LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
October 22/09

Bible Reading of the day
Luke 19/11 -28: " As they heard these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God would be revealed immediately.  He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.  He called ten servants of his, and gave them ten mina coins, and told them, ‘Conduct business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him, and sent an envoy after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us.’  “It happened when he had come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’  “He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’  “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.’  “So he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’  Another came, saying, ‘Lord, behold, your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief,  for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn’t lay down, and reap that which you didn’t sow.’  “He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn’t lay down, and reaping that which I didn’t sow. Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?’  He said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina away from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas.’  “They said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.  But bring those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to reign over them here, and kill them before me.’” Having said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Bekaa in Lebanon: Disputed land (with Syria)/By: Ana Maria Luca/ 21.10.09
New Opinion: A grim scenario/NowLebanon.com/October 21/09
Hard times for the Lebanese media/Now Lebanon/21.10.09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for October 21/09
Nuclear expert falls to his death from UN building in Vienna/Now Lebanon
France backs draft agreement on Iran uranium deal/Now Lebanon
Chamoun expects Iran to instigate conflict in Lebanon to divert attention from nuclear program/Now Lebanon
A Tri-partite Military Meeting in Nakoura Discussed 1701 Violation/Naharnet
Terror suspect arrested in Boston/BBC News
Aoun Claims Current FPM Cabinet Portfolios Plus New One/Naharnet
March 14: Security to Be Imposed through Law Enforcement Not Consensus/Naharnet
Syria to Provide Hizbullah with Long-Range Missiles, Report/Naharnet
Optimism Soars for Cabinet Formation as Hariri Meets Jumblat, Geagea, Tashnag/Naharnet
Abssi Smuggled to Syria for $500/Naharnet
Suleiman Accuses Israel of Spying/Naharnet
Lebanon Demands International Community to Pressure Israel to Stop Violations/Naharnet
Major Israel-U.S. Drill to Stimulate Missile Firing from Iran, Syria, Lebanon/Naharnet
2 Suspects Arrested in German Money-Laundering Probe/Naharnet
Le Figaro: Israel Committed Huge Mistake by Rushing Agents Recruiting in Lebanon/Naharnet
Israeli Newspaper: Hizbullah Planning Attacks in Turkey on Israeli, U.S. Targets/Naharnet
Geagea: 'Telecoms' Won't Be for Hizbullah, 'Interior' Won't Be for FPM/Naharnet
In the fight against nuclear proliferation, don't forget about Syria/Jerusalem Post
Snubbed by Europe, now Turkey looks to the East/National
Hamas refuses to disarm as part of truce/Ynetnews
Painful Mideast Truth: Force Trumps Diplomacy/New York Times
Report: Hezbollah plans attacks on Israeli targets in Turkey/Ynetnews
Rights Watchdog, Lost in the Mideast/New York Times
Subject: Hezbollah Gets SCUDS/Strategy Page
Spain and Lebanon stress problem of Palestinian refugees/Monsters and Critics.com
Future Movement sees new cabinet 'within days/Daily Star
Israel accuses Hizbullah of planning attacks in Turkey/Daily Star
Speaker announces two new secretaries of treasury/Daily Star
PLO representative honored by Arab ambassadors/Daily Star
Fneish meets with head of international labor group/Daily Star
Shiite cleric blames politics for divides in Arab world/Daily Star
Jumblatt meets with SSNP, Tawhid Movement chiefs/Daily Star
German police crack global money-laundering racket/AFP
Sleiman accuses Israel of espionage/Daily Star
Magistrate indicts Fatah al-Islam fighters/Daily Star

A Tri-partite Military Meeting in Nakoura Discussed 1701 Violation
Naharnet/High Lebanese and Israeli military officials held separate meetings on Wednesday in the morning at the United Nation's headquarters in Nakoura. They discussed the violations of the resolution 1701 under international auspices. UNIFIL spokeswoman Yasmina Bouziane said that both parties discussed "the recent violations of the 1701 resolution and the adopted measures to prevent it from being repeated". The discussions included other issues such as specifying the marks on the blue line [border demarcation] regarding the al-Ghajar village; between Lebanon and the Israeli-controlled area of the Golan Heights. Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 18:57

Aoun Claims Current FPM Cabinet Portfolios Plus New One
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said that he adheres to FPM's current cabinet portfolios in addition to a new one since all parties are adhering to their portfolios and since his bloc's MPs count rose from 21 to 27. Aoun said that he is still waiting for Hariri's response on the subject. In a new stance that reshuffles cards in the cabinet formation issue, Aoun said that the proposals presented to FPM by PM-designate Saad Hariri do not match the ideas they had discussed before. Aoun also said that he rejects the alternative portfolios proposed. "I am not the one setting obstacles, they are setting obstacles regarding cabinet formation. There is an attempt to pressure us and throw the responsibility on us," said the FPM leader. Aoun stressed that he will not allow anyone to deny FPM the right to attain any portfolio attributing that right to his party's history that is more honorable than many other parties history. Regarding the latest optimistic atmosphere on cabinet formation, Aoun denied his knowledge about the subject and said that made him think the new cabinet was going to be a parliamentary majority one. Aoun slammed Al Mustaqbal Movement, saying that he does not approve their financial administrating of the country especially since they took hold of the Finance ministry. Answering a question regarding what the new cabinet's Policy Statement will include about Hizbullah's arms, Aoun said that Hizbullah would not use its arms internally except for self defense. "We are friends with Syria and what hurts Syria hurts us," said Aoun in response to those who hold Syria accountable for the new cabinet's delay.
Aoun held PM-designate Saad Hariri accountable if he failed again in forming the anticipated government whether Hariri submitted to pressures from his surrounding or not.
Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 19:02

March 14: Security to Be Imposed through Law Enforcement Not Consensus
Naharnet/March 14 general-secretariat called the Lebanese State to impose security through law enforcement not through consensus "before it becomes too late". In a statement issued after its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 14 general-secretariat said that the Lebanese State is called today to become a state in the natural standards and requirements of any state. The gathered were commenting on the latest security incidents in several Lebanese regions that led to the death and injury of many citizens. "Each day that passes without a government subjects the country to more losses in security, stability, economy, and credibility, in addition to vulnerability facing the dangerous complications in the region," said the statement.
March 14 general-secretariat expressed relief over the latest optimism regarding cabinet formation and hailed the ultimate cooperation shown from the parliamentary majority's side.
The gathered welcomed Lebanon's election as a non-permanent Security Council member. They also considered that the acquired membership allows Lebanon to defend its causes and Arab causes especially the Palestinian cause in a more efficient way. "This membership, at the same time, amplifies Lebanon's responsibility regarding the international community resolutions, especially those related to its sovereignty and security, topped by Resolution 1701 which represents the main umbrella of protecting Lebanon," said the March 14 general-secretariat statement. The statement also stressed that Resolution 1701 is still being subjected to clear violations from all concerned parties, topped by the Israeli enemy. Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 16:13

Optimism Soars for Cabinet Formation as Hariri Meets Jumblat, Geagea, Tashnag
Naharnet/PM-designate Saad Hariri has met with Druze leader Walid Jumblat, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and a delegation from the Armenian Tashnag party.Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted by visitors as saying that he was more optimistic than before. "My optimism is based on Hariri's optimism," Berri said. Jumblat, for his part, said following talks with Hariri Tuesday evening that he felt "direct contact" with Opposition leaders gave Hariri a "sense of satisfaction."Hariri also met with a delegation from Tashnag before heading to Maarab for talks with Geagea. Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 11:21

Aoun: I Defended Syria after 'They' Used to Accuse it Every Time an Explosion Occurred in Lebanon
/Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun blamed PM-designate Saad Hariri's allies for hindering government formation and said he found himself obliged to defend Syria after the majority March 14 forces would accuse Damascus every time an explosion took place in Lebanon. "Obstruction does not come from Hariri, but from those around him, because his bloc comprises people of different orientations and tendencies," Aoun said in an interview with Syrian Satellite TV. "We have reached an understanding on various issues, most importantly that talks should not end with no agreement," he said in reference to ongoing negotiations with Hariri on a Cabinet lineup. Aoun said he felt that Hariri has a desire to overcome difficulties facing government formation. "From here I say that we will form a government even if we were somewhat late," he announced. Aoun denied that the Cabinet knot was the reappointment of his son-in-law Jebran Bassil as telecoms minister, saying the problem was "much bigger than that." Cabinet crisis, according to the former army commander, is related to fear from the reformist and transformative policy of the Free Patriotic Movement "that could nail down as many people who oppose it."Aoun described as "good" the Doha Accord that ended an 18-month long political crisis in Lebanon. He accused, however, pro-government team of "choosing what suits them best from this agreement." Aoun defended the Memorandum of Understanding he had signed with Hizbullah, pointing that there is no mention of a defense strategy but that the strategy has "imposed itself." He also "blessed" Druze leader Walid Jumblat for the strong ties he has re-established with Hizbullah "and we hope it will carry on." While Aoun expressed satisfaction with the political security situation in the country, he considered himself to be the number one on the list of assassination. On the International Tribunal issue, Aoun said he believed it was "politicized" at the beginning, "but we hope to see judicial and not political actions in the second phase." "All the facts so far have denied accusations made against Syria; and there doesn't seem to be an indictment against Syria through what was published until now." "We had gone through an extremely difficult stage following the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri. Each time a person is killed they would accuse Syria," Aoun said in reference to the March 14 coalition. "We were forced to stand up in the face of this continuous political accusation and that had cost us some political price," he added. Aoun said he found himself obliged to "defend Syria after they used to accuse it every time an explosion took place in Lebanon." Beirut, 20 Oct 09, 08:23

Abssi Smuggled to Syria for $500
Naharnet/Leader of al-Qaida-inspired Fatah al-Islam Shaker Abssi has been smuggled to Syria for $500 following the arrest of one of his cadres in Tripoli in connection with the assassinations of Lebanese army officers Francois al-Haj and Wissan Eid, according to testimonies. Examining magistrate Emile Sari indicted 26 Palestinian and Lebanese members of Fatah Islam as well as 5 fugitives for Tripoli's Bank Streets bombing Aug. 13, 2008 that killed 18 people, mostly soldiers. The 26 indicted are said to be part of a 'terrorist cell' believed to be behind a string of bombings last year, including the Sept. 29 roadside car bomb explosion that killed five soldiers and two civilians in Tripoli.
The 26 indicted are reportedly part of a 'terrorist cell' believed to be behind a series of bombings last year, including the Sept. 29, 2008 roadside car bomb explosion that killed five soldiers and two civilians in Tripoli. Judge Sari accused the suspects of establishing an armed gang with the intent to kill soldiers and civilians and undermine the state's security — crimes punishable by death in Lebanon. Among the defendants were Fatah Islam's alleged new leader, Abdel-Ghani Ali Jawhar, a 25-year-old from the northern Akkar region, and Obeid Mubarak Abed Al Kafil, a Saudi. No trial date has been set. Sari also dismissed charges against 16 others implicated in the Aug. 13 bombing for lack of evidence. The indictment, which was based on the testimonies of the defendants, detailed tales about how Abssi had been smuggled. Detainee Hamzeh al-Qassem revealed that he used to send food to Abssi and his men who were hiding in the town of Markabta after fleeing Nahr al-Bared refugee camp with the help of Khaled Seif.
Qassem said Seif also helped smuggle Abssi in a loaded cement pickup truck to the nearby Baddawi refugee camp. Abssi remained in touch with Abdul Rahman Awad, who takes shelter in the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, over a mobile phone, according to Qassem. In one of his meetings with Abssi, Qassem said Abssi received a phone call from Awad who informed him of the successful bombing attack against Brig. Gen. Francois el-Hajj. Awad again called Abssi to tell him of the victorious bombing blast that targeted Capt. Wissam Eid. Qassem confessed that Abssi had asked him to secure his safe passage to Syria after he heard of the arrest of one of Fatah Islam's cadres in Tripoli from al-Rahim family. Upon Abssi's request, Qassem contacted Mustafa Dandal who took care of smuggling Abssi as well as Abu Ali, Abu Hisham, Abu Tabet al-Tunisi , Abu al-Khabab, Abu Ahmad and Abu al-Walid to Syria in return for $500 for each person. Adnan, whose nickname is Haroun, and Ali al-Ahmed helped Dandal transport Abssi and his gang in a Mitsubishi van. Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 08:04

Optimism Soars for Cabinet Formation as Hariri Meets Jumblat, Geagea, Tashnag
Naharnet/PM-designate Saad Hariri has met with Druze leader Walid Jumblat, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and a delegation from the Armenian Tashnag party. Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted by visitors as saying that he was more optimistic than before. "My optimism is based on Hariri's optimism," Berri said. Jumblat, for his part, said following talks with Hariri Tuesday evening that he felt "direct contact" with Opposition leaders gave Hariri a "sense of satisfaction." Hariri also met with a delegation from Tashnag before heading to Maarab for talks with Geagea. Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 11:21

Syria to Provide Hizbullah with Long-Range Missiles, Report
Naharnet/Iran is making a huge effort to smuggle to Hamas Fajr-5 ground-to-ground rockets that bring Tel Aviv within range of the Gaza Strip, The Israeli website DEBKAfile said.
It quoted military sources as saying that Syria has also decided to transfer one-third of its missile stockpile to Hizbullah in Lebanon, topping up its arsenal with medium-range rockets that can cover central as well as northern Israel. They said Israel's top strategists were studying these massive missile transfers to Hamas and Hizbullah to find answers to a number of key questions:
1. Syria has destined some 250 surface missiles of its stockpile of 800 for Hizbullah. Are they Scuds B, C and D whose ranges exceed 800 kilometers or Iranian-Syrian made projectiles whose range is shorter? 2. Do the transfers mean Iran and its allies are gearing up for a major Middle East conflict in the months ahead, possibly in early 2010?
3. Will Syria hand over to Hizbullah some of its chemicals-tipped missiles? 4. Will some batteries be installed atop the mountain ranges running down central Lebanon, together with air defense systems supplied at the same time by Syria? Israel, according to DEBKAfile, is particularly concerned over Druze leader Walid Jumblat's policy shift against the majority March 14 coalition in favor of deals with Tehran and Damascus.Incorporated in these under-the-counter deals are secret military clauses which permit Hizbullah to deploy its missiles on highlands of his Druze fief, the website claimed, adding that Israel would think twice at least before attacking areas populated by Druze villages.  Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guard terrorist arm, al-Qods Brigades, is bending all its smuggling resources to getting the Fajr-5 missiles into the Gaza Strip, thereby extending Hamas' rocket range to 75 kilometers and central Israel, DEBKAfiles said. According to the site's intelligence sources, the rockets are traveling by sea from Iran to Hamas training bases in Sudan, dismantled into 8-10 segments, transported to the northern shores of the Gulf of Suez and unloaded in Sinai. From there the segments move through tunnels into the Gaza Strip. Military sources wonder what the Netanyahu government is doing to halt the missile stranglehold tightening around Israel. Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 09:08

Suleiman Accuses Israel of Spying
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman has accused Israel of spying on his country in violation of a United Nations resolution intended to promote peace in the region. "There is a difference between spying carried out by people who have been detected and detained and detectors and spying equipment which have been found during last week," he told reporters in Spain where he is on a state visit. "Both these spy networks and these means of spying are a clear violation of Israel of (U.N.) Resolution 1701, even more so than the violation of Lebanese air space that is routinely carried out by Israel." Resolution 1701 calls for the removal of weapons in southern Lebanon from the hands of everyone except the Lebanese army and other state security forces. A Lebanese military source said Sunday that three "Israeli spying devices" which monitored communications in Lebanon had been destroyed near the border with Israel, two of them blown up by the Israeli army. Hizbullah said it discovered a spying device installed by Israel on a cable between the villages of Houla and Mais el-Jabal after the 2006 war between it and the Jewish state. It said the Lebanese army and troops from the United Nations Interim Forces in Southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) later discovered the two other devices.
More than 70 people have been arrested this year in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for Israel. Suleiman met with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos during his three-day visit to Spain, which wraps up on Wednesday in Barcelona. About 1,000 Spanish soldiers are deployed with UNIFIL, which was set up in 1978 to monitor the border between Israel and southern Lebanon. The force was considerably beefed up in the wake of the 2006 war between Israeli forces and Hizbullah and it now has about 13,000 soldiers from various nationalities. Suleiman said the UNIFIL forces can only leave if Israel removes its army from three locations in the south of Lebanon which he said it is occupying in another violation of U.N. resolution 1701. "The withdrawal of United Nations forces from southern Lebanon depends solely on the re-establishment of stability in the region," he said. "When, and only when, Israel stops occupying this Lebanese territory can the Security Council of the United Nations take the decision to withdraw its security forces from southern Lebanon."(AFP) Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 07:07

Lebanon Demands International Community to Pressure Israel to Stop Violations
Naharnet/Lebanon has renewed its commitment to the full implementation of Resolution 1701 and urged the international community to pressure Israel to stop violations. The Lebanese position came in two letters addressed by the government of Lebanon to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon current month Vietnam's Permanent representative, Ambassador Le Luong Minh. Lebanon warned against "any unilateral Israeli action targeting Lebanon under any pretext."It believed that continued Israeli occupation of Kfar Shouba hills and Shebaa Farms "pose a threat to Lebanon's security and stability along the border and is in violation of Security Council Resolution 425."Lebanon also renewed calls for the unconditional withdrawal from occupied territory and urged to "find a comprehensive solution to this issue." Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 09:22

Major Israel-U.S. Drill to Stimulate Missile Firing from Iran, Syria, Lebanon
Naharnet/Israel and the United States will on Wednesday begin their largest-ever air defense drill that will simulate missile attacks on the Jewish state, officials said.
About 1,000 troops from the U.S. European Command and an equal number of Israeli soldiers are to participate in the Juniper Cobra exercise running through November 5, the Israeli army said in a statement. The exercise will test the Arrow (Hetz) system, the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), the ship-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, as well as Patriot and Hawk anti-aircraft systems, media said. It will simulate the firing of long-range missiles from Israel's foes Iran, Syria and Lebanon, and towards the end will include a "live" missile interception, the Yediot Aharonot daily said. "The working assumption upon which the exercise is based is that the United States, in the event of a war, will provide Israel with missile defense systems that will operate alongside" Israel's Arrow 2 system, it said. The army statement said "the exercise is not in response to any world events" and that planning for the fifth Juniper Cobra drill "started over a year and a half ago."(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 10:11

2 Suspects Arrested in German Money-Laundering Probe
Naharnet/German police said Tuesday they had arrested two suspects after cracking an international money-laundering ring in the south of the country. The pair, aged 31 and 26, were detained Thursday during a search of their homes and workplaces and remanded in custody. More than 100 customs and regional police officers from the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Baden-Wuerttemberg took part in the swoop. Investigators seized more evidence on Monday held by a suspected accomplice in Belgium. Since May last year, the two suspected masterminds had been monitored by German investigators for trying to send nearly nine million euros in cash from the Netherlands to Lebanon via Germany. German customs officers found and seized the money during a check at Frankfurt airport, Germany's main air hub. Police suspects the money was linked to drug trafficking.(AFP) Beirut, 21 Oct 09, 08:22

Le Figaro: Israel Committed Huge Mistake by Rushing Agents Recruiting in Lebanon
Naharnet/The French daily Le Figaro said that Israel, after its failure in 2006 war, committed a huge mistake by rushing to recruit a score of agents in Lebanon, the thing that alerted Hizbullah which faced this act quickly through a specialized team and high Russian techniques. Previously, Israel has reportedly complained to Paris over its assistance to Lebanese armed forces which played a role in uncovering Israeli spies in Lebanon. French Le Figaro daily said the Israeli complaint was about wiretapping devices donated to Lebanese security agencies to help uncover those involved in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination. However, such equipment was used to unveil Israeli spy rings too. Al-Akhbar daily said Paris ignored the complaints, saying the assistance "was part of efforts to unveil the truth" in Hariri's Feb. 2005 murder. French authorities have reportedly said that technical assistance to Lebanon "goes back to previous decades." Beirut, 20 Oct 09, 18:48

Israeli Newspaper: Hizbullah Planning Attacks in Turkey on Israeli, U.S. Targets
Naharnet/Hizbullah is "perpetrating to attack Israeli and U.S. targets in Turkey" according to a report in the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot. The newspaper mentioned that the Turkish secret service agency warned that Hizbullah plans to attack Israeli tourists, ships, and planes in addition to Jewish synagogues in Turkey. Turkish police warned all of its units in Istanbul, Anqara and Izmir, hinting that Hizbullah collected investigatory information in preparation for the attack on Israeli and U.S. institutions and corporations in the three main Turkish cities. The newspaper noted that the possible aim of the attacks allegedly led by Abbas Hussein Sakr is to revenge for the assassination of Imad Mughnieh who was killed in February 2008.
Beirut, 20 Oct 09, 17:17

Geagea: 'Telecoms' Won't Be for Hizbullah, 'Interior' Won't Be for FPM
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed that "the telecommunications portfolio will not be of Hizbullah's and its allies share", he also added that "the interior ministry will not be of Free Patriotic Movement's share". In an interview aired by the pan-Arab Al-Arabia TV network, Geagea said that the main obstacle delaying the new cabinet is not about appointing elections losers nor about the telecommunications portfolio. He said that the obstacle rather lies in the ongoing confrontation between March 14 on one side and Hizbullah with its allies on the other regarding the means of ruling Lebanon. Geagea said that the main portfolios were distributed in a quota where President Suleiman takes the Interior and Defense portfolios, Hizbullah takes the Foreign portfolio, and March 14 takes the Finance portfolio. Answering a question on Geagea's previous expression of a hint of hope in the cabinet's formation issue, Geagea said that he does not know whether the optimism atmosphere is final or just a step forward, he called for awaiting the coming days for a clear vision on the subject. Geagea stressed that the new government's Policy Statement should not include any item that contradicts Resolution 1701. LF leader also expressed his concern regarding the incidents in the South. He said that the best way currently to defend Lebanon and its South with the least cost is through Resolution 1701. Beirut, 20 Oct 09, 20:11

Jumblat Meets SSNP, Wahab
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat met the leader of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party leader MP Asaad Hardan on Monday night at a common friend's house. The meeting was also attended by PSP's MP Akram Chehayeb. A statement issued by the Progressive Socialist Party said: "The Jumblat-Hardan meeting discussed the common struggle and political stages of the two parties facing the Israeli occupation and terminating the May 17 accord, in addition to the current political developments." Previously, Jumblat met ex-Minister Wiam Wahab in Clemenceau where the two men discussed the latest developments. Beirut, 20 Oct 09, 19:11

Abducted MEA employee's family appeals for safe return
By Dalila Mahdawi /Daily Star staff
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
BEIRUT/MAGDOUSHEH: Efforts to find a Middle East Airlines (MEA) employee kidnapped eight months ago must bear fruit, his friends and family said on Tuesday. Family members, neighbors and colleagues of Joseph Sader gathered outside the MEA headquarters near Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport in the sweltering midday heat to pray for his safe release and demand greater transparency to the government investigation into his abduction. Fifty-six-year-old Sader, an Information Technology manager and father of three, was abducted on February 12 as he walked to work, allegedly by three unidentified assailants who forced him into a sport utility vehicle. Sader’s hometown of Magdousheh, near Sidon, came to a standstill as locals boarded up their shops to attend the protest. “We are here to ask the government to make their investigation more effective and to give us proof of who took him,” Sader’s wife Salma said. She described her husband as a friendly, apolitical person and was incredulous that anyone would have purposely targeted him. “If Joseph could be kidnapped then it means everyone is a target because Joseph was not political. He had no problems with anyone,” she said. MEA, where Sader has worked since 1982, issued a statement complaining there had been little progress in the official investigation into their colleagues’ abduction. “All we’ve received are hollow promises that reveal nothing about the case. We feel personally concerned in this case … we will not accept that this case is ignored or forgotten,” the airline’s union said. A Magdousheh resident, who wished to be identified by the name Abou Georges, also said he was frustrated by the confusing picture being painted by the authorities. “We want the truth to be revealed and the guessing to stop.” Al-Liwaa newspaper and OTV on Monday reported comments by Archbishop Elie Haddad, pastor of Sidon and Deir al-Qamar’s Roman Catholic Melkite Church, who said a religious source from another sect had told him Sader was alive and being detained by an “unofficial military” group in Lebanon other than Hizbullah. The MEA official’s abductors were at odds with one another over whether to release Sader, turn him over to the Lebanese authorities or continue detaining him for further investigation into his possible involvement in an Israeli spy cell, Haddad claimed. “I was told that he witnessed some of the events that may have been the cause of the espionage,” Haddad told OTV. Responding to the archbishop’s remarks, Sader’s nephew George said while he believed Hizbullah did not kidnap Sader, the group could have information about his whereabouts. “We are sure that if he’s not with Hizbullah, they at least know where he is just by the fact he was abducted in an area they control,” he said. – Additional reporting by Mohammed Zaatari

A grim scenario
October 20, 2009
Now Lebanon
If we are not careful, future students of Middle East politics might be confronted with this grim extract:
“In 2009, Lebanon’s March 14 coalition, led by the Future Movement’s Saad Hariri, second son of the slain former Lebanese prime minister, won a clear majority in the June 7 parliamentary elections. However, the Syrian-backed March 8 opposition immediately set about chipping away at the win, abusing any notion that March 14 might have of ruling with its majority. “Hezbollah, which headed the majority, had used its weapons before to achieve political ends, notably in May of 2008, and the threat of further instability should, the opposition not get its way, was ever present. Furthermore, the presidency of General Michel Sleiman, one of the opposition gains from the May violence, was tacitly ‘owned’ by Damascus and so the opposition demand of a new cabinet with a 15-5-10 power sharing formula (cleverly spun as a national unity government) was, in reality, already tilted towards the opposition.
“But arguably the killer blow came with the ‘defection’ of Walid Jumblatt, who on August 2, announced at a gathering of his Progressive Socialist Party at Beirut’s Beaurivage Hotel – the irony of the location was not lost on anyone – but which was in all probability brokered nearly a year earlier, when Jumblatt recognized that the future likely lay with a US-rehabilitated Assad government. The upshot was that March 14th’s victory was comprehensively reversed by the time a cabinet was formed. Even its majority in the cabinet was an illusion. In reality, it ‘governed’ with a mere 12 out of 30 portfolios.”It is a bleak but plausible scenario. If it comes about, it will have been because March 14 has made fatal concessions – Doha and the unity government formula of 15-5-10 being the biggest.It is now 100 days since those elections and the nation’s waters have been suitably muddied. Pressure is being applied from inside and out. The opposition – notably Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun – is calling the shots and making demands while many Lebanese look for a magic solution amid the shuttle diplomacy of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah and President Assad of Syria. But we forget one thing – well two, actually. March 14 has a majority and it has the constitution on its side. We remind its politicians of this fact because the people who went to the ballot boxes and who voted against a return to benign rule from Damascus, and for a country founded on the notion of full sovereignty, and all that goes with it, should not have to endure a reversal of what was a genuine and fair victory at the polls.
Already a sense of national disaffection has set in. The country is running (after a fashion) and, such is the level of disillusionment that Lebanese are almost ready to accept any formula just to restore a level of normality to their lives. It is a mindset that opposition has sought to create from the moment its defeat was formally announced on June 8 through a policy of attrition to destroy March 14’s credibility and with it the sense of majority. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri must regain the high ground. He must send a clear message to the Lebanese people that he will not accept compromise; that compromise can only lead to stagnation. He must insist on his right as the leader of the majority to rule as a majority and be held accountable as a majority. He must refer his doubters to the constitution and tell them in no uncertain terms that it is not only his privilege as leader of the winning bloc to form a genuine majority but that it has now become a moral obligation to the nation to do so.

Hard times for the Lebanese media
Talking to activist journalist and talk show host Tanios Deaibes
Nadine Elali , October 21, 2009 /Now Lebanon
Laid off employees from LBCI TV hold a press conference on Thursday to protest their discharge, saying they have always worked ethically and loyally. (NOW Lebanon)
Up until recently, media in the Middle East showed little signs of being vulnerable to the type of industry-wide decline that has so devastated American newspapers over the last decade. But there are signs now that that may be changing. In the last three weeks, the small, yet cosmopolitan, world of Lebanese media has been roiled by a series of layoffs at some of Lebanon’s most well known new sources. The Lebanese daily An-Nahar and three television networks, LBC, MTV and ANB, have let go of dozens of longtime employees, citing financial pressures. But that is little consolation for those who have lost their jobs, many of whom have complained about the way they were treated.
To get some insight into what’s going on, NOW spoke with ANB talk show host Tanios Deaibes, who said media in this country is particularly hindered by the absence of legal safeguards or an adequate media law, along with the fact that there is no established criteria for dismissal.
What are the problems currently facing the media sector in this country?
Tanios Deaibes: The first problem is the most dangerous in my opinion— it is when media becomes entrenched in its political and religious affiliations. As soon as the media divides along religious and political lines, it will not be able to fulfill its duty, and thus can at no point be objective. Political media is always biased and full of political statements. Religious media is naturally in favor of preserving the religion it protects and eliminating the other— eliminating dialogue and thus eliminating what the media stands for. The worst part of the story is that the Lebanese media seems to have found itself comfortable with the current situation, and to this day there has not been any stance against this reality.
What can the Lebanese media do to change the status quo?
Deaibes: In a country that is deeply divided politically and religiously, like Lebanon, the media cannot be but part of this division. For the media to remove itself from the dangers of these deep divisions, the country itself has to be for this separation. The media should not submit to the status quo; it should fight its way out and play a part in the country’s struggle to overcome sectarianism. As it is, the people who run the major outlets have certain affiliations, and thus employ those with similar affiliations and mindsets. If the bosses were to find themselves in a situation where they had to make cutbacks, the first employees to go would be those who think differently or carry different affiliations. To avoid this, we need to have a functioning law protecting journalist and the media. Currently no such laws exist, as is demonstrated by the fact that all the current layoffs have been legal.
What are the flaws existing in the present law?
Deaibes: The law permits the arbitrary dismissal of any worker in exchange for compensation. In case of a journalist, however, this is critical, as a journalist is a servant of the public interest, and thus any unexplained layoff would be detrimental to his or her reputation and credibility. It also makes him susceptible to biases based on religious or political differences. On this there needs to be an established criteria for dismissal and a law to protect against all unexplained dismissals. The media law was suitable back in 1994. It was there to legalize the freedom of media and press, and the establishment of media institutions, on radio, television and print. It opened new horizons in Lebanon for the profession and protected hundreds who had already entered the field. But since ‘94 there has been development on all levels, and the law cannot remain frozen in the face of these changes.
How should the media law be amended and what should it take into consideration?
Deaibes: The law should include the right of journalists to be free and objective in their own place of work, and thus free enough to express their point of views, even if not completely in line with the general outlook of the institution. I’m not saying that the margin of freedom is wide enough for someone working at a certain station to curse its leader, but he or she should have enough freedom to do his or her job properly— that he or she should be able to collect the information necessary to tell the story, and then present the story objectively, even if it contradicts the political views of those in charge. The bosses shouldn’t be able to hinder his presentation of this information, and moreover should not feel free enough to dismiss an employee whenever they like.
The law should also include a criteria for dismissal. Looking at what is happening with these institutions lately, and accepting that they are suffering a financial crisis, the companies should be legally required to prove that its financial deficit can only be covered by firing this specific employee. For all those laid off, whether we like them or not, their institutions were the forums through which they interacted with the public, and it is unfair that their organizations were able to fire them just because they were capable of providing compensation. There should be a special exception to the general labor law for those working in the media.
Other than the law, what can be done to protect journalists?
Deaibes: There should be proper union representation. Up to now, that is 15 years after the media sector was formally regulated, voice and visual media remain without union representation. The two unions that do exist are the Syndicate of Journalism, which represents the owners of the newspapers, and the Editors’ Syndicate, which ostensibly represents the journalists, i.e. writers. Many of the journalist are not part of the latter union for two reasons: the first being the journalists’ resistance, as many believe the union fails to offer proper representation, and secondly because the union itself has closed its doors on memberships, allowing new members to join only rarely and under strict conditions. So, among other things, the Ministry of Information has to exert efforts, in collaboration with both union, to set workshops for all media personnel to meet and pose the profession’s issues and set a common platform, regardless of their different political and religious affiliation, through which they will learn to accept each other and their differences.

Disputed land
Ana Maria Luca , October 21, 2009
Google image of an earth berm erected by the Syrians inside the Ka‘a area. (Google earth)
The grey-haired service driver is a tall man in his 60s. A veteran of the Lebanese Armed Forces, he sits in front of the little shop next to his house in Il Ka’a, in northeast Lebanon, and is reluctant to talk with journalists. He even refuses to give his name.
There are problems in the village.
Not only with the Syrians, just nine kilometers away. The village council resigned three months ago due to “domestic problems” that nobody here wants to mention. It had to do with politics, villagers say, and the fact that the pro-Syrian opposition won the elections in the village.
Even so, Ka‘a has a long and troubled history with neighboring Syria, which invaded the village in 1978. On June 28 1978, the Syrian army rounded up at least 30 young men from the village; none of them were to return home. The villagers call it the Massacre, although representatives of the local municipality avert their eyes when asked about it, and refrain from accusing Syria. The Syrians continued to occupy Ka‘a for 27 years and though they officially withdrew from this area in April 2005, the villagers told the UN in 2007 that Syria maintained a presence, occupying over 15 square kilometers.
“There are no problems with the Syrian side,” the service driver insists. “They are cooperating with the Lebanese Army. We never fought over the land like they do in Arsal. Most of us have papers for the lands,” he adds. But as the conversation continues, his story begins to change.
“The Syrian army has a checkpoint a few hundred meters in to the Lebanese territory,” he suddenly remembers. “It’s at the stream.” The border area where he works is dangerous, he now says. “There is a village built there, on the border, on the land that used to belong to Il Ka’a. We call it Beit al Radi. There are Lebanese and Syrians living there. But it is dangerous for two women to go there. They might put the guns to your heads and steal your car!”
After we promise that his name will not be used, his rescinds his initial “no problem” story altogether. “Il Ka’a used to be 8 square kilometers and we now live in 1,5 square kilometers. The Municipality lost 80% of the land to the Syrians in time. They don’t always occupy by force. They marry Lebanese women and then they buy the land and register it on the wife’s name. That’s how the village of Beit al Radi appeared 9 km away from here. I work there, but for you it is dangerous to go.” The area is known for smuggling, he adds.
According to a report released in 2009, Syrian nationals currently occupy Lot No 7 of Ka‘a/Jiwar Ma’iya, which is near the village and is co-owned by several residents of Ka‘a.
Another report, released by the UN in 2007, said the Syrian army has maintained a checkpoint within the municipality of Il Ka’a. But representatives of the local municipality maintain there are no major problems with the border or Syria.
Syrians occupying and cultivating land inside Lebanon? It doesn’t happen in Il Ka’a, says Qaim Makam, who has headed the local government since the municipality president resigned three months ago. He doesn’t look happy to have been cornered by journalists. “The problems in the region are about the Lebanese state lands cultivated illegally by villagers,” he says, carefully choosing his words. “They are both Lebanese and Syrians. As soon as the demarcation of border is resolved, the problems will be over. The Lebanese courts will issue verdicts on the Lebanese lands after the demarcation. The same will happen in Syria. It is all in the care of the Lebanese Syrian Higher Council!”
The Higher Council, however, has yet to convene. Its president, Nasri Khoury did not respond to repeated request for an interview. In August 2008, the presidents of Lebanon and Syria agreed to begin the work of the committee. Nothing has happened yet.
The neighbors of the service driver, who have gathered in front of his house, shrug their shoulders and stare at the ground. They can’t talk about it. “It is difficult to be against the political rule of the village. We need to be with them, in order to have peace and quiet,” the service driver says.