Barak Threats, Lebanon to Face ’’Israeli’’ Aggressions
Five years passed, and no one can forget the sense of dignity mixed with the sand's odor of July 12 2006.
There, in the deep Southern valley of Khalet Warda few Hizbullah resistance fighters marked the Truthful Pledge. "No Lebanese captive to remain in the Zionist prisons".
Within minutes, the so- called undefeated force faced one of its most humiliating days.
Resistance men blasted two "Israeli" army Humvees with rocket-propelled grenades and machine-gun fire, catching two of the soldiers and killing another three.
One hour passed and the field was clear: five more "Israeli" soldiers were dead, four of them the crew of a Merkava tank that was completely destroyed when it hit a massive belly charge inside Lebanese territory.
"Israeli" enemy suffered its highest single day fatality toll in Lebanon since its naval commando raid in an-Sarieh in September 1997.
Today, after five years "Israel" is in front a new reality: Lebanon's Resistance and people ready to confront any aggression.
Barak Threats
"Israeli" War Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday that his entity sent a
message to Lebanon that the newly-formed government will be held responsible "if the situation between "Israel"and Hizbullah deteriorates," "Israeli" radio reported.
Barak also claimed that "the laxness of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime could lead to the continuation of transferring weapons to Hizbullah."
In a meeting with "Foreign Affairs and War Committee", the "Israeli" Minister talked about alarming statistics. "50 tons of explosives would be dropped on "Israel" in next war but "Israel" is capable to fire back 1500 ton of ammunition with extreme precision."
Barak's embedded threat got its clear answer from the head of the Lebanese Republic.
Lebanon: Ready to Confront
President Michel Suleiman warned "Israel" against taking any unilateral decision that may violate international law concerning the maritime borders.
"Lebanon is ready to defend its territories, land and maritime borders with all the possible and legal ways," he told his visitors on Monday.
The president stressed: "This issue should be discussed at the government, which holds its first meeting on Thursday, to take the official stance that preserves Lebanon's sovereignty on its land and resources."
For his part, Lebanese Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister, Adnan Mansour, commented on "Israel's" allegations as to Lebanon's mistake during the demarcation of the economic exclusive zone.
""Israel", which justifies its violation of the said zone claiming that Lebanon had committed a mistake during maritime borders' demarcation, seeks to impose a de facto situation, a matter that we reject," he said.
"When a zone is situated between many countries, none of them is entitled to take measures on the account of other parties unsatisfied with this fact. 3 countries are concerned with the economic exclusive zone: Lebanon, Cyprus, and "Israel". The latter and the former harmed Lebanon, during common maritime borders' demarcation," Mansour explained.
"Threats and intimidation by "Israel" are useless since they aim to cover up its violations and breaches of the exclusive economic zone," the minister told "ad-Diyar" Lebanese daily.
"They have no technical effect at all," Mansour said.
Underlining that Lebanon sternly rejected such abuse and that it was entitled to claim its rights by all legal means, the minister pertained to the measures to be taken by the government.
"Concerned ministries must set a study on the dimension of the aforementioned "Israeli" violation, define resulting losses, and determine accurately the area of the violated zone," Mansour stressed pointing out that "building on this study, the government is to adopt adequate measures, and the Lebanese diplomacy shall be invigorated before the United Nations and international committees so as to demand that Israel abides by the international laws."
"An-Nahar" sources informed that Lebanon's file will be based on the letter sent by former Foreign affairs Minister Ali Shami to his Cypriot counterpart to express his objections regarding the agreement signed by "Israel" with Cyprus
Meanwhile, U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stated that any country in the region and the world has the right to benefit from the water resources that fall within its territorial waters.
He hoped after holding talks with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel that Lebanon would be able to take advantage of the maritime resources found in the Mediterranean.
The meeting also addressed the situation in Lebanon and the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.
The talks tackled "Israel's" occupation of the northern section of the village of Ghajar.
Government's Agenda
Moving to the internal political scene, all eyes turn to the government's first session. "Even though the government has many hot issues on its agenda - including political and judicial topics, let alone the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the urgent matter represented by a confrontation with "Israel' as a result of a dispute over offshore gas and oil reserves between the two countries - preparations were under way to tackle economic and administrative issues," "an-Nahar" Lebanese newspaper said.
On the government's Thursday agenda were 71 items, most prominent being a request to extend the mandate of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon for one year, the renewal of Central Bank Goveror Riad Salameh's term and the appointment by consensus of Walid Salman as Lebanese Army chief of staff and Antoine Choucair as the director general of the presidency. The agenda also includes requests for military recruiting.
Jumblatt: I didn't Betray Hariri
In a parallel context, the "National Struggle Front" Leader MP Walid Jumblatt denied accusations that he has betrayed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
"The new Angels (a reference to "March 14" leaders) are charging me of betraying Rafik Hariri... I did not betray Rafik Hariri and will not betray him," Jumblatt said.
In an interview with MTV channel Jumblatt emphasized "My theory is that stability and justice should go together, because if justice leads to instability we would not be doing justice to Rafik Hariri."
He added: "I have not changed my position towards the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, but there is misunderstanding about this court. They say that it is not politicized, but since 2005 until this moment it is the focal point because the assassination of Hariri was political ...the decision to establish the court took 7 minutes."
Stressing that the new government is committed to and respects international resolutions, MP said there is a campaign aimed at stripping PM Najib Mikati of his "patriotism and Sunni identity".
Emphasizing on the necessity of stability with justice, Jumblatt expressed his fear of settling accounts with Hizbullah through the tribunal.
Jumblatt saw that ""March 14" and "March 8"extremists don't lose anything, but al-Hariri's family, the families of martyrs, and Hizbullah are the losers."
Addressing MP Bahia al- Hariri Jumblatt clarified:"It is true that there tons of hatred were waiting Rafik Hariri and killed him, but now the indictment was issued and I have to warn that it might explode the biggest grudges."
In addition, Jumblatt called ex- PM Saad al- Hariri to open a dialogue with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the Secretary General of Hizbullah His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
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