LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
January 16/09
Bible Reading of the
day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint Mark 1,40-45. A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged
him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean."Moved with pity, he stretched
out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The
leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly,
he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one
anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what
Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to
publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was
impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted
places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Account of the three companions of Saint Francis of Assisi (c.1244)
§11/How Saint Francis was cured of his fear by a leper
One day, when [the young] Francis was mounting his horse near Assisi, a leper
came towards him. He usually had a great repugnance for lepers and so, forcing
himself, he dismounted from his horse and gave the man a coin, kissing his hand.
When he had received the kiss of peace from the leper he remounted and went his
way. From that time on he began to rise above himself more and more until he
attained complete mastery over himself by the grace of God. Some days later,
being equipped with a great deal of money, he made his way towards the leper
hospital and, when he had called them all together, he gave alms to each one,
kissing their hands. On his return, it is correct to say that what had formerly
seemed distasteful to him – namely, to see or touch a leper – was transformed
into sweetness. To see a leper, as he happened to say, was hard for him to such
an extent that not only did he refuse to see them but even to go near their
dwelling. If he sometimes happened to see them or to pass by their
leprosarium..., he turned his head away and blocked his nose. But God's grace
made him friendly with the lepers to such an extent that, as he attests in his
Testament, he used to stay with them and serve them humbly. Visiting the lepers
transformed him.
Free
Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Q & A with Arab League
SecGen Amr Musa. Asharq Al-Awsat 15/01/09
Hamas in Gaza and
Damascus. By: Tariq Alhomayedl/Asharq Al-Awsat 15/01/09
Ending the West's Proxy War Against
Israel.By GUNNAR HEINSOHN/Wall Street Journal 15/01/09
Using the Palestinians. By: Abdul
Rahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al- Awsat 15/01/09
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for January 15/09
Israel: Gaza militants opened fire from U.N. compound-AP
Spanish DM: Peacekeepers to stay in S Lebanon-Xinhua
The Qatari
Emir: summit call still
standing-Gulf
times
Obama: "Syria,
Iran must be involved in talks'-Jerusalem
Post
Rift apparent in Hamas as fighting intensifies-International
Herald Tribune
U.N. chief condemns Israeli
shelling of U.N. compound in Gaza-AP
Israeli Aircraft Pound Gaza as Rockets Strike
From Lebanon-Wall Street Journal
Israel Warns Lebanon: Next Time
We Will Retaliate with Aerial Bombardment-Naharnet
President Suleiman to Attend or Not to Attend Arab Summit-Naharnet
Israel Banned UNIFIL from Inspecting Site of Rocket Attack-Naharnet
UNIFIL: Militants who Fired Rockets into Israel Unprofessional-Naharnet
Possible Israeli War
Scenarios on Gaza and Lebanon-Naharnet
Hawatmeh: The Gaza War
Shall Change Many Maps-Naharnet
Rice: There Would Have
Been No 1701 Without Me-Naharnet
U.S. Reacts to Rocket
Attack on Israel-Naharnet
Army Deploys Special
Forces in South-Naharnet
UNRWA Suspends Gaza Operations as Shells Smash into HQ-Naharnet
Ahmadinejad Accuses Arab
States of Complicity in 'Genocide,' Urges Saudi King to Speak up-Naharnet
10-Day Truce Proposed in
Talks With Hamas, Israel-Naharnet
Spanish FM: Agreement Near
on Gaza Ceasefire Plan-Naharnet
Obama: We must engage Syria and Iran in
Middle East peace efforts
By Haaretz Service
U.S. president-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday said that he is going to work
toward a comprehensive peace in the Middle East "on day one" of presidency on
January 20, and that would include Iran and Syria. "We're going to have to take
a regional approach," said Obama in an interview with CBS Evening News. "We're
going to have to involve Syria in discussions. We're going to have to engage
Iran in ways that we have not before." "We've got to have a clear bottom line
that Israel's security is paramount," Obama said. However, he also reiterated
his commitment to the long-standing peace plan between Israelis and
Palestinians: "We have to create a two-state solution where people can live side
by side in peace," he said. Obama has avoided discussing what he would do to end
the violence in Gaza, but has said, "The loss of civilian lives in Gaza and in
Israel is a source of deep concern for me."
Greatly Anxious Lebanon, Region
Await New U.S. Administration
By MIDDLE EAST TIMES
Published: January 15, 2009
There remains a force of malevolence trying to ensure that the Middle East
region remains in perpetual turmoil. Someone or perhaps some foreign entity with
established agents in Lebanon is trying very hard to involve Lebanon in the new
Gaza war that began on Dec. 27. For the second time this week rockets were fired
from south Lebanon at Israel, no doubt hoping to draw Israel into opening a
second front. Israel retaliated both times, firing back at the source of the
fire, but thankfully, this is where it stopped. It would not be in either
Israel's or Lebanon's interest to open a second front. And would it help the
Palestinians? Hardly. But it would be devastating for Lebanon. Meanwhile,
protests against Israel's heavy-handed approach to solving the Gaza problem has
touched off popular resentment. In Turkey a man tried to set himself aflame in a
crowded Istanbul street. But the anger is going beyond the Middle East to Europe
and into South America.
Tensions have rarely been higher, and all that is needed to ignite the region is
one well-placed spark, a situation that has many political leaders in the region
worried as they scramble to try and find a compromise that can end the violence
in which more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed and several thousands
injured.
In Lebanon, where the political class is paying particular attention to the Gaza
war, efforts are being made to keep Hezbollah out of the conflict. But the
situation remains precarious and many Lebanese are looking to the next week or
so with trepidation and uncertainty. Samir Geagea, the chief of the Christian
Lebanese Forces, told the Middle East Times that the war in Gaza was confusing
the entire region. Geagea said that if it were not for the situation in Gaza, he
could make predictions. But the war in Gaza is changing everything. Many are
looking to next week's inauguration of Barack Obama, hoping that perhaps the new
American administration will be able to herald a new beginning not only in
Washington, but in the Middle East as well.
Israeli forces shell UN headquarters in Gaza
By IBRAHIM BARZAK and AMY TEIBEL, Associated Press Writers Ibrahim Barzak And
Amy Teibel, Associated Press Writers
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli forces shelled the United Nations headquarters
in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, setting fire to the compound filled with hundreds
of refugees as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon was in the area on a mission to end
Israel's devastating offensive against the territory's Hamas rulers.
Ban expressed "outrage" over the bombing. He said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud
Barak told him there had been a "grave mistake" and promised to pay extra
attention to protecting U.N. installations. The Israeli military had no
immediate comment on the bombing, which a U.N. official said injured at least
three people.
Even as a top Israeli envoy went to Egypt to discuss a cease-fire proposal, the
military pushed farther into Gaza in an apparent effort to step up pressure on
Hamas. Ground forces thrust deep into a crowded neighborhood for the first time,
sending terrified residents fleeing for cover.
Shells also struck a hospital, five high-rise apartment buildings and a building
housing media outlets in Gaza City, injuring several journalists.
Bullets entered another building housing The Associated Press offices, entering
a room where two staffers were working but wounding no one. The Foreign Press
Association, representing journalists covering Israel and the Palestinian
territories, demanded a halt to attacks on press buildings.
The army has collected the locations of media organizations to avoid such
attacks.
Israel launched its war on Dec. 27 in an effort to stop militant rocket fire
from Gaza that has terrorized hundreds of thousands of Israelis. Some 1,100
Palestinians have been killed, roughly half of them civilians, according to U.N.
and Palestinian medical officials. Thirteen Israelis also have died.
Israel says it will press ahead with the campaign until it receives guarantees
of a complete halt to rocket fire and an end to weapons smuggling into Gaza from
neighboring Egypt.
Israeli envoy Amos Gilad traveled to Cairo to discuss truce prospects with
Egypt, which has been serving as the key mediator. Israel also sent a senior
diplomat to Washington to discuss international guarantees that Hamas will not
rearm.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said there was "momentum" in
negotiations and Israel was hopeful that a deal on its terms was "close and
attainable."
Barak, visiting soldiers on a southern base, said the fighting would continue
but Israel's eyes were "also open to the possibility of winding up this
operation and consummating Israel's exceptional results and accomplishments
through diplomacy."
Ban, who arrived in Israel on Thursday morning from Egypt, said he was
"outraged" by the attack on the U.N. headquarters.
"I conveyed my strong protest and outrage to the defense minister and foreign
minister and demanded a full explanation," Ban said. He said Barak told him
there had been a "grave mistake" and promised to pay extra attention to
protecting U.N. installations.
The U.N. compound in Gaza had only that morning become a makeshift shelter for
hundreds of Gaza City residents seeking sanctuary from relentless Israeli
shelling, said a U.N. official in Gaza. He spoke on condition of anonymity
because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.
But shortly after, a shell hit the school, wounding three people, the official
said. Two other shells hit a warehouse housing humanitarian supplies and a U.N.
parking lot, he said.
The U.N. compound houses the U.N. Works and Relief Agency, which distributes
food aid to hundreds of thousands of destitute Gazans in the tiny seaside
territory of 1.4 million people.
U.N. spokesmen confirmed that at least three people were wounded but said the
fire and smoke engulfing the compound made it impossible to know if it had been
completely evacuated.
U.N. spokesman Adnan Abu Hasna said the U.N. had given Israel the coordinates of
the building and the compound was also clearly marked with U.N. flags and logos.
Large stocks of food and fuel used to supply hospital and water pumps were at
risk of destruction, as were valuable U.N. archives dating back to 1948, Abu
Hasna said.
Hours earlier, thousands of residents had fled their homes with the advance of
Israeli ground troops into Gaza City's Tel Hawwa neighborhood. Many were clad
only in their pajamas, and some were wheeling elderly parents in wheelchairs,
one of them with an oxygen tank. Others stopped journalists' armored cars and
ambulances pleading for someone to take them to a U.N. compound or to relatives'
homes.
Rasha Hassam, a 25-year-old engineer, ran out of her apartment building carrying
her screaming, crying, 6-year-old daughter, Dunia.
"God help us, God help us, where can we flee?" she cried. "All I want is to get
my poor child away from here. We want to survive."
Thousands of others were trapped in Tel Hawwa's high-rise buildings by the fire,
too afraid to even attempt to flee.
Three shells hit the Al Quds hospital in the neighborhood, setting its pharmacy
building ablaze, trapping about 400 patients and staff inside the main hospital
building, said Khaled Abu Zeid, a medic inside the building reached on his
mobile phone. Gunfire was also reported around the building. It was not clear
how many people inside had been wounded in the fighting.
In the nearby downtown area, Israeli tanks fired shells at five high-rise
buildings, Palestinian witnesses said.
Israeli defense officials said the intensified assault on Gaza City was not a
prelude to a new phase of all-out urban warfare in the narrow alleyways of
Gaza's big cities, where Hamas militants are more familiar with the lay of the
land and Israeli casualties would be liable to spiral. The aim, they said, was
to heat up the pressure on Hamas to accede to Israel's demands.
"I think Israel is seeking in the last moments to escalate the military
operation to pressure the parties," said Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas official. "I don't
think this will change the issues on the table."
The intensified assault on Gaza City highlighted the urgency of diplomatic
efforts, the most high-profile being the arrival in the region of Ban, who was
meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Thursday. Last week, the U.N.
Security Council passed a cease-fire resolution that Hamas and Israel have
ignored.
Ban met on Thursday with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and afterward put
the onus on the Israeli government.
"We have some elements now in place which may allow a cease fire to come fairly
soon," he told a news conference. "I hope so, but that depends on the political
will of the Israeli government."
He said a full-fledged truce agreement did not have to be worked out before
violence ceased.
"You can discuss terms and conditions later, my demand is to cease firing
immediately," he said, acknowleging that he had come "with a heavy heart" at
what he called a "difficult time for Israel."
"I'm well aware that rockets have been fired at Israeli civilians for years from
Gaza," he said. "I have always condemned these as acts of terrorism and said
they must cease."
Rocket fire has fallen off dramatically but not ceased and on Thursday the
military reported 14 firings.
Ban will also meet with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, where
Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas governs. He will not visit Gaza, which
has been ruled by Hamas since it expelled forces loyal to Abbas in June 2007.
The international community does not recognize Hamas' government.
Egypt has been pressing both sides to accept a 10-day truce while details of a
more comprehensive accord can be worked out. Under the Egyptian proposal, Hamas
would back off its demand that Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza and borders be
opened immediately as part of any halt in fighting.
Instead, Israeli forces would remain in place during the 10-day period until
details on border security are worked out, Egyptian and Palestinian officials
close to the talks told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of
anonymity to provide details of the closed-door negotiations.
A senior Israeli official said it was far from certain Israel would accept the
deal. He said Israel was afraid Hamas would not respect a cease-fire as long as
troops were in Gaza.
In Damascus, Hamas deputy chief Moussa Abou Marzouk told Al-Arabiya television
that Hamas demands an immediate cease-fire, to be followed by Israeli troop
withdrawal and the opening of the border for humanitarian aid.
A long-term truce would be discussed later, Marzouk said.
*Barzak reported from Gaza City; Teibel from Jerusalem. Associated Press
correspondents Salah Nasrawi and Sarah El Deeb contributed from Cairo.
U.S. Reacts to Rocket Attack on Israel
Naharnet/U.S. official sources expressed concern about Wednesday's rocket attack
on northern Israel but told An Nahar daily that Lebanese authorities were doing
all they could to prevent another attack. The sources also told An Nahar's
correspondent in Washington that the launching of rockets from southern Lebanon
into Israel was a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended
the war between Israel and Hizbullah in 2006.
They said Lebanon and Israel are aware that it is in their own interest to
prevent a deterioration of the security situation on both countries' borders.
An Nahar said even if "U.S. officials reject pointing their fingers at any
Lebanese sides, they tend to blame Palestinian elements."
The Lebanese government has reassured the State Department about measures the
army is taking along with U.N. peacekeepers in the south to prevent a similar
attack, the sources told the newspaper. Wednesday's Katyusha attack on Israel
came on the 19th day of a massive Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip and less
than a week after a similar attack. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
said Wednesday no one claimed responsibility for the launching of rockets from
southern Lebanon on Israel. "We have, about four or five days ago, seen isolated
rocket launches as well. But you know, again, we haven't seen any claim of
responsibility, and certainly nobody wants to see this expand," he said. Beirut,
15 Jan 09, 08:40
Israel Warns Lebanon: Next
Time We Will Retaliate with Aerial Bombardment
Naharnet/Israel has warned Lebanon it will retaliate with aerial bombardment
against southern Lebanon next time the Jewish state is attacked by rockets from
Lebanon.
News reports on Thursday said Israel's threat was relayed to Lebanon via
international sides upon the firing of three Katyushas early Wednesday into
northern Israel.
Israel retaliated to the attack by shelling southern Lebanon with four rockets.
The daily As-Safir said it had learned that Israel informed UNIFIL that it had
intended to hit back at the source from which the rockets were fired with aerial
bombardment, but that it had changed its mind upon international advice. Israeli
officials said 3 rockets fired from Lebanon slammed into northern Israel early
on Wednesday in the second such attack in less than a week that comes amid a
devastating war in the Gaza Strip. Beirut, 15 Jan 09, 09:43
Suleiman to Attend or Not to
Attend Arab Summit
Naharnet/Lebanon's official stance in rejecting getting the country into an
unknown war with Israel was demonstrated in its support of U.N. Security Council
resolution 1860. However, informed sources pointed to the daily el-Shark that
President Michel Suleiman is facing a dilemma, for he would participate at the
Doha summit if it convenes, but cannot approve any summit resolution unless it
is the result of Arab consensus, particularly when both Egypt and Saudi Arabia
would not attend the summit. Clearly the president wanted to avoid the dilemma
of participating at the Arab summit. Suleiman referred to the constitution,
precisely to article B of its prelude that reads, "Lebanon is of an Arab
identity and belongingness, it is a founding, active and committed member of the
Arab League."The daily As-Safir said that the March 8 and 14 Forces attempted to
influence the president's decision regarding the summit. March 14 Forces advised
against attending the summit, for they felt that Lebanon should not attend
participate with the absence of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, fearing this could
result in negative consequences.
March 8 Forces hoped that the president would attend the Doha summit without any
pre-conditions. Suleiman is said to have remained faithful to what he termed as
the "Arab and Lebanese consensual formula."A compromise was reached in which
Lebanon holds to the Arab League's charter that conditions the support of two
third of League members to holding a summit. If the necessary two-third support
is not secured and the summit is held with whoever attends, then president
Suleiman would not participate, sources said. However, diplomatic sources told
the daily al-Liwa that Lebanon has officially agreed to participate in the
summit. Beirut, 15 Jan 09, 13:39
Rice: There Would Have Been
No 1701 Without Me
Naharnet/U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has defended her foreign
policy under the Bush administration and claimed credit for U.N. Security
Council Resolution 1701 that ended the 2006 Israel-Hizbullah war. "There would
have been no 1701 without me," she declared in an interview with Washington Post
editors and reporters when asked that Lebanese Premier Fouad Saniora recently
said the U.S. can't deliver on its promises because of deference to Israel.
"If you get very focused on whether someone thinks your policies are popular,
you won't do the right thing," she said in a conversation that stretched to 75
minutes.
Arguing that Iraq shows signs of becoming an inclusive state -- it even
"declared Christmas a national holiday" -- Rice said that if the country
eventually emerges as a democratic, multiethnic state that has friendly ties
with the U.S., "that will be more important than what anybody thought in 2002 or
2003."
"That's not to say that it didn't come at great cost. I myself will be haunted
by the lives that were lost … I also know that nothing of value is won without
sacrifice," she told the Washington Post. Even in her final days as secretary,
Rice has had to deal with the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip and the
controversy surrounding last week's decision to abstain from a U.N. Security
Council vote on a cease-fire resolution, the newspaper said.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert took credit for the U.S. abstention. "I said,
'Get me President Bush on the phone,' " he said in a speech, saying he had
interrupted Bush during an address and demanded that the U.S. not vote in favor
of the resolution. Olmert said Bush then called Rice. "She was left pretty
embarrassed," Olmert said. Rice, who said the vote was "not an easy decision but
a right one," declined to discuss her conversation with Bush. "I am not going to
talk about anything more than that except to say I think you know my
relationship with the president," she said. "I have a relationship in which we
can discuss these things and come to the best decision." Beirut, 15 Jan 09,
09:18
Israel Banned UNIFIL from
Inspecting Site of Rocket Attack
Naharnet/Israel has reportedly banned U.N. peacekeepers from inspecting the site
where rockets, allegedly fired by militants in Lebanon, landed in the northern
Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona Wednesday. Local media, citing U.N. and Lebanese
security sources, said no rockets landed in northern Israel on Wednesday.
They said two rockets fired from Lebanon at Israel missed their target and fell
in a field in the southern village of el-Mari, 2 kilometers from the
Lebanese-Israeli border. A Lebanese Army patrol later on Wednesday defused three
booby-trapped rockets that were set for launching from southern Lebanon towards
Israel, an army communiqué said. An Army sapper defused the rockets that would
be destroyed in place, the communiqué added. News reports, citing information
obtained by UNIFIL, said Israeli radars only monitored the launching of two
rockets from south Lebanon which are most likely those that fell in el-Mari. The
daily An Nahar quoted Lebanese security sources as saying that Israel did not
allow UNIFIL to inspect or take pictures of the site where the rockets
reportedly fell.
Beirut, 15 Jan 09, 11:06
Hawatmeh: The Gaza War Shall Change Many Maps
Naharnet/The Secretary-General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of
Palestine (DFLP) Nayef Hawatmeh warned that regional maps would witness changes
as a result of the Gaza war. "Many Middle East maps shall witness ramifications
and changes in light of the results of the (Gaza) war," Hawatmeh said.
The DFLP leader on Wednesday visited Lebanon's ex-premier Salim Hoss, Foreign
Minister Fawzi Salloukh, the head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council Abdel
Amir Qabalan, Shiite Cleric Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah and Progressive Socialist
Party leader MP Walid Jumblat. During his visits, Hawatmeh expressed his dismay
regarding the current inter-Arab and inter-Palestinian divisions. "This
situation provides the enemy with wider aspirations that it tries to implement
by force and political and diplomatic maneuvers in order to confiscate our
people's right of self-determination," he said. He reiterated DFLP's call for a
joint operations command, saying: "We hoped that the factions would offer
practical steps in this regard and they promised to do so."Regarding the
launching of rockets from south Lebanon into Israel, Hawatmeh said: "We are with
Lebanese consensus and we support Lebanon's right in running its own affairs and
protecting its own territories."
He called on all Palestinian factions to respect the Lebanese consensus, saying:
"Lebanon has suffered enough." Beirut, 15 Jan 09, 11:05
Possible Israeli War
Scenarios on Gaza and Lebanon
Naharnet/Lebanese military sources said that the Israeli decision to go to war
against Lebanon is pre-determined adding that Israeli leaders are awaiting the
necessary excuses and proper timing to launch their war. According to military
reports, the Israeli army completed unannounced large-scale military maneuvers
weeks prior to launching its attack on Gaza.
The Israeli plan included two scenarios:
1. A full reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, the destruction of all underground
tunnels (estimated to exceed 250) throughout the length of the Gaza-Egypt
border.
2. A full war with both Lebanon and Syria that includes a deep penetration into
Lebanese territories.
The Israeli maneuvers were code named 'Integration of Arms' and are considered
to constitute the second largest drills carried out by the Israelis since the
July 2006 war with Hizbullah.
The main target for the maneuvers is to prepare the military for attacking
cities and residential areas.
Israeli air force pilots were told to concentrate on destroying rocket launch
pads and medium range missiles, while land forces were to focus on accomplishing
deep penetrations within enemy territory to prevent the launching of any rockets
towards Israel.
Israeli Chief of Staff General Gabi Ashkenazi closely followed up the Israeli
maneuvers from his Longbow Apache helicopter prior to moving to an Israeli
submarine and joining President Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Tel-Aviv is reportedly planning to execute the two scenarios either in parallel
or in succession.
However, according to the report, Israeli military leaders want to carry out the
operation as soon as possible due to intelligence data that Hizbullah has
supplied Hamas with rockets that have a 37-km range.
According to Israel, Hizbullah possesses Russian 112 mm Grad rockets with a
range of 20 to 40 Km. Hamas only owned the Iranian version of the 20-km range.
The supply of new rockets by Hizbullah to Hamas forced Israel to review its
position and consider the occupation of Gaza, the report said. Beirut, 15 Jan
09, 12:22
UNIFIL: Militants who Fired
Rockets into Israel Unprofessional
Naharnet/The identity of militants who have fired rockets into northern Israel
remains a mystery amid concern by countries participating in UNIFIL about lack
of progress in the investigation into the attack.
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat quoted UNIFIL sources as saying that the militants who
fired the rockets from southern Lebanon the day before were less professional
than those who attacked northern Israel last Thursday. They said the first time
the rockets were launched on Israel, there was more professionalism in directing
the rockets towards their exact target in Nahariya. Wednesday's rockets crashed
in an open area in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
Political sources expressed concern to al-Hayat about holding Fatah al-Islam or
al-Qaida solely responsible for the rocket attack, adding that there should be
caution in prejudging the probe. An Nahar daily said countries that have
contributed troops to UNIFIL haven't been convinced by ongoing investigations
aimed at unveiling the identity of attackers. Diplomatic sources also told the
newspaper that the European countries might not renew the mandate of their U.N.
troops if there is growing danger in south Lebanon. The reports came as the
Lebanese army said in a communiqué that "an unidentified side" launched several
rockets on Israel and the Jewish state retaliated by shelling southern Lebanon
with several rockets. Beirut, 15 Jan 09, 11:54
Emir: summit call still standing
Gulf times/HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani affirmed last night
that Qatar’s call for holding an emergency Arab summit to discuss the Gaza
crisis was still standing. In an address on Al Jazeera satellite channel HH the
Emir said: “We are waiting for the sake of Gaza ... and the decision is for
leaders”.
The Emir said that when Qatar called for holding the summit the number of
martyrs in Gaza was 500 and 2,400 injured; today the number of martyrs reached
1,023 and 4,560 injured. “We did not call for the summit in order prepare
armies.... as we are not dreaming but we appreciate the real situation around
us, and we see that its our duty to take a joint stance and can take effective
decisions,” the Emir asserted. The Emir proposed setting up a fund for
reconstruction of Gaza including houses and infrastructure. He said: “I take
this opportunity to declare Qatar’s contribution to this fund for $250mn”. The
Emir called for establishing a marine bridge with participation of all the Arab
countries with a view to transporting aid for people of Gaza. He also called for
holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity before the
international and national courts. He called for an immediate halt to aggression
against the Gaza Strip, complete withdrawal of the occupying forces as well as
opening of all crossings in order to facilitate transportation of people and
relief. The Emir called for lifting the illegal siege with all its forms and
cancelling restrictions on the movement of people, money and goods. These points
have been prepared as practical proposals to be issued by the summit in order
help halt the aggression and as steps to stop the bloodshed and to help
alleviate the pain of people of Gaza. Earlier, Qatar said it had a quorum for
the summit this week, despite resistance from other Arab countries in a
tug-of-war splitting the Arab world into two camps. Qatar said 15 Arab countries
had signed on to the meeting, but Hesham Youssef, aide to Arab League chief Amr
Moussa, told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television only 14 countries had agreed to
the summit, one short of the quorum.
Saudi Arabia has called an emergency summit of Gulf countries in Riyadh today to
discuss the Gaza Strip crisis, state news agency SPA said yesterday. – Agencies
Using the Palestinians
15/01/2009
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed/General manager of Al -Arabiya television. Asharq Al-
Awsat,
When I say that not everything that you see is innocent, it is difficult for me
to elaborate and recount the evidence, because the details are both painful and
unbelievable, more than they are disgraceful. And so now we see the disputes
surrounding the convening of an Arab summit which has become clear for all to
see; everybody wants a summit [to take place], everybody wants to host this
summit, everybody wants to hold the microphone in their hands, everybody wants
to appear as the savior. This explains, in brief, the propaganda battles that
are currently raging at the highest levels in our region.
Inter-Arab disputes have been the focus of the crisis from its origin, and until
its tragic end which we are currently witnessing with regards to the [Israeli]
massacre in Gaza. I do not want to point a finger at those who are right or at
those who are wrong, the events speak for themselves and have become clear for
all to see.
The conflict [in Gaza] can be traced to a clash between two focal points- one
group that warns against getting embroiled in a war with Israel because that is
exactly what Israel wants, and in order to avoid this [war] has called for
consultation and research in order to find solutions to prevent this disaster.
While another group that considers the prevention of these clashes as a
limitation of the resistance, and a restriction of the Hamas movement, [this
group] belittles the Israeli reaction and sees in the war an opportunity to
expose other Arab regimes.
The rest of the events [that occurred] are well-documented when Israel attacked
the isolated Gaza Strip with all of its might, taking advantage of the void left
by the US Presidency [during the Presidential transitional period], Arab
division, and Hamas's mistakes.
Due to this Arab fragmentation, Israel has enjoyed additional days of bloodshed
against the Gaza Strip, while claiming that it was waiting to see the outcome of
the dialogue taking place in Cairo between the Palestinian parties. This
dialogue went on and on discussing trivial details, like who will represent who,
and who will control which border crossing, at the same time that the killing
was taking place. This was the story before the UN Security Council resolution,
which Israel was quick to refuse, well aware that there would be inter-Arab
disputes with regards to accepting the resolution, giving it [Israel] the
opportunity to complete its merciless military operation. And who expects mercy
from the enemy when their own side is busy fighting over the fine-print during
lavish meetings and conventions?
The inter-Palestinian dispute continued until the matter developed into a clash
between nations, with all party wanting its summit to be the Arab Summit. Kuwait
has an Arab Summit scheduled, while Qatar wants to circumvent them by holding
its own summit, and this is how the Palestinians live with continual tragedy, at
one time because of Israel, and at another due to the farce surrounding the
summit and those who quarrel [with regards to its convention].
In the introduction I confirmed that what is happening has become clear for all
to see and that is Israel isolating itself with its terrible aggression against
an isolated people with small chance of defending themselves, but the rest of
the picture is just as bad. There are Arab and regional conflicts which are
using the Palestinians.
The Gaza War has confirmed what we have already known for half a century and
that is that the Palestinians are always being used in Arab wars that have
nothing to do with them, and which gains them nothing. And who pays the price in
blood and land? Unfortunately, it is the Palestinians.
Hamas in Gaza and Damascus
14/01/2009
By: Tariq Alhomayedl
Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat,
Khalid Mishal, in Damascus, is saying no to a permanent truce and to
negotiations, and is rejecting the proposed agreement regarding crossings that
is based on the 2005 version, out of fear for the movement’s weapons and not out
of fear for the safety of the people of Gaza. However, the speech delivered by
Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza was somewhat different.
Haniyeh's speech contradicted Mishal’s comments despite that he spoke about
victory prevailing over destruction. He said, “We will work positively with any
initiative that aims to bring [Israeli] aggression to an end, to bring about
withdrawal, to end the siege and to open the crossings.”
Mishal, who lives in Damascus, where he cannot hear the humming of Israeli
fighter jets, called for an uprising in the Arab world, whilst Haniyeh on the
other hand refused subtly to criticize the Arabs. Moreover, his recent comments
differed to the statements he made during the first few days of attacks when he
said that Hamas would persevere even if Israel obliterated Gaza and everything
in it.
The main concern today is to rescue Gaza from the brutality of Israeli
aggression, which has caused almost one thousand deaths. But it seems that this
was not a concern at all for the Hamas leadership in Damascus, until it became
clear that the death toll in Gaza and the suffering of the Gaza Strip’s
residents are the most effective weapons for Hamas in Damascus.
On Tuesday morning, Al Arabiya broadcast an interview with an eyewitness in Gaza
who spoke to the television channel amid attacks. This man was more eloquent
than the Hamas leadership. He said, “We want the aggression to stop now, we want
a truce, we want unity, we want to live. We are peaceful people my brother!”
It is worth mentioning that during the first few days of the Israeli attack on
Lebanon in the summer of 2006, Hassan Nasrallah said that whoever loves Lebanon
should stop the aggression against it. Nasrallah had realized that halting the
aggression gave him legitimacy amongst Arabs, whilst prolonging the
confrontation would cause him to lose Lebanon internally.
Yet, the Hamas leadership, in Damascus in particular, fails to understand this
point. It seems that it does not understand politics, and more importantly, the
necessity of protecting its own people. Who does the movement rely on to protect
the people of Gaza?
Mishal, who lives in Syria, knows that when Syria protested officially, and
strongly, against Israel giving Golan wine as a New Year gift to UN staff, it
went directly to the UN. Yet Damascus wants to engage in the Gaza battle [not
against Israel but] against the Arab states!
Iran has done nothing but divide the Palestinians, whilst Hezbollah settled for
employing the weapon of rhetoric. We have [Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister] Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim al Thani saying that the Israeli trade office
in Doha will be closed when there is a collective Arab decision [to cut ties
with Israel]. But the question here is; were the Arabs consulted the day that
office was opened?
Sheikh Hamad asked, “Why should we make sacrifices when nobody else does?” Glory
be to God! Is closing the Israeli trade office a “sacrifice” in comparison with
the blood that is being shed in Gaza and the suffering of its people?
As long as everybody is in agreement on the brutality of Israel, we must be
aware of the danger of the positions of some parties in the region and some of
their Arab alliances who employ the weapon of rhetoric. The following question
should be addressed: Is Hamas, and especially Hamas in Damascus, aware of its
responsibility towards the suffering of the people of Gaza?
Q & A with Arab League SecGen Amr Musa
Asharq Al-Awsat
14/01/2009
By Sawsan Abu-Husain in Cairo
Q) What is your assessment of the UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza,
especially since some do not consider it to be an effective [resolution] and
have played down its importance and the importance of the Arabs who went to the
[Security] Council?
The UN Security Council resolution should have been stronger than this; it was
the interpretation of a process of bringing out and mobilizing a number of the
larger nations from their fixed positions of not letting the Security Council
deal with the Palestinian issue because Israel does not want this. Therefore,
these major nation's task was to keep us away from the Security Council meeting
in order [to prevent us] from drafting a resolution. Israel is always calling
for the issue of the Middle East to be kept away from the United Nations [UN],
and this is why we are trying to restore the issue to the UN, and indeed we have
done so over the previous years and today.
The second reason that called upon us and always calls upon us to go to the
Security Council is that Israeli is trying to attract the support of European
politics towards it, in addition to the American support [that it already
enjoys]. The Arabs are fully aware of this, and therefore we have continually
sought to involve the Security Council in every step, the last time was in
September when we convened [a special meeting] with regards to [Israeli]
settlements [in occupied Palestinian territory]. We did not insist on calling
for a decision because we would not have won, and our aim was to bring up this
issue with the Security Council again despite the many objections from Israel
and the West.
This time the issue was Gaza; the West and Israel preferred to maintain regional
and other communication and keep the UN out of the issue, but we were resolved
in our position to make an official resolution, and the Arab delegation took
place despite pressure from a number of Western diplomats [not to do so], but we
stood firm on the importance of drafting an official Arab resolution "to reveal
the issue" to the Security Council.
The West tried more than once to circumvent the Arab draft resolution, but they
faced extreme pressure from the Arab world, and from Prince Saud Al Faisal
personally who told them; We are going to the Security Council, and if you want
to engage with us then we welcome this, but if you are not serious about
engaging with us then we must re-examine the whole Arab stance with regards to
engaging with you. Prince Saud Al Faisal's statement was very clear, and this
had the best reaction. We understand that the wording [of the resolution] and
the way of dealing with us was just stalling for time. We said to them that if
by the end of the week the Security Council resolution had not been drafted and
voted on, then we will leave, and return [to re-draft it] and not care about
failure.
They reminded us that the resolution could be vetoed, and we said "so what?"
They said that the resolution would take 7 votes [to be passed] and we said "so
what? We must deal with every country according to its stance on our issue, and
if they refuse to vote [for it] then we will return and inform the Arab world
that we failed for these reasons.
Q) What European countries were trying to stall the Arab resolution in the
Security Council?
It was a western delegate; I need not mention his name as it has become known.
Q) With your presence at the UN and with members of the Security Council, have
you felt the [likelihood] of the serious implementation of the ceasefire
resolution?
The issue of implementation is another step, but we stressed the importance of
engaging the Security Council in this issue, and drafting a resolution without a
veto and with a majority [vote] which has not occurred in a long time. We saw
this same procrastination occur with regards to Lebanon and resolution 1701,
however we worked hard and achieved that resolution which is not considered
[strong] enough and which is not the last resolution in the UN. We must draft
more resolutions, and if the situation [in Gaza] continues like this then it
calls for us to draft a resolution under Chapter 7 [of the UN charter] and what
will be will be, a veto does not matter but we must do our duty.
Q) So the Arabs will go to the Security Council again?
We may return if the situation [in Gaza] continues as it is.
Q) What about the meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers which will be held in Kuwait
early next week?
It is natural that all the Arab momentum and impetus which has taken place for
the Gaza Strip will be found in Kuwait. Before my departure from Cairo to Kuwait
I will meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. The Arab Foreign Ministers in
Kuwait will discuss all the developments of the situation and the war in Gaza,
there will also be a joint-meeting between Arab Finance and Foreign Ministers on
the 16 January. The first meeting will take place on 15 January to monitor the
situation in Gaza and follow up with regards to the implementation of the
Security Council resolution [calling for a ceasefire], the length it will last,
and future plans [after the ceasefire has been implemented]. Also during the
economic summit there will be a separate consultation between Kings and
Presidents regarding the Gaza issue.
Q) What do you think of the timing of the entry of US arms into Israel?
The timing is ridiculous, and the message this sends is not reassuring. What
bothers me now is the continuation of Israel's aggressions [against the Gaza
Strip], and the extremely dangerous humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the
danger that all of this aid has become an Israeli military objective.
Q) Why are there no efforts to make a more wide-ranging truce, especially taking
into account the humanitarian situation [in Gaza]?
Israel has refused even to grant safe passage so that the humanitarian situation
can be addressed. Is this reasonable? Does Israel grant 3-hour ceasefires? Are
we [supposed] to accept Gaza being targeted 21 hours a day?
Q) What are you doing with regards to Israel's use of internationally banned
weapons in military operations?
The issue of international banned weapons [being used by Israel] is currently
being investigated because it constitutes a war crime. If the international
forces protect Israel's official use of internationally banned weapons then this
is a new development in the international situation, one which we must take into
account and stand against it. If this is true then we must announce to the world
that it has become permissible for Israel to use weapons of mass destruction in
its military operations.
Q) Has the Arab role ended with the emergence of Iran, Turkey and Qatar?
I do not think that Turkey wants to take over the Arab role at all. Secondly,
Qatar is an Arab country and the collapse of the Arab role will affect every
Arab country without exception. Thirdly, Iran is behind the current situation in
the Middle East, and in my opinion we should not confuse matters which will only
increase uncertainty, therefore we do not have a clear vision [of what is
happening]. What I can say is that we do not have an alternative other than an
Arab role backed by Arab and Islamic [countries], there is no conflict between
Arab and Islamic positions rather there is integration and cooperation.
Q) The Islamic alternative [has emerged] with the premise that the Arabs have
lost their role?
Many feel this, and as the Secretary-General of the Arab League I am not
completely reassured by this position, but I try as much as much as possible to
keep the ship afloat.
Q) What should be done in order to keep the ship afloat?
We must address the gaps in our positions.
Q) What about the level of attendance at the Arab Economic Summit?
The level of attendance will be good with regards to the attendance of Kings,
Presidents, and Princes, and it is an important opportunity to consult and
coordinate with regards to what is happening additionally, while not influencing
the discussions of economic and social affairs.
Q) Khalid Mishal has refused a permanent truce, refused international force, and
refused the disarmament [of Hamas], what is your view on this?
I do not want to comment on this under the present circumstances, what I do want
to say is that there are feelings that progress is being made by the Egyptian
contact with Hamas which will lead to an end of these refusals, which will be in
the interests of one and all.
Q) When do you expect a ceasefire, and what of the reports that Israel will
continue [the attack] for one month?
Nobody knows, because there are extremely contradictory views, but because of
the humanitarian issue and the overall Israeli plans and the political games
being played, this crisis will continue, there will be no ceasefire, but the
crisis will consider perhaps for months. The most important thing in my opinion
is that Israel is making large gains from the Fatah and Hamas positions, because
it is dedicated to the separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, and by
doing so continues talk that there is no single Palestinian territory, because
the Palestinians themselves are going their own [individual] way.
Ending the West's Proxy War Against Israel
Stop funding a Palestinian youth bulge, and the fighting will stop too.
By GUNNAR HEINSOHN
Wall Street Journal Europe
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123171179743471961.html?mod=djemEditorialPage
As the world decries Israel's attempt to defend itself from the rocket attacks
coming from Gaza, consider this: When Hamas routed Fatah in Gaza in 2007, it
cost nearly 350 lives and 1,000 wounded. Fatah's surrender brought only a
temporary stop to the type of violence and bloodshed that are commonly seen in
lands where at least 30% of the male population is in the 15-to-29 age bracket.
Barbara KelleyIn such "youth bulge" countries, young men tend to eliminate each
other or get killed in aggressive wars until a balance is reached between their
ambitions and the number of acceptable positions available in their society. In
Arab nations such as Lebanon (150,000 dead in the civil war between 1975 and
1990) or Algeria (200,000 dead in the Islamists' war against their own people
between 1999 and 2006), the slaughter abated only when the fertility rates in
these countries fell from seven children per woman to fewer than two. The
warring stopped because no more warriors were being born.
In Gaza, however, there has been no demographic disarmament. The average woman
still bears six babies. For every 1,000 men aged 40-44, there are 4,300 boys
aged 0-4 years. In the U.S. the latter figure is 1,000, and in the U.K. it's
only 670.
And so the killing continues. In 2005, when Israel was still an occupying force,
Gaza lost more young men to gang fights and crime than in its war against the
"Zionist enemy." Despite the media's obsession with the Mideast conflict, it has
cost many fewer lives than the youth bulges in West Africa, Lebanon or Algeria.
In the six decades since Israel's founding, "only" some 62,000 people (40,000
Arabs, 22,000 Jews) have been killed in all the Israeli-Arab wars and
Palestinian terror attacks. During that same time, some 11 million Muslims have
been killed in wars and terror attacks -- mostly at the hands of other Muslims.
What accounts for the Mideast conflict's relatively low body count? Hamas and
their ilk certainly aim to kill as many Israelis as possible. To their
indignation, the Israelis are quite good at protecting themselves. On the other
hand, Israel, despite all the talk about its "disproportionate" use of force, is
doing its utmost to spare civilian deaths. Even Hamas acknowledges that most of
the Palestinians killed by Israeli air raids are from their own ranks. But about
10%-15% of Gaza's casualties are women and minors -- a tragedy impossible to
prevent in a densely settled area in which nearly half the people are under 15
and the terrorists hide among them.
The reason for Gaza's endless youth bulge is that a large majority of its
population does not have to provide for its offspring. Most babies are fed,
clothed, vaccinated and educated by UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Unlike the U.N. High Commission
for Refugees, which deals with the rest of the world's refugees and aims to
settle them in their respective host countries, UNRWA perpetuates the
Palestinian problem by classifying as refugees not only those who originally
fled their homes, but all of their descendents as well.
UNRWA is benevolently funded by the U.S. (31%) and the European Union (nearly
50%) -- only 7% of the funds come from Muslim sources. Thanks to the West's
largesse, nearly the entire population of Gaza lives in a kind of lowly but
regularly paid dependence. One result of this unlimited welfare is an endless
population boom. Between 1950 and 2008, Gaza's population has grown from 240,000
to 1.5 million. The West basically created a new Near Eastern people in Gaza
that at current trends will reach three million in 2040. Within that period,
Gazans may alter the justifications and directions of their aggression but are
unlikely to stop the aggression itself.
The Hamas-Fatah truce of June 2007 allowed the Islamists again to direct all
their energy on attacking Israel. The West pays for food, schools, medicine and
housing, while Muslim nations help out with the military hardware. Unrestrained
by such necessities as having to earn a living, the young have plenty of time on
their hands for digging tunnels, smuggling, assembling missiles and firing 4,500
of them at Israel since 2006. While this gruesome activity has slowed the
Palestinian internecine slaughter, it forced some 250,000 Israelis into bomb
shelters.
The current situation can only get worse. Israel is being pushed into a corner.
Gazan teenagers have no future other than war. One rocket master killed is
immediately replaced by three young men for whom a martyr's death is no less
honorable than victory. Some 230,000 Gazan males, aged 15 to 29, who are
available for the battlefield now, will be succeeded by 360,000 boys under 15
(45% of all Gazan males) who could be taking up arms within the coming 15 years.
As long as we continue to subsidize Gaza's extreme demographic armament, young
Palestinians will likely continue killing their brothers or neighbors. And yet,
despite claiming that it wants to bring peace to the region, the West continues
to make the population explosion in Gaza worse every year. By generously
supporting UNRWA's budget, the West assists a rate of population increase that
is 10 times higher than in their own countries. Much is being said about Iran
waging a proxy war against Israel by supporting Hezbollah and Hamas. One may
argue that by fueling Gaza's untenable population explosion, the West
unintentionally finances a war by proxy against the Jews of Israel.
If we seriously want to avoid another generation of war in Gaza, we must have
the courage to tell the Gazans that they will have to start looking after their
children themselves, without UNRWA's help. This would force Palestinians to
focus on building an economy instead of freeing them up to wage war. Of course,
every baby lured into the world by our money up to now would still have our
assistance.
If we make this urgently needed reform, then by at least 2025 many boys in Gaza
-- like in Algeria -- would enter puberty as only sons. They would be able to
look forward to a more secure future in a less violent society.
If the West prefers calm around Gaza even before 2025, it may consider offering
immigration to those young Palestinians only born because of the West's
well-meant but cruelly misguided aid. In the decades to come, North America and
Europe will have to take in tens of millions of immigrants anyway to slow the
aging of their populations. If, say, 200,000 of them are taken from the 360,000
boys coming of age in Gaza in the next 15 years, that would be a negligible move
for the big democracies but a quantum leap for peace in the Near East.
Many of Gaza's young -- like in much of the Muslim world -- dream of leaving
anyway. Who would not want to get out of that strip of land but the
international NGOs and social workers whose careers depend on perpetuating
Gaza's misery?
**Mr. Heinsohn heads the Raphael Lemkin Institute at the University of Bremen,
Europe's first institute devoted to comparative genocide research.