LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 01/2011

Bible Quotation for today/The Tower of Babylon
Genesis 11/01-10: " At first, the people of the whole world had only one language and used the same words. As they wandered about in the East, they came to a plain in Babylonia and settled there. They said to one another, Come on! Let's make bricks and bake them hard. So they had bricks to build with and tar to hold them together. They said, Now let's build a city with a tower that reaches the sky, so that we can make a name for ourselves and not be scattered all over the earth. Then the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which they had built, and he said, Now then, these are all one people and they speak one language; this is just the beginning of what they are going to do. Soon they will be able to do anything they want! Let us go down and mix up their language so that they will not understand each other.  So the Lord scattered them all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. The city was called Babylon, because there the Lord mixed up the language of all the people, and from there he scattered them all over the earth.

Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from miscellaneous sources
Rockets on Israel: A message from Iran/By: Daniel Nisman/Ynetnews/November 30/11
Divided Lebanese cabinet will stand/By: Matt Nash/November 30/11
Walid Moallem. “Abu Kalabsha”/By Tariq Alhomayed/November 30/11
 

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for November 30/11
Report: Mysterious blast in Iran's Isfahan damaged key nuclear site
Lebanese Cabinet Session Postponed, PM, Miqati to Make Major Announcement
Miqati Says he Transferred Funds to Special Tribunal for Lebanon
STL ‘Greatly Encouraged’ by Miqati’s Announcement of Funds Transfer
March 14 Praises STL Funding of STL, But Deems it as ‘Smuggling’
Lebanon to Enforce Arab Syria Sanctions
U.S. Urges Restraint after Lebanon-Israel Cross-Border Fire
Al-Qaida linked group claims responsibility for Katyusha fire against Israel
Canada Condemns Storming of U.K. Embassy in Iran
EU slams “unacceptable” British embassy storming in Iran
UN Council condemns storming of British embassy
Obama urges Iran to punish British embassy rioters
Britain vows “consequences” after storming of Tehran embassy
Britain Withdraws All Embassy Staff from Iran
Former Mossad chief: Israeli strike on Iran will lead to regional war
Zvi Bar'el / Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood facing compromises on its Islamist ideology
Zvi Bar'el / A novelty in this Egypt vote: unknown results
Saudi Arabia urges citizens to 'swiftly' leave Syria
Iran youths throw petrol bombs, break into U.K. embassy in Tehran
Turkey raises Syria military option; Russia urges caution
Former MI chief: Iran has enough material for 4 or 5 nuclear bombs
Turkey Could Bypass Syria for Regional Trade
French Foreign Minister Alain Jupp warns against relocating Syrian crisis to Lebanon
Future bloc: Mikati must keep STL promises
Economy Minister: Lebanon to Abide by Arab Sanctions on Syria
Jumblat Meets Berri: Government's Survival is Essential
Aoun on STL Funding: We are Open to Any Solution that Preserves Lebanon’s Stability
Watkins Meets Gemayel, Voices Concern over Cross-Border Violence
Jumblatt expresses “deep pain” over Syrian ordeal
Qassem: Lebanon Cannot Exist without the Resistance
Turkey Slaps Economic Sanctions on Syria
Turkish Police shoot and kill Istanbul gunman

Najib Mikati bows to the STL Funding
November 30, 2011/Now Lebanon /Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a press conference on November 30 addressing the funding of a UN-backed court probing the 2005 murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri: “My insistence on providing the annual share of funding to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) comes out of my devotion to Lebanon, its army, people and Resistance. It was also fueled by my desire to achieve justice in the [2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri] as well as by my refusal to head a government that would disrespect international commitments. This is why, this morning I have transferred Lebanon’s share of funding to the STL. This is a national decision that will protect Lebanon and steer it clear of Israeli plots. This is a decision that honors Lebanon’s international commitments without it being a triumph of one Lebanese party over the other. Brothers and sisters, our dedication to achieving justice makes us more committed to the UN-backed court, on condition that the tribunal is not biased and does not politicize the probe. We call for immediately resuming national dialogue sponsored by President Michel Sleiman… because it helps build bridges.
I call for considering this day the start of the government’s addressing citizens’ needs. I highly value the position of all parties and their understanding of what Lebanon is going through.”

Miqati Says he Transferred Funds to Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Naharnet /Premier Najib Miqati said he transferred Lebanon’s share of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon funding on Wednesday morning, without giving further details about the mechanism.
“My insistence on funding the STL emanates from my keenness on protecting Lebanon, the people, the army and the resistance,” Miqati said from the Grand Serail. “I transferred Lebanon’s share from the STL funding this morning,” he stressed, saying that he believes in achieving the truth and justice in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s Feb. 2005 assassination.The payment of Lebanon’s share also came out of his commitment to Lebanon’s international obligations and his keenness to preserve the country’s stability, he said. “The funding is not a victory for one team over the other,” Miqati said. Miqati dubbed his move as a “national decision aimed at safeguarding Lebanon” and steering it clear of “tough experiences.”He was referring to Western warnings that the U.N. could impose sanctions on Lebanon if it fails to fund the STL.The prime minister also called for the speedy resumption of the National Dialogue at Baabda palace to find common ground among the Lebanese and “build bridges of mutual trust.”
He urged the cabinet ministers “to consider today a new start for the government work” and consolidate the performance of their ministries. Miqati’s announcement came shortly after postponing a cabinet session aimed at discussing the funding of the STL, which is set to try Hariri’s suspected assassins.Last week, the prime minister threatened to resign if the cabinet failed to approve the payment of 49 percent of Lebanon’s shares to the STL, around $33 million.

STL ‘Greatly Encouraged’ by Miqati’s Announcement of Funds Transfer
Naharnet /The Special Tribunal for Lebanon praised on Wednesday Premier Najib Miqati’s announcement that he had transferred Beirut’s share of funding to the court probing the murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.“We are greatly encouraged by the Lebanese PM's announcement that 2011 contribution to the STL has been transferred to our account,” the court said on twitter. “We look forward to receiving the money. When we do we will confirm that it has arrived,” it said in another tweet. Miqati said that he transferred Lebanon’s share of funding in a decision aimed at protecting the country from the upheavals shaking the region. Lebanon is responsible for meeting 49 percent of the STL's financing, which amounts to some $33 million this year.

March 14 Praises STL Funding of STL, But Deems it as ‘Smuggling’
Naharnet /The March 14 General Secretariat lauded on Wednesday Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s announcement that he had transferred the country’s share of the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. It criticized however the manner in which it was achieved, describing it as being “smuggled.” “We reject the method in which a national cause was handled in that it was tackled outside cabinet,” it said in a statement after its weekly meeting. It noted however that the funding is an admission by the state of the legitimacy of the STL, “which therefore means that all accusations that had been issued against it no longer stand.”Furthermore, the general secretariat hoped that the government would meet all of its commitments towards the tribunal starting with arresting the four suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Addressing Tuesday’s rocket fire from Lebanon to Israel, it noted that it was a “blatant” violation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701, “which places Lebanon once again before the possibility of a new war with the Jewish state.”It noted however that the incident took place in light of sensitive regional developments, including the Syrian regime’s threats to set the whole region on fire and Hizbullah’s repeated announcements of support to the regime.“This consequently turns Lebanon once again into an open ground for regional powers,” continued the statement.
“The president of the republic, who safeguards the constitution, prime minister, and government will all have to bear the consequences of these irresponsible acts,” it added.The March 14 General Secretariat demanded that the sides responsible for the rocket attack be uncovered to prevent other ones from taking place in the future. Premier Najib Miqati said he transferred Lebanon’s share of the STL funding on Wednesday morning, without giving further details about the mechanism.“My insistence on funding the STL emanates from my keenness on protecting Lebanon, the people, the army and the resistance,” he said The premier dubbed his move as a “national decision aimed at safeguarding Lebanon” and steering it clear of “tough experiences.”Lebanon is obligated to fund 49 percent of the tribunal budget, which is estimated at around $33 million.

Lebanon to Enforce Arab Syria Sanctions
Naharnet /Lebanon will enforce Arab League sanctions imposed on neighboring Syria even though it did not back the punitive measures, Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas told Agence France Presse on Wednesday. "We are committed to implementing the Arab League sanctions," Nahhas said, pointing out that the Syrian government in any case had no trade dealings with Lebanon.
"The Lebanese state has no trade dealings or financial transactions, neither with the Syrian government nor the central bank," he said. Nahhas said the Arab League sanctions were clear in that while no transactions could take place with the Syrian government that did not apply to the private sector. He said Lebanese banks however would have no dealings with the Syrian central bank or any individuals targeted by the sanctions. Damascus has no funds deposited in the Lebanese central bank and there is therefore no need to act on the Arab League sanctions, governor Riyad Salameh said on Monday.
In an unprecedented move, the pan-Arab bloc on Sunday approved a raft of sanctions against Syria to pressure Damascus to end its deadly crackdown against an eight-month revolt.
The sanctions include freezing government assets, suspending cooperation with Syria's central bank and halting funding for projects in the country. Lebanon, whose government is dominated by the pro-Syrian Hizbullah, disassociated itself from the vote at the Arab League. Syria has long held sway in Lebanese politics and the revolt threatening the regime in Damascus has deepened the rift between Lebanese officials.Source Agence France Presse

Qassem: Lebanon Cannot Exist without the Resistance
Naharnet /Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Tuesday that the equation of the army, people, and resistance has granted Lebanon its stability. He said during a Ashuora sermon: “The Resistance is no longer an element in Lebanon, but one of its major components.” “Lebanon cannot exist without the Resistance because in the past it used to be weak without it, but now it has become a force to be reckoned with,” he remarked. “The Resistance has preserved the Lebanese state and people and it has established a unique relationship with the army,” he noted. “The army, people, and Resistance equation is unique in the world just as Lebanon is unique in its sects,” Qassem continued. Furthermore, he said that the Resistance will not respond to the criticism against it, stressing that despite the local and regional developments, the party is not fearful over the future.“Any hardship can be resolved as long as we are performing our duties correctly,” the Hizbullah official stated.“We are certain that victory will always be on our side,” he said. He renewed the party’s accusations of espionage against the American Embassy, saying that it is spying for Israel and stirring strife in Lebanon. Reports last week said Hizbullah had uncovered several operatives within the movement working for the CIA. In the first acknowledgement of infiltration since the group's founding in the 1980s, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in June had said members of his group confessed to being CIA agents. Nasrallah accused his arch-foe Israel of turning to the U.S. spy agency after failing to infiltrate his party, slamming the American embassy in Beirut as a "den of spies." The U.S. embassy in Beirut dismissed the accusations as "empty." More than 100 people in Lebanon have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel since April 2009, including military personnel and telecoms employees.

Turkey Slaps Economic Sanctions on Syria
Naharnet /Turkey on Wednesday slapped economic sanctions on the Syrian regime, freezing assets of Syrians involved in the government's crackdown on protesters, suspending ties with Syria's Central Bank and banning all military sales. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference that Syrian President Bashar Assad has wrongly ignored calls from the international community to stop its bloody crackdown on protesters. He announced the sanctions against Syria, which also include suspending a joint cooperation mechanism and imposing a travel ban.
"Every bullet fired, every bombed mosque has eliminated the legitimacy of the Syrian leadership and has widened the gap between us," Davutoglu said. "Syria has squandered the last chance that it was given."
Davutoglu said Syria "has entered a vicious circle of violence," despite warnings from Turkey. "Syria must immediately cease using force on the people and the forces must immediately withdraw from the cities," Davutoglu said. The United Nations says at least 3,500 people have been killed in Assad's crackdown. Source Associated Press

Britain Withdraws All Embassy Staff from Iran
Naharnet /Britain was Wednesday evacuating its diplomatic staff from Iran following the storming of its embassy by Iranian protesters the day before, which sparked international condemnation.
The Foreign Office in London confirmed information from EU diplomats in the Iranian capital that the British staff was being withdrawn. "In light of yesterday's events and to ensure their ongoing safety, some staff are leaving Tehran," a Foreign Office spokesman said. A first group of embassy employees was already at Tehran airport about to be flown to Dubai, one European diplomat told Agence France Presse. He and other diplomats said all the British embassy staff was leaving. The British diplomats had spent the night in the security of various EU embassies, notably the French mission.
The evacuation was decided after Iranian protesters, some chanting "Death to Britain", overran Britain's two diplomatic compounds in Tehran for several hours Tuesday, tearing down the British flag and trashing embassy offices. The protesters were reflecting official anger at Britain's decision last week to cut all relations with Iran's financial sector as part of a raft of new sanctions unveiled in coordination with the United States and Canada. The storming of Britain's embassy sparked international condemnation, including a strongly worded statement from the U.N. Security Council.
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said during a trip to South Korea he was "shocked and outraged to hear of the incident in Tehran in which demonstrators entered the British embassy, briefly abducted embassy staff and damaged property." Even Russia -- Iran's closest major ally -- condemned the incursions as "unacceptable"
It took diplomatic police several hours to free six diplomats sequestered by hundreds of protesters inside a building in Britain's diplomatic compound in the north of the capital, the Fars news agency reported.
Inside the embassy in the city center, several protesters scattered documents and set them alight, witnesses told AFP. One protester was seen looting a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Iran's foreign ministry expressed "regret" over the incident, but some Iranian officials were defiant, blaming the dramatic scenes on Britain's stance towards their country.
Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said the U.N. Security Council's condemnation was "hasty," state television reported.
He said "a number of students angered by the British government's behavior" had carried out their actions because of "decades of domineering moves by the British in Iran."
The head of parliament's security and foreign policy committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, told state news agency IRNA: "Iran respects all international laws and the Vienna Convention (on the protection of embassies) and this issue must in no way cause concern for other diplomats and embassies."
He, too, downplayed the storming of the embassy as "a manifestation of the students' high emotions."
Britain, though, called the acts "a very serious failure by the Iranian government." Britons were warned against non-essential travel to Iran and the few in the country were advised to stay indoors.
The United States -- which cut off diplomatic ties to Iran after students stormed its own embassy in 1979, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days -- also expressed alarm.
President Barack Obama said the storming of the embassy was "not acceptable" and that "all of us are deeply disturbed."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it "an affront not only to the British people but also to the international community."
Tuesday's demonstration had been organized days earlier, when the Iranian parliament passed a law to expel Britain's ambassador in retaliation for London's new sanctions.
Britain and the United States have been leading Western moves to step up pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, which they fear is being used as cover for the development of a weapons capability.
The looting of the British embassy and compound came ahead of an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday that is expected to unveil new sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program.
Iran has repeatedly denied its nuclear program has a military component, and has warned it will respond to any military attack by raining missiles on Israel and Turkey.
Source Agence France Presse

Turkish Police shoot and kill Istanbul gunman
November 30, 2011 /Police shot dead a man armed with a shotgun who opened fire in a tourist area of Istanbul early Wednesday, wounding two people, Turkish television reported. The man shouted "Allahu akbar" (God is great) before opening fire in an apparently indiscriminate attack, NTV television quoted witnesses as saying. The incident happened in Sultanahmet, the heart of historic old Istanbul, which is visited by thousands of tourists every day. The man entered the Topkapi Palace on the banks of the Bosphorous River and began shooting in all directions, NTV television quoted Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin as saying. "With his weapon he began to fire everywhere," he said. Police officers rushed to the scene and exchanged fire with the man before shooting him dead. "The operation neutralized the aggressor," Capkin said. The man was a Libyan national who had entered Turkey on Sunday, Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin was quoted as saying by the Anatolia press agency.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon

Rockets on Israel: A message from Iran
Op-ed: It is no coincidence that rocket attack on north came hours after Iran explosion
Daniel Nisman Published: 11.29.11/Ynetnews
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4154599,00.html
Late Monday, residents of Israel's western Galilee were awoken by blasts caused by several rockets that landed near the Lebanon border. The barrage caused some property damage but no injuries.
Unlike Israel's south, the Lebanese border has been relatively quiet, despite the presence of several militant groups that operate south of the Litani River. These factions vary in their religious and political ideologies, as well as their operational capability. Hezbollah is by far the most powerful of the groups, and boasts the capability to simultaneously launch hundreds of rockets as far south as the city of Dimona at nearly a moment's notice.
Other, less capable groups include Palestinian and global Jihad factions, many of which have small arsenals of short-range rockets, and have been blamed for similar flare-ups in the past.
The latest attack was in no way a fluke. Unlike the Gaza Strip, any attack on Israel from Lebanon is perpetrated after considerable calculation by several parties, including Hezbollah which controls southern Lebanon, and its backers in Iran and Syria. These parties understand that a serious provocation could result in an even broader conflict that would result in widespread damage across Lebanon, far greater than that inflicted in the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
Despite the relative calm in Israel's north, localized flare-ups have occurred over the years, oftentimes drawing an Israeli response in the form of symbolic artillery barrages into open areas. Many of these attacks have coincided with events concerning the Palestinians, either in the territories or elsewhere in the region.
It is no coincidence that the relative calm in the north was shattered just hours after another mysterious explosion rocked a strategically important Iranian city. The reported blast in Esfahan, a hub of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, was the latest in what is perceived to be an enhanced sabotage campaign by Western spy agencies following the latest critical report by the IAEA.
In addition, Syria has recently threatened retaliation against Israel and Jordan over the killing of six air force pilots by insurgents in a raid earlier this week. It is no secret that both Syria and Iran wield considerable influence of both Shiite and Sunni militants in southern Lebanon, providing them with logistical, monetary and ideological support. Of these groups, Hezbollah has long been open about its close alliance with Iran, often stating that an attack on the Iranian nuclear program would result in an escalation with Israel.
Despite these close ties, it is unlikely that Hezbollah was directly responsible for the latest attack. Domestically, the group's political wing is facing the worst political crisis since it took power, with the March 14 opposition taking aim not only at its pro-Assad policies, but also on its insistence on maintaining its private army.
Amin Gemayel, a prominent opposition Christian figure, recently lashed out at Hezbollah, claiming that its "resistance" approach was no longer viable. Similar statements by other political figures signal that such sentiment is rapidly spreading among the Lebanese population, meaning that Hezbollah itself would have an especially difficult time justifying another conflict with Israel in the name of "resistance."
The Syrians and Iranians understand Hezbollah's military card is severely limited by its precarious domestic situation, yet still need an outlet from which to send a warning message to the Israelis. Palestinian and Sunni militant groups provide the most convenient option. The Syrian conflict has caused many of these groups to return to Lebanon, and the latest rocket barrage was preceded by a flux in inter-faction violence in Palestinian refugee camps in recent weeks.
Given its limited scope, the flare-up on the Lebanese border was mostly an example of the highly volatile way in which Israel and its enemies communicate. The fact that the attack was small in both scale and range signals that the Iranians and Syrians seek to warn the State of Israel that its operations to undermine Iranian or Syrian aspirations will not go unchecked.
Israel's limited response was meant to send a message that it will retaliate for any provocation, but does not seek a major conflict. As in past flare-ups, Lebanese militias will not likely respond, a message to Israel that they too do not seek a wide-scale confrontation. Meanwhile, Hezbollah is likely to keep its military option hidden in its many bunkers for the time being, unleashing it only when it senses a substantial threat to its position of power in Lebanon, or at the behest of its Iranian puppet masters.
**Daniel Nisman works for Max Security Solutions, a risk consulting company based in the Middle East

Canada Condemns Storming of U.K. Embassy in Iran
(No. 357 – November 29, 2011 – 6:50 p.m. ET) Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada is outraged by the storming of the U.K. embassy in Tehran by protestors earlier today.
“Iranian authorities failed to uphold their serious responsibilities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, namely, to safeguard diplomatic premises and ensure the safety of internationally protected persons. My officials have summoned the Iranian chargé d’affaires to Canada to convey our displeasure directly.
“Canada’s diplomatic properties in Tehran remain secure, and all mission staff are safe. We have offered our support to British diplomatic and embassy staff in light of the damage to their embassy.
“The Iranian authorities must fulfill their international obligations to restore order, safeguard all diplomatic facilities and ensure the protection of all diplomatic and embassy staff in Iran.”

UN Council condemns storming of British embassy
November 29, 2011 /The UN Security Council strongly condemned the storming of Britain's embassy in Tehran and warned Iran that it must protect diplomatic personnel. "The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attacks" against the British embassy in Tehran, said a statement agreed by the 15-nation body. Highlighting the Vienna conventions which protect diplomats, the council "called on the Iranian authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel, and to respect fully their international obligations in this regard." The council made no threat of action against Iran. Security Council statements must be unanimously agreed by council members and carry less weight than a formal resolution. The Security Council has passed four rounds of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The statement was agreed on the sidelines of regular Security Council meetings just after protesters stormed Britain's embassy and another diplomatic compound in Tehran, trashing offices, stealing documents and defying police efforts to remove them. Among the five permanent members of the council, Britain, France, the United States and Russia all condemned the protests individually. "The responsibility for the protection of diplomats and diplomatic premises is up to the host government and in this case we expect Iran to live up to its obligations," UN deputy spokesperson, Eduardo del Buey told a press briefing when asked about the Tehran protests.-AFP/NOW Lebanon

EU slams “unacceptable” British embassy storming in Iran
November 29, 2011 /European Union Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton called on Iran Tuesday to fulfill international obligations to protect embassies after the "unacceptable" storming of the British mission in Tehran. "It is with extreme concern that I have learnt that the premises of the embassy of the United Kingdom in Tehran have been overrun by demonstrators. I strongly condemn this totally unacceptable incursion," Ashton said. "I call on the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately to fulfill its international obligations, including the Vienna Convention, to protect diplomats and embassies," she said in a statement. "I am following developments closely and remain in contact with the UK authorities and EU member states." Protesters stormed Britain's embassy and another diplomatic compound in Tehran, trashing offices, stealing documents and defying police efforts to remove them. Iran's Foreign Ministry expressed regret over the incident while police said several protesters who entered the embassy were arrested and would be handed over to the courts.-AFP/NOW Lebanon

Obama urges Iran to punish British embassy rioters
November 29, 2011 /US President Barack Obama called on Iran to take "definitive action" and hold to account as soon as possible those responsible for overrunning the British embassy in Tehran on Tuesday. Young men chanting "death to Britain" entered the property, trashing offices, stealing documents and violently defying police efforts to remove them for several hours.
"It's important to just note that all of us, I think, are deeply disturbed by the crashing of the English embassy, the embassy of the United Kingdom in Iran," Obama told journalists at the White House.
"That kind of behavior is not acceptable, and I strongly urge the Iranian government to hold those who are responsible to task."
The incursions, which sparked international alarm and raised tensions with the West over Iran's nuclear program, only came to an end after several hours when special police units were deployed.
Iranian authorities responded quickly to the international outcry with the Foreign Ministry issuing a statement expressing "regret for certain unacceptable behavior by a small number of protesters."
But the United States, which cut off diplomatic ties to Iran after students stormed its own embassy in 1979, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days, was vigorous in criticizing the events.
"They have a responsibility to protect diplomatic outposts," Obama said, referring to the Vienna Convention, an international law regarding the neutrality and protection of missions.
"That is a basic international obligation that all countries need to observe," Obama said. "And for rioters to basically be able to overrun the embassy and set it on fire is an indication that the Iranian government is not taking its international obligations seriously. "So obviously we're deeply concerned about that situation and expect some sort of definitive action some time very quickly," he added.-AFP/NOW Lebanon

Britain vows “consequences” after storming of Tehran embassy
November 29, 2011 /Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday called Iran a "disgrace" and warned of serious consequences after protesters stormed Britain's embassy in Tehran. "The attack on the British Embassy in Tehran today was outrageous and indefensible," said Cameron in a statement. "The failure of the Iranian government to defend British staff and property was a disgrace," he added. "We hold the Iranian government responsible." The prime minister earlier chaired a meeting of COBRA, Britain's security response committee, after it emerged that its two compounds had been attacked."The Iranian government must recognize that there will be serious consequences for failing to protect our staff," vowed Cameron.
"We will consider what these measures should be in the coming days."Cameron's comments followed earlier warnings from Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Hague said the assault on the embassy and another diplomatic compound in Tehran by young men chanting "death to Britain" was a "grave breach" of the Vienna Convention which requires host countries to protect diplomats."The United Kingdom takes this irresponsible action extremely seriously," he said.
"I spoke to the Iranian foreign minister this afternoon, to protest in the strongest terms about these events and to demand immediate steps to ensure the safety of our staff and of both embassy compounds."
Hague said in a statement that although the Iranian foreign minister had apologized, "this remains a very serious failure by the Iranian government".
"Clearly there will be other, further, and serious consequences," Hague said, adding that he would make a statement to the British parliament on Wednesday.
Cameron arranged the COBRA meeting in response to the storming, which has raised tensions in the West over Iran's contested nuclear program.
France, the European Union and Russia - Iran's closest ally - also condemned the attack on the British facilities.
Six British diplomats held for more than two hours by hundreds of protesters inside a British diplomatic compound in the north of Tehran were freed when police intervened.
Hague said: "On our latest information it now appears that all our staff and their dependents are accounted for."
But he added British officials were still "urgently establishing" if all the locally hired security staff were safe.
Hague also repeated advice given earlier in the day that the "small number" of British nationals in Iran should stay indoors and await further instructions.
Dozens of protesters were shown on Iranian state television throwing stones at embassy windows, breaking them, and one was seen climbing the wall of the compound carrying a looted portrait of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. The attack comes amid heightened tensions following Iran's decision to pass a law to expel the British ambassador to Tehran in retaliation for new British sanctions that cut off all ties with Iran's financial sector. The sanctions were part of a coordinated raft of measures announced on November 14 by Britain, the United States and Canada to increase pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear program.AFP/NOW Lebanon

Saudi Arabia urges its citizens to leave unrest-hit Syria
November 29, 2011 /The Saudi Foreign Ministry on Tuesday urged its citizens to leave Syria and not to travel to the Arab nation that has been hit by months of deadly anti-regime protests.
"Due to the security situation, Saudi Arabia urges its citizens to leave Syria and not travel there," the ministry said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency. The decision comes just days after the Arab League slapped unprecedented sanctions on the Syrian regime over its heavy-handed crackdown on dissent, including a call to suspend flights between Damascus and Arab destinations. Bahrain and Qatar on Sunday urged their citizens to leave Syria after the United Arab Emirates also advised its nationals to stay away. Arab states in the Gulf have been at the forefront of calls to sanction Syria over its eight-month crackdown which the United Nations says has killed more than 3,500 people. The Qatari and Saudi embassies in Damascus have been attacked du And Saudi Arabia said one of its citizens was killed on November 21 while visiting relatives in the restive city of Homs in central Syria. The Arab League on Sunday approved sweeping sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government – the first time the bloc has imposed punitive measures of such magnitude on one of its own memb Measures include an immediate ban on transactions with Damascus and its central bank and a freeze on Syrian government assets in Arab countries. They also bar Syrian officials from visiting Arab countries and call for a suspension of all flights to Arab states to be implemented on a date to be set next week.-AFP/NOW Lebanon

Future bloc: Mikati must keep STL promises
November 29, 2011 /The Future bloc on Tuesday called on Lebanon's prime minister to keep his promise and stay committed to an international court investigating the 2005 murder of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. Prime Minister Najik Mikati “is being called upon to respect his promise and stances regarding the complete cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon [STL] so that [his actions] are in harmony [with his statements] and aspirations of Lebanese.” said a statement released following the bloc's weekly meeting.
The statement said that the rally organized on Sunday in Tripoli underlined “full cooperation with” the STL, including the issues related to handing in those indicted by the UN-backed court, as well as paying Lebanon’s share of STL funding. These issues serve “as commitments to a national cause related to justice,” the statement read.
Thousands of people poured into the northern city of Tripoli to take part in a rally organized by the Future Movement to honor Lebanese politicians assassinated in past years, as well as to voice support for Arab uprisings. Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denies the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court. Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the UN backed court’s annual subsidy. Mikati has called for the cabinet to meet on Wednesday and discuss the issue of Lebanon’s share of STL funding. Regarding the latest Syrian developments, the Future bloc said that “noncooperation with the recent resolutions issued by the Arab league regarding halting violence against [Syrian] citizens and allowing Arab observers [in Syria] have led Arab officials to adopt the latest resolutions [against Syria].” The Future bloc called on Syrian officials to show responsiveness regarding the Arab League’s resolutions “before the sanctions are implemented.”
It also called on the Lebanese government to not oppose the decisions taken by the Arab league. The Arab League on Sunday voted sweeping sanctions against Damascus to punish the regime for failing to halt its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests - the first time the bloc enforces sanctions of this magnitude on one of its members. Nineteen Arab League members voted for the sanctions. Iraq abstained and said it would refuse to implement them, while Lebanon disassociated itself.
The Future Movement also condemned on Tuesday the recent documentary film presented by Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem, saying that it showed events “not related to what is happening in Syria.”
“These desperate claims show that the [Syrian regime’s] credibility [is weakening].” Syria on Monday hit out at the Arab League for the treatment it has meted out to Damascus, accusing it of ignoring the presence of "terrorists" in the country and prematurely imposing economic sanctions.-NOW Lebanon

French Foreign Minister Alain Jupp warns against relocating Syrian crisis to Lebanon
November 29, 2011 /French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe warned on Tuesday against relocating the current Syrian crisis to Lebanon, in an interview with Al-Sharq newspaper. Juppe said that “Lebanese need to focus on dialogue” and make efforts to protect national unity and civil peace in order to avoid the Syrian crisis and the possibility of it spilling into Lebanon. The French Foreign Minister reiterated France’s stance that seeks “ to defend Lebanon’s unity, independence and sovereignty.” Lebanon's political scene is split between supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, led by Hezbollah, and the March 14 pro-Western camp. Assad’s troops have cracked down on protests against almost five decades of Baath rule which broke out mid-March, killing over 3,500 people and triggering a torrent of international condemnation.-NOW Lebanon

Jumblatt expresses “deep pain” over Syrian ordeal
November 29, 2011 /Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt, who was speaking to reporters on Tuesday following a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri, expressed his “deep pain because of the ordeal Syria is going through.” Jumblatt said that Syria’s national unity and security are linked to those of Lebanon and “therefore every one of us [needs to refrain from gambling too much on the Syrian situation] and help Syria, if we can, [overcome] its ordeal.” Jumblatt also said that there “is no magical solution” for current issues. Lebanon's political scene is split between supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, led by Hezbollah, and the March 14 pro-Western camp. Assad’s troops have cracked down on protests against almost five decades of Baath rule which broke out mid-March, killing over 3,500 people and triggering a torrent of international condemnation/-NOW Lebanon

Of 'dictators' and Israeli democracy
By Moshe Arens/Haaretz/29.11.11
Was Franklin Roosevelt, that great democratic president, who led America to victory over Nazi Germany, a dictator? That was the accusation leveled against him during his second term of office in 1937 when he tried to alter the composition of the Supreme Court that was declaring some of his New Deal legislation unconstitutional. The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, the legislation he tried to pass through Congress, was referred to as the "Court-packing Plan" by his opponents.
The bill was intended to give the president the power to add additional judges to the court, whose conservative majority was striking down some of Roosevelt's legislation designed to bring the country out of the depression. U.S. Supreme Court judges are appointed for life, and the legislation proposed by Roosevelt was intended to give him the authority to appoint additional judges in case sitting judges had reached the age of 70 years and six months, thus overriding the conservative majority of the court. The legislation never passed Congress, and as it turned out was not needed after one of the Supreme Court judges retired.
As is well known, judges to the U.S. Supreme Court are appointed by the president for life, making it essentially a political process - conservative presidents appointing conservative judges, and liberal presidents appointing liberal judges. The composition of the court at any given time is the result of a rather random process depending on the results of presidential elections and the longevity of the sitting judges. Despite the political nature of the Supreme Court appointments the court is held in high regard by the public.
This comes to mind as we watch the attempts in the Knesset to influence the composition of the Israeli Supreme Court, and the charges by the left that the Knesset majority is tampering with the democratic nature of the State of Israel. Even the insult "fascist" is hurled at some of the MKs now and then in the frenzy of the political debate. It is no more appropriate than the charge at the time that Roosevelt wanted to be a dictator. Whether Jabotinsky or Begin would have supported the suggested changes we will never know and is hardly relevant to the issue in question.
Supreme Court judges in Israel are not appointed by a political process, yet obviously they have political opinions, as do most of Israel's citizens. Do their political opinions influence their judgments in court decisions? In many of the cases brought before them there may be no political content involved, but no doubt, in some cases there inevitably is. Are the judges then able to isolate their political opinion from the decisions they have to take? That is not at all certain.
The obvious case that comes to mind is the High Court of Justice's decision to approve Ariel Sharon's plan to uproot Israeli settlers from Gush Katif and the northern tip of the Gaza Strip, an issue loaded with political content. The most important aspect of the decision that the court had to make was whether the forcible uprooting of 10,000 Israeli citizens from their homes was not an impermissible violation of their civil rights. After all, all of Israel's citizens, regardless of their political persuasion, regard the court as the ultimate protector of their civil rights. The court, in a 10-1 decision, upheld Sharon's disengagement plan stating in a majority opinion that although the uprooting of Israeli citizens from their homes was a violation of human rights, the court considered it a "measured violation which was not excessive". There is little doubt that this clearly problematic judgment will be debated for many years to come, and can be rightly ascribed, in no small measure, to the composition of the court.
The composition of the court is determined by a committee which includes a substantial percentage of sitting Supreme Court judges, thus providing them an opportunity to perpetuate the composition of the court. In these circumstances it is entirely legitimate for those in the Knesset, who feel that the composition of the court is not fully representative of the spirit of the majority of Israel's citizens, to attempt to affect a change in that composition. There is nothing undemocratic about that. On the contrary, freezing the present composition of the court is probably not in the best interests of Israeli democracy. However, making sure that the majority of Israel's citizens have full confidence in the judgment of the Supreme Court is of paramount importance to Israeli democracy.

Former Mossad chief: Israeli strike on Iran will lead to regional war
Meir Dagan said in a television interview that a military strike will result in massive rocket attacks from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas.
By Haaretz /29.11.11
Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan said in a television interview on Tuesday that if Israel attacks Iran, it will be dragged into a regional war.
According to Dagan, Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas will respond with massive rocket attacks on Israel. In that scenario, Syria may join in the fray, Dagan said on the television program “Uvda”.
Dagan also followed up on recent public comments that he made on the topic, after which he was criticized for speaking out on, saying that the Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Finance Minister cannot prevent him from speaking his mind. “We are not living in an undemocratic country; in democratic countries, even people like me have the right to express their opinions,” Dagan said.
Dagan added that such a war would take a heavy toll in terms of loss of life and would paralyze life in Israel. These comments were in response to a recent remark by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, in which he claimed that if a war breaks out between Israel and Iran, it would result in no more than 500 dead Israelis.
"A war is no picnic, but in any scenario there won't be 50 thousand or 5,000 or even 500 dead,” Barak told Israel Radio in an interview three weeks ago, on November 8. Barak also attacked Dagan’s outspokenness on the Iran issue. “The way in which this discussion has taken place, by including those who previously held high positions, was sometimes despicable.”
Barak added, “When the head of the Mossad unprecedentedly brings journalists to Mossad headquarters and instructs them to oppose the prime minister… I think that is very serious behavior. I would have expected him to act intelligently, without manipulations."
It was announced earlier on Tuesday that Dagan will lead a group that will endeavor to immediately alter the system of government in Israel.
Maariv reported Tuesday that the group is operating without much publicity, backed by a group of leaders in the fields of business, culture and law that has already begun to raise funds.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, businessman Gad Zeevi and Herliya Interdisciplinary Center President Professor Uriel Reichman have already joined the new group

Mikati must Dismiss the FPM Histrionics
November 28, 2011
By Ghassan Karam/YaLibnan
http://www.yalibnan.com/2011/11/28/mikati-must-dismiss-the-fpm-hisrionics/
Old habits die hard, actually at times they never die. This is a good thing if the habit in question is that of integrity, high ethical standards, intellectual curiosity and creative thinking. But it is a bad when the characteristic in question is that of being addicted to superficiality, megalomania and a squeaky wheel. Lebanon is cursed by having one of political heavyweights behave like a Dean of the latter group, a group that is addicted to obstructionism, nepotism superficiality and bluster. General Michele Aoun has exemplified the role of being the squeaky wheel of Lebanese politics, the wheel that needs to be oiled in order to stop the aural damage and lessen the demagoguery.
The self proclaimed saver of the Christians and the most principled of the Lebanese politicians prevented the formation of the present cabinet for weeks by constantly raising peripheral issues and meaningless objections. Then all of a sudden he forgot about all the issues that he had objected to and consented to the cabinet formation essentially unchanged. What is it that had changed? Was it orders from Damascus and/or Tehran? We will never know for sure but that is the most likely explanation.
As if the above sophomoric behavior is not enough, yesterday the General instructs his cabinet ministers not to attend a regularly scheduled cabinet meeting and hints that his parliamentary bloc might resign from the cabinet if it dares approve honouring Lebanons’ obligations to the STL. What is strange about this issue is that the Premiere, Mr. Mikati, has always insisted that his cabinet is committed to fulfilling all the international obligations of the country. If everyone, the world over, has known about this for months then why did mon General not know about it? Is it because he was asked to join the cabinet when he did and now he is being asked to quit? There is no other explanation.
Mr. Mikati should dismiss the childish behavior of the FPM and carry on doing the peoples’ business. Lebanon can hardly afford a cabinetary vacuum at this moment. But that would not be enough. Mr. Mikati has an obligation to govern as the effective Lebanese independent politician that he promised us to be. He should use his bully pulpit to lobby for policies that benefit the Lebanese citizen and should shame the ideologues and obstructionists into supporting policies that are guided by the national interest no more and no less. That includes but is not limited to favouring policies that will stand up to dictators and to threats from reactionary regimes built on fear and brutality.
This cabinet has thus far failed to be effective and has failed to govern. Its major problem is the lack of harmony between its members and in particular between the FPM and everybody else. The Premiere has the duty to form a cabinet in his image and not to conform to the whimsical wants of a group of ministers that are focused on histrionics and grabbing headlines. There is a popular folkloric tale in Lebanon about Jeha who broke the spout of the only clean water reservoir in the village so as to be noticed. That is nothing else but a need to be noticed, an ego full of misplaced hubris. Such an individual “habitually infuses inordinate emotion and self-dramatization into interpersonal and social persona”. That simply means that The General is “over the top”, he has become nothing else but a caricature , a person who is in love with himself. Lebanon needs better politicians and Mr. Mikati should bring the General back to earth by ignoring him.

Divided, cabinet will stand
Matt Nash, November 29, 2011
The solution is unlikely to come this week, but Beirut seems set to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon without losing a government. (Image via STL)
Behind closed doors in Ain al-Tineh Tuesday, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati worked on hammering out a deal to keep the government from falling. Beirut will almost certainly pay over $30 million in dues to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, but Mikati will not get the cash for free, nor will it be transferred by the end of the month.
Mikati threw his cards on the table late last week, threatening to resign if Beirut fails to fund the STL during a cabinet session Wednesday. Hezbollah’s reaction was muted—though the party still opposes the funding—but its ally, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, countered with his own threat that his bloc will quit if the cabinet does not address other pressing issues. While the exit of the Change and Reform bloc alone is not enough to fell Mikati’s government, the resignations would likely usher in a political crisis second only to the collapse that would follow Mikati’s own resignation.
The PM’s ultimatum forces Hezbollah to choose between funding the court and entering parliamentary negotiations to form a new government. Arguably, the FPM’s retort was an effort, in part, to pressure Mikati into rethinking his position, but the PM shows no signs of backing down. Hezbollah has taken such a strong stand against the STL, it seems difficult for the party to allow Lebanon to fund it, yet a months-long vacuum that would no doubt accompany forming a new government is likely even less palatable for the Party of God.
Although the so-called “government of one color” has been more fraught with division than many analysts initially expected, Hezbollah and its allies have more power in this cabinet than they have ever had in the past. It’s unclear if they could pull off such a win again.
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt—who supplied the votes to win Mikati the premiership over March 14’s objections—has been distancing himself from the March 8 coalition more or less since the cabinet’s birth, so he may not be such a dependable ally should Hezbollah need him to form a new government.
Having control of the government, argued Oussama Safa, head of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, “gives Hezbollah legitimacy.”
“With or without the government, they can get what they want, but the government gives them legitimacy,” he said, betting Hezbollah will ultimately acquiesce over funding the STL.
Indeed, according to local press reports, the March 8 coalition is not a solid wall absolutely opposed to funding the court. Speaker Berri is reportedly even negotiating on Hezbollah’s behalf to reach a solution with Mikati, something the latter said he is open to.
On Monday, local papers reported that the Marada Movement of Sleiman Franjieh and the Armenian Tashnaq Party, both of which are part of Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc, hinted they may break ranks to support funding the court.
Also Monday, Talal Arslan, a Druze who has long been part of the March 8 coalition and the minister who represents his Lebanese Democratic Party in parliament, met with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, who angered March 14 earlier this year by toeing Damascus’ line on unrest in Syria and supporting Hezbollah’s right to keep weapons, but, who, over the weekend called for Lebanon to pay its share of the tribunal.
Even the FPM did not absolutely rule out transferring dues to the STL in responding to Mikati’s resignation threat. The party has in the past few months repeatedly rejected Lebanon paying its 49 percent of the court’s costs, but most recently tied its cabinet ministers’ resignation to anger over the government’s performance.
The FPM apparently wants Mikati to agree to filling long-vacant state administrative positions, taking action on a plan to improve electricity and water infrastructure, and solving the ongoing dispute over raising workers’ wages, among other things. Safa said Aoun is likely trying to win concessions.
“For Aoun, in every crisis there is an opportunity, a chance for him to get what he wants,” Safa said.
Finally, Syria seems to prefer avoiding a government collapse. Some of the country’s closest allies (Marada and Amal, for example) have taken a “Let’s not rush to push Mikati out” position and, as Lebanese blogger Mustafa Hamoui, noted recently, “the Syrian regime could use all the help it could get in international and Arab forums. The last thing Assad wants in an upcoming vote (say on Arab sanctions) is to have one of the few countries standing by its side in political limbo.”
Not funding the court seems certain to open Lebanon up to sanctions, mostly likely from the US and possibly from Europe. On Monday, American Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly warned of “serious consequences” if Lebanon does not pay. Sanctions would sting, and Mikati has repeatedly said that is what he is trying to avoid by funding the STL.
Despite press reports of a looming December 15 deadline for Beirut to pay, the STL’s spokesman, Marten Youssef, refused to pinpoint a specific date.
In an e-mail response to a question about any deadlines, Youssef wrote, “Lebanon’s contribution is long overdue. We are now following closely the developments in Lebanon and expect the government will reach a decision to honor its international obligation.”
Pressed on reports about December 15 specifically, he wrote: “There are several deadlines that have been reported in the press. The fact is, we are now 11 months into 2011 and Lebanon has not yet paid its contribution to this year’s budget. We fully expect Lebanon to honor its international obligations as soon as possible” as Lebanon’s president and PM have pledged.”
Negotiating a solution—with serious talks apparently only beginning this week—seems possible, but certainly not quick or easy.
“They have till the end of the year,” Safa said. “They can postpone it one more week, that’s not a big deal. They need time to find an exit.”

Walid Moallem. “Abu Kalabsha”
By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat
It is sorrowful what the al-Assad regime is doing, week after week, with a man such as the regime’s Foreign Minister, Walid Moallem. This was a man once known by the Arabs to be gentle and light hearted, just as he was renowned for being a man “as soft as silk”, according to what I was once told by a veteran Arab official who knew him closely, ever since Moallem was the regime’s ambassador to Washington. The sad failures of Moallem have continued ever since he threatened to forget that Europe exists on the map, and then insulted the Arabs and their League, in a language completely out of character, and this is attested by his friends and even his enemies. But Moallem was transformed suddenly, by the al-Assad regime, into Walid “Abu Kalabsha”, in reference to the famous detective in the well-known Syrian comedy series “Sah al-Naum”. Abu Kalabsha was the constant victim of “Ghawar el-Toshi”, played by Duraid Lahham, in his continual schemes against “Hosni al-Borzan”. In the series, Abu Kalabsha is distinguished by his nose for clues, which he depends upon. However, Walid Moallem – whether intentionally or out of coercion – has betrayed his political nose, in failing to anticipate the schemes carried out by the al-Assad regime, or perhaps by being a coward and denying their existence, even though he is aware of them. The latest of those schemes to befall Walid Abu Kalabsha occurred in the press conference last Monday, when he showed video clips of what were claimed to be armed terrorist groups in Syria!
The great outrage was the fact that the footage shown at Moallem’s press conference consisted of old scenes of events filmed in Lebanon two years ago, bearing no relation to Jisr ash-Shugur or anywhere else, hence the story was fabricated. Of course the scandal also proved that the al-Assad regime is lying, and its Foreign Minister Walid Abu Kalabsha has fallen victim to its “shenanigans”. The regime has actually begun to embody the very district Abu Kalabsha was responsible for; a district where everyone looked out for themselves. The scandal of Walid Abu Kalabsha’s video footage proves once again that the al-Assad regime is not credible, or serious, in its response to the Syrian revolution, contrary to what some hope, especially the Russians.
The bogus footage presented by Walid Abu Kalabsha undermined the credibility of the al-Assad regime and its media racketeering. This goes for both the Syrian pro-regime media and also some Arab media outlets that allow space for the regime. Walid Abu Kalabsha’s footage indicates that the al-Assad regime cannot be trusted with the promises it has announced internally to the Syrian people, or externally towards the Arab initiatives. This means that all those among the Arabs who want to continue to believe in the al-Assad regime or continue deal with it, providing initiative after initiative, should be aware of the fact that they will simply be another character in the series “Sah al-Naum”, which we all laughed at in the past. However, now it has become a black comedy, and we don’t know whether to laugh or cry.