LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِNovember
01/2011
Bible Quotation
for today/The Question about the
Sabbath
Matthew 12/01-08: m"Not long
afterward Jesus was walking through some wheat fields on a Sabbath. His
disciples were hungry, so they began to pick heads of wheat and eat the grain.2
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, Look, it is against our Law for
your disciples to do this on the Sabbath!3 Jesus answered, Have you never read
what David did that time when he and his men were hungry?4 He went into the
house of God, and he and his men ate the bread offered to God, even though it
was against the Law for them to eat it—only the priests were allowed to eat that
bread.5 Or have you not read in the Law of Moses that every Sabbath the priests
in the Temple actually break the Sabbath law, yet they are not guilty?6 I tell
you that there is something here greater than the Temple.7 The scripture says,
It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices. If you really knew what this
means, you would not condemn people who are not guilty;8 for the Son of Man is
Lord of the Sabbath
Latest analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases from
miscellaneous sources
Coptic Christian Student Murdered
By Classmates for Wearing a Cross/31 October/11
Heading into the abyss/By: Hazem
Saghiyeh/October
31/11
Arabs await Assad’s reply
on plan to end unrest/Now
Lebanon/October
31/11
Libya: The death of Gaddafi
and the challenge of building democracy/By: Youssef Mohamed Al-Sawani/October
31/11
An attack on Iran would
be a disaster for Israel/By
Amir Oren/Haaretz/October
31/11
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for October 31/11
Lebanese Forces bloc MP Joseph
Maalouf : Hezbollah to install telecom network in Zahle
Al-Rahi Returns from U.S.: Lebanese
Alone Can't Solve Hizbullah Arms Issue
STL Funding Consultations to Gain
Momentum after Eid al-Adha
Lebanon's FM, Mansour Discusses
Syrian Crisis with Emir of Qatar
Aoun Meets Ignatius IV: 2013 Vote
Last Chance for Change
Search continues in south Lebanon
for drone that fell from sky
President Michel Sleiman: Lebanon
‘must’ pay share of STL funding
Future bloc MP Mouin Merhebi:
Jumblatt’s place is in March 14
Future bloc MP Jamal Jarrah: Future
bloc to refuse dialogue if against STL funding
Future bloc MP Ziad al-Qadiri:
Hezbollah working to overthrow the STL
Arab League Secretary General Nabil
al-Arabi postpones visit to Lebanon
Progressive Socialist Party leader
MP Walid Jumblatt slams intimidation of Syrians in Lebanon
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel :
Electoral law awaits ‘political decision’ to be finalized
Syrian Arms Smuggler Arrested at
Beirut Airport
Berri Seeks to Re-launch Dialogue,
Urges Officials Not to Interfere in Syria
UNESCO in crucial vote on Palestine
membership
Arab League urges Syria to withdraw
tanks from streets
Arabs Propose Plan to End Syria
Unrest, Doha Warns against 'Maneuvers'
Arab League await Syrian answer for
plan to end unrest
China envoy says Syria unrest
'cannot continue'
Netanyahu to Gaza militants:
Israel's policy is kill or be killed
EU's Ashton condemns targeting
civilians along Gaza border, 'wherever they are'
Saudi royal offers $900,000 reward
for capture of Israeli soldiers
Anshel Pfeffer / Turkey's Erdogan
holds Assad's fate in his hands
Report: 30 Syria soldiers killed in
clashes with army defectors
French Police Fire Tear Gas to
Break Up Turk-Kurd Clashes
NATO ends “most successful” Libya
mission
Missile-battered Israeli towns in
first civilian mutiny against IDF
Barak: Israel has not already
decided to strike Iran
Iran parliament to question Ahmadinejad
over financial fraud scandal
Coptic
Christian Student Murdered By Classmates for Wearing a Cross
GMT 10-30-2011 18:36:36
Assyrian International News Agency
http://www.aina.org/news/20111030133621.htm
(AINA) -- In mid-October Egyptian media published news of an altercation between
Muslim and Christian students over a classroom seat at a school in Mallawi,
Minya province. The altercation lead to the murder of a Christian student. The
media portrayed the incident as non-sectarian. However, Copts Without Borders, a
Coptic news website, refuted this version and was first to report that the
Christian student was murdered because he was wearing a crucifix.
"We wanted to believe the official version," said activist Mark Ebeid, "because
the Coptic version was a catastrophe, as it would take persecution of Christians
also to schools." He blamed the church in Mallawi for keeping quiet about the
incident.
Today the parents of the 17-year-old Christian student Ayman Nabil Labib, broke
their silence, confirming that their son was murdered on October 16, in "cold
blood because he refused to take off his crucifix as ordered by his Muslim
teacher." Nabil Labib, the father, said in a taped video interview with Copts
United NGO, that his son had a cross tattooed on his wrist as per Coptic
tradition, as well as another cross which he wore under his clothes.
Both parents confirmed that Ayman's classmates, who were present during the
assault and whom they met at the hospital and during the funeral, said that
while Ayman was in the classroom he was told to cover up his tattooed wrist
cross. He refused and defiantly got out the second cross which he wore under his
shirt. "The teacher nearly chocked by son and some Muslim students joined in the
beating," said his mother.
According to Ayman's father, eyewitnesses told him that his son was not beaten
up in the school yard as per the official story, but in the classroom. "They
beat my son so much in the classroom that he fled to the lavatory on the ground
floor, but they followed him and continued their assault. When one of the
supervisors took him to his room, Ayman was still breathing. The ambulance
transported him from there dead, one hour later."
Prosecution arrested and detained two Muslim students, Mostapha Essam and Walid
Mostafa Sayed, pending investigations in the murder case.
The father said that every one in Mallawi knew how the event took place, but not
one of the students' parents was prepared to let their children come forward and
give a statement to the police. "They are afraid of the school administration,
which has lots of ways to harass the students, as well as being afraid of the
families of the two Muslim killers."
"I insist that the Arabic teacher, the headmaster, and the supervisors should be
charged as well as the two students who committed the crime," said Nabil. "The
Arabic language teacher incited the students to attack my son, the headmaster
who would not go to the classroom to see what is going on there when alerted to
the beatings, but rather said to be left alone and continued sipping his tea,
and the supervisors who failed in their supervising duties."
Prosecution has three witnesses, two men working at school who named the
assailants and one student who wanted to retract his statement, but was
refused."
"The evidence is under lock and key. Everyone is hiding the evidence. We will
know the truth after forensic medicine has finished the report next week," said
Nabil, adding that the head of detectives on the case tried to influence the
witnesses, claiming that the murder took place as a result of friction between
students."
The governor of Minya, El-Rouby, visited the Coptic Bishop Dimitrious of Mallawi
to extend his condolences, accompanied by representatives of Minya military
authorities. He also suspended the school's headmaster and the two supervisors,
as well as two social workers who were on duty when Ayman died, and referedg
them to an investigation committee. But all of them have disappeared since then.
After the funeral service for Ayman, over 5000 Christians marched along the
streets of Mallawi, denouncing the killing of a student whom they described as
"Martyr of the Cross," and the repeated killings of Copts in Egypt. Prominent
columnist Farida El-Shobashy wrote in independent newspaper Masry Youm "I was
shaken to the bones when I read the news that a teacher forced a student to take
off the crucifix he wore, and when the Christian student stood firm for his
rights, the teacher quarreled with him, joined by some of the students; he was
beastly assaulted until his last breath left him." She wondered if the situation
was reversed and a Muslim was killed for not removing the Koran he wore, what
would have been the reaction.Farida pointed out that the gravity of the incident
is where it took place and who incited the attack (the teacher). She went on to
blast the Ministry of Education for neglecting the education syllabus to prevent
discriminatory contents but instead "left it to teachers to spread the fanatic
Wahabi ideology."
*By Mary Abdelmassih
Rai to
hold Mass in Iraq on anniversary of church attack
October 31, 2011 /The Daily Star /BKIRKI: Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai leaves
for Iraq Monday to head a Mass at the Our Lady of Salvation church on the
occasion of the first anniversary of an attack that left 58 people dead.The
delegation, scheduled to leave Beirut airport shortly before midday Monday,
includes Bishop Camille Zaidan and Environment Minister Nazem al-Khoury, on
behalf of President Michel Sleiman.The Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic
church in Baghdad came under attack Oct. 31, 2010, which left at least 58 people
dead, including two priests, after gunmen stormed the church.The al-Qaeda-linked
Sunni insurgent group the “Islamic State of Iraq” claimed responsibility for the
attack.
Rai is expected to hold talks with a number of Iraqi officials before his return
home Wednesday evening. His Iraq visit prompted the postponement by one day of
the monthly meeting of Maronite Bishops, which is scheduled to take place on the
first Wednesday of every month.
Al-Rahi
Returns from U.S.: Lebanese Alone Can't Solve Hizbullah Arms Issue
Naharnet/ Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday noted that “solving the
issue of Hizbullah’s arms is not in the hands of the Lebanese alone,”
emphasizing the international community’s role in that regard. Upon his return
to Beirut from a pastoral visit to the United States and a brief trip to the
Vatican, al-Rahi said: “I have said that it will be a major feast in Lebanon
when the Resistance hands over its weapons, but what’s more important is that I
have said the international community must play a role to solve this
Lebanese-international issue.”
Asked about the latest meeting held by the Lady of the Mountain Gathering, the
patriarch said: “I know nothing about this meeting, I heard there had been a
meeting that got canceled and that another meeting was held, but my time did not
allow me at all to inform myself about the issue.”“I did not read anything about
it or about what it did, I stated in the United States that we as a church
support all the Lebanese -- which means that the church, the patriarchate, the
bishops and I support all the Lebanese and all the parties and movements,” al-Rahi
added.
Asked about a possible visit to Syria, al-Rahi said “it is the patriarch’s duty
to visit all the parishes once every five years, and this is what we’re doing
now. I have to visit our parishes in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Egypt and the Holy
Land, and I will go later to Canada and Australia because it’s the patriarch’s
duty to visit the parishes.”Al-Rahi is scheduled to travel to Iraq on Monday for
talks with spiritual and political figures there.The patriarch returned Sunday
to Beirut from Italy where he attended a council with world religious leaders in
Assisi. They joined Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday in denouncing violence
perpetrated in the name of their faiths. Al-Rahi will celebrate mass in Baghdad
on the first anniversary of the attacks that targeted the Our Lady of Salvation
Church in 2010. Militants had stormed the church in central Baghdad, killing 44
worshippers, two priests and seven security force personnel in an attack claimed
by al-Qaida's local affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq. Al-Rahi said earlier
this week that he will discuss with Iraqi officials the fate of Christians
there.
Lebanese
Forces bloc MP Joseph Maalouf : Hezbollah to install telecom network in Zahle
October 31, 2011 /Lebanese Forces bloc MP Joseph Maalouf said on Sunday that the
Mayor of Zahle, Joseph Diab Maalouf, authorized a decision to install
Hezbollah’s telecommunications network in the Bekaa city of Zahle. On October
21, MTV reported that Hezbollah “threatened” residents of Tarchich after they
prevented party members from installing a telecommunications network in the
town. -NOW Lebanon
STL Funding Consultations to Gain Momentum after Eid al-Adha
Naharnet /Consultations between the major parties represented in the cabinet
over the funding of the international tribunal are expected to gain “serious
momentum” following Eid al-Adha over the weekend, ministerial sources said. The
sources told An Nahar daily on Monday that all officials involved in the funding
are now aware of the serious consequences if the cabinet fails to fund by the
end of November the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that is set to try ex-Premier
Rafik Hariri’s suspected assassins. They warned that after that date the
international community would start to consider the government’s procrastination
as an attempt to target the STL and escape from its dues. Lebanon should pay an
annual share to the court in 2011 of about $33 million or 49 percent of the
court's budget. But the cabinet’s Hizbullah-led March 8 sources have rejected to
fund the STL despite insistence by the centrists, including PM Najib Miqati, to
pay Lebanon’s dues. On Sunday, Miqati told An Nahar that he expected a positive
outcome from the consultations between the different government members. The
sources said that the prime minister’s positive expectations will go
hand-in-hand with his scheduled trip to Britain over the weekend. They expected
the month of November to witness a solution to the funding crisis by a series of
financial steps that the cabinet would take or by putting the issue up to vote.
President Michel Sleiman: Lebanon ‘must’ pay share of STL funding
October 31, 2011 /President Michel Sleiman said in remarks published Monday that
Lebanon must pay its share of funding to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL),
adding that funding does not mean “not criticizing the tribunal if it makes
mistakes.”Sleiman told Ad-Diyar newspaper that the STL made a mistake “when it
leaked [information pertaining to the] investigation and the indictment.”Asked
if Lebanese officials have received warnings related to not paying Lebanon’s
share of STL funding, Sleiman said “I am the president of the Lebanese Republic.
No one threatens me.”Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the UN-backed
court in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However,
the Shia group strongly denied the charges and refuses to cooperate with the
court Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the STL’s annual funding. The president
also rejected some MPs’ statements that he did not sign a decree promoting
Internal Security Forces-Information Branch head Colonel Wissam al-Hassan for
“malicious reasons,” adding that he had previously signed two decrees promoting
Hassan.The president signed on Friday a decree to promote officers below the
rank of colonel. Sleiman also denied that there is a dispute between him and
Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun regarding Christian positions in
certain institution.-NOW Lebanon
Syrian Arms Smuggler Arrested at Beirut Airport
Naharnet /Security authorities at Rafik Hariri International Airport have
arrested a Syrian national accused of smuggling weapons, Voice of Lebanon radio
station (93.3) reported Monday.
VDL said Mohammed Shaker Toufiq was arrested in the early hours of Monday. The
news came two days after the General Security Department confirmed the arrest of
another Syrian citizen on charges of arms smuggling. In a communiqué issued late
Saturday, the department’s general directorate dismissed a report by Future TV
that Amer Omar Adib was arrested “without any justification.”The General
Security Department arrested Adib on charges of smuggling arms between Syria and
Lebanon and was referred to the judiciary after he admitted to the charges, the
communiqué said.A security source dismissed to An Nahar daily on Monday what he
called the “misleading” campaign against General Security.He said Adib is part
of a ring that extorts money from Syrian expatriates in a Gulf country and buys
light weapons and ammunition from the Lebanese black market.The arms are later
transported to a Lebanese-Syrian border area in the eastern Bekaa Valley and
handed to smugglers who would transfer them to areas witnessing security
incidents in Syria.
Berri Seeks to Re-launch Dialogue, Urges Officials Not to Interfere in Syria
Naharnet /Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to meet President Michel Suleiman
before the end of this week to discuss with him the possibility of resuming
dialogue between the Lebanese foes.Berri said in comments to As Safir newspaper
published on Monday that he will discuss with Suleiman the chances of resuming
the national dialogue, to inquire him about the reasons that are preventing the
launching of the all-party talks.He expressed belief that Prime Minister Najib
Miqati, Hizbullah, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Progressive
Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat have agreed on resuming the
dialogue.However, he said “the issue depends on the position of the March 14
forces, especially al-Mustaqbal movement.”Berri said he was ready to discuss the
matter with al-Mustaqbal bloc leader ex-PM Fouad Saniora, “if my meeting with
the president established a solid ground to begin from.”
The speaker stressed that “the dialogue should resume without any previous
conditions.”Asked about the topics that will be tackled if the all-party talks
resumed, Berri said that the most critical issue is how to safeguard Lebanon
amid the developments in the region.He noted that Lebanese officials should not
meddle in the Syrian situation.
“If some (officials) don’t want to comply with the conventions and treaties that
established the special relations, the best solution is not to interfere in the
Syrian situation and disavow Lebanon from any repercussions,” Berri said.
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt slams intimidation of
Syrians in Lebanon
October 30, 2011 /Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt on Sunday
slammed attempts to intimidate Syrian opposition figures in Lebanon and called
for the protection of refugees pouring into the country. “It is unacceptable to
arrest Syrian figures who oppose [President Bashar al-Assad’s regime] in
Lebanon,” Jumblatt said during a meeting of his party’s general assembly. The MP
warned that people “have rights to political asylum [in Lebanon],” adding that
“the Syrian refugees should be protected.”He voiced rejection of incursions into
Lebanon’s territory, a reference to Syrian troops that repeatedly crossed the
Lebanese border in the recent period. He also denounced the disappearance of
Syrian opposition figure Shibli al-Ayssami in Lebanon earlier this year, adding
that he was “[kidnapped] by thugs who work for diplomats and Lebanese
[figures].” In a reference to the pro-democracy uprisings in Arab countries,
Jumblatt said that “hierarchical republics must be turned into constitutional
ones.”“Torture must [no longer be] exercised in Arab prisons…Adopting a
referendum is the best way… [And] Arab constitutions must guarantee the rights
of minorities.”Concerning the Syrian crisis, Jumblatt called for an end to
violence against civilians as well as for releasing detainees arrested during
anti-regime demonstrations.“[We also call for] penalizing those responsible for
attacks against civilians and security forces… [But] we condemn any foreign
interference [in Syria]."“Dialogue is [Damascus’] only option to guarantees a
solution for disputes.”On the Lebanese level, Jumblatt reiterated his call to
provide the annual share of funding to the UN-backed Special Tribunal for
Lebanon (STL), saying that “it is a fundamental principle.”“We also stress the
importance of the arms of the Resistance in defending [Lebanon],” he added.
Jumblatt also called for resuming national dialogue to discuss the drafting of a
defense strategy, and concluded by saying that he will not again run for his
party’s presidency.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL for the 2005 murder of
ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denies the charges and
refuses to cooperate with the court. Meanwhile, the Syrian regime’s crackdown on
protests has killed more than 3,000 people. Thousands have fled to Lebanon,
according to the UN.
-NOW Lebanon
Future bloc MP Ziad al-Qadiri: Hezbollah working to overthrow the STL
October 31, 2011 /Future bloc MP Ziad al-Qadiri said in an interview published
on Monday that Hezbollah is trying to establish ties with Russia and China in
order to overthrow the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).“For this reason a
Hezbollah delegation visited Russia and will soon visit China,” Qadiri told As-Sharq
al-Awsat newspaper.The MP also said that “until further notice, Prime Minister
Najib Mikati is a main partner in the conspiracy against the STL.”The
Hezbollah-led March 8 parties – which currently dominate Lebanon’s cabinet –
have opposed a clause in the Lebanese annual state budget pertaining to the
funding of the UN-backed court, while Mikati has repeatedly voiced Lebanon’s
commitment to the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL in the 2005 assassination
of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denied
the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.Lebanon contributes 49
percent of the STL’s annual funding.-NOW Lebanon
Future bloc MP Jamal Jarrah: Future bloc to refuse dialogue if against STL
funding
October 31, 2011 /Future bloc MP Jamal Jarrah said on Monday that his bloc “will
refuse all calls for dialogue if the session aims at [maneuvering against]
funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon [STL],” which is probing the 2005
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. “If the call for dialogue
is to implement what was agreed upon during the last dialogue session, then the
Future bloc will accept it,” he told the Voice of Lebanon (100.5) radio. Speaker
Nabih Berri in an interview with Al-Jumhuriya newspaper published on Monday
reiterated his call for a new national dialogue session, “especially amidst the
dangerous time that the region is going through.”The Hezbollah-led March 8
parties – which currently dominate Lebanon’s cabinet – have opposed a clause in
the Lebanese annual state budget pertaining to the funding of the UN-backed
court, while Mikati has repeatedly voiced Lebanon’s commitment to the tribunal.
Four Hezbollah members have been indicted by the STL in the 2005 assassination
of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However, the Shia group strongly denied
the charges and refuses to cooperate with the court.Lebanon contributes 49
percent of the STL’s annual funding.-NOW Lebanon
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel : Electoral law awaits ‘political decision’ to
be finalized
October 31, 2011 /Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said in remarks published on
Monday that the electoral draft law prepared by his ministry is “currently
present on the cabinet’s agenda, and awaits a political decision to be
finalized.”On October 3, Charbel handed Sleiman a draft electoral law based on
proportional representation. Lebanese parties are debating the electoral law for
the upcoming 2013 parliamentary elections. After the parliament agreed on
drafting a law based on proportional representation, some parties rejected the
proposed law and called for adopting the 2009 electoral law, which is based on
simple majority representation.Addressing the country’s security situation, the
minister told Al-Mustaqbal newspaper that the security situation is “good”
despite some “daily incidents.”He also said that the number of police officers
assigned to limit security problems is not enough, since most members of the
police force “serve ministers, MPs and judges… instead of [being free] to
protect security.”Asked about Friday’s report that Syrian nationals were
abducted in Bir Hassan, Charbel said investigations showed that it was not the
case of an abduction.“There was no kidnapping; they returned home safely.
According to the statement they gave in the Bir Hassan [police station], they
confirmed they were robbed and not kidnapped.”Syrian national Idriss al-Sahen
said on Friday that his brothers Mustafa and Yassine as well as their friend
Issa Saleh were kidnapped from Bir Hassan.-NOW Lebanon
Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi postpones visit to Lebanon
October 31, 2011 /Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi postponed his
visit to Beirut that was planned for Monday, the National News Agency (NNA)
reported. Arabi was scheduled to meet with President Michel Sleiman, Prime
Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker Nabih Berri and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.
On October 20, the NNA reported that Arabi will be in Lebanon from October 31
until November 3 to take part in the annual Credit Suisse MENA conference, which
will be held in Beirut’s Intercontinental Phoenicia Hotel on November 2. -NOW
Lebanon
Future bloc MP Mouin Merhebi: Jumblatt’s place is in March 14
October 31, 2011 /Future bloc MP Mouin Merhebi on Monday commented on
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt’s latest statements and
said that “Jumblatt’s natural place is in the March 14 alliance.”“There are
certain circumstances that [force] some people to take certain stances, and I
personally understand that,” Merhebi told Free Lebanon Radio, in a reference to
Jumblatt’s stances supporting March 8 alliance since August 2009.Jumblatt on
Sunday slammed attempts to intimidate Syrian opposition figures in Lebanon and
called for the protection of refugees pouring into the country.He voiced
rejection of incursions into Lebanon’s territory, in a reference to Syrian
troops that repeatedly crossed the Lebanese border in the recent period. The PSP
leader also denounced the disappearance of Syrian opposition figure Shibli al-Ayssami
in Lebanon earlier this year, adding that he was “[kidnapped] by thugs who work
for diplomats and Lebanese [figures].” Merhebi also commended Qatar's foreign
minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani’s statement on the Syrian crisis
during the Arab League’s meeting in the Qatari capital. “Sheikh Jassem’s
statements are very important, especially when he called on Syria to not
[manipulate],” Merhebi said, adding that “the Arab countries are not ready to
give the Syrian regime a second chance.”The Arab League on Sunday proposed a
plan to end the bloodshed in Syria and expects Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
to respond on Monday and take "concrete steps.”-NOW Lebanon
UNESCO in crucial vote on Palestine membership
October 31, 2011 /The UN's cultural agency faced a crucial vote Monday on
whether to grant Palestine full member status, a move that would see it lose
millions of dollars in US funding -- more than fifth of its budget. The vote at
UNESCO's general assembly comes the same day Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad
al-Malki has been scheduled to address the organization.
UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova said Friday she was very concerned about
the possible withdrawal of US funding. "This would have serious consequences,
programs would have to be cut, our budget would have to be rebalanced," she told
AFP in an interview."The US administration supports UNESCO, but [the Americans]
are trapped by laws adopted 20 years ago," Bokova said, adding that she was
"neutral" on the question of Palestinian membership. The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has been holding its general
assembly in Paris since last Tuesday.Just like the UN General Assembly in New
York, the question of Palestinian membership has been put on its agenda.But
while as a permanent UN Security Council member the US has a veto that it says
it will exercise at the UN General Assembly, no one has a veto at UNESCO. There,
a two-thirds majority of its 193 voting members suffices. Arab states braved
intense US and French diplomatic pressure to bring the motion before the UNESCO
executive committee earlier this month, which passed it by 40 votes in favor to
four against, with 14 abstentions. The four votes against came from the US,
Germany, Romania and Latvia, while most of the abstentions were from European
nations.The Palestinians currently have observer status at UNESCO. But diplomats
told AFP that it would have no problem garnering the required votes to become a
full member, which would automatically spark a crisis between Washington and
UNESCO. Two laws passed by Israel's staunchest ally in the 1990s ban the
financing of any United Nations organization that accepts Palestine as a full
member. That means UNESCO stands to lose $70 million, or 22 percent of its
annual budget.-AFP/NOW Lebanon
NATO ends “most successful” Libya mission
October 31, 2011 /NATO was on Monday formally ending its Libya mission, which it
has hailed as one of its "most successful" yet after its air strikes playing a
key role in the overthrow of now-slain despot Moammar Qaddafi. The no-fly zone
and naval blockade, enforced by NATO since March 31, will end at 11:59 p.m.
Libyan time (2159 GMT), as stipulated by a UN Security Council resolution last
week that closed the mandate authorizing military action. NATO on Friday
announced the end of the mission, declaring that the 28-nation alliance had
fulfilled its UN mandate to protect civilians from a brutal repression. "We have
fully complied with the historic mandate of the United Nations to protect the
people of Libya, to enforce the no-fly zone and the arms embargo," NATO
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement announcing the
decision. "Operation Unified Protector is one of the most successful in NATO
history. We are concluding it in a considered and controlled manner - because
our military job is now done."
The mission was terminated even though Libyan interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil
had asked for the alliance to stay until the end of the year, warning that
Qaddafi loyalists still posed a threat. But NATO deemed that civilians were safe
from attacks after the new regime declared the country liberated following
Qaddafi’s death and the fall of his hometown of Sirte on October 20. Western
allies are now looking at how they can assist the new regime in Libya. Rasmussen
has offered that the alliance help the new Libyan leaders reform the country's
defense and security institutions, but the military allies have repeatedly ruled
out sending troops on the ground. An alliance official said last week some
allies could offer to provide the National Transitional Council (NTC) help in
"air space management" and to control borders, but it would be outside the NATO
umbrella.
Western strikes helped tip the balance of power in Libya's conflict, preventing
Qaddafi from crushing a revolt that erupted in mid-February.
The bombing raids stopped Kaddafi forces from marching into the rebel eastern
city of Benghazi in March and pulverized the strongman's air force.
The conflict then appeared headed into a stalemate as the ill-trained rebel
forces struggled to fight their way west towards Tripoli. But with NATO
destroying thousands of military targets, the NTC eventually took the capital in
August, sending Qaddafi into hiding.
While NATO has steadfastly denied targeting Qaddafi during the campaign, it was
an alliance air strike that hit his convoy as it fled Sirte, leading to his
capture and killing on October 20. The alliance says it did not know he was in
the convoy. Facing global criticism over Qaddafi’s death, the NTC vowed last
week to bring Qaddafi’s killers to justice in a sharp break with their previous
insistence he was caught in the crossfire with his own loyalists. A coalition
led by the United States, France and Britain launched the first salvos in the
air war on March 19, before handing over command of the mission to NATO on March
31.The alliance, joined by Arab partners Qatar and United Arab Emirates, flew
some 26,000 sorties and destroyed almost 6,000 targets during the conflict.-AFP/NOW
Lebanon
Arab League urges Syria to withdraw tanks from streets
October 31, 2011 /A proposed Arab League plan to end months of bloodshed in
Syria includes a demand to remove tanks from the streets, the head of the
pan-Arab group Nabil al-Arabi told AFP on Monday. "The Arab proposal to Syria
calls for withdrawing tanks and all military vehicles to bring an immediate end
to the violence and give assurances to the Syrian street," Arabi told AFP in the
Qatari capital Doha. The Arab League was on Monday awaiting a response from
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to its plan which, Arabi said, also calls for a
dialogue to take place in Cairo between Syrian regime officials and opposition
figures. Arabi's statements came after an overnight meeting Sunday between a
group of Arab foreign ministers and their Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in
Doha that was convened to address fears that unchecked Syrian bloodshed could
further inflame the Arab world.
Repeating previous warnings, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani
told reporters that Assad risks forcing an international intervention if he
allows the violence to continue. "The entire region is at risk of a massive
storm," said Sheikh Hamad after Sunday's three hour meeting. "What is required
of Syria... are concrete steps that could avoid what happened to other
countries," he said, in an apparent reference to NATO's military intervention in
the popular uprising against Libya's slain dictator Moammar Qaddafi. At an
emergency session in Cairo on October 16, the 22-member League called for
"national dialogue" between the government and opposition by the end of October
to help stop the violence and avoid "foreign intervention" in Syria.-AFP/NOW
Lebanon
Heading into the abyss
Hazem Saghiyeh/Now Lebanon
October 31, 2011
In the historical dispute pitting Lebanon against successive military regimes in
Syria since the 1950s, there have been two constant features. The first is the
freedom of the press and its right to criticize governments who hold power in
Damascus, and the second is the Syrian refugees who are fleeing to live in
Lebanon in order to escape persecution. It would be no exaggeration to say that,
in addition to the call for linking Lebanon’s foreign policy to Syria’s, these
two issues have been at the heart of conflict relations between the two
countries. Virtually every Syrian politician has questioned, at one point or
another, the freedom of the Lebanese press and the fact that Syrian refugees and
exiles are living in Lebanon after having been displaced in their own country.
The current issues of the press and political refugees fall, by definition,
under the category of freedom. This attachment to freedom was justified by the
pluralistic structure of the Lebanese society and by the fact that Lebanese
politics are based on a parliamentary democracy. Yet it is also based on the
fact that a great amount of Lebanese political literature portrayed itself as
the mouthpiece of freedom in this East, which epitomized tyranny and
unilateralism. Accordingly, some educated Lebanese figures, such as Michel Chiha,
developed the theory of “Lebanon the refuge” while Western media dubbed Lebanon
prior to the civil war in the 1970s as the only democracy in the Arab world.
Indeed, emphasis on freedom domestically was often the other face of the
required openness to the free and developed world. Now, as Tunisia and perhaps
even other Arab countries head to the polls, Lebanon is relinquishing what its
people proudly imputed exclusively to themselves. Whether with regard to handing
over Syrian refugees to the authorities in their home country or to turning a
blind eye to their being kidnapped on Lebanese soil, it seems that a decent
proportion of the Lebanese people has become biased to the Syrian military
theory in this renowned historical dispute. Since this segment constitutes the
basis of the current ruling power, one can say that “the highest authorities” in
Beirut are switching the country from freedom to tyranny. In this sense, one’s
concerns should witness a twofold increase because we are swimming against the
tide, which—slowly but surely—is gaining ground in the Arab region and because,
under the impulse of the authorities and a sizeable portion of society, we are
modifying an essential element of Lebanon’s political composition. This can only
be described as heading into the abyss!
**This article is a translation of the original, which appeared on the NOW
Arabic site on Monday October 31, 2011
Aoun
Meets Ignatius IV: 2013 Vote Last Chance for Change
Naharnet /Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Sunday warned that
the 2013 parliamentary elections would be “the last chance for change, or else a
total collapse will happen” in the country. “We have been calling on the
government to implement reforms, but no one is taking the issue seriously and
they think that it is an electoral propaganda,” Aoun added, during a rally in
the Koura District town of Kfar Hazir, following closed-door talks in Balamand
with Ignatius IV Hazim, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
Aoun again criticized some of his partners in Premier Najib Miqati’s government
for not doing anything to “combat corruption.”
Talking to supporters, Aoun said: “You must prepare yourselves for the upcoming
(electoral) challenge, so that we don’t renew the mandate of those responsible
for the current state of affairs.”Addressing President Michel Suleiman, PM
Miqati and the ministers, without naming them, Aoun added: “We are not joking,
you have to wake up before it’s too late, you cannot carry on with this manner
and this approach.”
Talks between Aoun and Ignatius IV tackled “the various developments in Lebanon
and the region,” state-run National News Agency reported, without elaborating.
Aoun was accompanied by an FPM delegation comprising Energy and Water Minister
Jebran Bassil, general coordinator Pierre Raffoul, constituent assembly member
George Atallah and retired Brig. Gen. Maurice Jreij.On Friday Aoun described the
progress of the so-called Arab Spring as a “leap backwards,” warning that “some
movements will install new dictatorships when they assume power.”“The events in
the Arab countries are a leap backwards and the real revolution happens in one’s
own mind and against obsolete traditions,” Aoun said in an interview on
Hizbullah’s Al-Manar television. “The upcoming regimes will not be new and I
foresee the rise of (Islamic) fundamentalism to power, the same as I had
predicted 17 years ago,” he said. Aoun stressed that he was not calling on the
Christians of Lebanon and the region to isolate themselves or stand by idly amid
the rapid developments.
“The Christians in the Orient are the children of this land and they have
existed here before Islam. I’m not calling for neutralism, but rather for
participation,” he clarified.
“The Christians should be at the core of the events and must choose what’s best
for them. There are Christian dissidents in Syria, but the majority supports the
regime’s reforms,” Aoun added. Voicing concerns over the repercussions of a
possible rise to power by Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood, Aoun said: “The Islamists
in (northern Lebanese city of) Tripoli do not acknowledge any borders and they
are waiting for the Islamic revolution to sweep Beirut.”
In a recent joint statement, Ignatius IV and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi
have stressed that “only a state built upon justice and equality is capable of
protecting all of its citizens.”
The two Christian leaders also “stressed their rejection of the notion of
‘protection’ for any group, from whichever side it may come.”
“Christians consider the state – the state of citizenship and equal rights and
duties – as the real guarantee for a prosperous and promising future, where
everyone would live in freedom and dignity, away from any religious or sectarian
discrimination,” they said. The joint statement came after remarks by Ignatius
IV that embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is “an honest person who is
working for reform” and a series of controversial statements by al-Rahi in
France, where he called for giving Assad a chance to implement reforms.
Al-Rahi later said that his statements in France on the Syrian crisis and
Hizbullah’s arms -- which stirred a storm of controversy in Lebanon – were not
interpreted in a proper manner.
And he told Al-Arabiya television that sectarian tensions between Sunnis and
Shiites might emerge if the Syrian government was overthrown.
“If the regime changes in Syria, and the Sunnis take over, they will form an
alliance with the Sunnis in Lebanon, which will worsen the situation between the
Shiites and the Sunnis,” al-Rahi said. He warned that the Christians will pay
the price if the Muslim Brotherhood succeeded Assad.
Jumblat
Hails PSP’s Participation in March 14 Independence Revolution
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said Sunday that the
reconciliation with former Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and the PSP’s
participation in the March 14 forces had a positive impact on the party. The
reconciliation was “illuminating,” Jumblat said in a speech at his party’s
general assembly in Aley. He also cited as a major accomplishment, “the
rejection to renew former President Emile Lahoud’s term and the PSP’s modest
participation in the March 14 independence revolution.”Jumblat rejected the
violation of Lebanon’s borders by Syrian troops and urged Lebanese officials to
return to the dialogue table to discuss the country’s defense strategy. Lebanese
and Syrian security forces should cooperate in stopping the alleged smuggling of
weapons, Jumblat said. He also rejected what he called “the violations of the
border” in reference to the recent infiltrations of Syrian troops into towns in
northern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley. Turning to the disappearance of
Syrian opposition member Shebli al-Aisamy in Aley in May, Jumblat said the
abduction by the armed thugs of a diplomatic mission is rejected. According to
Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashrafi Rifi, the head of the Syrian
embassy guard unit, First Lt. Salah Hajj, was the ringleader of a group that
abducted four Syrian brothers from the Jassem family. Rifi also drew
similarities between that case and that of al-Aisamy’s disappearance. Jumblat
said Lebanese officials should resume their discussions at the national dialogue
table at Baabda palace to discuss the defense strategy. The lawmaker also called
for the demarcation of the Shabaa farms borders.
On the issue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the PSP chief said the funding
of the STL is “essential” for stability in the country. He along with President
Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati has backed the funding of the court
despite the rejection of the Hizbullah-led March 8 forces. Addressing the
situation in Syria, the PSP chief urged Syrian authorities to stop firing on
civilians and condemned attacks on the army. He also called for the release of
all political prisoners and said the Assad regime should hold accountable those
opening fire on protestors. Syria is in turmoil since March, when protestors
began holding demonstrations to call for the collapse of the regime. But the
Syrian president has cracked down on protestors leaving 3,000 people dead.
Syrian authorities should introduce reform, adopt a new constitution and launch
dialogue which alone guarantees a solution to all differences, Jumblat said.
“Hereditary republics should turn into constitutional republics,” he stressed.
On internal PSP issues, Jumblat announced that he would only run as head of the
party one last time. “We should consider the new council to be elected as
transitional … until we reach new elections which shouldn’t take more than one
year,” he said.
Mansour
Discusses Syrian Crisis with Emir of Qatar
Naharnet /Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour held talks Sunday in Doha with Qatari
Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on the bilateral ties between the two
countries and the situations in the Arab region, “particularly in Syria,”
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported. Tension on the Lebanese-Syrian
border has mounted since a revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's
regime erupted in March and some 5,000 Syrians, among them defecting soldiers
and opposition activists, have sought refuge in Lebanon.
Experts say weapons smuggling from Lebanon to Syria has thrived since the revolt
began but not on a large scale. They also point out that, the smuggling appears
to be the work of individuals rather than political parties opposed to the Assad
regime. Earlier on Sunday, Mansour took part in a meeting for the Arab Peace
Initiative Committee in Doha. He told the meeting that “the situation in
Palestine requires an Arab posture, especially after the Arab initiative reached
a dead-end due to Israel’s policies.”The minister suggested that an Arab summit
be held by the Arab heads of state to “take the appropriate decision in light of
the current impasse in the peace process.”
Syrians rally for and against Assad in Beirut
October 30, 2011 /Syrian nationals held a rally in front of the Syrian Embassy
in Beirut’s Hamra area on Sunday in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
and against foreign interference in their country, the National News Agency
reported. The report added that anti-regime protesters also held a rally nearby
and chanted against Assad’s regime.
Lebanese army and security force units deployed to the area to prevent any
clashes breaking out between the two rival protests. Lebanon's political scene
is split between supporters of Assad regime, led by Hezbollah, and a pro-Western
camp headed by US- and Saudi-backed Saad Hariri. According to the United
Nations, more than 3,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the
Syrian regime's crackdown on the protests inspired by uprisings in other Arab
nations.-NOW Lebanon
Arab League await Syrian answer for plan to end unrest
October 30, 2011 /The Arab League on Sunday proposed a plan to end the bloodshed
in Syria and expects Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to respond on Monday and
take "concrete steps," Qatar's foreign minister said. An Arab ministerial team
"agreed on a serious proposal to stop the killing and all forms of violence in
Syria," Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani told reporters after a meeting in the
Qatari capital. "The Syrian delegation has said they would respond tomorrow.” In
response to a warning from Assad that any Western intervention in Syria would
inflame the region, Jassem said the risk was if Syria failed to take "concrete
steps" to stop the violence. "The entire region is at risk of a massive storm,"
he said after more than three hours of talks between a group of Arab foreign
ministers and a Syrian team led by their Syrian counterpart Walid Mouallem.
"What is required of Syria ... is concrete steps that could avoid what happened
to other countries," Sheikh Hamad said, in apparent reference to the conflict in
Libya. Assad has warned that Western intervention in Syria would cause an
"earthquake" across the Middle East, Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper quoted
him as telling one of its journalists.-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Arabs Propose Plan to End Syria Unrest, Doha Warns against
'Maneuvers'
Naharnet /The Arab League on Sunday proposed a plan to end the bloodshed in
Syria and expects President Bashar al-Assad's response on Monday, Qatar's
foreign minister told reporters. An Arab ministerial team "agreed on a serious
proposal to stop the killing and all forms of violence in Syria," Sheikh Hamad
bin Jassem al-Thani told reporters after more than three hours of talks in Doha
between a group of Arab foreign ministers and a Syrian team led by their Syrian
counterpart Walid Muallem. "The Syrian delegation has said they would respond
tomorrow," he said. In response to a warning from Assad that any Western
intervention in Syria would inflame the region, Jassem said the risk was if
Syria failed to take "concrete steps" to stop the violence. "The entire region
is at risk of a massive storm," he said, warning against any "procrastination
and maneuvering." "What is required of Syria ... is concrete steps that could
avoid what happened to other countries," Sheikh Hamad said, in apparent
reference to the conflict in Libya. Assad has warned that Western intervention
in Syria would cause an "earthquake" across the Middle East, Britain's Sunday
Telegraph newspaper quoted him as telling one of its journalists. The talks in
Doha were bolstered by strong support for the bloc's mediation efforts from
China, one of two governments with Russia which earlier this month vetoed U.N.
Security Council action against Damascus.
The Arab ministerial delegation led by Qatar aims to try to reach "serious
results and an exit to the Syrian crisis," a statement from the team said before
the meeting.
In talks in Damascus last week, the Arab ministers warned Assad to stop the
bloodshed and start meaningful reforms or face an international intervention,
the Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas reported on Sunday.
Citing well-informed Arab sources, the paper said the delegation told Assad on
Wednesday that failure to resolve the crisis within the Arab fold would mean
"internationalizing" the unrest.
"This would mean Syria should expect a foreign intervention and a painful
international blockade on the economy and other aspects," the daily said. China
threw its weight behind the Arab mediation effort, with its Middle East envoy Wu
Sike saying he had told Assad in Damascus on Thursday that his regime's deadly
crackdown on dissent "cannot continue."
Wu said China supported the Arab League's proposal for Assad's regime to hold
talks with dissidents, some of whom he met during his visit to the Syrian
capital.
"Syria has to show some flexibility in that regard in order to help the Arab
League implement its proposal," he said. Wu said Assad's regime must "respect
and respond to the aspirations and rightful demands of the Syrian people," and
abandon the crackdown that has killed more than 3,000 people since mid-March,
according to U.N. figures.
China, along with Russia, vetoed a Western-drafted resolution at the U.N.
Security Council on October 4 that would have threatened Assad's regime with
targeted sanctions if it continued its campaign against protesters. Assad told
Russian television on Sunday he expected continued support from Moscow, less
than month after President Dmitry Medvedev told the Syrian strongman for the
first time to either accept political reform or bow to calls for his
resignation. "First and foremost, we are relying on Russia as a country with
which we are bound by strong ties, in the historic perspective," Assad told
Moscow's Channel One television. The Syrian foreign ministry accused the Arab
ministerial delegation of stoking dissent, having been influenced by "lies
spread by television channels." It said that in Sunday's talks in Doha, Muallem
would inform the delegation of the "true situation in Syria," the official SANA
news agency reported.
The Doha talks come as Syrian activists put mounting pressure on the Arab League
to suspend Syria's membership in the 22-member bloc.
"Assad's militias have been killing us for eight months. They arrest us and
crush us ... And you, Arabs, who love rhetoric, what are you doing," the Syrian
Revolution 2011, one of the motors of dissent, said in a post on its Facebook
page. The activists called for protests across Syria on Sunday calling for the
League to "freeze the membership" of Syria.
At least two people were killed in fresh violence on Sunday, both by snipers in
the flashpoint central province of Homs, a human rights group said. Gunfire from
a security checkpoint in the Deir Balaa neighborhood of Homs city wounded
another 10 people, some of them critically, the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights told Agence France Presse.
*Source Agence France Presse
China
envoy says Syria unrest 'cannot continue'
October 30, 2011/Daily Star
China's special envoy on the Middle East Wu Sike talks to reporters at China's
embassy in Damascus on Oct. 27, 2011 during an official visit to the country
where he reaffirmed his country's opposition to foreign interference in Syria.
AFP CAIRO: China's Middle East envoy Wu Sike cautioned Syria during a visit to
Damascus of the dangers of a government crackdown on dissent that he said
"cannot continue," he told reporters in Cairo Sunday. Wu said that he "affirmed
to senior officials in Syria of the danger of the situation and that it cannot
continue," during his visit to Damascus Thursday. He said President Bashar
al-Assad's regime must "respect and respond to the aspirations and rightful
demands of the Syrian people," according to an Arabic translation of his remarks
in Mandarin by an interpreter travelling in his delegation.
Wu said China supported an Arab League proposal for Assad's regime to hold talks
with dissidents, some of whom he met during his visit to Damascus.
"Syria has to show some flexibility in that regard in order to help the Arab
League implement its proposal," he said, when asked whether he believed Assad's
regime should negotiate with overseas-based dissident groups. China, along with
Russia, vetoed a Western-drafted resolution at the UN Security Council on
October 4 that would have threatened Assad's regime with targeted sanctions if
it continued its campaign against protesters. Asked whether China would veto
further resolutions if the regime continued its crackdown, which the UN says has
killed more than 3,000 people, Wu said he warned Syrian officials of the dangers
of the continuing unrest. He added that the "international community must
respect Syria's sovereignty" and that China "would continue its efforts
internationally and in the Security Council to find a solution." Asked whether
China would raise the pressure on Assad, he said: "At this time we must
concentrate on ending the bloody clashes" through the Arab League's
efforts.Syria has been shaken since mid-March by an unprecedented protest
movement against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Search
continues in south for drone that fell from sky
October 30, 2011/By Mohammed Zaatari/ The Daily Star
WADI HUJEIR, Lebanon: Security forces continued to search for an apparent
Israeli drone that fell from the sky Saturday afternoon in the mountainous area
of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, security sources said Sunday. Using
four-wheel drives and motorcycles, members of the Lebanese Army, Hezbollah
security personnel and the United National Interim Forces in Lebanon continued
to search the area but found nothing – even though the data intelligence limited
the crash to the area between the towns of Froun and Ghandouria, at the western
slope of Wadi Hujeir. Initial information Saturday afternoon said French UNIFIL
forces had detected a signal of the fallen reconnaissance craft in the Wadi
Hujeir area. The Lebanese Army then cordoned off the area to survey for the
fallen object. Mahmoud Mekki, a local farmer, told The Daily Star Sunday that he
didn’t see the aircraft fall from the sky, but he did see the Lebanese Army and
UNIFIL personnel heading toward Wadi Hujeir. “I didn’t see anything but I heard
from neighbors news that an unknown object had fallen in the area. The one thing
that I can say for sure is that forces from the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL were
headed in the direction of Wadi Hujeir." Another villager said he believed
Israel had felt embarrassed after the discovery of spies in the country and lost
many of its agents, adding that the foreign object could have been a device for
gathering information. A UNIFIL patrol helicopter could be seen hovering over
the area at a low altitude and UNIFIL personnel could be seen inside the
helicopter scanning the area. UNIFIL aircraft do not usually conduct aerial
maneuvers above agriculture or residential areas with most of its aerial
activity limited to the Blue Line. Other activities should be conducted in
coordination with the Lebanese Army. Since the issuing of United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1701, which brokered a cessation of hostilities
between Lebanon and Israel and stipulated that the two sides respect each
other’s sovereignty, Israel has violated Lebanese airspace on a nearly daily
basis
Netanyahu
to Gaza militants: Israel's policy is kill or be killed
By Haaretz /Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel had no
choice but to retaliate when faced with attack, and would stop "every attempt to
fire against Israel and anyone who fires anyway". Netanyahu told ministers
gathered for a special cabinet session in Safed that Israel's defense policy was
based on two principles: "Kill or be killed" and "He who harms you should bear
the blood on his head". "I suggest Hamas, Jihad and the other organizations not
test our determination to actualize the two principles I have described here,"
said Netanyahu. "We will harm every attempt to fire against Israel and anyone
who fires anyway. We are not tempestuous and we do not want things to
deteriorate, but we will defend Israel's citizens determinedly, aggressively and
effectively." Netanyahu made his remarks shortly after Islamic Jihad said it
would accept an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire if Israel agreed to halt its
"aggression" against Gaza. Just a few hours later, the Israel Air Force struck a
militant cell apparently poised to launch rockets at Israel. One militant was
killed in that attack, said Palestinians. Nine other Palestinian gunmen and an
Israeli civilian have been killed since the cross-border violence resumed last
week.
Saudi royal offers $900,000 reward for capture of Israeli
soldiers
By DPA /RIYADH - A Saudi royal offered a $900,000 reward to anyone who captures
an Israeli soldier, on Saturday. Prince Khaled bin Talal, the brother of
business tycoon and Fox News co-owner Walid bin Talal, told the Saudi-based
broadcaster Al Daleel that the captive would then be released in exchange for
Arabs held in Israeli prisons. Khaled's offer comes days after the prominent
Saudi cleric, Awad al-Qarni, put $100,000 on the head of every Israeli soldier.
Al-Qarni's statement - posted on Facebook - was severely criticized, and
messages posted online even warned of death threats. Khaled told the
broadcaster: "My offer also comes in response to the threats made against Sheikh
al-Qarni." The Saudi offers follows the recent deal between the Israeli
government and Hamas, when Israel agreed to release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners
in exchange for Gilad Shalit.
French Police Fire Tear Gas to Break Up Turk-Kurd Clashes
Naharnet/ French police fired tear gas to break up clashes that erupted between
Turkish protesters and supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in
central Paris on Sunday.
Around 150 young Turks waving their national flag and singing patriotic songs
gathered on the Place de la Bastille to protest "terrorism in Turkey" after an
attack by PKK rebels that killed 24 earlier this month.Youths saying they were
PKK supporters hurled stones and other objects at the gathering before police
fired tear gas to disperse the Kurds.
One of the Turkish protest's organizers, Hakan Fakili, said that 10 people were
injured. Turkey launched a wide army operation against the PKK after they
carried out a series of attacks that killed 24 soldiers and injured 18 others in
Cukurca town of Hakkari province near the Iraqi border on October 18.The latest
attack of the PKK caused the biggest loss for the army since 1993, when the PKK
rebels killed 33 unarmed soldiers.Clashes between the PKK and the army have
escalated since the summer.
The PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and much of the
international community took up arms for Kurdish independence in southeastern
Turkey in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives.Turkey's
last ground incursion into northern Iraq, an autonomous Kurdish region, was in
February 2008, when the army struck against the Zap region.
Source Agence France Presse
An attack on Iran would be a disaster for Israel
By Amir Oren/Haaretz
Saturday, October 29th, marked the 55th anniversary of the start of Operation
Kadesh, or the Sinai Campaign. It began with the parachuting of the 890th
Battalion east of the Mitla Pass, fairly close to the Suez Canal, for the
purpose of providing Britain and France with an excuse to intervene militarily.
Whether this opening act fulfilled Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan's call to "start
the war at the end, with heads turned backward, toward the Israeli border," is
an open question.
Historians are wont to assess the pros and cons of this military operation,
whose legacy in the region was perhaps the quietest decade Israel has ever
experienced, along with far more costly wars after the end of that decade.
Israel stained itself morally by hatching a conspiracy with two fading European
powers against North African national liberation movements, yet the IDF amazed
the world with its daring maneuvers and intimidating agility; and the opening of
a naval route to the Red Sea enabled relations to be cultivated with newly
independent states in Asia and Africa.
These calculations have a contemporary dimension, one embodied by the last of
the surviving figures, Shimon Peres, who was an architect of the Sinai campaign,
along with Dayan, and who operated under the guidance of then prime minister and
defense minister, David Ben-Gurion. The public and personal lessons which
President Peres drew from Operation Kadesh remain with him today. Ben-Gurion's
successors as prime minister and defense minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud
Barak - one at the start of his seventh decade the other at the end of that
decade - have yet to realize their ambitions of notching glorious victories, and
search for their own Sinai Campaign, a victory which was inscribed on the
resumes of Dayan, then 41 years old, and Peres, then 33.
It's no coincidence that compared to his relations with Netanyahu and Barak,
Peres has a relatively easy time accepting the positions and characters of Amnon
Lipkin Shahak, Gabi Ashkenazi and Meir Dagan.
In recent years, in conversations with researchers and students, Peres has
articulated some lessons drawn from the 1956 war. First, he has outlined the
goals of the war as, first and foremost, the opening of the Mitla Pass, and also
the weakening of Fedayeen terrorists from the Gaza Strip, and the vanquishing of
the strengthened Egyptian army.
Second, the consolidation of the government coalition by the ousting of Moshe
Sharett and winning the support of the Ahdut Ha'avoda faction, without which an
initiative to launch the operation in winter 1955-1956 failed to get off the
ground.
Third, Peres believes that lessons are to be learned from the way Ben-Gurion
delayed announcement of his final decision in favor of the war, without making
an effort to sell the plan to military planners and wheeler-dealers in the
political framework. Fourth, the fact that the Chief of Staff and key major
generals recommended a feasible plan was crucial.
Fifth, the war points to lessons regarding the defense of Israel's civilian
population, which is vulnerable to shelling. And sixth, there is the issue of
the alliance with Washington, or with powers that heed America's dictates.
Alongside the bumbling actions of the British and French armies, and errors made
in London, Paris and Tel Aviv, the war and its results were influenced by the
inclinations of U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. The Soviet invasion of
Hungary, and the impending U.S. elections, held one week after the start of the
operation, did nothing to soften the President's response; in fact, these
factors hardened Eisenhower's attitude. Without American support, the operation
was doomed to failure; the West European leaders who sponsored it paid a steep
political price, and the IDF was forced to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula and
the Gaza Strip.
The parallel is clear. An Israeli operation against Iran's nuclear program is
liable to recycle the cons of Operation Kadesh, without its benefits. Such a
fear is harbored by those who oppose this possible military adventure; the list
of negative effects outweighs whatever diplomatic or military advantages might
be accrued by such an action, the critics believe. After all, Barak is no Moshe
Dayan, and Bibi is not Ben-Gurion.
Only Peres, who is no mere symbolic President (as Yitzhak Ben Zvi 55 years ago
), remains in power, this time exerting an influence against the military
undertaking. The theater of fateful political-military decisions lacks today in
Israel a playwright, producer and actor. Meanwhile, trenchant criticism leveled
by the main critic in this theater, the public, against any dress rehearsal
might ward off the premier performance of this proposed military adventure in
Iran. The critic cannot afford to keep mum; it will soon have to raise its
voice.
Libya:
The death of Gaddafi and the challenge of building democracy
By Youssef Mohamed Al-Sawani
political science professor at the University of Tripoli
Asharq Alawsat
There can be no doubt that the death of Gaddafi, and leading members of his
regime, held a symbolic meaning that cannot be ignored. This represents an end
the collective fears that were held by the Libyan people in general and the
rebel fighters in particular that there was any chance of Gaddafi returning to
power or harming the Libyan revolution. There can be no doubt that the manner in
which Gaddafi ruled Libya, not to mention the manner in which he built his image
in the public’s imagination, played a strong role in creating such fears. This
led to a kind of belief that Gaddafi possessed exceptional or extraordinary
capabilities and abilities, which led to fears that he could harm the Libyan
revolution or prevent or delay the complete liberation of Libya. However in the
midst of this revolution and the revolutionary battles against remnants of the
Gaddafi regime in Bani Walid and Sirte, it was clear to observers that Gaddafi
was nothing more than a symbol, and that for the majority of the Libyans, his
rule was over since the February Revolution gained a foothold in different parts
of the country. In this way, Gaddafi’s death represented nothing more than the
symbolic death certificate of his era and regime.
The Libyans have confirmed that they are a people that deserve life, and they
have expressed their aspiration and desire for freedom. This can be seen in the
thousands of Libyans who sacrificed themselves since the outbreak of the Libyan
revolution. However even though Gaddafi has been killed, this revolution is not
over! When the revolution first began, it possessed specific goals and
objectives, namely freedom, democracy, development, human rights, and a state of
law based on equality.
The Libyan people today will require a long period of time to deal with the
consequences of Gaddafi’s rule and address the damage he did to the country.
Gaddafi destroyed the very concept of the state and state institutes, waging a
war on Libyan society and its political and civil institutes. However the worst
thing that Gaddafi did was not his brutal suppression of the revolution which
resulted in the deaths of thousands of Libyans, but rather his crimes against
Libya’s system of values and political culture, his destruction of Libya’s
development, and the manner that he distorted Libya’s image of itself and its
people. This represents a huge challenge to the Libyan people who need to be
patient and employ all of their energy and ability to overcome this and achieve
development.
The February revolution, particularly during the early days, was leaderless and
did not express any political or ideological orientation. This granted the
Libyan revolution a positive ability to be free from the constraints and
vulnerabilities associated with ideological and partisan affiliations and
restrictions. However this initial strength can become a source of weakness if
it prevents the establishment of political organizations and effective civil
movement which are capable of countering the threats against the revolution and
the blood of the revolution’s victims being exploited by political agendas,
forces interested in maintaining the status quo, or foreign parties seeking to
intervene in shaping the new Libyan political scene.
There can be no doubt that the revolution in Libya was a truly popular
revolution. The Libyan people entered into this revolution without possessing
any previous political experience, or even a culture of politics or mass
movement, which is something that would strengthen their ability to protect the
shape and form of their revolution. The Libyans had no choice but to accept NATO
intervention in the face of Gaddafi’s brutality. Gaddafi’s killing machine
committed its brutal crimes in different Libyan regions, and the Libyan people
believed that their country was on the verge of a genocidal war that there was
no escape from, and that there was therefore no choice but to invoke the
conscience of the world [and call for foreign intervention].
The international community responded to this, for various reasons, and there
can be no doubt that one of these was on humanitarian grounds. The world was not
ready to see a repeat of the Rwandan tragedy in Libya, or a second Srebrenica in
Benghazi. The Libyans were not able to find any escape from this, particularly
as the Arabs were unable to do anything but provide the necessary cover to
legitimize NATO’s operation in Libya. Therefore, the Libyans appealed to the
West [for intervention], whilst still committed not to accept the presence of
foreign troops on Libyan soil.
The Libyans were committed, particularly the rebels, to preventing direct
foreign military intervention, fearing that this could lead to the corruption of
their whole operation [revolution]. Despite the situation and the
intensification of the operation of Gaddafi’s killing machine, and the dramatic
increase in the death toll, the Libyan people still did not accept the presence
of foreign troops on their soil, fearing that this could represent the advance
force [of a western military force] that would see Libya being transformed into
Europe’s petrol station, or Tripoli being controlled by western embassies. They
Libyans who fought fascist Italy for decades served as examples of heroism for
the unarmed Libyan people who confronted Gaddafi, silencing the voices of those
who called for direct foreign military intervention.
Today, following Gaddafi’s death, and the inherent meaning of this, it is clear
that the results of the transitional stage are strongly related to what can be
described as the institutional weakness that Libya suffers from at various
levels. This weakness has had clearly negative effects on Libya. Traditional
experience and wisdom says that the most important requirement for the success
of political transition and democracy-building is the presence of political
leaders and individuals who embrace democracy as a strategic choice and national
pledge. Our leaders are facing a difficult challenge, and this is related to
their ability to make the process of democratization a success, in the same
manner as the Founding Fathers of the US. By looking at everything that happened
in Libya, and what is happening today, and the clear role played by foreign
forces, the door is wide open for the possibility of foreign parties supporting
or advocating one [political] party or another. Even though all foreign parties
have stressed that they respect the will of the Libyan people and their
[political] choices, as well as their support for the process of democratization
in Libya, questions still remains regarding the extent of their support in this
regard.
If there are questions that are being raised during the current circumstances,
these are regarding the rising influence of extremists [in Libya], regardless of
political orientation or ideological belief. This is not to mention the
potential actions taken by organizations that were created by Gaddafi, and which
have been left behind as sleeper cells following his death. Such organizations
could attack the stability of the country, or even carry out assassinations. The
worse possible future scenario could see the political fight for power develop
into armed conflict between different political groups and parties, which could
have the disastrous result of foreign parties intervening in the situation to
support one party at the expense of another.
If the Libyans fails to achieve stability, rebuild the country, establish
democracy, and liberate the economy, this could serve to increase the risk of
political division and national instability. This, in turn, could urge foreign
powers to try to impose a peaceful transfer of power in Libya. Although this
would, most likely, not occur via military force, it may result in the
deployment of a peace-keeping force. Whilst the Libyan political forces growing
use of political exclusion, seeking to exclude all those that are not affiliated
to them by describing them sometimes as religious extremists or secularists or
remnants of the Gaddafi regime, opens the door to this moving beyond a political
war, and we have seen calls for certain parties or regions or tribes to be
excluded from political participation under the pretext of their support for the
Gaddafi regime, or their lack of support for the revolution.
This is all taking place at the same time that the residents of a certain region
on the Libyan coastline have been displaced from their homes, whilst no national
reconciliation or even political agreement has been achieved between the
different Libyan parties. Indeed, there has not even been an agreement on a code
of political conduct or political participation! Furthermore, this could open
the door to the possibility of tribalism, foreign interference, or the
corruption of Libya’s political scene. The transitional phase will be crucial,
and the policies adopted by the National Transitional Council [NTC] will
determine the nature of the game. The guarantees for success are based on the
ability of the Libyans, particularly the youth, to understand the current
situation in the country, and pursue direct action, on all levels, towards
achieving a modern democratic society.
Abbas to dissolve Palestinian Authority
30/10/2011
By Ali El-Saleh/London, Asharq Al-Awsat- Despite a number of denials by members
of Fatah Movement regarding Israeli press reports that Palestinian President
Mahmud Abbas intends on dissolving the Palestinian Authority [PA], sources have
stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that President Abbas intends on reverting the
situation in the Palestinian territories to what it had been before the creation
of the PA in 1994, which means handing over the management affairs of the West
Bank to the administration of the Israeli occupation, which means, in other
words, dissolving the PA.Asharq Al-Awsat has learned from a high-ranking
Palestinian source that Abbas has recently sent two messages that include this
idea to the government of Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and the US
Administration. This has been confirmed by a source of the Fatah Central
Committee, but the difference between the two sources is that the first speaks
about written correspondence while the second talks about verbal exchanges.
However, the two sources agreed on the identities of the conveyers of the these
two messages since the message to Israel was conveyed by Hussein al-Sheikh,
member of Fatah Central Committee and the official in charge of civil affairs in
the PA who is responsible for coordination with the Israeli Civil
Administration. As for the message to the United States, it was conveyed by Saeb
Erekat, the PLO chief negotiator and member of Fatah Central Committee.
According to the high-ranking source, this is an important, serious, sudden
step, which President Abbas spoke about, and it will be revealed within a month
(which means soon after the Security Council votes on the UN membership request
for the state of Palestine, the discussion on which is scheduled to start on 11
November). Abbas spoke about this step in an interview with an Egyptian
satellite channels a few days ago, and repeated it in his speech at the
Revolutionary Council of Fatah Movement, which began its meetings in Ramallah
last Wednesday night and concluded yesterday with a joint-final statement.
During his visit to New York to submit the application of Palestine to the
United Nations last September, Abbas told Asharq Al-Awsat that actually a
National Authority [PA] does not exist and he is not going to accept to carry
out the tasks of a head of municipality.
The contents of these messages are the same, according to the two sources who
differed on some words, since the Fatah source said that the two messages do not
at all include the phrase of dissolving the PA "because we are against
dissolving the PA, which we consider a national achievement, but they speak
about the collapse of the PA, and the occupation [authority] assuming its role."
The Fatah source added that "Hussein al-Sheikh informed the Israelis to prepare
themselves to receive these administrations and what they handed over to us
(which means after Oslo Accords) because we do not work for them"
The source added: "Hussein al-Sheikh told the Israelis that we are going to
return the 3,000 rifles that you allowed for us (in reference to halting the
security coordination)." The official said that "this talk in this way means
that the PA does not exist, and therefore, let the occupation authority return
to shoulder its responsibilities in the Palestinian territories."
As for the second source who expressed his strong rejection of dissolving the PA
in any way, he said that the messages speak about handing over the authority to
Israel. He added that the talk about handing over or returning the authority to
Israel "is understood as if the authority was given to us as a gift, and that we
are returning this gift to it." The source expressed his rejection of such a
tendency even if it is said only as a warning, pointing out that many people who
discuss such ideas do not weigh up the dimensions of such a step."
The Israeli Hebrew-language e newspaper, Ma'ariv, quoted a Palestinian official,
whom it described as a senior official, as saying that the PA has worked out a
plan that is kept in the drawers to dissolve the PA within months if its efforts
to obtain the UN membership fail.
According to this official, the plan has been worked out at the request of
president Abbas, and it calls for transferring the health, educational, and
tourism affairs to Israel and the process would end with Israel also assuming
the security responsibility in the Palestinian territories.
The official said that the idea of dissolving the PA has been presented to the
members of Fatah Central Committee and won their support. However, the
Palestinian official emphasized that no decision to this effect has thus far
been made.
Mahmud al-Alul, member of Fatah Central Committee, told the private Palestinian
Ma'an News Agency that the option of dissolving the PA is unlikely, and that
"what is intended is a call to illustrate the situation as one without an
authority and an authority without a sovereignty and without powers and is under
the control of the occupation, which confiscated its jurisdictions to empty it
of its contents." Al-Alul added: "There is a call, not to dissolve the PA, but
to show its situation and how to struggle to restore its sovereignty and
confront the occupation, and to show dissatisfaction with the fait accompli." In
face of this difficult situation, as he said, the leadership is searching for
solutions, and the dissolving of the PA is not one of them."
Al-Alul disclosed that many ideas are under discussion, and some people think of
an international custodianship, others think of options that are related to
resisting the occupation, and some think of one state, while others think of
getting rid of all previous commitments, and some people think of returning the
issue to new terms of references, such as the United nations.
Answering a question if the option of dissolving the PA is in the hand of
president Abbas, Al-Alul said: "Yes, if we want this, the option of dissolving
it would become in our hands, particularly since we started to tend to rebel
against capitulation to the international options since they do not consider the
Palestinian situation something basic and they have other priorities." He added:
"This way of thinking is not a tactic but is serious because we will not accept
to have an authority whose jurisdictions are usurped, but this does not mean
that we are speaking about dissolving it."
However, Al-Alul does not deny that the PA situation is very difficult in these
circumstances in which there is no horizon and in light of the changes in the
Arab world and the whole world. He said: "we are hurt by this, and we are
discussing the prospects of getting out of this since we were able to restore
brightness to the Palestine question through going to the United Nations in
spite of the difficult Arab situation and the international financial crisis."
He said, however: "Had we not done so and had we waited until the appropriate
time, we would have waited for very long years for the rearrangement of the
situation in the region."
On what president Abbas means when he said that he is going to discuss the
future of the PA with Khalid Mishal, head of Hamas Political Bureau, Al-Alul
said: "He means that he is going to discuss with Mishal the present situation
and the prospects of getting out of it and working out a national strategy for
the future."
Arabs await Assad’s reply on plan to end unrest
October 31, 2011 /Now Lebanon
The Arab League has proposed a plan of "concrete steps" to end the bloodshed in
Syria and expects President Bashar al-Assad to respond on Monday, Qatar's
foreign minister said.
An Arab ministerial team "agreed on a serious proposal to stop the killing and
all forms of violence in Syria," Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani told reporters
after a meeting in Doha on Sunday.
"The Syrian delegation has said they would respond tomorrow," he said.
In response to a warning from Assad that any Western intervention in Syria would
inflame the region, Sheikh Hamad said the risk was if Damascus failed to take
"concrete steps" to stop the violence.
"The entire region is at risk of a massive storm," he said after more than three
hours of talks between a group of Arab foreign ministers and their Syrian
counterpart Walid Muallem.
"What is required of Syria ... is concrete steps that could avoid what happened
to other countries," Sheikh Hamad said, in apparent reference to the conflict in
Libya and NATO's military intervention.
Assad has warned that any Western intervention in Syria would cause an
"earthquake" across the Middle East, Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper quoted
him as telling one of its journalists.
Sheikh Hamad, however, who chaired the Doha meeting but gave no details on the
Arab plan, also said: "Leaders must know how to behave, not by delaying and
deceiving."
The Syrian delegation will stay in the Qatari capital to deliver Assad's
response, he said, adding that the ministerial team would reconvene on Wednesday
in Cairo where the Arab League has its headquarters.
Assad warned of "another Afghanistan" if foreign forces intervened in Syria as
they had in Libya, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
Syria is "the fault line, and if you play with the ground you will cause an
earthquake – do you want to see another Afghanistan, or tens of Afghanistans?"
he asked.
"Any problem in Syria will burn the whole region. If the plan is to divide
Syria, that is to divide the whole region."
During talks in Damascus last Wednesday, the Arab ministers warned Assad to stop
the bloodshed and start meaningful reforms or face an international
intervention, the Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas reported.
Citing well-informed Arab sources, the paper said the delegation told Assad that
failure to resolve the crisis within the Arab fold would mean
"internationalizing" the unrest.
"This would mean Syria should expect a foreign intervention and a painful
international blockade on the economy and other aspects," the daily said.
China threw its weight behind the Arab mediation effort, with its Middle East
envoy Wu Sike saying he had told Assad in Damascus on Thursday that his regime's
deadly crackdown on dissent "cannot continue."
Wu said Assad's regime must "respect and respond to the aspirations and rightful
demands of the Syrian people," and abandon the crackdown that has killed more
than 3,000 people since mid-March, according to UN figures.
Ahead of the Doha encounter, the Syrian Foreign Ministry accused the Arab
ministerial delegation of stoking dissent, having been influenced by "lies
spread by television channels."
It said that in Doha, Muallem would inform the delegation of the "true situation
in Syria," Syria's official SANA news agency reported.
The Doha talks came as Syrian activists put mounting pressure on the Arab League
to suspend Syria's membership of the 22-member bloc.
"Assad's militias have been killing us for eight months. They arrest us and
crush us... And you, Arabs, who love rhetoric, what are you doing," the Syrian
Revolution 2011, a motor of the dissent, said in a post on its Facebook page.
The activists organized protests across Syria on Sunday calling for the League
to "freeze the membership" of Syria.
At least three people were killed in fresh violence, two by snipers and another
hit as security forces opened fire in the flashpoint central province of Homs,
the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
On Saturday in Homs, 20 Syrian soldiers were killed and 53 wounded in clashes
with presumed army deserters, while 10 security agents and a deserter were
killed in a bus ambush, the Britain-based watchdog added.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Missile-battered Israeli towns in first civilian mutiny against IDF
DEBKAfile Special Report/October 31, 2011, 1 Israel is seeing its first ever
crisis of confidence between a large normally docile civilian population and the
heads of the armed forces.Mayors and local council heads representing the three
quarters of-a-million inhabitants of the southern towns of Beersheba, Ashkelon,
Ashdod, Kiryat Gat and Gan Yavneh, announced Sunday night, Oct. 31, that they
don't believe the army's claim the missile offensive besetting them since
Saturday is over.
Their schools stayed closed Monday, Oct. 31, in defiance of Home Front Command
orders to lift the security restrictions that were imposed Saturday, when eight
Israeli towns were pounded by scores of missiles, causing one death, dozens of
injuries, substantial damage and the disruption of lives.
After a decade of missile violence from Gaza, the people still living there are
saying enough is enough. They are fed up with being told that the military and
powers-that-be know best how to handle the terrorism from the Gaza Strip. The
missiles start flying whenever it pleases the Gazan Palestinians, a recurring
blight which has seriously stunted the region's development.
debkafile's analysts attribute this newfound combativeness to seven causes.
1. Conflicting statements from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the army
chiefs. Whereas Netanyahu stated Sunday that there is no ceasefire, army
officers informed the South that a truce is in force and only needs time to take
hold.
2. An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire was announced as going into effect Sunday
morning, Oct. 30 at 0600 hours (after more than 35 missiles were fired
Saturday). That whole day, the Palestinians continued their attacks which they
divided into two stages: Soon after the 0600 deadline, they shot 15 Grads and
mortar rounds into Israel and paused. In the evening, other round of 9 Qassam
missiles hit Ashkelon regional council and Eshkol district.
3. The Iron Dome batteries, designed by Israel to intercept short-range rockets,
failed to stop any Sunday, starting a wave of rumors across the South.
Few heeded the words of ex-security officers turned pundits who explained that
even wonder systems have mechanical breakdowns. After the IDF issued a bulletin
asserting the Jihad Islami had used "innovative firing technology" – without
specifying what it was – many assumed that the Iron Dome had been neutralized –
not by the technologically-challenged Palestinian extremists, but by specialist
officers sent to Gaza but their masters in Tehran.
4. The brief television appearance of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz,
answering a question with the words: "We shall do what needs to be done." As he
spoke, sirens sounded and missiles and mortar shells exploded in Ashkelon,
Sderot and other locations abutting on the Gaza Strip.
5. As Sunday wore on, the lack of clarity over government intentions deepened .
The population realized that no substantial military operation was planned and
their trouble was there to stay. A new truce deadline was said to be scheduled
for 2200 Sunday night. The Palestinians chose that hour to resume their attacks
on Ashkelon regional council and Eshkol district.
6. As Monday morning, Oct. 31 dawned with no sign that the radical jihad Islami
intended to hold its fire, Home Front Minister Mattan Vilnai aired his first
message to the South:
"This round is over," he said. "It was the work of the Jihad Islami alone.
Hamas, which as Gaza Strip rulers are responsible, stood aside."
debkafile's military sources: This is a further Netanyahu government step to
relieve Hamas of the burdens of responsibility for the violence emanating from
its territory.
This anomalous situation arose from an unsatisfactory exchange between Jerusalem
and Cairo. Egypt informed Jerusalem it had managed to persuade Jihad Islami to
halt its missile offensive but not to stop its fellow radical Palestinian groups
in the Gaza from shooting or even withhold the missiles for them to continue
their assaults.
The prime minister and defense minister were reluctant to admit to the public
that they had placed their reliance for the security of southern Israel on the
military rulers of Egypt – and then only with partial success.
7. Community leaders in the south are preparing to take a leaf out of two
popular campaigns which managed in recent weeks to shock the Netanyahu
government out of its complacence: This week, 19 new bills were put before the
Knesset's winter session in response to the demands of the Social Justice
movement; and last week, the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit's release was
achieved, partly as a result of popular pressure.
Several community leaders warned that the South is now on the march to finally
break the devastating cycle of ceasefires imposed and violated at the
convenience of the Palestinian aggressors and force the government and army to
root out the plague of the Palestinian missiles once and for all.