LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِSeptember
02/2011
Bible Quotation for today.
Leviticus 19/12-19: "“‘You shall not deceive
one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of
your God. I am Yahweh. ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The
wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but
you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh. You shall do no injustice in judgment: you
shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you
shall judge your neighbor in righteousness. You shall not go up and down as a
slanderer among your people. You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I
am Yahweh.
You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your
neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor
bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your
neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh. You shall keep my statutes.
Latest
analysis, editorials, studies, reports, letters & Releases
from
miscellaneous
sources
Fate of the Egyptian – Israeli
peace treaty/By
Bilal Hassen/September
01ٍ/11
Yossi Melman / Iran using Arab
Spring as cover to accelerate nuclear program/August 01/11
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources
for September 01ٍ/11
WikiLeaks: Breach has
exposed unredacted U.S. cables
STL Spokesman Confirms Bellemare
has Additional Evidence
'UN Security Council failing to
respond effectively to bloodshed in Arab world'
Iran official: Tehran should have
supported Syrian uprising
Western diplomats dismiss Iranian
cooperation over nuclear program as 'charm offensive'
Report: Gadhafi's son was ready to
sign peace treaty with Israel after fighting in Libya over
US confirms al Qaeda members' role
in rebel command. Qaddafi contacts them
Syria Attorney General Says Quits,
Damascus Denies
Berri: Resistance arms to
stay while Israeli violations continue
Turkey in warning to Israel: You
have one day to apologize for Gaza flotilla raid
Diplomats: EU split on support of
Palestinians' UN statehood bid
Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel says
Hezbollah is acting “like Zionists”
Kataeb: Hezbollah emulating
Zionists, marginalizing state
Future bloc MP Mohammad al-Hajjar
addresses Future Movement’s relation with Dar al-Fatwa
Ban Ki-moon urges immediate UN
mission to Libya
EU to adopt Syrian oil embargo on
Friday, say diplomats
Lebanese historian Kamal Salibi
dies at 82
Qaddafi says he will not surrender
Libyan rebels dismiss report they
promised France oil
EU lifts sanctions against 28
Libyan economic entities
Future bloc MP Mohammad al-Hajjar
addresses Future Movement’s relation with Dar al-Fatwa
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel
Charbel says security situation is under control
Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine
Zahra to Berri: We were the first to defend freedom
Miqati Urges Sarkozy to Keep French
Troops as Part of UNIFIL
Berri’s speech serves Israel’s
interests, Future bloc MP Nabil De Freige
General Security deports freed
Syrians, NNA reports
Future bloc MP Mouin Merhebi
accuses Lebanese FM of working for Syrian regime
Russia recognizes Libya's rebel
government
Freed Syrians sent home
Lebanon: 11 wounded, including
child, in Bekaa shooting
STL
Spokesman Confirms Bellemare has Additional Evidence
Naharnet /Special Tribunal for Lebanon spokesman Marten Youssef stressed on
Thursday that the indictment has a supplement that wasn’t released to keep the
identity of witnesses and the investigation confidential. “There is a part of
the indictment that the pre-trial judge (Daniel Fransen) decided to keep
confidential, especially in the matters that would affect the witnesses,
investigations and the victims,” Youssef told al-Okaz Saudi newspaper. The STL
probing the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri unsealed large parts
of the indictment in August accusing four Hizbullah members in the February 14,
2005 bombing. They are Mustafa Badreddin, Salim Ayyash, Assad Sabra and Hussein
Onaissi. He confirmed that Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare will present additional
evidence during the trial. The STL official told the newspaper: “Publishing big
part of the indictment is a right judicial step taken by the pre-trial judge,
that shouldn’t be confidential according to the tribunal bylaws.” Youssef
stressed “when the Lebanese authorities informed the STL that they weren’t able
to arrest the suspects, the pre-trial judge decided to publicize the
indictment.” Asked about the monthly report that STL’s president, Judge Antonio
Cassese, asked from Prosecutor Saeed Mirza to submit, the spokesman said: “We
can’t presume or suppose that the Lebanese authorities will not issue the
monthly report over pursuing the suspects.”
He said that the STL will not force any measures to track the suspects; however,
if the Lebanese authorities weren’t able to achieve any result then Judge
Cassesse can refer to the U.N. Security Council. Concerning the possibility of
heading to a trial in absentia, Youssef noted that there are several stages
before reaching that point.
The STL was created by a 2007 Security Council resolution, at Lebanon's request,
to try those responsible for Hariri's assassination. Hariri was killed in a
suicide truck bombing along with 22 other people including the bomber.
Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel says Hezbollah is acting “like Zionists”
September 1, 2011 /Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel says Hezbollah “is behaving like
Zionists.
Kataeb bloc MP Sami Gemayel on Thursday accused Hezbollah of being responsible
for creating “its own statelet” and “acting like the Zionists” in Lebanon. “The
most dangerous fact is that Hezbollah, in Lebanon, is acting the same way like
the Zionists are behaving in Israel,” Gemayel said during a press conference.
The MP blamed the Syrian-Iranian-backed Shia group for protecting four members
indicted by the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) for the 2005
assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri. “[Under such circumstances], the rules
of article 219 of the Lebanese Penal code apply to the whole party, [if it is
protecting the accused men],” the MP said. “The Zionists do not implement
international resolutions and neither does Hezbollah, which rejects the
indictment of the STL,” he added. He also said that “Hezbollah, similar to the
Zionists, claims supremacy over other people …confiscates lands …and aims to
establish a religious nation.” Gemayel said that he rejects “Hezbollah’s
ideology, [use of] weapons, and project.” However, he called for “building the
state together, but without [the use of force].” The Kataeb MP also said that
the Shia group is using “the same methods that the Syrian army used” during its
period of tutelage in Lebanon between 1976 and 2005, and “is pressuring the
Lebanese people and threatening political figures.” He also condemned Foreign
Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour's defense of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s
regime.
“It is unacceptable for the minister to [defend the regime] the way he did. At
least he should remain silent [if he does not want to criticize Assad].”Assad’s
troops have cracked down on protests against almost five decades of Baath Party
rule which broke out mid-March, killing over 2,200 people and triggering a
torrent of international condemnation. Meanwhile, four Hezbollah members have
been indicted by the STL. However, the Shia group strongly denied the charges
and refused to cooperate with the court. -NOW Lebanon
Future bloc MP Mohammad al-Hajjar addresses Future
Movement’s relation with Dar al-Fatwa
Future bloc MP Mohammad al-Hajjar commented on Thursday on the Future Movement’s
relation with Dar al-Fatwa.The MP said that the movement figures’ not attending
the prayers held on Tuesday for Eid al-Fitr was “a coincidence” and did not aim
to “boycott” the prayers headed by the Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic,
Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani.Hajjar also told New TV that the Future bloc has
some reservations regarding “Dar al-Fatwa’s positions vis-a-vis the [manner] in
which regional issues are being dealt with,” adding that “this is a summer cloud
that will pass when we return to [principles].”However, the MP did not elaborate
any further. -NOW Lebanon
Berri’s speech serves Israel’s interests, says Future bloc MP Nabil De Freige
Future bloc MP Nabil De Freige on Thursday responded to Speaker Nabih Berri’s
speech delivered at a ceremony commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the
disappearance of Lebanese Shia leader Imam Moussa Sadr. “If [Berri] will keep
accusing and attacking other [parties] as well as dividing the Lebanese people,
then he is serving Israel’s [interests],” he told Voice of Lebanon (100.5)
radio. “I was not surprised by Berri’s speech… he spoke as the leader of the
Amal Movement,” De Freige added. The Future bloc MP also rejected Berri’s
attempt to “draw red lines” on the political speeches. “No one can [force] a red
line upon someone… it is surprising that this step comes from the head of the
legislative authority,” he added.
Berri said on Wednesday that the Lebanese army is a “red line,” adding that some
Lebanese parties have engaged in “a foreign conspiracy” against Syria.-NOW
Lebanon
General Security deports freed Syrians, NNA reports
General Security deported two Syrians nationals who were kidnapped in the Bekaa
on August 26, the National News Agency reported on Thursday. However, it did not
elaborate any further. An armed group on Friday kidnapped two Syrian nationals
on Ber Elias road in central Bekaa. A security forces report mentioned that the
kidnappers were armed and blocked the road the Syrians were driving on before
taking them with force. According to an ISF statement, the police traced the
whereabouts of one of the kidnappers and managed to free the two captives. The
statement added that Internal Security Forces (ISF) questioned the two Syrians
before handing them to General Security. Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said
on Wednesday evening that the kidnapping of the two Syrians “was an issue of
financial blackmail,” adding that the Lebanese army and General Security were
able to free them after the ISF-Information Branch determined their
location.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s troops have cracked down on protests
against almost five decades of Baath Party rule which broke out mid-March,
killing over 2,200 people and triggering a torrent of international
condemnation.-NOW Lebanon
Future bloc MP Mouin Merhebi accuses Lebanese FM of working for Syrian regime
Future bloc MP Mouin Merhebi accused on Thursday the Lebanese foreign minister
of working for the Syrian regime. “Many ministers, in particular the
‘Lebanese-Syrian’ Minister Mansour, receive instructions from [Syria’s Foreign
Minister Walid] Mouallem and [President Bashar] al-Assad,” he told Free Lebanon
radio. The US Treasury Department slapped on Tuesday sanctions on Muallem and
two other top officials, including top presidential advisor Bouthaina Shaaban,
and Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali. The Future Movement MP
also slammed Prime Minister Najib Mikati and said that the premier’s positions
are not up to “the powers that his post grants him.” Merhebi also addressed the
issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the international court
investigating the 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, saying that
no “false witnesses” can be uncovered before finalization of the UN-backed
Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). “Assad is the first ‘false witness,’ along
with some Hezbollah leaders,” Merhebi added.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s
troops have cracked down on protests against almost five decades of Baath Party
rule which broke out mid-March, killing over 2,200 people and triggering a
torrent of international condemnation. Saad Hariri’s unity cabinet collapsed in
January amid a controversy between the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition and
western-backed March 14 alliance concerning the STL, which said it has enough
evidence to try four members of Hezbollah.-NOW Lebanon
Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra to Berri: We were the first to defend
freedom
Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra fired back at Speaker Nabih Berri
following the latter’s recent statements during a ceremony commemorating the
33rd anniversary of the disappearance of Lebanese Shia leader Imam Moussa Sadr.
“We were the first to defend freedom and sovereignty, and Speaker Berri knows
exactly our position,” Zahra told LBC television. “Speaker Berri is in a
difficult position,” said the MP, adding, “We don’t know how he will
[compromise] between his position on the state and his position on what is going
on, especially that the ‘owners of weapons’ are [required] to tell us how they
plan to engage with the state,” referring to Hezbollah. Zahra also addressed
Berri’s statement that the March 14 coalition had relations with toppled
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. “Communicating with President Mubarak is not a
crime, and we are proud of our relationship with him and his position on
Lebanon.” “However, we did not allow ourselves to comment on the Egyptian
people’s choice for change.” Berri said on Wednesday that some parties have
engaged in “a foreign conspiracy” against Syria, adding there is no Arab place
which “is [immune] to the Cedar Revolution [contamination].” The speaker also
said that the leading figures of the Cedar Revolution were discussing foreign
policy with Mubarak before he was toppled.Mubarak was toppled on February 11
after nearly a month of protests that erupted in the country.
-NOW Lebanon
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel says security situation is under control
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told OTV on Thursday that the security
situation in Lebanon is under control, and voiced his disappointment over the
death of six people in a dispute over a piece of land in Bekaa. The minister
also said that he will “soon” submit an electoral law based on proportional
representation. A man shot dead members of the same family who had gathered in a
cemetery on Tuesday to mark the end of Ramadan, AFP quoted a security official
as saying, adding that the killing was related to a land dispute. Charbel also
commented on his Wednesday meeting with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea,
saying that his visit comes as Lebanon’s interior minister, adding that he is
visiting all party leaders and figures.-NOW Lebanon
Ban Ki-moon urges immediate UN mission to Libya
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told senior envoys at a meeting on the future
of Libya on Thursday that the United Nations is ready to lead an immediate
international mission to help get the country back on its feet.Ban said he had
talked with Libyan, Arab, African and European leaders and "all agreed at this
critical moment the international community must come together with an
effective, well-coordinated program of action. "I intend to work closely with
the Security Council in crafting a mandate for a UN mission, with the express
aim of beginning operations with minimum delay," Ban told the conference of
"Friends of Libya" in Paris.Ban said the leaders of the National Transitional
Council, which now forms Libya's rebel interim government after overthrowing
strongman Moammar Qaddafi, supported his proposed humanitarian and
state-building mission. "Our most immediate challenge is humanitarian," he said.
"Roughly 860,000 people have left the country since February, including skilled
guest workers. Public services are under severe strain, including hospitals and
clinics." "There is a major water shortage," he warned. "Meanwhile, sporadic
fighting continues, particularly in the country's south."While insisting on the
need for the international community to coordinate its action with the NTC, he
promised that: "The future destiny of Libya must rest in the hands of the Libyan
people." "In the meantime, my humanitarian coordinator is today on the ground in
Tripoli," Ban added, adding that his special advisor for post-conflict planning,
Ian Martin, would also set off immediately for Libya.-AFP/NOW Lebanon
EU to adopt Syrian oil embargo on Friday, say diplomats
The European Union will formally adopt a ban on Syrian oil imports Friday, but
the embargo will take effect on November 15 for existing contracts after Italy
insisted on a delay, according to diplomats. The EU will also expand its list of
people targeted by an assets freeze and travel ban, adding four businessmen
accused of bankrolling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, the diplomats
told AFP Thursday. And three companies, including a bank, will see their assets
in the EU frozen as punishment for the regime's deadly repression of protesters,
the sources said on condition of anonymity. The announcement of the oil embargo
will coincide with a key meeting of EU foreign ministers in Poland. The measure
will deprive Assad's regime of a vital source of cash, as the EU buys 95 percent
of Syria's crude oil. "These measures must be validated by European governments
on Friday," one diplomat said, after the EU reached a preliminary agreement on
Monday. Rome obtained a delay in the application of the sanctions for existing
supply contracts between European companies and Syria's two national energy
firms, Syria Petroleum and Sytrol, the diplomats said. "The Italians insisted
for a delay so as not to disrupt [European importers] too much," one diplomat
said. Italy originally wanted the sanctions delayed until November 30, but
November 15 was agreed as a compromise. The EU also put off a decision on
whether to ban investments in the oil sector, but such a measure could be
enacted in a future set of sanctions, the diplomats said. Some 50 people are
already named in the EU's sanctions list, including Assad and three Iranian
officials accused of supporting his government. Eight Syrian and Iranian firms
or organizations are also blacklisted.-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Lebanese historian Kamal Salibi dies at 82
Prominent Lebanese historian Kamal Salibi died in Beirut on Thursday at the age
of 82, announced the American University of Beirut, where he taught for more
than half a century.
Born a Protestant on May 2, 1929 in multi-confessional Lebanon, Salibi gained a
reputation as the leading historian on his country, penning "The Modern History
of Lebanon" and "A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon
Reconsidered."An avid pianist, Salibi earned a BA in history and political
science from the American University of Beirut (AUB) and a PhD from London's
School of Oriental and African Studies, where he worked under the supervision of
Bernard Lewis and focused on Christian Maronite historians in mediaeval Lebanon.
In 1985, Salibi wrote his controversial "The Bible Came from Arabia," in which
he argued that the place names of the First Testament pointed to southwest
Arabia rather than Palestine.
At the time of his death, Salibi was emeritus professor of history at AUB, where
he taught since 1954, and honorary president of the Royal Institute for
Inter-Faith Studies, based in Amman.
His many works have been translated into German, Arabic, Russian and French.-AFP/NOW
Lebanon
Qaddafi says he will not surrender
September 1, 2011
Fugitive Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi vowed again Thursday not to surrender, in
a message broadcast on the 42nd anniversary of the coup which brought him to
power.
In the message put out by the pro-Qaddafi Syria-based Arabic-language Arrai
Oruba television channel, the fallen strongman said he was prepared for "a long
battle" even if Libya “burns”.
He urged his supporters to keep up their resistance to the insurgency that has
conquered most of the country and forced him into hiding, as a major conference
opened in Paris to aid the rebel National Transitional Council in setting up a
new administration.
"Even if you cannot hear my voice, continue the resistance," Qaddafi said.
"We will not surrender. We are not women and we are going to keep on fighting."
"If they want a long battle, let it be long. If Libya burns, who can govern it?
So let it burn," he added in the message sent from an unknown location.
Qaddafi claimed there were splits between NATO, "the alliance of aggression",
whose warplanes have paved the way for the insurgents' advance, and the rebels,
"its agents."
His message followed similar defiant words from his son Seif al-Islam overnight,
who said he, his father and "the whole family" were still in Tripoli, which fell
to the rebels on August 20 after days of fierce fighting.
But rebel sources said unconfirmed reports put the Qaddafis in the loyalist-held
town of Bani Walid, southeast of the capital.
"We have reports that Moammar Qaddafi has been in Bani Walid for the past two
days, but these reports are not totally confirmed," NTC vice-chairman Abdel
Hafiz Ghoga told AFP.
He said clashes were still going on between rebel and pro-Qaddafi forces near
the town.
"The revolutionary fighters are making progress and we are hoping for an end to
the conflict soon," he said.
A rebel commander, Abdel Raziq, said he believed Seif al-Islam and another son,
Mutassim, were in Bani Walid.
"According to our most recent information Seif and Mutassim are in Bani Walid,"
Raziq said in Tarhuna, between Tripoli and Bani Walid.
"About 80 percent of the people in Bani Walid are with the rebels and only 20
percent are with Qaddafi," he said. "We expect them to surrender, but if they
don't we will attack from three fronts," he added without giving other details.
The insurgents had earlier said they believed Qaddafi was hiding in his coastal
hometown of Sirte, but another rebel commander said on Thursday they no longer
thought that.
Seif al-Islam also vowed that the loyalists would fight to the death, in a
separate audio message broadcast by Arrai.
But at the same time another son, Saadi Qaddafi, told the Al-Arabiya television
channel he was ready to give himself up, "If my surrender stops the spilling of
blood."
Algeria allowed one of Qaddafi's wives, two of his sons and some of his
grandchildren to cross the border on Saturday and seek sanctuary, angering the
NTC.
But Algeria's Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci said on Thursday there was no
possibility of granting Qaddafi himself asylum.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Libyan rebels dismiss report they promised France oil
Libya's new rebel government dismissed a claim Thursday that it had promised
France control of 35 percent of the country's oil production, disavowing a
purported letter from their government.As world leaders gathered in Paris to
welcome the National Transitional Council into the international fold, the
French daily Liberation published what it said was a letter from the rebels to
the Emir of Qatar.In it, Liberation said, the "Popular Front for the Liberation
of Libya" tells the emir that it had struck a deal "to assign 35 percent of
crude oil to France in exchange for its total and permanent support of our
Council." But the NTC's ambassador in Paris, Mansur Seif al-Nasr, told AFP he
had never heard of the "Popular Front" that apparently issued the letter, and
added: "All documents, all valid treaties are signed by the NTC."In support of
its report, Liberation printed an image of the letter, which it said was dated
April 3.The leadership of the revolt was already known as the National
Transitional Council (NTC) on April 3. An Internet search for the "Popular Front
for the Liberation of Libya" finds only references to the letter. This image
appears to be of a document that has been circulating on the Internet among
opponents of French intervention in Libya since the first week of April without
attracting the attention of professional media. References to the text of the
letter appear in Internet discussion forums from as early as April 3, when it
was supposedly written.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said he "had no knowledge" of any deal to
secure Libyan oil.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
EU lifts sanctions against 28 Libyan economic entities
The European Union on Thursday lifted an assets freeze against 28 Libyan firms,
including ports and banks, to provide funds to the rebel leadership and kick
start the economy.
"Today, the EU has lifted its asset freeze on 28 Libyan entities. Our goal is to
provide resources to the interim government and the Libyan people and help to
make the economy function again," said EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton.
Ashton said Libyan ports as well as companies in the energy and banking sectors
were among the firms that were removed from a blacklist of some 50 entities
targeted by sanctions. The decision coincided with an international conference
of the "Friends of Libya" hosted by Paris to find ways to support the National
Transitional Council (NTC). "This is a clear sign of the EU's determination to
do its utmost to support the people of Libya and the interim authorities during
the transition," Ashton said, one week after rebel forces took control of
Tripoli. The names of the companies removed from the EU sanctions list will be
known Friday when published in the 27-nation bloc’s Official Journal.
Diplomats say all six ports and at least three oil firms that were sanctioned
will be removed from the list. The EU must wait for a green light from the
United Nations to remove all the remaining sanctions against Libya because some
were linked to punitive measures imposed by the world body, European diplomats
said. The sanctions were imposed by the EU to punish the regime of Moammar
Qaddafi for its brutal repression of a revolt that began in February. But the
rebels have asked the bloc to remove them since their victorious raid intro
Tripoli, which effectively ended Qaddafi's 42-year iron grip on the country. The
United States and European powers have also begun to release billions of dollars
in Libyan assets that were frozen worldwide. France said Thursday that the UN
Security Council authorized it to release 1.5 billion euros ($2.15 billion) in
Libyan assets. This came after the world body gave the United States permission
to unfreeze $1.5 billion (1.05 billion euros) and Britain another $1.6 billion.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Russia recognizes Libya's rebel government
Russia on Thursday officially recognized Libya's rebels as the governing
authority in the country, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The Russian Federation recognizes Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC)
as the ruling authority and notes its reform program that includes the
development of a new constitution, holding general elections and forming the
government," it said. "Our country has established and continued diplomatic
relations with Libya since September 4, 1955 without a break, no matter what
government holds power in Tripoli," it said. "We act on the premise that the
agreements and other mutual obligations formerly reached between Russia and
Libya remain in effect in the relationship between the two countries and will be
honored." Russia's recognition of the interim NTC comes well after similar moves
by the United States and a dozen other countries. It also comes on the same day
as France hosts a "friends of Libya" conference in Paris to help Libya rebuild.
Moscow abstained from the UN resolution on a no fly zone in Libya, effectively
allowing the Western military action against the regime of Moammar Qaddafi to go
ahead.
But it then appeared increasingly disgruntled with the magnitude of the campaign
and repeatedly angrily accused the West of siding with the rebels in a civil
war.
However analysts have warned its companies now risk losing billions of dollars
in arms and energy contracts in the new Libya after the rebels said they would
favor those states who offered them full support in the conflict. Russia
announced the day earlier that President Dmitry Medvedev's envoy for Africa
Mikhail Margelov will attend the conference in Paris, after the foreign ministry
last week denied ever having received an invitation.-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Our frustration
Now Lebanon
September 1, 2011
Comments made on Saturday by Kataeb MP Sami Gemayel in which he compared
Hezbollah’s recent alleged land grab practices to that of the original Israeli
settlers in Palestine were probably unwise, even if certain parallels do exist.
Gemayel’s rhetorical conceit backfired because he was preaching to the
converted. If we are being harsh, we could even accuse him of stoking the
already hot embers of sectarian tensions that currently blight a Lebanon that
has lost its political direction. Did he really believe that by accusing
Hezbollah of resorting to Israeli tactics, he could initiate a shift in the Shia
mindset? All he did was allow Hezbollah to reply from the moral high ground and
remind everyone of the Kataeb’s well-documented Israeli connections.
But many people support Gemayel’s broad frustration because they believe that
Hezbollah is riding roughshod over the country and that the concept of Lebanese
self-determination has been blunted by what they see as the regional ambitions
of Iran and Syria, ambitions executed by Hezbollah, and that any future war with
Israel (who else?) will be initiated or provoked by Hezbollah. If you throw in
the party’s unwillingness to hand over the four men suspected of involvement in
the 2005 killing of Rafik Hariri, it is not hard to sell the idea that Hezbollah
rules Lebanon by the simple virtue of its inherent power. The government of
Najib Mikati is no more than a rubber stamp.
Hezbollah’s blind spot is its arrogance, its “either you’re with us or against
us” worldview, and this is what angers those who have not bought into its narrow
and absolute ideology.
Take the issue of Israel: Hezbollah has made it perfectly clear on numerous
occasions that it is preparing for a showdown with Lebanon’s southern neighbor,
a rematch if you will of the 2006 war that the party unwittingly initiated after
a bungled attempt to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Those who believe the Resistance
to be a necessary adjunct to the army and whose absence would see Lebanon
overrun in a matter of months—or at the very least stripped of its natural
assets—will no doubt see nothing wrong in the idea of Hezbollah spoiling for a
fight that could end in potentially apocalyptic circumstances.
But it is on this issue more than any other that Hezbollah has seen fit to
ignore the offices of state and impose on Lebanon its stated ultimate goal to
liberate Jerusalem, a mission that would appear to override all else and that is
not open to debate. Forget the aspirations of those Lebanese who want to build a
functioning and prosperous state and who may just want relations with Israel to
be based on dialogue rather than war.
And this is where Gemayel’s point that Lebanon has never been in a position to
determine its own destiny is well taken. “All Arab countries are in a state of
peace with Israel, in an official or a non-official manner,” he said on
Saturday. “Only the Lebanese people pay the price of regional interests that
[Lebanon] has nothing to do with.”
If Gemayel has one message it should be this: Lebanon should be a country of
dialogue rather than conflict. Lebanon is a multi-confessional state that must
be allowed to determine its own policy toward Israel, a policy that is not
dictated by other countries but by Lebanon’s best interest—and that means the
interests of its people. There is no reason why we cannot live in peace with all
our neighbors providing that all the necessary guarantees are in place.
With peace comes a degree of legitimacy. With bilateral agreements, Lebanon can
make a stronger case for the future of its own Palestinian community, and with
peace and the deployment of the regular army—and only the regular army—along its
borders, Lebanon will have the backing of the United Nations to uphold its
territorial integrity.
Maybe Lebanon is still not ready for peace with Israel. The people ultimately
must decide, but the alternative should not mean that we are primed for a war
led by a party with the state sitting on the sidelines.
For too long Lebanon has been the whipping boy of Arab interests. As the region
changes, so should our attitudes.
US confirms al Qaeda members' role in rebel command. Qaddafi contacts them
DEBKAfile Special Report September 1, 2011,
The Obama administration finally acknowledged Wednesday, Aug. 31 that al Qaeda
elements had been fighting in Libyan rebel ranks in last week's capture of
Tripoli. This came about in a cautious remark from the office of President
Barack Obama's terrorism adviser John Brennan: "Some members of the LIFG [Al
Qaeda's Libyan Islamic Fighting Group offshoot] in the past had connections with
al Qaeda in Sudan, Afghanistan or Pakistan. Others dropped their relationship
with al Qaeda entirely. It seems from their statements and support for
establishing a democracy in Libya that this faction of LIFG does not support al
Qaeda. We'll definitely be watching to see whether this is for real or just for
show."
debkafile's military sources revealed Sunday, Aug. 28 that LIFG fighters had
fought in the rebel capture of Tripoli on Sunday Aug. 21. Their commander, Abd
Al-Hakim Belhadj, a veteran al Qaeda fighter from Afghanistan later extradited
to Libya and held in prison there, had led the battle for the Qaddafi stronghold
of Bab al-Aziziya two days later and has since proclaimed himself Commander of
the Tripoli Military Council.
This confronts the US administration with the sole choice of accepting this fait
accompli, especially after American reporters discovered in Muammar Qaddafi's
abandoned intelligence headquarters files attesting to the former Libyan ruler's
campaign against Al Qaeda's Libyan recruits and outside infiltrators. Those
files contained a map charting the day to day movements of al Qaeda and other
extremist Muslim operatives in the country and their current addresses.
They also found documentary evidence of the close reciprocal ties Qaddafi
maintained with Western counter-terror agencies, sharing with them the data his
agencies gathered on al Qaeda movements.
Until now, President Barack Obama dismissed Qaddafi's warnings that the
rebellion which broke out against him in February would open the door for al
Qaeda to seize power in Libya.
Our intelligence and counter-terror sources find the Brennan statement from the
White House raised more questions than it answered:
1. Nothing was said about Washington's reaction should the LIFG turn out in the
future to pursue al Qaeda's political, religious and terrorist agenda "for real"
and not "just for show." Will the US accept the LIFG commander Belhadj's role as
commander of Tripoli or take action to remove him? And what if its leaders are
shown to be working closely with Al Qaeda in the Maghreb – AQIM? 2. How could
the Obama administration subscribe to NATO placing British and French special
forces at the forefront of the battle for the rebel conquest of Tripoli in
direct violation of the UN Security Council confining NATO's intervention to air
strikes - and only when they needed save civilian lives?
Our military experts stress that without those troops on the ground and NATO's
constant aerial pounding of Qaddafi's forces, the rebels would never have taken
the Libyan capital - or much else outside their home base of Benghazi.The Libyan
venture has therefore placed the United States in the anomalous position of
opening the Libyan door to rebels allied with groups owning a strong al Qaeda
background while at the same time fighting similar groups in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen.
3. What message does the Libyan episode send al Qaeda and other Islamic
extremist organizations? Might they not infer that the US and NATO will fight
their battles against autocratic regimes in other countries? 4. Muammar Qaddafi
while fighting for his life around Sirte was quick to pick up on the real
balance of strength. He concluded that if it is permissible for the US, Britain
and France to back forces aligned with Al Qaeda, he might profitably tread the
same path. He accordingly sent his son Saadi on Wednesday Aug. 31 to contact the
LIFG Abd Al-Hakim Belhadj, the self-styled military governor of Tripoli, to
propose on behalf of his father talks for ending the war in order to avoid
further bloodshed. Qaddafi sent another son, Saif al-Islam, with the opposite
message to Al Arabya TV: The war goes on, he said, his father was fine and he
has 20,000 armed fighters standing by in the city of Sirte ready to fight for
him to the death.It is important to note that Saadi bypassed the rebel NTC
leaders in Benghazi and its Tripoli commanders and took his offer straight to
the leader of al Qaeda's Libyan offshoot. The deposed Libyan ruler clearly
understands that to pursue his threatened guerrilla war against the rebels and
their foreign sponsors, he will have to play ball with al Qaeda elements, just
as the West does. Later Wednesday, British sources reported several undetonated
bomb cars had been found in the capital, signifying the onset of Qaddafi's
threatened guerrilla war.
Iran using Arab Spring as cover to accelerate nuclear
program
Yossi Melman/Haaretz /Yossi Melman is a feature writer and columnist for Haaretz,
specializing in strategic issues. He writes about Israel’s intelligence
community, nuclear matters, terrorism and other related security issues. He is
the author of eight internationally acclaimed books on Israeli intelligence,
clandestine diplomacy, terrorism and Iran’s quest for a nuclear bomb including:
The Nuclear Sphinx of Teheran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the State of Iran; Spies:
Israel's Counter Espionage Wars; Every Spy a Prince: The Complete History of
Israel's Intelligence Community, which was a New York Times Bestseller for 14
weeks, and Friends in Deed: Inside the American-Israeli Alliance. Melman is the
recipient of the 2009 Sokolov Aaward - Israel’s most prestigious and highest
decoration for journalists. In 2004 survey among Haaretz readers Melman was
selected as the “Most Outstanding and Interesting Writer.In 1994 he received in
the "Simon Rockower Award for Excellence in Jewish Journalism" and in 1995 was
granted the Boris Smolar Award of Excellence in International News or Feature
Reporting”, on behalf of the American Jewish Press Association. He is the only
Israeli journalist who is a member of the Washington-based International
Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). In 2003, together with several
other members of ICIJ investigative team, Melman received a special award for
their coverage of Making a Killing: The Business of War, a project of 11
features on worldwide arms dealers and oil and diamond merchants in Third World
countries.As a former panelist with the Washington Post’s GlobalPost, Melman is
also a frequent lecturer on these topics on behalf of the New York-based Council
on Foreign Relations, the United Nations, and The American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee, as well as before many Jewish and non-Jewish groups and
civic forums and economic organizations in North America and Europe.*Melman is
an avid runner and triathlete, and has since 1994 completed 23 marathons and
four ultra-marathons, and entered four ironman and 11 half ironman competitions.
Iran official: Tehran should have supported Syrian uprising
DPA /An Iranian lawmaker said Iran should have supported Syrian protesters
rather than sticking by the government, the news website Khabar Online reported
Thursday.
"The fact is that supporting the Syrian rulers at any cost was not right as
those who staged the protests were Muslims and their protests were legitimate,"
said Ahmad Avaei, member of the parliament's national security commission. The
lawmaker said the Iranian government should have adopted a wiser stance on
developments in Syria, even though Syria took the same political line as Tehran
against Israel and for the anti-Israeli Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.
"Unfortunately, the Syrian leadership has realized too late the necessity of
entering the reform process and should have done that much earlier to avoid the
current crisis," the lawmaker said.
Tehran backed several of the anti-government protests during the Arab Spring,
saying the voice of the people "echoes the Islamic reawakening" and should be
heard but stayed silent over the uprisings in its regional ally Syria. Iran was
accused by the European Union of aiding Syrian President Bashar Assad in
violently suppressing the unrest through the Revolutionary Guards' Al-Quds
force. Tehran dismissed the charges as lies. Tehran slightly changed its tone in
recent weeks by cautiously calling on the Syrian government to accept the
reforms demanded by its people. At the same time, it warned against foreign
interference and what it called the grave regional and international impact of
trying to topple Assad. Syria has historically supported Tehran's anti-Israel
stance, and this support could be weakened by a political change in Damascus.
Damascus has also supported the Shiite Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, a firm
ally of Tehran and an equally firm enemy of Israel.
Fate of the Egyptian – Israeli peace treaty
By Bilal Hassen/Asharq Alawsat
The Eilat (Um al-Rushrash) Fedayeen [commando] attack on a number of Israeli
targets which took place on 18 August 2011 [Southern Israel cross-border
attacks], and the implications of this, continue to gather pace like a snowball
rolling down a mountainside. Information surrounding this attack remains vague,
and there is no concrete information about those who carried it out, or where
they came from. Israel claim that the perpetrators came from Gaza, crossed the
Sinai Peninsula, entered Egyptian territory, and attacked Israeli targets from
Egyptian soil. Yet Gazan officials categorically reject this claim. Indeed this
story does not hold up to logic, for there is no Palestinian Fedayeen-style
organization that could unilaterally carry out such an operation over such a
large geographic area. Due to the weakness of this theory, other opinions have
emerged advocating the idea that a number of parties – including Sinai Bedouin
and Egyptian organizations – joined together to carry out this attack. However
none of these hypotheses have been proven correct until now. Therefore it
appears as if an organization of a new type has emerged; a type of organization
that has not been seen in the Palestinian arena before.
Israel held fast to its initial version of events, namely that the attack was
carried out by a Gazan group from Egyptian soil. As a result Israel intensified
air strikes against the Gaza Strip, and also launched an incursion along the
Egyptian border which resulted in the death of an Egyptian military officer and
a number of Egyptian soldiers. Following this, the situation here became far
more serious, with Cairo rejecting the Israeli version of events and warning it
against escalating its attacks on the Gaza Strip. Egypt also warned of the
possibility of it reviewing the [1979] Egyptian – Israeli Peace Treaty.
Therefore the situation developed from a Fedayeen-style cross-border attack to a
threat to the strategic situation that has existed in the region since the peace
accords were first signed between Egypt and Israeli over 30 years ago.
Here we come to the crux of the matter, and an issue worthy of consideration,
namely: will the Egyptian – Israeli Peace Treaty remain as it is, or will its
terms be reviewed, or could it perhaps even be terminated? To answer this
extremely important question, we must review the stances of a number of
different parties.
Firstly, Israel: Israel's reaction, intensifying its bombardment of the Gaza
Strip and extending the range of its shelling towards the Egyptian border,
reflects Tel Aviv’s disregard of others, and the fact that Israel only thinks of
itself and never considers how others might react, particularly Egypt which has
experienced vast political changes this year. In fact Israel hardly pays any
attention to the feeling and views of the Egyptian public, who have established
popular and political movements in Egypt today that is exerting pressure and
making demands on the Egyptian leadership (the Egyptian Supreme Council of the
Armed Forces) today which cannot afford to ignore this. Yet when matters reached
the extent of Cairo threatening to review the peace treaty, Tel Aviv realized
that its disregard of the position of others could have a negative strategic
impact on the future of Israel. As a result of this, Israel halted the major
land offensive that it was planning to carry out against the Gaza Strip, after
Cairo warned of the potential consequences of going through with this. What
helped matters is that Hamas responded rationally to the calls for calm;
although it was not long before Israel violated this calm by launching new
strikes against the Islamic Jihad movement in the Gaza Strip.
Secondly, Egypt: A considerable change has taken place in Egypt, both with
regards to the public and the government. Israel, as usual, proved that it only
thinks of itself and therefore took the natural Israeli reaction, that of
aggression. Israel failed to understand that the new leadership in Egypt is no
longer acting as an Israeli political ally and would therefore not deal with the
Hamas movement – in the geographically adjacent area of the Gaza Strip – as a
hostile terrorist movement. Rather the Egyptian leadership today is seeking to
deal with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority as if they are on equal footing.
Egypt expressed this by calling for inter-Palestinian dialogue and
reconciliation, which was indeed achieved in Cairo under the auspices of the
current Egyptian administration. A major result of this was that Cairo began to
think of re-opening the Rafah Crossing, which was something that would have
occurred were it not for the intense international pressure exerted on Egypt to
reconsider. Despite this pressure, the issue of re-opening the Rafah Crossing is
still on the table and will be a subject of further discussion.
In addition to this, there is the internal public pressure in Egypt,
particularly following the death of the Egyptian soldiers [at the hands of the
Israeli security forces who had chased the militants across the Egyptian
border]. This incident had a huge impact on the Egyptian army as well as the
Egyptian street. This could be clearly seen in the mass demonstration that were
staged outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo and which resulted in an Israeli
flag being removed, as well as popular demands for the expulsion of the Israeli
ambassador and the invalidation of the Egyptian – Israeli Peace Treaty. Although
the Egyptian leadership did not respond entirely to such difficult popular
demands, it did not ignore them, and the Egyptian leadership today is aware of
the need to maintain harmony with the Egyptian street. Here the issue of
reviewing the Egyptian –Israeli Peace Treaty is being put forward as a new
approach.
Thirdly, the Peace Treaty: this issue must be discussed objectively, not in the
framework of the emotional demands of the [Egyptian] public. It is extremely
important that this issue is viewed through such an objective framework, even if
the issue does not result in the termination of this peace treaty. Here we must
recognize that Israel was the first to talk about the uncertain future of the
Egyptian – Israeli Peace Treaty, even speaking of establishing a new military
force to confront Egypt. There can be no doubt that these confrontational
Israeli calls will find a reaction within the Egyptian military. We must also
acknowledge that the Sinai Peninsula, in reality, falls outside of Egyptian
influence due to the conditions of this peace treaty which stipulate that Egypt
cannot station more than 800 soldiers there. This is what opened the way for
Sinai Bedouins and nomads to be able to possess and smuggle weapons. This is a
state of affairs that has also facilitated weapons being smuggled into the Gaza
Strip, particularly advanced missiles, as well as allowing Sinai residents to
form small armed militias. Whilst Israel complains about this, Egypt cannot
solely be blamed for this state of affairs, for this is the outcome of the terms
stipulated by the Egyptian – Israeli Peace Treaty.
Once this situation is under discussion, the proposal of amending the Egyptian –
Israeli Peace Treaty will instantly be made. Such amendments would deal with the
following essential issues:
Firstly, in order to protect its own security and to monitor the situation on
the ground in Sinai, Egypt requires the deployment of additional military troops
and security officers; this is something that would necessitate a major
amendment of certain articles of the peace treaty. This is something that
represents a fait accompli if it cannot be achieved through dialogue and
agreement. Secondly, Egypt – in its attempt to respond to the public atmosphere
in Egypt and the public’s demands – has sought to make Tel Aviv understand that
this peace treaty is a treaty between Egypt and Israel [not Israel and the
Arabs], and it represents nothing more than a mutual pact of non-aggression.
Thirdly, Israel must be aware that Egypt is a leading Arab state, and therefore
has responsibilities towards other Arab states. Cairo therefore cannot and will
not side with Israel against other Arab states; rather it will side with the
Arabs if they are threatened by Israel. Geographically speaking, this is
something that would include Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. The crux of
the matter is that Egypt’s policy with regards to dealing with Israel is between
one state and another; this does not represent an alliance between two states.
This is the essence of the change in the new Egyptian political attitude towards
Israel, unlike the policy of the former [Egyptian] regime.
In fact, amending the Egyptian – Israeli Peace Treaty in accordance with the
changes that have taken place in reality [in Egypt] is a fait accompli and does
not require negotiations and written amendments. Perhaps Egypt’s warning to
Israel to stop its attack on the Gaza Strip and not to launch its planned
large-scale military operation represents the practical expression of what I
have indicated above.
Berri: Issue of Resistance Not Up for Discussion
Naharnet/ YesterdaySpeaker Nabih Berri stressed Wednesday that “the issue of
resistance” against Israel is “not up for discussion.”
“AMAL Movement, the founder of Lebanese resistance, believes that the issue of
resistance is not up for discussion because the (Israeli) aggression is still
ongoing,” said Berri, during a mass rally held in Baalbek to mark the 33rd
anniversary of the disappearance of Imam Moussa Sadr and his two companions.“It
is unacceptable to harm the army, unless you want to get rid of the army and the
resistance,” Berri added, addressing the rival March 14 camp. “We will keep
holding onto the magical recipe (army-people-resistance equation). We won’t
commit to anything other than a defense strategy, because it is unacceptable
that we be stripped of our weapons as Israel violates (U.N. Security Council
Resolution) 1701,” the house speaker went on to say.Berri renewed the call for
national dialogue “under the umbrella of the Taef Accord, which is not a
commitment to sectarianism but rather to coexistence.”
He also vowed to “seek the implementation of the Taef Accord; the formation of
the committee on abolishing political sectarianism; the adoption of the laws on
proportional representation and administrative decentralization; the creation of
a planning ministry; the strengthening of the army, judiciary, state
institutions and municipalities; and the boosting of the Lebanese expats’
role.”Addressing the Syrian crisis, Berri said “some (in Lebanon) have
established operation rooms and armed Syrian groups.”
“Syria is key to war and key to stability (in the region.) We should not get
involved in the conspiracies being plotted against Syria … as a possible
partitioning of Syria would pose a threat to Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey,” Berri
added.Turning to the case of the 1978 disappearance of Imam Sadr and his two
companions Mohammed Yacoub and Abbas Badreddine, Berri accused Libyan strongman
Moammar Gadhafi of assassinating “national unity, African unity and Arab unity.”
“We have told our brothers, the Libyan revolutionaries that sadness is still
reigning over Lebanon due to the mystery still shrouding the case of the
abduction of the imam and his two companions. We have asked them to interrogate
the officials of the ousted regime and I appreciate the remarks of the NTC chief
(Mustafa Abdul Jalil), who said that the Sadr case is a priority,” Berri added.
“We have asked the government to form a committee on Libya. Three years ago, a
judge had issued an arrest warrant for Gadhafi, but due to the vacancies in the
Judicial Council’s board, a council session was never held, that’s why we urge
the government to expedite the case and the bring the criminals to justice by
appointing a new Judicial Council chief,” the house speaker urged. He noted that
his AMAL Movement has been seeking “any information possible on this crime.”
“We are confident that the (Libyan) regime’s officials will be put on trial and
we are yearning for the moment of truth,” said Berri. Revered by Lebanon's
Shiites as a key spiritual and political guide, Sadr vanished in 1978 amid
mysterious circumstances and was last seen in Libya where he was invited by
Gadhafi. At the time, Sadr was trying to negotiate an end to the Lebanese civil
war (1975-1990), in which Palestinian factions were involved. Gadhafi was
believed to be shipping weapons to the Palestinians and other groups and Sadr,
according to reports, was hoping to convince the Libyan leader to refrain from
stoking the unrest in Lebanon. But his visit to Tripoli along with two aides,
Mohammed Yacoub and Abbas Badreddine, took a sour turn after he got into a
heated argument with Gadhafi who ordered that the three men be "taken away,"
according to an indictment against the Libyan leader issued by Lebanese
authorities. Libyan authorities said that the three left Tripoli for Italy,
which after conducting an investigation into the case denied the claims. In
2004, the passports of Sadr and Yacoub were found in a hotel in Rome. In August
2008, Lebanon issued arrest warrants against Gadhafi and some of his aides,
accusing them of kidnapping Sadr and his companions.
Syria Attorney General Says Quits, Damascus Denies
Naharnet/ The attorney general of the central Syrian province of Hama said he
has resigned to protest hundreds of killings and thousands of arrests by
President Bashar Assad's regime, after the state agency said the official was
kidnapped. "I, the attorney general of the province of Hama, Mohammed Adnan al-Bakkour,
announce my resignation from the regime of Assad and his band," he said in a
video posted on YouTube late Wednesday. He said he took the decision after
hundreds of jailed peaceful demonstrators were killed by the authorities and
buried in mass graves, and 10,000 were arrested arbitrarily. The United Nations
says that more than 2,200 people have been killed since the beginning of
near-daily popular protests against Assad's regime in mid-March. But the
official SANA news agency, which reported Monday that Bakkour had been kidnapped
en route to work, quoted officials as saying his statement had been made under
duress. It quoted Hama governor, Anas Naeem, as saying that "Bakkour was forced
by his captors to give false information... showing the liquidation of citizens
in Hama in the context of a media campaign against Syria." It quoted another
official as saying that Bakkour's words "were extracted under armed threat,"
calling them "pure lies fabricated by armed terrorist gangs involved in his
abduction." SANA reported Monday that Bakkour had been abducted on the way to
work, together with his driver and bodyguard. In his video statement, Bakkour
said he resigned after witnessing several crimes committed by the regime. He
cited a July 31 killing of 72 prisoners, including peaceful demonstrators and
activists, at Hama's central prison. He added he was forced to issue a report
saying that more than 420 people buried in mass graves by security forces and
regime militias had been killed by armed gangs. Bakkour also cited the deaths of
about 320 people under torture at police stations, "the arbitrary arrest of
about 10,000 people," and the demolition of homes by the army while occupants
were still inside. In the latest violence, Syrian security forces made arrests
and deployed tanks Wednesday at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan,
during which 473 people were killed, activists said. Western powers have turned
up the heat on Syria's regime, slapping sanctions and saying Assad must resign.
**Source Agence France Presse