LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 27/09
Bible Reading of the day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint John 6:1-15. After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee
(of Tiberias). A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was
performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down
with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his
eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can
we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said this to test him, because he
himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days'
wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little
(bit)." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are
these for so many? Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great
deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were
reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their
fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing
will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with
fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet,
the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to
come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain
alone.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special
Reports
Lebanese soldiers reportedly
receive Hizballah missile training. By: W. Thomas Smith Jr. 26/07/09
The War of Peace with Syria-By:
By Nazer Majli/Asharq
Alawsat 26/07/09
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July
26/09
Senior Syrian Official: South Lebanon Is Syria's
Heart-MEMRI
'Hezbollah' plotters face trial in security court-AFP
Egypt refers Hezbollah case to emergency court-Reuters
Mitchell Holds 'Positive'
Talks with Assad in Damascus-Naharnet
28 Hizbullah elements face trial
soon in Egypt.-Future
News
Israel: Venezuela
Providing Fake Documents to Iranians-Naharnet
Nadim
Gemayel: Kherbet Selem explosion, a scandal-Future
News
Honein: let the majority rule and the minority oppose-Future
News
Geagea: Opposition following
principle of “what is yours is ours”-Now Lebanon
Moussawi Rejects U.S. Attempts to Link Israel's Withdrawal to Israeli-Lebanese
Talks-Naharnet
How far is Syria ready to
go to appease the US?Jerusalem
Post
Hezbollah chief expects Israeli aggression on
Lebanon-Xinhua
Nasrallah Expects New Israeli
Aggression between End of Year and Spring: 'Southern Suburbs versus Tel Aviv'-Naharnet
Franjieh Arrives in Bekfaya; Marada-LF Contacts Still at a Halt-Naharnet
Aridi says cabinet delay
caused by disagreement over sixth Shia minister-Now Lebanon
Suleiman to Shift Focus to Portfolios, Candidates-Naharnet
Sfeir Asks those who
Obstruct the Formation Process 'Don't You Hear the Voice of God'-Naharnet
Muallem: Damascus Doors
Open to Everyone-Naharnet
Army Arrests Armed Gang
after Shootout in Aramoun-Naharnet
Aoun Demands Six
Ministers, Wants Ministry of Interior-Naharnet
Suleiman: For 1st Time
Cabinet Being Formed without Foreign Pressure-Naharnet
Two Meetings Next Week Set
to Relieve Tensions-Naharnet
Sfeir for Stronger Inter-Maronite
Ties, Calls for Quick Cabinet Formation-Naharnet
Berri: Why Doesn't Hariri
Provide Potential Names and Formulas?-Naharnet
Jarrah: I am a Double
Agent, Hizbullah Commissioned Me to Blow Up Israeli Embassy in Rome-Naharnet
Shapiro Reiterated U.S.
Support to Lebanon-Naharnet
Geagea: Lebanon is a
Puzzle-Naharnet
Qassem: Syria Is Not Our
Substitute…Hariri Didn't Inform Us Of Any Government Layout Yet-Naharnet
U.N.: Hizbullah Actively
Maintained Arms Cache-Naharnet
Lebanese soldiers
reportedly receive Hizballah missile training
By:
W.
Thomas Smith Jr.
26 Jul 2009
International
Analysit Network
http://www.analyst-network.com/article.php?art_id=3060
Hizballah – the Lebanon-based, U.S. State Dept.-designated “terrorist group” –
is reportedly training “some Lebanese army personnel” in the operational use of
Hizballah’s offensive missiles received from Iran. The training is being
conducted in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, specifically the Baalbek district.
Hardly a group, Hizballah is best-described as a fully operational terrorist
army capable of holding off the legitimate Lebanese army and police forces from
the inside-out through Hizballah’s controlling manipulation of the Lebanese
government as evidenced by both the inability of the Lebanese army and police to
disarm Hizballah as set forth in United Nations Security Council Resolution
1701, as well as Hizballah’s bloody offensive – with worldwide impunity –
against the Lebanese government and citizenry in May 2008. (This is not to
suggest that the combination of a well-led Lebanese army and police force does
not have the combat power to defeat Hizballah in a pitched battle: It does. But
the army is limited to the orders it does – or does not – receive from the
government and the senior army commander.)
According to sources both in Lebanon and the U.S. (and confirming what already
has been reported), “Hizballah has penetrated many elements of the Lebanese army
from intelligence to combat arms units; and this is due primarily to the active,
though illegal, joint Hizballah-Lebanese Army ‘Operations Room’ established by
the Lebanese government and Syria in the 1990s.” (Unfortunately for Lebanon, the
government of Fouad Siniora failed to dissolve the joint ‘Operations Room’ after
the Hizballah-Israel war of 2006 and the issuance of UNSCR 1701)
Our sources also confirm, “The Hizballah missile training involves approximately
100-150 officers and men [of the Lebanese army] who are very close to Hizballah.”
These reports, again confirming previous reports, come in the wake of a July 14
warehouse-explosion – which has since been determined to have been a Hizballah
weapons cache – in the Hirbat Silm area of south Lebanon. The weapons cache is
said to have stored all manner of “rockets, mortars, artillery shells,
grenades,” and other munitions smuggled by Iran and Syria to the terrorist group
in Lebanon since the Hizballah-Israel war.
It has been speculated that the explosion was deliberate – perhaps a result of
an Israeli special operation – or an accidental detonation as a result of
unstable explosives, fire, etc. At any rate, the explosion “is a glaring example
of Hizballah’s use of civilian infrastructure," writes Gabriela Shalev, Israel’s
ambassador to the United Nations. “With more than 20,000 rockets in its
possession south of the Litani River, Hizballah gravely endangers the local
Lebanese civilian population by turning their houses into military bunkers and
storages.”
Moreover, upon setting up a security perimeter around the blast site, the
Lebanese army blocked soldiers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL) from entering the security zone to investigate. Hizballah on the other
hand, was given a green light.
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, “A senior Israeli officer told
reporters the warehouse contained short-range rockets that were smuggled from
Syria.”
Our sources say Iran and Syria are both guilty. Elements within the Lebanese
army (an army which receives direct military support from the U.S.) are
complicent. And UNIFIL – 14 of whose soldiers were injured by stone-throwing
civilians when they attempted to move against another suspected cache – appears
unable to do anything about it.
“It’s simple,” says a former Lebanese army officer, “Hizballah is training some
Lebanese army officers and soldiers to operate Hizballah missile systems: We
know that. In so-doing, Hizballah wants to make sure that the next Hizballah war
with Israel becomes a war between Lebanon and Israel.”
— Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. at uswriter.com.
28 Hizbullah elements face
trial soon
Date: July 26th, 2009 Source: Al-Ahram
Egyptian Prosecutor-General Abdel-Mejid Mahmoud is to pronounce Sunday his
indictment in the case of Hizbullah’s elements operating a spy ring in Egypt.
The case will be referred on Sunday to the Supreme State Security Court created
under the emergency laws in October 1981. Evidences as well as the 28 suspects
will be handed over to the court including Hizbullah’s two main leaders Mohammad
Kabalan, intelligence official in the party and Mohammad Youssef and Sami Chehab,
who is still imprisoned in Egypt.
Preliminary investigations confirm that the Hizbullah terror cell intended to
launch subversive acts in Egypt. To this end, the cell rented a number of
apartments in buildings overlooking the Suez Canal to monitor shipping and on
the Egyptian-Palestinian border to smuggle weapons into Gaza. A number of
operatives have admitted that Hizbullah was planning to carry out acts of
sabotage in Egypt. Al-Ahram newspaper reported that the Attorney-General
demanded the Interpol to arrest the Lebanese fugitive for his organizational
role in the terrorist cell.
According to "Al-Ahram" the Supreme State Security Prosecution accused cell
members, including five members of the "Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood
organization" collaborating for a foreign organization, and planning to carry
out terrorist acts in Egypt.
The Attorney-general will review (Sunday) the results of the investigations
conducted by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, in addition to the legal
evidences and indictment before transferring the defendants to the criminal
prosecution court. Article one of the Egyptian penal code states that it applies
to all crimes on Egyptian territory regardless of the nationality of the
perpetrators. Egyptian authorities have said 49 Hizbullah members and
sympathizers were arrested in Egypt between November and January. Led by a
Lebanese man known as Sami Chehab, they are suspected of smuggling weapons and
ammunition, plotting attacks, and spying. Members of this network could face a
list of charges. They include operating a spy ring in Egypt in the interests of
a foreign organization. Hizbullah alleges that as an organization its exclusive
aim is to fight the Israeli occupation in South Lebanon and that it has the
right to acquire arms, weapons, artillery and explosives to achieve its goals.
Hizbullah also alleges that its operations are limited to south Lebanon and
fighting Israel. Nasrallah's televised admission, however, clearly showed that
the group took a decision that violated Egyptian sovereignty and that it was
seeking to use Egyptian land to further its conspiracies and plots. This leaves
members of the Hizbullah network in Egypt open to possible capital sentences.
Amnesty International calls for solidarity with prisoners of conscience in Iran
Date: July 25th, 2009 Future News
Amnesty International- Lebanon, Nongovernmental Organization, held a press
conference Saturday to show solidarity with Iranians seeking democracy and civil
rights after the violent crackdown on protests following the disputed 12 June
presidential elections that left many dead and imprisoned, the National News
Agency reported.
The Press Conference aims to pressure Iranian authorities to stop all kinds of
violence against future demonstrations, immediate release of all prisoners of
conscience who are in serious danger, and stop violations of human rights. The
move takes place in 105 cities around the world. People would gather for rallies
and marches raising banners in Arabic and Persian calling for “No more
bloodshed,” “Release of prisoners of conscience” and “Peaceful protest is a
human right.” Charles Nasrallah, National Coordinator of Amnesty
International-Lebanon, would attend the press conference in addition to Lala
Arabian, the organization’s campaign coordinator and a number of civil society
representatives. Violence broke out in Iran in response to citizens who claim
the June 12 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was fraudulent. In
response hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets after the
election, and many were met with brutality from security forces that resulted in
death or serious injuries. Some protesters were arrested and put in jail, where
they remain despite pleas by families and friends.
Sfeir Asks those who Obstruct the Formation Process 'Don't You Hear the Voice of
God'
Naharnet/Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir asked during Sunday's
sermon whether those who are "obstructing" the government formation "hear the
voice of God, which is that of conscience."He said the question should be
answered by "all those involved today" in the formation process. Sfeir hoped for
"love to be the guiding force behind our words and actions to prevent disunity
and disintegration in our souls." Beirut, 26 Jul 09, 11:01 Nasrallah
Expects New Israeli Aggression between End of Year and Spring: 'Southern Suburbs
versus Tel Aviv'
Israel might be preparing for another war on Lebanon between the end of year and
next spring, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said in a
private meeting with Lebanese expatriates New TV reported Sunday. Nasrallah said
the "new formula for the balance of power with Israel placed the southern
suburbs opposite to Tel Aviv." "Israel cannot be trusted," he said, but added he
was not trying to "frighten the people" and asked the Lebanese to "enjoy a quiet
summer." On the June 7 parliamentary elections, the Hizbullah leader criticized
the electoral process asking what kind polls are those in which "1.2 billion
dollars are spent." "But we accepted the outcome," he added. "Yes, we feared an
electoral victory so that they don't accuse us of winning under the pressure of
weapons," he admitted. Nasrallah called on Lebanese expatriates to respect and
abide by the laws of the countries in which they live in." He said that
Hizbullah "does not carry out security-related activities" outside of Lebanon.
On ties with MP Walid Jumblat, the Hizbullah chief said the openness started by
the Druze leader "was met with the same level of honesty." "We will continue to
bolster this relation as long as the other side is proceeding in the same
direction. This is not an issue of building or winning back trust," he added. An
Nahar daily said Sunday Hizbullah sources did not deny or confirm Nasrallah's
comments as reported by New TV. Beirut, 26 Jul 09, 09:16
Honein: let the majority rule and the minority oppose
Date: July 25th, 2009 Source: MTV
Former MP Salah Honein said Saturday misreading the parliamentary elections
results is one of the major problems that face the formation of the new
government, the MTV television station reported. “I call for accepting the
elections results because misreading them is one of the reasons that face the
cabinet formation,” he told the TV station. “Accepting the elections results
means that the majority must rule and the minority must stay in the opposition,”
he said. “Giving the minority veto powers in the cabinet gives both the majority
and the minority equal powers. This annuls the jurisdictions of the parliament,
the government and the presidency.” He added. Honein rejected proportionality
demanded by Reform and Change leader Michel Aoun for being “unconstitutional and
against the elections results.”
Nadim Gemayel: Kherbet Selem explosion, a scandal
Date: July 25th, 2009 : Future News
Nadim Gemayyel of the Kataeb parliamentary bloc said Saturday the explosion that
occurred on Tuesday at Kherbet Selem Hizbullah arms cash is a “scandal and a
flagrant breech of the UN resolution 1701,” almustaqbal.org reported. “The
Kherbet Selem explosion is a scandal and constitutes a flagrant violation of the
UN resolution 1701,” Gemayel told the website. “The Lebanese army must be
enabled to maintain the security situation in the south which is not only the
mission of the UNIFIL,” he said. He demanded the army to “impose full control
over the south,” describing the security situation as “very serious and is meant
to deviate attention away from the cabinet formation entitlement.” Gemayel ruled
out the possibility of a “new Israeli offensive on Lebanon and if there is such
a possibility, it is not likely to occur before the cabinet is formed.”On the
issue of the cabinet formation, he said “we will not accept giving the minority
veto powers in the new government which is a real catastrophe that threatens the
government and legitimizes the illegitimate arms that we have always rejected.”
On House Speaker Nabih Berri’s optimism concerning the cabinet formation, he
said “it is Speaker Berry’s concern; and we need such optimistic figures at
these hard times.”
Geagea: Opposition following principle of “what is yours is ours”
July 26, 2009 /-NOW Staff
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said at a dinner held at his honor in Jbeil
on Saturday night that the opposition is following the principle of “what is
ours is ours, and what is yours is yours and ours.”Geagea said that the
parliamentary election was a referendum that the March 14 alliance won, adding
that the opposition is trying to take the victory away from the majority and act
as if the elections never happened. “They are rejecting democracy, freedom, the
Lebanese constitution, the electoral law and most importantly the republic and
co-existence, and they still call for true partnership,” he said. “What
partnership would the opposition have granted us had they won the elections?
Where was their partnership when they: Dissolved the Lebanese Forces in 1994,
adopted the naturalization decree, renewed President Emile Lahoud’s term in
2004, took the decision to abduct two Israeli soldiers in 2006, and closed the
parliament for a year and a half?” he asked True partnership is guaranteed
through the Lebanese constitution, the Taif Accord, and the national pact,
Geagea said.
The LF leader also said that some people are making illogical demands for six
ministers in the cabinet, a reference to Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel
Aoun. He added that Aoun was satisfied with five ministers in the cabinet when
he was supported by 70 percent of the Christians. “How can you ask for six
ministers now, when your Christian support has decreased to a maximum of 50
percent?” Geagea concluded.
Franjieh Arrives in Bekfaya; Marada-LF Contacts Still at a
Halt
Naharnet/The head of the Marada movement Suleiman Franjieh and Phalange leader
Amin Gemayel met Sunday in Bekfaya as part of reconciliation steps between the
two sides, Voice of Lebanon Radio reported. Marada member Salim Karam told the
pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat Sunday's visit is "a continuation to
reconciliation steps to put an end to icy ties between the two sides." In the
meantime, contacts between Marada and the Lebanese Forces "remain frozen," he
said, despite the speedy progress being achieved with the Phalange party.
Karam said he believed that Bkirki "should sponsor an inter-Christian
rapprochement. But unfortunately we find it absent while the Maronite League is
undertaking a significant role to in this regard." Phalange's second vice
president Salim al-Sayegh disclosed that a meeting between Franjieh and the
Phalange party "was being prepared." Beirut, 26 Jul 09, 09:41
Aridi says cabinet delay caused by disagreement over sixth Shia minister
July 26, 2009 /NOW Staff
Transport and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi told New TV on Sunday that the
delay in the formation of the cabinet is due to a disagreement over the sixth
Shia minister. He said that President Michel Sleiman was right to refuse the
idea of having a minister within his share designated by the opposition and that
no one should accept this principle.
Aridi added that the cabinet will be formed when there is an agreement between
Hezbollah and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri. Speaker Nabih Berri plays a
positive role and his speech about the importance of forming the cabinet before
the end of the month is based on his deliberations with Hariri and Hezbollah,
Aridi said. The minister also said that the Syrian-Saudi relationship is very
important and useful for Lebanon. “The talks about Prime Minister-designate
Hariri’s visit to Syria constitute a significant event, in light of what Hariri
represents. He will visit Syria and deal with it as a Lebanese prime minister
and will cooperate with it at a ministerial level,” he said.
Moussawi Rejects U.S. Attempts to Link Israel's Withdrawal to Israeli-Lebanese
Talks
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi said Sunday the United States was
trying to link an Israeli withdrawal from the northern part of al-Ghajar town to
"direct or indirect" negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. Speaking at a
public event in the town of Naqoura, Moussawi said the United States was basing
its approach on the idea that "an Israeli withdrawal is one of the provisions of
U.N. Resolution 1701 and will be carried out with the rest of the
articles."Moussawi said the resolution did not stipulate an end to Israeli
occupation of the town. "Any withdrawal must take place without pre-conditions
and without direct or indirect negotiations," he said. On the government's
formation, Moussawi said Lebanon was "not a one-sided society in which democracy
meant the majority rules and the minority opposes." "Since the Lebanese system
is based on political sectarianism," he said, "no government can be effective
unless it is committed to the principles of coexistence, embodies national
accord and represents all sects in a fair manner as stipulated by Article 29 of
the Constitution." He said politicians can speak freely of a system of a ruling
majority and an opposing minority when "political sectarianism has been
abolished in Lebanon and elections are carried out on a non-sectarian basis."
Beirut, 26 Jul 09, 13:03
Muallem: Damascus Doors Open to Everyone
Naharnet/Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Saturday that Damascus'
doors are open to everyone and stressed his government will not interfere in the
formation of the Lebanese cabinet. Muallem also expressed relief at the ongoing
dialogue among Lebanese parties and the constructive statements made by the
country's leaders. The foreign minister stressed that Damascus didn't interfere
in the June 7 parliamentary elections and won't meddle in the Lebanese
government formation. About PM-designate Saad Hariri's possible visit to the
Syrian capital, Muallem said: "The doors of Damascus are open to everyone . It
has a big heart." Beirut, 25 Jul 09, 18:40
Army Arrests Armed Gang after Shootout in Aramoun
Naharnet/The Lebanese military has arrested an 8-member armed gang after a
shootout in the area of Aramoun in Aley district, the army command said in a
communique on Saturday. It said an army patrol raided the location where members
of the network, six men and two women, were hiding after midnight Friday. The
raid ensued in a shootout which led to the arrest of the eight wanted criminals,
including the group's leader, Hassan Ahmed Safwan, known as Hassan al-Jurdi.
Safwan and the other members of the network are wanted for involvement in
several criminal activities, including shooting to death a Lebanese man named
Talal Khaled Khalil in Beirut's Saint Michel neighborhood, the communique said.
The gang is also wanted for wounding several individuals, opening fire on
security forces, involvement in drug trade and driving stolen vehicles,
according to the army command. Beirut, 25 Jul 09, 16:25
Two Meetings Next Week Set to Relieve Tensions
Naharnet/A meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday in Tibneen attended by
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Commander Major General Claudio
Graziano with a Lebanese armed forces delegation headed by Colonel Abbas Ibrahim
and members of parliament Hassan Fadlallah (Hizbullah) and Ali Bezzi (Amal
Movement) and regional municipal heads and officials in the region. That meeting
is to be succeeded by a trilateral meeting gathering between UNIFIL-Israel and
Lebanon in Naquora. The daily As-Safir on Saturday said, this meeting comes as
part of taken steps that were earlier agreed to by the military and UNIFIL as a
process for relieving tensions in the south following the Khirbet Selim incident
last week. "The aim here is to remove all negative impacts following recent
events and to re-establish the fact that we all need to strengthen and expand
our relationship between local residents and the UNIFIL, since the international
force is committed to fully implementing U.N. Security Council resolution 1701,"
a southern sources told As-Safir. Beirut, 25 Jul 09, 10:59
Qassem: Syria Is Not Our Substitute…Hariri Didn't Inform Us Of Any Government
Layout Yet
Naharnet/Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naeem Qassem said Syria did
not ask the parliamentary minority for anything adding Syria respects the
opposition's stance and is no substitute to it. In an interview with the daily
Ad-Diyar on Saturday, Qassem called on the prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri
to benefit from the calm atmosphere and form a national unity government but not
to return the country to a period re-dating the 2007 Doha agreement. The deputy
secretary-general said Hariri did not inform the parliamentary minority of the
government's layout yet, adding that Hariri must produce a formula that
guarantees actual participation and partnership by all. He did not mention
anything regarding providing the parliamentary minority with veto powers in
cabinet. Qassem stressed that the opposition remains open to any proposal or
formula. He disclosed that Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
reminded Hariri of his father's traditional policy[ the late Rafik Hariri] of
mixing the concept of the resistance with that of construction in Lebanon. "This
formula could be applied," Qassem said. Beirut, 25 Jul 09, 09:06
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...”
The War of Peace with Syria
26/07/2009
By Nazer Majli
Tel Aviv, Asharq Al Awsat - Dr. Nadaf Amihai, an Israeli surgeon who is well
known in the world of medicine, travelled by plane to Paris to take part in an
international conference. He was determined this time to take the biggest step
of his life and career; he told his Jewish wife, Alona, that he had decided that
he wanted a divorce. “I’m in love with a Syrian woman,” he told her. Of course,
she did not believe this explanation and did not think much of it. Who knows
whether her reaction was because she thought it impossible that love could
blossom between a Jewish-Israeli man and a Syrian woman or whether she just did
not hear the latter half of the sentence; perhaps she only heard him say that he
wanted a divorce. She responded immediately and Amihai left. At Charles de
Gaulle Airport, his Syrian colleague Nadia al Tabib was waiting for him in a
black car. He could not control himself and asked her to marry him as they
travelled in the car. He did not know that every single word he was saying was
being recorded by two intelligence agencies. The car belonged to the
intelligence department of the Syrian embassy in Paris, and his mobile phone,
which was given to him by a Mossad agent, was tapped. Everything he said was
recorded until he found himself in Damascus.
This is not a true story; it is a brief outline of an Israeli novel written in
Hebrew by an Israeli writer who was inspired by talk in Israel of potential
peace with Syria. The writer relied on his pessimism that such peace is possible
– and this is the dominant belief amongst Israelis. Nevertheless, the issue of
peace with Syria is of paramount concern to political and military leaders,
media, and the academic world in Israel and a large Israeli lobby is aiming
towards the goal of achieving peace with Syria.
This lobby is headed by former Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Alon Liel, who was the first person to have administered secret talks
with the Syrians under President Bashar al Assad. The lobby comprises of former
director of the Israeli General Security Service Yaakov Peri, the former head of
the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate Yehoshua Saguy, Israeli historian
Professor Moshe Maoz who published a book on late Syrian President Hafez al
Assad, and others.
Alon Liel told Asharq Al-Awsat that a large number of Israeli officials said
that they would rather have peace with the Syrians than the Palestinians. These
officials included: Minister of Defense Ehud Barak, the Israeli’s Defense Forces
[IDF] Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and several current General Staff
members, as well as former chiefs of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak who also served
as a minister; Moshe Yaalon who currently serves as Minister of Strategic
Affairs; the former directors of Israel’s Directorate of Military Intelligence
Uri Saguy and Aharon Zeefi Farkash and the current head Amos Yadlin; former
Deputy Chief of General Staff Moshe Kaplinski; former chief of the Israeli
Security Agency SHABAK Ami Ayalon; and the heads of the Israeli National
Security Council Uzi Dayan and Giyora Giora Eiland.
The issue of peace with Syria has cut Israel’s political and partisan map in
two; it is unlike the issue of peace with the Palestinians where there are clear
right-wing and leftist positions. There are right-wing forces that support the
idea of peace with Syria and prefer this idea to that of peace with the
Palestinians. However, the official position of the Likud Party for instance
stresses that not one inch of the Golan Heights will be relinquished. Within the
Likud Party, senior ministers like Moshe Yaalon, who is close to Netanyahu, and
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shalom Simhon, support the peace
process. There are leftist forces that are objecting to peace with Syria;
however these parties (Labor and Meretz) are presenting a political program in
support of complete or partial withdrawal from the Golan Heights for the sake of
peace. The most prominent figure rejecting peace with Syria is Israeli President
Shimon Peres who does not trust the Syrian President and has doubts about his
intentions and frequently launches verbal attacks on Syria.
The central forces are also divided over the same issue; some of them are for
peace with Syria and others are against it. Evidence of this can be seen in the
fact that all Israeli prime ministers since 1992 agreed to peace negotiations
with Syria: head of the Labor Party Yitzhak Rabin (1992-1995) who became well
known for Rabin’s Deposit as he pledged to withdraw from the Golan Heights to
the then US Secretary of State Warren Christopher in return for peace and
special security arrangements.
Prime Minister Shimon Peres (1995-1996), who succeeded Yitzhak Rabin following
the latter’s assassination, continued with Israeli-Syrian negotiations and was
committed to Rabin’s Deposit. In spite of his right-wing, extremist positions,
Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (1996-1999) sent his friend the
Jewish-American businessman Ronald Lauder to meet late Syrian President Hafez al
Assad to offer him the Golan Heights in return for peace. Ehud Barak, who
succeeded Netanyahu until 2001, continued the negotiations, and only Ariel
Sharon (2001-2005) closed the door officially to negotiations. Nevertheless,
even Sharon turned a blind eye to the negotiations with Syria and allowed senior
diplomat Alon Liel to hold indirect negotiations with Syrian officials first in
Switzerland and later on in Turkey.
Liel told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sharon “knew about the negotiations and followed
them. During Sharon’s tenure, solutions for nearly 85 percent of the pending
issues between Israel and Syria were reached in clear agreements and
memorandums.”
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (2005-2009) officially, though indirectly,
resumed negotiations with Turkish mediation. Olmert did this unwillingly as he
was not enthusiastic because the George Bush administration was not interested
in negotiations with Syria and Olmert did not want to go against Bush. But
pressure mounted on Olmert within the Israeli political circles that pushed him
to submit to- and administer- the negotiations, promising the Americans that he
would not reach a final agreement [with the Syrians] unless he received a clear
signal from Washington. Olmert was clear when he said that he knew the price of
peace with Syria just like Syria knew the price of peace with Israel. He said
that the presidents who succeeded him pledged to withdraw [from the Golan
Heights] and revealed that he had generously offered to make peace with Syria
but the Syrian president did not agree to a suitable time.
Even within the army ranks and security agencies, there is clear disagreement
over the matter of peace with Syria; the chief of staff and most generals are
for peace just like the Military Intelligence Directorate that also supports
this peace. Liel goes on to say that the information available to him confirms
that al Assad’s intentions for peace are sincere.
On the other hand however, there are army generals who have reservations and
Mossad is completely against peace with Syria based on the claim that President
Bashar al Assad’s intentions are insincere and that in fact “He is not
interested in peace but in changing his relationship with the US
administration,” and that in reality “He wants peace negotiations to help him
achieve this.” However, this position has changed over the past few months since
Ehud Olmert received the green light from the US to open the door to
negotiations. But there are still fundamental differences.
Reviewing the positions in favour of peace with Syria, it is clear that these
positions favour this idea firstly because it has a stronger chance of success
than peace with other channels (Palestine and Lebanon). Alon Liel explained: “We
did not come to replace Palestinian peace [with Israel] as Israel needs peace
with both the Palestinians and the Syrians. But when we say that we prefer peace
with Syria it is firstly because we believe that negotiations with Syria are
possible and will not take as much effort as a lot has already been accomplished
and secondly because we believe that peace with the Palestinians today is
unrealistic.”
“There is division between Hamas and Fatah and the coup in Gaza further
exacerbated the problem,” Liel said. He added, “There are burning issues that
the current government cannot decide on now such as Jerusalem and the
settlements and borders. These are extremely difficult issues for Israel. There
is a similar situation on the Palestinian side as the Palestinians are not ready
to embark boldly upon moderate solutions to the refugee issue and perhaps
Jerusalem. This is in addition to the disastrous situation of the Palestinian
leadership. There are divisions within the Palestinian ranks that have not been
seen since the Nakba [1967]: Hamas has established a state in the Gaza Strip and
is holding on to it at the expense of everything else, whereas Fatah is
experiencing a real internal crisis. No one knows when this crisis will end,
especially after Farouk Qaddoumi came out and accused President Mahmoud Abbas of
killing late President Yasser Arafat. It is not right that we keep waiting for
the Palestinians and missing out on opportunities for peace with Syria. For four
years President Bashar al Assad has been suggesting that there be negotiations
without conditions with Israel for the sake of achieving comprehensive and fair
peace. Would it make sense for us to say no? Moreover, I believe that peace with
Syria will facilitate peace with the Palestinians because Hamas will lose a lot
of its power and influence and extremist forces will not be able to destroy the
agreement [with the Palestinians] easily.”
However, other supporters of peace with Syria such as Ehud Barak had explained
that peace with Syria would mean that the Palestinians would be left alone in
the negotiations with Israel, and this would make them accept some of Israel’s
conditions.
There is also a group of army generals who support the idea of peace. They
highlight the benefits of peace in terms of security, especially as they present
several security conditions for such peace. According to Major General Giyora
Giora Eiland, former head of the National Security Council, the security
arrangements for this peace are the first and basic guarantee of its endurance.
Alon Liel said that security arrangements had already been agreed during
negotiations between the two parties. These included making the Golan Heights
area free of weapons, further expanding the secluded area equally on both sides,
placing radars on the peak of Al Sheikh mountain to be under the control of a US
force together with Syria and Israel, and banning the entry of Syrian troops to
the Golan Heights in the same way as the existing arrangement in Egypt’s Sinai
region.
However, Liel is more concerned about the economic arrangements regarding this
area. He says that talk of an American project presented by US assistant Special
Envoy to the Middle East Frederick Hoff in this regard originally refers back to
a plan already agreed upon by the Israelis and the Syrians during their direct
and indirect negotiations in Switzerland and Turkey. The plan is based on
transforming the western third of the Golan Heights into a natural protectorate
to be named ‘Peace Park’ to be run by the Israelis and Syrians for a certain
period of time in which many economic projects will be established that aim to
give momentum to the peace process on the ground. Liel is of the view that such
economic cooperation is the key for peace and the guarantee for a better future
because the aim is to “make peace beneficial to tens of thousands of Syrian and
Israeli families so that they become the protectors of peace.”
On the other hand however, those who oppose peace with Syria consider it a
non-urgent matter; some from the extremist right-wing forces maintain that the
Golan Heights is a strategic security treasure for Israel, and this can be seen
in the Likud Party’s official political program. Other parties consider the
Golan Heights region “part of Israel’s historical land,” so they support the
idea of expanding Jewish settlements there. These parties include the Jewish
Home, Yisrael Beiteinu and the opposition National Union. Even Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, who had negotiated for the Golan Heights during his first
term in office, chose to close his election campaign last February with the
following words: “We will never cede the Golan Heights.”
The most explicit statement that reflects the opposing attitude to peace with
Syria was made by Jay Bikhur, a right-wing historian, who said, “I do not know
why we need peace with Syria without the Golan Heights. In reality, we are
living in peace with Syria that is no different fundamentally to peace with
Egypt. The only difference is the piece of paper we signed with the latter, the
contents of which no one remembers.”
“We call peace with Egypt ‘cold peace’ and this name suits our peace with Syria.
The Egyptian president visited Israel once only to attend the funeral of our
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and that was because the Americans forced him.
Furthermore, our border with Syria is more stable than our border with Egypt,
and our borders with Syria are calmer than Syria’s borders with Jordan and Iraq.
We do not visit Syria but we can visit Jordan and Egypt; this is not true
because we do not visit Jordan or Egypt either.”
“The border between Israel and Syria is clearly demarcated, and the troops are
separated. There are international observers, and each party knows its borders
precisely and has never overstepped them since the 1973 war. These borders have
lasted for several years, and the ceasefire was not violated despite the Lebanon
and Gaza wars, and even after various operations in which we directly confronted
Syria.”
“It is real peace and without having to return the Golan Heights. The real
problem would be if we abandon that kind of peace and go for peace with a
written agreement to relinquish the Golan Heights. That is when we would expect
deterioration. If there is withdrawal from the Golan Heights, apart from the
internal problems that will occur in Israel that will divide the nation in two,
we would have to face dangers of a different kind. In the first stage, the Golan
Heights would be full of Syrians.”
Bikhur estimates that approximately one million Syrians would go to the Golan
Heights shortly after Israel’s withdrawal. He said, “The Syrian government is
preparing to send Syrian migrants who fled the Golan Heights back there. Nearly
one hundred thousand Syrians fled their villages and towns and today they are
waiting for the day they can return home with their families. Those migrants
hate Israel, and would be an easy catch for Israel’s enemies, especially the
fundamentalists such as Hezbollah and Hamas. The migrants would be easily
recruited to take part in terrorist activities against Israel. I would not rule
out that President Bashar al Assad himself would back such operations as they
would rather keep them busy resisting Israel than changing the regime.”
“Fundamentalism in Syria is hostile to the national regime, which attempts to
impose modernity on Syria, and it wants the opportunity to topple the regime. If
the regime remains, Israel would suffer from Syrian terrorism, and if it is
overthrown, Israel would have a fundamentalist regime on its northern border,
destroying the current state of calm and moving us into a fierce long war. So
why would we need all this deterioration?”
Those in Israel who support the idea of peace with Syria are pinning their hopes
on the administration of US President Barack Obama to push on with the peace
negotiations. The US is a key factor in the issue of peace with Syria, according
to Liel.
“During the tenure of President Bush, the Americans were an invincible obstacle
to that peace. They wanted to punish President Bashar al Assad for backing
terrorist elements in Iraq. They considered the negotiations to return the Golan
Heights to Syria a gift the Syrian regime does not deserve because it hindered
US efforts in Iraq. Today however, when the Americans act in favour of that
peace, matters will change dramatically,” said Liel.
“Obama is conscious of Syria’s importance in the Middle East peace process. If
it took part in the peace process, it would serve as a positive factor in the
peace process in Iraq, with the Palestinians and in Lebanon. Syria is a key
player in all three fields that cannot be overlooked. Here lies the importance
of Syria’s ties to Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas; it can affect all three forces or
at least some of them. If it has a positive effect, it will be in favour of
peace. If the effect is that Syria abandons these forces and joins the peace
camp [it will also serve peace]. Both cases would serve in favour of peace.”