“Israeli” army chief says "grave errors" led to soldiers' capture…(1)

“ The capture of three “Israeli” soldiers in an October ambush by Hizbullah was the result of "grave operational errors," the “Israeli” army chief of staff said Wednesday.

Hizbullah, ambushed an “Israeli” patrol at the Shibaa Farms, which lie on the borders of Lebanon, “Israel” and “Israeli”-occupied Syria, on October 7.

A Hizbullah statement at the time said "the fighters fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the patrol and engaged in a clash during which our fighters succeeded in capturing three enemy soldiers and liquidating the rest."

Speaking Wednesday in a televised press conference to present a report on the incident, General Shaul Mofaz said the captures were due "to grave operational errors, because our intelligence services knew the risks of a a capture of our soldiers by Hizbullah.

"Adequate measures were not taken, despite the fact that the sector where the soldiers were captured had been designated as a 'risk sector,'" he said.

Mofaz said that, two weeks prior to the incident, a training exercise involving a hypothetical kidnapping had been carried out, but that the conclusions drawn from that had not been applied on the ground.

The three soldiers are still in the hands of Hizbullah, which spearheaded a successful guerrilla campaign that drove “Israel” out of southern Lebanon in May after a 22-year occupation.

According to the report, "the three abducted soldiers acted on their own authority according to their understanding of orders, without being supervised by their superiors."

Mofaz also reckoned "the “Israeli” forces could have reacted more promptly when the capture was announced."

He also claimed that the Hizbullah guerrillas "used UN emblems" to carry out the operation.

"“Israel” and the “Israeli” army consider it their supreme duty to bring these soldiers home and share their families' grief," Mofaz added.

Also speaking at the news conference, the commander of “Israel’s” northern region, General Gaby Ashkenazi, acknowledged that the capture was a "very serious event, from which lessons had to be learned".

“Israeli” occupation concerned over "Hizbullah cooperation with Palestinian organizations"…(2)

Shaul Mofaz, “Israeli” army chief of staff, warned of the increasing "cooperation between Hizbullah and Palestinian organizations".

During a meeting with the Foreign affairs and security committee in the Knesset, Mofaz discussed about information saying that Hizbullah will try "to carry out operations along the border by planting roadside bombs, or capture soldiers, or plan for the intrusion of persons via planes going to “Israel”".

The army chief of staff was speaking ahead of a meeting with the families of “Israeli” soldiers captured by Hizbullah.

Lebanese civilian wounded after driving over “Israeli” landmine…(3)

“ A Lebanese civilian was injured Wednesday after driving over an “Israeli” landmine in his village in the former “Israeli”-occupied border zone in southern Lebanon, police said.

Ali Saadeh, 24, was driving his tractor in Sujud, a village totally destroyed by the “Israeli” army, when he ran over the landmine, they said.

Saadeh was wounded in the blast and taken to hospital while his vehicle was damaged, they said.

On Sunday, another civilian of the same age lost both his feet when he stepped on an “Israeli” landmine in the formerly occupied border zone.

Nine Lebanese civilians have been killed and 63 injured by mines since the May 24 “Israeli” withdrawal from southern Lebanon. A dozen Lebanese troops were also injured during mine clearing operations.

The UN estimates that there are at least 130,000 “Israeli” mines and unexploded shells remaining in southern Lebanon.

On November 14, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon announced that its mine clearing units had removed 1,520 explosive devices.

Pakistan backs Beirut efforts to "regain" “Israeli”-occupied lands…(4)

i.a.

“ Pakistan's Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said here Wednesday that Islamabad backed Lebanon's "diplomatic efforts" to "regain" territory still occupied by “Israel”.

Abdul Sattar said Lebanon's interim foreign minister Mohammad Baydoun "explained to me that despite “Israel’s” troop pullout from southern Lebanon (in May), there was still a lingering problem as part of Lebanon's territory is still occupied."

"We are now more sensitive to the issue and we back Lebanon's diplomatic efforts to regain its rights," Abdul Sattar told reporters after a meeting with Baydoun.

Since the “Israeli” withdrawal, Lebanon has laid claim to the Shibaa Farms area on the border with Syria, with Syrian consent, which “Israel” captured from Damascus in 1967.

Abdul Sattar arrived here as part of a large delegation accompanying Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf on a two day visit to Lebanon, the last leg of a regional tour.

Abdul Sattar also "denounced the excessive use of force by “Israel” against the Palestinians."

"Concerning the peace process, current views are not very good but we are sure that at the end truth will prevail and that the Palestinian people will have its state with the sacred city of Al-Quds as its capital," he said.

Musharraf held talks earlier Wednesday with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and was expected visit the southern village of Qana, with its mass grave of 105 civilians killed in an “Israeli” bombardment in 1996.

The Pakistani ruler met Tuesday with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and oversaw the signature of two agreements, one calling for a reinforcement of bilateral trade and the other promising investment.

Lebanon imports some 11 million dollars in Pakistani products each year and sells about one million dollars worth to Pakistan.

Musharraf had also said that Islamabad was ready to help Lebanon with demining work in the south of the country, where the “Israeli” army left more than 130,000 mines during its 22-year occupation.

$50 million sought for mine-clearing…(5)

i.a.

Energy and Water Minister Mohammed Abdel-Hamid Beydoun said Wednesday that Lebanon would request $50 million from Arab countries in financial assistance for its mine-clearing drive.
Beydoun said the request would be made by Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, who is in Tunisia for an Arab League follow-up committee meeting to support the Palestinian uprising.
Beydoun insisted on the country’s need for funding, saying, “Lebanon can’t just depend on humanitarian assistance provided by several countries only for such a massive project.”
The minister was addressing journalists following a meeting with a Russian government delegation that offered help to Lebanon for mine-clearing.
“The delegation has put Russia’s expertise in the field of mine-clearing at Lebanon’s disposal,” Beydoun said, adding it was impossible to determine the time needed to clear all mines before knowing the amount of aid it would have available.
Beydoun said the UN must ask “Israel” to hand over the maps for land mines it planted in Lebanon.

Intifadah operations hit more Occupation targets…(6)

“Israeli” occupation forces have imposed Wednesday a curfew in the old city of al-Khalil(Hebron) today, after intifadah fighters opened fire at an “Israeli” post in the Jewish part of the city.

Overnight four Palestinians were shot by occupation forces and Jewish settlers in the West Bank town of Silet al-Thaher, witnesses said. Many others were treated for tear gas inhalation.

Palestinians targeted, as well, “Israeli” posts close to Netzarim, Kadim, and Eilon Mori settlements.

Later, “Israeli” forces opened fire on the Bishop of al-Nasirah town Boulos Merkouzo, while he was on his way to visit a sick priest in Jenin city.

Footnotes:

1-      AFP, 10-1-2001.

2-      Manar TV, 10-1-2001.

3-      AFP, 10-1-2001.

4-      Same source.

5-      The Daily Star, 11-1-2001.

6-      Manar TV, 10-1-2001.