Khazen – Page 909

Israel’s response in Lebanon called ‘disproportionate’

adminJuly 14, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

posted July 14, 2006 at 12:15 p.m, csmonitor.com, Tom Regan, Israel continued its bombardment of Lebanon in response to the kidnapping of two soldiers by Hizbollah, Russia, France, and the European Union criticized Israel’s actions in the escalating conflict, calling them "a disproportionate act of war." The Christian Science Monitor reports that more than 50 Lebanese, most of them civilians, have already been killed in the attacks. Reuters reports that France said it would support’s Lebanon’s call to bring the situation before the United Nations Security Council, while Russia "denounced both Israel’s attack on Lebanon and its on-going operations against the Palestinian territories."

"The continuing destruction by Israel of civilian infrastructure in Lebanon and in Palestinian territory (and) the disproportionate use of force from which civilian populations suffer cannot be understood and justified," [Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin] said.

"The attack on Beirut international airport is a dangerous step on the way to military escalation," he added, calling on all sides to stop a slip towards war.

But Hizbollah did not escape condemnation, some of it coming from Arab states. The Associated Press reports that while King Abdullah II of Jordan condemned Israel’s "targeting innocent civilians and the Lebanese infrastructure," he also had harsh words for Hizbollah, saying that "Jordan stands against whoever exposes the Palestinian people and their cause, Lebanon and its sovereignty to unexpected dangers"

Iran warns Israel not to attack Syria

adminJuly 13, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

Reuters Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday an Israeli strike on Syria would be considered an attack on the whole Islamic world that would bring a

Israeli Jets Strike Airport in Beirut

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DAY 2: By SAM F. GHATTAS (AP), Israel has hit hundreds of targets in Lebanon as part of its effort to force the release of two soldiers captured by Hezbollah guerrillas, a top Israeli general said Thursday.

Israel intensified its attacks against Lebanon on Thursday, blasting Beirut’s airport and two Lebanese army air bases near the Syrian border, and imposing a naval blockade. More than 50 people have died in violence following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants.Warplanes punched holes in the runways of Beirut’s international airport and two military air bases, attacks that could draw the Lebanese army into the conflict.Israel has information that Lebanese guerrillas who captured two Israeli soldiers are trying to transfer them to Iran, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Spokesman Mark Regev did not disclose the source of his information.

Speaking to reporters, Maj. Gen. Udi Adam, the chief of Israel’s northern command, said Israel was targeting infrastructure in Lebanon that held rockets and other arsenals belong to Hezbollah.Hezbollah guerrillas launched more than 80 rockets and mortars into Israel on Thursday."I imagine over time that we will be able to rid ourselves of this threat entirely," he said.He also said the army was not ruling out sending ground troops into Lebanon.

Israel’s army chief Brig. Gen. Dan Halutz warned that "nothing is safe" in Lebanon and said Beirut itself

Lebanon called back Lebanese Ambassador

adminJuly 12, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

Beirut, July 12, (BNA) The Lebanese cabinet which held an emergency meeting today to discuss the Israeli assaults, decided to call back its Ambassador to US, Fareed Abboud, for giving what were described as irresponsible statements that contradict with his country’s stance and policies. The Lebanese cabinet decided as well to keep its sessions open […]

On the Israeli-Lebanese border: shelling and uncertainty

adminJuly 12, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

Nick Blanford, The Times Correspondent in Beirut, is on the border between Lebanon and Israel, where two Israeli soldiers were abducted by Hezbollah this morning, prompting a massive military response.

"This morning’s Hezbollah raid has puzzled many Lebanese people as well as satisfying their supporters. The obvious explanation as to why the group has decided to open a second front with Israel is that it wants to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians and put pressure on Israel with their own hostage negotiation.

"So in that sense, the capture of two Israeli soldiers fits perfectly with Hezbollah’s ideological goals but on a practical level, the group is also taking an enormous risk. Hezbollah is under an awful lot of domestic pressure from Lebanese who support its political movement but are unhappy that it remains an armed organisation. Today’s violence has invited a huge response from Israel.

"That said, I’ve spent the morning driving through Shia villages in southern Lebanon where there has been a feeling of happiness and celebration. Children are flying yellow Hezbollah flags and cheering supporters have set up impromptu roadside stops to hand out sweets, a traditional gesture of celebration.

Defiant Lebanese brace for Israeli strike

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DAY2, BBC

US PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH My attitude is this. There are a group of terrorists who want to stop the advance of peace. And those of us who are peace-loving must work together to help the agents of peace – Israel, President Abbas, and others – to achieve their objective. Israel has the right to defend herself. [But] whatever Israel does should not weaken the government in Lebanon. We have been working very hard through the UN and partners to strengthen democracy in Lebanon. Syria must be held to account. President Assad needs to show some leadership towards peace.

ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLORWe call on the powers in the region to seek to bring about a de-escalation of the situation. We cannot confuse cause and effect. The starting point is the capture of the Israeli soldiers. It is important that the government in Lebanon, which is on a peaceful path, should be strengthened, but it must be made clear that the capture [of the soldiers] cannot be tolerated. The attacks did not start from the Israeli side, but from Hezbollah’s side.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT STATEMENTOne cannot justify the continued destruction by Israel of the civilian infrastructure in Lebanon and in Palestinian territory, involving the disproportionate use of force in which the civilian population suffers. We firmly reaffirm support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. All forms of terrorism are completely unacceptable. All sides involved in the current events should take rapid measures to stop the region sliding into open conflict.

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Annan condemns Israel attack in Lebanon

adminJuly 12, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called Wednesday for the immediate release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers and condemned Israel

Elias Hrawi, 80, Ex-Chief of Lebanon, Is Dead

adminJuly 9, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

New York Times BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 7 (Agence France-Presse)

Druze factions clash in Lebanon

adminJuly 5, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

Security officials in Lebanon say that one person has been killed and five wounded in fighting between supporters of rival Druze politicians. The clashes were between supporters of the pro-Syrian former minister, Wiam Wahhab, and the anti-Syrian politician, Walid Jumblatt.

They broke out during a dispute over the display of political posters in the town of Jahliye, south of Beirut. The security forces moved in to stop the fighting. It was not clear which side began the shooting, but acting Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat said all the casualties appeared to be supporters of Mr Jumblatt.

Tensions, This is not the first clash between the two groups. In April, Mr Wahhab’s bodyguards shot and wounded two civilians who objected to his presence at a funeral in a Druze mountain village. Tensions between supporters and opponents of Syria’s influence in Lebanon have increased since the assassination of the former Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri, in February 2005.

Sfeir chastises Franjieh for going after bishop

adminJuly 5, 2006UncategorisedComments are off for this post

BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir responded on Thursday to what he described as former Minister Suleiman Franjieh’s "misplaced" verbal attack on a bishop. Sfeir said he regretted Franjieh’s comments and wished the former MP had not made them.

"We know that … Franjieh is the son of the Maronite Church and a citizen of Zghorta, and that he is concerned about the Maronite Church, its children and its respect, so when he attacks a bishop I believe the attack is misplaced," Sfeir said. The prelate’s response came ahead of his departure on a visit to the United States expected to last at least 20 days. During his visit Sfeir is expected to participate in a commemoration of the Maronite Church’s founding in the US 40 years ago.

While the patriarch noted the importance of resolving the issue before it escalated, he stated unequivocally that "a bishop must be respected." On Wednesday, Franjieh accused Bishop Youssef Beshara of having sided with MP Saad Hariri, the leader of the parliamentary majority.