Israel, the mid-east, and Russia

[Shammu]

 Lebanese PM calls for pressuring Israel

(with MIL-LEBANON-ISRAEL series) BEIRUT, July 13 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Al-Siniora called Thursday on several foreign diplomats in Lebanon to pressure Israel to halt its aggression on the country.

This came in a statement issued by the media office of Al-Siniora following his meeting with the French, US, British and Chinese amabssadors, in addition to the Russian charge d'affaires and the Personal Representative of the UN Secretary General for Lebanon Geir O. Pedersen.

The statement said that Al-Siniora informed the diplomats of the Israeli aggression which is targeting Lebanese people, infrastructure and institutions.

He affirmed his country's respect of the blue line and the international resolutions.

For his part, the British Ambassador to Lebanon told reporters that his country condemned yesterday the hostile actions of Hezbollah against Israel, saying that this would only further deteriorate conditions, which is not for the welfare of anyone.

He called for taking adequate measures to immediately resolve the situation through a safe channel and urged Israel to also take well studied steps. Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source said that the Israeli artillery shelled the southern and eastern outlets of Eita Al-Shaab village, causing it to be completely isolated.

The source told KUNA that the outlets of the village, which were used by Hezbollah to move the the two captured Israeli soldiers, are being heavily attacked.

The source added that other areas in the south are being shelled while Israeli ships positioned along the Lebanese shore are also opening fire.

Furthermore, a security source told KUNA that Al-Khardali Bridge that links the southern city of Al-Nabatiya city with Hasbiya has been bombarded by several Israeli missiles, bringing up the number of bridges demolished by Israeli forces to 12 so far.

A total of 38 people were killed and 52 others were injured since Wednesday in Israeli attacks on Lebanon that also led to the shut down of the airport and the close down of major bridges feeding into Beirut from the south.

Lebanese PM calls for pressuring Israel

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Israel warns Beirut civilians
From: Reuters
From correspondents in Beirut

July 14, 2006
 

ISRAELI warplanes dropped thousands of leaflets in Hizbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburb today, urging residents to stay away from the group's offices and buildings, witnesses said.


"For your own safety and because of our desire not to harm any civilians who are not involved (with Hezbollah), you should refrain from staying in areas where Hezbollah is present and operating," said the Arabic-language leaflets, signed "The State of Israel".

Israel warns Beirut civilians

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Free Israeli soldiers, world tells Hezbollah
Published: Thursday, 13 July, 2006, 10:30 PM Doha Time

PARIS: World powers demanded yesterday the release of two Israeli soldiers snatched by Lebanese militia Hezbollah, fearing the crisis could careen out of control as Israeli forces mounted an offensive in Lebanon.

The US, UN, Russia, Britain, Japan and the European Union condemned the kidnappings and Hezbollah rocket attacks against Israel, saying they had dangerously escalated Middle East tensions.

“I condemn without hesitation the attack that took place in southern Lebanon and demand that the Israeli soldiers be released immediately,” UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters in Rome.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also denounced the kidnapping, saying Hezbollah’s action “undermines regional stability and goes against the interests of both the Israeli and Lebanese people.”

Rice discussed the situation with Annan, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, according to a statement released upon her arrival in Paris.

“We are united in determination to achieve the release of the Israeli soldiers,” she said.

Her deputy for Middle Eastern affairs, David Welch, in Cairo for talks with the Arab League, added: “This is, in the judgement of the US, a very dangerous escalation.

“We do not see how this will contribute to our effort to resolve the crisis in Gaza and to get back on a path toward a more peaceful relationship between Israel and the Palestinians.”

But as Western allies and Japan condemned the violence, Syria and Iran, the main backers of the Shia militia Hezbollah, both blamed Israel for the clash.

And Palestinian party Hamas congratulated Hezbollah on the operation.

Hamas, whose armed wing claimed joint responsibility for the capture of another Israeli soldier more than two weeks ago, said in a statement that the snatch of Israeli hostages “shows the weakness of the Israeli army which boasts that it is an invincible army”.

And the leader of Egypt’s opposition Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Mehdi Akef, said Hezbollah had “achieved what several Arab governments have not” by capturing the soldiers on the Lebanese border.

Outside the region, governments and power blocs united in pressing Hezbollah to free the captives, but most also called on Israel to show a measured response so as to pull back from the brink of even fiercer clashes.

“Hezbollah’s actions will further escalate an already tense situation in the region. A further escalation is in no one’s interest,” British junior foreign minister Kim Howells said.

Free Israeli soldiers, world tells Hezbollah

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Syrian Women Protest Israeli Offensive in Lebanon and Palestine
Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 10:05 PM

DAMASCUS, (SANA)

Hundreds of Syrian women and representatives of Arab women organizations as well as some expatriates in the US and Sweden staged a sit-in before the UN HQ in Damascus protesting the Israeli offensive on the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples.

Chairwoman of the Women General Union Suad Bakkor handed over a letter to the UN Resident Representative in Damascus Ali Zaatari directed to the UN Chief Kofi Annan in which women urged him to immediately interfere and stop the Israeli aggression and the destructive war on the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples.

The letter underlined women support to the peoples in Palestine and Lebanon in the face of the Israeli occupation till liberating the occupied Arab territories.

Syrian Women Protest Israeli Offensive in Lebanon and Palestine

[Shammu]

Arab readers: Hit Hizbullah

Arab readers of Foreign Ministry website encourage Israel to use tough military action against Hizbullah, Hamas; 'Arabs understand language of force only,' one reader writes
Roee Nahmias

An unexpected source sent messages calling on Israel to hit Hizbullah harshly.

Officials in the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, where an Arabic language internet website is being operated, were surprised to read comments by two surfers calling on Israel to use tough military action against Hizbullah and Hamas.

"If Israel doesn't take very very tough offensive actions against this terror, it will open the doors of hell on herself," a reader wrote.

"Arabs understand only the language of force. If they feel Israel is weak they will carry on until it is completely destroyed. That's how they think. What is stopping them is your force and if this thinking evaporates, even if only in their minds, Israel would heavy prices in civilians and casualties. Israel has to be strong until peace is achieved with these terrorists," an anonymous Arab reader wrote.

A British surfer who called himself Said chose to turn directly to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: "Mr Olmert, I do not support wars and I am never happy to see Israel loosing soldiers and this in order to protect the unsolved of Arabs. But, I believe the State of Israel faces an excellent opportunity to assassinate the extreme Hamas and Hizbullah leadership, which are linked to Syria and Iran who are isolated by the international community."

'Arab regimes are unable to face fundamentalist groups'

"Both these groups, who represent an Islamic and reactionary ideology, work together, each with its futuristic views, and also with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, in order to disperse their backward ideas among Arab citizens. They are spreading a culture of hate among the young, which sent the Middle East 200 years back," he wrote.

The British reader added that he has been trying to contact an Israeli government officials, especially the prime minister, to offer them advice because he is convinced that the only way to live in peace in the Middle East is to use harsh military actions against terror groups.

"The last couple of years have proved that Arab regimes are unable to face these fundamentalist groups. I believe this is the interest of the Israeli people and Arab peoples to take the lead. Like a tree, Israel is acting to achieve this aim and this is for peace before anything else," he wrote.

Arab readers: Hit Hizbullah

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Israel fears transfer of kidnapped troops to Iran

Senior Foreign Ministry official says government has ‘specific information’ that Hizbullah plans to transfer abducted IDF soldiers to Iran. ‘Consequently, Israel views Hamas, Hizbullah, Syria and Iran as primary elements in the axis of terror and hate threatening not only Israel but the entire world,’ he says. Tehran denies involvement in plan
AFP

Senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir said the government had "specific information" that Hizbullah planned to transfer the kidnapped IDF soldiers to Iran - an allegation swiftly denied by Tehran.

"Consequently, Israel views Hamas, Hizbullah, Syria and Iran as primary elements in the axis of terror and hate threatening not only Israel but the entire world," Meir said.

The official maintained Hizbullah would not be able to operate in Lebanon "without clear Syrian sponsorship" and branded Iran the "main benefactor" of the fundamentalist Shiite movement.

Last month, Israeli warplanes flew over one of the palaces of Syrian President Bashar Assad in a stark warning to the Damascus regime. The Israeli government has also threatened to kill Hamas leaders based in Syria.

Meir said Israel had been in "intensive" contact with foreign governments to ensure Iran and Syria "understand that the price that they'll pay internationally for their support of terrorism will be unbearably high."

'Israel locked in a crisis'

Hamas and Hizbullah, with their Islamist ideology, were locked in an "an international effort to wage holy war against the infidel," he added.

Meir also pointed the finger at Khaled Mashaal, the politburo chief of Hamas who is based in Damascus, accusing him of commanding militants inside the Palestinian territories.

"Iran has also made considerable inroads of influence into Palestinian terrorist organizations," Meir said.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi "categorically denied" any involvement in an alleged plan to transfer into Iran the two Israeli soldiers.

"Israel is locked in a crisis it has itself created," Asefi told AFP.

Israel fears transfer of kidnapped troops to Iran

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 Bush defends Israel's attacks in Lebanon, parting ways with key allies

TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

July 13, 2006 12:12 PM

STRALSUND, Germany (AP) - President Bush strongly defended Israel's attacks in Lebanon on Thursday but worried they could weaken or topple the fragile government in Beirut. The Mideast violence exposed divisions between the United States and allies and raised fears of a widening war.

''Israel has a right to defend herself,'' Bush said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. ''Every nation must defend herself against terrorist attacks and the killing of innocent life.''

Merkel appealed for restraint by all sides and said it was up to the militant group Hezbollah to defuse the situation, triggered by its cross-border raid from Lebanon into Israel and the capture of two Israeli soldiers. She called the violence a ''very disturbing situation'' that ''fills us with concern.''

The Mideast eruption came at an awkward time for Bush. His strong support of Israel put him sharply at odds with European Union allies two days before a summit of world leaders in Russia, where the United States is counting on a united stand against Iran's nuclear ambitions and North Korea's long-range missile test. The violence also presents Bush with yet another major crisis in the Middle East, along with the Iraq war and the Iran standoff.

Bush was welcomed to Merkel's home district in what once was communist East Germany with a ceremonial barrel of pickled herring, a Baltic delicacy. Later at dinner, he cut several slices from the rib area of one of three wild boars that turned slowly on spits when he arrived for a barbecue in nearby Trinwillershagen.

Anti-Bush demonstrators were kept far away, but one protester from the Greenpeace environmental group managed to climb high in the clock tower of St. Nicholas Church overlooking Old Market Square where the president was welcomed. The protester displayed a yellow ''No War, No Nukes, No Bush'' banner from a window but it was gone by the time Bush appeared minutes later.

With Iran delaying its answer on a Western offer of incentives to shelve its nuclear program, Bush said he wanted the summit to send Tehran a message ''loud and clear: We're not kidding, it's a serious issue, the world is united in insisting that you not have a nuclear weapons program.''

But Bush and Merkel said it was not too late for Iran to avoid possible penalties as the U.N. Security Council prepares to take up its case. ''They can show us any time and say, wait a minute, now we'd like to go back and negotiate,'' Bush said. Merkel said: ''The door has not been closed.''

Among allies, there was disagreement with Bush about Israel's attacks, which included air strikes on Beirut's airport and two Lebanese army air bases near the Syrian border. The European Union criticized Israel for using ''disproportionate'' force and said Israel's naval blockade of supply routes to Lebanon was unjustified.

In Paris, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said the Israeli air campaign - its heaviest against Lebanon in 24 years - could ''plunge Lebanon back into the worst years of the war with the flight of thousands of Lebanese who ... were in the process of rebuilding their country.''

Bush, at the news conference, voiced fears about the survival of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's government. ''The concern is that any activities by Israel to protect herself will weaken that government ... or topple that government. And we've made it clear in our discussions.

''Having said all that,'' Bush continued, ''people need to protect themselves. There are terrorists who will blow up innocent people in order to achieve tactical objectives.''

Merkel called on all parties to use ''proportionate means'' but said, ''I am not at all for sort of blurring the lines between the root causes and the consequences of an action. There has to be a good reaction now, not from the Israeli government but from those who started these attacks in the first place.''

Bush arrives in Moscow on Friday and will have dinner with President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders also will meet Saturday before the opening of the eight-nation summit of industrial powers.

Bush and Merkel said they would raise concerns with Putin that Russia is backsliding on democracy and human rights. But the president laughed off Putin's slap at Vice President Dick Cheney for his criticism of Russia's behavior. Putin, in an interview broadcast Wednesday, called Cheney's remark ''an unsuccessful hunting shot'' - referring to Cheney's accidental wounding of a hunting companion in February.

''It was pretty clever,'' Bush said of Putin. ''It was quite humorous - not to diss my friend the vice president.''

Bush said he would be firm but respectful with Putin, recognizing that ''nobody likes to be lectured a lot. ... I may not tell you exactly what I talked to him about in private,'' the president said.

Merkel said she would press Putin to ratify an energy charter that would require Russia to open its export pipeline network and other energy assets to foreign investment. Russia startled Europe last winter when a dispute with Ukraine over natural gas prices resulted in a temporary reduction of Russian natural gas deliveries to Europe.

Like Bush, Merkel said she would not publicly chastise Putin. ''We ought to have an open, confidential dialogue,'' she said. ''We should not sort of speak loudly and in public about certain issues.''

Bush defends Israel's attacks in Lebanon, parting ways with key allies

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 Mottaki condemns attacks of Zionists on Gaza, Lebanon
Tehran, July 13, IRNA

Iran-FM-Zionists
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here Thursday condemned the recent attacks of the Zionist regime on Gaza Strip and bombardment of some areas in Lebanon.

Speaking to domestic and foreign reporters, he called on the international bodies to take urgent measures to stop such aggression.

Turning to the approach of the Zionist regime to the Palestinian and Lebanese hostages detained after the attacks, he said that once the continuous attempts of Palestine and Lebanon to release their hostages fail, there will be not option expect retaliation.

The minister referred to the aggressive moves of the Zionist regime in Gaza and Lebanon as an obvious sign of endangering international peace and security.

2326/1412
after the
meeting, he said that Iran's approach to the issue is quite clear.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, currently on a four-day visit to East Azarbaijan province, said in his speech delivered at a gathering of people in the provincial capital of Tabriz that Iran should take action according to law.

The president urged that if the other side involved in the issue remains committed to the relevant rules and regulations, Iran will also comply with them.

Mottaki stressed that Iran is seeking tranquility and stability and hoped that Iran's negotiators will have a similar approach and avoid any measure resulting in pessimism, just as Iran does.

Concerning the outcome of assessment of the package of incentives received from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (5+1), he said, "Assessment of such an important issue requires thinking and time. Meanwhile, a hasty decision will result in great loss for all the parties.

"For the time being, with such an approach we welcome the preliminary comments of the negotiators involved in the issue and hope to hear their more comprehensive and proper response within a few days."
The minister said that once a matter gets solved by approaching its various dimensions, all parties will benefit from it, adding that on the contrary failure in solving it will bring about a great loss.

"Therefore, attempts should be made to hold talks on the issue -- which is being assessed by both sides -- to come up with a solution," he added.

Mottaki underlined that Iran is reluctant to talk about the `empty half of a glass of water' and hoped that the process of negotiations will not end up in debating any possible losses.

Mottaki condemns attacks of Zionists on Gaza, Lebanon

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 EU Presidency says Israeli blockade of Lebanon against Int'l law
Brussels, July 13, IRNA

EU Presidency-Israel
Finland, which holds the current Presidency of the European Union, said Thursday that it "is greatly concerned about the disproportionate use of force by Israel in Lebanon." The EU Presidency in a statement deplored the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

"The imposition of an air and sea blockade on Lebanon cannot be justified. Actions, which are contrary to international humanitarian law, can only aggravate the vicious circle of violence and retribution, and cannot serve anyone's legitimate security interests," noted the statement.

It urged Hezbollah to release the captured Israeli soldiers "immediately and unconditionally, and to cease all attacks on Israel."
The EU Presidency also called on the government of Lebanon to do its utmost to prevent such attacks and urged all countries in the region to work for the restoration of calm in order to avoid the further escalation of the situation into war.

EU Presidency says Israeli blockade of Lebanon against Int'l law

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 Israeli attack on Lebanon aimed at igniting Mideast war: German MP
Berlin, July 13, IRNA

Germany-Israel-MP
Israel's latest act of military aggression in Lebanon is aimed at igniting a new war in the Middle East region, DPA quoted on Thursday a lawmaker of Germany's Left Party (Die Linke).

"Israel continues to escalate with its offensive in Lebanon and is kindling a new war in the Mideast," said Wolfgang Gehrcke.

The radical leftist legislator called on the UN to stop the Israeli aggression.

Gehrcke stressed that only the US and Europe could create the conditions for such a UN move.

Israel's ruthless and brutal killing of civilians in the Palestinian-run territories and Lebanon has sparked international outrage and condemnation.

Israeli attack on Lebanon aimed at igniting Mideast war: German MP

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Iran supports Lebanese people against Zionist regime
Tehran, July 13, IRNA

Iran-Nuclear-Larijani
Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani here Thursday condemned the attacks of the Zionist regime on Lebanon and said that Iran will stand beside the Lebanese people in their resistance to the Zionists.

Larijani made the remark while speaking to media upon arrival at Tehran airport from his tour of several European states.

Talking to domestic and foreign reporters, he said that the actions of Israel in recent days show that the Zionist regime intends to change the regional conditions to enable it to exert pressure on the Palestinian government.

Such violent moves by the Zionist regime launched at a center resided by civilians in Gaza and Lebanon show that their goal is to promote insecurity.

Larijani urged that these measures are against the interests of the Zionist regime, given that they will motivate further resistance in the region.

The SNSC secretary declared the readiness of Iran's government to participate in the reconstruction of Lebanon's infrastructural installations, which have recently been destroyed by the Zionist forces.

Over the past 24 hours, Israeli air and ground forces bombarded various locations in Lebanon, including Beirut International Airport as well as several bridges and power stations. About 60 Lebanese were killed and more than 70 wounded in the attacks.

Iran supports Lebanese people against Zionist regime

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Chinese FM talks with Lebanese PM on Middle East situation via phone
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Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held a phone conversation with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Thursday, exchanging views on the situation at the border between Israel and Palestine.

Li urged all parties concerned to keep restraint to avoid further deterioration of the situation, expressing his close attention to and deep concern over the situation.

Siniora asked Li to convey his greetings to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Li said he will and also expressed thanks to Siniora.

Chinese FM talks with Lebanese PM on Middle East situation via phone

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US Vetoes UNSC Resolution On Violence In Gaza
Friday, 14 July 2006, 11:57 am
Press Release: United Nations
US Vetoes Security Council Resolution On Violence In Gaza
New York, Jul 13 2006 6:00PM

The United Nations Security Council failed today to adopt a draft resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza and for a halt to what it called a “disproportionate” military reaction by Israel, due to a veto by the United States, which called the text unbalanced and outdated.

Denmark, Peru, Slovakia and United Kingdom abstained from voting on the draft, which also called for the release of all Palestinian officials detained by Israel and called on the Palestinian Authority to take “immediate and sustained” action to bring and end the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel.

The text would have explicitly condemned Israel’s current “military assault” in Gaza, which, it said, “has caused the killing and injury of dozens of Palestinian civilians” and destroyed Gaza’s main power station.

In addition, the draft called on the international community to provide emergency assistance to the Palestinian people to help alleviate the dire humanitarian situation, and on the Israeli Government to restore and maintain the continuous and uninterrupted supply of fuel to Gaza, and to “act expeditiously” to replace destroyed equipment at the power plant.

Explaining Washington’s negative vote, Ambassador John Bolton of the United States said the text did not reflect important new developments, including the fact that the Secretary-General is sending a team to the region.

Calling the draft “unbalanced,” Ambassador Bolton said it “placed demands on one side of the Middle East conflict but not the other.” If adopted, the text would have exacerbated tensions in the region while undermining the vision of a two-State solution as well as the credibility of the Security Council itself, he said, adding that the United States had worked to achieve a more balanced text, one which acknowledged that Israeli actions came in response to attacks, but no agreement had been reached.

US Vetoes UNSC Resolution On Violence In Gaza

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Israel targets main road to Syria

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Israeli warplanes have struck the highway linking Beirut to the Syrian capital of Damascus.

Fighter jets attacked a highway section in the mountains of central Lebanon. But Lebanese security officials say it's an old road extension, and the bridge on the nearby main highway remains intact. Another airstrike has apparently targeted the main bridge's exit.

Authorities say as a precautionary measure they're turning back motorists, who will now have to take long detours through other winding mountain roads.

The highway, which climbs up from Beirut, winds through the mountains before descending into the Bekaa Valley and into Syria. It's one of Lebanon's only links with the outside world since Israeli forces have imposed a sea, air and land blockade of Lebanon.

Israel targets main road to Syria

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Don't attack Syria, Iran warns Israel

From correspondents in Tehran

July 14, 2006

IRANIAN President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today an Israeli strike on Syria would be considered an attack on the whole Islamic world that would bring a "fierce response", state television reported.

"If the Zionist regime commits another stupid move and attacks Syria, this will be considered like attacking the whole Islamic world and this regime will receive a very fierce response," Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in a telephone conversation with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The president made the comments after Israel struck Beirut airport and military airbases and blockaded Lebanese ports in reprisals that have killed 55 civilians in Lebanon since Hezbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers a day earlier.

"He (Ahmadinejad) also said it was a must for the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to become more active regarding the new crisis created by the Zionist regime," state television reported.

Iran's Islamic government has never recognised Israel and routinely refers to the Jewish state as the "Zionist regime".

Iran has close ties with Syria, and with Hezbollah.

Don't attack Syria, Iran warns Israel