February Thursday 01 -2001:

Trigger-happy “Israelis” open fire on ‘nothing’ in Shibaa…(1)

“Israeli” helicopter gunships targeted a “suspicious” object in the Shibaa Farms area Wednesday, but nothing was found.
Heavy machine gun fire and explosions were heard at dusk in Kfar Shuba and several helicopters were seen flying over the Shibaa Farms.
In Al-Quds, an “Israeli” army spokesman said the troops had seen “something suspicious but it was found to be nothing.”
The “Israelis” reportedly decided to destroy the object with helicopters rather than send troops to investigate.
The shooting, which occurred on the “Israeli” side of the United Nations-delineated Blue Line, came four days after two Palestinian fighters were killed and one other was wounded by “Israeli” tanks and helicopters.
The “Israeli” Army is in a state of heightened alert in the Shibaa Farms following several attacks and a renewed threat by Hizbullah to capture more soldiers if “Israel” fails to meet the party’s demands for a prisoner swap. Three “Israeli” soldiers were snatched along the Blue Line last October.
“Israel’s” military intelligence expects further attacks from Lebanon in the coming weeks, claiming Iran has stepped up weapons and funds to Hizbullah and Palestinian groups opposed to the peace process.
In connection with “Israel’s” tightening of security in the area, work has continued uninterrupted on what is thought to be a new fence on Lebanese territory in the divided village of Ghajar.
UNIFIL spokesman Timur Goksel said that a team from the Observer Group Lebanon, part of the UN Truce Supervision Organization, plans to visit Ghajar Thursday to investigate the construction work at first hand.
“There is nothing significantly different,” Goksel said. “There continues to be more work on the new fence.”
Ghajar is divided by the Blue Line with two-thirds falling inside Lebanon and the remainder in “Israeli”-occupied Syria.
Construction work began last week in the Lebanese part of the village on what appears to be the foundations of a new security fence. So far, the construction activity extends around 50 meters into Lebanon.
UNIFIL suspects that the “Israelis” intend to cordon off the village as part of its security precautions along the border.

1-      The Daily Star, 1-2-2001.

  February Friday 02 -2001:

UN buzzes “Israeli” Blue Line violation at Ghajar…(1)

A senior United Nations official inspected “Israeli” construction work on a new security fence on Lebanese territory in Ghajar on Thursday as moves to halt the Jewish state’s latest violation of the UN-delineated Blue Line shifted into gear.
Steffan de Mistura, the personal representative of the UN secretary-general for southern Lebanon, flew over the divided village of Ghajar to check reports that “Israel” is building a security fence north of the Blue Line. De Mistura reportedly flew over the village at low level several times.
“He wanted to let the “Israelis” know that the UN is watching them closely,” a UNIFIL officer said.
The officer said that the concrete foundations of the new fence now reach 350 meters into Lebanon.
“Israeli” engineers were spotted last week working north of the Blue Line in Ghajar, raising suspicions that “Israel” had resurrected a scheme to cordon off Ghajar behind the new security fence being erected along the length of the Blue Line.
Ghajar is split by the Blue Line, with two-thirds of the village in Lebanon and the remainder in “Israeli”-occupied Syria. Although the Alawite residents of the village are permitted access to both ends of the village, “Israelis” are forbidden from entering “Lebanese” Ghajar.
Ghajar’s residents have voiced strong opposition to having their village physically split by the fence. To appease the local population, the “Israelis” are running the new fence up the eastern flank of “Lebanese” Ghajar until it meets an old security fence some 500 meters north of the Blue Line.
The old fence was built by “Israel” during the occupation. It skirts the northern and western ends of “Lebanese” Ghajar. When the new stretch of fence is completed, “Lebanese” Ghajar will have been incorporated inside “Israeli”-occupied Syria.
The Blue Line violation was raised during the Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet condemned “Israel’s” latest violation and called on UNIFIL to end the construction work.
De Mistura is expected to brief US Ambassador David Satterfield on the construction at Ghajar in the hope of enlisting Washington’s support in pressuring “Israel” to end the violation.
“We have to make a fuss and a noise over this,” the officer said. “We need to find a way to prevent this from becoming a dangerous flashpoint.”

UN condemns “Israel’s” latest border violation with Lebanon…(2)

By Robert Fisk in the Wazzani river valley, southern Lebanon

With the naked eye, you can see the yellow bulldozer and the long trail of dust as it pushes the foundations for a new frontier fence north into Lebanon. The Indian UN soldiers watch it through fieldglasses. "How can we tell how far it will go?" Major Chhahal asks. "They've been doing this work for three days, right on the edge of Gaghar."

It all looks innocent. But it is not. Just days before the elections that may turn Ariel Sharon into a prime minister, the “Israeli” army is building a new border fence on Lebanese territory and in clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 425.

The UN has condemned the "violation of the Blue Line," the UN's own south Lebanon frontier beyond which the “Israelis” agreed not to go. The Hizbollah guerrillas who hounded the “Israeli” army out of Lebanon less than a year ago, and who have their men watching scarcely half a mile away, are well aware of what is happening in Gaghar – and of the excuse it gives them to strike once more at “Israeli” troops.

Like all Lebanese dramas, this one has a beautiful complexity all its own. For when the “Israelis” retreated last May, the UN drew its blue line through the middle of the Arab village of Gaghar. Two-thirds of the village is on Lebanese territory, the lower third is in occupied Syria; the town's few hundred inhabitants are Syrian Alawites – the same sect as Syria's President, Bashar al-Assad – who cling to their Syrian citizenship but hold “Israeli” identity papers. And since the “Israelis” could not build their frontier fence through the middle of the town – and since the residents refused to accept a frontier gate on the “Israeli”-occupied Syrian side – it looks as though the “Israelis” are willing to violate the UN's demarcation to mark a border at least 150 feet inside Lebanese territory.

Because they cannot run barbed wire through the village, the “Israelis” call Gaghar a "soft underbelly" on the Lebanese border, through which guerrillas could infiltrate into Lebanon. Already, “Israel” has violated the blue line by sending ambush patrols into the northern, Lebanese end of Gaghar at night.

But that is hardly the fault of the people of Gaghar. They did not ask “Israel” to occupy their village when it captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and then annexed the land against international law. The “Israelis”' security problem, they say, is of “Israel’s” own making. If “Israel” left Syrian territory, it would not have to worry about this stretch of frontier between Syria and Lebanon.

The UN, many of whose soldiers are positioned only metres from “Israeli” bunkers, are well aware that they will be caught in a firefight if the Hizbollah decide to use this violation as a justification for attack; which is why Major General Seth Kofi Obeg, the UN's commander, went to complain to General Gaby Ashkenazi, the head of “Israel’s” Northern Command, on Sunday. Not to worry, General Ashkenazi said, it is not an annexation of Lebanese territory. It is the people of Gaghar who are building the new fence, he went on, not the “Israeli” army.

This does not fool the UN. Indeed, there is as much chance that “Israel” would allow Syrians under occupation to decide the route of the border fence as there is that General Ashkenazi keeps a crocodile in his bathroom.

So, earlier this week, Major- General Obeg's adviser, Timur Goksel, took a helicopter along the blue line to look for himself. Flying over the gorge of the Wazzani river, he hovered over the construction. "They are putting in concrete foundations to 50 metres [inside Lebanon] in what looks like preparation to extend the line northward," he said. "The “Israelis” are creating another point of friction along the border."

Gaghar lies perilously close to Chebaa farms, Lebanese territory that was policed by Syria after 1947 and then captured and, in effect, annexed by “Israel” in 1967, with Golan. Already, three “Israeli” soldiers have been captured by Hizbollah on the farmlands and there have been two infiltration attempts in the past two months.

How far will the new fence stretch into Lebanon? In all, it might take in several square miles; big enough to cause a major crisis in southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, beyond the soft waters of the Wazzani, over the long grass and buried minefields north of the village, the bulldozers roar on. In three days, the UN says, it will have a better idea of where the fence is going. Until then, Major Chhahal and his men go on watching. So do the Hizbollah.

“Israeli” warplanes violate Lebanese airspace…(3)

“ “Israeli” warplanes flew over south Lebanon at low altitude on Thursday, the third such incursion this week, AFP reporters said.

The flights came one day after “Israeli” helicopters fired machine guns on valleys of the eastern sector of southern Lebanon after an explosion was heard near an “Israeli” position.

No explanation has been given for Wednesday's explosion, which occurred in the Farms of Shibaa, captured by “Israel” from Syria in 1967 but claimed by Lebanon.

“Israeli” warplaness also flew over southern Lebanon on Sunday and Monday.

Lebanon has lodged several complaints with the United Nations in recent months about “Israeli” planes breaching its airspace.

1-     The Daily Star, 2-2-2001.

2-     Independent, 2-2-2001.

3-     AFP, 1-2-2001.

  February Saturday 03 -2001:

UN officials says “Israel” violating blue line with Lebanon

Army will stop building fence this side of Blue Line

 “Israel” is violating the UN-drawn "blue line" border with Lebanon, in violation of its earlier promises, Staffan de Mistura, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's representative to south Lebanon, said Friday.

"This is something that is not acceptable to the United Nations," said De Mistura, saying he would send "urgent reports" on the matter to Annan and to UN official Terje Roed-Larsen, who supervised the drawing of the blue line after “Israel” ended its 22-year occupation of south Lebanon in May.

"I visited the region by helicopter yesterday and flew over several times, slowly and at low altitude, and I was able to notice with my own eyes that there was work well beyond the blue line, around 400 meters (yards)," De Mistura said after a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmud Hammud.

De Mistura said he saw "non-Lebanese workers in the midst of constructing a fence identical to that set up to mark the line" that designates the border.

He said the work stopped when he visited. "It is necessary at all costs to verify that this was not a pause but a halt."

"We are working to block this work and to return to the previous situation, as the blue line is for us a reference point," he said. …(1)

Later on, “Israel” informed the United Nations on Friday that it had ceased constructing a new fence on Lebanese territory in the divided village of Ghajar.
The decision came after Washington and UN headquarters in New York stepped up pressure on the Jewish state to end the violation of the UN-delineated Blue Line.
Staffan de Mistura, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s personal representative for southern Lebanon, met Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud Friday and informed him that “Israel” had pledged to halt the violation.
“We have made our concerns know to senior “Israeli” officials who have indicated to us that this construction will stop,” de Mistura told reporters.
“Israeli” Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami reportedly relayed his assurance that the violation would end to the UN Middle East special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.
“We will be watching the situation closely over the coming days to ensure that indeed the construction has stopped and that the status quo ante in the area is returned to in order to ensure the respect of the Blue Line by all concerned parties,” de Mistura added.
UNIFIL’s commander, Major General Seth Kofi Obeng, received similar assurances from the “Israeli” Army.
“The “Israeli” Army informed the force commander that work on the fence at Ghajar has stopped,” UNIFIL spokesman Timur Goksel told The Daily Star. “This was verified by UNIFIL through observations on the ground and by air.”
The Daily Star revealed last week that the Israelis had resurrected a plan to incorporate the Alawite village of Ghajar within the “security fence” presently under construction along the Blue Line. The line  divides Ghajar, leaving two-thirds inside Lebanon and the remainder in “Israeli”-occupied Syria.
Ghajar’s residents strongly oppose having their village divided by a fence. But the “Israeli” Army believes that the lack of a high-tech fence in the area poses an unacceptable security risk.
As a compromise, the Israelis began building a new section of fence along the eastern flank of “Lebanese” Ghajar as part of a move to seal off the village in its entirety. The Israelis initially denied any responsibility, however, claiming that the village’s residents had undertaken the work. The UN was unimpressed with the plea of innocence..
 
There was no sign of construction activity on Lebanese soil Friday, although work continued on the new fence along the Blue Line east of Ghajar.
A UNIFIL helicopter slowly circled the scene of the violation before continuing on its daily aerial reconnaissance of the border. Soldiers from UNIFIL’s Indian battalion kept the village under observation from the Abbassieh outpost, two kilometers to the east.
The Israelis had bulldozed a dirt track some 500 meters long parallel to the village, running from the Blue Line to an old fence on the northern end of “Lebanese” Ghajar. Concrete foundations had been laid for about 350 meters.
The Daily Star was able to approach Ghajar and strike up a conversation through the old fence with Adel Shemali, a teacher living in the village.
Shemali was cagey over the
violation of the Blue Line. “Whether there is a breach or not, it’s hard to tell,” he said. “And even if there is a breach, we can’t really talk about it.”
Shemali said the villagers were adamant that they would not permit their village to be  physically divided by a fence. His friends agreed: “We are Arabs from Syria and we do not want our town to be split,” said another resident, Mohammed.
The “Israeli” Army originally proposed annexing Ghajar behind the new fence in November. But the scheme was dropped after UNIFIL warned the military that violating the Blue Line in Ghajar would provoke unnecessary tensions in the area.
“This looks like the typical bloody-mindedness of the “Israeli” Army,” said a Western diplomat. “They knew they couldn’t get away with it but went ahead anyway.”
The diplomat said it was plausible that the “Israeli” government had been unaware of what was happening in Ghajar.
“The military causes the problem and the civilians have to bail them out,” the diplomat said.
Last summer, the process of verifying “Israel”’s dragged on for two months, in part due to numerous violations ­ almost all of them petty in nature ­ by “Israeli” troops.
The diplomat warned that failing to respect the Blue Line was “asking for trouble.”…(2)

1-     AFP, 2\2\2001

2-     The Daily Star, 3\2\2001

  February Monday 05 -2001:

Lebanese teenager loses foot after stepping on mine in former “Israeli” area…(1)

“ A Lebanese teenager's foot was blown up Sunday when he stepped on a mine in the region formerly controlled by the “Israeli” army, police said.

Ali Hani Srur, 18, stepped on the mine in the Aita al-Shaab village, some 500 meters (yards) from the “Israeli” border. He was taken to a hospital where his foot was amputated, the police said.

The incident brings to nine dead and 67 injured the number of civilian victims from mines left over since “Israel’s” 22-year occupation of south Lebanon.

Another 12 demining experts from the Lebanese army have also been hurt.

The United Nations estimates that “Israel” left behind at least 130,000 mines in its former self-styled security zone before leaving in May.

UN peacekeepers, who complain that “Israel” has not been forthcoming with maps of the mines, said January 15 that they have dismantled 2,159 mines and explosives from the area.

Hariri says “Israeli” violations is a provocative act before election…(2)

Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri confirmed the “Israeli” violation of the "blue-line" that marks the border line between Lebanon and occupied Palestine, according to the U.N..

Hariri said "“Israel”" is trying to take advantage of Ghajar village divided by the blue-line, and perhaps would try to provoke Lebanon and the resistance on the eve of the “Israeli” election.

Hariri said we will not be dragged by this provocation and the government is performing its duties to confront this issue.

Earlier, the United Nations acknowledged the violation and requested that occupation forces remove it promptly.

A joint Lebanese and UN field observation team will examine the site in the coming hours.

The United Nation Secretary General representative Steffan de Mistura said after meeting Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud, that the violation is not acceptable to the United Nations, and added he saw the violation with his own eyes when he flew by a helicopter over the area.

He received a confirmation from “Israeli” Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami to remove the violation.

1-     AFP, 4-2-2001.

2-     Manar TV, 3-2-2001.

  February Thursday 08 -2001:

Lebanese army looks forward to liberate Shibaa Farms…(1)

Representing Lebanese President in a graduation ceremony of Lebanese soldiers, Brigadier General Naiim Farah said Lebanon is still living the great joy of liberation of its South, which was achieved by the unity of the Lebanese poeple and the cohesion of the army and the resistance, which astonished the world, in addition, to the support of the Syrian army.

"You will be honored with protecting and fortifying the liberation (of the south), as well as, with liberating still occupied (Lebanese) soil in Shibaa Farms. You shall also take part in the reconstruction of what was destroyed, in order to wipe out the remains of the occupation," said Brigadier-General Farah to the soldiers.

A herdsman escapes death after “Israeli” mine explosion…(2)

Shadi Nader is one of few Lebanese citizens to have escaped from a land mine explosion in the surroundings of former-”Israeli” outpost, Dabshe, facing the southern city of al-Nabatieh.

Nader, a herdsman, was herding his livestock when the mine exploded, killing and wounding a number of  his animals.

On the other hand, Lebanese security sources said that the “Israeli” occupation army shelled Wednesday night the outskirts of Lebanese villages close to occupied Shibaa Farms with flechette bombs. No casualties was reported.

1-      Manar TV, 7-2-2001.

2-      Same source.

  February Monday 12 -2001:

First Air Violation Since Sharon's Election…(1)

“Israeli” air force jets crashed the sound barrier over Beirut Sunday, hours after Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon made his first tour of the volatile border with Lebanon since his election victory five days ago.
The intruding fighter-bombers also flew supersonic runs over South Lebanon's port cities of Sidon and Tyre, in what Lebanese authorities described as the first air space violation in the Sharon era. A Lebanese protest is expected to be lodged with the United Nations.
Sharon, who defeated Labor Party ex-Premier Ehud Barak in “Israel’s” Feb. 6 elections, toured the border with Lebanon on Saturday, a day after Hizbullah Secretary-General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah called the new leader of the Jewish state a "fool."
"This fool's premiership may well spell out the beginning of the end for the state of “Israel”," Nasrallah said in remarks highlighted by several Beirut dailies on Saturday.

1-      Naharnet.net, 12-2-2001.

  February Tuesday 13 -2001:

Two men maimed as leftover mines explode in South…(1)

One man lost his leg and another lost four fingers in separate explosions in the South on Monday.
Mohammed Hussein Yaacoub, 50, was tending to his sheep on the outskirts of Hounin, close to Abbad, Marjayoun, when he stumbled upon a land mine. His left leg was immediately blown off, and his right leg was severely injured.
Yaacoub was taken to Salah Ghandour Hospital in Bint Jbeil and was then transferred to Hammoud Hospital in Sidon for an urgent operation on his severed leg.
Yaacoub remained under observation following complications during the surgery.
Separately, Abdel-Rasoul Nsour, 24, lost four fingers on his right hand when he picked up an unidentified object that blew up in Dweir, Nabatieh.
He also suffered minor injuries in his chest and abdomen.
He underwent surgery at Nabatieh’s government hospital.
Nsour said he found the device on the side of a road. He said he was intending to throw it so that no one else would get hurt, but it exploded in his hand.

1-      The Daily Star, 13-2-2001.

  February Wednesday 14 -2001:

“Israeli” fighters break sound barrier over Lebanese port city…(1)

“ “Israeli” warplanes broke the sound barrier over the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre Tuesday, causing five supersonic bangs which unnerved local residents.

“Israeli” fighters also broke the sound barrier over Beirut on Sunday and overflew southern Lebanon on Monday.

Lebanon has lodged several complaints with the United Nations in recent months about “Israeli” planes breaching its airspace, saying these flyovers are a violation of the UN Security Council's 425 resolution which prompted the “Israeli” withdrawal of southern Lebanon in May, ending 22 years of occupation.

1-       AFP, 13-2-2001.

  February Saturday 16 -2001:

There has been a noticeable tendency in recent days for Israel to widen the circle of blame for planned acts of violence in the Jewish state, beyond that of the Palestinians, to include Hizbullah and by extension Iran.
The first incident was the announcement last weekend that Israel has been holding since Jan. 5 Jehard Shuman, a Lebanese-born British national, on suspicion that he was planning guerrilla attacks inside Israel on the orders of Hizbullah.
Hizbullah has refused to comment on Shuman’s arrest, neither confirming nor denying that he was working on behalf of the party.
The second incident was the assassination of Massoud Ayad, a Lieutenant Colonel in Force 17, the personal security unit of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Ayad was killed in Gaza when his car was struck by a missile fired from a helicopter gunship.
The Israeli Army promptly issued a list of accusations against Ayad, charging him with having planned and carried out bomb and mortar attacks against the Netzarim settlement in Gaza, smuggling arms and drugs, and heading a Hizbullah cell in the Palestinian territories.
The Israeli Army said that Ayad visited Lebanon last summer for training and to receive instructions from Hizbullah.
“He maintained continuous contact with Hizbullah officials in Lebanon and was activated by them to carry out terrorist attacks inside the Gaza Strip in the name of Hizbullah,” the Israeli military said. “In addition, (Ayad) was involved in the planning and attempted kidnapping of Israeli soldiers,” it added.
The third, possibly related, incident were comments from the US State Department aired on CNN regarding its unease at a meeting of anti-Israeli and anti-American militant groups in Beirut last month.
In particular, one US official said that the presence of Iranian delegates to the meeting was a “cause of concern.”
Since the Al-Aqsa intifada began last September, Iran has “stepped up its terrorist activity … and stepped up its planning for terrorist attacks,” one US official maintained.
The meeting in question was a well-publicized conference in which some 200 Arab and Muslim figures met to discuss measures to protect Jerusalem from Judaization.
The gathering was organized by Hizbullah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Islamic National Conference. Among the participants was Ali Akhbar Mohtashemi, an Iranian MP, and a former Iranian ambassador to Damascus who played a major role in the founding of Hizbullah in the 1980s.
Ironically, the flurry of accusations against Hizbullah comes at a time when the resistance has been noticeably quiet on the Shebaa Farms front. The last operation carried out by Hizbullah in the area was a roadside bomb ambush on Nov. 26, in which an Israeli soldier was killed.
“There’s been too much mentioning of Hizbullah lately,” said a senior Western military source. The source suggested that the Israeli military was deliberately implicating Hizbullah and Iran in planned attacks in the Palestinian territories and Israel to serve as a pretext for any military action against the resistance in Lebanon. “They are setting up the stage, just in case,” the source said.
Neither outgoing Israeli Premier Ehud Barak nor his hawkish successor, Ariel Sharon, are expected to launch pre-emptive raids into Lebanon for the time being. Given the sentiment in the Arab world, Israel is unlikely to exacerbate hostilities by provocative actions outside the main theater of conflict in the West Bank and Gaza.
However, linking Hizbullah and Iran to acts of violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel planned or executed serves to defuse any misgivings that exist over the Israeli government’s controversial policy of assassinating Palestinian activists.
Ayad may or may not have had links with Hizbullah, but that is beside the point, said a European diplomat.
“Palestinians come in all shapes and sizes, from those you negotiate with in five-star hotels to stone-throwers,” the diplomat said. “But by renaming them collectively as Hizbullah terrorists you are discrediting them to the fullest and gaining a 100 percent acceptance rate among the Israeli public” for the Israeli Army’s actions.
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri echoed that view in his dismissal on Thursday of Israel’s claim that Ayad was working for Hizbullah.
“It’s easier for the Israelis to say that they have assassinated a Palestinian belonging to Hizbullah than an aide to Arafat,” he told reporters in Paris.
Hizbullah and Iran are regarded in Israel, correctly, as being implacably hostile towards the Jewish state. References to Hizbullah and Iran lend the impression that the Israeli Army is not only contending with the Palestinians whose plight draws sympathy domestically and internationally but also a broader, more sinister, pan-Islamist front.
The Israeli Army has long used Hizbullah as a “bogeyman” to its own advantage usually to win increases to the defense budget.
This point was recently illustrated by an Israeli columnist, Reuven Pedatzur, in an unprecedented opinion piece in the Haaretz daily newspaper.
“Where’s the wisdom in the commanders of the Middle East’s strongest and most advanced army glorifying the threat of the Hizbullah, broadcasting to the public a sense of fear in the face of a threat from such a tiny organization?” Pedatzur asked. “The absurdity of attributing to the Hizbullah a strategic threat is symptomatic of a certain routine on the part of the senior command. It can’t operate without identifying and nurturing new threats.

 Israel brings in military build up to South Lebanon…(2)

Lebanese President Emil lahoud on Thursday reviewed with the representative for the UN Secretary General to South Lebanon Stavan Domistora the general conditions in South Lebanon and the work of the UN forces ( UNIFIL) in coordination with the Lebanese security systems.

The Lebanese President learned from the UN envoy about the moves carried out by the UN after Israel's attacks on the Lebanese part of al-Ghajar village on the international borders.

The two sides reviewed the general conditions in light of recent developments and Lebanon's position regarding them.

Meantime, Israel has brought in human and armored fortifications towards its positions facing the South Lebanon borders.

The Lebanese national news agency quoted eye-witnesses at the lines drawn for the Lebanese borders with Israel as saying that Israeli summoned more of its forces into the Shebaa farms.

The Lebanese agency added that more that 40 armored vehicles of M 113 and Meikava tanks arrived in the occupied lebanese Shebaa farms.

The agency continued that 10 trucks equipped with ammunition accompanied the armored vehicles.

It also added that on Thursday afternoon these israeli fortifications were distributed on the Israeli positions in Rweiset al-Sammaqa, Rweisat al-Alam, tallet al-Ramtha, Mazraat Zibdin and al-Marsad in Jabal al-Sheikh.

The Lebanese agency indicated that this is the first time since the pullout of the Israeli forces from the Lebanese territories in May 2000, in which Israel brings in such number of fortifications to the Lebanese borders.

On Thursday at dawn, the Israeli forces opened its machine- guns fire against al-Arqoub heights in the eastern sector of South Lebanon. 

1. The Daily Star, 16-2-2001
2. AP, 16-2-2001

  February Monday 19 -2001:

Hizbullah’s secretary-general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, accused the United States on Sunday of blocking foreign investment to pressure Lebanon into signing a peace agreement with “Israel”.
Nasrallah made the comments at a memorial gathering for the late president of the Higher Shiite Council, Sheikh Mohammed Mehdi Shamseddine, who died last month.
The Hizbullah leader’s remarks came one day after US Ambassador David Satterfield spoke of the harmful economic effects of Hizbullah’s attack.
“This is not a question of the Shibaa Farms,” Nasrallah said. “Only when Lebanon gives in and signs a settlement agreement based on the Zionists’ conditions, the American master might, just might, extend a helping hand.”

Also, Hizbullah’s deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, rejected “Israeli” and UN charges that the Friday attack violated the Blue Line, which was drawn after “Israel’s” May withdrawal from the South.
“We have never heard, in our entire history, of a ‘Blue Line’ being regarded as an international border,” Qassem said during a ceremony in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“This (line) was written and made public to serve Zionist interests,” the resistance leader argued. “The Shibaa Farms are Lebanese and we shall liberate them by armed force.”
Replying to Satterfield, Qassem said: “Are the “Israeli” crimes against the Palestinians not provocative? And were the “Israeli” attacks against Lebanon not provocative? As for the Shibaa Farms, is their continued occupation by the “Israelis”, and the continued detention of Lebanese political prisoners in “Israel”, not provocative?”
He stressed that the attack was “in defense of our land and it was a legitimate right to the resistance forces to launch it.”
He dismissed what he said was linkage between economic aid for Lebanon and halting resistance actions in the South.
“We are not among those who seek economic aid through selling their pride and independence, even if this costs us assistance from donor states,” he declared, adding that “the Americans are the main source of trouble for Lebanon. Their economic aid is nothing but a political and cultural trap. Thus, we should continue with our struggle.”

Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said Saturday that attacks against the Jewish state “had not stopped,” and that the resistance would make the decision to halt its operations. In an interview with Egyptian radio, Aridi noted that “Israeli” warplanes had violated Lebanese air space in recent weeks “on an almost daily basis.”
Also on Saturday, Speaker Nabih Berri visited Damascus, where he conferred with Assad on the latest local and regional developments. Berri later lunched with Syrian Vice-President Abdel-Halim Khaddam.

1. The Daily Star, 19-2-2001.

  February Thursday 22 -2001:

No peace without return of occupied soil and detainees, says Hariri…(1)

Hariri Lebanese Premier Rafic Hariri said that peace to Lebanon means the complete withdrawal from Lebanese territories, which are still occupied by the “Israeli” enemy, referring to Shibaa Farms, and the return of all Lebanese detainees in the Zionist entity.

Hariri added that the corner stone to peace in Lebanon is the right-to-return for the Palestinian refugees to their homeland Palestine. "Lebanon does not accept settling the Palestinians in Lebanon", said Hariri.

Hariri, who was speaking in a dinner in honor of the Gabon Prime Minister said “ It is true we are working for peace and hope it would come true, but we don’t bet on it because Lebanon is not waiting for peace to accomplish its national ambitions."

1-      Manar TV, 21-2-2001.

  February Friday 23 -2001:

Lebanon's Lahoud says “Israeli” occupation "permanent provocation"

“ Lebanese President Emile Lahoud offered a riposte Thursday to the US ambassador to Lebanon who had recently cautioned Beirut not to antagonise “Israel”.

"Those who advise not to provoke “Israel” must know that “Israeli” occupation is in itself a daily and permanent provocation", Lahoud was quoted as saying in a statement read by Information Minister Ghazi Aridi after a meeting of the government's Council of Ministers.

Lahoud's retort alluded to the US ambassador David Sutterfield's condemnation of anti-”Israeli” attacks in southern Lebanon.

On Saturday, Sutterfield branded the February 16 attack by Hizbullah on “Israeli” soldiers in the Shibaa Farms area-- killing one “Israeli” soldier and injuring three others-- as a "provocation".

The Shibaa Farms were captured by “Israel” in the 1967 Middle East war and are claimed by Lebanon.

However, “Israel” says it captured them from Syria and their future status will only be determined in the context of a peace treaty with Syria.

Lahoud condemned what he called "a coup by “Israeli” society against the peace process". According to the Lebanese president, "facts prove that “Israel” has no desire whatsoever to reach a fair and comprehensive peace and that it is satisfied with having safety belts ... on the Golan Heights and the Shibaa Farms".

The Golan Heights were seized from Syria by “Israel” in 1967.

The statement quoted Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri as saying the February 6 victory of “Israeli” Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon "did not give an optmistic vision of the peace process".

"Everybody is waiting to see what the new “Israeli” government will do. For our part, we will continue working for the liberation of occupied Lebanese land and pursue our efforts with our Arab brothers for a fair and comprehensive peace", he added.

1-       AFP, 22-2-2001.

  February Monday 26 -2001:

Butros Ghali backs claim to Shibaa Farms …(1)

Former United Nations Secretary-General Butros Butros Ghali supports Lebanon’s stance that the Shibaa Farms belongs to the Lebanese, but remains non-commital on whether the use of force should be advocated to liberate the disputed territory.
“I believe that the Shibaa Farms are Lebanese property, and that Lebanon has every right to recuperate its territorial integrity,” Butros Ghali told The Daily Star in an interview Saturday. However, Butros Ghali refused to comment on the latest operations by Hizbullah in the disputed area or on how Lebanon should regain the Shibaa.
“I am talking about the principle of Lebanon recuperating its territorial integrity,” he said. “This goal could be achieved through negotiation, mediation, or any other means, but I have no comment at that level.”
At the same time, however, Butros Ghali said, “negotiation to recover one’s land is a must, it is a sacred duty.”
Butros Ghali left Lebanon Sunday after a five-day official visit as secretary-general of the Francophone Organization. Beirut will be hosting the annual Francophone Summit in October.

 “Israeli” warplanes break sound barrier over Lebanon, ski resort…(2)

“ “Israeli” warplanes buzzed Lebanon Sunday, breaking the sound barrier over several regions and triggering panic among skiers on the slopes of Mount Lebanon, an AFP correspondent reported.

Two “Israeli” warplanes caused two supersonic bangs over the snow-covered western slopes of the Mount Lebanon range, which was crowded with Sunday skiers.

Panic was rife at the popular ski resort of Faraya when the jets buzzed the region, leaving behind a trail of white smoke before flying further north, an AFP correspondent said.

The jets went on to cause two other supersonic booms over northern Lebanon, near the border with Syria, the correspondent reported.

Earlier in the day, “Israeli” warplanes broke the sound barrier over Bekaa Valley and the slopes of Mount Hermon near the junction of Lebanon, Syria and “Israel”.

“Israeli” jets also buzzed the southern port cities of Tyre and Sidon.

Lebanon has lodged several complaints with the United Nations in recent months about “Israeli” planes breaching its airspace, saying these flyovers are a violation of the UN Security Council's 425 resolution which prompted the “Israeli” withdrawal of southern Lebanon in May, ending 22 years of occupation.

1-      The Daily Star, 26-2-2001.

2-      AFP, 25-2-2001.

  February Tuesday 27 -2001:

UAE president meets Berri, vows to help de-mine South…(1)

The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan, stressed the “need to support Lebanon and promote its development” on Monday
Zayed, who met Speaker Nabih Berri, said Lebanon should “regain its prominent economic and cultural role on the Arab and international scenes.”
The crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al-Nahyan, expressed his country’s willingness to contribute to the demining in the South, with the cooperation of the United Nations.
Sheikh Khalifa said that the UAE granted $50 million to Lebanon, but that the Lebanese government had so far failed to use the assistance to implement certain projects.
l Berri said that “Israel” had surely been taught enough lessons by the resistance and would not “try its luck” again in Lebanon.
In a speech delivered in Abu Dhabi, where he flew last week to attend an Arab parliamentary conference, Berri predicted that “Israel” would not succeed in intimidating Lebanon. “Lebanon will not accept to be a victim of any “Israeli” show of force. We are confident of our unity and our national army and we are sure that “Israel” isn’t ready to try its luck with us once again.”
He stressed that Lebanon’s peace path would continue to be closely linked to that of Syria because Syria represented a decisive factor in the region’s military strategy.
Berri also called on the new American administration to “seek a peace accord which is built on comprehensive justice for all parties concerned with the Middle East conflict.”
He urged the United States “not to push toward a military escalation in the region and not to let its bias in favor of “Israel” blind it to the suffering of the Arab people in general and the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza in particular.”
Berri concluded that the recent “Israeli” elections were nothing but a “comedy act” that the Likud and Labor parties played to further “Israel’s” strategic military advantage against the Arabs.

1-      The Daily Star, 27-2-2001.