April Friday 2 -1999:

Amnesty International: "Israel" Flouting UN Obligations in the Name of Security…(1)
"In a statement read on "Israel" and the Occupied Territories today (yesterday) before the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Amnesty International reiterated its concerns that over the past year, "Israel" has, in the name of "security", flouted its obligations in human rights treaties it has freely ratified and has ignored recommendations made by United Nations treaty bodies".

"Although the number of Palestinians imprisoned or administratively detained by the "Israeli" security services has decreased in recent years, more than 1,600 Palestinians are still arrested each year.

They have been routinely tortured or ill-treated during interrogation. At least 80 of them are held in
administrative detention without charge or trial".

"In addition, about 130 Lebanese nationals remain detained without charge or trial for up to 13 years in Khiam detention center in "Israeli"-occupied south Lebanon.

"In July 1998, the Human Rights Committee examined "Israel's" human rights record including its use of administrative detention. The Committee found that the present application of administrative detention is "incompatible with articles 7 and 16 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". These articles prohibit torture and ill-treatment and guarantee the right of every person to recognition before the law.

"The Committee expressed specific concern that Lebanese held in administrative detention "do not personally threaten state security" but are kept as "bargaining-chips". This fact, which constitutes a violation of human rights, has been acknowledged by the "Israeli" Supreme Court.

Moreover, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded last year that the detention of the 21 "Lebanese held as "bargaining chips" was arbitrary. Nevertheless the "Israeli" government renewed their administrative detention".

"Examining "Israel's" second periodic report in May 1998, the Committee against Torture again concluded that interrogation methods, such as violent shaking, or hooding and shackling detainees to low chairs with loud music playing, constituted torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and thus contravened Article 1 of the Convention against Torture. Nevertheless, in January this year, "Israel's" State Attorney stated before "Israel's" High Court that these methods were legal.

Many of these human rights violations are officially authorized at the highest level and indeed effectively legalized".

"Without human rights there can be no genuine security and no sustainable peace. Amnesty International requests the Commission to call on the "Israeli" government to immediately cease violations of basic human rights and to apply fully United Nations human rights treaties, as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, in the Occupied Territories".

"Israel's" quiet border invasion in the south…(1)
""Israel's" repeated claim that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon will be put to the test when a withdrawal is eventually carried out, as the "Israeli" Army has quietly shifted the international border northward in six separate locations since 1978".

"While attention has focused on the military occupation of the south, the "Israelis" have built self-styled “technical fences” inside Lebanon to a depth of several hundred meters each".

"The new boundaries are similar to the genuine border, consisting in most cases of dirt tracks between 3-meter-high fences. The incursion zones are well documented and are described by the United Nations as “Permanent Violations” of the 1949 Armistice Agreement.

"They stretch from near Yarin in the western sector of the zone to Jabal Rbaa Teben between Shebaa and Khiam in the east.

"The aim of all but one of the incursions is to allow the "Israeli" Army to dominate the high ground which falls just inside the Lebanese border.

But in the case of a small incursion at Wazzani, the "Israelis" have seized the numerous springs that gush out of the hillside east of Khiam and run into the Hasbani River. The water is reputedly pumped across the border in tunnels to "Israeli" settlements in northern Galilee and the occupied Golan Heights.

"The strategic use to which the "Israelis" have put these incursion zones is clearly demonstrated at the southern end of al-Marj, the fertile plain between Marjayoun and Khiam.

"The "Israelis" have built an outpost on a small hill beside the village of Sarda. The outpost has views over much of al-Marj to the north and west and the Hasbani River valley to the east. The international border runs around the southern end of the hill. But the "Israelis" have created a new
boundary around the northern side of the hill.

"The “technical fence” continues eastward across the southern section of al-Marj, just above the old
British airfield, before ending at the road between Kfar Kila and Marjayoun.

If the "Israeli" Army withdrew to the international boundary, the topography of the border area would obstruct the views presently gained from the Sarda position.

"This is even more pertinent in the incursion zone the "Israelis" have constructed on a range of hills from Adaisseh to just south of Houla. Five hilltop posts have been built with unobstructed views of south Lebanon. The “technical fence” runs along the upper slopes of the western ­ or Lebanese ­ side of the hills. The international border, however, follows the steep and wooded eastern side of the hills.

"In the event of a withdrawal to the border, the "Israeli" Army would not only lose the strategic high ground to Lebanon but face ­ for them ­ the unpalatable prospect of having Lebanese troops overlooking the whole of northern Galilee.

"Consequently, if a general withdrawal to the border is ordered, some observers believe that the "Israeli" Army will argue strongly for the retention of the incursion zones to “protect” the northern settlements.

“The border is still there. No one can hide it. But I can’t imagine that the "Israelis" won’t attempt to hang onto the technical fences if they think they can get away with it,” a security source said.

"Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at the possibility of maintaining the incursion zones last month when outlining to the Knesset the provisions for a pullout.

“Security arrangements that are required by us for the purpose of a withdrawal from Lebanon would... have to include arrangements on the ground and along the border line that would protect us,” he said.

According to Mr. Netanyahu, the "Israelis" could not rely on promises from Lebanon or any other party to secure the border area following a withdrawal.

“Therefore it would be necessary to carry out physical security arrangements along the border line,” he said.

"These “physical security arrangements” would include electric fences, minefields, surveillance equipment, foot patrols and outposts.

But the military effectiveness of such arrangements would be weakened if the "Israeli" Army relinquished the strategic incursion zones.

"Last month, the "Israeli" Army’s intelligence branch assessed that Hizbullah would continue attacking the military after a unilateral withdrawal because “the organization claims that outposts built by the "Israel" Defense Force* along the international border are located on Lebanese territory.”

"But most of them are on Lebanese territory and have long been recognized as “Permanent Violations” by the Observer Group-Lebanon part of the UN Truce Supervision Organization.
Indeed, the group’s observation post in Markaba is located beside the “technical fence” of the
Adaisseh-Houla incursion.

"The findings of the intelligence assessment suggests that the "Israeli" Army has already decided to retain the incursion zones after pulling out from the rest of the south.

As far as Hizbullah is concerned, the "Israelis" can expect no respite from guerrilla attacks if it decides to hold on to the incursion zones.

“Our position is clear. Not one "Israeli" soldier is allowed to remain on Lebanese soil,” said Sheik Nabil Qaouk, commander of Hizbullah forces in the southern sector".

MONITORING GROUP TO MEET AFTER "ISRAELI" SHELLING WOUNDS NINE LEBANESE CIVILIANS…(1)
" The five nation cease-fire monitoring group is to meet tomorrow (today) to discuss an "Israeli" violation of the truce understanding. Yesterday, nine Lebanese civilians were injured in "Israeli" shelling on the front-lines in south Lebanon. The Hizbullah resistance movement said "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the army a greenlight to attack Lebanese civilians".

" Two year old Fatima is in pain. She is the most recent victim of "Israeli" attacks on residential neighborhoods in southern Lebanon. Fatima and her family were visiting her grandpa, who just returned from the Hajj pilgrimage, when "Israeli" shells slammed into his house in the front-line village of Habboush. Fatima's uncle and her cousins were also injured. Seven children and two adults were wounded yesterday in two separate attacks on Habboush and Arab Saleem, which also lies just north of the zone "Israel" occupies in the south. Attacks on civilians are prohibited under the internationally-observed 1996 cease-fire understanding between Lebanon and "Israel". But occupation forces have kept up their aggressions against civilians, including children like Fatima, who is lying on an emergency room bed in the city of Sidon. Fatima has already undergone surgery in her stomach, to remove a shrapnel that tore through her intestines. In two days, doctors will operate on Fatima's brain to remove another shrapnel. Upon seeing her parents, Fatima starts crying. Her mother Iman is still shocked. She said that shells hit the entrance of the home, minutes after some fifteen family members and relatives entered the house, adding a massacre was averted. Iman only realized that her daughter was injured twenty minutes after she rushed outside the home and brought Fatima inside to safety. The child’s' parents say Fatima keeps asking them whether she was hit because she had done something bad, but her father Ali explained to her that it was "Israeli" occupation troops who did a bad thing. The Hizbullah resistance movement's official in south Lebanon, Sheikh Nabeel Qawook, believes the attacks on Habboush and Arab Saleem were a message to Lebanon proving "Israel's" capabilities, and also, a move by "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to gain more support before "Israeli" elections in May. Sheikh Qawook warned that "Israel" has been expanding its attacks on Lebanon recently, stressing it is the only way for "Israel" to vent its frustration following a series of military setbacks on the hands of the resistance.

Sheikh Qawook said yesterday's attacks were a quote scandalous violation of the cease-fire understanding. The Hizbullah official also told Future Television, Netanyahu is personally responsible for giving "Israel's" military establishment a free-hand to attack Lebanese civilians in the south. He said the shelling that injured Fatima and her relatives was not an accident, but was a result of a political decision by "Israel". Responding to a question on whether Hizbullah would shell northern "Israel" in retaliation for the attacks, Sheikh Qawook only answered the resistance has vowed to protect civilians and stressed Hizbullah would not allow "Israel" to change the "rules of the game", by turning south Lebanon and civilians into hostages in the hands of Netanyahu and his election campaign".

Mortar attack victim, 2, fights for her life…(2)
"Two-year-old Fatima Halwani, the most seriously wounded in the "Israeli"-allied militia mortar attack on Habboush, was still fighting for her life Monday with doctors stabilizing her condition ahead of another surgery later this week to remove shrapnel lodged in her head".

"Fatima was playing with her friends in her grandfather’s house when the mortar shell exploded in the courtyard. Shrapnel ripped her intestines and spleen and a small shard lodged in her head.

Despite the seriousness of the injuries, the doctors at the Hammoud hospital in Sidon saved her life by operating swiftly to contain the loss of blood incurred during the frantic ambulance journey from Habboush".

"In the operating room just before the effect of the anesthesia took hold, Fatima asked for the doll her grandfather had brought her as a gift from Mecca, where he had been on pilgrimage".

"She woke up in the intensive care unit screaming with pain at the tube which had been placed through her nose to extract intestinal secretions. The sight of her doll sharing her hospital bed was not enough to comfort her".

"Dr. Mohammed Yassine said that Fatima’s condition was more or less stable, but that she would have to undergo another operation to remove the shrapnel in her head".

Occupation forces expel 25 Shebaa residents
""Israeli" occupation forces today (today) expelled 25 residents from the occupied town of Shibaa, most of them elderly, women, and children."

"The collaborators' militia transferred the expelled from their houses to the Zimrayya crossing. They had to walk 3 kilometers before they reached the Lebanese army checkpoint in Marj al-Zohor.

"The deportees were the relatives of four militiamen who defected Sunday.

"The collapsing morale of the collaborators' militia spurred Khalil Bou Hwaileh, Safi Saab, Jammal Saab and George Rahal ­ all from Shebaa ­ to flee with their families across the hills at dawn.

"The four men and their families had to walk 12 kilometers before they turned themselves in at the first Lebanese Army position they encountered".

"After the massive desertion, occupation forces yesterday barred the Shibaa residents from traveling through the Zimrayya crossing "until further notice".

"Moreover, an ""Israeli""-Lahdi force stormed into Shibaa, ransacked the four militiamen's houses, summoned a number of their relatives to the security center in Zoghle along with three Lahd militiamen from Shibaa, and subjected them to prolonged investigation"... (1)

"Shebaa falls under the control of Unifil’s Indian battalion.

The village, which had more than 40,000 residents before "Israel's" occupation in 1976, is now home to just 3,000 people".

"The first batch of those expelled Tuesday arrived at the Zimraya crossing at 1:30 P.M.

They included Ahmad Nabaa and his wife Mouhsina, Mohammed Mohammed Nabaa, Hanaa Hareth Chehab, and her two sons Abdullah and Maher".

"The second group arrived at 3 P.M. and included Khalil Dib Saad, Radia, Waad and Walaa Khalil Bou Hwaileh, Salma Radi Bou Hwaileh, Fatima Bou Hwaileh, Lamia Nasser Bou Hwaileh, all relatives of former SLA man Khalil Bou Hwaileh".

"The last group arrived at 4:30 P.M. It included Adib Rahal and his wife Hanneh Abu Rizk, Hourieh Hamdan ­ who said the "Israelis" did not allow her to take along her 5-year-old child ­ Bassam Adib Rahal and Khadijeh Saab"…(2)

Lahoud condemns "Israeli" ‘barbarism’…(3)
"President Emile Lahoud denounced "Israel's" “barbaric” practices Tuesday after occupation forces expelled 25 residents from the village of Shebaa in the south".

"Their “crime,” according to the "Israelis", was that four of their relatives had defected from the South Lebanon Army* and turned themselves over to Lebanese government forces Monday.

“"Israel's" systematic barbaric practices violate international conventions and the most basic human rights on a daily basis,” General Lahoud said.

“These practices are also a flagrant violation of the April Understanding,” in which the Jewish state and Hizbullah agreed to refrain from targeting civilians in their confrontations, he stated.

The president pledged that the Lebanese resolve and commitment to the resistance would not be undermined by "Israel's" “aggressive” policies.

"Premier Salim Hoss, who addressed the Cabinet session after President Lahoud, agreed that all efforts should be made to support the people of the south and the resistance".

Shibaa uprising frees detained imam with bare hands…(1)
"The occupied town of Shibaa yesterday was stage for a new uprising which was ignited when the "Israeli" occupation forces and their proxy militia detained the town's imam.

"Sheikh Ismail Dalleh called from the town's mosque for Jihad against the occupation forces.
"We are passing through a very difficult stage. The town will belong to us or to the "Israelis"," Dalleh said.

"We must confront this new attack which aims to expel us from our town, but we will remain here, clinging to Lebanese legitimacy at any cost, he added.

"Following this call, the town's imam was arrested by Lahdi militiamen and taken to the security headquarters in Zoghle.

When Dalleh was detained, a state of upheaval prevailed in Shibaa. Around 100 cars set out to the Zoghle HQ.

"The militiamen tried to keep the residents away. But the Shibaa people clashed with the collaborators who fired shots over the residents' heads to intimidate them.

Finally the residents were able to bring back the Sheikh to the town.

"The popular protest in Shibaa continued today (yesterday) as residents staged a sit-in at the town's mosque.

Hundreds of residents took part in the sit-in in spite of the enemy's motorized patrols and the proxy militia's terrorist practices".

"Reports from the occupied town said the protesters walked to the UNIFIL HQ in Shibaa. They handed officials there a memorandum demanding that international bodies take action to stop "Israeli" terrorist practices and pressure the "Israeli" entity to withdraw from Lebanon".

"Reports said preparations are being made to stage similar uprisings in Hasbayya and Ibl as-Saqi.
On the other hand, occupation forces lifted the blockade it had imposed on the town of Ibl as-Saqi three weeks ago".

"When it sealed off the town, the occupation forces subjected the residents to several types of provocative and terrorist practices".

"Yesterday morning, occupation allowed a number of civilian cars to travel through the Zimraya crossing.

"However, eye witnesses said the occupation army is still patrolling the town and closely observing the Lahdi militiamen in it.

"Due to the besiege, the town ran out of food, vegetables and fruit. The sick and university students were not allowed to leave the town.

"Occupation forces have subjected 80 residents to prolonged investigation and detained twelve citizens, six of them are still held in the notorious al-Khiam detention center.

"The town's residents thanked all those who had worked to lift the siege, "especially the honorable Bayyada Sheikhs, whose excommunication of those who collaborate with "Israel' has sped up lifting the siege."

"In the town of Hasbayya, Sami Sharaf was seriously wounded when a collaborator militiaman called Raja Abu Dehen shot him".

"Abu Dehen is one of the bodyguards of Alameddeen Badawi, the militia's security chief in the area.
Sharaf was taken to the Ain w'Zein hospital".

LEBANON ACCUSES "ISRAEL' OF VIOLATING TRUCE AFTER IT EXPELLED 18 FROM SHEBAA…(2)
" Lebanon has accused "Israel' of violating the April cease-fire understanding after it expelled 18 Lebanese from the occupied southern village of Shebaa. Lebanon has called on the five nation cease-fire monitoring group to condemn "Israel''s action and demand the residents return to their homes."

" A delegation from the occupied village of Shebaa visited Prime Minister Selim el-Hoss this morning to update him on the hardships faced by the residents. Lebanon has filed a complaint to the five nation cease-fire monitoring group accusing "Israel' of violating the truce by expelling 18 Lebanese from the village yesterday. The group is to meet in Naquora tomorrow. Hoss has called on the
monitoring group to condemn "Israel' for the action and demand the 18 are allowed to return home.
Hoss has contacted the American and French ambassadors to Lebanon. The prime minister also intends to send a complete file on the case to the United Nations since the village falls under the control of the UN peacekeeping force in south Lebanon. The 18 deportees were relatives of four "Israeli" allied militiamen who deserted from their ranks over the weekend. The villagers expelled were mainly women, children and the elderly. The delegation from Shebaa had requested the prime minister to set up a makeshift camp for the deportees in an area lying between "Israeli" occupied land and government held territory. The delegation said those expelled would stay there until they are allowed to return. Hoss has reportedly instructed concerned parties to take measures to alleviate the plight of the deportees. The delegation later held talks with the Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Mohamed Rashid Kabbani. House Speaker Nabih Berri meanwhile who sent a message to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan demanding immediate intervention to repatriate the deportees especially since the village lies within UN peacekeepers' area of operations".

MONITORING GROUP TO DISCUSS "ISRAELI" SHELLING OF SOUTH Lebanon…(3)
" A five-nation monitoring group is due to meet Thursday to discuss "Israel''s recent artillery bombardment of two southern Lebanese villages in which eight civilians, including seven children, were wounded, government sources said Wednesday. Lebanon has lodged a complaint with the group charging that the bombardment of Habboush and Arab Selim last Sunday was "a flagrant violation" of the April 1996 understanding which prohibits attacks on civilians on both sides of the border. One of the shells fired from "Israeli" positions inside the occupied border zone exploded near a house in Habboush, wounding seven civilians. Another round of shells hit Arab Selim wounding a 13-year- old boy. "Israel' also lodged a complaint accusing Hizbullah resistance guerrillas of launching attacks against its troops inside the buffer zone from civilian areas. The monitoring group comprises members from France, "Israel', the United States, Syria and Lebanon".

Shibaa defies "Israeli" occupation…(1)
 "Shibaa residents yesterday challenged the "Israeli" occupation, staging a sit-in at the village's Mosque without fearing the "Israeli" tanks that patrolled the town streets".

"The Shibaa men and women were protesting the "Israeli" occupation forces' expulsion of eighteen residents. Protesters threatened to confront the enemy in case it did not lift the siege imposed on their town.

"The sit-in was called for by Shibaa's Imam Sheikh Ismael Dalah who was detained for a few hours by the enemy and then freed by residents.

Intensive security measures imposed by the "Israeli" occupation and its agents accompanied the sit-in. Houses were ransacked and young men were summoned to Lahd's security headquarters in Tallet Zoghle where they were subjected to an investigation before they were released.

"The protesters dispatched a letter at the UNIFIL's command in which they requested from the UN Indian battalion positioned in Shibaa to fulfill its duties and protect villagers from "Israeli"
aggressions.

Shibaa falls within UNIFIL's mandate; the occupation forces have no direct jurisdiction over the village.

"The residents denounced the "Israeli" barbarism aimed at displacing them and called on the international groups to work on returning the deportees.

"They also called on the remaining Shibaa residents who are still collaborating with the enemy -- not more than ten people -- to regain their conscience, leave the collaborating militia and stand beside their fellow villagers in confronting the enemy.

In Beirut, a solidarity meeting with the residents of Shibaa was held at the Press Syndicate headquarters and was attended by parliamentary blocs' representatives and religious leaders who
addressed the crowds.

"Lebanese security forces today (yesterday) said two collaborating militia security officers in Shibaa Khalil Ahmed Nabaa and Fadi Khalil Nabaa surrendered to the Lebanese army at a barracks north of the occupied zone after they had walked 12 kilometers.

"Another four collaborators from Shibaa deserted and crossed to the liberated areas with their wives and children last Sunday.

Reports said "Israeli" occupation forces are intensively patrolling the vicinity of Shibaa, while imposing strict security measures and conducting scattered storming operations into the towns of Hasbayya, Ibl as-Saqi, Kfarhamam and Kfarshouba.

"In Jezzine security sources said the Lahd militia's checkpoint in the town of Roum prevented the priest of Jezzine and Kfarhouna Father Nicholas Darwish from entering Jezzine to participate in Easter prayers and services.

"Militiamen at the checkpoint told Father Darwish to return to where he came from (Saida).

Elsewhere, reports from Marjeyoun said the "Israeli" liaison unit's command held a meeting for army officers positioned in the occupied zone.

"They discussed the excommunication of collaborators which was issued by the Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Aref Halawi and its effect on future relations between the occupied zone's Druze and the "Israeli" occupation.

"The meeting also discussed the link between the excommunication and the defection of collaborating militiamen.

"Furthermore, another meeting was held between liaison unit officers and Lahd militia officers to discuss the same excommunication issue.

"Druze collaborating officers were also summoned to the liaison unit's headquarters for the same purpose, especially after a number of Lahd's Druze militiamen handed in mass resignations.

"After the excommunication announcement by Sheikh Halawi, an officer in the so-called civil administration in the occupied town of Ain Jarfa called Mhanna Mohammed Draibe rendered his resignation to the occupation forces.

"Mhanna was summoned to the "Israeli" occupation's headquarters in the town and questioned about the resignation.

"He said his move was in compliance with the excommunication. He was replaced by Anwar Mahmoud Draibeh at the "civil administration".

"Furthermore, a number of the occupied zone residents who work inside occupied Palestine refused to go to work".

"Handwritten leaflets were circulated among workers saying that the money which is paid to
Lebanese workers in return of services in occupied Palestine is ill-gotten and can not be used".

EU to ask ""Israel"" to stop South Lebanon expulsions…(2)
"The European Union will ask ""Israel"" to stop expelling villagers from their homes inside the south Lebanon occupied zone, its envoy to the Middle East, Miguel Angel Moratinos, said on Thursday".

"We will contact "Israel" to stop any action of driving people away from their homes,'' Moratinos, who arrived in Lebanon from Syria, told reporters.

"He was referring to the expulsion of 18 people, including five children, from Shibaa village this week by the "Israeli" occupation forces and their militia".

"Speaking after a "useful and fruitful" meeting with President Gen. Emile Lahoud, Moratinos said, "The EU is diplomatically and politically ready to prevent any escalation in the south."

"The European envoy said the EU wants Lebanon to participate in the European-Mediterranean foreign ministers' conference".

"He also discussed the developments in the south with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss".

Monitoring Group acknowledged "Israeli" violations of understanding (3)
"The five-nation Monitoring Group held one of its shortest meetings on record Thursday, taking only three-and-a-half hours to find "Israel" guilty of violating the April Understanding on two counts".

"The group met in Naqoura to hear four Lebanese complaints. An "Israeli" complaint over a roadside bomb attack near Beaufort Castle was withdrawn at the last minute".

""Israel" was blamed for wounding nine civilians in Habboush and Arab Salim Sunday, and damaging two houses in Yater Monday".

"As for the complaint concerning the expulsion of the Shebaa residents, the group said in a statement that there were “differing views on whether this incident fell within the mandate of the April Understanding.”

"The group “noted that the issue has been raised in other channels and is being addressed by the appropriate authorities,” the statement added.

Enemy's suppressive measures in occupied zone …(1)
“The “Israeli” enemy continued its arbitrary suppressive measures against residents in the occupied zone as it closed the Zimrayya crossing in both directions today (yesterday).

“The “Israeli” occupation intensively patrolled the towns of Hasbayya and Shibaa in addition to the road between Hasbayya and Marjeyoun”.

“The enemy also set up fixed and moving checkpoints on the road leading to the al-Arqoub area villages, subjecting residents to check up”.

“On the other hand, the collaborating militiamen defections outraged the enemy forces' command which gathered the militia command in the eastern sector at the town of Zoghle to discuss the issue.

Earlier, the occupation interrogated the militia's security officer in Shibaa, Mohammed Daher, and accused him of negligence holding him responsible for the defections”.

“Shibaa residents staged another sit-in today (yesterday). Speeches condemning the occupation and calling for the return of the deportees were delivered, despite the presence of “Israeli” soldiers and their agents”.

CONTACTS IN BEIRUT TO REPATRIATE SHIBAA RESIDENTS TO OCCUPIED ZONE…(2)
“At the Coral Beach hotel, Prime Minister Selim el-Hoss said even though the government does not control areas in south Lebanon occupied by “Israeli” forces, it is responsible for the well-being of its inhabitants. He made his comments during a conference called for to support the southerners living under “Israeli” occupation. The government he said will do its best to provide the southerners with their basic needs because their steadfastness is part of the country's struggle against occupation. Hoss said the government will also continue to work to pressure “Israel” to implement UN resolution 425 which calls on it to unconditionally withdraw from Lebanese territories. Transportation and Public Works Minister Najib Mikati said 6 billion Lebanese pounds of his ministry's budget has been earmarked for development projects inside the occupation zone. The conference was held just days after “Israel” expelled 18 residents from the occupied village of Shibaa. Conferees called on the government to ensure the deportees are repatriated. Shibaa residents meanwhile have stepped up their campaign to highlight their plight and show support to those who are living under occupation.
They converged on a mosque in Ouzai in the capital's southern suburbs. They burned the “Israeli” flag”.

“ISRAEL” SHELLS PLANNED SITE OF CAMP FOR LEBANESE EXPELLEES…(3)
““Israel” bombarded Friday area in southern Lebanon following reports of plans to set up a camp there for Lebanese expelled from “Israeli”-occupied southern Lebanon. “Israeli” artillery fired rockets, tank cannon and heavy machineguns at roads leading to the Marj al-Zouhour, located in southeastern Lebanon and adjacent to the eastern sector of the occupation zone. An “Israeli” MK reconnaissance plane was also seen flying over the region earlier Friday. "It seems the “Israelis” have taken plans to establish a camp in Marj al-Zouhour very seriously and is flexing its muscles to show the Lebanese authorities that will not allow such a camp," an official told AFP. Lebanese authorities have hinted at plans to set up a camp that could accommodate up to 300 Lebanese expelled from southern Lebanon since “Israel” withdrew to the current line of control in 1985. Many believe the camp would be a repeat of the Marj al-Zouhour makeshift tent camp where 417 Palestinians deported by “Israel” in 1992 remained stranded for a year before the Jewish state agreed to take them back. Plans provided for the projected camp to be placed under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Expulsions from the border zone have recently increased, despite repeated protests by the Lebanese authorities who consider them violations of the Geneva conventions and the April 1996 truce accord between “Israel” and Lebanon which prohibits the harming of civilians. Since January 7, “Israel” has expelled about 50 residents of the town of Shibaa which had more than 40,000 residents before “Israel’s” 1978 occupation of southern Lebanon but today counts just 3,000 inhabitants. Most of those expelled by “Israel” were relatives of militiamen who deserted from its local allied militia and crossed into the government-held zone.

European Union special envoy Miguel Angel Moratinos, after meeting with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud in Beirut on Thursday, said he would urge the “Israeli” authorities to end the expulsions of Lebanese residents from occupied southern Lebanon. Lebanon has also filed a complaint over the expulsions from Shibaa with the international committee which monitors the April 1996 truce. The committee said in a statement after a day-long session on Thursday that "there were differing views on whether this incident fell within the mandates of the April understanding." "At the same time, the group noted the issue has been raised in other (diplomatic) channels and is being addressed by appropriate authorities," said the panel made up of delegates from France, Syria and the United States as well as “Israel” and Lebanon”.

President visited Qana and praised the Resistance…(1)
"In a remarkable gesture, president Gen Emile Lahoud this (yesterday) morning made a surprise visit to Qana, on the third anniversary of the "Israeli" massacre that took the lives of 110 Lebanese civilians in 1996.

Relatives of those killed or wounded in the massacre, in addition to mayors, mokhtars and residents in the Qana area rushed to welcome the President".

"Upon his arrival at the martyrs graveyard, meters from the scene of the massacre, the president laid a wreath on the graves".

"He also visited the post of UNIFIL's Fijian battalion, then met with residents. He stressed that the Lebanese people will never forgot the "Israeli" massacre, horrors and atrocities, which will remain inscribed in the nation's memory, the minds of future generations and humanity's conscience."

"President Lahoud praised the Resistance's great sacrifices for the sake of liberation. The resistance, he added, has confused the enemy and put it in an embarrassing situation."

"We are not alone in the battle. We have Syria fighting on our side in our bid to regain our legitimate rights," Lahoud said.

"The president listened to relatives of those martyred or wounded in the "Israeli" massacre who expressed their worries, troubles and demands. He then expressed his full compassion and concern to follow up all the problems they are facing".

"Moreover, he pledged to supply Qana with all its needs, "for Qana is the land of holiness and Martyrdom," calling on all parents of martyrs and the injured to submit detailed applications stating their needs".

Steadfast Shibaa defies occupation…(2)
"The occupied town of Shibaa is boiling; reports have reached the town that the "Israeli" occupation forces are preparing revengeful acts against the town's residents in a bid to displace them.

The "Israeli" measures are likely to include dynamiting houses of deserting militiamen besides expelling more of their relatives", the reports said.

"The town's imam, Sheikh Ismail Dallah, warned against such aggressions during his Friday Khotba which was attended by a large number of people".

"The collaborators' militia radio quoted one agent "political official" as saying deportations will persist as long as resistance operations persist and as long as state bodies encourage the uprising in the occupied zone villages, especially Shibaa and Hasbayya".

"These threats have not deterred the Shibaa residents from escalating their uprising and confronting the occupation's measures with more clinging to the land".

"Residents have disobeyed "Israeli" orders summoning some of them to security headquarters in the zone.

The residents have been working on stopping expulsions, confronting "Israeli" attempts to dynamite houses - by setting human fortresses in front of targeted houses, and asking the Indian UNIFIL troops to protect them".

"Residents have also called for boycotting the remaining collaborator militiamen and treating them as outcasts".

"The residents' stands were culminated into a sit-in staged yesterday following the Friday prayer.
During the Khotba, Sheikh Dallah called for unity in the face of "Israeli" occupation. He urged residents to disobey "Israeli" orders".

"The town is ours, we will not allow anyone to try to change this fact", Dallah said.

Monthly report on "Israeli" aggressions for March 1999…(1)
"Following the successive defeats in the field at the hands of the resistance men in Berket Jabbour and Hasbayya and the liberation of the town of Arnoun by Lebanese students, the "Israeli" enemy has escalated its aggressions against Lebanese liberated areas and civilian residents. "Israeli" suppressive measures victimized several villages and towns in the occupied zone".

"After the failure of the "Israeli" maneuver to contain the Arnoun defeat and turn the town into a barricade in the face of Resistance men as a new established fact, the enemy entered the town and dynamited two of its houses".

"The occupation forces also intensified their arbitrary practices in the occupied zone, sealing off the towns of Hasbayya, Kawkaba, Ain Qinia, Ibl al-Saqi, and Aitaroun and imposing a curfew on Ibl al-Saqi, Ain Qinia and Hasbayya.

"These practices were confronted by a courageous decision taken by the Khalwat al-Bayyda Sheikhs who prohibited collaboration with the occupation, thus confusing the enemy and its collaborators who released some of the detainees arrested earlier.

"There were 122 "Israeli" air and ground aggressions in the month of March. Aerial aggressions constituted 25,4%, including 9% as mock air raids, and 7,4% hovering, in comparison with the 30,9% air aggressions in February 1999.

"Enemy warplanes staged 11 raids on areas in the south and the western Beqaa.

"On March 5, they rocketed the area between Jbal al-Botom and Zibqeen, injuring Loai Mohammed Bzei, 12, in Zibqeen. The boy panicked and fell off a wall.

The enemy raided the same area on March 15 and 17. It also fired missiles on the woods of Shaitieh town, Mrs. Wasila Shibli was wounded and some houses were damaged as a result of the aggression.

On March 19, "Israeli" aircraft attacked the Abu Rashed area, woods of al-Qatrani, al-Sraireh, and Berket Jabbour (western Beqaa)".

"Enemy warplanes on March 22 raided Mount al-Rafieh, the Sojod woods, Mleta (Iqlim al-Touffah), Mount Abu Rashed, and al-Qantrani (western Beqaa)".

"On March 24, enemy warplanes staged a series of raids on the mid and western sectors; the area east of Zawtar al-Gharbieh; the hilltops between al-Lwaizeh and Mleikh; and the area between Zibqeen and Jbal al-Botom.

"The most prominent was the enemy's raid on a Lebanese army checkpoint in Wadi Jahanam (Rashia) which injured one officer and three soldiers.

"On March 16 and 17, "Israeli" enemy bombarded the town of Haddatha with two 120mm rounds damaging a number of houses and a civilian car. The enemy artillery also fired three 120mm rounds on the village of Zillaya and damaged a number of houses.

Moreover, occupation forces targeted with shells the people of Mleikh as they were on their way to return to their hometown that has been deserted for years. The residents had to postpone the return.
"On the other hand, enemy forces sealed off the occupied town of Aitaroun, leaving only one of its entrances open. "Israeli" troops barred the residents from leaving the town.

Enemy also besieged the towns of Hasbayya, Ibl as-Saqi and Ain Qinia as a collective punishment for what the occupation army called the villages working with "enemy security parties".

"The blockade of Ibl as-Saqi has been going on for over eleven days now. Enemy forces have arrested 8 of the town's residents and barred the Bayyada Sheikhs from traveling through the Zimrayya crossing".

"The enemy questioned 40 residents in the area, and later released some of them, moving the rest to the al-Khiam detention center and "Israeli" prisons in occupied Palestine.

Occupation forces on March 14 detained Khalil Ibrahim Youness from Sheheen after storming the town.

"Furthermore, the enemy on March 8 expelled noncommissioned officer in Internal Security Forces Zaid Youssef Srairi after detaining him for 13 months. They also deported ISF corporal Hatem Jaber Hadaifah, 32, of Qinia on March 15. Eight days later "Israelis" expelled the family of Ghattas Swaidi of the Araya town (Jezzine District). On March 26 the enemy deported Youssef Melhem al-Khouri from the Ain Zhalta town".

"ISRAEL" EXPELS THREE CHILDREN FROM SHEBAA…(1)
""Israeli" occupation forces have expelled three children from the occupied village of Shebaa in southern Lebanon. "Israel" has expelled some 25 people from Shebaa, since village residents started what has been dubbed as an uprising against occupation troops and their local allies".

" "Israeli" occupation forces expelled three children from this village. Shebaa lies inside the zone "Israel" occupies in southern Lebanon, close to the internationally-recognized border with "Israel".
Some three thousand residents remain in Shebaa, compared to more than 40,000 prior to "Israel's" occupation of southern Lebanon 21 years ago. The parents of the three children expelled, were also exiled from the zone last week. "Israel" has been expelling the families and relatives of its allied militiamen who defected to government-controlled territories recently. Some 25 residents have already been expelled. Shebaa residents say an uprising against "Israeli" occupation troops and their local allies is underway in the village. The elderly and spiritual figures in Shebaa have been calling on allied militiamen to defect from the "Israeli"-financed and controlled militia. So far 12 militiamen have deserted the militia this year. "Israeli" forces and their local allies have been storming and searching homes in the villages, and interrogating the remaining residents. They have also placed restrictions on their movement. The Imam of Shebaa today (yesterday) issued a statement reaffirming that village residents would continue their disobedience campaign and "uprising" against occupation troops. He had reiterated a call on village residents enlisted in the "Israeli"-allied militia to defect. He also stressed the village will reject any form of "normalization" with occupation troops. The militia today (yesterday) prevented the mufti of Hasbaya and Marjayoun, Sheikh Mustapha Ghader from entering Shebaa. He was banned from the zone eight years ago. Sheikh Ghader was sent by the Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, to inspect the situation of villagers. Shebaa residents met UN peacekeepers in the village and asked them to stop occupation troops and their local allies from entering Shebaa and harassing the residents".

"ISRAEL" CARRIES OUT AIR RAID FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE DAY
""Israeli" warplanes overnight attacked areas just north of the occupation zone in south Lebanon. Two "Israeli" jet fighters fired a total of six rockets at a valley near the village of Zibqine, north of the western sector of the zone. There were no casualties. It was the third consecutive day of such attacks"…(2)
For its part, the "Israeli" occupying troops staged the following aggressions:
00:55, the "Israeli" warplanes raided twice into Intara ravine.
Between 11:10 and 11:40, Jib Soweid area was shelled by ten 155mm missiles.
12:45, three 160mm missiles hit Mount Sojod.
12:55, the surroundings of Mashaaroun subjected to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
13:40, three 120mm shells were fired at Hassan ravine.
16:25, the perimeters of Jibaa town exposed to four 155mm missiles.
16:45, four 155mm missiles struck Sawan area.
17:00, Qalawani area between Touline and Qalaweih villages was targeted by four 155mm missiles.
17:05, the surroundings of Salaah position and the peripheries of Deir Siryan town subjected to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire…(3)

Hizbullah: Resistance is ready to confront any possible "Israeli" aggression…(1)
"A Hizbullah senior official source told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper chances are that "Israel" might stage a limited military offensive, but the "Israelis" are not able to pinpoint resistance targets".

"The "Israelis" want to achieve morale victories, but they are nowadays suffering from security weakness following the arrest of their spying rings and in light of the people's compassion that turned both the Lebanese government and people into an arena embracing the resistance", the source stated.

"As to the threat transferred to Speaker Nabih Berri by US ambassador to Lebanon David Satterfield, the source said, "Threats are not new to us and we don't deal with words, we deal with deeds."

We always expect an "Israeli" aggression at any moment. Therefore, we are ready to confront any "Israeli" move, the source said.

"If they think that direct messages and threats scare us, they are wrong, because they know the price of any offensive that they might launch", he concluded.

MONITORING GROUP MEETS…(2)
"The five nation cease-fire monitoring group is meeting in Naquora to look into four complaints over alleged truce violations. Lebanon accused Israel of violating the April cease-fire understanding when its gunboats opened fire on fishermen, damaging their fishing boats off the coast of Tyre. The cease-fire bans attacks on civilian targets but permits the Lebanese resistance to carry out military operations against "Israeli" occupation troops and their local allies. Israel for its part filed three complaints. They are accusing the resistance of planting explosives in a civilian building, firing from a civilian area and damaging buildings in the occupation zone".

"Israelis" invade Arnoun again to break Hizbullah ‘blockade’…(1)
"Arnoun’s short-lived freedom came to an abrupt end Thursday night when "Israeli" troops backed by armored vehicles stormed the village and began erecting new fences and earthen barricades, destroying electricity pylons, and preventing traffic from passing through".

"With the Lebanese government rejecting "Israeli" demands to curb Hizbullah assaults on the troops manning Beaufort Castle, "Israel" ordered its largest incursion into the village since its liberation six weeks ago".

"However, it was still unclear late Friday night whether the incursion was a limited action in retaliation for the roadside bomb attacks earlier in the week ­ one of which killed an "Israeli" soldier ­ or a full-fledged bid to re-incorporate the village into the occupation zone".

"A senior government source said President Emile Lahoud and the government were monitoring the developments, adding that "Israel" would be held “fully responsible for the consequences of this new aggression.”

"An "Israeli" Army official claimed Hizbullah had imposed a “blockade” on the "Israeli" position in Beaufort Castle, which overlooks Arnoun".

"The foray came hours after the five-nation Monitoring Group decided to postpone until April 28 the discussion of an "Israeli" complaint over the planting of roadside bombs near Beaufort Castle. The "Israeli" incursion notwithstanding, the decision of the group appeared to suggest that Arnoun had been granted a two-week reprieve from the possibility of being re-annexed into the occupation zone".

"About 25 soldiers accompanied by two armored vehicles, a truck, a jeep and a civilian Mercedes approached the western edge of Arnoun at around 6.45 P.M. and set up a checkpoint at the entrance of the village".

"The "Israelis" stopped all vehicles traveling to and from the village and Yohmor, 2 kilometers further down the road. The only people allowed to pass through were a pregnant woman from Yohmor, Jawhar Azan, and her husband, Youssef Alleik. The couple continued to a hospital in Nabatieh.

"A earthen barricade was bulldozed across the road leading into the village and barbed wire was unfurled. Witnesses reported a tall security fence being erected at the entrance to the village.

Electricity pylons installed just a weeks ago were torn down, plunging the village into darkness.
"On hearing of the foray, Prime Minister Salim Hoss contacted U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield and French Ambassador Daniel Jouanneau to protest the "Israeli" action. He also charged the Lebanese delegation at the UN in New York to lobby UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan over the issue".

Comedian exchanges laughter for tears at Qana anniversary…(2)
"If the children of Qana were expecting to hear Ghawwar’s clogs rattling on the pavement and to laugh at the jokes of the folkloric character’s creator, Doreid Lahham, they were in for a surprise".

"Syria’s most famous comedian visited the southern village Thursday on the third anniversary of the April 18, 1996, massacre in his capacity as Unicef Children’s Ambassador".

"He wept as he listened to the suffering the children had gone through during and after the "Israeli" onslaught".

"After laying a wreath at the cemetery of the 107 civilians killed during the massacre, Mr. Lahham approached the children".

"He was shown one of the two buildings that took direct hits during the April aggression, killing almost everyone inside. The burnt out room has been kept as a memorial and has a sign outside it that says “The Second Holocaust.”

"ISRAEL" OCCUPIES ARNOUN…(1)
" The southern village of Arnoun has been occupied by "Israeli" troops and their local allies. Lebanon has demanded the international community intervene to force "Israel" to end what it called its dangerous invasion of Arnoun. But "Israel" threatened severe consequences if any attempt is made to interfere with what it called its new policy in Lebanon. Hizbullah for its part warned the Jewish state it would reap the repercussions. This morning, "Israeli" forces shot and wounded a Lebanese cameraman who was among journalists taking footage at the entrance of the village".

" It was the second time in less than two months that many of the residents of the southern village of Arnoun had to pack their belongings and leave. "Israeli" troops and their local allies barricaded the village with barbed wire fences and earth embankments preventing cars from entering. The road leading to the center of Arnoun was also closed. "Israel" denied Lebanese charges that it annexed Arnoun and incorporated it into the zone it occupies in the south. But never before did pedestrians have to pass through a checkpoint manned by "Israeli" troops and their local allies - measures applied at other border crossings between the occupied zone and government held territory. Some 20 "Israeli" soldiers and members of their proxy militia are now deployed in the village and are controlling the movements of residents. Reporters converged at the village's entrance. And it was very clear that the "Israelis" and their allies did not want us there. They roared their tanks and smoke billowed from their checkpoint. Then using a megaphone they told us to leave. And suddenly, they started to fire smoke bombs and tear gas canisters in our direction. We were forced to get into our cars after choking from the gases that were emitted. Then they fired rubber bullets and a soundman working for Abu Dhabi television was shot in the back. Kassem Durgham was taken to hospital in the nearby village of Nabatiyeh were he underwent minor surgery. The plastic bullet was removed from his back. Kassem Durgham said that: we were standing near the checkpoint when they opened fire at us. If I die here not scared it is my land, we are not hurting them, they are hurting us, they are paying a high price for occupying our land. "Israel" is threatening the Lebanese that any attempt to counter what it called the security operation in Arnoun will be met with severe consequences. The warning appeared to prevent any attempt to liberate the village. Arnoun was sealed off last February but Lebanese demonstrators tore down the fence a week later. "Israel" said the village's seizure aimed at preventing Lebanese resistance guerrillas from using it to launch attacks. A few days ago, a Hizbullah resistance attack killed an "Israeli" soldier near Beaufort castle. That "Israeli" position overlooks the village. But the ambush did not violate a cease-fire understanding that permits resistance attacks against "Israeli" occupation troops. The annexation of the village did not come as a surprise. "Israel" had threatened through diplomatic channels that it would retake the village if Lebanon did not deploy army troops and prevent resistance attacks. Beirut had rejected the "Israeli" demand on the grounds that it could not provide an occupying force with security. Only weeks before "Israeli" elections, the Likud government is trying to show the electorate that it is doing something to ensure the security of its troops in south Lebanon. Also by annexing Arnoun, it is trying to set a precedent - by obtaining security guarantees from Lebanon in exchange for a withdrawal. But Lebanon has repeatedly said it would not reach any security arrangements with "Israel" nor will it negotiate a withdrawal. It wants "Israel" to pullback unconditionally in line with UN resolution 425.

Lebanon contacted the ambassadors of France and the United States in Beirut to protest against "Israel's" action and the Hizbullah resistance movement warned the Jewish state it would reap the consequences. And early in this afternoon, Israseli warplanes flew at low altitude over Beirut, breaking the sound barrier".

‘Iron-fist policy’ of renewed occupation signals "Israelis" intend to stay this time…(2)
"The iron-fist policy of "Israel's" renewed occupation of Arnoun was dramatically demonstrated shortly after dawn Friday when South Lebanon Army* militiamen entrenched in a new outpost at the entrance to the village opened fire at reporters, wounding a television sound engineer.

"The presence of the bulldozed earth position manned by the SLA, along with an extensive network of barbed wire and trenches at the entrance of the village, indicates that, this time, the "Israelis" plan to keep Arnoun firmly under their control.

"Any notion that the incursion was a limited action was swiftly dispelled by the pugnacious tone of the "Israeli" Army, which warned against any interference with "Israel's" activities inside the village.

“Any attempt to impede the security operation carried out by the "Israeli" Army and the South Lebanon Army in Arnoun, especially by endangering the lives of civilians, will be met with a very firm response,” an "Israeli" Army spokesman said.

“"Israel" calls on village residents and all Lebanese to follow these instructions to avoid putting the security of innocent people in danger,” he said.

"The first reporters arrived shortly after dawn at the Lebanese Army checkpoint in Kfar Tibnit, 1.5 kilometers northwest of Arnoun, with vague reports that "Israeli" soldiers were still deployed at the entrance of the village further down the road.

"With the sun slowly climbing into a deep blue sky above Mount Hermon in the east, and warnings to be careful from the soldiers at the checkpoint, a convoy of reporters slowly drove up to Arnoun.

On descending the hill to the entrance of the village, it became clear that the "Israelis" have no intention of leaving the village soon.

"The road which had been constructed and asphalted with such haste following Arnoun’s liberation six weeks ago had been destroyed. At least two trenches, each a meter deep, had been dug across the road, severing at the same time the recently installed water pipes. Rows of barbed wire had been laid for a length of 150 meters across the front of the village and to a depth of about 30 meters.

"But most forbidding of all was the new outpost of bulldozed soil rammed up against the first house in the village. From behind the earthen ramparts, the silhouettes of SLA militiamen were clearly visible against the rising sun.

"Unlike "Israel's" last attempt to annex Arnoun, this time access to and from the village has been arranged via a narrow dirt path that winds through the barbed wire.

"A group of villagers huddled in the distance, not daring to venture en masse past the post.
But individuals were permitted to pass through.

"One young woman, clearly nervous and unwilling to give her name, carried her baby through the barricades. “Everyone wants to leave,” she said climbing into a taxi. “It’s impossible here now. I’m leaving the country Monday.”

"The militiamen, observing the proceedings, announced over a loudspeaker that the reporters had five minutes to vacate the area.

"More villagers passed through the fence, some with their belongings bundled together.
Said Alawieh, 100, bent double with age, staggered into view helped along by his wife, Kamleh, 70.

The couple struggled across the uneven path before being defeated by one of the trenches.

With the old man feebly trying to clamber up the other side, a reporter raised his hands in the air for the benefit of the watching militiamen and walked forward to help him.

In a tremulous voice, Mr. Alawieh said: “We built Arnoun, we have always lived here, but now we are finished.”

"His wife said that she was taking him to Nabatieh and that she would join her husband in two or three days.

"The five minutes were up, the SLA announced through the loudspeaker and hurled smoke grenades at the reporters. But the billowing clouds of smoke proved an attractive sight to capture on film and failed to disperse the journalists.

"A few minutes later, the militiaman barked a final warning: “Go to your cars. Get out now.”
A militiaman opened fire with his rifle and the reporters hurried for cover as bullets whipcracked inches away from them.

"Qassem Dergham, a sound engineer with Abu Dhabi television, was struck in the back with what was said to be a plastic bullet.

Mr. Dergham, who was shot twice during the civil war, was treated in a Nabatieh hospital for his wound, which was not said to be serious.

"The SLA announced that anyone approaching Arnoun from then on would be shot.

With tension remaining high, the Lebanese Army stopped cars from traveling down the road to Arnoun and beyond to Yohmor.

"With Arnoun annexed into the zone and the SLA controlling the road running past the village, Yohmor now faces an uncertain future. Unlike Arnoun, Yohmor has a population in the hundreds. Its residents, despite living on the front line, have, by and large, been spared the rigors shared by most villages facing the zone".

MP Raad: IR will retaliate for Arnoun occupation…(3)
"The "Israeli" reoccupation of Arnoun and attempt to annex the town to the occupied zone is a real aggression and blatant breach of the April Understanding, the Head of Hizbullah's political council MP Hajj Mohammed Raad said.

"The Islamic Resistance (IR) will retaliate in accordance with a program and a timing set by IR alone, MP Raad stated, adding that IR's retaliation will be more painful and pressurizing.

He pointed out that this new aggression comes as "Israeli" prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to reinforce his election campaign".

"The "Israeli" occupation army is trying to adopt a new tactic through occupying Arnoun. However, the Mujahedeen have their own adequate tactics to confront each and every new measure taken by the enemy", Raad said.

Resistance will not stop, Hizbullah affirms…(4)
"Commenting on the "Israeli" re-occupation of the town of Arnoun, Hizbullah stressed that "the Islamic Resistance is proceeding with its Jihad method of confronting the unjust occupation, armed first with faith in Allah and second with the wide popular embrace and the steadfast and resisting national official stand."

"Our constant response will be continued operations along the occupied territories of our dear country, in all outposts, without discrimination and whenever accurate field information for successful operations is available," a Hizbullah communiqué read.

"The party hailed the "steadfast official stand which refused to subdue to the occupation's desire and pressures, while scoring a wonderful patriotic position when the suspicious US mediation, which aimed to serve the Zionist enemy and its occupation, was rejected."

Hoss: Arnoun's occupation is a terrorist operation par excellence…(5)
"Prime Minister Dr. Salim al-Hoss noted that the "re-occupation of Arnoun is a terrorist operation par excellence aimed at the innocent residents of this peaceful town."

"We refuse this situation; and we are working once again to drive the "Israeli" occupation out of Arnoun with all possible means", al-Hoss said.

"The premier contacted the concerned countries, especially the US and France. He also dispatched a letter to the UN secretary General Kofi Annan and asked him to distribute it to the Security Council members states".

"Furthermore, Mr. Hoss charged Lebanese ambassador to Washington with contacting the US administration and discussing the issue with US officials in order to exert pressure on the "Israelis" to pull out of Arnoun".

"The Premier hoped that the "Israeli" escalation would be halted and that the "Israeli" entity would reverse its occupation as soon as possible.

"Commenting on the Qana massacre's third anniversary, the Premier said "Three years ago the civilized world was shocked by the "Israeli" brutality practiced against the peaceful town of Qana."

"More than one hundred children, women and elderly people were torn to pieces while hiding inside a UNIFIL position, for they thought that the United Nation's flag could protect them from "Israeli" barbarism, Mr. al-Hoss stated.

"However, al-Hoss added, ""Israel"" proved them wrong and provided a new evidence of its aggression and disrespect of the UN, the international community and the different international conventions and committees".

"Al-Hoss said the massacre's martyrs will always be torches that light the way for the Lebanese in their confrontation with the "Israeli" occupation.

"Their immaculate blood will always quench the thirst of spirits eager for liberation", the premier concluded.

TEHRAN CONDEMNS ARNOUN OCCUPATION…(6)
"Iran meanwhile condemned the annexation of Arnoun. It said the move showed that "Israel" is the source of insecurity in the region. Tehran stressed the need for the international community to adopt more serious measures against Tel Aviv. Iran reaffirmed its support for the Lebanese resistance against "Israeli" occupation".

Village’s annexation meets with protests except U.S…(7)
"The United States stepped in quickly Friday to discourage Lebanon from taking the case of Arnoun’s re-occupation to the United Nations, while France decried the new aggression that has catapulted the south once again to the forefront of regional politics.

"President Emile Lahoud discussed the developments in the south with the army commander, General Michel Suleiman, while Prime Minister Salim Hoss protested the re-invasion of the village, calling it “a terrorist aggression par excellence.”

Diplomatic sources disclosed that the U.S. State Department had informed Lebanon’s Ambassador in Washington, Farid Abboud, that it would be better to refer the matter to the Monitoring Group of the 1996 April Understanding.

“This was the answer that Mr. Abboud got from the State Department when he asked the U.S. administration for help in bringing "Israeli" forces to evacuate from Arnoun,” a senior Foreign Ministry source told The Daily Star.

"In Washington, State Department spokesman James Rubin called on "Israel" and the resistance to “avoid escalation or provocative acts,” adding that the attack on Arnoun was “precisely the kind of issue” the Monitoring Group was set up to deal with.

Lebanon heeded the U.S. advice and filed a complaint to the group, requesting an urgent meeting of the panel".

"The Foreign Ministry source said that the annexation of Arnoun 56 days after it was liberated by students was “a challenge to the United States and France which asked Lebanon two months ago not to file any complaint to the UN Security Council against "Israel"".

“The meeting of the Monitoring Group on Monday will determine its ability to force "Israel" to withdraw from Arnoun,” a source said.

"The Lebanese delegation to the panel filed two complaints over "Israel's" occupation of the southern village and the shooting of Qassem Dergham, a Lebanese sound engineer for Abu Dhabi television.
Lebanon’s mission at the United Nations asked UN chief Kofi Annan to help end the “dangerous” invasion".

Elsewhere, France expressed disappointment over "Israel's" occupation of the Arnoun.
“We’re disappointed at this fresh military operation which comes as talks on the Arnoun situation are continuing between various parties,” said French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne Gazeau-Secret.

“We hope that all measures will be taken to ease the tension,” she added.

Saudi Arabia condemned the act, calling on the international community to help stop "Israeli" “acts of aggression,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

"The agency quoted an official source as “inviting the international community to pressure "Israel" into halting its persistent violations of south Lebanon’s sovereignty, set a limit to the Jewish state’s continuous arrogance and aggression, and end its cynical infractions,” it added.

"Meanwhile, a stream of protests against the annexation of Arnoun flowed, with the leader of the Jamaa al-Islamiya in Lebanon calling on the government to expel U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield from Lebanon for “his suspect activities and the problems he has created in the country.”

“Mr. Satterfield has used the problems from which several Lebanese regions are suffering to promote U.S. policy in the Middle East. He has become a messenger for "Israel" who informs the government that it should refrain from filing any complaint against "Israel" to the UN Security Council,” Sheik Maher Hammoud said.

“He informed the government of the "Israeli" intentions concerning Arnoun during a meeting that lasted only a few minutes without showing any respect of protocol,” he said.

Solidarity sit-in with Shibaa residents calls on collaborators to repent…(8)
"Al-Arqoub and Shibaa non-resident people staged a sit-in this morning at the Press Syndicate Headquarters in solidarity with their fellow countrymen who had been expelled from the town by the "Israeli" occupation forces".

"Many political figures spoke during the sit-in shedding light on the suffering of the occupied zone's residents, especially the ones in Shibaa".

"Speeches focused on the "Israeli" occupation's aggressive campaign against the area which is aimed at emptying it from its people, stressing that the ongoing residents' uprising expresses a state of maturity and the resolve of our people to fight the occupation".

"Moreover, participants called on collaborators to repent and to turns their guns towards the enemy soldiers chests."

"They also called for dismantling the collaborating militia and endorsing the draft law of pardoning collaborators who repent".

"The law was presented to the parliament by Hizbullah's Faithfulness to the Resistance parliamentary bloc in a bid to encourage militiamen to give up collaboration with the enemy".

If passed, the draft grants amnesty to deserters of the collaborating militia.

"We don't dissociate the situation in Arnoun and Shibaa from the US. We will not deal with the "Israeli" enemy or the US but with force," the participants concluded.

Monitoring Group meets to discuss Arnoun the "Israeli" agents reinforce positions…(1)
"A critical session of the five-nation Monitoring Group begins Monday to attempt to forge a resolution to the occupation of Arnoun by "Israel"".

"President Emile Lahoud told U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield that Lebanon rejected the incorporation of Arnoun into the occupation zone and declared it was a clear violation of the April Understanding.

“The "Israelis" are seeking to play party politics with a Lebanese village and its inhabitants and sow discord between the Lebanese state and the resistance,” General Lahoud said.

The president added that erecting barbed wire and earth barricades was an attempt to “install a Berlin Wall in Lebanon.” Prime Minister Salim Hoss told Mr. Satterfield that the move was “totally unacceptable,” adding that Lebanon would continue to lobby the UN Security Council for support to end the occupation of Arnoun. Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah vowed that the resistance would continue and that the annexation of Arnoun should lead to a “large national, popular, Arab and Islamic rising.”

"He added that the re-taking of the village came as no surprise given “the brutal racist and aggressive nature of the "Israeli" enemy.” Describing Mr. Satterfield as “that insolent ambassador,” Sayyed Nasrallah said that the U.S. had pressured the government since the liberation of Arnoun six weeks ago to deploy Lebanese troops in the village “to protect the "Israeli" posts in Beaufort Castle and its surroundings.”

"Lebanon has filed three complaints to the Monitoring Group which convenes at 10 A.M. Monday. The first complaint is over the annexation of Arnoun, the second for the wounding of a television sound engineer when the SLA* opened fire at reporters Friday. The third protest was lodged for the wounding of a civilian in shelling of Arab Salim Sunday.

"The U.S. has advised Lebanon to refer its displeasure over the annexation of Arnoun to the ceasefire group, rather than address the issue to the UN Security Council.

"However, given "Israel's" clear determination to hold onto Arnoun and its dislike for the strictures the April Understanding imposes on its troops, it is highly unlikely that the meeting will end with the departure of the SLA from the village. While the diplomatic arrangements continued over the weekend, the SLA militiamen now occupying Arnoun sought to consolidate their defenses.

"The SLA has taken over the house adjacent to its earthen outpost and installed machine gun posts both on the roof of the building and on the ramparts of the dugout.

"The owner of the house, Hassan Alawieh, was forced to remove his furniture and store it in a neighbor’s home. Mr. Alawieh then departed the village".

Remembering those that died in Qana and their grieving families…(2)
"Thousands gathered in Qana Sunday to commemorate the third anniversary of the massacre in which 107 civilians were killed during an "Israeli" bombardment of the Fijian UNIFIL headquarters.

Under a blazing sun, schoolchildren, scouts, local dignitaries, clerics, MPs and the merely curious converged for the annual tribute to the victims".

"Amid the tumult, sitting at one end of the cemetery, the survivors of the slaughter, some occasionally weeping, stared in silence at the marble tombs containing their loved ones.

"The faces of many of them have become familiar through the media: Saadallah Balhas, from Siddiqine, who lost his wife and nine children at Qana, from 30-year-old Ghaleb to four-month-old Hassan. In all, 32 members of his extended family perished. The blast that killed his children also claimed his right eye and today he has a glass substitute. Fatmeh Borji from Rishknaniyeh, who like the Balhas clan, lost dozens of relatives in the shelling. Fatmeh Balhas, who was sitting in the Fijian officer’s mess with her husband Qassem Khalil, 28, her brother Abdel Karim, 16, her sons Hussein Khalil, 3, and Hassan, 2, and her 17-day-old child Mohammed. The shell that destroyed the flimsy building wiped out her entire family. She survived with a crippled arm.

Samira Hajj, who was in Beirut at the time of the bombardment, was also present Sunday to pay her respects. Samira’s mother-in-law, Georgette, was the only Christian to die in the massacre. Samira prayed before a photograph of her dead relative and made the sign of the cross before joining the other women.

"The road from Tyre to Qana was festooned with commemorative banners, many written in English. “"Israel" is damned forever,” and “U.S.A. is "Israel's" partner in bloodshed and massacres” vied for space with a mathematical equation - Hizbullah style: “Steadfastness + Katyusha = Victory.”

"The cemetery filled with increasing numbers of mourners during the morning, with numerous delegations laying wreaths. One wreath came from the Fijian battalion. Several soldiers presently serving with UNIFIL were in Qana at the time of the massacre.

Lance Corporal Joe Thomson said the Fijians were moved on the anniversary of the slaughter.

“Most of us have families and we feel tremendous sympathy for the people here,” he said.

"As the commemoration attracted the mourners, so too did it draw the politicians.

Bint Jbeil MP Mohammed Fneish, a member of Hizbullah, said the victims of the massacre had inadvertently contributed to a victory by uniting the country behind the resistance.

“It also contributed to a shield for civilians ? the April Understanding. "Israel" was forced to accept it after Qana, so the martyrs protected today’s civilians from other massacres,” he said.

Beside the cemetery, construction had halted briefly on a museum dedicated to the victims. The museum is expected to be completed by the end of the year and is one of several projects under consideration to boost awareness of what happened at Qana.

"Salah Salameh, Qana’s mayor, had a slight dig at those officials eager to gain political mileage from being seen sympathizing with the grieving survivors"

“Last night, I dreamt that I met the martyrs I knew,” he began. “They asked me, ‘who is taking care of our children and those who were disabled? What happened to the money contributed for the benefit of our relatives?’ When I couldn’t answer, they asked, ‘what care was taken for our people in the new budget, what is being done to continue our memory.’ Again I could not answer.”

"Israeli" attacks on Ashoura weekend…(3)
"A civilian was wounded Sunday when the SLA shelled the village of Arab Salim shortly after their outpost at Soueidat came under assault.

The "Israeli" warplanes attack the wadi systems between Jabal Botom, Shaitieh and Zibqine".

"Jawad Musa, 35, whose left leg was amputated below the knee from an attack two years ago, suffered a fresh shrapnel wound in the upper leg during the early morning bombardment. Mr. Musa was taken to a hospital in Nabatieh for treatment."

"His house was also damaged in the shelling as was the house of his father, Mohammed, and that of his brother, Ali. Shelling also badly damaged the southern side of the village school.

"Israeli" planes Sunday fired up to 10 missiles on Zaafaran hill between Zibqine and Shaitieh, the blasts clearly audible in Tyre. Army anti-aircraft units returned fire at the warplanes but missed. Two SAM 7 rockets were reportedly launched at the planes, also unsuccessfully".

For its part,  the IR reported the following "Israeli" aggressions:
00:25, three 120mm shells struck Hassan ravine.
6:30, the eastern quarter of Arab Salim town was bombarded by  three 81mm shells and one tank round. The house of the national Jawad Moussa was hit by a shrapnel whereas the town's school which is occupied by the Lebanese Army was damaged.
Between 6:25 and 6:50, the surroundings of Sojod outpost exposed to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
6:35, four 120mm shells struck Mount Sojod.

"Israel" forbids teenagers from serving in the Lebanese Army's conscription…(1)
"The "Israeli" occupation took a series of military measures in the areas of Marjeyoun and Hasbaya. Security sources described the measures as preventive and an attempt to halt military operations and the desertion of agent Lahd's militiamen to liberated area".

"A 15-man patrol from the collaborating militia raked, for the first time, the mountain area north of Hasbaya, Hasbani area and the outskirts of the towns of Mimass and Ain Qana, the sources said.

An "Israeli" force advanced into the front-line of Janaam north of Shibaa and surveyed the Area for three hours, the sources added.

"Reports from Marjeyoun said the "Israeli" army is flying an espionage and surveillance balloon over the Marjeyoun barracks.
"Furthermore, the "Israeli" occupation issued a decree that forbids young men of 18 years of age and above from serving in the Lebanese army's conscription".

"The decree stressed that anyone who does will expose his family to severe punishment that extends to expulsion.

"The "Israeli" army decree obliges Lebanese youth in the occupied zone to join the collaborating militia instead.

"A list with the names of all young men, 18 and above, in the area was dispatched to every crossing point that links the occupied zone with the liberated areas to prevent them from leaving the occupied zone".

MONITORING GROUP DISCUSSES ""ISRAEL'S" OCCUPATION OF ARNOUN…(2)
"The international panel monitoring the truce in south Lebanon is discussing Lebanese complaints over ""Israel's" occupation of the village of Arnoun and the wounding of two civilians. But observers believe that the group will be bogged down in heated debate over the issue of Arnoun's occupation".

" The cease-fire monitoring committee convened this morning at the UN headquarters in Naqoura. The Lebanese government has accused "Israel" of violating the terms of an April 1996 cease-fire agreement by occupying the southern village of Arnoun on Thursday. "Israeli" troops, backed by tanks and soldiers from the "Israeli"-allied militia had sealed all entrances to the village which lies just north of the zone "Israel" occupies in south Lebanon. They also set up a checkpoint at the entrance of the village controlling the movements of its residents. Yesterday, the "Israeli" allied militia expelled a family of four from Arnoun. They told the family that their house would be turned into a military post. Arnoun is now a part of the "Israeli" occupied zone in south Lebanon. Beirut also filed a second complaint after a Lebanese cameraman working for Abu Dhabi television Kassem Durgham was slightly wounded by a rubber bullet fired by "Israeli" troops at a group of journalists at Arnoun's entrance on Friday. The third Lebanese protest was lodged after a Lebanese civilian Jawad Moussa was wounded Sunday during an "Israeli" mortar bombardment of the village of Arab Salim located just outside the occupation zone. Jawad whose left leg was amputated below the knee from an attack two years ago suffered a fresh shrapnel wound in the upper leg during the bombardment. Shelling also badly damaged houses and the southern side of the village school. Today (yesterday), residents of Arab Salim staged a sit-in to denounce the "Israeli" aggressions. Sources expected the monitoring group to denounce "Israel" for violating the cease-fire by wounding civilians. But they expected heated discussions over the issue of Arnoun's occupation.

The truce committee, made up of representatives from France, "Israel", Lebanon, Syria and the United States, oversees the 1996 accord which commits the Jewish state and Lebanese resistance guerrillas not to target civilians or launch attacks from civilian areas. But it permits the resistance to launch military operations against "Israeli" occupation troops and their local allies.
The panel rules on complaints filed by Lebanon or "Israel" about truce violations, but has no power to act".

School protests "Israeli" attack…(3)
"Teachers and students at the Arab Salim Public School in the south staged a protest Monday to condemn ""Israel's" shelling of their school."

"Dozens of students and teachers gathered in the school playground and held banners denouncing last week’s attack and calling for the support of the resistance in the face of ""Israel's" raids".

"The school suffered an estimated $3,000 damage Saturday during "Israeli" shelling on the village which hit the computer and lecture rooms, damaging equipment as well as sewage and water networks.

“The army will remain a protector of the nation and a support for the brave resistance,” one of the banners read.
"Officials from the region who participated in the event included Nabatieh Governor Mahmoud Mawla and the village Mayor Ismaeel Wehbi".

“The residents of Arab Salim built this school with their efforts and offered it to the government. They’re ready to rebuild it again so that it serves as an example for their steadfastness and commitment to this land,” Mr. Mawla said.

“"Israel" does not distinguish between a house or a school with its shells and wants to force us out of our school,” 11-year-old Bilal Mohammed Zakar said.

Lebanon urges U.N. to force ""Israel"" to quit village…(1)
"Lebanon has urged the Security Council to force ""Israel"" to evacuate a village that it included last week in its so-called "security zone" in south Lebanon".

"In a letter to Secretary General Kofi Annan circulated on Monday, Lebanese U.N. representative Samir Mubarak said ""Israel"" sent 50 men, preceded by a tank, an armored personnel carrier and a jeep, into the village of Arnoun on April 15".

"In a new attempt to include it into the occupied zone in the south, they separated Arnoun from the liberated area and proceeded to arrest residents and to prevent inhabitants from entering," he said.

"In bringing this dangerous development to the attention of the secretary-general, the members of the Security Council and the international community, the Lebanese government urges swift action to put an end to a situation that constitutes a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law," Mubarak added.

"The Lebanese government holds "Israel" responsible for all material and other damage that may be done to civilians by this action," he said.

"He also urged implementation of a 1978 Security Council resolution that called on ""Israel"" to withdraw from southern Lebanon".

YOHMOR SHKEIF MAY BE "Israel's" NEXT TARGET AFTER ARNOUN…(1)
"Lebanon has reaffirmed its right to resist "Israel's" occupation of south Lebanon. It has also categorically rejected "Israel's" demand to reach security arrangements in the southern village of Arnoun which was occupied on Thursday. Today (yesterday), five families abandoned their homes. They were the latest to leave the village. And this morning, residents were denied entry by "Israel's" local allies who are controlling the village and manning a checkpoint at its entrance. In Yohmor Shkief, which borders Arnoun, people are scared they may be "Israel's" next target".

" The southern village of Yohmor has never been so close to the zone "Israel" occupies in southern Lebanon. It is nestled between hills and valleys that have for long been occupied by "Israel". Yohmor is only a glance away from settlements inside "Israel". There is only one road linking the village to the rest of Lebanon. That road is no longer safe. "Israeli" forces and their local allies who recently occupied Yohmor's twin village, Arnoun, about two kilometers away, have built an encampment on the side of the road, sparking fear among Yohmor's residents, who say they could be "Israel's" next target for occupation or harassment. The village's local official, Hussein Al-Jaraf, is worried. He says he has been holding back seven families from leaving Yohmor. The men commute to neighboring towns for work, and students use the road which practically goes through Arnoun to get to their schools. Anyone traveling on that route could easily be snatched by occupation troops. Al-Jaraf also warns that "Israel" could attempt to blockade the village as it did three years ago. That he stresses would amount to a disaster, since Yohmor depends on neighboring Nabatieh for all its services and for purchasing food. Inhabitants say they starved during the last blockade. The only crop people can cultivate here is tobacco; "Israel" does not allow them to reach their farmland.

Seventy-year old Fatima, like others in Yohmor, is terrified. She describes her village as an island that is suffering. "Israel", she laments, is constantly watching over their activities. With most of Arnoun now deserted, she fears for her village's destiny. Upon hearing the news of Arnoun's occupation, Fatima said her family felt as if the home collapsed on their head. It is difficult to imagine that two hundred and thirty seven families live in Yohmor. The roads and alleys are empty. Most people feel safer inside their houses, especially since Arnoun was occupied. Life has been disrupted by developments down the road. Only one doctor treats patients at this clinic, and recently he has been reluctant to show up, fearing possible attacks on the road to Yohmor. A nurse is trying to help the local residents. But she is concerned over the increased number of sick people in the village since Arnoun's occupation. She believes they are experiencing psychological trauma. Students are showing up to this only school in the village, but many of their teachers, who commute from nearby places, have been refusing to make the now dangerous trip. There is a lot of silence in Yohmor, not many are willing to express their anxiety on camera, they fear retaliation by occupation forces. One man told us, "Israel's" local allies have lately been venturing out of the Beaufort Castle outpost. That is only exacerbating fear in an already traumatized village".

Occupation detains two residents…(1)
""Israeli" occupation forces stormed into the towns of Yareen and Merwaheen in the western sector of the occupied zone".

"The enemy troops abducted Abdallah Mohammed Obeid, 55, and Hassan Ali Saif, 27, and took them to the notorious al-Khiam detention center."

"Sources said Obeid had been wounded in different parts of his body when Saed Hadad's militiamen (who collaborated with "Israeli" occupation) fired shots at him in the year 1975."

"Occupation forces had also detained Hassan Saif's brother, Atef 20, ten days ago. He was also taken to al-Khiam prison".

"Israeli" occupation wounds three Lebanese civilians…(1)
Yesterday, three civilians were wounded when "Israeli" forces shelled the village of Kfar Tibnit. A woman and two men were wounded when shells fell near a Lebanese Army checkpoint in the village.

"Khairiyeh Nahle, 60; Salim Younes, 70; and Mohammed Younes, 35, were taken to hospitals in Nabatieh. There were no reports of resistance attacks prior to the Kfar Tibnit attack".

"Security sources also told The Daily Star that "Israeli" forces were building a barrier on the main road in Arnoun to separate it from the rest of the country".

“They’ve set up several half-meter-high cement blocks,” a source said. “And they’ve taken over an area north of the public school, possibly to use it to check vehicles entering the occupied zone.

“The "Israeli" Army has also built cement fortifications on the roof of Nasser Alawiyeh’s home near its new position inside Arnoun,” the source added.

"Meanwhile, "Israeli" warplanes fired at least four missiles at the outskirts of Yater, east of Tyre, security sources said. The raid targeted a valley between the villages of Zibqine and Jabal al-Botom".

Occupation renewed aggressions against south and breached the April Understanding…(1)
""Israeli" occupation forces have once again breached the April Understanding by shelling residential areas in the towns of Jarjoua and Jibaa.

"In Jarjoua, "Israeli" rounds today (today) hit the house of Mohammed Darwish, injuring his wife Fatima Mouqaled, 40, and their son Hassan who is only 8 years old.

"In the meantime, the "Israeli" artillery intensively bombarded the outskirts of Arab Salim, Houmine, Habboush, Sitt Zbaideh Bridge, Zahrani River banks, Nabeh al-Tasseh banks, Loweizeh, Mlita, Mazraat Oqmata, the woods of Sojod and Rihan and Upper Nabatieh where rounds fell near the Saint Antonios Convent.

"The "Israeli" artillery in Haddatha Hill and Dhour Meis at 10:00 a.m. this morning bombarded the outskirts of Haddatha and Harris with some fifteen rounds.

"The bombardment was accompanied by intensive "Israeli" warplanes hovering over the areas of Tyre, Bint Jbeil, Nabatieh and Iqleem al-Toffah.

Earlier at 1:30 a.m. a 155mm round fell inside the backyard of a three story building owned by Mehdi Noureddine in the town of Khorbet Selem, but failed to explode. The building is inhabited by five families".

"In the meantime, the outskirts of Khorbet Selem, al-Sawaneh and Wadi al-Qaissieh were also shelled with "Israeli" 155mm rounds.

"At noon "Israeli" warplanes hovered over the areas of Iqleem al-Toffah at low altitude reaching the Sidon area and staging mock air raids.

At 16:00 the "Israeli" artillery renewed its intense bombardment targeting the Iqleem al-Toffah Heights from emplacements in Zaffateh and Tohorra inside the occupied zone.

"Hovering by "Israeli" warplanes was reported over the area.

In the mid sector, the towns of Sawaneh, Khorbet Selem Jmeijmeh and Wadi al-Qaissieh were also shelled by some twenty rounds.

"In addition, the outskirts of Shaqra, Wadi al-Slouqi, al-Hojeir, Qabrikha, Toleen, Borj Qalaweih and Majdal Selem.

"At 16:20, enemy warplanes raided the Mlita Hilltops in Iqleem al-Toffah firing four air-to-ground missiles.

"At 17:40, "Israeli" warplanes renewed raids on the area north of the town of Zibqeen dropping several missiles.

"The two raids coincided with intensive and severe bombardment on Iqleem al-Toffah, targeting the towns of Jarjoua and the Sojod Hills.

"Furthermore, "Israeli" warplanes which staged raids and mock raids all day long are still hovering over many southern areas, accompanied by MK drones, while "Israeli" helicopters flew over Iqleem al-Toffah.

Anti-aircraft guns of the Lebanese army and IR opened fire on the attacking "Israeli" planes and helicopters".

Russian Ambassador rejects "Israeli" threats…(1)
"Russian ambassador to Lebanon Oleg Peressypkine described the "Israeli" threats leveled at Lebanon as "unacceptable", saying "it is not in the interest of any party to escalate tension and military problems in the region."

"Mr. Peressypkine attributed the "Israeli" threats to the approaching "Israeli" elections.

"The ambassador was talking following his meeting with Foreign Ministry's Director-General Ambassador Zafer al-Hassan in which he presented the Russian proposal concerning Iraq".

“ISRAELI” CHECKPOINT SET UP NEAR YUHMOR SCHKIEF…(1)
“ The “Israeli” occupation of the southern village of Arnoun entered its second week. And this morning, “Israeli” allied militiamen who have been manning a checkpoint at the entrance of Arnoun advanced toward the only road that leads to the village of Yohmor Shkeif. They set up a temporary checkpoint and searched cars entering the village”.

1996 accord protects “Israeli” civilians, not Army…(2)
“ Three years ago, “Israel” launched a ferocious offensive against Lebanon to curb the Hizbullah resistance guerrilla force which ended in a cease-fire with the same forces it had intended to crush. The 1996 April Understanding was drafted to protect civilians of both sides near the last active Arab-”Israeli” front, providing a forum to head off a repetition of “Israel’s” bloody, 17-day Operation Grapes of Wrath that killed more than 200 Lebanese, most of them civilians. Three years and 76 dead civilians later, the two sides are still locked in conflict over “Israel’s” 21-year occupation and join residents in questioning the deal. Politicians and diplomats defend the unwritten accord and say it was never meant to end fighting. But that does not stop anger at the terms, especially in the village of Qana, forever scarred by “Israel’s” blitz on a United Nations base sheltering more than 100 men, women and children. "The April Understanding is nothing but a lie, an anaesthetic, an accord which will not stop “Israel” from attacking our women and children," said Jamil Salameh, the partially-paralyzed unofficial curator of the mass cemetery at Qana. WAILING WALL The April Understanding, known to “Israelis” as the Grapes of Wrath accord, has appeared to contain violence, including last month after Hizbullah killed an “Israeli” brigadier-general and three others. United Nations officials say the accord has largely succeeded in what it set out to do: protect civilians. The number killed in “Israeli” or guerrilla attacks fell from 47 in 1997 to 28 a year ago. But the key long-term aspect may be its recognition of the Hizbullah as a regional political force. The group is “Israel’s” formidable foe and has killed most of its 87 soldiers who have died in Lebanon since 1996. "The accord is couched as if it is between the “Israeli” and Lebanese governments but actually it is between “Israel” and Hizbullah," said a veteran observer of south Lebanon affairs. "The understanding is not a condemnation agency. It is a conflict-control mechanism but not conflict-stopping. It groups all the parties involved and acts like a sort of Wailing Wall." Former “Israeli” prime minister Shimon Peres launched Operation Grapes of Wrath against Hizbullah a few weeks before “Israel’s” 1996 general election. On April 18, he lost any remaining support among “Israel’s” Arabs -- key to his election defeat -- when “Israel” rained 17 shells on the refugees at Qana U.N. base. Images of children, their flesh burned to the bone, and piles of mutilated corpses horrified the world. “Israel” maintained the attack was an accident but a U.N. investigation concluded that was unlikely. After that carnage, “Israel” faced increasing pressure to sign a cease-fire. The accord bars attacks on civilian targets or from civilian areas, but does not protect fighters. It is monitored by “Israel”, France, the United States, Lebanon and Syria. "In (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's three years in power, the “Israeli” government could have cancelled the Grapes of Wrath agreement," Peres said in a written response to Reuters. "They did not do so because this is the only forum in which the Syrians, “Israelis”, Lebanese, Americans and French are meeting. And this is the only agreement that bars all sides from targeting civilians." Hizbullah has largely stuck by the accord, launching rockets into “Israel” only when "seriously provoked", the guerrilla group says. In December, it fired rockets into northern “Israel” after warplanes blasted a Lebanese farmhouse, killing a mother and her six children in what the “Israeli” army said was an accident. Hizbullah has said it would like to see the monitors condemn “Israel” more often and apply pressure to end the occupation. But officials in Netanyahu's government, fighting a general election on May 17, have said they considered abandoning the accord, particularly after a series of Hizbullah attacks on the “Israeli” army and its local militia. "The understandings create a situation where Hizbullah is free to launch attacks against “Israeli” and militia soldiers and outposts in the occupation zone and we are not free to attack their bases which are in the villages," Defense (War) Minister Moshe Arens told the Jerusalem Post newspaper last month.

"They are bad for the IDF* (“Israeli” Defense Force) because, in a large measure, they tie the IDF's hands. "In Qana, grandmother Nawal Bourji hobbles among the granite tombs topped by glass shrines filled with faded photographs of the dead and garlands of plastic flowers. "I carried my daughter's limbs from the cemetery. I held her children's burned bodies," Bourji sobbed. "I have to live with that image in front of my eyes every day, so don't ask me to be pleased with a piece of paper that curbs the resistance from scarring the hearts of “Israeli” mothers like mine was scarred."