LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِDecember 22/2010

Bible Of The Day
Luke 12:48: "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required"
about.com: "I once read, "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd." If God chooses to entrust you with a position of leadership, don't be surprised when certain sacrifices and hardships are required of you. A life of much reward comes with much responsibility.  The same goes for those entrusted with an abundance of wealth, talent, or knowledge. If God has given you much, he expects you to offer it generously back to him. As we recognize that everything we have comes from him to begin with, we'll let it flow to others and back to God naturally from a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving."

Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports  
Regional leaders seek stability/By Patrick Galey/December 21/10
Khamenei has his own woes to solve/Daily Star/December 21/10
Justice in Lebanon: An Assassin's Target Speaks Out/By: May Chidiac/New York Times/December 21/10
World Council of the Cedars Revolution responds to Joumblatt/iloubnan.info/December 21/10
Annoying” Palestine is on the right track/By: Hussein Ibish/December 21/10

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for December 21/10
Sfeir warns Hizbullah wants to seize power in Lebanon/Daily Star
Ammar lashes out at patriarch, hopes he follows Jesus/Now Lebanon
Khamenei pours scorn on Tribunal/Daily Star
Hariri: We respect Khamenei, each has their own view/Now Lebanon
U.S.: Khamenei Doesn't Have Authority Over Tribunal/Naharnet
Hizbullah on Khamenei's Remarks: It is Natural for Iran to Interfere/Naharnet
Houri: Khamenei's Remarks Aim to Undermine Calm in Lebanon/Naharnet
Salhab: Khamenei’s STL statement is unacceptable/Now Lebanon
Geagea says he will meet Sarkozy, denies claims on abducted Iranians/Daily Star
WikiLeaks: Syria would drop Iran for peace with Israel/J.Post
Egypt: Two Israeli involved in espionage affair/Ynetnews
Report: Turkey upset over Israel-Cyprus deal/Ynetnews
Jumblatt slams rhetoric in Tripoli as blow to city's diversity/Daily Star
Syria blames Israel for top general's assassination, WikiLeaks cable reveals/Haaretz
Abadi follows up on Lebanese-Iranian commission preparations/Now Lebanon
Report: Hariri, Nasrallah Gave Consent to Saudi-Syrian Proposal/Naharnet
U.N. Defends Tribunal, Says it is Working in Responsible Manner/Naharnet
Government Crisis Shows No Sign of Abating/Naharnet
Roux: Defense May Summon 'False Witnesses' after Indictment to Challenge Prosecution's Evidence/Naharnet
Cairo Arrests Man Suspected of Hiring Israeli 'Telecom Spies' in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt/Naharnet
WikiLeaks: Israel Believes Hizbullah-Leb. Army Cooperation a 'Matter of National Policy'/Naharnet
WikiLeaks: Kouchner Prepared to Give Berri Key Role that US Didn't Think is Deserved/Naharnet
Geagea Sees No Signs of Imminent 'Acts of Violence' over Indictment/Naharnet

Sfeir warns Hizbullah wants to seize power in Lebanon
By The Daily Star /Tuesday, December 21, 2010
BEIRUT: Hizbullah appears intent on seizing power in Lebanon, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir said Monday, also warning against the party’s attempt to unilaterally rule the country and saying justice was more important than stability. “The way Hizbullah is acting and their talk about becoming a significant force leads us to believe that if the party continues to pursue its plan it could seize power. The dangers of such a step, if it takes place, lie in the fact that Lebanon cannot be ruled by one party,” Sfeir said in a interview with MTV television.
Hizbullah has warned of the possibility of strife if Prime Minister Saad Hariri fails to halt cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) before the release of an indictment widely expected to implicate Hizbullah members. “A tribunal is a tribunal and justice is justice. We should be alert to avoid division and if there is a group that committed the crime, it should be held accountable. I hope that none of the Lebanese are involved but if any Lebanese individual or group is implicated, then it must be punished,” Sfeir said. “Justice is justice and if we sacrifice it once, we could sacrifice it many times. Stability is important but justice is more important and guarantees stability,” he added. Sfeir said Saudi-Syrian contacts could help to broker a solution among rival Lebanese groups but played down the possibility of a deal at the expense of the country. Commenting on Hizbullah’s condemnation of the court as an “Israeli-US tool” designed to deal a blow to the resistance, Sfeir said the tribunal was an international institution supposed to be at equal distance from all parties. “If they deem it as biased, it is up to them. The tribunal should be impartial. I am not aware of the court’s work but it is supposed, as an international tribunal, to ease the situation because when a crime is committed, people should know those behind it,” Sfeir said. Sfeir also expressed hope that President Michel Sleiman would be capable of handing over the assailants to justice. He said some parties paralyzed state institutions in a bid to halt justice. Hizbullah and its allies have threatened to walk out of any government session if any other topic is discussed before the settlement of the issue of “false witnesses.” The party and its allies argue that “false witnesses” have misled investigations by the UN probe in order to falsely implicate Damascus. Asked last week whether Hizbullah was in the process of planning a coup, Sfeir did not dismiss the possibility but said that “attempting a coup is one thing and maintaining it is another.” Sfeir reiterated his demand to restrict the possession of weapons to the Lebanese Army, a reference to Hizbullah’s own arsenal. Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said his party “will cut the hands” of those who attempt to arrest any of the Hizbullah’s members. Sfeir added that the patriarchate had not boycotted Hizbullah but that it was rather the party that had cut ties with the patriarchate. – The Daily Star

U.S.: Khamenei Doesn't Have Authority Over Tribunal
Naharnet/The United States slammed Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over his rejection of any ruling by the international tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Khamenei "does not have the authority over the tribunal. It was convened by the United Nations," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.
When asked if he considered Khamenei's statement as an interference in Lebanon's affairs, Crowley said: "We regret that there are many in the region who have chosen to politicize the work of the tribunal." He reiterated U.S. support for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, stressing that the court "is an independent judicial institution created by the United Nations and Lebanon and brought into force by the U.N. Security Council." "The establishment of the tribunal was a clear sign that Lebanon's sovereignty is nonnegotiable," Crowley told reporters.
He said the release of indictments is entirely the decision of STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare. "The United States has never and will never attempt to influence his decision."
"Neither our support for the work of the tribunal nor our policy with respect to Iran has changed," Crowley added. Beirut, 21 Dec 10, 07:45

Hizbullah on Khamenei's Remarks: It is Natural for Iran to Interfere
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Walid Succarieh defended Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks on the international tribunal, saying they were aimed at stressing that Tehran won't stand idle against attempts to ignite strife in Lebanon. Khamenei's statement is an "Iranian letter that loudly says" that violence in Lebanon would burn the entire region down, Succarieh told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published Tuesday. "Iran wants to tell those who seek strife through the indictment: Stay right there. We won't stand idle while the fire is burning our homes," the MP said. He slammed the tribunal for being established "to push the American-Israeli project forward in the region." The project aims at sowing Sunni-Shiite strife starting from Lebanon to shred the Islamic world apart, Succarieh said. "It is natural for Iran to interfere after Hizbullah and the Lebanese opposition tried in vain to prove that the court was politicized," he added. Beirut, 21 Dec 10, 10:12

Hariri: We Respect Khamenei, he is Free to Express his Opinion
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday that he respected Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and stressed he was free to express his opinion. Hariri made his remark during a joint press conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borisov at the Grand Serail. Khamenei's "stance was an Iranian position. We as a government have our own stances," Hariri stressed in response to a question on the supreme leader's dismissal as "null and void" any ruling by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The supreme leader's remarks won't influence the Saudi-Syrian track that is making progress although slowly, the premier told reporters. He also stressed that the Lebanese are committed to dialogue and stability because they want their country to be an example of coexistence. Borisov in his turn said Bulgaria backed efforts to find ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassins. Beirut, 21 Dec 10, 14:30

Houri: Khamenei's Remarks Aim to Undermine Calm in Lebanon
Naharnet/MP Ammar Houri on Tuesday lashed out at Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after the cleric brushed aside a U.N. probe into the murder of former premier Rafik Hariri. "It seems that Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks aim to undermine calm in Lebanon and across the Arab world," MP Ammar Houri of Prime Minister Saad Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement told Agence France Presse. "Khamenei's statements signal (Iran's) cover for certain local political positions ... or at least for Hizbullah," said Jamal al-Jarrah, another legislator representing al-Mustaqbal in Lebanon's 128-strong parliament. Khamenei on Monday dismissed as "null and void" imminent rulings by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.(AFP-Naharnet) Beirut, 21 Dec 10, 14:59

Ammar Says Sfeir Will be Punched Back
Naharnet/Hizbullah MP Ali Ammar snapped back at Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir on Tuesday warning that the Shiite party would verbally attack the patriarch if he continues to keep himself in the "boxing ring.""If we answer back to any political stance that Patriarch Sfeir makes … we would be told that we are targeting a certain sanctity," Ammar told OTV. "The person who puts himself in the boxing ring would be punched the same way he is punching," the MP added. On Monday, Sfeir warned that Hizbullah would take over decision-making in Lebanon if it continued to behave this way. About Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks on the international tribunal, Ammar said: "Had the tribunal been Lebanese, it would have probably been said that it was an interference in Lebanese affairs." Beirut, 21 Dec 10, 13:18

Berri Hails Tehran's Role in Lebanon, Says Not Satisfied by Level of Ties
Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri hailed the role that Tehran is playing in Lebanon, saying that thanks to Iran's presence there is no longer unilateralism in the world.
"Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Islamic republic of Iran is playing that unique role," Berri told IRNA news agency. "That's why its influence is not only felt in Lebanon but thanks to Iran's presence there's no longer unilateralism." The speaker said he was not satisfied with Lebanese-Iranian ties except for the progress made during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Beirut and Premier Saad Hariri's trip to Iran. During those two visits, 25 cooperation agreements were singed between the two countries. Bilateral relations are "less than normal," Berri told IRNA. Turning to Israeli threats, the speaker said the Lebanese were not intimidated by continued warnings by the Jewish state. Beirut, 21 Dec 10, 12:18

Geagea Sees No Signs of Imminent 'Acts of Violence' over Indictment
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has stressed that the so-called issue of "false witnesses" was concluded in the 30-member cabinet on Wednesday "with a majority of 20 ministers," calling on the other camp to acknowledge the "result" and abide by the democratic game. In an interview with the Central News Agency, Geagea also urged President Michel Suleiman and Premier Saad Hariri to call a cabinet session "to reactivate the work of the State and its public institutions."He told CNA that the indictment which is expected to be issued soon by the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon "represents a first step towards confirming the presence of a State in Lebanon," ruling out any imminent "acts of violence" in the country over the anticipated indictment. "The indications on the domestic scene, if no new developments occur, do not point to such a scenario -- not to mention the diplomatic Arab and international efforts, topped by those of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which are pressuring the parties concerned with violence in Lebanon against resorting to this method."
"I also believe that what supports this tendency is the significant Turkish stance as well as the relatively reassuring Iranian position," Geagea added.
Commenting on the latest remarks by Head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammed Raad, about "extending time limits," the LF leader said that the "only authority entitled to set and extend deadlines in Lebanon is the Lebanese State," describing Raad's remarks as "inappropriate."Asked about a possible date for the issuance of the STL indictment, Geagea said: "I don't have any information about it, except that it won't be long before it is issued." Beirut, 20 Dec 10, 19:21

World Council of the Cedars Revolution responds to Joumblatt
iloubnan.info - December 20, 2010 BEIRUT - In response to the statement by MP Walid Jumblat calling the Cedars Revolution a silly joke, the Lebanon Director of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution, Kamal Batal, had this to say: "The silly joke will appear when future generations will read history seeing that MP Walid Jumblat gives statements that the Druze themselves do not agree with. History will mention in detail a great Druze member of parliament like Marwan Hamadeh who is the living martyr preceding the Cedars Revolution even if he is in the same bloc headed by MP Walid Jumblat. History will also mention the great Druze fighters who blocked in 2008 the invasion of the mountain by the Hezbullah terrorism militia. History will mention all the other living great martyrs and also the dead martyrs who gave the ultimate prize for Lebanon and its Cedars Revolution. Jumblat has lost his statute as National Leader trying to focus on the Druze population. His statements have neither meaning nor weight. The Lebanese and the World know very well where the Druze population stand and their full support to the Cedars Revolution. It is high time to look for young leaders who truly represent the Lebanese."

Geagea says he will meet Sarkozy, denies claims on abducted Iranians
By The Daily Star /Tuesday, December 21, 2010
BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea said Monday that he would soon hold talks with France’s President Nicholas Sarkozy, but refused to give a specific date.
Speaking to the Central News Agency, Geagea said that France had fully respected the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, which enabled to it to establish a wide network of relations with Lebanese factions. Gaegea said there were no indicators on the Lebanese arena that violent acts might occur in the country in the wake of an impending indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Geagea also said the LF was unaware of the fate of the four Iranian diplomats abducted in Beirut in June 1982. He questioned accusations holding the LF accountable for the disappearance of the diplomats, particularly in light of Lebanese and foreign investigations into the issue. Iran says the LF handed the four diplomats to Israel alive and that they are still being held prisoner in the Jewish state. Geagea said no contacts are taking place between his party and the Iranian Embassy but added that the LF welcomed all ambassadors, including Iranian envoy Ghazanfar Roknabadi. “Our doors are open for all ambassadors in Lebanon including Iran’s,” he said. – The Daily Star

Khamenei pours scorn on Tribunal
During talks with Qatari emir, Iran’s supreme leader rejects any verdict in advance
By Hussein Dakroub /Daily Star staff
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
BEIRUT: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Monday any verdict by the UN-backed court into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri as “null and void” in remarks likely to increase political tension in Lebanon ahead of the impending indictment.
Meanwhile in Lebanon, a senior March 8 political source close to Hizbullah ruled out any immediate reaction from the group when the draft indictment is sent to the pre-trial judge.
“Any Hizbullah reaction will happen only when the draft indictment has been confirmed by the pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen,” the source told The Daily Star, shortly after Khamenei made his statement. The source added that confirmation of the draft indictment would take weeks.
Referring to the UN-appointed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which will prosecute suspects in the assassination, Iran’s state television quoted Khamenei as saying it “is a rubber-stamp [tribunal] whose verdict is null and void whatever it is.” Khamenei spoke during a meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the station said.
Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters in the Islamic Republic, said: “I hope the influential parties involved in Lebanon will act on the basis of wisdom and logic so that this [tribunal outcome] does not turn into a problem.”
Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of the slain leader, visited Iran last month seeking its help to defuse political tensions in Lebanon over the indictment.
In the first reaction from the March 14 coalition, Labor Minister Butros Harb criticized Khamenei’s remarks, saying that it was up to the Lebanese to decide, “and not for others to dictate to them how to deal with the tribunal.”
He told MTV that the tribunal was an issue that concerns the Lebanese more than others because the victims who were killed were Lebanese. “We are counting on the tribunal to achieve justice … The tribunal is an important issue for the Lebanese,” Harb said.
MP Jamal al-Jarrah, a member of Hariri’s Future parliamentary bloc, linked Khamenei’s statement to the fierce campaign against the STL launched by Hizbullah and its allies in the March 8 alliance. Khamenei’s remarks are a move to legitimize the March 8 positions, Jarrah told MTV.
Khamenei’s remarks come as the STL is preparing to release its draft indictment, which is widely expected to implicate some Hizbullah members in Hariri’s killing.
Political tension has been simmering for months between the March 8 and March 14 camps over the STL’s upcoming indictment, raising fears of sectarian strife and leading to a Cabinet paralysis and a split between the two factions over the issue of “false witnesses” linked to the UN probe into Hariri’s killing.
Meanwhile, the same March 8 political source close to Hizbullah said that “international efforts” are being made to delay the release of the indictment. He said these efforts were not related to the Saudi-Syrian efforts seeking to find a solution for the Lebanese deadlock over the indictment.
“Qatar and France are also seeking to promote a solution for the Lebanese crisis,” the source said. “The Syrian-Saudi efforts have reached an advanced stage, but this does not mean that we are against the Qatari bid.”
The March 8 and March 14 factions have examined a Saudi-Syrian working paper and have both voiced their remarks on it and suggested some amendments, the source said. So far, no details of the Saudi-Syrian blueprint have been disclosed. “I fear that we might have two different readings of the Saudi-Syrian working paper because we don’t meet with each other,” the source said.
The source reiterated the March 8 camp’s demands that the Lebanese government block funding for the STL, withdraw Lebanese judges from the court and cancel its cooperation protocol with tribunal.
“We know that we cannot affect a decision from the UN Security Council to abolish the tribunal. But we think those steps are sufficient,” the source said. He ruled out the convening of the Cabinet before the New Year.
He stressed that the March 8 ministers were not boycotting the Cabinet and that they will sign any decree that does not need a Cabinet session.
In a separate development, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he opposed any politicization of the STL’s work. “The proceedings of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon must not be politicized,” the official Syrian news agency SANA quoted Erdogan as saying.
Erdogan called for support of diplomatic efforts by Saudi Arabia and Syria to calm tensions in Lebanon. “Maintaining stability in Lebanon is very important for the region,” said Erdogan, who visited Lebanon last month. “Turkey supports the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon, attaches extreme importance to stability in that country and therefore supports the government of national unity led by Saad Hariri,” he said. With the indictment generating widespread speculation in the media, Francois Roux, the head of the STL’s Defense Office, stressed the importance of the presumption of innocence in all criminal proceedings. Roux, who has just ended a four-day visit to Lebanon, noted that when the prosecutor submits the indictment to the pre-trial judge, the proceedings will enter a new phase that will either result in a confirmation or a dismissal of one or more counts in the indictment, according to a statement issued by the STL in the Netherlands. During this phase, the content of the indictment will remain confidential. This preserves the presumption of innocence and avoids disclosing the names of persons that might not be accused at all. Roux also underlined that any complete or partial confirmation of the indictment would only mark a start of the proceedings, and recalled that the accused may assign a counsel of their own choice to whom the Defense Office provides legal support. It is during this trial process that the prosecution will have to prove the accusations beyond reasonable doubt. The defense should be given every opportunity to challenge the evidence presented by the prosecution and to present its own witnesses and exculpatory evidence. This might also include those persons who have been referred to as “false witnesses,” who could be summoned at the request of each party, the statement said.

Jumblatt slams rhetoric in Tripoli as blow to city's diversity
By The Daily Star /Tuesday, December 21, 2010
BEIRUT: Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt slammed the “extremist” rhetoric voiced by some Tripoli officials last week as a blow to the city’s diverse political, social and cultural make-up. Islamist factions from north Lebanon said that Tripoli was the capital of Sunni Lebanese and slammed attempts to impede the course of justice and target the country’s Sunni community during a rally to mark Muslim New Year. In his weekly editorial to PSP’s Al-Anbaa newspaper, Jumblatt praised Tripoli officials who called for the adoption of a calm discourse. Future Movement MP Ahmad Fatfat had slammed the rhetoric and added that it was neither representative of the Future Movement’s position nor its leader, Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Jumblatt also wrote that political intervention in judicial affairs dealt a blow to the role of state institutions and paved the way for “tribal political and administrative work.” Jumblatt said the release of a “murderer” on bail after the intervention of a high ranking security official proved that tribal rule prevailed. Jumblatt was referring to Syrian Abdel-Nasser Ali Ahmad, who was shot dead earlier this month by Internal Security Forces members who suspected him of involvement in robberies after he fled a police check point. Investigations have proved Ahmad innocent. – The Daily Star

Regional leaders seek stability
Despite differences over Tribunal, analysts say all major players want peace in Lebanon
By Patrick Galey /Daily Star staff
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Analysis
BEIRUT: Despite the fiery nature of statements targeting the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), regional leaders manage to agree that the UN-backed court’s indictment must not be allowed to break Lebanon’s fragile stability, analysts said Monday.
Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei chose to add his name to the list of detractors of the STL Monday, labeling imminent court indictments “null and void.”
His comments form a marked contrast to those made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, who insisted that the probe into the death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri “must not be politicized.”
Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Middle East Institute in Beirut, said that although competing sides would continue to differ over the validity and importance of the Netherlands-based court, the reality that the indictment was coming had forced STL opponents to change tack.
“It’s clear that escalation has gone into de-escalation,” Salem told The Daily Star. While Hizbullah – a party that expects to be implicated in Hariri’s assassination – had busied itself throughout 2010 in threatening dire consequences for anyone targeting the resistance, Salem said it now recognized that forcing the court away from naming names was no longer viable.
“Hizbullah doesn’t really have a useful aggressive avenue [to pursue],” he said. “They also realize that this option would be lose-lose. The STL is not going away and people realize that.”
Simon Haddad, professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, said that initiatives between Syria and Saudi Arabia on one hand, and the United States-led international effort to push on with the STL on the other, were in danger of further paralyzing Lebanon’s political scene.
“All the efforts of countries are insisting on stability but it doesn’t appear that indictments could be released without damage,” he told The Daily Star. “The internal front is very critical. With regard to the international community, they have a certain approach they will adopt after indictments.”
Salem noted that regional players such as Syria and Iran, traditionally hostile to the STL and initial UN investigation, had toned down belligerent rhetoric. This pointed to an agreement, palatable to Syrian, Iranian and Saudi governments, to avoid violence sweeping Lebanon post-indictment in the same way gun battles hit west Beirut and other parts of the country in May 2008, according to Salem.
“My sense is that the situation will be different afterwards but what is being worked on is an agreed post-indictment situation; a Doha agreement without the fighting,” he said.
Haddad, however, warned that Lebanon would face a prolonged period of extreme delicacy following the release of the indictment. While it was unlikely Hizbullah would make good on its threats through violence, Haddad said there were other options available to the party, such as exerting political pressure on Prime Minister Saad Hariri and other court supporters.
“This could be peaceful opposition such as protests,” he said. “Hariri himself and his movement will have to suffer. He could lose the Cabinet and this could lead to a crisis involving the international community against Hizbullah.” Both analysts agreed that the STL would continue operations after issuing the indictment, although they believe it will face formidable challenges in bringing Hariri’s killers to justice. “Hizbullah will not hand over anyone and Syria has said it will deal with the indictment internally,” Haddad said.
Salem warned that support from the Lebanese government could evaporate. “The tribunal, of course, has to go on with its work, but the level of cooperation from the Lebanese government would be close to zero and the ability of the tribunal to investigate or interrogate people if they are close to Hizbullah doesn’t exist,” he said. “A lot is riding on the investigation; they need to really have something convincing in the indictment. If they don’t it’s unlikely, five years after the crime, that they will ever get anything significant.”

Khamenei has his own woes to solve
Daily Star/Tuesday, December 21, 2010 /Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, said Monday that any verdict rendered by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon would be “null and void.”The remit of the Iranian leader’s knowledge and wisdom stretches far and wide, to be sure, but perhaps his own nation could use a bit more of his attention. After all, security forces with riot shields had fanned out through Tehran Sunday, in order to preempt any outbursts of civil violence as the country’s gasoline prices soared about 350 percent. Tehran’s streets had witnessed turmoil when the state introduced gasoline rationing in 2007, although the Islamic Republic continued to spend about $114 billion annually in subsidies to keep energy prices artificially low. Iran’s economy has not experienced runaway growth since then, so President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the subsidy cutbacks Saturday, which he termed a “great victory for Iran.” Clearly.
Last week, of course, Iran’s diplomacy had suffered a major embarrassment as Ahmadinejad fired Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki while the career diplomat was on an official visit to Senegal. Mottaki had met with Ahmadinejad not long before the trip abroad, and the former minister has said that he did not receive any hint that he was about to get sacked. The president’s behavior, however, did not diverge greatly from his usual modus operandi – he has long ditched high-ranking officials in favor of lackeys obeisant to him; if an official cannot be budged, Ahmadinejad often simply creates a new post and plugs his man in. The general economic trend in Iran also appears to merit significant concern, as a fourth round of UN sanctions – and further sanctions individually approved by the US and a raft of its allies – seem to be squeezing the Islamic Republic’s international trade activity.
In looking at Tehran’s pressing problems, one of course cannot omit Iran’s disputed nuclear program, which has caused Israel to twice ask the US for permission (denied by George W. Bush) to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. If WikiLeaks is to be believed, the nuclear program has also spurred King Abdullah of neighboring Saudi Arabia to ask the US to attack, in order to “cut off the head of the snake.” Despite all of these domestic difficulties, Khamenei found it prudent to pronounce a ruling on the tribunal that contradicts the opinion of roughly half of Lebanon. Iran has long proclaimed that it seeks peaceful solutions to the various ills of Lebanon. Tehran has often said that it wishes to exert its good offices, without bias or prejudice toward any side, to benefit Lebanon. If Khamenei’s comments illustrate Tehran’s idea of assistance, then the best thing Iran can do for Lebanon is stay away and focus instead on its own internal affairs. Unless, of course, Iran now believes that its involvement here has turned Lebanon into a satellite state and Lebanese issues into Iranian internal ones.
 
Hariri: We respect Khamenei, each has their own view
Now Lebanon/December 21, 2010 /“We respect Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei…and each has their own view,” Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday, a day after Khamenei labeled any ruling by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) as “null.”“[Khamenei’s] position [regarding the STL] is that of Iran. We, as Lebanese government, also have our position [on the issue],” Hariri said during a joint press conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov. “We respect Khamenei and any party that has his same views. This will not affect Saudi-Syrian talks [to resolve Lebanese disputes].”Hariri also said that he held excellent talks with Borisov, in which they signed bilateral agreements.
“Our region will not witness stability if Israel maintains its stubbornness toward the Palestinians.”“We are committed to domestic dialogue and to fostering stability [in Lebanon].”
In his turn, the Bulgarian PM voiced his country’s support for the STL. He also said that he committed to PM Hariri to discuss important [Middle East] matters during his upcoming meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.  Khamenei on Monday dismissed as “null and void” any ruling by the court, which is probing the 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The STL said on December 9 that it will "very, very soon" file indictments for the killing of Hariri and 22 others. The court is reportedly set to indict high-ranking operatives of Hezbollah, which is backed by Tehran and Damascus.-NOW Lebanon

Salhab: Khamenei’s STL statement is unacceptable
December 21, 2010 /Change and Reform bloc MP Salim Salhab said on Tuesday that Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Monday statement about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is unacceptable. The MP told MTV that Khamenei’s statement is an interference in Lebanon’s domestic affairs, adding that the supreme leader’s remarks are a message to Lebanon and to the West. “The STL will issue an indictment, but the problem is finding a mechanism to deal with it [after it is issued].”Khamenei on Monday dismissed as “null and void” any ruling by the court, which is probing the 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The STL said on December 9 that it will "very, very soon" file indictments for the killing of Hariri and 22 others. The court is reportedly set to indict high-ranking operatives of Hezbollah, which is backed by Tehran and Damascus. -NOW Lebanon

Abadi follows up on Lebanese-Iranian commission preparations
December 21, 2010
Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Roken Abadi arrived Tuesday at the Grand Serail in order to prepare meetings of the Higher Lebanese-Iranian Commission. According to NOW Lebanon’s correspondent, the meetings of the joint commission will kick off in February in Tehran. “Establishing this commission requires a decision from the cabinet,” an unnamed source said. Hariri said last month that the Higher Lebanese-Iranian Commission will follow up on understandings with Iran regarding gas, electricity and the exchange of administrative reform expertise. The PM travelled to Tehran in November for an official visit.-NOW Lebanon

Ammar lashes out at patriarch, hopes he follows Jesus
December 21, 2010 /Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ali Ammar responded Tuesday to Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir over the latter’s recent remarks on Hezbollah.
“Those who punch others get punched [in the face] as well,” Ammar said in a reference to Sfeir.He voiced hope “Sfeir would [follow] Jesus Christ’s teachings [instead].”Sfeir said on Monday evening that the behavior of some of Hezbollah officials reflects that they might stage a political takeover in Lebanon. Tensions are high in Lebanon amid unconfirmed reports that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) may soon indict Hezbollah members in its investigation of the Rafik Hariri murder. Hezbollah has threatened to “cut off the hand” of anyone who tries to arrest any of its members Rafik Hariri’s murder case.-NOW Lebanon

“Annoying” Palestine is on the right track
Hussein Ibish , December 21, 2010
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (L) listens to Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere in Oslo, on December 15, 2010, after Norway upgraded the Palestinian diplomatic mission in the country to an embassy. (AFP /Scanpix Norway/Terje Bendiksby)
Last week the US House of Representatives adopted a resolution threatening a potential cutoff of aid to the Palestinians if they unilaterally declared statehood. It was essentially meaningless bluster, taking a strong stance against something the Palestinians aren’t currently pursuing or even seriously considering.
The real context of resolution is not Palestinian unilateralism, but multilateralism and, especially, bilateralism, and there’s a big difference between the three. Most Palestinian officials acknowledge that as an occupied people with the deck stacked against them, they haven’t got the power to do very much unilaterally.
In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) unilaterally declared an independent Palestinian state in the pre-June 1967 borders. Many developing countries recognized that state. But nothing happened. The only real consequence was to make any future unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence possibly look like a repetition of this embarrassing failure.
The Palestinians are also aware that the physical presence of the formidable Israeli military in the occupied territories means that, as a practical matter, Palestinian independence ultimately depends on Israeli acquiescence, however reluctant; on their own, the Palestinians are unlikely to be able to achieve it. So it’s always been obvious that third-party intervention is essential. During most of the past two decades, both Palestinians and Israelis have looked mainly to the United States, and there is no doubt that in the final analysis an American role as broker and more, is simply indispensable.
However, in the past couple of years, faced with diplomatic impasses, Palestinians have been developing a creative set of new strategies to augment these indispensable negotiations – notably state-building, nonviolent protests and settlement boycotts. They have also been pursuing multilateral and bilateral recognition, but not the unilateralism denounced by the US Congress.
The first efforts, aimed at upgrading the status of Palestinian representation in various UN bodies, were largely blocked by the United States on the grounds that they bypassed the negotiating process. Indeed, US Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton recently warned Palestinians that “unilateral efforts at the United Nations are not helpful and undermine trust.”
Actually, such efforts aren’t unilateral at all, they are multilateral. It’s not surprising that Washington would view such efforts as a kind of end-run around the negotiating process it oversees, but it clearly makes sense for Palestinians to try to enhance their global diplomatic status in preparation for what Clinton has described as “inevitable” Palestinian statehood.
Importantly, the secretary didn’t say anything about the main effort currently being pursued by Palestinian diplomats, which is a series of upgrades to bilateral diplomatic relations. This has most spectacularly borne fruit in Latin America, with Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Bolivia all having recognized Palestine within its 1967 borders in recent weeks. More recognitions are expected to follow shortly. In addition, Norway, France and other European countries had been quietly upgrading the diplomatic status of the PLO missions in their countries.
Slowly but surely, the world is adding Palestine to the roster of fully recognized countries and laying the groundwork for its future admission as a member state of the United Nations. If the Americans are annoyed by this, they’re not saying so publicly. It’s not clear why they should be. Since Washington views Palestinian statehood as “inevitable,” and in the end this can only be achieved with Israeli acquiescence and through negotiations, the US role as primary midwife in the birth of this new state is unchallengeable.
Palestinian unilateralism on independence has already proven its pointlessness back in the 1980s, and the Kosovo model – unilaterally declared independence immediately recognized and supported by most of the world’s most powerful countries – isn’t really available to them, at least at this stage. However, this diplomatic offensive for recognition is not only purposive and meaningful; it dovetails perfectly with state-building and, indeed, with American-brokered negotiations with Israel.
The Israelis may be annoyed, but as they continue settlement construction in violation of international law, the “road map” and clearly stated American and international opposition, they’re not in any position to be wagging fingers at anybody about complicating delicate diplomacy.
Palestinians obviously have to pursue negotiations aimed at an agreement with Israel that secures its acquiescence to Palestinian independence. But at the same time, it is vital for the Palestinians to pour as much energy as possible into state-building that prepares them for that independence; to continue pursuing measures that challenge the abusive practices of the occupation; and to seek to upgrade their diplomatic status multilaterally and bilaterally.
Palestinian statehood is becoming inevitable as Clinton says. Diplomatic recognition of that necessary, indispensable state-in-the-making from countries in Latin America and elsewhere, no matter how much it might annoy the Israelis, is simply another recognition of that fact and an important step in the right direction.
Hussein Ibish is a senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine and blogs at www.ibishblog.com.

Fouad Siniora
December 20, 2010
The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) carried the following report on December 19, 2010:
Future bloc leader MP Fouad Siniora, who served as prime minister from 2005 until 2009, praised “the recent statements of [Hezbollah Secretary General] Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah regarding the rejection of strife. These are positive statements which we should value, as we must join hands to prevent any attempt to lead Lebanon toward strife.” He also praised Nasrallah’s talk about the “rejection of unfair accusations because we reject unjust accusations as well, whether they are made against a group, an organization, a party or a state. We are seeking justice and not a side on which we can pin the accusation,” Siniora’s statements were delivered at his office in Al-Hilaliya in Saida, as he was receiving delegations from the city.
He commented on cabinet impasse due to the opposition’s insistence to address the “false witnesses” issue as the first and primary item, saying, “Our country is based on dialogue and openness. We must therefore be open to one another and try to find solutions, instead of taking the cabinet hostage and linking the different issues so that they are not solved. This will not lead to any resolution and at the end of the day, we are all in the same boat and any person who relinquishes the task in hand will not only harm others, but himself as well.
President Michel Sleiman's talk of a climate of optimism is mostly based on his reliance on the will of the Lebanese to prevent strife.” He then considered that “the staging of a so-called coup in Lebanon is out of the question and inacceptable on the Lebanese, regional and international levels. The talk of [Maronite] Patriarch [Nasrallah Boutros] Sfeir about this issue is a mere warning, as he was saying that a coup might take place.”
He was then asked about the secret behind the climate of optimism currently prevailing over the country and the recent statements of Hezbollah’s secretary general, to which he said, “I believe that optimism and pessimism are a state of mind. What is more important than optimism and pessimism is the will of the Lebanese to protect their country in the face of all the obstacles, challenges, calamities and shocks that could surface. Lebanon is indeed targeted, but in the end, what could provoke strife are Lebanese hands and what could prevent them are also Lebanese hands. Consequently, we must deploy all our efforts to prevent strife.
Everybody knows that the assassination of martyred Prime Minister [Rafik] Hariri is not only related to the family of the martyred prime minister or the so-called ‘avenger of blood.’ I think that Sayyed Nasrallah’s talk about this issue in his last speech was right on the mark, as he said that this case not only interested the family [of Hariri] but all the Lebanese and is related to an Arab, Islamic and international issue. This is accurate speech that we must not disregard.
The talk about justice and the choice given to the people between justice and stability is impossible to make because we cannot have stability or security without justice. Justice is what guarantees permanent stability and security and our efforts at the level of the case of martyred Prime Minister Rafik Hariri are related to justice and a system based on plurality, democracy, openness, moderation and tolerance. These are the principles we are seeking and we utterly reject the presence of any unjust accusations. Sayyed Hassan said he rejected unjust accusations and so do we.
We will not allow the use of the international tribunal by certain sides as a platform for retaliation against or the undermining of other states, organizations and groups. We are trying to prevent that. There is a lot of talk about strife and the use of language carrying threats of seeing violence. But violence will not solve the problem. It will rather increase the problem and pave the way before new ones. Our country is based on dialogue and openness to find solutions. So let us not hijack the Cabinet and link all the issues together because that will not lead to any solutions. The government has not convened in six weeks and highly important files exceeding 325 items have accumulated. Can we keep the country the hostage of this issue?
This will increase the tensions and the divisions and will not lead to any solution. I believe that the majority of the Lebanese want to live in peace, want this country to be the headline of coexistence, openness and moderation and want the state to be the decision-maker and to guarantee the security and safety of the people. We do not deny the fact that Israel is our true enemy and that it is trying to spread strife and division between the Lebanese to keep them dispersed. However, we cannot fight Israel or deter its conspiracies if the Lebanese people are divided and let no one have any illusions in this regard. The only way to face Israel is through a united front and not the size of our weapons, and let that be clear.”