LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
May 12/09
Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus
Christ according to Saint John 14,21-26. Whoever has
my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me
will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, "Master, (then) what happened that you
will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?"Jesus answered and said to him,
"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will
come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not
keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent
me. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that
the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of
all that (I) told you.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters &
Special Reports
A Centrist Bloc or a Presidential Bloc?Elias
Harfoush/Dar Al-Hayat 10/05/09
Terrorist Traffic Via Syria
Again Inching Up.
By Karen DeYoung.Washington Post
11/05/09
Hizbullah's Struggle to
Change the Lebanese Regime. By:
Shimon Shapira & Yair Minzili/ Middle
East Strtegic Information MESI 11/05/09
Aoun’s virtues/Future
News 11/05/09
Between
Egypt and Hizbullah, a crisis just waiting to happen-By
Gamal A. G. Soltan 11/05/09
The
impact of Christians' exodus from the Mideast goes beyond religion-
The Daily Star 11/05/09
atest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for May
11/09
Jordan, Syria leaders seek US push in Mideast-AFP
Pope calls for two-state solution
on Israel visit-AFP
Pope hails courage of Mideast
Christians/Future News
Edde: Syria and Hizbullah exploit
Aoun/Future News
Edde:
Kesrouan List Will Be Done Soon after Boueiz's Change of Direction-Naharnet
Raad:
No Tripartite or Quadrate, We Want Taef Implementation in Full-Naharnet
Boueiz-
Abi Nasr War of Words-Naharnet
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
receives Jumblatt/Future News
Berri Rules Out Shortening Suleiman Term-Naharnet
Aoun
Denies Call for Tripartite Division of Power-Naharnet
Saudi Monarch Receievs Jumblat, Aridi-Naharnet
Kesrouan
Moves toward Joint Independents-March14 Election Ticket-Naharnet
Beirut 1 District
Approaches Consensus Settlement Between Lebanese Forces and Armenian Parties-Naharnet
Crisis in Zahle over
Shiite, Sunni Seats as Hariri Meets Dalloul-Naharnet
Lebanese Billboard Beauty
Sparks Ugly Election Row-Naharnet
Nasrallah Reassures Berri
over Parliament, Gives Aoun Morale Boost-Naharnet
Police to Display Confiscated
Equipment from Israel-Linked Spies: Fridge worth $100,000, USB $70,000-Naharnet
Terrorist Traffic Via Syria Again Inching Up-Washington
Post
Pope
urges Mideast Christians to promote peace-Daily
Star
'March 14 Forces embrace culture of life, which can defend Lebanon-Daily
Star
Berri
unveils Hizbullah-Amal lists, calls for eliminating sectarianism-Daily
Star
European Commission launches journalism prize-Daily
Star
Canadian observers to take part in poll monitoring-Daily
Star
Najjar defends judiciary's ability to conduct review-Daily
Star
Hizbullah accuses UN envoy of 'flagrant collusion with the Israeli aggressor-Daily
Star
Lebanese, Arab officials hold talks with Egypt to avert Nasrallah indictment-Daily
Star
New
ISF unit behind arrests of alleged Mossad agents-Daily
Star
Mitchell to visit Lebanon on next Mideast trip - reports-Daily
Star
Israel's
'sleeper cells' were building Hizbullah database-(AFP)
Rival
Lebanese Christian factions now hold political cards in Levant-Daily
Star
Beirut Stock Exchange rallies as investors look to Lebanon-Daily
Star
Dialogue seen as 'crucial' to Lebanon's future-Daily
Star
Lebanese homosexuals take fight for their rights public-Daily
Star
Summer Arabic program sees huge boost in interest-Daily
Star
Aoun’s virtues
Date: May 11th, 2009
Future News
If you listen carefully to Michel Aoun’s political theories during this
pre-electoral phase, you would think he is schizophrenic and that the
predicaments Lebanon was hit with, were nothing but hallucinations and
provocations. Out in the open, Aoun promises social justice, the end of squander
and corruption, calls for the proper application of secularism and economic
development. He also pledges working for national unity and civil peace. But if
you dig deep, very deep into Aoun, you would know he genuinely contradicts these
thoughts: the chivalrous General calls for secularism but always provokes
against one sect and terrorizes another, to instigate “accidental” ambitions
that were never true there.
He speaks of development, progress and civil peace, but asks the Lebanese to
choose between silence over March 8 militias and the fragmentation of the
Lebanese society, sparking civil war all over again. We must ask: how could
these militias get clearance to model the county’s policies at whim? On what
basis do they deal with the Syrian regime and Iranian Wilayat al-Faqih? How were
they able to run the Lebanese security realm? An additional contradiction lies
in distinguishing “mercenary” from “affiliation”. The General is not so generous
to teach civilians about the difference between “honest money” and “tainted
riches.” Aoun’s virtues have nothing to do with neither the reality nor the
interests of the Lebanese.
A
"Centrist" Bloc or a Presidential Bloc?
Elias Harfoush/Al-Hayat - 11/05/09//
Although President Michel Suleiman is not party to the elections, and although
he is not announcing candidates running under his sponsorship, the results of
these elections are expected to have major repercussions on the president's role
and on the function of the presidency in the coming phase. Indeed, the
'consensual' president, who was elected to the position about a year ago as an
exit from a political situation that had divided the country, has found himself
bound by a formula for governance imposed by the Doha Agreement. Instead of
being the country's ruler, who by his constitutional powers can manage state
institutions and direct them towards what he views as the proper choices, he has
been turned at the practical level into a mere arbiter and witness over
disputes. Indeed, the obstructing or guaranteeing one-third, which has now
become the rule for governance, prevents any decision from being taken, even if
it obtains the numerical majority within the cabinet of ministers, if this
one-third does not approve of it.
And since the president no longer votes in the cabinet of ministers, after the
amendments that were introduced to the Taif Agreement, the only solution to
restore his role within the government is for him to have a share in such a
government, represented by a number of ministers whose votes can go in the
direction of the decision he sees fit, as had been the case under all former
presidents. Such a share of the government must certainly come from a
parliamentary bloc that would be loyal to the choices of the President of the
Republic.
Thus there now is talk among political circles and quite publicly of what is
known as the centrist bloc. President Michel Suleiman makes no secret of his
desire to play his constitutional role, which presupposes that the President of
the Republic should himself be the 'obstructing one-third' within the
government. This means that he should be able to obstruct any decision if he
views this to be imposed by the public interest, of which he is considered to be
the custodian.
However, there are obstacles preventing such a bloc from being formed and
playing its role. The most important of these obstacles is the way the current
opposition views the role of the president. Indeed, the opposition only clung to
the formula of the solution in the Doha Agreement because it considers that if
the president violates his 'consensual' role, it would be a violation of this
agreement. Thus some opposition newspapers have criticized recent statements by
President Suleiman concerning his opinion of what the results of the elections
could lead to, as he considered that the winners will have to bear the
responsibility of showing Lebanon's position and preserving its stability, while
the losers will play the role of monitoring and holding accountable. In the
opinion of those in opposition, such a stance is at odds with the consensual
democracy that they call for, which is based on everyone's participation in the
national unity government that will be formed after the elections, in which the
minority would enjoy veto power within the cabinet, which seems to disagree with
the president's view.
It is no secret that such a view of the function of majority and opposition also
agrees with that of some within the March 14 Alliance who agree with the
President of the Republic on his political choices regarding restoring to the
state its sovereignty and the unity of its decisions. Moreover, the political
discourse of candidates loyal to Suleiman is not very far from that of the
leaders of the current majority, which only increases the reasons for concern on
the part of those who oppose this so-called centrist coalition.
Additionally, the centrist bloc will certainly be included in the share ascribed
to the Christians, which General Michel Aoun considers to be 'his share'.
Indeed, the general still considers that he made a sacrifice in Doha by agreeing
to the consensual president, and that the price of such a concession must be to
recognize him as the most powerful, and if possible sole, leader of the
Christians. Certainly such a role, if Aoun manages to obtain it by the results
of the elections, will place him in a position of direct confrontation with the
President of the Republic, the main position in terms of representing the
Christians within the state.
Between Aoun's enthusiasm to win the largest number of Christian seats and the
enthusiasm of other members of the opposition to cling to the president's
consensual role, President Suleiman will find himself faced with a question
regarding the function of the presidency for the five years to come: is it to
manage and monitor disputes or is it to once again produce a role that would
take from the shares of others in the interest of reinforcing the role of the
presidency and ensuring the functioning of state institutions? Perhaps the size
of the centrist bloc, if it is allowed to see the light of day, will answer that
question
Pope
slams anti-Semitism on Israel visit
Mon May 11, 6:40 AM
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Pope Benedict XVI denounced anti-Semitism and appealed for
Middle East peace based on a two-state solution on the latest leg of a
pilgrimage to press for reconciliation in the conflict-ridden region.
"Sadly anti-Semitism continues to rear its ugly head in many parts of the
world," Benedict said after he flew in from Jordan for a five-day tight-security
tour of Israel and the Palestinian territories. "This is totally unacceptable.
Every effort must be made to combat anti-Semitism whereever it is found, and to
promote respect and esteem for the members of every people, tribe, language and
nation across the globe."
The pope is hoping to repair Israel-Vatican relations which have been strained
over his backing for the beatification of controversial Nazi-era pope Pius XII
and lifting the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying British bishop. Benedict
also called for the creation of a Palestinian state and appealed for Israelis
and Palestinians to resolve their conflicthat has caused decades of bloodshed in
the land sacred to the world's three major monotheistic faiths.
"I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue in the
search for a just resolution of the outstanding difficulties so that both
peoples may live in peace in a homeland of their own within secure and
internationally recognised borders," he said. Israel's hawkish new Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting Egypt on Monday on his first
foreign trip since taking office, has so far failed to publicly support
Palestinian statehood. Security-obsessed Israel is laying on stringent measures
for the trip under "Operation White Robe", with tens of thousands of law
enforcement officers deployed and Israeli air space closed for the pope's
arrival.
In Jerusalem, where the 82-year-old pontiff flew in by helicopter from Israel's
international airport near Tel Aviv, entire sections of the city were to be shut
down on and off during his visit.
"Even though the name Jerusalem means 'city of peace,' it is all too evident
that, for decades, peace has tragically eluded the inhabitants of this holy
land," the pope said. "The hopes of countless men, women and children for a more
secure and stable future depend on the outcome of negotiations for peace between
Israelis and Palestinians." Benedict will follow in the footsteps of Jesus and
visit Jewish and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, Israel and the West Bank.
But the German-born pontiff is not expected to receive the warmth that greeted
his predecessor John Paul II on his landmark Holy Land tour in 2000, the first
since Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic ties in 1993. His trip is a
mainly pastoral visit aimed at encouraging the dwindling Christian population to
stay in the Holy Land, as well as promoting peace.
The pope will meet senior Israeli and Palestinian leaders, top Christian, Jewish
and Muslim religious officials, and Palestinian refugees living in the shadow of
Israel's controversial separation barrier near the spot where Jesus is believed
to have been born in Bethlehem. "I pray that your continuing presence in Israel
and the Palestinian territories will bear much fruit in promoting peace and
mutual respect among all the peoples who live in the lands of the Bible," he
said, addressing the Christians. The Palestinians hope to use his visit to
highlight their plight, with the West Bank still under Israeli occupation and
Gaza in ruins from Israel's devasting war on the territory at the start of the
year. Among the pope's first stops in Israel will be the Yad Vashem Holocaust
Memorial, where he will lay a wreath in memory of the six million Jews killed by
the Nazis during World War II. "It is right and fitting that during my stay in
Israel I will have the opportunity to honor the memory of the six million Jewish
victims of the Shoah and pray that humanity will never again witness a crime of
such magnitude," he said.
But he will pointedly not visit the area of the memorial where a caption under a
photo of Pius XII says the war-time pope failed to protest against the Holocaust
-- a stance that has angered the Vatican which disputes the claim. Benedict
unleashed a torrent of criticism in January when he lifted the excommunication
of Holocaust-denying British bishop Richard Williamson and three other
ultra-conservative bishops in what he called a "discreet gesture of mercy."
There is also concern among Jews over the Pius beatification and Benedict's
membership of the Hitler Youth, although he has said he was enrolled against his
will after membership became compulsory in 1941.
Edde: Syria and Hizbullah exploit Aoun
Date: May 11th, 2009 Source: As-shark al awsat
National Bloc leader Carlos Edde has said that Syria and Hizbullah exploited
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to divide the Christians, As-Sharq
Al- Awsat reported Monday.
“The Paper of Understanding between Aoun and Hizbullah provided the party’s
project with a Christian cover that it needs to pass its project.”Edde said that
by criticizing Aoun’s subservience to the Syrian- Iranian axis, he aims at
“making the Lebanese aware of the seriousness of the campaign launched by the
pro-Iranian Hizbullah and the Syrian regime against the Lebanese Judiciary which
aims at weakening the state’s institutions.”
A political battle against Aoun’s financial one
Date: May 10th, 2009
Future News
Some say that the US openness on Syria will reflect on Lebanon especially on the
June 7 parliamentary elections that will pave the way for a Syrian comeback to
Lebanon. This added to the renewal of sanctions against Syria caused by its
ongoing threats, indicate that the political scene is preparing to renew the
past four years experience. Meanwhile, the international atmosphere stresses on
the importance of these elections and on the threats caused by illegitimate
arms.
And while regional meetings has several options other than the deal at the
expense of Lebanon, this current week ends with many problems incited by General
Michel Aoun and the way he’s dealing with his allies and with those he promised
of being on his lists to finance his campaign. As for March 14, the non-stopped
progress in finalizing the parliamentary majority’s lists is spreading to
central Bekaa and to the Armenian seat of Beirut’s first district.
Reflections are showing
As Ambassador Patrick Laurent, head of the EU commission to Lebanon, was
stressing on “independent and transparent elections for a democratic and legal
state,” Aoun announced the FPM list of Baabda. The orange General excluded FPM
candidate Ramzi Kanj and replaced him by Bilal Farhat, the candidate of
Hizbullah that is trying to make up for its sacrifices trying to find a solution
between Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berry.
Although Aoun said, as he was announcing the list, that “the electoral battle
with Speaker Nabih Berry is only in Jezzine,” the Shiite community felt offended
and might penalize him in several districts, in spite of MP Ali Hassan Khalil’s
public reassurances.
Kesserwan’s battle is launched
Former MP Fares Souaid, candidate for one of the two Maronite seats in Jbeil,
said that the reflections to Aoun’s behavior started to show in several district
especially in Jbeil. He also asserted that he will run the elections despite
many attempts to corner him, and added that Hizbullah is trying to control the
region’s decision.
Contradicting information saying that ex-minister Fares Boueiz will withdraw his
candidacy in Aoun’s benefit, Boueiz asserted that he will run these elections,
and announced that a list of independents will soon be unveiled, adding that
there is no problem with March 14’s Carlos Edde joining this list.
Reconstruction projects… and vetoes
On the other hand, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora asserted that “our project is
for reconstruction and the others’ is for blockage,” and responded to the
critics against the policies of martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri by saying
that any tax imposed by the Cabinet is approved by the Parliament.
And while the Prime Minister was saying that peace in the Middle East cannot be
reached without a solution to the Palestinian conflict with Israel, Hizbullah’s
MP Muhammad Raad questioned the motives of the Lebanese government and its
backers by saying: “We are very satisfied for discovering spies of the enemy and
for the awareness of some of the security services that is using advanced
technologies which was maybe granted to track the opposition and its allies.”
'March 14 Forces embrace culture of life, which can defend Lebanon'
By Nafez Qawas
Daily Star correspondent
Monday, May 11, 2009
BEIRUT: Prime Minister Fouad Siniora reiterated Sunday that the March 14 Forces
embraced the "culture of life, which can defend Lebanon and its Arabism, rather
than the culture of death meant to destroy Lebanon." "The March 14 Forces are
always looking ahead and want the [June 7] polls to be held in a democratic and
healthy atmosphere," Siniora told supporters during an electoral rally in the
coastal city of Sidon. He reiterated that as of June 8 everyone has to work
together, even if they had different points of view. "This is a country that
accepts the other," he said.
On Saturday, Siniora said the March 14 Forces were working on rebuilding the
country and the economy. "Our agenda is to build and construct, while others
have a program to obstruct. Our policy is to negotiate; theirs is to deter."
He added that the cabinets he headed had achieved "the highest rate of growth in
Lebanon's history to an extent that it lowered the country's debt.
"Taxes are going to the state treasury to be spent on people's needs. However,
[financial] kickbacks are going to militias," Siniora said.
Democratic Gathering MP Marwan Hamadeh revealed on Sunday that the March 14
Forces were to hold a large-scale meeting "in the near future to discuss the
electoral battle."
Meanwhile, elections flurry heightened over the weekend with political parties
holding last-minute meetings to finalize electoral tickets or to clear up
misunderstandings.
The three opposition leaders, Hizbullah's Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Speaker Nabih
Berri and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, held late night talks
on Friday.
A Hizbullah statement said talks revolved around the June 7 polls in general,
and the polls in the mainly Christian southern of Jezzine in particular.
Berri and Aoun stressed that polls in Jezzine would be held in a "civilized
manner" although the speaker and the FPM leader will have two separate lists
running against each other. Aoun refused to include current Jezzine MP and
member of Berri's Development and Liberation Parliamentary bloc Samir Azar on
the FPM's ticket in Jezzine.
"The two sides stressed that these elections will not influence their
comprehensive electoral alliance in other districts and vowed to make efforts
with allies to increase participation and full voting for opposition lists," the
statement added.
Berri and Aoun also said election results in Jezzine would not affect the unity
of their parties.
The two agreed to form two separate and closed lists and promised to engage in a
"civilized and democratic" electoral battle in Jezzine.
Aoun on Saturday also announced the FPM's ticket in Baabda, which includes Ali
Ammar and Bilal Farhat for the Shiite seats, Naji Gharios for the Orthodox seat,
Fadi al-Aawar for the Druze seat, Alain Aoun and Hikmat Dib for the Maronite
seats.
On Sunday, MP Misbah Ahdab launched his electoral platform entitled "The
Lebanese Number" during a rally in Tripoli
"Today I declare that Tripoli will not make concessions nor will it kneel,
forget or obey orders," he said. Ahdab lashed out at the opposition and accused
them of "fabricating lies."
"The concept of the obstructing third and the third republic are only lies and
tricks that intend to frustrate Lebanon and its constitutional institutions, and
pave the way for the establishment of the Wilayat al-Faqih," he said, in
reference to the Free Patriotic Movement and Hizbullah.
"We, along with the residents of Tripoli, will fiercely defend the Special
Tribunal for Lebanon," Ahdab continued.
"I am still, and will always, follow the steps of martyr Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri and I did not wait for any return," he said
"We have stood side by side with [Future Movement leader MP] Saad Hariri and all
the honest people within the March 14 Forces," Ahdab added.
Ahdab was excluded from the "Tripoli Solidarity List," which is an alliance
between the Future Movement with former Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Economy
and Trade Minister Mohammad Safadi.
Also on Sunday, Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya called on its partisans to commit to
agreement with Hariri regarding the electoral alliances in Beirut and Sidon.
Hariri had discussed the upcoming Spring polls with Lebanese Forces leader Samir
Geagea during a meeting in the latter's residence in Maarab Friday evening.
In other elections-related news, former MP Fares Boueiz announced Saturday that
he would not refrain from running in the elections and thanked those who helped
him "avoid entering the cage of chicks," in reference to the Free Patriotic
Movement list in Kesrouan.
"We thank those who helped us avoid entering the cage of chicks and engage in a
blind commitment," Boueiz told a news conference at his residence in Zouk.
He also promised to run in the elections although he was excluded from the FPM
list in the district of Kesrouan.
Boueiz said that Aoun promised him "six times" that he would be included in the
list. Boueiz added that he was later surprised to hear he hadn't been included
in the Kesrouan ticket.
However, Boueiz promised that the list of "Independent Coalition Forces," in
which he would be a member, would be announced in the next few days.
He did not dismiss the possibility the list might include March 14 Forces
candidates in addition to independent candidates.
Meanwhile, MP Michel Murr said the Lebanese "will thwart all attempts to change
the regime in Lebanon."
"We won't allow the regime to fall, government to be hindered, we won't accept
any arms other than the army's, we won't accept a diminished presidency and we
won't accept Bkirki and the clergy to be slandered," Murr said during a meeting
with clerics from the Syriac Orthodox sect on Saturday.
"The electoral battle is between those that want to save Lebanon and those that
wish to destroy it," Murr said.
"We are waging the battle for saving Lebanon today; don't let the blood of
martyrs go to waste and let's keep Lebanon a homeland for all its citizens," he
added.
Saudi Monarch Receievs Jumblat,
Aridi
Naharnet/Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblat accompanied by Transport
and Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi headed to Riyadh on Sunday and later were
received by King Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz at the Yamama palace. The meeting
gained significance with the participation of eight leading Saudi figures that
attended the talks. The head of Saudi Intelligence Prince Muqrin Bin Abdel Aziz,
the Saudi monarch's advisor Prince Mansour Bin Nasser Bin Abdel Aziz, Prince
Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Muhammed al-Saud, Cabinet Chief Prince Abdel Aziz Bin Fahd
Bin Abdel Aziz, Culture Minister and former Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Abdel
Aziz Khoja, The king's advisor Abdel Mohsen al-Towijeri and the designated Saudi
ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Aassairi the daily Pan Arab al-Hayat reported on
Monday. No details were provided on the talks.
Beirut, 11 May 09, 11:40
Kesrouan Moves toward Joint Independents-March14 Election
Ticket
Naharnet/Kesrouan was moving toward forming a joint list of independent
parliamentary candidates and March 14 forces, the daily An Nahar reported
Monday.
Pan-Arab Al Hayat newspaper said, meanwhile, that contacts were underway to set
up a ticket that includes former MPs Mansour al-Bon, Fares Bouiz, Fares Haikal
al-Khazen and Phalange party official Sejaan Qazzi. Others were demanding the
nomination of a fifth candidate, al Hayat said. As Safir newspaper, for its
part, said Gen. Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement Kesrouan electoral list
was facing difficulties due to "conflicting accounts" in light of negotiations
between independent candidates and political parties that make up the March 14
coalition. It quoted well-informed sources from March 14 as saying Bouiz' stance
has opened room for the possibility of including him on the Kesrouan list.The
obstacle, however, was due to the "lack of enthusiasm by Lebanese Forces leader
Samir Geagea to cooperate with Bouiz," according to one source. Beirut, 11 May
09, 11:57
Aoun Denies Call for Tripartite Division of Power
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun has denied calls for
tripartite division of power, contrary to the Taef accord which stipulates equal
power sharing by Christians and Muslims. "Those saying we are seeking a
tripartite (division of power) are liars," Aoun said in an interview with New TV
late Sunday. He denied a newspaper report in which it quoted him as saying he
advocates the shortening of the President's term. Aoun attacked the leading An
Nahar newspaper, claiming it was the first to publish the issue of the
tripartite division of power. "It (An Nahar) is the biggest liar among all,"
Aoun told New TV. Not only that, he went about attacking slain MP Gebran Tueni,
who was editor-publisher of An Nahar, saying: "When the issue becomes a matter
of exploitation, we will tell the truth because history would judge the dead,
not the living." An Nahar hit back at Aoun, saying the former army general
has exceeded all standards as well as moral and legal boundaries. Aoun also
accused President Suleiman of "dualism," and hope Suleiman would clearly express
his opinion .
On the election ticket in Jbeil, Aoun said: "The Jbeil list was announced under
his (Suleiman's) name. People on the ground say something while the President
says something else."
He revealed that his new parliamentary bloc would include Marada Movement leader
Suleiman Franjieh as well as between 32 and 35 MPs. Aoun denied he had promised
former cabinet minister Fares Bouiz anything. "We are in a wait-and-see phase,"
he said. Aoun also underestimated Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, saying he is an
"accounting expert and not an economic or financial one" and announced that he
would give priority to a premier who enjoys both economic and financial
expertise. Beirut, 11 May 09, 09:42
Berri Rules Out Shortening Suleiman Term
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has ruled out shortening the term of President
Michel Suleiman. "Neither MP Michel Aoun nor anyone else has raised the
possibility of shortening the tenure of President Michel Suleiman," Berri said
in remarks published by several Beirut dailies on Monday. He was responding to
remarks attributed to Aoun that said the FPM leader would demand to shorten the
term of the president upon formation of the new parliament following the June 7
elections. Aoun also was quoted as saying that he would propose amending the
Taef accord. Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Monday said sources close to Aoun were
quick to "acquit" him of statements attributed to him about shortening of the
president's term. Berri reiterated his commitment to the Taef agreement. "I'm
not only committed to Taef accord 100 percent, but a million percent," Berri
stressed. Beirut, 11 May 09, 09:04
Police to Display Confiscated Equipment from Israel-Linked
Spies: Fridge worth $100,000, USB $70,000
Naharnet/Inspection of equipment confiscated from Israel-linked spies has showed
high-tech espionage with reports on Monday saying the price of the fridge used
to transmit pictures of Lebanon and Syria was estimated at $100,000 and the USB
$70,000. Local media said Lebanese security services have managed to decode the
difficult apparatus and supplies used by spies and were able to know their
techniques and characteristics.Lebanese police will display at noon Monday the
equipment seized from the Israel espionage network suspects.
A Lebanese security source told the daily As Safir in remarks published on
Monday that senior police officers will explain at a news conference the
significance and seriousness of the confiscated apparatus. He pointed to the
high price of some of the equipment like the fridge used by retired Lebanese
general Adib al-Alam that is worth around $100,000.
Alam used to store pictures he took of Lebanon and Syria in two small
refrigerators and would later transmit them to Israel. As Safir said the
detainees have made "important confessions."
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, meanwhile, said Lebanese intelligence on Saturday
arrested two suspects with links to Israel in the southern city of Tyre. It
quoted Lebanese security sources as saying that preliminary investigation with
brothers Mahmoud and Hussein Ahmed Shehab, who were arrested last Friday on
suspicion of spying for the Mossad, has revealed that they had been recruited
separately and that they were not aware of that. Beirut, 11 May 09, 08:11
Beirut 1 District Approaches Consensus Settlement Between Lebanese Forces and
Armenian Parties
Naharnet/Informed sources said the issue of the Armenian Catholic seat hindering
the announcing the Beirut 1 district for March 14 Forces is to be settled soon
by consensus between the Lebanese Forces (LF) and Armenian parties. The daily
an-Nahar reported on Monday. The daily pan-Arab al-Hayat mentioned that LF
leader Samir Geagea is proposed the withdrawal of his candidate Richard Qumujian
from Beirut 1 with the inclusion of retired Brigadier General Wehbe Qatisha to
March 14 Forces list in Akkar. Al Hayat added that MP Saad Hariri did not take
Geagea's proposal seriously. It added that Geagea took the example of Free
Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun's example of asking his allies for a
full electoral list in Jezzine. The daily al-Liwa on Monday spoke of an
understanding that would materialize following a wide meeting by the
parliamentary majority over the next few days in which the Armenian Catholic
(seat) issue would be settled to benefit candidate Sariks Tor Sarkisian
following the expected withdrawal of Qumujian. Hariri and Geagea held a meeting
Friday evening in which they both reviewed internal developments particularly
those pertaining to the elections and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Beirut,
11 May 09, 12:30
Crisis in Zahle over Shiite, Sunni Seats as Hariri Meets
Dalloul
Naharnet/Separate efforts by March 14 and March 8 forces to complete their
electoral lists in Zahle continued with the majority seeking to fill the Shiite
seat while the opposition looking for resolving the crisis over the Sunni seat.
A meeting in this regard is expected to be held Monday evening in Qoreitem
between MP Saad Hariri and parliamentary candidate Mihsen Dalloul.
The daily As Safir on Monday said it is likely that Hariri would name Dalloul
for the Shiite seat to replace Oqab Saqr. Pan-Arab Al Hayat newspaper, however,
said no comment has been made by Hairi circles in this regard. As Safir said
opposition cabinet minister Elie Skaff, in turn, has not yet made up his mind as
to who will fill the Sunni seat on his election ticket.
Beirut, 11 May 09, 11:02
Nasrallah Reassures Berri over Parliament, Gives Aoun
Morale Boost
Naharnet/Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was able to assuage the
concerns of his two main allies Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Michel Aoun over
parliament's presidency and electoral nominations in Jezzine, the daily An Nahar
reported Sunday. The three leaders held talks Friday night to discuss
parliamentary elections, particulary in Jezzine district.
"Hizbullah proved capable of adjusting disagreements within the ranks of the
opposition, especially in light of developments in Jezzine," that showed the
extent of divisions in the minority, sources told An Nahar. They said Nasrallah
gave Berri "implicit reassurances" over the latter's return to parliament after
the elections and boosted Aoun's standing by "not asking him to give up his
initial demands in Jezzine." Friday's meeting came after Aoun and Berri clashed
over forming a united list in the southern district of Jezzine with the former
refusing the speaker's nominee Samir Azar. Aoun then announced his intention to
run in "honest competition" against Berri in the district. The talks "resembled
a positive and much needed shock," that helped bridge the gap between Berri and
Aoun, the sources added. Aoun and Berri agreed to form two separate and closed
lists and promised to engage in a "civilized and democratic" electoral battle in
Jezzine. Beirut, 10 May 09, 11:49
Lebanese Billboard Beauty Sparks Ugly Election Row
Naharnet/As Lebanon's election approaches, the country's roadsides and rooftops
are awash with color-coded billboards vying to attract voters with puns,
catchphrases and even what some say are sexist ads. The campaign poster that has
sparked the most debate features the face of a brunette looking seductively at
the camera next to the slogan: "Sois belle et vote," or "Be beautiful and vote."
The advertisement, a play on the French saying "Sois belle et tais-toi," or "Be
beautiful and shut up," is part of a campaign supporting the election platform
of retired general Michel Aoun, a Christian opposition leader allied with
Hizbullah. The billboard sparked outrage among women's rights groups in the
Francophone country for its sexist premise.
But Sami Saab, who conceived and designed the ad, defended it as championing
equality. "It's a shout-out to all Lebanese women: where are you? Beauty is not
enough," Saab told Agence France Presse (AFP). "Every ad that sparks a debate is
a success. That was the goal." The ad campaign also includes a television spot
that follows a slim, seductive young woman as she slips out of her negligee into
a trendy little dress and then hits the voting booth in heels and designer
sunglasses. Lebanese women had mixed reactions to the ad, some judging it to
carry a progressive, feminist message while others accused it of demeaning
women. "I like the creative thinking behind it," said Rana Nader, a 28-year-old
Lebanese who works in finance. "They are playing on words in all their
campaigns. And besides, they're telling you: don't be lazy, get up, fix yourself
up, and go vote."
Other Lebanese women, however, were not as enthused. "I'm disappointed but not
surprised that electoral campaigning has degenerated to the level of
capitalizing on the image of the 'glamorous, beautiful and mindless' Lebanese
woman to win over votes," said Zahra Hankir, a 25-year-old Lebanese graduate
student.
"'Ugly' Lebanese women have something to say as well. The fact that this has to
be said indicates how behind we are when it comes to gender representation as
well as the voting process," she added. "Does citizenship exclude the 'ugly'
woman?"
Real political campaigns have long been absent in Lebanon, when portraits of
candidates traditionally spotted the landscape in election season.
Melhem Shaul, a sociologist who specializes in media studies, says that unlike
their counterparts in the West, politicians in Lebanon are still more concerned
with mobilizing as many of their supporters as possible than luring undecided
voters.
"Lebanese media campaigns are still at a very basic stage," he added.
Sarah Keyrouz, an advertising expert, says electoral ads lack either aesthetic
value or content.
"For some of these parties, it's enough to print prose or provocations."
The Sunni Future Movement, headed by slain ex-premier Rafik Hariri's son and
political heir Saad, base their slogans on the party's name with posters that
read: "The future is undoubtedly bright" and "We must build for the future."
Aoun's parliamentary bloc, named Change and Reform, immediately lashed back with
an ad that read: "The only future is Change."
Aoun's Christian rivals, the Kataeb (Phalange) party, coined the slogan "Your
stability is our project, the parliament our weapon" for their billboards.
The ads refer to the events of May 2008 in Beirut, when the Hizbullah-led
opposition seized control of parts of west Beirut and forced the closure of the
airport.
While Hizbullah's arsenal of weapons is the target of criticism by its opponents
in the governing coalition, the Shiite movement has adopted a more conciliatory
tone for its campaigns with slogans like: "Lebanon for all Lebanese" and "Resist
with your vote," in reference to Hizbullah's ongoing campaign against Israel.
About the only unifying theme among the billboard campaigns is their cry for the
Lebanese to cast ballots on June 7, when the Sunni-led, western-backed
parliamentary majority faces off against the opposition bloc, backed by Syria
and Iran. But many Lebanese aren't falling for it. "These billboards are not
going to add more voters to any side," said Rima Rassi, a 23-year-old sociology
graduate. "I doubt that any neutral or undecided Lebanese citizen will make a
sound decision concerning who to vote for just because of a billboard."(AFP)
Beirut, 11 May 09, 09:47
Canadian observers to take part in poll monitoring
Daily Star staff/Monday, May 11, 2009
BEIRUT: Canada is the latest country to participate in observation missions of
Lebanon June 7 parliamentary elections, its ministry of International
Cooperation announced on Friday. Canadian observers will work alongside around
80 other observers as part of a European Union (EU) mission to oversee voting
and the counting and tabulation of the results. "The Government of Canada
continues to support election observation missions, aiming to ensure all
elections are fair and democratic," said Canadian Minister of International
Cooperation, Beverley Oda. - The Daily Star
Lebanese, Arab officials hold talks with Egypt to avert
Nasrallah indictment
By Dalila Mahdawi /Daily Star staff
Monday, May 11, 2009
BEIRUT: Lebanese and Arab officials are engaged in "calm" dialogue with Egypt to
prevent Hizbullah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah from being prosecuted along
with several other members for plotting attacks in the North African country.
"There is clearly an atmosphere of calm. This is obvious by the appeasing tone
being adopted by national newspapers toward Hizbullah," the suspects' defense
attorney Khaled Ali told the pan-Arab daily newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on
Sunday. "The whole issue will unfold once [Egypt's] High State Security
prosecution announces its decision to refer the accused" to court, he said,
adding that would be done in the coming days. The lawyer also confirmed rumors
that another suspect, Mossaid al-Sharif, had been arrested, but said he didn't
know if he had been arrested on Egyptian soil. Authorities in Cairo may also
"have arrested more suspect who fled the country," Ali said.
Egypt announced in April it had arrested 49 men linked to Hizbullah on charges
of plotting attacks against Egyptian infrastructure and Israeli tourists in the
country's Sinai area. Nasrallah has publicly refuted the allegations, accusing
Egypt of launching a ferocious campaign against the Shiite group in a bid to
tarnish its reputation ahead of parliamentary elections in June.
"We didn't set up a cell in Egypt and we do not intend to set up a cell in
Egypt," Nasrallah said in a televised speech earlier this month. "We are not
seeking to target Egypt, its security, its regime or its stability."
Nasrallah did however acknowledge that one of the arrested men, Mohammad Youssef
Mansour, otherwise known as Sami Shihab, was a member of Hizbullah. Mansour was
in Egypt to provide military support to Palestinian resistance fighters in the
Gaza Strip, Nasrallah said.
The newspaper also quoted an unidentified Egyptian Foreign Ministry official as
denying reports of mediation efforts in the case. "There are no negotiations on
an issue managed by the Judiciary," the source said.
Rival Lebanese Christian factions now hold political cards
in Levant
By Anthony Elghossain /Special to The Daily Star
Monday, May 11, 2009
WASHINGTON: One year after the Lebanese clashed with each other in an eruption
of violence that cost the lives of some 200 individuals, the country tensely
awaits parliamentary elections on June 7. One month from now, the Lebanese will
take to the streets again. This time, however, the battle is for ballots.
Unfolding in a playground open to the ambitions of regional and international
powers alike, the Lebanese election is likely to impact American policy with
respect to Syria and Iran.
To make clear the consequences of a Hizbullah victory, some State Department
officials have stated that American aid to Lebanon hinges on the election
results, although there are some murmurs that Lebanon will not be isolated like
Gaza, regardless of the electoral outcome in June.
The struggle in Lebanon has been framed as part of a regional stand-off pitting
the United States, Sunni Arab regimes, and Israel against Syria, Iran, and
various non-state actors (including Hizbullah). Much is true in this view the
region, but the Lebanon's fate now lies elsewhere. For all the emphasis on
democrats and despots, moderates and extremists, and Sunnis and Shiites, rival
Lebanese Christian factions now hold the political cards in the Levant.
Christians and Muslims receive equal representation in Lebanon's Parliament,
making Christians politically significant even after relative political decline.
In Lebanon, internal unity is a prerequisite for effective communal politics:
Shiites have coalesced around Hizbullah and Sunnis have united behind the Hariri
family, but the Christians remain divided. An ideological rift over Lebanon's
orientation toward the West and the Middle East has combined with a barebones
struggle for internal supremacy to severely hinder Christian cohesion in
Lebanon.
On the one hand stands former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel's Phalange party
and former militia leader Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces (LF). Both parties are
hostile to Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs, and are currently part of a
coalition supported by the United States and the West. On the other hand stands
a camp that revolves around former General Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement
(FPM). At a crossroads, the FPM advocates for Lebanese sovereignty and a
Christian voice in the political system, but has allied with Hizbullah, which
receives Syrian and Iranian support.
Rivalry between these factions has divided the Christian community since the
late 1980s, when Geagea and Aoun disagreed over negotiations to end the Civil
War and struggled for power in an autonomous Christian enclave. The dispute
culminated in a "war of brothers," which resulted in the emigration of hundreds
of thousands of Lebanese Christians and allowed Syrian troops to enter the
Christian enclave. This remains a bittersweet moment in the Christian psyche
for, although Syrian involvement ended the Civil War, it also brought a
15-year-long occupation.
Aoun's subsequent exile and Geagea's imprisonment (both arguably orchestrated by
Syria) silenced Christian opposition to Syrian tutelage in Lebanon in the 1990s,
but common cause led to cooperation between the parties. Two decades after the
end of the Civil War, with Syrian troops out of Lebanon, the rivalry has
renewed.
In 2005, Aoun returned to Lebanon and swept the Christian vote (Geagea was
released from prison after the elections). Surprisingly, Aoun's FPM assembled a
large parliamentary coalition without support from other major parties. Shortly
thereafter, the growing rift between Aoun and other Lebanese leaders led him to
sign a controversial memorandum of understanding with Hizbullah.
Whatever Aoun's motivations for realignment were - indeed, there are valid
claims that the anti-Syrian coalition shunned him to check his growing influence
- the FPM's move is at the heart of Christian uncertainty in the country.
Cooperating with Hizbullah has clearly cost the party support, but this has not
necessarily translated into affirmative gains by the other factions.
Much of the Christian electorate remains (publicly) undecided; though Aoun's FPM
is still the largest Christian group in Lebanon, a large measure of its success
in 2005 was due to alliances with local politicians. Some alliances have
faltered, and those that survive may actually hinder Aoun this time around.
In the pivotal Metn region, for example, local boss Michel Murr left the FPM's
umbrella coalition last year. Murr's hold on municipal authority and close ties
to the crucial Armenian swing vote make him a kingmaker in the area. In what
would be a crushing blow to Aoun's political prospects, Murr is on the brink of
forming a coalition with the Phalange.
Elsewhere, in the town of Zahle, local chief Elias Skaff continues to support
Aoun. However, Skaff is at the center of a controversy surrounding last year's
shooting of two Phalange party members. The opposing parties are still trading
accusations and ramping up support, and it remains to be seen whether the
Phalange and LF can defeat the FPM-Hizbullah bloc in this historically
anti-Syrian district. Finally, Aoun's troubles were made worse by an uproar over
Hizbullah's presence in Kesrouan, a staunchly nationalist district in the
Christian heartland. Hizbullah has triggered insular Christians' suspicions by
placing outposts in the area, which lies north of Beirut, and failing to explain
how such activity fits with its external fight against Israel. Aoun may have
swept Kesrouan in 2005, but his allies' actions have moved the district back
into play.
Of course, Aoun's FPM may very well triumph in the elections, particularly if a
year-long political truce has blunted Christian indignation over a May 2008
Hizbullah offensive on Beirut (Sunnis, who bore the brunt of the fighting's
consequences, remain bitter). Importantly, though, close contests exist where
none did before. With the Shiite, Sunni, and Druze seats a foregone conclusion,
only the Christian corridor running through Lebanon's center is up for grabs.
Christian division may have contributed to a fall from grace, but it has also
carried the seeds of new relevance. With Lebanon's other communities squarely in
one regional camp or another, Christians are the sole wildcard. Those playing
games in the Middle East had better take notice.
Anthony Elghossain is a J.D. candidate at The George Washington University Law
School and a former journalist for The Daily Star.
Hizbullah accuses UN envoy of 'flagrant collusion with the
Israeli aggressor'
By Dalila Mahdawi /Daily Star staff
Monday, May 11, 2009y
BEIRUT: Hizbullah denounced on Saturday comments made by a top UN envoy
criticizing the Shiite group for providing assistance to Palestinian resistance
fighters in Gaza through Egypt.
The group issued a statement accusing Terje Roed-Larsen of backing Israel's
campaign of "criminal practices" against the Palestinians, saying the UN had
"acquitted Israel of all the massacres and attacks that its army committed in
the Gaza Strip during its most recent aggression." The position taken by the
international body demonstrated "flagrant collusion with the Israeli aggressor
and ongoing persecution of the victims," Hizbullah said, calling on the
organization and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "to be far above such positions
and to be fair for the sake of human rights, especially the rights of the
Palestinian people." The UN's reputation was "gradually collapsing" because of
its bias and favoritism of criminals, the statement added.
Roed-Larsen said on Thursday that Hizbullah's armed wing and activities outside
Lebanese territory threatened the stability of Lebanon and the Middle East,
adding that the UN was concerned by the group's admission of having provided
support to Palestinian fighters. He also called Hizbullah's military arsenal a
"direct challenge" to Lebanese sovereignty. Roed-Larsen is tasked with
overseeing implementation of Resolution 1559, which calls for Lebanese militias
to disarm and for an end to foreign interference in the country.
Dialogue seen as 'crucial' to Lebanon's future
By Marc Abizeid /Special to The Daily Star
Monday, May 11, 2009
BEIRUT: The University of Saint-Joseph (USJ) became host to a series of
lectures, discussions and debates among over a dozen professors and organization
leaders during a three-day seminar last week to mark the entry of Lebanon into
the United Nations' Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) initiative.
The seminar, titled "Alliance of Civilizations: Lebanese Visions," examined the
issues of conflict resolution, globalization, identity and democracy as they
pertained to Lebanon. Over 20 speakers participated in the seminar, which opened
on Tuesday and concluded Thursday.
"A participatory and inclusive dialogue is crucial for the democratic future of
Lebanon," UNDP resident representative Marta Ruedas said during the seminar's
opening session.
Participants hoped that Lebanon's inclusion into the initiative would help
nurture peace and stability in a country rocked by regional and internal wars
and conflicts.
"Cultural and confessional divisions between the different communities are still
deep in Lebanon and could in time be harming the democratic institutions ... if
efforts to improve understanding and a culture of dialogue are not strengthened
and prioritized," Ruedas added.
AOC was launched by the United Nations secretary general in 2005 and
co-sponsored by the Spanish and Turkish governments as an initiative to bond
nations, cultures and religions. The alliance is today made up of 84 countries
and 17 international organizations.
The events were sponsored by United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the
Spanish embassy, USJ, Lebanese University and Casa çrabe.
"The [AOC] aims to bridge the gap between the Islamic World and the West because
the founding principles of the alliance stipulate that if the gap between these
two regions widens, international peace and stability may be threatened," said
M‡ximo Cajal, special representative of the Spanish president in charge of AOC.
Cajal offered remarks Wednesday during a roundtable discussion focusing on
intercultural cooperation and conflict resolution. The discussion was the first
of four over the last two days of the seminar, each focusing on a different
theme. Information Minister Tarek Mitri, representing Lebanese President Michel
Sleiman, also gave an address during the seminar in which he repeated the need
for dialogue and cooperation - themes which were echoed throughout the seminar.
"Dialogue between civilizations is a great responsibility in order to avoid a
clash of civilizations," he said. "Instant dialogue will not contribute to
avoiding conflicts and tensions but a buildup will fortify the [AOC]." Speaking
on the last day of the seminar during a discussion on democracy, Nawaf al-
Moussawi, researcher of philosophy, Sufism and political thought, called for
Lebanon to adopt a system of proportional representation as a means to establish
consensual democracy. He also called on "the friends of Lebanon" to end meddling
with internal affairs, saying interference was one of the factors preventing the
country from establish consensual democracy, and criticized Western descriptions
of Israel as a model of democracy for the Middle East. "The racist Israeli model
is not very reassuring to us," he said.
The impact of Christians'
exodus from the Mideast goes beyond religion
By The Daily Star /Monday, May 11, 2009
Editorial
Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the Middle East this week has cast an international
spotlight on the plight of this region's Christians, whose numbers across the
region have dwindled considerably in recent years. Some would point to the
declining ranks of Christians in this part of the world as evidence that Muslims
are incapable of co-existing with people of other religions. While it is true
that Christians do face discrimination in some Arab states, it is more often
violence or economic crisis - not oppression - that compels them to join the
ranks of the diaspora. Like other minorities around the world, Middle Eastern
Christians have been among the first to suffer whenever their nations are
invaded by foreign forces or torn apart by internal conflict, and they are among
the hardest-hit in times of economic hardship. Nearly half of the 800,000
Christians who resided in Iraq before the 2003 US-led invasion of the country
have fled. Scores of Christian Palestinians, like their Muslim counterparts,
have been driven out of their ancestral homeland, and those who remain behind
are forced to endure the physical and economic hardships of living under Israeli
occupation. Tens of thousands of Lebanese have fled their country's multiple
conflicts, or have left their homeland to pursue better economic opportunities.
Likewise, Jordan has lost around 20 percent of its Christians, in spite of the
fact that their community enjoys full legal rights and official support.
The impact of this massive flight of human beings from our region extends well
beyond the realm of religion. Among the ranks of these refugees are some of the
most educated professionals of the Middle East, and their absence has
contributed to own economic decline. Moreover, the flight of human talent
increases the chances of future instability, making the problem of brain drain
and conflict a cyclical one. During his visit to the region, the pope encouraged
the few Christians who remain in the region to persevere in spite of the ongoing
hardships that they face. While the pontiff was focusing on the Christian
community in particular, the solutions that are required to keep that minority
community from fleeing their homelands are remedies that would benefit all of
the peoples of this region: conflict resolution, peacemaking and economic
development.
Between Egypt and Hizbullah, a crisis just waiting to happen
By Gamal A. G. Soltan
Daily Star
Monday, May 11, 2009
The current tension between Egypt and Hizbullah is a crisis that has been
waiting to happen for years. The causes of tension between the two sides are
multifaceted. This is a conflict between nationalism and supra-nationalism,
between Egypt and Iran, between moderation and radicalism, between Sunnis and
Shiites and between status quo and revisionist forces in the Middle East.
Hizbullah's ideology, its nature as a non-state armed actor and its strong
alliance with Iran are sufficient to generate heavy doubts and concerns among
mainstream Arab states regarding the movement.
Until the year 2000, Hizbullah's dedication to the mission of ending Israeli
occupation in southern Lebanon helped offset these concerns. But since the
unilateral Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in May of that year, apprehension has
been rising regarding the possibility that Hizbullah is redirecting its
capabilities toward further destabilization of the region.
Hizbullah interference in other countries' internal affairs was bound to happen.
Hizbullah successfully established itself as a Lebanese national resistance
movement during the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. As such, it was able
to conceal the other dimensions integral to its identity. The ideology of
Hizbullah commits the party to the goals and strategies of the revolutionary
Islamic movement: transforming the nature of Middle East political systems and
societies and the liberation of all of Palestine.
Ironically, the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 was at the same time
Hizbullah's greatest achievement and the development that denied the party the
capacity to further conceal its supra-national identity. The partial
stabilization of the situation in southern Lebanon in the aftermath of the 2006
conflict made a new Hizbullah adventure across the Lebanese-Israeli border
unlikely. Hizbullah had to find other venues for demonstrating its hard-line
anti-Israel stand. It was Gaza that gave the party a new opportunity to maintain
its anti-Israel credentials.
The extra-territorial revolutionary forces of Islamism have gained tremendous
influence in the past few years. The many mistakes committed by the United
States in the post 9/11 period granted revolutionary Islamism a golden
opportunity to advance its popularity among the peoples of the Middle East.
Moreover, US policy has been instrumental in granting Iran precious
opportunities to further its influence in the region. The combined power of
radical Islamism and the state of Iran expose moderates in the Middle East to
tremendous pressure.
The current Hizbullah-Egypt affair should be perceived within this context.
Egypt, like any other state, cannot tolerate the encroachment of either a
foreign government or a non-state armed actor on its sovereignty and national
security. The strong Egyptian reaction to the arrest of Hizbullah's operatives
in Egypt, however, indicates that Egypt's concerns and objectives go beyond the
mere elimination of the illegal ring of Hizbullah's operatives. Egypt is
apparently turning this incident into an opportunity to convict Hizbullah of
committing the capital crime of tampering with the national security of a
neighboring state.
Radical revisionist forces in the Middle East have been able during the past
couple of years to obfuscate the distinction between their national and
supra-national goals. Claims have been made by radicals that the security and
interests of Middle East peoples and states are not to be put at risk as a
result of the radical policies pursued in places such as Gaza and Lebanon.
Legitimate sympathy with the plight of the Palestinians at the time of a failing
Middle East peace process has allowed radicals the opportunity to market their
claims region-wide. Yet the ring of Hizbullah's operatives shut down in Egypt
and the kinds of activities they plotted on Egyptian soil demonstrate the risks
posed to states' national security by these same radical tactics and policies,
alongside the inherent conflicts between rival orientations in Middle East
politics.
Egypt's strategy in handling the Hizbullah ring it captured seeks the
achievement of a number of goals. On the domestic level, there is an attempt to
capitalize on the incident to win back the support of segments of the Egyptian
public that were lost to radical propaganda during the past few years. The
Hizbullah case lends itself to the mobilization of the Egyptian sense of
national identity that had been overwhelmed by strong waves of Arabism and
Islamism. The recent conflict in Gaza, in particular, was successfully employed
by radicals to advance their supra-national cause. Winning the Egyptian public
back to Egyptian nationalism is instrumental as a legitimating strategy and as a
safeguard against further trespassing by radical regional forces against
Egyptian security and interests.
Egypt's escalated reaction against Hizbullah is designed to deter the
revolutionary pro-Iran party from further encroaching on its interests. It
provoked Iranian officials to come to the rescue of their valuable ally: the
harsh words exchanged between Iranian and Egyptian officials reveal the regional
dimension of the incident. Egypt is interested in mobilizing the moderate Arab
states against this Iranian and radical influence.
Egypt also seeks to contribute to stability by containing conflicts between
radicals and moderates region-wide. Yet it is not satisfied with the terms of
the nascent reconciliation between radicals and moderates in the Arab world. In
particular Egypt, which was strongly targeted by the inflammatory radical
propaganda of Hizbullah, Syria and Iran as they sought to mobilize the Egyptian
public against its government and regime during the Gaza conflict, will not
subscribe to a reconciliation that allows the radical forces to continue
enjoying the same freedom of action as before.
**Gamal A. G. Soltan is a senior research fellow in Al-Ahram Center for
Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo and a visiting professor of political
science at the American University in Cairo. This commentary first appeared at
bitterlemons-international.org, an online newsletter.