July-War Secrets: Exposed by Nabih Berri and Retold by Ali Hassan Khalil (Episode 17)
TRANSLATED from Lebanese Daily As-Safir- Local Editor
Shatah: "Give Up Your Arms, Sites, and Missiles to Lebanese Army... Rest"
Khalil, Khalil Reply: "Offering Victory to "Israel"?! Resistance Not Defeated, No Give Up-Arms Punishment Allowed"
"You've performed your role... You've fought... Long live you... But now it's time to give up your arms and forget about the burden of fighting," states the governmental telegraph, which asks us to hand over our arms and which we receive even before the Resistance men leave the frontline and dry their sweat of combat.
The international resolution is issued, and the local resolution is to come along in accordance with a hurried, repeated Seventh Chapter which calls us to gather our stuff and leave the South Litany Region at once - even if this means wasting our steadfastness.
These are days when the battles do not recognize international resolutions. Neither do the battles recognize the "1" following the "1700"; probably they think that our enemy is going to perform 1701 airstrikes against us before declaring the end of combat.
The preparations for the first Ministerial-Council session, which is to approve of the United Nations Resolution 1701, begin, and in these days, we're questioned for our steadfastness, and we have the most serious bickering with the premier, who recognizes - deep inside - that emptying the South Litany Region of arms is to present no further danger to "Israel". "I will not allow you not to empty that region of arms!" Fouad Siniora threatens.
Now this bickering starts revealing political essences. And tests for patriotism, which Siniora often refuses to have, begin, giving quick results. Anyway, it could have been enough for us to get such results upon our mere analysis of the bickering; whereby Siniora is present while the proceedings are written, and our handwriting reveals his quotes. It's true he says he will not coerce us, but his performance and debate and "emptying the South Litany Region" of arms are all witnesses for what surpasses political coercion and reaches the intention to establish a safe line for our new fearers.
We admit that the premier performs this mission with fidelity and that he lets his Senior Aide Muhammad Shatah, who hasn't become a minister yet, explain what's hard for Siniora to propose. Shatah ‘does not ask' for a lot...: "How about handing over your arms to the Lebanese Army?"
God ‘protect Siniora', for he has had ‘to reflect'; now... the conflict begins to show...
Again on Saturday, the twelfth of August, 2006, a political day began as the literal translation for the text of Resolution 1701, as well as the formula it ended up in, was checked. By then, the image of the last moments before the issuance of Resolution 1701 had started becoming clear; whereby the French representative for the UN acted differently from the way he had done in Beirut and insisted on accrediting the Seventh Chapter "so as to ensure the participation of the biggest number of ‘states concerned about' their soldiers' destiny". Likewise, the United States Representative for the UN John Bolton declared in his meetings that he wanted to maintain the "Israeli" entity's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's morale; therefore, Bolton did not allow "any disrespect for the conditions he's made". Still, The Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani did not hide the fact that he was in contact with the "Israeli" delegation in New York "so as to pass the best formula."
Having read the literal text more than once, MP Berri commenced writing down his primary evaluation, and he postponed the debate, for he had to meet with the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana. The moment the latter was present, however, he could provide nothing but ‘wishes' for fulfilling Resolution 1701 and a call to the Lebanese government to adopt it. Solana had not a prospect of the mechanisms and steps yet to come or the "Israeli" stance on Resolution 1701, about which MP Berri asked Solana.
Having held several meetings in Beirut, Solana left, and now Berri met with a delegation of MPs of "the March-14 Alliance", who were ‘eager for' the issuance of the international resolution. They focused their questions on what was going to happen to Hizbullah's arms, how these arms were going to be given up, how Resolution 1701 was going to be handled, as well as other questions which Berri answered by demonstrating the importance of a unified Lebanese stance, leaving controversies to the National Dialogue, and being not lured by the atmosphere the U.S. wanted to create to disrupt the internal relations.
While the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council Secretary General Mr. Nasri Khouri was in Ain el Tineh, MP Saad Hariri phoned us to say, "You must do something to prevent Syria from refusing the resolution and to let it make a moderate stance." Hariri added, "Iran has made a refusing stance, complicating things. Isn't this going to affect Hizbullah's stance?"
"We're responsibly reflecting on the way to handle Resolution 1701 in spite of the evident injustice of some of its standards. So none has anything to do with what we shall accept," replied Berri.
Berri Joins Amal's, Hizbullah's Ministers Together
Afterwards, MP Berri inquired about the truth of ‘the Iranian stance' Hariri had reported. The Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Muhammad Reda Shibani answered that the literal Iranian stance was: "The single-faceted resolution that had been made for the sake of the Zionist entity has been subjected to some required reformations in spite of the discontent of some Zionist-entity caretakers. Hadn't it been for the efforts made and the unified Lebanese stance, this couldn't have happened."
Now MP Berri called the Amal Movement's and Hizbullah's representative ministers for a meeting in Ain el Tineh, where Haj Hussein Khalil and I were, so as to introduce the session of the Ministerial Council that was to be held. In fact, all of the attendees saw that the last text represented conspicuously all of the American-"Israeli" schemes that had been made since the beginning; whereby some local political sides had their own dreams regarding the employment of these schemes so as to settle internal political calculations for the sake of these sides' schemes. Some went even further, declaring such schemes, particularly the ones regarding the disarmament of the Resistance and the exploitation of the government's functioning as a sovereign state on its territories so as to promote the remaining standards of Resolution 1559.
Now MP Berri was recalling the stages of the difficult negotiations he had made and how the talks had shifted from immediately handing over the "Israeli" captives to the Lebanese government to admitting that such act couldn't happen without indirect negotiations between Hizbullah and "Israel"; this had come in accordance with the stance existing since the very first moment of the soldiers' captivation.
A long debate was made concerning the positive adjustments made to the international draft resolution, the most important of which were cancelling the Seventh Chapter and the international force; abiding by the rules of "The April Understanding" (also known as "The Grapes of Wrath Understandings"); in addition to shortening the period between the cessation of aggressions and cease-fire.
Also, the debate included the negative remarks on every single standard, especially the ones to be accepted in regard to handling the issue of arms in the South Litany Region - even though Siniora had mentioned before the resolution issuance that this issue depended on the instructions the government would give to the Lebanese Army. As well, the debate focused on the explanation of paragraph (OP8): "a region with no apparent armament", which had to be manifested through a resolution issued by the Ministerial Council; whereby the Council had to state that the South Litany Region was to be treated equally with the North Litany Region. Likewise, it was demanded that the Council refuse the idea of ‘rescuing' the Lebanese Army by the United Nations Emergency Forces (UNEF).
Neither to Remain Silent nor to Blast Situation in Ministerial Council
In the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the ministers would seriously debate all of the standards so as to reach a clarification in accordance with our vision; we were maintaining the Resistance. Also, we agreed on emphasizing the explanation of standard (OP8). Therefore, we were to declare the following points while holding the Ministerial Council's session:
"The resolution issued is quite unjust as it holds Lebanon - Hizbullah in particular - responsible for the War. As well, some standards bring harm to the Lebanese interests. Hereupon, we reserve this resolution, yet we are not going to obstruct a resolution of approval by the government that may report it to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and we're going to deal objectively and patriotically responsibly with the international resolution's essentials."
Furthermore, we agreed that on behalf of all attendees, Haj Muhammad Fneish (the Minister of Energy and Hizbullah's Representative in the Lebanese government) was to declare what we've agreed on to the media. And we discussed the potential scenarios during the session to come and the probability of the talk of some sides regarding Hizbullah's disarmament in the South Litany Region and performing breaks-in for that reason. Therefore, we agreed neither to allow this to happen nor to remain silent about it. The priority was to avoid the outburst and breaking down of the session, though. And we were quite afraid that Feltman might have meddled with this issue, provoking certain ministers before the holding of the session.
Then we discussed the probability that Siniora himself might escalate things, refuse any reservations, and try to put the fear of God into others; yet, we insisted that no matter what happened, we would approve of the government's resolution but keep our reservations.
When the meeting ended, MP Berri suggested that Haj Hussein Khalil and I go meet with Premier Siniora in order to reach a resolution formula before the Ministerial-Council session, preventing, thus, any problem from happening afterwards. Indeed, MP Berri called Siniora to say, "Ali is going to see you and discuss some issues with you."
Full Proceedings of Governmental-Palace Session of Khalil, Khalil, Siniora, and
Shatah
Now a vehicle of the Internal Security Forces drove Haj Hussein Khalil and I to the Governmental Palace's shelter, where a door led us directly to a suite. At 3:20 PM, we held a long session of debate with Siniora and Dr. Muhammad Shatah.
Earlier, it was reported upon the statement of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that the Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had agreed to cease combat on Monday, the fourteenth of August, at 8:00 AM (Beirut timing). Upon the statement of "Israeli" sources, it was said that "Israel" was trying to exploit the ambiguous context of Resolution 1701 in order to avoid withdrawing the Occupation forces after the aggressive battles were ceased.
In the meantime, the ferocious battles were expanding in all of the contact zones, reflecting the enemy's hysteria in contrast with the Resistance men's ability to take the initiative in the ground battle that they had awaited. In fact, the United Nations Resolution 1701, issued at dawn, hadn't at all diminished the ferocity of the battles. And by now, all southern regions had lost electricity since the main power-transformation plant in Saida had been bombarded.
Directly when Siniora came in, I said to him, "We've come to lessen the pressure that'll be on you during the Ministerial-Council session. We've overcome the harder stage, and now we need to reach an understanding as respects the standards of the international resolution, as well as the government's stance on this resolution, for it's clear that it's unjust and biased. MP Berri says that it is quite essential that no internal division take place now."
Siniora replied quickly, "We're not the ones to do the explanations. This is an international issue. We had worked before the resolution was issued, and now things are different."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Well, let's begin with the harder part, which MP Berri talked about at 1:00 o'clock yester night. We've frankly refused standard (OP8) since the beginning, and now we reiterate our refusal. We've been patient and endured a lot together so as to prevent the least trouble that could happen internally. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said, "Having a thousand problems with "Israel" is easier than having a single internal trouble.""
Now Premier Siniora received a phone call from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Toni Blair, so he asked to be excused to answer it, and we continued the talk with Dr. Muhammad Shatah, who I asked, "Why is "Israel" escalating its aggressions today?"
Shatah, "Well, the "Israeli" Military is hurt, but let's stick to our subject; it doesn't matter whether the government approves of the resolution or of its explanation that you've requested. This is an international law, and the resolution is good: it is about the cessation of aggressions, including complete cease-fire - not only partial cease-fire. And now Premier Siniora is creating pressure so as to determine a certain time for cease-fire. We have to show that this resolution represents Lebanon's victory."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "But the introduction is very bad!"
Shatah, "Well, if we consider all that is required from the Lebanese government, then we'll find out that the outcome is good. Frankly, we couldn't have gained anymore."
Having finished his talk with Blair, Premier Siniora was back to continue the session.
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Let's make things clear before the Ministerial-Council session. The maximum we can tolerate as regards the explanation of some resolution standards is:
• We consider that standard (OP8) is about "the prevention of any apparent arms rather than "the prevention of arms and armed men"."
• The UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) has nothing to do with the issue of arms, which is to be handled along with the Lebanese Army. Anyway, being a party (Hizbullah), we are a part of the government, and we approve of the Lebanese Army's deployment. We do not plan to embarrass the Army at all, but we are not going to tolerate the idea of disarmament no matter what excuse is made. Certainly, the arms aren't going to be apparent."
Ali Khalil: "We're all meant. Political commitment is primary. Our battle with the enemy is not over yet, and the enemy hasn't made a commitment to withdraw from the Shebaa Farms. This is why any talk that can be explained as approval of disarming Hizbullah weakens Lebanon rather than Hizbullah solely; any kind of provocation will not exist, though."
Siniora: "I want to embrace the Shiites, and we want to cooperate to find clear rules that everybody can abide by. The Lebanese government has certain rights to claim conventionally before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issues its resolution. We do not want to have problems with each other. And I want to embrace the Shiites more than ever. Now there's a wound that I want to heal.
And this is what the situation is like: ..."
Ali Khalil (interrupting): "Your Excellency, we're not defeated, so we don't need your talk about ‘embracement'. We're with you in the same boat, and we've been steadfast. So I believe that what we've achieved is the victory of all of us. You know what MP Berri has done to keep the image of the Resistance and the government united."
Siniora: "We're not to make stances now. Let's see what facts we agree on:
We agree that the South Litany Region will be empty of arms, and Hizbullah can withdraw its arms to the North Litany Region."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Now we're not reaching any agreement this way."
Siniora: "Let's be clear. I shall confiscate any arms that I find. The Lebanese Army is going to be deployed in the South Litany Region, and in fifteen days, "Israel" will have gotten out of the South. If this happens, then I'll not agree on keeping any arms there, and the government will declare this stance."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "We couldn't tolerate being disarmed before the issuance of the international resolution; neither can we do so when it's issued. But we can tolerate the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the practice of its authority in accordance with what MP Berri said yesterday and you approved of."
Siniora: "MP Berri said that would take place during the period separating between cease-fire and the "Israeli" withdrawal, and I said yes to him."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "But we're talking about the period during which the Lebanese Army settles there."
Siniora: "And I'm talking about the separating period of fifteen days."
Ali Khalil: "Why is the discussion going on like this?! When you visited MP Berri, you said that the government owned the resolution regarding the authority and role of the Lebanese Army, and the discussion involved the presence of the arms in the South Litany Region as well as the North Litany Region. So why are you speaking this way now?!"
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Is Your Excellency suggesting that breaks in happen?!"
Siniora: "MP Berri said you would hand over your missiles and the other arms, and you heard this, Haj Hussein."
Haj Hussein: "He never said such thing! MP Berri repeated several times that it was a matter of apparent arms. Your Excellency, remember that he told you that even the ("Israeli") farmers of the northern settlements are armed while working."
Siniora: "Then what are the seven standards for, and how can we stick to them if you want to keep your arms?"
Haj Hussein: "We're not giving up our arms this simply!"
Siniora: "Then when you say that you are to keep your arms, this means you are telling the world that you refuse the resolution (of the UNSC) and will not abide by it."
Ali Khalil: "You're creating a problem now while "Israel" is still performing its most ferocious attacks. So how can we be confident?!"
Haj Hussein: "In the first place, MP Berri related any discussion to the issue of liberating the Shebaa Farms."
Siniora: "Well, he related the arms that are not in the South Litany Region (to any discussion)."
Ali Khalil: "But all of us were there, and we did not hear such talk!"
Haj Hussein Khalil to Siniora: "And we're not men ‘just hanging around the place'! Our only commitment is that in case the Lebanese Army finds apparent arms, it can confiscate them. We do not tolerate searches and breaks in. We're not men ‘just hanging around the place'. Our fighters are of the most honorable families, and like MP Berri expressed to you: they must not be punished for their jihad."
Shatah: "So does this mean that Hizbullah has decided not to hand over its arms first?"
Siniora: "I've understood that a million times you agreed to hand over your arms, and I've heard you saying this as MP Berri was present."
Haj Hussein: "I've never heard this! I've heard something else, and I've said something else, too!"
Siniora: "The Ministerial Council must make a stance whether to approve of the resolution or disapprove of it."
Ali Khalil: "Who said we must say yes or nope?! Reservations have been made in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), so don't we - the people in charge of this issue - have the right to say nope or make reservations if we see that injustice exists?!"
Siniora: "We're not going to coerce you. Either hand over your arms or get them out of the South Litany Region."
Haj Hussein: "Then refer to MP Berri because we're not agreeing on this."
Siniora: "I have a good memory and mind - I am certain."
Shatah: "You'll be making a unique move after the War. Why don't you say that you are handing over all of your arms and sites to the Lebanese Army? Just hand over the bases of missiles and artillery and rest?"
Haj Hussein: "Then why doesn't "Israel" get out of the Shebaa Farms? In that case, we'll approve of handing over our arms."
Ali Khalil: "I believe that this kind of discussion makes us seem defeated."
Siniora: "Then go see MP Berri and make an agreement. If he says nope to the UNSC resolution, then I'll be ready for that. But you have to know that if your explanation is merely "preventing apparent armaments", then this means that we ‘shall be performing razes forever'. I met with you two on the twelfth of July, and you said that Lebanon was not like Gaza and that ‘you'd been exhausted'. But you ‘were not right'. I say that the world may be unjust, but I'm not telling the world that I will not fulfill the resolution."
Ali Khalil: "But why should we say yes, Your Excellency? We've been bombarded for a whole month, and you've lived the entire stage. Hadn't it been for the Lebanese people's steadfastness and the Resistance's abilities, the United States wouldn't have backed off, so why should we grant the U.S. what it's been requesting since the beginning? Yesterday, MP Berri kept up with the developments and kept working to improve the resolution. He had reservations regarding some points, and we heard Qatar's reservations, too. So how can we not make reservations?!"
Shatah: "Then I challenge you to convince me, why do you want to keep your missiles there after the War ends? Do you want another war?"
Haj Hussein: ""Israel" probably wants a new war. In that case, how can we counteract?"
Shatah: "Well, you've led a very ferocious battle, and it's over. So who do you want to hide the missiles for?"
Haj Hussein: "The request you are making is "Israeli"!"
Shatah: "Hand over your arms to the Lebanese Army. If I were you, I would have turned the Resistance into a brigade of the Army."
Ali Khalil: "This is something we can discuss together while having the National Dialogue. In the first place, we've already started such discussion, so why are you rushing things?"
Shatah; "We are not rushing things, but you are you are acting like you don't realize the actualities."
Ali Khalil: "Because we realize the actualities, we see that the fulfillment of your proposal makes us lose what we've achieved so far."
Haj Hussein: "Your proposal, Dr. Shatah, means offering our victory to "Israel"."
Siniora: "Practically, we've been steadfast, and Lebanon has been ruined. Yet, our diplomacy has been successful - unlike the "Israeli" desire. What opinion do you have besides the one regarding the resolution's injustice?"
Haj Hussein: "The government says it approves of the resolution, and we don't mind that, but we're going to say that we have our reservations regarding the resolution because it is unbalanced and unjust in regard to the sides it holds responsible for the War. Still, we're going to deal with it realistically and patriotically responsibly."
Siniora: "You have to choose: Either withdraw your heavy artillery to the North Litany Region or hand them over to the Lebanese Army. I'm going to say that no arms exist but the government's, and I shall confiscate any arms that I discover."
Shatah: "And this is the states' logic, and the Lebanese people's, too."
Haj Hussein: "Then the problem is with such Lebanese people, including some ministers."
Siniora: "Well, you've made the Lebanese people unable to go on with you."
Ali Khalil: "Why are you talking as if everything happening were our fault?!"
Siniora: "I am talking about Hizbullah's behavior."
Ali Khalil: "Now you are talking about everyone who supports the Resistance. MP Berri told you earlier that he did not accept any punishment for the Resistance."
Siniora: "And I've been with the Resistance, but I - Fouad Siniora - am not convinced that arms should be or stay there. This is the opinion of 80% of the Lebanese people. Quite frankly, I've lived with the Lebanese people, and I am not going to lie to them if I discover any arms; I am not to tell them that such arms do not exist; I am not going to do that to them or to the world that has confided in us. We've been steadfast, and we want to reconstruct our country, but this cannot happen if the Lebanese people feel that arms exist. You say that the North Litany Region is like the South Litany Region, and I'm fine with that: There must not be arms all over Lebanon as a part of the seven standards indicates. I'd rather die than participate in lying to people."
Ali Khalil: "Okay, we only want you to be honest to them, but at the moment, the southerners are leading battles, and we are honest to them since we are not to negotiate the issue of their arms while they are fighting. Not all of the Lebanese people think the way you are talking about. The issue of arms is a point of discussion for the National Dialogue Conference, and we can continue discussing it later."
Haj Hussein: "We are frank to the whole world. Now you can make the governmental decision you want, but you cannot prevent me from telling my opinion."
Siniora: "Tell the opinion that you want; eventually, we'll accept it. Or we will not; then we'll tell the world ‘we're sorry'."
Now the meeting ended, and we had made no clear agreement regarding what was going to take place while holding the Ministerial-Council session.
Episode 18:
-Ministerial Council's Resolution after Khalil, Khalil Meet with Siniora,
Shatah
-Sayyed Nasrallah Describes Resolution 1701 as Unfair; Jumblatt Refuses
Forceful Disarmament of Resistance
-Ehud Olmert: "Resolution 1701 Introduces Fulfillment of Resolution 1559"
Source: As-Safir newspaper, Translated and edited by moqawama.org
Shatah: "Give Up Your Arms, Sites, and Missiles to Lebanese Army... Rest"
Khalil, Khalil Reply: "Offering Victory to "Israel"?! Resistance Not Defeated, No Give Up-Arms Punishment Allowed"
"You've performed your role... You've fought... Long live you... But now it's time to give up your arms and forget about the burden of fighting," states the governmental telegraph, which asks us to hand over our arms and which we receive even before the Resistance men leave the frontline and dry their sweat of combat.
The international resolution is issued, and the local resolution is to come along in accordance with a hurried, repeated Seventh Chapter which calls us to gather our stuff and leave the South Litany Region at once - even if this means wasting our steadfastness.
These are days when the battles do not recognize international resolutions. Neither do the battles recognize the "1" following the "1700"; probably they think that our enemy is going to perform 1701 airstrikes against us before declaring the end of combat.
The preparations for the first Ministerial-Council session, which is to approve of the United Nations Resolution 1701, begin, and in these days, we're questioned for our steadfastness, and we have the most serious bickering with the premier, who recognizes - deep inside - that emptying the South Litany Region of arms is to present no further danger to "Israel". "I will not allow you not to empty that region of arms!" Fouad Siniora threatens.
Now this bickering starts revealing political essences. And tests for patriotism, which Siniora often refuses to have, begin, giving quick results. Anyway, it could have been enough for us to get such results upon our mere analysis of the bickering; whereby Siniora is present while the proceedings are written, and our handwriting reveals his quotes. It's true he says he will not coerce us, but his performance and debate and "emptying the South Litany Region" of arms are all witnesses for what surpasses political coercion and reaches the intention to establish a safe line for our new fearers.
We admit that the premier performs this mission with fidelity and that he lets his Senior Aide Muhammad Shatah, who hasn't become a minister yet, explain what's hard for Siniora to propose. Shatah ‘does not ask' for a lot...: "How about handing over your arms to the Lebanese Army?"
God ‘protect Siniora', for he has had ‘to reflect'; now... the conflict begins to show...
Again on Saturday, the twelfth of August, 2006, a political day began as the literal translation for the text of Resolution 1701, as well as the formula it ended up in, was checked. By then, the image of the last moments before the issuance of Resolution 1701 had started becoming clear; whereby the French representative for the UN acted differently from the way he had done in Beirut and insisted on accrediting the Seventh Chapter "so as to ensure the participation of the biggest number of ‘states concerned about' their soldiers' destiny". Likewise, the United States Representative for the UN John Bolton declared in his meetings that he wanted to maintain the "Israeli" entity's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's morale; therefore, Bolton did not allow "any disrespect for the conditions he's made". Still, The Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani did not hide the fact that he was in contact with the "Israeli" delegation in New York "so as to pass the best formula."
Having read the literal text more than once, MP Berri commenced writing down his primary evaluation, and he postponed the debate, for he had to meet with the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana. The moment the latter was present, however, he could provide nothing but ‘wishes' for fulfilling Resolution 1701 and a call to the Lebanese government to adopt it. Solana had not a prospect of the mechanisms and steps yet to come or the "Israeli" stance on Resolution 1701, about which MP Berri asked Solana.
Having held several meetings in Beirut, Solana left, and now Berri met with a delegation of MPs of "the March-14 Alliance", who were ‘eager for' the issuance of the international resolution. They focused their questions on what was going to happen to Hizbullah's arms, how these arms were going to be given up, how Resolution 1701 was going to be handled, as well as other questions which Berri answered by demonstrating the importance of a unified Lebanese stance, leaving controversies to the National Dialogue, and being not lured by the atmosphere the U.S. wanted to create to disrupt the internal relations.
While the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council Secretary General Mr. Nasri Khouri was in Ain el Tineh, MP Saad Hariri phoned us to say, "You must do something to prevent Syria from refusing the resolution and to let it make a moderate stance." Hariri added, "Iran has made a refusing stance, complicating things. Isn't this going to affect Hizbullah's stance?"
"We're responsibly reflecting on the way to handle Resolution 1701 in spite of the evident injustice of some of its standards. So none has anything to do with what we shall accept," replied Berri.
Berri Joins Amal's, Hizbullah's Ministers Together
Afterwards, MP Berri inquired about the truth of ‘the Iranian stance' Hariri had reported. The Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Muhammad Reda Shibani answered that the literal Iranian stance was: "The single-faceted resolution that had been made for the sake of the Zionist entity has been subjected to some required reformations in spite of the discontent of some Zionist-entity caretakers. Hadn't it been for the efforts made and the unified Lebanese stance, this couldn't have happened."
Now MP Berri called the Amal Movement's and Hizbullah's representative ministers for a meeting in Ain el Tineh, where Haj Hussein Khalil and I were, so as to introduce the session of the Ministerial Council that was to be held. In fact, all of the attendees saw that the last text represented conspicuously all of the American-"Israeli" schemes that had been made since the beginning; whereby some local political sides had their own dreams regarding the employment of these schemes so as to settle internal political calculations for the sake of these sides' schemes. Some went even further, declaring such schemes, particularly the ones regarding the disarmament of the Resistance and the exploitation of the government's functioning as a sovereign state on its territories so as to promote the remaining standards of Resolution 1559.
Now MP Berri was recalling the stages of the difficult negotiations he had made and how the talks had shifted from immediately handing over the "Israeli" captives to the Lebanese government to admitting that such act couldn't happen without indirect negotiations between Hizbullah and "Israel"; this had come in accordance with the stance existing since the very first moment of the soldiers' captivation.
A long debate was made concerning the positive adjustments made to the international draft resolution, the most important of which were cancelling the Seventh Chapter and the international force; abiding by the rules of "The April Understanding" (also known as "The Grapes of Wrath Understandings"); in addition to shortening the period between the cessation of aggressions and cease-fire.
Also, the debate included the negative remarks on every single standard, especially the ones to be accepted in regard to handling the issue of arms in the South Litany Region - even though Siniora had mentioned before the resolution issuance that this issue depended on the instructions the government would give to the Lebanese Army. As well, the debate focused on the explanation of paragraph (OP8): "a region with no apparent armament", which had to be manifested through a resolution issued by the Ministerial Council; whereby the Council had to state that the South Litany Region was to be treated equally with the North Litany Region. Likewise, it was demanded that the Council refuse the idea of ‘rescuing' the Lebanese Army by the United Nations Emergency Forces (UNEF).
Neither to Remain Silent nor to Blast Situation in Ministerial Council
In the end of the meeting, it was agreed that the ministers would seriously debate all of the standards so as to reach a clarification in accordance with our vision; we were maintaining the Resistance. Also, we agreed on emphasizing the explanation of standard (OP8). Therefore, we were to declare the following points while holding the Ministerial Council's session:
"The resolution issued is quite unjust as it holds Lebanon - Hizbullah in particular - responsible for the War. As well, some standards bring harm to the Lebanese interests. Hereupon, we reserve this resolution, yet we are not going to obstruct a resolution of approval by the government that may report it to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and we're going to deal objectively and patriotically responsibly with the international resolution's essentials."
Furthermore, we agreed that on behalf of all attendees, Haj Muhammad Fneish (the Minister of Energy and Hizbullah's Representative in the Lebanese government) was to declare what we've agreed on to the media. And we discussed the potential scenarios during the session to come and the probability of the talk of some sides regarding Hizbullah's disarmament in the South Litany Region and performing breaks-in for that reason. Therefore, we agreed neither to allow this to happen nor to remain silent about it. The priority was to avoid the outburst and breaking down of the session, though. And we were quite afraid that Feltman might have meddled with this issue, provoking certain ministers before the holding of the session.
Then we discussed the probability that Siniora himself might escalate things, refuse any reservations, and try to put the fear of God into others; yet, we insisted that no matter what happened, we would approve of the government's resolution but keep our reservations.
When the meeting ended, MP Berri suggested that Haj Hussein Khalil and I go meet with Premier Siniora in order to reach a resolution formula before the Ministerial-Council session, preventing, thus, any problem from happening afterwards. Indeed, MP Berri called Siniora to say, "Ali is going to see you and discuss some issues with you."
Full Proceedings of Governmental-Palace Session of Khalil, Khalil, Siniora, and
Shatah
Now a vehicle of the Internal Security Forces drove Haj Hussein Khalil and I to the Governmental Palace's shelter, where a door led us directly to a suite. At 3:20 PM, we held a long session of debate with Siniora and Dr. Muhammad Shatah.
Earlier, it was reported upon the statement of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that the Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had agreed to cease combat on Monday, the fourteenth of August, at 8:00 AM (Beirut timing). Upon the statement of "Israeli" sources, it was said that "Israel" was trying to exploit the ambiguous context of Resolution 1701 in order to avoid withdrawing the Occupation forces after the aggressive battles were ceased.
In the meantime, the ferocious battles were expanding in all of the contact zones, reflecting the enemy's hysteria in contrast with the Resistance men's ability to take the initiative in the ground battle that they had awaited. In fact, the United Nations Resolution 1701, issued at dawn, hadn't at all diminished the ferocity of the battles. And by now, all southern regions had lost electricity since the main power-transformation plant in Saida had been bombarded.
Directly when Siniora came in, I said to him, "We've come to lessen the pressure that'll be on you during the Ministerial-Council session. We've overcome the harder stage, and now we need to reach an understanding as respects the standards of the international resolution, as well as the government's stance on this resolution, for it's clear that it's unjust and biased. MP Berri says that it is quite essential that no internal division take place now."
Siniora replied quickly, "We're not the ones to do the explanations. This is an international issue. We had worked before the resolution was issued, and now things are different."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Well, let's begin with the harder part, which MP Berri talked about at 1:00 o'clock yester night. We've frankly refused standard (OP8) since the beginning, and now we reiterate our refusal. We've been patient and endured a lot together so as to prevent the least trouble that could happen internally. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has said, "Having a thousand problems with "Israel" is easier than having a single internal trouble.""
Now Premier Siniora received a phone call from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Toni Blair, so he asked to be excused to answer it, and we continued the talk with Dr. Muhammad Shatah, who I asked, "Why is "Israel" escalating its aggressions today?"
Shatah, "Well, the "Israeli" Military is hurt, but let's stick to our subject; it doesn't matter whether the government approves of the resolution or of its explanation that you've requested. This is an international law, and the resolution is good: it is about the cessation of aggressions, including complete cease-fire - not only partial cease-fire. And now Premier Siniora is creating pressure so as to determine a certain time for cease-fire. We have to show that this resolution represents Lebanon's victory."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "But the introduction is very bad!"
Shatah, "Well, if we consider all that is required from the Lebanese government, then we'll find out that the outcome is good. Frankly, we couldn't have gained anymore."
Having finished his talk with Blair, Premier Siniora was back to continue the session.
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Let's make things clear before the Ministerial-Council session. The maximum we can tolerate as regards the explanation of some resolution standards is:
• We consider that standard (OP8) is about "the prevention of any apparent arms rather than "the prevention of arms and armed men"."
• The UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon) has nothing to do with the issue of arms, which is to be handled along with the Lebanese Army. Anyway, being a party (Hizbullah), we are a part of the government, and we approve of the Lebanese Army's deployment. We do not plan to embarrass the Army at all, but we are not going to tolerate the idea of disarmament no matter what excuse is made. Certainly, the arms aren't going to be apparent."
Ali Khalil: "We're all meant. Political commitment is primary. Our battle with the enemy is not over yet, and the enemy hasn't made a commitment to withdraw from the Shebaa Farms. This is why any talk that can be explained as approval of disarming Hizbullah weakens Lebanon rather than Hizbullah solely; any kind of provocation will not exist, though."
Siniora: "I want to embrace the Shiites, and we want to cooperate to find clear rules that everybody can abide by. The Lebanese government has certain rights to claim conventionally before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issues its resolution. We do not want to have problems with each other. And I want to embrace the Shiites more than ever. Now there's a wound that I want to heal.
And this is what the situation is like: ..."
Ali Khalil (interrupting): "Your Excellency, we're not defeated, so we don't need your talk about ‘embracement'. We're with you in the same boat, and we've been steadfast. So I believe that what we've achieved is the victory of all of us. You know what MP Berri has done to keep the image of the Resistance and the government united."
Siniora: "We're not to make stances now. Let's see what facts we agree on:
We agree that the South Litany Region will be empty of arms, and Hizbullah can withdraw its arms to the North Litany Region."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Now we're not reaching any agreement this way."
Siniora: "Let's be clear. I shall confiscate any arms that I find. The Lebanese Army is going to be deployed in the South Litany Region, and in fifteen days, "Israel" will have gotten out of the South. If this happens, then I'll not agree on keeping any arms there, and the government will declare this stance."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "We couldn't tolerate being disarmed before the issuance of the international resolution; neither can we do so when it's issued. But we can tolerate the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the practice of its authority in accordance with what MP Berri said yesterday and you approved of."
Siniora: "MP Berri said that would take place during the period separating between cease-fire and the "Israeli" withdrawal, and I said yes to him."
Haj Hussein Khalil: "But we're talking about the period during which the Lebanese Army settles there."
Siniora: "And I'm talking about the separating period of fifteen days."
Ali Khalil: "Why is the discussion going on like this?! When you visited MP Berri, you said that the government owned the resolution regarding the authority and role of the Lebanese Army, and the discussion involved the presence of the arms in the South Litany Region as well as the North Litany Region. So why are you speaking this way now?!"
Haj Hussein Khalil: "Is Your Excellency suggesting that breaks in happen?!"
Siniora: "MP Berri said you would hand over your missiles and the other arms, and you heard this, Haj Hussein."
Haj Hussein: "He never said such thing! MP Berri repeated several times that it was a matter of apparent arms. Your Excellency, remember that he told you that even the ("Israeli") farmers of the northern settlements are armed while working."
Siniora: "Then what are the seven standards for, and how can we stick to them if you want to keep your arms?"
Haj Hussein: "We're not giving up our arms this simply!"
Siniora: "Then when you say that you are to keep your arms, this means you are telling the world that you refuse the resolution (of the UNSC) and will not abide by it."
Ali Khalil: "You're creating a problem now while "Israel" is still performing its most ferocious attacks. So how can we be confident?!"
Haj Hussein: "In the first place, MP Berri related any discussion to the issue of liberating the Shebaa Farms."
Siniora: "Well, he related the arms that are not in the South Litany Region (to any discussion)."
Ali Khalil: "But all of us were there, and we did not hear such talk!"
Haj Hussein Khalil to Siniora: "And we're not men ‘just hanging around the place'! Our only commitment is that in case the Lebanese Army finds apparent arms, it can confiscate them. We do not tolerate searches and breaks in. We're not men ‘just hanging around the place'. Our fighters are of the most honorable families, and like MP Berri expressed to you: they must not be punished for their jihad."
Shatah: "So does this mean that Hizbullah has decided not to hand over its arms first?"
Siniora: "I've understood that a million times you agreed to hand over your arms, and I've heard you saying this as MP Berri was present."
Haj Hussein: "I've never heard this! I've heard something else, and I've said something else, too!"
Siniora: "The Ministerial Council must make a stance whether to approve of the resolution or disapprove of it."
Ali Khalil: "Who said we must say yes or nope?! Reservations have been made in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), so don't we - the people in charge of this issue - have the right to say nope or make reservations if we see that injustice exists?!"
Siniora: "We're not going to coerce you. Either hand over your arms or get them out of the South Litany Region."
Haj Hussein: "Then refer to MP Berri because we're not agreeing on this."
Siniora: "I have a good memory and mind - I am certain."
Shatah: "You'll be making a unique move after the War. Why don't you say that you are handing over all of your arms and sites to the Lebanese Army? Just hand over the bases of missiles and artillery and rest?"
Haj Hussein: "Then why doesn't "Israel" get out of the Shebaa Farms? In that case, we'll approve of handing over our arms."
Ali Khalil: "I believe that this kind of discussion makes us seem defeated."
Siniora: "Then go see MP Berri and make an agreement. If he says nope to the UNSC resolution, then I'll be ready for that. But you have to know that if your explanation is merely "preventing apparent armaments", then this means that we ‘shall be performing razes forever'. I met with you two on the twelfth of July, and you said that Lebanon was not like Gaza and that ‘you'd been exhausted'. But you ‘were not right'. I say that the world may be unjust, but I'm not telling the world that I will not fulfill the resolution."
Ali Khalil: "But why should we say yes, Your Excellency? We've been bombarded for a whole month, and you've lived the entire stage. Hadn't it been for the Lebanese people's steadfastness and the Resistance's abilities, the United States wouldn't have backed off, so why should we grant the U.S. what it's been requesting since the beginning? Yesterday, MP Berri kept up with the developments and kept working to improve the resolution. He had reservations regarding some points, and we heard Qatar's reservations, too. So how can we not make reservations?!"
Shatah: "Then I challenge you to convince me, why do you want to keep your missiles there after the War ends? Do you want another war?"
Haj Hussein: ""Israel" probably wants a new war. In that case, how can we counteract?"
Shatah: "Well, you've led a very ferocious battle, and it's over. So who do you want to hide the missiles for?"
Haj Hussein: "The request you are making is "Israeli"!"
Shatah: "Hand over your arms to the Lebanese Army. If I were you, I would have turned the Resistance into a brigade of the Army."
Ali Khalil: "This is something we can discuss together while having the National Dialogue. In the first place, we've already started such discussion, so why are you rushing things?"
Shatah; "We are not rushing things, but you are you are acting like you don't realize the actualities."
Ali Khalil: "Because we realize the actualities, we see that the fulfillment of your proposal makes us lose what we've achieved so far."
Haj Hussein: "Your proposal, Dr. Shatah, means offering our victory to "Israel"."
Siniora: "Practically, we've been steadfast, and Lebanon has been ruined. Yet, our diplomacy has been successful - unlike the "Israeli" desire. What opinion do you have besides the one regarding the resolution's injustice?"
Haj Hussein: "The government says it approves of the resolution, and we don't mind that, but we're going to say that we have our reservations regarding the resolution because it is unbalanced and unjust in regard to the sides it holds responsible for the War. Still, we're going to deal with it realistically and patriotically responsibly."
Siniora: "You have to choose: Either withdraw your heavy artillery to the North Litany Region or hand them over to the Lebanese Army. I'm going to say that no arms exist but the government's, and I shall confiscate any arms that I discover."
Shatah: "And this is the states' logic, and the Lebanese people's, too."
Haj Hussein: "Then the problem is with such Lebanese people, including some ministers."
Siniora: "Well, you've made the Lebanese people unable to go on with you."
Ali Khalil: "Why are you talking as if everything happening were our fault?!"
Siniora: "I am talking about Hizbullah's behavior."
Ali Khalil: "Now you are talking about everyone who supports the Resistance. MP Berri told you earlier that he did not accept any punishment for the Resistance."
Siniora: "And I've been with the Resistance, but I - Fouad Siniora - am not convinced that arms should be or stay there. This is the opinion of 80% of the Lebanese people. Quite frankly, I've lived with the Lebanese people, and I am not going to lie to them if I discover any arms; I am not to tell them that such arms do not exist; I am not going to do that to them or to the world that has confided in us. We've been steadfast, and we want to reconstruct our country, but this cannot happen if the Lebanese people feel that arms exist. You say that the North Litany Region is like the South Litany Region, and I'm fine with that: There must not be arms all over Lebanon as a part of the seven standards indicates. I'd rather die than participate in lying to people."
Ali Khalil: "Okay, we only want you to be honest to them, but at the moment, the southerners are leading battles, and we are honest to them since we are not to negotiate the issue of their arms while they are fighting. Not all of the Lebanese people think the way you are talking about. The issue of arms is a point of discussion for the National Dialogue Conference, and we can continue discussing it later."
Haj Hussein: "We are frank to the whole world. Now you can make the governmental decision you want, but you cannot prevent me from telling my opinion."
Siniora: "Tell the opinion that you want; eventually, we'll accept it. Or we will not; then we'll tell the world ‘we're sorry'."
Now the meeting ended, and we had made no clear agreement regarding what was going to take place while holding the Ministerial-Council session.
Episode 18:
-Ministerial Council's Resolution after Khalil, Khalil Meet with Siniora,
Shatah
-Sayyed Nasrallah Describes Resolution 1701 as Unfair; Jumblatt Refuses
Forceful Disarmament of Resistance
-Ehud Olmert: "Resolution 1701 Introduces Fulfillment of Resolution 1559"
Source: As-Safir newspaper, Translated and edited by moqawama.org
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