LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِJuly 05/2010

Bible Of the Day
The Good News According to Luke 10/1-7
10:1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come. 10:2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. 10:3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 10:4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. 10:5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 10:6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 10:7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. 10:8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. 10:9 Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10:10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, 10:11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10:12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Syria posts Iranian radar atop tall Lebanese peak/DEBKA file/July 04/10
Iran fails in S. Lebanon/By: Ahmed Al-Jarallah/Arab Times/July 04/10
Draft law sparks debate in ICT sector/By: Matt Nash/July 04/10
US-Iran dynamic: Why US effort to leverage Syria is flagging/By: Nicholas Blanford/July 04/10

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for July 04/10
More Violations of 1701 as UNIFIL Demands Lebanese Authorities to Guarantee its Freedom of Movement/Naharnet
Israel Aims to Draft Law to Control Lebanese Offshore Natural Gas Fields/Naharnet
Iran Hangs Two for "Waging War against God"/Naharnet
Ten steps to push Middle East peace/Washington Times
Freedom of movement for peacekeepers in Lebanon must be ensured –UN/UN News Centre
Lebanon takes worrying steps on online freedom/The Guardian
Villagers disarm UN patrol in south Lebanon/Ynetnews
Planner of Munich Olympics attack dies in Syria/The Associated Press
Moussa rules out a new war between Israel and Lebanon/Monsters and Critics.com
Hamas: Ships do more than rockets/Ynetnews
Fadlallah's health condition worsens/Ya Libnan
Hezbollah slams UNIFIL maneuver/LimeLife (blog)
CENTCOM questions US policy of isolating Hamas, Hezbollah/Ya Libnan
Iran Flotilla: This Crisis Averted/Discovery News
Lebanon: Lebanese split over Palestinian social and humanitarian rights/Spero News
LEBANON: Hezbollah spiritual mentor Fadlallah dies at 85/Los Angeles Times (blog)
NBK Lebanon offers loan to own your dream house in Lebanon/Al-Bawaba
Mohammed Oudeh, Black September leader who planned raid on Israeli athletes/Washington Post
Zahra: Mustaqbal and LF are Preparing a Plan to Grant Palestinians Their Rights/Naharnet
Jumblat: Why do We Deprive Palestinians of Right to Even Own an Apartment so that They May Live in Dignity/Naharnet
Football Fans Clash in Tripoli/Naharnet
Bassil Sets July-End Deadline for Politicians to Pay Past-Due Water Bills/Naharnet
Hariri, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Discuss Exerted Efforts to Realize Peace in Region/Naharnet
LF Reiterates 'Adherence to Resolution 1701, Support for UNIFIL'/Naharnet
Moussa Advises Caution But Says No War on Lebanon's Doorsteps/Naharnet
Sami Gemayel Warns Humanitarian Aspect of Palestinian Issue Delays Return to Homeland/Naharnet

Syria posts Iranian radar atop tall Lebanese peak
DEBKAfile Exclusive
http://www.debka.com/article/8890/
Report July 3, 2010, 6:41
Iranian mobile radar, installed in Lebanon. Syria has posted the advanced early warning radar it received from Iran - not on its own soil but on the highest peak of neighboring Lebanon, according to debkafile's military and intelligence sources. From Mount Sannine in central Lebanon, the new facility provides early warning against a possible surprise Israeli missile or aerial attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and extends the span of Iranian and Syrian electronic surveillance to include Israeli air space the south and the eastern-central Mediterranean to the west.
Friday, July 2, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley confirmed the Wall Street Journal's disclosure that Iran had transfer of the high-tech radar to Syria. He said this move was of concern "due to Syria's relationship with Hizballah," adding "We don't believe that Iran's designs for the region are in Syria's best interest."
According to our sources, there is nothing new in this disclosure. The new radar was deployed on Mt. Sannine ten months ago, complete with Iranian and Syrian radar operators. Hizballah was made responsible for guarding the facility and keeping approach roads clear, as well as bringing supplies to the Iranian-Syrian crews on the mountain. Syria trained the Lebanese Shiite extremists in the use of the anti-air missile batteries for securing the site.
On July 12, 2008, debkafile first revealed that Hizballah had just commandeered the 7,880- foot Mt. Sannine northeast of Beirut at the behest of Tehran and Damascus, followed by Mount Barukh, which is half the height and situated in the Chouf Mountains much closer to South Lebanon (and the Israeli border).
In late 2009, the radar position was put in there and Iranian mobile systems installed on Mt. Barukh - in line with the strategy agreed by Iran and Syria to extend their watch on Israel and the US Sixth Fleet.
Israel's leaders held back from interfering with the Iranian-Syrian-Hizballah seizure of these strategic positions across its northern border and the installation of an advanced Iranian radar facility, just as they have since avoided blocking Hizballah's massive armament with smuggled Iranian and Syrian ballistic missiles.
Washington too turned a blind eye to this Iranian strategic outpost - until now. It was allowed to leak in the wake of the difficult conversation President Barack Obama had with Saudi King Abdullah at the White House Tuesday, June 29.
He taxed the king with recent reports about Riyadh's willingness to provide an air corridor for Israeli bombers bound for attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. But Abdullah declined to confirm or deny them and waved the subject aside.
The belated disclosure of the Mt. Sannine facility was directed at the Saudi king, intended to warn him that Iran's early warning electronic station in Lebanon had pre-empted the Israeli option of a surprise attack on its nuclear facilities. Riyadh would therefore be well advised to drop its plan to back an Israeli operation for disposing of their shared Iranian nuclear threat.

Iranian early warning radar in Syria: is this a real threat, or just more posturing from Iran?
Posted by John Keller
I'm wondering about reports of an Iranian surveillance radar system being installed in Syria
, ostensibly to give Iran early warning if Israel attempts to bomb Iran's nuclear weapons research sites. If true, this development represents an even more severe escalation of tensions in this already-tense region that we've seen in recent months. The Iranian early warning radar alleged to have been installed in Syria -- located on the Mediterranean coast just to the North of Israel and Lebanon -- is supposed to be a sophisticated system able not only to give Iran early warning of any Israeli air attack, but also able to help with Syrian anti-air missile defenses.
It's not clear, however, just how sophisticated the radar system might be, or if Israel could circumvent it simply by flying south over Saudi Arabia and over the Persian Gulf on the way to Iranian targets. If this sincerely is a sophisticated long-range radar system, then it could add a new dimension to the complicated military and diplomatic situation in the Middle East. If it isn't however, it might just be another

Iran moves radar to Syria: US official
Jul 2 04:44 PM US/Eastern
An image grab taken from Iran's satellite English-language official Press T...Iran has moved radar to Syria that could provide early-warning against a possible surprise Israeli air attack against Tehran's nuclear sites, a US defense official said on Friday. The radar transfer was first reported in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday and prompted the State Department to voice concerns about cooperation between Syria and Iran. The sophisticated radar were deployed in Syria last year, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
The move could bolster Iran's position amid long-running speculation that Israel might stage a bombing raid against Tehran's nuclear enrichment facilities. Information from new radar also could potentially help the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah with its missile arsenal and air defenses. Israel and the United States have refused to rule out military action against Iran over its nuclear program, which Washington says is designed to secure atomic weapons. Iran has insisted its enrichment effort is purely peaceful and aimed at generating electricity. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley on Thursday said Washington had concerns about the relationship between Iran and Syria. "We don't believe that Iran's designs for the region are in Syria's best interest," Crowley told reporters. While acknowledging that all countries "have the right to protect themselves," the spokesman said the reported radar delivery would be of concern due to Syria's relationship with Hezbollah. President Barack Obama warned Iran Thursday it faced mounting isolation, signing tough new US sanctions he said would strike at Tehran's capacity to finance its nuclear program. The measures, on top of new UN Security Council and European sanctions, aim to choke off Iran's access to imports of refined petroleum products like gasoline and jet fuel and curb its access to the international banking system.

Hariri, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Discuss Exerted Efforts to Realize Peace in Region
Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan at the al-Bateen Palace in Abu Dhabi.
During the meeting Hariri and Sheikh Mohammed discussed the latest regional and international developments and positions of the two countries towards them, UAE state-run news agency WAM reported. They also discussed the efforts being exerted to realize peace in the region, stressing that there would be no peace nor security without reaching a just and permanent solution to the Palestinian cause based on the agreed international peace efforts, especially the Arab Peace Initiative. The meeting also tackled the bolstering of relations between the UAE and Lebanon and aiding Lebanon to deal with the challenges that hamper development, security and stability. "Sheikh Mohammed wished the Lebanese government and people under PM Hariri success and prosperity," WAM said. For his part, Hariri thanked the UAE leadership for its keenness on supporting Lebanon in recovering its effective position in the region. Beirut, 03 Jul 10, 21:35

More Violations of 1701 as UNIFIL Demands Lebanese Authorities to Guarantee its Freedom of Movement
Naharnet/As clashes between the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and residents of southern Lebanon were renewed Saturday, Prime Minister Saad Hariri made urgent calls to House Speaker Nabih Berri and the army command in order that the necessary procedures be taken to restore stability, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.
Sources told the daily that the incidents in the South are related to international developments, especially the recent sanctions on Iran, revealing that efforts are underway to keep Lebanon away from the repercussions of these developments. The new clash between French UNIFIL troops and residents of the southern towns of Toulin and Qebrikha resulted in the destruction of a civilian vehicle, the incapacitation of two French vehicles, and the light injury of one French soldier and the citizen Ali Salman.
As a result, a meeting took place in Toulin between army intelligence, Hizbullah, members of the French unit, and representatives of the southern residents in order to restore the stability.
UNIFIL military spokesman Colonel Narish Bhatt said that Saturday morning, a UNIFIL patrol, comprised of an armored military vehicle and another light one, was intercepted by a number of civilians some 50 meters north of Qebrikha where they pelted it with rocks. He said in a statement that the patrol damaged a motorcycle as it exited the scene, upon which some 50 individuals surrounded the vehicles, slashed their tires, and attempted to size the units' weapons, which prompted the soldiers to fire shots into the air. The leader of the patrol then attempted to speak to the civilians, but he was attacked by the crowd, and stripped of his weapons, incurring an injury to his forehead.
The statement added that UNIFIL and army reinforcements soon made it to the scene where the army returned the international forces' weapons and restored the peace.
Meanwhile, UNIFIL Commander Major General Alberto Asarta was reported as saying: "The Lebanese authorities are obligated to provide UNIFIL with security and freedom of mobility within their areas of operation." It was also revealed that an Italian patrol had been attacked at the crossroads of Siddiqin and Jibal al-Botm where a number of youths pelted the patrol with stones, forcing it to backtrack after the army got involved, reported An Nahar.Later, a meeting took place Saturday night between Asarta and deputy director of army intelligence Abbas Ibrahim during which they discussed the day's unrest. Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Moussawi commented on the clash saying: "UNIFIL's mobility is designated in resolution 1701 and its agreement on rules of engagement with the Lebanese army, and therefore, the international troops' mobility is bound by the army's demands.""We are keen on committing to resolution 1701 and UNIFIL should also commit to it itself," he added. Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 09:35

LF Reiterates 'Adherence to Resolution 1701, Support for UNIFIL'
Naharnet/The Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc on Saturday reiterated "adherence to Resolution 1701 and support for UNIFIL's presence in the South."
After its meeting in Maarab under Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, the bloc said in a statement that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "has an effective role to play in the frame of the missions assigned to it according to the U.N. resolutions." The bloc lauded "the efforts exerted by all the intelligence agencies which led to busting, dismantling and arresting a series of espionage rings spying for the Israeli enemy."As the bloc saluted the Lebanese military intelligence for arresting the Alfa mobile network employee who is suspected of spying for Israel, it criticized at the same time "the process of leaking the investigations."The conferees voiced opposition to "psychological terrorization and the means of intimidation and accusing others of treason, the last of which was threatening the government in case it pursued its cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon or if it established international relations and treaties which do not serve the policies of the intimidators." The bloc called on the concerned judicial authorities "to confront anyone who may disturb the general atmosphere, threaten civil peace or harm any of the legitimate Lebanese institutions." Beirut, 03 Jul 10, 21:02

Moussa Advises Caution But Says No War on Lebanon's Doorsteps
Naharnet/Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa reiterated on Saturday that there was no new war on Lebanon although he warned that the danger was always present.
"There is a general atmosphere of danger in Lebanon which is not based on information," Moussa said after talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace. "Caution is advised but I don't see war on (Lebanon's) doorsteps." He told reporters that he discussed with Suleiman latest regional developments which he said were more negative than positive. Moussa added that his talks with the Lebanese president focused on the situation in the south and peace in the region. The Arab League chief met with Premier Saad Hariri and Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami on Friday. Beirut, 03 Jul 10,

Sami Gemayel Warns Humanitarian Aspect of Palestinian Issue Delays Return to Homeland
Naharnet/MP Sami Gemayel warned on Saturday that giving the issue of Palestinians a humanitarian aspect risks keeping them in Lebanon rather than helping their return home."It is natural for the situation of Palestinians in Lebanon to become a source of concern for the Lebanese," he told LBC TV network. "However, the way it was proposed by Democratic Gathering bloc leader MP Walid Jumblat was not sound," he said. "The proposal didn't come at the appropriate time." Gemayel told LBC the Palestinians should be aware that their integration into the Lebanese society is an Israeli and U.S. demand to prevent their return to their homeland. He stressed that the situation of Palestinians should not be turned into a humanitarian issue because it has a political nature. On the issue of property ownership by foreigners, Gemayel said that Lebanon is one of the countries with the highest number of foreign ownership relatively to its size. On Friday, Gemayel said the Phalange party cannot accept giving non-Lebanese rights that the Lebanese themselves are not enjoying. Beirut, 03 Jul 10,

Grand Ayatollah Fadlallah Dies after a Long Illness
Naharnet/Shiite Cleric Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah died Sunday after struggling with a long illness. "Yes Sayyed Fadlallah has died," a senior aide told AFP when asked to confirm reports that the top cleric, with followers mainly in Lebanon and Iraq, had passed away. Fadlallah, who holds the title "sayyed" to denote direct lineage with the Prophet Mohammad, had been hospitalized several times over the past months. On Friday he was admitted to intensive care as his health deteriorated. An AFP correspondent said all roads leading to Bahman hospital in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Fadlallah died, were closed to traffic as relatives of the cleric converged on the area. Family members also began to receive condolences in the nearby Hassanein mosque, the correspondent added Fadlallah was born in the Iraqi Shiite holy city of Najaf in November 1935. He studied Islamic sciences at an early age. He returned to Lebanon in 1966 and founded a religious school called The Islamic Sharia Institute. In addition to the academic work that Fadlallah has done, he has opened schools, Islamic centers, and orphanages.(naharnet-AFP) Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 11:12

Israel Aims to Draft Law to Control Lebanese Offshore Natural Gas Fields
Naharnet/The Israeli government is determined to draft a law that would impose the Jewish state's control over the Lebanese offshore natural gas fields, reported Israeli television.
It explained that the draft law would designate the Israeli regional waters, which would allow it to control the discovered gas fields below the international waters located between Palestine and Lebanon. It added that Israeli parliament is studying the proposal ahead of presenting it to the Knesset. It also reported Israeli government sources as saying: "The government is dealing with the discovery of the natural gas fields in the Mediterranean as an Israeli discovery that no one else has a right over."They stressed: "The executive committee in the government and Knesset are working on reaching a law that would not leave room for any Lebanese rights." Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 11:16

More Violations of 1701 as UNIFIL Demands Lebanese Authorities to Guarantee its Freedom of Movement
Naharnet/As clashes between the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and residents of southern Lebanon were renewed Saturday, Prime Minister Saad Hariri made urgent calls to House Speaker Nabih Berri and the army command in order that the necessary procedures be taken to restore stability, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday. Sources told the daily that the incidents in the South are related to international developments, especially the recent sanctions on Iran, revealing that efforts are underway to keep Lebanon away from the repercussions of these developments. The new clash between French UNIFIL troops and residents of the southern towns of Toulin and Qebrikha resulted in the destruction of a civilian vehicle, the incapacitation of two French vehicles, and the light injury of one French soldier and the citizen Ali Salman.
As a result, a meeting took place in Toulin between army intelligence, Hizbullah, members of the French unit, and representatives of the southern residents in order to restore the stability.
UNIFIL military spokesman Colonel Narish Bhatt said that Saturday morning, a UNIFIL patrol, comprised of an armored military vehicle and another light one, was intercepted by a number of civilians some 50 meters north of Qebrikha where they pelted it with rocks.
He said in a statement that the patrol damaged a motorcycle as it exited the scene, upon which some 50 individuals surrounded the vehicles, slashed their tires, and attempted to size the units' weapons, which prompted the soldiers to fire shots into the air. The leader of the patrol then attempted to speak to the civilians, but he was attacked by the crowd, and stripped of his weapons, incurring an injury to his forehead. The statement added that UNIFIL and army reinforcements soon made it to the scene where the army returned the international forces' weapons and restored the peace. Meanwhile, UNIFIL Commander Major General Alberto Asarta was reported as saying: "The Lebanese authorities are obligated to provide UNIFIL with security and freedom of mobility within their areas of operation."It was also revealed that an Italian patrol had been attacked at the crossroads of Siddiqin and Jibal al-Botm where a number of youths pelted the patrol with stones, forcing it to backtrack after the army got involved, reported An Nahar.Later, a meeting took place Saturday night between Asarta and deputy director of army intelligence Abbas Ibrahim during which they discussed the day's unrest. Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Moussawi commented on the clash saying: "UNIFIL's mobility is designated in resolution 1701 and its agreement on rules of engagement with the Lebanese army, and therefore, the international troops' mobility is bound by the army's demands.""We are keen on committing to resolution 1701 and UNIFIL should also commit to it itself," he added. Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 09:35

Iran Hangs Two for "Waging War against God"
Naharnet/Iran hanged on Sunday two men convicted of "waging war against God" after they were found guilty of drug trafficking, armed robbery and abduction, a report said.
The two Amanollah Pourian and Younes Rahmani were hanged in the southeastern city of Zahedan, Fars news agency reported quoting a local judiciary statement.The report said the two were found guilty of "Moharebeh" (waging war against God), a crime punishable by death under Iran's sharia law, as they were charged with selling opium, armed robbery, abduction and crisscrossing the Iranian border illegally, the report added. The latest hangings bring to at least 84 the number of people executed in Iran so far this year, according to an AFP count based on media reports. Last year, at least 270 people were hanged. Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are all punishable by death in Iran.(AFP) Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 10:26

Palestinian Mastermind of Munich 1972 Olympic Attack Dead
Naharnet/Palestinian leader Abu Daoud, who planned the daring deadly attack against Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, died Saturday of illness at the age of 73, Palestinian officials said. Daoud, whose real name was Mohammed Daoud Odeh, "was ill and passed away this morning," in the Syrian capital where he was living, a Palestinian official told AFP. His funeral is expected to take place following afternoon prayers at the Martyrs Cemetery in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp on the southern outskirts of Damascus, the official added. A member of the Palestinian National Council, or parliament, and the Palestine Liberation Organization's main Fatah faction, Daoud was best known for organizing the Munich attack that killed 11 Israeli athletes.He claimed responsibility for the daring attack, in which seven others also were killed, in his book "Palestine, from Jerusalem to Munich" published in 1999. A press release from his publishers at the time said Abu Daoud "admits full responsibility for organizing and preparing the attack against Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games." The book unleashed fury in Israel which barred him in 1999 from ever setting foot in the occupied Palestinian territories. Abu Daoud had repeatedly insisted that the Munich attack was "not a terrorist act.""We were at war with Israel," he told Al-Jazeera television in 1999. "Our aim was not civilian. We targeted athletes who in reality were Israeli officers and soldiers," he said. "Every person in Israel is a reservist," he said in the interview.(AFP) Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 12:54

Zahra: Mustaqbal and LF are Preparing a Plan to Grant Palestinians Their Rights
Naharnet/Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra revealed that the Mustaqbal Movement and LF are preparing a plan that would grant Palestinian refugees in Lebanon their civil rights without that having negative repercussions on the Lebanese people. He said: "A solution to the issue of Palestinian rights in Lebanon can only be resolved through dialogue between the two concerned sides," adding that any foreign intervention in the matter is rejected. He said however that Arab participation in resolving this issue would be welcome as long as it does not infringe on Lebanon's sovereignty. The MP called on all states, the international community, and U.N. organizations to aid Lebanon in this matter seeing as it is not the only side concerned with it. Zahra stressed that it is important for the LF that the Lebanese agree on tackling all pending issues, especially the case of the Palestinian refugees. Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 12:02

Jumblat: Why do We Deprive Palestinians of Right to Even Own an Apartment so that They May Live in Dignity
Naharnet/Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed that the party's suggestions of granting Palestinian refugees in Lebanon their rights was not aimed at creating political disputes "but ending their situation of disrespect and discrimination."He revealed after meeting with a delegation of Palestinian youths that Prime Minister Saad Hariri and House Speaker Nabih Berri vowed that they will try to pass the proposals during parliament's next session. He added that Arabs have been granted the right to own three percent of some land in some provinces, "so why deprive the hardworking Palestinian of owning even an apartment so he may live in dignity?"Jumblat noted "an historic meeting that took place between the Mustaqbal Movement and Lebanese Forces to study the Palestinian situation and we will see if this meeting will yield any results in the July 13 session." Beirut, 04 Jul 10, 09:57

Iran fails in S. Lebanon
By: Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Arab Times/ 04.07.10
IRAN has once again admitted its inability to face the international blockade imposed on it. The country has opted to put knives on the necks of the people in South Lebanon. The recent Hezbollah attacks on the international emergency forces proved that the area, which has been troubled by hot-headed, reckless and adventurous people, is no more than a playground for Iran. Iran also uses the area as a dumping site for the remnants of its ruined relations with the international community. This only proves that the republic does not consider the security of the innocent people in these villages, which have never experienced stability over the last decades. People in this area have been abused by blood trading organizations and militias, in addition to the Israeli occupation which continued for more than two decades.
The current tension in South Lebanon and attacks on the UNIFIL forces are part of the Iranian orders. They are not coincidences or merely an objection to routine maneuvers coordinated between these forces and the Lebanese Army. Observers have also noticed that relations between the ordinary people and these forces are very good as manifested in the cultural, medical and developmental projects and the humanitarian aid provided by UNIFIL, while the group with the so-called ‘clean money’ has been spending generously on entertaining themselves and increasing their balances in the banks.
They have been splurging, while the people in South Lebanon suffer from financial and economic difficulties, to the extent of hunger and extreme poverty. These are the same people that Hezbollah fought with their blood over the last years. Hezbollah has been using these people as barricades, while responding to orders from its masters in Tehran to deter the international sanctions on Iran.
The Lebanese have nothing to do with the sanctions approved by the International Security Council, European Union and the American administration on Iran. In fact, Lebanon’s stand on the Security Council was about to be transformed into a spark of civil war. It is the least that might happen in a country afflicted with a militia hiding behind the mask of religion to serve the imperial interests of its Persian master, whose objectives and plans have been exposed.
Consequently, if Iran really wants to face the entire world, then it should do so on its own territory, not on Arab land. Iran has repeatedly announced its alleged possession of weapons which can defeat the strongest armies. However, it seems the Iranian statements are nothing but slogans. The innocent and armless Arabs have been paying a high price because the Hezbollah has recruited some of them, using different slogans to influence their decisions and throw them into the darkness of their adventures.
We all know the Lebanese, especially those residing in the South, cannot tolerate the withdrawal of international emergency forces from South Lebanon, leaving the people to face their destiny, similar to what happened in 2006, which became known as the ‘Year of War’, in accordance with Hassan Nasrallah’s statement after the war.
We are also aware that the stability experienced by Lebanon over the last few years was the result of the concerned efforts of honest Lebanese, who have been striving to build their nation away from any regional entity, not due to the threats of the hot-headed parties. Furthermore, Lebanon, which is now keen on activating its role as an Arab treasury, can no longer be used as tools for some adventurous Arab countries, since any upcoming war will not affect Lebanon alone but all Arabs. Therefore, no one should tolerate the acts of some people toying with the fate of the innocent and the prestige of the Lebanese government to serve Iranian interests. Email: ahmed@aljarallah.com

Draft law sparks debate in ICT sector
Matt Nash, July 4, 2010
Now Lebanon/Lebanon’s archaic approach to developing and regulating the ICT sector is hindering what industry insiders say could be a serious contribution to the country’s GDP. (AFP photo/Jacques Demarthon)
Majid Ibrahim, a Lebanese-American businessman, recently expressed hopes of turning Lebanon into a “mini-Silicon Valley in the Middle East,” echoing the oft-repeated view of those in the local IT sector that the country’s technology industry could be a serious money maker.
However, Lebanon’s archaic approach to developing and regulating the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is hindering what industry insiders say could be a serious contribution to the country’s GDP. Lebanon is years behind in developing modern infrastructure to bolster the ICT sector, communication costs are exorbitant and internet speeds are painfully slow (and unlikely to speed up any time soon).
A draft law to regulate electronic transactions (read: doing business on the net) currently being debated in parliament is the latest example of the state’s bumbling approach toward readying the economy for the present, let alone the future, according to Gabriel Deek, secretary general of the Professional Computer Association of Lebanon.
A plenary session of parliament was supposed to vote on the draft law – which MPs have been writing since 2001 – on June 15, but the vote was postponed for one month. After a parliamentary subcommittee passed the law on June 8 – putting it on the agenda for a vote by all lawmakers – serious objections within the industry began.
Essentially, Deek and several other sources interviewed for this article said, the draft law, while necessary, is too vague and therefore open to abuse.
Deek has started blogging to draw attention to some of the draft law’s flaws, and soon a campaign to “Stop This Law” was in full swing on Twitter, Facebook and various other blogs. As users of these social media outlets urged people to e-mail and phone their MPs, Deek said he and the Beirut Chamber of Commerce lobbied Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and the vote was postponed.
The draft’s primary goal is to create a legal framework and regulations for conducting online business in Lebanon (it covers things like e-payment and e-signatures). It says that any entity conducting online transactions must apply for a license. The law also creates a regulatory body – the Electronic Signatures and Services Authority, or ESSA – to oversee net commerce.
“Its main objective is commercial, and it does not take into consideration the importance of [protecting] personal data in the commercial or business environment,” Mona Achkar Jabbour, a lawyer and president of the Lebanese Information Technology Association, told NOW Lebanon.
ESSA, according to the draft law, can launch investigations into businesses involved in e-commerce and seize all of their computers and records – including any personal customer data. Deek and Jabbour fear these powers can be misused.
Al-Akhbar reported that other ambiguous language in the law could be interpreted in such a way that anyone (bloggers, individual users) doing anything (like sending e-mails) would need licenses or could be investigated by ESSA.
Drafting the law has been a long and drawn-out process, according to An-Nahar. Former Beirut MP Ghinwa Jalloul first proposed a precursor to the law now being debated in 2002. In drafting the law, Jalloul told NOW Lebanon that she brought together experts on e-commerce, law and representatives from the Central Bank, the Association of Financial Institutions in Lebanon and a slew of interested ministries (Economy, Finance, Defense, Justice, Social Affairs and Telecommunications, among others).
Each party, she said, wanted to add different elements to the law, broadening the law’s focus. Jalloul did not run for re-election in 2009, and MP Ahmad Fatfat replaced her as chairperson of parliament’s IT subcommittee.
Fatfat told NOW Lebanon he knows little about internet regulations and has relied on experts and representatives of different government agencies and ministries to prepare the final draft. He was surprised by the outburst of frustration and anger from the sector and argued that it is clearly used to conducting e-commerce without regulation, is being overly sensitive and wants to continue working free of any restrictions.
Elissar Sayyed-Kassem, an expert in cyber-law and e-commerce law, agrees that the draft law is vague and open to abuse. However, she also said that while “not defending or opposing” the law, she thinks it should be passed because Lebanon is some 10 years behind many other countries in passing e-transaction laws.
Mohamad Najem, director of Social Media Exchange, an NGO that joined in opposition to the law early on, told NOW Lebanon that the one disturbing thing he has noticed is that none of the MPs he has spoken to appear to have actually read the law.
Deek and Najem say that opponents to the law from the business and ICT communities, as well as civil society groups, have been meeting since the June 15 postponement to hammer out the changes to the law they would like to see. Fatfat said the parliamentary subcommittee will hold more meetings and that he is open to changing the law, though he dismissed the idea of inviting NGOs to sessions.
Fatfat expects parliament to vote on the draft in mid-July, though Najem is suspects it will be postponed again.
Regardless of the fate of this particular law, it seems a larger fight might be brewing. NOW Lebanon attended a June 18 meeting to discuss the law at the Professional Computer Association of Lebanon’s office downtown. While the discussion centered on the law, anger at Lebanon’s handling of the ICT sector was clearly on display.
To nods of agreement (that later became tweets from participants) Deek said the country needs laws that encourage and incentivize the building of a “knowledge economy.” “Banking and tourism,” Deek said, referencing the two big contributors to Lebanon’s GDP, “are we going to support them and them alone forever?”

US-Iran dynamic: Why US effort to leverage Syria is flagging
Nicholas Blanford , csmonitor.com, July 3, 2010
More than a year after the US launched a cautious effort to reengage with Syria, wooing it away from Iran and the Iranian-backed Shiite organization Hezbollah, the process appears to have reached an impasse.Far from loosening its ties to Hezbollah, which the US classifies as a terrorist organization, Syria seems to be drawing ever closer to the powerful group in military cooperation. A year ago, it was reported that Hezbollah militants were receiving training in Syria on SA-8 “Gecko” vehicle-mounted antiaircraft missile systems, and that Syrian-manufactured M600 artillery rockets with a range of 155 miles had been transferred to the Lebanese group.
What are Hezbollah's true colors? In April, Israeli and US reports surfaced that Syria had transferred Scud ballistic missiles to Hezbollah’s control. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran had delivered to Syria a new sophisticated radar system that could give advance warning of an impending Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities or Hezbollah.
“This is the first time a [US-classified] state sponsor [of terrorism] has ever been essentially busted getting [Scud] ballistic missiles close to a terrorist organization,” says Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “In a post 9/11 world, this is not what we expected after 14 or so senior [diplomatic] visits to Damascus in the last year.”
What's to blame? Although Obama seems committed to engaging Syria, the administration has been frustrated by what it considers the lack of positive response from Damascus. In particular, the US seems unable to persuade Syria to drop its support for militant anti-Israel groups such as Hezbollah and the Palestinian movement Hamas, also considered a terrorist group by the US and Europe.
· A number of factors are to blame for the stalled renewal of ties, analysts say:
· The Obama administration’s attention has been diverted from the Middle East by more pressing matters such as the domestic economy and Afghanistan; · The right-wing government in Israel has shown little enthusiasm for resuming peace talks with Syria; · Damascus has tightened its relationship with Hezbollah, to the consternation of the US and Israel; · Turkey’s recent animosity toward Israel has shifted regional power dynamics, potentially in Syria’s favor.**The above article was published in csmonitor.com on July 2nd, 2010.

Netanyahu Comes to Washington: An Assessment of U.S.-Israeli relations
featuring Stephen Hadley and Michael Herzog, washingtoninstitute.org, July 3, 2010
Stephen Hadley - The two-state solution is widely accepted as the ultimate outcome of any Middle East peace process. Despite this consensus, progress toward a solution has slowed to a near halt. The difficulty Israel's right wing coalition faces in making concessions on key issues has proven a major obstacle to negotiations, while the split between a Palestinian Authority-controlled West Bank and Hamas in Gaza further diminishes the probability of reaching a solution in the foreseeable future.
Also detracting from Israel's willingness to negotiate is a growing sense of isolation. Iran's looming nuclear program, deteriorating ties with Turkey, and a strained relationship with Washington all threaten Israel's sense of security, making the current government even less likely to make necessary concessions.
Michael Herzog – Recent strategic challenges -- including Iran's nuclear program, deteriorating ties with Turkey, and tensions with the United States -- have left Israelis feeling increasingly isolated from the international community. The growing perception is that even Israel's right to use force for self-defense is under international attack.
Although Israel and the Palestinian Authority are both striving toward a two-state solution while facing the common challenges posed by Iran and Hamas, they have repeatedly expressed different conditions for negotiations. Israelis believe that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed." As such, Israel wants direct final-status negotiations and maintains that core issues (such as Jerusalem and refugees) are too important to be discussed through a third party.
The Palestinians want an Obama plan or a UN-imposed solution to the conflict and have set a host of preconditions -- including a full settlement freeze and the resumption of talks from where former prime minister Ehud Olmert left off -- that must be met before negotiations begin. Despite repeated U.S. efforts, these two approaches to negotiations continue to be unbridgeable.
*The above rapporteur's summary was prepared by Sheli Chabon and was published in washingtoninstitute.org on July 2nd, 2010.

Israel versus Lebanon: Hydrocarbons edition
Steve LeVine , foreignpolicy.com, July 3, 2010
Tensions have been stirred by both sides. Lebanon's Hezbollah-led opposition has accused Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri of failing to protect the country's resource rights, and Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau told Bloomberg last week that Israel would use force if necessary to defend its right to develop and produce the fields.
The to-and-fro involves the Tamar and Leviathan gas fields, which may contain more than 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, equivalent to 3.5 billion barrels of oil, or up to 35 years of Israel's current consumption with enough left over to make the country an exporter. And it isn't just talk -- a consortium of energy companies, including Noble Energy of the United States, has signed an $11 billion gas supply deal with the Israel Electric Co. starting in two years, and has received a $430 million loan to develop Tamar, reports Sara Toth Stubs of Dow Jones Newswires. Israeli billionaire Yitzhak Tshuva is leading the Leviathan project.
The finds open a wholly new energy region, benefitting countries that have sat on the sidelines as trillions of dollars in profits have gone to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran and the other oil heavyweights.
I emailed Fareed Mohamedi, an expert on Middle East energy at PFC Energy, who in turn asked colleague Yahya Sadowski about the stakes at play. Sadowski indicated that there is validity to Lebanon's concerns that Tamar straddles the waters of both countries -- "They would all be tapping into the same reservoir," Sadowski said in an email. Since the Israelis are already set to produce gas, they "have a huge head start, and will be able to suck out most of the gas before anyone else is even able to raise the funds for exploration," he said.

Abbas Eulogizes Munich Massacre Mastermind
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu/Arutz Sheva
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has euologized Abu Dauod, the mastermind of the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munch Olympics in 1972 and who died Saturday. “He is missed. He was one of the leading figures of Fatah and spent his life in resistance and sincere work as well as physical sacrifice for his people's just causes,” said Abbas.
Dauod, a former commander of the Fatah party that Abbas now heads, died late Friday night as the age of 73.
Abbas’ eulogy and praise for the planner of the murders came less than a month after he told American Jewish leaders in Washington that he will work to stop incitement of violence against Jews. Abbas provided the funds for the Munich massacre, according to Dauod.
The Black September gang said it received its orders from Fatah, which denied involvement in the massacre.
The Munch murder gang consisted of masked terrorists who stormed the apartments where Israeli athletes were staying in the Olympic Village. The terrorists took the athletes as hostages and demanded the release of 200 Arabs from Israeli prisons.
By the time the attack was over, the Israeli athletes were killed, along with one German officer and five of the terrorists. Daoud and one other member of the gang survived.
The Games continued after several hours.
Dauod said in interviews four years ago that he does not regret the massacre. “You can only dream that I would apologize,” he said.
The Israeli victims were:
Moshe Weinberg, wrestling coach, age 33;
Yossef Romano, weightlifter, 31
Ze'ev Friedman, weightlifter, 28
David Berger, weightlifter, 28
Yaakov Springer, weightlifting coach, age 51
Eliezer Halfin, wrestler, 24
Yossef Gutfreund, wrestling referee, 40
Kehat Shorr, shooting coach, 53
Mark Slavin, wrestler, 18
Andre Spitzer, fencing referee, 27
Amitzur Shapira , track coach, 40

Netanyahu Under Strong Pressure Not to Extend Freeze
by Hillel Fendel/Arutz Sheva
As Prime Minister Netanyahu prepares to leave Monday for his meeting with U.S. President Obama on Tuesday, loudspeakers outside his office, and Cabinet ministers inside, remind him of his pledge to resume Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria.
Netanyahu will be making his third try in four months to have a positive meeting with the American leader. In March, he was shunted into the White House via a back door and did not participate in a public press conference with Obama, prompting Congressional criticism of Obama for mistreating a valued ally.
Five weeks ago, just after the flotilla incident, a scheduled Netanyahu-Obama meeting in Washington was called off when White House staffers feared that Netanyahu would use the occasion to explain to the world Israel’s position on the flotilla incident.
This time, Obama is planning to make up for the previous occasions – at least publicly. “What's most important for the United States is appearances,” AFP quotes Barry Rubin, editor of The Middle East Review of International Affairs, as saying. “Basically this is an administration that wants to look good, that wants to claim it's achieving something, and appearances could be spun in that direction."
No Rift
For the record, American officials are saying that relations between the U.S. and Israel are fine. “There is absolutely no rift between the United States and Israel,” said spokesman and Obama speechwriter Ben Rhodes, whose official title is deputy national security advisor for strategic communications.
Strong Pressure on Netanyahu not to Extend Freeze
Netanyahu, for his part, is facing strong domestic pressure not to agree to extend the ten-month freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. The freeze, which Netanyahu agreed to under strong pressure from the United States as a means by which to get the PA to agree to talk with Israel, is set to expire in late September.
During this morning’s Cabinet meeting, several Cabinet ministers sought to remind Netanyahu to remain firm and not give in to further pressure on the matter. Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) said, “I call upon the Prime Minister: You gave your word that the freeze would not be extended, and I believe that you will remain true to your word.” Ministers from Shas and the Jewish Home made similar statements.
The ministerial committee for legislation is considering a proposal by Likud MK Carmel Shama to require that further construction freezes be decided upon only by the Knesset, not be government ministers. Netanyahu objects, but the ministers of Israel Our Home and Shas have said they will vote in its favor.
Erekat Issues Partial Denial
Just in time for Netanyahu’s trip is an unconfirmed report from London’s Arabic Al-Hayat newspaper that the PA has agreed to let Israel keep 2.3 percent of Judea and Samaria – including the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, Pisgat Ze’ev, Gush Etzion and Modiin Illit – in exchange for the same amount of area south of Hevron and a land passage between Gaza and Judea. Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat has already denied the Old City aspects, adding that that the details of the negotiations are secret and that he would not comment.
Direct Talks
Netanyahu, for his part, said this morning that he would press for direct talks with PA chief Mahmoud Abbas. “There is no substitute for direct talks. Ramallah is only ten minutes from here [by helicopter], and it’s time that Abu Mazen agree to meet with me. Whoever wants peace must agree to direct talks.”

UN Warns of New War in North; Claims on Gas May Be Trigger
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu/Arutz Sheva
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned that violence may break out again between Hizbullah and Israel as tensions rise over charges that the terrorist organization has obtained advanced long--range Scud missiles from Syria.
Ban's warning came as the IDF concludes a massive training exercise in the north, where soldiers are preparing for war.
"Amidst allegations of continued arms transfers to Hizbullah... a perceptible increase in tension between the parties was recorded," Ban reportedly wrote in his report, a copy of which was obtained by the French news agency AFP,. The report comes four years after the beginning of the Second Lebanon War, which ended with U.N. ceasefire resolution 1701 that Israel says has not stopped continued stockpiling of arms by Hizbullah.
"This raised the specter of a miscalculation by either party leading to a resumption of hostilities, with potentially devastating consequences for Lebanon and the region.” Ban noted.
The U.N. leader continued to deny there is any evidence of Hizbullah’s smuggling weapons in southern Lebanon despite foreign media and Israeli intelligence reports pointing to Syria’s freely transferring weapons into Lebanon.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said in Beirut Saturday that he does not believe that war is imminent. “I believe that whether it is the other side [Israel] claiming it or some other party, they are exaggerating,” Moussa stated after meeting with Lebanese leaders. He did not refer to the warning by Ban.
One trigger for another war could be the huge natural gas fields that Israeli firms have discovered off Israel’s Mediterranean Coast and which both Lebanon and Hizbullah claim belongs to them.
Replying to Lebanese warnings to Israel not drill in its waters, Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau declared last week that Israel would use force if necessary to defend its rights to develop the fields, which it says are not in Lebanese territory.
The gas fields off the coast the Haifa area are estimated to contain enough natural gas to supply Israel’s needs for more than three decades and allow the Jewish State to export gas, instead of having to import energy.