U.S. Push Could End Hezbollah's Domination of Lebanon
By Evelyn Gordon /JINSA Fellow
http://by174w.bay174.mail.live.com/default.aspx#!/mail/InboxLight.aspx?n=681713648!n=1447375595&fid=1&fav=1&mid=4e24a736-8061-11e2-b85f-001e0bcc07c8&fv=1
When massive protests forced Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon in 2005, it seemed that Lebanon had finally been liberated from foreign domination. But the liberation proved illusory: The country remained in thrall to Hezbollah, which took its orders from Iran and Syria. Hezbollah's dominance was dramatically demonstrated in 2008, when it staged an armed takeover of Beirut to keep the government from dismantling its telecommunications network and ending its control of airport security. The resulting "reconciliation" agreement granted it veto power over all government decisions.
Now, an opportunity has finally arisen to finish what the Cedar Revolution began - and also to seriously weaken an organization that some U.S. officials have dubbed "the greatest threat to American national security."Hezbollah's dominance depends on a constant supply of arms and money. But the collapse of Syria's Assad regime could significantly reduce the first, while European Union (EU) designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization - now a real possibility thanks to both Bulgaria's recent announcement that Hezbollah was behind last July's terror attack in Burgas and the trial of a self-confessed Hezbollah operative in Cyprus - could significantly reduce the second.
Yet without American help, both developments may fail to materialize.
Granted, most of Syria looks likely to fall to the Sunni rebels even without American aid. And the rebels are highly unlikely to continue Assad's role as the main conduit of Iranian arms to Hezbollah: They loathe the Lebanese Shi'ite organization, which has been fighting alongside Assad's troops. Thus in theory, this development would shut off Hezbollah's main source of arms. But, as the Washington Post reported this month, Iran has made contingency plans for this possibility by building a Syrian version of Hezbollah - a well-armed, well-trained, well-funded militia with as many as 50,000 members. For now, these militiamen are supporting Assad. But Plan B is for them to withdraw to an enclave along the coast where most of Syria's Shi'ites and Alawites live. Such an enclave would be far easier to defend than Syria as a whole: Being smaller, it would have shorter defensive lines; its Shi'ite-Alawite population would be largely supportive, unlike Syria's hostile Sunni majority; it would "still have the most powerful [armed] unit inside Syria," as Paul Salem, director of the Beirut-based Middle East Center of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the Post; and it could be constantly resupplied with Iranian arms via its seaports, and perhaps also an airport.
In short, given the rebels' current capabilities, such an enclave could well survive even if they take the rest of Syria. And if so, Hezbollah's arms conduit would also survive: The coastal enclave would border Lebanon, enabling Iranian arms to continue flowing into that country. Thus if Washington wants to prevent this, it, too, must begin contingency planning.
Admittedly, the issue is not simple: For instance, while giving the rebels more sophisticated arms could alter the balance of power, such arms could also be used to massacre Shi'ites and Alawites. Moreover, America is not interested in helping Syria fall into the lap of radical Sunnis, who could well prove as destabilizing to Lebanon as the Assad regime was - and even more so to Jordan, Iraq and Israel.
Yet, by specifically arming more moderate rebel forces, Washington could alter the Sunni-Shi'ite balance of power while also marginally improving the odds against a radical Sunni takeover. Radical Sunnis are in the ascendant now mainly because they are far better armed than the moderates. Such aid might also improve relations a bit with Syria's Sunnis, who currently resent America bitterly for having done nothing but "stand by and watch" as Assad's forces slaughtered them.
This policy would have been far more effective a year ago. But even today, it could slightly improve the chances of a better outcome in Syria while also helping to bring down Hezbollah. In contrast, doing nothing will likely result in both Hezbollah's survival and a radical Sunni regime in Syria.
But if the military issue is complex, the financial one is a no-brainer. Hezbollah raises substantial sums of money in Europe, which the EU could halt by designating it as a terrorist organization. Indeed, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah himself said such a designation "would dry up the sources of finance" and "end moral, political and material support" for Hezbollah. And with Hezbollah operatives having been incriminated for a deadly terror attack on EU soil, and now on trial for plotting another in Cyprus, the time would seem ripe.
Nevertheless, several key EU countries strongly oppose designation. France and Germany reportedly tried to keep the issue from even arising by lobbying Bulgaria to refrain from blaming Hezbollah; France also warned that EU designation could endanger French peacekeepers in Lebanon. The attitude was epitomized by the EU's top counterterrorism official, Gilles de Kerchove. Even if Hezbollah perpetrated the Burgas bombing, he said, "you need to ask yourself: 'Is this [designation] the right thing to do?' ... Given the situation in Lebanon, which is a highly fragile, highly fragmented country, is listing it going to help you achieve what you want? ... There is no automatic listing just because you have been behind a terrorist attack. It's not only the legal requirement that you have to take into consideration, it's also a political assessment of the context and the timing."
Thus to obtain EU action, Washington may need to engage in massive diplomatic arm-twisting. Fortunately, it currently has exceptional leverage over Paris, the leading opponent of designation, because France still needs American help (intelligence, transport, midair refueling aircraft, etc.) for its ongoing military operation in Mali. Washington should not hesitate to exploit this leverage.
It should also consider assuaging French concerns over its peacekeepers in Lebanon by moving to end UNIFIL's mandate. The UN peacekeeping force neither prevented Hezbollah's 2006 war with Israel nor kept it from rearming afterward; thus if a trade-off is needed, UNIFIL does far less to keep the peace than would an EU designation that could substantially weaken Hezbollah - which, after all, is Lebanon's main source of both internal instability and tension with Israel.
The current confluence of events provides a unique opportunity to finally end Hezbollah's grip on Lebanon. But Washington must seize the moment. If it misses this opportunity, the next one may be a long time coming.
**Evelyn Gordon, JINSA Fellow, is a journalist and commentator writing in The Jerusalem Post and Commentary. For more information on the JINSA Fellowship program, click here.

Israel's Lieberman urges tougher Iran measures
AFP/Avigdor Lieberman, the head of Israel's foreign and defense committee, on Tuesday called for tougher sanctions against Iran to curb its nuclear drive, saying the current measures were not enough.
Speaking as world powers were holding talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear program, the former foreign minister said Israel had "no illusions on Iran's intention of dragging out the process and wasting time."
"Based on the experience with North Korea, the international powers must realize that sanctions alone will not suffice," Lieberman said in remarks relayed by the parliamentary committee's spokesman.
"In order to rein them in, it's time to resort to more practical measures," he said without indicating their nature or source.
The P5+1 -- the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany -- were in Kazakhstan on Tuesday holding crunch talks with Iran aimed at breaking a decade of deadlock over its nuclear drive.
Hopes are low of a breakthrough at the talks -- the first such since a meeting in Moscow in June 2012 -- and Iranian officials have doused expectations by insisting they will offer no special concessions.
Israel -- the Middle East's sole, albeit undeclared, nuclear power -- believes Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, as do the United States and much of the West. Tehran strongly denies the charge.
Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report saying Iran had started installing new and advanced centrifuges at Natanz, which would enable it to speed up the enrichment of uranium.
This prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin to warn that Iran was "closer than ever" to the ability to build a nuclear bomb.
Earlier, the IAEA said sanctions imposed on Iran by the West -- particularly the United States and the European Union -- slashed its oil export revenue by $40 billion in 2012.

Hizbullah Says Nasrallah Did Not Leave Lebanon, Is in Good Health
Naharnet /Hizbullah issued a statement on Tuesday denying reports that the party's leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah has been transferred to Iran for treatment after falling ill. "Nasrallah is in good health and he did not leave the country,” the statement said. The Turkish state-run Anadolu news agency had reported earlier on Tuesday that Nasrallah suffered a certain health condition several days ago and was transferred to a private hospital in Beirut's southern suburb and later to Iran for treatment. "Nasrallah left Lebanon to Tehran via Rafik Hariri International Airport,” sources close to Hizbullah had said, according to Anadolu. The agency noted: “The Hizbullah leader is in a stable condition at the moment”.Nasrallah's last televised appearance took place earlier in February when he gave a speech during the annual commemoration of the party's “leader martyrs”.

Hezbollah seeking to create political vacuum
February 27, 2013 /By Van Meguerditchian/The Daily Star/Hezbollah’s backing of the controversial Orthodox Gathering draft electoral law is intended to delay parliamentary elections and push Lebanon into a political vacuum by June, according to sources from the March 14 opposition coalition. Although Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has signed the decree for holding parliamentary elections in June before the term of current Parliament expires, the document also requires the signature of Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The sources said that Mikati has so far showed no intention of signing the decree before the March 9 deadline, if elections are to take place in the first half of June. Mikati has reiterated that elections should be held on time without delay. But if he signs the document, the government will be committing itself to holding the polls based on the existing 1960 law, which major parties across the political divide reject. March 14 officials, who have stepped up meetings with the Progressive Socialist Party and President Michel Sleiman to reach common ground on enacting a new electoral law, believe that Hezbollah has succeeded in creating a problem in the country that will lead to a “dangerous political vacuum.”“If Mikati doesn’t call for elections, and if the rival sides fail to reach agreement on a new election law, the Parliament’s term will expire on June 20. The country will enter a political vacuum and the Cabinet will become a caretaker government,” said a March 14 official. In the postwar period, Lebanon has seen Cabinets enter caretaker status, but not due to the expiration of Parliament’s term. The official said the March 14 coalition would prefer to agree on a “package deal” in which Parliament votes to extend its own term with the approval of Sleiman, if an agreement is reached on an electoral formula similar to the Fouad Butros draft law. The Butros law is a hybrid arrangement in which some MPs would be elected based on proportional representation, with the rest selected based on the winner-takes-all system.
“But if no agreement on an electoral law is reached, extending Parliament’s term will be pointless,” the March 14 official said. If this year’s parliamentary polls are delayed, and Parliament’s term expires without a resolution, the chances of holding a presidential election in 2014 will recede, according to the March 14 officials. Sleiman was elected following a compromise reached between the March 14 and March 8 coalitions in Doha after several weeks of bloody civil strife in 2008. According to the sources, such a fait accompli would allow Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah to renew his call for a “constituent assembly” to re-organize Lebanon’s polity.
“After this political vacuum is enforced, Hezbollah will put its conditions on the table and retain its arms at the same time,” the source said.

U.N. warns Lebanon could be drawn into Syria war
February 27, 2013/By Hussein Dakroub/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The United Nations warned Tuesday that Lebanon could be dragged into the bloody conflict in Syria, as rival Lebanese politicians struggled to agree on a new electoral law for the June 9 elections.
Beirut MP Ammar Houri said his Future Movement has been engaged in talks with the Progressive Socialist Party in an attempt to reach common ground on a hybrid vote system to break the monthslong stalemate over a new electoral law. “Discussions between the Future Movement and the PSP are ongoing on a hybrid vote formula to break the deadlock over a new electoral law,” Houri told The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, the United Nations expressed renewed concern that Lebanon could be drawn into Syria’s worsening 2-year-old civil war, which the world body said had developed sectarian overtones and been aggravated by foreign fighters and extremist groups. U.N. political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman painted what he called an “appalling picture” of the conflict that began as peaceful protests against Syrian President Bashar Assad and turned violent when government forces tried to crush the demonstrations.
“The destructive military spiral churns more forcefully each day and threatens to pull its neighbors, most notably and worrisomely Lebanon, into its vortex,” Feltman told the U.N. Security Council during a Middle East briefing.
Houri, a member of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s parliamentary bloc, said his party was also consulting with its March 14 allies, notably the Kataeb Party and the Lebanese Forces, on a hybrid vote law that combines proportional representation with a winner-takes-all system. He denied reports that the Future hybrid proposal calls for 68 lawmakers to be elected under a winner-takes-all system and the remaining 60 lawmakers to be elected under a proportional representation system. “Discussions with the PSP have not finished yet to decide on what number of lawmakers to be elected under what system,” Houri said.
He recalled that the Future bloc, through its representative on a parliamentary subcommittee, MP Ahmad Fatfat, presented a proposal calling for 70 percent of lawmakers to be elected under a winner-takes-all system and the rest under a proportional representation system. But the proposal had been rejected by March 8 MPs.
Houri’s remarks came as the March 8 and March 14 parties remained poles apart on a new electoral law to replace the 1960 law, which has been rejected by all officials on both sides of the political spectrum.
Further deepening the political split was the Orthodox Gathering’s proposal, which projects Lebanon as a single electoral district in which each sect elects its own lawmakers through a proportional representation voting system.
As a way of breaking the electoral law impasse, Speaker Nabih Berri has proposed a hybrid vote plan that calls for 64 lawmakers to be elected based on a winner-takes-all system and another 64 to be elected under a proportional representation system.
Although Berri’s proposal had failed to win the support of the opposition March 14 parties, it has encouraged these parties, which favored dividing Lebanon into small districts, to search for a hybrid vote formula similar to the speaker’s. A Future source said the movement was also discussing with the PSP the Cabinet’s draft electoral law and was open to talks on a hybrid vote law, but not the one proposed by Berri.
“We are maintaining contact with different political groups to reach an electoral law that wins the approval of everyone,” the source told The Daily Star. He said former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the head of the Future bloc, met with Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel Monday as part of consultations with Christian politicians on a new electoral law. In remarks published by As-Safir Tuesday, PSP leader Walid Jumblatt confirmed that his party and the Future Movement were discussing the Cabinet’s draft law.
Earlier Tuesday, the Future bloc called for holding the June 9 elections on time. It also called for an electoral law that can constitute “a point of convergence” among various factions. The need for common ground on an electoral law emerged “after the majority of the parties realized that the Elie Ferzli [Orthodox] draft law posed a major problem, threatening the joint coexistence formula among the Lebanese and was opposed by a wide range of various segments of the Lebanese people,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.
In light of divisions over the Orthodox proposal, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai called for a new electoral law that ensures parity between Christians and Muslims in the country’s power sharing.
“They spoke about ... the so-called Orthodox proposal, which gives the rights to Christians and Muslims, but then they said it would have negative repercussions. Therefore, we need to find something similar in order for both [Christians and Muslims to have proper representation],” Rai told reporters at Beirut airport before leaving on an official visit to Russia. Rai said any new electoral law needed to address what he said was an imbalance of political representation between Muslims and Christians. “Lebanon is like a bird with two wings, a Christian wing and a Muslim one. But it can’t fly with one wing broken and the other strong. Therefore, we are saying that the situation in Lebanon is not good because these two wings are not equal,” he said. For his part, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun upheld his support for the Orthodox proposal, vowing not to accept anything short of that. “We will not accept any law other than the Orthodox Gathering’s law unless there is a better law. Any electoral law whose results are known in advance will not pass,” Aoun told reporters after chairing a weekly meeting of his parliamentary Change and Reform bloc at his residence in Rabieh, north of Beirut. “We have one law: Either the Orthodox law or a single district law,” he said.

Match-fixing scandal shames Lebanese football
February 27, 2013/By James Jabra/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Lebanese football witnessed its darkest hour Tuesday, after an investigation implicated 24 players along with two club officials as complicit in a slew of match-fixing scenarios, with at least one World Cup qualifier result thought to have been manipulated. Among the 24 fingered in the investigation conducted by a representative from The West Asian Football Federation, 11 have been capped on a national level, while six have been regular features in recent squads. The players are believed to have received payments to deliberately affect the outcome of matches, which WAFF General-Secretary Fadi Zreiqat identified as international contests involving the national side as well as the Asian club competition AFC Cup, although at no point did he specify the exact matches under scrutiny. The damning indictment came after the Lebanese Football Federation tasked Jordanian Zreiqat with acting upon match-fixing suspicions they had harbored for years. As part of the investigation, Zreiqat questioned 65 witnesses – including 18 club officials, three referees and 44 players – before disclosing the 24 names of the offenders. In a bid to rid the sport of cheating, the Football Federation announced during a news conference at their headquarters Tuesday that they intended to “sterilize” the much-maligned local league by working with the football clubs to stamp out an epidemic that has plagued the nation for years.
The scandal couldn’t come at a worse time for Lebanese football, with the national side preparing for March, a frenzied month where they will play Bahrain (friendly), Thailand and Uzbekistan in their bid for Asian and World Cup qualification. National coach Theo Bucker lamented the timing of the report, but stressed that this was a decisive step for Lebanese football. “I have not really been informed [of the report] but if it this is true then it is a sad day for Lebanese football, and for me personally,” he told The Daily Star. “It is up to the federation to take another decisive step to improve Lebanese football and to make it a more professional environment to work in.”
The punishments leveled at the guilty parties were divided into four categories, with the most serious sanction involving a lifetime ban from football in addition to a $15,000 fine. All accused players are barred from representing the national side for life.
Ramez Dayoub and Mahmoud al-Ali who represent Selangor FA (Malaysia) and Persiba Balikpapan (Indonesia) as well as Ahed official Fady Fneich were the three culprits to fall under category one, with Dayoub believed to have intentionally distorted the outcome of Lebanon’s 1-0 loss to Qatar June 3, via his now infamous back pass. Ali’s exact involvement is yet to be determined. Category two carries a three-year ban with immediate effect along with a $7,000 fine, and consists of two players: Mohammad Jaafar (Nijmeh) and Hadi Sahmarani (Ahed). Category three incurs an immediate one-year ban and a $2,000 fine, and accounts for 20 of the accused: Ali Bazzi, Ali Faour, Ahmad Zreik, Hassan Mezher, Abbas Kanaan, Mohammad Hammoud, Mohammad Abu Atiq, Hussein Dakik, Mohammad Baquir Younes, Tarek al-Ali (Ahed), Ali al-Saade, Omar Owayda, Bachar al-Mukdad (Safa), Issa Ramadan (Ghazieh), Akram Moghrabi, Samer Zeineddine, Nazih Assad, Hasan Alawiyeh, Hussein Sharifeh (Nijmeh) and Ahmad Younes (Al-Khoyol).
Category four involves another Ahed official, team director Ali Zneit, who must now vacate his role after intentionally instructing his side to lose in a match against Al-Jaish Damascus, although he was not mentioned in Zreiqat’s report. The federation will now turn over the evidence to Interpol, who this month initiated a global crackdown on match fixing after earmarking as many as 380 “suspicious” ties following a lengthy and widespread investigation.
After previously refusing to comment on Dayoub’s alleged role in fixing the result of Lebanon’s World Cup qualifier with Qatar, Bucker finally broke his silence.
“After watching the tape of that match, we saw that Dayoub many times tried with the Qatar striker [Sebastian Soria] to find a way for them to score,” he said. “After seeing this from Dayoub I kicked him out, I never believed in this [match fixing] until I saw Ramiz.”Bucker’s words will cast a dark shadow over Lebanon, with match fixing prevalent since the days of head coach Emile Rustom. It remains to be seen if Tuesday’s stinging report will finally eradicate a problem that has long plagued Lebanese sport.

Tripoli security situation critical
February 27, 2013/By Hasan Lakkis/The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The Higher Defense Council, chaired by President Michel Sleiman, will convene Wednesday to address the worrying security situation in Tripoli and Sidon and a rash of kidnappings throughout the country.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Army Commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi will also attend the session, along with the heads of security and judicial bodies and the defense, interior, finance and information ministers.
Sources familiar with the issue said the decision to convene the council was taken after top officials received reports indicating the need for strict, new measures to confront the security situation in Tripoli, which was described as being on the verge of an explosion. Earlier in the day, Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami, speaking to reporters at Rafik Hariri Airport before leaving on a visit to Saudi Arabia, commented that residents of his hometown of Tripoli were engaged in a waiting game for “round 15.” He was referring to more than a dozen rounds of violence that have plagued Tripoli since 2008, when clashes broke out between the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. “Every day there are hand grenades being thrown, and gunfire from passing cars, frightening people. Everyone in Tripoli is saying that round 15 is very near,” Karami said.
The sources said that a report by Army Intelligence pointed to an individual identified by his initials, J. J., as being responsible for throwing hand grenades in the city. J.J. was acting under the direction of a man nicknamed Abu Mansour who heads an armed group in Tripoli, the report said. When a patrol from Army Intelligence cornered J.J., he took refuge in the office of a retired army general. During a two-hour standoff, army personnel asked the retired officer to hand over the suspect, but the demand was rejected. The patrol withdrew and the man left the office, escorted by armed men in a white Range Rover. The report pointed to the possibility that clashes might once again break out in Tripoli at the end of this week, the sources said. Talking to The Daily Star, residents of Tripoli described the situation as frightening, highlighting their feeling that state authority in the city appeared to be absent. Incidents such as the appearance of gunmen in the streets and road closures by armed men have become a regular occurrence. “Every time a person is detained, gunmen block roads until the person is released,” one resident said. Other sources in Tripoli said that an informal neighborhood watch group detained a young man late Monday in the neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh.
The sources said the residents believed the youth was responsible for tossing hand grenades under the cover of darkness to spread fear in Tripoli, and handed him over to the authorities.
The Higher Defense Council will also discuss the spreading phenomenon of kidnapping for ransom, especially after media reports indicated that the authorities are aware of the identities and addresses of the people behind them.
The latest kidnapping incident was brought to a successful close Monday when a 12-year-old Beirut youth was returned to his family after a ransom of $250,000 was paid.
The council will also take up the security situation in Sidon, where a local sheikh, Ahmad Assir, and his followers last week took to the streets bearing arms and issued threats that they would confront Hezbollah-related groups in the city.A session of the Cabinet is also scheduled to hold its weekly meeting Wednesday, and is expected to address the alarming security situation in the country. – Additional reporting by Antoine Amrieh

Lebanon parties must stay out of Syria, US envoy says
AFP/The US envoy to Lebanon on Tuesday voiced the importance of Lebanese parties following the country’s policy of disassociation, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the US embassy.
Maura Connelly also “expressed the condolences of the United States for Lebanese citizens killed and injured by the Syrian regime’s shelling of and firing upon border villages” during her meeting with Prime Minister Najib Miqati. “She reiterated the United States’ call for the [Bashar al-] Assad regime to respect the sovereignty, independence, and stability of Lebanon,” the statement added. Connelly also said that Washington “Miqati’s determination to uphold Lebanon’s democratic and constitutional principles and hold elections on time.” Lebanese leaders last year agreed on the Baabda declaration, which called for Lebanon’s neutrality with regard to events taking place in the region. The envoy’s remarks come after allegations that the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah was fighting alongside the Syrian regime to quell the armed uprising. Earlier in February reports emerged that three Lebanese Shiites were killed in clashes in Syria, as the opposition accused the militant group of fighting alongside its regime allies.Also, over the weekend fierce fighting on the Lebanese-Syrian border between Syrian troops and unknown gunmen left one Lebanese man dead.

Aoun Says Incitement Leads to War: Any Electoral Law with Known Results Will Not Pass
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun warned on Tuesday against the current “dangerous security situation in the country”, explaining that not responding to “incitement, provocation, killing and kidnapping incidents will lead to an internal war”."Politicians and those keen on preserving the constitution are held responsible for any conflict that may erupt in the country,” Aoun stated in a statement he gave after Change and Reform parliamentary bloc's weekly meeting, adding that “armed forces on ground are preparing for this war”. He said: “The cabinet has not taken any step to arrest people blocking roads or attacking people”. "No one has been penalized,” he noted. "Whether the defect is in the security forces or among ministers, we call on them to resign and urge replacing them”.Commenting on the electoral law debate, the FPM leader said he will not accept any alternative to the Orthodox Gathering's draft, except when a better suggestion is put forward. "Any law that predicts the elections' results beforehand is rejected,” he confirmed."Those saying the Orthodox proposal is illegal can refer it to the constitutional council for a judgment in this matter,” he stated. Regarding his comments on the situation in Bahrain, Aoun said that “he might have been misunderstood”: “We are on good terms with Bahrain and we are keen on its security and stability”. “We do not want to meddle in any other Arab country's affairs,” he remarked.Aoun had criticized earlier in February the international community and the Arab League for their lack of support for Bahraini protesters. His statement to Iran's al-Alam television was considered by Bahrain as an “irresponsible meddling in its internal affairs.”Meanwhile, several internal political factions attacked the FPM leader's remarks, expressing that they “threaten the businesses and the futures of many Lebanese in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council”. Aoun had responded to critics, saying “we support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Bahrain would incur a lot of criticism if it does not advocate it.”

Asir Announces Series of Protests, Rejects Saqr's Calls for Interrogation
Naharnet /Bilal bin Rabah mosque Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir announced on Tuesday the launch of a series of protests scheduled to take place after every Friday's prayers if the cabinet “does not respond to his demands”.
"We will not stop our activities until the cabinet responds to our demands and restores our dignity,” Asir said in a press conference. "Our protests will be peaceful but we will respond if attacked,” he confirmed.Asir called on his followers to “get ready”: “I apologize ahead from the traders in (the southern city of) Sidon and the people of the city as we might disturb their businesses and their daily activities”."But our dignity is above all,” he noted.The Islamist cleric also attacked State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Saqr Saqr's request to interrogate him. “You show off strength only when attacking us while in front of Hizbullah you are weak and coward,” Asir expressed. Saqr had tasked security forces with informing Asir that he needs to comply with the request to interrogate him, reported the National News Agency Tuesday. The request has however been rejected on a daily basis, it added. Saqr demanded on Saturday police from the southern city of Sidon to interrogate the Salafist cleric over the possession of arms."Asir will be questioned over the arms that were in the possession of his supporters on Friday," LBCI television said. Commenting on the call to interrogate him, Asir said Saturday: “We urge concerned authorities to first put (Speaker Nabih) Berri and (Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan) Nasrallah on trial for their crimes".Asir and his supporters deployed Friday with their weapons around Sidon's Bilal bin Rabah mosque, amid a heavy deployment by the army and security forces.

Al-Mustaqbal Calls for Army Deployment on Border, Condemns Attacks by Syria's 'Regime and Opposition'
Naharnet/Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc called on Monday the cabinet to deploy military forces on the border with Syria, condemning all attacks on Lebanese territories “be it by President Bashar Assad's regime of by the opposition forces”."We reject all attacks and violations of Lebanon's sovereignty regardless of their source,” the bloc said in a released statement after the MPs' weekly meeting, calling on President Michel Suleiman to deploy army forces on the border in respect to resolution 1701 as “this would assure the protection of Lebanese citizens”.The lawmakers noted: “These attacks are not acceptable and are a proof of the Syrian regime's violent and criminal nature”.Al-Mustaqbal urged Suleiman to seek the help of international emergency forces and to file a complaint of the violations to the United Nations and the Arab League.
“Since the beginning of Syria's war, the cabinet has not taken any measures to control the border, protect citizens or rescue refugees,” the MPs noted, holding the government responsible for the situation on the frontier.
Since the eruption of Syria's clashes in 2011, Lebanon's northern cities have been witnessing several security incidents.A man was killed at dawn Sunday by Syrian shells that landed on the town of al-Hishe in the Wadi Khaled area that borders Syria in northern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported. NNA identified the man as al-Hishe municipality member Ahmed Shehab. His brother Hani was injured.
Artillery, mortar fire and automatic weapons were used in battles between Syrian troops and fighters on the Lebanese side of the border overnight Saturday to Sunday, said a senior Lebanese security official.
The violence broke out a few hours after another Lebanese man, Hussein Ismail, 40, was killed by gunfire in the Lebanese area of al-Buqaiaa.
The bloc reiterated their rejection of the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law, expressing that it threatens religious coexistence and deepens the gap between different Lebanese communities.
"We need a format that unites the people,” the released statement stressed. Al-Mustaqbal held the cabinet responsible for the current political situation, explaining that it did not encourage consensus over a proposal that “does not trigger sensibilities”.“Elections must be held on time,” the MPs stated. The rival parties are yet to agree on an electoral law after the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law by the joint parliamentary committees created a sharp debate between the opposition and rival coalitions.
The polls are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the proposal that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
But the proposal has been rejected by al-Mustaqbal bloc, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat's centrist National Struggle Front, and the March 14 opposition’s Christian independent MPs. It has been also criticized by President Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.
Commenting on the Syndicate Coordination Committee's strikes, al-Mustaqbal said: “This is a result of the cabinet's policy of clientalism and the promises it gave without fulfilling them”.
The SCC, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, kicked off last week an open-ended strike to protest the government’s procrastination in referring the new wage scale to parliament for vote.It has been staging since then protests near ministries and escalating its measures by forming “protest committees” to halt the work at public institutions, vowing not to back down. The lawmakers blamed Hizbullah's weapons for the “deteriorating security situation” in the country, explaining that it weakened the state's authority. "The state's sovereignty on all Lebanese territories should be complete and non-negotiable,” they confirmed.

Jumblatt says he has no relationship with FPM
Now Lebanon/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said that his party has not had discussions with the Free Patriotic Movement on the issue of the electoral law. “Deliberation on the mixed electoral law proposal is taking place with everyone, except the FPM, because we do not have any relationship with them,” Jumblatt told Al-Ahed news site on Tuesday. The PSP chief added that a possible alternative to the Orthodox law that was approved last week by the joint parliamentary commissions would be the electoral law that combines voting on a proportional and a majoritarian basis. “The proposal that all the parties are discussing is the same mixed draft that [Speaker Nabih] Berri proposed,” Jumblatt added. Berri’s draft proposes that 50% of the MPs be elected on the basis of a majoritarian voting system, while the remaining 50% be elected by way of proportional representation. The proposal would also ensure Christians 15 to 53 seats in the Parliament. On the other hand, Jumblatt said he has a “good” relationship with Hezbollah - who is allied with the FPM - and that they hold “consistent periodic meetings.” Meanwhile, the PSP leader criticized talks of “Christian concerns” regarding their representation in the parliament, and called on “some of the Christian leaders to [overcome] these concerns.”
“The best guarantee for Christians was the Taif Accord [which brought a negotiated end to the Lebanese 1975-1990 civil war],” Jumblatt added.Meanwhile, the Druze leader underscored his refusal to extend the term of the parliament or that of the president of the republic.He also stressed on the necessity to hold the parliamentary elections on time “in order to spare the country from negative repercussions of the Syrian civil war.”
The Syrian uprising against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad had a major impact on Lebanon. It split the Lebanese political scene between pro-Syrian regime parties affiliated with the March 8 alliance – spearheaded by Hezbollah- and parties associated with the March 14 coalition who are backing the rebels. Elsewhere, Jumblatt called on the Lebanese to “assume responsibility and not depend on foreign [countries],” because Europe and the occident “do not care” about Lebanese issues, especially in the light of the severe economic crisis Europe is witnessing.

Connelly Calls for Abiding by Disassociation Policy, Urges Assad to Respect Lebanon's Sovereignty
Naharnet/United States Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly urged on Tuesday all political factions in Lebanon to abide by the policy of disassociation towards regional events, expressing U.S. condolences for Lebanese citizens killed and injured by the “Syrian regime’s shelling of and firing upon border villages”. “We reiterate U.S. calls for (Syrian President Bashar) Assad's regime to respect the sovereignty, independence, and stability of Lebanon,” Connelly said after meeting with Prime Minister Najib Miqati. “We renew the commitment of the U.S. to a stable, sovereign, and independent Lebanon,” she expressed. The ambassador noted: “We appreciate Miqati’s determination to uphold Lebanon’s democratic and constitutional principles and hold elections on time”.A man was killed at dawn Sunday by Syrian shells that landed on the town of al-Hishe in the Wadi Khaled area that borders Syria in northern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported Sunday.NNA identified the man as al-Hishe municipality member Ahmed Shehab. His brother Hani was injured. Artillery, mortar fire and automatic weapons were used in battles between Syrian troops and fighters on the Lebanese side of the border overnight Saturday to Sunday, said a senior Lebanese security official. The violence broke out a few hours after another Lebanese man, Hussein Ismail, 40, was killed by gunfire in the Lebanese area of al-Buqaiaa.

Russia urges Syria coalition to open talks with regime
February 27, 2013/BEIRUT: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Tuesday pressed Syrian opposition leaders to open talks with the regime to stop the bloodshed after “constructive” talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.After the nearly two-hour meeting in Berlin, Lavrov called on the opposition to “declare itself in favor of dialogue” when it meets various Western leaders, including Kerry, at crunch talks in Rome Thursday.
“We are counting on the opposition, who will be meeting with representatives of Western and a number of regional countries in Rome, to also declare itself in favor of dialogue because they have voiced contradictory statements on that account and not only declare but also name their negotiating team,” the Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as saying in Berlin. “I have a feeling that President Barack Obama’s second administration, in the foreign policy field led by John Kerry, will try to play a more constructive role in all those areas,” Lavrov said. On Syria, Lavrov said the two reaffirmed their “intention to do all Russia and the U.S. can do.
“It’s not that everything depends on us, but we shall do all we can to create conditions for the soonest start of a dialogue between the government and the opposition.”
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the two met for an hour and 45 minutes, spending more than half that time on Syria.
Kerry and Lavrov discussed how they could implement the so-called Geneva Agreement, which is designed to get the Syrian government and rebels to plan a transitional government for the time after Assad leaves office.
That discussion comes two days before nearly a dozen nations, excluding Russia, meet in Rome with the Syrian opposition to continue to try and find a way forward on resolving the conflict that has cost nearly 70,000 lives.
The Syrian National Council, the main bloc within the opposition National Coalition, is skeptical about outside help from the West and threatened to boycott the meeting until a series of phone calls and meetings between Kerry and his ambassadors and Syrian opposition leaders repaired the schism. The council now says it will attend the meeting, but is hoping for more concrete offers of help, including military assistance, which the U.S. and others have been unwilling to supply.
Despite urging from Pentagon leaders including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Obama has opposed lethal aid. Meanwhile in Bulgaria Tuesday, a “Friends of Syria” meeting agreed to ramp up political pressure against the Assad regime, in what officials called their strongest declaration yet. Delegates from 56 nations working on sanctions against Syria called “on all members of the international community, especially members of the United Nations Security Council, to take swift, responsible and resolute action ... with a view of depriving the regime of resources and instruments essential to its campaign of violence.”
With China and Russia blocking Security Council action, the group’s meeting in Sofia – the sixth since its inception – also encouraged members to increase unilateral sanctions to tighten the noose around the regime.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, a Western official welcomed the statement as “the strongest” so far by the club which met five times last year, most recently in Tokyo in November.
The working group in a statement urged states to stop purchasing Syrian phosphate used in agriculture and “a considerable source of revenue for the Assad regime,” as well as to halt the printing of Syrian currency. It also repeated an earlier call for a full embargo on petroleum shipments from Syria.
The U.S. has already banned the import of Syrian oil and gas products but the EU has not followed suit. Among other pledges, delegates in Sofia vowed to help prevent the Assad regime acquiring technology used to “illegitimately disrupt communications, monitor or track individuals in Syria” and urged similar moves from companies. Those who have provided financial support to Assad, including loans or credits, should “cease immediately,” the group added. Institutions and companies in countries that have not joined the sanctions regime should “refrain from engaging in business with entities affiliated with the regime ... or be exposed to a severe reputational risk,” the group warned. The delegates declared their readiness, however, to work with a future Syrian government on the issue of its debt. Also Tuesday, the SNC announced that at least five candidates are vying to become “prime minister” of a government that the opposition plans to create to administer rebel-held territory.
The SNC decided Monday to present three names for the post, member Samir Nashar told AFP. They are former SNC head Burhan Ghalioun and members Salim al-Moslet and Osama Kadi.
“Other names from outside the SNC are being circulated,” including former Syrian premier Riad Hijab, who defected last summer, and Khaled Mustafa, Nashar said. The premier will be elected in a secret ballot by the 64 general assembly members of the Syrian National Coalition on March 2. The Coalition decided Friday to form a government to run areas of the country “liberated” by rebels. During the upcoming summit in Istanbul, it will also decide on the composition of the planned government. Coalition spokesman Walid al-Bunni said the new government would bring together “technocrats” tasked with managing electricity and water supplies and other key infrastructure. The decision came as the conflict approaches the two-year mark, with the rebels having seized significant swathes of territory in the north and east.
Analysts say the move will help the opposition-in-exile gain credibility with Syrians inside the country and the international community, and also catch up with well-established Islamist groups.

Hagel approved as secretary of defense in 58-41 Senate vote
By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT 02/27/2013 00:07 US Senate votes to confirm Chuck Hagel as next secretary of defense of the United States; approval resolves weeks of delay over nomination due to Republican criticisms over Hagel's record on Iran, Israel, Mideast. WASHINGTON - The US Senate voted to confirm Chuck Hagel as America's next secretary of defense in a 58-41 vote on Tuesday.
The approval resolves weeks of delay and recrimination over the nomination, which Republicans initially held up over criticisms of Hagel's record on Iran, Israel and several other Middle East-related issues.Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, had in the past taken positions against unilateral sanctions on Iran and ruling out military force against the Islamic Republic, among other controversial stances, but disavowed those and many others during his confirmation hearing last month. The vote was held after enough Republican senators agreed to allow the procedure earlier in the day. With Republicans clearing the way for a vote, Hagel was all but assured confirmation on a straight up-or-down tally, as the chamber has a Democratic majority.Though Hagel has now been confirmed, the large number of "no" votes indicate that he remains an unpopular figure for many in the body he will now need to engage over a series of thorny issues, including deep cuts scheduled to hit the military. Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Hagel would be sworn in to succeed him on Wednesday morning.
Reuters contributed to this report.

Assad Begs for Dialogue
By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Al-Awsat.
We wondered whether Moaz Alkhatib, head of the Syrian National Coalition, was being shrewd or reckless with his call for dialogue with the Assad regime. Events today suggest that he was indeed shrewd, for the Assad regime has fallen into the trap of calling for a dialogue that it outright rejected in the past. Through the words of Walid Moallem in Moscow, Bashar Al-Assad is now begging for talks, even with the armed opposition.
So what has changed for Assad to come forward now begging for dialogue with the opposition? It is clear that there are many factors, the most important of which being the advances of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on the ground, and its relentless persistence. Likewise, recent indicators have exposed blatant Iranian interference in Syria, alongside Hezbollah. The international community now fears the spread of terrorism because of Assad’s crimes and Iran’s interference, and this has finally prompted the world to act. It seems that the most important step in this regard has been, or will be, to allow the flow of quality weapons to the Syrian rebels, which was revealed recently by the Washington Post. Even though the newspaper did not announce who will actually be behind the supply of these weapons, it does not require a great deal of intelligence to work it out. What is more important is that armed reinforcement has now become a reality, and this will become apparent in the coming days.
All this represents what I have always described as the only language Assad understands, namely the language of force and action, not words. This language will be consolidated further after the Rome conference, especially if Washington is serious, with US Secretary of State John Kerry going on record saying that he is coming to Rome for decisions on Syria, not simply to talk. All this is prompting Bashar Assad now to beg for dialogue with the opposition, even the armed elements such as the FSA which he formerly described as terrorists. Now we are even hearing Sergei Lavrov telling Moallem in Moscow that the Syrian opposition are wise, while in the past the entire revolution was being described as a terrorist movement by both Moscow and Assad.
These developments are not the result of a sense of guilt on Assad’s part, or a sense of responsibility on the part of the Russians, rather they are the result of what is happening on the ground and the growing international momentum towards Syria. The Russians are aware that the new Obama administration has now been completed, and there are benefits between Washington and Moscow that the Russians cannot sacrifice in favor of Assad, especially as his regime is crumbling. This is not to mention the embarrassment suffered by Moscow after Khatib called for dialogue with Assad, who then manipulated the call as usual but now comes begging for dialogue after it is too late. Therefore, the most important thing in Syria today is to continue arming the FSA, and to begin developing the features of the post-Assad phase. This is a task for the Syrian opposition itself and not just the international community, which in turn must also not waste any more time and effort in alleged “dialogue” unless it is coupled with the announcement of Bashar Assad’s departure. Apart from the fact it is time wasting, it is giving Assad a chance he does not deserve. The Syrians have suffered enough over the past two years from Assad’s terrorism, and his regime is facing an outright collapse today.

A Talk with Egypt Grand Mufti Dr. Ali Gomaa
By Waleed Abdul Rahman
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Egyptian political situation remains extremely delicate with the recently announced presidential elections, continued anti-Mursi protests, and ailing economic indicators. In an effort to mitigate these conditions, influential religious figures such as Dr. Ali Gomaa have been calling on the people of Egypt to unite for the good of the country, and to distance themselves from this atmosphere of tension and discord.
Dr. Ali Gomaa is the Grand Mufti of Egypt, a position he has held since 2003. As part of his role, he presides over the Dar Al-Ifta Al-Masriyyah, a prestigious Islamic research institution that issues fatwas and aims to keep contemporary Muslims in touch with religious principles. Dr. Gomaa is also a member of Al-Azhar’s Senior Scholars Council and is considered among the top fifty most influential Muslims in the world. In July 2011 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Liverpool Hope University in recognition of his efforts as a major international figure promoting tolerance and understanding between religions.
The Grand Mufti of Egypt met with Asharq Al-Awsat at the headquarters of the Dar Al-Ifta in El-Darrasa, Cairo.
The following is the full text of the interview:
Q: Al-Azhar’s Dar Al-Ifta, under your administration, has witnessed considerable development. Is there anything you wanted to achieve but were unable to due to time constraints or political considerations?
A: Since taking up this post I have been keen to transform Dar Al-Ifta into an international organization that transcends location, time, and administration to put forward a model to all fatwa-issuing institutes in the world. This is by way of utilizing modern science with the objective of modernizing departments, such as the departments of arbitration, media, and programmed development, among others. I was also keen to develop and educate the Dar Al-Ifta’s second and third generations to the point that we now have a fourth generation represented by the outstanding students of the Faculty of Sharia Law at Al-Azhar University. They will be able to assume this historic responsibility (at Dar Al-Ifta). We were also concerned with the social role played by the Dar Al-Ifta in terms of confliction resolution. This is because we do not have any bias, except a bias towards scholarship, commitment to development, spreading love and peace among the people, re-building the land, and worshipping God. In order to preserve the largest amounts of fatwas and intellectual heritage left behind by the Dar Al-Ifta scholars, we signed a protocol agreement with the Ministry of Culture which aims to preserve the Dar Al-Ifta’s documents. This will see copies being made of all documents, with these then being placed in the Egyptian National Archives. In addition to this, copies of documents will remain at the Dar Al-Ifta, in addition to being sent to the Egyptian Central Bank and Al-Azhar.
Q: Many religious scholars and preachers, after leaving their post, move towards playing a stronger Islamic Dawa (Call) role. As the out-going Egyptian Mufti, would you agree with this assessment?
A: Religious scholars never stop serving their religion and community after leaving their post, and even after their deaths, for they leave behind knowledge that people can benefit from. We have undertaken ceaseless efforts to serve Islam, the Islamic community at home and abroad, supporting Islam and Muslims everywhere, because this is a great responsibility that God Almighty has given to the scholars We cannot retreat from this because this responsibility is not tied to any time or place or position, rather this is a message that must be fulfilled.
Q: Egypt is witnessing a state of extreme political division and difficulty. In your view, how can we overcome this?
A: This can be achieved by building consensus and moving away from division. When the Egyptians came to an agreement during the January 25 revolution, moving away from personal and partisan differences and division, they were able to topple a regime of corruption, injustice, and oppression. Let me go further and say that when they came together and reached this agreement they carried out one of the greatest revolutions in the world and showed everybody the meaning of advancement civilization. Therefore, I call on the Egyptian people to come together over what united them and to be united over Egypt and work for the advancement and renaissance of the country, and not grant Egypt’s enemies the opportunity to harm the country amid this divisive atmosphere.
Q: How would you characterize this divisive political scene precisely?
A: I can see that discord, strife, and partisan and self-interests are ruling the Egyptian scene, while national interests are absent. This is the malady, as for the cure this is unity and agreement. If we forget this, then society will be weakened and doomed but if we keep hold to this then our society will be strengthened. Everybody knows the importance of unity and we must put aside our differences, particularly now. We must ensure that difference of opinion do not escalate the crisis being faced by the Islamic community.
Q: What advice would you offer?
A: My advice is to protect unity, which is one of the most important duties at this time, until Egypt is able to move past this difficult period. The principle of agreement and reconciliation must serve as our barometer to measure what is happening in our country. We must also pay attention to development and confront our major problems.
Q: In your view, to what extent does Islam guarantee freedom of opinion? How do you view the protests and sit-ins taking place across the country?
A: Demonstrations and sit-ins can be seen in most countries and they are human rights on the condition that they do not harm others or disrupt their interests. The Hadith of the Prophet talks about this a lot. However the hadith also confirms that those who preserve the same approach are the least faithful. Therefore all Egyptians must work together to allow Egypt to overcome the current phase. I say to those who are preserving the same approach and disrupt the interests of the country and the people: Fear for yourselves and for your country because you will face the wrath of God. This is something that has nothing to do with freedom or democracy or the right to demonstrate. Everybody has the right peacefully express themselves in a legitimate manner; this is something that nobody can deny.
Q: Al-Azhar is set to establish a satellite television channel with some claiming that you may be placed in charge of this. What is your view?
A: The Al-Azhar channel is part of an attempt to confront the extremist religious satellite channels in their own backyard, not to mention the chaos and confusion that these channels spread by misleading people with false fatwas that including judging others as infidels. Our channel’s objective will be to promote a moderate approach and initiate rapprochement between the difference sects, eliminating the chaotic fatwas (issued by religious satellite television channels). This channel will follow the approach and ideology of Al-Azhar and will be overseen by scholars. The special committee formed to prepare the launch of this channel is working to ensure that this takes place as soon as possible. The channel will also utilize all forms of new media, technology, and communication while preserving the moderate and Islamic nature of our message. We will work to address all sections of Egyptian, Islamic and international society utilizing a simple but modern approach. At the same time, we will also work to address misrepresentations of Muslims and Islam, correct the image of Islam in the west, and clarify the facts of our tolerant religion.
Q: Most satellite channels are seeking to achieve their own interests and objectives; do you agree that securing personal gain seems to be the driving force behind the media these days?
A: There are media schools that are unfortunately pursuing the path of incitement, not enlightenment, and we completely reject this kind of media. I say to such figures that their religious, cultural and civilizational duty is to create, not destroy. They must illuminate this media practice of incitement. They must attract people without resorting to lies, deceptions, and unsubstantiated rumors. This is something that requires effort, in the same manner that any innovation requires effort. As for everybody only thinking about themselves and not caring about training or professionalism, this does not please God Almighty, the Prophet, or the believers. People are suspicious about this kind of media now, for this is represented by inciting against everything. Everybody must abide by honesty because this is what Islam has called us to. I previously called for a media honor code that will ensure that the elite and intellectuals stay away from trading baseless accusations, leaving the scene open for development and advancement.
Q: Some people are of the view that certain parties are attempting to undermined Al-Azhar and its symbols and prevent it from carrying out its role in terms of addressing the country’s major issues. Do you agree?
A: Al-Nobody can deny Al-Azhar’s national role. It has an immaculate history in defending religion and promoting moderation and tolerance, not to mention embracing open-mindedness. Over its long history and until today, Al-Azhar scholars play an active role in promoting tolerant and moderate Islam and in defending Egypt’s Islamic identity. Al-Azhar and is scholars are an integral part of society and are not detached from the country’s problems and reality. What we are seeing today is the best example of Al-Azhar’s interaction with the country’s concerns, namely the Al-Azhar Document. This demonstrates Al-Azhar’s desire to unite the country and eliminate the politics of marginalization and mistrust in order to ensure that the country reaches safety. Al-Azhar, as an important religious reference, is capable of putting forward practical advice on scientific, social, and other issues that demonstrate true Islam and solve the Muslim community’s problems. Al-Azhar is also capable of putting forward proposals to countries and governments, in addition to fixing the educational curriculum, or at the very least participating in deciding the Islamic educational issues, alongside other proposals that will have an impact on the Muslim’s situation, the prevalence of social peace, and the integration of the Muslim community. All of this will help the Muslims become valuable citizens who participate in building our civilization. Al-Azhar does not pay attention to voices that raise destructive, not constructive, slogans and views. Al-Azhar is followed the correct path and will not be turned away by these voices that are seeking to undermine us.
Q: It is easy for anybody to obtain a fatwa now. Some people believe that there should be a law licensing fatwa-issuance, particularly in the media. Do you agree?
A: Islamic scholars are very concerned with the fatwa-issuing process and have given this a high-profile due to its importance. The Prophet, peace be upon him, held this position during his lifetime, and after him it was held by the Prophet’s Companions, and then the scholars in general. Despite this, the religious arena today is in a state of chaos in terms of fatwa-issuance and religious discourse, due to the presence of non-specialists issuing fatwas, particularly via satellite television. This has led to a state of chaos and suspicion over religious issues. There can be no doubt that we must limit fatwa-issuance to scholars who specialize in this, ensuring that everybody has the proper standards for this important task.


United Nations mum as Canadian legal adviser disappears on Golan Heights
By The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press –OTTAWA - The United Nations has confirmed that one its staff members, believed to be Canadian, is missing along the Syrian-Israeli border.
Eduardo Del Buey, deputy spokesman for the secretary general, told a media briefing in New York that an employee working with the peacekeeping mission along the Golan Heights is unaccounted for in the region.
He would not confirm a name or nationality, but media reports in Israel identify the man as Carl Campeau, a Canadian legal adviser.
Del Buey refused all other comment.
The Times of Israel reports that the staffer was stationed with the UN Disengagement Observer Force, which is based on the Syrian side of the demilitarized zone separating the two countries.
Troops loyal to the regime of President Bashar Assad have apparently fled the Golan Heights, leaving rebel forces in control of the area.
Campeau has apparently been missing for several days.
Foreign Affairs has not commented on his disappearance, although government sources said an internal team, usually activated when a Canadian is taken hostage overseas, has been assembled within the department to investigate. Canada participated in the peacekeeping mission along the Syrian border from its inception in 1974 until 2006, when the last of its troops were withdrawn as the Afghan war tramped up.
Government sources said Campeau is a civilian working directly for the United Nations and is not acting on behalf of the Canadian government.
Since civil war erupted in Syria almost two years ago, there have been a series of escalating clashes along the border with Israel between rebels and pro-government forces.
The UN mission, currently led by an Indian general, has imposed stricter security measures.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967.

Syria claims Turkey enabling al-Qaida
By MICHAEL WILNER/J.Post
NEW YORK – Syria submitted a letter of complaint last week to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon alleging that Turkey is enabling “Al-Qaida, as well as the Nusra Front and other terrorist organizations, to assemble, take refuge, receive funding and arms, engage in smuggling, and enter Syrian territory.”The Syrian delegation, representing the regime of President Bashar Assad, claims those same organizations are responsible for the killing of civilians and the destruction of public and private property in Syrian lands. Citing international law, the delegations claim Turkey’s actions are “tantamount to an act of aggression,” a violation of the UN charter and of Syria’s right to self-determination. “By any objective measure, Turkey has become a state-sponsor of terrorism for its support not only of Hamas, but also of al-Qaida affiliates and the Nusra Front,” he said. The letter is an escalation in an increasingly tense relationship between the two countries. In the past week alone, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has called Assad a “mute devil” for his willingness to attack his own people, and the Turkish government has encouraged efforts to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court for committing crimes against humanity.
“The regime has lost its legitimacy,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“It is no longer governing. It is surviving by oppression, terror and massacres.”
But whether or not to label the Nusra Front a terrorist organization, as the United States and NATO have done, has become a political debate in Turkey that has revealed a subtle delineation between jihadist and terrorist.
Just a week ago at a Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, Davutoglu said, in reaction to questions on the Nusra Front’s classification, that “for [Turkey], jihad is a sacred notion. Let us not taint this notion by using it like neo-cons and pro-Israelis in America.”
An estimated 300,000 Syrian refugees have flooded Turkey, a NATO ally committed in public statements to the war on terrorism.
Protests have erupted in recent days in Turkey’s southern provinces over the government’s involvement in the Syrian conflict, and against the deployment of US Patriot missile batteries, which became operational just weeks ago.
Iran’s government-sponsored television network, Press TV, reported claims today that Turkish nationals were taking drugs and crossing over the border to fight Assad’s forces, while maintaining a “constant arms flow” to rebel groups. “It comes down to ideology,” says Rubin. “Turkey would rather support al-Qaida affiliates than have secular Kurds like the PYD [Syrian-Kurdish Democratic Union Party] consolidate control along its border.”

Israel warns Iran just buying time in Kazakhstan
By HERB KEINON, LAHAV HARKOV, REUTERS 02/26/2013 23:07 J'lem "skeptical to the extreme" over Iranian claims it is prepared to make offer to major powers in talks on nuclear program. Israeli officials on Tuesday dismissed as a “ploy” claims by Iran that it was prepared to make an offer to the major powers during talks in Kazakhstan, after the US proposed limited sanctions relief in return for a halt to the Islamic Republic’s most controversial nuclear work. Tuesday marked the first meeting in eight months between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany – the P5+1. Three rounds of talks last year – in Istanbul, Moscow and Baghdad – led to no progress, and Iran has used the last eight months to expand its uranium enrichment activity
A second day of talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is expected Wednesday. Although “skeptical in the extreme” that the current round would lead to any progress, Israeli officials were careful not to say that the talks were a mistake or counterproductive. “The Iranian strategy is clear: to draw out diplomacy and continue to engage, but in parallel to continue enriching uranium,” one official said. “They are engaged in a consistent strategy to draw out the talks. Their ultimate goal is to keep talking, and one day to surprise the world with nuclear tests.” The official reiterated that for Israel what was important was not the means to the end – that Iran not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons – but rather the end result itself.
With that, he said, diplomacy has so far not been effective, sanctions are not working and the Iranians are galloping ahead despite diplomatic pressure.
Jerusalem, the official said, believes the pressure has to be dramatically upgraded, coupled with convincing the Iranians that there is a credible military option. He said the international community must also clearly state what the “or else” part of the “stop the bomb or else” equation is. Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman, the new chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, wished the P5+1 luck in their talks with the Iranians.
But, he said, “we have no illusions about Iran’s intentions to drag out the process and waste time.”
Liberman then called for the powers to take “more practical steps” to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. “The international community must rely on its experience with North Korea and understand that sanctions alone are not enough,” he said. With the Islamic Republic’s political elite preoccupied with worsening infighting before a presidential election in June, Israeli officials are not the only ones doubting the meeting will yield a quick breakthrough. “It is clear that nobody expects to come from Almaty with a fully done deal,” a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who oversees contacts with Iran on behalf of the world powers, said shortly after talks started. A US official said on Monday that the powers’ updated offer to Iran – a modified version of one rejected by Iran last year – would take into account its recent nuclear advances, but would also take “some steps in the sanctions arena.”This would address some of Iran’s concerns but not meet tions be lifted, the official said.
In Almaty, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team said on Tuesday that Iran would put up a counterproposal. “Depending on what proposal we receive from the other side, we will present our own proposal of the same weight,” the source told reporters. “The continuation of talks depends on how this exchange of proposals goes forward.”
At best, diplomats and analysts say, Iran will take the joint offer from the US, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and China seriously and agree to hold further talks soon on practical steps to ease the tension.
“We are looking for flexibility from the Iranians,” said Ashton’s spokesman, Michael Mann.
But Iran, whose chief negotiator Saeed Jalili is close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is a veteran of Iran’s 1980s war against Iraq and the Western powers that backed it, has shown no sign of willingness to scale back its nuclear work. Tehran refuses to close its underground Fordow enrichment plant, a condition the powers have set for any sanctions relief.
A UN nuclear watchdog report last week said Iran was for the first time installing advanced centrifuges that would allow it to significantly speed up its enrichment of uranium, which can have both civilian and military purposes.
Tightening Western sanctions on Iran over the last 14 months are hurting Iran’s economy, slashing oil revenue and driving the currency down, which in turn has pushed up inflation.
The central bank governor was quoted on Monday as saying Iran’s inflation was likely to top 30 percent in coming weeks as the sanctions contribute to shortages and stockpiling.
But analysts say they are not close to having the crippling effect envisaged by Washington and – so far at least – they have not prompted a change in Iran’s nuclear course. Israeli officials maintain there is room to “dramatically upgrade” the sanctions. Western officials said the powers’ offer would include an easing of sanctions on trade in gold and other precious metals if Tehran closes Fordow.
The facility is used for enriching uranium to 20% fissile purity, a short technical step from weapons-grade.
Iran’s stockpile of highergrade uranium has grown to about 167 kg., an increase of roughly 18 kg. since mid- November. While the pile is still approaching the level of 240 kg. that Israel has set as its “red line,” the growth rate has slowed sharply. A UN nuclear watchdog report last week said Iran was for the first time installing advanced centrifuges that would allow it to significantly speed up its enrichment of uranium, which can have both civilian and military purposes. Tightening Western sanctions on Iran over the last 14 months are hurting Iran’s economy, slashing oil revenue and driving the currency down, which in turn has pushed up inflation.
The central bank governor was quoted on Monday as saying Iran’s inflation was likely to top 30 percent in coming weeks as the sanctions contribute to shortages and stockpiling.
But analysts say they are not close to having the crippling effect envisaged by Washington and – so far at least – they have not prompted a change in Iran’s nuclear course.
Israeli officials maintain there is room to “dramatically upgrade” the sanctions.
Western officials said the powers’ offer would include an easing of sanctions on trade in gold and other precious metals if Tehran closes Fordow.
The facility is used for enriching uranium to 20% fissile purity, a short technical step from weapons-grade.
Iran’s stockpile of highergrade uranium has grown to about 167 kg., an increase of roughly 18 kg. since mid- November. While the pile is still approaching the level of 240 kg. that Israel has set as its “red line,” the growth rate has slowed sharply.

World Powers, Iran Exchange Offers at 'Useful' Talks
Naharnet /World powers and Iran on Tuesday exchanged offers at "useful" talks in Kazakhstan aimed at breaking a decade of deadlock over Tehran's nuclear drive, despite low expectations of any deal.
The meeting in the Kazakh city of Almaty comes as sanctions bite against the Islamic republic and Israel still refuses to rule out air strikes to knock out Iran's suspected nuclear weapons drive.
There was no hint of any initial breakthrough with the first round of closed-door talks stretching late into Tuesday evening as the parties agreed to resume the talks on Wednesday.
"We had a useful meeting today," said a Western official.
"Discussions took place this evening, (and) we are meeting again tomorrow," the official added. An Iranian source close to the talks also confirmed the negotiations would continue Wednesday.
The world powers are offering Iran permission to resume its gold and precious metals trade as well as some international banking activity which are currently under sanctions, Western officials told Agence France Presse.
But in exchange, Iran will have to limit sensitive uranium enrichment operations that the world powers fear could be used to make a nuclear bomb, the sources added.
"We have come here with a revised offer and we have come to engage with Iran in a meaningful way," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who negotiates with Iran on behalf of the world powers, said in a statement.
Iran would have to stop enriching uranium to 20 percent and shut down its controversial Fordo plant where such activity occurs, a Western official said.
An Iranian source told AFP Tehran had come up with a counter-offer, whose final nature would be determined by terms posed by the big powers.
The source stressed "there was no question" of Tehran closing the Fordo plant where uranium is enriched to up to 20 percent -- a level seen as being within technical reach of weapons-grade matter.
But Iran could envisage halting the enrichment of uranium to 20 percent, if all international sanctions against it were dropped, including U.N. Security Council measures, the source said.
-- 'A diplomatic path' --
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting Berlin, said there is a "diplomatic path" in the nuclear crisis and expressed hope that "Iran itself will make its choice to move down the path of a diplomatic solution."
The talks pit the world powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- represented by Ashton -- against the Iranian team of top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
The talks are the first such encounter since a meeting in Moscow in June 2012 and Iranian officials have doused expectations by insisting they will offer no special concessions.
"It's clear that no one expects everyone to walk out of here in Almaty with a done deal. This is a negotiating process," said Ashton's spokesman Michael Mann.
Iran denies it is developing nuclear weapons and wants the world to respect its "right" to enrich uranium -- something current U.N. sanctions say it cannot do because of its refusal to cooperate with nuclear inspectors.
The Iranians went into the talks by issuing a string of comments suggesting they were willing to listen to offers without softening their own position.
"We will not accept anything beyond our obligations and will not accept anything less than our rights," Jalili declared before setting off for Kazakhstan.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow was hoping that the talks would now move into a phase of "bargaining" rather than just offering proposals.
"There needs to be a political will to move into that phase. We call on all participants not to lose any more time," he said, quoted by Russian news agencies.
The talks come with the lingering threat of Israel launching a unilateral strike on Iran just as it had done against the Osirak nuclear reactor in Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 1981.
Iran already has a nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr -- built with Russian help -- but Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has described atomic weapons as a "sin".
Agence France Presse