Daily Report  

In the occupied Palestine, Top “Israeli” official have called for a pullout from South Lebanon regardless of whether an agreement is signed with Beirut and Damascus while the military establishment refused an unconditional withdrawal.

US policy on detainees ‘one-sided’…(1)
“A detainees’ support group called on US President Clinton Wednesday to show as much concern for Lebanese civilians held by “Israel” as he does for “Israeli” servicemen missing in Lebanon.

“We’re surprised that you’re only concerned about the fate of the “Israeli” soldiers and forget, meanwhile, dozens of missing Lebanese and 200 Lebanese hostages held in the Khiam and “Israeli” prisons against international laws and in complete seclusion,” the Follow Up Committee for the Support of Lebanese Detainees in the “Israeli” Prisons said in a message sent to Clinton through the US Embassy.

“The committee was reacting to a bill Clinton signed on Tuesday asking the US State Department to pursue the cases of three “Israeli” soldiers who disappeared during the “Israeli” invasion of Lebanon in 1982.

“Mohammed Safa, the chairman of the committee, said he was not challenging the US concern with the three “Israelis”.

“On the contrary, we add our voices to those asking that the torment of their families may end, and that they may know what happened to their loved ones, or that their bodies be returned to the families,” he said.

The group complained that “Israel” was holding juveniles, pregnant women and elderly in Khiam and listed Lebanese prisoners who are being detained without trial while undergoing constant torture.

Safa noted that “most of the Lebanese have been held without trial for more than 10 years and that some of them are unable to receive visits.”

He added that about 20, “who have never been put on trial for lack of precise charges against them,” have seen their administrative detention extended every six months for several years, with the sole aim of keeping them as bargaining counters.

In the best known cases, two resistance leaders, Sheikh Abdel-Karim Obeid and Mustafa Dirani, abducted by “Israeli” commandos, have been held in prison in “Israel” for 10 and five years respectively. “Israel” reportedly hopes to exchange them for Ron Arad, an air force navigator who disappeared in Lebanon in 1986 and whom “Israel” believes may still be alive.

As a result of the bill signed into law by Clinton, the State Department has been asked to take up the case of three missing “Israeli” soldiers with Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority and other regional governments, and to keep Congress regularly informed of its findings.

The three ­ Zachary Baumel, who held dual “Israeli”-US nationality, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman ­ were captured by a Palestinian group in June 1982 during a tank battle between “Israelis” and Syrians near Sultan Yacoub in the Beqaa.

“The law approved by Congress makes Syria legally responsible for their fate, since they disappeared in a part of Lebanon under Syrian control”.

LEBANON DOES NOT RULE OUT UNILATERAL “ISRAELI” WITHDRAWAL…(2)
“In recent weeks, top “Israeli” officials have called for a pullout from southern Lebanon regardless of whether a deal is struck with Beirut and Damascus. “Israeli” military sources said the army has been against an unconditional withdrawal while the government is split on the question. Lebanon for its part has not ruled out an unilateral “Israeli” withdrawal.

“ House Speaker Nabih Berri said an unilateral “Israeli” withdrawal from southern Lebanon is possible. Berri who was speaking to deputies as part of weekly consultations said Lebanon will not provide any security guarantees without securing a peace treaty first between Lebanon, Syria and “Israel”. Berri believed that recent statements made by “Israelis” on a pullout may be linked to events in Palestinian refugee camps in the country. “Israel”, Berri explained may be using the Palestinian card in Lebanon. He did not elaborate. Yesterday, Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud has warned a unilateral “Israeli” pullout that is not accompanied by a wider peace deal encompassing both Syria and the fate of Palestinian refugees will not bring peace to the Middle East. Yesterday, Lahoud told visitors at the presidential palace that Lebanon will not accept a settlement without an “Israeli” pullout from southern Lebanon and the Syrian Golan Heights and without the sacred right of the Palestinians to return home. Lahoud accused the “Israeli” government of trying to scare Lebanon by saying that a decision has been taken and they intend to withdraw without an agreement. But Beirut has taken this into consideration and ordered its security forces to prepare a plan of action for a potential “Israeli” withdrawal from south Lebanon in June. “Israeli” Prime Minister Ehud Barak has made an election promise to pull “Israeli” troops out of Lebanon before July as part of a wider peace accord with Lebanon and Syria. In recent weeks a number of high ranking “Israeli” officials have all called for an “Israeli” pullout regardless of whether a deal is struck. Barak himself has not made clear whether he would be prepared to pull out unilaterally. But the “Israeli” army chief of staff Shaul Mofaz stressed the risks of a pullback without an agreement. Mofaz told “Israel” radio after briefing the Knesset foreign affairs and defense committee that the withdrawal will be accompanied by attacks adding armed groups which have been relatively quiet for years could seize the opportunity to strike. Mofaz said the army has been informed by the government to draw up plans for a withdrawal in the framework of an agreement but it is prepared to consider plans for a withdrawal without an agreement”.

Militia creates new positions…(3)
“The increased talk about the “Israeli” occupation forces' withdrawal from Lebanon has not prevented the enemy's bulldozers from leveling olive groves in Hasbaya to build more barricades around the occupation's outpost of Tallet Zimraya.

“Reports said the leveling operations and moving dirt to the outpost have damaged the olive groves of Adel al-Khatib (from Memes) and Deeb Yaghi (from Hasbaya) besides others.

The occupation has also made a new road for the militia's vehicles near the Hasbani Spring.

“In Arnoun, the town residents who came to Nabatieh this morning said the militiamen started five days ago building a new outpost in the town's square behind the mosque. The outpost is tens of meters away from the Arnoun Pond.

“The residents feared that the new outpost may be prelude to launching more aggressions against them.

“The outpost is usually the source of aggressions against the residents besides controlling their movements to the neighboring Nabatieh and Yohmor”.

US analyst: Washington favors “Israel” too much…(4)
“An American foreign-policy expert says that Washington should get out of the business of promoting “Israeli” interests at the expense of the peace process and its own credibility as an even-handed broker.

Robert McGeehan, a professor of political science at the Institute for US Studies at London University, told a Lebanese University audience on Tuesday that America “has been much too pro-”Israel”.”

“It hasn’t taken Arab sensitivities into account, particularly those of the Palestinians,” he said. “It’s been much too ignorant of “Israeli” aggression.”

“Israeli” Aggressions…(5)
The “Israeli” occupying troops launched the following aggressions:
Between 9:20 and 9:30, five 120mm shells hit the perimeter of Loweizeh village.
Between 10:55 and 16:55, Mount Sojod was bombarded by eight 120mm shells and three 81mm rounds.