Lebanon accuses “Israel” navy of "terrorist piracy"…(1)

“ Lebanon accused “Israel” of "piracy" after its navy tried to force a Lebanese civilian cargo ship to sail to the northern “Israeli” port of Haifa.

"The interception of the cargo ship, the terrorism exercised against its crew and the “Israeli” intimidation shots were acts of terrorist piracy and constitute a violation of territorial waters," said President Emile Lahoud in a statement.

"They are also a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 425," which stipulated “Israel’s” pullout from southern Lebanon and a halt to "military actions" against Lebanon.

Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri said earlier that Lebanon will file a complaint to the United Nations after the “Israeli” navy harassed the ship in Lebanese territorial waters.

"Lebanon will file a complaint with the United Nations to add it to other “Israeli” violations at the borders between the two countries," he said.

"We denounce the continued daily provocations by “Israel” and attempts against Lebanon's sovereignty," Hariri said in a statement.

Hariri "denounced “Israeli” warships for intercepting a Lebanese cargo civilian ship and harassing its crew in territorial waters, off Tyre," a coastal city in southern Lebanon.

"Such practices are part of “Israeli” attempts to provoke tension with Lebanon in order to divert the world's attention from its attacks on the Palestinian people in the occupied territories," he said.

The captain of the vessel Rizkallah, Tanios Rai, 38, told an AFP correspondent in Tyre that an “Israeli” officer spoke to him in Arabic over the radio shortly after midnight (2200 GMT) on Thursday.

Rai said that he was ordered by the officer to sail the ship out of Lebanese territorial waters.

The captain said he tried to protest, but was forced to abide by the order after the officer threatened to open fire.

Rai said two “Israeli” gunboats fired several bursts from machinguns and a dozen flares near the Rizkallah, which could not move because its engine had broken down in the meantime.

The captain and his four-member crew, all of them Lebanese, said they were interrogated over the radio by “Israeli” officers who after six hours gave up trying to force him to sail to the “Israeli” northern port of Haifa.

It was the first such violation since the “Israeli” pullout in May from southern Lebanon after 22 years of occupation during which Lebanese fishermen in the region were frequently harassed.

The “Israeli” air force violated Lebanese airspace 123 times between October 8 and November 8, according to the UN Interim Forces in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), whose protests a spokesman said had gone unawnswered.

Lebanon has also accused the “Israeli” air force for landing two helicopter gunships in a village in southern Lebanon on the night of November 5-6, considering the incident as an "act of war."

 Ghajar annexation put on hold after UN-US pressure…(2)

“Israel” is reportedly reconsidering a plan to annex the divided village of Ghajar along the eastern border.
Work began just over two weeks ago on a new stretch of road and security fence 1.5 kilometers east of Ghajar, which straddles the UN-delineated Blue Line with two-thirds in Lebanon and the rest in “Israeli”-occupied Syria.
The new fence is supposed to follow the Blue Line across the fields to the east of the village until it reaches the first houses.
The “Israelis” reportedly then plan to run the fence northwards and around the top of “Lebanese” Ghajar, a move which would constitute a violation of the Blue Line.
“Israel” has been warned by UNIFIL that building a fence north of the Blue Line and annexing “Lebanese” territory will only add to the existing tensions along the border.
The UN’s coordinator for south Lebanon, Rolf Knutsson, is planning to meet with the “Israelis” next week to discuss the new fence.
“The “Israelis” are at a bit of a loss at what to do,” a UNIFIL officer said. “They’ve been told that they are playing straight into the hands of those accusing them of continually violating the Blue Line.”
The officer said that the “Israelis” will likely place the scheme on the “backburner.”
Nonetheless, the northern “Lebanese” end of Ghajar has been effectively placed off-limits to civilians and UN personnel by the “Israelis”. UNIFIL sources note that “Israeli” soldiers regularly patrol “Lebanese” Ghajar by vehicle and on foot.
Indian peacekeepers based at Abbassieh, 1.5 kilometers east of Ghajar, are generally able to reach the edge of the village but are unable to enter. Last week, an Indian patrol was harassed by “Israeli” troops and was forced to turn back.
On Friday, “Israeli” soldiers lounging in armored personnel carriers kept guard over a few civilian engineers welding new fence posts along a new 500-meter stretch of track.

LU students demonstrate at border…(3)

Hundreds of Lebanese University students threw rocks at an “Israeli” Army outpost opposite Fatima Gate in Kfar Kila on Friday in a show of solidarity for the Palestinian intifada.
Although organizers expected an attendance of 3,000, LU’s Students’ Union could only encourage some 300 students from Sidon and Nabatieh to attend.
Unlike other protests, where demonstrators have expressed their feelings of abandonment by the Arab world, Friday’s showed faith in the support for Palestinians, possibly due to Qatar’s severing ties with “Israel” on Thursday. It also took on a strong Islamic character as chants focused on the loss of “Islamic” Al-Quds to “the Jews.”
“You’re the champions of the Arab and Islamic world. With your blood, Al-Quds will be liberated,” many yelled as they hurled rocks over the fence at the silhouettes of armed “Israeli” soldiers in their fortress-like post.
Hizbullah officials prevented the demonstrators from getting close to the fence to avoid inciting retaliatory fire. But the demonstrators chanted: “If we’re hit with Merkavas we’ll go to paradise with our clothes on.”
The protesters later marched in a procession along the barbed wire holding Lebanese, Palestinian and, more noticeably, Hizbullah flags and posters of party leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
“Only the path of resistance will liberate Palestine,” read one of the banners.
Once they reached another outpost some 400 meters down the road, the group burned “Israeli” and US flags, as well as an effigy of an “Israeli” soldier.
“This is the first time I’ve come to Fatima Gate. We’re throwing stones to show the sons of Palestine that they’re not alone,” said one student from Nabatieh as he hurled another rock over the fence.
A speech delivered by student organizer Wissam Shaaban professed the South’s support for the intifada, because “Sharm el-Sheikh, Albright, and the rest of the world is not on your side.”
The students also released Lebanese, Palestinians, and Hizbullah flags attached to multi-colored balloons to send a message to Palestinians “resisting “Israeli” occupation.”
Although most of the balloons flew in the wrong direction, one Hizbullah flag made it to the town of Kiryat Shmona on the other side of the border, where it was examined by “Israeli” police sappers who reportedly found “no explosives.” ­

OIC ministers want to twist “Israel’s” arm
Pre-summit draft would sever all ties with Jewish state…(4)

” Foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference approved a draft resolution on Friday calling on the 56 OIC members to sever all ties with “Israel” until it implements UN resolutions on the Arab-”Israeli” conflict.
The draft calls for a “total boycott and breaking all ties with “Israel”,” said Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath. “The decision invites all members to cut their relations but it gives the right to choose.”
The draft, which also accused “Israel” of war crimes against Palestinians, will be presented to leaders of the OIC at a three-day summit beginning here on Sunday.
The foreign ministers toned down criticism of the United States in the draft after pressure from moderate Arab countries.
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is due to travel to Doha on Saturday to represent Lebanon.
Meanwhile, foreign ministers of Arab Mediterranean countries held consultations on the Euro-Med conference, to be held in Marseilles. The eight ministers ­ from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine and Morocco ­ met twice on Friday in the Sheraton Hotel suite of Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa. Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel-Majid and Libya attended as observers.
The meetings were at Sharaa’s invitation, in his capacity as Arab coordinator for the Marseilles conference, due to take place on Nov. 15-16.
The ministers’ deliberations were designed to reach agreement on a unified stand to persuade the European Union to change its latest “unsupportive” attitude toward the intifada.
Ministerial sources said there was an “inclination” toward participation in the Marseilles conference and the consultations sought to lay down conditions for doing so, demanding European support for the intifada.
But there were those who expressed reservations about such participation.
Other ministers wanted to avoid angering France, which backs Arab rights, and the EU, which had shown an understanding of the Arab position on the peace process. Ministers enthusiastic about participation warned of French “disappointment” should the Marseilles conference be boycotted.
The sources said contacts were under way with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, whose country holds the current EU presidency, in an attempt to convince him of the Arab position.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud said the discussions centered on the “atmosphere which will help in participation and we are now waiting for the European stand.”
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa had said it was decided to attend the Marseilles gathering, but in line with an Arab position still under consideration.
Arab Mediterranean ministers also discussed a meeting of a follow-up committee set up by last month’s Arab summit in Cairo. Hammoud said the meeting reviewed developments since the summit was held and a plan drawn up by Abdel-Majid to support the intifada.

“Israeli” police mistreating children – Amnesty…(5)

Amnesty International on Friday accused “Israeli” police of violating judicial procedures by arresting Palestinian children in the middle of the night and subjecting them to high-pressure interrogations.     The London-based rights group, which visited Al-Quds and northern “Israel” in late October, said in a news release there was a "culture of impunity" around “Israeli” police in their treatment of suspects in the past six weeks of violence.     "Palestinians, including children, were frequently arrested from their homes in the middle of the night in a highly intimidatory fashion," Amnesty quoted its researcher and delegation member Joanna Oyediran as saying.     Amnesty said judicial procedures had regularly been breached in the detention of children. It said that they were arrested, often during the night, as a matter of routine, rather than being not summoned for questioning at police stations later.     It said they were reportedly put under psychological pressure during interrogations by being shouted at, insulted or threatened.     "In some cases children were reportedly beaten by the police," Amnesty said.     Amnesty detailed one case of a 17-year-old Palestinian arrested by soldiers in occupied East Al-Quds during a stone-throwing incident on October 1 and taken to a detention centre in West Al-Quds.     The night before his release, police officers entered the cell and randomly beat the 30 Palestinians under 18 being held there while yelling insults at them.     In another case, a computer programmer at a demonstration in Haifa was arrested and dragged by the legs for more than 50 metres by two police officers with his back bumping along the street while other police officers beat him with batons.     He suffered back injuries, broken ribs and a broken arm, the report said. 

Another 14-year-old dies after protests…(6)

Three more Palestinians and one soldier were killed, two Arab towns were placed under a fresh blockade, “Israeli” tanks fired shells and a small bomb went off in West Al-Quds within 12 hours yesterday.

“Israel’s” new military strategy of assassinating Palestinian guerrilla leaders on their own turf appeared to have deepened the six-week conflict, burying a ceasefire that was proclaimed nine days ago but never worked.

A day after “Israel” killed Hussein Abayat, a district commander of the Fatah militia Tanzim, by blasting his truck with TOW missiles fired from Apache helicopters, the Palestinians lost no time in seeking revenge.

Waving flags and banners, thousands turned out in Bethlehem for the burial of Mr Abayat, a little-known figure before the intifada who is now regarded as a hero and martyr across the occupied territories. Afterwards, as “Israeli” helicopters hovered overhead, gunmen from the funeral procession broke away and fired on Rachel's Tomb, an “Israeli” enclave, seriously injuring an “Israeli” soldier, who later died.

“Israeli” forces struck back, with tanks firing at least four shells into empty buildings used by Palestinian gunmen in Ramallah, the Palestinian-run city north of Al-Quds.

Undeterred by the fact that two middle-aged Arab women passers-by were also killed in Thursday's missile strike, Ehud Barak, “Israel’s” Prime Minister, said yesterday that there would be more such strikes against Palestinian guerrillas. The “Israeli” army refused to apologise for killing the women.

“Israel” and the Palestinians now seem locked into a low-level guerrilla war that could drag on for months, claiming hundreds more lives. There is no sign that the leadership of either side has the power to end it.

The killing of Mr Abayat privately angered the Americans, coming just before Bill Clinton was due to meet Yasser Arafat in Washington to persuade him to recognise a truce. Mr Abayat was not unknown to the US – the Palestinians say the CIA trained him, as it did other members of Mr Arafat's large security apparatus.

His assassination makes it even more likely that little positive will be achieved when Mr Barak meets the US President tomorrow. The “Israeli” leader has said it would be "far-fetched" to expect the Washington talks to produce a resumption in negotiations. Mr Barak said he wanted to press for the enactment of a ceasefire, agreed last month at Sharm el-Sheikh, and again by Shimon Peres and Mr Arafat on 1 November. But for now it is dead, and has little chance of resurrection.

 “Israel” imposed a fresh blockade on the town, and on Ramallah – banning Palestinians from entering or leaving. As ever, the “Israeli” army stressed that they had no intention of harming the population with the closures. But the effect was further to crank up the tension and resentment.

That rose several more notches yesterday after three Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed by “Israeli” troops during protests at Jenin on the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. Despite its new strategy, the “Israeli” army showed no sign of abandoning its policy of killing young Arabs – including many children – on a daily basis, a slaughter that has been made all the more possible by the lack of any concrete measures to deter it by Western governments. As the killings no longer make international headlines, the pressure on the outside world to force “Israel” to stop is easing off.

Condemnation has only been verbal – an accusation by the UN Commission on Human Rights that “Israel” had committed war crimes, and a resolution by the UN Security Council condemning the "excessive use of force".

Mary Robinson, the UN Human Rights Commissioner, has arrived in the region to investigate the violence, but her trip is in trouble. “Israel’s” Foreign Minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami – a smooth-talker in the vanguard of “Israel’s” TV propaganda war – has refused to meet her after she cancelled a plan to meet the right-wing mayor of Al-Quds, Ehud Olmert, and the opposition leader, Ariel Sharon, after the Palestinians objected to her seeing the latter.

“Israel” is bracing itself for further reprisals from the Palestinians, particularly from militant Islamic groups willing to defy Mr Arafat by mounting attacks over the 1967 Green Line in “Israel” itself. Nerves are still raw after a bomb in West Al-Quds killed two “Israelis” nine days ago. There was another scare yesterday, after a small bomb detonated close to the Old City, slightly injuring a policeman. It exploded as a few thousand Palestinian men over 45 – the only Muslims that the ruling “Israelis” will allow into the place in these tense times – were gathering for Friday prayers on the Haram al-Sharif.

Footnotes:

1-                  AFP, 10-11-2000.

2-                  The Daily Star, 11-11-2000.

3-                  Same source.

4-                  Same source.

5-                  Future TV, 10-11-2000.

6-                  Independent, 11-11-2000.