LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March
25/2010
Bible Of the
Day
Luke 11/37-54: "Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him.
He went in, and sat at the table. 11:38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled
that he had not first washed himself before dinner. 11:39 The Lord said to him,
“Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your
inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. 11:40 You foolish ones, didn’t
he who made the outside make the inside also? 11:41 But give for gifts to the
needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to
you. 11:42 But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb,
but you bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and
not to have left the other undone. 11:43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the
best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. 11:44 Woe
to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hidden graves, and
the men who walk over them don’t know it.” 11:45 One of the lawyers answered
him, “Teacher, in saying this you insult us also.” 11:46 He said, “Woe to you
lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you
yourselves won’t even lift one finger to help carry those burdens. 11:47 Woe to
you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
11:48 So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed
them, and you build their tombs. 11:49 Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I
will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and
persecute, 11:50 that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the
foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 11:51 from the
blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the
sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 11:52 Woe
to you lawyers! For you took away the key of knowledge. You didn’t enter in
yourselves, and those who were entering in, you hindered.” 11:53 As he said
these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry,
and to draw many things out of him; 11:54 lying in wait for him, and seeking to
catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.
Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special
Reports
ICCC Release: Pakistani Muslims
Burn A Christian Man/to Death, Policeman Rapes His Wife/March 24/1/10
Egyptian State Security Demolishes
Anglican Church, Assaults Pastor/AINA/March 24/10
Syria
ties require coherent policy/Daily Star/March 24/10
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for March 24/10
Netanyahu: Hizbullah, Hamas 'Iranian Terror Proxies/Naharnet
Judicial Official Confirms Hariri
Probe Entered Decisive Stage/Naharnet
Fayyad:
Hizbullah Not Concerned by Media Tribunal Leaks/Naharnet
UN team begins 3D filming at site of Hariri assassination/AFP
Syria enters Israeli-Lebanon fracas/UPI.com
UN official calls for full implementation of
resolution 1701/Xinhua
French
National Assembly President to Visit Beirut April 12/Naharnet
UNIFIL's new commander hopes to 'boost friendship, coordination' with
LAF
Syria
Shows Support for Lebanon, Suleiman Explains Points of Difference/Naharnet
Syria delivers message of support to Sleiman/Daily
Star
Al-Khrayeb Corpse Not for Ethiopian Jet Victim/Naharnet
Jumblat: Road to Syria Has Been Opened/Naharnet
Najjar: Impossible to Form Another Cabinet if Government Toppled/Naharnet
Nazem al-Khoury: Suleiman's Critics Crossed the Line/Naharnet
Aoun:
We Won't Accept Keeping Beirut as 1 Electorate, I'm About to Evaluate
President's Performance/Naharnet
Woman Robbed of Nearly
$10,000, Man Wounded in Family Feud/Naharnet
Mustaqbal Bloc: We Strongly Condemn Intimidation Campaigns Against President,
Institutions/Naharnet
Administrative
Appointments Committee Meets Again Friday after Agreeing on Mechanism
Regulations/Naharnet
Ministers can propose names for
vacant posts/Daily
Star
UN's Williams calls for 'free and fair'
municipal elections/Daily
Star
Interior Ministry keen on holding polls on
time/Daily
Star
Public school teachers strike in Beirut for pay increase/Daily
Star
Saudi acquitted of spying for Israel returns home/Daily
Star
Bourj Hammoud gets face lift with new monument/Daily
Star
Hariri meets with UAE Foreign
minister/Daily
Star
France's speaker to visit
Lebanon on April 12/Daily
Star
Berri to meet businessmen on last leg of Turkey trip/Daily
Star
Sleiman in talks on strengthening relations with Iran/Daily
Star
Court jails 20 Al-Qaeda suspects for plotting attacks/AFP
Study sheds light on 'tragic reality' at
Ain al-Hilweh/Daily
Star
UK's Galloway opens summer 'University of Palestine/Daily
Star
Comic book contest looks to break down barriers/Daily
Star
Netanyahu to AIPAC: Stop Iran
or Israel Will
By Joel C. Rosenberg
After the worst week in U.S.-Israel relations in 35 years, Israeli prime
minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to Washington Monday and gave a powerful and
effective speech at the AIPAC gala dinner at the Washington Convention Center,
warning the world to stop Iran — or Israel will — and respectfully but directly
challenging the Obama administration on Jerusalem and the peace process.
Netanyahu received scores of standing ovations from the 7,800 guests in
attendance, the biggest event in the history of AIPAC (the American Israel
Public Affairs Committee). More than half of the members of the U.S. House and
Senate were there, as were ambassadors from more than fifty countries and many
top Israeli officials, including defense minister Ehud Barak and opposition
leader Tzipi Livni. The longest and most sustained came when the prime minister
firmly resisted the policy of President Obama, who seeks to divide Jerusalem and
stop Israel from building “settlements” in East Jerusalem.
“Jerusalem is not a settlement,” said Netanyahu. “It is our capital.”
Netanyahu’s strategy in rebuilding U.S.-Israel relations is now clear. Reduce
tensions with the president and executive branch if at all possible, but focus
on speaking directly to the American people and strengthening the truly
pro-Israel end of Pennsylvania Avenue: Congress.
Most stunning line of the night: To the surprise of many at the dinner, Sen.
Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) conceded that when it comes to Iran, “Diplomacy has
failed.” We all know this to be true, but it has not yet been said so clearly
and publicly by such a high-ranking Democrat and close supporter of President
Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Will Schumer’s analysis be taken up by fellow Democrats? This remains to be
seen, but if it is, it could have dramatic implications for Washington’s next
steps towards Iran. Schumer urged the administration to keep the military option
open, but he stressed hitting Iran with crippling economic sanctions
immediately. A bill he has co-sponsored to help cut off gas supplies to Iran
(Iran imports 45 percent of its gasoline) passed the Senate on January 28th, he
noted. It is now being reconciled with the House version. It should go to the
president for signature soon, and he demanded the president move decisively with
“immediate implementation.”
The most sobering speech of the night was that of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.,
S.C.), who spoke the truth more clearly and succinctly than anyone else when he
noted that this could be the last annual AIPAC conference before Iran gets the
Bomb. He said that while he hopes war won’t be necessary — he also supports
crippling economic sanctions against Iran — the U.S. needs to urgently prepare
for the possibility of launching massive airstrikes to stop Tehran from building
and deploying nuclear weapons.
What Will Happen If the World Does Not Stop Iran?
The desire of Radical Islam to annihilate Israel was the first issue Netanyahu
raised, and rightly so. “Iran’s rulers say, ‘Israel is a one bomb country,’” the
prime minister noted. “The head of Hezbollah says, ‘If all the Jews gather in
Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.’”
Netanyahu called on the world “to act swiftly and decisively” to thwart Iran’s
nuclear ambitions, but he made it clear that if the world does not stop Iran,
Israel reserves the right to safeguard her people from another Holocaust.
“The greatest threat to any living organism or nation is not to recognize danger
in time,” the prime minister said in his speech’s most sobering moment.
“Seventy-five years ago, many leaders around the world put their heads in the
sand. Untold millions died in the war that followed. Ultimately, two of
history’s greatest leaders helped turn the tide. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and
Winston Churchill helped save the world. But they were too late to save six
million of my own people. The future of the Jewish state can never depend on the
goodwill of even the greatest of men. Israel must always reserve the right to
defend itself.”
What Have the Palestinian Leaders Done for Peace?
That said, given the brouhaha in the past week between the U.S. and Israel,
Netanyahu’s central message naturally focused on his country’s deep and
substantive commitment to making peace. He noted that his government has
repeatedly called on the Palestinians to come to the negotiating table without
preconditions, to no effect.
“From Day One, we called on the Palestinian Authority to begin peace
negotiations without delay,” he said. “I make that same call today. President
Abbas, come and negotiate peace. Leaders who truly want peace should sit down
face-to-face.”
Netanyahu pointed out that his government has dismantled several hundred
roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank to enable the easier flow of people,
goods, and services, and that this has lead to dramatic economic growth in Judea
and Samaria. He noted that his government announced last year “an unprecedented
moratorium on new Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria.”
“This is what my government has done for peace,” said Netanyahu. “What has the
Palestinian Authority done for peace?”
The answer, according to Netanyahu: The Palestinian Authority has “placed
preconditions on peace talks”; they have “waged a relentless international
campaign to undermine Israel’s legitimacy”; they have “promoted the notorious
Goldstone report that falsely accuses Israel of war crimes”; they have
“continued incitement against Israel — a few days ago, a public square near
Ramallah was named after a terrorist who murdered 37 Israeli civilians,
including 13 children. The Palestinian Authority did nothing to prevent it.”
Why Does Israel Face a ‘Triple Standard’?
The prime minister thanked the United States for six decades of a strong and
enduring relationship, based on shared values and common interests. He mentioned
specific ways that the U.S. and Israel work together to advance freedom and
fight fanaticism. But he also noted that while Israel has its imperfections and
welcomes and appreciates sincere and honest criticism from its friends, “Israel
should be judged by the same standards applied to all nations, and allegations
against Israel must be grounded in fact.”
Going off text, he then asked why Israel faces a “triple standard” in the world.
There is, he said, one standard for dictatorships, another for democracies, and
a third for Israel.
A case in point, of course, is the U.N.’s pernicious and anti-Semitic Goldstone
Commission Report which condemns Israel for committing so-called “war crimes”
for defending her innocent civilians from 10,000-plus rocket attacks from Hamas
terrorists in Gaza while for years the U.N. did nothing to stop those rocket
attacks and barely holds Hamas to account for those attacks.
Outreach to Evangelicals
Finally, it should be noted that several years ago, to their credit, the
leadership of AIPACdecided to make a conscious effort to reach out to pro-Israel
evangelical Christian leaders and activists. I am so glad they did. Last night,
there were 130 evangelical leaders present to show unconditional love and
unwavering support to the Jewish people and the state of Israel. In the future,
I hope more Christian leaders attend and build bridges to AIPAC and the Jewish
community.
My wife and I met numerous religious and secular Jews last night (as we did last
year) who are profoundly grateful for the support of evangelicals. One Orthodox
Jewish woman told my wife and me, “You Christians are the best friends Israel
has. You’re the only friends we really have.”It remains to be seen whether Prime
Minister Netanyahu’s “Washington blitz” will avert a coming train wreck between
his government and the Obama administration over Iran, Jerusalem, and the peace
process. But he is right to speak directly to the American people and to
Israel’s friends in Congress. Indeed, he and his government should do much more,
including a steady stream of major addresses to pro-Israel groups of Jews and
Christians throughout the United States.
— Joel C. Rosenberg is the New York Times–best-selling author of seven novels
and non-fiction books about Israel, including Epicenter and Inside the
Revolution. He served as an aide to Mr. Netanyahu in 2000.
Syria delivers message of support to Sleiman Pakistani Muslims Burn A Christian Man
Envoy backs resistance in face of Israel threats
By Elias Sakr //Daily Star staff
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
BEIRUT: Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel Karim Ali conveyed
Tuesday to President Michel Sleiman Syrian support to the Lebanese
presidency as well as support to Lebanon against Israeli threats.
Following talks with Sleiman at Baabda Presidential Palace, Abdel Karim
Ali said the president played a pivotal role in preserving a “healthy
Lebanon.”
“A healthy Lebanon is in the interest of Syria,” he told reporters,
adding that “the president has an essential role in preserving a healthy
country.”
On Monday, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Sison also praised Sleiman’s
leadership on several pivotal issues during talks in Baabda.
Similarly, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said the media campaign
against Sleiman was “unfair,” adding that “the post of presidency should
be above all criticism as stated by the Lebanese laws.” “We do not know
if it is a domestic or foreign campaign,” Sfeir was quoted as saying
before a delegation of the journalist union.
Sfeir also underscored the importance of dialogue “to prevent the
formation of bunkers among the Lebanese,” as he voiced hope that the
National Dialogue committee would be able to achieve its objectives. But
Syria’s allies in Lebanon, opposition figures, Tawheed Movement leader
Wiam Wahhab and former Premier Omar Karami both reiterated Tuesday
criticism of Sleiman’s role as they played down the benefits of national
dialogue.
Commenting on the issue, Abdel Karim Ali said “Syria does not interfere
in domestic Lebanese disputes” adding that “Syria is keen on role of the
post of presidency.”
In an Intiqad.net news website interview Abdel Karim Ali reiterated
Syria’s support for the resistance facing Israeli threats, adding that
“this support is also in the interest of Lebanon’s unity and
sovereignty.” Asked about Premier Saad Hariri’s visit to Damascus at the
end of the month, Abdel Karim Ali said Syria was “ready to discuss
previous Lebanese-Syrian bilateral agreements,” adding that “any delay
regarding the issue was not caused by Syria.”
“The agreements signed in the past took into consideration Lebanon’s
interests as a priority,” he added. Abdel Karim Ali also stressed that
Damascus was ready to discuss the role of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher
Council, “though it did not conflict with diplomatic ties between both
countries through embassies.”
Figures of the parliamentary majority highlighted recently the need to
reconsider Syrian-Lebanese bilateral agreements while demanding the
abolition of those which harm the interests of the Lebanese state.
Abdel Karim Ali also tackled his recent talks with Hizbullah Secretary
General Hassan Nasrallah saying it was an “opportunity to meet a unique
individual with in-depth vision and a high sense of responsibility.”
Tackling Israeli threats against Lebanon and Syria, Abdel Karim Ali said
that Syria was taking all possibilities into considerations and building
up its army and economic strength to face any future challenges.
Separately, Wahhab slammed National Dialogue talks describing them as a
waste of time as he called on Sleiman “to take participants in the
dialogue committee on a tour to south Lebanon to see the real defense
strategy.” “The National Dialogue committee is nonsense and will lead
nowhere,” Wahhab said.
“How can Sisson interfere in Lebanese affairs when I am not allowed that
right,” Wahhab said in reference to Sisson’s statements at Baabda
palace.
“We only demanded from the president to fulfill his promises to the
Lebanese and he should resign if he is incapable of fulfilling them,”
Wahhab added.
Wahhab also slammed figures defending Sleiman saying those would shift
and start attacking him by the end of his term and ahead of the election
of a new president.
“All the world‘s ambassadors cannot support the president beyond the
support of the Lebanese people,” he added.
Echoing Wahhab, Karami said “criticism of Sleiman is a right that no one
can deny us,” adding that “Sleiman interferes in every matter and heads
the government and thus should be subject to criticism.” Both Wahhab and
Karami also slammed Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, accusing him of
war crimes while they voiced unconditional support for the resistance.
UN team begins 3D filming at site of Hariri assassination
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
BEIRUT: A UN team investigating the assassination of former Lebanese
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Tuesday began filming the site of the
2005 Beirut murder in 3D, a military official said. “The investigation
team will be using high-tech equipment to film the area where the
bombing occurred,” the official told AFP without elaborating. A UN
tribunal based in The Hague was set up by a Security Council resolution
in 2007 to try suspects in the murder of Hariri, killed in a massive
bomb blast on the Beirut seafront in February 2005. Tribunal spokeswoman
Radhia Achouri also declined to give details on the filming on Tuesday.
“We do not give any details about any programme our team is carrying
out,” she told AFP. “There have been many visits and many specific
projects, and investigators might carry out a project any day, any
week.” An AFP photographer at the scene said members of the UN team
wearing identity cards around their necks were filming and photographing
the assassination site outside the once-popular Saint Georges Hotel. The
murder was widely blamed on Syria although Damascus has repeatedly
denied any involvement. Before the tribunal was formed, a UN commission
of inquiry said it had found evidence to implicate Syrian and Lebanese
intelligence services, but there are currently no suspects in custody. –
AFP
to Death, Policeman Rapes His Wife
Washington, D.C. (March 23, 2010)–International Christian Concern (ICC) has
learned that a Christian man, Arshed Masih, died yesterday after Muslims burned
him alive for refusing to recant his faith. Additionally, a Muslim policeman
raped Masih’s wife.
Masih and his wife, Martha, worked and lived at the house of Sheik Mohammad
Sultan, a powerful Muslim businessman in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, since 2005.
In January, Muslim religious leaders and Sheik Sultan asked Masih and his family
to convert to Islam. Masih and his family refused to convert and informed Sheik
Sultan that they were going to quit working for him. The Sheik became furious
and warned Masih that he would kill him if he quit. Masih told his family and
friends about the entire incident. Christian leaders tried to persuade the Sheik
to let Masih and his family leave his house.
On March 14, Sheik Sultan`s house was robbed. He filed a case of theft of
500,000 Rupees ($ 5,952) against Martha. After taking them for questioning, the
police assaulted Masih and raped Martha. Two days later, Sheik Sultan told the
couple that he would ask the police to release them if they converted to Islam.
The couple refused to recant their faith.
On March 19, Masih was set on fire in front of the police station. At the time,
three Muslim religious leaders and three policemen were present at the scene.
The perpetrators have not been identified.
Masih was taken to the Holy Family Hospital where he received treatment for
three days before finally dying today.
Masih’s children Mary, 12, Nasir, 10, and Neha, 7, are deeply traumatized after
witnessing acts of brutality against their family at the hands of Muslims.
ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, Jonathan Racho, said “We are outraged and
deeply saddened by the murder of Masih and the rape of Martha by the police. As
this case clearly indicates, Pakistani Christians are treated as less than
animals by the Muslims. We urge the president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zadari, and
other high level government officials to bring the perpetrators of the attacks
to justice.”
Please call the Pakistani Embassy in your country and politely ask the officials
of Pakistan to thoroughly investigate the heinous crime committed against Masih
and Martha and bring all the perpetrators to justice.
Pakistani Embassies:
USA: (202) 243-6500
Canada: (613) 238-7881
UK: 0870-005-6967
Egyptian State Security Demolishes Anglican Church, Assaults Pastor
24-2010
http://www.aina.org/news/20100323193843.htm
Assyrian International
News Agency
(AINA) -- An Anglican Church pastor and his wife were assaulted by Security
agents in Luxor on March 18, 2010, in order to evacuate them by force from their
home and demolish Church property. Out of the nearly 3000 sq. meters of
buildings attached to the Church, only the 400 sq. meter prayer hall was left
standing.
Pastor Mahrous Karam of the Anglican Church in Luxor, 721 km from Cairo, said
that the Church was still in negotiations with the Luxor authorities the day
before regarding a replacement for the community center building which lies
within the Church's compound, and was told the authorities were still
considering their options. Early next morning, a 500-man force of Central
Security and State Security blocked all roads leading to the Church compound,
forced their way in and broke into the pastor's residence, dragging the family
out by force.
In an effort to save the buildings from demolition, the Pastor sat on the fence
of the Church compound, to prevent the demolition work, but was beaten and
dragged away, reported Katiba Tibia News.
The Pastor's wife, Sabah, said that two men went into her flat and evacuated her
by force, by slapping her face, pulling her by her clothes and dragging her by
her hair. "They threatened that if I do not leave the place they would take my
3-year-old boy and throw him under the bulldozers which came for the demolition
work," she told Sherif Ramzy of Freecopts. "Twenty traumatized children were
dragged out of the attached nursery and thrown into the church hall," Sabah
said.
She added that all their belongings were left in the street, and they have
nowhere to live. "I believe they wanted to give us an Easter present, the way
they gave the Copts of Nag Hammadi the Christmas Eve Massacre," she added
bitterly.
Pastor Karam said that the community center lies within the archaeological
excavation for the "Rams Road" project. "We are not against giving the community
center up, we just want a replacement building," he told Luxor-based Coptic
activist Samir Rafaat. "We want equal treatment in our own country. The city
council replaced the Islamic Association with a building of 20 flats, before
demolishing their building. We want the same treatment."
Dr. Samir Farag, Governor of Luxor, told the media that his forces seized only
"one room" from the Anglican Church, and denied any bodily assault on the
pastor's family. According to the Anglican Church approximately 2600 sq. meters
were seized including the pastors 2-story high residence, and the community
center, which included a nursery, guests quarters and club The Anglican Church
School, which was also demolished, was not included in the negotiations between
the Anglican Church and the Governorate as it does not lie within the Ram Road
excavation project.
An Anglican witness said: "The Governor is lying, that is why the forces blocked
the road leading to the Church before their attack, so that nobody would witness
their doings. But he forgot there is the Internet and cell phone videos to show
the whole world the uncivilized way Egypt deals with Christians and their places
of worship."
The Anglican Church in Egypt, which has a congregation of nearly 750,000 issued
a statement on March 19, condemning the behavior of the Luxor authorities for
demolishing Church property without adequate negotiations. It also condemned the
assault on the pastor, his wife and the threats made to harm their child, which
it characterized as a flagrant violation of human rights and the sanctity of
churches as places of worship.
Pastor Karam told Samir Raafat "We want a replacement plot of land for the one
seized, as previously promised by the Governor, to build a community center on.
Secondly, I was beaten and dragged on the ground in front of everyone, so I need
my honor to be restored, because I represent the Anglican Church." He said he
would stage a sit-in in front of the church until matters have been rectified.
"Meanwhile I will not carry out any Church services."
The governor of Luxor has been criticized on several occasions for his execution
of projects in Luxor. According to writer Safwat Samaan Yassa, UNESCO
recommended that the excavation work for the Ram Road should be executed in
stages in the next 20 years, but the Governor of Luxor shortened it to three
years, demolishing in the process hundred of houses, hotels, restaurants,
bazaars, and ancient palaces and thereby destroying Luxor's economy.
Furthermore, according to Yassa, historical sites were demolished to make way
for a hotel complex financed by Arab investors.
By Mary Abdelmassih
Copyright (C) 2010, Assyrian International News Agency. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use.
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Judicial Official Confirms Hariri Probe Entered
Decisive Stage
Naharnet/As a U.N. team investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri began 3-D filming of the crime scene in downtown Beirut, a
high-ranking judicial source confirmed that the probe entered a "decisive
stage.""We are moving ahead with indictments," the official said in remarks
published Wednesday by pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.
Meanwhile, Al-Jadid TV said sources close to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
requested to summon six Hizbullah members to hearing.
Among those requested to be summoned were Abdul Majid Ghamloush, al-Hajj Salim,
Mustafa Badreddine and Qassem Suleiman, according to Al-Jadid television.
It said the investigation committee confirmed that Hizbullah was willing to
cooperate with the international tribunal "which it welcomes in its southern
suburbs bastion in order to find the truth." STL prosecutor's spokeswoman Radhia
Achouri has said that the investigation committee was "undertaking an actual 3D
modeling of the Hariri crime scene to reconstruct the scene and whatever
happened there using digital scanning techniques." A U.N. tribunal based in The
Hague was set up by a Security Council resolution in 2007 to prosecute suspects
in the assassination of Hariri, killed in a massive bomb explosion at the
seaside Saint George Hotel February 14, 2005. Achouri said the filming would be
finalized within 10 days but denied it was linked to recent progress in the
investigation. "It is happening now because it is possible and has nothing to do
with the actual progress of the investigation for the time being," she said. "It
was an issue of establishing the need. We deemed it necessary and can now afford
to do it physically and in terms of resources," Achouri added. Members of the
U.N. team, wearing identity cards around their necks, were seen filming and
taking photographs of the assassination site. Before the STL was set up, a U.N.
commission of inquiry said it had found evidence to implicate Syrian and
Lebanese intelligence services in the Hariri murder, but there are currently no
suspects in custody. The murder has widely blamed on Syria. Damascus, however,
denied any involvement. Beirut, 24 Mar 10, 07:54
Fayyad: Hizbullah Not Concerned by Media Tribunal Leaks
Naharnet/Loyalty to the Resistance MP Ali Fayyad said Wednesday that Hizbullah
was not concerned by media leaks targeting Hizbullah. He was referring to press
reports that said the Special Tribunal for Lebanon requested to summon six
Hizbullah members to hearing. Al-Jadid TV, which carried the report, said
Wednesday that among those requested to be summoned were Abdul Majid Ghamloush,
al-Hajj Salim, Mustafa Badreddine and Qassem Suleiman. Citing sources close to
the STL, al-Jadid said the investigation committee confirmed that Hizbullah was
willing to cooperate with the international tribunal "which it welcomes in its
southern suburbs bastion in order to find the truth." "Hizbullah will make a
stance regarding this issue in due time," Fayyad told al-Jadid TV Wednesday.
Turning to President Michel Suleiman, Fayyad said Hizbullah, too, is not
involved in the campaign against the President.
Beirut, 24 Mar 10, 13:17
Syria enters Israeli-Lebanon fracas
Published: March. 24, 2010
ArticlePhotosListenComments.Share BEIRUT
, Lebanon, March 24 (UPI) -- Damascus stands by its partners in Beirut as they
struggle to control the lingering threat from Israel, the Syrian ambassador to
Lebanon said in Beirut.
Bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria are on the mend following years of
tensions reaching back to the Lebanese 1975-90 civil war. The sides exchanged
ambassadors in 2009.
Ali Abdel Karim Ali, the Syrian envoy to Damascus, told Lebanese President
Michel Suleiman that Damascus supported Lebanon in its efforts to deter Israeli
threats, Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reports.
"This support is also in the interest of Lebanon's unity and sovereignty," he
added.
The United Nations called on Israel and Lebanon to do more to back a 2006
cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel. Israel is in breach of the
agreement because of repeated military flights over Lebanese airspace. Lebanon,
for its part, hasn't done enough to control Hezbollah's weapons, the United
Nations said.
The Syrian envoy said Damascus was reviewing measures to build up is "army and
economic strength to face any future challenges," the Daily Star added.
Syria Shows Support for Lebanon, Suleiman Explains Points of Difference
Naharnet/A visit by Syrian ambassador to Beirut Ali Abdul Karim to Baabda Palace
on Tuesday was significant in terms of extending Syrian President Bashar Assad's
support for his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman as well as clearing the
points of difference that were said to have stirred controversy.
The daily Al-Akhbar on Wednesday said the visit was neither one of protocol, nor
part of the ambassador's periodic visits to Baabda.
It said Suleiman heard assurances that" Syria is not involved in any campaign
against the President, and that the Syrian leadership, in the event it has
anything to say, would say it directly and not via mediators."
Karim, according to Al-Akhbar, conveyed Syria's point of view "which sees the
presidency in Lebanon as a basis for stability, particularly regarding sensitive
issues such as the resistance."
It said Suleiman "elaborately" explained his point of view towards many issues
that were seen by some as reason for the friction with Damascus."
Al-Akhbar said Suleiman briefed Karim on the draft text that had been prepared
at Baabda Palace ahead of the new round of national talks which took place March
9. Suleiman told Karim that the words "army, people and the resistance" were
mentioned in the draft statement.
He said it was Former PM Fouad Saniora and the majority March 14 forces that
asked that the word "resistance" be deleted.
Karim on Tuesday conveyed a "message of support" from Syrian President Bashar
Assad to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman,
A statement issued by the President's office said Karim conveyed a "message of
support" from Assad to Suleiman.
It said Suleiman discussed with Ali "issues of bilateral concern and ongoing
cooperation between the two countries at all levels and in all fields."
The diplomat also delivered "Syrian support for the presidency and
constitutional institutions," the statement said, adding that the Assad regime
also announced support for Lebanon against Israeli threats.Syria's move came at
a time when Suleiman was a target of a political campaign, particularly from
Tawheed movement leader Wiam Wahab who deemed the President unfit to govern and
called for his resignation. Beirut, 24 Mar 10,
Obama and Netanyahu End Closed-Door ’Give and Take’ Meeting
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Arutz Sheva
U.S. President Barack Obama met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu twice
behind closed doors in the White House Tuesday evening, at virtually the same
time Jerusalem announced final approval for another building project in united
Jerusalem. It was the second time in less than a month that the Prime Minister
met with American leaders at the same time that Israeli officials issued a
statement about construction for Jews in parts of Jerusalem that the United
States does not recognize as being under Israeli sovereignty. Unlike the
previous public anger by American officials, no comments were made about the
announcement, nor were substantive reports issued about the subjects that the
two leaders discussed.
The meeting also coincided with another spate of Arab stoning attacks on Jews in
Judea and Samaria with the intention of causing fatal accidents. Neither the
United States nor Israel referred to the continuing attacks, which the
Palestinian Authority is committed to halt, along with all other violence and
incitement against the Jewish State.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told the media that the meeting
involved “give and take” with the intention to encourage talks between the
Palestinian Authority and Israel on the PA’s conditions for becoming an
independent country.
He told reporters, “We’re not putting any preconditions on this. The Israeli
government has a policy, but we also have a point of view that Jerusalem is a
final status issue.”
Iran presumably was on the discussion agenda, but there was no official
confirmation.
Eric Cantor (pictured), the Republican party’s sole Jewish member in the House
of Representatives, criticized U.S. President Barack Obama for missing an
opportunity to hold a press conference and put an end to the public spat between
the two allies. It has escalated since President Obama’s “reaching out to
Muslim” speech last June and reached a peak earlier this month when U.S. Vice
President Joe Biden visited Israel at the same time the Jerusalem area planning
committee authorized advancement in the lengthy bureaucratic process for 1,600
new residential units for Jews in the Jewish neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.
This time, just as Prime Minister Netanyahu was about to meet the President,
Israeli officials announced final authorization for the previously-approved
project for 20 housing units at the government owned Shepherd’s Hotel. The site
is the former office of HItler's Arab ally, Haj Amin al Husseini.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear during his visit to the United States,
highlighted by a speech to American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC),
that the PA “demands for sovereignty over all of what it calls “eastern
Jerusalem” are not up for discussion.
The U.S. government, most vocally through U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, has demanded that Israel stop all building for Jews in the areas, which
also include parts of southern and northern Jerusalem where 300,000 Jews live,
almost all of them in totally Jewish neighborhoods.
The outcome of the visit so far is “agreeing to disagree.” Prime Minister
Netanyahu has made another concession by agreeing that both Israel and the
Palestinian Authority can bring up all issues for discussion, meaning the status
of Jerusalem and the Arab demands for the immigration of Arabs claiming ancestry
in Israel.
The diplomatic ball now is in the court of the Palestinian Authority, which so
far has not yet decided whether to resume American-mediated talks.
Clinton on Arab Incitement: Ignorance or a Lie?
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Arutz Sheva
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech to American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC) this week incorrectly blamed Hamas, instead of the
Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, for inciting violence by praising terrorists.
Her brief comments on incitement referred to the newly-renamed Dalal Mughrabi
Square in Ramallah, headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. PA Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas told Arab media in January, “Of course we want to name a square
after” Mughrabi, who carried out the 1978 Coastal Road massacre in which 37
Israelis were murdered and dozens of others were wounded. She was killed during
the attack.
Either intentionally or out of ignorance, Secretary Clinton stated, “When a
Hamas-controlled municipality glorifies violence and renames a square after a
terrorist who murdered innocent Israelis, it insults the families on both sides
who have lost loved ones over the years in this conflict.”
In her speech, she also complimented Abbas, telling her audience, “We commend
the government of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad for the reforms
they've undertaken to strengthen law and order, and the progress that they've
made in improving the quality of life in the West Bank. But we encourage them to
redouble their efforts to put an end to incitement and violence.”Contradicting
Secretary Clinton’s blaming Hamas for the renaming of the Square in honor of
Mughrabi, the Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) has documented the continuous
veneration of the woman terrorist by Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in the
past two years.
It documented five references where Abbas personally glorified Mughrabi and 10
other examples where Fatah and other PA leaders praised her mass murder of
Israelis.
Besides Abbas’ comment to the Arabic-language Al Hayat newspaper, he sponsored a
celebration of her birthday in late December, as reported by the
Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority television station. Abbas’ office also
funded the Mughrabi computer center, where its dedication last May was attended
by one of his advisors. He also sent his secretary general, Tayeb Abd al-Rahim,
to speak in his name earlier this month, calling Mughrabi the “bridge over which
we pass on the way to our freedom,” according to PMW.
Abbas also sponsored high school graduation ceremonies in 2008 in honor of the
terrorist, where his representative “reviewed the heroic life of the Shahida
[martyr]."
Although Secretary Clinton blamed Hamas for praising Mughrabi, PMW cited other
examples showing that Fatah, led by Abbas, and the Fatah-led PA lauded Mughrabi.
Abbas’ Minister of Culture Siham Barghouti earlier this year defended naming the
square after her, declaring that "honoring them [the Martyrs] this way is the
least we can give them, and this is our right."
The square was dedicated two weeks ago, on the same day that U.S. Vice President
Joe Biden was visiting Israel. Abbas had canceled the ceremony because of the
timing, but the Fatah youth movement decided to stage its own ceremony that
night.
That same day, PA television praised the Coastal Road Massacre, calling the
attack "a glorious chapter in the history of the Palestinian people."
The day after the square was named and when Vice President Biden already was in
the air on his return to Washington, Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq
Tirawi said at a second dedication of the square, "We shall not submit to any
threats, and we are here today to celebrate our history and our battle in naming
the square after Mughrabi."
Fatah also held a summer camp in 2008 named for Mughrabi "out of honor and
admiration for the Shahida.”
Britain Warns Citizens on Traveling to Israel
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Arutz Sheva
Britain dealt a potentially damaging blow to Israel’s tourism industry Wednesday
by warning its citizens that traveling to the Jewish State may lead to their
passports details being "captured" for “improper uses.”France also is conducting
a probe into the alleged forgery of French passports. "Further investigation has
revealed that these four passports were actually false, as the photos did not
correspond to the names appearing in each document," a statement by the French
prosecutor said.
The British warning follows Britain’s expulsion of an unnamed senior Israeli
diplomat from Britain, a retaliatory move for Israel’s allegedly cloning 12
British passports that were used by a counter terrorist team that assassinated
Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in January. The Mossad has widely
been considered responsible for the highly sophisticated operation. Israel has
not denied or confirmed participation in the elimination of the terrorist, but
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Tuesday that there are "compelling
reasons" to believe Israel was behind it. Miliband said the passports had been
copied from "genuine British passports" in a "highly sophisticated operation,"
indicating that a state intelligence service was responsible. He charged that
that a state inquiry concluded there was “circumstantial evidence of Israeli
involvement in the fraudulent use of British passports.”
The British government advised citizens, "This has raised the possibility that
your passport details could be captured for improper uses while your passport is
out of your control. The risk applies in particular to passports without
biometric security features. We recommend that you only hand your passport over
to third parties, including Israeli officials, when absolutely necessary."Israel
has a stated policy on security matters of neither confirming nor denying
involvement.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman complained to Britain that no evidence has
been presented that points to Israel's involvement in the affair” and added, “We
regret the British decision."
Aoun: We Won't Accept Keeping Beirut as 1 Electorate, I'm About to Evaluate
President's Performance
Naharnet/Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday stressed that
he will not accept keeping Beirut as one electorate in the upcoming municipal
elections, adding that he is about to evaluate President Michel Suleiman's
performance "in both the previous and coming stages."
"All ministers agreed on the municipal electoral law and now it is being
slaughtered by the parliamentary committees. We don't know if they'll bury it in
the general assembly or drop it due to end of deadline," Aoun said after the
weekly meeting of the Change and Reform bloc in Rabiyeh.
"Those who want to reach municipal elections under the current law are seeking
to manipulate the political map in Lebanon and the story is more dangerous than
they imagine," Aoun added.
"We have made a concession by abandoning our demand to divide Beirut because of
proportional representation, so are they fooling us?"
As to Lebanon's participation in Libya's Arab summit, Aoun called for a unified
national stance on Lebanese-Libyan relations "which doesn't change seasonally."
On the other hand, Aoun stressed that the state budget plan should not be
delayed by the government, warning that the delay has "trespassed the red line."
"State budget is the only act that allows the parliament to supervise the
performance of the cabinet," he added.
Answering a question, Aoun stressed that "there's no campaign against the
president."
"One of the former ministers made a statement from Rabiyeh and (FPM-affiliated)
OTV network denied our connection with that statement in the evening, but the
excessive circulation of the story turned it into a campaign and I believe that
sometimes we shouldn't respond to things so that we don't blow them out of
proportion," Aoun added. Beirut, 23 Mar 10, 19:35
Iran emerges from Iraq elections a winner
Hussain Abdul-Hussain, March 24, 2010
Now Lebanon/
With 95 percent of the votes counted, Iraqis do not yet know who their next
prime minister is. However, it is becoming increasingly certain that while the
chances of lawmaker Ayad Allawi winning are slim, incumbent Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki or someone from his coalition, most probably Oil Minister Hussein
Shahrastani, will take the position.
Since before the elections, the major Iraqi and regional players were prepared
for four scenarios.
First, Maliki was hoping that he would win a parliamentary bloc big enough to
allow him to dictate the formation of a coalition of junior partners and invite
his opponents to take it or leave it. Maliki’s electoral performance was strong,
but not sweeping, and he saw his plans scrapped as the count proceeded.
Meanwhile, Allawi was hoping that his Iraqiya ticket would come out on top, and
was planning on replacing Maliki after accusing him of becoming an autocrat. But
in order to isolate Maliki, Allawi needed partners to form a coalition, which in
Iraq is easier said than done.
Even if the United States prevails on its Kurdish allies to iron out their
differences with the Sunnis over the establishment of a federal state and the
fate of Kirkuk, Allawi, the Kurds and other smaller blocs can barely obtain the
163 seats necessary to rule without one of the two other major Shia blocs,
Maliki’s State of Law and the Iraqi National Alliance (INA).
Allawi realized this shortfall and tried to lure the INA to join a cabinet under
his leadership, but it does not look like Iran is interested in giving away the
premiership to Allawi, the Shia figurehead of a Sunni coalition.
Short of a drastic turn of events, Allawi has slim chances of becoming prime
minister.
In the meantime, the INA and Iran were hoping for a landslide win with Kurdish
help. At the very least, they wanted to keep Maliki – or anyone from his Shia
alliance – in power in order to keep the Sunnis and Allawi at bay.
The United States, on the other hand, has been indifferent over whether Maliki
or Allawi forms the cabinet, as long as INA lawmakers – such as Jamal Jaafar,
who is believed to be a top advisor to General Qassem Suleimani, Commander of
the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Brigade – stay out of power.
For Washington, an ideal coalition would include Maliki, Allawi and the Kurds
and would enjoy a wide majority in parliament as it represents the country’s
three main blocs, the Shia, Sunnis and Kurds.
But squeezing rivals Maliki and Allawi into one coalition would be almost
impossible, especially given that both of them aspire to become prime minister.
So as the Maliki, Allawi and American scenarios prove to be unlikely, it is Iran
that emerges as the winner.
Maliki’s State of Law bloc and the INA have already started talks to form a
coalition under the banner of Shia empowerment and containment of the surge of
Sunni power with Allawi’s strong electoral performance.
The Kurds are expected to join the Maliki-INA alliance, and the three blocs look
like they are on their way to rule without the Sunnis.
Hurdles, however, remain in the way of an agreement between Maliki and the INA,
including the INA’s demands that the incumbent PM be sidelined in favor of one
of his lieutenants, most probably Shahrastani.
But if Maliki and his coalition stand their ground and insist that Maliki retain
his job, the INA may yield out of fear that Allawi and the Sunnis would exploit
such division between the two Shia blocs.
Should the INA allow Maliki or anyone from his coalition to become prime
minister, the State of Law will be politically indebted to the INA and Iran.
Iran will thus emerge as the biggest winner from the Iraqi elections. Such a
victory could have been avoided had Allawi, along with his domestic and regional
Sunni backers, realized that if squeezed, Maliki’s only fallback plan would be
Iran and its Iraqi allies.
Over the past two years, Maliki has tried to style himself as an independent
national force. He reached out to neighboring Sunni leaders, who shut him out,
accusing him of being an Iranian puppet.
Now too weak to form a cabinet on his own, and kept at arm’s length from
domestic and Sunni regional powers, Maliki will be forced to reconnect with his
former Shia partners and Iran.
Iran has managed yet again to defeat the United States and its regional Arab
partners, this time not through militia power and bullying like in Lebanon, but
by using skillful politics and following a long-term vision, the two things that
anti-Iran powers in the region and around the world have so far seemed unable to
master.
*Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a visiting fellow at Chatham House and a correspondent
for Al-Rai newspaper
Michel Aoun
March 24, 2010
On March 23, the Lebanese National News Agency carried the following report:
The Change and Reform Bloc held its weekly meeting at the home of General Michel
Aoun in Rabieh. Following the meeting, General Aoun stated...: “We had many
issues on today’s agenda and we firstly tackled the municipal elections issue.
This dossier is now on the table in a random way since the law was put forward
before parliament after seven Cabinet sessions, while it is known that all the
parties are represented in the Cabinet and had all agreed on a certain formula
which they approved in the Council of Ministers. Today, they are toppling this
formula in the committees while claiming they do not have time [to implement
it], as though they were absent during the discussion in the Cabinet and as
though the parties were not present and their representatives were not there.
This is odd and condemnable, especially since the electoral law that was
ratified in 2008, was discussed for four years in the context of a national
committee composed of the different parties, was presented to parliament and
approved by the administration and justice committee and was then slaughtered.
By whom? By the general assembly. We do not understand how the parties presented
it and approved it and how it was slaughtered in the general assembly by these
same parties?…
“At the time, you all saw how we were alone raising our hands while the law was
being toppled one article after the other. The same thing is being seen today.
The law was approved by the different ministers representing all the parties and
it is now being slaughtered by the committees... This is unacceptable. They want
the elections to be staged based on the old law by wasting time, which means
that they are trying to redraw the political map in Lebanon. There are many ways
for them to ratify the reforms that were agreed upon and the issue is much more
dangerous than they imagine. Therefore, enough playing around because we do not
want to see the repetition of what they did during the preparations for the
parliamentary elections when they amended an article in the law to allow some
heads of municipalities to run in the latter elections... We have become a
retail shop, tailoring laws to fit the person we want. Therefore, we hope they
will not proceed down that same path because its consequences will be extremely
dangerous.
“The second issue we discussed was that of Libya and Lebanon’s participation in
the presidents’ meeting. We hope, demand and insist. Now we are demanding, next
time we will insist and afterwards we will have another position. There should
be a clear and announced national stand in regard to our relations with Libya
once and for all. There should be no outbidding and slander with each season and
in regard to each cause. Let them define Libya’s status for the Lebanese
government so that the people know how they should proceed. Is there a
boycotting of Libya? Is there a decision not to participate in any conference
organized by Libya? Let them say it. Let them say everything they want once and
for all so that we do not see the issuance of speeches in regard to a certain
issue for 15 to 20 days each and every time. We also looked into the issue of
optional healthcare, since the harm caused to the people has reached the level
of a crime. The people have paid money to be taken care of on the medical level
but the Health Ministry is not recognizing them and the healthcare authority is
not giving them what they want. However, whenever they are unable to pay on
time, the fines begin accumulating. This is a perverted situation in which the
citizens are being blackmail. I do not want to say there is theft, but at the
very least a certain level of irresponsibility in dealing with the citizens,
their possessions and money...
“There is also the issue of the teachers who were promised a raise in exchange
for five additional hours of service. However, after the reconsideration of the
wages, they continued to offer the same service while they saw their salaries
reduced by 60%. This did not happen in any other employment sector and the
salaries of these teachers should not be lowered. They should at least be kept
as they were if they are not raised… We also tackled the issue of the budget and
we wonder why was it delayed? Why has it not yet been ratified? It cannot be
delayed due to the reasons they are putting forward because when questions were
asked about certain issues, there were no answers. Their answers came
afterwards. There are no discussions within the Cabinet or the parliament in
regard to the budget and every time we hear promises about these discussions
taking place “tomorrow” or “next week.” The year will end while we still have no
budget... Because we gave them time, they thought we were playing along in the
game. We will not proceed with the game and let them all know, whether in the
Cabinet or in all the authorities with which we are collaborating that we will
not do that. We are giving time to see the resolution of the problem and are
cooperating for that purpose and to avoid complicating things. So let no one
think we can be dealt with easily...”