Barak: Israel to target Lebanon if Hezbollah escalates tension
By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent
Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday warned Lebanon that it, not Hezbollah, would be the target of retaliatory attacks should the militant group escalate tension along Israel's northern border. "Lebanon grants Hezbollah permission to operate on its soil," said Barak. "We must clarify for the international community that we do not accept that a militia like Hezbollah exists in Lebanon, a sovereign country, and even sits in its parliament." Barak added that it holds Lebanon responsible for any conflict with Hezbollah. "Hezbollah is not our target," in such a case, said Barak. "Our target will be the state of Lebanon." Barak made his comments at a meeting with regional leaders in the north, where he stressed that he holds the Lebanese government responsible for any conflict along the border with Lebanon. The defense minister added that Israel's deterrence power will last some time. Barak also addressed peace talks with the Palestinians, saying that a two-state solution is the best formula for resolving the conflict, but stressed that a regional peace involving Syria is of utmost importance to Israel. Earlier this month, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Hezbollah guerrillas now possess tens of thousands of rockets, some capable of reaching up to 300 kilometers within Israel. These capabilities would put Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as well cities much further south, into rocket range. "There is a war in the Middle East between two camps, the extreme and the moderate, which is pushing Iran to take radical steps. Without Iran's support to finance weapons and terror groups they would be lacking the means available to them today," said Ashkenazi. Israel, the United Nations and Hezbollah itself have all said that the militia is stronger today than it was during the Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

Four charged in 2d Hezbollah case with Phila. link
By Nathan Gorenstein and John Shiffman
Inquirer Staff Writers/Philadelphia Inquirer
Three Lebanese nationals and one U.S. resident were charged yesterday with attempting to obtain 1,200 M4 military assault weapons for Hezbollah, in the second set of such charges in as many days from Philadelphia.
An alleged Hezbollah arms dealer was arrested in Philadelphia on Saturday, and U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy said, "We are dealing with two different groups trying to buy M4s."
Three of the four men charged yesterday are still in Lebanon. A fourth man, identified as Moussa Ali Hamdan of Brooklyn, N.Y., is also overseas, according to prosecutors. Apprehending them is likely to be problematic.
Both the earlier allegation - that the Hezbollah arms supplier attempted to buy Stinger antiaircraft missiles and other weapons - and yesterday's charges grew out of the same investigative effort by the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said a senior ICE official in Washington.
The new case involves an informant who the indictment indicates has resided in Philadelphia. The senior ICE official said the investigations were significant because "this one is the first in a while in which we've seen direct [attempted] arms sales." "These were two networks of individuals connected to Hezbollah, all connected through a cottage industry," he said, referring to charges that both groups bought and sold stolen and counterfeit merchandise. ICE, the Department of Homeland Security's primary law enforcement agency, plays a major role in the effort to curb the illegal export of military goods.
An additional six men also indicted in the latest case allegedly participated in the purchase and transportation of stolen cell phones, laptops, computer games, and automobiles. They are from Brooklyn; Staten Island, N.Y.; Michigan, and Plainsboro, N.J., and do not face charges that they acted to support Hezbollah.
Five of those men are in custody in Philadelphia. On the charges of supporting Hezbollah, the indictment says Dib Hani Harb of Beirut e-mailed the "cooperating witness" and asked for photographs of firearms available. On June 20, the informant met with a Hezbollah official and discussed selling weapons.
Three days later, Harb and a second Lebanese national, Hassan Hodroj, allegedly said they would buy 1,200 M4s for $1,800 per weapon. The indictment does not allege that any weapons changed hands. The informant also discussed the sale of counterfeit U.S. currency, and in April met in Florida with Harb, who allegedly told him Hezbollah worked "18 to 20 hours a day counterfeiting many currencies." In September, about $9,200 in fake currency allegedly was mailed to the informant in Philadelphia.
Harb and a third Lebanese, Hasan Antar Karaki, also allegedly supplied the informant with two fake passports, one for the United Kingdom, the other for Canada. The allegations are that the men raised money for Hezbollah by producing and selling fake passports.
Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the latest charges "seem to confirm a new avenue of support from, of all places, inside the United States. This is a significant and troubling development." The timeline in the indictment indicates the informant first got involved with the Lebanese by supplying them with supposedly stolen goods.
The merchandise, including hundreds of cell phones and at least one vehicle, was purchased in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and then shipped to New York, Benin, Lebanon, and Venezuela, according to the indictment. It was provided by the informant and is described as "purportedly" stolen.

U.S. Accuses 10 People of Supporting Hizbullah with Weapons
Naharnet/U.S. prosecutors on Tuesday accused 10 people of having supported Hizbullah with weapons, fake passports, counterfeit money, stolen laptops and game consoles.
It was the second set of such charges to be brought in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in as many days.
Four of the men were indicted on Tuesday -- three from Lebanon and a fourth, Moussa Ali Hamdan, from New York -- on charges of "conspiring to provide material support to Hizbullah." They faced 15 to 30 years in prison. Another six were charged with related crimes. According to the indictment, Hassan Hodroj and Dib Hani Harb of Beirut sought to export to the Port of Latakia in Syria about 1,200 Colt M-4 machine guns in June at a price of some 1,800 dollars a piece with the help of a contact who was in fact an undercover federal agent.
With the help of Hamdan and fellow Lebanese Hasan Antar Karaki, Harb is also accused of having sought to support Hizbullah using proceeds from the sale of fraudulent passports, stolen money and about 9,200 dollars in counterfeit U.S. currency hidden inside a photo album. Harb told the undercover agent that the genuine stolen money came from a string of robberies led by Hizbullah supporters and later smuggled into Lebanon to raise funds for the group.
He also claimed that "Iran manufactured high-quality counterfeit U.S. currency for the benefit of Hizbullah," the indictment said. Hamdan and three others -- two Americans and a Venezuelan -- were charged with having spearheaded the trafficking of over 1,500 cellphones, nearly 150 laptop computers, 400 Sony PlayStation 2 systems and three cars starting around late 2007. The goods -- which the undercover agent presented as stolen and sold to the defendants for a total of over 153,000 dollars in New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- were transported to New Jersey, New York, Benin, Lebanon and Margarita Island, Venezuela. Hamdan, Hamze el-Najjar and Alaa Allia Ahmed Mohamed of Brooklyn, New York, Moustafa Habib Kassem of Staten Island, New York, Maodo Kane of the Bronx, New York and Michael Katz of Plainsboro, New Jersey were charged with having purchased several thousands dollars worth of purportedly counterfeit goods. Among the merchandise were over 5,500 pairs of Nike shoes and 334 Mitchell & Ness sports jerseys.
"Today, through the well-coordinated effort of all involved agencies, a blow has been struck to Hizbullah's efforts to fund its terrorism activities," said Special Agent-in-Charge Janice Fedarcyk of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Philadelphia division. Assistant Attorney General for National Security David Kris noted that "the allegations contained in this complaint demonstrate how terrorist organizations rely on a variety of underlying criminal activities to fund and arm themselves."Five Lebanese nationals were charged on Monday for engaging in similar trafficking activities, including dual Slovakia and Lebanon resident Dani Nemr Tarraf, who allegedly sought to ship anti-aircraft Stinger missiles and about 10,000 Colt-M4 machine guns to Syria and other ports.(AFP) Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 07:29

Constitutional Council Dismisses All Parliamentary Election Challenges
Naharnet/President of the Constitutional Council Issam Suleiman revealed that "the resolutions of the Constitutional Council regarding the last parliamentary elections were issued on Wednesday noon." Suleiman told the press Wednesday that he informed President Michel Suleiman of the results of those challenges, and that he was also about to inform each of Speaker Nabih Berri and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud. Suleiman revealed that all parliamentary election complaints were turned down unanimously by all of the Constitutional Council's members, adding that no conclusive evidence of election fraud was found to annul any of the votes. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 16:44

Aoun Asks Berri to Withdraw 'Abolishing Political Sectarianism' from Public Discussion
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Wednesday asked Speaker Nabih Berri to withdraw the topic of abolishing political sectarianism from public discussion in order for the parliamentary blocs' leaders "to study it away from the uproar."Aoun was speaking after the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, he answered a question by saying he heard that the president of the Constitutional Council had turned down all parliamentary election challenges but was waiting for the official issuance of verdicts to comment on the subject.

Aoun considered the disciplinary measures taken against a judge for bribery as a part of the reform principles.
"There should have been an investigation instead of a dispute over disciplinary measures inside the Internal Security Forces institution," said Aoun, adding that there should be "a serious reconsideration for the hierarchy of ISF."Aoun said that his meeting with MP Walid Jumblat was for finding common grounds in Mount Lebanon and for restoring piece of mind for its residents. On the other hand, the leader of FPM stressed that nothing was scheduled yet regarding reconciliation with each of Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.Aoun denied that the FPM started a war against Maj. Gen. Issam Abu Jamra and said that Abu Jamra was to personally allocate his position inside FPM.
Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 19:59

March 14: Berri's Suggestion Timing Raises Logical Queries
Naharnet/March 14 forces general-secretariat hoped that the ministerial Policy Statement would meet the aspirations of the Lebanese in the stability of the State institutions after a long period of anxiety, obstruction, and stalemate. A statement issued after its weekly meeting on Wednesday said that "at this time, and under the Taef Accord headline, very sensitive issues are being raised, although important, such as the call for forming the National Commission for the Abolition of Political Sectarianism immediately."
March 14 forces considered that call, in its form and timing, as a generator of logical queries such as:
"1. How can we match between that call, and what we witness today of a defect in national balance due to arms that are making some press on in building their own entity -- politically, geographically, security-wise, financially, and culturally? 2. Can this issue be raised in a manner that reminds of the "intimidation" style adopted by the "security regime" during its days?
3. Wasn't it comprehensible, through the discussions of the Taef convention -- and the statements of national, spiritual, and political leaders -- that approaching the subject is conditioned by reassuring everyone and by providing general stability so that it doesn't contradict its reform goal? 4. Can we rush to discuss the subject while the State is suffering from a terrible defect in its sovereignty and the stability of its institutions?" Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 19:17

Geagea: Abolishing Political Sectarianism Topic Raised to Avoid Discussing Resistance
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday said that "the other side wants to keep the same formula mentioned in the previous ministerial Policy Statement regarding the presence of arms outside the scope of the State and the defensive strategy." Geagea was addressing a delegation from NDU students after their victory in student election.
He added: "March 14 ministers expressed their opinion regarding the issue of the resistance, like the other party names it, as some of that party raised the issue of abolishing political sectarianism instead of tackling the ongoing discussions on the ministerial statement or the reformations ongoing in Justice Ministry or the economical and social needs of the Lebanese for example." Geagea quoted the Lebanese Constitution introduction that states "no legitimacy for any authority that contradicts the coexistence charter" by deviating it into "no legitimacy for any arms other than the arms of the State because that contradicts the coexistence charter." LF leader added: "The June 7 parliamentary election was a survey on the resistance in Lebanon according to March 8 leaders' statements, however that happened and the result was that the majority of the Lebanese people proved that they do not want the resistance to keep its current status." Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 18:41

Committee Meeting Marred by Harb-Bassil Clash, 9th Session to Finalize Political Chapter
Naharnet/The ministerial committee's eighth meeting on the policy statement was marred by a dispute between ministers Boutros Harb and Jebran Bassil, An Nahar daily reported Wednesday. The committee resumes its discussions on Wednesday as media reports said the ninth session is expected to finalize the political chapter even if the policy statement was drafted amid reservations by some parties. Information Minister Tareq Mitri said, however, that there might be a need for a 10th session on Thursday to put the final touches on the statement. An Nahar said that Harb and Bassil exchanged accusations during Tuesday's meeting that dealt with the resistance issue and Lebanese-Syrian ties.
As Safir daily, in its turn, said Minister Salim al-Sayegh, who represents the Phalange party in the cabinet, and Harb held onto their reservations. Meanwhile, Premier Saad Hariri, who is trying to convince majority Christian ministers not to have reservations over the resistance article in the statement, tried to appease both sides. He held a meeting with Hizbullah representative Minister Mohammed Fneish and then with Harb and Sayegh. Hariri also made an attempt to convince Phalange leader Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea to agree to a consensus policy statement. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 10:00

Israel Readying New Generation of Armaments to Defend itself against Iran, Hizbullah
Naharnet/With cutting-edge anti-missile systems and two new submarines that can carry nuclear weapons, Israel is readying a new generation of armaments designed to defend itself against distant Iran as well as Tehran's proxy armies on its borders. Having failed to crush Hamas' firepower in its Gaza offensive last winter, or Hizbullah's in its 2006 war in Lebanon, Israel is turning to an increasingly sophisticated mix of defensive technology.
A system that can unleash a metallic cloud to shoot down incoming rockets in the skies over Gaza or Lebanon has already been successfully tested, according to its maker, and is expected to be deployed next year. The army is developing a new generation of its Arrow defense system designed to shoot down Iran's long-range Shihab missiles outside the Earth's atmosphere.
It has three German-made Dolphin submarines and is buying two more. They can be equipped with nuclear-tipped missiles which analysts say could be stationed off the coast of Iran. Israel says Iran, despite its denials, is trying to acquire atomic weapons. It has never confirmed its Dolphin fleet has nuclear capabilities, but senior officials acknowledge that commanders are fast at work devising a strike plan in case diplomacy fails.
The missile projects have their critics in Israel, who question their effectiveness and say they are too costly. And many Israelis would probably agree with U.S. former President Bill Clinton's recent warning to an Israeli audience that the country could achieve true security only by making peace with its enemies, who he said would always be able to improve their ability to attack. "The trajectory of technology is not your friend," he said. "You need to get this done."
Under their overarching fear of nuclear annihilation by Iran, whose regime has repeatedly called for Israel's extinction, the more immediate threat is seen as coming from Iranian-backed Hizbullah and Hamas. Israel's military believes Hizbullah has tripled its prewar arsenal to more than 40,000 rockets, some of which can strike virtually anywhere in Israel — a dramatic improvement over the short-range missiles fired in 2006.
Hamas has also increased its rocket arsenal since last winter's fighting, said a senior military official. Hamas recently test-fired a rocket that can travel up to 60 kilometers, putting the Tel Aviv area within range for the first time, according to Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, Israel's military intelligence chief.
Israel's defense industry says it is close to deploying Iron Dome, a system that will use cameras and radar to track incoming rockets and shoot them down within seconds of their launch. The system is so sophisticated that it can almost instantly predict where a rocket will land, changing its calculations to account for wind, sun and other conditions in fractions of a second.
Shooting down a missile is a bit like stopping a bullet with a bullet. But Eyal Ron, one of Iron Dome's developers, said his system will fire an interceptor that explodes into a cloud of small pieces which make it unnecessary to score a direct hit.
"It's a great advantage because to bring an interceptor to a target flying at incredible speed to an exact point is very hard," said Ron, a specialist at mPrest Systems Ltd., an Israeli software firm developing the system along with local arms giant Rafael.
He said recent tests in Israel's southern desert were successful, and a final dress rehearsal is expected in December before the system goes live next year.
While Israelis who have endured years of rocket fire from Gaza are sure to welcome Iron Dome, the system does not have wall-to-wall support. "Maybe it will be good during times like this when you have 10 rockets, but not for a war. If you invest in such a system, I think you're going to go bankrupt," said Gabriel Saboni, the head of the military research program at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies.
Iron Dome is one part of a larger strategy that includes more tanks and dozens of new armored personnel carriers equipped with technology to repel anti-tank missiles.
The ultimate trump card is a nuclear arsenal Israel refuses to acknowledge but which no one doubts exists.
The strategy that became obvious in the Lebanon and Gaza wars was simply one of overwhelming force to deter further attack.
This policy appears to have bought Israel a fragile calm on both its northern and southern borders, but it has come at a heavy price.
The military brass are deeply concerned that international criticism of Israel's conduct of the Gaza war, including allegations of war crimes contained in a high-profile U.N. report, will tie their hands in the future. Military officials said large resources are going into developing increasingly accurate weapons, such as bombs that cause damage over a smaller area and noisemaking explosions that scare away civilians before real bombs are dropped.
Few expect the current quiet to last indefinitely, and muscle-flexing on all sides attests to the elusiveness of a peaceful Middle East.
Iran is conducting large-scale air defense war games this week designed to protect its nuclear facilities from attack. Israel recently moved warships through the Red Sea toward Iran, and three weeks ago the Israeli navy captured a ship, the Francop, that it said was carrying a huge cache of Iranian weapons bound for Hizbullah.
Last week Netanyahu boarded a Dolphin submarine and then the missile ship that led the capture of the Francop. He thanked crew members for seizing the haul and told them that Israel is Iran's first target, "but not the last" — reflecting his contention that Iranian ambitions are not just an Israeli problem.(AP)

Lieberman Demands Polygraph Test for Senior Officials Over Leak on Ghajar
Naharnet/Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is demanding that all officials who attended Sunday's meeting of the security cabinet undergo a polygraph test, in the wake of a leak to Haaretz about details of the discussion.Haaretz newspaper said Wednesday that Lieberman has asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet security service director Yuval Diskin to summon participants to a lie-detector examination. The meeting discussed the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Lebanese part of the border village of Ghajar. It was held at the Israeli prime minister's office and was deemed highly confidential. However, details of the meeting were reported by Haaretz on Monday. Sources at the Israeli foreign ministry told the daily that Lieberman brought up the issue on Monday at his weekly meeting with senior ministry officials and appeared to be furious. They said he noted that he was late to the meeting because he was asking Netanyahu and Diskin to investigate the leak. In addition to senior foreign ministry officials and the seven ministers in the security cabinet, the meeting was attended by senior figures from the defense ministry, national security council and the Israeli army. Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Tuesday that nothing had been finalized with Lieberman on the issue. Diskin's office, as well as that of Lieberman, declined to comment. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 12:12

Constitutional Council Dismisses All Parliamentary Election Challenges
Naharnet/President of the Constitutional Council Issam Suleiman revealed that "the resolutions of the Constitutional Council regarding the last parliamentary elections were issued on Wednesday noon."Suleiman told the press Wednesday that he informed President Michel Suleiman of the results of those challenges, and that he was also about to inform each of Speaker Nabih Berri and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud. Suleiman revealed that all parliamentary election complaints were turned down unanimously by all of the Constitutional Council's members, adding that no conclusive evidence of election fraud was found to annul any of the votes. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 16:44

Berri: Resistance to Remain Armed Until Liberation, Policy Statement Not before Eid al-Adha
آشاشقىثفظParliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday criticized the ongoing debate over the Cabinet policy statement, particularly over the controversial issue of Hizbullah arms and ruled out it will be finalized and approved before Eid al-Adha. Berri, nevertheless, described as "good" the atmosphere regarding the policy statement. "We are putting the final touches on the statement," Berri told reporters from Baabda palace. "Why all the arguing over Hizbullah arms when there is no difference between the previous and the current government?" he asked.Berri stressed that Hizbullah weapons belong to all Lebanese "and their existence is linked to Israel's withdrawal from all Lebanese territory." Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 12:34

Al-Mustaqbal in Dispute with Tawheed over 'Tripoli the Stronghold of Muslim and Christian Lebanese'
Al-Mustaqbal and the Islamic Tawheed movements have engaged in a dispute over inscriptions on the renovated Abdel Hamid Karami square. As Safir daily said Wednesday that al-Mustaqbal demanded the inscription of "The Stronghold of Muslims – Tripoli" be removed after the end of renovations at the square. However, such a request was met with stiff opposition from Tawheed. Al-Mustaqbal then added placards on the square's outer layer on which it wrote "Tripoli the stronghold of Muslim and Christian Lebanese." A Mustaqbal source said such a move was aimed at implying "that Tripoli is the city of dialogue, openness, coexistence and the city of Lebanese Muslims and Christians." Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 12:56

Health Minister Sounds Swine Flu Pandemic Alarm Bell in Lebanon
Naharnet/ealth Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh has sounded alarm bells after test results showed that 80% of those who have the flu are carrying the H1N1 virus in Lebanon.
Khalifeh told As Safir newspaper in remarks published Wednesday that tests carried out by several laboratories under the ministry's supervision on 2,000 cases revealed that 40% of them had flu, among which 80% were infected with swine flu. Such a fact prompted the health ministry to ask all hospitals and clinics to consider each person struck by flu as carrying the H1N1 virus. "This means that we have moved to the stage of epidemic not only on the local level but also on the international level," the minister said. "This has been expected and the epidemic doesn't mean that it is fatal. On the contrary, all cases were cured except for two cases not directly linked to the epidemic."
Khalifeh told As Safir that most people infected with H1N1 are being cured at home by taking medications such as Panadol and Tylenol. However, when high body temperature is registered, swine flu patients are undergoing treatment at hospital. The minister also unveiled that the ministry will provide the anti-viral drug Tamiflu to state hospitals and distribute them for free to children. Khalifeh reiterated to Voice of Lebanon on Wednesday that seasonal flu will be of the H1N1 type this winter. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 08:01

Suleiman Hosts Jumblat, Aoun for Reconciliation Meeting
Naharnet/Baabda palace hosts Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun for a reconciliatory meeting on Wednesday.
The reconciliation between the two men was the second such move by President Michel Suleiman to bring together top leaders in as many weeks. Suleiman hosted Jumblat and Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh for a meeting last week. Jumblat told As Safir daily in remarks published Wednesday that the meeting with Aoun was necessary. "We have already agreed that national obligations compel us to leave debatable issues to the dialogue table." Minister Jebran Bassil, who visited Suleiman on the eve of the meeting, said the reconciliation is expected to facilitate dialogue between the two sides over several topics, including the issue of the displaced. The Jumblat-Aoun meeting would also lay the groundwork for coexistence in the mountains in the coming period, Bassil added. State Minister Wael Abou Faour told Voice of Lebanon radio on Wednesday that the meeting between the two MPs comes as part of openness to all sides, and expressed readiness for the PSP to meet with the FPM. Jumblat and Aoun held their last face-to-face meeting in Paris in April 2005 although the two men used to meet in parliament and Baabda palace while attending national dialogue sessions. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 10:30

Aoun, Franjieh Meet Over Dinner, Arslan Visits Assad
Naharnet/Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh hosted Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun for dinner at his Rabiyeh mansion on Tuesday "to refute rumors about alienation" between them. Sources close to the conferees told An Nahar newspaper that the meeting was "more than positive. It was excellent and refutes all rumors about alienation between Aoun and Franjieh." Ministers Jebran Bassil and Youssef Saadeh also joined the two leaders following the meeting of the committee tasked with formulating the cabinet policy statement.
Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar Assad hosted MP Talal Arslan on Tuesday. Al-Jadeed TV station also said in its evening newscast that Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah visited Assad. The party's sources, however, neither confirmed nor denied the report when contacted by An Nahar. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 11:05

Prosecutor Demands Temporary Hard Labor Sentence for Retired Army Officer, Wife
Naharnet/Prosecutor Rashid Mizher has demanded a temporary hard labor sentence for former security officer Brig. Gen. Adib al-Alam and his wife Hayat Saloumi on charges of spying for Israel. A third suspect was also indicted for collaborating with Israel. All three were referred to the permanent military court. Legal measures against Alam's nephew, Joseph, were dropped for lack of evidence. Beirut, 25 Nov 09, 09:07

Keeping the Golan won't protect Israel from Syria
Haaretz
By Reuven Pedatzur
On June 19, 1967, a week and a half after the end of fighting in the
Six-Day War, ministers, including Menachem Begin, were willing to give up on the gains made on the Syrian front in exchange for peace.
"Israel is proposing a peace agreement on the basis of the international order and the security needs of Israel," the government statement read, listing the following conditions: "A peace agreement would require:
1. Demilitarization of the Syrian heights currently held by the IDF forces;
2. An absolute promise not to interfere with the flow of water from the sources of the Jordan [River] to Israel."
Thus were created, 42 years ago, the basic conditions for an agreement, which are still valid today.
If negotiations between Syria and Israel are resumed, given the fact that pulling out of the Golan Heights is a known price, what will be left to
discuss is the security of Israel under such circumstances.
Despite the significant changes that have occurred in the structure of the Syrian army, including its size and weapons systems, an agreement
demilitarizing the heights and securing the water sources of Israel (the
Kinneret and the sources of the Jordan River), in order to ensure security would be sufficient.
There will be a need to reach agreement on other issues pertaining to security, but these will be minor and will stem from the two basic conditions.
At the Israel Defense Forces headquarters there is general consensus that the benefit of a peace accord with Syria outweighs the risk of pulling out of the Golan Heights.
This is the reason that Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi has publicly called to return to the negotiation table and has said that "we should not be
disheartened by Assad."
The IDF brass is convinced that it is possible to reach arrangements that will not undermine the country's security.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak has also stressed that "the signs of peace from Syria should not be looked down upon."
A central defense issue on the Syrian front is concern about a surprise
attack. Actually, a pullback from the Golan Heights will improve deterrence. A demilitarized zone, free of offensive forces, will distance the armies of the two states further and would create a buffer where, if Syrian forces enter they will be immediately discovered, and guarantee a deterrent against the possibility of war.
If early warning stations on Mount Hermon are added to the equation, it will be possible to detect a concentration of forces and expose violations of the demilitarization agreement.
The next war with Syria, if it occurs, will be characterized less by armor battles and conquest of territory, and more by missile and rocket launches from behind the front lines.
The Syrian army has about 1,000 ballistic missiles, with a range of 300-700 kilometers, covering every point inside Israel. More problematic, from Israel's point of view is Syria's rocket arsenal. The IDF does not really have a response for the thousands of 220 mm rockets (with a range of up to 70 kilometers) and the 302 mm ones (with a range of 90 kilometers), like it had no response for the thousands of Katyusha rockets launched by Hezbollah in 2006. Moreover, the Syrian army has deployed tens of thousands of BM-21 rockets, whose range is 20 kilometers. The Golan Heights does not contribute a thing in countering the missile and rocket threat. An international force in a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, separating
between the armies and inspecting both sides, will fulfill the conditions of the agreement, and will add an important element to Israel's sense of
security. The Syrians seemingly agreed in talks at Shepherdstown in 2000 to the deployment of U.S. or European forces, as a force in the demilitarized buffer zone.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must decide whether achieving peace with Syria is a strategic target, as the chief of staff and defense minister think. If he decides yes, then the argument that has been made more than once to excuse delaying an agreement with the Syrians, that the cost is too high because it may undermine Israel's security, is patently invalid.
Syrian President Bashar Assad appears to have made the strategic decision to sign a peace accord with Israel. If there are those who think that this is mere posturing, this is the time to test him. The security of Israel will not be endangered if it turns out that Assad does indeed mean what he says.

Hezbollah official indicted on weapons
By Spencer S. Hsu
The Washington Post
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A Hezbollah political official and his son-in-law sought this year to smuggle 1,200 machine guns from the United States to the militant Islamist group via Syria, according to indictments made public Tuesday against 10 men in federal court in Philadelphia. Hassan Hodroj and Dib Hani Harb, both of Beirut, were among four men accused of conspiring to support Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite group with close ties to Iran and Syria that is on the State Department's list of terrorist groups, U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy of Philadelphia said.
Harb, Moussa Ali Hamdan of Brooklyn and Hasan Antar Karaki of Beirut were also charged with seeking to funnel to Hezbollah counterfeit money and stolen cash generated by the sale of phony passports, with Hamdan acting as a U.S.-based conduit to a confidential government witness based in Philadelphia. Hodroj was identified in court documents as a member of Hezbollah's political council and has been identified in news reports as spokesman and head of its Palestinian issues portfolio. None of the four is in U.S. custody and all are believed to be overseas, said Patricia Hartman, spokeswoman for Levy. The six others indicted Tuesday allegedly formed a criminal smuggling ring that trafficked in purportedly stolen goods, including cellphones, Sony PlayStation 2 video game systems, automobiles and fake Nike tennis shoes.

'Right to resistance' clause holds up policy statement
By Elias Sakr and Nafez Qawas
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
BEIRUT: The debate between March 14 Christian parties and the opposition over mention in the ministerial statement of Lebanon’s right to resist in order to liberate occupied territories delayed the conclusion of Cabinet’s policy statement, with the committee tasked with formulating the document expected to resume its deliberations on Wednesday.
Well-informed sources told The Daily Star that Prime Minister Saad Hariri would conduct discussions with his allies in the March 14 coalition, including Phalange Party head Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea, in an attempt to convince them to refrain from expressing their reservations on the statement.
The LF and the Phalange Party demand that the statement restrict the decision of war to the Lebanese state while opposition groups insist on mentioning Lebanon’s right to resistance in the statement. The LF and Phalange ministers along with Labor Minister Butros Harb are expected to note their reservations on the article concerning the resistance while other groups have voiced support to the adoption of that of the previous cabinet.
Prior to the committee’s meeting, Hariri said he was pursuing his efforts to reach a united stance between all political parties regarding the ministerial statement while stressing that it would be concise with a special emphasis on economic policies “that matter most to people.”
“Matters are progressing in a positive atmosphere given the ongoing dialogue,” Hariri said, adding that “discussions concerning the defense strategy should not be taken lightly since it is a big project on its own.” Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt said he held to the principles upon which the previous ministerial statement was formulated, stressing the need to commit to international resolutions as well as Lebanon’s right to liberate its occupied territories and defend itself against Israeli aggressions.
Following his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh, Jumblatt added that the ministerial statement was almost finalized, and stressed that controversial issues should be tackled during national dialogue sessions. “Whoever wants to express his reservations about the statement let him do so,” Jumblatt said, a reference to March 14 Christian parties ministers.
The committee is to discuss Wednesday every ministry’s agenda in detail, said Information Minister Tarik Mitri. The Future Movement bloc, whose meeting Tuesday was presided over by former Premier Fouad Siniora, voiced hope for the quick conclusion of the ministerial statement to enable the Cabinet to undertake pressing developmental projects.
In other news, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun is scheduled to meet with Jumblatt Wednesday at Baabda Presidential Palace in an effort to strengthen national unity in Mount Lebanon, officials from both parties told The Daily Star. The talks sponsored by President Michel Sleiman follow a meeting last week between Jumblatt and Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh of the opposition. Press reports indicate that Sleiman is also expected to bring together Geagea and Franjieh.
Following the conclusion of the June 7 elections, Jumblatt adopted a more centrist position, expressing more openness toward opposition groups after he announced his withdrawal from the March 14 coalition. Sleiman said on the eve of Impendence Day the talks constituted a forum for dialogue among parties rather than reconciliations. FPM official and former Social Affairs Minister Mario Aoun told The Daily Star that during the meeting Michel Aoun would tackle the issue of the displaced from the Chouf region in order to secure everyone’s return.
“Aoun seeks to strengthen national coexistence in the mountains region so as to abolish any type of fear in the Christian community on all social, political and developmental levels,” he said.
He added that both leaders had agreed to have the meeting without imposing pre-conditions as the FPM leader stressed that the meeting’s goal should not be political propaganda.
“The meeting could lead to the formation of a joint committee to follow up on the issue of the displaced as well as become a step forward to rapprochement in political views following tense relations between both parties,” Aoun said. PSP spokesman Rami Rayess told The Daily Star the meeting was part of the reconciliatory atmosphere reigning in the country and aimed to support the president’s efforts in abolishing political “bunkers” between all parties to facilitate the Cabinet’s work.

Berri, Jumblatt want 1559 declared as fulfilled
By Patrick Galey/Daily Star staff
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
BEIRUT: Senior politicians are seeking to contact the UN in order to declare Security Council Resolution 1559 as fully implemented, according to reports on Monday. However, analysts told The Daily Star that any such attempt of communication with New York would prove futile under UN charter stipulations. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt were musing the letter to the Security Council, asking that the resolution – drafted in 2004 – be considered complete as Lebanon was now in a position to control its own affairs regarding salient security issues. As-Safir reported on Monday, citing sources close to Berri and Jumblatt, that the two would attempt to harness cross-party support before approaching the UN. Chafik Masri, a professor in international law at the American University of Beirut, said that such a move would conflict with international law. “The resolution cannot [be declared fulffilled] by a simple request of the Lebanese government,” he said. “It is subject to the decision of the Security Council.” Article 100 of the UN charter states that the secretary general’s decisions are not subject to requests from any head of member states, Masri added. Resolution 1559 called for the withdrawal of “all non-Lebanese forces from Lebanon” and stipulated the “disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias” in the country. Syria’s military occupation came to an end in 2005, following massive protests in Downtown Beirut. The report on the implementation of 1559 by UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the presence of non-state militia in Lebanon. The resolution also encouraged “free and fair elections” in Lebanon, a clause exemplified by the 2005 and 2009 parliamentary votes, according to sources speaking on behalf of Berri and Jumblatt. Retired Lebanese Army General Elias Hanna said that partisan interests may be at work in seeking to contact the UN. “When Jumblatt is talking about this we must remember that he used to say that he was against [Resolution 1559’s] implementation,” he said.