LCCC ENGLISH
DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 21/07
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus
Christ according to Saint Matthew 19,16-22. Now someone approached him and said,
"Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"He answered him, "Why do you
ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into
life, keep the commandments."He asked him, "Which ones?" And Jesus replied, "
'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you
shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother'; and 'you shall
love your neighbor as yourself.'"The young man said to him, "All of these I have
observed. What do I still lack?"Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect,
go, sell what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven. Then come, follow me."When the young man heard this statement, he went
away sad, for he had many possessions
Opinions
Lebanon and the "Salvation" Presidents.Zuheir
Kseibati.Dar
Al-Hayat. August 20/07
Disarming Hezbollah Should Be UN's Top Priority.By BENNY AVNI - The New York Sun.
August 20/07
Mehdi fighters 'trained by
Hizbollah in Lebanon'.By
Nizar Latif and Phil Sands. August 20/07
The Plight of the
Cristians in the Middle East. By: Gabriel Sawma Esq. August 20/07
Damascus...Roaring or Moaning?.
By:Tariq Alhomayed Asharq Alawsat. August 21/07
Violence in God's
name: the Islamists' debate.By
John L. Esposito. August 21/07
Egypt's judiciary needs the
same attention as the business sector.The
Daily Star. August 21/07
Hamas is
after an 'Afghan' victory.By
Waleed Sadi. August 21/07
Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources
for August 20/07
March 14 Christians for a 'Made By Lebanon"
President-Naharnet
Tueni to Suleiman: Generals Can Give Orders, Not Rule!-Naharnet
Lebanon Indicts More Than 200 Fatah al-Islam on Terrorism-Naharnet
Cluster bomb explodes, kills Hezbollah militant in
Lebanon.Ha'aretz
Two more soldiers die as helicopters pound militants in north ...International
Herald Tribune
'US pushing Israel to wage war against Syria with aid'.Jerusalem
Post
French FM pays
unannounced, highly symbolic visit to Baghdad. Jerusalem Post
UNIFIL Reportedly Not Interested in Protecting Lebanon-Syria Border-Naharnet
Israeli official: UNIFIL must expand.Ynetnews
Hezbollah may have biological or chemical weapons, Jewish
Telegraphic Agency - New York,NY,USA
UNIFIL troops in Lebanon unlikely to get greater
authority.Ha'aretz
Al Qaeda's Travel Agent.Wall Street Journal
Iraq PM to make first Syria visit.BBC News
Mehdi fighters 'trained by Hizbollah in Lebanon'.Independent
- London,England,UK
Helicopters pound militants with 400-kilogram
bombs at Nahr al-Bared.Daily Star
Sfeir scolds politicians for failure to bridge divide-Daily
Star
Fadlallah calls for steering clear of inter-Arab
conflicts-Daily
Star
France circulates resolution calling for permanent
Lebanon-Israel cease-fire-Daily
Star
Baalbek launches development project.Daily Star
Mufti calls on Riyadh to halt aid to South, Dahiyeh-Daily
Star
Druze religious authority launches Web site-Daily
Star
Lebanese Telecom Ministry preps for privatization-Daily
Star
Eyes on central banks after US Fed move-Daily
Star
Sacked Iranian oil minister issues stark warning of
impending energy crisis. AFP
Bloodied but unbowed, troops vow to fight on.
AFP
Does Hezbollah have WMDs?
E-mail News Brief
Tell the Editors
Published: 08/19/2007
Hezbollah may have biological or chemical weapons, according to a top Arab
pundit.
Hezbollah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, said in a speech last week that,
should Israel again go to war in Lebanon, it would face a "surprise that will
change the fate of the region".The unspecified threat prompted Abdul Bari Atwan,
editor of Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper, to argue at the weekend that the
Iranian-backed Lebanese militia may have weapons of mass-destruction. "Nasrallah
is a person who does not lie," Atwan wrote in the influential London-based
daily.
Noting that Hezbollah's arsenal of thousands of rockets, and its willingness to
use them against Israel, became manifest facts during last year's Lebanon war,
Atwan said that "from an initial examination it can be understood that these
rockets, or part of them, can be outfitted with chemical or biological
warheads".
“Just as Hezbollah did not hesitate to attack the Israeli hinterland with
rockets, it would not be surprising or unusual if he were to employ weapons of
mass-destruction in a new confrontation,” added Atwan. Hezbollah did not respond
to the article. Israeli officials have not publicly speculated on the nature of
Nasrallah's threat, made on the anniversary of the August 14, 2006 ceasefire
that ended the Lebanon war. A former member of the far-right National Bolshevik
Party was sentenced to four years in prison by a Russian court. According to
testimony from another National Bolshevik who is cooperating with the
prosecution, Vyacheslav Rusakov planned to blow up Jewish community centers and
the local headquarters of the federal security service, according to the daily
newspaper Kommersant.
Rusakov was arrested along with accomplices in 2004 by police who reportedly
found several artillery shells in their possession. Rusakov confessed to weapons
possession and the preparation of explosives but prosecutors later dropped
charges of terrorism against him. Some human rights activists have questioned
the series of cases against National Bolsheviks recently opened by the
government in light of the group's prominence in opposition protests.
March 14
Christians for a "Made By Lebanon" President
Christian forces of the March 14 majority alliance on Monday declared their
determination to "Lebanonize" the forthcoming Presidential elections, the first
to be held after withdrawal of Syria's army. The declaration was issued after a
meeting by 29 Christian members of the multi-sect majority coalition at the
residence of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Merab, northeast of Beirut.
"The conferees stress upon the importance of the forthcoming presidential
elections being the first to be held after the Syrian hegemony era," the
statement said. Presidential elections are a "gateway to regaining the full
sovereignty and independence" of Lebanon, it added.
The conferees stressed on "holding the presidential election according to the
constitutional schedule and in line with constitutional rules and texts without
any amendment and without any cancellation and postponement."The conferee,
according to the statement, "adopted a mechanism … that would result in
declaring one candidate for the presidency on behalf of the March 14 forces."
In a dialogue with reporters before the meeting, Geagea said it aims at
"countering efforts by foreign intelligence to choose a president" for Lebanon.
He stressed that the "era of foreign influence (in Lebanon) is gone and
fabricating a president by outside powers is not right." Geagea stressed that
such rejected options of foreign interference in choosing a president for
Lebanon were "applied during the era of Syrian hegemony."A vacuum in the
presidential office is "a red line," Geagea announced. He disclosed that there
had been some contacts with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun
concerning the election of a new head of state to succeed President Emile Lahoud,
whose extended term in office expires on Nov. 24.
However, "He (Aoun) has not changed his stand. That is why we have to resort to
democracy."
Public Works Minister Nayla Muawad, who took part in the meeting, expressed
"concern over a Syrian-Iranian scheme to prevent the presidential elections."
She said the meeting aims at setting the stage for "consensus" among Christian
members of the March 14 alliance, the outcome of which would be relayed to "our
allies and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir."She stressed that a President
will not be elected "if we do not agree on him with the Patriarch."
MP Butros Harb said the meeting aims at agreeing on a "joint concept" for the
alliance regarding the forthcoming Presidential elections.
Former MP Nasib Lahoud said the talks aim at "launching consultations" regarding
the presidential elections that should be held within the constitutional
schedule that starts on Sept. 25. Beirut, 20 Aug 07, 14:55
Lebanon Indicts More Than 200 Fatah al-Islam on Terrorism
Lebanon on Monday charged more than 200 people suspected of belonging to the
Fatah al-Islam militant group with murder and terrorism, a judicial source said.
Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza filed the charges against 227 militants, 108 of
whom have been arrested since May 20, when a standoff between the army and Fatah
al-Islam began at the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. The charge sheet
accuses the militants of murdering Lebanese troops, including 11 officers and
120 soldiers. It also accuses Fatah al-Islam of carrying out terrorist acts,
undermining state authority and attacking its military and security institutions
as well as attacking Lebanese troops and civilians. Among those charged in
absentia was the head of Fatah al-Islam, Shaker al-Abssi, whose whereabouts are
unknown. The defendants face the death penalty if convicted of terrorism
charges.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 20 Aug 07, 18:23
Tueni to Suleiman: Generals Can Give Orders, Not Rule!
Ghassan Tueni ridiculed in his weekly column Monday Gen. Michel Suleiman for
being dragged into politics and tempted to head what he termed "military
government."
"We expect from the brave Lebanese army … to achieve victory in its war on
terror at Nahr al-Bared instead of allowing those with suspicious intentions to
tempt it to (lead) a military government," Tueni sarcastically exclaimed in An
Nahar's a front-page editorial. He expressed fear that such a government would
turn Lebanon into "dictatorships" just like Hosni al-Zaim's coup that overthrew
democracy in Syria and Saddam's takeover of Iraq. "Oh! Our courageous army, Our
wise and patient (army) commander, beware of being misled," Tueni pleaded. "You
can give orders in war, but orders are (restricted) to the constitution when it
comes to ruling Lebanon and safeguarding its identity, historical message, human
rights and freedoms," Tueni said.Addressing Suleiman, Tueni said: "Devote
yourself to bandaging the wounds of your soldiers … and worry about achieving
civil rule." "…Then there will be no room for criticism that the army is unable
to protect its border and that the need to maintain 'civil' resistance will last
forever with the help of divine power until Lebanon achieves independence and
sovereignty," Tueni said in reference to Hizbullah. "Let the army be the only
resistance," he added."Only then that the army would be contributing to uniting
the Lebanese, not by their military rule," Tueni concluded. Beirut, 20 Aug 07,
11:01
UNIFIL
Reportedly Not Interested in Protecting Lebanon-Syria Border
The international community was reportedly not willing to shoulder
responsibility in protecting the Lebanon-Syria border and end arms smuggling to
Hizbullah "due to the sensitivity near the border.""At the moment, the donor
countries don't want to expand UNIFIL's mandate beyond the area where they are
deployed in southern Lebanon," a senior Israeli official told Ynet News. "This
does not necessarily have to do with Saniora's willingness or unwillingness, but
with their willingness," he added. "They do not want it due to the sensitivity
of the border area." "The decision to expand UNIFIL's mandate is a technical
decision," the official clarified. "It does not touch on Resolution 1701 on the
ceasefire. We are now working to emphasize clauses in the resolution which are
important to Israel, but not to change UNIFIL's mandate and expand it to the
Syria-Lebanon border." U.S. and French representatives were currently working on
the formula of the resolution, Ynet said on its website. It said Israel and
Lebanon were also holding separate talks with the two countries "in order to
make their personal demands." The website quoted the senior official as saying
that despite Jerusalem's harsh criticism against the lack of enforcement of the
arms' embargo against Hizbullah, Israel does not have the ability to change the
situation since Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora is the one who "invited"
the U.N. peacekeeping force into Lebanon.
Ynet said Saniora did not request that UNIFIL expand its mandate to the Syrian
border "most likely to avoid a confrontation" with Damascus.
The Israeli official said another reason the international community was not
willing to deploy its troops across the Lebanon-Syria was "fear of casualties."
Over the past two months, Israel has been holding talks with the U.N. and
troop-contributing countries "in an attempt to secure the Lebanon-Syria border,"
according to Ynet. "It seems Israel's calls to close the border remain
unanswered, and the weapon smuggling to Hizbullah has been continuing at a
worrisome rate," Ynet wrote.
Beirut, 20 Aug 07, 08:58
Sfeir scolds politicians for failure to bridge divide
Patriarch laments 'detestable bickering'
By Hani M. Bathish
Daily Star staff
Monday, August 20, 2007
BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said that politicians in
Lebanon were taking steps backward rather than moving forward to resolve the
country's political crisis as the presidential election looms. He said this lack
of progress did not leave much hope for resolving the crisis and allowing life
to resume as before.
Sfeir, who delivered his Sunday sermon at the Patriarchate's church in Dimane,
said each political side maintained unshakable opinions and positions and had
failed to take a single step to bridge the gap or foster understanding between
them. "This creates frustration in people's hearts and drives them to emigrate
in search of an alternate, safer country to live in, away from the daily,
detestable bickering," Sfeir said.
The patriarch said that those holding political office usually aimed to serve
citizens in an effort to improve living conditions, adding that the benefits of
holding office cannot go solely to officials the holders of the political office
for the satisfaction of their desires.
Free Patriotic Movement official Issam Abu Jamra declared support for the idea
of establishing a military government in Lebanon if a new president could not be
elected before the end of President Emile Lahoud's term in office. Army
Commander General Michel Suleiman has become a popular choice in recent days to
lead the state if rival political factions fail to elect a successor to Lahoud.
The newspaper An-Nahar quoted Abu Jamra as saying that the FPM would not oppose
a constitutional amendment to elect a new president "if it aims at salvaging
Lebanon," as Sfeir has said. "The amendment would in this case be to safeguard
the public interest," Abu Jamra said.
Asked if the formation of a military cabinet would be a better choice than
splitting the nation between two governments, Abu Jamra said a military
government "would be a more suitable solution at the security, economic and
political levels." FPM leader MP Michel Aoun rejected last Thursday a
constitutional amendment to allow the election of active grade-one civil
servants, such as Suleiman, to the presidency.
The long-dormant Parliament is scheduled to convene for the presidential
election on September 25. While Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has recently
pledged that the chamber would meet, doubts still linger whether opposition
politicians will attend without the feuding political factions having agreed on
a consensus candidate.
Change and Reform Bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, speaking to New TV on Sunday, said the
FPM's position was fixed with the Maronite Patriarchate. "We need a president to
extricate Lebanon from the situation we are in and the divisions between both
political camps," Kanaan said. He said only a specific "plan, program and
vision" could unite the Lebanese with all their contradictions, otherwise
Lebanon would only be managing and not resolving its crisis and further dividing
the country.
"For these reasons, the Change and Reform Bloc put forward the candidacy of its
leader MP Michel Aoun, based on a unifying political platform to bring together
both sides of the crisis," Kanaan said, "with the desire to resolve the issue of
Hizbullah's weapons within the framework of the memorandum of understanding and
to reform the political authority in accordance with a new electoral law."
Justice Minister Charles Rizk, who had been mentioned as a presidential
contender in the past, said in a statement on Saturday that Lebanon in the
coming six years would have to deal with many pressing issues, and he listed
four that would be a priority for any president. He said a new president would
have to grapple with the international tribunal to try suspects in the slaying
of former Premier Rafik Hariri, the broken political system, security issues and
a badly battered economy.
Former President Amin Gemayel, speaking to supporters on Saturday, stressed that
the presidential election would take place according to the Constitution and
rejected any vacuum in the post. Gemayel said MPs, especially Maronite and
Christian legislators, bear responsibility for the presidential election. In a
reference to the opposition, he accused those who hinder the presidential
election as "conspiring against the Christian presence in Lebanon."
Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt said he doubted
that Berri would be able to put forward an initiative to agree on a compromise
candidate.
"I have not heard about any real initiative," Jumblatt said during an interview
with Radio Monte Carlo over the weekend. "What initiative are they talking about
when Iran is sending weapons to [Hizbullah leader Sayyed] Hassan Nasrallah
through Syria to serve its own interests, and the price is paid by the Lebanese
economy, people and stability?"Resigned Energy Minister Mohammad Fneish,
speaking at a high school graduation ceremony in the South on Sunday, said
Lebanon was at a crossroads and the struggle today was not over a government
post or seats in the Cabinet, but rather for Lebanon's freedom and right to
determine its own future.
"Our struggle is against those who listen to the dictates of a foreign
ambassador whose country had a role in prolonging the summer war and which
supplied the Israeli enemy with cluster munitions and smart bombs," he said.
Helicopters pound militants with 400-kilogram bombs
at Nahr al-Bared
By Hesham Shawish
Special to The Daily Star
Monday, August 20, 2007
BEIRUT: Two Lebanese soldiers were fatally wounded by Fatah al-Islam snipers
during gun battles on Saturday, as the conflict at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian
refugee camp in North Lebanon enters its third month. One of the soldiers was
killed Saturday night by sniper fire and the second died on Sunday of his
wounds. Their deaths bring to 138 the number of soldiers killed since the
outbreak of violence on May 20.
Snipers among the remaining militants have been firing on army troops from
inside buildings and wreckage in the camp, an army source told The Daily Star on
condition of anonymity.
"You don't expect that there's somebody in these buildings," he said.
Army reports said three Fatah al-Islam militants had been killed, although the
exact number had not been confirmed, the source added.
Army commander General Michel Suleiman estimated last week that 70 Fatah
al-Islam militants remained in the battered camp from a force of roughly 360
when the battle erupted. More than 100 people are in police custody and were
charged on Friday for their involvement with Fatah al-Islam.
The conflict enters its third month on Monday, prolonged partly by the
surprising know-how and arsenal of Fatah al-Islam and by the army's inexperience
in urban guerrilla warfare, military insiders say. On Saturday army helicopters
bombed suspected militant hide-outs while violent street clashes raged since the
early hours of the morning, said a report by the state-run National News Agency.
Saturday's helicopter sortie marked the first time the army used a 400-kilogram
bomb instead of the 250-kilogram bombs used regularly since the air raids began
in earnest on August 9, the army source said. On Sunday helicopters made three
bombing runs, dropping "a lot" of the 400-kilogram bombs, the source said.
Another army spokesman said the military's firepower gave it "control of the
zone held by the Islamists, but the army had to clean up the terrain before
being able to advance." The military estimates the Islamists are holed up "in
five or six well-equipped shelters." Nearly all of the camp's 31,000 refugees
fled at the start of the fighting, with just the wives and children of the
Islamists still inside the camp. The spokesman said the militants were using the
civilians as "human shields." Suleiman estimated last week that about 100
civilians remained.
Aside from the face-to-face clashes, Fatah al-Islam fighters have been following
a strategy of firing Katyusha rockets into the area surrounding the camp and
using snipers inside the camp. Militants fired one Katyusha on Saturday, but the
rocket caused no damage as it landed in a field north of the camp, said The
Daily Star's source.With the militants confined to less than 1.5 square
kilometers in the camp, the army has adhered to a strategy known as the salami
tactic: like cutting slices from a salami, the army is taking control of small
pieces of territory, reinforcing its grip on the new holdings and gathering
intelligence to prepare for the next thrust, the source said. The Lebanese
judiciary announced Saturday that the 107 people in custody in connection with
Fatah al-Islam would face either murder charges or charges of belonging to the
group. The violence has also sparked a humanitarian crisis for the Nahr al-Bared
camp's residents according to the UN Relief and Works Agency, the UN branch
responsible for caring for Palestinian refugees. The majority of the camp's
previous inhabitants have taken shelter in the neighboring Beddawi camp. - With
agencies
France circulates resolution calling for permanent
Lebanon-Israel cease-fire
Draft calls on all parties to facilitate 'long-term solution'
By Hani M. Bathish
Daily Star staff
Monday, August 20, 2007
BEIRUT: France distributed a draft UN Resolution to Security Council members on
Friday which stressed the need for greater progress in achieving a permanent
cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon as envisioned by Resolution 1701, which
brought an end to last summer's war with Israel.
The draft resolution, which would extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) by one year, will be discussed this week by the Security
Council. The council is widely expected to ratify the extension of the UNIFIL
mandate until August 31, 2008, in response to the Lebanese government's request
as expressed in a letter from Premier Fouad Siniora to UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon on June 25.
In the draft text, obtained by The Daily Star, the Security Council commended
"the active role and dedication of the personnel of UNIFIL" as well as force
commander General Claudio Graziano and UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir
Pedersen. The draft resolution reaffirmed UNIFIL's authority "to take all
necessary action ... to ensure its area of operation is not utilized for hostile
activities of any kind."The draft resolution follows a speech delivered by
Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last Tuesday in which he
warned Israel against launching another war on Lebanon, saying any attempt to
attack the country "will be faced with a colossal surprise."
Retired army General Elias Hanna told the Associated Press recently that
Hizbullah possesses sophisticated weapons to deny Israel air superiority over
Lebanon, including long-range, anti-aircraft missiles. The draft resolution
reiterates the Security Council's intention "to consider further steps to
contribute to the implementation of a permanent cease-fire and long-term
solution" in Lebanon. It also calls for all parties concerned to cooperate fully
with the Security Council and secretary general toward that end.
The draft resolution welcomed the steps taken by the Lebanese government "to
extend its authority over its territory, through its own legitimate armed
forces." The document encouraged the government to continue its efforts to
ensure no weapons exist outside the government's consent.
The draft resolution welcomed the tripartite arrangements between UNIFIL,
Lebanon and Israel and encouraged the parties to coordinate with UNIFIL "to
visibly mark the Blue Line and reach an agreement on the northern part of
Ghajjar," the town controlled by Israel that before the war had been divided,
with Lebanon controlling the northern half.
The draft resolution condemns all attacks against UNIFIL and emphasized the need
for further coordination between UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese Army. It also
pointed to a need for UNIFIL to enhance its own investigative capacities in
response to these attacks.
Mufti calls on Riyadh to halt aid to South, Dahiyeh
Monday, August 20, 2007
The Mufti of Mount Lebanon, Sheikh Mohammad Ali Juzu, urged on Sunday the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to stop its aid to residents of South Lebanon and
Beirut's southern suburbs or Dahiyeh after strong comments from pro-Syrian
politicians against Riyadh and its role in the Lebanese crisis. "We urge the
kingdom to stop its assistance to people who don't have one atom of loyalty.
These people don't deserve that we stand by them for their feelings of enmity
toward us." He added that the kingdom has played an important role in Lebanon's
history and honored residents of South Lebanon and Dahieyh, who had betrayed the
Saudis to please the Syrian regime. Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest
contributors to Lebanon's reconstruction process following last year's war with
Israel.
Druze religious authority launches Web site
Monday, August 20, 2007
Druze religious authority launched on Sunday a new Web site that aims at
establishing relations between Lebanese Druze around the world. The step was
announced during a meeting for the general assembly of the sect's council headed
by Sheikh Akl Naim Hassan in his Beirut residence. The Web site
www.mouwahidoundruze.gov.lb includes a layout of the religious council and its
activities in addition to cultural and social forum. - Amer Zeineddine
Fadlallah calls for steering clear of inter-Arab
conflicts
Daily Star staff
Monday, August 20, 2007
BEIRUT: Senior Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah warned the
Lebanese on Sunday against aligning with clashing Arab states, saying that this
would be "dangerous to Lebanon because the current Arab political situation is
full of contradictions."
"The US is promoting Arab-Arab conflicts so as to push them to hold dialogue
with Israel and normalize ties with this state," he said in a statement.
Fadlallah said the Lebanese ought not to take part in conflicts among Arabs,
"because this is likely to bring more divisions on the internal political
level," and urged Lebanese to adopt a "milder" political rhetoric."The political
rhetoric in Lebanon has sunk to very low levels and instigated further tensions
on the Lebanese political scene," he added.
Fadlallah expressed fears that Lebanon had entered "a dangerous zone because of
the rhetoric of defiance adopted by most of its politicians."
"We fear the negative repercussions that such tense speech might have on the
future of Lebanon," he said. "We should all stand alert that such rhetoric, in
addition to the political atmosphere in the Middle East, threatens Lebanon's
fate and not only our country's near future."
Fadlallah said the Lebanese should be made aware that the fate of their country
was "gradually falling in the hands of devious foreign forces working on
achieving their own interests."
"These forces will not show any mercy to our little country," he added. On
Friday, the cleric accused the US of "blocking any actual attempts" to forge a
resolution to the 10-month-old political impasse in Lebanon.
"A number of European nations which showed enthusiasm to solve the crisis and
restore stability to our country have gone back on the suggestions they made
after direct and indirect pressures exerted by the US," he said during his
weekly Friday sermon.
He added that several Arab countries that had earlier undertaken mediation
efforts "have also followed in the footsteps of Europeans." - The Daily Star
Israeli official: UNIFIL must expand
Ynet/ 20.8.07/ Top diplomatic source tells Ynet international community not
interested in securing Lebanon-Syria border, ending weapon smuggling to
Hizbullah 'due to sensitivity near border'. Meanwhile, Israel tries to make
amendments to UNIFIL's mandate document to include sign of life from kidnapped
soldiers
Ronny Sofer Published: 08.20.07, 00:27 / Israel News
The international community is not willing to take on responsibility for closing
the border between Lebanon and Syria in order to prevent the continued smuggling
of weapons to Hizbullah, a senior Israeli official told Ynet on Sunday.
UNIFIL's mandate on southern Lebanon, which was declared along with the
ceasefire that ended the Second Lebanon War, will expire on August 31.
Israel agrees to extend mandate of UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon; Security
Council expected to decide on issue later in week
In order to continue to strengthen the force in the area, which is made up of
13,286 soldiers from some 30 countries, the mandate must be renewed. This
weekend the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council are scheduled to
vote on renewing the mandate.
American and French representatives are currently working on the formula of the
resolution, and Israel and Lebanon are holding separate talks with the two
countries in order to make their personal demands.
Despite Jerusalem's harsh criticism against the lack of enforcement of the
embargo on supplying Hizbullah with weapons, Israel does not have the ability to
change the situation since Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is the one who
'invited' the UNIFIL forces into his sovereign territory, the source explained.
Most likely out of the desire to avoid a confrontation with Syria, Siniora has
not requested that UNIFIL expand its mandate to the Syrian border. Also, the
Israeli official explained, the international community does not have the
willingness to deploy its troops to this sensitive border, for fear of
casualties.
Over the past two months, Israel has been holding talks with the UN and the
countries that have sent troops to the UNIFIL force in an attempt to secure the
Lebanon-Syria border.
At this point however, it seems Israel's calls to close the border remain
unanswered, and the weapon smuggling to Hizbullah has been continuing at a
worrisome rate.
The problem: Sensitivity near border
"At the moment, the donor countries don’t want to expand UNIFIL's mandate beyond
the area where they are deployed in southern Lebanon. This does not necessarily
have to do with Siniora's willingness or unwillingness, but with their
willingness. They do not want it due to the sensitivity of the border area," the
Israeli source clarified.
Meanwhile, Germany was the only country to accept Israel's appeal in a limited
manner. The Jewish state claimed that the failure to thwart the smuggling of
weapons was sterilizing Security Council Resolution 1701.
These days German is completing an experiment on the northern part of the
Syria-Lebanon border, through a force stationed between the Mediterranean Sea
and the northern vertex of on the border between the two countries in the east.
The move has been coordinated with the Lebanese government.
Initial recommendations and conclusions from this experiment have been submitted
to the Lebanese government, in order to examine ways to work together with the
approval of the UN. In the meantime, however, it is unclear whether this
experiment will lead to an extension of UNIFIL's mandate.
Israel is now seeking to make slight amendments in the multinational forces'
mandate document: A call for the release of kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and
Ehud Goldwasser, a call for a sign of life from them, a warning that the
situation in Lebanon is dangerous for the region and for world peace, a
clarification that the area between the Litani River and the Blue Line must
remain clean of weapons and militias, and increasing the cooperation between
UNIFIL and the Lebanese army.
Israel will be forced to delay its demand to close the border for arms smuggling
to Hizbullah until the donor countries and the Lebanese prime minister accept
its other demands.
"The decision to expand UNIFIL's mandate is a technical decision," the senior
Israeli sources clarified. "It does not touch on Resolution 1701 on the
ceasefire. We are now working to emphasize clauses in the resolution which are
important to Israel, but not to change UNIFIL's mandate and expand it to the
Syria-Lebanon border."
Damascus…Roaring or Moaning?
19/08/2007
Tariq Alhomayed
Tariq Alhomayed is the Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, the youngest person
to be appointed that position. Mr. Alhomayed has an acclaimed and distinguished
career as a Journalist and has held many key positions in the field including;
Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, Managing Editor of Asharq Al-Awsat
in Saudi Arabia, Head of Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper's Bureau-Jeddah,
Correspondent for Al - Madina Newspaper in Washington D.C. from 1998 to Aug
2000. Mr. Alhomyed has been a guest analyst and commentator on numerous news and
current affair programs including: the BBC, German TV, Al Arabiya, Al- Hurra,
LBC and the acclaimed Imad Live’s four-part series on terrorism and reformation
in Saudi Arabia. He is also the first Journalist to conduct an interview with
Osama Bin Ladin's Mother. Mr. Alhomayed holds a BA degree in Media studies from
King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, and has also completed his Introductory
courses towards a Master’s degree from George Washington University in
Washington D.C. He is based in London.
Saudi Arabia is currently on the receiving end of an organized media smear
campaign courtesy of figures affiliated with the Syrian regime in Lebanon. The
faces remain the same, despite the changes in pretexts or the deterioration in
dialogue.
The current attack is being spearheaded by Farouk Al-Shara, Hezbollah's
Satellite Channel and other figures affiliated with Syria on a number of
Lebanese media outlets. A similar occurrence happened during last year's
thirty-six day war, with all its lies and exposed schemes.
Such a matter cannot be explained apart from for the obvious isolation of Syria,
which since last year's war has revealed its agenda as nothing more then just
rhetoric and a desperate desire to occupy Lebanon, even if it were only on a
moral level.
Another reason is the approaching date of the International Tribunal that will
prosecute suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri, and above all is Syria's failure in reaching a consensus with Saudi
Arabia in a manner only satisfactory to Syria, which in turn would threaten the
stability of Lebanon.
Syria's problem is that it has tightened the noose around its neck in an
unbearable manner, leaving it no choice but to launch this verbal attack on
Saudi Arabia.
Another predicament Damascus found itself in is its failed attempt to engage the
Americans in open dialogue. Syria believed that it had the tools with which to
barter with concerning the Iraqi crises, but that has also failed.
What the Syrian regime failed to realize is that it has become a political tool
in the hands of Tehran in the region and not a key player as some might claim.
Even Iranian-Saudi conflicts which are substantial and profound, have never
stooped to the level manifested by Syria's behavior.
Despite Syrian-Saudi differences, they are not as complex or as entangled as
Tehran's differences are with Riyadh, yet such conduct is far from acceptable
Stately behavior. This is a result of the current position Syria finds itself
in; no longer holding any cards and having already aggravated the situation in
Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine. Even the Iran-sponsored Hezbollah has never
expressed its discord with Saudi Arabia in the same manner as Syria has.
I do not think that Syria has reached the highest possible level of frustration
here; in fact it will continue to grow for several reasons ,The Iranian issue is
escalating along with Washington's old convictions that Tehran and its
affiliates in Iraq and Lebanon are the real enemies and that Syria and Hezbollah
are its major tools. Moreover the latest decisions taken by the US president
against Syria and the failure of Damascus in its attempts to initiate political
dialogue with the United States has also added fuel to the fire. Also the
international tribunal that was set up to try the suspects in the murder of
Rafik Hariri has become a reality, while Syria's opposition in Lebanon grows
powerful, whether Syria and Hezbollah's followers continue their sit-in
demonstrations or have opted to go home.
After deliberately sabotaging the Mecca agreement between the Palestinians and
isolating Hamas in Gaza, nothing much has changed and no one has sought asylum
with Khaled Meshaal in Damascus. In fact Gaza had become a new dilemma for Hamas
and its followers, especially with the announcement of the up coming talks
designed to tackle the Palestinian crisis.
One cannot turn a blind eye to all these indicators which stress that Syria's
actions are not based on a lucid vision, but rather a hostile policy of pushing
things to the abyss. In fact such indicators are better viewed from a symbolic
lens, as if Damascus were screaming in agony after burning itself while playing
with fire.
I do not think that Damascus is roaring as much as it is moaning from a
multitude of incorrect decisions and policies coming from all directions!
CLDH: Freedom of Assembly under Threat in Lebanon
The political changes which took place in Lebanon in 2005 had raised hopes that
the right to Freedom of Assembly would improve in the country. Unfortunately, it
seems that the regular process by which organizations seek and obtain legal
registration in Lebanon remains seriously prejudiced by political considerations
that are reminiscent of the practices that prevailed under the Syrian
occupation.
On October 9, 2006, CLDH (Lebanese Center for Human Rights) submitted an
official application for registration with the Ministry of the Interior. To
date, it has not received a response. According to Lebanese law, a registration
application must be considered and decided by the competent authorities within a
deadline of 60 days from the time of submission of the application, otherwise
the applicati on is by default considered accepted.
Instead, and beyond the 60-day deadline, CLDH members have been subjected to two
rounds of questioning by the Internal Security Forces, and one official of the
organization has been targeted with several calls by General Security regarding
this application for registration.
This lack of response by the authorities has seriously undermined the ability of
CLDH to carry out several of its actions, denying it among other things the
ability in particular to open a bank account.
It is reminded that CLDH, which was set up in Lebanon by members of the French
organization SOLIDA (Support of Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily), has already been
subjected to harassment and intimidation, including the theft of computer
materials, telephone eavesdropping, pursuits and surveillance, etc., in
connection with the organization’s activities aiming at impartially defending
Human Rights in this country, and i ts strong and constant denunciation of
arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture and the impunity of
perpetrators of egregious violations of human rights.
Ten months after it submitted an application for legal registration, CLDH is
publicly demanding that the Interior Minister of the Lebanese government mend
this situation, which can only be seen by the international community and
Lebanese public opinion as an attempt to restrict the right to Freedom of
Assembly in Lebanon.
Beirut, August 20, 2007
For more information, please contact:
Wadih AL-ASMAR : 70 950 780
CLDH : La liberté d’association au Liban en question
Les changements politiques survenus au Liban en 2005 laissaient espérer une
amélioration de la liberté d’association au Liban. Pourtant, il semble que la
procédure normale d’accè s des associations à un enregistrement légal au Liban
reste fortement compromise.
Le CLDH (Centre Libanais des Droits Humains) a déposé une demande
d’enregistrement officielle auprès du Ministère de l’Intérieur le 9 octobre 2006
et n’a toujours pas reçu de réponse. Or, selon la loi libanaise, une demande
d’enregistrement ne peut faire l’objet d’un examen de la part des autorités que
durant un délai maximum de 60 jours au delà de laquelle la demande est
considérée comme acceptée.
Au lieu de cela, les membres du CLDH ont déjà fait l’objet, au delà du délai
imparti de deux mois de deux interrogatoires de la part des Forces de Sécurité
Intérieures et l’un des responsables de l’organisation a reçu plusieurs appels
de la Sûreté Générale portant sur cette demande d’enregistrement.
Cette absence de réponse de la part des autorités frei ne le CLDH dans certaines
de ses démarches, ne lui permettant pas en particulier de demander l’ouverture
d’un compte bancaire.
Rappelons que le CLDH, installé au Liban par des membres de l’organisation
française SOLIDA (Soutien aux Libanais Détenus Arbitrairement), a déjà fait
l’objet de plusieurs manoeuvres d’intimidation (vol de matériel informatique,
écoute téléphonique, filatures...) en lien avec ses activités visant à défendre
objectivement les droits de l’Homme dans le pays, denonçant fermement et
constamment les détentions arbitraires, les disparitions forcées, la torture, et
l’impunité des auteurs de violations graves des droits humains.
10 mois après sa demande d’enregistrement légal, le CLDH demande donc au
Ministre de l’Intérieur du Liban de remédier à cette situation qui ne peut être
vue que comme une tentative de limiter la liberté d& rsquo;association au Liban.
Beyrouth le lundi 20 août 2007
Pour plus d’informations :
Wadih AL-ASMAR : 70 950 780
Disarming Hezbollah Should Be
U.N.'s Top Priority
http://www.nysun.com/article/60878?page_no=2
By BENNY AVNI - The New York Sun
August 20, 2007
President Ahmadinejad of Iran: Israel was the standard bearer of Satan, the Republic News
Agency reported.
European powers — including France, which yields more power over Lebanon than
any other Western country — are largely satisfied with how the U.N. Interim
Force in Lebanon is operating. They shouldn't be.
This week, the Security Council will debate the renewal of the mandate of Unifil,
the European-led mission of 13,600 troops deployed in southern Lebanon in the
aftermath of last year's war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Next week, President Sarkozy is expected to announce his foreign policy
priorities in a speech that could further distinguish him from his predecessor,
Jacques Chirac.
Mr. Sarkozy's attitude toward Lebanon may be one of the speech's most
interesting parts: Will Mr. Sarkozy depart from Paris's traditional tendency to
consider Hezbollah a legitimate Lebanese political power, as opposed to a
terrorist organization controlled by Iran and Syria?
According to a report in the Kuwaiti press — picked up by Israeli news agencies
over the weekend — Iranian television "censored" its own interview last week
with Hezbollah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. The censor's problem was that
in the interview, the turban-wearing Shiite leader too enthusiastically praised
ties between his Lebanon-based organization and Tehran's mullahs.
"We are ready to be torn apart, spliced into tiny pieces, so that Iran will
remain exalted," Sheik Nasrallah told the Iranian interviewer, Bijan Nobaveh,
according to the Israeli Web site Y-net. "I am a lowly soldier of the Imam
Khamenei. Hezbollah youths acted on behalf of the Imam Khomeini."
An admission that Sheik Nasrallah is merely a servant of Tehran's current
supreme leader and his predecessor, respectively, flies in the face of his
previous statements. It also belies an argument made by European politicians in
favor of dialogue with Hezbollah. The nuanced diplomacy of engagement, the
European argument goes, would encourage Hezbollah to disarm and become a
legitimate political party in Beirut. But if at its core the organization is but
an Iranian puppet, why should it play any role in Lebanon's politics?
When he took office in the spring, Mr. Sarkozy insisted on calling Hezbollah a
terrorist organization, as it is considered to be by the State Department,
Israel, Britain, and others — but not by the European Union. But in June, after
much criticism of that stance, Mr. Sarkozy's government invited two
Hezbollah-affiliated politicians to a pan-Lebanese summit that France was
hosting. Even if it seems like a high-wire act, it is now necessary for Mr.
Sarkozy to stake out a clear position on Hezbollah — an act that might light the
way for other Europeans to follow.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Hezbollah largely has returned to its prewar military
strength. It has done so in direct violation of a Security Council resolution
demanding that no Lebanese organization would remain armed, except the
government-controlled army — and specifically that the area south of the Litany
River would become demilitarized.
European spokesmen maintain that Israel so far was unable to conclusively
substantiate its claims that weapons are being held in southern Lebanon, where
Unifil has jurisdiction. But in addition to credible Israeli and other Western
intelligence, the notion that the organization has been rearming itself for the
next confrontation with Israel is supported by no other than Sheik Nasrallah
himself, who in a recent speech has boasted that he was preparing a "big
surprise" for the next war. Even if the speculation that Hezbollah now possesses
rockets armed with chemical or biological weapons is an exaggeration, Israel
should not be the only place where alarm bells are triggered by boasts of
"surprise" by an organization beholden to Iran. Other Iranian allies, including
Syria and Gaza's Palestinian Arabs, are encouraged by Hezbollah's increased
belligerence, and the Middle Eastern tinderbox is nearing its most dangerous
state.
In its year of operation, Unifil has been able to maintain calm between
Hezbollah and Israel. In Jerusalem, where Prime Minister Olmert is politically
weakened, this achievement qualifies as a success. But as the veteran Israeli
intelligence analyst Reuven Ehrlich told me last week, the calm on the border is
"reversible," while rearmament is not. It leaves the decision of if and when to
start a war in Hezbollah's hands.
As the Security Council contemplates renewing the mandate for another year, it
should stress the disarmament of Hezbollah as Unifil's most urgent mission.
European capitals concerned enough about the region to send troops to Lebanon
should also realize that Hezbollah is not, and is likely never to become, a
legitimate political player in Lebanon.
'US pushing Israel to wage
war against Syria with aid'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Washington is preventing Israel from making peace with Syria and instead is
forcing it to wage war, the Arab country's government-owned daily Tishrin read
on Monday. The paper said that recent moves made by the US including supplying
Israel with weapons and agreeing to a 30 billion dollar aid-package are methods
the country was implementing to push the Jewish state to wage war on Damascus.
It also accused Israel of threatening the region by holding large-scale army
exercises. Israel's recent military maneuvers not only pointed to the fact that
the country refused to make peace with Syria, but also proved that the Jewish
state was preparing for war, claimed Tishrin. Israel, read the paper, was
working "around the clock and stages exercises as preparation for the next round
of war. It is no secret that declarations of war being tossed freely by Israeli
officials against Syria are not just empty statements, but are significant
promises regarding Israeli intentions against Syria," it read. Further, the
paper claimed that "even if Israel is not the direct cause of the tragedies,
murders and crimes in our area, [Israel] is indirectly [responsible for them]."
Lebanon and the "Salvation"
Presidents
Zuheir Kseibati -Al-Hayat - 20/08/07//
Since their Republic became independent, a "major political event" has rarely
been absent from the lives of Lebanese, their crises and their wars. Thus,
"salvation" has always been on hand. Today is the season of the presidential
election and salvation, until 23 November. It's natural for this phase to be
exceptional. However, hasn't it been this way ever since independence? In an
exceptional nation where most of the presidents have been elected for the sake
of salvation, they don't reach the end of their terms without this becoming a
more insistent demand. Today, the exceptional is growing even bigger, and the
political entity of Lebanon is on the verge of disappearing and annihilation.
Each party that either takes part in or influences the election has a red line,
and every Lebanese is waiting for the puff of white smoke to appear (perhaps
black is required by the crisis conditions) and seeing the heat of the battle
rise, growing higher at the various political levels.
However, Lebanon in 2007 does not resemble the situation in any previous
"election": there is a war of legitimacy-illegitimacy between the steadfast
government and the opposition, which that seeks to bring it down, even if
voluntarily, and even if only shortly before the end of its term, so that the
government pays the price for the so-called collaboration with the American
project for the region and the country.
There is also the steadfast heart of Beirut, in its silence, lying at the heart
of repercussions from the earthquake-like assassination of former Prime Minister
Rafiq al-Hariri, and the series of other liquidations… and a trial for the
killers. There are mediation, efforts and good intentions to solve the crisis,
and other attempts that are challenged as soon as they cross the border into
this small country, whose special features and diversity have occupied the time
of major world capitals. This diversity is a blessing but for some it has become
a complaint; there have been increasing complaints about the reality of the
long-term goals of everything that has been prepared for Lebanon since the
earthquake, and what led up to it.
These are merely simplistic titles for the reality of complicated crises in the
"most difficult country in the world." Since 2007 and the election don't
resemble past experiences, salvation this time has become a miracle, in light of
the escalating regional-international polarization. Meanwhile, when it comes to
the end of Lebanon's immunity and ability to tolerate the repercussions of this
polarization and strife between neighbors, and great powers, anxiety is
increasing.
If we leave aside the aspects of the earthquake and its repercussions, we should
ask whether this Republic has ever been able to produce "national" immunity that
would remove the need to ask for the mediation of the outside world, especially
to halt the aspirations of foreign actors. History proves that the national
accord of Lebanon's first independence was not alone in facilitating ways out of
domestic crisis, while the Taif Accord is at stake in the current
regional-international polarization; the Lebanese imagined a huge immunity to
bickering within this same polarization… while waiting for the white smoke, or
"password" coming from a friend or ally. This is specifically what leads Lebanon
to the eye of the storm, since there has not been only one password, and it is
likely that there won't be only one in the future, either. Meanwhile,
politicians strive - some of them do not deserve the term "politician" - to come
up with formulas and "modest" deals that quickly fall apart, under the weight of
the regional conflict.
Therefore, Lebanese will not be dragged into wagering on the proposals of the
domestic parties to the conflict, while remembering that the solution always
comes with the approval of the outside world. The disaster of the coming
presidential election is that this same approval or consensus has become a
quasi-miracle, especially since the nightmare scenario of becoming a second Gaza
has not disappeared, and since the survival of the Lebanese political system has
become pending on the results of the conflicts between the great powers - these
conflicts are much greater than the country's ability to tolerate the
repercussions of these conflicts.
The debates underway today (about the need to see a simultaneous formation of a
unity government and presidential election), and the opposition's hint that it
will accept a military Cabinet if no consensus is reached with the government,
do not hide the repercussions of these conflicts. For example, one model appears
in the question by MP Samir Franjieh: "Can we pledge to protect Hizbullah from
America, and protect 14 March from Syria?" as part of a declaration of
intentions to facilitate domestic accord. A newer, more "eloquent" model of
expressing the difficult possibilities regarding a flaring-up of the external
conflict comes in Hizbullah's threat to take steps confronting a new president
"brought in by the Americans as an employee or slave of theirs." Who elects the
president, then? "Ordinary" Lebanese no longer pose the question and very few
remember the exceptional aspects of electing someone in light of a crisis that
paralyzes this small Republic, or a war, or other such big predicament, such as
searching for a modified share of power for a given sect. Very few remember how
many times the Constitution was not amended to facilitate an election or an
extension, or condemn the remaining role of Parliament, after counting the
number of presidential electors outside the country.
The 2007 election doesn't resemble others, because the "president of salvation"
might not come this time, even if certain political stances are modified. The
regime of sects and "their democracy" are no longer to renew the regime's
immunity, especially after a long insistence on preventing the implementation of
the Taif Accord, and seeing Lebanon remain a hostage, as it awaits the bigger
political settlements