LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِAugust
18/2010
Bible Of
the Day
Ecclesiastes 3/1-11: "For everything there is a
season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time
to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to
kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time
to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to
cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a
time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to
keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep
silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for
war, and a time for peace.
Free Opinions, Releases,
letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Obama and the mosque/By: Professor
Eytan Gilboa/August
17/10
Our next war crime/Failure to
prevent next war with Syria is a crime/By: Eyal Megged/August
17/10
Op-ed: Failure to prevent next war with Syria is a crime; Israel must talk to
Assad now
A House of Worship or a Symbol of
Destruction?/By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid/August
17/10
Conspiracy and Justice in
Lebanon/By Hussein Shobokshi/August
17/10
Regarding What Nasrallah Said/By
Diana Mukkaled/August
17/10
STL/Holding our nerve/Now Lebanon/August
17/10
Latest News
Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for August 17/10
John Bolton:
One Week Left to Attack
Iran/Agencies/Ynetnews
Mirza
Receives from Safa Documents Requested by Bellemare/Naharnet
Geagea Rules Out Cabinet Changes,
Says Such Assumptions Aim at 'Psychological Pressure'/Naharnet
Hariri, Berri Exchange Accusations
over Budget /Naharnet
Army and UNIFIL on Alert at Fatima
Gate over Israeli Request to Cut Down 5 Trees/Naharnet
New Israeli Wartime
Airspace Code to Avoid Hizbullah Rockets/Naharnet
Lebanon sentences two to
death for spying for Israel/Now Lebanon
Lebanon grants Palestinian
refugees right to work/AP
Geagea welcomes parliament’s
approval of Palestinian rights/Now Lebanon
Lebanon Parliament Approves Law
for Offshore Oil, Natural Gas Exploration/Bloomberg
Maronite
Bishops warn against selling
foreigners land/Daily Star
Iran concerned about improved Syria-Saudi ties/Ynetnews
Moderate Muslims needs to speak out/the Australian
(blog)
US ME policy needs a reset/Canada Free Press
Israel gives Obama reason to worry/Asia Times
Online
Hariri,
Berri Exchange Accusations over Budget/Naharnet
USA Treasury Delegation in
Beirut to Verify Lebanon's Commitment to Iran Sanctions/Naharnet
Hariri, Berri Talks Bring
Views Closer Amid 'Positive Meeting' with Hizbullah/Naharnet
Efforts Underway to Keep
Tribunal Differences Away from Cabinet/Naharnet
No Initiative by Suleiman
to Impose Political Calm/Naharnet
U.S.: We Don't Want Vacuum
in Lebanon/Naharnet
Change and Reform bloc
leader MP Michel Aoun speaks following his bloc’s Tuesday meeting/Now Lebanon
Ziad al-Shahabi Denies
Brother Became Fatah al-Islam Leader/Naharnet
Hariri: Tolerance,
Moderation Must Remain Our Way to Solve Disputes; Dialogue Can't Go with Treason
Accusations/Naharnet
Asarta Holds Talks with
Berri, Hariri on Adeisseh Clash Probe, Implementation of 1701/Naharnet
Kataeb Urges Government to
Reiterate Previous Stances on STL/Naharnet
Bolton:
Israel has few days to strike Iran
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3938459,00.html
Former American envoy to UN says Israel must attack Bushehr plant before Russian
shipment of nuclear fuel arrives; However, Bolton skeptical Israel will strike,
says 'I'm afraid that they've lost this opportunity'
AFP Published: 08.17.10, 18:09 / Israel News
Israel has days to launch a military strike against Iran's Bushehr nuclear
facility and stop Tehran from acquiring a functioning atomic plant, a former US
envoy to the UN has said.
Iran is to bring online its first nuclear power reactor, built with Russia's
help, on August 21, when a shipment of nuclear fuel will be loaded into the
plant's core.
Difficult Choices
Obama, Erdogan recently spoke about Iran, flotilla raid, but rejects report
saying US leader issued warning regarding purchase of American-made weapons
At that point, John Bolton warned Monday, it will be too late for Israel to
launch a military strike against the facility because any attack would spread
radiation and affect Iranian civilians.
"Once that uranium, once those fuel rods are very close to the reactor,
certainly once they're in the reactor, attacking it means a release of
radiation, no question about it," Bolton told Fox Business Network.
If Israel is going to attack Bushehr it has to do it in the next few days, he
said.
"Absent an Israeli strike, Bolton said, "Iran will achieve something that no
other opponent of Israel, no other enemy of the United States in the Middle East
really has and that is a functioning nuclear reactor."
But when asked whether he expected Israel to actually launch strikes against
Iran in the coming days, Bolton was skeptical.
"I don't think so, I'm afraid that they've lost this opportunity," he said.
The controversial former envoy to the United Nations criticized Russia's role in
the development of the plant, saying "the Russians are, as they often do,
playing both sides against the middle."
"The idea of being able to stick a thumb in America's eye always figures
prominently in Moscow," he added.
More security at Bushehr
Meanwhile, Iran dismissed the possibilities of such an attack from its archfoes.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that "these threats
of attacks had become repetitive and lost their meaning."
"According to international law, installations which have real fuel cannot be
attacked because of the humanitarian consequences," he told reporters at a news
conference in Tehran.
Iranian officials say Iran has stepped up defensive measures at the Bushehr
plant to protect it from any attacks.
Russia has been building the Bushehr plant since the mid-1990s but the project
was marred by delays, and the issue is hugely sensitive amid Tehran's standoff
with the West and Israel over its nuclear ambitions.
The UN Security Council hit Tehran with a fourth set of sanctions on June 9 over
its nuclear programme, and the United States and European Union followed up with
tougher punitive measures targeting Iran's banking and energy sectors.
The Bushehr project was first launched by the late shah in the 1970s using
contractors from German firm Siemens. But it was shelved when he was deposed in
the 1979 Islamic revolution.
It was revived after the death of revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini in 1989, as Iran's new supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his first
president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, backed the project.
In 1995, Iran won the support of Russia which agreed to finish building the
plant and fuel it.
Bishops warn against selling foreigners land
By Antoine Amrieh /Daily Star
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
BEIRUT: A recital was held Monday to mark the conclusion of the Bishops Garden’s
annual activities, while masses to celebrate Assumption Day were held over the
weekend, with some bishops warning against the selling of land to foreigners.
The recital, held at the Maronite patriarch’s summer residence in Diman, was
organized by Bsharri’s municipal union and performed by Qadisha’s orchestra. The
event was attended by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir along with a
number of bishops, local residents and expatriates. Sfeir delivered a speech in
which he thanked Qadisha’s municipal union for their annual recital that they
hold in honor of Lebanese expatriates. He labeled the emigration of expatriates
as a “real epic.” On Saturday, Sfeir headed a mass celebrating Assumption day in
Saydet Hanneh church in Hasroun. The ceremony was attended by Bsharri MPs
Streeda Geagea and Elie Keyrouz along with a number of local mukhtars and
mayors. Sfeir delivered a sermon in which he focused on the meanings of the
Assumption Day. Following the mass, Sfeir attended a dinner banquet held by head
of Engineer’s syndicate in the north Joseph Ishak in Sfeir’s honor. The dinner
was held at Ishak’s house. Meanwhile, Christians held separate masses in other
parts of the country, including the southern district of Bint Jbeil and Zghorta
in the north. In the village of Joun in Iqleem al-Kharoub, Sidon and Deir al-Qamar
bishop for Roman Catholics Elie Haddad led prayers in the Church of Lady. Haddad
stressed coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the village, urging
Christians not to sell their land. “You Christians do not sell your land, and
you Muslims don’t tempt Christians to sell their land by offering them money
worth five times the price of their land,” he said. – Antoine Amrieh
A House of Worship or a Symbol
of Destruction?
16/08/2010
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid/Asharq alawsat
US President Barack Obama adopted a difficult position when he supported the
building of a mosque near ground zero, where 3,000 US citizens died at the hands
of Al-Qaeda terrorists on 11 September 2001.
Despite the fact that the president adopted the correct stance in principle,
i.e. the principle of freedom of worship, in my opinion he adopted an
unnecessary and unimportant stance, even as far as Muslims are concerned. The
mosque is not an issue for Muslims, and they are not bothered by its
construction.
This reminds us of another principled stance Obama took when he insisted on
putting the Guantanamo prisoners accused of belonging to Al-Qaeda on trial
before civilian courts, and on closing down the military prison. It is true that
this stance deserves appreciation. However, the fact is that he fought a battle
that does not concern Muslims across the world, because there are tens of
thousands of Muslims - similar to those accused of extremism - who are
imprisoned in worse conditions in Muslim countries.
Muslims do not aspire for a mosque next to the 11 September cemetery, and are
not bothered with Bin Ladin's cook being put on trial in a civilian court.
Muslims have issues that encroach upon the destinies of nations; these issues
are the cause of isolation and calamity, such as the establishment of the State
of Palestine. For Obama to focus his energy and efforts, and fight for the
establishment of peace in the Middle East is more important and more valuable
than a mosque in New York.
The fact is that building a mosque next to the site of the World Trade Center
Twin Towers, which were destroyed during the 11 September attacks, is a strange
story. This is because the mosque is not an issue for Muslims, and they have not
heard of it until the shouting became loud between the supporters and the
objectors, which is mostly an argument between non-Muslim US citizens!
Neither did the Muslims ask for a single building, nor do the angry Muslims want
the mosque. This is one of the few times when the two opposing sides are in
agreement. Nevertheless, the dispute has escalated, and has reached the front
pages of the press and the major television programs, demonstrations have been
staged in the streets, and large posters have been hung on buses roaming the
streets of New York calling for preventing the building of the mosque and
reminding the people of the 11 September crime. It really is a strange battle!
I cannot imagine that Muslims want a mosque on this particular site, because it
will be turned into an arena for promoters of hatred, and a symbol of those who
committed the crime. At the same time, there are no practicing Muslims in the
district who need a place of worship, because it is indeed a commercial
district. Is there a side that is committed to this mosque? The fact is that in
the news reports there are names linked to this project that costs 100 million
dollars!
The sides enthusiastic for building the mosque might be building companies,
architect houses, or politicized groups that want suitable investments?! I do
not know whether the building applicant wants a mosque whose aim is
reconciliation, or he is an investor who wants quick profits. This is because
the idea of the mosque specifically next to the destruction is not at all a
clever deed. The last thing Muslims want today is to build just a religious
center out of defiance to the others, or a symbolic mosque that people visit as
a museum next to a cemetery.
What the US citizens do not understand is that the battle against the 11
September terrorists is a Muslim battle, and not theirs, and this battle still
is ablaze in more than 20 Muslim countries. Some Muslims will consider that
building a mosque on this site immortalizes and commemorates what was done by
the terrorists who committed their crime in the name of Islam. I do not think
that the majority of Muslims want to build a symbol or a worship place that
tomorrow might become a place about which the terrorists and their Muslim
followers boast, and which will become a shrine for Islam haters whose aim is to
turn the public opinion against Islam. This is what has started to happen now;
they claim that there is a mosque being built over the corpses of 3,000 killed
US citizens, who were buried alive by people chanting God is great, which is the
same call that will be heard from the mosque.
It is the wrong battle, because originally there was no mosque in order to
rebuild it, and there are no practicing Muslims who want a place in which to
worship.
Conspiracy and Justice in Lebanon
15/08/2010/Asharq alawsat
By Hussein Shobokshi
As the anniversary of 9/11 – the terrorist attacks that struck New York and
Washington in 2001 – approaches, publishing houses in the west are releasing
books and DVDs that include analysis and interpretation of the events of 9/11
that highlight the evidence of a "conspiracy" or "inside job." This is an
attempt for 9/11 to be added to the "conspiracy files" that include the
assassination of JFK, the war in Iraq, and other events.
As for the Arab world, there was Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah's television
speech during which he put forward alleged "evidence and proof" of Israeli
involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
This is one of a series of Arab events that are surrounded by numerous
conspiracy theories, such as the death or suicide of Egyptian General Abdul
Hakim Amer, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, as well as the deaths of Iraqi Defense
Minister Adnan Khairallah, Queen Alia of Jordan, Egyptian Defense Minister Ahmed
Badawi, and former leader of southern Sudan John Garang; these figures all died
under mysterious circumstances and question marks and doubts remain over their
deaths.
It seems that the case of Rafik Hariri's assassination is destined to have the
same fate as these, especially in light of the rising voices in the region
calling for a political deal to take place to quell the turmoil, with the most
important part of any expected deal to be the expected charges against Hezbollah
to be dropped in return for the movement laying down its weapons. Such a deal
would see current Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, giving up his quest to
find out who was responsible for his father's death, granting a total amnesty,
and this will be a great challenge for him and an issue that must reconcile his
own personal pain with regards the loss of his father and the general interests
of Lebanon.
The finger of accusations, in the eyes of many of those observing and analyzing
what is happening, is pointing squarely at Hezbollah. There are witnesses and
evidence that strongly suggest that some members of Hezbollah who were acting
alone are responsible for this crime, especially in light of the assassination
of influential Hezbollah members who had connections and communication with
other foreign parties, the most prominent of which was Imad Mughniyeh, who was
assassinated in a car bomb under mysterious circumstances. A number of
conspiracy theories have been put forward with regards to Rafik Hariri's
assassination, with each party using evidence and their own interpretations to
build a comprehensive story that lies somewhere between defamation and
half-truth, while those who listen to such theories repeat them with such
conviction that they are used as a reference to explain what happened.
Creating conspiracy theories is an attractive prospect, as this allows the
people to be at ease, and strengthens their submissive and docile natures. Every
nation, culture and civilization possesses stories about mysterious events, and
nobody can confirm or deny the reality of what happened due to the absence of
comprehensive evidence. Hariri's assassination does not need to enter the smoke
and mirror world of conspiracy theories, for there are witnesses and evidence
that have been obtained, and these accused parties whose interests at the time
were served by his death, along with the fact that nobody can deny that Israel
is capable of carrying out a terrible crime such as this, and its black record
is filled with similar crimes in different places around the world and against
many innocents.
History will be the true judge of Hariri's assassinations, for the Lebanese
courts were unable to deal with this, while Lebanese security was unable to
carry out an independent role in this regard, which made it necessary for an
international body to investigate this in a direct and decisive manner. There
are strong attempts to push the issue of Hariri's assassination into the realm
of conspiracy theory, and this is a romantic and popular solution to a complex
and important issue. The coming days will see sparring between those who are
following this path of conspiracy theory, and those who want justice to be done,
with regards to Hariri's assassination. The greatest fear is that justice itself
will be killed and join Rafik Hariri.
Regarding What Nasrallah Said
15/08/2010/Asharq alawsat
By Diana Mukkaled
Some regarded the recent press conference held by Hezbollah Secretary General
Hassan Nasrallah to be a success. The criteria of success in this case is not
confirming or denying an accusation, but rather in preparing to deal with these
accusations.
In order not to be misunderstood, let me clarify that this press conference was
a success even before it started. This press conference was preceded by a media
campaign launched by a host of media outlets affiliated or loyal to Hezbollah
which leaked pictures, investigations, and confessions, all as a part of a
slogan that many founded attractive; Israel is the killer, Israel is responsible
for the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. We experienced several
weeks of a media propaganda campaign that made almost everybody feel that they
had to listen to what Nasrallah would say, and that their fate was closely
linked to this press conference. This is precisely the mood that Nasrallah
succeeded in creating.
Nasrallah prefaced his speech with several press interviews in which he
continually promised to reveal more next time, telling al-Manar satellite
television that "before 8 August is one thing, and what happens afterwards is
another." The fact that the streets of Beirut were empty when this press
conference was being broadcast, and that the media gave this special coverage,
is proof that the event was a success in grabbing the attention of the Lebanese
public and making them feel that the fate of the entire nation was hanging on
what Nasrallah was going to say.
However let us analyze some of the things that we saw and heard.
What Nasrallah described as "inconclusive evidence" is precisely the same
information that was published earlier by newspapers and media outlets
affiliated to Hezbollah. The press conference merely recycled the same news that
Hezbollah had previously leaked to the media, or to be more precise, to its own
media. Nasrallah repeated what we had already been informed of in order to
present his view and analysis of the Hariri assassination.
The conference, which included an unprecedented audio and visual presentation
with regards to previous Nasrallah press conferences, relied primarily on
journalistic expertise and capabilities rather than judicial or investigative
[expertise]. Al-Manar satellite television reporters exerted a lot of effort to
develop the photographs of the Israeli reconnaissance aircraft, and produce the
segments [of the presentation] that showed the confessions of [Israeli] agents,
with the Israeli flag being shown at the top of the screen.
Following the Nasrallah conference, newspapers revealed that more than 150 young
men and women affiliated to Hezbollah searched through archives and records for
the specific material that was utilized during this press conference.
Therefore it is not important here to confirm or deny what was put forward at
this press conference, for this is something entrusted to the international
tribunal, and until now we do not know what or when it will announce its final
ruling. It seems that we have become entrapped by these fiery speeches, and we
will continue to be affected by the leaks in the press as they have become the
backbone of our daily lives. Nasrallah concluded this press conference by saying
that he was providing data and evidence in order to open new horizons, but it
seems that these new horizons will be nothing more than another source for
leaks, speeches, and media talk, rather than giving us conclusive proof,
investigation, or confession.
Report: Treasury Delegation in Beirut to Verify Lebanon's Commitment to Iran
Sanctions
Naharnet/A U.S. delegation headed by Treasury Department Undersecretary Stuart
Levey is in Beirut to verify with Lebanese officials the country's commitment to
Security Council resolution 1929 on new sanctions against Iran. An Nahar daily
said the delegation is scheduled to meet with PM Saad Hariri on Tuesday and
Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Ambassador William Habib and other officials
the next day. The delegation will check how far Lebanese banks and companies are
abiding by the resolution, it said. Levey said Monday that Iranian tactics to
evade sanctions included repainting or renaming ships, falsifying shipping
documents and assigning vessel ownership to front companies outside Iran.The
Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran in June. The U.S.
and the European Union have also imposed sanctions of their own on Tehran. The
sanctions blacklist dozens of Iranian military, industrial and shipping
companies, tighten an arms embargo and provide for inspections of suspect
cargoes to and from Iran. Beirut, 17 Aug 10, 12:05
F-35s Might Not Reach Israel in Time to Stop Iran
by INN Staff /Arutz Sheva
Israel's announced approval for the purchase of 20 U.S. F-35 fighter planes has
raised questions this week among the country's defense analysts, who wonder if
the plane is the best solution for defending Israel against Iran. On Sunday,
Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the deal for the new plane, which is
supposed to significantly upgrade Israel's military capability, especially
needed in a time when the Iranian nuclear threat looms high. Barak confidently
declared that the F-35s "will give the Air Force the best capability in the
short and long range and allow Israel to maintain aerial superiority.”But a
report in the Chinese news agency Xinhua raises doubts regarding the price tag,
delivery date and effectiveness of the estimated $2.75 billion deal. Defense
commentator Yossi Melman told Xinhua that the planes, which could take more than
four years to be delivered and made operational in Israel, may arrive too late
to defend Israel against an Iranian attack. "When those planes will arrive, they
will have no use," said Melman. Yiftah Shapir, director of the Military Balance
Project at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv University
told the news agency that the $100 million price tag per jet might rise over the
next years to $150 million. He also opined that the F-35 was not as maneuverable
as the F-16. The F-35 is also reported to have a limited pay-load capability,
but it is known for it's top-level computer systems and its ability to reach an
enemy target undetected. That aspect would clearly be necessary in a strike on
Iran. "But does that mean this is the plane to stand up to the threats that
Israel faces? It's a difficult question that right now has no answers," said
Shapir.
Parliament Approves Law on Oil Excavation and Another on Granting Palestinians
Right to Work in Lebanon
Naharnet/Parliament adopted on Tuesday a law granting full employment rights to
the roughly 400,000 Palestinian refugees living in the country."Parliament
approved a bill lifting former restrictions on employment for Palestinian
refugees, who will now have the right to work in any field open to foreigners
with benefits including social security from their own special fund," a
high-ranking official told Agence France Presse.In addition, Parliament approved
the petroleum excavation law with some modifications proposed by MPs.Officials
said it paves the way for an auction on exploration rights. The law calls for
the establishment of a treasury and a committee to oversee exploration and
drilling off Lebanon. Ali Hamdan, an advisor to Speaker Nabih Berri, on Tuesday
told AFP he expected rights to be up for auction by the end of 2011. "This is
definitely a major cornerstone in Lebanon's oil policy ... and will help Lebanon
divide its reserves into blocks and eventually bring in tenders and start
looking into power-sharing agreements," he added. Norway-based Petroleum
Geo-Services this year announced it had explored Lebanese waters which contained
"valuable information" on potential offshore gas reserves in coordination with
the Lebanese energy and water ministry.
But U.S.-based Noble Energy has announced plans to begin drilling in the massive
Leviathan prospect, offshore Israel in the Rachel and Amit licenses, in the
fourth quarter of 2010.
Noble has also said it had discovered enough natural gas at the Israeli Tamar
and Dalit offshore fields to meet the needs of the Jewish state for years. The
news increased tensions between Lebanon and Israel, which do not have formal
maritime borders, and sparked an angry exchange of warnings between the two
governments. Hamdan said Lebanon planned to outline its own maritime borders and
submit them to the UN Security Council. Berri has warned Israel against laying
claim to his country's potential reserves, which he said was Lebanon's "best
bet" to pay off debts.(Naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 17 Aug 10, 16:40
Mirza Receives from Safa Documents Requested by Bellemare
Naharnet/Hizbullah on Tuesday surrendered data allegedly implicating Israel in
the murder of ex-premier Rafik Hariri to the Lebanese government, which in turn
gave it to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a source said. "Hizbullah official
Wafiq Safa today gave Lebanese Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza the data requested
by the prosecutor of the STL," the judicial source told Agence France Presse.
"The data has been transferred to the Beirut office of tribunal prosecutor
Daniel Bellemare," the source added. Hizbullah spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi
confirmed to AFP that his party had submitted "documents" to Lebanon's judiciary
after a meeting between Hizbullah officials and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son
of the slain ex-premier.
He would not give further details on the documents. Bellemare on Wednesday
called on Lebanese authorities to submit all material related to the murder in
the possession of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who claims his
arch-foe Israel was behind the February 14, 2005 bomb that killed Hariri and 22
others.
The request came days after Nasrallah produced several undated clips of aerial
views of several areas in Lebanon which he said were intercepted from unmanned
Israeli surveillance drones.
The clips included footage of the site of the Hariri assassination in Beirut,
shot several years before the murder. Nasrallah has warned against implicating
his party in the Hariri assassination, slamming the U.N. investigation as an
"Israeli project." The murder triggered an international outcry and led to
the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon in April 2005 after a deployment of
almost three decades. The killing has been widely blamed on Syria, but Damascus
has consistently denied involvement.(AFP) Beirut, 17 Aug 10, 15:53
Geagea Rules Out Cabinet Changes, Says Such Assumptions Aim at 'Psychological
Pressure'
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday ruled out the
possibility of any imminent cabinet changes, noting that any step in that
direction would mean torpedoing the current government which "has no
alternative."Geagea said that the timing of such assumptions aims at
"psychological pressure."On a separate note, the LF leader welcomed the step of
approving the law on granting civil rights to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon,
"despite its historical sensitivity to the Lebanese," lauding March 14 forces
for agreeing on "this unanimous suggestion after positive and logical
interaction and cooperation."Geagea ruled out the possibility of granting
Palestinian refugees the right to own property, calling the Lebanese government
to form a ministerial committee that would tour Arab and foreign countries "in a
bid to establish a fund that addresses the living conditions of the
Palestinians."
"Lebanon alone can't bear the burdens of the Palestinian plight in anticipation
of resuming the (peace) negotiations and reaching a final solution that allows
the return of the Palestinians to their homeland," Geagea added. Beirut, 17 Aug
10, 17:10
Egypt's Coptic Pope: Don't Confess Sins Over the Phone
Naharnet/The head of Egypt's Coptic church has urged his congregation to refrain
from confessing their sins over the phone, which could be tapped by the security
services, a newspaper reported Tuesday. "Beware not to admit your sins over the
telephone because all phone conversations are recorded by the state security
services," Pope Shenuda III was quoted as saying by the independent Al-Masri Al-Yawm
paper. "Otherwise you will have to go seek absolution in prison, from the
police, rather than from your local priest," the cleric told worshippers during
a sermon in Alexandria on Sunday, according to the report. According to the
paper, Shenuda III was referring to Copts who are traveling abroad and those who
have relocated to new addresses who often use the telephone to maintain contact
with their local parish priest. Two years ago the head of the Coptic church had
warned that a confession made on the Internet is not valid "because everyone can
see it and it is no longer secret."(AFP) Beirut, 17 Aug 10, 13:50
Holding our nerve
August 16, 2010
Now Lebanon
One week ago, Hezbollah once again tried to derail the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon (STL), the court formed to bring to justice the killers of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others on February 14, 2005, as well as the later
victims of political killings over the subsequent three years.
This time, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah presented “evidence” to
back up his party’s theory that Israel was the perpetrator of the crime. The
“proof” was wafer thin but it was the most serious attempt yet to undermine a
process that, while seeking to set a precedent in bringing to justice those who
believe that local hindrances can be resolved by wholesale political murder, has
the potential to nonetheless send shockwaves through Arab society if, as has
been widely speculated, Hezbollah members are to be indicted for their suspected
involvement in the crime.
But those who think that Lebanon has the option to abandon the tribunal by way
of some kind of internal arrangement should consider the consequences. If that
were to happen, especially given Lebanon’s fragile reputation in the
international community – its renewed ties with Damascus and the doubts
surrounding the primary allegiance of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) – then we
would truly be the laughing stock of the world and a fully paid-up member of the
pariah state club.
Therefore, there are several points we must remember amid the hysteria – for
hysteria it is – resulting from Monday’s press conference.
Point one: there is no set timetable for the STL, which follows investigative
protocols set by international law and not by external factors. We must remember
it was Nasrallah who announced the indictments would soon be handed down. The
Lebanese should take their lead from the STL, which has made no definitive
statement on any arraignments, and no one else.
Point two: STL Prosecutor General Daniel Bellemare is the only authority able to
investigate and issue an indictment. While he will surely consider Hezbollah’s
PowerPoint presentation with the greatest seriousness, he will not be swayed by
Nasrallah - or anyone else’s - theatrics.
Belle mare’s authority is crucial to the credibility of the tribunal, especially
as the STL’s opponents are seeking to muddy legal waters and shift the debate on
who killed Hariri by calling for an independent national committee to
investigate claims of Israeli involvement.
Point three: arguably the most important of all is that the STL was established,
not only to bring to justice the killers of Rafik Hariri and MP Basil Fleihan
and the 20 other innocent Lebanese who died on that fateful day in February
2005, but also those of subsequent victims of political murder: the writer Samir
Kassir, politicians George Hawi, Gebran Tueni, Pierre Gemayel, Walid Eido and
Antoine Ghanem, and security officials General Francois Hajj and Captain Wissam
Eid. Not only were they all committed to Lebanon’s sovereign aspirations in the
wake of the 2005 Independence Intifada, their killings were intended to
destabilize a Lebanon seeking to assert its regional autonomy.
This is why the Lebanese – its government and its people – must hold its nerve.
They must shake off the decades-old default setting that all evil automatically
emanates from Israel. They must accept international judicial process and place
their trust in those for whom delivering justice according to the rule of law is
an exact, disciplined and transparent process and ignore those who would seek to
influence by sleight of hand and intimidation.
That said, the STL should be more vocal in its denouncement of recent efforts to
undermine due legal process. Fatima al-Issawi, the spokesperson for the
tribunal, has reacted to Nasrallah’s Monday press conference, but a statement
from the office of the prosecutor general himself would have been more
appropriate given the sudden high stakes.
We must not forget that Lebanon is co-sponsoring and co-financing the tribunal
and therefore deserves some kind of transparency. If one were to pick holes in
the process to date, there has been an unhealthy culture of secrecy, one that
has succeeded in creating a “them and us” between itself and the Lebanese where
none need have existed.
The court is for all of Lebanon and all Lebanese. Greater efforts to involve –
maybe even educate the Lebanese in its aims and activities - would go a long way
to hit back at critics who have exploited the court’s bouts of silence to their
advantage. The Lebanese people, who have been pulled from pillar to post in
recent weeks, deserve to hear the voice of justice and reason.
Geagea welcomes parliament’s approval of Palestinian rights
August 17, 2010/ Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea welcomed the parliament’s
approval of the proposal to grant Palestinians in Lebanon certain rights,
according to a statement issued by Geagea’s press office. The parliament
ratified during its Tuesday session a draft proposal to grant Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon work permits and severance pay.
Geagea praised the March 14 alliance members’ serious and positive cooperation
on the matter, adding that all issues have solutions as long as they are
logically and calmly tackled.
“This law will not resolve the Palestinian humanitarian issues in Lebanon, and
the government cannot afford any burdens,” he said.
Additional encumbrances on the government might lead to negative consequences,
such as the naturalization of the Palestinians, he added.
Geagea denied the possibility of granting Palestinian refugees in Lebanon the
right to own property. He called on the Lebanese government to form a
ministerial commission tasked to tour Arab and Western countries to request
their help in resolving the Palestinians’ humanitarian issues. “Lebanon cannot
solve the Palestinian issue on its own,” the LF leader added.
“[The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East’s] (UNRWA) job has just started even if its budget does not allow it to
solve the [Palestinian refugee] camps’ medical and environmental matters. That
is why we call for forming a ministerial commission that can increase UNRWA’s
[budget],” Geagea said.
UNRWA spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna warned on Monday that the UN agency is
running an $84 million deficit.
-NOW Lebanon
Lebanon sentences two to death for spying for Israel
August 17, 2010 /A Lebanese military court on Tuesday sentenced two citizens to
death on charges of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence servie, an unnamed
judicial source told AFP.
"Military Court [Presiding Judge] Nizar Khalil sentenced Osama Mohammed Ali
Berri, from the southern town of Tebnin, to death for contacting Israeli
intelligence and providing information that facilitated Israeli attacks on
Lebanon," the source said. Khalil also sentenced Antoine Salim Atmeh to death
"for entering Israel, working with Israeli intelligence and convincing Berri to
collaborate with Israel," the source added. Berri is in custody, but Atmeh
remains at large and was sentenced in absentia. More than 100 people have been
arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel since April 2009, including members
of the security forces and telecom employees. Tuesday's sentence brings to five
the number of men sentenced to death since 2009, including one found guilty of
aiding Israel during its devastating 2006 July War with Hezbollah.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun speaks following his bloc’s Tuesday
meeting
August 17, 2010 /-What happened today [during the parliamentary session] was an
incident, and this happened before. The text [as approved today] was not
approved [during the Parliamentary] Administration and Justice Commission’s
[meeting]. The law was amended from what was approved in the [Parliamentary]
Administration and Justice Commission. There is supposed to be [integrity]
imposed by moral [principles]. -No one has the right to manipulate the law’s
text and reveal changes in the last minute. Such violations have occurred
before. There were also violations when responding to the MPs’ questions. There
must be credibility in order to know whom to deal with. -Some responses to the
MPs’ questions are scandals. There must be credibility and professional ethics.
-A special fund for the Lebanese army [can be opened] by the cabinet. Even a
minister in his ministry cannot open a fund. There is no need for [all of this];
donations cannot arm the army.
Wiam Wahhab
August 16, 2010
On August 15, the Lebanese National News Agency carried the following report:
The head of the Tawhid Movement, Wiam Wahhab, told New TV that international
Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare was duping people by asking for the data put forward
by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah regarding the assassinate
of the late prime minister Rafik a-Hariri. He assured: “There is nothing called
an international tribunal. There is a politicized investigation they are
directing the way they want. Hezbollah will not present its information to this
court which it perceives as an Israeli court.” He then called on the ministers
of the opposition “to propose the withdrawal of the funding offered to this
tribunal. If this funding is not discontinued, they should resign,” adding: “If
Lebanon stops funding this tribunal, it will stop its work considering it is
providing 51% of its cost from the money of the Lebanese people.
“The Lebanese security apparatus which will cooperate with the tribunal’s
indictment will be humiliated and broken. The cooperation agreements with the
international tribunal are falsified pacts smuggled in by former Prime Minister
Fouad al-Siniora and his former Justice Minister Charles Rizk without the
approval of the president of the republic at the time, i.e. Emile Lahoud, and
the parliamentary council. The prepared indictment is a coup to which we will
respond with a coup. However, the changing of the government is not a coup and
will be conducted consensually between all the parties.
“The institutions of the United Nations are our captive and not the other way
around,” criticizing “the absence of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri and his
traveling in light of the situation in Lebanon. The Lebanese people were not
waiting for him to speak and Hezbollah does not need anyone to defend it or
justify its position. Saad al-Hariri is now the hostage of some slogans and I
call on him to resign, leave for a year then come back because there is no
problem with him and he enjoys legitimacy within the Sunni sect. Prime Minister
Saad al-Hariri has good intentions but may god help him. He has no idea what is
happening around him and strife is not in his best interest. As for religious
extremism, it will eliminate [his influence] before any other. If he considers
that the deceitful indictment has credibility, the dispute with him will
escalate and the tribunal is an Israeli project toward which we will not show
any leniency.
“My opinion in regard to the international tribunal remained unchanged for five
and a half years. The day the four officers were released, I said: Do not
believe, it is yet another scam. However, since the beginning, Hezbollah tried
to deal positively with the investigation but the situation has reached
intolerable levels. The false witness Muhammad Zuheir al-Siddiq is still being
taken care of by Saad al-Hariri’s group and is living in the best hotels while
financed by a person from the Al-Baba family within Al-Hariri’s group. All the
false witnesses must be tried in court to protect the country. We will not await
Saad al-Hariri’s talk since this tribunal must be confronted before its
decisions are issued. Therefore, the first thing that should be done is the
discontinuation of its funding, or let this government fall.
“They are trying to distract people with the indictment, at a time when the
Lebanese should pay attention to the domestic situation and especially the
economic facet, in order to stop the major theft that is taking place via
certain banks through treasury bonds amounting to over $12 billion during the
last few years. This is done by granting loans to some individuals at an 8%
interest rate, before these sums are loaned back to the state at a 42% interest
rate. Unfortunately, there is no judiciary in Lebanon to which we could
complain, except for a few honorable judges who cannot do anything. At this
point, I would like to advise the spokeswoman for the international tribunal,
Fatima al-Issawi, to work in Egyptian soaps instead of defining Lebanon’s fate.
Whoever thinks he can impose the decisions of the tribunal is highly mistaken
and will see some unexpected things. Just let them try. All the pacts signed by
Fouad al-Siniora and Charles Rizk are illegitimate…”
On the other hand, he praised “the role of the army and the last operation it
conducted, killing Abdul Rahman Awad who committed crimes in Lebanon and Syria,.
We must also thank Defense Minister Elias al-Murr who opened the door of
donations to the Lebanese army. The army cannot proceed with so little. For
example, the intelligence directorate receives $200,000 per month, which is not
enough to do anything. The government should act to support the army in a
serious way.”
Our next war crime
By: Eyal Megged
Op-ed: Failure to prevent next war with Syria is a crime; Israel must talk to
Assad now
Eyal Megged Published: 08.16.10, 00:45 / Israel Opinion
The next war crime is taking place at this time already, even before the war
started. This war crime is the very failure to prevent the war.
We are headed towards an inevitable war with Syria. Our life experience and
history clearly show that when a diplomatic vacuum is not filled with peace
moves, it is filled by war. It’s almost a natural law, just like in soccer: When
you fail to take advantage of opportunities to score a goal, you can bet that
eventually the other team will score.
Since 2003, Bashar Assad had been sending signals indicating that he is ready
for peace, yet Israel turns him back empty-handed. At first the excuse was that
he’s too weak so what’s the point. Ever since he grew stronger, the excuse had
been replaced by another one: Assad’s intentions aren’t pure.
Governments here come and go, yet there’s no partner on the Israeli side.
Seemingly, it’s unclear how Israel could afford to refuse this. After all,
everything we ever dreamed of is happening: Assad is making it known at every
opportunity that he aspires for “comprehensive peace” and declares his
willingness to engage in negotiations “without any preconditions.” He keeps on
lamenting that there’s no response on our part.
Did everything we insist on thus far was merely a deception? Were all the words
uttered all these years a form of a gamble, as the Arabs will never be “ripe for
peace” anyway?
Precious time had been wasted when the Americans prevented Sharon and Olmert
from taking up this cause. Now, the opportunity is being wasted because
policy-makers here do not believe in this peace. Does anyone remember that right
before the Second Lebanon War catastrophe, Assad begged for peace? The bridges
were burned by the fire of this needless, tragic war.
We only understand force
However, the main reason why the Israeli government does nothing at this time is
that the Israeli public does not press it to accept Syria’s wooing attempts.
Peace with Syria isn’t popular around here. Why? Because no missiles have hit us
yet. As long the missiles don’t land here and no damage is done, why should we
trade the Golan Heights and their guesthouses, wine, horses, and ski slopes for
dubious peace? You will hear this answer not only from the Right, but also from
the Left.
But you just wait. Once 1,000 missiles land here, the tune will change. Just
like in the wake of the terror waves, when most of the public shunned Judea and
Samaria and our attachment the land of our forefathers was forgotten at once,
the public will also shun the Golan Heights. The question of “why do we need
peace?” will be replaced by “Why do we need the Golan?” This is the way things
work around here; we only understand force.
But forget about the spoiled, hedonistic public, which is increasingly turning
into a mob taken out of a Shakespearean drama. The last person who has an
interest in making peace with the Syrians is our prime minister – any prime
minister, not only the current one. It’s easy to imagine the commotion that
would ensue here if we only embark on talks with the Syria. It’s not hard to
imagine the government coalition collapsing and the trouble at the Likud Central
Committee.
Only a real leader and determined statesman can bring peace regardless of
anything. And what about war? For a prime minister who lacks the aforementioned
qualities, war is in fact a blessing, a golden age – the whole nation is united
around you, Right, Left and Center. The problems start after the war, when we
count the thousands of casualties and are forced to enter talks with the
Syrians. At that point, everyone will be saying: What a pity. We could have
finalized a deal on the same terms without all the destruction and bereavement.
Obama and the mosque
By: Professor Eytan Gilboa
Op-ed: President's endorsement of Ground Zero mosque unwise but consistent with
his worldview
Eytan Gilboa Published: 08.17.10, 12:31 / Israel Opinion
Barack Obama's endorsement of the construction of a Muslim community center,
including a mosque, two streets away from Ground Zero is commensurate with the
president's worldview and his strategy for fighting Islamic terror.
Obama's worldview espouses historic reconciliation between the United States and
the Muslims and Arab world; his strategy distinguishes between moderate Islam,
which can be engaged in dialogue, and radical and violent Islam, which should be
fought.
Ground Zero
In order to realize this strategy, Obama delivered reconciliation speeches in
Cairo and in Ankara at the beginning of his presidential term; he frequently
talks about the need to avoid generalizations that position all Muslims in one
anti-American camp.
The plan to establish the Muslim center ignited an emotional controversy. On the
one hand we have the Muslims who seek to realize their right for freedom of
religion and Jewish Mayor Michael Bloomberg who backed their request; on the
other hand we have the victims' families and an overwhelming majority of New
Yorkers who object to establishing the center so close to Ground Zero, where
radical Muslims demolished the Twin Towers and killed about 3,000 civilians.
At a dinner on the occasion of Ramadan, Obama used the opportunity to take a
position and endorsed the plan. After sustaining criticism from all directions
he took a step back and attempted to argue that he merely intended to endorse
freedom of religion, rather than the specific plan. Yet this clarification is
deceptive.
We are not dealing with religious freedom here. Nobody prevents Muslims from
building mosques in the US. The problem pertains to the establishment of a
Muslim center close to Ground Zero. The families of victims argue that building
the mosque would hurt their feelings while most New Yorkers feel the plan rubs
salt on their wounds. Had the Muslims offered to build the center in another
area of New York, nobody would disapprove.
Obama's strategy utter failure
The war over the mosque erupted a few weeks ahead of the elections for Congress.
Obama's Republican rivals were quick to exploit the opportunity and slammed him
harshly. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich compared the building of a mosque
near Ground Zero to the placement of a Nazi swastika near the Holocaust museum.
Democratic politicians also disapproved of Obama's statements. Why did he step
into a confrontation that was local in nature thus far, making a statement that
may prompt more voters to shun his party?
The answer has to do with ideological and strategic devotion. This is what Obama
thinks, and he usually says what he thinks. His supporters argue that
establishing the center in Ground Zero would contribute to the war on Islamic
terrorists and al-Qaeda by bringing moderate Muslims closer. Obama's rivals
respond that the plan will be interpreted by the radicals and those sitting on
the fence as yet another victory in undermining the US. Thus far, Obama's
strategy of wooing the world's Muslims has been an utter failure. Despite the
prominent dispute vis-à-vis Israel, the reconciliation speeches, and the warm
embrace for America's Muslims community, recent polls in Muslim states showed
that hostility towards the US and doubts towards Obama are back to pre-election
rates.
In light of the above, the argument that building a mosque near Ground Zero
would contribute to the war against al-Qaeda seems unfounded. While the harm to
victims' families and New Yorkers is substantial and immediate, the expected
strategic outcome is rather questionable. It would have been better for all
parties involved to come up with another site that would grant Muslim freedom of
worship while being endorsed by the families and New York residents.
**Professor Eytan Gilboa is an expert on US affairs and serves as director of
Bar-Ilan University's Center for International Communication