Introduction:
Uncovering the two "Israeli" terrorist and sabotage networks is still
the main subject in the Lebanese and regional circles for it formed a strong
security strike for the "Israeli" entity. Besides, it scandalized "Israel's"
claims over the peace and its alleged respect of the sovereignty of the
nearby states, for it always offered itself as a victim of terrorism. Today,
Lebanon had managed to present clear evidence about the nature of "Israel's"
terrorism.
Up to 90 suspects are obvious evidence of the "Israeli" involvement in sabotaging Lebanon which was affirmed by MK Gidon Ezra who felt sorry concerning the success of Lebanon's government in dismantling these rings.
In addition to the abovementioned violations, "Israel" persisted in its military aggressions against Lebanon's village and towns. Meanwhile, the steadfastness of Islamic Resistance and multilateral efforts managed to resume the visits of the families to their detainees held at Khiam concentration camp following a ten month suspension.
Repercussions of revealing the two "Israeli" terrorist network
(1)
The success of the Lebanese Security forces in disclosing the two "Israeli"-connected
spy and sabotage rings raised a pleasure among the political and popular
circles. However, "Israel" tried to disregard the issued in order to limit
its repercussions inside the "Israeli" society.
Nevertheless, the criticisms made by the former Head of General Security Service (GSS) and now MK Gidon Ezra, formed as an "Israeli" clear acknowledgement with its involvement. "It is unbelievable that such a big "Israeli" spy network to be revealed for this shows a failure in the planning and execution as well", he vowed.
Moreover, Ezra had suspected in the loyalty of Lahd's militiamen pointing out that one of them had blown up an "Israeli" building near Metulla settlement few months ago. He demanded the "Israeli" intelligence systems to be very aware of their activities and movements, adding, "the espionage actions against Lebanon shouldn't be stopped. Certainly, "Israel" is supposed to plant another spy rings".
It is not worthy that the spy ring is composed of 77 suspects, 17 of whom were held prisoners. As to the sabotage network, it includes eighteen of the now dissolved Lebanese Forces Militia, 11 of whom had been apprehended.
Today, the Military Investigation Magistrate Riad Talih will begin questioning the suspects in the presence of their lawyers. It is expected that it will take two days for Talih to make his decisions of either releasing those innocent and or continuing the detention of those suspected.
As-Safir news reported that Farah M., one of the suspects and who is on the run now, was in permanent connection with "Israel" and its surrogates. Also, the arrested Nader Nasri Daou, in cooperation with the fugitives Elie A. and Aiman, was trading in arms and narcotics sent from the "Israeli"-occupied enclave by members of Guards of Cedars Party headed by Itian Sakr (domiciled at Sabah village, Jezzine District, and judged in absentia with hard labor).
Also, it was appeared that the network was preparing the body trap cars at Daou's smothery shop in Kasslik. The litigation included the lawyer Elias Kh. who knew the ring's activities and nevertheless, he didn't inform the security competent authorities. It is worthmentioning that the military court had sentenced previously Elias Kh. one year imprisonment with a charge of "collaborating with the "Israeli" intelligence and facilitating land properties sales for the 'Israelis'".
Lahoud revealed that the network is involved in bombing the Syrian bus in central Damascus that killed 11 people and wounded forty two.
The prosecution came according to the Articles of Punishment Law no 335 (composing associations with the aim of committing serious crimes), 201/549 (premeditated murder attempt), 278 (contacting the spies) and 398 (not informing the authorities), the two articles of Law dated 11-1-1958 under no 5 and 6 (sentenced to death), the Article 128 of the new Law of Narcotics and the Article 72 of Law of Arms.
The arrested are: Bassam Antoine Harb, in provisional retirement Captain Kamil Mohib Yard, George Tanios El-Helow, Wadih Adib El-Khoury, Fares Hanna Rahmeh, Elie Akl Rahmeh (corporal policeman), Toni Toufic Rahmeh, George Sami El-Barakshi, Kayed Kahttar Eid, Nabil Jerjis Khattar and Nader Nasri Daou.
Also, Lahoud sued seven others who are on the run now, among them Abdo Antoine Sawaya, Naamatallah Mosallem and Khalil Fakhr El-Naddaf now domiciled in Australia.
"The abovementioned defendants are members of the disbanded Lebanese Forces Militia. They established an association for the purpose of carrying out terrorist actions and trying to assassinate leading politicians. Also, they were in their way to prepare, in coordination with the Australia-based LF's Office another sabotage operations", the indictment said.
"The terrorist activities they implemented are: bombing the Social Syrian Nationalis Party's centers of Jdeidet El-Matn and Bekfaya, blowing up a bus inside Syria, firing at a Syrian van killing its driver, detonating Charl El-Helow Taxi Stand, setting off a roadside bomb near squads of Syrian workers at Intelias, Sad El-Boushrieh and Nabaah areas. The latest terrorist operation failed as the bomb exploded while its holders Naameh Ziadeh and George Dib were transferring it at Daoura area", the indictment reported.
It should be noted that investigation over Daoura's blast on 19-6-1998 led the network to be disclosed.
Hizbullah's Secretary General H.E. Hassan Nassrallah (2) maintained "the 'Israeli' agent is neither a Moslem nor a Christian and even nor a Lebanese citizen, but an element of treason and should be punished whatever his sect is". He demanded the government to be tough with the network members.
As-Safir's Chief-in-editor (3)
Talal Salman, As-Safir's Chief-in-editor, considered that the judicial
authorities have the final word over the sabotage ring. The significant
issue, in this regard, is "the public psychological climate" by which the
Lebanese received the news over the success of the security systems in
revealing the ring and in obtaining detailed confessions that may clarify
the secrets of some blasts which look like mass murder (bombing at Barmaki-Damascus).
Also, these secrets may highlighted the bombings that aimed at raising
sectarian conflicts or striking the Lebanese-Syrian relations".
All Lebanese, of different political currents, regarded the matter as a security accomplishment. None of the parties or sectarian authorities viewed it as political or confessional nature-like revenge, he added.
Salman mentioned: Its deepest real meaning is that the Lebanese body had confirmed its impunity in the face of Israels sabotage operations. The allegation that Israel has a party or parties or friendly confession in Lebanon is no longer exist.
Israel had become again out of Lebanon where should be always there in its capacity as the enemy, he said.
Salman concluded: All the Lebanese have the right to sue the collaborators of the only enemy.
Israeli Aggressions
The Israeli troops persisted in launching the aggressions on the
safe areas of South Lebanon. So. Dallafeh bridge, Qatraneh heights and
Sraireh peripheries came, at dawn and about two hours, under an intermittent
artillery shelling.
Also, Toumat Niha outpost showered at 6:00am the perimeters of Ain Al-Tineh with heavy machine gun fire, whereas Kawkaba position, in its turn, combed the peripheries of Dallafeh with heavy machine gun fire also.
On the other hand, the Islamic Resistance recorded in a statement the
following Israeli aggressions:
1:30, two Israeli choppers hovered over Dabsheh and Qalaah positions.
10:20, an M.K. reconnaissance aircraft soared, at middle height, over
the coast of Western Sector.
11:30, an M.K. reconnaissance plane flew low over Shawakir area near
Tyre city.
11:35, the Israeli fighters flew high in the airspace of Iqleem Al-Tuffah
region. Meanwhile an M.K. reconnaissance aircraft hovered low over Mansouri
and Qlayleh areas.
16:05, Rihan position fired six 120mm shells at Sojod village.
16:25, Sojod outpost unleashed two 81mm mortar shells at Sojod village.
16:30, west of Yater exposed to three 155mm missiles emanating from
Zohaira position, while Sojod village came under six others emanating from
Zaffateh position.
16:50, Zaffateh position targeted Sojod village with two 155mm missiles.
17:15, Zaffateh position bombarded Sojod village with twelve 155mm
missiles.
17:35, ten 155mm missiles emanating from Zaffateh position struck Sojod
village.
18:35, Dabsheh outpost raked the deserted Lebanese Army barracks of
Nabatieh and its vicinity with a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds.
19:00, west of Yater village came under seven 155mm missiles emanating
from Zohaira position.
19:10, eleven 155mm missiles emanating from the outskirts of Meis El-Jabal
hit Haddatha woodlands.
19:25, the helicopters hovered over Aramta and Kfar Houna villages.
19:40, two 120mm shells emanating from Rihan position fell on the surroundings
of Sojod outpost.
20:05, the "Israeli" jets flew over Lebanon's Western Mountains Series.
20:10, the warplanes flew low over Houla area.
20:20, the jet airplanes and reconnaissance aircraft flew over East
Saida.
20:25, Shraifeh position targeted road of Sawan with two 155mm missiles.
20:40, six 155mm shells emanating from Shraifeh post struck road of
Sawan.
20:45, Shraifeh post fired three 155mm shells at road of Sawan, two
others at Mazraat El-Hamra and one at Litani River bands.
21:15, two helicopters hovered over Blat-Bassil areas.
21:25, the warplanes and M.K. reconnaissance aircraft flew in the airspace
of Iqleem Al-Tuffah heights.
21:30, two "Israeli" choppers flew, at middle height, over Rshaf and
Haddatha areas, while a drone reconnaissance plane flew, at middle altitude,
over Qaaqaiyat Al-Jisr village.
21:35, an M.K. reconnaissance aircraft soared high over Shaqra and
Baraasheit villages. At the same time, a drone reconnaissance plane flew,
at middle altitude, over Qalaouieh village and Hojeir Valley.
21:40, an M.K. reconnaissance aircraft soared over Froun and Ghandourieh
villages.
21:45, the "Israeli" choppers hovered over Qabrikha, Slouqi Valley,
Abbad and Markaba areas, while an M.K. reconnaissance aircraft soared over
Qabrikha.
21:55, the helicopters flew, at middle altitude, over Taibeh and Izzeih
villages.
22:00, Baraasheit outpost showered its surroundings with a barrage
of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds.
22:10, Sojod outpost combed Sojod Mountain with several 40mm shells
and a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds.
22:30, M.K. and drone reconnaissance planes flew over Kfar Seir, Qaaqaiyat
Al-Jisr, Harouf, Jibsheit, Zawtar Gharbieh, Zawtar Sharqieh and the neighboring
areas.
22:50, Sojod and Bir Kallab outpostscombed their surroundings with
12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
22:55, two 120mm shells emanating from Rihan area struck Sojod Mountain.
23:00, Meshnaqa and Roum posts raked their surroundings with a barrage
of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds, whereas Meshnaqa post only unleashed
one 81mm shell and heavy machine gun fire at the surroundings of Anan position.
23:15, Roum post fired several 81mm shells and 12.7mm heavy machine
gun rounds at Sakhriah Hill.
23:45, Sojod outpost targeted its surroundings with eight 40mm shells
and 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
23:55, Soweida outpost raked its western side with a barrage of 12.7mm
heavy machine gun rounds.
Islamic Resistance Operations (6)
As-Safir Lebanese newspaper reported that three Lahd's militiamen were
wounded on the past Monday at Kfar Tibbnit crossing point. The three were
identified as Ghazi Hashem, Salam Al-Manawi and third of Daher family,
Shebaa village. All of them moved to Rambam Hospital at Haifa for treatment.
However, the Islamic Resistance announced that the group of two martyrs Ali Moussa Abdel-Karim and Ali Hussein Shibli attacked at 23:00 Sojod outpost with the machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades scoring direct hits.
"Israel's" detainees are really hostages (7)
Detainees in "Israeli" prisons should be more accurately termed "hostages"
and the atrocities committed against them should be highlighted to exert
more pressure for their release, academics and former detainees at an international
Arab seminar on Lebanese detainees declared yesterday.
The three-day seminar, organized by the Follow-up Committee for the Support of Lebanese Detainees in "Israeli" Prisons, marks the beginning of commemorations of Detainee Day on July 14.
Afif Hammoud, Naaman Nassrallah and Nabih Awada were among the 55 detainees released two weeks ago as part of a swap agreement between Lebanon and "Israel".
It was their first public appearance since the release.
Hammoud, who was held in the Khiam detention centre since 1988, said that despite of the many seminars organized to discuss the issued of detainees, "nothing will affect what "Israel" wants to do". The strategy, he said, should involve focusing on international bodies.
Hammoud said the public should realize that the detainees were actually hostages, and expressed hope that the messages being put forward at the conference would be relayed to the international community..
Nassrallah, who was also detained in Khiam from 1988, said he believed any action taken to promote the plight of the detainees was important.
"It can make a difference but it should be followed up continuously", he said.
He added that detainees in Khiam "sometimes" received information about attempts to raise the issue in the country.
The seminar included representatives of the foreign ministry, the Arab League, Amnesty International, the Bar Association and other human rights associations.
Dr Jamal Hafez, a psychiatrist who examined several detainees upon their release, gave a detailed report of the state of their mental health. Released detainees, Hafez said, continue to suffer from acute anxiety, depression, paranoia an phobia.
"As a result, the people cease to have any interest in the simplest pleasures in life like food, sex or relaxation", the doctor said.
Many detainees lose their ability to trust people around them, have constant headaches and are frequently disturbed by the smallest inconveniences.
"Even after I treated detainees for one year, they still faced these problems because it is very hard for them to erase the memories of the physical and mental torture they had to go through", Hafez said.
He recommended establishing a special rehabilitation centre where detainees could be treated after release.
"These people need treatment. There is also the issue of helping them to reintegrate into society. Unless that aspect of their return is dealt with, former detainees will never recover", said Hafez.
First family visits to Khiam in over nine months (8)
Following ten months suspension, i.e. since the abortive "Israeli"
naval commando at Insarieh on September 1997, the efforts of the
Islamic Resistance and Lebanese government along with the International
Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) has succeeded in permitting the family
members of Lebanese detained in the "Israeli"- run Khiam detention center
to visit their loved ones.
"In the early hours of the morning, the International Committee of the Red Cross organized the first family visit to the "Israeli"- run detention center in the occupied village of Khiam in south Lebanon in over nine months. 24 family members of 14 Lebanese detainees were taken in an ICRC bus to Khiam via the Kfar Tibbnit border crossing, one of the points that link government held territory to the "Israeli" occupied zone in the south".
Family members thanked the ICRC for its efforts and called on the Lebanese authorities to continue to work for the release of all detainees.
It was the first prison visit "Israel" and its allied militia allowed since September. The renewal of visiting permission followed a bodies-prisoner swap between Lebanon and "Israel" two weeks ago.
The visits were suspended after Lebanese resistance groups retrieved the remains of "Israeli" soldiers killed in a botched commando raid in the southern village of Insarieh last September.
Nearly 125 Lebanese are being held in Khiam and some 50 others in jails inside "Israel", some for as long as 10 years without being tried or charged. Human rights groups including the London based Amnesty International say there have been many cases of torture and ill-treatment at "Israeli" detention centers.
On the other hand, July 14 is the day of Lebanese detainees held in "Israeli" jails. As part of an ongoing campaign, the follow up committee for the support of Lebanese detainees organized a conference attended by representatives from government institutions, human rights activists and the Arab League.
Speakers called for launching an international campaign to pressure "Israel" to unconditionally release the detainees. Speakers also hoped a campaign will be launched on July 14 to assist former detainees reintegrate into society. The representative of the Arab League said the regional body is in constant contact with human rights agencies to try to secure the release of detainees in "Israeli" jails.
The families who paid visits to their detainees are the following: