January Saturday 29-2000:
Introduction
Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General H.E. Sheikh Nahim
Qassem asserted that the seven villages were Lebanese and their return remains a
key demand.
For its part, Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss
ordered an investigation into allegations that the "Israelis" are
surveying a new border with Lebanon that could entail the Jewish state's
annexation of areas located within the "Israeli" occupied zone.
However, the Permanent Militar Court presided by
Brigadier Maher Safieddine sentenced to death former Lebanese Army First
Adjutant Hussein Ali Olayan who was convicted of carrying out espionage for the
"Israeli" enemy, entering its territories and supplying it with
information and photos that led to the martyrdom of resistance leaders.
Investigation ordered into ‘new border’…(1)
"Premier Salim Hoss ordered an investigation on Friday into allegations
that the "Israelis" are surveying a new border with Lebanon that could
entail the Jewish state’s annexation of up to six villages located in the
western sector of the occupation zone.
“We won’t accept any redrawing of our internationally recognized borders,”
he said.
Hoss asked Defense Minister Ghazi Zeaiter and Army Commander General Michel
Suleiman “to take the necessary steps to find out about actions carried out by
"Israel"” in the occupation zone.
The prime minister is especially interested in “reports of the establishment
of a new land register and the drawing of new borders,” officials said.
Hoss launched the inquiry after the National News Agency reported that
"Israeli" engineers had been seen surveying the villages of Rmeish,
Yaroun, Alma Shaab, Maroun al-Ras, Yarin and Ramieh. The NNA said
metal-surveying stakes had been seen planted in the ground. The
"Israelis" kept civilians away from the surveyed areas, the agency
said.
"The report came days after "Israel's" chief of staff, General
Shaul Mofaz, spoke of a new border existing between the two countries following
a troop withdrawal from the south. His comments were instantly condemned by
Hoss, who insisted that the border was inviolable except where it allowed the
return of the so-called Seven Villages incorporated into Palestine in 1923.
"The "Israeli" Army subsequently denied that Mofaz had meant the
international border would be redrawn. Instead, he had referred to the border
once again becoming the frontier between the two countries after the northern
limit of the occupation zone had served as the de-facto boundary.
"The Seven Villages cropped up in an interview with Hizbullah deputy
secretary-general Nahim Qassem on Friday.
"He said that the villages were Lebanese and their return remains a key
demand. “We consider them an integral part of Lebanon,” he told Radio Monte
Carlo. “This will be a long struggle which requires all efforts and which we
shall follow with all the strength we have.”
Qassem said that "Israel's" frustration with Hizbullah’s resistance
attacks was driving it to retaliate against civilians. He warned that
Hizbullah’s patience with attacks on civilians was wearing thin. “We’re
committed to the April Understanding. The "Israeli" enemy is the one
which repeatedly breaks this understanding,” he said.
"Israeli" collaborators sentenced to death
for espionage…(2)
"A former Amal official was sentenced to death by a military court on
Friday after being convicted of carrying out espionage for "Israel"
that led to the killings of resistance leaders.
In addition to former army First Adjutant Hussein Olayyan, 37, his wife Rola,
28, and mother Khadija Mroue were sentenced to two years and one year in prison
with hard labor respectively. They are all in custody.
"His father Ali, brother Hassan, and cousin Youssef Musa Siblini were each
sentenced
in absentia to 20 years with hard labor.
All sentences can be appealed.
“Information delivered to "Israel" allowed agents working for the
enemy state to carry out a roadside bomb attack that killed Hizbullah official
Khodr Salameh in Hlalieh near Sidon in July,” said the court’s presiding
judge, Brigadier Maher Safieddine.
“Alayyan also delivered to "Israel" information about other
Hizbullah officials, including those who run the group’s Nour Radio and Manar
Television,” said Safieddine.
While Alayyan’s father, brother and cousin helped collect the information, his
wife and mother went to "Israel" to communicate between Alayyan and
the "Israeli" agents, the judge said.
Alayyan, his wife and mother were arrested a short time after Salameh’s
killing. Salameh masterminded Hizbullah attacks on "Israeli" troops
and their agent in the occupation zone.
Before the rulings were handed down, the judge had listened to closing arguments
by Assistant Military Prosecutor Myassar Shokor and defense lawyers Riad Matar,
Fadl Hajj and Hayat Abdel-Khaleq.
While Shokor asked the court to impose the harshest sentences on the defendants,
Matar said his client Alayyan did not directly cause Salameh’s death, asking
for a commuted sentence for his client.
Hajj, who represented Mroue, said his client only carried food to her sons from
her village inside the occupation zone.
IR escorts Martyr Anani to final resting place…(3)
"Supporters of the Islamic
Resistance Friday took part in Martyr Wael Anani's funeral procession which set
out from the Husseiniet al-Zahraa (A. S.) in Beirut.
"The
procession toured the capital's streets with mourners carrying the martyr's
coffin and chanting slogans supporting the Resistance and condemning the Zionist
occupation.
"Hizbullah's
Faithfulness to the Resistance bloc member MP Nazih Mansour took part in the
procession along with former MPs Hajj Ali Ammar and Hajj Mohammed Berjawi, who
is also Hizbullah's Social Affairs Official.
"A motorcade then set out to the Shahidain
Cemetery where the martyr was laid to rest".
Lebanon demands return of antiques stolen by
occupation…(4)
"Minister of Culture and Higher
Education Mohammed Youssef Baydoun said his ministry has prepared a file to
demand the return of the antiques stolen by the "Israeli" occupation.
"The
file is now in the possession of the Prime Minister (Dr salim al-Hoss), Baydoun
said at a ceremony in which the Antiques' Department new Director-General
Frederick al-Husseini assumed his post.
"Israeli" Aggressions…(5)
In its statement, the IR reported the following
"Israeli" aggressions:
Between 8:00 and 8:20, six 155mm missiles landed near
the road of Zibqeen-Henneih whereas several others fell on the area between
Rmadieh and Jibal El-Botom villages.
13:20, a volley of heavy machine gun bullets struck
near three hunters at Haddatha woodland.
14:20, three 155mm missiles hit Qaissieh Valley.
15:35, two 155mm missiles slammed into the perimeters
of Khorbet Selem town.
17:10, Mount Al-Ahmar (Kfour ravine) was shelled by
six 155mm missiles.
Between 17:15 and 17:25, Habboush River watercourse
was bombarded by ten 155mm missiles.
19:50, several 81mm flare rounds were fired over
Mount Sojod.
20:10, Mount Sojod was targeted by one 120mm shell.
Military Operations…(6)
The IR team of martyrs Taleb Hussein Harb and Hassan
Zaraqet detonated, at 14:55, a roadside bomb as a Lahdi foot-patrol accompanied
by a number of military vehicles was traveling on the road of Markaba-Odaisseh
inflicting several casualties among its ranks.
Ten minutes later, the IR squad of martyrs Wa'il
Ghassani and Abdel-Rassoul Baydoun rushed upon Lahdi reinforcements on the road
of Markaba-Odaisseh with the rocket-propelled grenades. Definite hits were
scored, the militants reported.
Also, the IR group of martyrs Hussein Mustafa
Al-Jouni and Taher Sharif Trad targeted, at 17:00, Dabsheh outpost with the
appropriate weapons. The mujahedeen managed to chalk up direct and certain
goals.
At the same time, the IR unit of martyrs Al-Horr
Kamel Al-Beiruti and Ahmad El-Ali fell upon Beaufort Castle with the
rocket-propelled grenades scoring direct and definite hits.
For its part, the Lebanese Resistance Brigades (LRB)
fighters attacked, at 8:00, Blat post with the rocket-propelled grenades
striking directly its ramparts. Meanwhile, another group of (LRB) was targeting
enemy movements near Tair Harfa compound with the adequate arms. Direct and
certain goals were scored, the fighters told.
However, Amal Movement staged, at 23:15, an attack
against the position of Salaah-Qssair.
Footnotes:
1- The
Daily Star, 29-1-2000.
2- Same source.
3- Al-Manar TV, 28-1-2000.
4- Same source.
5- IR statement, 28-1-2000.
6- Same source.