LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
August 13/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 18:15-20. If your brother sins (against you), go and
tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won
over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you,
so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three
witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to
listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax
collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again,
(amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they
are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
-Naharnet
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
State-to-state/By: Hussain
Abdul-Hussain, Now Lebanon/August 12, 2009
Time: Zajal politics. By: Hazem
Saghieh, Now Lebanon/ August 11, 2009
We have a collective responsibility to say ‘enough’ to violence-The
Daily Star 12/08/09
Nasrallah's frustration-Ynetnews
12/08/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August
12/09
Body of Slain Abdullah Ghandour
Found in Batroun; One Killer Arrested, Two Accomplices on the Run-Naharnet
Aoun
Sees No Government Deal for 'Time Being' Without Jebran Bassil-Naharnet
Makari: Aoun Successfully Hindering Government Formation for Fourth Year-Naharnet
March 14 Slams Aoun, Says Lebanon First is a National Slogan-Naharnet
Joint Lebanese-Syrian
Committee to Probe Deadly Border Clashes-Naharnet
Adwan: LF's Approach Takes
into Consideration Changes on the Ground-Naharnet
Lebanon Brothers Wounded
By Cluster Bomb-Naharnet
Telecommunications
Ministry Fines a Cell Phone Firm and Warns Another-Naharnet
Loyalty to the Resistance:
Expedite Government Formation to Face Challenges-Naharnet
Qassem: No return to quadripartite
alliance, Hezbollah will foster relations with Future/Now Lebanon
Jumblat Will Join Voice of Majority
on Crucial Issues, Hariri Holds On to 15-10-5-Naharnet
March
14 Slams Aoun, Says Lebanon First is a National Slogan-Naharnet
Hariri
Meets Berri, Describes Talks as 'Good'-Naharnet
Aoun
Sees No Government Deal for 'Time Being'-Naharnet
Berri: No New Developments
on Cabinet Lineup Necessitate Meeting with Suleiman-Naharnet
Opposition Not Willing to
Enter Name Game, Aoun Greedy for Interior Ministry-Naharnet
Berri Sees No Reason to
Revoke his Silence-Naharnet
Hamadeh: Hariri, Jumblat
Stressed 3 Main Points-Naharnet
Raad
Meets Jumblat, Believes there Are No Cabinet Obstacles-Naharnet
Netanyahu downplays tension between Israel and Lebanon-Xinhua
Jumblatt: All parties back PM-designate’s
task to form new government-Daily
Star
Michel Murr to schedule trip to
Syria ‘at the right time-Daily
Star
Next war with Israel will be
bloodier’
By Patrick
Galey-Daily Star
Lebanon's Jumblatt stresses support for Hariri-AFP
Israel PM downplays prospect of new Lebanon conflict-AFP
Seven men accused of involvement in Aisha Bakkar
clashes released on bail-Daily
Star
Cluster-bomb clearing group to
reduce scale of efforts over lack of funding-Daily
Star
Lawyer claims LBC exploited Saudi
man arrested over sex boasts on television-(AFP)
VAT Lebanon’s largest source of tax
receipts – ministry-Daily
Star
LAF, UNIFIL run disaster response
drills-Daily
Star
‘Only in Lebanon’ – The tourist’s
summer phrase-Daily
Star
Reconstruction work for Nahr al-Bared set to begin-Daily
Star
Israel general resigns in traffic accident scandal-Reuters
Hezbollah official: We're ready to ward off any
Israeli aggression-Ynetnews
Hezbollah: Chances for Israeli strike slim-Ynetnews
Turkey offers water for Iraqi crackdown on Kurdish
rebels-Christian
Science Monitor
Report: Top Egyptian officials to visit Syria regarding Shalit deal-Ynetnews
France says embassy employee freed by Iranians-The
Associated Press
The Above
Editorial is now posted on the following sites
*Canada Free Press
Arutz
Sheva
*American
Chronicle
*International
Analyst Network *Yahoo.blogspot.com
*Bawaba Blog
Ghandour found dead in Batroun, murderer arrested
August 12, 2009 /Now Lebanon
The National News Agency (NNA) reported on Wednesday that the Internal Security
Forces (ISF) found Head of the Commerce and Industry Chamber in Tripoli Abdullah
Ghandour dead in Batroun. Ghandour went missing on August 7, however, the reason
behind his disappearance remained unknown, which left the Lebanese speculating
whether Ghandour was being held by kidnappers and whether a ransom was being
negotiated. Investigators interviewed suspects, one of whom identified as
Mohammad Rafet al-Dahni, a former co-worker who admitted to killing Ghandour for
personal reasons. The other suspect had reportedly fled the country, NNA said.
The ISF took the murderer to the crime scene, where he reportedly reenacted the
crime, saying he had picked up Ghandour, who parked his car in Tripoli, along
with two other people to eat in a restaurant in Keserwan. Dahni added that he
drugged and electrocuted Ghandour to pressure him to pay old debts, noting that
Ghandour could not bear the beating and immediately died of a heart attack.
Qassem: No return to quadripartite alliance, Hezbollah will
foster relations with Future
August 12, 2009 /Now Lebanon
In an interview with the Qatari newspaper Al-Watan, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary
General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Wednesday that his party has no intention of
forming a new political front in Lebanon, adding that “there will be no return
to the quadripartite alliance,” which was formed prior to the 2005 parliamentary
elections between the Future Movement, the Progressive Socialist Party, the Amal
Movement and Hezbollah. Since then, relations between Hezbollah and the Future
Movement have soured. However, Qassem said that “we are keen to foster good
Sunni-Shia relations and improve our ties with the Future Movement.” Qassem
commented on the stalled cabinet formation, saying that there would be no
problems in drafting the ministerial statement if the opposition is allowed to
play “an active and serious” role in the new government. Hezbollah’s demand for
“active and serious” participation within the cabinet, however, was met with
several Israeli warnings that it would hold the Lebanese government responsible
for any attack on its land launched from Lebanese territory if Hezbollah is
included in the new cabinet. Qassem responded to the Israeli threats,
saying that “Israel has an aggressive attitude” and that “the Resistance is
preparing itself for the worst possibilities to avoid any surprises.” He added
that the Jewish state cannot drag Hezbollah into a war by provoking it,
referring to Israel’s repeated trespassing into South Lebanon.
He also described Hezbollah’s relationship with UNIFIL as “good,” saying that
the clashes that erupted last month between UNIFIL troops and residents of the
southern town of Kherbet Selem happened because of “a mistake committed by” the
peacekeeping forces. On the regional level, Qassem said that any Iranian-
Israeli war would devastate the region, adding that Tehran is also ready for all
possibilities.
State-to-state
Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Now Lebanon
August 12, 2009
A view of Shebaa Farms, located at a crossroads between Lebanon, Israel and
Syria. The disputed territory is one of the principle issues of the
Lebanese-Israeli conflict. AFP/Joseph Barrak March 14’s quest for independence
has been proven insincere by the coalition’s failure to foster a policy for
peace talks with Israel. It has instead tied the fate of negotiations to a
toothless Arab Peace Initiative. If other Arab countries are to decide Lebanon’s
foreign policy, then we can kiss goodbye genuine independence.
As Lebanon will never defeat Israel militarily, its “conflict” with the Jewish
state can only be resolved by diplomacy, despite the failure of successive
Lebanese governments to endorse such a track. They have instead delegated the
business of war to Hezbollah and peace to the Arab League. Such governmental
behavior has proven detrimental to the principle of Lebanese independence.
Throughout the 1990s, the world grew accustomed to a Lebanese government
unwilling or unable to deal with relations with its neighbor; delegations have
either discussed Lebanese-Israeli peace in Damascus or arrived at truces with
Hezbollah. None of these agreements have gone through a sovereign Lebanese
state, except in August 2006, when Prime Minister Fouad Siniora’s cabinet served
as a conduit between Hezbollah and the United Nations to end the July War.
Now we hear that US President Barak Obama’s peace team, led by former Senator
George Mitchell, has decided to turn a new page. Mitchell argues that peace can
only come by talking to all parties, but does he know that, since May 17, 1983,
when Beirut inked a peace treaty with Tel Aviv, the Lebanese state has taken a
back seat in dealings with Israel?
Yet Mitchell’s approach might finally offer Lebanon a chance to change the game.
According to the Mitchell team, finding solutions for the Lebanese-Israeli
conflict is easiest if pared down to Lebanon’s two pending issues with its
southern neighbor: the disputed Shebaa Farms area and the roughly 400,000
Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon.
Both Hezbollah and Syria have used the Shebaa farms to undermine peace between
Lebanon and Israel and to keep Damascus in the driving seat when it comes to
negotiations. The area is widely believed to be part of the occupied Syrian
Golan Heights, therefore part of Israeli talks with Syria. Damascus, for its
part, has repeatedly said this barren sliver of land belongs to Lebanon, but
refused to provide the United Nations with any documentation to this effect.
A number of Lebanese officials have suggested that the easiest way to neutralize
the situation is a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the area, which would
remove all debate (the area is Lebanese after all) and deny Hezbollah its raison
d’ętre.
Tel Aviv has refused, believing – based on past experience – that any unilateral
withdrawal from Arab territory will always be interpreted as a military victory
for groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. To avoid such a scenario, Israel proposed
that Lebanon regain Shebaa Farms through diplomacy, even if it is backroom
diplomacy. After all, Hezbollah has negotiated with Israel – indirectly – for a
prisoner swap deal in the past. Why can’t such an arrangement work for the
Lebanese government?
Then there are Lebanon’s 400,000 Palestinian refugees. It is understood that 10%
of them will be offered the right of return to their villages inside Israel. The
rest will be given the right of return to the Palestinian State in the West Bank
and Gaza. All of them will be also given the choice to immigrate to Western
countries.
With Shebaa and the refugees out of the way, Lebanon and Israel can sign a peace
treaty, during which they draw their common borders and agree on the allocation
of water resources, as per international agreements. The outgoing March 14-led
government did little to advance this cause. In fact, since the Syrian
withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005, both governments have failed to produce a
policy on Israel. The Mitchell team is determined to change all this, but they
need the help of Lebanon’s leaders, who must not be shy about talking peace with
Israel, just like their Syrian and Palestinian brethren. The rest will become
details.
Jumblat Will Join Voice of Majority on Crucial Issues, Hariri Holds On to
15-10-5
Naharnrt/In their first meeting since Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid
Jumblat announced his was terminating his alliance with the March 14 forces, the
Druze leader assured PM-designate Saad Hariri that his men in Cabinet would be
part of the majority for votes on crucial issues as the Mustaqbal Movement chief
said he would not abandon an agreement reached on a government makeup. Local
media on Wednesday said Jumblat guaranteed that his Democratic Gathering bloc
ministers in the new government will join the voice of the majority on issues
that need a one-third-plus-one of the vote. The meeting, the first between the
two men after Jumblat's "explosive" statement on Aug. 2, took place around 7 pm
Tuesday at Hariri's mansion in downtown Beirut, known as the Center House.
Jumblat had announced that his alliance with March 14 forces had been "out of
necessity and must not continue."
Following his 75-minute meeting with Hariri Tuesday night, the Druze leader
stressed his "full support" for a Cabinet lineup based on the 15-10-5 makeup
that grants the majority 15 ministers, the Opposition 10 and President Michel
Suleiman five seats, which guarantees him the tipping vote while both March 14
and March 8 would be denied the absolute majority or veto power. Beirut dailies
on Wednesday said Hariri was committed to the 15-10-5 Cabinet formula and has
rejected suggestions to amend this agreement.
"This Cabinet is not only a government of Lebanese consensus but also of Arab
agreement that supports and safeguards the Lebanese accord more than anytime
since the Taef accord," Jumblat told reporters. "All parties stress their
support for Premier-designate Hariri to form the government," he said. Jumblat
said he told Hariri that he respected the voters' will.
Hariri, in turn, described as "excellent" his talks with Jumblat. He wouldn't
say more. Present at the meeting were Hariri's advisor Nader Hariri as well as
Druze MPs Ghazi Aridi, Marwan Hamadeh and Wael Abou Faour. Beirut, 12 Aug 09,
08:39
March 14 Slams Aoun, Says Lebanon First is a National
Slogan
Naharnrt/The general secretariat of the March 14 forces on Wednesday slammed
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun and held on to its "Lebanon
First" slogan.
Lebanon First "is not a factional slogan. It is a national slogan in the defense
of Lebanon's freedom, sovereignty and Arabism," the secretariat said following
its weekly meeting.
On efforts to form a new cabinet, the coalition accused Aoun of hindering the
process. "The real problem is in maneuvers carried out by the FPM chief to
blackmail the majority and the president in order to achieve family gains," the
statement said about Aoun's reported insistence on giving a cabinet seat to his
son-in-law Jebran Bassil, who is now caretaker telecommunications minister. "We
urge the opposition to solve Gen. Aoun's family problem," the alliance said. On
the third anniversary of the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701,
the statement urged all parties to abide by it. Beirut, 12 Aug 09, 14:41
Hariri Meets Berri, Describes Talks as 'Good'
Naharnrt/PM-designate Saad Hariri on Wednesday discussed formation of a new
government with Speaker Nabih Berri. Following the hour-long meeting in
Parliament, Hariri described the talks as "good." He wouldn't say more. (more
details soon...) Beirut, 12 Aug 09, 13:57
Aoun Sees No Government Deal for 'Time Being' Without
Jebran Bassil
Naharnrt/Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun said Wednesday he
believed there is no deal on a government formation, at least in the time being,
But Insisted his that his son-in-law Jebran Bassil be given a portfolio in the
new government. "Since the (March 14) stance taken from this issue has become a
challenge and if I abandon this demand, they would say I gave up under
pressure," Aoun said. He urged the majority March 14 coalition to "give up
Cabinet formation and leave the task for the Opposition if it was unable to do
so."
In an interview with al-Nour, Hizbullah's radio station, Aoun said the 15-10-5
Cabinet makeup is "a done deal," adding that the Opposition did not receive
another offer.
Aoun, however, went on to deny demanding particular seats in the new Cabinet.
"It's all lies," he insisted. Aoun hailed recent statements by Progressive
Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat, and hoped that the various political
parties would adopt the Druze leader's fresh stance. He described preparations
for a meeting with Jumblat as "positive," adding that he is waiting for the
proper conditions to mature. Beirut, 12 Aug 09, 13:12
Berri: No New Developments on Cabinet Lineup Necessitate Meeting with Suleiman
Naharnrt/Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly said Wednesday that there were "no new
developments regarding government formation that necessitate a visit to Baabda
Palace."
He allegedly made his remark to MPs who visited him during their weekly
parliamentary meetings in Nejmeh Square. The lawmakers quoted Berri as saying
that he would meet President Michel Suleiman "even after midnight" in the event
something urgent popped up. Beirut, 12 Aug 09, 14:10
Berri Sees No Reason to Revoke his Silence
Naharnrt/Speaker Nabih Berri said he sees no reason why he should revoke his
silence. "Has anything happened in the country that requires me to revoke my
silence?" Berri said in response to a question by the daily As-Safir. Berri has
decided to remain silent until announcement of a national unity government is
made. An-Nahar newspaper, for its part, quoted Berri visitors as saying that the
Speaker "had done his job in facilitating a 15-10-5 Cabinet formula" and that he
had spent 27 days of optimism. While Berri did not deny there were some
obstacles facing government formation, he insisted they can be resolved. Beirut,
12 Aug 09, 10:07
Hamadeh: Hariri, Jumblat Stressed 3 Main Points
Naharnrt/MP Marwan Hamadeh said PM-designate Saad Hariri and Progressive
Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat stressed three main points during their
Tuesday evening meeting in downtown Beirut. The main points are as follows,
according to Hamadeh who was talking to the Voice of Lebanon radio station on
Wednesday: - Hindrances should not be allowed to block formation of a national
unity government. - Affirming respect for the will of the voters and committing
to the 15-10-5 Cabinet makeup. - No one is allowed to isolate the other with
optimism that a national unity government will be announced within the coming
days. Hamadeh said Hariri and Jumblat also agreed that crucial issues would be
reached through general consensus. Beirut, 12 Aug 09, 10:09
Time: Zajal politics
Hazem Saghieh , August 11, 2009
Now Lebanon
At one of the major gatherings that the March 14 forces arranged, Walid Jumblatt
said in his speech: “Beirut, we want to take revenge upon Lahoud and upon Bashar.”
At the time it seemed that the head of the Progressive Socialist Party was
extremely passionate and very much at peace with himself at that moment. For
their part, many in the crowd applauded this line and the man who uttered it
enthusiastically. However the supporters who were unable to attend the gathering
were a larger number than those present, and they memorized the line above by
heart, repeating it as a moment of intersection between eloquence and purpose.
At the time, few among the supporters of the March 14 coalition, or those who
were close to it, were taken aback by this zajal [traditional oral poetry] which
had taken the place of political rhetoric that actually explains the nature of
the issues and analyzes them, or that provides the supporters of “the second
independence” with the appropriate pretexts and slogans for their cause.
Similarly, few among these supporters were taken aback by the fact that the
entire issue was presented as “revenge,” even though the issue was actually of a
political nature with no ties to vengeance or any other backward tribal values
and customs.
However, the passion, as usual, eroded restraint. In this passion, every
provocative word becomes more acceptable and even desired. However rational
criticism comes to resemble insufferable condescension, which no one wants to
hear.
The fact is such zajal and demands for revenge end in practice after they are
spoken. They form a sort of verbal discharge that substitutes for implementing
arduous and painstakingly detailed policies. Since demanding revenge is among
the values and rituals of the Bedouins, and since the Bedouin is known for his
quick temper, his forgivingness and his moodiness, one would be overly hasty to
take what he says into consideration.
The recent days, which witnessed Jumblatt’s transformations, clearly attest to
that. However these transformations also say that the zajal-like, Bedouin aspect
of March 14’s political language has always remained base-level and inflated. It
is no exaggeration to say that this inflation has been responsible for the March
14 forces’ past and present failures. It is true that other reasons of a
political, strategic and security nature explain what has happened and what is
happening, but, with that in mind, language is able to further fortify against
the negative political reasons behind such failures as it is also able to weaken
them.
Words such as these are very useful for mobilizing a sect or bringing together
“tribesmen” but are useless when it comes to building a country and state – at
least this is the goal that has been put forward publically. This is
particularly true of this country of great plurality and diversity, a situation
that demands the highest level of rationality when thinking about such a goal.
When those you are addressing are so diverse, you must be that much more
responsible with the language that you use because it itself becomes responsible
for unifying divergent elements and bringing them together. This fiery rhetoric
might be useful when you are addressing a crowd of like-minded followers; all
you need is a few rites and symbols a good dose of rhyme and zajal in order to
arouse the collectivism of the crowd and rekindle its passion. However a
coalition such as March 14, and a mission such as its mission, which called for
“the second independence,” requires a language that serves a longer period of
time than such verbal discharge. This is a challenge that will remain in front
of the Lebanese who really want to build a nation and state, whether the March
14 coalition is able to achieve this goal or whether this is achieved by some
subsequent group that has learned from the trials of that coalition.
**This article is a translation from the original, published on the NOW Arabic
site on August 10
Divorce or reconciliation for Jumblatt and Hariri?
Will Jumblatt and Hariri overcome their differences?
Hayeon Lee, NOWLebanon , August 11, 2009
PM-designate Saad Hariri met with PSP leader MP Walid Jumblatt Tuesday night at
the former’s residence in downtown Beirut
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt’s surprise announcement that
he would be distancing himself from the March 14 coalition last week sent
shockwaves across Lebanon and the region, and the political consequences of the
move remain to be seen. Following a brief sojourn abroad taken in the wake of
Jumblatt’s announcement, Future Movement leader and PM-designate Saad Hariri met
with the PSP leader face-to-face for the first time since the latter’s break
with the majority. Before the sit down on Tuesday night, NOW asked Lebanese what
they expected would happen, and whether they thought it would lead to a divorce
or a reconciliation between the two leaders.
Firas, 35, Aley
I think it will be a nice meeting, and there will be an agreement about lots of
things. First thing is the cabinet formation. [As for the issue of Syria] I
think that since Saudi-Syrian relations are okay, for Hariri, it will be simple…
I don’t think [a divorce will take place]. About internal issues like [how to
deal with] Israel, Hariri and Jumblatt are okay. About Syria, Jumblatt is more
set on talking to Damascus than Hariri, but in the end, there will be a good
relationship with Syria.
Karim, 30, Saida
From the beginning, the relationship was very good. I feel that the relationship
will never end between Jumblatt and Hariri. So there shouldn’t be any threat of
a separation. This meeting will be healthy, and Jumblatt will clarify for Hariri
his opinions, and I’m sure they will find common ground… like the case of
Hariri’s father’s murder and the Special Tribunal. Another common ground, which
is not shown by Hariri, is Arab nationalism, which is the basis for at least all
the Muslim politicians in Lebanon [including the Druze]… [At the meeting] they
will talk about the government mainly and about their expectations for their
policies after the formation of the government. They will also discuss the
Saudi-Syrian relationship… Of course Hariri has to speak with Syria; he’s the
prime minister… On the surface, maybe they will have a difference in opinions,
but deep inside and under the table, there will be no divorce and there will be
cooperation.
Nadine, 25, Ras al-Nabaa
To be honest I don’t know anything about this meeting… I’m fed up with such
issues… In any case, I don’t think they will be reconciled like before, but
there will not be a complete divorce. I don’t think [a divorce] would be
Jumblatt’s approach. Anyway, we already expected Jumblatt to leave March 14…
Sawsan, 28, Bekaa
As usual, Jumblatt and Hariri will compromise. I think they won’t have any
problems. I think Hariri was expecting this dramatic turnaround of Jumblatt.
Basically, Jumblatt is trying to distinguish himself from other March 14 members
and present himself as the “new left” while presenting other March 14 members as
the “extreme right.” And Hariri should, and probably will, align himself with
Jumblatt if he wants the new government to see the light of day. At the meeting,
they will also agree on a new quota other than the 15-10-5 formula, and Jumblatt
will insist on the portfolio of the ministry of Public Works, for which the
Lebanese Forces is also competing.
Omar, 27, Chouf
I expect a confirmation from Walid Jumblatt of his continuous support for Saad
Hariri concerning all issues… and Jumblatt will try to convince Hariri that he
did what he did for the Druze community… and also try to convince Hariri to
follow his path in getting closer to Syria… But I don’t think that Saad will
accept or otherwise be convinced. [He will] never be. I think the topic of this
meeting will also be the government, regarding the number of seats for
Jumblatt’s party and how Jumblatt will [side] in government decisions.
Wassim, 30, Hasbaya
In my opinion, Jumblatt is expecting something regional will happen between
Syria, Iran and Israel – maybe war or something – so his actions [in leaving
March 14 and getting closer to Syria] are to protect the Druze community. And
he’s doing this to facilitate the visit of Hariri to Syria, to make a good
relationship between Lebanon and Syria, in case something happens between Israel
and Iran… The meeting will help the country in general… Things will change, but
[Hariri and Jumblatt] will stay together. No divorce… And I think Jumblatt will
stay in the middle politically.