Introduction

The Islamic Resistance (IR) renewed its pledge to liberate all occupied Lebanese territories and to confront the “Israeli” enemy which is committing massacres in the occupied Palestine and which has gone too far in its aggressions against Lebanese airspace, land and waters. The IR men denotated yesterday a chain of explosive devices as “Israeli” armored Hummer vehicles passed through the occupied Shibaa Farms scoring direct this. The Associated Press reported that two “Israeli” soldiers were wounded.

Separately, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister criticized the solid campaign launched by the international community in which Lebanese is being accused of violating UN resolutions.

Resistance begins war for Shibaa
Hizbullah says ambush was only first of many…(1)

Hizbullah fighters detonated a roadside bomb beside an “Israeli” Army patrol in the Shibaa Farms area Monday and promised further attacks as long as the district remains “occupied.”
The bomb ambush is the first of its kind since “Israel” withdrew its forces from the South in May.
At least three roadside bombs exploded as an “Israeli” armored patrol drove past near the Jabal Summaq outpost, southeast of Kfar Shuba. One of the bombs was reportedly suspended from a tree, and another blew up 20 meters from the convoy.
Security sources said at least one “Israeli” soldier was treated for a concussion. The Associated Press reported that two soldiers were lightly wounded.
Goatherds in the nearby area of Kfar Shuba told Agence France Presse they heard two explosions 10 minutes apart.
“They were followed by machine-gun fire and then we saw an “Israeli” helicopter hovering over the region at low altitude,” one of them said.
At sundown, a 30-man “Israeli” foot patrol backed by armored vehicles was dispatched to the area, combing the region with machine guns as the sky was illuminated with flares, according to security sources.
A security source told The Daily Star that the “Israeli” Army was placed on full alert along the border. Soldiers manning the site of a disputed tomb on the summit of Sheikh Abbad Hill near Houla departed their post, the source said.
Hizbullah claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was “part of the decision of the Islamic Resistance to liberate the remaining occupied Lebanese territories.”
“Regarding our decision to continue the path of liberation, and our right in the Shibaa Farms, and in response to the atrocities and massacres committed against our brethren the Palestinians … (Hizbullah) detonated several roadside bombs against a Zionist patrol, inflicting casualties and damage to the vehicles,” the statement said.
A Hizbullah spokesman told The Daily Star that the attack was the first of a new campaign against the “Israelis” in Shibaa.
“You’re going to see more attacks until the Shibaa Farms are liberated,” he said.
The timing of the roadside-bomb attack took security sources by surprise. The “Israeli” government has repeatedly warned that it will respond to any attacks emanating from south Lebanon, hinting that even the Syrian Army in Lebanon could be targeted.
“Israeli” Premier Ehud Barak already faces pressure from the military to adopt a tougher stance against the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The decision to downplay the roadside-bomb attack in the Shibaa Farms will only add to the sense of irritation among senior “Israeli” Army officers who feel that the military’s deterrence is being undermined with each unfulfilled threat.

Hariri  and Nasrallah met for three hours

Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah met new Lebanese Prime Minster Rafik Hariri for the first time since several years .

The two men discussed for three hours a number of subjects ranging from the regional situation to the latest political developments in the country ,as well as , the construction of the underprivileged and newly liberated areas in  Southern Lebanon .

PM Hariri said that he talked with Sayyed Nasrallah about everything starting from the history of his relationship with the party , including the liberation stage, and ending with the basis of future understandings between him and Hizbullah. The meeting took place in the residence of Nasrallah's political assistant Hajj Hussein Khalil whom Hariri visited to condole for his father's death 

‘Global campaign’ targets Lebanon…(3)

The Foreign Ministry criticized “the solid campaign” launched by the international community in which Lebanon is being accused of violating United Nations resolutions, a source at the ministry said on Thursday.
The source was responding to criticism by the United States, Britain and The Netherlands that the government refuses to send the army to the border with “Israel” and is not preventing protesters from throwing stones across the frontier.
The source said Lebanon was not an “island” and is affected by events that happen around it.
“There’s friction in the region, especially confrontations between the “Israelis” and Palestinians, that have repercussions on Lebanon,” the source said.
According to the source, Resolution 425 has not been implemented since “Israel” still occupies the Shibaa Farms, which Lebanon considers its territory, and still detains 19 Lebanese in its prisons.
The source expressed surprise that Lebanon was accused of violating Resolution 425 when Hizbullah captured three “Israeli” soldiers in the Shibaa Farms last month.
“How can they consider the capture of members of the occupying army from our land a violation,” the source asked, “while the continuous “Israeli” air violations ­ in addition to the fact that “Israel” is detaining Lebanese prisoners ­ is considered an innocent act?”

Medallion of "Resistance and Loyalty" for al-Hoss
A delegation from the Islamic Resistance Support Association visited former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and offered him a medallion of  "Loyalty and  Resistance".

Hajj Hussein al-Shami , member of the association , said that the visit aims at expressing estimation for al-Hoss's national stands during his holding the premiership, especially concerning the Islamic Resistance which was able to triumph over the Zionist enemy .

"We expect that he (al-Hoss) will go on with his stands, taking into consideration his national credibility," said al-Shami. 

Two collaborators sentenced to death…(5)

A military court condemned two “Israeli”-allied militiamen to death in absentia on Thursday for killing resistance fighters.
It was the severest sentence handed down by the court since the trials of collaborators began in June.
Salim Salameh and Mohammed Gharmati were convicted of entering “Israel”, joining “the “Israeli” enemy army,” and killing an undetermined number of guerrillas fighting the “Israeli” occupation forces in south Lebanon, the court said in a judgment posted on its bulletin board on Thursday.
The whereabouts of Salameh and Gharmati are not known, but many of the agents fled to “Israel” during the withdrawal of “Israeli” troops in May.
Before the withdrawal, the court had condemned the militia commander, Antoine Lahd, to death in absentia on treason charges. Lahd is believed to be in France.
The court also sentenced 46 other people on Thursday, mostly former militiamen, to prison terms ranging from three weeks to 15 years after convicting them of visiting “Israel” or collaborating with it.
Five of the 46 were sentenced in absentia to prison terms of five to 15 years and fined LL2 million each for collaborating with “Israel”, the judgment said.
The 41 other defendants, who were in court when the sentences were handed down at dawn on Thursday, received terms ranging from nine months to three years and fines of up to LL1 million each.
The court acquitted or dropped charges against 13 other defendants for lack of evidence.

LU students rally for Palestine…(6)

Lebanese University students in Sidon staged a demonstration on Thursday to support the Palestinian uprising and protest the “weak” resolutions at the recent Arab Summit in Cairo.
The summit, which was held Oct. 21-22, ignored angry calls of the Arab streets by failing to force countries to break ties with “Israel”.
“We want actions not words” and “summits frustrate and deceive,” the students chanted.
Protesters carried banners demanding the struggle continue until Al-Quds is under Palestinian control. “Palestine, we haven’t forgotten you. All Arabs will sacrifice themselves for you,” the students yelled. A group of students carried banners urging the boycott of American products.
The Palestinian Students’ Committee and several students affiliated with different political groups delivered speeches stressing the need to continue the struggle. The Popular Nasserite Organization, the Progressive Socialist Party, Hizbullah, the Amal Movement, the Communist Party, and the Future Youth Movement were among the parties represented.
They urged boycotting any country that supported “Israel” and called for the Jewish state’s economic isolation.
Students donated funds to a campaign organized by the newly created Contribution Committee Supporting the Intifada.
Protesters also stamped on and torched US and “Israeli” flags.
Also, the PLO Workers’ Union in Lebanon sent letters on Thursday to the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Libya requesting the countries give Palestinian workers jobs so they could support their families and their country.
The union sent a similar letter to Hassan Jamam, the secretary-general of the Arab Workers’ International Union.
Separately, the PLO Central Committee issued a statement asserting that resisting “Israeli” and continuing the struggle would restore the Palestinian people’s unity. The statement urged Arab countries to join forces and participate in the struggle.

Footnotes:

1-                   The Daily Star, 17-11-2000.

2-                   Manar TV, 16-11-2000.

3-                   The Daily Star, 17-11-2000.

4-                   Manar TV, 16-11-2000.

5-                   The Daily Star, 17-11-2000.

6-                   Same source.