LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
April 23/08
Bible Reading of the day.
إHoly
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 14,27-31. Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do
not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going
away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am
going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you
this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no
longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no
power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just
as the Father has commanded me. Get up, let us go.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters & Special Reports
Straight from Iraq, a word of caution for Lebanon's political players-The
Daily Star 22/04/08
Don’t rush to Damascus-By:
Zalman Shoval .Ynetnews 22/04/08
The Aoun-Murr Divorce and Its Implications. By: Elias Harfouch-Dar
Al-Hayat 22/04/08
Hezbollah thrives on chaos and hypocrisy. By Abu Kais,
Ya
Libnan 22/04/08
Latest
News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for April 22/08
Zahle shooting suspects still at large amid unrest-Daily Star
Rice says Lebanon to be tackled in Kuwait-Reuters
UN urges Lebanon and Syria to redefine, normalize ties-Monsters
and Critics.com
UN chief calls for immediate presidential elections in Lebanon and ...International
Herald Tribune
Syrian minister: Turkey mediating between Israel, Syria-Ynetnews
America's Arab allies keep Rice guessing on waiving Iraq's debt, reopening
embassies.AFP
March 14 MPs plan to show up for unlikely vote on presidency-Daily Star
Rizk hopes barter will 'expedite' Hariri inquiry-Daily Star
Mouawad: Electing president first step toward solution-Daily Star
Hizbullah official accuses US of fueling sectarianism-Daily Star
Mikati: Dialogue 'necessary means' to resolve crisis
Security Council to discuss latest 1559 progress report 'on May 8'
Southern medical clinic receives sonogram from UNIFIL-Daily Star
Jumblatt accuses opposition of rebellion-Daily Star
Sfeir laments Zahle shootings, urges election of president to go forward-Daily
Star
Security forces start closing illegal border crossings-Daily Star
Workshop shares vital information for nurseries and preschools-Daily Star
Afkar 2 project tackles human, prisoners' rights-Daily Star
USAID marks 'Earth Day' by outlining projects-Daily Star
USJ hosts debate on what it means to be - or not to be - an Arab-Daily
Star
Sidon students get first-hand glimpse at environmental damage wrought by dump-Daily
Star
NGO outlines range of projects undertaken to help Lebanon's disabled-Daily
Star
Handicap International highlights dangers posed by unexploded ordnance-Daily
Star
Sfeir Criticizes Zahle Crime, Mass Grave Lie-Naharnet
Police Dogs Track Killers of Phalangist Victims in Zahle-Naharnet
Lebanon killings provoke political outrage-Middle East Times
Rice will discuss Lebanon crisis in Kuwait-Reuters
KSA Warns against
Foreign Interference in Lebanon-Naharnet
Mitri to Attend Kuwait Meeting on Lebanon-Naharnet
Security Forces Launch Massive Manhunt for
Kataeb Killers-Naharnet
Jumblat Blames Opposition for Zahle Crime-Naharnet
Zahle Shooter Also Wounded-Naharnet
Lebanon Erects
Barricades Blocking Illegal Crossings to Syria-Naharnet
Aoun: Zahle Crime is 'Individual' Act-Naharnet
Security Forces Launch Massive Manhunt for Kataeb Killers-Naharnet
Zahle Shooter Also
Wounded-Naharnet
Berri: Insistence on
2000 Election Law is Blocking Dialogue-Naharnet
March 14: Zahle
Crime Aimed at Sowing Discord-Naharnet
Archbishop Audeh Had Harsh Words for
Politicians on Palm Sunday-Naharnet
Security Council Receives 7th Report on
1559 Monday-Naharnet
Palestinians in Lebanon Demand End to Gaza
Siege-Naharnet
18th Attempt to Elect a President is
Likely to Fail Again-Naharnet
Saudi Arabia refutes Iranian allegation about murder of Hezbollah ...GulfNews
Taking cue from Hezbollah, Hamas honing fighting force-Washington
Times
Assad: Syria conducting indirect talks with Israel-Globes
Assad Confirms Syria-Israel Message Exchange on Peace Talks-Bloomberg
Syria gets Russian air-defense system-Kuwait
Times
Report: Syria, Israel trade messages on possible peace talks-The
Associated Press
Top U.N. Nuclear
Official in Iran for Controversial Talks-Naharnet
Assad Confirms Exchanging Messages with
Israel Through 3rd Party-Naharnet
Pope Leaves U.S. After Visiting Ground
Zero, Celebrating Mass at Yankee Stadium-Naharnet
Sfeir Criticizes Zahle Crime,
Mass Grave Lie
Naharnet/Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Monday
expressed "regret" for the crime that resulted in the killing of two Phalangist
officials in Zahle.
Sfeir, talking to graduates of the Lebanese University's School of Journalism,
also criticized the possession of weapons by "a group of the Lebanese that
encourages the other group to hold weapons." Sfeir criticized claims about an
alleged mass grave in Halat area as "mere lies."Legislators, Sfeir said, should
carry out "their duty and meet the nation's call" by electing a new president.
He stressed that a quorum of three quarters of MPs should be available to elect
a president, after which a head of state can be voted in by simple majority. He
said "all the Lebanese, Christians and Muslims, are targeted by a conspiracy."
Sfeir declared "support for the 1960 election law, but the county-constituency
should not be large." Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 18:49
Zahle shooting suspects still
at large amid unrest
Gemayel holds opposition leaders responsible
By Anthony Elghossain -Daily Star staff
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
BEIRUT: The Bekaa city of Zahle began an official period of mourning on Monday,
one day after the deaths of two residents in a political shooting in which the
prime suspects remained at large. The victims, Nasri Maruni and Salim Assi, were
members of the Phalange party, which is part of the March 14 ruling coalition.
Funerals for both are planned for Tuesday, and schools in Zahle will close for
the day.
The Internal Security Forces (ISF) have named Joseph Zouki - thought to be a
supporter of Popular Bloc leader and Zahle MP Elie Skaff - as the prime suspect
and are also looking for his brother Thome, who is suspected of participating in
the shooting.
A security source told The Daily Star that "11 witnesses questioned have said
Joseph [Zouki] left the scene after being barred from entering an area blocked
off for the [inauguration of a new Phalange office] but returned later, putting
eight bullets into [Murani] before continuing on to others." The source added
that the suspect's cousin, Walid Zouki, turned himself in to the authorities on
Monday, admitting that he had helped "smuggle [the suspects] out of the area
after being threatened with death by Joseph [Zouki]."Security measures in Zahle
have been stepped up, with checkpoints placed across the city, and a massive
search throughout the surrounding area has been launched. A security official
told The Daily Star Monday that in response to various tips, 28 ISF operations
"up to the Barouk Mountains [in the Chouf]" have been carried out since the
shooting. During an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
television station, Phalange boss and former President Amin Gemayel labeled the
incident a "premeditated act" and accused the "assailants' leaders" of knowing
the whereabouts of the criminals.
In reference to what the governing coalition describes as a Syrian attempt to
destabilize Lebanon, Gemayel held opposition leaders responsible for the
killing, accusing Christian political bosses of "covering up an obvious and
terrible plot to spark divisions and ignite war."
Skaff has repeatedly rejected any accusations of a plot, saying the shooting was
an "isolated act" and stressing that he would "not provide protection for the
assailants." Initially, Skaff maintained that "this was a question of
self-defense," saying a group of Phalangists had "threatened and shot at Zouki."
The Zahle politician has since backed off his earlier stance, agreeing with
Gemayel on the necessity of "finding the perpetrators and calming nerves in the
area" to ensure that the situation does not spiral out of control.
The Zahle shootings come as the political landscape in the city continues to
shift. Skaff's Popular Bloc is part of the opposition-aligned Reform and Change
parliamentary coalition led by Free Patriotic Movement leader and MP Michel Aoun.
Over the weekend, a municipal gathering bringing together local councilmen from
around the district sought to pressure Skaff to alter his political stance,
expressing discontent with the "failure of Zahle representatives to perform
their national duty by electing a president." On Monday, Aoun stressed his
belief that "investigations will soon reveal this to be an isolated incident.
Those exploiting or attempting to exploit [the killing] may as well have
executed it."During a meeting with Zahle union of municipalities head Ibrahim
Nasrallah, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the killing was "a planned
incident meant to stir up a rift within the Christian community ... The recent
arming of factions in Mount Lebanon attests to this." Motivated by the
presidential vacuum, municipal gatherings similar to that held in Zahle over the
weekend have taken place in areas handily won by Aoun during the 2005
parliamentary elections - Jbeil, Kesrouan and the Metn area dominated by MP
Michel Murr - perhaps threatening the bloc's cohesiveness regarding the issue.
Political rhetoric between rival Christian factions continues to intensify, with
FPM representatives insisting the party remains strong as pro-government
factions argue that municipal discontent is an expression of both popular and
official unrest. Speculation concerning a possible convergence between Murr and
Gemayel is growing amid discussions related to a possible revival of high-level
talks between feuding parties, adding fuel to an already heated Christian debate
within the broader Lebanese crisis.
Sfeir laments Zahle shootings, urges election of president to go forward
'Immediate circumstances make the presidency vitally important'
By Anthony Elghossain
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said Monday that the Church
regrets the "tragic incident" that occurred in Zahle a day earlier when two
people were killed during the inauguration of a new Phalange party office. "This
level of violence is unexpected. War may start with but a word ... The political
debate should remain peaceful and within the realm of thought and speech," the
patriarch said. "Certain parties are attempting [to push Lebanon toward war]."
While meeting a delegation of graduates from the Lebanese University, Sfeir also
warned against ignoring pressure to elect a president, saying the "absence of a
president is unacceptable, and we can only hope that these popular movements do
not see a repeat of what happened in Zahle."
Asked if he believed recent municipal mobilizations in Zahle to be linked with
what happened on Sunday, Sfeir replied that "it may be possible. In any case,
the people must demonstrate that they desire a [presidential election] -
political vacuum must be rejected."
Sfeir stressed the need to fill the presidency, echoing the Palm Sunday sermon
by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elias Audi, who said that "MPs have a duty to
fulfill Parliamentary representatives must, first and foremost, pursue the
interests of the country and its citizens."
"We [the Church] support the 1960 electoral law, but measures to ensure that the
qadas are not too large should be taken," said the patriarch, stressing that he
supported smaller districts in principle and, thus, modification of the specific
1960 electoral framework.
"Immediate circumstances make the presidency vitally important," added Sfeir,
emphasizing the benefits of dialogue and the importance of discussing the
presidential question and the next electoral framework, which Parliament Speaker
Nabih Berri has identified as the two pillars of a potential national dialogue.
Sfeir also said he had no knowledge of a potential gesture of reconciliation
from Marada Movement leader and former Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh or
Free Patriotic Movement chief and MP Michel Aoun.
The patriarch later announced that he will be traveling to Qatar early next
month and met with March 14 MP Butros Harb in what the latter described as part
of "our continuing efforts to maintain contact so as to discuss issues related
to the political crisis."
Harb said he welcomed the municipal movements pressuring the Reform and Change
parliamentary bloc, "which reflect the people's right to express their view,"
and Metn boss MP Michel Murr's drift away from the opposition, "which represents
Murr's view of the Christian interest, one that I support."
Also Monday, the vice president of the Higher Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel-Amir
Qabalan, met with Hamas representative Osama Hamdan to discuss the situation of
Palestinians in the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon, as well as prospects of
resolving the Lebanese crisis.
Afterward, Hamdan said the two "affirmed our commitment to the Palestinian
refugees' right of return ... We believe this should be a basic component of the
Lebanese political vision, at the party and popular levels."
"Subjugation cannot last," he declared. "We have witnessed the rule of great
nations and empires [crumble], such as that of the Brish Empire, on which the
sun 'never set.' We call for fighting subjugation and for the victory of the
enslaved."
Qabalan then addressed the Lebanese, urging them to "return to reason in order
to preserve Lebanon and avoid losing this country to their disagreements ...
Only Lebanese unity can protect the country
KSA Warns against Foreign Interference in Lebanon
Naharnet/Saudi Arabia on Monday urged
feuding factions in Lebanon to pledge allegiance to their own country and resist
attempts to fall prey to foreign influence, in an apparent reference to Iran.
"The kingdom... calls upon all the Lebanese to work to form one Lebanese front
that would owe allegiance to no one except Lebanon," the government said in a
statement after its weekly meeting chaired by King Abdullah. Such a united front
"would have the ability to overcome... new hegemonic attempts that the country
is facing," said the statement carried by the official SPA news agency. It said
that such attempts "are aimed to make Lebanon a link in a chain of a regional
clout." Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia appeared to be referring to Shiite Iran which
-- along with Syria -- backs the Hezbollah-led opposition in Lebanon, which has
been without a president since November.Saudi Arabia and several other Arab
states back the ruling majority, which also enjoys Western support. Last month,
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal blamed the opposition for
obstructing a solution to the Lebanese crisis, the worst since the end of the
1975-1990 civil war.(AFP) Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 19:41
Police Dogs Track Killers of Phalangist Victims in Zahle
Naharnet/Police investigators established on Monday that
two assailants were involved in opening fire at a Phalange Party office in Zahle
that resulted in killing two party officials and wounding three people. Ranking
security officials said the culprits, identified as Joseph Zouki and his
brother, Toomeh, used an assault rifle and a pistol in the Sunday attack. The
culprits' cousin, Walid, turned himself in to police on Monday and testified to
have driven the culprits out of the crime scene, a security official told
Naharnhet. "I live within minutes from the crime scene. Joseph and Toomeh showed
up at my home and Toomeh forced me to drive them out of the area," Walid was
quoted by the security official as telling investigators. The official, who
asked not to be further identified, said police dogs were sent to the location
set by Walid "first to establish if he is telling the truth and, if so, to track
the culprits."Meanwhile, schools, shops and other businesses closed in Zahle on
Monday in mourning for Salim Assi and Nassri Marouni, who would be buried
Tuesday.
Two other Phalange party members and a passerby were
wounded in the shooting.
Naharnet/The security official said Joseph Zouki was a
member of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, Lebanon's chapter of President Bashar
Assad's ruling party in Syria. Toomeh, the official said, is a member of a
Lebanese security agency. Joseph was also in charge of Zahle opposition MP Elie
Skaff's security, the source added. The shooting took place shortly after Sami
Gemayel, son of former President and Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, left a
Phalange Party ceremony in the area. The elder Gemayel called for calm,
and urged the government as well as security authorities to bring the culprits
to justice without delay. "The criminal is not (Fatah al-Islam leader) Shaker
Abssi. He is known. We demand that the government and the security forces put
their hands on the criminals as soon as possible," he added. Gemayel said he
believed the Zahle shooting was not a personal attack, but rather a plot aimed
at sparking discord. Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 17:26
Lebanon Erects Barricades Blocking Illegal Crossings
to Syria
Naharnet/Lebanese troops and police patrols on
Monday closed nine illegal over land crossings along the northern borders with
Syria, the state-run National News Agency reported. The report said the
operation, aimed at re-erecting barricades blocking the illegal crossing points,
would persist for several days.
Such barricades were erected last year, but rain and storms during the winter
season knocked down most of them, the short report added without further
elaboration. Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 19:38
Security Forces Launch Massive Manhunt for Kataeb Killers
Security forces launched a massive manhunt for the killers of two Phalange party
activists who were gunned down in east Lebanon's city of Zahle on Sunday.
Schools, shops and other businesses closed in Zahle on Monday in mourning for
the killed Phalangists. Immediately after the 4 pm shooting attack, security
forces cordoned off the city with the army setting up checkpoints and conducting
thorough checks of all vehicles.Two other Phalange party members were wounded in
the shooting which occurred at the inauguration of a Kataeb party headquarters
in Zahle. One passer-by identified as Roger Gharra also was injured in the
incident.
A Phalange spokesperson said gunmen in a speeding car opened fire on the
Phalangists at a checkpoint on a road leading to the event in Hawsh al-Zaraaneh.
Local media on Monday said security forces raided several houses overnight in
search for two suspects believed involved in the shooting, Joseph Zouki, a
supporter of Zahle opposition MP Elie Skaff, and his brother. Zouki was
reportedly refused entry through the checkpoint and later returned and allegedly
shot at the Phalange security point. Other reports said security forces have
surrounded the area of Hammar in Zahle where Zouki is thought to be hiding. A
statement by the Phalange party identified the dead as Nasri Marouni and Salim
Assi. It identified the wounded as Assi's son, Rashid, and Elias Issa. It said
the shooting took place shortly after Sami Gemayel, son of former President and
Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, left the opening of the Kataeb headquarters
in Zahle. Amin Gemayel immediately summoned members of the Phalange party's
politburo at his mansion in Bikfaya to discuss the shooting attack, according to
the statement. It said Prime Minister Fouad Saniora as well as political and
party leaders called up Gemayel to offer condolences. Gemayel called for calm,
and urged the government as well as security authorities to bring the culprits
to justice without delay. "The criminal is not (Fatah al-Islam leader)
Shaker Abssi. He is known. We demand that the government and the security forces
put their hands on the criminals as soon as possible," he added. Gemayel said he
believed Zahle shooting was not a personal attack, but rather a plot aimed at
sparking discord. Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 07:34
Jumblat Blames Opposition for Zahle Crime
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat
blamed the Hizbullah-led opposition for the killing of two Phalangist officials
in Zahle.
Jumblat, in an article to be published Tuesday by the PSP's weekly magazine,
wrote that the "recent regrettable events in Zahle indicate that the opposition
does not accept the logic of pluralism and it practices programmed termination
of the majority forces."The opposition, according to Jumblat, has "lost its
nerves, especially after the popular turning point … that supports stability."He
stressed: "Justice should be served, the criminals should be brought to
justice.""The March 14 forces insist on supporting the state, irrespective of
how high the price is," Jumblat concluded. Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 16:37
Berri: Insistence on 2000 Election Law is Blocking Dialogue
Naharnet/Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
stressed that dialogue was the only way to achieve presidential elections in
Lebanon. Berri said his proposal for the resumption of all-party talks was aimed
at "rescuing the Arab League initiative after it reached a deadlock." "I have
said this clearly to Arab League chief Amr Moussa," Berri said in remarks
published by the daily As Safir on Monday. "What have they got to lose if they
sat around the dialogue table?" Berri asked. "The insistence by some (people) on
the 2000 election law is blocking dialogue," Berri complained. "Let it be known
that this law is not acceptable," he warned. Berri accused the pro-government
ruling majority of blocking dialogue for fear that national talks would touch on
the controversial electoral law issue "and, thus, their real stances will be
exposed." Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 10:15
Mitri to Attend Kuwait Meeting on Lebanon
Acting foreign minister Tareq Mitri was expected to arrive in Kuwait on Monday
to take part in a meeting to discuss the Lebanese crisis on the sidelines of a
conference on Iraq, a delegate said. Mitri will represent Lebanon during a
meeting to discuss ways of resolving his country's crisis which has stalled the
election of a president and paralysed parliament for months, the delegate said,
requesting anonymity. Foreign ministers of countries neighboring Iraq, the five
permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and the remaining G8 industrial
nations, will discuss the situation in Iraq at the conference on Tuesday.(AFP)
Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 18:45
The Aoun-Murr Divorce and Its Implications
Elias Harfoush
Al-Hayat - 21/04/08//
Deputy Michel Murr's withdrawal from the Change and Reform Bloc is not another
October 13 for General Michel Aoun. At least not yet. Still, it is a decision
that sets the stage for huge consequences for the Rabieh leader and his movement
that stands in the way of electing General Michel Suleiman as president of the
republic outside the "basket of solutions," the expression coined by Hezbollah
and adopted by Aoun among everything else that he endorsed in his famous
"understanding" with Hezbollah.
The first consequence lies in the impact of Murr's step on the Christian street
whose sole leadership Aoun had long claimed despite his claim to be
non-sectarian. He has even had no qualms about describing himself as the
political patriarch of the Maronites. It is no easy matter for an Orthodox
leader to stand up and defend the top Maronite position in the state, while
Maronite MPs under Aoun's banner fail to fulfill their electoral duty and at the
same time demand the return of "wasted" Christian rights, as their repeated
statements say.
The wider impact of Murr's call is now represented by the active popular
movement in various areas where Aoun once bragged about his mass support, areas
such as Keserwan, Jbeil, Zahleh, and all the way to Metn. While each region has
its own electoral calculations, they all flow into one channel, as they exert
popular pressure on their political representatives who have abused their
political will and interests and associated them with irrelevant foreign
parties.
All this leads to a much more significant implication in Murr's "coup" inside
the area of Metn itself where his family enjoys deeply rooted influence. The
former minister is commendable for expressing his "regrets" for supporting
Aoun's candidate in the by-election against President Amine Gemayel to fill the
parliamentary seat left vacant following the assassination of Gemayel's young
son, Minister Pierre Gemayel. It may be early to talk about the potential extent
reachable by Murr's stance or its implications on the alliances in Metn. But one
can safely claim that this change will not be in Aoun's favor, an outsider in
the area, especially that it was Murr's base and the Armenian voices that tipped
the balance to ensure his victory in the last elections.
In addition, Deputy Michel Murr's stance represents a pressuring factor that
supports General Michel Suleiman, as it helps rally a significant Christian base
behind him, a base that any president must earn as a prerequisite to bigger
national support. In doing so, Murr puts himself as the primary engine driving
Suleiman's wheels to Baabda Palace, which in turn allows him to be the
"godfather" of the new era if the election takes place. This will enable him to
snap an important card out of Aoun's hands since the latter had occasionally
said that the army commander remains his true candidate if he himself could not
become president.
In addition to all these implications, the Aoun-Murr divorce has also revealed
Aoun's fragility and lightweight insofar as his "understanding" with Hezbollah
is concerned. Forget about the "interest" which this alliance could not provide
for Aoun's assumed base, whether on the pure sectarian level or on the national
level. More importantly, at the time when Hezbollah was able to take its popular
base to this "understanding," since it is capable of taking its base to any
understanding it wants anyway, Aoun's position vis-à-vis this understanding has
continuously demanded repeated justification on a daily basis, mainly because
the understanding was alien to Aoun's base and its background and equally alien
to Aoun's famous "precedents" in defending sovereignty and independence,
"precedents" that once flirted with the dreams of many who truly believed that
he was the "hero" of both slogans
Security Forces Launch Massive Manhunt for Kataeb Killers
Naharnet/ Security forces launched a massive manhunt for the killers of two
Phalange party activists who were gunned down in east Lebanon's city of Zahle on
Sunday. Schools, shops and other businesses closed in Zahle on Monday in
mourning for the killed Phalangists. Immediately after the 4 pm shooting attack,
security forces cordoned off the city with the army setting up checkpoints and
conducting thorough checks of all vehicles. Two other Phalange party members
were wounded in the shooting which occurred at the inauguration of a Kataeb
party headquarters in Zahle. One passer-by identified as Roger Gharra also was
injured in the incident. A Phalange spokesperson said gunmen in a speeding car
opened fire on the Phalangists at a checkpoint on a road leading to the event in
Hawsh al-Zaraaneh. Local media on Monday said security forces raided several
houses overnight in search for two suspects believed involved in the shooting,
Joseph Zouki, a supporter of Zahle opposition MP Elie Skaff, and his brother.
Zouki was reportedly refused entry through the checkpoint and later returned and
allegedly shot at the Phalange security point. Other reports said security
forces have surrounded the area of Hammar in Zahle where Zouki is thought to be
hiding. A statement by the Phalange party identified the dead as Nasri Marouni
and Salim Assi. It identified the wounded as Assi's son, Rashid, and Elias Issa.
It said the shooting took place shortly after Sami Gemayel, son of former
President and Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, left the opening of the Kataeb
headquarters in Zahle. Amin Gemayel immediately summoned members of the Phalange
party's politburo at his mansion in Bikfaya to discuss the shooting attack,
according to the statement. It said Prime Minister Fouad Saniora as well as
political and party leaders called up Gemayel to offer condolences. Gemayel
called for calm, and urged the government as well as security authorities to
bring the culprits to justice without delay. "The criminal is not (Fatah
al-Islam leader) Shaker Abssi. He is known. We demand that the government and
the security forces put their hands on the criminals as soon as possible," he
added. Gemayel said he believed Zahle shooting was not a personal attack, but
rather a plot aimed at sparking discord. Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 07:34
Zahle Shooter Also Wounded
Naharnet/ Opposition MP Elias Skaff said on Monday that the alleged killer of
two Phalange party members in Zahle was also wounded. "Why don't you mention
that Joseph Zouki was also wounded?" asked Skaff. He told LBC television channel
that the shooting took place in a quarrel over traffic. "Zouki was also wounded
and there were traces of bullets in his car," Skaff said, adding, however, that
he "will not cover up for anybody." Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 11:36
Berri: Insistence on 2000 Election Law is Blocking Dialogue
Naharnet/ Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that dialogue
was the only way to achieve presidential elections in Lebanon.
Berri said his proposal for the resumption of all-party talks was aimed at
"rescuing the Arab League initiative after it reached a deadlock." "I have said
this clearly to Arab League chief Amr Moussa," Berri said in remarks published
by the daily As Safir on Monday. "What have they got to lose if they sat around
the dialogue table?" Berri asked. "The insistence by some (people) on the 2000
election law is blocking dialogue," Berri complained. "Let it be known that this
law is not acceptable," he warned. Berri accused the pro-government ruling
majority of blocking dialogue for fear that national talks would touch on the
controversial electoral law issue "and, thus, their real stances will be
exposed." Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 10:15
March 14: Zahle Crime Aimed at Sowing Discord
Naharnet/ The pro-government March 14 alliance has said the Zahle
shooting was part of continuous efforts aimed at sowing discord. "March 14
strongly condemns this crime, which took place less than 24 hours after a
massive popular rally was held in support of the election of Army Commander Gen.
Michel Suleiman president," said the statement published in several Beirut
dailies on Monday. The statement said the Zahle crime was part of "continuous
efforts aimed at sowing discord among the Lebanese and bring Lebanon back to the
era of tutelage." March 14 expressed solidarity with the Phalange party and
called on security forces to "arrest the assassins and bring them to justice."
Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 11:08
Archbishop Audeh Had Harsh Words for Politicians on Palm
Sunday
Naharnet/ Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Audeh has
slammed the Hizbullah-led opposition without naming it and criticized Lebanese
politicians who work for their own interest. "We see officials putting their
interests above any other interest. Maybe some of them are seeking to stay alive
and some others to keep their posts…Where is God in all this," said Audeh during
Palm Sunday mass at the Saint George Cathedral in downtown Beirut. He said
politicians are not dealing with the pain of "the poor and needy, of traders and
business owners." Why "there are those that camp in the heart of our capital,
once a beacon and destination," Audeh asked about the opposition's ongoing
sit-in in downtown Beirut aimed at toppling Premier Fouad Saniora's government.
He dubbed as "murderer" every person who "stays silent" over the current
situation in the country. Laying the blame for the deadlock between the
majority and the opposition on the political leadership as a whole, Audeh said
"the problems of these politicians do not differ from those in the past, and
will not differ in the future." The Archbishop also addressed the closure of
Parliament, asking what the functions of MPs are if a "legislator does not
perform his duty to defend the rights of citizens.""Our tragedy in this country
is that we know that all those before us are not saying the truth, but we
convince ourselves into believing them," Audeh added. Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 06:50
Security Council Receives 7th Report on 1559 Monday
Naharnet/ U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday will hand over to
South Africa's Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, this month's Security Council
chairman, the seventh report on the implementation of Resolution 1559, An Nahar
daily said. It said the Council will discuss the report written by U.N. Special
Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, who oversees the implementation of the resolution, on
May 8. Security Council Resolution 1559 calls on foreign troops to leave
Lebanon, all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias to disarm, the extension of the
government's authority throughout the country and respect of the country's
sovereignty and independence. In his last report issued October 24, 2007, Ban
warned Lebanese factions against rearming and conducting military training.
Calling on all parties, including Hizbullah, to commit to the disarmament of all
militias in Lebanon, he restated his conviction "that the eventual disarmament
of Hizbullah in the sense of the completion of its transformation into a solely
political party" is of critical importance for the future of a fully sovereign
Lebanon. He noted that since the resolution was adopted in 2004 "Lebanon has
continued to suffer setbacks in its struggle to reassert, beyond dispute, its
sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence." Beirut,
21 Apr 08, 05:23
Palestinians in Lebanon Demand End to Gaza Siege
AFP/Naharnet/ Hundreds of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon staged
a sit-in in the southern port city of Sidon on Sunday to demand an end to the
Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Zahar, who was Palestinian foreign
minister in the sacked Hamas government, addressed the demonstration by phone
and said that "the siege will be broken very soon." "We will not stop our
resistance operations until all of Palestine, from sea to sea, is free," he
said.Palestinians from refugee camps across Lebanon joined the Hamas-organized
sit-in in Sidon's Martyrs Square, carrying Palestinian flags and also the flags
of Hamas' military wing. They also bore banners that read "Allowing food and
medicines to enter Gaza is an international ethical responsibility." Israel
imposed a punishing blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized control of the territory
last June, routing forces loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas leader in Lebanon Osama Hamdan on Sunday urged Arab states to "lift the
siege on Gaza and support the resistance. "Rather than watch our children die of
hunger, respect our people's choice to resist the occupation forces. This is a
warning before the explosion," he said. Israel says it imposed the sanctions in
a bid to force on Gaza militants to stop firing rockets and mortar shells at it.
Israeli forces pressed ahead with deadly air strikes across Gaza on Sunday, a
day after Hamas militants blew up jeeps packed with explosives at a border
crossing, wounding 13 soldiers. Overnight air raids killed six Palestinian
fighters, all members of Hamas.(AFP) Beirut, 20 Apr 08, 16:49
18th Attempt to Elect a President is Likely to Fail Again
AFP/Naharnet/ The 18th attempt to elect a Lebanese president, due
to take place next Tuesday, is likely to see a fate similar to that of its
predecessors, with rival factions now setting their sights on the 2009
parliamentary elections. The 17 previous attempts have all failed, with MPs who
are supposed to pick the new head of state, not even holding the meetings called
to elect one. "The more time passes, the more the calculations become about the
electoral results which will ultimately determine the power struggle," says
Patrick Haenni of International Crisis Group. He was referring to the paralysis
that has resulted from the political conflict between the anti-Syrian ruling
coalition and the Hizbullah-led opposition. The deadlock has left Lebanon
without a president for almost five months since pro-Syrian president Emile
Lahoud stepped down at the end of his mandate. The ruling March 14 alliance is
demanding the immediate and unconditional election of consensus candidate and
army chief Michel Suleiman.
The Iranian- and Syrian-backed opposition links this election to a "package" of
pre-conditions which include the formation of a national unity cabinet and a new
electoral law. Lebanon, which suffered a 15-year civil war up to 1990, finds
itself in dangerous territory where it lacks a head of state, has a government
considered "illegitimate" by the opposition, a parliament which has not met for
over 16 months and an army chief set to leave office at the end of August,
risking a void in the military leadership as well.
"The presidential crisis is getting nowhere and is likely to last even longer,"
read the daily An-Nahar on Friday. But despite the political paralysis, the
various players are behaving as if it is already 2009. Their speeches focus more
and more on reforming the electoral law of 2000, which was drawn up when the
country was still under Syrian domination. Syria withdrew its troops in April
2005 after domestic and international anger at the killing in Beirut of former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, for whose death many blamed Damascus. The troops
had been there for nearly three decades. Experts say that the main issue with
this law is that it does not ensure accurate representation of Lebanese
political and religious forces, which are at the core of the current crisis.
According to attorney Ziad Baroud, a specialist in electoral law, the 2000 law
"does not guarantee to Christian political forces their true electoral weight."
Christian candidates are thus dependent on Muslim votes in the south and Bekaa,
where there is a Shiite majority, and in Beirut and the north, where there is a
Sunni majority. Christian voters thus have little effective impact on election
outcomes in those areas, a situation which Christian leaders, from both the
opposition and the majority, criticize. The constitution distributes Lebanon's
128 parliamentary seats equally between Muslims and Christians, although
Christians have come to be outnumbered by their Muslim counterparts. But if
Christian voters are hoping for some autonomy with respect to Muslim votes, the
electoral breakdown that would give it to them would not necessarily be
beneficial for Muslim parties, such as the Shiite Amal movement or Sunni faction
headed by Saad Hariri, according to Haenni. "This law is a major issue because
the core of this crisis is the will to redefine who holds power in Lebanon,"
said Sami Salhab, a law professor at the Lebanese University. "The impasse goes
beyond the election of a president. It centers on the distribution of power,"
Baroud said. The likelihood that the discord over the electoral law will persist
raises fears that electoral law reform will see the same fate as the
presidential election.
"How long will the country remain without a president and paralyzed?," asked the
daily An-Nahar. "Is it possible that all the deadlines have been delayed,
including the one for parliamentary election?"(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 20 Apr 08,
11:40
Top U.N. Nuclear Official in Iran for Controversial Talks
(AFP) Beirut, 21 Apr 08,
A top U.N. nuclear official was greeted by a furious personal attack from a
hardline Iranian daily as he arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks about claims
Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. Olli Heinonen, the International Atomic Energy
Agency's (IAEA) deputy director general, is to hold talks over allegations Iran
may have been studying how to make a nuclear weapon, the Vienna-based watchdog
has said. He arrived at the head of an IAEA delegation in the morning and was to
start talks in the afternoon with Iran's deputy national security chief Javad
Vaeedi, the state broadcaster reported. But in a sign of the sensitivity of the
talks, Iran's leading hardline daily Kayhan launched a withering onslaught
against Heinonen and his intentions. "This trip is to complete a joint Israeli-U.S.
trick to provide phoney proof on Iran's nuclear activities," said an editorial
signed by chief editor Hossein Shariatmadari, who is appointed by supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a closed-door briefing to diplomats at IAEA headquarters in Vienna on
February 25, Heinonen presented detailed evidence suggesting that Iran could
have been studying how to use its nuclear technology to make a warhead. Western
diplomats present at the meeting subsequently said the new evidence of alleged "weaponization
studies" was troubling. Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is entirely
peaceful and aimed solely at generating energy, at the time furiously denounced
the claims. "It is like a ridiculous play," fumed Kayhan. "He (Heinonen) opened
the first act at the (IAEA) board of governors, in a play written by Israel and
directed by the United States. "And now during his trip here he will perform the
second act. What is surprising is why our officials agreed to his trip."
Heinonen is reported to have said the evidence had three sources -- the IAEA's
own research, information handed over by member states including Iran's arch foe
the United States and procurement documents. The official IRNA news agency
quoted an informed Iranian source as saying that for Tehran the issue of the
alleged weaponization studies is "finished" and its assessment has already been
handed to the IAEA. "Iran is doing this negotiation to show its goodwill," the
source was quoted as saying.(AFP) Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 13:01
Assad Confirms Exchanging Messages with Israel Through 3rd
Party
(AP) Beirut, 21 Apr 08,
Syrian President Bashar Assad said Sunday he has exchanged messages with Israel
through a third party to explore the possibility of resuming peace talks, the
country's official news agency reported. During a meeting with ruling Baath
Party officials, Assad commented on media reports about indirect contact between
the two countries."There are efforts exerted in this direction," he was quoted
as saying by SANA. An Israeli newspaper, Yediot Ahronot, on Thursday quoted
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying Israel and Syria have been
exchanging messages to clarify expectations for any future peace treaty. He did
not disclose the content of the messages or provide other details about the
contacts. The paper quoted Olmert as saying, "They know what we want from them,
and I know full well what they want from us."Assad echoed those comments on
Sunday, saying Israel "knows well what is accepted and not accepted by
Syria."But he also rejected having any "secret" direct talks or contacts with
Israel. "Anything Syria does in this regard will be announced to the public,"
Assad was quoted as saying. He did not elaborate.(AP) Beirut, 21 Apr 08, 03:41
Hezbollah thrives on chaos and
hypocrisy
Sunday, 20 April, 2008 @ 8:12 PM
By Abu Kais,
From Beirut to the Beltway
Hizbullah has (again) issued a statement calling for
the release of four former pro-Syrian generals held in detention over their role
in the 2005 Hariri assassination.
The militia's call to release Assad's former agents coincides with similar calls
by pro-Syrian parties and Michel Aoun.
The Hizbullah statement is predictably ridiculous: (Translation) Hizbullah
considers the arrest "political and vengeful and illegal" and a "settling of
scores" by March 14.
Is Hizbullah's occupation of downtown Beirut cultural, charitable and legal? Is
their possession of tens of thousands of rockets an act sanctioned by law? Does
the Lebanese constitution call for the building of a state within a state? Is
their act of dragging the country into a war their version of turning the other
cheek?
I wonder if Hizbullah would approve of March 14 kidnapping Syrian soldiers,
blowing them up to pieces and parading their remains on TV, with Saad Hariri in
the background vowing open war and waving his finger at the world.
Anyway, on Wednesday, Hizbullah 's parliamentary bloc issued a statement that
went like this:
The bloc, in a statement, said it tackled the "French declaration about the
disappearance of Mohammed Zuheir Siddiq ... and whether it is linked to
extending the arbitrary detention of the four officers." The bloc also "raised
several questions about seriousness of the international commitment to reveal
the truth in the Hariri assassination," the statement added. (Naharnet)
The Assad regime, and it seems Hizbullah, have always been obsessed with Siddiq,
ever since his name was revealed as a witness. This obsession resurfaced after
news of his disappearance from his France home and re-appearance in Europe
awaiting the formation of the tribunal (this according to al-Seyassah). During
the 2006 war, Lahoud found time to write a letter requesting the extradition of
Siddiq to Lebanon, which the French judiciary rejected it on grounds Lebanon
allowed death penalties.
Why care about Siddiq? The former Syrian intelligence fixer in Lebanon claimed
he has the proof that the four general and the Assad regime assassinated Hariri,
and has said so publicly. After the controversy over his credibility erupted
(and much of that controversy was fanned by the Assad regime) the Lebanese
authorities issued a warrant for his arrest.
The UN investigation has moved on since the Siddiq controversy, gathering tens
of statements from different witnesses and suspects, and confirming the
indisputable link between the Hariri assassination, the Assad regime and the
four generals. In other words, and as a reading of any of the UN reports would
reveal, Siddiq's testimony is not essential. It is only the Assad regime that
wants you to believe that the entire case hinges on this one testimony. And even
though they have discredited it, they continue to panic every time this
scarecrow witness issues a statement or pulls a stunt in what seems to be his
battle against the regime.
It is useful to place the regime's hysterical reaction to Siddiq's disappearance
in the context of the regime's behaviour at home. Siddiq, as do others, also
names many top Syrian officials, including Assef Shawkat, who became the head of
military intelligence 30 minutes after the Hariri assassination, and is one of
the prime suspects in the murder, according to Detlev Mehlis. He is also
Bashar's brother in law. The "criminal network" that new UN commissioner Daniel
Bellmare mentioned in his first report most likely include Shawkat, so tracking
any visible links to that person would be a regime priority.
Shawkat, we recently learned from Syrian VP Abdel Halim Khaddam, has been placed
under house arrest in Damascus. Khaddam predicted that Shawkat would meet a fate
similar to Ghazi Kenaan, who "committed suicide" in 2005, right around the time
Siddiq testified to the commission, then headed by Mehlis. Siddiq's former boss,
Bahjat Suleiman, was also removed from his post in the same year.
So what inspires Hizbullah to be part of the Assad regime obsession with all
this? They probably miss their former facilitators. Or they could be afraid that
if those generals ever make it to The Hague, beans will be spilled and the myth
of purity they like to propagate will be forever shattered.
Source: From Beirut to the Beltway
Don’t rush to Damascus
Israel should accept US position on Syria instead of restoring to baseless
fantasies
Zalman Shoval
Published: 04.22.08, / Israel Opinion
The message I received in Washington about two weeks ago was clear and included
a trace of displeasure: Why do you have people, and ministers in particular, who
continue to amuse themselves with the baseless notion that conditions for peace
between Israel and Syria have been created?
Indeed, in holiday interviews with the prime minister, as well as the wave of
previous news stories, we repeatedly heard about messages being seemingly
conveyed and feelers seemingly being sent out between Jerusalem and Damascus.
Before we address the matter, we should consider whether Israel should or should
not be taking America’s position on this matter into consideration.
It is clear that we do not have to blindly follow the American compass on every
single matter, but to show contempt to a clear US interest, at least the way the
current administration interprets it, could rightfully be considered as an
unwise and possibly ungrateful move.
Indeed, others voices are being heard in Washington – by Senator Obama for
example, or the authors of the famous Baker-Hamilton report – but we should note
that they tie the dialogue with Syria to a simultaneous dialogue with
Ahmadinejad’s Iran, with their guiding principle being priority to the “carrot”
when it comes to the carrot and stick approach.
On the other hand, Washington’s objective, and recently that of Paris, is to
isolate Damascus, destroy the terror bases in Lebanon and in Syria, and
undermine the terroristic path leading from Syria to Iraq.
Don’t all of the above, in addition to being an American interest, also
constitute an Israeli interest?
Syria won’t sever ties with Iran
Yet even if we put aside for a moment the American interest, one of the most
common illusions around here among those backing the Syrian channel, in addition
to the desire of some of them to view it as a counterweight to the Palestinian
channel, is the hope that if we reach a peace agreement with Syria it will
immediately sever its close alliance with Tehran.
There is no evidence that supports this theory in reality – among other things,
because for the ruling Alawite minority Iran serves as an insurance policy
vis-à-vis the threat posed to the regime by the Sunni majority.
Moreover, Syria’s status in Lebanon is in practice being maintained by Hizbullah
– which follows Iran’s orders. Can we imagine President Assad risking the loss
of this lever?
Most Israeli governments spared no effort in order to examine whether a peace
initiative with Syria could bear fruit despite all – yet unsurprisingly, all
these attempts failed. The ministers who currently rush to embark on the path to
Damascus while declaring that “the price of peace is already known” will not be
advancing peace, yet the message they will be conveying to the Syrians is that
we have already ceded, in advance, the entire Golan, including the Sea of
Galilee’s eastern shore (which, by the way, never belonged to Syria,) and all
that’s left now is to discuss the additional terms.
Blow by blow
The opposition loses its momentum
Hanin Ghaddar, NOW Staff , April 21, 2008
Lebanese opposition supporters stand under a poster depicting opposition
leaders, Christian general Michel Aoun (L) Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah (C)
and parliament speaker Nabih Berri. (AFP / Jinan Nour al-Dounia)
Member of Parliament Michel Murr’s break with the Change and Reform bloc some
weeks ago certainly ruffled Christian feathers in the opposition. As for the
Shia in the opposition, there seem to be very tangible divisions emerging, too,
between Amal Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who recently returned from a
regional tour to renew calls for national dialogue, and Hezbollah chief Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah, who has recently been altogether more concerned with the
Israel-Lebanese border.
With the glue holding these disparate groups together clearly weakening, the
March 14 coalition has rather effectively been able to employ a divide and
conquer strategy, targeting one constituent element of this Change and Reform,
Amal, Hezbollah alliance after another.
Aoun’s blow
Murr’s split with the Change and Reform bloc was a major turning point. The MP
carries some significant political clout in his Metn home, and his influence is
sure to be sought by both sides of the political spectrum in future elections or
Christian power plays. Upon his departure from the bloc, he called for the
immediate election of Amy Commander General Michel Suleiman as president without
any preconditions. Doing so clearly distanced him from the rest of the
opposition, which has been adamant about electing Sleiman only after a cabinet
has been decided upon and an electoral law for 2009 chosen.
And while it might be too early to fully evaluate the consequences of Murr’s
movement, it is undeniable that this is one indication of a wider Christian
split. Opposition Christian leader General Michel Aoun has every reason to worry
that his power base is crumbling. The Metn by-elections of last year were just a
hint of splits – like this one – to come. Had Murr left Aoun at that point, as
many then-hoped, the victory surely would have gone to March 14, Kataeb
candidate Amin Gemayel rather than Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) candidate
Camille Khoury.
“I have failed to convince the bloc’s MPs of the need to elect a president. This
is why I have decided to create public pressure in this regard,” Murr told NBN
Television on Thursday. He also expressed his regret for former President Amin
Gemayel’s defeat in the 2007 Metn by-elections. “I voted for Camille Khoury, but
my conscience was telling me, ‘You don’t have the right to elect anyone in
Pierre Amin Gemayel’s place.’”
Aoun today is bogged down on a number of fronts. Another is the recent
postponement of FPM internal elections. Although official FPM statements cited
logistical and administrative reasons for the delay, many insiders have
privately confirmed to NOW Lebanon that the postponement is directly related to
the growing conflict between two increasingly divergent groups within the
movement: Aoun’s inner circle and the so-called “FPM opposition.”
Murr must have read that the tide is turning in the favor of March 14, or at
least against the opposition. Today, he is actively opening new communication
channels with the Kataeb. Party official Selim Sayegh confirmed on Thursday that
Gemayel and Murr discussed the latest developments in the presidential elections
by phone.
On the 8th level
Likewise, the other two key parties of the opposition – Hezbollah and Amal – are
suffering from their own setbacks. In the aftermath of Hezbollah operative Imad
Mughnieh’s February assassination, the armed party has promised the Lebanese and
the world that they plan to retaliate against Israel, the surmised perpetrator
of the hit. Despite the ongoing, internal presidential crisis, Hezbollah has put
resolving domestic affairs on hold once more.
Speaking to NOW Lebanon, March 14 General Secretary Fares Soueid said that
Mughnieh was Hezbollah’s spine, just as Hezbollah remains the opposition’s
spine. “In this sense, Hezbollah and eventually the opposition has taken a very
strong blow with his assassination,” he argued.
According to Soueid, Hezbollah has now taken upon itself the impossible task of
eliminating Israel through open war. “They are trying to compensate for this
impossibility with internal issues. Berri, meanwhile, is trying hard to distance
himself from Hezbollah’s hegemony, but he is incapable of changing anything,” he
added.
The Syrian effect
There have been reports on new political moves in Syria, too. In an interview
with As-Safir, former Prime Minister Salim Hoss said he had met with Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Wednesday. Hoss conveyed Assad’s
willingness to delineate official borders between Syria and Lebanon and to begin
diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Two days later, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported a possible visit by the
Syrian president to Riyadh, a move seen as an attempt to restore bruised
Saudi-Syrian relations. The paper also revealed that there have been a number of
visits by high ranking Saudi officials to Syria.
And, despite Assad’s statements denying any communication between Damascus and
Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday that Damascus and Tel
Aviv have been secretly exchanging letters in an attempt to reach a
clarification on a peace agreement between the two countries.
Are things finally moving in the right direction for Lebanon? That remains
unclear. What is quite apparent, though, is that the opposition realizes that
it’s in a serious bind. To obscure their failure to make any positive
contributions to resolving the Lebanese crisis, the big three of the opposition
have therefore set their sights on distraction. And so, Aoun goes looking
unsuccessfully for mass graves and also revives the specter of Palestinian
settlement, and Nasrallah warns the Israelis that he is bringing war to their
own backyard. It’s time for these men’s followers to ask themselves if this is
really where their parties’ priorities should lie.