April Saturday 01 -2000:

Israel premier backtracks on pullout plan (1)
He decides to redeploy and keep parcels of Lebanon
Under pressure from the Israeli Army and residents of northern Galilee, Ehud Barak has reportedly reversed an earlier decision to stage a full troop withdrawal from the south to the international border and now intends to retain key parcels of land on the Lebanese side of the fence.
If true, the Israeli premier’s about-face comes despite having received clear warnings from international observers that such a policy would be considered by the Lebanese as a redeployment rather than a withdrawal and would invite continued resistance assaults.
Barak’s new assessment on the extent of a withdrawal reflects growing unease in the region following the failure of the Geneva summit to resuscitate direct peace talks between Syria and Israel.
Last week’s mood of optimism has turned into a gloomy expectation of violence in south Lebanon and has even raised the specter of war between Israel and Syria ­ factors that could have contributed to Barak’s reported change of mind.
His volte-face was reported on Friday by Nahum Barnea, a respected and influential columnist in Israel’s Yediot Ahronot.
According to Barnea, the sections of the boundary fence which have been pushed northward and westward to capture the strategic high ground and provide a buffer for settlements that abut the border will be kept in place. Military outposts which were established on the fence and a little deeper into Lebanon will also stay.
The proposal to withdraw to the military boundary ­ the so-called Purple Line ­ was the cornerstone of the Army’s Morning Twilight plan for a unilateral withdrawal. Barak reportedly vetoed this component of the plan when it was presented to him last month on the basis that it could provide justification for Hizbullah to continue targeting the Israelis.
But the Israeli Army believes that Hizbullah ­ or other Lebanon-based groups ­ will continue to mount operations against Israel, even if a full withdrawal to below the international border is conducted. Therefore, the reasoning goes, if the fighting is to continue, why not maximize the strategic opportunities offered by redeploying to the Purple Line and at the same time defer the considerable cost of moving the fence, outposts and security equipment to the genuine border.
Furthermore, some houses on the western edge of Misgav Am have actually been constructed on Lebanese soil. The residents of these houses would have to be evacuated if the Israelis pulled back to the international border. Hizbullah, the argument continues, could hardly justify attacking Israeli troops over a paltry few meters of land especially when Barak had declared Resolution 425 fulfilled and pulled out of the rest of Lebanon. A firm retaliation would consequently be warranted if Hizbullah was rash enough to continue attacking Israeli troops.
A final withdrawal to the international border could be carried out in line with security arrangements reached in any future peace deal between Lebanon and Israel.
This argument has apparently won Barak over.
The entire concept, however, is based on a dangerous fallacy.
Although Hizbullah has traditionally remained tight-lipped over its designs toward Israel following a withdrawal, observers believe that the party has no intention of carrying the conflict across the border. Recent statements by its leaders suggest that the party is preparing for a less bellicose campaign against Israel: resisting normalization in the post-peace era. Hizbullah supporters are more likely in the future to be found picketing the Israeli Embassy in Beirut rather than shelling Kiryat Shemona.
However, this scenario is dependent on Israel staging a total withdrawal from Lebanon. Hizbullah has clearly stated on many occasions that it will continue attacking Israeli forces as long as they remain on “one inch” of Lebanese soil.
Therefore, the Israeli Army’s desire to keep parcels of Lebanese territory simply guarantees bringing the conflict to the border itself. The Israeli government has warned that it will
respond severely to any attacks on its forces or civilians following the withdrawal ­ possibly directing its retaliation to Syrian military targets in Lebanon.
A forceful Israeli retaliation to cross-border assaults probably would be considered justifiable in the eyes of the international community. But the same cannot be said if Israeli troops still remained in Lebanon, albeit on a few meters of land.
The US, the UN and the rest of the international community agree that Resolution 425 entails a withdrawal to the international border. It will not suffice for Barak to claim 425 has been fulfilled and expect UNIFIL to deploy in the vacated areas and secure Israel’s northern border when Israeli troops are still manning outposts in Lebanon.
One can only speculate about why the Israeli Army is so adamant on adhering to the Purple Line when the move is such an obvious recipe for a serious escalation of the conflict which could drag Israel back into the quagmire it created in Lebanon.
Given the Israeli Army’s reluctance over the whole issue of withdrawing from Lebanon one could almost believe that the defense establishment is deliberately engineering this scenario so it can continue running its private fiefdom in Lebanon for a little while longer.

Occupation stages more aggressions on southern towns
The Israeli occupation forces proceeded with their aggressive policy against Lebanon perpetrating more violations of the April Understanding which bars targeting civilian areas.

The occupation's artillery in the outposts of Tairharfa and Shamaa Friday morning pounded the town of Majdelzoen with a number of 81mm and 120mm rounds.

The aggressions resulted in damaging the houses of Ibrahim Khalil Said, Hamza Fayyad, Ali Deeb, and Ali Nimr al-Hajj Ali.

Moreover, the enemy bombarded the outskirts of al-Mansouri and the Qlaile Plain, while the occupation's outposts raked with heavy machine guns the residential areas of al-Mansouri.

In the afternoon, the Israeli forces targeted the residential areas in Baraasheet with heavy machine-gun fire that damaged Ali al-Hadi's house and the electricity grid in town. (2)

In its communiqere, the IR erported the following Israeli aggressions:

Between 5:55 and 20:35, Qaissieh valley was bombarded by fifteen 155mm missiles.

6:35, four 81mm and 120mm shells struck the surroundings of Majdal Zoun village.

13:40, four 120mm shells hit Mount Sojod.

14:00, Baraasheit town was targeted by a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets damaging the house of Ali El-Hadi.

Between 14:05 and 14:30, Tasseh Well watercourse was shelled by seven 155mm missiles.

14:20, three 120mm shells were unleashed at the peripheries of Mlikh village.

At 14:45, and 16:00, the surroundings of Aramta position exposed to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.

17:10, a hail of Mag machine gun bullets struck  the surroundings of Mahaisbat position.

At 20:25, 21:40 and 21:50, barrages of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds struck the surroundings of Dahour El-Kassara position, the outskirts of Aita El-Jabal and the peripheries of Haddatha and Beit yahoun town respectively. (3)

1 – The Daily Star 1-4-2000
2 – Manar TV 31-3-2000
3 – IR statement 31-3-2000

April Wednesday 05 -2000:

Levy tries to sell Annan on ‘"Israel's" 425’
Defiant Sneh: ‘We will decide’ what is the border…(1)

""Israeli" Foreign Minister David Levy said on Tuesday that the Jewish state was prepared to cooperate fully with the United Nations over a withdrawal of forces from south Lebanon in line with Resolution 425.
But a unilateral withdrawal will be conducted according to "Israel's" interpretation of 425. This entails retaining a few military outposts on Lebanese territory along the border, according to deputy defense minister Ephraim Sneh, a move that is unlikely to win the support of either the UN or the international community.
Levy traveled to Geneva on Tuesday to hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to formally declare "Israel's" intention to withdraw “in one go” from Lebanon by July.
“"Israel" is ready and willing to cooperate with the United Nations in order to set up together a mechanism in the field itself that will bring about the implementation of the resolution,” Levy said after the 90-minute meeting.
He added that "Israel" was acting in its own interests and would continue to protect itself.
"Annan said that the UN and "Israel" were in agreement that cooperation was necessary during the withdrawal phase to prevent a possible deterioration. “The minister informed me that the withdrawal will occur in one go by the end of July,” Annan said. “I will discuss this with the Security Council. We are doing our own contingency planning to determine if the force needs to be reinforced, and how.”
"Israel's" Haaretz newspaper reported on Tuesday that the UN, France and "Israel" were attempting to update Resolution 425 to “clarify” the role of UNIFIL following an "Israeli" troop withdrawal.
But UNIFIL spokesman Timur Goksel rejected the possibility of any tinkering with the 22-year-old resolution.
“There are no efforts to work on a new resolution because it would bring untold complications,” he told The Daily Star.
The present wording calls on UNIFIL to confirm the withdrawal of "Israeli" forces, restore international peace and security, and assist the government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area. Lebanon and Syria would object to any changes in 425 that could grant "Israel" leeway in not staging a full withdrawal to the international border, as is presently demanded by the resolution.
"But it is becoming increasingly apparent that "Israel" will not fully withdraw to the international border if a unilateral pullout is ordered.
Instead, seven outposts will be kept ­ three straddling the border and four on Lebanese soil. The outposts are located in areas where the border fence has been pushed northward and westward into Lebanon, allowing the "Israelis" to dominate the high ground and establish a narrow protective buffer for settlements that abut the frontier. The de-facto frontier is known as the Purple Line.
The move was confirmed on Tuesday by Sneh, who said that "Israel" reserved the right to keep the seven posts. He said that in the absence of a peace treaty with Lebanon, “there is no party that can judge what is the border ­ we will decide from where to withdraw.”
The "Israeli" Army ­ which has consistently opposed a unilateral withdrawal ­ fears that abandoning these parcels of Lebanese land will jeopardize the safety of the border settlements if no prior security arrangements are reached with Lebanon and Syria. But retiring to the Purple Line would not constitute a full withdrawal as ordained by 425, only a redeployment.
Hizbullah has repeatedly said that it will continue attacking "Israeli" troops until the last soldier has departed the country. In this event, the UN would probably announce that 425 had not be fulfilled by "Israel" and UNIFIL would not deploy in the areas vacated by the "Israeli" Army.
But Sneh downplayed the likely backlash from the international community, arguing that countries willing to support "Israel's" pullout would not be deterred by "Israel" remaining inside a tiny border area.
Not every "Israeli" minister shares Sneh’s confidence.
“The Europeans told me very clearly that a precondition for their assistance … is the withdrawal of "Israel" to the international border and not to any other line,” said Justice Minister Yossi Beilin, a long-standing supporter of a unilateral withdrawal".

1- The Daily Star, 5-4-2000.

April Thursday 06 -2000:

Lebanon asks UN if it will disarm Palestinian camps…(1)

Lahoud: It is Resistance that forced "Israel" to withdraw

 views in resistance

"Lebanese President Emile Lahoud Wednesday set out to the United Nations his country's concerns about its security in the aftermath of an "Israeli" withdrawal from the southern border strip.

In a "presidential memorandum" addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan he asked if UN peacekeepers would be prepared to disarm the Palestinian camps in Lebanon before deploying on the border, and how they would prevent further "Israeli" attacks.

The three-page document contained eight points dealing with the proposed international force that is to help the Lebanese government restore its authority in the border strip that has been occupied by "Israel" for 22 years.

Lahoud made it clear that Lebanon wants all the questions answered before it is ready to discuss in detail the conditions for the pullback which "Israel" has pledged to carry out by July.

"If certain Palestinian groups tried to carry out operations across the border in the context of their right of return and in the absence of any solution for their future, do you think the international force will be able to carry out daily small-scale military operations at the border???" the document asked, underlining Lebanese concern by using three question marks.

It said that the 1978 "Israeli" invasion was "provoked" by Palestinian refugees, and asked whether, in the light of "previous experience," Annan would not consider it in Lebanon's interest "for the international force to disarm the Palestinian camps, or to take part on the ground in such an operation ... before deploying at the border."

Some 350,000 Palestinians live in Lebanon, nearly half of them in the 12 camps scattered through the country. The Lebanese constitution forbids their permanent settlement.

The document pointed out that UN resolution 425, which calls for an "Israeli" withdrawal, also states that the task of the international force is to "assist the government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area."

"Is it possible to recover this authority without disarming the camps?" it asked.

The document also raised the issue of possible future "Israeli" "aggression" against Lebanon, or violations by it of UN resolutions, and asked whether the UN force will have the means to deter "Israel" attacks by land, sea or air.

The document also put the case for war reparations, which Lebanon has estimated at 70 billion dollars for loss of life and moral and material damage.

"Who has decided to exempt "Israel" from the compensation due to Lebanon and its people? ... On what grounds has it been forgiven?" it asked, pointing out that "Israel" has only decided to withdraw in the face of attacks by the Lebanese resistance forces.

Lahoud presented the memorandum to Annan's envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, who came to Beirut to brief him about Annan's meeting in Geneva Tuesday with "Israeli" Foreign Minister David Levy.

Copies of the memorandum were also distributed to the press.

Roed-Larsen described his meeting with Lahoud as "excellent." He said he had given the president a written message from Annan about his talks with Levy.

He is scheduled to meet parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Salim Hoss Thursday before going on to Damascus.

"Mr. Annan wanted to sent Mr. Roed-Larsen quickly not only to inform Beirut and Damascus about "Israel's" position on its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, but also to find out the Lebanese and Syrian reactions to the question," a top UN official told AFP, asking not to be named.

1- AFP, 5-4-2000.

April Friday 07 -2000:

PM hammers away at right of return for Palestinians…(1)

"Prime Minister Salim Hoss said Thursday that as long as the plight of the Palestinian refugees was unresolved, "Israel" would be held responsible for any security breaches in the south following a troop withdrawal.
“"Israel",” said Hoss, “must take responsibility for security breaches along the border as long as it prevents finding solutions for such explosive issues as the Palestinian refugees.”
The premier made the statement after a meeting with Terje Roed-Larsen, the UN Middle East peace coordinator.
"Hoss “confirmed Lebanon’s refusal to take responsibility for protecting the security of the southern borders and consequently our rejection of "Israel's" threat to Lebanon of painful blows in the event that any incident takes place there.”

UNIFIL takes its case to NY
Peacekeepers to warn Annan about perils of partial pullout…(2)

"UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be advised by senior UNIFIL personnel next week that the failure of "Israel" to stage a full withdrawal to the international border and the continued existence of the "Israeli" proxy militia will almost certainly prolong the violence and undermine the capabilities of the peacekeeping force.
UNIFIL commander General Kofi Obeng and his special adviser, Timur Goksel, are traveling to New York on Sunday to hold consultations with Annan.
“We’ll brief the UN on the latest developments and the impact on our contingency planning,” Goksel said, adding that he and Obeng would be in New York for at least a week.
"Judging from recent statements by "Israeli" officials, if the option of a unilateral withdrawal is chosen ­ as appears increasingly likely given the deadlock in direct peace talks between "Israel" and Syria ­ the "Israeli" Army will not retire to the international border but to the so-called Purple Line.
The Purple Line represents the de-facto military border where the boundary fence has been pushed northward and westward to capture the high ground or to protect "Israeli" settlements that abut the frontier. "Israeli" troops would retain four outposts located on these parcels of Lebanese land and another three that straddle the border.
However, UNIFIL is not expected to deploy in areas vacated by the "Israeli" Army if the withdrawal is considered incomplete. The UN considers the international border as following the 1949 Armistice Demarcation Line, which in turn follows the 1923 mandate boundary. A partial withdrawal will be interpreted by Hizbullah as a mere redeployment and invite continued resistance attacks.
Four of the countries comprising UNIFIL ­ France, Italy, Ireland and Finland ­ have made it clear that they will not contribute troops if the "Israelis" fail to stage a full withdrawal.
“Nobody is thinking of a peace-making mission,” said a Western diplomat. “Can you imagine European troops trying to enforce peace when caught between the "Israeli" Army with all its sophisticated military hardware and Hizbullah’s extremely effective guerrillas?”
The situation could be further imperiled if the "Israeli"-allied militia remains behind as a military force, as threatened on Monday by militia commander Antoine Lahd.
Lahd said he would continue to control the zone and prevent the state from re-asserting its authority unless the militiamen were given amnesty. “Such comments,” said Goksel, “certainly complicate matters.”

1- The Daily Star, 7-4-2000.

2- The Daily Star, 7-4-2000.

April Tuesday 11 -2000:

Hizbullah: solution means return of Jews to where they came from…(1)
"Hizbullah Secretary General his Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah underlined that comprehensive peace in our region requires the return of the Jews to where they came from for the Zionist project which has created a state more than 50 years ago through usurping land, killing, and displacement. "Israel" will not stop seeking to achieve its expansionist goals in the region and if it could dominate, it would master the regional policy, economy, water and ties with the world.

Speaking at Hizbullah's central rally to mark Ashura, Sayyed Nasrallah said, "Why do we want to run away from the fact that there is a Zionist project that came to this region 50 years ago, created a state which is this projects' military, political and security base".

"This project wants to dominate this region and be the gate between the world and this region," he said.

"If this project manages to dominate (the region), a day will come, for instance, when "Israel", not the US, will tell OPEC how much oil it can produce and at what price it must sell it, a day will come when "Israel" will not discuss with us the water issue but will determine our share of water, and a day will come when "Israel" will interfere even in our international affairs and tell us with whom we can have ties and with whom we cannot."

"Some people are looking for solutions to reach a stable and secure situation, I say to them you are dreaming; if you want a word for the sake of truth, history and Allah, without deceit, distortion, and without beating around the bush: the reason behind the great catastrophes in this region is a "state called "Israel"; as long as a state called "Israeli" is in existence, these catastrophes and pains will continue," he added.

Fadlallah: "Israel" will never be a legitimate entity…(2)

“Instead of worrying whether "Israel" is going to withdraw with or without a peace deal, we should instead focus on one single notion: "Israel" will never be a legitimate entity, even if the whole world recognizes its existence,” said Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah in a ceremony commemorating Ashoura in Beirut’s Haret Hreik suburb.
“At this current stage of the political game, we should stop scurrying after defeatist ideas and refrain from wondering whether the door for negotiations is still open and whether the US-Zionist summit could succeed,” Fadlallah added, referring to this week’s talks between President Clinton and "Israeli" Premier Ehud Barak.
He further charged that merely considering "Israel's" peace plans was the same as accepting "Israel's" seizure of Palestine.
“The issue here is not whether "Israel" pulls out its troops a few meters here or there. We should not be discussing these issues as if "Israel" has the right to occupy Palestine and set up a state over captured land,” he said.

1- Al-Manar TV, 10-4-2000.

2- The Daily Star, 11-4-2000.

April Thursday 13 -2000:

Hizbullah responds to occupation's threats…(1)
"Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General his Eminence Sheikh Nahim Qassem dismissed the conception of reciprocal concession with the Zionist enemy that is proposed by the international community.

Are we the ones who had assaulted this artificial entity to give up our rights, dignity, existence, and land? he asked.

"We will never accept this fait accompli policy."

Speaking at an Ashura rally in Timneen al-Tahta, Qassem warned of the enemy's attempts to sow seeds of unrest among the Lebanese following the withdrawal.

"Harmony among the Lebanese is what annoys the enemy."

The "Israelis" know that they will pay highly for any aggression against Lebanon, he said.  

Hoss: We denounce "Israeli threats of reprisal…(2)

"Prime Minister Salim Hoss said that it was practically impossible for any country to guarantee an absolutely trouble-free border.
“We totally reject and denounce "Israeli" threats of reprisal if stability along the common border is jeopardized. No country in the world can guarantee a trouble-free border,” the prime minister maintained.
“We further reject "Israeli" warnings because UN Security Council Resolution 425 does not leave room for retaliatory threats in the event of border disturbances.”
The premier reiterated that his government was looking forward to the day when "Israel" withdrew unconditionally from south Lebanon under UN resolutions.
“We eagerly wait for the day when "Israel" vacates all of the Lebanese territories in line with UN Resolution 425. This has been our demand for the past 22 years,” Hoss said.

1- Al-Manar TV, 12-4-2000.
2- The Daily Star, 13-4-2000.

April Friday 14 -2000:

Hoss: border demarcation is ‘a ploy’…(1)

"Prime Minister Salim Hoss shrugged off "Israel's" decision to let the United Nations define the border to which "Israel" should withdraw as an "Israeli" ploy on Thursday.
The tug-of-war over the border issue was coupled with a new escalation in violence in which two Lebanese civilians and an "Israeli"-allied militiaman were wounded on Thursday.
“This "Israeli" talk is just another publicity stunt meant to confuse the international community and public opinion,” Hoss said.
An senior "Israeli" official was quoted on Wednesday as saying that "Israel" would approve the UN’s decision on the delineation of the border.
The issue has recently been heavily debated, particularly after "Israel's" deputy defense minister, Ephraim Sneh, claimed there were four separate borders to which "Israel" could withdraw.
“Already the United Nations has replied to "Israel" by telling leaders that all UN actions await a written "Israeli" pledge for the implementation of a withdrawal,” Hoss said.
He was referring to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s demand that the "Israeli" government send the UN a written commitment to implement UN Resolution 425 before the UN would begin preparations for an "Israeli" withdrawal from south Lebanon.
“It is crystal clear that "Israel", whether in its words or deeds, is still bent on setting up ploys". Hoss added.
He reiterated that Lebanon had one internationally recognized border, clearly spelled out in a Franco-British document. “The UN Security Council has already approved the 1923 border under UN Resolution 425. Consequently, there is no need to demarcate the border,” Hoss said. “All these border scenarios are figments of "Israel's" imagination.”

Funny things on the way to withdrawal…(2)

"An "Israeli" delegation that included the deputy director-general of the Ministry of Defense, Moshe Kochanovsky, and the head of the cartography department of military intelligence, Colonel Haim Sarbiv, left last week for Washington on a secret mission regarding "Israel's" post-withdrawal border with Lebanon.
It's now clear that this mission was kept secret mainly from people like the heads of military intelligence. Even Major General (res.) Uri Saguy, the head of the negotiating team for the Syrian talks, was not informed.
Naturally, secrets like this cannot be kept under wraps for long, and when they're disclosed, internal disputes are sometimes revealed along with them. It turns out that the story of the National Security Council, whose heads have twice resigned and then withdrawn their resignations, is repeating itself with the team negotiating with the Syrians, which is not being informed about what is happening on the Syrian track. The secret delegation returned feeling that it had convinced Washington that a withdrawal to the 1978 borders from before the Litani operation would actually be a withdrawal to the international border between "Israel" and Lebanon. The Americans are not likely to be so naive. Just as there is no recognized border for June 4, 1967 between "Israel" and Syria - only the military position lines from that date - there is also no recognized international boundary from June 14, 1978 (the eve of the Litani operation) between "Israel" and Lebanon. The "Israel" Defense Forces* were not located on the international border in 1978 - which will quickly become obvious when an international team is summoned to assess the facts.
The irony of it all is that we are to go back to the Lebanese and repeat the Syrian explanation of the June 4, 1967 lines, which is nothing but a diplomatic ruse. The Syrians argue that their claim is based on UN Security Council Resolution 242, which mentions the return of lands conquered in the Six Day War, and "Israel" claims that the issue of the Lebanese border is based on UN Security Council Resolution 425. Resolution 425, however, does not dictate a return to the lines as they were on the eve of the Litani operation, but rather calls on "Israel" to "withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory," and "to respect Lebanese sovereignty over its recognized international boundaries."
When Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz says in a television interview that "Israel" will return to the 1978 borders from the eve of the Litani operation, it is impossible to say that "Israel" is withdrawing to the international border. And when officials say that "Israel" plans to honor Resolution 425 and withdraw to the 1978 lines, they do not mean that we will be fulfilling the resolution in its entirety - but only that we will appear to do so. And it's still unclear what we mean when we say that we will withdraw to the lines from the eve of the Litani operation. At that time Major Hadad's militiamen in southern Lebanon held three enclaves: Marjayoun-Kliya, the Bint Jbail-Maron el Ras and Nakoura. Do we expect to supply the South Lebanese Army** with arms and ammunition so it can reclaim these enclaves? What's the real decision? What's the real assessment?
"Israel's" declared policy is to follow the letter of Security Council Resolution 425, and withdraw completely from Lebanese territory. So "Israel" seeks to win international support for this step, which is part and parcel with the right to make defensive strikes should Hezbollah, or any other group, Palestinian or not, harm "Israel" from Lebanese territory. This is intended to make it more difficult for Syria and Iran if they attempt to instigate a war against "Israel" from Lebanese territory. It is the right policy if "Israel" really wants to carry out the government's decision to withdraw from Lebanon.
"The Lebanese prime minister already announced that Beirut will not accept a pullout to the 1978 border as a complete withdrawal from Lebanon".

1-            The Daily Star, 14-4-2000.

2-            Ha'aretz, 14-4-2000.

* This term is absolutely unacceptable. "Israel's" Army is that of war and aggression for it protects land gained by force, confiscation and war in contradiction with the simplest rights of human confessed by the international laws and conventions.

** It is an "Israeli" nomination we absolutely reject for it contradicts with Lebanon's independence and sovereignty. This army is not but an "Israeli" agent working for realizing "Israel's" goals in Lebanon.

April Monday 17 -2000:

‘We will not leave detainees in prison’
Nasrallah warns "Israel": occupation is one justification for the resistance…(1)

"Hizbullah’s secretary-general said on Saturday that "Israel's" pullout from the south would not be enough if the Jewish state wanted to end its problems with Lebanon.
“"Israel" cheats Lebanon and the whole world when it says that its withdrawal will solve all of its problems with Lebanon,” Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told thousands gathered in Bir al-Abed to mark Ashoura.
“When "Israel" withdraws its troops to the border, only one problem between "Israel" and Lebanon will be solved,” he said.
“Before the pullout is completed, all detainees must be released … I say it very clearly, that we will not leave our detainees in prison. It is our right to do anything we can to secure their release.
“Also, the enemy must pay compensation for all human and material damage and losses it caused in Lebanon,” he said.
Nasrallah also said Hizbullah would not tolerate the presence of "Israel's" proxy militia in the occupied zone after "Israel" withdrew.
“The collaborators must leave the area with the enemy, surrender to the Lebanese authorities or be killed by our bullets,” he said.
He called, however, on the area’s civilian residents “not to believe rumors and lies” that they would come under Hizbullah attack in the event of a pullout.
“The area’s residents ­ I address the Christians before the Muslims ­ should remember what happened in Jezzine. Nothing has happened since the collaborators left the area (last June),” he said.
Nasrallah warned "Israel" that “any attack on Lebanon after the withdrawal will not be tolerated… The world must know and the enemy must know that the Lebanese have the right to defend their country against any attack in the future.”
With respect to the Palestinian refugees, he said: “The Palestinians here, as well as the Palestinians anywhere in the world, have the right to return to their homes. Arab and Islamic governments must help the refugees to return.”
A statement from the Presidential Palace on Saturday said President Emile Lahoud had “praised the important views voiced by Nasrallah.
“He also stressed the importance of Lebanon’s unity vis-a-vis the Zionist enemy and its plans and plots,” it said.

"Israel" officially withdraws from Monitoring Group…(2)

""Israel" officially withdrew from the five-nation Monitoring Group on Sunday, effectively terminating the international body which has overseen the April Understanding since August 1996.
The "Israeli" Army said the delegates to the group would only return after a two-week ceasefire from the resistance. “"Israel" decided it will weigh participating... only after calm is maintained in south Lebanon for at least two weeks,” the "Israeli" Army said.
""Israel" says Hizbullah and other resistance groups flout the April Understanding by staging attacks from populated areas. The "Israeli" Army’s argues that the understanding hampers its ability to respond to the source of resistance fire. If Lebanese civilians are killed or wounded, Hizbullah feels it is justified to respond with a cross-border attack into northern "Israel".
The government said "Israel" could not alter the terms of the April Understanding. “Lebanon remains committed to the arrangements of April 1996, in which five parties were involved, and "Israel" cannot unilaterally decide on their status,” a statement said.
The activities of the Monitoring Group, consisting of delegates from Lebanon, Syria, France, "Israel" and the United States, have remained frozen since February when the "Israeli" delegation walked out of a session following the killing of a soldier in Beaufort castle.
The remaining delegations have all expressed readiness to resume periodic meetings but the "Israelis" have so far refused to attend. Nonetheless, the "Israelis" have continued to file complaints to the group since February ­ the total number presently standing at around 50. The resistance has been known to stage operations from within the 500 meter cordon sanitaire around all populated areas, but not as often as the "Israelis" declare. "Israel" has periodically called for ceasefires in the south ­ without success. It is unlikely that this latest request will be heeded, particularly given the deadlock in talks with Syria and the imminent "Israeli" pullout.
" If "Israel" begins treating the frontline areas as a free-fire zone and civilians are killed, Hizbullah will respond with cross-border attacks.
"Two civilians were wounded on Saturday in Kfar Romman and on Habboush, near Nabatieh, by "Israeli" shelling. Abbas Atwi, 22, and Shadi Kiwan, 21, a Syrian, suffered shrapnel wounds".

Lebanon insists on threat-free, unconditional "Israeli" pullout…(3)

"Lebanese President Emile Lahoud called Sunday for "Israel" to pull out of south Lebanon "without conditions or threats" in line with UN Security Council resolution 425.

"Lebanon supports implementation of resolution 425 but to the letter and without conditions or threats from "Israel", which is threatening to destroy the (Lebanese) infrastructure and to hit Lebanon's and Syria's armies," he said.

Lahoud, quoted by the official Saudi news agency SPA during a visit to the kingdom, said the purpose of his current Gulf tour was "to clarify Lebanon's position" on "Israel's" planned withdrawal in July.

On Saturday, the Lebanese president met King Fahd on the first leg of his Gulf tour and then traveled on to Kuwait.

Quoted in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai Al-Aam on Sunday, Lahoud said the Jewish state had decided to pull out because of the casualties which its army had suffered in south Lebanon.

"It's clear that the "Israeli" withdrawal comes as a consequence of the losses and not in line with UN resolution 425, which "Israel" has refused to implement since 1978," he said ahead of his first visit to the emirate.

"The Lebanese president also told Al-Rai Al-Aam that it was his country's right to raise the issue of the 350,000 Palestinian refugees in its territory ahead of the planned withdrawal.

"The Palestinian problem in Lebanon is not a problem of refugees like in other Arab countries. It is primarily a security-military problem which has accumulated over dozens of years," he said.

1- The Daily Star, 17-4-2000.

2- The Daily Star, 17-4-2000.

3- AFP, 16-4-2000.

April Tuesday 18 -2000:

Lahoud rules out security guarantees for "Israel"…(1)

"Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said Monday that Beirut would not guarantee "Israel's" security after its withdrawal planned for July.

"We will not agree to guarantee the security of "Israel" and bear the responsibility of problems resulting from forcing Palestinian refugees out" of their country, he told representatives of the 50,000-strong Lebanese community in Kuwait.

""Israel" is trying to spread the word that we are against the "Israeli" withdrawal from our territories. In fact, we support the implementation of all international resolutions linked to the recovery of Arab and Lebanese rights," he added.

Lahoud has called for "Israel" to pull out of south Lebanon "without conditions or threats," in line with UN Security Council resolution 425.

Earlier this month he submitted a memorandum to the United Nations in which he expressed concern lest "certain Palestinian groups," forced to leave their homes in what is now "Israel" when the "Israeli" state was established, might try to carry out operations across the border "in the context of their right of return."

Hoss and Sharaa discuss regional situation…(2)

"Prime Minister Dr Salim al-Hoss on Monday discussed the situation and the recent developments in the region during a phone call with Syrian Foreign Minister Dr Farouq al-Sharaa.

PM al-Hoss held the enemy's entity responsible for any border disorder following withdrawal from Lebanon, stressing Lebanon's invariable principles in the settlement process.

"It is known that Lebanon is for the unconditional implementation of resolution 425. This means complete and unconditional withdrawal from the Lebanese territories to the internationally recognized borders," al-Hoss said.

Anything other than this is redeployment of the "Israeli" occupation forces and not withdrawal in line with resolution 425, he added.

The premier said Lebanon can never be held responsible for the security of the border with ""Israel"", adding, "the security in that region is related to an overwhelming atmosphere of stability therefore, "Israel" is alone responsible for any disorder at the borders."

What is required is an organized pullout through a settlement which can solve the explosive unresolved issues such as that of the Palestinian refugees", al-Hoss concluded.

1- Al-Manar TV, 17-4-2000.

2- Jerusalem Post, 18-4-2000.

April Wednesday 19 -2000:

Civilian martyred, five wounded in new "Israeli" violation of understanding.
One civilian was martyred and five others were wounded as the "Israeli" occupation forces staged more aggressions on the peaceful southern towns in a fresh violation of the April understanding.

The enemy at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday bombarded the town of Majdel Zoun with internationally-banned anti-personnel shells killing Syrian worker Mohammed Radi and wounding his brother Mansour besides his father, Mohammed, and his mother Hayatem. The wounded were taken to a Tyre hospital for treatment.

Shells that landed in the same town also damaged the houses of Ahmed Hassan al-Dorr, Habib Rasheed and Haidar Rasheed.

At 8:00 a.m., "Israeli" 155mm rounds from the occupation's outpost in Zaffateh pounded the outskirts of Qaaqaiyet al-Jisr and Western Zawtar, besides the Sawan area.

Mrs. Samira Yahia Aql and Abdallah Abdel-Hadi Ismail were also wounded when the morning bombardment targeted the town of Libbaya (Western Beqaa). The enemy's shells also damaged a number of houses and the electricity grid in town.

Furthermore, the occupation's warplanes in the morning raided the outskirts of Zillaya.

Earlier, the enemy's air force had targeted (at dawn) Wadi al-Qaissieh, the outskirts of Sawaneh, and Khorbet Selem with 4 raids firing 10 air-to-ground missiles that damaged properties. No casualties were reported...(1)

For its part, the IR released a communiqué in which it reported the following "Israeli" aggressions:

00:00, the "Israeli" war jets staged three sorties into the perimeters of Jibaa town.

At 3:00 and 3:10, the "Israeli" warplanes launched two air raids into the crossroad of Sawaneh, Khorbet Selem and the highroad.

Between 6:00 and 6:30, Majdal Zoun village and its peripheries came under more than four 155mm missiles, four 105mm rounds and 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire killing one Syrian worker called Riad El-Radi and wounding three others who were identified as Mohammad El-Radi, Mohammad Mansour El-Radi and Haitham El-Faleh. Also, the "Israeli" shells damaged the houses of Habib Kassab Haidar Mahmoud El-Dorr, Ahmad Hassan El-Dorr and Haidar and Habib Rashid Said.

Between 6:10 and 6:20, Libbaya village and its perimeters came under twenty one 130mm missiles causing damage to a civilian car and the houses of Mohammad Zaki, Youssef Hassan Wehbi Ismail, Ali Sharif Ismail and Yahia Sayyed Aqel.

6:20, the hilltops of Bir Dahr and Daidaba, the perimeters of Zillaya and Qilya, Dallafeh crossroad, Naameh and Marj El-Zohour areas and the surroundings of Ahmadieh position were bombarded by more than 150mm various kinds of missiles. At Dallafeh village, the national Ali Mida Yassine, 60, was injured and moved to the hospital for treatment.

Between 6:10 and 15:15, seventeen 155mm missiles slammed into the peripheries of Jibal El-Botom village.

6:15, three tank rounds were unleashed at the perimeters of Zibqeen village.

7:25, four 155mm missiles landed the perimeters of Khorbet Selem town.

7:55, the "Israeli" fighter-bombers dropped several air-to-surface rockets into Yohmor ravine.

8:15, the "Israeli" war jets fired a number of air-to-ground rockets in Zillaya ravine.

11:30,the 910^th Hill was pounded by seventeen 155mm missiles.

13:25, the surroundings of Bir Kallab outpost exposed to a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.

13:30, five 120mm shells fell on Mount Sojod and four grenades on the surroundings of Bir Kallab outpost.

Between 13:30 and 13:50, five 155mm missiles were fired at the perimeters of Jibaa town.

15:05, eight 155mm missiles fell on the north of Zibqeen and three 120mm shells on the peripheries of Baraasheit.

15:15, Mount Kabir to the west of Siddiqeen was shelled by nineteen 155mm missiles.

16:35, the "Israeli" warplanes raided into Mount Kabir.

22:40, Qaissieh Valley was shelled by five 155mm missiles.

23:50, the "Israeli" war jets staged a sortie into the peripheries of Jibaa town…(2)

Memories of Qana massacre revived…(3)

"On a large piece of blue cardboard posted outside the American University of Beirut, read the handwritten words: “Oranges of Resistance.” Above them was the crossed-out inscription: “Grapes of Wrath.”
“The country’s supply of oranges comes from the south. They are the symbol of farmers in the south who are resisting the occupation,” explained art connoisseur George Zeenny as he gazed at a group of students admiring the displays.
Zeenny erected his display along Bliss Street on Tuesday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the 1996 Qana massacre. “Hope ­ that’s what I want to say. This is my retaliation,” he added.
“Look at the young people, that’s what I want, to expose the young generation to this. I’ve made my point,” Zeenny said, gazing at the crowds.
The one-day exhibition stretched along 250 meters. Hundreds of oranges, more than 650 kilograms of fruit, decorated the AUB wall, trees and sidewalk.
Zeenny and Pascal Carenza, the Italian artist who contributed the 140 paintings devoted to the Qana theme, spent the entire night putting up the display.
“It’s a pity it’s only for one day,” a clearly exhausted Carenza said.
But Zeenny believes there’s a point to showing the works for one day only: “The massacre happened in one day and so will the exhibition.”
Although Zeenny is pleased with the recognition of his work, he could not conceal his frustration at the fact that recognition was all it had generated.
“Bravo and a pat on the shoulder is what I get,” he said.
Nevertheless, Zeenny flatly refused to disclose the cost of the exhibition: “Forget it, forget it. It’s not important. It’s done with love,” he said.
There was no official opening for the exhibition. “This is the first time an exhibition on Qana has taken place in Beirut and, most importantly, without an official opening and without speeches,” he said.
Between the oranges and the daisies Zeenny picked from near the Corniche on Sunday, Carenza’s landscapes of colorful fields of flowers give the impression of spring in the south.
However, the artist’s gloomy gray paintings of screaming boys reflect the agony and pain the Lebanese suffered from the massacre, which killed 107 civilians who had taken shelter at a United Nations compound in Qana.
Pictures of President Emile Lahoud in Qana and Prime Minister Salim Hoss carrying a child during a visit to Jezzine just after it was liberated in June were among the many displays.
Zeenny insisted that the massacre should be remembered.
“It breaks my heart to see how people refuse to remember what we went through … We need to continue to show this so that it is not repeated,” he said.
Although the same theme has been repeated since he began organizing exhibitions three years ago, Zeenny has been careful to change the way each exhibition is displayed.
“The idea is to keep this memory alive,” he explained, “but also to let it flow with time and keep pace with the present. Otherwise, it will just stay in the past.”
Come 11pm, Zeenny was busy removing the paintings, the oranges and flowers. How long the memory will last is uncertain but it will undoubtedly be rekindled at the same time next year.

1- Al-Manar TV, 18-4-2000.

2- IR statement, 18-4-2000.

3- The Daily Star, 19-4-2000.

April Thursday 20 -2000:

Qassem warns against complacency…(1)

"Hizbullah’s Deputy secretary-general, Nahim Qassem, cautioned that "Israel" would remain aggressive even if it withdrew from south Lebanon.
“There are two possibilities … "Israel" will either launch an aggression before its withdrawal or it will do so after it,” he said on Wednesday.
“We have to be ready for either possibility instead of living in a tense atmosphere,” he said, adding that the situation called for unity and cooperation".

1- The Daily Star, 20-4-2000.

April Friday 21 -2000:

President concludes visit to Iran…(1)

"Leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei on Thursday appreciated the resistance of the Lebanese people to the Zionist regime as a unique example in the Arab world.

In a meeting with President Emile Lahoud, the leader said the Islamic resistance movement has made Muslims proud of Lebanon.

“As long as the threat of "Israel" remains, the necessity for resistance is felt,” the supreme leader said.

The leader referred to Iran’s anti-Zionist stand and said Iran will always remain with Lebanon in campaign against the Zionist regime.

The leader said the usurpers of Palestine are tricksters and will do what they can to sow discord in Lebanon.

President Lahoud briefed the leader on the withdrawal of the Zionist forces from southern Lebanon and said his visit to Iran was aimed at thanking the Iranian nation for their support to Lebanon in its campaign against the Zionist occupation.

Lahoud here Wednesday evening appreciated Iran’s support for Lebanon’s resistance to the Zionist regime and stressed that the support resulted in withdrawal of the "Israeli" forces.

Lahoud, who is currently here at the head of a high-ranking delegation, made the remark in a meeting with his Iranian counterpart president Mohammed Khatami.

Referring to rich Iranian culture, civilization and history, he called for further expansion of Tehran-Beirut relations in all areas.

As to coexistence of various cultures and religions in Lebanon, President Khatami said that such variety has led to the country’s growth and development.

Pointing to the resistance of the Lebanese nation to the Zionist regime’s expansionist policies, he stressed that the nation is representative of resistance and glory of the Muslim and Arab nations in today world.

On withdrawal of the "Israeli" forces from Lebanese territory, President Khatami said that the resistance of the oppressed Lebanese nation has been the major cause of such a move by the Zionists.

Turning to Tehran-Beirut friendly relations, he voiced the country’s interest in strengthening political, economic, social, scientific and cultural ties with Lebanon.

The Islamic republic of Iran is interested in regional peace and stability, the Iranian president said adding that no peace will be durable unless it is based on justice and restoration of rights of all regional nations.

He expressed the hope that all occupied lands will be liberated and all homeless Palestinians will return to their homeland peacefully.

The Lebanese delegation arrived in Tehran Wednesday afternoon and was greeted at the Mehrabad International Airport by the minister of housing and urban development, Ali Abdolalizadeh.

Later on, president Khatami officially welcomed president Lahoud at the Sa’dabad palace.
At the end of the visit, Iran and Lebanon released a joint statement here Thursday.

In a copy of the statement which was provided to IRNA, the two countries condemned "Israel's" occupation of southern Lebanon and stressed confronting the aggressors until the emancipation of the Lebanese territories.

They also lauded the Lebanese resistance, and said that the announced "Israeli" withdrawal from southern Lebanon is victory for the Arab and Moslem world.

The statement also referred to the Lebanese president’s appreciation of Iran’s role in supporting the Lebanese resistance, and stressing the effectiveness of the Iranian policy.

The presidents of Iran and Lebanon also expressed satisfaction on progress achieved in the bilateral ties in all areas, and voiced support for expansion of relations especially in economic and cultural areas.

The statement further refers to the need for a stable and lasting peace in the region and draws attention to the danger posed by the "Israel's" nuclear arsenal for the regional countries. It also calls for pursuing policies to protect the Middle East from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.

Lahoud voiced support for Iran’s policy of détente, confidence building measures and bolstering of relations with the regional Arab countries.

The statement says that the Lebanese president has extended an invitation to his Iranian counterpart to visit Lebanon in an opportune time and President Khatami has welcomed the invitation with the date to be mutually agreed upon in the future.

The Lebanese president ended his two-day official trip to Tehran Thursday afternoon. President Khatami saw him off at Tehran Mehrabad airport.

Lebanese couple expelled from homes in "Israeli"-occupied zone…(2)

" A Lebanese man and his pregnant wife have been expelled from the "Israeli"-occupied zone of southern Lebanon, police announced here Thursday.

Saleh Sheet, 27, a primary school teacher in the village of Kfar Kila close to the border with "Israel", told AFP that members of "Israel's" proxy militia burst into his classroom on Tuesday and ordered him out of of the zone immediately.

"They didn't give any reason why I had been declared persona non grata, and accompanied me to the Kfar Tibnite gate," one of the five crossing points into government-held territory, he said.

He said he had not said or done anything that would explain such an action.

His wife Malak Jomaa, who is six months pregnant, was expelled 24 hours later by the militia men who conducted her to Kfar Tibnite.

The US-based human rights organisation Human Rights Watch in November described the forced expulsion of Lebanese civilians from their villages in the occupied zone as "war crimes" and a violation of the Geneva conventions protecting civilians in conflict zones.

It said "hundreds if not thousands of Lebanese civilians have been ordered to leave their homes and villages without notice and with no means of appeal" since 1985.

Egyptian, Lebanese leaders want "complete" "Israeli" withdrawal…(3)

" Presidents Emile Lahoud of Lebanon and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt urged "Israel" Thursday to withdraw its air and naval forces from Lebanon in addition to its ground forces.

"The two heads of state stressed the need that the "Israeli" withdrawal from south Lebanon be a complete withdrawal covering the ground, air and sea," Egyptian Information Minister Safwat al-Sherif told reporters.

"One must respect Lebanese territorial waters, air space and Lebanese sovereignty over all Lebanese territory," the minister quoted Mubarak and Lahoud as saying.

The two presidents, meeting in Cairo, were discussing "Israel's" plan to withdraw from its "buffer zone" in south Lebanon in July, after 22 years of occupation.

But the two leaders implied they were concerned "Israeli" gunboats would still sail off the Lebanese coast and "Israeli" warplanes would still fly over its territory.

Mubarak and Lahoud also said it was necessary to "respect international borders, whether it concerned Lebanon or Syria," Sherif added.

Lahoud, who flew here from Tehran, was greeted by Mubarak and a guard of honor at the airport before the two went to a presidential palace in northern Cairo for face-to-face talks.

Their delegations joined them later.

During his two-day visit to Egypt, Lahoud will also meet with other Egyptian officials as well as Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdel Meguid on Friday.

Mubarak made a surprise visit to Beirut on February 19, the first by an Egyptian head of state, to show solidarity with Lebanon following massive "Israeli" retaliatory raids on the country's electrical infrastructure.

The raids were in reprisal for the killing of a number of "Israeli" troops by Syrian-backed Hizbullah guerrillas in Lebanon.

"Israel" denounced Mubarak's visit as giving support to Hizbullah, which is responsible for most of the attacks on "Israeli" occupation forces in south Lebanon.

1- Al-Manar TV, 20-4-2000.

2- AFP, 20-4-2000.

2- Same source.

April Tuesday 25 -2000:

Hezbollah: Lahd's militia is Israeli, its stay means continuation of occupation (1)
Hezbollah Secretary General his Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the militia of agent Antoine Lahd is "an Israeli case, and Hezbollah will deal with it accordingly if it stays in the south after the Israeli pullout."

Sayyed Nasrallah told the Iranian Islamic Republic's News Agency (IRNA), "We don't consider Lahd's militia a Lebanese case or militia, for it is an Israeli case."

The stay of this militia in its outposts and barracks is a continuation of the Israeli occupation, he said, adding, "Israel will be completely responsible for all the acts that agent Lahd's militia may do."

Any Lahdi aggression on our towns and villages is an Israeli aggression and we will deal with it accordingly, he said.

The Hezbollah secretary general stressed that the collaborators in Lahd's militia are "Lebanese only in the identity cards they carry, but the militia's formation, project and goals are Israeli."

If the militia stays after the withdrawal it will do so to achieve Israeli goals and not to serve Lebanese calculations, Sayyed Nasrallah concluded.

Isreali shelling damages mosque, home in southern Lebanon

Shelling from the Israeli-occupied zone of southern Lebanon damaged a mosque and a house near the port city of Tyre early Monday, police said.

Two shells struck the Haddatha mosque and a neighbouring house, the police said, adding that there were no casualties.

The police said some 20 shells in all were fired at areas on the edge of the western sector of the occupied zone.

Meanwhile an official with the UN multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said an Irish post south of Tyre had been damaged by a shell fired from the occupied zone on Sunday.

There were no injuries reported but windows were shattered in the barracks at Haddatha, which houses 18 UNIFIL troops from Ireland, the official said, adding that UNIFIL had protested to the Israelis.(2)

In its statement, the IR reported the following Israeli aggressions:

2:45, five 81mm rounds fell on Ali Taher woodland and three others on the deserted Lebanese Army barracks of Nabatieh El-Fawqa, whereas the surroundings of Ali Taher outpost exposed to a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.

Between 5:15 and 23:30, Haddatha town and its perimeters came under four 81mm rounds, two 155mm missiles two 105mm tank bombs, one 120mm shell and hails of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.

The Israeli shelling caused damage to the town's Husseinieh building.

5:55, eight 155mm missiles slammed into the surroundings of Haddatha compound whereas three 120mm shells and a hail of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets  landed the outskirts of Haris village.

6:05, Mansouri ravine was targeted by two 120mm shells.

6:10, The area between Jibal El-Botom and Rmadieh villages was bombarded by nine 155mm missiles.

6:15, nine 155mm missiles were unleashed at the peripheries of Yater, whereas six other were fired at the perimeters of Jibal El-Botom.

Meanwhile, Jib Soweid area to the east of Majdal Zoun village was shelled by three 155mm missiles.

6:30, two 120mm shells hit the area between Haddatha and Haris.

17:10, Mount Sojod was pounded by four 120mm shells and one 155mm missiles.

17:30, seven 155mm missiles slammed into the perimeters of Jibaa town.

17:35, Arid El-Zennar area was shelled by five 155mm missiles.

22:45, a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds struck the surroundings of Bir Kallab outpost.

22:55, a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets hit the surroundings of Aramta position.(3)

Partial Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon unacceptable: Syrian FM …(4)

Israel's pledged withdrawal from southern Lebanon must be total and unconditional, and any attempt to wriggle out of the commitment will be doomed to failure, Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara said here Monday.

The Israeli pullback must be "total and absolute, from the Lebanese seas, land and skies," he told journalists after meeting Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.

Otherwise, "it would mean that Israel wants to perpetuate the current situation, only worse, having proposed something that it would not have carried out. That would be unacceptable."

"If they want something else, they will not succeed, even with the backing of the great powers. They will fail as they did in the 1980s," he warned, in a reference to the experience of the multinational force deployed in Beirut in an attempt to keep the peace after the Israelis withdrew in 1982.

Suicide commandos of Islamic Jihad blew up the headquarters of the US contingent of the force in October 1983, killing 241 marines, and destroyed a French post killing 56 troops.

The force, which also contained British and Italian troops, finally withdrew a year later, with little to show for its efforts.

Israel officially announced last week that it would withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, where they have occupied a border strip since 1978, by July, whether or not it has reached a peace agreement with Beirut or Damascus, which is the main powerbroker in Lebanon.

Shara's visit to Lebanon came on the eve of a trip he is to make to France, where he will have talks with President Jacques Chirac and Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine on Syria's position towards the peace process.

He said the interests of Syria and Lebanon were identical, both domestically and as far as the region was concerned.

Lahd's militia detains resident for refusing to collaborate (5)
Reports from the occupied zone said the collaborators of the Israeli occupation in Antoine Lahd's militia have detained Ramez Abu Aliwa, 28, from his hometown of Bint Jbeil and took him to al-Khiam detention center.

The reports said agents Wisam Safi Mroue and Ali Fawzi al-Sagheer led the arrest operation which took place because Abu Aliwa had refused to collaborate with the militia and provide the agents with information on what goes on in the town.

The Israeli occupation forces had killed Abu Aliwa's father in 1978 as he was attending his cattle in the town's woods.

1- Manar TV 24-4-‏2000

2-  AFP 24-4-2000

3-  IR Statement 24-4-2000

4-  AFP 24-4-2000

5-  Manar TV 24-4-2000

April Wednesday 26 -2000:

Nasrallah calls for the withdrawal of "Israeli" allied militiamen alongside occupation forces…(1)
"Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned against any presence of "Israeli" allied militiamen in southern Lebanon following "Israel's" planned pullout. Nasrallah said the resistance group holds "Israel" responsible for any militia activity, adding they will remain a target even after "Israel" withdraws. Nasrallah said the militia constitutes an occupation force, since it was created by "Israel" and is being financed, controlled and trained by the Jewish state. Militiamen face prosecution in Beirut for collaborating with "Israel". The Hizbullah leader, whose group spearheads resistance operations in the south, called for the withdrawal of militiamen from the south alongside "Israelis". Nasrallah also vowed to keep up attacks on "Israeli" forces in occupied south Lebanon even as they retreat".

Leaders hail impending withdrawal
Lahoud says Palestinian issue remains a ‘timebomb’…(2)

The president and the prime minister hailed the impending "Israeli" withdrawal from south Lebanon as a cause for celebration in remarks released on Tuesday.
While Prime Minister Salim Hoss stressed that there was no need for excessive pessimism over the prospects of post-withdrawal conflict, President Emile Lahoud reiterated that without the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes, Lebanon’s stability would remain threatened.
“It will be a historic moment when the last soldier of the "Israeli" occupation troops leaves Lebanon according to UN Security Council Resolution 425,” Hoss said in a statement.
“Lebanon has been calling for the implementation of the resolution since it was passed 22 years ago. It’s inconceivable that it does not welcome the resolution’s implementation with happiness,” he added.
The premier said that "Israel" decided to implement the resolution as a result of “the sacrifices of Lebanon’s people and resistance movement.”
He called on “all citizens to share my hope that the pullout will be a prelude for real relief and an incentive for renewing our confidence in our homeland and ourselves and in our success in achieving this unequivocal victory.”
Hoss warned against “pessimistic views that exceed the limits of legitimate caution about "Israel's" intentions,” saying that such views “threaten to turn our victory into an "Israeli" victory.”
Hoss was referring to recent statements from various officials, suggesting that an "Israeli" withdrawal, without a comprehensive peace agreement, would destabilize the country. He added that the withdrawal “is a spectacular leap forward on all aspects and should not be treated any other away.”
Addressing the Lebanese community in Saudi Arabia during his trip last week, Lahoud rejected "Israeli" threats to flatten Lebanon in the event of border attacks after a pullout.
“If the enemy is not capable of protecting its border, how can we do so? I ask this question after hearing "Israeli" threats to launch retaliatory attacks to any cross-border incident,” Lahoud said. Tele-Liban aired the full footage of his exchange with the community members on Tuesday.
“Cross-border incidents happen anywhere in the world. India and Pakistan complain about incidents on their common border.
“The two countries have nuclear weapons but they don’t use them in retaliation for such incidents,” he added during the meeting in Saudi Arabia. “I say if they leave Lebanon, we will celebrate. But they don’t have the right to impose conditions on us.”
Lahoud elaborated on his earlier comments that Lebanon could not stop Palestinians from attempting cross-border attacks.
“When the "Israelis" invaded Lebanon in 1982, they entered the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. We all remember the massacres that took place there,” he said. “Are we supposed to enter the camps and allow similar incidents to take place? Can the United Nations do the same thing?”
He said that if Palestinian refugees in Lebanon were not given the right to return home, they “will become a timebomb.” He also accused Palestinian militants of killing four judges in Sidon in June and instigating a Sunni fundamentalist rebellion in Dinnieh in January.
“If the same Palestinians, who killed the judges and hid in the camps making it impossible for us to arrest them, tried to stage cross-border attacks, will "Israel" destroy Lebanon?” he asked.
Lahoud blamed former governments “secret diplomacy” with "Israel", which, he claimed, “weakened Lebanon” and “encouraged "Israel" to attempt to impose its conditions on us.”

Lebanese civilian seriously hurt by "Israeli" fire

"A Lebanese civilian was seriously hurt Tuesday when his village close to the "Israel"-occupied border strip came under heavy artillery fire, Lebanese police said.

Mohammed Darwish Aqiqi was hit by a bullet in the stomach when several parts of the village of Shaqra was raked by fire from the "Israeli" position of Hula inside the occupied zone, they said.

Ten shells fired from Hula also fell on the village, causing serious damage to property, they added.

Since the beginning of the year, four civilians have been killed and 71 injured in violence in southern Lebanon, despite an agreement reached between the belligerents in 1996 to avoid targeting civilians.

In another incident a Lebanese goatherd was wounded in the explosion of an "Israeli" cluster bomb, dating probably from the 1982 invasion, police said.

Said Khalil Aql, 65, received multiple injuries in the blast as he was guarding his flock near Libbaya, in the southern part of the eastern Syrian-controlled Beqaa plain.

"Israel" first invaded its northern neighbor in 1978 in an offensive against Palestinian guerrillas before launching a disastrous full-scale invasion in 1982. In 1985 it pulled back to a self-declared "security zone" in south Lebanon with the aim of protecting its northern border from possible attack by Lebanese guerrillas…(3)

For its part, the IR issued a statement in which it reported the following "Israeli" aggressions:

00:15, the perimeters of Kfar Romman town came under six 60mm and 81mm rounds and a hail of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.

00:20, two 81mm rounds landed Haddatha woodland.

00:25, five 120mm shells were unleashed at the west of Soweida outpost.

3:25, the surroundings of Haddatha compound exposed to a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.

6:00, four 155mm missiles were fired at the peripheries of Jibaa town.

6:10, Jib Soweid area, east of Majdal Zoun village, was shelled by five 155mm missiles.

6:15, nine 155mm missiles slammed into the area between the villages of Jibal El-Botom, Rmadieh and Zibqeen.

6:20, Mount Sojod was targeted by three 155mm missiles.

6:25, four 155mm missiles hit the perimeters of Yater village.

11:15, three 155mm missiles struck Qaissieh Valley.

14:20, Mount Zaatar was pounded by five 155mm missiles.

14:40, the residential areas of Shaqra village exposed to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire inflicting the civilian Mohammad Mahmoud Aqiqi who was moved to Tibnine Hospital for treatment.

14:45, ten 120mm shells slammed into the perimeters of Majdal Selem town, whereas a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds hit the town itself.

15:20, three 155mm missiles fell on the western peripheries of Baraasheit town.

18:05, the west of Yater village was bombarded by seven 155mm missiles.

18:20, three 155mm missiles landed the perimeters of Jibaa town…(4)

Three Lebanese children expelled from "Israeli"-occupied zone…(5)

" Three children aged between six and 10, who had gone to stay with relatives in the "Israeli"-occupied zone of southern Lebanon, were beaten and expelled by "Israel's" proxy militia, security services said Tuesday.

Khalil, 10, Khodr, 8, and Aala, 6, had been taken by an aunt to spend their Easter holidays in Shibaa village where they used to live before being expelled, with 23 other members of the family, last July.

The family was expelled because the boys' father, Mohammed Khalil Ibrahim Nabaa, was suspected of involvement in the assassination of an "Israeli" agent security officer, Ghassan Daher.

As soon as news of their arrival spread in the village Saturday, the militiamen ordered family members to lock the children up at home and bring them to intelligence headquarters the following day, relatives said.

"Khalil was struck violently across the face, and all three were aggressively questioned by the collaborators, who then took them to Kfar Houna, one of the points linking the occupied zone with the rest of Lebanon, where they put them in a hired vehicle which drove them to the first Lebanese Army road block".

Pro-"Israeli" militia arrest three deserters in south Lebanon…(6)

"Three members of "Israel's" proxy militia who deserted a month ago, have been arrested and imprisoned in the Khiam detention camp in the "Israeli"-occupied zone of southern Lebanon, security forces said here Tuesday.

"The three, all members of the Nabaa family, come from the village of Shibaa, in the eastern part of the zone, where they were arrested last week, the forces said.

Two of them had been militiamen, while the other belonged to the "civil administration" set up by the "Israeli" army in the zone.

"Cases of desertion from the militia have increased since "Israel" announced it would withdraw from the occupied zone by July. However, most deserters cross into government-held territory and give themselves up to the Lebanese army, or to guerrilla groups such as Hizbullah or Amal, which spearhead resistance to the "Israeli" presence in Lebanon.

"Some 150 Lebanese are currently held without trial in Khiam, which has been repeatedly denounced by human rights groups for ill-treatment and torture".

1-          Future TV, 25-4-2000.

2-          The Daily Star, 26-4-2000.

3-          AFP, 25-4-2000.

4-          IR statement, 25-4-2000.

5-          AFP, 25-4-2000.

6-          Same source.

April Thursday 27 -2000:

Sharaa unsure about UN force…(1)

"Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa cast doubt on Wednesday on the ability of the United Nations to maintain security in south Lebanon, saying a deployment of international forces after the impending "Israeli" withdrawal was “highly sensitive and hypothetical.”
"Addressing journalists at the Syrian Embassy in Paris, Sharaa said: “We don’t know why such a force will be necessary, nor what its nature or objectives will be. Will it be a deterrent force, and if so, deterring who?”
He warned France against participating in a force which might not be strong enough to hold the balance between "Israel" and its potential adversaries.
Sharaa accused "Israel" of using plans to withdraw from the south as a setup for “taking revenge” on its Arab neighbors.
“"Israel" has something else in mind that it will do after this withdrawal,” he said. “In return for this unconditional withdrawal, it will try to take revenge on Lebanon, Syria and the resistance, but I think they will fail.”
Sharaa, who on Tuesday met French President Jacques Chirac and Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, also said: “We in Syria, as in Lebanon, feel that this is a victory and we have the right to say it. We’re not saying it to play a game.”

"Israel's" warplanes raided into Western Beqaa

""Israeli" warplanes fired four missiles at 8am on Wednesday during two raids on Jabal Abu Rashed in the Western Beqaa, a Lebanese security official said, asserting that there were no resistance attacks prior to the raids.
Lebanese troops in the region confronted the jets with heavy anti-aircraft fire. An hour earlier, "Israeli" warplanes carried out two raids in the same region, firing four rockets, according to the source.
Also on Wednesday, Mohammed Sabbagh, 17, was seriously wounded in an area east of the southern port city of Tyre, when he stepped on a land mine while working in his field, police said.
They added that it is believed the mine was planted by "Israeli" troops to target resistance fighters…(2)

For its part, the IR released a communiqué in which it mentioned the following "Israeli" aggressions:

6:00, four 120mm shells and three 81mm rounds fell on the perimeters of Baraasheit town and five 155mm missiles on the perimeters of Nabatieh, whereas Mount Zaatar was shelled by four 155mm missiles.

6:05, four 120mm shells were unleashed at the deserted Lebanese Army barracks of Nabatieh El-Fawqa.

6:10, Kfour ravine was bombarded by seven 155mm missiles.

6:15, several 155mm missiles were fired at the peripheries of Shaqra village.

At 7:00 and 8:00, the "Israeli" fighter-bombers dropped more than six air-to-surface rockets into Jabbour area.

8:10, Jabbour area was pounded by thirty 155mm missiles.

Between 11:35 and 20:25, the perimeters of Jibaa town came under fourteen 155mm missiles.

14:30, the area near Soweida outpost was targeted by four 120mm shells.

Between 14:35 and 14:45, Qaissieh Valley was shelled by nine 155mm missiles.

14:40, more than seven 120mm shells and a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets slammed into Majdal Selem town and its peripheries.

16:40, the surroundings of Hemayed position exposed to a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.

16:50, four 155mm missiles hit west of Yater village, whereas the surroundings of Rshaf position came under a heavy machine gun fire.

19:15, a cluster bomb planted by the "Israeli" occupying troops exploded between the area between the villages of Barish, Maarakeh and Debaal wounding the citizen Mustafa Mohammad El-Sabbagh, 17, from Debaal.

20:45, five 155mm missiles landed Tasseh Well watercourse.

Between 23:15 and 23:40, twelve 155mm missiles slammed into the outskirts of Habboush town.

23:35, Kfour ravine was hit by a number of 155mm missiles.

23:50, the surroundings of Haddatha compound exposed to three 81mm rounds…(3)

Occupation considers forming post-withdrawal substitutes for Lahd militia…(4)

"Lebanese political and security sources unveiled that the "Israeli" occupation is seriously considering other substitutes for agent Antoine Lahd's militia in case the "Israeli" unilateral pullout takes place without "Israel's" being able to increase the number of the UNIFIL troops.

Within this context, a considerable number of members of the banned "Lebanese Forces" militia has moved to the occupied border zone recently.

"The sources said the new comers started inspecting the situation, organizing their ranks, and calling on members and cadres who are abroad to come to the zone.

Reports from the occupied zone said new faces are now seen in the zone and talking about the formation of a "national guard" to defend the villages and towns from which the "Israeli" occupation will withdraw.

"The sources said the situation will be similar to the one ""Israel"" created in 1978 when it said it wanted to implement resolution 425 but kept the "national guard" in the zone it had invaded in what was known as Saad Haddad's state".

1-          The Daily Star, 27-4-2000.

2-          The Daily Star, 27-4-2000.

3-          IR statement, 26-4-2000.

4-          Al-Manar TV, 26-4-2000.

April Friday 28 -2000:

De Charette: Qana ‘was not a mistake’…(1)

"Former French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette charged "Israel" on Thursday with planning the massacre of more than 100 civilians sheltered in a United Nations compound in Qana in 1996.
“"Israel" knew what it was doing. It wasn’t a mistake,” as "Israel" contends, de Charette said as he laid a wreath on the tombs of the slain civilians.
De Charette, who arrived on a private four-day visit to Beirut on Tuesday at the invitation of Sidon MP Bahiya Hariri, said the Qana massacre was an indelible event etched in his memory.
“It is very crucial that the world never forget this massacre so that it won’t be repeated ever again,” he said.

1-          The Daily Star, 28-4-2000.

April Saturday 29 -2000:

Occupation forces fire 400 shells on front-line villages…(1)

"The "Israeli" occupation forces on Friday turned the villages and towns adjacent to the occupied zone into a real battlefield with hysteric aggressions in which the enemy's field artillery, mortars, tanks, warplanes and helicopters took part.

"As the occupation's air force staged several raids on Iqleem al-Toffah, the artillery pounded the Western Beqaa Hilltops, Hasbaya District, and several areas in the western sector with more than 400 rounds. "The "Israeli" aggressions damaged houses along with water pipes and electricity grids in the targeted areas".

Hoss: pullout will bring foreign investment…(2)

Prime Minister Salim Hoss said on Friday that an "Israeli" withdrawal from the south would spur badly-needed foreign investment to help Lebanon out of its recession.
“For the first time, "Israel" is being forced to give up Arab territory,” he said. “Our victory over "Israeli" occupation will be the beginning of our victory over the economic crisis.
“What has hindered and still hinders investment is the lack of stability, which is caused by continuing "Israeli" aggression against Lebanon.
“Lebanon is mentioned in the media only when it is subject to "Israeli" bombardment which, in the eyes of foreign investors, makes Lebanon unstable and unsafe. This is of course untrue,” he said. Hoss went on to say he expected the country to attract investors after withdrawal.

Pullout in sight, but villagers have had enough and flee…(3)

"The occupation of south Lebanon may only last another few weeks but the residents of the frontline village of Majdal Zoun have had enough.
After years of enduring almost daily artillery bombardments and air raids in and around the dusty hilltop village, almost the entire population evacuated their homes last week and are now living in Tyre, 15 kilometers to the north.
The final straw came 11 days ago when a shell fired from an "Israeli" Merkava tank struck a house in the center of the village, killing a Syrian worker and wounding three others. The tank, located in the village of Shahine inside the occupation zone, fired three rounds. Two exploded harmlessly in tobacco fields. The third exploded inside the house, less than 100 meters from a position manned by Nepalese UNIFIL troops.
It was the latest in a series of assaults against the village ­ a mix of indiscriminate shelling from the "Israeli"-allied militiamen and deliberate air strikes by "Israeli" helicopter gunships.
“The people here are terrified, they are very afraid,” said Nawaf Harmoush, the director of Majdal Zoun school. “Our neighbors are the enemy and they are firing into our homes.”
The Syrian worker was killed the day school closed for the Easter holidays. Harmoush said that school reopens on Tuesday. “I don’t know if any of the children will show up now,” he said.
Fatima Dour, who lives next to the building hit by the Merkava tank, said that most of the 2,000 villagers fled after the Syrian worker was killed. Less than 40 people remain.
Dour said that some residents returned two days ago, but only to collect some extra clothes and belongings. “They have rented houses in Tyre or Bourj Shemali or are staying with relatives,” Dour said, adding that she refused to leave her home.
On March 28, two children, aged 17 and six, were wounded when mortar rounds exploded in the heart of the village. They were fired from the Lahdi post in the village of Shemaa, one kilometer southeast of Majdal Zoun.
On March 8, Two "Israeli" helicopter gunships hovered above Tair Harfa, two kilometers south of Majdal Zoun, and fired a pair of TOW missiles into an abandoned house, again in the middle of the village. The house was destroyed. The fragments of the missiles remain uncollected amongst the rubble.
Deeb Dour, 70, whose house lies beside the targeted building, fled with his family when he heard the approaching helicopters. The missile struck his neighbor’s house when the family were barely 10 meters away.
“Our fear is mixed with a sense of hope that this agony will soon end when the "Israelis" leave Lebanon,” Harmoush said.

1-        Manar TV, 28-4-2000.

2-        The Daily Star, 29-4-2000.

3-        The Daily Star, 29-4-2000.