LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 25/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Matthew 13:18-23. Hear then the parable of the sower. The
seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without
understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his
heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives
it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some
tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly
anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the
seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who
indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Hizbullah and Syria.By:
Walid Choucair/Al Hayat 24/07/09
Lebanon’s stale, stale stalemate
continues/Lebanon 24/07/09
Does UNIFIL always have to
coordinate with the LAF? By:Nicholas Lowry, NOW Lebanon 24/07/09
The mirage of Syrian importance is
evaporating. By: Tony Badran, NOW Lebanon 24/07/09
Watch out for an Iranian backlash-Christian
Science Monitor 24/07/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July
24/09
U.N.: Hizbullah Actively Maintained
Arms Cache-Naharnet
Britain Plays Down Hizbullah
Contacts-Naharnet
Hariri after meeting
President and Patriarch Hazim: Matters Moving in Right Direction and I Want
Coexistence-Naharnet
Palestinian Gunman Killed,
Soldier Wounded in Madfoun Shootout-Naharnet
UN envoy says convinced Lebanon-Israel truce
will hold-Ha'aretz
Syria says it is rebuilding relations with US-The
Associated Press
US to transfer $200 million to Palestinians-Reuters
FACTBOX-Who is PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan?Reuters
UN warns over Lebanon arms cache-BBC
News
Geagea: “Teasing” UNIFIL is against
Lebanon’s interests.Now Lebanon
Qassem Sees No Cabinet Formation in
Near Future-Naharnet
Palestinian Gunman Killed, Soldier Wounded in Madfoun Shootout-Naharnet
Terrorist Network Member Arrested in Greece-Naharnet
Jumblat
for Broader Reconciliation-Naharnet
105 Swine Flu Cases in
Lebanon-Naharnet
Renewed Talk about
'Neutral' Minister-Naharnet
Inter-Christian
Reconciliation Moving a Step Forward-Naharnet
Israel Pushing to Change
Rules of Engagement in South-Naharnet
U.S. Accuses Hizbullah of
Hindering Probe into Arms Depot Blast, U.N. Rejects Change in Rules of
Engagement-Naharnet
Blast Heard in Tyre's al-Hawsh
Area-Naharnet
Shalom: Lebanese Army in
Breach of Resolution 1701-Naharnet
Geagea Ready to Meet with
Anyone, Anytime; Says Name Not Proposed for New Cabinet-Naharnet
Sfeir Criticizes Anew
Opposition Participation in Government-Naharnet
Closed U.N. Meeting on
South amidst French Fears of Lebanese Army Cover-up of Hizbullah-Naharnet
Beirut Security Tops
Meeting between Hizbullah, AMAL, Mustaqbal, Army Intelligence-Naharnet
Hezbollah Arms Cache Violated UN Embargo: US-New
York Times
UN official: Warehouse which exploded in south
Lebanon was Hezbollah's-Ynetnews
Netanyahu calls on Arab world to strive
for regional peace-Jerusalem Post
The price of a deal at any price-Ha'aretz
US Middle East envoy heads to Syria-Jerusalem
Post
US Middle East envoy Mitchell heading to Syria-The
Associated Press
US calls emergency UN meet over situation in south Lebanon-Ha'aretz
Lebanon's next cabinet to inherit staggering
debt-AFP
Security Council to discuss south Lebanon-Ynetnews
Lebanon report: al-Qaeda seeking to strike UNIFIL forces-Ynetnews
Sfeir
blames opposition for tardy Cabinet formation-Daily
Star
Hizbullah, Amal, Future meet to boost reconciliation effort-Daily
Star
Al-Qaeda
cells in region granted ‘full independence-Daily
Star
Inter-Christian reconciliation bid kicks off-Daily
Star
Venezuela rejects US drug report, Hizbullah charges-Daily
Star
Sleiman
briefed on letter to UN citing Israeli violations-Daily
Star
Lebanese
urged to help break Gaza siege-Daily
Star
Gardner:
US must break the habit of backing strongmen-Daily
Star
Lebanon
vows more firm approach in crackdown on copyrights violations-Daily
Star
Lebanese
consumer confidence remains optimistic-Daily
Star
Public
debt biggest challenge facing next Lebanese cabinet-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
US
pledges $30 million for rebuilding Nahr al-Bared-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
Earthquake threat looms large in southern villages-By
IRIN News.org
Mature
students graduate from AUB’s Continuing Education course-Daily
Star
Lebanese
turn to travel to tie civil knot-By
Agence France Presse (AFP)
U.N.: Hizbullah
Actively Maintained Arms Cache
Naharnet/Hizbullah actively maintained an arms depot, which, exploded, in
southern Lebanon earlier this month, violating a ceasefire, the U.N. said in a
document obtained by Agence France Presse (AFP) on Friday. The United Nations
head of peacekeeping operations Alain Le Roy told the Security Council in a
closed-door briefing on Thursday that the July 14 explosion marked a "serious
violation" of Resolution 1701 which ended the devastating 2006 war in Lebanon
between Israel and Hizbullah.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is responsible for the
monitoring of the 2006 ceasefire and Resolution 1701, which calls for southern
Lebanon to be free of Hizbullah militants and arms. "A number of indications
suggest that the depot belonged to Hizbullah, and, in contrast to previous
discoveries by UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces of weapons and ammunition,
that it was not abandoned but, rather, actively maintained," Le Roy said.
A UNIFIL team investigating the explosion of the ammunition that was stored in
an abandoned house in the village of Khirbet Selim, 20 kilometers (12 miles)
from the Israeli border, was obstructed by civilians at the site, he said. "Some
of the individuals present at the site of the explosion in the early morning
hours of 15 July at the time when UNIFIL was discouraged from accessing the
site, were identified to UNIFIL as belonging to Hizbullah. "In addition, the
activities of these individuals appeared to be aimed at removing evidence from
the site," Le Roy told the Security Council. "At least one vehicle also was
observed being loaded with boxes from the explosion site and subsequently
departing the site" following the explosion.
Fourteen UNIFIL personnel were also lightly injured on July 18 by more than 100
civilians hurling stones against the probe team in the area, he said, noting "an
increasing level of organization among those confronting UNIFIL."
According to Le Roy, the arms cache comprised of light ammunition as well as
rockets similar to the thousands of projectiles fired against northern Israel
during the 2006 conflict, and they were in good condition. "The contents
included mortars, AK-47s, various calibers of artillery shells, and 122mm
rockets, originating from various countries. The weapons and ammunition dated
from the 1970s to the 1990s and generally appeared to be in good order." Le
Roy's report however dismissed Israeli claims that the weapons were smuggled
into Lebanon after the end of the war. "There is no evidence that suggests that
the weapons and ammunition present in the building had been smuggled into the
UNIFIL area of operations since the adoption of Resolution 1701," Le Roy said.
"The type and age of the ammunition that has been identified could be an
indication that it was collected and stockpiled in this location over a period
of time," he said. (AFP) Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 19:00
Qassem Sees No Cabinet Formation in Near Future
Naharnet/Hizullah's deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem played down optimism that a
deal on government formation was imminent, saying conditions were not yet right.
"Optimism just does not sound right given that circumstances, both internally
and externally, are not yet ripe for the establishment of a government," Qassem
said in an interview published by the daily As Safir Friday. He was hitting back
at Speaker Nabih Berri who has repeatedly said he was optimistic an agreement on
a Cabinet lineup will be reached before month's end.
Qassem pointed that Syrian-Saudi contacts have so far failed to produce a pact
that could be a "motive" for the formation of the government. He stressed,
however, that "no matter how long it takes, eventually formation of a government
will take place." "The ball is now in the hands of the Prime Minister-designate
(Saad Hariri)," Qassem believed. He said the Opposition is looking forward to a
"courageous decision" from Hariri to strike a deal on a new Cabinet "that, in
itself, would serve as a guarantee to all." "Responsibility now falls on his
(Hariri's) shoulders to convince his allies in March 14 (forces). We believe
that MP Walid Jumblat could play a vital role in helping out with this," Qassem
added. Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 08:34
Britain Plays Down Hizbullah Contacts
Naharnet/Foreign Secretary David Miliband played down British contacts with
Hizbullah lawmakers on Friday, saying they are not negotiating with the
leadership of the Shiite group. Amid reports of U.S. discontent over London's
decision to open low-level contact with the political wing of Hizbullah, a group
viewed as terrorists in Washington, Miliband said Britain was committed to the
group's disarmament. "We decided last summer that we would resume contact with
carefully selected Hizbullah MPs" after the group joined the Lebanese national
unity government, he said. "We are not conducting negotiations with the
leadership of Hizbullah." Speaking at a press conference in London following
talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, Miliband confirmed that
Britain's ambassador in Damascus had attended two meetings with Hizbullah MPs.
"Our intention has been first of all to reiterate our commitment to all aspects
of (United Nations) resolution 1701, all aspects of resolution 1701 including
the need to demobilize militias," he said.
"At the same time we are ready to listen to what the Hizbullah MPs have to say."
Resolution 1701, passed unanimously in 2006, ended a 34-day war between Israel
and Hizbullah. It demands the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon but
Hizbullah, which is backed by Iran and Syria, retains its arsenal. Miliband said
he and Muallem had discussed the recent Lebanese election, in which a Hizbullah-led
alliance lost to a Western-backed coalition, and applauded the "relatively good
security" during the campaign. A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of
anonymity, said in March that he was unhappy with Britain's overtures to
Hizbullah. He said he would like the British to explain to him "the difference
between the political, military and social wings of Hizbullah because we don't
see a difference between the integrated leadership that they see." Muallem
described the talks with Miliband as "fruitful" and said they covered a range of
issues including Iran. He reiterated Syria's desire to help with the stand-off
with Tehran but, in a reference to Israel, he said the Middle East must be "free
of mass destruction" to persuade Iran to stop its disputed nuclear drive. "The
Middle East free zone of mass destruction is a recipe for security and stability
in the region. This has to include all countries," adding this would ensure "no
double standards in approach the nuclear program" of Iran.(AFP) Beirut, 24 Jul
09, 21:08
Hariri after meeting President and Patriarch Hazim: Matters Moving in Right
Direction and I Want Coexistence
Naharnet/Prime Mnister-designate Saad Hariri told reporters on Friday that
matters are moving in the right direction, but refused to provide further
details adding "i don't want to talk too much."Hariri was speaking from Baabda
presidential palace following his meeting with President Michel Suleiman for
about 45 minutes. Earlier in the day Hariri discussed the Lebanon situation
Friday with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim. Hariri refused to discus
politics after the meeting, stressing on the need for rapprochement between
Muslims and Christians. "My concern is coexistence," he said. Beirut, 24 Jul 09,
13:38
Sfeir blames opposition for tardy Cabinet formation
Friday, July 24, 2009
BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir once again slammed the
opposition without naming it on Thursday for slowing down the government
formation process. He reiterated that the general norm says “the parliamentary
majority should rule and the minority should oppose.” “Now there seems to be a
general will to be represented in the next cabinet and we hope it will be soon
formed,” Sfeir said to reporters following a meeting with Greek Orthodox
Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim in the Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand. Sfeir also
repeated comments he made before the June 7 polls that likened Lebanon to a
“carriage being pulled by two horses – one forward and another backward.” “This
is why the state is not holding together,” Sfeir added. Meanwhile, efforts to
form the next cabinet were veiled in secrecy this week, with the Central News
Agency (CNA) saying that Prime-Minister designate Saad Hariri “strictly” refuses
to reveal the gist of extensive consultations which he was carrying. “All what
has been agreed upon so far between various groups concerning the formation of
the government is being kept secret,” well-informed sources told the CNA. The
sources added that the optimism expressed by Speaker Nabih Berri concerning an
“imminent birth” of the government “is not baseless.” The sources said there was
“a general trend inside the opposition to relinquish their demands for veto
power.” Speaking to reporters following talks with President Michel Sleiman on
Wednesday, Berri denied claims that the opposition demanded veto power. Also,
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a speech last week that
Hizbullah was not looking for guarantees on its arms or the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri. In May, German daily Der Spiegel reported that there was
new evidence which pointed to Hizbullah’s involvement in the Hariri murder. The
news was widely condemned by Lebanese figures from across the political spectrum
and was denied by the office of the STL’s prosecutor Daniel Bellemare. While
Berri and Nasrallah adopted a more reconciliatory rhetoric, their ally Free
Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Wednesday he demanded
proportional representation in the Cabinet. Meanwhile, Lebanese Forces boss
Samir Geagea dismissed news of his wish to become a minister in the next
Cabinet. “Efforts are currently focused on the government’s formation. We have
not yet reached the stage of proposing names,” he said, while slamming the
opposition’s demands for veto power. Gegaea told the pan-Arab Al-Hayat daily in
comments to be published Friday that he was willing to hold meetings with any of
his Christian political opponents. In excerpts of the interview distributed by
his media office on Thursday, Geagea said the “Lebanese Forces is not in discord
with anyone. I am ready to hold talks, at any time, with anyone who wants to
meet.” – The Daily Star
U.S. Accuses Hizbullah of
Hindering Probe into Arms Depot Blast, U.N. Rejects Change in Rules of
Engagement
Naharnet/Hizbullah hampered a U.N. investigation into the explosion of one of
its arms caches in southern Lebanon, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
said.
Alejandro Wolff said a briefing of the Security Council by U.N. peacekeeping
chief Alain Le Roy "made one thing clear, the investigation was impeded."
"What else can you expect when UNFIL and LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) forces are
being pelted by stones and the troubling element is that this seemed to be quite
organized," he added. "This was not spontaneous, this was not simply -- as some
might suggest -- homeowners who were worried about intrusion on their lands, or
homes. This was designed to impede the investigation and there are also
indications of providing cover for efforts to remove evidence," Wolff said.
"That violation shows how perilous the situation remains and how important that
UNIFIL be supported in its efforts to ensure that there are no arms entering
southern Lebanon," Wolff said, a sign that Washington favors change in the rules
of engagement in south Lebanon. Last week, UNIFIL said a series of blasts in an
area considered to be a Hizbullah stronghold was probably caused by stockpiled
ammunition and marked a "serious violation" of U.N. Security Council resolution
1701. That resolution brought an end to the devastating war in Lebanon between
the Jewish state and Hizbullah in 2006.
Israel has protested to the United Nations about the arms cache and a protest
march by Lebanese on an unmanned Israeli observation post in the disputed border
area of Kfarshouba. It has also asked for "firmer action" by UNIFIL. Le Roy, for
his part, said he rejects change in UNIFIL's mandate, stressing that he wants
"full implementation" of Resolution 1701, including the cessation of continuous
Israeli violations. He told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published Friday that
he is "glad that things have calmed down." Le Roy stressed that the arms cache
in Khirbet Selm was "old." He refused to go into details about the weapons,
saying "an investigation is ongoing." The daily An Nahar on Friday, citing
well-informed Lebanese political sources, said the investigation showed
discrepancies between the readings of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL, which could
prompt the United Nations to issue a statement in support of the U.N.
peacekeeping force. Meanwhile, al-Liwaa daily said senior White House official
Daniel Shapiro will arrive in Beirut Friday on a brief visit in which he will
meet with Lebanese political leaders.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 07:13
Qassem Sees No Cabinet Formation in Near Future
Naharnet/Hizullah's deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem played down optimism that a
deal on government formation was imminent, saying conditions were not yet right.
"Optimism just does not sound right given that circumstances, both internally
and externally, are not yet ripe for the establishment of a government," Qassem
said in an interview published by the daily As Safir Friday. He was hitting back
at Speaker Nabih Berri who has repeatedly said he was optimistic an agreement on
a Cabinet lineup will be reached before month's end.
Qassem pointed that Syrian-Saudi contacts have so far failed to produce a pact
that could be a "motive" for the formation of the government. He stressed,
however, that "no matter how long it takes, eventually formation of a government
will take place." "The ball is now in the hands of the Prime Minister-designate
(Saad Hariri)," Qassem believed. He said the Opposition is looking forward to a
"courageous decision" from Hariri to strike a deal on a new Cabinet "that, in
itself, would serve as a guarantee to all." "Responsibility now falls on his
(Hariri's) shoulders to convince his allies in March 14 (forces). We believe
that MP Walid Jumblat could play a vital role in helping out with this," Qassem
added. Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 08:34
Palestinian Gunman Killed, Soldier Wounded in Madfoun
Shootout
Naharnet/A Palestinian gunman was killed and a Lebanese soldier was wounded
during a shootout between the army and four wanted criminals at the Madfoun
bridge, the National News Agency reported Friday. NNA said that the gunmen, who
were in a Mercedes 300, had opened fire in the area of Harissa at dawn and the
army was chasing them when the vehicle reached the military checkpoint at the
Madfoun bridge which links North Lebanon to Mount Lebanon. The vehicle then sped
away, drawing fire from the army. The Palestinian man, Alaa Mahmoud Hussein, was
killed and soldier Khaled al-Sayyed sustained small wounds in his hand during
the gunbattle. The army later arrested the three other gunmen who turned out to
be wanted on several charges. The men are Firas al-Torm, a Syrian, Raed Ghazi, a
Palestinian, and Lebanese Hussein al-Ashqar. Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 11:26
Terrorist Network Member Arrested in Greece
Naharnet/A member of the network, which was recently arrested for monitoring
UNIFIL and the army to carry out attacks against them, was arrested in Greece,
pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported Friday. The man, who is a Palestinian named Abu
Muslim, was reportedly smuggled into the country. The newspaper said that Abu
Muslim is a relative of Fatah al-Islam's former leader Shaker al-Abssi, who is
on the run. Meanwhile, An Nahar said that Munjid al-Fahham, the Syrian leader of
the terrorist network and who was arrested at Beirut airport early July, carried
forged European passports, including French and Bulgarian, intended for
smuggling militants out of Lebanon. The militants are Fatah al-Islam's alleged
leader Abdel-Ghani Ali Jawhar, Abdel-Rahman Awad, who heads a Palestinian
refugee camp branch of the group, and another official from the group, Osama
Amin Shehabi. Informed sources told al-Hayat that al-Fahham admitted to the
network's coordination with Abu Muslim. Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 10:59
Terrorist Network Member Arrested in Greece
Naharnet/A member of the network, which was recently arrested for monitoring
UNIFIL and the army to carry out attacks against them, was arrested in Greece,
pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported Friday. The man, who is a Palestinian named Abu
Muslim, was reportedly smuggled into the country. The newspaper said that Abu
Muslim is a relative of Fatah al-Islam's former leader Shaker al-Abssi, who is
on the run. Meanwhile, An Nahar said that Munjid al-Fahham, the Syrian leader of
the terrorist network and who was arrested at Beirut airport early July, carried
forged European passports, including French and Bulgarian, intended for
smuggling militants out of Lebanon. The militants are Fatah al-Islam's alleged
leader Abdel-Ghani Ali Jawhar, Abdel-Rahman Awad, who heads a Palestinian
refugee camp branch of the group, and another official from the group, Osama
Amin Shehabi. Informed sources told al-Hayat that al-Fahham admitted to the
network's coordination with Abu Muslim. Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 10:59
Jumblat for Broader Reconciliation
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat believed that a
meeting which took place Thursday at the Lebanese army intelligence headquarters
between representatives of Hizbullah, AMAL and Mustaqbal movements is in
"harmony" with his call for broader reconciliation. Jumblat urged in remarks
published by the daily As Safir on Friday various leaders to lift political
cover off any violator. He reiterated his support for efforts to declare Beirut
a "safe city for all," adding, however, that "this issue has nothing to do with
resistance' weapons." Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 12:08
Blast Heard in Tyre's al-Hawsh Area
Naharnet/The Lebanese army launched Thursday night an investigation into an
explosion in an orchard in al-Hawsh area, east of the southern city of Tyre. The
National News Agency said the blast was heard around 9:00 pm and no reports were
made on material damage caused by the explosion. The army immediately cordoned
off the area and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blast,
NNA said. Beirut, 24 Jul 09, 09:22
Hizbullah, Amal, Future meet to boost reconciliation effort
Talks aimed to prevent further street clashes
By Elias Sakr /Daily Star staff
Friday, July 24, 2009
BEIRUT: Representatives of Hizbullah, Amal and the Future Movement held talks on
Thursday in order to boost reconciliation efforts among Lebanese factions and
ensure security and stability in the capital. The meeting called by Lebanese
Army Intelligence head Colonel Georges Khamees was attended by Maher Abou al-Khoudoud
from the Future Movement, Imad Kahloul from Hizbullah, and Ali Jaber from the
Amal Movement. The talks highlighted the need to take necessary security
measures to ensure stability in the capital and aimed to ease tensions “so as to
prevent it from spreading to the streets,” according to a statement issued
following the meeting.
Last month, clashes between Amal and Future Movement supporters in the Aisha
Bakkar neighborhood of Beirut left one woman, Zeina al-Meeri dead and 11 other
injured.
The ensuing celebratory gunfire following the election of Amal leader Nabih
Berri as speaker and Future Movement’s Saad Hariri as premier were said to have
sparked the conflict.
The fighting broke a period of relative calm in Beirut given ongoing
post-election deliberations regarding the formation of the upcoming Cabinet.
The statement stressed the Lebanese Army’s role in settling any dispute given
its responsibility towards safeguarding the citizens’ security, adding that no
political cover would be granted “directly or indirectly to any individual
responsible of provoking security incidents.” Tackling the issue of political
posters in the neighborhoods of Beirut, the participants agreed to remove them
in addition to all slogans and political banners. The joint statement by all
three parties underscored the need to reconcile quarreling families in Beirut
and to ensure that “the proper atmosphere would be provided for people forced to
leave during the incidents to return home.” The participants also agreed to
arrange for reconciliation meetings between the political officers of the
various parties as well as conduct joint tours to “sensitive areas.” However,
Future bloc MP Nouhad Mashnouq criticized Thursday’s meeting, adding that the
involvement of Future Movement’s representative in such meetings “opposed the
bloc principles.” Commenting on the meeting, Mashnouq said “such meetings do not
represent the Future bloc neither the Future Movement nor the people loyal to
[former] Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.” Mashnouq added that the meeting “reminded
us of meetings by security committees during the [1975-90] Civil War.” Mashnouq,
who called on security forces last month along with a delegation of Beirut MPs
for a capital free of weapons, told the National News Agency on Thursday that
“he commented on the meeting as a Future Movement and Beirut MP.” Commenting on
remarks by Mashnouq, Future Movement media officer Rashed Fayed told The Daily
Star on Thursday that Mashnouq did not know that the meeting was going to take
place. “MP Mashnouq is a member of the Future bloc; however the participation of
the Future Movement in the meeting was decided by its organizational committee,”
Fayed said. Fayed added that the gathering was a follow-up of prior discussions
between the Future Movement and Amal to promote reconciliations efforts.
Sunni-Shiite sectarian tensions dated back to May 7, 2008 when armed clashes
broke out between pro-government and opposition supporters following the
cabinet’s decision to dismantle Hizbullah’s telecommunication network. Two years
of political stalemate preceded the May 7 shootings after Shiite ministers
representing Hizbullah and Amal resigned from the government headed by Fouad
Siniora in November 2006.
Venezuela rejects US drug report, Hizbullah charges
Friday, July 24, 2009
CARACAS: Venezuela rejected on Tuesday a US government report that said it was
not cooperating fully in the war on drug trafficking, saying such accusations
had to stop if bilateral relations were to improve. The country’s Foreign
Ministry also rejected allegations made by a senior Israeli diplomat that
Venezuela harbored cells of Hizbullah.
Dorit Shavit, the head of Latin America and Caribbean affairs at the Israeli
foreign ministry, told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that the presence of
Hizbullah had increased in recent years in Venezuela’s northwestern Guajira
region and on the Caribbean island of Margarita.
Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry called the statement absurd.
Caracas broke off diplomatic relations with Jerusalem over the Israeli offensive
in the Gaza Strip in January and opened diplomatic relations with the
Palestinian Authority in April.
A report from the Government Accountability Office, the US Congress’
investigative agency, said drug corruption had reached the ministerial level in
Venezuela and decried a “permissive” attitude to trafficking groups from
Colombia. Venezuela, whose allies include Cuba and Iran, rejected the report
which it said lacked objectivity and was intended to promote Washington’s
“interventionist pretension.” “The normalization of political relations with the
government of the United States is subject to the termination of this
intolerable practice,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. President Hugo
Chavez, a former paratrooper and coup leader, has had better relations with US
President Barack Obama than with his predecessor, George W. Bush.
But the drugs report marked a renewed rise in tensions over the past several
weeks, fueled by mutual accusations of the respective US and Venezuelan roles in
last month’s coup d’etat in Honduras. “There are people who got up their hopes
that, with the election of a new president of the United States at the end of
last year, the threat of the empire is over. No, it’s not over,” Chavez said at
a graduation ceremony of university students in Caracas. He often refers to the
United States as the empire. Despite Venezuelan purchases of radar and other
anti-drug systems, the United States says 300 tons of cocaine passed through the
country last year, up from 50 tons in 2004.
Venezuela said a national drug plan and an anti-drug fund that it launched
recently would help it step up the fight against drug trafficking.
It also noted that Venezuela was used for smuggling between Colombia and the
United States, the principal producer and consumer, respectively, of the drug
cocaine.
In a speech to Venezuela’s national assembly, Interior Minister Tareck El
Aissami cited increases in drugs confiscated, traffickers detained, and
drug-running aircraft intercepted as evidence of the government’s efforts. The
United States itself was a paradise for drug dealers and gangs who got rich in
the face of the ineptness and indifference of authorities, the Venezuelan
government said. – Reuters
Sleiman briefed on letter to UN citing Israeli violations
World body expected to study complaints in closed-door meeting
Daily Star staff/Friday, July 24, 2009
BEIRUT: President Michel Sleiman was briefed Thursday by Foreign Minister Fawzi
Salloukh on a letter Lebanon sent to the UN Security Council that will cite
Israeli breaches of Security Council Resolution 1701 and Lebanese sovereignty.
Sleiman’s press office issued a statement saying Israel must implement
Resolution 1701 and must withdraw its troops from Shebaa Farms, Kfar Shuba and
the northern part of Ghajar.
The UN was expected to hold a closed-doors meeting Thursday to look into three
letters it had received – one from Lebanon and two from Israel – regarding the
latest incidents in south Lebanon related to the explosion of an arms depot in
the Khirbet Silim and repercussions of a mishap between the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Khirbet Silim residents in which 14
peacekeepers were lightly wounded.
Lebanon had sent a letter to UN chief Ban Ki-moon calling on the international
body not to issue any decisions before the completion of the joint probe by the
Lebanese Army and UNIFIL with regards to the arms depot blast on the outskirts
of Khirbet Silim.
The letter, which also touched on Israel’s building of an unmanned observation
post in Kfar Shuba, stressed Lebanon’s rejection of any changes to the rules of
engagement under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the
summer 2006 war with Israel.
The Israeli observation post is located in the Kfar Shuba Hills, just outside
the disputed Shebaa Farms – a sliver of land rich in water resources located at
the junction of southeast Lebanon, southwest Syria and northern Israel
Last week the Lebanese Army asked UNIFIL to remove the outpost.
On Thursday, Al-Mustaqbal newspaper quoted high-ranking diplomatic sources as
saying that attempts to change UNIFIL’s rules of engagement “will not reach
anywhere.”
Hizbullah’s second in command Sheikh Naim Qassem said Wednesday the south
Lebanon explosion that raised tensions along the border with Israel was set off
by old shells, not a secret arms cache, a senior Hizbullah official said
Wednesday. The comments marked the group’s first comment on the nature of last
week’s blast, which Israel and UN officials called a violation of UN Resolution
1701. The resolution prohibits guerrillas from engaging in military activities
in south Lebanon and forbids weapon smuggling to Hizbullah.
But the group is believed to continue to have a clandestine presence in the
area. After the explosion in an abandoned building in Khirbet Silim, about 15
kilometers from the Israeli border, Israel accused Iran and Syria of violating
those conditions by sending weapons to Hizbullah. “There is no violation of
Resolution 1701,” Qassem said.
“What happened … was a normal incident that had to do with leftover shells
collected during and after Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon” in 2000, he said.
Qassem spoke in an interview with the Qatari Al-Watan newspaper to be published
at a later date. Excerpts of the interview were provided by Hizbullah’s media
office Wednesday.
Qassem said Israel exaggerated the Khirbet Silim incident in an attempt to
deflect from its occupation as well as its daily violations of Lebanon’s
airspace.
Meanwhile, the press office of the Lebanese Forces (LF) issued a statement
Thursday after LF leader Samir Geagea’s meeting with US Ambassador Michele Sison
during which he called for the US to pressure Israel to stop violating
Resolution 1701. The statement added that the two officials emphasized the
significance of the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL’s role to stop any violations of
the resolution. Geagea called for the “US to quickly send its military aid to
assist the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces. – The Daily Star,
with AP
Public debt biggest challenge facing next Lebanese cabinet
‘The next government inherits a dual legacy’
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Friday, July 24, 2009 /Natacha Yazbeck
Agence France Presse
BEIRUT: Even before the next Lebanese cabinet takes shape, it faces a
considerable hurdle: a staggering national debt that will top $50 billion this
year. “The next government inherits a dual legacy,” said economist Charbel
Nahhas. “On the one hand, it is inheriting a massive rise in liquidity, so it
will not face immediate financial stress or be in need of external financing,”
he told AFP. “On the other hand, it will also inherit a massive public debt and
structural problems linked to public deficit, low investment and the high rates
of migration of skilled people.”
Lebanon’s debt-to-gross domestic product ratio dipped to 162 percent from 180
percent over the past three years, but at$ 47.2 billion it is still one of the
highest in the world.
The country weathered the worst of the global economic crisis and in 2008
witnessed GDP growth of 8 percent, thanks in part to a steadfast banking sector
and remittances from Lebanese working abroad.
The International Monetary Fund has predicted that economic growth in 2009 would
reach 4 percent and lauded Lebanon’s “prudent macroeconomic and financial
policies.”
In April, the international credit and risk assessment group Moody’s Investors
Service upgraded Lebanon’s sovereign ratings by a notch to B2, still relatively
low on the agency’s scale.
It highlighted a substantial improvement in external liquidity, resistance of
the public finances to shocks, and the ability of the banking system to finance
fiscal deficits.
Lebanon’s debt will nonetheless climb another $4 billion this year to more than
$50 billion, partly due to a lack of reform in sectors like the money-draining
electricity department, according to Mohammad Shatah, finance minister in the
current caretaker government.
The government’s third largest expenditure after debt servicing and salaries is
the electricity sector which Shatah said alone will account for $1.4 billion of
the increase.
Most of the debt was incurred during the massive reconstruction led by
assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri after Lebanon’s 1975-90 Civil
War, but his critics blame his fiscal policies for increasing the burden.
Hariri’s son and political heir, Saad Hariri, has been tasked by President
Michel Sleiman with forming a new government after his Western-backed coalition
won the June 7 parliamentary polls. But his efforts to form a cabinet have been
hampered as rival politicians battle over the allocation of portfolios.
Shatah said he was confident that Lebanon – which has endured years of wars,
sectarian strife and political crises – has what it takes to make progress but
insisted it must “get its act together.” “I think the sources of strength in the
economy are there,” Shatah told AFP. “If we can somehow put together a
government that can function better than this one, we can move to rapid and
better quality growth.” The next government should keep borrowing and
expenditure in check, Shatah added.
International donors have repeatedly set structural reforms as a condition for
financial aid, but the political crises, governmental paralysis and violence
have impeded economic reform.
Shatah said “the divisive politics” in the outgoing government – where the
alliance headed by the Shiite Muslim Hizbullah movement had veto power –
contributed to halting reforms in the country. While Shatah said he was
optimistic that the next government might be able to tackle the financial
problems, Nahhas said it was not entirely sure it can both capitalize on present
prosperity and rein in the debt. “Hope is limited because I fear the facility of
one option – they will take advantage of sudden liquidity and perpetuate the
fiscal status quo,” Nahhas said.
Sfeir: Majority should rule and minority should form an
opposition
NOW Staff/July 24, 2009 Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir said during a
meeting in Diman with a delegation from the World Lebanese Cultural Union on
Thursday that in democratic states the majority rules and the minority forms an
opposition, unlike in Lebanon, a reference to the March 8 alliance’s call for a
blocking-third vote in the cabinet. He voiced hope that all obstacles facing the
formation of the new cabinet will be eliminated soon so as to reassure the
Lebanese “after a long period of suffering.”
Sleiman meets Shapiro, calls for comprehensive Mideast peace
July 24, 2009 /NOW Staff/President Michel Sleiman met on Thursday with the US
National Security Council’s Middle East chief Daniel Shapiro at the Presidential
Palace in Baabda.
Sleiman thanked Shapiro for the US’s support to Lebanon in a number of fields
and called for ensuring the Palestinians’ right to return to their homeland on
the basis of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative in order to achieve “a just and
comprehensive peace in the Middle East.” The president also called for
pressuring Israel to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to stop
its daily violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.
New Opinion: Lebanon’s stale, stale stalemate continues
July 24, 2009
Now Lebanon/We may have been frolicking in the sun too much to have noticed, but
the foundations of the Lebanese system have remained just as flimsy in the
aftermath of the recent parliamentary elections as they did before. You might be
forgiven for thinking that the elections changed nothing at all. In fact, the
elections did allow us to dodge a bullet by ensuring that Lebanon would not fall
into the lap of Hezbollah. However, beyond that, the behavior of the opposition
has changed very little – even if the concept of “opposition” has been
substantially overhauled with Walid Jumblatt so ambiguous today about his
relationship with his March 14 partners and visibly keen to strengthen his ties
with Syria and Hezbollah at all costs. The system remains blocked, and Lebanon
is paying a heavy price. The reality is that the country continues to be
buffeted by regional winds. The delay in finalization of the government is the
result of several factors, almost all prompted by the demands of regional
actors, or the willingness of Lebanese to defend the interests of their regional
patrons.
Take Syria. Despite the praise they’ve received from French officials for
supposedly facilitating progress in Lebanon (Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, who is much
less gullible, was much more cynical), the Syrians have been adamantly unwilling
to facilitate the government’s formation before they get something in exchange.
President Bashar al-Assad wants to be seen as the godfather of a new Lebanese
political arrangement, and he also wants Saad Hariri to exonerate his regime in
the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri by visiting Damascus before a
government is agreed on. The Saudis may have been willing to go along with this
scheme, but apparently the United States, Egypt and Hariri’s March 14 allies,
minus Jumblatt, balked. So everything remains stalemated until “regional
contacts bear fruit.”
The announcement this week that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has no plans to
soon visit Damascus suggests the Lebanese deadlock will continue for some time,
despite the persistent optimism expressed by the speaker of parliament, Nabih
Berri.
Then there is the situation in the South. Hezbollah has escalated its pressure
on UNIFIL, accusing it of having violated its mandate last week by trying to
search homes in Kherbet Selem, after a massive series of explosions suggested
that arms had been stashed there. A cursory reading of Resolution 1701 would
invalidate the view that UNIFIL transgressed its terms of reference, but the
party is really just turning its supporters against the international force. The
rationale for this is simple: Hezbollah is taking steps to undercut a UN
resolution that has neutralized its military activities in the border area for
the past three years. The party cannot afford to allow this situation to
persist, particularly if Israel, or even the United States, decides to attack
Iran’s nuclear facilities.
What this means is that Iran is also looking closely at the new Lebanese
government, particularly the position it adopts on Hezbollah’s arms. The party,
therefore, has an interest in postponing the emergence of a new cabinet, both in
order to raise the heat on Saad Hariri so that he will bend Hezbollah’s way on
weapons in the next ministerial statement, and to eat away at the impact of the
March 14 electoral victory by brining a politically weakened Hariri into office.
After all, the first thing that Hezbollah’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah,
said after the elections was that a majority of Lebanese still supported the
Resistance option.
Nor can one lightly dismiss Israel’s reactions in recent days to the explosions
in Kherbet Selem. Never great friends of the United Nations, the Israelis have
nevertheless sent two letters to New York this week portraying themselves as a
sturdy supporter of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Yet Israel has
systematically violated the resolution, while expressing untiring skepticism
about UNIFIL. The real issue is that Israel, like Iran and Hezbollah, is
clearing the ground for a future war and therefore is really working to empty
1701 of its constraining powers.
Between Syria pulling from one side, Iran and Hezbollah pulling from a second,
Saudi Arabia, the United States and Egypt pulling from a third, and the Israelis
pulling from a fourth, Lebanon is in serious danger of being drawn and
quartered. That’s why we cannot be sanguine about taking our time in forming the
government, but the reality is that every new day that passes further diminishes
the election victory of March 14 and prevents Lebanon from putting itself on a
more stable footing.
It may be time for Saad Hariri to begin thinking about a Plan B if he cannot
form a government. One option is that he bow out, but that doesn’t make much
sense after he and his allies came out on top in the elections. Another option
is to form a government with March 14, President Michel Sleiman, and whoever
else decides to join in a conciliatory spirit. That won’t be easy, and there are
some in March 14 like Walid Jumblatt who will reject this. However, as everyone
waits for the right alignment of regional forces, one group of people has been
ignored: those who voted for the parliamentary majority, hoping its win would
improve things. Has anyone bothered to ask them what they prefer?
Geagea: “Teasing” UNIFIL is against Lebanon’s interests
July 24, 2009
Now Lebanon/Head of the Lebanese Forces Executive Council Samir Geagea said
during an LF dinner on Thursday night that those who “tease” UNIFIL are not
acting in Lebanon’s best interests, a reference to the clashes between Kherbet
Selem residents and UNIFIL forces last week in South Lebanon. “All Lebanese
agree that Israel is our enemy, but this does not give some people the right to
act in a way that has negative repercussions on the country,” he said. Geagea
reiterated his full support for UN Security Council Resolution 1701 as well as
UNIFIL, which he said helps prevent military offensives carried out by Israel.
The LF leader also said that the Lebanese should reach consensus over a national
defense strategy, or else any adopted strategy “will not be effective”, and he
called for allowing state institutions to be the ones to make war-and-peace
decisions, a reference to Hezbollah’s sparking the 2006 July War.
He added that Hezbollah’s arms, as well as the role of the Lebanese army and the
security services, should be discussed during the national dialogue sessions.
Geagea commented on the formation of the new cabinet, saying that the opposition
does not acknowledge the 2009 parliamentary election results, which gave the
March 14 alliance 71 seats and the opposition 56, because “it insists on being
granted the obstructing-third vote within the new government.”-NOW Staff
The mirage of Syrian importance is evaporating
Tony Badran, NOW Contributor , July 22, 2009
I couldn’t help but detect an element of commonality in two recent news items.
Farouq Qaddoumi, who heads the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s Political
Department and is someone long considered close to the Syrian regime, accused
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of having helped assassinate
Yasser Arafat; and Syrian President Bashar Assad hosted Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
The common denominator in both stories is that they illustrate the extent to
which Syria has been frantically seeking to maintain the appearance that it is a
major regional player. For the longest time, Syria has tried to convince the
world, and particularly the United States, that nothing could be done in
Lebanon, Iraq or Palestine without Syrian help. However, all the signs are that
Syria’s regional relevance is on the decline, so that at a time when the Obama
administration is re-engaging Damascus, the reality is that the Assad regime
comes to the table with a weak hand.
First came the Qaddoumi accusation, on Qatar’s Al-Jazeera, that Abbas, along
with former Palestinian security chief Muhammad Dahlan, had conspired with
former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to murder Arafat. Qaddoumi made his
statement two weeks before the scheduled Fatah congress in early July. This may
have reflected an internal power struggle within Fatah, as differences between
Abbas and others boil to the surface. That was the analysis offered by the
Damascus-based Palestinian commentator Ali Badwan, who also predicted that
Qaddoumi’s “bombshell” would have lasting repercussions inside Fatah.
So far, Qaddoumi’s claim has been rightly ridiculed in major Arab papers, except
by commentators close to the Syrian regime. However, Qaddoumi’s closeness to
Damascus strongly suggests that his statement is part of a Syrian gambit to
shape Palestinian affairs. The Assad regime’s declared policy has been to alter
the PLO’s structure by pushing for Hamas to be integrated into the organization.
In this way, Syria has sought to terminate Fatah’s domination of the PLO, the
official representative of the Palestinian people, and strengthen its ally
Hamas, whose leaders reside in Damascus. Hamas could then take over the PLO’s
leadership.
Assad’s calculation is that once Hamas gains broader legitimacy, Syria would
become the primary interlocutor with Washington (and with Israel) on Palestinian
affairs. It is for this reason that Bashar Assad has been frantically urging
European delegations to meet with Hamas officials in Damascus, while also
offering his assistance in facilitating such gatherings. He hopes that the Obama
administration will follow suit.
Another Syrian aim is to terminate Egypt’s role as the prime mediator in
Palestinian affairs, something Damascus has tried to do by sabotaging current
efforts at inter-Palestinian reconciliation in Cairo. For this reason, and as a
result of Syria’s entrenchment in the Iranian camp, Egypt’s relations with the
Assad regime remain frigid. It has been rumored that the Egyptians oppose any
rushed rapprochement between the Arab states and Syria. In light of this, the
haplessness of the Qaddoumi ploy only confirmed the limitations of Syrian
assets.
Meanwhile, American engagement of Syria has been cautious and slow, heightening
Syrian frustrations. The Syrians earlier believed that an Obama administration
downgrading in Iraq would come running to Syria. No such luck. Washington has
successfully dealt with the Al-Qaeda threat in Iraq, not only without Syrian
help, but in spite of Syria, and the US military withdrawal from Iraqi cities is
proceeding fine. This is why Assad’s meeting with Moqtada al-Sadr once more had
the effect of drawing attention to Syrian marginality. The reality is that Sadr,
who leans much more toward Iran than Syria, has been effectively sidelined by
the United States and the Maliki government, not to mention by Iraqi voters.
Once again, the Syrians are trading in expired goods. With Iran in turmoil and
Syria’s Lebanese allies defeated during the recent June elections, one can see
why Assad is looking anywhere and everywhere for the semblance of strong cards.
Ultimately, this reflects the fundamental flaw in the Syrian mirage: For
structural reasons the Syrians cannot deliver what the US expects of them.
Therefore, they trade in snake oil to create the illusion of importance. When it
comes to describing what dealing with Syria is all about, we can borrow from the
title of a song by the American soul singer Clarence Carter. It’s like “getting
the bills; but no merchandise.”Tony Badran is a research fellow with the Center
for Terrorism Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Does UNIFIL always have to coordinate with the LAF?
Nicholas Lowry, NOW Staff , July 23, 2009
Indonesian peacekeeping soldiers with the United Nations Interim Forces in
Lebanon. (AFP/Ali Dia)
Two incidents in one southern village last week — the explosion of a suspected
Hezbollah arms cache on Tuesday, July 14 in Kherbet Selem, followed four days
later by a clash in the same village between a stone-throwing crowd and UNIFIL
troops trying investigating the earlier incident — have caused UNIFIL to come
under increasing scrutiny in recent days. Opposition-aligned politicians and
newspapers have alleged that UNIFIL troops were confronted by the angry crowd
because the peacekeepers were attempting to raid a private residence in
violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. “UNIFIL crossed
the line,” MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi, a member of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc,
told OTV. “Maintaining security in the South is the responsibility of the
Lebanese Armed Forces only… It is not within UNIFIL’s mandate to conduct
investigations in South Lebanon.”
So what exactly are the powers mandated to UNIFIL in its area of operation south
of the Litani River, and are Moussawi’s contentions supported by UNSCR 1701?
The answer in both cases hinges on how you interpret the mandate. Resolution
1701 gives UNIFIL the primary task of assisting the LAF, but it also authorizes
peacekeepers to take “all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces
and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations
is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by
forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of
the Security Council.”
UNIFIL’s own website gives some credence to Moussawi’s contention about security
responsibility, stating that “Maintaining a stable and secure environment in the
area is first and foremost the responsibility of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
In case specific information is available regarding movement of unauthorized
weapons or equipment, the LAF will take required action. ” However, those
sentences are followed by a key exception: “In situations where the LAF are not
in a position to do so, UNIFIL will do everything necessary to fulfill its
mandate in accordance with Security Council resolution 1701.”
Can “everything necessary,” include not coordinating with or even informing the
LAF before raiding house? The answer is: in certain circumstances, yes. But
that’s not what happened during the Saturday incident at Kherbet Selem, at least
according to UNIFIL. A spokesman for the peacekeeping organization, Andrea
Tenenti, told NOW that UNIFIL troops had been taking part in “a joint activity
with the LAF” involving a search in the area when they were confronted by the
angry crowd.
“UNIFIL always coordinates with the LAF,” Tenenti said, adding that additional
troops from UNIFIL and the Lebanese army had immediately responded and quickly
brought the situation under control. Still, an investigation into the incident
has been launched. And while Tenenti said “UNIFIL always coordinates with the
LAF,” he mentioned two circumstances in which the UN peacekeepers could indeed
conduct a raid without telling the LAF first: If there is credible evidence of a
violation of 1701 or a serious threat in the area.
Even so, UNIFIL is clearly not always eager to exercise those options, at least
not publicly, which is understandable. UNIFIL’s mission depends on its good
relations with the Lebanese army and the population in the South, and relations
with both could sour if UNIFIL is perceived as functioning unilaterally.
Naim Qassem
July 24, 2009
Now Lebanon/On July 22, the website of the March 14 forces, 14march.org, carried
the following report:
Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in an interview with
the Qatari Al-Watan newspaper to be published later that “during the three years
that have gone by since the July 2006 war, many important things have happened.
First of all, there was the Israeli failure which spread all around the region
while the Resistance emerged as a rejectionist and defensive power that can put
an end to the momentum of the Israeli project and hinder its coming steps. This
confused the entire Israeli community and the international sponsors of Israel
who were planning on conducting regional amendments that would pave the way
before a New Middle East via the Lebanese gate... Second of all, the Resistance
proved it enjoyed a real power and not just one that is talked about in media,
political or mobilization statements. This power helped protect Lebanon and
forced the Israelis to think carefully before undertaking any new action...
Third of all, during that stage we were able to present an archetype in
reconstruction which is a highly difficult and complicated process. Yet, we have
come a long way in that area and the social and popular solidarity with the
Resistance emerged to enhance the presence of the Resistance and Lebanon's
strength.
“[He continued:] “This was seen during the elections, for even though the
opposition did not win the parliamentary majority, it earned a popular majority
with about 140,000 votes more than the loyalists. This revealed the size of the
interaction and the connection, knowing that some internal understandings on the
political level bring the biggest part of the loyalists to the square of the
Resistance.
"Fourth of all, during these last three years, local, regional and international
developments have occurred, including the attack on Gaza, the fall of Bush and
the arrival of Obama, the developments in Iraq, the steadfastness of Iran and
Syria and Lebanon’s prevention of the American tutelage from controlling its
path. All these developments drew the Lebanese political course especially
following the Doha Accord, and placed us before a clear vision represented by a
country which needs the Resistance and is debating the ways to secure the
necessary guarantees for its continuation in the context of the Lebanese
dialogue... We have thus alleviated foreign and regional control over our
Lebanese reality, and everyone has come to realize that Lebanon cannot be an
American or Israeli base and cannot be used for intelligence services. Lebanon’s
specificity, its closeness to occupied Palestine and its presence in this Arab
region should be taken into consideration”…
Regarding the Kherbet Selem incidents he said: “The explosion which occurred in
this town was only natural and was caused by the remaining shells which were
gathered in the location following Israel’s exit from Lebanon. This issue is
secondary and can be handled in coordination with the Lebanese army. There has
been no violation of Resolution 1701... However, Israel tried to blow it out of
proportion to cover its occupation of some points in Kfar Shouba and to cover
its daily overflights and aggressions through espionage cells. This will not
allow Israel to elude its responsibilities and Hezbollah is not in the circle of
accusations. The mistake was that UNIFIL troops tried to raid a house based on
their own initiative and without prior coordination with the Lebanese army,
knowing that the international resolution grants the army the prerogative to act
firstly, while supported by the international emergency troops. At the level of
this incident, the officials did not act in accordance with their prerogatives
and the citizens believed they were being attacked through this behavior... We
are still committed to Resolution 1701 and nothing has changed on our end. The
Lebanese army is responsible for security in that area while supported by UNIFIL
and not the other way around.”
Regarding the formation of the government and the reasons for the delay, he
said: “There is a key issue at the level of the governmental formation. This
issue constitutes the gateway for its launching and is related to the
participation of the opposition in the national unity government, especially
since Prime Minister- designate Saad al-Hariri does not wish to form a
government without the participation of the opposition. He believes that the
good management of the country requires the participation of all the parties,
and this is sound thinking. For its part, the opposition believes that the
national unity government is the solution, has always demanded it and has always
considered that the unity government that was formed following the Doha Accord
was a major accomplishment. The opposition, however, wishes to enjoy an
efficient participation and not only one in form.
"Many meetings were already held between the prime minister-designate and
several opposition figures to listen to their version of the solution, while
understanding the nature of the first step that would push for coming steps to
allow the government to see the light. Therefore, we are currently awaiting the
position of Prime Minister Al-Hariri who can do what is necessary to secure the
success of this government...”
Hizbullah and Syria
Fri, 24 July 2009
Walid Choucair/Al Hayat
A discussion has been prevailing in Lebanese and non-Lebanese circles about the
impact of regional and international developments on Hizbullah’s policy, and
particularly the political ramifications of the opening toward Syria, and
Hizbullah’s relationship with it. Irrespective of the degree to which these
circles are correct in perceiving confusion by Hizbullah, as a result of its
anxiety that this openness will take place at the expense of its strong alliance
with Syria, some are predicting that this anxiety is an expression of Iranian
anxiety vis-à-vis western and Arab policies aimed at splitting Syria off from
Iran, as a price for a rapprochement, and a bid to “return it to the Arab fold,
in return for the treatment of some issues that concern Damascus’ national
interest and that of the ruling regime”.
These predictions about Hizbullah’s anxiety about Syria and its policies might
not echo loudly in other circles; they believe that the “ceiling” on Syrian
behavior does not justify it, and that Syria will not give up its cards easily,
whatever the western and moderate Arab opening made to it, and that Hizbullah’s
leaders are completely aware of this fact.
It is likely that under these conditions, Hizbullah is the most anxious about
the developments in Iran, if they harm the stability of the current political
regime, over the medium and long term. This assumes that the party is content
with the situation of the regime for the foreseeable future. Thus, it must watch
and wait what events in Tehran will lead to, which means it must maintain good
ties with Damascus, to play for time.
In fact, the relationship with Tehran will not be affected by the western
openness to it, since this is also taking place in a long-range western context
that is linked to the possibilities of a settlement in the region, with efforts
for a comprehensive solution to its crises. Iran is one of these solutions. A
total approach, in the eyes of the west (both the US and Europe) means that a
peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict will
not take place without a settlement with Tehran, over specifying its regional
role in Palestine. This brings along with it a discussion with it of its role in
Iraq and Lebanon, and then its nuclear program.
Hizbullah should not be anxious about the attempts to renew indirect
negotiation, and even about moving to direct negotiation, between Syria and
Israel over returning the Golan Heights, despite the difference between its
leadership and the Syrian leadership on this point. As any observer (and Syria
itself as well) can note, a settlement over the Golan is difficult because of
Israel’s intransigence and extremism. It is not on the horizon, and Hizbullah
should be aware of the difficulty of such a settlement happening, and thus not
feel any fear from the resumption of negotiations.
Moreover, if it is true that the renewal of these negotiations could constitute
a “way to tie Syria’s hands,” allowing Israel to take advantage by carrying out
a new aggression against Lebanon, primarily targeting Hizbullah as Syria
refrains from providing weapons, rockets or ammunition, for various reasons,
then the party has nothing to be anxious about here.
In the worst case scenario, Syria will help Lebanon politically, while in terms
of relief, it stands with Hizbullah, whose arsenal of rockets and weapons is
sufficient to let it hold on and inflict fierce damage on Israel. If Israel
decides to wage war and decides not to give up on the idea, then Syria will play
a role in causing this policy’s failure. Earlier, Syria helped Hizbullah gain
what it wanted; the fierceness of the enemy will be a reason for doing this.
As for Syria’s policy in Lebanon, the party has nothing to worry about, due to
the west’s openness to Syria and its monitoring of the situation in Lebanon, in
parallel. Some assumed that Damascus would return to playing an influential role
in Lebanese policy, as in the past. However, its influence over past decades was
wielded through its relations with a number of leaders, who then turned against
it, such as the late Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri and Progressive Socialist
Party leader Walid Jumblatt and some independent Christian figures. However much
the relationship improves with these individuals, after the Arabs’ opening up to
Syria, the rivalry of the last four years will not restore the relationship
between them to its past condition, whether for Syria, or the group of people
mentioned above. This will mean that Syria’s alliance with Hizbullah will remain
fundamental, even if based on additional elements (i.e. groups other than the
party) to play its role, as with the presidency of the Republic, and elsewhere.
Therefore, there will not be a fundamental change toward the party, irrespective
of the items being arranged by western and Arab openness to Syria.
If some have found Hizbullah’s anxiety about Syria to be a reason for its recent
hard-line stances, the factors mentioned above will prompt Hizbullah to abandon
its condition of veto power in the next Cabinet