LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
April 28/09

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 6,22-29. The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.  And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Let Syria be First-By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Alawsat 27/04/09
Hezbollah Planned Three Synchronized Attacks in Egypt/By Abdul Sittar Hatita 27.04.09
Gaza's separation from the West Bank is Israel's great triumph-By Amira Hass 27/04/09

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for April 27/09
Tribunal's Pre-Trial Judge to Announce Decision on Generals on Wednesday-Naharnet
Murr and Gemayel Announce Metn Electoral List-Naharnet
Aoun Criticized Clinton's Visit to Hariri Tomb Calls For Honoring Tomb of Unknown Soldier-Naharnet
Torture? It probably killed more Americans than 9/11-Independent
Weak UN nuclear watchdog "eroding non-proliferation"/Reuters
Lebanon Bans Pork Imports Over Swine Flu Fears-Naharnet
Jumblat: Historic Relationship with Patriarch Sfeir Big Enough Not to be Exploited-Naharnet
Human rights Organization accuses Hizbullah of carrying out kidnappings on behalf of Iran/Future News
Sfeir: Syria Still Interfering in Lebanese Internal Affairs via Friends-Naharnet
March 8 reinstates black memories, USA backs Lebanon and STL/Future News
Roed-Larsen Criticizes Hizbullah for Violating Egypt's Sovereignty-Naharnet
Mossad-Linked Cells Focused on Hizbullah Activity North of Litani-Naharnrt
3 More Arrested in Drug Bust in Beirut-Naharnrt
4 Wounded in Clashes in Koura-Naharnrt
Clinton in Beirut Relays Message to Suleiman, Reassures Lebanon over Syria-Naharnrt
Jumblat Visits Hariri, March 14 Factions to Meet Soon-Naharnrt
Reports: Egypt Investigations Uncover New Suspects in Alleged 'Hizbullah Cell'-Naharnrt
Clinton Reassures Arab Allies as Iran, Syria Outreach Begins-Bloomberg
Syria Chides Israel's "Contradicting" Signals-CBS News
Barak 'disturbed' by Syria-Turkey drill-Jerusalem Post
Arab League official: We are not mediating between Lebanon and Hezbollah-Jerusalem Post
Egypt Arrests Three More Hizbullah Suspects-The Media Line
Clinton calls for free and fair elections during Lebanon visit-Daily Star
Jumblatt 'to remain in March 14'-Daily Star
Najjar: Appointments to come soon-Daily Star
UN chief condemns Hizbullah's 'unjustified interference' in Egypt-Daily Star
EU observers arrive to monitor June 7 vote-Daily Star
Sfeir confident about future of Lebanese Christians-Daily Star
Lebanon the 'worst partner' in EU, says Commission-Daily Star
Detained generals allowed to meet, hold talks with lawyers-Daily Star
Lebanon's 2009 economic growth forecast revised downward-Daily Star
Plan for $8 billion artificial island off Lebanese coast makes waves-Daily Star
Sleiman welcomes any majority after polls-Daily Star
Three more alleged spies for Israel arrested-Daily Star
Photographer finds beauty in Lebanon's nature-Daily Star

Mexican swine flu spreads to Europe
By Catherine Bremer
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Governments around the world acted to stem a possible flu pandemic on Monday, as a virus that has killed 103 people in Mexico and spread to North America was confirmed to have reached Europe. While the virus has so far killed no one outside Mexico, the fact that it has proved able to spread quickly between humans has raised fears that the world may finally be facing the flu pandemic that scientists say is long overdue.
Shares and oil prices fell in Asia and Europe, as investors feared a further shock to an already fragile global economy. The MSCI world equity index fell 0.7 percent.
Spain became the first country in Europe to confirm a case of swine flu when a man who returned from a trip to Mexico last week was found to have the virus.
But his condition, like that of 20 cases identified in the United States and six in Canada, was not serious. A New Zealand teacher and around a dozen students who recently returned from Mexico were also being treated as likely mild swine flu cases.
Many countries have stepped up surveillance at airports and ports, using thermal cameras and sensors to identify people with fever, and the World Health Organization has opened its 24-hour "war room" command center. The European Union's health chief urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel to areas affected by swine flu, and the European Commission called an urgent meeting of health ministers.
U.S. EMERGENCY
The United States declared a public health emergency on Sunday. Although most cases outside Mexico were relatively mild, a top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said she feared there might be U.S. fatalities. The WHO has declared the flu a "public health emergency of international concern" that could become a pandemic, or global outbreak of a serious disease. But so far there have been no broad recommendations to limit international travel, and the WHO has not raised its pandemic alert level, currently at 3 on a scale of 1 to 6. In the financial markets, travel and leisure stocks such as Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways and British Airways fell sharply, whereas makers of drugs and vaccines, such as Roche, were higher.
"The threat of the pandemic will add further weakness to global trade, said Justin Urquhart Stewart, investment director at Seven Investment Management in London.
"We saw with SARS tangible percentage points knocked off the index, and that was in a buoyant time. Put that in a weaker time and it is likely to be more unpleasant."
An outbreak of the SARS respiratory virus in 2003 was largely limited to Southeast Asia and cost the region's economy around 0.6 percent of GDP.
The World Bank estimated last year that a global flu pandemic could cost $3 trillion and cut world GDP by 5 percent. Oil prices fell more than 4 percent to below $50 a barrel on Monday, pressured partly by expectations the world economy could suffer if a swine flu pandemic materializes.
MEXICO SLOWS TO A HALT
Japan's cabinet held a special meeting and said it would prioritize production of a new vaccine, although this process usually takes months.
In Mexico, the center of the swine flu outbreak, life has slowed dramatically in cities as schools have been closed and public events called off to slow the spread of the virus. Many in Mexico City spent the weekend hunkered at home or wore blue surgical face masks handed out by truckloads of soldiers to venture out onto strangely hushed streets. The city government considered halting public transport.
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said on Sunday that the flu had killed 103 people in Mexico, and about 400 people had been admitted hospital. But he noted that a majority of infected patients had recovered. Health authorities across Asia tried to give reassurance, saying they had enough stockpiles of anti-flu drugs to handle an outbreak. Guan Yi, a virology professor at the University of Hong Kong who helped to fight SARS and bird flu, said a pandemic looked inevitable.
"I think the spread of this virus in humans cannot possibly be contained within a short time ... there are already cases in almost every region. The picture is changing every moment ..."We are counting down to a pandemic." (Additional reporting by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Maggie Fox, Emily Kaiser and Lesley Wroughton in Washington, Helen Popper, Miguel Gutierrez and Alistair Bell in Mexico City and Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong; Writing by Kevin Liffey; Editing by Dominic Evans)

Roed-Larsen Criticizes Hizbullah for Violating Egypt's Sovereignty
Naharnet/U.N. special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen criticized Hizbullah, describing the phenomenon of purported Hizbullah agents operating in Sinai as a serious violation of Egypt's sovereignty. "Hizbullah's cell in Egypt is a violation of Egyptian territories," Roed-Larsen said in Cairo following talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday. Egypt's public prosecutor is interrogating 49 people it claims plotted to carry out "hostile operations" on orders from Hizbullah. The suspects, who face charges of espionage and planning to overthrow the regime, are led by Hizbullah operative Sami Shehab. Analysts say Egypt's arrest of the alleged Hizbullah cell marks a dangerous escalation of tension between Iran and the Arab world. Roed-Larsen said U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon dispatched him to Cairo to follow-up on Hizbullah's alleged plot. Ban had expressed concern over Hizbullah operations outside Lebanese territories, saying "interference in another country's internal affairs constitutes a violation of sovereignty." "The U.N. Secretary-General has clearly denounced this unjustified violation of Egypt's sovereignty and its internal affairs," said Roed-Larsen, Ban's special envoy for the implementation of resolution 1559. "He (Ban) is following closely all circumstances related to the issue," Roed-Larsen added.
Beirut, 27 Apr 09, 08:25

Human rights Organization accuses Hizbullah of carrying out kidnappings on behalf of Iran
Date: April 27th, 2009 Source: AlArabiya.net
An Ahvazi source accused Sunday activists from the pro-Iranian Hizbullah party in relation with members from the Iranian diplomatic delegation to be involved in kidnapping an Arab Iranian refugee from Beirut. The kidnapped accompanied by his family were transferred to Damascus in prepartion for deportation to Iran.
An official at the Ahvazi Human Rights Organization Karim Bani Said Abdian, told Alarabiya.net: “The information received by the Organization said that the Arab Ahvazi refugee, Ali Helali Majd, his wife and three children were transferred to Damascus in prepartion for extradition to Iran, ” adding that Damascus had handed over Ahvazi refugees to Tehran before. Abdian said that Ali Helali had moved his three months baby to the Beirut Government Hospital last week to receive therapy.
“The Helali family had obtained asylum from Australia a year ago through the High Commissioner for Refugees in Damascus, but they later moved to Beirut for fear of handing them over to Iran,” he said, adding “usually in Damascus, those who receive political asylum are handed over to the Iranian authorities before moving to the country which approved to grant them a residence on its territory.”

Mossad-Linked Cells Focused on Hizbullah Activity North of Litani
Naharnet/Security forces continue their interrogation of two Mossad-linked cells that have been arrested on charges of spying for Israel, following the detention of the so-called "al-Alam cell." The daily As Safir on Monday said security forces have arrested two cells – the first is made of two members identified as Robert Edmond Kfouri from Zahle and Mohammed Ibrahim Awad, a Palestinian living in the villa sector in Sidon, while the second is operated single-handedly by Lebanese citizen Ali Hussein Mantash from Zibdin, but residing in Nabatiyeh. It quoted a high-ranking security official as saying that the cell members have confessed to working for Mossad. Al Akhbar newspaper, for its part, said Kfouri and Awad have confessed to spying for Israel, including providing the Jewish state with data from more than one region of southern Lebanon. A source told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that Awad is the cousin of Abdul Rahman Awad, the successor of Fatah al-Islam leader Shaker Abssi. Mantash, however, according to Al Akhbar, has initially denied any link with Israeli forces and was relying on his release by AMAL Movement since his brother is assistant to a leading figure in Speaker Nabih Berri's group.
But he later admitted link to Israel after finding out that he is not politically covered.
Mantash said he was recruited following the 2006 war on Lebanon and that he was in charge of monitoring a number of locations and people close to the "resistance" in areas north of the Litani River. Security sources told As Safir that computer sets, CD-ROMs and cell phones have been confiscated from the detainees' houses. Their cars, installed with GPRS tracking system, have also been seized. They said al-Alam cell was operating in isolation from the two other groups.
Former security services officer Brig. Gen. Adib al-Alam, his wife Hayat Saloumi and nephew Joseph Semaan al-Alam -- also a security official – were charged on Thursday with spying for Israel. They are accused of informing Israel about Lebanese and Syrian military and civilian sites with the aim of facilitating Israeli attacks. Beirut, 27 Apr 09, 10:33

Sfeir: Syria Still Interfering in Lebanese Internal Affairs via Friends
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has warned against "internal and external" interference in the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections, saying the "Syrians still interfere whenever they want in Lebanese internal affairs via their friends." "Among our neighbors are those who have goals and interests in this country and they are making every effort to meddle in elections-related issues," Sfeir told MTV network. "They believe that victory is theirs if they or their allies win the elections," he said. "I'm afraid that this issue concerns one party in Lebanon." "We are with a centrist (parliamentary) bloc" which tips the balance between right and left, Sfeir reiterated. Beirut, 27 Apr 09, 08:49

Metn List to be Announced Monday after Ashkar's Withdrawal
Naharnet/The March 14 coalition's Metn list will be announced on Monday, Phalange Party's Central Committee Coordinator Sami Gemayel announced after reports that the ticket was facing "technical" obstacles. Gemayel told Voice of Lebanon radio that the ticket will be announced at 5:00 pm at Chalet Suisse in Fanar.
Sources following Metn issues had told As Safir daily that the announcement of the list was postponed because of continued bickering over names of candidates.
The sources said two main factors caused the delay, first the Metn list is connected to the Kesrouan and Beirut 1 lists. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea continues to insist on the candidacy of Armenian Catholic contender Richard Kouyoumjian for the Beirut 1 seat. This will create an Armenian reaction and votes will probably go to opposition members of the Metn, putting Phalange candidate Nadim Gemayel under threat. The second factor that delayed the list's announcement is controversy over a candidate that will replace Nassib Lahoud who had announced his withdrawal from the race. The Phalange wanted to name Emile Kanaan while Pierre Ashkar, who is backed by MP Michel Murr, claimed he had the right to regain his place in the list after Lahoud's withdrawal. But the announcement of the list on Monday would come after Ashkar withdrew from the race in favor of Kanaan. In Kesrouan, As Safir said the March 14 list hasn't been completed because Mansour al-Bon and Farid Haykal al-Khazen are refusing to include Carlos Edde in a list that also includes Phalange candidate Sejaan Azzi. The newspaper said the Phalange suggested including Youssef Salameh or Joseph Abou Sharaf but al-Bon and al-Khazen are not enthusiastic. Beirut, 27 Apr 09, 11:41

3 More Arrested in Drug Bust in Beirut
Naharnet/Anti-drug police on Monday arrested three more drug dealers in Kafaat south of Beirut.
They were identified as Mahmoud Abdul Wahab, Bassel Habib and Carlos Fayez, all Lebanese. Huge quantities of hashish and cocaine were confiscated in their possession, local media said. Beirut, 27 Apr 09, 12:02

4 Wounded in Clashes in Koura
Naharnet/Four people were wounded in overnight clashes that pitted MP Farid Habib's bodyguards against supporters of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) and Marada Movement in Kusba in the northern province of Koura. Local media said sticks and sharp tools were used in the clash, wounding Mihsen Zalmi (Marada), Roy Nakhoul (SSNP), Samir Ishak, a security officer, a police bodyguard. Lebanese troops and policemen stepped in, setting up checkpoints and raiding a number of houses in Kusba. Beirut, 27 Apr 09, 11:14

Clinton in Beirut Relays Message to Suleiman, Reassures Lebanon over Syria
Visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday relayed a message of support from the U.S. president to Lebanese counterpart and pledged that the current U.S.-Syrian rapprochement will not come at the expense of Lebanon. Clinton also visited the tomb of slain ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and was met at the site by his son MP Saad Hariri. "There is nothing that we would do in any way that would undermine Lebanon's sovereignty," Clinton told a press conference in Baabda after meeting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. "So I want to reassure any Lebanese citizen that the United States will never make any deal with Syria that sells out Lebanon or the Lebanese people." Her comments came during an unannounced visit to Lebanon just six weeks before key parliamentary elections.
She said the purpose of her trip was to "deliver a message of support for an independent and sovereign Lebanon" to Suleiman from President Barack Obama.
The top U.S. diplomat reiterated Washington's backing of the Lebanese Army saying U.N. resolutions clearly state the military as the "sole establishment that must have weapons control."
She said the United States will continue to "protect the Lebanese borders and (help Lebanon) combat violence." The United States has provided $1 billion in aid since 2006, including $410 million in security assistance to the military and the police. In a statement to reporters traveling with her, Clinton stressed that Washington was hopeful that the June 7 parliamentary vote would proceed in democratic fashion, free of outside interference. "The people of Lebanon must be able to choose their own representatives in open and fair elections, without the specter of violence or intimidation, and free of outside influence," she said. "We join the international community in supporting the Lebanese government's efforts to achieve that goal," she added. "Beyond the election, we will continue to support the voices of moderation in Lebanon, and the responsible institutions of the Lebanese state they are working hard to build," said Clinton, who on Saturday was in Baghdad.
She expressed support of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Support, stressing the need for "an absolute end to an era of political assassinations." On Thursday, Clinton voiced concerns over "a possible Hizbullah victory in the June legislative polls" and underlined the need for efforts to "boost the command of the current government." In a testimony to the House appropriations committee, Clinton said recent arrests in Egypt of an alleged Hizbullah cell "served as a wake up" for the Egyptian authorities.
They are now aware of "the increasing alliance between Hizbullah and Hamas and their connection to organizations inside Egypt seeking to destabilize the government," she added.
The United States serves best its own interests by "supporting and funding" the Lebanese government, in which Hizbullah is a member in order to "prevent more infiltrations by fundamentalism," Clinton told the House committee. Hizbullah was skeptical Sunday about Clinton's visit and spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi said it could even have a negative impact on the pro-U.S. factions in the country. Speaking on the group's Al-Manar TV after Clinton arrived, Moussawi said it was too early to tell whether the Obama administration has reassessed its policy, but he added that American "interference in the past was never positive."
He also criticized what he termed a "double standard and deception" when the U.S. calls for Islamic factions to participate in elections then refuses to accept the results if they win. In Baabda, Clinton refused to "speculate" on the outcome of the elections, saying only she was in Lebanon as a sign of support. "The Lebanese people will choose their representatives. But we hope the polls will be held without intimidation and external interference."
"We look forward to cooperating with the upcoming government," she added. Under the administration of George W. Bush, Washington led a boycott of Damascus and Tehran. But under President Barack Obama, that boycott has eased. Clinton said Saturday that she had sent two diplomats to Syria and was "heartened" by improved relations between that country and Lebanon. "I sent two of our diplomats to Syria about six weeks ago. We've had members of Congress going to Syria," Clinton told al Hurra television. "We are heartened by the exchange of ambassadors between Lebanon and Syria." But she said no decision had been made about naming a new ambassador to Damascus. "We hope that Syria will play a constructive role in supporting democracy in Lebanon, but we haven't made any further decisions," the secretary noted.(AFP-AP-Naharnet) Beirut, 26 Apr 09, 09:45

Jumblat Visits Hariri, March 14 Factions to Meet Soon
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri have stressed on calm and agreed to hold meetings bringing together all factions of the March 14 forces. Jumblat told As Safir newspaper that he informed Hariri about latest developments in electoral lists and said the two leaders stressed on calm and steadfastness and agreed to hold meetings bringing together all March 14 forces.
Jumblat met with Hariri at the latter's home in downtown Beirut Sunday evening. The PSP leader was accompanied by Minister Ghazi Aridi and MP Marwan Hamadeh. Asked to comment about Hariri's latest electoral rhetoric, Jumblat said: "Each one of us has a different viewpoint."
Al-Liwaa newspaper, in its turn, said the two leaders discussed during their 90-minute meeting the lists of Zahle and Beirut 1 and stressed on the alliance between all factions of the March 14 alliance. The Jumblat-Hariri meeting also tackled the Beirut 3 list as the son of Jamaa Islamiya's secretary general Malek Faisal Mawlawi announced that the grouping was still open for talks with al-Mustaqbal. Minister of State Wael Abou Faour on Sunday said Jumblat had no plans to leave the March 14 alliance and "will certainly not join March 8 forces."Abu Faour said in an interview with LBC television that Jumblat would visit Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in the coming days to reassure the patriarch of his ongoing partnership with the Christians and his deep respect for Sfeir.
He also confirmed that leaders of the March 14 coalition will hold a meeting soon. Beirut, 27 Apr 09, 08:24

Reports: Egypt Investigations Uncover New Suspects in Alleged 'Hizbullah Cell'
Naharnet/Egypt's High State Security prosecution continues to interrogate detainees linked to a "Hizbullah cell" amid reports of a new list of suspects, Arabic newspapers reported Sunday. The list includes a veterinarian who "was leasing his home in Rafah to help smuggle weapons into Gaza."
Egyptian authorities are expected to issue, in the next few days, "a list of items confiscated from the suspects, including their ID's, explosives and computers," the pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat reported, quoting sources. Lebanese and Arab officials have been in contact with Cairo in an attempt to resolve the crisis with Hizbullah, an Egyptian source told the daily. Egypt, however, reiterated comments that the case was now "within the jurisdiction of the judiciary and that the executive branch does not interfere in judicial rulings," he added. Sources in Egypt denied "any exchange of messages" between Cairo and Hizbullah over the cell, reported the Egyptian official Middle East News Agency. In the meantime, President Michel Suleiman told Arab League chief Amr Moussa on Saturday that "Lebanon was keen to maintain excellent ties with Egypt, which are boosted by a number of bilateral agreements," the Lebanese An Nahar daily said Sunday.
Lebanese-Egyptian relations "must not be affected by unexpected incidents, similar to what happened lately and which led to Egypt's extremely stern position," Suleiman added. Moussa, who was in Lebanon on Saturday, said the Lebanese president was "currently in contact with diplomats" over the case.
Earlier this month, Cairo announced the arrest of a cell led by a Lebanese Hizbullah agent accused of plotting attacks in Egypt.
Party leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah confirmed the agent was a Hizbullah member tasked with smuggling weapons to Palestinians in Gaza, denying accusations of planning to destabilize Egypt.(Naharnet) eirut, 26 Apr 09, 12:13

Let Syria be First
26/04/2009
By Tariq Alhomayed
Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat,
Aaron David Miller, an elder US statesman [and former envoy to the Middle East] told Asharq Al-Awsat that "the US State department sent envoys to Damascus, and delegations from the US Congress visited Syria. This is significant because of the 30-year strategic relationship between Iran and Syria." Miller added that the Iranians "will feel concerned at seeing a US ambassador in Damascus" and that in his opinion "the Israeli – Palestinian agreement will not be achieved. But the Israeli – Syrian agreement will take place which [is something that] America will move towards and encourage."
What is more important; provoking Iran, or actually moving forward with regards to the Syrian – Israeli peace process and returning the captured Golan Heights to its people? Is it acceptable for Washington to proceed with a Syrian – Israeli peace prior to peace with Palestine?
If the issue is merely to provoke Iran, or to maneuver [politically] in order to put pressure on Iran then this will not solve anything, and indeed will only make things worse, but if the aim is to provide a genuine Syrian – Israeli peace then this will be a very positive move.
A Syrian – Israeli peace is something that is achievable today, in contrast to a Palestinian – Israeli peace, and so the Arabs must support this [Syrian – Israeli peace] as much as possible. Damascus is able to sign this agreement tomorrow, and the negotiations have overcome great difficulties. [Returning] the Golan Heights is also not as problematic as other similar issues, and it is enough to know that the decision to make peace in Damascus will lie solely in one man's hands, the President, whereas the Palestinians today are in an appalling state of division.
Egypt [today] is seeking to unite the Palestinians, and previously Saudi Arabia [attempted to do so], and every time that an agreement has been vetoed – no matter how hard Cairo and Riyadh try- it is Iran and Syria and others that stand on the other side and pull Hamas to the opposing view.
Iran does not want to see any progress in the region with regards to the peace process or any other issues that are in Iranian hands as this weakens its negotiation position with the US. Damascus does not have faith in anyone at the moment, and does not want to end up as a negotiating chip in Iran's negotiation with Washington.
The completion of a Syrian – Israeli peace would strengthen confidence in the peace process as a whole, and represent a major breakthrough in the Arab – Israeli conflict. The Syria that emerges following this peace will be completely different than the Syria of the past 30 years, who have stood in a gray square that is neither for peace nor for war. Peace with Israel will be a real message to Hezbollah, and by proxy Iran, and will mean Damascus taking a clear unambiguous position that will result in either the completion of the peace process, supporting Palestinian unity and Lebanese stability, or returning to the gray square, which is something impossible [in any case] because the cost of this would be insanely high.
In his statement, Mr. Miller said that there was an American proverb that said when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging, and he is right, the region cannot tolerate [any more] short-term or tactical solutions from Washington.
If the Obama administration wants to make a historical achievement in the most complex of global issues, namely the Arab – Israeli conflict, then it must begin in Damascus, for that is the key to the regional peace process as a whole, and not [pursue Syrian – Israeli peace] merely to provoke Iran.

Hezbollah Planned Three Synchronized Attacks in Egypt
24/04/2009
By Abdul Sittar Hatita
Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat - Sources close to the investigations into the Hezbollah cell in Egypt, which includes 49 suspects including Egyptian, Lebanese, and Sudanese nationals, revealed that the cell planned to carry out three major bombing operations in tourist areas of Egypt.
Egypt stated Thursday that it told ambassadors of Arab countries about the investigations taking place with regards to the Hezbollah in Egypt case. Informed legal sources said that this case will be referred to the tribunal next week and that the 24 suspects at large include three Sudanese working for Hezbollah intelligence to transfer weapons from the Sudan-Egypt borders to the Sinai region, where Egypt borders Israel.
Ahmed Ragheb, the lawyer representing a number of suspects involved in the case, stated that it is most likely that the case will be transferred within the next few days to the concerned tribunal.
Meanwhile, sources close to the investigations said that on Wednesday night Supreme State Security continued interrogating a number of suspects on the role played by Hezbollah intelligence figure Mohammed Qablan, who is at large, in the case of the Hezbollah cell that was discovered in Egypt in order to know when he visited Cairo and Giza and other areas in the Suez Canal and Sinai regions.
The investigations with the accused suspects revealed that Qablan, along with some of his Hezbollah aides that came with him to Egypt on a number of occasions using code names, was planning to carry out three major attacks using explosive belts and car bombs in the tourist area of Taba, close to the Israeli-Egyptian borders, which is frequently visited by large numbers of Israeli tourists.
Sources added that the price of one of the vehicles that Hezbollah wanted to use in an operation to be carried out in tourist hotspots in the Red Sea area was paid during a meeting attended by Qablan, Mohammed Yousuf Mansour (also known as Sami Shehab) who has been detained in Egypt, and a number of Egyptian suspects, who are 1948 Arabs, living in Sinai. The vehicle was a small second-hand van, the kind usually used by local citizens in areas of the Red Sea and Sinai.
However, security sources denied that the van was among the items that were seized along with the suspects. The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat, “The issue of the van is being investigated and we know who paid for it but we do not know whether this vehicle is in the possession of State Security or if they are still looking for it, especially as there are other suspected members of the cell at large, some of which are hiding in the rugged mountains of Sinai.”
The sources close to the investigations said that following interviews carried out by Supreme State Security apparatus with a number of suspects – and after the Egyptian suspects (of Palestinian origin) admitted that there was another person of Lebanese origin [involved in the case] apart from Mohammed Mansour Yousuf (Chehab) – the suspects were interrogated once again in order to find out the identity of this Lebanese figure. The suspects said that he was the head of the Hezbollah cell in Egypt. It became clear that the figure was Mohammed Qablan, a senior Hezbollah activist close to the party’s intelligence division.
Sources added that Nasser Abu Umra, the accused Egyptian national of Palestinian origin, stated during an interrogation session on Wednesday night that he met a Lebanese person who was part of the Hezbollah cell and was planning to carry out bombings in Taba and that when Mohammed Yousuf Mansour (Chehab) was brought to Abu Umra, Abu Umra stated that it was not him even though Chehab knew him and admitted to meeting him a number of times in Al-Arish. The sources added that investigators showed a number of suspects a recent picture of Qablan, and that Abu Umra and other suspects in the case knew who he was. Abu Umra also said that he had met Qablan more than once in various parts of Egypt including Cairo and Giza.
The Supreme State Security continued its investigations on Wednesday night under the supervision of Hisham Badawi, the first Attorney General of the Supreme State Security, and launched an investigation into Nissar Jibreel who said in his statements that he is a member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood in Al-Arish.
Jibreel admitted that he met Nasser Abu Umra at the beginning of 2005 and said that Nasser asked him to gradually distance himself from the Muslim Brotherhood so that he could join another group that aims to help the Palestinian nation, i.e. Hezbollah. He added that Abu Umra introduced him to Mohammed Youssef Mansour (Chehab). On Wednesday night, he added that Mohammed Youssef Mansour introduced himself as a Palestinian, and admitted that he was a member of Hezbollah, and said that he had taken part in a number of meetings with leading members of the party who were working towards setting up a cell inside Egypt.
The sources added that the accused members of the organization are facing a number of charges including spying for a foreign party (Hezbollah) intending to carry out terror attacks in Egypt, joining an unlawful group that uses terrorism as a means to achieve its goals, being in possession of explosives and forging official documents (passports).
Ahmed Ragheb, a lawyer from the Hisham Mubarak Law Center, who has been following the investigations with the suspects, expects that the case will be transferred next week. He said, “At present, investigations are being carried out…we are awaiting the decision to transfer the case to the tribunal and at the beginning of next week, the fate of these suspects will be clearer.” Sources from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it had given Arab states all the information available on the case of the Hezbollah cell in Egypt. This took place during an open meeting held by Minister Abdel Rahman Salahaddin, Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs, with a number of Arab ambassadors based in Cairo

Rabieh General exploits Sebaali and then excludes him
Date: April 26th, 2009 Source: Future News
Rumors stacked up around the relationship between the wealthy businessman Milad Sebaali and MP Michel Aoun concerning the forthcoming parliamentary elections and electoral ticket in northern Metn.
It is about Aoun’s exploitation to Sebaali during a period of discomfort between the Syrian Socialist National Party and the Free Patriotic Movement headed by Aoun, triggered by naming an SSNP candidate to run in northern Metn. The disagreement between Aoun, AKA Rabieh General and Syrian Party leader Asaad Hardan still exists.
The incident echoed in Reef Damascus and head of the Syrian military intelligence Rustom Ghazali intervened at once. Inspired by his position during the tutelage era, Ghazali listened to both sides: Gebran Bassil discussed the Aouni Movement’s point of view through a Hizbullah messenger who conveyed a message to Abu Abdo, (Rustom Ghazali).
The message says that Aoun cannot name an SSNP candidate for his Metn ticket. Aouni norms are not in the favor of the Syrian Party because it evokes the Christian public opinion.
The message also affirms that the Rabieh General agrees on naming an SSNP candidate, but it has to be someone other than Ghassan al-Achkar. In brief, Aoun wants a candidate, and not a partisan fanatic.
Hardan, called up into Rutom’s headquarters in Kfarsouseh, responded “in case Ghassan al-Achkar was not named to run as part of Aoun’s ticket in northern Metn, the supporters of the socialist party will not be so eager to vote for Aoun. The party will be humiliated.”
Meanwhile, Sebaali’s stardom began to shine both in Rabieh and Kfarsouseh. Sebaali’s fortune to be on Aoun’s electoral ticket increased: he is not a partisan fanatic and has provided the Rabieh General with a lot of services. Aoun’s final demand to Sebaali was to pay $700 thousand to a Metn sports club that was on the verge of bankruptcy. Sebaali was more than happy to fulfill his demand.
These facts were disclosed prior to Aoun’s declaration of his northern Metn ticket. Things became worse when it was declared, without Sebaali’s name included.
The Aoun-Sebaali relationship has 3 defects that dominate the General’s electoral game: Aoun relied on Ghazali to exclude the candidates whom he could not pay back their services. Ghazali formed a link between Aoun and Sebaali in an attempt to exclude al-Achkar from the electoral ticket.
The second defect was in Aoun’s unambiguous practices in funding his electoral campaign that focuses on false promises and implicit blackmail.
The third defect was in Aoun’s slogans to fight corruption: they are flawed with the fact that he tricked Sebaali and exploited him during the elections season. Sebaali funded dinner banquets and electoral festivals for the General the entire time that preceded Aoun’s annoucement of his Metn ticket. Aoun told Sebaali “we’ll pay you back in the elections.”
Today, Sebaali and Metn citizens discovered Aoun’s Sebaali-free electoral ticket. Aoun’s promises were nothing but an attempt to draw funds for his electoral campaign.
In a private conversation between Sebaali and other figures, he said “it seems that Aoun who received enormous funds for his electoral campaign decided to rely on stupid sponsors to pay out his electoral debts.”
But the most important feature of the Aoun-Sebaali relationship does not lie in the financial aspect; it lies in the moral aspect as well. Sebaali, stabbed with an Aouni dagger in the back, still insists on running in Metn as an independent, while the general intensifies calls to the Reef Damascus officer, asking him to pull Sebaali out. Sebaali, though, turns off his phone to dodge Abu Abdo, especially because Aoun still awaits his demand to be fulfilled.