LCCC NEWS BULLETIN
JULY 15/2006
Latest News From
miscellaneous sources 15/07/06
Israel
destroys home of Hezbollah leader -AP
Iran warns Israel against extending conflict AFP
Israel hits Hezbollah leader's HQ BBC
Lebanese struggle to flee bombing -BBC
The Risks of Israel's Two-Front War-TIME Magazine
Mideast madness- Houston Chronicle, Jul
The Middle East's Symbolic Slugfest- The Los Angeles Times
Mideast madness- Houston Chronicle, Jul 14
Hizbollah chief defiant after Israel bombs home Reuters,
Bush calls Siniora, Mubarak, Abdullah-Reuters
Israel continues assault on Lebanon-ABC Online
Israel for rules change in south Lebanon-United Press International
Israel Blockades, Bombs Lebanon While Hezbollah Rains Rocket Fire-Washington Post
Lebanon says Bush to press Israel to limit attacks-Reuters
Warplanes target Hezbollah HQ-Sydney Morning Herald
US says Syria must act responsibly-KRIS-TV
Three killed, 55 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon-Hindu
Syria says tells Hizbollah: stop rocketing Israel-Reuters - USA
EU: Israel Uses "Disproportionate Force" in Lebanon-Deutsche Welle
Egypt, Jordan condemn Israeli attacks on Lebanon-Reuters
Israel bombs Beirut airport again-Aljazeera.net
Israeli Ships, Planes Renew Beirut Airport Attacks-KSBI 52
Middle East Crisis: Israel new attacks on Lebanon-Spero News
World leaders urge end to violence-CNN International
Hezbollah stronghold defiant after raids-Mail & Guardian Online
Prospects for Democracy, US Influence, Peace All Seen at Risk-Combined Jewish
Holiday in hell: Australians stranded in Lebanon-The Age - Melbourne,
Armenia Condemns Israeli Attack On Lebanon-Armenialiberty.org
Middle East II: Israel's invasion, Syria's war-International Herald Tribune
Middle East: Syria, Iran Loom Larger In Israel-Lebanon Crisis-RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Latest News From
miscellaneous sources 14/07/06
Israel continues air strikes on Lebanon-ABC Online
Israel intensifies airstrikes on Lebanon-ITV.com
Hezbollah demonstrates military, political muscle-Baltimore Sun
Report: Growing calls in Lebanon to disarm Hizbullah-Ynetnews
EU fears Israel's offensive in Lebanon may draw Syria -Hindu
Why They Fight-Washington Post
Despite Hezbollah's Ties to Iran and Syria, It Also Acts Alone-Los Angeles
Times
Lebanese leader hints Syria, Iran orchestrated Hezbollah raid -WorldNetDaily
Rice Calls on Syria to Cease Providing Protection for Hizbullah-Arutz Sheva
US allows some embassy staffers to leave Lebanon-Washington Post
'Nothing is safe' Israel cranks up pressure on Lebanon to reject-Globe and
Mail - Canada
Lebanon divided over Hezbollah raid-Aljazeera.net
Emirati families evacuated from Lebanon as Israel bombs Beirut-Khaleej Times
Crude hikes as Lebanon violence soars-Moneycontrol.com
Lebanon Recalls Ambassador to US -Naharnet
Australians in Lebanon told to stay put-The Age
Australia reopens Lebanon embassy-ABC Online
SA citizens stuck in Lebanon-SABC News
Tremors rock Syria-Asia Times Online
Attacks Could Erode Hezbollah's Role In Lebanon's Government-Free Internet Press
Bush defends Israeli strikes into Lebanon-Business Day
Bush, German Chancellor Address Middle East Crisis, Iran-Washington
File
'Nothing is safe' Israel cranks up pressure on Lebanon to reject-Globe and Mail
Latest News From
miscellaneous sources 14/07/06
Attacks Could Erode Faction's Support-Washington Post
Residents flee to mountains-Gulf Daily News
UAE to fly stranded nationals home via Syria-Gulf News
Tourists Streaming into Syria from Lebanon-Arutz Sheva
Saudi Arabia blames Hizbollah in Lebanon crisis-Reuters
Israel warns Lebanon to evacuate civilians-ABC Online
Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls Israel's attacks in Lebanon-Canada.com
Bush, Other Leaders Express Concern Over Lebanon and Israel-Bloomberg
Hills echo with sounds of war as raids split Lebanon in two-Times Online
Lebanon says it doesn't control Hezbollah-Seattle Post Intelligencer
Jordan's King condemns Lebanon attack, to meet Mubarak-Monsters and
Critics.com
Middle East Crisis Grows As Israel, Lebanon Exchange Rocket Fire-MTV.com
Israel says it hit hundreds of Lebanon targets-Irish Examiner/Naharnet
UN
Security Council sets urgent meeting on Lebanon-Reuters
Analysis: The predicament of the Lebanese
government-Jerusalem Post/Naharnet
South Lebanon feels brunt of Israeli
attacks-Christian Science Monitor/Naharnet
Cabinet Calls on U.N. Security Council to Press for Ceasefire-Naharnet
Israel Accuses Hizbullah of Planning to Transfer the 2 Abducted Soldiers to Iran/Naharnet
Kofi Annan Sends Senior Envoys to Middle East to Defuse Crisis/Naharnet
Anti-Syrian Politicians Say Lebanon is Victim of Israeli Aggression and Decision
Made in Damascus/Naharnet
Tourists Flee Lebanon en Masse after Israeli raids, Festival Performances
Postponed/Naharnet
World Leaders Urge Restraint After Deadly Middle East Flare-Up/Naharnet
Lebanon Recalls Ambassador to U.S. After Cabinet Disapproves of his Remarks on
Latest Violence/Naharnet
Hariri Holds Emergency Talks With Mubarak in Egypt/Naharnet
Beirut Airport to Stay Closed for 48 Hours After Raids/Naharnet
Catholic officials deplore Hezbollah attacks, Israels response
By Judith Sudilovsky and Doreen Abi Raad
7/14/2006
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)
JERUSALEM Although an unprovoked Hezbollah attack on Israel in which two
soldiers were kidnapped and Katyusha rockets were lobbed into northern cities is
"unacceptable," Israel's response is not "appropriate," said a Catholic
theologian in Jerusalem.
"I don't know why Hezbollah did what they did. It is unacceptable to (launch)
rockets into Rosh Pina, Tzfat, Meron, Haifa (in Israel). I think Israel has to
react. They can't tolerate the taking of soldiers, the Katyushas," said Father
Michael McGarry, rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological
Studies in Jersualem. "They have to do something in response, but killing
civilians is not appropriate."
Israel was holding Lebanon responsible for the kidnapping and attacks as opposed
to the past when they only blamed Hezbollah, he added.
The United States considers Hezbollah a terrorist organization. However, the
Lebanese government regards Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance movement
fighting Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories.
Hezbollah, with its Syrian and Iranian patrons, has carved out its own territory
in southern Lebanon and many analysts say that the Lebanese army is not strong
enough to confront Hezbollah to prevent such attacks.
The Israeli reprisals for the Hezbollah kidnapping included bombing the Beirut
airport and establishing a naval blockade of the country's ports. The Lebanese
government said 47 people died in the Israeli bombardments July 13.
Hezbollah responded by firing rocket and mortar shells into northern Israel; the
Israeli government said July 14 that two people had been killed and more than
100 wounded in a dozen different cities and villages. At the same time, Israel
continued its offensive in Gaza.
Israeli TV commentator Ehud Nahari said that perhaps Israel's reaction was an
attempt to weaken Hezbollah so much that it would allow the Lebanese army to
regain control of the southern stretch of its country which borders Israel.
Israel in 2000 withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon, where they had been
stationed since the end of the Lebanon war in 1985. From 1985 to 2000, together
with the mostly-Maronite southern Lebanese army, Israel maintained a presence
there against Hezbollah gunmen, creating a buffer zone for northern Israel.
Although Israel needs to react, there must be another way, Father McGarry said.
He said one hopeful sign was Saudia Arabia's condemnation of the Hezbollah
attack.
"It is good to see self-criticism in the Arab world," he said.
Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church said that
both the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Lebanon-based Hezbollah and the
retaliation by Israel in attacking Lebanon are deplorable.
"Lebanon is always paying the price for this (Israeli and Palestinian)
conflict," said Cardinal Sfeir in a telephone interview with Catholic News
Service while he was staying in New Hampshire.
Cardinal Sfeir, seen as a prominent spokesperson for the Lebanese people, was in
the United States after he was a special guest for a July 2-9 convention of the
National Apostolate of Maronites in Chicago.
Cardinal Sfeir said he is trying to meet with someone in the Bush
administration.
"I will see. I will see someone responsible here, and we can see what we can do.
Until now, I have not seen anybody," said Cardinal Sfeir.
U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia, July 14 for
discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Group of Eight summit
of industrialized nations.
France and Russia have criticized the Israeli attacks while Bush has said that
Israel has a right to defend itself. Bush also said he was worried the attacks
could weaken Lebanon's democratic, anti-Syrian government.
Meanwhile, Franciscan Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who is in charge of
Christian sites in the Holy Land, said the Israeli response did not come as a
surprise.
"It was clear when Katyushas fell on Nahariya and Haifa the reaction of the
Israelis would be furious. I think it was an invitation for the Israelis (to
attack). I think it is very sad," said Father Pizzaballa. "It is a very
difficult situation. I don't understand either the position of Hezbollah or of
Hamas and not even Israel's reaction."
One of the Hezbollah rockets which landed in Haifa hit only a few hundred meters
from the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery where about 20 monks and nuns had
gathered.
"Thank God it happened without hurting any people," said Sister Eliana Karram,
superior of the monastery. "We pray for all these things to stop. It is better
for all sides that there (is) peace and quiet. No people want this violence."
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
American Lebanese
Coalition
4900 Leesburg Pike, Suite 203 Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 703-578-4214 Fax: 703-578-4615
ALC statement on the situation in Leban
For Immediate Release -
ALC statement on the situation in Lebanon
July 13, 2006
The kidnapping by Hezbollah of two Israeli soldiers from inside Israel has
dragged Lebanon once again into another uneven conflict. The defenseless
Lebanese will suffer the brunt of the Israeli retaliation as usual. Although the
Lebanese government has distanced itself from the operation and did not condone
it, Hezbollah still insists on imposing this fight on all the Lebanese. This
total disregard for Lebanese sovereignty and for the Lebanese will is still
practiced by Hezbollah with impunity. It might lead this time to a new disaster
which will threaten the fragile recovery process.
Hezbollah will certainly utilize any Israeli retaliation against civilian
targets to inflame the emotions of the Lebanese and to reinforce its claim of
being their sole hope to resist the Israeli aggressions. This vicious cycle has
been exploited by Syria and Iran in order to deflagrate the Middle East on
demand and to promote their perverse agendas.
Due to the gravity of the recent events in Lebanon and their potential
disastrous effects on the country and the region:
1. We appeal to the international community to act swiftly in order to stop the
Iranian sponsoring, financing and support of Hezbollah.
2. We appeal to the Arab countries to pressure the Syrian regime into stopping
all its interference in Lebanon.
3. We ask the Lebanese government to reclaim its sovereignty on all the Lebanese
territory without any delays.
4. We implore those Lebanese who are still falling for the rhetoric of the
"Resistance" to put the interests of Lebanon first and to reject the costly
actions of Hezbollah which serves its regional sponsors at their detriment.
5. We urge the Israeli government to stop its attacks on innocent Lebanese
civilians and limit the human suffering. We also deplore the targeting of the
Lebanese economy and the infrastructure of the country.
-Joseph Gebeily, MD
President
Lebanese Information Center
American Lebanese Coalition
4900 Leesburg Pike, Suite 203
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone 703-578-4214
Fax 703-578-4615
email jgbeily@licus.org
Cell 240-498-1895
Lebanon says Israel attack is
barbaric
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS - Lebanon accused Israel on Friday of launching "a widespread
barbaric aggression" aimed at bringing the small Mideast nation to its knees and
urged the international community to end the military offensive.
At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting requested by Lebanon, special
envoy Nouhad Mahmoud warned that Israel's destruction of vital bridges, roads
and buildings and the killing and maiming of hundreds of Lebanese civilians
"will not resolve the problem, but will further complicate it."
"The Security Council meets today in the shadow of a widespread barbaric
aggression waged by Israel to this very moment against my nation," he said.
"What Israel is undertaking is an act of aggression and devastation aimed at
bringing Lebanon to its knees and subverting it by any means."
Mahmoud urged the Security Council to establish a cease-fire and to end the air
and sea blockade of Lebanon imposed by Israel.
The Israeli offensive was sparked by Wednesday's kidnapping of two Israeli
soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas who crossed the Blue Line between Israel and
Lebanon, which is not an official border but was drawn by the United Nations to
mark Israel's withdrawal in May 2000. Hezbollah operates with near autonomy in
south Lebanon, and the government has resisted international pressure to disarm
it a step that could break the country apart.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has sent a U.N. team to the region.
Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman told the Security Council that Israel had no
choice but to react to the "absolutely unprovoked attack" by Hezbollah, which
included rocket attacks into Israel. "Israel's actions were in response to an
act of war from Lebanon," he said, stressing that it was concentrated mainly on
Hezbollah strongholds. But many Security Council ambassadors who spoke afterward
accused Israel of using excessive force destroying critical civilian
infrastructure and killing and injuring innocent civilians. Gillerman blamed the
Lebanese government for failing to respond to numerous Security Council
resolutions demanding that it disarm Hezbollah and take control of southern
Lebanon. He told the council that many Lebanese know Israel is doing the right
thing in attacking Hezbollah, and if it succeeds generations to come will live
in a "free, democratic Lebanon." "The real occupying power in Lebanon is terror
terror instigated by Hezbollah but funded by Iran and Syria," he said. Mahmoud,
a special envoy sent from Beirut, said Israel's disregard of the Lebanese
government's willingness to negotiate to resolve the situation "is clear
evidence of the escalatory intentions of the Israelis and their determination to
kill and destroy."
Israel destroys home of Hezbollah leader
By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israel destroyed the home and office of Hezbollah's leader
Friday and tightened its seal on Lebanon, blasting its air and road links to the
outside world to punish the guerrilla group and with it, the country for the
capture of two Israeli soldiers.
Hezbollah's Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and his family were safe after the Israeli
missiles demolished the two buildings in Beirut's crowded southern
neighborhoods, the militant group said. "You wanted an open war and we are ready
for an open war," Nasrallah said, addressing Israelis in an audiotape played on
Hezbollah's Al-Manar television. The speech apparently was prerecorded and did
not refer to the missile attack.
Hezbollah hit an Israeli warship in Lebanese waters that had been firing
missiles into southern Beirut. An Israeli army spokesman said the ship had
apparently been struck by a rocket but that the damage was minor and no one was
injured. Israel's attack on Nasrallah underlined its determination to take the
fight directly to Hezbollah's leadership, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
vowed the massive campaign would continue until the guerrillas were neutralized.
Warplanes again smashed runways at Beirut's airport with hours of airstrikes,
trying to render it unusable, and destroyed mountain bridges on the main highway
to Syria. Warships blockaded Lebanon's ports for a second day. Smoke drifted
over the capital after strikes exploded fuel tanks at one of Beirut's two main
power stations, gradually escalating the damage to Lebanon's key infrastructure.
Apartment buildings were shattered by strikes in south Beirut.
In response, Lebanese guerrillas fired a barrage of at least 50 Katyusha rockets
throughout the day, hitting more than a dozen communities across northern
Israel.
The death toll in three days of fighting rose to 73 killed in Lebanon almost
all civilians, including five killed in strikes Friday and 12 in Israel,
including four killed in rocket attacks. The violence sent shock waves through a
region already traumatized by the ongoing battles in the Gaza Strip between
Israel and Hamas.
Israel's strikes on the airport and roads and naval blockade all but cut off
Lebanon from the world, while hits on infrastructure aimed to exact a price from
its government for allowing Hezbollah to operate freely in the south.
At the same time, strikes on Hezbollah including ones targeting its leadership
in south Beirut aimed to pressure the Shiite Muslim guerrillas to release the
Israeli soldiers captured Wednesday and push the militants away from Israel's
northern border.
President Bush, in Russia for the G-8 summit, spoke by phone with Lebanese Prime
Minister Fuad Saniora, and "reiterated his position" that the Israeli attacks
should limit any impact on civilians, White House spokesman Tony Snow said. At
an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting requested by Lebanon, special envoy
Nouhad Mahmoud warned that Israeli attacks "will not resolve the problem, but
will further complicate it." Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman said Israel had no
choice but to react to the "absolutely unprovoked attack" by Hezbollah. Oil
prices rose to above $78 a barrel, and OPEC tried to reassure the market by
stressing its commitment to "order and stability."
Olmert said Israel would not halt its offensive until Hezbollah was disarmed in
a telephone call with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Olmert agreed to let a
U.N. team try to mediate a cease-fire, an official close to Olmert said on
condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Israel against extending its
assault into Syria and said the Jewish state couldn't harm Iran, which also
backs Hezbollah. French President Jacques Chirac said Israel's actions were
"totally disproportionate" but also condemned Hezbollah's attacks. He implicitly
suggested that Syria and Iran might be playing a role in the crisis. The U.N.'s
top humanitarian official, Jan Egeland, said Israel's attacks against
transportation infrastructure violated international law and held grave
consequences for civilians.
Israeli officials said the campaign by the air force was the biggest since the
Israeli invasion in 1982. The only comparable military action since then was the
"Grapes of Wrath" offensive in 1996, also sparked by Hezbollah attacks. But the
casualties were mounting faster than in 1996, when at least 165 people were
killed in 17 days of fighting. By contrast, 73 people in Lebanon have been
killed in only three days of Israel's bombardment.
On the Israeli side, eight soldiers have died and two civilians were killed by
Hezbollah rockets on northern towns. At least 11 were wounded in Friday's rocket
attacks. Israel says it holds the government responsible for Hezbollah's
actions, but Saniora's Cabinet has insisted it had no prior knowledge of the
raid that seized the soldiers and that it did not condone it. Hezbollah operates
with near autonomy in south Lebanon, and the government has resisted
international pressure to disarm it a step that could break the country apart.
Saniora's government is dominated by anti-Syrian politicians, some sharply
critical of Hezbollah, but the guerrilla group also has two ministers in the
Cabinet.
The fighting in Lebanon is Israel's second front. It launched an offensive in
the Gaza Strip two weeks ago in response to the June 25 capture by Hamas
militants of an Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit. Throughout the morning,
Israeli fighter-bombers pounded runways at Beirut's airport for a second day,
apparently trying to ensure its closure after the Lebanese national carrier,
Middle East Airlines, managed to evacuate its last five planes to Amman.
Another barrage hit fuel tanks at one of Beirut's two main power stations at
Jiye.
For the first time in the assault, strikes targeted the crowded Shiite
residential neighborhoods in south Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah's
leadership.
An initial wave before dawn hit near Hezbollah's security headquarters and
targeted roads, damaging two overpasses. The facades of nearby apartment
buildings were shorn away, balconies toppled onto cars and the street was
littered by glass from shattered windows. Firefighters struggled to put out
several blazes.
A young man with blood pouring down his face was shown on Lebanese TV walking
out of a damaged apartment building.
An afternoon strike hit an apartment building near Hezbollah's Al-Nour radio
station. The radio continued broadcasting, and Hezbollah TV showed smoke
billowing from an apartment in the area and firefighters running toward the
building.
"I have huge debts and now my store is damaged," said Fadi Haidar, 36, cleaning
away broken glass at his appliances shop, which had an estimated $15,000 in
damage. Still, he supported Hezbollah in its decision to seize the soldiers.
"Israel is our enemy and every Muslim must make a sacrifice," he said. "As time
goes by, they will all realize that Sayyed Nasrallah is right and is working in
the interest of Muslims." Israeli planes also hit transmission antennas for TV
stations in the eastern Bekaa Valley, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Warplanes also bombed the highway between Beirut and Damascus Lebanon's main
land link to the outside world forcing motorists onto mountainside roads.
In northern Israel, 220,000 people hunkered down in bomb shelters amid
Hezbollah's rocket barrage.
At least 50 rockets hit seven towns and communities in Israel, including Safad
and Nahariya where two people were killed a day earlier. Since Wednesday, 61
Israelis have been hurt in the rocket fire. The Israeli offensive was causing
political waves in Lebanon, with some anti-Syrian politicians accusing Hezbollah
of dragging the country into a costly confrontation with Israel. "Hezbollah is
playing a dangerous game that exceeds the border of Lebanon," Druse leader Walid
Jumblatt said in comments published Friday. Jumblatt, a leading anti-Syrian
figure, also denounced the Israeli attacks.