LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 31/07

Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 13,31-35. He proposed another parable to them. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'" He spoke to them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation (of the world)."

Opinions
Leaving Iraq will require great care-By David Ignatius. Juky 31/07
Turkey's AK victory shows that Islamism and democracy can be reconciled-By The Daily Star. July 1/07
Arab-Islamic Fascim: A simple example-Daily Mail July 31/07

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July 31/07-Naharnet
Spain Launches Bid to Help End Lebanon Standoff-Naharnet
Sfeir repeats call for consensus candidate in Metn by-election-Daily Star
Sfeir Urges Adherence to Traditions in By-Elections-Naharnet
Army Pushes Deeper, Controls More Buildings in Nahr al-Bared-Naharnet
Army continues slow progress into shrinking area under control of Fatah al-Islam-Daily Star
Tensions simmer in Metn ahead of by-election-Daily Star
Clashes Erupt Between Gemayel, Aoun Supporters Ahead of By-Elections-Naharnet
Clashes Erupt Between Gemayel, Aoun Supporters Ahead of By-Elections, Sfeir Renews Call for Consensus
Aoun, Gemayel Trade Harsh Words over By-Elections-Naharnet
Kouchner: Pressure on Syria, Iran is Needed to Avoid New Lebanon War
French Envoy Ends Lebanon Task without Progress-Naharnet
Kouchner: 'Pressure is needed' to reach Lebanon deal-Daily Star
French FM leaves Lebanon without breakthroughs, says he will return-International Herald Tribune
French FM Kouchner calls for Iran, Syria to help stabilize Lebanon-Ha'aretz
Nasrallah Denies He is Seeking to Islamize Lebanon-Naharnet
Iran rebuilds Lebanon to boost Hizbollah-Telegraph.co.uk
Spanish FM in Lebanon to inspect troops-People's Daily Online
German-backed force to patrol Lebanon border-Daily Star
Siniora: Extended army control will trigger prosperity-Daily Star
Report: One Israeli soldier died in captivity-Daily Star
Climbers to celebrate Jesus appearance-Daily Star
USAID opens water treatment plants in Bekaa-Daily Star
Civil society activists press politicians to reconcile-Daily Star
Qana 'stronger' on anniversary of Israeli attack-Daily Star
Police arrest three men for vandalizing Hariri country estate in South-Daily Star
Nouvelle Vague opens Byblos Festival-Daily Star
US boosts Israel's annual defense aid to $30 billio-Daily Star

Spain Launches Bid to Help End Lebanon Standoff
Spain has launched an effort to help Lebanon end the eight-month-long political crisis that has paralyzed the country. "Spain, which is close to Lebanon, hopes to help bring an end to this crisis," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said in Beirut on Sunday. "We will try... we don't know if we will succeed but we will do the maximum," he told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. Moratinos said Spain was "strongly engaged both politically and militarily in Lebanon through its contribution to UNIFIL," the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. He said his country had "paid a heavy price with the death of six of its soldiers" in a car bomb attack in the south last month, but that it would "continue to assume its responsibilities."
The six members of the Spanish contingent were killed on June 24 when a booby-trapped car exploded as their patrol vehicle passed by. Under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended last summer's 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah, more than 13,000 peacekeepers have been deployed in a beefed-up UNIFIL between the Litani River and the border with Israel. The 1,100 Spanish soldiers are operating in southeast Lebanon near the frontier. On Monday Moratinos will meet Lebanese political leaders and on Tuesday will visit the Spanish contingent in the south before leaving for Syria. When he arrived on Sunday at Beirut airport he met French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who was leaving for Cairo after a two-day mission aimed at trying to get the country's feuding political factions to solve their differences.
Moratinos said Spain would "join in efforts to help the Lebanese bring about stability." Beirut's political institutions have been deadlocked since six pro-Syrian members of Saniora's cabinet resigned, plunging the country into its worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. In December the Hizbullah-led opposition launched a series of protests aimed at bringing down the Saniora administration. The opposition wants a national unity government in which it would have veto power.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 30 Jul 07, 09:04

Clashes Erupt Between Gemayel, Aoun Supporters Ahead of By-Elections, Sfeir Renews Call for Consensus
Supporters of former President Amin Gemayel clashed with Gen. Michel Aoun's followers in the streets northeast of Beirut, using sticks, fists and feet, only days ahead of the Metn by-elections. The brief fight late Sunday in Broummana and Baabdat northeast of Beirut erupted after demonstrators from both sides roamed the streets of the two major resort towns in candidate support.
Friction between the two camps has been heating up since Aoun, who heads the Free Patriotic Movement, announced that he and his allies -- the Tashnag Party and MP Michel Murr -- will jointly contest the Metn seat that went vacant by the murder of Gemayel's son, Pierre Gemayel. Lebanese army troops quickly stepped and dispersed the feuding sides. The daily An Nahar said Monday that Lebanon will beef up the army strength in Metn until August 5, the date of by-elections.
Meanwhile, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir continued to help reduce tensions and hasten reconciliation between Aoun and Gemayel, urging the warring sides to "adhere to traditions" and unite in times of crises. During the Sunday sermon at his summer headquarters in Dimane in north Lebanon, Sfeir said that elections, "in times of peace and prosperity, are a healthy and democratic practice, while in times of crisis, legitimate rights can be ignored."
He expressed hope that "kindness and harmony make their way into the hearts and minds" of the rival parties, "especially since parliamentary seats being disputed belonged to people who have been assassinated by merciless criminals."Sfeir renewed his call for consensus and recommended that by-elections be postponed since "parliament's term runs out in less than two years, then there will be room for free competition and the democratic game can proceed."
"What we are now witnessing in Metn is totally different from what we are used to (witness)," Sfeir said, hoping that the long practiced tradition would win through.
"The Lebanese are used to letting emotions prevail over legitimate rights in situations like this, particularly tragic situations," Sfeir explained. He said the Lebanese are also used to "rise above personal competition … and leave room for love and kindness," an indirect message to Aoun to let Gemayel run parliamentary elections uncontested. eirut, 30 Jul 07, 06:43

Kouchner: Lebanese Have to Solve Their Own Problems
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has succeeded in bringing together warring Lebanese groups who have had no contact for months, but said France cannot solve the problem in the place of the Lebanese. "France is doing what it can, but it cannot solve the problem in the place of the Lebanese," Kouchner said. "Many other countries are already involved which could have a very negative effect on what is going to happen in Lebanon."
Kouchner said that if Lebanese leaders decide to overcome their differences, then "all external influence will not be enough to keep an independent and democratic Lebanon from going forward."Kouchner on Sunday hosted political leaders at a lunch at the French Embassy and later described the meeting as an encouraging success."They talked to each other ... and this time they did it in Beirut. That's progress," he told reporters at a news conference. "We are not naive," he added. "We know that much of Lebanon's fate is decided in neighboring countries, namely Syria and Iran."
On Saturday, Kouchner warned that Lebanon could face a new civil war if its feuding political chiefs failed to resolve the eight-month deadlock between the government and opposition threatening to tear the country apart. France, the former colonial power, has encouraged dialogue between the government of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and the Hizbullah-led opposition, which are locked in a fierce power struggle. Iran and Syria back the opposition, while Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the West support the Saniora government. Later Sunday, Kouchner held talks in Egypt with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
"France could increase its efforts to prevent both Syria and Iran from exercising negative influence on Lebanon and to prevent war," he told reporters after the meeting. "But the Lebanese themselves are not in accord, and there is a problem of mistrust between them."
"Lebanon is difficult and complicated and with exterior influences, it has become one of the most difficult problems in the world," he added.
Kouchner's three-day visit to Beirut was a follow-up to a conference hosted by France earlier this month to restart dialogue among Lebanon's 14 feuding Christian and Muslim factions. He spent the weekend meeting with Lebanese leaders from both camps, capping his efforts Sunday with the embassy luncheon.
Most Lebanese leaders personally attended the luncheon. But Saniora, Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stayed away, opting instead to send representatives.
Kouchner said the talks were "difficult" but encouraging, although no breakthrough could be achieved. He said he had done all he could for now, but would return in the coming days.The opposition has held street protests since Dec. 1 outside Saniora's office in Beirut. It wants to force him to resign or share power in a national unity Cabinet that would give the opposition veto power. Saniora, backed by the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, rejects the opposition's demand.
Rival governments could emerge if parliament fails to elect a new president before Nov. 25, when opposition-backed President Emile Lahoud must step down.(Naharnet-AP-AFP) Beirut, 30 Jul 07, 09:59

Spain Launches Bid to Help End Lebanon Standoff
Spain has launched an effort to help Lebanon end the eight-month-long political crisis that has paralyzed the country. "Spain, which is close to Lebanon, hopes to help bring an end to this crisis," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said in Beirut on Sunday. "We will try... we don't know if we will succeed but we will do the maximum," he told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. Moratinos said Spain was "strongly engaged both politically and militarily in Lebanon through its contribution to UNIFIL," the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
He said his country had "paid a heavy price with the death of six of its soldiers" in a car bomb attack in the south last month, but that it would "continue to assume its responsibilities." The six members of the Spanish contingent were killed on June 24 when a booby-trapped car exploded as their patrol vehicle passed by.
Under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended last summer's 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah, more than 13,000 peacekeepers have been deployed in a beefed-up UNIFIL between the Litani River and the border with Israel. The 1,100 Spanish soldiers are operating in southeast Lebanon near the frontier.
On Monday Moratinos will meet Lebanese political leaders and on Tuesday will visit the Spanish contingent in the south before leaving for Syria.
When he arrived on Sunday at Beirut airport he met French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who was leaving for Cairo after a two-day mission aimed at trying to get the country's feuding political factions to solve their differences. Moratinos said Spain would "join in efforts to help the Lebanese bring about stability."
Beirut's political institutions have been deadlocked since six pro-Syrian members of Saniora's cabinet resigned, plunging the country into its worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. In December the Hizbullah-led opposition launched a series of protests aimed at bringing down the Saniora administration. The opposition wants a national unity government in which it would have veto power.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 30 Jul 07, 09:04

French Envoy Ends Lebanon Task without Progress
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Sunday left Lebanon without making any evident progress and after warning of the danger of violence if the months-long political crisis is not resolved through dialogue. Despite succeeding in gathering representatives of feuding Lebanese factions around the same table earlier on Sunday, Kouchner said his trip was "just a step, and don't expect me to resolve Lebanon's problems." Before leaving, Kouchner met at Beirut airport with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos who arrived on a similar diplomatic mission.
Moratinos, who was due to meet Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora later Sunday, told reporters after meeting Kouchner that he was "happy... to pursue the efforts exerted by France to resolve the crisis." Kouchner then left for Cairo to brief the foreign ministers of Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the Arab League secretary general on his Beirut mission. The French foreign minister, on his second trip to Lebanon this year, said he would return next month and was considering hosting a second conference similar to the July 14-15 meeting which gathered all Lebanese parties near Paris.
On Sunday, Kouchner lunched at the French ambassador's residence in Beirut with leaders and representatives of the ruling majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition backed by regional allies Syria and Iran. After meeting rival officials on Saturday, Kouchner warned of the danger of violence if the eight-month standoff between Lebanon's political parties is not solved through negotiations. "If the Lebanese do not resume this necessary dialogue, unfortunately there will be more war. There are clans, struggles, sorts of poker games over power... but this is a deadly game in Lebanon," he said.
"I know that deep down, everyone in Lebanon wants reconciliation... maybe not the politicians, maybe not those who seize power and want to keep it... but civil society has had enough of war," he said. The resignation last November of six pro-Syrian ministers, five of them Shiite, sparked the current political standoff, the country's worst since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war.
Hizbullah bolstered by a proclaimed victory during last year's 34-day war with Israel, is pushing for the opposition to be better represented in government in order to give it veto power. But the majority insists this can only happen if Hizbullah agrees to stop blocking parliamentary sessions in order to ensure the quorum needed for the presidential elections to replace pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud by a November 25 deadline.
Failure by the parties to resolve their differences in the coming weeks could spark a dangerous power vacuum or even the creation of two rival governments, plunging Lebanon into further chaos. France has taken the lead in trying to resolve the crisis, gathering all the parties for a conference near Paris earlier this month and sending a top envoy to the region for consultations with all the key players. While the talks in France did not yield much in the way of results, Kouchner stressed on Saturday that the process was ongoing.
"This is not a moment of despair, nor is it a moment of joy. We will continue, I am available, France is available." But he also said that any solution had to come from within the country itself. "We won't find a solution from outside... there are countries that weigh more than others on Lebanese decisions, but the only way to get away from these exterior positions and pressures is to have unity and reconciliation among the Lebanese," Kouchner said.(AFP) Beirut, 29 Jul 07, 20:44

Sfeir repeats call for consensus candidate in Metn by-election
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Monday, July 30, 2007
Despite the seeming impossibility of consensus between Lebanon's feuding political camps over the contentious Metn by-election, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir continue to push for conciliation in his Sunday sermon. Sfeir, speaking one week before the August 5 by-election, urged rival groups "to unite in times of crises."
"Elections are a healthy and democratic practice in times of peace and prosperity," Sfeir said during the sermon at his summer headquarters in Dimane in North Lebanon. "However, during times of crisis legitimate matters can be overlooked." Sfeir said he hoped that "mercy and harmony make their way into the hearts and minds" of conflicting groups, "especially because parliamentary seats being disputed belonged to people who have been assassinated by merciless criminals."
Sfeir suggested the by-elections be postponed or consensus concerning by-elections be forged, "and the democratic game can proceed when the mandate of the current Parliament expires in a little less than two years." By-elections scheduled for August 5 will be held in the second district of Beirut and in the Mount Lebanon region of Metn to replace slain MPs Walid Eido and Pierre Gemayel, respectively. The Metn by-election has drawn much more attention. Former President Amin Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) MP Camille Khoury and independent Joseph Mansour Asmar are contesting the Metn seat of Gemayel's assassinated son Pierre.  On Sunday, Amin Gemayel said he would abide by Sfeir's call to avoid any more skirmishes and would "not speak a word on by-elections anymore."
Speaking during a mass in Bikfaya to commemorate his slain son, Gemayel echoed Sfeir's Sunday stands, saying that in times of crisis "ethical options ought to be adopted." Gemayel's comments came one day after he and FPM leader Michel Aoun traded accusations concerning the electoral battle in Metn.
Aoun slammed Gemayel as "a failure" as a politician, after Gemayel had criticized the former general's alliance with "pro-Syrian groups such as Hizbullah." Gemayel said he had done his best to avoid a battle in the Metn and accused Aoun of "closing all doors" to consensus.
Gemayel described the Metn by-election as a "battle for survival and a battle for Lebanon's existence." Aoun said the Metn by-election was not a "competition over a parliamentary seat, but rather a battle against the violation of the Constitution." Aoun said on Friday that if Gemayel wanted to win the confidence of Metn voters, "he ought to reconsider his political stands rejected by the majority of Metn people."A number of other politicians commented on the Metn by-election during the weekend. Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss on Saturday ripped the Gemayel-Aoun mud-slinging, saying that Gemayel was vulgar in his speech and "Aoun showed even more vulgarity."Former MP Nassib Lahoud expressed at a news conference on Sunday support for Gemayel, "if consensus is not reached."

Tensions simmer in Metn ahead of by-election
Some residents fear rift between christian camps will widen after vote takes place
By Nour Samaha
Daily Star staff
Monday, July 30, 2007
METN: Tensions are rising and divisions widening in the campaign for the upcoming by-election in the mountain constituency of Metn, causing residents to worry about future relations among Lebanon's Christians. "The divisions that are now happening among the Christians over politics are big," Metn resident Ghattas Maalouf told The Daily Star on Sunday. "They have the potential to escalate into something dangerous - anything can happen from now."
The election, slated for August 5, is being held to fill the seat of slain Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, who was assassinated in November 2006. With Gemayel's father and former President Amin Gemayel, leader of the pro-government Phalange forces, squaring off against MP Camille Khoury of Michel Aoun's opposition Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), the election is evolving into a popularity contest between the two veteran Christian leaders Gemayel and Aoun.
"These elections are really important for us in Lebanon," added Maalouf. "They are going to show which way the Christians are going to vote. In that sense they are necessary, because hopefully they'll finally put an end to the current problems in politics."
Metn, where the majority of residents are Christians, has been a Phalangist stronghold for more than two decades. Until these elections, it has always been considered a safe seat for the Gemayel family and the Phalangists, whose party headquarters sit in the mountain town of Bikfaya. Support there for Gemayel's campaign is clearly visible, with the town covered by hundreds of flags, posters, stickers and flyers sporting images of members of the Gemayel family and the party's signature green cedar tree on a white background. Phalange Party flags fly every few meters on the road leading up to Bikfaya from the coastal highway, while supporters chant Gemayel's name as they pass through the town's streets.
FPM support is less noticeable but just as vocal. Maalouf said he supported Aoun and looked forward to the election so the constituency and the country could see that the FPM is the better party for the Christians. "Metn no longer belongs to Gemayel," Maalouf said. Election day "will prove that."
Homere Gebrayel, a grocery-store owner in Rabieh, said he had noticed the divisions among the people. "This week it has become especially noticeable," he said. "We are all worried about reactions on the ground between the supporters, especially as Metn has been with the Gemayel family for the last 25 years. The Kataeb are strong in this area and are likely to remain so."Aside from the countless private conversations revolving around the election, the issue has also spread onto Internet forums, Web sites and blogs urging people to vote a certain way "for the sake of the Lebanese Christians," as one blogger said.  Gebrayel said the elections should be put off because of the political rift appears to be widening. While Jeanette Soueid, another resident of the area, disagreed with Gebrayel's take on canceling the elections, she did concur that the divisions among the Christians may cause irreparable damage.
"Two major Christian figures are competing in this race, causing all the Christians in the area to take a side," she said. "However, there are already divisions among the Christians, and this will further split them apart, which could lead to something bad happening."
The fear of the elections dividing the Lebanese Christian population has also been voiced by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, who last week suggested the elections should be cancelled in order to prevent any serious or violent repercussions among the residents. But many residents said they still feel these elections are necessary, despite any potential consequences. "We have to have them," said Zeina Maroun, who was born and raised in Metn. "They will show whom the Christians are now supporting, although there have been signs of aggressiveness from one side." She claimed Phalange supporters had recently sent messages declaring a willingness to spill blood if the situation calls for it. Clashes Erupt Between Gemayel, Aoun Supporters Ahead of By-Elections, Sfeir Renews Call for Consensus
Supporters of former President Amin Gemayel clashed with Gen. Michel Aoun's followers in the streets northeast of Beirut, using sticks, fists and feet, only days ahead of the Metn by-elections. The brief fight late Sunday in Broummana and Baabdat northeast of Beirut erupted after demonstrators from both sides roamed the streets of the two major resort towns in candidate support.
Friction between the two camps has been heating up since Aoun, who heads the Free Patriotic Movement, announced that he and his allies -- the Tashnag Party and MP Michel Murr -- will jointly contest the Metn seat that went vacant by the murder of Gemayel's son, Pierre Gemayel.
Lebanese army troops quickly stepped and dispersed the feuding sides. The daily An Nahar said Monday that Lebanon will beef up the army strength in Metn until August 5, the date of by-elections. Meanwhile, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir continued to help reduce tensions and hasten reconciliation between Aoun and Gemayel, urging the warring sides to "adhere to traditions" and unite in times of crises. During the Sunday sermon at his summer headquarters in Dimane in north Lebanon, Sfeir said that elections, "in times of peace and prosperity, are a healthy and democratic practice, while in times of crisis, legitimate rights can be ignored."
He expressed hope that "kindness and harmony make their way into the hearts and minds" of the rival parties, "especially since parliamentary seats being disputed belonged to people who have been assassinated by merciless criminals."Sfeir renewed his call for consensus and recommended that by-elections be postponed since "parliament's term runs out in less than two years, then there will be room for free competition and the democratic game can proceed."
"What we are now witnessing in Metn is totally different from what we are used to (witness)," Sfeir said, hoping that the long practiced tradition would win through.
"The Lebanese are used to letting emotions prevail over legitimate rights in situations like this, particularly tragic situations," Sfeir explained.
He said the Lebanese are also used to "rise above personal competition … and leave room for love and kindness," an indirect message to Aoun to let Gemayel run parliamentary elections uncontested. Beirut, 30 Jul 07, 06:43

Aoun, Gemayel Trade Harsh Words over By-Elections
Tension ran high as former President Amin Gemayel and General Michel Aoun traded another round of harsh words over the upcoming by-elections.
Aoun, according to the Voice of Lebanon radio station, has gone beyond political ethics when he blasted Gemayel, saying the former president cannot reach his level of achievements. "Not you (Gemayel), and not anything you boast of can reach below my waist level," Aoun said in remarks published Sunday.
"Mind your tongue, adhere to speech codes and maintain your position as a respectable former president," Aoun warned Gemayel. He was responding to comments made by Gemayel in which he addressed Aoun by saying: "…Enough alliances against nature."Gemayel described the Aug. 5 by-elections battle in the Metn region as a "battle for survival and a battle for Lebanon's existence."Gemayel said he and his allies in the March 14 coalition had done their best to avoid a battle in the Metn, accusing Aoun of "closing all doors" aimed at reconciling the two leaders.Aoun, who nominated Camille Khoury for the parliamentary seat against Gemayel, also labelled as "violent" the former president's approach. "We want this battle a civilized one," Aoun said, adding that "we keep hearing threats from the other side."
"The age of violence is over and we warn against a recurrence," Aoun stressed. Beirut, 29 Jul 07, 09:34

Nasrallah Denies He is Seeking to Islamize Lebanon
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah renewed his call for a national unity government and dismissed allegations that his group is seeking to Islamize Lebanon or impose tyrannical rule over the country. Addressing Christians, Muslims and Druses, Nasrallah said Hizbullah was not seeking to govern Lebanon. "We want Lebanon to be a nation for all (Lebanese), with all its religions and sects.""Our utmost ambition is partnership … political partnership," Nasrallah claimed in a speech broadcast Saturday. "Our utmost ambition is to be treated as normal Lebanese citizens and not as second-class citizens."
Lebanon has been plunged in a deep political crisis since mid-November when six pro-Syrian ministers, including five Shiites, stepped down from the government, demanding the formation of a new cabinet with greater representation. Nasrallah also said that last summer's war with Israel had thwarted U.S. plans for a new Middle East and warned his group will continue to possess a large rocket arsenal to strike Israel again if Lebanon came under attack.
"This war aimed to impose a new Middle East, broken up into confessional and ethnic mini-states, serving the interests of the United States and Israel," Nasrallah told an estimated 5,000 seated supporters in Bint Jbeil, one of the towns hardest hit by last summer's war. "There is no new Middle East," Nasrallah added. "It's gone with the wind." Nasrallah did not personally attend the rally to mark the first anniversary of the war which Hizbullah calls "a divine victory. His speech was relayed to the crowd on a giant screen set up in the main square of Bint Jbeil.
He said that "the American project was swept aside by the victory of the Islamic Resistance," the armed wing of Hizbulllah. Nasrallah charged that the July-August war was the result of "a U.S. decision" and the United States provided Israel with "political and material support."Nasrallah, who has been in hiding since the war sparked by Hizbullah's capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, said both Washington and Israel were counting their losses since the conflict.
He said Hizbullah would never be at peace with Israel. "We will not wait for anyone to defend us. We will defend ourselves and our country," he said. "We possess and we will continue to possess rockets that can hit any area in occupied Palestine if Israel attacks Lebanon," he added. Hizbullah launched nearly 4,000 rockets at Israel during the 34-day war. "It is impossible to live with a back-stabbing enemy on our border, who has been assaulting us ever since it was born."
Another aim of the war, which cost more than 1,200 lives in Lebanon, mostly of civilians, according to Nasrallah, was to strengthen the government of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora. "The Israelis and Americans wanted the Saniora government to expand its authority to the whole of Lebanon's territory to the detriment of the resistance, but that was another failure," he said, gesticulating with his right hand to stress his points. Nasrallah added that Israel's only hope for the return of its two captured soldiers was the release of Lebanese prisoners it held. "The only way is indirect negotiation which frees the Lebanese detained by Israel," he said.(Naharnet-AP-AFP) Beirut, 29 Jul 07, 07:50

Iran rebuilds Lebanon to boost Hizbollah
By Kitty Logan in Ghandouriyeh
Last Updated: 1:56am BST 30/07/2007
In the blazing heat of south Lebanon, men drenched in sweat labour over a cratered road. The sun is relentless and so is the pace of work in the village of Ghandouriyeh. One year after the war with Israel, triggered by Hizbollah's cross-border rocket attacks, Lebanon's roads are still in desperate need of repair.
Iran has funded reconstruction work to the tune of about £60million in Hizbollah-controlled areas of Lebanon
But the task of reconstruction has become doubly important. The rebuilding now taking place across the country is an intensely political race for the support of Lebanon's people. Almost unnoticed by the outside world, Iran has seized the chance to win popular approval.
"From the people of Iran to the people of Lebanon", reads the slogan carried on countless hoarding, all trumpeting achievements like "200 projects" and "510 km of roads".Iran's old ally, Hizbollah, was also an early entrant into the race, handing out cash to people with war-damaged homes within days of the ceasefire in August last year. advertisement"Iran can't live in stability and peace when others are being targeted by aggressors," said Hussam Khoshnevis, the local Iranian official representing the reconstruction drive. "We can't stand back and watch. There was an urgent need for us to be present here and act quickly to help the Lebanese people get back to normality."So far, Iran has rebuilt 200 schools, 150 places of worship, 30 clinics and 25 bridges. The official budget for this year is about £60 million and the key priority is repairing the national road network.
Israel's air strikes last summer left large craters in southern Lebanon's roads, already pot-holed by years of neglect. In many places, they became almost impassable.
But Iran's motive is not solely humanitarian. With Lebanon's presidential elections due in September, the key aim is to bolster Hizbollah and increase Teheran's direct influence. "Iran ultimately would like to see Hizbollah play a major role in Lebanese politics," said Prof Hilal Khashan, a political scientist from the American University of Beirut. "Hizbollah is a strategic ally and in order for it to emerge as a political player, it needs support."Many ordinary Lebanese have already been won over.
Hussein Subeiti, who lives in Ghandouriyeh, said: "We're expecting the Iranians to do a good job. "I think now the road will be much better than before. We are very grateful to the Iranian government for their contribution."The failures of Lebanon's own government under Fouad Siniora, the prime minister, have also helped Teheran's ambitions. "Had the government been able to drive reconstruction, Iran couldn't have penetrated the political system," said Prof Khashan. "But the government has neglected the south for years and Iran did not miss an opportunity."
Hizbollah runs most of the local councils in the areas where the projects operate. Here, construction work is given to local companies - but only those managed by Hizbollah supporters.One contractor said there was no contest for a lucrative Iranian deal - he was simply called and offered the job.
"I'm very frightened by this meddling," said Misbah Ahdab, a pro-government MP. "The money channelled through Hizbollah and backed by Iran is ensuring that everything is being done to undermine the Lebanese state."Mr Ahdab added that the government was powerless to prevent Iran from funding independent projects.
"The money is going directly to Hizbollah, so we can't stop it. What they are doing is working on their own state, which is not part of Lebanon."
Three Arab princesses were thrown off a packed British Airways flight after refusing to sit next to male passengers they didn't know.
The dispute - in which the three princesses from the ultra-conservative Qatar royal family demanded segregated seating - left the London-bound plane delayed on a baking Italian runway for nearly three hours. Furious passengers whistled and clapped as the row intensified before the captain eventually ordered the women to be escorted off the plane. The princesses, wearing traditional Arab dress, were returning from a day's shopping in Milan. They arrived at the city's Linate airport and boarded Heathrow-bound flight BA 563, which was due to take off at 4pm on Thursday.
The women, all relatives of the oil-rich emir of Qatar, Bader Bin Khalifa Al Thani, were booked into business class in a party of eight which included the emir and an entourage of cooks, servants and other staff. After passengers had fastened their seat-belts and the plane had taxied on to the runway, two male passengers in the entourage got up to protest about where the women were sitting.
According to the customs of Qatar and other Gulf states, women are not allowed to mix with men who are not relatives.
Cabin crew tried to rearrange the seats but passengers travelling together refused to give up their allotted places. The captain tried to mediate but after more than two and a half hours of wrangling he ordered the bulk of their royal party off the plane. It is understood that five of the eight - including the princesses and the men who left their seats to protest - were removed. Police and diplomats from the Qatar consulate in Milan were also called in before the plane eventually took off. The rest of the Qatar party left Milan later on an Alitalia flight. A BA spokesman said: "The people were offloaded because they failed to comply with safety instructions when the aircraft was taxiing. Two passengers stood up and refused to sit down."
A spokesman at the Qatar embassy in Rome said: "This was a private matter and we have nothing to say."

Urgently Wanted: An Open and Transparent Process of
Judge Selection for the Hariri Court,
Sweeping Reform of Lebanon's Justice System, and
A Regional ME Human Rights Court
Beirut, July 23, 2007: The UN Secretary General is called upon to adopt a judge-selection process for the prospective Hariri Court which is open, transparent and subject to contribution by qualified jurists led by judges of the International Court of Justice, said Dr. Muhamad Mugraby, a Lebanese lawyer and human rights advocate who is president of the Center for democracy and the Rule of Law and the Campaign for Judicial Integrity.
Dr. Mugraby made this call in a letter to the Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon. In this letter, Dr. Mugraby also pointed out the suffering of Lebanon from an environment of impunity where wrong-doers generally get away with their bad deeds, a sorrowful environment that has been enshrined by a lame justice system and the shameful absence of the rule of law.
While expressing full support for universal jurisdiction, Dr. Mugraby expressed to the Secretary General his strong belief that such jurisdiction should supplement, and not replace, domestic jurisdiction. Towards that end, he called on the Security Council and the Secretary General to pursue two vital reforms:
A. A sweeping overhaul of Lebanon's justice system, with the aim of ending the environment of impunity and establishing the rule of law.
B. Establishing, through the same UNSC authority that created the Hariri Court, a potent human rights court for the region with original jurisdiction over violations of human rights, abuse of power, and denial of justice.
Following is the full text of Dr. Mugraby's letter to the UN Secretary General.
"Secretary General
United Nations Secretariat
First Avenue at 46th Street
New York, NY 10017, United States of America
Dear Mr. Secretary General:
A proposal for a quasi-international special court for Lebanon has recently been approved by the UN Security Council with jurisdiction over the murder of former prime minister Hariri and others (the "Hariri Court"). It calls for the appointment by you of Lebanese and non-Lebanese judges, prosecutors and other staff.
I do not wish to address in this letter the highly controversial issues of constitutionality and legality of the proposed court under Lebanese and international law which are very serious and of which you are undoubtedly aware. What I request of you as a high officer of the United Nations Organization is to see to it that the process of judge selection, both Lebanese and non-Lebanese, be open, transparent and subject to contribution by qualified jurists led by judges of the International Court of Justice. This could greatly help reduce the negative impact of the controversial issues I referred to on the Hariri Court and its credibility and that of its projected process especially that the purported raison d'etre of this court is the perceived inability of the domestic Lebanese justice system to cope with the Hariri assassination case.
The first step in opening up the judge-selection process is for you to promptly publish the names and CVs of all the persons who have been nominated, who nominated themselves, or who are otherwise considered, as possible candidates (the "Proposed Candidates") for positions on the Hariri Court. Secondly, and as a primary pre-selection procedure, public hearings should be held at the UN Secretariat which would be open to jurists, the press and the general public to attend and ask questions (submitted in writing in advance, with the right of follow-up during the hearings).
I further propose that judges of the International Court of Justice be asked to serve as members of a special panel to preside over the said hearings and, upon the conclusion thereof, render a collective opinion as to the qualifications of each of the Proposed Candidates. The names of those approved pursuant to this process will then constitute a list of final qualified candidates who will, exclusively, be considered for appointment.
Mr. Secretary General:
As you may have already become aware, Lebanon suffers dearly from an environment of impunity where wrong-doers generally get away with their bad deeds. This sorrowful environment has been enshrined by a lame justice system and the shameful absence of the rule of law. The same sorrowful state of affairs could be easily detected through-out the Region. One of the main problems with the Hariri Court is that it is restricted to one criminal event affecting a small number of individuals, namely the crime of the assassination of Hariri and others, to the exclusion of other events and crimes, political and/or general, inflicted on countless other victims in Lebanon and the Middle East.
While I fully support universal jurisdiction, I strongly believe that such jurisdiction should supplement, and not replace, domestic jurisdiction. What is urgently needed to support the credibility of your organization, and more particularly the credibility of the Security Council and your office, is to also show prompt serious interest in swiftly achieving two much needed reforms:
A. A sweeping overhaul of Lebanon's justice system, with the utilization of available resources equal or superior to those used or are to be used in the Independent Commission's investigation and the Hariri Court itself , with the aim of ending the environment of impunity and establishing the rule of law.
B. Establishing, through the same UNSC authority that created the Hariri Court, a potent human rights court for the region with original jurisdiction over violations of human rights, abuse of power, and denial of justice, which would have the power to hear original complaints as well as appeals from decisions of domestic courts, and the power to order penalties and reparations. Sovereign immunity should not be allowed to be pleaded as a defense in such court.
I agree that the Hariri Court, with the proper and transparent selection of judges as I propose, could constitute a step in the right direction, but only if the above vital reforms are also implemented promptly, seriously and credibly, which would strongly and decisively contribute to the end of the shameful environment of impunity, and to the establishment of the rule of law, not only in Lebanon but also in the Region."
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