visit
Revealed Hidden Matters, Restored Arab and International Interest in Lebanon/Naharnet
Hariri-Hizbullah Meeting Soon/Naharnet
Minor Changes Made in
Parliamentary Committees Lineup/Naharnet
Ban Concerned by New
Lebanon Tensions/Naharnet
Assad, Arslan Discuss
'Ongoing Efforts to Restore Calm in Lebanon'/Naharnet
MP Nabil De Freige: No one can
prevent STL’s indictment/Now Lebanon
Jumblat Says Ahmadinejad's
Visit Strengthened Lebanon's Steadfastness/Naharnet
Kataeb Urges Cabinet to
Favor Justice Principle over Political Interests/Naharnet
Nasrallah, Jumblat Meet,
Review Efforts to Contain Crises/Naharnet
Berri Didn't Meet Feltman:
He Came to Say 'We're Here to See Those Concerned,' Jumblat Will Tell Me
Everything/Naharnet
Abadi: Properly Equipping
Army is Currently Proposed and Hariri Will Visit Iran Soon/Naharnet
Members of Lebanon's parliament’s
executive committee, commission re-elected/Now Lebanon
Ban Concerned by New Lebanon
Tensions
Naharnet/Lebanon has been hit by a new climate of "uncertainty" that could cause
new instability across the region, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned.
In a report released only days after a controversial visit to Lebanon by Iran's
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the UN chief called on regional powers to stay
out of the country's affairs and also said Israel must halt military overflights.
"I am very concerned by rising political tensions in the country," Ban said,
referring to a growing war of words between Prime Minister Saad Hariri's
coalition and Hizbullah. "The combination of mistrust between the parties and
the continued presence of militias could lead to tensions and possible
insecurity and instability in Lebanon and beyond. "The country should not be
used as a staging ground to further regional aspirations or to promote
conflict," he said in a report on Lebanon to the UN Security Council.
At a Security Council debate, Iran's UN ambassador Mohammad Khazaee, said the
"unprecedented" reception given to Ahmadinejad in Lebanon showed the
"constructive role that the Islamic Republic of Iran plays in the region in
general and in Lebanon in particular." He said the Security Council and the
secretary general should recognize the "powerful role" that Iran plays. Ban has
repeatedly expressed concern over the tense political events in Lebanon and its
delicate relations with neighboring Syria however. He has also made repeated
calls for Hizbullah to follow the example of other militias and disarm.
Hizbullah's arsenal "remains distinct from and may exceed the capabilities of
the Lebanese Armed Forces," according to the report. Ban said Hizbullah's
military strength "creates an atmosphere of intimidation and poses a key
challenge to the safety of Lebanese civilians and to the government's monopoly
on the legitimate use of force." The UN chief also highlighted Palestinian armed
groups operating in Lebanon. He said all the militias remain "a challenge" to
the Lebanese state. Israel has kept control of part of the south Lebanon village
of Ghajar since an Israeli military campaign in 2006, but Ban said Israel should
withdraw and end its regular military flights over south Lebanon.(AFP) Beirut,
19 Oct 10, 06:39
U.S., France, Britain, Russia Warn: No Meddling in Hariri Tribunal
Naharnet/The United States, Britain, France and Russia warned against meddling
in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigating the 2005 assassination of
former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The remarks came during a U.N. Security
Council meeting on Monday on the Israel-Palestinian crisis. Syrian President
Bashar Assad is believed to have raised his concerns about the STL with Saudi
King Abdullah in Riyadh on Sunday. U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations
Brooke Anderson told the 15-member Security Council that Washington fully
supported U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's determination to press ahead with
the tribunal, despite fears of violence. "Efforts to discredit, hinder or delay
the tribunal's work should not be tolerated, and those who engage in them do not
have the interests of Lebanon or justice at heart," Anderson told the Council.
British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant echoed Anderson's remarks. "We are concerned
about increasing rhetoric aimed at undermining the special tribunal for
Lebanon," he said. "This tribunal should be allowed to continue its work
unimpeded." French Ambassador Gerard Araud also made similar comments. Paris was
"concerned by the present tensions, in particular with respect to the special
tribunal for Lebanon," he said. Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin, for his part, said
there should be "no politicization" of the tribunal's work. Hizbullah has
condemned the International Tribunal as a tool of Israeli and U.S. policy.
Hizbullah urged Prime Minister Saad Hariri to reject the tribunal, set to
prosecute his father's killers. Beirut, 19 Oct 10, 06:48
Assad to Abdullah: Hariri Has to Reject International Tribunal Which Aims to
Destroy Resistance
Naharnet/Syrian President Bashar Assad and Saudi King Abdullah, who met in
Riyadh Sunday, did not reach an agreement on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,
local media reported Tuesday. Al-Akhbar newspaper, citing Syrian sources, said
Riyadh also avoided discussing the arrest warrants issued by Syria against a
number of Lebanese officials or pressure on Prime Minister Saad Hariri to modify
his position on the STL indictment.
It said the Saudi-Syrian summit came upon Abdullah's request who tried again to
mediate with Assad to meet Hariri. But the answer was 'No," Al-Akhbar said.
The sources said Assad spoke frankly, telling Abdullah that Syria was
"dissatisfied with the fact that Hariri remains tense during his stay in
Damascus."
They said the reaction that came from Hariri and Hariri-funded groups regarding
the arrest warrants proved that the Lebanese premier "is unable to get rid of
his grudges, which explains Syria's unwillingness to revive contacts with the
Grand Serail." Analysts said the key issue for Assad and Abdullah was current
Hariri's dispute with Hizbullah over the U.N.-backed tribunal on his father's
murder. Members of Hizbullah are reportedly implicated in the investigation, and
could be indicted, according to reports. Reports that the tribunal would indict
Hizbullah members for Hariri's murder have raised regional fears of renewed
Sunni-Shiite sectarian violence and the collapse of Lebanon's hard-won national
unity government. While Hariri has offered to play down any indictment linked to
Hizbullah and focus only on the individuals involved, Hizbullah has demanded the
international tribunal be discredited.
Al-Akhbar quoted the Syrian sources as assuring that a freeze on contact between
Damascus and Beirut does not mean the doors were closed. The sources said Hariri
could learn from Druze leader Walid Jumblat "who is able to weigh every leader,
read regional and global equations very well and knows that in politics some
issues are discussed beyond repeating the word 'truth'.» They said Assad
complained to Abdullah that Hariri did not keep his commitments. Hariri has to
do the following, according to the sources:
- Commit to the rules of the game and recognize that no one, including Hariri,
can cross the red lines. Syria believes that Hizbullah is the red line, and
Hariri has to respect that.
- Hariri can negotiate amending agreements with Syria or demand a parliament
seat here or there, but it is forbidden for him to ever think of asking Syria to
deceive Hizbullah.
- If Hariri realized this, he should announce that the Tribunal, which is aimed
to destroy the Resistance (Hizbullah), be discredited. - Hariri should take
positive steps toward Syria through changing his political, security and media
advisors. Beirut, 19 Oct 10, 08:15
Kataeb Urges Cabinet to Favor Justice Principle over Political Interests
Naharnet/As Phalange Party reiterated Monday its concerns regarding the
political and security situations in the country, it expressed its satisfaction
with the statement issued by Army Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji "who stressed the
keenness of the military institution on preventing any civil strife and its
readiness to confront any party that dares to harm national security."
In a statement issued after its weekly meeting under party leader Amin Gemayel,
Kataeb urged the Cabinet to "rise above all disputes and favor the principle of
justice over political interests."It also called on all political parties to
"support the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and stop trying to
politicize it and shift its real meaning from (being about) martyrs to (being
about) false witnesses." The party stressed that the tribunal was "continuing
its mission away from all pressures in order to fulfill justice and punish those
who performed the assassinations." Beirut, 18 Oct 10, 22:26
Soaid: Ahmadinejad's Visit Revealed Hidden Matters,
Naharnet/Restored Arab and International Interest in Lebanon Coordinator of the
March 14 General-Secretariat former MP Fares Soaid noted that Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Lebanon has restored Arab and
international interest in the country. He said in an interview with the daily
Asharq al-Awsat Tuesday that his visit was followed by Saudi Foreign Minister
Saud al-Faisal's trip to Egypt, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's trip to Saudi
Arabia, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffery
Feltman's trip to Lebanon. "It is as if the Arab and international communities
are saying that Lebanon should not be under Iran's control," he added. He said
that Feltman's visit was aimed at asserting to the Lebanese state that nothing
can hinder the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and that Lebanon's stability is a
red line. Furthermore, Soaid pointed out that Ahmainejad's visit uncovered
hidden matters in that Hizbullah had repeatedly tried to demonstrate that it is
a Lebanese group and that its arms are aimed at liberating Lebanese land. "His
visit revealed the weapons' true identity as it turned out that they are not
Lebanese, but purely Iranian," he stressed. Beirut, 19 Oct 10, 14:40
Nasrallah-Jumblat Meeting Lasted 5 Hours
Naharnet/A meeting that took place on Sunday between Hizbullah chief Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah and Druze leader Walid Jumblat lasted for about five hours, As-Safir
newspaper reported.
It said the meeting, in the presence of Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi and
Hizbullah security chief Wafiq Safa, began at 6:00 pm. As-Safir said Nasrallah
hosted a dinner for Jumblat. It said the two leaders discussed the Saudi-Syrian
summit and the false witnesses' issue in addition to the latest local and
regional developments. Jumblat reportedly expressed concern over mounting
political and sectarian tension. Both leaders agreed to benefit from the
positive atmosphere of the Riyadh summit, As-Safir said. It said Jumblat touched
on the relationship between Hizbullah and Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the
Druze leader stressed on the need to resume talks, pointing out that ongoing
contacts will create a positive atmosphere. Jumblat received a positive response
from Nasrallah in terms of resumption of talks with Hariri following his return
home from Riyadh. "We are moving toward defusing tensions," Jumblat told As-Safir
in remarks published Tuesday. A statement issued by Hizbullah on Monday said
Nasrallah and Jumblat reviewed efforts to contain crises and challenges facing
Lebanon. The two leaders agreed to "continue joint efforts between the two
parties at all levels," the statement added. The meeting with Nasrallah followed
talks between Jumblat and Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for
Near Eastern Affairs who arrived on a sudden visit Sunday. Beirut, 19 Oct 10,
12:09
Sami Gemayel holds talks with US
officials
October 19, 2010 /The Kataeb Party issued a statement on Tuesday that Kataeb
bloc MP Sami Gemayel met with several US officials, including Chairman of the US
House Committee on Foreign Affairs Howard Berman, as part of the former’s trip
to the US. Gemayel told Berman that the Lebanese people are committed to
democracy and having a strong army that controls their country’s
borders.Following the deadly August Aadaiseh clashes between the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Berman said that he had placed
on hold $100 million in aid to Lebanon's military. Gemayel said that the LAF
should be equipped with new armament to allow it to defend its territory from
any possible attack, voicing hope that the US Congress would approve military
aid for Lebanon. Following the meeting, Berman said that his meeting with
Gemayel was important.The US congressman added that Gemayel has defended
Lebanon’s unity and democratic values as well as the principles of the March 14
coalition.-NOW Lebanon
Iran: Hariri to visit Tehran before end of year
October 19, 2010 /Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said
on Tuesday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri intends to visit Tehran before the
end of this year, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. “The date of
[Hariri’s] visit was not determined yet, but it will happen before the end of
[2010],” Mehmanparast said, adding that the PM’s visit comes within the
framework of good Lebanese-Iranian relations. Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad arrived to Beirut for an official visit last Wednesday and left the
country on Thursday night. While in Lebanon, he met with top Lebanese officials
and also addressed large crowds at Hezbollah rallies.-NOW Lebanon
Members of parliament’s executive committee, commission re-elected
October 19, 2010 /(NOW Lebanon)
The parliament met on Tuesday and re-elected the members of the body’s executive
committee and commissions, NOW Lebanon’s correspondent reported.
He added that the session lasted for only 15 minutes. All the heads of the
parliamentary commissions were re-elected and only slight changes were made to
the bodies, the correspondent also said.
MP Nabil De Freige: No one can prevent STL’s indictment
October 19, 2010 /Lebanon First bloc MP Nabil De Freige told As-Sharq radio
station on Tuesday that no one can prevent the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)’s
indictment from being issued. “All member states of the UN Security Council have
joined together agreeing upon this decision,” he added. Tensions are high in
Lebanon after reports said that the STL will soon issue its indictment in the
2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. March 8 figures are
calling for the abolition of the tribunal. De Freige also added that it was
“something normal” for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s 12th semi-annual
report on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 to say that
Hezbollah is stronger than the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). In his report, Ban
said that Lebanon has been hit by a new climate of uncertainty that could cause
instability across the region, adding that Hezbollah's military strength
“creates an atmosphere of intimidation and poses a key challenge to the safety
of Lebanese civilians and to the government.”-NOW Lebanon
UNIFIL Says Lebanese, Israeli Armies Stressed Commitment to 1701
Naharnet/UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas on Monday met with top
Lebanese and Israeli military officers at a U.N. base at the Ras al-Naqoura
border crossing in southern Lebanon. The meeting tackled the implementation of
U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, the placing of border signs along the
Blue Line, the Ghajar village issue and other topics related to the Blue Line.
The Lebanese and Israeli sides stressed their full commitment to working with
the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in order to implement UNSCR
1701. Beirut, 18 Oct 10, 21:38
Hariri-Hizbullah Meeting Soon
Naharnet/Minister of Labor and Public Works Ghazi Aridi expected that a meeting
between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah would take place "within the upcoming hours", reported As Safir
Tuesday. He revealed that Nasrallah had appointed his political assistant,
Hussein al-Khalil, to contact Hariri and arrange a meeting with him.
Furthermore, the newspaper stated that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP
Walid Jumblat had brought up the issue of a Hariri-Nasrallah meeting during
talks he held with the Hizbullah leader on Sunday. The MP stressed the
importance of communication between the two leaders as it would create a
positive atmosphere in Lebanon, adding that Nasrallah was receptive to the idea
and contacts between the two sides would resume once the premier returns from
abroad. The daily An Nahar reported on Tuesday that March 8 quarters revealed
that efforts to resume contacts between Hariri and Nasrallah had started during
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon. Observers have
meanwhile linked the success of these efforts to tackling the false witnesses
file and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Beirut, 19 Oct 10, 14:05
Jumblat Says Ahmadinejad's
Visit Strengthened Lebanon's Steadfastness
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has slammed those
"who are still theorizing about Lebanon's neutralism under the emblem of keeping
it away from axes, despite the fact that Lebanon is at the core of the region
and directly and inevitably involved in its issues due to the factors of history
and geography." "The pretentious slogans that speak of Arab solidarity have
proven their futility during the latest experience at the Serte (Arab) summit
which failed in producing the minimum requirements for confronting the various
challenges and difficulties," Jumblat added in his weekly column in his party's
mouthpiece Al-Anbaa. "As to Lebanon, it is committed to the truce agreement with
Israel that was underlined by the Taif Accord, and it means suspending the state
of war rather than going into a state of peace," said Jumblat, adding that "this
necessitates enhancing Lebanon's defense capabilities in the face of any
potential Israeli aggression." He wondered if some want to "renounce the truce
and head towards a settlement" with Israel that does not involve Syria and the
Palestinian Authority.
Jumblat said that such a step invokes the May 17 Accord "which brought disasters
to the country." He noted that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to
Lebanon last week "contributes to enhancing steadfastness against any
aggression." The Druze leader reminisced "the major moral and material support
offered by the Islamic Republic of Iran to Lebanon and its South." He warned
that "we are living a critical regional and international period." "Regional
tension is escalating and the so-called peace talks in the region are revolving
in an empty circle, especially after … the new letter of guarantees recently
sent by U.S. President Barack Obama to the Israeli premier." Jumblat described
his talks with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffrey
Feltman on Sunday as "friendly and frank," noting that they discussed "all the
issues and developments, especially the controversial issues." "I expressed my
point of view and concerns regarding many things related to the Arab-Israeli
conflict and the domestic Lebanese affairs," added Jumblat. Beirut, 18 Oct 10,
18:52
Assad, Arslan Discuss
'Ongoing Efforts to Restore Calm in Lebanon'
Naharnet/Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held talks Monday in Damascus with
Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan. Talks tackled "the ongoing
efforts to restore calm in the Lebanese arena and spare Lebanon any dangers."
Assad hailed "the role performed by the Lebanese national factions in preserving
Lebanon's security, stability and sovereignty."Last April the Syrian leader
discussed with Arslan the exerted efforts towards enhancing relations between
Lebanon and Syria. Beirut, 18 Oct 10, 19:53
Ahmadinejad's ambiguous visit to Lebanon
by Fady Noun
10/18/2010 13:23
LEBANON
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Ahmadinejad's-ambiguous-visit-to-Lebanon-19748.html
The Iranian president made two visits with contradictory messages. The first
one, to the Lebanese state, was reassuring; the second, to Hizbollah, was full
of bellicose messages in contradiction with the peace initiative of the Arab
League accepted by the Lebanese government.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – Bint Jbeil is a town in southern Lebanon severely affected
by fighting between Israeli forces and Hizbollah in the summer 2006. Here,
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad once more called for the disappearance of
Israel and praised the anti-Israeli resistance. At the same time, he announced
the arrival of the Mahdi who will back Jesus Christ.
During his meetings with the president, prime minister and the speaker of
Lebanon’s National Assembly, Ahmadinejad played the card of full support for
Lebanese institutions and national unity.
Before he arrived in Lebanon on a two-day visit (14-15 October), the Iranian
president also spoke by phone to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah
of Jordan.
According to a Lebanese expert, in doing so the Iranian leader wanted to join
the “pact of stability” that the Saudi King and Syrian President Bashir al-Assad
established last summer during visits to Beirut when Hizbollah’s role in the
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was coming to the
fore, weighing heavily on Lebanon’s political life.
Both gestures, one for official consumption, the other for the masses, reflect
Iran’s dual game in Lebanon. In his two days in Lebanon, Ahmadinejad made in
fact two visits, one to the Lebanese state, which had invited him, and one to
Hizbollah.
The two, as indicated by Ahmadinejad’s speeches, are glaringly in contradiction
with one another. One cannot back the Lebanese state and its policies, whilst
considering the country an outpost of the rejectionist front (along with Syria,
Hamas and Iran) against Israel, as the president said during his conference at
the Lebanese University.
In fact, Lebanon is officially bound by the Arab peace initiative adopted at the
Arab summit of 27-28 March 2002. The League’s final statement read, “Emanating
from the conviction of the Arab countries that a military solution to the
conflict will not achieve peace or provide security for the parties, the council
[. . .] Requests Israel to reconsider its policies and declare that a just peace
is its strategic option [. . .]. Further calls upon Israel to affirm: [. . .]
Full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967, including
the Syrian Golan Heights to the lines of June 4, 1967 as well as the remaining
occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon. [. . .] Consequently, the
Arab Countries affirm” that once its conditions are met, they will “Consider the
Arab-Israeli conflict ended, and enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and
provide security for all the states of the region”, as well as “Establish normal
relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.”
Ahmadinejad’s interference in the domestic affairs of Lebanon, as well as those
of other members of the Arab League, is for all to see. The statements of the
Iranian president equally contradict United Nations Resolution 1701 calling for
the creation, south of the Litani River, of an area under the exclusive control
of the Lebanese armed forces, backed by UNIFIL. This is why his visit and
political message are in inherently ambiguous.
As for Iran’s eschatological message, its roots are found in a religious vision
that deserves a separate treatment.
gypt Cuts a Deal: Christians
Fed to Muslim 'Lions'
by Raymond Ibrahim
Hudson New York
October 18, 2010
http://www.meforum.org/2762/coptic-persecution-mubarak
For centuries, the Copts — Egypt's Christian, indigenous
inhabitants — have been subject to persecution, discrimination, humiliation, and
over all subjugation in their homeland (etymologically, "Copt" simply means
"Egyptian"). In the medieval era, such treatment was a standard aspect of
sharia's dhimmi codes, first ratified under Caliph Omar in the 7th century and
based on Koran 9:29. Conversely, during the colonial era and into the mid 20th
century, as Egypt experimented with westernization and nationalism, religious
discrimination was markedly subdued. Today, however, as Egypt all but spearheads
the Islamist movement — giving the world Sayyid Qutb, the Muslim Brotherhood,
and Aymen Zawahiri in the process — that is, as Egypt reverts to its medieval
character, the Copts find themselves again in a period of severe persecution.
And there appears to be no one to stop it — not even those most accountable:
America's friend and ally, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his government.
Indeed, recent events indicate that the Mubarak regime is intentionally inciting
Egypt's Muslims against the Copts.
Consider: on September 15, prominent Egyptian Muhammad Salim al-Awwa,
ex-secretary general of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, appeared on
Al Jazeera and, in a wild tirade, accused the Copts of "stocking arms and
ammunitions in their churches and monasteries"— imported from Israel, no less,
since "Israel is in the heart of the Coptic Cause" — and "preparing to wage war
against Muslims."
He warned that if nothing is done, the "country will burn," urging Muslims to
"counteract the strength of the [Coptic] Church." Al-Awwa further charged that
Egypt's security forces cannot enter the monasteries to investigate for weapons
— an amazing assertion, considering that Coptic monasteries are not only at the
mercy of the state, but easy prey to Islamist/Bedouin attacks.
Needless to say, these remarks have inflamed Muslim passions (not to mention
paranoia) against Egypt's Christians, who make approximately 12% of the
population. To make matters worse, right on the heels of al-Awwa's
"monastery-conspiracy-theory," Islamist leaders began to circulate baseless
rumors that the Church and Pope Shenouda III "kidnap" Coptic women who willingly
convert to Islam, and trap them in desert monasteries, "torturing" and
"re-indoctrinating" them back to Christianity — even when the women in question
publicly insist they never converted to Islam.
Due to all these allegations, since last month, there have been at least ten
mass demonstrations in Egypt — most numbering in the thousands — condemning the
Copts, the Coptic Church, and Pope Shenouda. The "Front of Islamic Egypt" issued
a statement promising the Copts a "blood bath." Most recently, on October 8,
Muslim demonstrators chanted "Shenouda, just wait, we will dig your grave with
our own hands," while burning the 86 year-old pope's effigy.
At the very least, the usually intrusive Mubarak regime could have easily
dispelled the absurd rumor that Coptic monks, among Egypt's most humble figures,
were stockpiling weapons for an imaginary coup d'état in Egypt, by formally
investigating and clearing the monasteries of the charge. Same with the
ludicrous rumors that the Pope is kidnapping and torturing Coptic women who
freely convert to Islam — an especially odd rumor considering the reverse is
true: in Egypt, Christian women are regularly kidnapped and compelled to embrace
Islam.
To further exasperate matters, on September 26, Al Azhar, a formal state body of
Egypt, denounced a remark on Koran 5:17, which accuses Christians of being
"infidels," made by a Coptic clergyman at an internal meeting on dogma, as
"blasphemous." It further took this opportunity to state formally that
citizenship rights in Egypt "are conditional to respect for the Islamic
identity" of Egypt, thereby reversing any modern progress made regarding
Egyptian equality and reinforcing the Copts' historical role as dhimmis (i.e.,
conditionally tolerated religious minorities). Pope Shenouda was further
compelled to publicly apologize "if our Muslim brothers' feelings were hurt."
All this in a nation where Christian and Jewish scriptures are systematically
denounced as fabricated. Indeed, mere weeks earlier, a well known publishing
house in Egypt issued a book dedicated to "proving" that Christians had forged
the Bible. Such double standards are well entrenched: after all, whereas the
Coptic clergyman privately remarked on a Koranic verse, the Egyptian government
openly interferes with Christian doctrine, while preventing Muslims from
converting to Christianity, in accordance to sharia's ridda, or apostasy, laws.
For example, Mohammad Hegazy is one of many Egyptians who tried formally to
change his religion from Muslim to Christian on his I.D. card —in Egypt, people
are Gestapo-like categorized by their religion — only to be denied by the
Egyptian court. (Many other such anecdotes abound.)
Considering the citizenship rights Copts enjoyed in the early to mid 20th
century, how did things come to this pass? Much of this can be traced to
Mubarak's predecessor, Anwar Sadat, who altered Egypt's Constitution — by adding
Article 2, "sharia is the principle source of legislation" — only to be
rewarded, ironically, with assassination by the Islamist "Frankenstein monster"
he had empowered. Since then, there has been a tacit agreement between the
government and the Islamists. As Youssef Ibrahim puts it, the agreement "turned
over to Islamists control in media, education, and government administrations in
return for allowing Mr. Mubarak's rule to go on unchallenged, setting the stage
… for his son, Gamal, to succeed him. As part of the deal, [Mubarak] agreed to
feed Egypt's Christians to the growing Islamic beast."
Hence the dire situation the Copts find themselves in. Magdi Khalil, a human
rights activist at the forefront of the "Coptic question," states that "Egypt is
on the verge of chaos and change of regime and there is a plan for Copts to pay
the price of this predicted chaos, by directing the surplus violence, hate and
barbarism towards them." This redirection onto the Copts is obvious even in
subtle things: aside from the habitual anti-Copt indoctrination that goes on in
mosques — all of the aforementioned demonstrations occurred immediately after
Friday's mosque prayers — Egypt's state run public education system also
marginalizes, if not ostracizes, the Copts (see, for example, Adel Guindy's "The
Talibanization of Education in Egypt").
More obvious proof of the government's complicity is the fact that, not only has
it not prevented or dispersed the increasingly rabid demonstrations against the
Copts — the way it viciously and unequivocally does whenever any protests are
directed against itself — but Egyptian security, as Magdi Khalil affirmed in a
phone conversation, actually facilitate, and sometimes participate, in these
mass demonstrations. After all, Islamists who publicly call for the death of the
Pope do so, writes Ibrahim Eissa, "knowing quite well that State Security will
not touch them, since demonstrations are directed against the Pope and not the
President, the Church and not the inheritance issue [Gamal Mubarak as successor
of his father]. Those who go out in Jihad against 'inheritance,' democracy and
election fraud are beaten mercilessly by security forces but those who go out to
incite sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians believe …that they are
the friends and 'buddies' of the police and the State Security."
As history teaches, whenever a majority group casts all its woes onto a minority
group, great tragedy often follows. This is especially so when the majority
group in question begins taking on an Islamist—that is, intolerant, violent, and
medieval — character. Yet if Egypt's "secular" government and U.S. ally is
willing to sacrifice the Coptic scapegoat to appease the ever-burgeoning
Islamist monster it has been nurturing for some four decades, to whom can
Egypt's Christians look for relief?
**Raymond Ibrahim is associate director of the Middle East Forum, author of The
Al Qaeda Reader, and guest lecturer at the National Defense Intelligence
College.
Why
Hariri has to hug Hezbollah
Like it or not, regional forces want the status quo maintained in Lebanon — and
its PM has to grin and bear it
By Sami Moubayed, Special to Gulf News
Published: 00:00 October 19, 2010
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/why-hariri-has-to-hug-hezbollah-1.698359
During his visit to Beirut last week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met
with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, who presented him with a
rifle captured from an Israeli soldier during the war of 2006, as a token of
appreciation for Iran's support for the Lebanese resistance. The Lebanese
University, for its part, presented Ahmadinejad with an honorary PhD. The two
presents, packed in the Iranian president's suitcase as he headed back to
Tehran, sum up what the two faces of Lebanon are all about.
Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon has sparked off loud debate within Lebanon and
clearly provoked the United States, although this is not the first time an
Iranian president has visited Beirut and come so close to its borders with
Israel.
Back in May 2003, his predecessor Mohammad Khatami was given a massive welcome
by tens of thousands of Lebanese when he landed in Beirut for a three-day visit.
Khatami, back then, was no less committed to Hezbollah than Ahmadinejad is
today. The US and Israel were no less hostile to Khatami — who is only now
described by the US media as a reformer — than they are to Ahmadinejad today.
The Lebanese press back then hailed the visit — being the first in bilateral
relations — as a milestone towards improving Iranian-Lebanese relations. The
crowds cheered at Khatami's entourage as he drove through the suburbs of Beirut,
being the Hezbollah stronghold, on his way to the Phoenicia Intercontinental
Hotel.
Lebanon's three leaders, President Emile Lahoud, Speaker Nabih Berri, and the
late Rafik Hariri hailed Khatami's visit, which they hoped, would "cement
Lebanon's role as a hub for resistance against Israel".
Lahoud famously said that Lebanon "was proud of Khatami's friendship".
The highlight of the visit was a meeting between Khatami and Maronite Patriarch
Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir — followed by the Lebanese University granting the
Iranian President an honorary PhD.
If all of this is déjà vu, why is the world furious over Ahmadinejad's visit to
Beirut?
When he was elected to power in the summer of 2005, the Iranian president, no
doubt, was a breath of fresh air for Hezbollah, coming into office only six
months after the Hariri assassination. They bet tremendously on Ahmadinejad to
uphold resistance in Lebanon, as debate over Hezbollah's arms began to surface
in Lebanon, and sided with Syria as it engaged in an all-out ‘cold war' with the
George W. Bush administration.
Over the past five years, Ahmadinejad has done exactly that, explaining why
Hezbollah was keen on showing how grateful it was. Precisely because of that
strong bond between Ahmadinejad and Hezbollah, members of the March 14 Coalition
were worried — to say the least — by the Iranian leader's visit to Beirut.
It comes, after all, amidst speculation that the upcoming Special Tribunal for
Lebanon (STL) will soon blame members of Hezbollah for Hariri's assassination.
Although Iran has been remarkably quiet about Lebanese domestic politics, it
will eventually put its full weight behind drowning the STL, either through
official channels, via the Lebanese government in which Hezbollah and its allies
are strongly represented, or through the Lebanese streets.
Protest rumours
There were rumours in Beirut that Hezbollah was planning to take to the streets
shortly after Ahmadinejad's visit, to force Sa'ad Hariri into calling for the
scrapping of the STL, both in his capacity as son of the slain premier, and as
the current prime minister of Lebanon.
Hariri, apparently, was clearly not getting the message, being that Hezbollah
will not wait for the indictments to be issued in late 2010 for Hariri to take
action — by then it will be too late.
To date, Hezbollah has tried pushing him into just that by blocking state funds
for the STL, claiming that they are unconstitutional, while leading a publicity
campaign aimed at branding the STL as an "Israeli project." The March 14
Coalition fears that Hezbollah has gotten its "go ahead signal" from Ahmadinejad,
to come out in full grandeur against the STL. If the Lebanese prime minister
does not take action immediately, Hezbollah and its allies, making use of the 11
seats they have in government, will push for "no confidence" vote of the Hariri
administration.
If that was worrying for the March 14 Coalition, what is more worrying is the
fact that apparently Hariri has gotten the message loud and clear and will soon
be acting accordingly, in order to keep his job as prime minister. On Sunday,
Hariri informed his team that he will visit Tehran soon, at the invitation of
Ahmadinejad. This visit is expected to coincide with a trip by Nasrallah to
Riyadh. Hariri understands the significance of a phone conversation between
Ahmadinejad and Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, only hours before the Beirut
visit.
The Saudis, who have approved the visit, want peace and quiet in Lebanon — at
any cost — warning Hariri that nothing should be allowed to spark off "another
May 7" as Nasrallah had previously threatened. They want to maintain the status
quo that prevailed in 1990-2005, where Hariri — whether father or son — will
command all of Lebanon, heralding economic reform, investment, and education,
while standing as the ultimate leader of the Sunnis, only if he accepts that he
has to "protect and embrace" the arms of Hezbollah.
The young prime minister carefully incorporated that statement into his cabinet
policy statement and will work on upholding it, in light of the Iran-Saudi
Arabia understanding over Lebanon.
**Sami Moubayed is editor-in-chief of Forward Magazine in Syria.