Introduction

President Emile Lahoud responded to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s interim report on Unifil by insteresting the Foreign Ministry to detail “Israeli” violations of Resolution 425.

In the meantime, the “Israeli” enemy intends to construct a new security fence on Lebanese soil and annex the Lebanese-Syrian village of Ghajar, a move which would violate the United Nations-delineated Blue Line. The plan was denounced by Hizbullah and has drawn opposition from Unifil.

However, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Sadr said that the Muslim world expects Qatar to close its liaison offices with “Israel” before taking over the presidency of the Organization of the Islamic Conference later this month.

In the occupied Al-Quds, the Islamic Jihad Movement’s military branch “Al-Quds Brigade” announced responisibily for the car bomb which rocked central occupied Al-Quds Thursday. Two “Israeli” settlers were killed and at least ten were injured in the explosion.

“Israel” asks UN to help free soldiers…(1)

“ “Israel” asked the United Nations Thursday to step up efforts to secure the release of three “Israeli” soldiers captured by Lebanese-based Hizbullah rebels last month.

"I urged the Secretary-General to be as active as he possibly can in order to bring about the release of the “Israeli” soldiers," said acting “Israeli” Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami after talks here with UN Secretary general Kofi Annan.

Ben Ami said he was briefed about UN and Red Cross efforts to bring about the release of the soldiers captured in the Shibaa farms, a disputed area near the borders of “Israel”, Lebanon and Syria on October 7.

He said these efforts have so far produced no result, and Hizbullah has not given any indication to various mediators that the soldiers were in the region

"We want to know that they are there," the acting foreign minister said. "We need them to be visible."

He added that this was “Israel’s” precondition for any kind of future move on the matter.

Lahoud calls UN bluff over violations on “Israeli” border…(2)

President Emile Lahoud responded Thursday to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s interim report on UNIFIL by instructing the Foreign Ministry to detail “Israeli” violations of Resolution 425.
Lahoud asked the ministry to notify Lebanon’s ambassador to the United Nations, Salim Tadmori, to compile the list.
The violations include “Israeli” warplanes entering Lebanese airspace and breaking the sound barrier, especially over Beirut.  The president said he considered the continued “Israeli” violations a threat to stability in the South, which may result in repercussions for which “Israel” would be held responsible.
Prime Minister-designate Rafik Hariri also rejected Annan’s report, which urged the government to take “effective control” of the entire South to prevent “dangerous provocations” along the frontier.
Speaking in Parliament, Hariri called the situation in the South “stable, but vulnerable, because “Israel” rejects peace … What will resolve the problem is a comprehensive and permanent peace in the region.” He added: “This peace will be achieved only through an “Israeli” withdrawal from the South and the Golan Heights and the establishment of a Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital.”
Hariri reiterated Beirut’s stand that “Israel” is still occupying a strip of Lebanese territory ­ the disputed Shibaa Farms.
Diplomatic sources said an official reply would be sent to Annan reaffirming Lebanon’s stand, along the positions voiced by Hariri.
The sources played down the border dangers that Annan warned about in his report Wednesday, noting that the authorities have banned demonstrations and stone-throwing at the border. “However, we must be cautious and at the same time abide by the responsibility of liberation and freeing prisoners in “Israeli” jails,” one source said.
Sources noted that Annan’s report did not mention reducing or terminating UNIFIL, as was requested by US, British, and French UN delegates.

“Israelis” to annex occupied village
New security fence would completely isolate Ghajar from rest of country…(3)

“Israel” intends to construct a new security fence on Lebanese soil and annex the Lebanese-Syrian village of Ghajar, a move which would violate the United Nations-delineated Blue Line.
According to “Israel’s” Haaretz newspaper, the “Israeli” Army believes it has no choice but to build the new fence due to concerns of renewed fighting in the area.
The plan was denounced by Hizbullah and has drawn opposition from UNIFIL.
“This would be a very dangerous step, which would serve as an excuse for activity against “Israel”,” UNIFIL spokesman Timor Goksel was quoted as saying. “It will cause trouble.”
The Alawite village of Ghajar is split by the UN-delineated Blue Line, with two-thirds falling on Lebanese territory and the remainder in “Israeli”-occupied Syria. The arrangement allows for “Israeli” troops to patrol the southern, Syrian, end of the village but they are forbidden from entering the northern two-thirds.
During the occupation of the South, the “Israelis” ran a security fence from just above the northern end of the village due east to the Mount Hermon foothills. The fence, which is still in place, is around 500 meters north of the Blue Line at Ghajar. The Blue Line runs northeast from where it bisects Ghajar and crosses the path of the security fence about 2 kilometers east of the village.
The only access point into the pocket of Lebanese territory contained within the triangle of Ghajar, the security fence and the Blue Line are blocked by an Indian UNIFIL position at the Abbassieh gate.
When the Blue Line was demarcated in June and July, Ghajar residents feared that their village would be physically divided by a fence. After numerous protests from the residents, the “Israelis” agreed to keep the two parts of the village open. The Lebanese government, acknowledging the local sensitivities, tacitly accepted the compromise and has not insisted on the state apparatus entering Lebanese Ghajar.
A UNIFIL officer said that the “Israelis” have harbored plans for some months to build a new fence which would isolate the whole of Ghajar from Lebanon.
It is believed that the “Israelis” intend to build the new fence along the Blue Line where it traces a northeast path from Ghajar with a 500-meter stretch running up the eastern flank of Lebanese Ghajar until it reaches the original security fence. In effect, the move would completely isolate the whole of Ghajar from Lebanon.
The UNIFIL officer said that the “Israelis” originally asked the UN to negotiate with Lebanon and Syria to allow the residents of Ghajar access to their fields north of the Blue Line via a gate in the proposed new fence.
“We told the “Israelis” that they could ask the Lebanese and Syrians themselves,” the officer said.
“Israel” later decided to shelve the plan.
However, the “Israeli” Army has now resurrected the scheme and intends to begin construction within the next two weeks.
“There is no choice,” a senior “Israeli” defense (war) official told Haaretz. “There must be a fence there; it is a very lawless and problematic region.”
Hizbullah said that constructing a new fence on Lebanese soil was part of the “continued “Israeli” violations of Lebanon by sea, air and land.”
“This is a clear violation of the international decisions and agreements that state this village must remain open and the border unblocked,” a Hizbullah statement said.
“We are watching, and will continue to watch, closely what is happening specifically at this border point and will take the appropriate action in due time,” the statement warned.
Hizbullah also called on the UN “to play its role and prevent “Israel” from carrying out such violations”.
According to Haaretz, an agreement has been reached between the “Israeli” government and the residents of Ghajar in which owners of farmland cut off by the new fence would receive compensation.
UNIFIL has warned the “Israeli” Army that the building of a new fence on Lebanese soil is certain to exacerbate tensions along the border.

Military prosecutor demands death sentence for Khiam officials…(4)

Chief Military Investigating Magistrate Riad Talih recommended the death penalty on Thursday for 11 former collaborators who worked at the notorious Khiam dentention center.
The 11 suspects, who are all at large and served as investigators at the former detention camp in Khiam, are accused of killing and torturing several detainees.
Talih referred the suspects to the Military Tribunal, which will try the men in absentia. Talih’s indictment said the suspects “tortured the detainees physically and psychologically by whipping their hands and feet with iron whips, beating their teeth with stones until they broke and taking their fingernails out.” It said they also forced them to behave like animals.
The detainees were also raped and forced to watch veiled female detainees being raped. The prison staff also threatened to rape their wives and children.

Palestinians remember Balfour Declaration…(5)

Palestinian refugees demonstrated throughout the country Thursday on the anniversary of the 1917 Balfour Declaration ­ the document blamed for the creation of “Israel”.
The declaration supporting “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” was made by then-British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour in a letter to wealthy Zionist Lionel Rothschild.
On Thursday, shops closed and children boycotted school to allow thousands to participate in marches in most of the 12 camps around the country.
“We’re standing with women in Palestine who are fighting colonialism. Educating their children, insisting they go to school during the day and sending them in the afternoon to continue the intifada,” said Jamileh Shehadeh from Shatila.
More than 200 women and children from Beirut-area camps gathered in front of UN House to represent Palestinian women and deliver a memorandum to UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.
“Annan is an “Israeli” because he does nothing when he sees a martyred child,” Shehadeh said, echoing protestors’ condemnations of “Israel’s” excessive use of force in recent attacks on Palestinian civilians. “Where is the international law that protects humanity?”
The protesters’ chants were marked by feeling of betrayal and hopelessness, especially with what is seen as Arab governments’ lack of action.
“I came to express my feelings of frustration and to lend strength to people inside. We can’t do anything else,” said 13-year old Nabil Hassan. “Balfour gave Palestine to the Jews, but we’ll struggle until it’s freed.”
Palestinian refugees in camps in Sidon and Tripoli also marked the occasion in marches and demonstrations.
At the Ain al-Hilweh camp, teachers devoted two hours to explaining the history of the Balfour Declaration.
“These children will never forget this declaration and how their country was violated and robbed of its wealth,” said principal Baha Tayyar.
Businesses in the camp were shut and children were allowed to return home after two hours of history classes.
Dozens of Palestinian refugees in Tripoli’s Nahr al-Bared and Beddawi camps marched to the UN Relief and Works Agency offices in the city, where they held a two-hour sit-in.
The refugees hoisted black flags in the camps’ streets and closed down all shops and schools for the day.

Muslims expect Qatar to cut “Israel” ties before OIC conference: Iran…(6)

An Iranian envoy said here Thursday that the Muslim world expects Qatar to close its liaison offices with “Israel” before taking over the presidency of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference later this month.

"It is normal that the entire Islamic world expects Qatar to close or freeze this office, as Qatar will be taking over the OIC presidency," said visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Sadr.

Qatar is due to take over the OIC's rotating presidency from Iran at a gathering in Doha beginning November 9.

Asked about reports alleging that Iran would not attend the OIC conference if Qatar fails to close the liaison office, Sadr said "we still have not adopted any decision yet on the subject."

Sadr, who met Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmud Hammud upon his arrival earlier Thursday from neighboring Syria, reiterated an Iranian pledge to "defend" Lebanon and Syria if “Israel” attacked the countries.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran maintains very good and friendly relations with the Lebanese and Syrian states and always takes the initiative to defend their positions in their confrontations against the Zionist entity," he said.

Sadr, however, denied as "totally untrue" press reports that alleged that Iran was considering sending 15,000 soldiers to southern Lebanon.

As for the United Nations' request that Iran helps in efforts exerted for a potential prisoners exchange between Lebanon and “Israel”, Sadr said "we will accept any decision taken by Hizbullah and through any channel."

"Resistance is a right for the Lebanese people, as long as its demands have not been met, whether concerning the liberation of their land or their prisoners," he added.

He was reacting to another appeal by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to the Beirut authorities to help "stop provocations" at the borders with “Israel” by sending army troops to the frontier.

Sadr was due to meet with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and House Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday before ending his two-day trip.

A car bomb in Al-Quds kills 2 “Israelis”…(7)

The Islamic Jihad Movement's military branch "Al-Quds's Brigade" announced responsibility for the car bomb which rocked central occupied Al-Quds Thursday.  Two “Israelis” were killed and at least ten were injured in the explosion, which was carried out as “Israeli” PM Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat were preparing to call for an end to the clashes.

“Israeli” radio reported that a car bomb had gone off in a side street near the Mahane Yehuda outdoor market where Jewish settlers usually go.

Islamic Jihad: "the intifadah is not a bargain chip"…(8)

Islamic Jihad movement maintained that the Intifadah is not a negotiation card but rather a project of resistance and victory, while secret and known mediators are trying prepare a new Oslo accord.In its statement,Islamic Jihad issued a statement calling the Palestinians to make of Friday a day of great rage and resistance.

Hamas regrets Arafat-Perez meeting…(9)

An official source of Hamas expressed disappointment about Arafat's consent to meet "the criminal Shimon Perez, the “Israeli” terrorist responsible for the Qana Massacre against our people and children in Lebanon."  The Hamas official considered the meeting an attempt to abort the Intifadah and ignore the martyrs' blood and that of the wounded.

The official added, "from the very beginning of the holy Intifadah we warned against any attempts to use the martyrs' blood to resume negotiations with the enemy".  Hamas made clear that the Palestinian people will not be committed to any deal aiming at aborting there struggle to gain their rights. "We will carry on our intifadah," said Hamas.

Intifadah goes on despite agreement…(10)

Despite the Palestinian-”Israeli” agreement on a cease-fire, “Israeli” soldiers opened fire Thursday on Palestinians killing a 15-year-old boy Khaled Rizk in Hizma town near occupied Al-Quds. Another Palestinian Adli Obeid (22 years) also died after being wounded by “Israeli” bullets during Wednesday's clashes.

Near Deir El-Balah in Gaza Strip at least 10 boys were shot and wounded when dozens of them threw stones at the “Israeli” soldiers.

Moreover, hundreds of student hurled stones at “Israeli” soldiers near Kfardoram settlement, and Palestinian policeman intervened and prevented them from throwing stones.

“Israeli” troops kill Palestinian in occupied territories…(11)

“Israeli” soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian and injured at least fourteen others hours after “Israelis” and Palestinians agreed on a ceasefire to end the bloodshed that has gripped the occupied territories for more than one month. The deal was reached at a meeting between former “Israeli” prime minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Peres said the accord marked a last-ditch attempt to prevent bloody clashes from reaching a point of no return. Peres said if the cease-fire holds Arafat and “Israeli” Prime Minister Ehud Barak will travel to Washington for talks with US President Bill Clinton to discuss renewing deadlocked peace talks. Barak and Arafat discussed the cease-fire accord by telephone. 

Thousands of people have attended funerals in Gaza for six Palestinians killed by “Israeli” soldiers on Wednesday. Before the burial ceremonies were over, “Israeli” soldiers had already killed a teenager demonstrating in the West Bank village of Hizma. Another Palestinian also died of gunshot wounds received by “Israeli” machinegun toting soldiers in the Gaza Strip. “Israel” had stepped up its attacks on the Palestinian territories overnight. But “Israeli” Prime Minister Ehud Barak's office issued a dramatic pre-dawn announcement saying former Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat had clinched an accord during a late-night, two-hour meeting in Gaza City.  It was followed by a statement read on Palestinian radio and television by Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo calling on Palestinians to protest only peacefully in their struggle with “Israel” for an independent state. Hours earlier, “Israel’s” cabinet drew up a battle plan to crack down on the Palestinians after three of its soldiers died in gunfights yesterday. It was the country's heaviest one-day casualty toll of the unrest.

Footnotes:

1-     AFP, 2-11-2000.

2-     The Daily Star, 3-11-2000.

3-     Same source.

4-     Same source.

5-     Same source.

6-     AFP, 2-11-2000.

7-     Manar TV, 2-11-2000.

8-     Same source.

9-     Same source.

10-  Same source.

11-  Future TV, 2-11-2000.