Israel, the mid-east, and Russia - Part 2

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An Embodiment of Iran’s Long Shadow: Missiles for Hezbollah
By ELAINE SCIOLINO

PARIS, July 18 — Iran’s support for Hezbollah’s actions against Israel seems to have a twofold purpose: to deflect attention from Tehran’s impasse with the United States and five other nations over its nuclear program, and to further position itself as a powerful regional player.

“The Iranians are gambling that there won’t be a military attack against them,” said one senior European official who spoke on condition of anonymity, under diplomatic rules. “Iran is trying to say, ‘Nothing is possible without me.’ And for the moment, the nuclear issue is forgotten.”

Indeed, action on a resolution at the United Nations Security Council critical of Iran for failing to suspend its uranium enrichment activities is essentially is on hold because of the crisis in the Middle East.

Iran’s language is no harsher than past statements by its leaders against Israel, and the approach may fail miserably if Israel crushes Hezbollah. But Iran’s unconditional defense of the militia has convinced the United States and many European and Arab governments that Iran is fueling the crisis to project power — whether or not Iran directly inspired or approved Hezbollah’s actions against Israel in the first place.

On Tuesday, Iran made new threats against Israel. At a government-sanctioned demonstration in Tehran, Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, the speaker of Parliament, warned, “Israel’s northern cities are within the range of Hezbollah’s missiles, and no part of Israel will be safe.”

The crowd of nearly 2,000 demonstrators replied with chants of “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

As part of the drama of the day, demonstrators read a statement asking the government to help them join Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, Iran’s state-run television reported.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s spiritual leader and the country’s most powerful figure, said in a speech on Sunday that Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories proved how “the presence of Zionists in the region is a satanic and cancerous presence and an infected tumor for the entire world of Islam.”

As President Bush and other world leaders struggled at a summit meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, to devise a plan to stop Hezbollah, Ayatollah Khamenei predicted it would fail. “The American president says Hezbollah should be disarmed,” he said in remarks carried on television, “but it will not happen.”

Even Iran’s former president, Mohammad Khatami, who used his eight-year presidency to try to moderate Iran’s foreign policy, likened Hezbollah to “a shining sun that illuminates and warms the hearts of all Muslims and supporters of freedom in the world.”

In a letter to Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, on Sunday, Mr. Khatami, who heads the Institute for Dialogue among Civilizations and Cultures here, called the “Zionists’ shocking atrocities in Palestine and Lebanon” a sign of “their violent nature.”

Still, it was noteworthy that Mr. Khatami also implicitly urged restraint, warning of “the spread of catastrophe and scale of destruction in Palestine and Lebanon.”

Underscoring the heightened sense of Iran as a dangerous regional player, Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain accused Iran on Tuesday of supporting Hezbollah with weapons that are “very similar if not identical to those used against British troops in Basra,” in Iraq. Mr. Blair also accused Syria of supporting Iran “in many different ways” and both countries of providing financial support.

Israel, the United States, the Europeans and many Arab states have long claimed that Hezbollah receives its weaponry from Iran, an assertion that many Iranian officials admit in private is true. The most significant recent change in Iranian support for Hezbollah is its transfer of longer-range rockets that can be fired into major Israeli cities, according to an analysis by Anthony H. Cordesman, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

But officially, Iran denies providing Hezbollah with weaponry — denials that contribute to distrust of Iran by the outside world.

Asked Sunday about Israel’s claim that Iran supplied Hezbollah with missiles, Hamid-Reza Asefi, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Iran offers Lebanon and Syria “spiritual and humanitarian support.” He added: “It is not true that we have sent missiles. Hezbollah is capable enough.”

Even so, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ratcheted up the threats by pledging to support Syria if it comes under attack by Israel.

“If Israel commits another act of idiocy and attacks Syria, this will be the same as an aggression against the entire Islamic world and it will receive a stinging response,” Mr. Ahmadinejad was quoted by state-run television as telling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a telephone conversation last Thursday.

Both Iran and Syria have praised Hezbollah’s crossover into northern Israel and its capture of two Israeli soldiers, the event that set off the Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

Despite its heated oratory, Iran seems to be trying to position itself for a potential role in resolving the crisis over Lebanon. In Damascus on Monday, Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said a cease-fire and an exchange of prisoners would be a possible way forward in the Israeli-Lebanese conflict.

Speaking after a meeting with Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, Mr. Mottaki said there should be an “acceptable and fair” resolution, adding, “In fact, there can be a cease-fire followed by a prisoner swap.”

Even some of the most seasoned analysts of Iran’s backing for Hezbollah are restrained in their conclusions of Iran’s role in the recent crisis. “Iran will certainly benefit from Hezbollah strikes,” Mr. Cordesman wrote in his analysis. But, he added, “Until there are hard facts, Iran’s role in all this is a matter of speculation, and conspiracy theories are not facts or news.”

An Embodiment of Iran’s Long Shadow: Missiles for Hezbollah

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Canada's opposition parties demand PM to reconsider pro-Israeli rhetoric

Canada's opposition parties are demanding that Prime Minister Stephen Harper reconsider his pro-Israeli remarks, warning that Ottawa's strong support of Israel's actions against Hezbollah could damage Canada's credibility as a future peacemaker in the region.

"We strongly urge the prime minister to reconsider some of his rhetoric and his language," interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham said in Vancouver on Tuesday.

Harper sided firmly with Israel since it began military air strikes against the Lebanese-based Hezbollah militant organization seven days ago.

He has called Israel's response "measured," saying the Jewish state had a right to defend itself. He called on Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to release Israeli prisoners and recognize Israel's right to exist.

Harper's public support for one side was a change to traditional Canadian foreign policy and would make it difficult for Canada to play the role of an international peace broker, both Graham and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton pointed out.

It was a Canadian tradition to work in the Middle East for long-term peace by being able to work with all sides of the conflict. Canada had to retain credibility among all sides in the region if it was to participate in a future stabilization force, Graham said.

"Canadians want their government to offer a balanced response to the crisis. Canadians want us to help everyone in the region come together," he said.

Harper has also voiced opposition to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and British Prime Minister Tony Blair's call for an international security force in the Israel-Lebanon border, saying it was too early to send in such a force.

NDP leader Layton dismissed Harper's position, saying Canada should call for an immediate ceasefire and quickly commit to a role in a future peacekeeping force.

Harper's statement had "changed Canada's role as a neutral country," said Layton at a news conference on Tuesday in Ottawa.

Canada's opposition parties demand PM to reconsider pro-Israeli rhetoric

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Palestinians shoot anti-tank missiles at IDF forces in Gaza; no injuries

Armed Palestinians shot two anti-tank missiles at an IDF vehicle operating within the framework of Operation Upper Star in the center of the Gaza Strip.  There are no injuries and no damage was caused.

In a joint operation of the air force and soldiers of the Southern Command, IDF attacked five armed Palestinians.  Their condition is still unclear.

Palestinians shoot anti-tank missiles at IDF forces in Gaza; no injuries

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Timeline of Mideast crisis

Wednesday July 19, 2006 06:51 - (SA)

BEIRUT - Here follows key developments in the crisis between Israel, the Palestinians and Lebanon.

Sunday, June 25: Palestinians attack an army post on the Israel-Gaza border, killing two soldiers and capturing a third. Israel starts to mass forces around Gaza, from which it withdrew in September 2005.

Monday, June 26: Three Palestinian groups - the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the armed wing of the ruling Hamas movement and the Army of Islam - claim they captured 19-year-old Gilad Shalit. They demand Israel free detained women and minors.

Tuesday, June 27: Hamas, which dominates the Palestinian government, signs an agreement aimed at ending bitter internal conflict and which implicitly recognises Israel's existence. Israeli aircraft destroy key bridges in the Gaza Strip and knock out its sole power station.

Wednesday, June 28: Israeli ground forces enter southern Gaza. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will use "extreme measures" to rescue Shalit. Washington says Israel has the right to defend itself. Israeli aircraft overfly Syria, home to several Hamas leaders.

Thursday, June 29: Israel detains scores of Hamas members, including one third of the Palestinian cabinet. The international community steps up calls for restraint. Olmert suspends a ground offensive expected in northern Gaza as Cairo tries to mediate.

Friday, June 30: Israeli fighter jets blitz Gaza, setting the interior ministry ablaze. Prime minister Ismail Haniya vows his government will not fall and insists it is working to free Shalit.

Saturday, July 1: Israel rejects Palestinian demands to free 1,000 prisoners as it pounds Gaza. Shalit is said to have been treated for three bullet wounds.

Sunday, July 2: Israel hits Haniya's Gaza office as Olmert warns his forces will use all their power to free Shalit.

Monday, July 3: Israel sends troops and armour into northern Gaza after a series of air raids. One Palestinian militant is killed. Shalit's captors give a 24-hour deadline for Israel to free Palestinian prisoners. Israel rejects the ultimatum.

Tuesday, July 4: An Israeli air raid kills a Hamas activist in northern Gaza while troops advance into the area. Israel says Shalit is still alive, while his captors say they will not kill him. Olmert orders the offensive to continue, ruling out negotiations. Hamas militants fire a rocket into the southern Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon, causing no casualties.

Wednesday, July 5: Israeli warplanes strike the interior ministry in Gaza City again. Militants fire a second rocket at Ashkelon.

Thursday, July 6: Twenty-two Palestinian civilians and militants killed in Gaza as Israel re-occupies areas evacuated 10 months ago. An Israeli soldier is also killed. Two 16-year-old Palestinians are killed in Israeli raid on West Bank town of Jenin.

United Nations (UN) Security Council debates draft resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of detained Palestinian officials, but the US calls it "unbalanced".

Friday, July 7: Israeli air raid on northern Gaza kills an armed Palestinian. Another two Palestinians are killed by ground forces.

Saturday, July 8: Israeli forces advance toward Gaza City, killing four Palestinians, but other units pull back from northern Gaza. Haniya calls for a mutual ceasefire.

Sunday, July 9: More Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Death toll rises to 41 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier.

Monday, July 10: Exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal says Shalit will not be freed without prisoner swap, but pledges he will be protected. Israel says some Palestinian prisoners could be released, but only after the safe return of Shalit.
Nine Palestinians are killed in Gaza.

Tuesday, July 11: Israeli air strikes batter Gaza. At least 52 Palestinians have been killed since Israeli operation began.

Wednesday, July 12: Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers and kills eight, prompting first Israeli ground operation into Lebanon since its 2000 pullout. Nine members of one family are killed as an Israeli jet bombs a Gaza house. In deadliest day in Gaza since the assault began, 23 Palestinians are killed by Israeli air strikes.

Thursday, July 13: Israeli warplanes bomb Beirut airport and kill at least 44 civilians in dozens of air strikes across Lebanon. Two Israelis are killed and more than 35 wounded by rockets fired by Hezbollah. Israeli jets bomb the Palestinian foreign ministry in Gaza. Some 75 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive since July 5.

Russia, France, Britain and Italy criticise "disproportionate" use of force by Israel. US blames "terrorists who want to stop the advance of peace". Israel calls Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran "primary elements in the axis of terror". US vetoes UN resolution calling on Israel to halt military operations in Gaza. Israel withdraws ground troops from centre of Gaza.

Friday, July 14: Israel bombs Beirut home of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. He declares "open war" on Israel. Israel sets three conditions for end to the offensive: a halt to rocket attacks, release of its soldiers, and implementation by Lebanon of UN resolution calling for Hezbollah's disarmament.

Israel bombards Beirut airport, the Beirut-Damascus highway, bridges and Hezbollah HQ. Five people killed by Israeli assaults, raising Lebanese death toll to 62. Two Israelis killed by rocket fire from Lebanon.

Saturday, July 15: Hezbollah attacks Israeli warship. Israel recovers the body of one of four missing sailors, bringing Israeli servicemen toll since Wednesday to nine dead.

Eighteen civilians are burnt alive by Israeli helicopter attack. Another seven killed in other raids, bringing toll in Lebanon to at least 87. Israel destroys Hezbollah's headquarters. More rockets hit northern Israel, including Galilee town of Tiberias. Israeli helicopters kill two Palestinians in Gaza.

Sunday, July 16: Eight Israelis are killed by Hezbollah rocket attack in Haifa, Israel's third largest city. Israel finds the remains of three missing sailors. Four Palestinians are killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. Several more civilians are killed by Israeli air strikes Lebanon, bringing the overall toll since the onslaught began to 106. Syria warns it will respond directly and by all means necessary to any Israeli attack on its territory.

Monday, July 17: Forty-three Lebanese are killed in Israeli strikes, pushing the overall death toll in Lebanon from the Israeli offensive to more than 200. Israel bombs the foreign ministry in Gaza for the second time, demolishing the building. Two Palestinians are killed by Israeli military fire.

Six Israelis are wounded by rocket fire in northern Israel. Hezbollah rejects Israeli terms for a ceasefire. Annan calls for an end to hostilities and suggests a UN "stabilisation force" along the Lebanon-Israel border. The UN Security Council fails to agree on an international call for a ceasefire

Tuesday, July 18: Fifteen people, most of them soldiers, are killed in Lebanon as Israel pushed into its seventh day of attacks.
Combat jets bombard the Beirut-Damascus highway, cutting off the main land route used by people trying to flee.

Helicopters, ferries and cruise liners are commandeered to retrieve foreign nationals trapped in the fighting, in one of the biggest evacuations since World War II.

A UN team was in Jerusalem on the latest leg of a mission to try to work out a truce. Israel says it has not ruled out a massive ground offensive on Lebanon to crush Hezbollah.

Timeline of Mideast crisis

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France Runs Ideas For Possible UN Resolution On Conflict

UNITED NATIONS (AP)--France circulated suggestions Tuesday night that could be included in a U.N. resolution on the escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon including a cease-fire, condemnation of "extremist forces" that seek to destabilize the region, and the possibility of a new international force.

France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere had other ideas as well - calling for the release of the abducted Israeli soldiers, implementing a September 2004 resolution demanding the disarming and disbanding of all militias, and supporting Lebanese government efforts to assert authority in southern Lebanon which is a Hezbollah guerrilla stronghold.

Since fighting began a week ago, the U.N. Security Council has taken no action. Lebanon accused the United States on Saturday of blocking even a statement to the press calling for a cease-fire.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Washington wants to wait for briefings from a U.N. mission sent to the region to try to defuse the crisis. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also been talking to world leaders and joined British Prime Minister Tony Blair Monday in proposing a new stabilization force as the only way to get hostilities to stop.

Annan and the three-member U.N. team are returning to New York on Wednesday and de La Sabliere said the secretary-general would brief the Security Council on Thursday. It was unclear whether the mission, led by Annan's political adviser Vijay Nambiar, would also report to the council.

"France still believes that, at the appropriate moment, the council should adopt a substantial resolution for a sustainable solution to the crisis," de La Sabliere said in a statement.

He said the elements in the "non-paper" sent to Security Council members were "largely inspired" by the final communique of leaders of the Group of Eight major powers who met in St. Petersburg, Russia this weekend and asked the council to work out a plan that could lead to lasting peace between Lebanon and Israel.

Their joint message reflected a significant swing of support toward Israel's argument that it has been acting in self-defense against Hezbollah rocket attacks and abductions.

It called for release of the abducted Israeli soldiers, an end to the shelling of Israeli territory, a halt to Israeli military operations, and support for disarming Hezbollah and other militias. It expressed deepening concern at the rising civilian casualties on all sides and the damage to infrastructure, and backed a political dialogue between the Lebanese and the Israelis.

The G-8 leaders also asked the Security Council to examine "the possibility of an international security/monitoring presence" in Lebanon.

The French suggested that a resolution could express "extreme concern" at the escalation of hostilities and the deteriorating humanitarian situation and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, and call on all parties "to exercise utmost restraint" to avoid additional civilian casualties.

A key suggestion would call "for a comprehensive and lasting cease-fire" and the underlying causes of the conflict to be addressed.

The French also suggested that extremist forces be condemned for trying "to frustrate the aspiration of the Israeli and Lebanese people for democracy and peace," and warned not to plunge the Mideast into chaos and a wider conflict.

Another key element would express a readiness to examine additional measures that could prevent a resumption of hostilities, "including the possibility of a reinforced international security and monitoring presence."

Bolton said Tuesday the Security Council should not start talking about sending a new international force to southern Lebanon until it knows how the conflict is going to be resolved.

"I think it's the cart before the horse to talk about applying force before we know what the overall military or political resolution is like to be," he told reporters.

Bolton reiterated that in examining the possibility of a new force there are a range of questions to be answered.

The council would need to decide whether a new force would be empowered to disarm and demobilize Hezbollah, he said Monday. It would also need to decide if a force would have the power "to deal with countries like Syria and Iran that support Hezbollah."

Bolton's reluctance to sign on to the idea mirrored Israel's opposition to such a force.

Even as an international chorus for more immediate action mounts, Tel Aviv - with clear support from the Bush administration - has said it is opposed to any force other than the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon.

Bolton said council members also need to ask what would make a new multinational force different from the U.N. peacekeeping force that has been in southern Lebanon for 28 years, and whether a new force would strengthen the Lebanese armed forces so they could deploy throughout the country.

The 2,000-strong U.N. force known as UNIFIL monitors the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel, which is not an official border but was drawn by the United Nations to mark Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000. Its mandate is solely observation.

Bolton said the council should consider a multinational peacekeeping force like the one monitoring the 1979 Egypt-Israeli peace deal which led to Israel's withdrawal from Sinai rather than a new U.N. peacekeeping force. Ten countries have troops in the Sinai force, including the U.S. and France.

France Runs Ideas For Possible UN Resolution On Conflict 

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Hezbollah, humanitarian don't mix

Jul. 19, 2006 12:00 AM

A recent letter writer feels that the Israelis should tighten their northern border and have humanitarian talks with Hezbollah. It won't work.

The Israeli troops will just make more targets for the Hezbollah rockets, and Hezbollah terrorists will not respond to humanitarian talks or negotiations. Hezbollah must be dismantled and disarmed permanently, consistent with U.N. Resolution 1559.

Then, the Lebanese government should be assisted in rebuilding their country and protecting their own borders.

Hezbollah, humanitarian don't mix

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Israel's Endgame?

Timothy Naftali 46 minutes ago

Hezbollah is a nasty, unrepentant Islamicist organization that until 9/11 had more American blood on its hands than any terrorist group in the world. In April 1983, Hezbollah blew up the US embassy in Beirut, killing 17. In October of the same year, Hezbollah killed 241 Marines at the Beirut airport and in September 1984 a third bombing killed another 2 Americans and 21 Lebanese citizens. Hezbollah also killed Malcolm Kerr, the president of the American University of Beirut, and two of the Americans held hostage in Beirut, including the
CIA's William Buckley. In June 1985, Hezbollah killed Seaman Robert Stethem onboard TWA flight 847. The mastermind of most of this mayhem, Imad Mugniyah, is still at large. And unlike the Libyans who were similarly ghastly in the the 1980s, Hezbollah's leadership never atoned for these actions. Indeed Hezbollah continued to engage in international terrorism in the 1990s. in July 1994 nearly a hundred people died when Hezbollah blew up the Jewish Communist Center in Buenos Aires and two years later, 19 US military personnel were killed in the destruction of the Khobar towers complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Then it suspended its campaign of international terrorism and increasingly began to acquire some international legitimacy as a political resistance organization. It never stopped killing Israelis, however, even after
Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon.
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So, history provides ample reason for Americans to cheer on the destruction of Hezbollah's ability to make trouble. The problem is that history also suggests that trying to bomb terrorist organizations, however legitimate the rationale, does not usually make long-term strategic sense, especially when they have a political base. Hezbollah is as much an ideological and social movement as it is a mafia of hardened criminals. You can kill the inner circle with bombs, but how do you kill the idea and social networks that have unfortunately seduced many Lebanese Shi'ites. The catalyst for the creation of Hezbollah, which was a fusion of existing Islamicist groups, was Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. The Israeli army stayed until 2000 and was never able to destroy Hezbollah or through local proxies provide a successful political alternative to Hezbollah in the Muslim quarters of the capital, the Bekaa valley and in the south. The fact that Hezbollah was not a wholly autonomous movement surely complicated Israel's task. From the beginning the organization benefited from Iranian training, money and weapons, as well as from significant Syrian assistance. But the problem was that this terrorist group was linked to a genuine political movement among Lebanon's most unfortunate.

Israeli's current offensive so far involves air attacks on Hezbollah military depots and leadership centers as well as on the communications network that
Iran and
Syria use to resupply the organization. It has also produced the deaths of noncombatants. Israeli generals have said that Ehud Olmert's government assumes that it will have a week to do as much damage as it can before the pressure from the international community gets too heavy to resist. US policy, it appears, is to let Israel have as much time as is politically feasible.

One can be sympathetic to the goal of weakening Hezbollah without liking the current approach. What is the endgame? Let's say Israel stops attacking in a week (and resists the temptation to send troops back into southern Lebanon), then what? Hezbollah will probably stop its longer-range strikes on Haifa and wait some time, while it licks its wounds, before resuming small cross-border shelling. Meanwhile the genetically weak Lebanese government will emerge no stronger from this campaign and will have to rebuild its infrastructure and try to help the innocent victims. Will the two Israeli soldiers whose brazen kidnapping by Hezbollah started this mess be freed? As Hezbollah showed us in the 1980s and early 1990s, it is never in any hurry to hand over hostages that it knows someone considers valuable. Indeed what those years also showed was that Hezbollah can be so headstrong that even when both of its state sponsors tell it to stop engaging in terrorism (as Teheran and Damascus did briefly in the late 1980s when the US tried to bribe them), it can say no. Even if the Syrians decide they want to pretend to help us again this time,
President Bush's hope that young Assad might be able to bring Hezbollah to heel may be futile.

An Israeli reprisal, lasting a day or two, to hit Hezbollah rocket sites and send a message to its leadership made some sense after the kidnapping. The air campaign unfolding before our eyes, however, suggests an unrealistic strategy or none at all. Unless you kill all of them and the network that supplies them, bombing terrorists just makes them madder, helps their recruitment and makes them more likely to bomb you. What seems to be lacking is a political strategy: how to build a stronger Lebanese state and an international coalition (without the deployment of Western soldiers) to help it to disarm Hezbollah. Up to now, the West has been singularly inept at employing political tools in the struggle against Islamic extremism. It is so much easier to bomb.

Israel's Endgame?

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IDF tanks enter central Gaza; five troops hurt

Israeli tanks begin moving into Mughazi refugee camp early Wednesday under cover of machine gun fire from troops; incursion preceded by exchanges of fire between soldiers, Palestinian gunmen; five soldiers hurt from grenade
Associated Press

Israeli tanks began moving into the Mughazi refugee camp in central Gaza early Wednesday under cover of machine gun fire from troops.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that an operation was in progress.

The camp is near the Gaza-Israel fence across from the Palestinian town of Deir al-Balah. Israeli forces operated in the region late last week before withdrawing.

During the activity five soldiers were injured when a grenade was hurled at them; the forces returned fire, striking two terrorists.

Two of the soldiers sustained moderate wounds while the three others were lightly hurt in the incident; all of the injuries were caused by shrapnel, and the soldiers were evacuated to the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva.

Palestinian sources claimed five people were injured by IDF fire during the tanks’ entrance, and residents of the refugee camp claimed four children were lightly hurt when a tank opened fire on their home.

The incursion was preceded by several hours of tank movements on the Israeli side, as well as exchanges of fire between soldiers and Palestinian gunmen; one gunman was seriously wounded.

Israel began a large-scale operation in Gaza on June 28, three days after Hamas-lined gunmen tunneled under the border and attacked an Israeli army base at a Gaza crossing, killing two soldiers and capturing a third.

IDF tanks enter central Gaza; five troops hurt

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Bush: Terror attacks on Israel cause of instability

US president accuses Syria of trying to 'get back' into Lebanon by supporting Hizbullah, accuses Damascus and Iran of inspiring 'terror attacks' against Israel; later, US Senate adopts resolution condemning Hizbullah, Hamas, Syria and Iran. US Secretary of State Rice to visit region next week
News agencies

US president stands by Israel. US President George W. Bush accused Syria of trying to "get back" into Lebanon by supporting Hizbullah and accused Damascus and Iran of inspiring "terror attacks" against Israel.

Bush told reporters that the "root" cause of the conflict must be addressed.

"It can be addressed internationally by making it clear to Syria they've got to stop their support to Hizbullah," he said, during a meeting with lawmakers at the White House.

"Syria is trying to get back into Lebanon it looks like to me," he added.

"We passed United Nations resolution 1559 and finally this young democracy or this democracy became whole by getting Syria out. And there are suspicions that the instability created by the Hizbullah attacks will cause some in Lebanon to invite Syria back in."

Bush said the root cause of the instability was "terrorism and terrorist attacks on a democratic country," in apparent reference to Israel.

"Part of those terrorist attacks are inspired by nation-states like Syria and Iran. And in order to be able to deal with this crisis, the world must deal with Hizbullah, with Syria, and to continue to work to isolate Iran," he added.

On Tuesday night, the US Senate expressed its support of Israel by adopting a resolution condemning Hizbullah, Hamas, Syria and Iran.

"The Senate has spoken loud and clear: Israel has the right to defend itself against aggression. While I urge the Israeli government to act carefully, there should be no doubt as to where we stand in this conflict," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Meanwhile, Ynet has learned that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit the region at the beginning of next week. Sources in Washington told Ynet that her visit will not be aimed at forcing the sides into a ceasefire.

Rice calls for lasting Mideast ceasefire

According to the sources, Rice's visit will be aimed at expressing her solidarity with Israel and initiating initial contacts ahead of finding a solution to the problems in Lebanon: Implementing Resolution 1559 to dismantle the armed militias and looking into the possibility of placing an international force in south Lebanon that will be deployed together with the Lebanese army.

In her visit to the region Rice is set to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other Israeli officials, as well as with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Rice will also visit moderate Arab countries – Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia – and will meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Earlier Tuesday, Rice said any ceasefire in Mideast fighting ought to be based on fundamental changes that could lead to a lasting impact.

"We all want a cessation of violence. We all want the protection of civilians. We have to make certain that anything that we do is going to be of lasting value," Rice said.

But Rice said there should be a "conducive environment" for a ceasefire. That, she said, would involve implementation of a standing UN Security Council resolution and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the borders, as well as the introduction of a strong peacekeeping operation.

The Council resolution in 2004 led to withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon. But its call for disarming terror groups has not been heeded.

Rice, at a joint news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also indicated she would not be going to the troubled region immediately. She said she was primed to take the trip when it will be "helpful and necessary."

Rice's skepticism about trying to work out an immediate, makeshift ceasefire reflects views shared by the Israeli government in seeking fundamental changes to guard against another flare-up.

These include ensuring southern Lebanon does not remain a launching pad for attacks on Israel.

Gheit, for his part, did not qualify his support for a ceasefire. He said one was under discussion in diplomatic circles.

Snow: Hizbullah started this

Defending US efforts to quell the conflict, White House spokesman Tony Snow said it was up to Syria and Iran, Hizbullah's key supporters, to rein in the terror group.

Analysts have said Iran may be using its clout with Hizbullah to show it can hurt US allies and interests if Washington goes ahead with efforts to get UN sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program.

"Israel is proceeding in the manner it sees fit to defend itself and its territory," Snow told reporters. "We've got to remember who's responsible for this – Hizbullah. Hizbullah started this."

"And Iran and Syria, its backers, ought to be using their influence to get Hizbullah to stop firing rockets and return the soldiers," Snow added.

He pointed the finger at Syrian President Bashar Assad over the crises raging in Lebanon and Gaza.

"The president believes that at this point President Assad is not doing what he can to create stability, which would be to stop housing terrorist organizations and providing safe haven for them and permitting people to conduct terrorist operations or at least planning on his soil," he said.

Snow reiterated the US appeal for Israel to act with restraint, saying, "We lament the death of innocents, whether they be in Israel or in Lebanon or in Gaza or anywhere else."

But he signaled US resistance to pressuring Israel into an immediate cease-fire that would leave Hizbullah's rockets still within range of Israel's northern towns and cities.

"A cease-fire that would leave the status quo ante intact is absolutely unacceptable. A cease-fire that would leave intact a terrorist infrastructure is unacceptable," he said.

Snow said it was important to avoid further destabilization of Lebanon's fragile government but that it was too early to talk about sending a multinational security force to the Israel-Lebanon border.

Bush: Terror attacks on Israel cause of instability

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 Rift emerges between U.S. and EU over whether Israel should hold its fire

THOMAS WAGNER, Associated Press Writer

July 19, 2006 12:07 PM

JERUSALEM (AP) - A rift is emerging between the European Union and the United States over whether Israel should cease its offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Europeans fear mounting civilian casualties will play into the hands of militants and weaken Lebanon's democratically elected government. The Bush administration, while noting these concerns, is giving Israel a tacit green light to take the time it needs to neutralize the Shiite militant group.

The mixed message could help Israel in its mission to destroy Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Lebanon and stop the guerrillas' deadly rocket fire on Israel. But Islamic hard-liners and terrorist groups could be long-term winners, using the vivid television imagery of the death and destruction in Lebanon to win popularity and promote their jihads.

The United States, the country that holds the most sway with Israel, has said the Jewish state has the right to defend itself and that a ''meaningful'' cease-fire is needed - presumably one which includes the disarming of Hezbollah.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said the administration opposed a return to the situation before the outbreak of violence. ''A cease-fire that would leave intact a terrorist infrastructure is unacceptable,'' he said.

By contrast, the EU has called for a cease-fire now and said Israel's ''disproportionate'' use of force is not only threatening Lebanon's democratic government but providing the fuel that extremist groups such as Hezbollah need to win public support.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Wednesday, Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, condemned the July 12 Hezbollah raid that led to Israel's offensive and urged the guerrillas to immediately release the two soldiers they captured.

But he also called for a cease-fire and said diplomatic efforts to end the crisis should continue.

Asked if Israel's attacks in Lebanon were disproportionate, Solana said that if people think the offensive is causing ''more suffering on the people than is necessary in order to obtain an objective,'' it could make it harder win their ''hearts and minds'' in the ''battle against terrorists.''

However, Livni said Israel's offensive is not just a reaction to Hezbollah's raid, but a response to the broad threat of Hezbollah to Israel's security. From that perspective, she said, Israel's air strikes on Lebanon are proportionate.

Israel is betting that its campaign will deliver a decisive blow not only to Hezbollah, but to radical Islamic forces throughout the region. So far, though, the widespread Israeli air strikes appear to have only increased the credibility and popularity of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has discussed the crisis by telephone with Olmert and Solana. But Rice, who had been expected to visit the region this weekend, has refrained from setting a date - leading some to speculate that the U.S. wanted to give Israel more time to pursue its offensive.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's top overseas ally, joined the American president on Wednesday in insisting that Hezbollah free the soldiers and stop firing rockets at Israel before asking Israel to stop its offensive.

But other European nations backed Solana.

French President Jacques Chirac called the Mideast fighting a ''dramatic situation that deeply worries us.'' He urged Hezbollah to release the Israeli soldiers and to stop hitting Israel with missiles. But he also asked the Israelis to stop deadly bombings in Lebanon.

In Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov expressed concern that ''the war in the Middle East is escalating'' and tacitly criticized Israel's use of force, saying, ''It is particularly painful to witness the destruction of the civilian infrastructure of Lebanon.''

Rift emerges between U.S. and EU over whether Israel should hold its fire

[Shammu]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The Volcano of Rage of the Peoples in the Region is on the Brink of Eruption

Following are excerpts from an address given by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aired on the Iranian News Channel on July 18, 2006.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The final point of liberal civilization is the false and corrupt state that has occupied Jerusalem. That's the bottom line. That's what all those who talk about liberalism and support it have in common.

[…]

In my opinion, if we unmask the liberal order, and present it to humanity bare and without any mask, we will see that its role model is a bunch of shameless Zionists, perpetrating crimes in Palestine.

[…]

They should know that the volcano of rage of the peoples of the region is boiling.

[…]

I'm telling you… If this volcano erupts - and we are on the brink of eruption... and if this ocean rages, its waves will not be limited to the region.

The file containing 60 years of crimes committed by this regime is placed on the table of the peoples. Each and every one of them will be held accountable.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: The Volcano of Rage of the Peoples in the Region is on the Brink of Eruption

[Shammu]

Islamic Countries Should Supply Hizbullah with Weapons; Israeli Atomic Arsenals Are in Haifa

Following are excerpts from a speech given by Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami, which aired on Kerman TV on July 16, 2006.

Ahmad Khatami: The Islamic governments should know that if the Islamic resistance is defeated in this case, tomorrow it will be the turn of Syria, the day after tomorrow it will be the turn of Saudi Arabia, and then will come the turn of Egypt and Jordan.

The thing is... The thing is that the Israelis' slogan is "from the Nile to the Euphrates." The slogan means that they want to take Mecca, Al-Madina, and Islamic Iran - if they could. That's what it means. That's what it boils down to. Therefore... Therefore, it is not just about Lebanon, but about the Islamic world.

If Israel's horn is broken here, with the help of Allah, it will be humiliated and disgraced forever. But if this lunatic grows stronger, it will show no mercy for anyone.

In this recent affair, Egypt committed the greatest betrayal against Hamas. Following the Hamas victory, it became Israel's ally. But the ignorant Egyptian president should know that if Israel grows stronger, Egypt will have no security either.

Therefore... If the Islamic countries want Islam, they should help Hizbullah. Not with slogans... Things have gone beyond condemnation and so on. They should supply Hizbullah with weapons. They should help Hizbullah logistically, so it can operate.

[...]

If, Allah willing, this resistance goes on, and Hizbullah continues to make progress, the prediction of the disappearance of Israel will be fulfilled, Allah willing.

The Israelis are extremely sensitive about Haifa, because the Israeli atomic arsenals are situated in Haifa.


 

[Shammu]

Rift between U.S., EU emerges on Israel

THOMAS WAGNER
Associated Press

JERUSALEM - A rift is emerging between the European Union and the United States over whether Israel should cease its offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Europeans fear mounting civilian casualties will play into the hands of militants and weaken Lebanon's democratically elected government. The Bush administration, while noting these concerns, is giving Israel a tacit green light to take the time it needs to neutralize the Shiite militant group.

The mixed message could help Israel in its mission to destroy Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Lebanon and stop the guerrillas' deadly rocket fire on Israel. But Islamic hard-liners and terrorist groups could be long-term winners, using the vivid television imagery of the death and destruction in Lebanon to win popularity and promote their jihads.

The United States, the country that holds the most sway with Israel, has said the Jewish state has the right to defend itself and that a "meaningful" cease-fire is needed - presumably one which includes the disarming of Hezbollah.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said the administration opposed a return to the situation before the outbreak of violence. "A cease-fire that would leave intact a terrorist infrastructure is unacceptable," he said.

By contrast, the EU has called for a cease-fire now and said Israel's "disproportionate" use of force is not only threatening Lebanon's democratic government but providing the fuel that extremist groups such as Hezbollah need to win public support.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Wednesday, Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy chief, condemned the July 12 Hezbollah raid that led to Israel's offensive and urged the guerrillas to immediately release the two soldiers they captured.

But he also called for a cease-fire and said diplomatic efforts to end the crisis should continue.

Asked if Israel's attacks in Lebanon were disproportionate, Solana said that if people think the offensive is causing "more suffering on the people than is necessary in order to obtain an objective," it could make it harder win their "hearts and minds" in the "battle against terrorists."

However, Livni said Israel's offensive is not just a reaction to Hezbollah's raid, but a response to the broad threat of Hezbollah to Israel's security. From that perspective, she said, Israel's air strikes on Lebanon are proportionate.

Israel is betting that its campaign will deliver a decisive blow not only to Hezbollah, but to radical Islamic forces throughout the region. So far, though, the widespread Israeli air strikes appear to have only increased the credibility and popularity of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has discussed the crisis by telephone with Olmert and Solana. But Rice, who had been expected to visit the region this weekend, has refrained from setting a date - leading some to speculate that the U.S. wanted to give Israel more time to pursue its offensive.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's top overseas ally, joined the American president on Wednesday in insisting that Hezbollah free the soldiers and stop firing rockets at Israel before asking Israel to stop its offensive.

But other European nations backed Solana.

French President Jacques Chirac called the Mideast fighting a "dramatic situation that deeply worries us." He urged Hezbollah to release the Israeli soldiers and to stop hitting Israel with missiles. But he also asked the Israelis to stop deadly bombings in Lebanon.

In Moscow, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov expressed concern that "the war in the Middle East is escalating" and tacitly criticized Israel's use of force, saying, "It is particularly painful to witness the destruction of the civilian infrastructure of Lebanon."

Rift between U.S., EU emerges on Israel

[Shammu]

Lebanese consul in Halifax blasts Harper's support for Israel

Canadian Press

HALIFAX — Lebanon's honorary consul in Halifax is calling on the Canadian government to alter its foreign policy and press for a ceasefire to end the bloody conflict in southern Lebanon.

Wadih Fares told a news conference that Canada's failure to call for a ceasefire has been interpreted by Israel as a “green light” to continue its aggressive military campaign against Hezbollah militants.

Mr. Fares said Canada has always been the “voice for stability in the region,” and it should return to that role.

While Mr. Fares condemned Hezbollah's decision to kidnap Israeli soldiers and launch rocket attacks on Israel, he said nothing justifies the Israeli army's “brutal and inhumane” retaliation.

He said the military has bombed Lebanon's roads, airports, bridges, power plants, mosques — and even some emergency vehicles performing first aid.

Mr. Fares, a Halifax businessman, said Lebanon has struggled through 15 years of rebuilding only to see its many advances reduced to rubble.

“The tourism season is dead,” he said. “All of a sudden, we're back to zero, rebuilding again.”

Earlier Wednesday, Lebanon's prime minister said 300 people have been killed, 1,000 wounded and half a million displaced in Israel's week-old onslaught.

Lebanese consul in Halifax blasts Harper's support for Israel

[Shammu]

Crews in Combat: Solid Professionals

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

by Mike Tobin

FNC
Mike Tobin

July 19, 2006

I hope it's true what they say about the friends you make in combat — that you share a special bond for life. Ever since Israel decided to respond to the Qassam fire out of the Gaza strip with increased air strikes, my crews and I have been through a dizzying, frightening, and arduous few weeks chasing the soldier kidnappings and military responses. Sometimes we shout at each other. Sometimes we laugh until tears stream down our cheeks. Sometimes we are in a situation serious enough to strip you down to the core of your constitution. In the end, we get the story roped in and home to the viewers. My crews have been solid professionals.

My attempts to write blogs along the way have been unsuccessful. By the time we're done with TV reports these days, I'm exhausted, and coherent thought won't come out of my fingertips. So here is a look at the photos I've collected in my personal camera through the last few weeks. Most of the time when things get interesting, we're busy doing things other than taking personal snapshots. But I hope this gives you a behind-the-scenes look and an appreciation for the hard work of my crews.

You'll see a few pictures of Nael Ghaboun in these photos; he is a producer we use in Gaza. Between navigating the confusing maze of streets in the world's most populated place, gathering facts, and just using his general street smarts, Nael is irreplaceable. When he's embarrassed, his whole face turns red, so teasing him about his upcoming wedding has been a great stress reliever.

Cameraman Pierre Zachevsky is one-of-a-kind. It is an understatement to say that Pierre has remarkable stamina. He has climbed all the way to Camp 4 on Mount Everest (the last stop before the summit). Having grown up in Dublin, he has a wonderful, lighthearted, Irish way of remaining positive in the middle of all the rough stuff.

My favorite photo from this bunch is of the three of us together.

There is one pic of Clarissa Ward in here. Don't let her lovely appearance and Yale education fool you into thinking she may be soft. We really got into the thick of it in Beit Lahiya and Clarissa held it together as well or better than any of us frightened "rough boys."

After Hezbollah captured the Israeli soldiers I went up North with Yaniv Turgeman, Yoav Shamir, Uri Ravid and Yonat Frilling.

Yaniv has been to the scene of almost every suicide bombing in the last three years. He has also perfected the use of the wireless camera. All that great work Jennifer Griffin did during the Gaza withdrawal was done with Yaniv and the wireless cam. The live shot we did several days ago when the Katyushas struck, was all made possible by Yaniv's mastery of the wireless gear. Yoav Shamir can fix everything, and he's trained in combat first aid — he saved a few lives in his army days. When he's angry at the latest piece of equipment I've damaged on the job, I tease him, saying, "Your job as an engineer is to fix the gear. My job as a reporter, is to break it." Uri gets our satellites dialed in, and he's got a field kit in his truck with which he can fire up a mean cup of coffee. That can change your whole perspective on the world.

We didn't have time to stop and pack a bag when we went North. So Yonat went out and bought the crew something to wear. Of course there was not a lot of time for wardrobe choices and she got the guys all the same clothes. I told them they look like backup singers in a rough boy band. I think the pic of Uri, Yaniv and Yoav all worn out, sweaty and matching is a classic.

I have a new crew now in Haifa; Allystair Wanklyn, Dudi Gamli and a new guy named Lavi. I hope he knows what he's in for. I included just one pic of these new guys trying to get out of the sun.

I'm disappointed that I don't have a picture of Ibrahim Hazboun here. He has been back in Jerusalem, keeping track of the video and interviews that come in. I could not do the edited packages for "Special Report" without him. Mal James is also missing, and that ain't right.

Crews in Combat: Solid Professionals