LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِSeptember 06/2010

Bible Of the Day
John:15/1-15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 15:2 Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 15:3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 15:4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 15:5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 15:6 If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 15:7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
15:8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. 15:9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. 15:11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full". 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 15:14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. 15:16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you

Today's Inspiring Thought: Jesus Chose You
If you ever start to think you don't matter much to God, consider this: Jesus chose you! He hand-picked and appointed you for a mission—to produce enduring fruit. In God's eyes, you are highly significant. Not only are you the Lord's servant, you are his personally chosen friend and partner in ministry. For this reason, whatever you ask of the Father in Jesus' name, he will give it to you. Because the Lord chose you to cooperate with him in fulfilling the Father's will on earth. (About.com)

 

Free Opinions, Releases, letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Yedioth Ahronoth: A Thank You to Hamas/By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid/
September 05/10
US warns Assad of Israeli counter-strike for terror campaign/DEBKAfile/September 05/10

Latest News Reports From Miscellaneous Sources for September 05/10
2 Palestinians Killed, 3 Wounded in Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza/Naharnet
Gaza Militants Fire Rocket into Israel/Naharnet
Palestinians to Iran: Mind your own business/JPOST
Defense officials back US bid to se
nd envoy to Syria/J.post
Israel's military says explosions in southern Lebanon occurred at Hezbollah/The Canadian Press
Israeli
Minister Braverman: Progress in talks can threaten Iran/Ynetnews
'Mideast peace process poses a strategic threat to Iran/Haaretz
Sami Gemayel: All militia should be disbanded starting with Hezbollah/Ya Libnan
Israeli Warplanes Stage Mock Air Raids over South Lebanon/Naharnet
UNIFIL: International Investigators Inspect Shehabiyeh Incident Site
/Naharnet
Berri Seeks to Bring Hariri-Nasrallah Views Closer after Counter Accusations
/Naharnet
UNIFIL Awaits Shehabiyeh Probe Results as Source Says Blasts Resulted from Hizbullah Training
/Naharnet
Hariri Murder Reenactment to Take Place in France Sept. 28
/Naharnet

Nasrallah Thanks Hariri for Committing to Calm Rhetoric/Naharnet
Murr in Spain to Talk Military Cooperation, Assistance/Naharnet
Hariri Committed to Calm Rhetoric, Calls for National Unity/Naharnet
UNIFIL: International Investigators Inspect Shehabiyeh Incident Site/Naharnet
Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya MP Imad al-Hout: Solution to clashes must give authority to security forces/Now Lebanon
Hariri and Nasrallah to meet soon, source says/Now Lebanon

Hizbullah Prevented Journalists from Photographing Site of Explosion in South Lebanon
The Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal reports that Hizbullah prevented journalists from taking pictures of the blast site in the village of Shehabiya (south of the Litani, near the city of Tyre), where a cache of munitions exploded on September 3. According to the daily, Hizbullah even seized some of the journalists' cameras. Some reports claimed that UNIFIL personnel had also been prevented from approaching the site immediately after the explosion, while other reports contradicted this.
Hizbullah denied that any of its operatives had been killed in the blast. A UNIFIL source assessed that the explosion had occurred as a result of Hizbullah training activities at the site.
**Source: www.nowlebanon.com, Al-Mustaqbal (Lebanon); Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), September 4, 2010

US warns Assad of Israeli counter-strike for terror campaign
http://www.debka.com/article/9013/
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report September 5, 2010,/Naharnet
The Obama administration has sent Syrian president Bashar Assad a stern warning that he will be held personally accountable and face consequences if Israel and the Palestinian Authority are subjected to a terror campaign - whether by Hizballah or the Palestinian extremist groups based in Damascus, debkafile reports from Washington. The warning went out Thursday, Sept. 2, as Israelis and Palestinians sat down to talk in Washington in the shadow of threats from extremists sheltering under Syria's wing and after two attacks on the West Bank.
The caution was put in Assad's hands in Damascus by Fredric Hof, adviser to US envoy George Mitchell as Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met for the first time under the aegis of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and support of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah. debkafile's sources do not know exactly what was said at the interview but Saturday, Sept. 4, they confirmed the severity of the US message to the Syrian ruler. Our military sources report that last week, Syria and Hizballah took joint steps against a possible Israeli strike against the sophisticated rockets which Hizballah is storing for safekeeping at Syrian bases close to the border and holding ready for immediate use. Hizballah militiamen have been visiting those bases to learn how to use the advanced hardware. Assad is deepening his military partnership with Hizballah and advancing joint preparations for war under Iranian sponsorship. Last Sunday, Aug. 29, he urged Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to stand solidly behind Hizballah when they met in Damascus. The Syrian ruler stressed to Hariri "…the importance of supporting the resistance [a euphemism for terrorism used by radical Arab elements] as the only way to preserve Lebanon's strength and security against regional threats." Our sources report that the hands of Assad and the Iran-backed Hizballah are detected in fomenting terror in another part of the Middle East - Iraq, especially in Baghdad.

Palestinians to Iran: Mind your own business
By JPOST.COM STAFF
09/05/2010 06:18
PA spokesman retorts that Iran "represses their people," after Iranian FM says those negotiating with Israel are "betraying their nations."
The Palestinian Authority has taken a stand against Iran, after the Islamic Republic criticized the PA for relanuching direct talks with Israel, according to official PA news agency Wafa.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, reportedly said that Ahmadinejad "does not represent the Iranian people, forged elections, suppresses the Iranian people and stole the authority. [He] is not entitled to talk about Palestine, or the president of Palestine."
"President Abu Mazen [Abbas] is the elected president of free and fair elections in which more than two thousand international observers [participated]," Abu Rudeineh said. "We have fought for Palestine and Jerusalem, and the Palestinian leadership has provided thousands of martyrs and tens of thousands wounded and prisoners."
"We did not repress our people, as did Iran led by Ahmadinejad," Abu Rudeineh added.
"We are defending our national rights and our national interest, and the President and the Palestinian leadership and the PLO are the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, who knows how to defend their rights and will not allow anyone to undermine the national president or the legitimacy of the Palestine Liberation Organization," he said.
The criticism came from Libya, where Abbas is meeting with Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.
Earlier this week, Egypt canceled a visit by Iran's foreign minister to protest comments in which he accused Arab leaders of betrayal for attending the new round of Mideast peace talks in Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had been scheduled to visit Cairo Monday for a meeting of Nonaligned Movement members.
Mottaki said Arab leaders who attended the relaunch of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington this week were "betraying their nations."
"Some leaders ... who follow America's orders must understand that they are betraying their nations," Iran's Fars news agency quoted him as saying on Tuesday.
AP contributed to this report


Yedioth Ahronoth: A Thank You to Hamas

04/09/2010
By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid
AlShareq Alawsat
Hamas has demonstrated rare courage in carrying out and adopting the killing of four Israelis on the same hour in which the Palestinian President and his negotiating team were traveling to Washington. As is its habit it makes the Palestinian individual pay the price while the Israelis are the ones who benefit from its operations.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said in a recent editorial that "the Hebron operation does not change much of the essence of the summit, but it helps Netanyahu's security demands and naturally enhances his ability to bargain on the issue of the settlements freeze. He can explain to the Americans that when it is the settlers who are the victims of the terrorism, then the Israeli public will not accept continuation of the construction freeze. In other words, the (Hamas) operation places a tactical and media weapon in the hand of the Prime Minister. It is not the Palestinians alone who go to Washington as parties that have been wronged but the Israelis as well". So the truth is that Hamas has always been a partner to Israeli desires and a good servant to the Iranian demands but has not done anything whatsoever for the Palestinian individual.
Hamas spoiled the famous 1999 and 2000 negotiations then returned later to say that it was ready to accept the political settlement offered to President Arafat. But it was too late because Bill Clinton had already left the White House.
In the name of responding to Hamas, the Israelis destroyed all that President Arafat built after his historic return from Tunisia. They destroyed the Gaza Airport, the harbor, and the governmental centers on the West Bank, and they killed many members of his security forces. Each time Hamas wished to sabotage the negotiating process, it would send some suicidal teenager to blow up a civilian bus and provide the Israeli extremists with more pretexts for more killing and plunder, blows against the PA and sabotage of its institutions. Hamas did nothing to harm the Israelis. It did not hit the centers of their military or economic strength. The greatest successes of Hamas were when it succeeded in drawing the Israelis to enter the PA territories and lay siege to President Yasser Arafat in his office until he died of frustration. Hamas and Islamic Jihad were behind the building of the Wall which represents the most dangerous process for changing the facts on the ground. Israel benefited from the operations directed against it to build that wall which stole a third of the Palestinian lands and severed family bonds, wasted many farms and laid siege to thousands of Palestinian families who were left to live in unparalleled misery.
Most unfortunately, the facts say that Hamas is Israel's partner, not the opposite. This is what it did yesterday when it killed four Israelis on the eve of the Palestinian team's departure for the negotiations. It wants to sabotage the scheme of the American President who asked to be given an opportunity of just one year and pledged to establish the Palestinian State.
Hamas is not against the negotiations because Hamas itself sought negotiations with the Israelis at the outset of this year and extended to them concessions that were exactly the same as those pledged by the PA in Ramallah. But the Americans refused to have Hamas participate and this made it turn to sabotaging the fresh negotiations, not out of hatred for Israel but only because it is against PA participation. This is also because with its operations, Hamas satisfies its ally Iran that threatens to sabotage the negotiations. Iran itself is not against the negotiations but wants the Palestinians to pay, as usual, the price of their reconciliation with the Americans so that it could acquire regional influence and be permitted to have nuclear weapons when it allows the Palestinians to negotiate. The decision today is for the Palestinians on whether they wish to negotiate or not. They are also the ones who have to decide later whether the proposed reconciliation is suitable or not. The first and final word is for the Palestinians, not for the Arabs or the Iranians.

Nasrallah Thanks Hariri for Committing to Calm Rhetoric

Naharnet/Political aide to Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hussein Khalil, has contacted Prime Minister Saad Hariri to thank him on behalf of Nasrallah for committing to calm rhetoric, local media reported Sunday. Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday also reported that Hizbullah and Hariri's Mustaqbal Movement have vowed to end political bickering.
It said head of Hizbullah's Coordination and Liaison Committee Wafiq Safa has informed a source close to Hariri that the Shiite group has decided to refrain from responding to political statements. Safa also reportedly said that Hizbullah officials and MPs were given orders to end political bickering. Al-Hayat said Mustaqbal Movement officials and MPs also received similar orders. Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah attacked in a Friday televised speech "political exploitation" of the Aug. 24 street battles in Beirut between Hizbullah and al-Ahbash, a pro-Syrian Sunni radical group. Al-Hayat said Hariri has informed Druze leader Walid Jumblat in a telephone call that the prime minister was being "targeted" by Nasrallah and statements criticizing him were "no longer acceptable." Beirut, 05 Sep 10, 10:00


Murr in Spain to Talk Military Cooperation, Assistance

Naharnet/Defense Minister Elias Murr flew to Spain on Sunday to discuss military cooperation and assistance to the Lebanese Army, state-run National News Agency reported.
He traveled at the official invitation of his Spanish counterpart. NNA said talks would also tackle U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701

Hariri Committed to Calm Rhetoric, Calls for National Unity

Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he was committed to calm rhetoric and quiet dialogue and called for national unity.
His comments came during an iftar on Saturday in honor of families from north Lebanon.
Hariri acknowledged renewal of war of words among political leaders. "For our part, we did not want political bickering to start and we do not wish bickering to return to square one," he told diners in Qoreitem. "What happened yesterday has happened, but from now on I will stick to calm rhetoric," Hariri pledged. During Friday's iftar, Hariri hit back at Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, saying one cannot stand idle and watch when violations are being committed against Beirut. "Half of Lebanon's citizens live in Beirut, and the capital embraced the citizens during all the Israeli wars on Lebanon," Hariri had said. "Is this how we reward the people of Beirut? No," he said, sharply. "I said since the beginning that I want calm and kind word, but when peoples' homes and properties become exposed to violation, is it required to stand idle and watch without having the right to give our opinion or talk?," Hariri asked. "This is unacceptable." "We have, therefore, committed to the good word, and we will continue to work towards a peaceful dialogue," Hariri told families from Tripoli, Mina and Qalamoun. "It's everybody's responsibility to help authorities have the upper hand and avoid a return to any serious bickering," he stressed. Beirut, 05 Sep 10,

Hariri Committed to Calm Rhetoric, Calls for National Unity

Naharnet/Prime Minister Saad Hariri said he was committed to calm rhetoric and quiet dialogue and called for national unity.
His comments came during an iftar on Saturday in honor of families from north Lebanon. Hariri acknowledged renewal of war of words among political leaders."For our part, we did not want political bickering to start and we do not wish bickering to return to square one," he told diners in Qoreitem. "What happened yesterday has happened, but from now on I will stick to calm rhetoric," Hariri pledged. During Friday's iftar, Hariri hit back at Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, saying one cannot stand idle and watch when violations are being committed against Beirut. "Half of Lebanon's citizens live in Beirut, and the capital embraced the citizens during all the Israeli wars on Lebanon," Hariri had said. "Is this how we reward the people of Beirut? No," he said, sharply. "I said since the beginning that I want calm and kind word, but when peoples' homes and properties become exposed to violation, is it required to stand idle and watch without having the right to give our opinion or talk?," Hariri asked. "This is unacceptable." "We have, therefore, committed to the good word, and we will continue to work towards a peaceful dialogue," Hariri told families from Tripoli, Mina and Qalamoun. "It's everybody's responsibility to help authorities have the upper hand and avoid a return to any serious bickering," he stressed. Beirut, 05 Sep 10, 09:20

Palestinians Killed, 3 Wounded in Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza

Naharnet/The body of a second Palestinian killed in Israeli air strikes on southern Gaza was recovered on Sunday, according to Palestinian medics and witnesses.
The two Palestinians were killed and another three were wounded in the strikes carried out Saturday after a rocket attack from Gaza in the first exchange of fire since the relaunch of Middle East peace talks last week. Two raids targeted smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt, causing a tunnel to collapse on the two men, and a third struck a former base used by the militant Hamas movement, which has ruled Gaza since June 2007. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the three raids, saying that one was aimed at "a tunnel dug in the direction of Israeli territory" for attacks across the border. The air strikes came after the firing of a makeshift rocket from Gaza into Israel by Palestinian militants on Saturday, which caused no casualties or damage, according to the Israeli military. On Thursday, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relaunched direct peace talks in Washington following a 20-month hiatus. Hamas has threatened to keep up its attacks on Israel after carrying out two shooting assaults against Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank that killed four people ahead of the talks. It did not claim the rocket attack, however, and has taken steps to halt such attacks by other militant factions since the end of a devastating Israeli offensive in the territory in December 2008 and January 2009. Hamas and Abbas's secular Fatah movement have been fiercely divided since the Gaza takeover and the Islamist movement -- which is sworn to Israel's destruction -- has vehemently opposed the renewal of peace negotiations.(AFP) Beirut, 05 Sep 10,

Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya MP Imad al-Hout: Solution to clashes must give authority to security forces

September 5, 2010 /Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya MP Imad al-Hout told Future News television on Sunday that all politicians want to put the Bourj Abi Haidar clashes behind them, adding that the solution to this incident must provide security and military forces with authority. A deadly street battle shook the Bourj Abi Haidar district in the Lebanese capital on August 24, pitting supporters of Hezbollah against those of Sunni outfit Al-Ahbash- also known as Association of Islamic Charitable Projects- two parties with warm ties to Damascus. Following the clashes, the cabinet formed a ministerial commission tasked with handling the increased use of arms in Lebanon. Hout also warned that the latest regional developments might destabilize Lebanon and voiced the importance of facing any possible repercussions in Lebanon with unity.-NOW Lebanon

Hajj Hussein Khalil thanks Hariri on behalf of Nasrallah

September 5, 2010 /Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's political advisor Hajj Hussein Khalil called Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday night on behalf of Nasrallah and thanked him for committing to a calm atmosphere, New TV reported on Sunday. In a speech on Friday afternoon, Nasrallah attacked what he said was political exploitation of the August 24 clashes in Beirut between supporters of Hezbollah and those of Sunni group Al-Ahbash, saying that “a knife was put in [Hezbollah’s] wound and twisted.” Hariri responded to Nasrallah’s remarks by saying, “I am not the one holding a knife. I am the son of [former Prime Minister] Rafik Hariri and I will remain modest.” In a Saturday Iftar speech, Hariri said that political and media rhetoric following his remarks on Friday evening reached a level he had hoped would be avoided, demonstrating the necessity of commitment to quiet dialogue and polite speech.-NOW Lebanon

Hariri and Nasrallah to meet soon, source says

September 4, 2010 /Communications are underway to calm the atmosphere and pave the way for Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to meet “before Eid al-Fitr,” NBN quoted an anonymous source as saying on Saturday. In a speech on Friday afternoon, Nasrallah attacked what he said was political exploitation of the August 24 clashes in Beirut between supporters of Hezbollah and those of Sunni group Al-Ahbash, saying that “a knife was put in [Hezbollah’s] wound and twisted.”
In an Iftar speech on Friday, Hariri responded to Nasrallah’s remarks, saying, “I am not the one holding a knife. I am the son of [former Prime Minister] Rafik Hariri and I will remain modest.”-NOW Lebanon

Hariri, Berri in contact following Friday’s speeches

September 4, 2010 /An anonymous source told NOW Lebanon on Saturday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri was in contact with Speaker Nabih Berri after Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered his address on Friday, and the PM’s response to Nasrallah’s remarks later in the evening. During a speech marking the annual Jerusalem Day, Nasrallah said that “some stabbed a knife in [Hezbollah’s] heart, and it is not the behavior of a man of state or a head of party,” in a reference that, according to the Hezbollah chief, Hariri was exploiting the August 24 Beirut clashes. March 14 parties, including Future bloc MPs, called for a weapons-free Beirut following a deadly street battle that shook the Bourj Abi Haidar district in the Lebanese capital, pitting supporters of Hezbollah against those of Sunni outfit Al-Ahbash, also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects. Hariri responded to Nasrallah’s remarks on Friday by saying, “I am not the one holding a knife. I am the son of [former Prime Minister] Rafik Hariri and I will remain modest.”
-NOW Lebanon

Sakr defends Hariri

September 5, 2010
Lebanon First bloc MP Okab Sakr told Future News television on Sunday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Friday statement was not intended to criticize anyone, adding that Hariri aimed to defend himself and that he clearly wants a calm atmosphere. In a speech on Friday afternoon, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah attacked what he said was political exploitation of the August 24 clashes in Beirut between supporters of Hezbollah and those of Sunni group Al-Ahbash, saying that “a knife was put in [Hezbollah’s] wound and twisted.” Hariri responded to Nasrallah’s remarks by saying, “I am not the one holding a knife. I am the son of [former Prime Minister] Rafik Hariri and I will remain modest.”
Relations between Hariri and Nasrallah are not ruptured, Sakr said, adding that Hariri’s visit to the scene where the clashes took place was not carried out to “add fuel to the fire” but rather to reinforce the cabinet’s authority. Sakr also told As-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper in an interview published on Sunday that the spread of arms in Beirut does not benefit Hezbollah or Lebanon. The MP voiced his disappointment over statements made by Hezbollah criticizing Hariri, which he considered to be unjustified.
-NOW Lebanon