LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
December 25/08

Bible Reading of the day.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2,1-14. In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk in the 12th century and Doctor of the Church
5th sermon for Christmas Eveظ"The glory of the Lord shone around them"
Before the true light rose, before the birth of Christ, night shrouded the whole world. Night reigned in each one of us, too, before our conversion and inner rebirth. Was it not deepest night, the most thick darkness over the earth when our ancestors used to worship false gods?... And was there not another kind of dark night within ourselves when we were living without God in this world, following our passions and earthly desires, doing those things that now make us blush as being so many deeds of darkness?...But now you have come out of your sleep, you have been sanctified, have become children of light, children of the day, and no longer of darkness or of the night (1Thes 5,5)... «Tomorrow you will see the majesty of God in your midst.» Today, the Son has become for us the righteousness come from God; tomorrow he will be revealed as our life that we may appear with him in glory. Today a child has been born for us to keep us from vaunting ourselves in vainglory and so that, by our repentance, we may become like little children (Mt 18,3). Tomorrow he will show himself in all his greatness to stir us up to praise, so that we, too, may be glorified and praised when God bestows on each one of us his glory... «We shall be like him because we shall see him as he is» (1Jn 3,2). For today we do not actually see him as he is but as in a mirror (1Cor 13,12). Now he receives what belongs to us, but tomorrow we will see him within ourselves when he gives us what belongs to him, when he reveals himself as he is and take us up to raise us up to him.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
US to Israel: Don't sell Lebanon to Syria-Ha'aretz -24/12/08
Coming in from the cold-By: Dyab Abu Jahjah/Al-Ahram Weekly  24/12/08
A divided Lebanon is united by DNA-Worldfocus  24/12/08
Our Mideastern future: a pair of shoes and a gun-By Michael Young 24/12/08
Will Syria Do it?By Tariq Alhomayed/Asharq Alawsat 24/12/08
Christmas in Beirut is just like everywhere else - but not-By Marc J. Sirois 24/12/08
Palestine's own 'leaders' aren't doing its people any good-The Daily Star 24/12/08
Let’s do what’s good for us. By: Giora Eiland/Israel Opinion 24/12/08

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for December 24/08
Aoun Warns Against Possible Assassination-Naharnet
Suleiman Preparing his Own National Defense Strategy-Naharnet
Christmas Eve Hunt for Smugglers, Car Thieves in Brital-Naharnet
Baroud: Electoral Security Plan Soon-Naharnet
Report: U.S. Tells Israel Not to Sell Lebanon to the Syrians-Naharnet
Aoun in Bkirki this Week-Naharnet
Activist Ship to Sail from Southern Lebanon to Gaza-Naharnet
NYC Man Pleads Guilty to Broadcasting Hizbullah's al-Manar-Naharnet
President Searches for Resolving Constitutional Council Issue-Naharnet
Hizbullah Differs with Aoun Over Talks with Israel-Naharnet
Hizbullah for Persisting Dialogue-Naharnet
Salloukh Lukewarm on Negotiations with Israel-Naharnet
Hariri from Bkirki: Lebanon Will Not Engage in Direct Talks with Israel-Naharnet
Sfeir Criticizes State, Says Government Like Carriage Pulled by Opposing Horses-Naharnet
Hizbullah Differs with Aoun Over Talks with Israel-Naharnet
Rival Lebanese politicians rule out talks with Israel-Daily Star
NYC man admits he helped air Hezbollah TV-The Associated Press
Venezuela's Chavez denies Iran-Syria weapons connection-AFP
Israel Bracing For Gaza Incursion-New York Jewish Week
Syria, Turkey discuss economic co-op-Xinhua
Murr: Lebanese Army incapable of absorbing Hizbullah's assets-Daily Star
Lebanese not at risk in Guinea after coup bid - Salloukh-Daily Star
Beirut workshop stresses need to respect copyrights-Daily Star
Hout trumpets 20 percent increase in number of passengers at MEA-Daily Star
Alfa number auction raises total of $710,000-Daily Star
Some Filipinas fare better working illegally - report-Daily Star
Beirut gets Italian help to deal with psychological impact of war-Daily Star
More cheer this year as Lebanon sees relatively tension-free holidays-Daily Star
Jeita Grotto leads cedars in contest to represent Lebanon for 'New 7 Wonders-(AFP)

Sfeir Criticizes State, Says Government Like Carriage Pulled by Opposing Horses
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir criticized in his Christmas message the Lebanese system of governance and violent political rhetoric.
"The state is not holding together and government resembles a carriage pulled by two horses, one to the front and the other backwards," Sfeir said Monday.
"Normally around the world (parliamentary) majority governs, and when defeated a minority takes over…every act that government intends to do is opposed, resisted and thwarted from within cabinet," he said. Sfeir pointed to increasing unemployment and the effects of the international financial crisis, saying some Lebanese that used to work overseas have returned to Lebanon. The Patriarch also urged the Lebanese to put their national interest first. "If the country wins, all Lebanese would win, and vice versa. National interest must supersede everything. This won't be achieved as long as we continue to hear a previously unknown political derogatory language," he said. The Patriarch concluded in wishing all Lebanese and Christians in particular a Merry Christmas. Beirut, 23 Dec 08, 11:50

Christmas Eve Hunt for Smugglers, Car Thieves in Brital
Naharnet/The Lebanese army and security forces on Wednesday conducted a large-scale operation in the Bekaa valley town of Brital in search for smugglers and car thieves. Voice of Lebanon radio station said the armed forces backed by armored vehicles and tanks closed all roads leading to the town and set up checkpoints during the operation which began after midnight Tuesday. They also closed exits linking Brital to the road leading to Syria. VDL said army helicopters also participated in the operation on Christmas Eve. Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 10:46

Suleiman Preparing his Own National Defense Strategy
Naharnet/President Michel Suleiman is reportedly getting ready to present his own defense strategy based on previous proposals made by national dialogue participants. Pan Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Wednesday that a small committee of experts and academicians are preparing a strategy vision that stems from proposals made by several Lebanese politicians. It quoted sources as saying the work team has until now defense strategy proposals made by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun, former President Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. The sources, however, said it was not clear if Nasrallah's proposal made during previous dialogue sessions sponsored by Speaker Nabih Berri before the 2006 war was final. They did not rule out a new defense strategy proposal by Hizbullah after MP Boutros Harb presents his own views during the next dialogue session scheduled for Jan. 22. The small team that was formed by Suleiman includes several experts in law, international relations and political science, such as Ghaleb Mahmasani, Adnan al-Sayyed Hussein, Issam Suleiman, Walid Mubarak, Ambassador Naji Abu Assi, the president's advisor and former MP Nazem al-Khoury, Antoine Shukair, retired Brig. Gen. Bassam Yahya. Delegates of dialogue participants and several army officers will later join the team to come up with an overall vision for the defense strategy. The sources said the team will do a comparative study of all proposals and try to see what issues require further discussion at the dialogue sessions because everyone wants to come up with a unified plan. Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 09:52

Baroud: Electoral Security Plan Soon
Naharnet/Interior Minister Ziad Baroud stressed all parties in Lebanon want the parliamentary elections to be held and promised to unveil a plan to keep security during the polls. "Everyone wants the elections to be held on time. No one wants to get rid of the elections. That's why we say the best guarantee for the elections until now is the government in which everyone is represented," Baroud told As Safir daily in remarks published Wednesday.
The government "has become a security political and electoral guarantee," he stressed. He said the government would have failed in all its missions if it succeeded in everything and failed in the elections. "I am optimistic and all preparations point to success," he told As Safir. He revealed that the ministries of defense and interior will unveil a security-military plan for the elections. He stressed that both ministries are able to deploy around 30,000 security forces and soldiers in Lebanon to keep security during the elections. Baroud also reassured the Lebanese that security forces are taking extra measures during the holiday season. Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 07:46

Aoun in Bkirki this Week
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun is expected to visit the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki this week, As Safir daily reported Wednesday. It said Aoun's visit would come as part of his duty to visit Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on the occasion of Christmas. The newspaper did not provide further details. Beirut media also reported that President Michel Suleiman will attend Christmas day mass in Bkirki on Thursday. Suleiman and Sfeir will later hold a meeting. An Nahar daily quoted Baabda Palace visitors as saying the two would discuss the third round of national dialogue and government and diplomatic issues.
Al-Liwaa daily reported Monday that a Christmas day meeting could be held in Bkirki between Sfeir, Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh and Aoun.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that Suleiman could sponsor the talks. Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 09:22

Activist Ship to Sail from Southern Lebanon to Gaza
Naharnet/A cargo ship carrying Lebanese activists and supplies will set sail for the besieged Gaza Strip early next year to defy an Israeli blockade, the organizer said Tuesday. The European-flagged ship carrying supplies including power generators and food will sail from southern Lebanon on Jan. 3 to the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus before heading to Gaza. Authorities at Larnaca port are expected to inspect the cargo and passengers before it proceeds to Gaza.
Hani Sleiman, a lawyer and university professor, said the indirect route is designed to deprive Israel of any excuse not to allow the ship into Gaza.
Passengers include activists from civil society groups and journalists. Five ships carrying activists and goods have run the blockade since the summer, but it will be the first time a ship carrying people and goods from Lebanon, a country officially at war with Israel, will attempt the trip. A spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, Yigal Palmor, said Israel will not comment prior to the event and "will react accordingly when it happens." Sleiman expressed hope the ship will succeed in making it to Gaza. "The aim is to break the blockade and show solidarity and make the Palestinians feel they are not alone," he told The Associated Press. "What are they (the Israelis) going to do? Sink it? This is a peace ship, a commercial, civilian one." The last boat to make the trip on Dec. 20 carried a Qatari delegation, Lebanese activists and journalists from Israel and Lebanon. Israel and Egypt closed Gaza's borders after Hamas seized control of the territory in June 2007. Since November, Israel has tightened the blockade to pressure Gaza militants to halt their rocket fire on Israeli border towns.(AP) Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 11:37

President Searches for Resolving Constitutional Council Issue
Naharnet/Informed sources affirmed that President Michel Suleiman wishes to end all disputes concerning the Constitutional Council the soonest possible.
Intensive discussions are taking place away from the limelight in Baabda between March 14 and 8 Forces to come out with an acceptable formula that would secure a process for ending this important issue. Sources informed the daily as-Safir on Wednesday that the window of opportunity remains open till the 30th of December.
The proposed formula according to the paper is for appointing a single member from March 8 Forces and another from March 14 Forces, while the other three Christian representatives to the council would be divided as such, one to represent the president and two to represent March 8 Forces.
However, the sources played down this formula saying that the parliamentary majority will reject it. This is based on Tuesday's declared position of MP Saad Hariri from Bkirki when he announced his acceptance of the democratic process. As-Safir asked Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to comment on the issue.
"I did all I could in this regard, and we reached an agreement. Hence, the ball is not on my field, it is with those that broke the agreement," he said.
President Suleiman continued his contacts Tuesday; he sent his envoy Nazem al-Khoury to meet with MP Walid Jumblat, who reportedly earlier planned to issue a high toned statement but was dissuaded from doing so by Speaker Berri. A government source explained to the daily al-Liwa that the five names of the Constitutional Council is not ripe yet. He ruled out a cabinet meeting next Saturday. However, he estimated that this could take place sometime between Christmas and New Year's eve (meaning next Tuesday) if both March 8 and 14 Forces were to agree on their shares at the council (4 members) while the fifth Druze member is known to be Judge Suheil Abdel Samad. Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 10:32

NYC Man Pleads Guilty to Broadcasting Hizbullah's al-Manar
Naharnet/The owner of a satellite TV company in the U.S. has pleaded guilty to providing material aid to a "terrorist organization" by letting customers receive broadcasts from Hizbullah's al-Manar television station. Javed Iqbal, 45, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. He declined comment afterward. As part of the plea, Iqbal agreed to serve a prison term of up to 6 1/2 years. Sentencing was set for March 24. Prosecutors said Iqbal, who was born in Pakistan and has lived in the United States for more than 20 years, used satellite dishes on his Staten Island home to distribute broadcasts of al-Manar. The U.S. considers Hizbullah a terrorist organization. "Are you aware of al-Manar's relationship to Hizbullah?" Judge Richard Berman asked. "Yes," Iqbal said. The judge asked whether Iqbal knew that Hizbullah had been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.
"Yes," Iqbal repeated. The charges against Iqbal sparked a First Amendment battle. Iqbal's lawyers said their client was no different from major news companies and Internet providers, some of which permit live streaming broadcasts of al-Manar. "All these entities, like the defendants, were exercising their First Amendment rights to freely disseminate news and information, even satire, within the United States — but, all, except the defendants, have escaped prosecution altogether," Iqbal's lawyers said in court papers. Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi Aridi called the man's arrest an "attack against freedoms (that) robs a large section of people from watching a specific channel." Prosecutors said the First Amendment does not protect someone from engaging in a profitable commercial relationship when the underlying conduct is illegal. The government noted that Iqbal had said he has never been a practicing Muslim and does not believe in a particular religion. It said that meant his motivation was purely for commercial gain and "utterly nonexpressive."The indictment described commercial overtures, business contracts, money transfers, shipments of electronic equipment and an order for 35 satellite receivers, among other things, prosecutors noted. "The defendants remain free to speak out in favor of Hizbullah or its political objectives," prosecutors wrote. Last year, the judge presiding over the case had rejected Iqbal's First Amendment claims.(AP-Naharnet) Beirut, 24 Dec 08, 08:12

Hizbullah Differs with Aoun Over Talks with Israel
Naharnet/Hizbullah on Tuesday said it disagrees with Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun over direct negotiations with Israel.
"This contradicts some claims that Aoun is a follower of Hizbullah," said MP Hussein Hajj Hassan. Hajj Hassan, in a television interview, said "both national unity and weapons are necessary for defending the country." "To safeguard unity we should maintain weapons," he added. Hizbullah, he claimed, does "not want to deploy its weapons domestically, but at the same time the other side should not attack the resistance." Beirut, 23 Dec 08, 22:32

Hizbullah for Persisting Dialogue
Naharnet/Hizbullah on Tuesday reiterated its outright rejection of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel and said national dialogue over a defense strategy is essential and should "persist." Minister of Labor Mohammed Fneish, a ranking Hizbullah member, told reporters after talks with Premier Fouad Saniora "direct negotiations with Israel are out of the question and totally unacceptable." "Going into negotiations reflects readiness to make concessions. We are not prepared to make concessions regarding our rights," Fneish added. National Dialogue under President Michel Suleiman with the aim of agreeing on a defense strategy is "essential and should not be linked to a timeframe. What is important is for dialogue to persist," Fneish added. Beirut, 23 Dec 08, 20:28

Salloukh Lukewarm on Negotiations with Israel
Naharnet/Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh on Tuesday indicated that Lebanon might go into negotiations with Israel if French President Nicolas Sarkozy guaranteed withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied Lebanese territory. In answering a question as to whether Sarkozy's forthcoming visit to Beirut on Jan. 6 could facilitate Lebanon's engagement in negotiations with Israel, Salloukh said: "If President Sarkozy can guarantee to us Israel's withdrawal from Shebaa Farms, Kfar Shouba Hills and the Lebanese sector of Ghajar village, then why not." "Lebanon is cautious regarding negotiations with Israel, be they direct or indirect, fearing they might lead to collapse of UNSCR 1701," Salloukh explained. He said "no serious discussion" of the Middle East crisis is expected before the second half of 2009. Beirut, 23 Dec 08, 18:42

Hariri from Bkirki: Lebanon Will Not Engage in Direct Talks with Israel
Naharnet/Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri said from Bkirki on Tuesday that Lebanon will not engage in direct talks with Israel because the national interest requires so. "We want just peace for Lebanon and Syria. We in Lebanon will not engage in direct negotiations with Israel because the national interest requires so," Hariri said after meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. "We hope peace is achieved" between Syria and Israel, he said. He criticized Syria for drafting a document defining the boundaries of the occupied Golan Heights and waiting for an Israeli reply through Turkish mediators. "We asked the Syrian government to demarcate the border (with Lebanon) and the answer was it won't delineate the boundary as long as the Shebaa Farms remain occupied," Hariri said. Now "we see President Assad asking Israel to demarcate the border and occupied territory in the Golan." He hailed Sfeir, saying the Patriarch "is Lebanon's conscience."About the elections, Hariri said: "We want them to be held in a transparent and democratic (way). And no one has an interest in postponing them.""The opposition no longer exists since we are all in the government now," Hariri said. "The opposition cannot be in the government and at the same time criticize it," he added. Hariri also stressed on stability in order to improve the economy. Beirut, 23 Dec 08, 13:55

Coming in from the cold
By: Dyab Abu Jahjah /Al-Ahram Weekly
Red carpets have been rolled out in Damascus over the past few days for an unusual visitor -- General Michel Aoun, observes Dyab Abu Jahjah
Aoun has been Syria's arch enemy in Lebanon for 17 years and when Syria pulled its army back out of the country in 2005, following the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri, Aoun was considered to be the real victor since he was the only Lebanese political leader who never collaborated with the Syrians.
Since then Aoun has made some very interesting strategic choices. He deserted the pro-American 14 March coalition because of its domination by the pro-Saudi Movement of the Future, led by Saad Al-Hariri, and signed a memorandum of understanding with Hizbullah.
After that, Aoun's Free National Current (FNC), representing 70 per cent of Lebanese Christians after the elections of 2005, and Hizbullah became close allies and together they form the core of the Lebanese opposition front.
According to Jean Aziz, a journalist and analyst and one of the strategists of the FNC, Lebanese Christians have been isolating themselves for 130 years and its about time that they make a strategic choice to reintegrate with their compatriots while preserving their identity and religious beliefs. This can only be realised if they open up towards other major forces in the region.
Lebanese Christians who support Aoun are well aware that tying themselves to the American project of a new Middle East will lead them to extinction in a region that will fight this project to the bitter end. Past experiences also proved that dreams of a Christian entity in Lebanon that is supported by the West and allied with Israel were dangerous illusions that only led to catastrophe.
The alternative is clear, not only must Lebanese Christians open up to the rest of the Lebanese and try to build a common future with them, they also have to open up to other Arab countries in order to tap into their Christian communities for more dynamism and vitality on strategic, cultural and economic levels. The situation of the Iraqi Christians and the effect of the American occupation on them shows how important this is.
This is what Aoun is trying to do in Damascus. He is normalising relations with a country he fought against based on the argument that once Syria withdrew from Lebanon no reasons were left for any antagonism with it, and that normal relations are a must between neighbouring countries. But beneath this realpolitik façade, he is above all looking to link up with the two million Syrian Christians.
Does this mean that Aoun is moving beyond his narrow Lebanese focus and embracing the Arab cause? If we study the programme of the NFC we can still detect a sense of Lebanese nationalism and an attachment to what they often describe as the "finality of the Lebanese entity", by which they mean that the Lebanese entity is final as the home of all its current citizens, hence rejecting Pan-Arabism and other projects going beyond that "entity".
For instance, Aziz declared that he is going to Syria with Aoun to check if it has abandoned what he described as "its Arabist approach, considering the Lebanese and the Syrians as one people, which they are not".
Nonetheless, how can we describe the opening, the new sense of responsibility and the definition of "us" that the FNC is prescribing when it comes to what it calls "Mashrekan Christians" if not as an Arab national reflex within a sectarian framework? Can Aziz and other theoreticians of the FNC convince us that they feel more affinity with Lebanese Muslims than with Syrian Christians?
It is also no surprise that Aoun's visit to Damascus has encountered heavy criticism from the Saudi-American sponsored 14 March coalition. The Christian component of that coalition is clearly annoyed with the pan-Arab Christian dimension that Aoun is mobilising in his favour. Some of them even used the argument of the Egyptian Copts that Aoun is not reaching out to them in order to question that dimension of Aoun's visit.
Aoun's allies answered that he would be glad to visit Egypt and strengthen links with the Copts as well. Something that will not be for tomorrow since the positioning of the Egyptian government towards Aoun and his new friends does not allow such an event to take place in the same manner as it does in Damascus.
The question remains as to how spontaneous anything happening in Syria is. As to Aoun himself he always had a flare for staging carnivals. It is therefore legitimate to wonder how deep his real commitment is to a historical new deal for all sides.
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved

Egyptian Convert to Christianity Tortured, Raped in Egypt
December 19, 2008 Egyptian
By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service CAIRO, EGYPT (ANS)
Martha Samuel, an Egyptian Muslim who converted to Christianity five years ago, was arrested at Cairo airport on Wednesday as she, her husband and two sons (four and two years old) were leaving for Russia. Her name was on a list of people prohibited from leaving the country. According to a story by the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), the Egypt for Christ Ministry is reporting that Martha Samuel has been sexually assaulted by Egyptian police officers at El-Nozha police station as well as at the National Security office in Heliopolis. AINA said Samuel has alsobeen beaten and tortured in an attempt to force her to return to Islam. The police have promised to release her if she returns to Islam. AINA said that Samuel (and her children, who are also under arrest), is to be transferred from the National Security office in Heliopolis to Al-Qanater prison after seeing the“renewal judge.” AINA said the children are“deliberately” not being provided with food in order to pressure their mother to return to Islam. Fadl Thabet, Martha's husband, has been taken to the National Security office in Alexandria (Somoha District). AINA said that Samuel, whose former name is Zainab Said Abdel-Aziz, and her family were trying to travel to Russia using a passport with her Christian name. AINA said that was so she could escape ongoing persecution by the Egyptian police and her own family, who have been trying to kill her for five years as a result of her conversion.------- End of Forwarded Message -------

Will Syria Do it?
23/12/2008
By Tariq Alhomayed
The Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat,
Is Syria isolated? Of course it is. Does Syria have any friends? It is difficult to say, as nobody can be absolutely certain of its ties with Tehran and Hezbollah.
With regards to the French, Paris still uses the conditional mood when talking about Damascus, saying if Damascus does this, or if Damascus doesn’t do that… This is indicative of a lack of trust in Damascus. As a result, the Syrians are concerned today, yet they are faced with an opportunity.
Damascus is concerned about the Rafik Hariri International Tribunal, its Arab and international isolation, and it is also worried that the new Obama government will begin its administration with a fatal error, leading to more years of aggression against Washington and this is something that Syria does not want.
Another issue that is worrying Syria is that US President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to deal with Iran using the carrot-and-stick approach. If the stick is used, and in the case that Tehran is attacked, Syria will find that it is the weakest link. If the carrot approach is followed with regards to Washington and Tehran and there are negotiations without resorting to the use of force then Damascus will no doubt be a point of negotiation between Washington and Tehran, just as Hezbollah, Hamas and Iraq will be.
Today, reports indicate a possible meeting between the Syrian President [Bashar al Assad] and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to inaugurate direct negotiations between the two countries. This, if it happens, would be a quick way for the Syrians to break their isolation and evade the obstacles ahead, and establish the kind of relations they want with Washington.
The entire issue might be based on speculation, but Syria’s desire to negotiate with Israel seems sincere, even after the issue of the American presidency was settled, considering that some saw this as Syria buying time.
The Israelis say that peace with Syria is more likely to happen before realizing the [Israeli-Palestinian] two-state project. Some reports indicate that negotiations between Damascus and Tel Aviv have made good progress.
I believe that for the sake of realizing the peace project in the region as a whole, Israeli-Syrian peace might be more realistic since Damascus will not let the Palestinian-Israeli process pass without problems before it settles its issue of the Golan Heights with Israel. Accordingly, the solving of the Syrian-Israeli issue is more likely to be achieved and it will be a real coup in the region and it will be in the interest of the Syrians to conclude the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Therefore, the opportunity is there today for the Syrians to kill two birds with one stone; firstly to regain the Golan Heights and secondly to break the Arab and international isolation. At that point, Lebanon will be like the icing on the cake, as they say.
Israel is not interested in Lebanon as much as it is keen for Syria to be an enemy to Hezbollah in order to break Iranian alliances in the region. Of course, there cannot be Syrian-Israeli peace while there are normal Syrian-Iranian ties.
Will Assad do it? Will he proceed in the peace process with Israel? If so, it will be, as I said before, equivalent to a coup in the region. Khaled Meshal will not find a furnished flat to rent in Damascus and Hassan Nasrallah will become more moderate than the March 14 coalition!
 
Murr: Lebanese Army incapable of absorbing Hizbullah's assets
'I ... do not want to give Israel a pretext' for new war
By Nicholas Kimbrell and Fidelius Schmid
Daily Star staffظWednesday, December 24, 2008
BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army is incapable of integrating Hizbullah's fighters and weapons into its force, Defense Minister Elias Murr has said in an interview with Future Television. In the interview, aired Monday night, Murr said the army did not have the capacity to absorb Hizbullah's armed wing and warned that the continued presence of the group's weapons caches could serve as a pretext for another Israeli strike.
"Why don't those who armed Hizbullah and claim to be keen on Lebanon provide the army with needed weapons?" he said. "I am keen on my country's safety and do not want to give Israel a pretext to destroy it again - on our heads - as it did in 2006."
Murr has presided over a large-scale re-equipping of the army. The United States has pledged $410 million of military aid, including training, Humvees and M-60 battle tanks. And last week during a trip to Moscow, Murr secured from Russia a promise to deliver 10 MiG-29 fighter-bombers.
While many parties in Lebanon have lauded the Russian aid, members of the March 8 opposition, particularly Hizbullah, have been relatively silent.
During the interview, Murr also offered a strong defense of parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri, who is widely credited with helping to facilitate Lebanon's agreement with Russia over the 10 fighter-bombers.
"Are we supposed to hold Saad Hariri accountable because he helped us and because he used his good offices to arm the Lebanese military?" Murr asked. "I do not represent the Future bloc in the Cabinet, and I don't have personal interests with Hariri, but I say to those who criticized Hariri that it is important [to help] Lebanon."
"Let them achieve 10 percent of what Hariri has achieved instead of taking part of visits and flashy receptions. Then they can criticize him," Murr added.
His comments appeared to be aimed at Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, who recently embarked on a high-profile visit to Syria.
Meanwhile, in an apparent setback to plans of full-scale armament, Germany is highly unlikely to deliver tanks to the Lebanese Army, according to sources familiar with the issue. President Michel Sleiman had asked for the tanks when he visited Berlin earlier this month.
The Central News Agency on Tuesday reported that Berlin had agreed to deliver 50 Leopard tanks, the heaviest combat tank the German Army has.
A spokeswoman for Germany's Economy Ministry, the body mainly responsible for authorizing arms exports, declined to comment Tuesday. "The work of the National Security Council is confidential," she said. However, sources in Berlin pointed out that in Germany, arms exports to potential conflict areas were forbidden by law. Lebanon, they said, still was such an area and hence a delivery of tanks was "highly unlikely to say the very least."

Jeita Grotto leads cedars in contest to represent Lebanon for 'New 7 Wonders'
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Wednesday, December 24, 200
BEIRUT: Lebanese are lobbying for a majestic cave complex to be named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in an online competition that has drawn natural attractions from across the globe. The Jeita Grotto, in a river valley north of Beirut, is currently ranked 24th out of 77 on the list of nominations compiled by the contest organizers, "New 7 Wonders of Nature."Other competing sites in the Middle East include Wadi Rum in Jordan, Israel's Ein Gedi oasis and the Mesopotamian Marshes in Iraq."The Jeita cave is considered one of the largest and most beautiful caves in the world, with an impressive diversity of rock shapes and colors," said Nabil Haddad, a German-trained engineer who is the grotto's general manager. "This is a historic chance for Lebanon to show this truly unique secret to the world."
The grotto comprises two limestone caves, upper galleries and a lower cave through which an underground river runs. It is 10,000 meters long and features one of the biggest stalactites in the world, hanging 8.2 meter from the ceiling."The action of the water in the limestone has created cathedral-like vaults full of various sizes, colors and shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, majestic curtains and fantastic rock formations," the New7Wonders website says.
Jeita also faces competition from another Lebanese attraction, however - the country's famed cedar forests, which the website says "were important enough in the history of man to be traceable to the very earliest written records." The country's cedar reserves are currently just one slot behind Jeita on the New7Wonders website, in 25th place.Jeita's ceiling is 106 meters above the water level at its highest point."It is an absolutely huge and very unique cave. It is difficult to find one like it in all the world," said South Korean tourist TK Lee, 23.
A cement bridge allows tourists to walk through the palatial structure and view the glistening stalactites and stalagmites formed over millennia by drops of water creating new pathways around rock too hard to dissolve."There's no corner of this grotto without some form of stalactite or stalagmite," said Haddad. "People should be in awe. What sculptor could carve this?"The grotto has been equipped with a "cool" lighting system to ensure a steady temperature, as heat would cause moss to grow and blacken the limestone formations. Jeita also has a dark past, however. The area above ground was the scene of fierce fighting during Lebanon's 1975-1990 Civil War.
"The three underground levels of the parking lot served as a huge weapons cache for the Lebanese Forces" militia Haddad said. "When it was blown up, nearby villages shook. They say a mushroom cloud appeared when it exploded because of all the weapons inside."
Signs at the ticket booth and employees at the site urge visitors to vote for Jeita in the online competition, and one group on the social networking website Facebook supporting the cause boasts more than 55,000 members."If Lebanon won, it is an opportunity for people abroad to hear about Lebanon in a context different from conflict and violence like they usually do," Ali Shehadi, 23, one of the Facebook group's administrators, told AFP.
Members of the Facebook group started an email campaign and got as many people as they could to vote.
"We even came up with the ideas to put up signs at computers in Internet cafes informing people of the vote," said Shehadi, who works in television and persuaded a talkshow host to broadcast "Live from Jeita" from the site.In January, the Lebanese site with the most online votes will go on to represent the country in the next stage of the New 7 Wonders competition. Shehadi's Facebook group urges people to vote for both Jeita and the cedars, but he believes Jeita would have a better shot at success in the next round. "My personal opinion is that the Cedars are beautiful and symbolic, but they are not a wonder of nature. Jeita has a better chance later in the competition," he argued.Activists and visitors alike are eagerly waiting the results, which will be announced on New Year's Day, according to the website. Twenty-one finalists will be announced next July 21."Voting will continue throughout 2010 and into 2011. During this time, the New7Wonders World Tour will visit each of the Finalists to allow them to present themselves to the voters across the globe," the competition's website says.
The final declaration of the New7Wonders of Nature will be in 2011."This cave is magnificent and definitely deserves to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world," said Nabil Hussein, 47, a tourist from Iraq, who added that he would be voting for Jeita. "It's the most beautiful natural site I will probably ever see."

Our Mideastern future: a pair of shoes and a gun
By Michael Young ظDaily Star staff
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
What do the recent shoe-throwing incident with Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, the uncertain truce in Gaza, and Lebanon's national dialogue all have in common? Very little, except that the three offer up a vision of the Middle East as a place largely devoid of constructive ideas, where the rule of the gun looms large on the horizon.
There is little new to say about the Zaidi incident. Yes, we really do know that the shoe expresses contempt in the Arab world, and if we had doubts about that, then Zaidi clarified matters by calling President George W. Bush a "dog." We know that the Iraqi blamed Bush for all the woes that his country had suffered in recent years, and we also know that he would have never thrown his shoes at Saddam Hussein, who was responsible for Iraqi woes until April 2003. And we know that the Zaidi affair became a giant funnel of interpretation, which many outraged Arabs fell into to make the journalist's shoe-toss a personal statement of their own.
Not many Arabs saw irony in the fact that Zaidi's action is now a game circulating on the Internet. Hit Bush on the head and you can score points. But that detail summed up the sheer mediocrity of this Arab moment, with its earnest demonstrations in support of the journalist, when few Arabs ever bothered to demonstrate on behalf of the countless Iraqi journalists executed by their country's armed gangs. As Tunku Varadarajan wrote so appropriately in Forbes: "The Arabs, who once upon a time boasted Averroes and Avicenna, are now reduced to eulogizing a boorish act of agitprop as a heroic achievement."
Somehow, missed in all this was Iraq itself. For too long the Iraqi conflict has only been about America. When Iraqis were being slaughtered by suicide bombers arriving from Syria, all the Arab world could do was applaud the murderers as "resistance" against American imperialism. Yet when many members of that resistance turned against the murderers in Al-Qaeda, appalled by their sadism, the Arab world became silent because the narrative had changed and the Americans and their former foes suddenly seemed to be in accord. The obsession with America, the pervasive desire to see Bush fail in Iraq, has been the running theme of Arab and much Western commentary on the Iraqi conflict. Only a minority observed that American failures would also be Iraqi failures, and that while the Americans could always pick up and leave, the Iraqis would have to endure the consequences of that failure for a long time afterward.
Zaidi's act came at the worst moment for Iraq. Here was Bush on a farewell trip to acknowledge that Iraq had gradually broken free from the United States, after the administration's ambition in 2003-2004 to run the country as a protectorate. Far from being the leader Washington considered removing from office a few years ago, here, too, was Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, now in greater control of his country. Bush made his trip to Baghdad to burnish his own legacy by saying that Iraq could stand on its own two feet. That was the stated aspiration of many Arabs not so long ago. And yet Bush's final visit ended up not being about Iraq's emergence from the nightmare of dictatorship and war; it ended up being about a man whose feat became a computerized entertainment.
No less demoralizing are the events in Gaza. The callousness of the Israeli blockade has been the focus of much justified attention in the Arab world. In the absence of any clear policies on achieving peace with the Palestinians, Israel tends to resort to brutality. However, it is also worth questioning what Hamas has made of Gaza, a territory that could have once served as an encouraging example of what Palestinians could achieve when Israeli occupation ended. Instead, what we have is a failed political order, and one cannot blame this solely on Israeli pressures. Hamas has chosen the armed struggle, which required overcoming Fatah in Gaza before transforming the area into a garrisoned statelet.
Will the truce in Gaza be renewed, or won't it? Hamas last week said the truce was over because Israel had not abided by its conditions. However, that seemed to be hypocritical bluster, an effort to cover for the fact that the Islamist movement has been unable to give Palestinians a normal life despite the cease-fire. In fact, Hamas' pursuit of the armed struggle requires extending the truce so the movement can build up its weapons arsenal and prepare for a long war. That's why it was no surprise to hear Hamas' leader in Gaza, Mahmoud Zahhar, tell Egypt's Al-Ahram that the movement might agree to renew the truce under the previous conditions.
Even if Israel lifts its siege, the only things Palestinians in Gaza can look forward to is the prospect of more carnage ahead. Hamas is not a state-building enterprise, it is a military movement that plays politics to retain the military option. The dystopia it offers is many decades more of the gun, and like Zaidi's shoes, the gun has left no room for discussion of an alternative, more desirable Palestinian future.
Much the same can be said of Lebanon's Hizbullah, as it engages in a bogus national dialogue on its weapons, which the party has already indicated it will not give up. At what stage will the Lebanese throw up their arms and admit to the absurdity of finding common ground between the logic of a sovereign Lebanese state and the logic of a sovereign armed group in the midst of that state? Hizbullah, like Hamas, offers only a project of open-ended war, apparently now tied in to developments in Palestine, if we are to believe the party's deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, who declared a few days ago: "We are responsible, like all Arabs and Muslims, to completely liberate Palestine, from the river to the sea."
Who is looking flexible these days, amid such maximalism? Oddly enough the dictator in Syria, with Bashar Assad having declared on Monday that he would move to direct talks with Israel at some stage. Assad may be pulling the wool over American eyes as Barack Obama prepares to take office, but the truth is a grim one for the Lebanese. On the one side we have Hizbullah promising open-ended conflict, while on the other the Syrians are hoping that a new beginning with Washington will allow them to re-impose their hegemony over Lebanon, that rare society in the region with spaces of liberalism between its imperfectly applied despotism.
If you live by the gun you will probably die by the gun. That's the promise of the Middle East today, where weapons have become the ornaments of men, and where the foulest dictatorships end up looking like a good bet.
**Michael Young is opinion editor of THE DAILY STAR.

Informed Comment
Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion
Juan Cole is President of the Global Americana Institute
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Lebanese are Phoenicians After All; And so Are Many of the Rest of US
A team of biologists at Lebanese American University estimates that 1 in 17 persons around the Mediterranean carries genetic markers distinctive to the ancient Phoenician people who resided in what is now Lebanon. The Phoenicians spread out in a trade diaspora two millennia ago, establishing colonies from Spain to Cyprus. The team also found that one third of Lebanese have the markers for Phoenician descent, and that these are spread evenly through the population, among both Christians and Muslims. In fact, all Lebanese have broadly similar sets of genetic markers. The lead researcher commented, "Whether you take a Christian village in the north of Lebanon or a Muslim village in the south, the DNA make-up of its residents is likely to be identical . . ."
In a Lebanese context these findings are politically explosive. There is a longstanding conflict among Lebanese as to whether they are Arabs or Phoenicians, with adherents of the Phoenician identity predominantly Christian. This sort of identity politics fed into the civil wars. In fact, Arabic is a language, not a race, and Phoenician descent is a heritage of all humankind by now.
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but the presence those distinctive "Phoenician" haplotypes on the Y chromosome only tells us about a fraction of the descendants of Phoenicians. Let's say you had a Phoenician father in the port of Tyre in 50 BC who only had two daughters and no sons. And let us say he married one daughter to a resident Greek merchant. The sons and male descendants of the Greek merchant would lack the Phoenician signature on their Y chromosome, but would have a genetic inheritance from their Phoenician female ancestor. Since most genes get mixed up in every generation, there just would not be any way, after a while, to tell it. Almost everyone in the world by now probably has some Phoenician ancestry. What the LAU team is finding is those lineages that retain markers for it. It is conceptually a difficult thing to keep in mind, but I am alarmed that a kind of Y chromosome or mitochondrial DNA fundamentalism will make people divide themselves up on these grounds and create new forms of racism.
On the other hand, any finding that might convince the Lebanese that they are all one family would be all to the good. Many Lebanese Muslims reject the idea that they are descendants of converts to Islam from Christianity and prefer to trace their ancestry to Arabia. The LAU team is finding that the Lebanese don't differ much among themselves. posted by Juan Cole @ 12/23/2008 12:23:00 AM

Christmas in Beirut is just like everywhere else - but not
By Marc J. Sirois
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
First person by Marc J. Sirois
Beirut's version of the Christmas season is not something that can easily be described to those unfortunate souls who have never been here for it. And for gormless Westerners like myself, the experience is actually a major hindrance to the ongoing process of disabusing oneself of the general notion that Christianity is somehow our creation and of the specific one that commemorations of Jesus' birth are made more appropriate by the presence of snow.
Having been raised in a part of Canada that is home to one of the most inhospitable climates this side of Pluto, a place I still avoid during all those months that are neither July nor August, I can attest that virtually nothing other than postcards is improved in any way by the white stuff. In any event, it almost never snows in the place where Jesus was born, Bethlehem, and, more to the point, the three people on this planet who understand both scripture and star charts seem to agree that the event took place in June, not December.
Incidentally, his name wasn't Jesus either; he was born into a family of Jewish Semites (i.e., for all intents and purposes, Arabs), so it was something closer to Yeshua ben Yosef (or maybe Issa bin Yussef; either way, "son of Joseph"). By extension, it is therefore assumed by thoughtful people that the blond-haired, blue-eyed Teutonic visage of Western Christian tradition is as far from the truth as one can get without turning the man into a smiling shogun.
It should be easy to keep all this stuff in mind, if not to instinctively situate the man in the proper context, when the village of Qana, hallowed by some as the site where Jesus worked his first miracle, is just down the road. Beyond it lay several other epicenters of the Christian story in Galilee and points further south, none of them very accessible from Beirut these days but their proximity a useful reminder: Jesus - the guy whose revolutionary message so threatened the mighty Roman Empire and its local vassals that they decided to make a public spectacle of his murder - was a local.
Despite all this, Christmas in Beirut suffers from a pointed lack of regional authenticity, a plastic sameness wrought by the long-irresistible force known as modern commercialism. The season is still plenty festive, but by all appearances it could just as easily be taking place in Palermo or, for that matter, New Orleans. That this particular time of year should have a derivative feel to it in this part of the world is worse than unnecessary: It is demeaning to the very civilization that produced Christianity in the first place.
Despite all this, the Beiruti is Lebanese, which means he or she remains distinctive even in going through the motions of someone else's traditions. Accordingly, Christmas in the Lebanese capital is a lot like the rest of the year: a pendulum that swings back forth between "this feels just like home" and bits of evidence, unmistakable and irrefutable, that it is anything but.
One of the beautiful aspects of this split national personality is how effortlessly it allows the foreigner - at least those among us who do not arrive as serfs - to feel embraced by all Lebanese in a way that no Lebanese can. As non-participants in the tribal tournaments by which this society populates everything from its presidency, Parliament and security forces to the civil service, university campuses and professional associations, the outsider is frequently treated to all the care and consideration ordinarily reserved for a small child.
I have seen Lebanese shun old friends at social gatherings because they happen to be on opposite sides of the controversy du jour in this country, but the foreigner is universally welcomed into settings where his or her political views are badly out of place. Possibly it is assumed that we can't be expected to understand, so we are forgiven our opinions in the manner that a 6-year-old is thought to be cute for choosing a hamburger over a steak.
Or perhaps it is the Lebanese strain of that legendary Arab hospitality, rooted in habits so ingrained that there is no questioning them under any circumstances. Witness the complaints in some quarters over the Iraqi reporter who recently whipped both of his shoes at George W. Bush: It wasn't Muntazer al-Zaidi's setting aside of a few journalistic standards that mattered - it was his violating of the tradition that guests be welcomed with open arms and not left wanting for anything. Never mind that the guest came uninvited, that he deliberately wrecked the house, and that he did so on behalf of one of your neighbors who is incurably hostile. By traditional measures of hospitality, he must be treated as though you want him to stay forever.
Christmas in Beirut is especially poignant this year because it is looking like the first one since 2004 that will not be observed under a cloud of full-blown national crisis (and even that year's holiday was stilted by the buildup of what was to come). No one has much confidence that this is anything but the calm before the next storm, but that is only more reason to take maximum advantage of the respite.
The same applied to Muslims who recently marked Eid al-Adha, and who will celebrate New Year on the Islamic calendar just days before it arrives on the Western one. These times are among the best to be in Beirut, even and perhaps especially if they prove to be fleeting. And then we get to do it all over again when the Orthodox community holds its own celebrations in January.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
**Marc J. Sirois is managing editor of THE DAILY STAR. His email address is marc.sirois@dailystar.com.lb.

Palestine's own 'leaders' aren't doing its people any good
By The Daily Star
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Editorial
Israel's government has been rightly castigated for its appalling treatment of Palestinians trapped in the besieged Gaza Strip - and for its stubborn refusal to end the illegal and immoral policies that have stymied the peace process and squeezed the economic life out of the Occupied West Bank. Sadly, however, it also has to be noted that the Palestinian people would not be nearly so vulnerable to such shameless violations of international law and multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions if their so-called "leaders" were more up the task of recognizing, defending and advancing the national interest. Recent history makes it clear that both of the main parties, Fatah and Hamas, are instead more concerned about prevailing in their internal power struggle than they are about the welfare of the people they claim to represent.
Anyone can operate a militia, chant empty slogans, and compete with other militias to see who can do more damage. Entertaining ambitions of ending six decades of occupation and finally achieving statehood, however, demands incalculably more, including an unshakeable acceptance of the need to put national considerations above partisan ones. Lately, both Hamas and Fatah have evinced a near-total unwillingness to heed the messages of their own rhetoric, choosing instead to divide their movement and to subsume its constituent parts into a broader struggle between far stronger players in the Middle East.
Saving the Palestinian cause from the machinations of those determined to delay or destroy it was never going to be easy. Until the past few years, however, the leadership muddled through, managing despite repeated bouts of infighting and of meddling by rival Arab powers to follow a generally consistent path, one on which the respective fortunes of advocates of armed resistance and of a negotiated solution alternately waxed and waned with the ups and downs of the peace process. Caustic disputes over the extent and order of national goals are nothing new for the Palestinian people, but the advent of hopelessly divided leaders has exacerbated their plight on several levels for no good reason.
Kicking this self-defeating habit is a prerequisite for any meaningful progress on the road to Palestinian liberation. Should the current leaders be unable or unwilling to make the necessary changes, they should give way to a new generation before they squander its birthright.
 
U.S. tells Israel: Don't sell Lebanon for peace with Syria
Last update - 04:24 24/12/2008
By Barak Ravid /Haaretz
Senior U.S. State Department officials sent concerned messages to their Israeli counterparts in recent months regarding the negative effects an Israel-Syria peace deal could have on Lebanese sovereignty.
"Don't sell Lebanon to the Syrians," American officials reportedly wrote.
The diplomatic messages asked Israel to remain committed to Lebanese sovereignty at all costs, stating "Israel must not sacrifice Lebanon for the sake of peace with Syria." A senior Foreign Ministry official said the U.S. even asked Israel for "guarantees" on the matter.
However, a source in the Prime Minister's Office said Tuesday "the matter is not even on the table."
Political sources in Jerusalem said the Americans' concerns stemmed from a number of recent statements made by Israeli officials in closed forums to the effect that only Syria is capable of restraining the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Michael Herzog, Defense Minister Ehud Barak's chief of staff, was the last Israeli official to speak in such terms, saying at a Washington forum several weeks ago that "in the framework of a peace deal, Israel has to recognize Syria's unique position in Lebanon."
Some U.S. officials took that statement to be a seal of approval for renewing Syrian control over Lebanon. Herzog added that Lebanese democracy lacks a firm foundation and that the country is effectively run by Hezbollah and its allies.
Syria withdrew its 14,000 troops from Lebanon in April 2005 in the wake of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which condemned Damascus for its alleged connection to the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri in February of that year.
Several points of conflict remain between Washington and Jerusalem over the issue of Lebanon and Syria. Israeli officials believe the incoming U.S. administration will take positions similar to those of previous administrations and bolster the Lebanese government of Fouad Siniora, particularly ahead of the country's 2009 parliamentary elections.
Political sources in Jerusalem said the U.S. is placing significant pressure on Israel to complete its withdrawal from the border village of Ghajar before the Lebanese elections in order to strengthen the Siniora government.
Such sentiments were expressed by David Hale, the State Department's envoy on Lebanon and a former U.S. ambassador to Jordan, during a visit to Israel several days ago.
During meetings, Israeli officials told Hale the issue of Ghajar must be handled by the Lebanese government alone, as must violations of UN Security Council 1701, which called for Hezbollah's disarmament and the removal of paramilitary forces south of the Litani River.
Hale reportedly responded undiplomatically, saying, "Withdrawal from Ghajar is something you must do. You are not doing this for us, but implementing the demarcation of the Blue Line [Israel-Lebanon border], so don't try to use this to get points or sympathy from the United States."
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert decided several weeks ago to begin talks with UN officials over withdrawal from the village. On Sunday, UN envoy Michael Williams met with Israel Defense Forces and Foreign Ministry representatives before flying to Beirut to meet with Siniora.

Let’s do what’s good for us
By: Giora Eiland
Published: 12.24.08, 11:00 / Israel Opinion
When engaging in diplomatic negotiations, we tend to assume that the closer a certain state is to us on fundamental issues, the more similar our interests will be, on any front. Based on the same assumption, the more hostile a state (or entity) is towards us, the more its interests contradict ours, on any front.
Yet reality is quite different. In practice, there are quite a few situations where our interests match those of our worst enemies, while a conflict of interest emerges between us and our greatest ally.
Three years ago, elections were held for the Palestinian Legislative Council. The main question at the time was whether Hamas would be allowed to participate in the elections. Who wanted Hamas to take part? The group itself, and the United States. Who objected? Israel and the Palestinian Authority. We therefore saw the emergence of strange coalitions.
A more pressing issue has to do with the situation in Gaza. Hamas is apparently willing to accept a ceasefire, but it conditions it, among other things, on the opening of the Rafah Crossing. The crossing connects the Gaza Strip to Egypt, and is located at a site where there is no Israeli presence in any case.
Who has an interest in seeing the crossing open? Hamas, and yes, Israel as well. Who has the opposite interest? Egypt. The Egyptians are objecting, because they do not wish to be responsible for Gaza. And what about Israel? It is in our interest to have the crossing opened. Arms are reaching Gaza anyway, and opening the crossing would once and for absolve Israel of accusations of "occupation."
Moreover, Israel has agreed in the past to withdraw from the Philadelphi Route (the road separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt) in order to "disengage," and we are paying a heavy security price for that, while not enjoying any benefits. The way the world sees it, as long as the Rafah Crossing remains closed, Israel (and Israel alone) is responsible for supplying Gaza residents.
A similar situation emerged in respect to Lebanon as well. In the wake of the Hariri assassination, the US, France, the UN, and Saudi Arabia joined forces and took a determined decision to remove Syria from Lebanon. Israel joined this initiative with great enthusiasm. Yet who had a contradictory interest? Syria, of course, and yes, Israel too.
A Syrian lesson
It was clear (or at least should have been clear...) to Israel that the removal of Syrian forces from Lebanon would prompt two developments: First, Iran would enter the vacuum created. Indeed, Hizbullah's political and military power increased dramatically upon the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. Secondly, once they lose Lebanon, Syria's focal point of interest would shift to the Golan Heights. As long as the Syrians had to struggle to maintain their hold on Lebanon (which is much more important to them than the Golan Heights) there was no pressure exerted on the Golan front.
The question of whether to sign a peace treaty with Syria and return the Golan Heights is a legitimate one. However, it is clear that it would be preferable for such negotiations be held while the Syrians are still in control of Lebanon. Had they stayed in Lebanon, the Syrians would have to be committed to comprehensive peace that includes Lebanon as well, including the dismantlement of Hizbullah (they were forced to agree to it in 1999.) Today, Syria is not responsible for what goes on in Lebanon. We may be able to make peace with Syria, but the Hizbullah problem will not be resolved.
In respect to both Gaza and Lebanon, the proper policy requires us to properly assess the overall interests involved, rather than automatically backing our allies and automatically objecting to our enemies' demands.