LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِSeptember
30/2010
Bible Of The
Day
Matthews 12/22-30: "Then one
possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so
that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 12:23 All the multitudes were
amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?” 12:24 But when the Pharisees
heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul,
the prince of the demons.” 12:25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city
or house divided against itself will not stand. 12:26 If Satan casts out Satan,
he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 12:27 If I by
Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore
they will be your judges. 12:28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 12:29 Or how can one enter into the
house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong
man? Then he will plunder his house. 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me,
and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters. 12:31 Therefore I tell you, every
sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit
will not be forgiven men. 12:32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it
will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be
forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Lebanese leaders are out of
step/By Jamil K. Mroue/September 29/10
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for
September 29/10
Assad to Ahmadinejad:
Don't visit Lebanon/Israeli News
Maronite Bishops Fear
Ongoing Tension Could Spill Out into Streets/Naharnet
Bellemare Reportedly Sent Part of
Indictment to Fransen to Match it with International Standards/Naharnet
Muallem Says STL to
Accuse Hizbullah, Warns of Sectarian Violence over Indictment/Naharnet
Prime Minister Saad Hariri:
Giving up on Rafik Hariri’s case is out of question/Now Lebanon
Hezbollah's political council
member Ghaleb Abu Zainab: Hezbollah, allies reject financing STL/Now Lebanon
Hezbollah International Relations
Officer Ammar Moussawi: International administrations cannot replace national
will/Now Lebanon
MP Ahmad Fatfat: Hezbollah’s
decision to not finance STL will not affect it/Now Lebanon
Withholding STL Funding
Won't Work, Report/Naharnet
March 14: We Look with Much
Caution at Ahmadinejad's Lebanon Visit/Naharnet
Lebanese leader ٍSami Gymayel
calls on US for support, warns 'we are working today alone/WND
Syrian FM ready to resume
peace talks with Israel/J.Post
Ahmadinejad to throw
rocks at Israeli border/J.Post
No travel warning for Lebanon, US says/UPI
LEBANON: Efforts made to save Beirut's historic architecture/Los Angeles
Times (blog)
Al-Markaziya: Brigadier General
Fayez Karam transferred to military police headquarters/Now Lebanon
Suleiman from Mexico:
Work is Underway to Bring the Lebanese Diaspora together/Naharnet
Khreis: Suleiman's
Stands are Patriotic and Berri's Positions are Derived from his Silence/Naharnet
Loyalty to Resistance:
Incitement and Tensions will Not Hinder Pursuit of False Witnesses/Naharnet
MP Hamadeh Denies
Requesting French Protection/Naharnet
Borj Barajneh AMAL
Official Killed/Naharnet
Berri Threatens to
Uncover Violations of Law if Political Rhetoric Does Not Stop/Naharnet
Aoun: Let al-Hasan
Investigate Karam's Case on Condition he Does Not Leak Information to Media/Naharnet
Suleiman Warns from
Mexico: Any Mideast Solution Must Take Lebanon's Interests into Account/Naharnet
Fneish: Resistance Won't
Use Weapons Domestically unless Some Wanted to Do Harm/Naharnet
Yazbek Lauds Suleiman's
U.N. Speech: It Reflects Aspirations of All Lebanese towards Liberating Land/Naharnet
Foreign Minister Avigdor
Lieberman: My views are 'clear, consistent, known to all/J.Post
Lebanese leaders are out of step
By Jamil K. Mroue /Daily Star
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
If it is in tough times that the qualities of a leader shine, the tensions that
have arisen in several parts of the Middle East over the last year, including in
Lebanon, have given leaders of this region a golden opportunity to make their
mark. But while a carousel of politicians in every corner of this region have
brilliantly met the challenges that have come their way with soothing calls for
discussion, the ear-splitting clamor that passes for political debate in this
country should, in turn, put our leaders to shame.
In Turkey, as recurring bloody skirmishes between Kurdish separatists and armed
forces threaten to re-engulf the country in a costly civil war, the country’s
prime minister has made a point of championing a fence-mending dialogue that
aims to convince insurgents to lay down arms. Meanwhile, in Syria, authorities
have been serving the interests of their population by holding talks with US
diplomats over ways to normalize their ties with the West. And only a few
hundreds of kilometers south from here, the mother of all dialogues is unfolding
as Palestinians and Israelis have reactivated – tentatively, but courageously –
a peace process so notorious it needs not to be named.
Among Lebanese politicians, however, the art of the political conversation, as a
means to shape ideas and, ultimately, policies, is a long-lost ability.
And its substitute, loudmouth politics, has been a poor alternative. For
instance, two cases that have repeatedly made headlines in recent weeks – that
of the so-called false witnesses, and that of Beirut’s security – could
dangerously weaken the foundations of this country short of a rational and
measured debate. In both cases, our politicians have talked plenty – disgracing
their opponents with their loud and extravagant remarks – but they have shown
little dedication to the substantial exchange of ideas that is the usual modus
operandi of their trade. Their posturing may have offered its short-term
benefits, delaying contentious decision-making, offering the static comfort of a
status quo. But it also threatens to come at a cost.
In the case the false witnesses, the incapacity of our political class to engage
in a selfless debate about the suspects’ ulterior motives serves as another
pretext for rival factions to clash.
Dialogue has also been lacking with regard to Beirut’s security, as evidenced by
the bloody gun battle in the district of Burj Abi Haida that took place last
month. Were this to happen again, the resulting loss of confidence of foreign
investors would be a hard hit for our already fledgling economy.
Our politicians have shouted for long enough. It is high time they enter the age
of dialogue.
**Jamil K. Mroue, Editor-in-Chief of THE DAILY STAR, can be reached at
jamil.mroue@dailystar.com.lb
Assad to Ahmadinejad: Don't visit Lebanon
Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa says Syrian president asked his Iranian counterpart
to postpone planned trip to southern Lebanon, tone down his statements during
visit so as not to harm country's security
Roee Nahmias Published: 09.29.10, 14:14 / Israel News
The Iranian president's planned visit to southern Lebanon is raising fears in
Syria of all places. According to reports, Syrian President Bashar Assad has
suggested that his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, postpone his trip
as "this is not the right time."
Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa on Wednesday quoted diplomatic sources as saying that
Ahmadinejad's scheduled visit to Lebanon in about two weeks was raised during
his latest meeting with Assad in Damascus, about 10 days ago. According to the
report, the Syrian leader asked the Iranian counterpart why he wanted to visit
the region, in light of the exchange of diplomatic messages between the two
countries. The Iranian president explained that the visit was important due to
the strategic significance of the Marjayoun area, adding that he viewed the
entire area as Iran's border with Israel. According to the same sources, the
Syrian president replied that he believed the visit should not be held at this
time. Assad expressed his hope that Ahmadinejad would tone down his statement
during the visit, as the Israelis "feel insecure" and Lebanon's security was
very important to Syria's security interests.
According to the report, at the end of the meeting the Iranian president
promised to "seriously consider" the Syrian president's recommendations
Bellemare Reportedly Sent Part of Indictment to Fransen to Match it with
International Standards
Naharnet/Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare has sent part
of the materials and evidence in his possession to STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel
Fransen to match them with international standards before issuance of
indictment, Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Wednesday, citing well-informed
sources. The terse report did not disclose further details.
Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
Borj Barajneh AMAL Official Killed
Naharnet/AMAL Movement official in Beirut's Borj al-Barajneh neighborhood Abbas
al-Mustrah was killed as he tried to resolve a dispute between four men,
state-run National News Agency reported Wednesday. It said a quarrel between
four men near al-Arab mosque in Borj al-Barajneh shortly after midnight quickly
developed into a shootout.
Mustrah was shot three times in the chest, NNA said, after he stepped in to
prevent the situation from escalating any further. Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
Berri Threatens to Uncover Violations of Law if Political Rhetoric Does Not Stop
Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri warned that he will uncover a set of violations of
the law if political rhetoric does not stop. "I will hold a press conference if
things go on like this and explain in detail before the Lebanese the violations
that are taking place at some (public) departments," he said in remarks
published Wednesday by the daily An-Nahar.
"Many in the Government do not respect the simplest rules and they daily violate
the law," he added. Berri pointed out that while he is seeking to calm tensions
to avoid a civil strife, others are violating laws and regulations "in such a
way that we must not stay quiet." He criticized those in the Government who do
not want to look into the Council of the South budget "which heals the wounds of
residents of this area as a result of Israeli attacks." In a separate interview
with Ad-Diyar newspaper, Berri also expressed his deep distress over the current
situation in Lebanon, stressing that he continues to work in order to face up to
the challenges and attempts to sow discord. "The situation is unbearable in the
absence of law implementation," Berri thought, adding that "this is the root of
the problem." Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
Maronite Bishops Fear Ongoing Tension Could Spill Out into Streets
Naharnet/The Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday expressed fear that
ongoing tension could spill out into the streets and called on everybody to
rally behind State institutions.
"The difficult circumstances in the region calls for caution and unifying
ranks," said a statement read by father Joseph Bwari at the end of the CMB's
monthly meeting. The Bishops, who met in Bkirki under Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir,
also called on Christians, in particular, to be "one heart and one spirit" for
the benefit of the country. Beirut, 29 Sep 10, 11:55
Prime Minister Saad Hariri: Giving up on Rafik Hariri’s case is out of question
September 29, 2010 /Following its Wednesday meeting, the Future Movement issued
a statement that Prime Minister Saad Hariri said during the meeting that “giving
up on the blood of [his father], late former PM Rafik Hariri, is out of the
question.”Hariri reiterated his commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)—which
is investigating Rafik Hariri’s 2005 assassination—adding that his support comes
through patience and that the Future Movement should not be dragged into
turmoil, the statement added. The PM also voiced the importance of maintaining
the current Lebanese-Syrian relations, adding that the ties serve the interests
of both countries. The Future Movement also rejected any verbal attacks against
state institutions, including the judiciary, the Lebanese army and the Internal
Security Forces (ISF), the statement alo said. Tension is currently high in
Lebanon as some March 8 coalition politicians are calling for the abolition of
the STL, while Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and former head of
General Security Jamil as-Sayyed publicly attacked the government.
-NOW Lebanon
MP Ahmad Fatfat: Hezbollah’s decision to not finance STL will not affect it
September 29, 2010/agencies/Lebanon First bloc MP Ahmad Fatfat told AFP on
Wednesday that Hezbollah has taken a decision not to finance the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), adding that it will not affect the tribunal’s work.
March 14 alliance MPs withdrew from the September 16 evening session of the
Parliamentary Budget and Finance Commission to prevent a quorum when March 8
coalition MPs called for voting on a 2010 state budget clause pertaining to
Lebanon’s funding of the STL. The MP also predicted that the political campaign
against the tribunal will expand. Tension is currently high in Lebanon as some
March 8 coalition politicians are calling for the abolition of the STL.-AFP/NOW
Lebanon
Hezbollah International Relations Officer Ammar Moussawi : International
administrations cannot replace national will
September 29, 2010 /Following his meeting with UN Special Coordinator for
Lebanon Michael Williams on Wednesday, Hezbollah International Relations Officer
Ammar Moussawi issued a statement that “international administrations cannot
replace the national will in a sovereign country.” According to the statement,
Williams and Moussawi discussed latest developments particularly those related
to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)’s pending indictment. Talks that the
tribunal’s indictment are in the hands of the international community represent
international domination, Moussawi said, adding that stability and civil peace
must be protected. The major challenge is how countries, political parties or
judicial teams will deal with the pending indictment, Moussawi added. Tension
ran high in Lebanon after reports said that the STL would soon issue its
indictment for 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 May 2008.-NOW Lebanon
Hezbollah's political council member Ghaleb Abu Zainab: Hezbollah, allies reject
financing STL
September 29, 2010 /Hezbollah's political council member Ghaleb Abu Zainab told
AFP on Wednesday that Hezbollah and its allies have taken the decision of
rejecting Lebanese finance to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) probing the
investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
March 14 alliance MPs withdrew from the September 16 evening session of the
Parliamentary Budget and Finance Commission to prevent a quorum when March 8
coalition MPs called for voting on a 2010 state budget clause pertaining to
Lebanon’s funding of the STL. “The issue is not about financing it or not,” Abu
Zainab said, adding that the tribunal has become a US-Israeli tool aimed at
creating sedition.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
March 14: We Look with Much Caution at Ahmadinejad's Lebanon Visit
Naharnet/The majority March 14 alliance on Wednesday expressed fear over the
imminent visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Lebanon. "We look in
much caution and suspicion to the Iranian President's planned visit to Lebanon
due to his anti-peace positions and his insistence on considering Lebanon as an
Iranian base in the Mediterranean coast," said a statement issued at the end of
March 14's weekly meeting. The coalition renewed its "total support" for the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon so that truth and justice can be achieved. It
warned against ignoring national consensus and the ministerial statement. March
14 called on Lebanese to consider what they heard from the threats as "means to
unite ranks and adhere to coexistence and civil peace and the protection of the
State." Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
Suleiman from Mexico: Work is Underway to Bring the
Lebanese Diaspora together
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman stressed on Wednesday the importance of the
Lebanese diaspora, adding that Lebanon is keen on protecting the interests of
its expatriates.
He said before members of the Lebanese community in Mexico: "Lebanon is eager to
bring together the diaspora and unite its capabilities."He revealed that efforts
are underway with the Foreign Ministry and the committee charged with studying
the affairs of the diaspora to bring together the Lebanese communities abroad
and follow up on their advancements in a way that would guarantee communications
between them and Lebanon. Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
MP
Hamadeh Denies Requesting French Protection
Naharnet/Democratic Gathering MP Marwan Hamadeh on Wednesday denied he has
requested protection from France. Hamadeh "did not ask for political protection
from France or any other country," his office said in a statement. "His
protection is provided by his family and his home country, Lebanon, and (State)
institutions in charge of such tasks," the statement added. Al-Akhbar newspaper
on Tuesday said Hamadeh formally requested French authorities in Paris and the
French Embassy in Beirut to provide him with protection for fear of attacks in
light of the unstable political situation in Lebanon. Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
Loyalty to Resistance: Incitement and Tensions will Not Hinder Pursuit of False
Witnesses
Naharnet/The Loyalty to the Resistance bloc demanded on Wednesday the
prosecution of false witnesses and those responsible for them.
It said in a statement after its weekly meeting headed by MP Mohammed Raad:
""The ongoing intimidation and incitement campaigns … will not succeed in
diverting attention away from the need to uncover false witnesses who have
misled the investigation and caused great damage to Lebanon's regional and
international relations."
"The intimidation will not help turn attention away from the need to inspect the
evidence that would require turning the accusation towards Israel," the bloc
stated.Furthermore, it added that the dispute over the funding of the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon will not affect the disagreement among the Lebanese over
the mechanisms to reach the truth in the assassination of former Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri. Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
Khreis: Suleiman's Stands are Patriotic and Berri's Positions are Derived from
his Silence
Naharnet/Liberation and Development bloc MP Ali Khreis noted Wednesday that
President Michel Suleiman's speech at the U.N. General Assembly was patriotic in
every sense of the word. He added that the speech affirmed Lebanon's commitment
to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and rejection of the naturalization of
Palestinian, as well as its right to restore its occupied territories. He told
the National News Agency that House Speaker Nabih Berris is playing a
"constructive and positive role to reach calm and end the tension.""His silence
is a position in itself," Khreis said. "We are still banking on the Saudi-Syrian
Arab initiative because it is the umbrella of security for stability in
Lebanon," he stated. Beirut, 29 Sep 10,
Al-Markaziya: Brigadier General Fayez Karam transferred to military police
headquarters
September 29, 2010 /Al-Markaziya news agency quoted an unnamed judicial source
on Wednesday as saying that retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam’s – also an
FPM official arrested last month for allegedly collaborating with Israel –
health condition has improved, adding that Attorney General Said Mirza decided
to transfer him from the Hotel Dieu Hospital to a military police headquarters
in Horj Tabet in Mount Lebanon. Karam was admitted on Thursday at the Hotel Dieu
Hospital for a routine check-up. -NOW Lebanon
Maddening logic
September 27, 2010
Now Lebanon/Hezbollah MP Nawwaf Moussawi threatened violent retribution upon
those who back the Special Tribunal. (NOW Lebanon)
On a weekend filled with inflammatory comments on the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon (STL), Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf Moussawi’s statement on
Friday in which he clearly threatened violent retribution upon those who
supported the international court could not be outdone.
In comments reported by the National News Agency, Moussawi said that any group
that backed the decision of the STL (created to bring to justice the killers of
former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and subsequent victims of political terror)
to indict members of Hezbollah for their involvement in the February 2005
assassination, will be “dealt with on the basis that they are one of the tools
of US-Israeli aggression” and would “face the same response as the US-Israeli
aggressor.” As if that were not enough, he loaded the threat further by saying
that “the period after the indictment will not be like the period before,” and
that those committed to the tribunal should be “not just worried, but scared.”
Fighting words indeed. Moussawi – who, when he is not threatening his own people
with violence, is head of Hezbollah’s office of international relations – has
made his party’s position in the tribunal debate unequivocal. His statement
formally introduces the third phase of the party’s campaign against
international justice and its battle to survive with its weapons to both serve
Iran in its standoff with the West and consolidate its own domestic power base
within Lebanon.
Phase one was the issue of the false witnesses, that certain individuals had
misled the court and that this was enough to destroy its credibility. It was
(and still is, given Michel Aoun’s fire-and-brimstone rhetoric on Sunday) a
scattergun approach because it eschews any legal argument and hinges upon
convincing people that the tribunal is nothing more than a huge conspiracy
between Israel, the investigating team (one made up of many nationalities) and a
handful of so-called perjurers to frame Hezbollah for a crime that was in fact
committed by Israel.
Phase two was the “evidence” of Israeli involvement in the crime presented by
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah on August 9. The material was
laughable, but it did two things: It easily shifted the local debate on who
killed Hariri, and more importantly, it allowed Hezbollah, which handed its
so-called Israeli file to the tribunal investigators, to use the fact that no
one has acted on the material (presumably because there is nothing to act on) as
proof that the tribunal does not want to consider the Israel theory. Clearly
therefore, if we follow this line of reasoning, the tribunal, as former March 14
politician Walid Jumblatt declared on Sunday, is just another attempt, after the
passing of UN Security Council Resolution 1559 and the 2006 war, to disarm
Hezbollah.
Phase three uses Moussawi’s maddening logic that those who support it are in
league with Israel and will suffer the consequences. It posits that if you
unconditionally support international justice (is there any other way to support
justice?) and at the same time want a country that is predicated on the notion
of the state; and if you oppose the open-ended right of Hezbollah to both
maintain its weapons and dictate matters of war and peace, while at the same
time using the threat of those weapons to promote its domestic agenda, then you
are a Zionist.
And how do we deal with Zionists? Well, Hezbollah has used the very words of
President Michel Sleiman himself to tell us how. Hezbollah’s number 2, Sheikh
Naim Qassem, said on Sunday that his party supported Sleiman’s comments to the
UN General Assembly in New York on Friday in which the president said that
Lebanon has the right to distinguish between “terrorism and resistance,” as well
as “Lebanon’s right to liberate its land with all permissible means.” This, we
can extrapolate, means the Resistance is permitted to confront the Israeli
enemy, and presumably those who support it. If you don’t support Hezbollah, then
you support Israel. If you support Israel, you are the enemy, and the enemy will
be dealt with.
Qassem is right about one thing: The Lebanese really do have the right to
distinguish between “terrorism and resistance.”
Boutros Harb
September 29, 2010
On September 28, the Lebanese National News Agency carried the following report:
Minister of Labor Boutros Harb responded in a letter today to the report carried
by Human Rights Watch in regard to the status of domestic workers in Lebanon
under the headline "Without Protection," saying that it featured false
information and exaggeration affecting Lebanon's image.
Minister Harb stated: I looked into the recent report published by Human Rights
Watch, especially in regard to the status of domestic workers in Lebanon under
the headline "Without Protection." Although I do not deny the existence of some
violations, I would like to confirm that the Ministry of Labor is following up
on these violations and that I am personally looking into them. Still, I was
sorry to see the exaggeration featured in the report, let alone the little
attention given to the work of the Ministry of Labor at this level, in
coordination with national and international civil society associations, the
state's relevant institutions, the syndicate of the offices introducing these
foreign workers and the embassies and consulates of the states whose nationals
are working in Lebanon.
Based on the principle of constructive communication with Human Rights Watch and
the committees responsible for following up on the status of female and male
domestic workers, and based on my own wish to reveal the truth of the matter and
reject any harm which might affect the reputation of the Lebanese people and
their state, but also due to my insistence on informing public opinion about the
truth, I confirm the following on behalf of the Lebanese state: Lebanon's
government is committed to the respect of the rights of all its citizens, both
the nationals and the migrants, and especially the male and female workers. It
is trying, via its official institutions and especially the Ministry of Labor,
which is directly involved in the sector of domestic workers, to fill the
legislative, administrative and legal gaps in order to provide better protection
for the latter.
Moreover, it is closely following via its inspectors the cases of the latter as
soon as a complaint is issued by any of them, by the embassies and consulates to
which they are affiliated or by the civil society associations with which the
Ministry of Labor is continuously communicating and coordinating for that
purpose.
The Ministry of Labor is adopting all the necessary legal measures, including
the punishment of those in violation of the laws in place and the drawing up of
new systems to activate its role and ability to monitor the breaches and
promptly interfere to handle them. It is in this logic that we decided to
establish a complaints office and a hotline, in order to follow the incoming
complaints on a daily basis and in a direct and accurate way, before
transferring them to the relevant authority so that they are properly handled.
Moreover, we have activated the work of the National Steering Committee, which
includes representatives from the Justice Ministry, the Ministry of Social
Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the International Labor
Organization and civil society associations. The committee has already drawn up
the guidebook for female domestic workers in fourteen languages, in order to
allow the latter to learn about their rights and obligations, uphold these
rights and support the measures to provide them with protection.
Moreover, I launched a special workshop to draw up a special law for female
domestic workers, because they are still subjected to the Code of Obligations
and Contracts, considering that Article 7 of the Labor Law excludes them from
being treated in accordance with this law due to the inability of the inspection
apparatus to enter the homes, observe and investigate. On the other hand, I
discovered in light of the coordination with the syndicate of the owners of
recruitment offices that are introducing more than 95% of the female domestic
workers, that the number of legally-certified workers based on the figures of
the Ministry of Labor is of 114,000, while the number of illegal workers is
estimated at 86,000. This means that they have entered Lebanon illegally and we
will closely follow up on this issue in order to control it and prevent it.
I also formed a committee including experts from the Labor Ministry and
representatives from these offices in order to look into the organization of
this sector and met with the consuls and ambassadors of the states who have
nationals working in Lebanon to include them in the effort to tend to the
affairs of these nationals in cooperation with the Ministry, proposing
restraints which might prevent the exploitation and violation of the rights of
domestic workers. This led to several memorandums of understanding based on the
principle of rights and obligations.
Moreover, I established an office for social workers at the Ministry of Labor,
in order to follow up on the status of the female domestic workers, look into
their complaints and communicate with the judiciary to secure the fair and
prompt resolution of their problems... Human Rights Watch will show balance in
its perception of the status of domestic workers in particular and the foreign
workers in general, and especially at the level of the Lebanese government's
commitment to the international pacts, agreements and customs to protect them
based on the Lebanese laws in force. In this context, we should point out that
some foreign workers are also exceeding their rights and committing violations,
which sometimes reached the level of murder. This requires us to come together
and collaborate in the respect of the rights of the workers and the employers,
in order to provide decent working and living conditions for the workers and
uphold Lebanon's civilized image, which we are all trying to protect in words
and in action.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman: My views are 'clear, consistent, known to
all'
By REBECCA ANNA STOIL, TOVAH LAZAROFF AND JPOST.CO
09/29/2010 07:40
FM says Barak called for division of J'lem in potential peace agreement, yet no
one blamed him for going against gov't stance.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman responded to criticism leveled against him
following the controversial speech he gave to the United Nations General
Assembly on Tuesday, stating that as long as there is no breakthrough in
negotiations with the Palestinians, nothing prevents him from giving his
opinion. Lieberman's comments came in an interview with Israel Radio on
Wednesday.
Lieberman responded specifically to Defense Minister Ehud Barak's contention
that the foreign minister's comments to the General Assembly did not reflect the
stance of the Israeli government. Lieberman said that Barak stated last week
that Jerusalem should be divided in a potential peace agreement with the
Palestinians, yet he heard no one protest the fact that the defense minister's
views did not echo those of the government.
The foreign minister said that his own views are clear, consistent and known to
all and they do not contradict the government's fundamental position.
Barak said Tuesday night that Lieberman's comments do not reflect the Israeli
government's stance and certainly not the Labor party's attitude.
It's essential to make peace with the Palestinians and not to play into the
hands of Israel's enemies, Barak said.
Labor Minister for Minority Affairs Avishay Braverman called on Netanyahu to
fire the foreign minister.
"Lieberman undermined the prime minister and Netanyahu should fire him for it.
Lieberman's delusional speech was well-planned and was intended to heat up the
atmosphere and harm the peace process. This adds to a long list of incidents in
which Lieberman tried to undermine the prime minister."
Earlier on Tuesday evening, Lieberman spoke to Channel 2 news and said that the
Palestinians are not interested in peace, and the time has come for Israel to
stop blaming itself for failing to achieve peace.
The foreign minister also defended comments he made on Tuesday afternoon at the
UN General Assembly.
Earlier on Tuesday evening, Lieberman spoke to Channel 2 news and said that the
Palestinians are not interested in peace, and the time has come for Israel to
stop blaming itself for failing to achieve peace.
The foreign minister also defended comments he made on Tuesday afternoon at the
UN General Assembly.
In his speech before the General Assembly, Lieberman told international leaders
that he believed that Israel must arrive at an interim agreement with the
Palestinians, that peace would only be possible after a number of decades, and
that an ultimate agreement would require population and territorial exchanges.
The foreign minister said during the Channel 2 interview that at the UN he
talked about the facts and expressed the opinions of "the majority of the
Israeli public" on the issue of peace negotiations.
He said that everyone wants peace and "maybe the time has come to change the
direction of negotiations."
"Peace needs to come naturally, its like a premature birth - if it comes to
early then it can be dangerous," Lieberman said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's office distanced itself almost immediately from the
remarks by informing the media that his speech had not been coordinated with
Netanyahu.
Despite Netanyahu’s speedy disassociation from the controversial statements made
by Lieberman, Kadima jumped to the bit, accusing the prime minister of failing
to maintain a united coalition on issues of foreign policy.
“The “A” Prime Minister Netanyahu talks about a final agreement and two states,
Prime Minister “B” Lieberman speaks about an interim agreement and population
exchange, while Prime Minister “C” Yishai does not believe in an agreement,”
mocked MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima). “The Netanyahu government speaks with a number
of voices and it seems as though Prime Minister Netanyahu represents only his
own perspective. This shows Netanyahu’s weakness, as he is unable to advance his
stance among his ministers and his coalition partners. This is a government
without a head, without a leader, and without a direction.”
MK Nahman Shai (Kadima) echoed Hasson’s statements, saying that “the Prime
Minister needs to decide if he is running a country or conducting a choir. The
foreign minister’s statements are in complete opposition to the declared
policies of the government, both regarding the connection between the Iranian
problem and the peace process, as well as in his reference to the process as a
gesture to the world community rather than as a vital Israeli interest.”
MK Majalee Whbee (Kadima) took his criticism a step further, blasting not simply
Lieberman’s comments, but also describing Netanyahu’s response as “flaccid”,
saying that it was an “additional proof that Netanyahu prefers coalitional peace
over regional peace.”
Kadima was not the only party in the coalition to take the opportunity to attack
Lieberman’s statements. “It is known that he who places the mission of peace on
the next generation strives for war and not for peace,” complained Meretz
Faction Chairman MK Ilan Gilon.
Gilon said that Israel must reach a holistic solution with the Palestinians, but
that Lieberman is trying to do harm to any future agreement, leaving Israel as a
policy of eternal warfare. “It is clear that the fundamentalist forces are the
enemy of democracy, and they must be addressed through a strategic alliance with
Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, alongside an agreement with the Palestinians
while strengthening the Palestinian Authority against its enemies at home.”
Syrian FM ready to resume peace
talks with Israel
By JPOST.COM STAFF /Naharnet
09/28/2010 /Al-Moualem says at UN that talks would only resume if Syria can find "in Israel
a partner committed to the terms of reference of peace making." Syrian Foreign
Minister Walid al-Moualem said Tuesday that his government is ready to resume
peace talks with Israel. Al-Moualem said in an address to the UN General
Assembly that the talks would only resume if Syria can find "in Israel a partner
committed to the terms of reference of peace making, and if that partner has the
political will to achieve peace."The Syrian foreign minister said the talks
would take off from the point where they were halted after the IDF Gaza flotilla
raid. Al-Moualem said the talks would be mediated by Turkey. According to al-Moualem,
the peace talks would include a resolution of the Syrian Golan Heights issue.
Syria's position on the issue was reiterated and al-Moualem said that the Golan
is 'not negotiable nor is it a bargaining chip.''Recognition of the fact that it
must be returned fully is the basis on which peace making arrangements should be
made,' he said.
Pro-democracy leaders 'threatened' by Iran
Lebanese leader calls on U.S. for support, warns 'we are working today alone'
Posted: September 27, 2010
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
MIAMI – Pro-democracy leaders in Lebanon were threatened and intimidated into
siding with Syria and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia, revealed Lebanese
parliamentarian Samy Gemayel in an interview. Gemayel, whose Christian Phalange
party is one of the last to criticize Hezbollah and Syria, called on the Obama
administration to support the pro-Western forces vying for influence in Lebanon.
"We are working today alone, without any back up," stated Gemayel in an
interview with WND's Aaron Klein, who hosts an investigative show on New York's
WABC Radio. "This is very dangerous for us because we are defending values the
U.S. is defending, and we don't have the support that Hezbollah has from Iran.
So we think that the U.S. has very important responsibilities toward the
democratic parties in Lebanon," he said.
Following the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri,
which was widely blamed on Syria, pro-democracy forces led mass protests that
prompted Syria to remove tens of thousands of its troops from Lebanon,
purportedly ending nearly 30 years of Syrian occupation. But with the U.S. and
international community seemingly unengaged with the tribunal investigating
Hariri's murder – which was reportedly set to blame Hezbollah – and with U.S.
support for the pro-Democratic forces in Lebanon nearly nonexistent, the
country's traditional pro-Western leaders have been switching allegiances to the
Iranian and Syrian axis. Last Month, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of Rafiq
Hariri, announced to the public he had been wrong to blame Syria for his
father's death. Hariri is set to visit Damascus for a second time this month.
"At some point, we made a mistake," Hariri declared. "At one stage, we accused
Syria of assassinating the martyred premier. That was a political accusation,
and that political accusation is over." Also, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt,
previously one of the most vocal critics of Hezbollah and Syria, has also
publicly changed his tune, visiting Syria and declaring the country an ally.
Gemayel told Klein that Iran and Syria had threatened Jumblatt and Hariri into
changing sides.
"Jumblatt was threatened," he said. "That's why he backed off the fight against
Hezbollah and its allies and Iran and Syria. Because he was threatened."
Continued Gemayel: "On the 8th of May 2008, Hezbollah used force and weapons
against the Lebanese parties, like Jumblatt and Hariri. That is why Jumblatt and
Hariri are afraid that Hezbollah could use force one more time to impose its
views on all of the Lebanese. That's why you can see some concessions made by
Jumblatt and Hariri, just not to be threatened."
Gemayel comes from a historic Lebanese political family. He is a senior member
of Lebanon's Phalange party, which is led by his father, Amine Gemayel, the
country's former president. The party was founded by Samy Gemayel's grandfather,
Pierre. Samy's uncle, Bashir, was a president-elect of Lebanon, but he was
assassinated before he took office. Samy's brother, Pierre Amine, was a Lebanese
parliamentarian who was assassinated four years ago. Earlier this month, Gemayel
was the target of a death threat from a Hezbollah website.
The Hezbollah site, the Islamic Resistance Forum, described Gemayel as an
Israeli spy and called for his "crucifixion on a pole in the Pride and Dignity
Square in Beirut." Addressing the threat, Gemayel told Klein he is "concerned"
and "very conscious" of his security. "But we cannot give up the fight for
democracy and freedom. We are doing our best to stand up, but we need support,"
he said.