17/1/08

Syria and the Palestinians: A love-hate relationship
By Daoud
Bitterlemons International January 17, 2008 Edition 3 Volume 6 Syria and the Palestinians: A love-hate relationship Daoud Kuttab For an entire century, Syria has had a love-hate relationship with Palestinians. The Palestinian cause has …
www.daoudkuttab.com/?p=464

Grand Mufti of Syria Threatens Europeans at EU Parliament, EU …
By Mark(Pastorius)
According to Dutch blogger Klein Verzet, the Grand Mufti of Syria threatened Holland: “Should it come to riots, bloodshed and violence after broadcasting the Quran movie by PVV-leader Geert Wilders, then Wilders will be responsible. …
ibloga.blogspot.com/2008/01/grand-mufti-of-syria-threatens.html

Moussa brings Aoun and Hariri to dialogue table
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
By Hussein Abdallah BEIRUT: Arab League chief Amr Moussa achieved a breakthrough in Lebanon’s political crisis Thursday, managing to arrange a meeting …
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?ed
ition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=88140

FBI team arrives to aid in probe of Karantina blast site
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
Four FBI counterterrorism experts, who have examined other similar bomb sites in Lebanon, arrived in Beirut late Wednesday night to join local investigators …
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?ed
ition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=88139

Feltman says attack on embassy vehicle was directed against Lebanon
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
BEIRUT: Departing US Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman said Thursday the attack earlier this week on the US Embassy vehicle was directed against Lebanon.…
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?editi
on_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=88132

Lebanon earns average marks in quality of life poll
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
BEIRUT: Lebanon ranked 101st worldwide and 5th in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on the 2008 Quality of Life Index produced by International …
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?
edition_id=1&categ_id=3&article_id=88126

Saudi Arabia and Syria spar over Lebanon
GulfNews – Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Dubai: Arab League mediation on the presidential vote deadlock continued on Thursday even as Saudi Arabia and Syria got embroiled in a new row over Lebanon. …
www.gulfnews.com/region/Lebanon/10182886.html

Three dead near Beirut as bomb misses US vehicle
Sydney Morning Herald – Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
Members of the ruling coalition, who have blamed Syria for most assassinations, condemned the attack without naming suspects. Parliament’s majority leader …
www.smh.com.au/news/world/three-dead-near-beirut
-as-bomb-misses-us-vehicle/2008/01/16/1200419886003.html

Syria’s Grand Mufti: Civilisation based on morality and reason
European Parliament (press release) – EU
These are the words of the Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badr al-din Hassoun, when he spoke to us during his visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. …
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/037-18390-
014-01-02-906-20080111STO18374-2008-14-01-2008/default_
en.htm

Iraqi Christians opt for Lebanon
Financial Times – London,England,UK
By Ferry Biedermann in Beirut The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Beirut suburb of Sid el-Bouchrieh used to be nearly empty on Sundays less than …
www.ft.com/cms/s/d9a216c2-c51b-11dc-811a-0000779fd2ac.html

Middle East peace ‘top priority’: Syrian foreign minister
AFP –
BERLIN (AFP) — Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Thursday that Damascus would play a constructive role in the Middle East peace process and Lebanon …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtmvuNim-ZvgIyiyZcHKLj9EoW6A

Lebanon: Saniora Denies Secretly Meeting Bush in Aqaba
Center for Research on Globalization – Montreal,Quebec,Canada
The Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar quoted political sources in Beirut as saying that Bush, who wanted to visit Lebanon, requested holding a meeting away from the …
www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7829

Syria ready to help efforts for ‘just peace’ in Mideast – Summary
Earthtimes – London,UK
Berlin – Syria is ready to help in the search for Mideast peace and a resolution of the political impasse in Lebanon, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid …
www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/175002,syria-
ready-to-help-efforts-for-just-peace-in-mideast.html

In Lebanon, in Egypt: bread, corruption and riots
By Rami Zurayk(Rami Zurayk)
“How do you take a broken system that somehow helps feed 80 million people and fix it without causing social disorder? That is a challenge for Egypt at large, and for this little bakery where Muhammad ekes out a living, with a cigarette …
landandpeople.blogspot.com/2008/01/
in-lebanon-in-egypt-bread-corruption.html

Lebanese opposition and parliament majority meet
Jerusalem Post – Israel
By AP Top leaders from Lebanon’s parliament majority and the opposition met for the first time in three months Thursday as part of efforts by the head of …
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=120057247
8470&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Living in a bubble in Lebanon
Newropeans Magazine – Paris,France
That makes Lebanon a country with many beliefs, but very little space. Lebanon’s democracy is “governed” by a confessional system whereby quotas divide the …
www.newropeans-magazine.org/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=7522&Itemid=86

Iran, Syria call for expansion of mutual ties
Islamic Republic News Agency – Tehran,Iran
First Vice President Parviz Davoudi said here Thursday that Iran and Syria enjoy friendly and brotherly ties, calling for expansion of bilateral relations …
www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0801179325180826.htm

US security team inspects site of Lebanon bomb blast
Jerusalem Post – Israel
… evidence Thursday from the car bomb blast that targeted a US Embassy vehicle this week in the first such attack in Lebanon in more than two decades. …
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=12005724774
87&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Syria to repay debt to Russia in euros – government
Interfax Russia – Moscow,Russia
Jan 17 (Interfax) – Syria will repay its Soviet era debt to Russia in euros, the Russian government said on Thursday. The government approved a draft law …
www.interfax.ru/e/B/finances/26.html?id_issue=11947377

North Korea-Syria nuke link
The Age – Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
WESTERN governments have concluded that Syria and North Korea were collaborating on a nuclear weapons program at a mysterious site in the Syrian desert …
www.theage.com.au/news/world/north-kore
asyria-nuke-link/2008/01/17/1200419972486.html

Russian govt. approves bill to settle Syria’s $3.6 bln debt
RIA Novosti – Moscow,Russia
MOSCOW, January 17 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian government approved at a session on Thursday a bill to ratify an agreement with Syria on settling the …
en.rian.ru/russia/20080117/97162306.html

About that call for a Fairuz boycott
By Riemer Brouwer(Riemer Brouwer)
So let’s be systematic about it and boycott all cultural exchanges between Lebanon and Syria. NO MORE PERFORMANCES of Lebanese artists before Syrian audience. Even our sub-standard artists they can’t have. …
lebanon-update.blogspot.com/2008/
01/about-that-call-for-fairuz-boycott.html

Lebanon Crisis Meanders On With Name Calling
By Fred Stopsky
The ongoing crisis in Lebanon which has left that nation without a president for months continues along the normal course of various groups charging their opponents are at fault. Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prine Saud al-Faisal urged …
theimpudentobserver.com/multicultural/le
banon-crisis-meanders-on-with-name-calling/

US Suggests Embassy Car in Lebanon Was Target
New York Times – United States
By NADA BAKRI BEIRUT, Lebanon — An American Embassy vehicle was apparently the target of a bombing on Tuesday that killed three civilians and wounded about …
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/world/middleeast/17lebanon.html

Syria backs Arab League efforts to end Lebanon deadlock
Tehran Times – Iran
DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syria on Sunday backed Arab League chief Amr Mussa’s efforts to persuade warring Lebanese political factions to agree a compromise plan …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161273

“Syria’s Jihadists and Hezbollah are two arms of one body”
Counterterrorism Blog – Medford,NJ,USA
One main option being Hezbollah and the other option being Jihadi groups controlled by Syria. I argued that as long as it is either Hezbollah or …
counterterrorismblog.org/2008/01/
syrias_jihadists_and_hezbollah.php

Nasrallah: ‘Best Way to Prevent War is to Be Ready For it’
By VINEYARDSAKER:(VINEYARDSAKER:)
His eminence also accused the February 14 bloc of obstructing all international initiatives to solve the crisis in Lebanon. “The ruling coalition considers granting us a guaranteeing minority as ‘political suicide,’ this is weird. …
vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2008/01/nas
rallah-best-way-to-prevent-war-is-to.html

The Sad Story of Lebanon & Middle East
By MarxistFromLebanon(MarxistFromLebanon)
He answers: “Well, then it is Syria’s fault in that case, because they brought him to Lebanon! If only Bush visited the region!” I go : “Are you insane? Allowing the man who gave Israel to bomb the hell out of Lebanon? …
marxistfromlebanon.blogspot.com/2008/01
/sad-story-of-lebanon-middle-east.html

Arab League Mediates in Lebanon
Beirut, Jan 16 (Prensa Latina) Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa arrived in Beirut Wednesday to continue reconciliation steps between the local parliamentary majority and the opposition in the ongoing Lebanese political crisis.
www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B7007A71E-
169E-4DE2-8EE8-0806AD5500A7%7D&language=EN

Grand Mufti of Syria Threatens Europeans at EU Parliament, EU …
According to Dutch blogger Klein Verzet, the Grand Mufti of Syria threatened Holland: “Should it come to riots, bloodshed and violence after broadcasting the Quran movie by PVV-leader Geert Wilders, then Wilders will be responsible. …
www.brusselsjournal.com/node/2871

16/1/08

Lebanese Economy in 2007: Brief Review
By Blacksmith Jade(Blacksmith Jade)
Rather remarkably, given the political turmoil, some elements of Lebanon’s economy functioned quite well during the year. On January 8, 2008 the finance ministry announced the state deficit for the first 11 months of 2007 had been …
blacksmithsoflebanon.blogspot.com/2008/01/l
ebanese-economy-in-2007-brief-review.html

Syria says it has Lebanese allies, not ‘tools’
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
“Dealing with Syria as if it was still in Lebanon or as if its allies are a tool represents an insult to a large proportion of the Lebanese,” Syrian…
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?editi
on_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=88109

Managing Lebanon’s Palestinian dilemma
Daily Star – Lebanon – Beirut,Lebanon
The controversy is not new, nor is it restricted to Lebanon. Since the 1947-48 war that created the modern state of Israel and drove the first wave of …
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edit
ion_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=88101

US Says American Embassy Car Was Apparent Target of Lebanon Blast
The US State Department says “preliminary evidence” suggests a US embassy car was the target of Tuesday’s blast that killed three people in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/
news/2008/01/mil-080116-voa05.htm

Report: Sharp Decline In Human Rights In Syria
In its annual report, the Syrian Human Rights Committee stated that the past year has seen a sharp decline in human rights in the country. According to the report, the decline is manifested in the arrest of civil society and human …
www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/4642.htm

Syria rejects Saudi criticism over Lebanon role
Reuters South Africa – Johannesburg,South Africa
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis DAMASCUS, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Syria hit back at Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for criticising its role in Lebanon, saying Syria could not …
africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnOWE662001.html

Bush calls for end to Syria-Iran ‘interference’ in Lebanon
Africasia – London,UK
US President George W. Bush told Syria and Iran on Wednesday to stop“interfering” in Lebanon’s affairs and urged the country to hold a vote to choose a new …
www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.
php?area=mideast&item=080116122634.69f66pvk.php

Cyprus signs search-and-rescue agreement with Lebanon
Jerusalem Post – Israel
By AP Cyprus and Lebanon signed a search-and-rescue cooperation agreement
Wednesday, despite an ongoing sea boundary dispute between the island
nation and …
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=12004758
95061&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

“Al-Qaeda in Lebanon,” by Nir Rosen
By Joshua
Ayn al Hilweh, the largest refugee camp in Lebanon, houses up to 75000 people in 1.5 square kilometers of squalor. The camp is dominated by two main factions, the older, nationalist, and more secular Fatah, and Usbat al Ansar, …
joshualandis.com/blog/?p=472

Bush Says Iran And Syria Must End Lebanon Interference
President George W. Bush said on Wednesday that Syria and Iran must end interference in Lebanese politics, and called for nations in the region to support Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Bush, at the end of a Middle East tour of Israel …
middleeastprogress.org/2008/01/bush-says
-iran-and-syria-must-end-lebanon-interference/

Syria rejects Saudi criticism over Lebanon role
Reuters South Africa – Johannesburg,South Africa
DAMASCUS, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Syria hit back at Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for criticising its role in Lebanon, saying it could not force its Lebanese allies …
africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL16839090.html

Syria: Bush trying to scare Arab nations to sell weapons
Jerusalem Post – Israel
By AP Syria said Wednesday that the main aim of US President George W. Bush’s Mideast tour was to scare Persian Gulf countries into buying weapons by …
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=120047
5895014&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Syria’s Grand Mufti addresses MEPs in Strasbourg
ABHaber – Brüksel,Belgium
In a speech to MEPs on Tuesday on the subject of intercultural dialogue, the Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun, stressed the value of culture …
www.abhaber.com/news_page.asp?id=3745

Egypt: Bush calls for Iran and Syria to stay out of Lebanon
??? – Italy
(AKI) – US President George W. Bush ended his Middle East visit on Wednesday calling for Syria and Iran to stop interfering in Lebanese politics. …
www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1777499407

“Syria’s policy, post-Annapolis,” by H. Cobban
By Joshua
Syria had sent its deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mikdad, to participate in the conference. But the Foreign Press department head, Ms. Bushra Kanafani, told me in an exclusive interview yesterday that she was not sure where the process …
joshualandis.com/blog/?p=562

Syria’s policy, post-Annapolis
By Helena
The director of the Syrian Foreign Ministry’s Foreign Press Department yesterday expressed disappointment with the outcome of the Arab-Israeli peace conference held in Annapolis, Maryland, in late November. Syria…
justworldnews.org/archives/002750.html

Syria’s Grand Mufti: “If a man dies because of information that …
By Robert
STRASBOURG (AFP) – Syria’s top Sunni Muslim cleric urged the media Tuesday to use caution when reporting on religion, saying that the choice and timing of a report can cause a war. “A simple piece of information can spark a war. …
www.jihadwatch.org/archives/019601.php

Iran backs Arab League efforts to end Lebanon deadlock
AFP –
Mussa is to return to Beirut on Wednesday for another attempt to persuade rival leaders to agree on a plan to end the crisis in Lebanon, which has been …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i09eQ9QllxlS7mj8-7_dVpx3Sp_A

LEBANON. BUSH: SYRIA AND IRAN MUST NOT INTERFERE
Agenzia Giornalistica Italia – Italy
(AGI/REUTERS) – Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt), Jan.16 – Syria and Iran should not meddle with Lebanon’s interior policies, warned US president George W. Bush, …
www.agi.it/world/news/200801161542-cro-ren0062-art.html

Bush: Lebanon interference must end
Aljazeera.net – Qatar
He called for Arab leaders to get behind Fouad Siniora, Lebanon’s prime minister, and said that “nations in the neighbourhood” were willing to help Israelis …
english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1C8
17156-37E3-4727-BDAD-79CF5F4AC9BC.htm

Lebanon: An Arab Position is Necessary
Asharq Alawsat – London,UK
Does the failure of initiatives point towards abandoning Lebanon, or does it justify an intervention to end Lebanon’s chronic crisis? …
aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=11481

For Cardinal Sfeir Lebanon’s president must be elected in …
AsiaNews.it – Italy
Beirut (AsiaNews) – Lebanon’s president ought to be elected in
accordance with the constitution, which is to say by parliament, Maronite
Patriarch Nasrallah …
www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=11264&size=A