Crazy in Jerusalem

QUOTE: "This psychotic state is brought on by visits to Jerusalem or the Galilee. It induces a state of religious ecstasy which overcomes the tourists. They feel euphoric at being surrounded by so many holy sites," explained Dr. Abu Nasser. "This state is characterized by megalomania and delusions of grandeur. Those afflicted often believe they are the Messiah, Jesus or the Mahdi, depending on their religion and sect. They attempt to reconcile Jews and Palestinians, speak to God and genuinely believe he answers them."

US tourist diagnosed with 'Jerusalem Syndrome' jumps off building

Syndrome manifests in psychosis, delusions with religious themes; prevalent in devout tourists overwhelmed by visit to Israeli capital, mostly afflicts Christians

Ahiya Raved

A 38-year old American tourist diagnosed as suffering from 'Jerusalem Syndrome' jumped off a 13-feet walkway on Friday night at the Poria Hospital in Tiberias. He broke several ribs, one of which punctured a lung, and also smashed a vertebra in his back. The man was placed in the intensive care unit.

The tourist was evacuated to the hospital along with his wife by the physician accompanying their tourist group. The couple told the medical staff they were devout Christians who had arrived in Israel 10 days earlier to tour various holy sites. Over the past few days the husband began feeling anxious and suffered from insomnia. He roamed the hills surrounding the guest house he was staying at, muttering about Jesus.

Dr. Taufik Abu Nasser, a senior psychiatrist at Poria, said the man underwent a series of tests in the emergency room, including a psychiatric examination and blood tests to determine whether he had used hallucinogenic drugs.

"Then at some point, after he'd calmed down, he suddenly got up and left the ward," recalled Dr. Abu Nasser. "There's a walkway connecting the emergency room to the other wards, and he just climbed the wall next to it and jumped from a height of over 13 feet to the ground level."

According to the doctor, the man is most likely suffering from the rare yet well-documented 'Jerusalem Syndrome.'

"This psychotic state is brought on by visits to Jerusalem or the Galilee. It induces a state of religious ecstasy which overcomes the tourists. They feel euphoric at being surrounded by so many holy sites," explained Dr. Abu Nasser.

"This state is characterized by megalomania and delusions of grandeur. Those afflicted often believe they are the Messiah, Jesus or the Mahdi, depending on their religion and sect. They attempt to reconcile Jews and Palestinians, speak to God and genuinely believe he answers them."

Published: 05.25.08, 07:11 / Israel News

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3547246,00.html

Israeli Army Falling Apart?

In this story, Israeli soldiers are moved out of harm's way. A few weeks ago a unit rebelled over shortages of good food. Months ago others rebelled because they couldn't have civilian furniture in their barracks. And there've been other stories of whole units refusing orders. What's going on? One possibility is that Israelis see themselves as so overwhelmingly superior militarily that they have no reason to take risks. Maybe they've forgotten what happened in 1973. Maybe there's self-delusion induced by their protection from the US: why should they fight when George Bush, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton can simply nuke their enemies?

IDF soldiers to be moved from base near Gaza amid terror threats

In unprecedented decision, army instructed to evacuate soldiers serving near Erez crossing due to volatile security situation in area. MK Orlev: This is a cowardly act. Those who run away from terror - terror will chase after them. Are they also planning to relocate Sderot, Kfar Aza and Ashkelon?

Hanan Greenberg

For the first time since the disengagement plan, soldiers are being evacuated from a base near the Gaza Strip due to the security situation in the area, Ynet has learned.

Major-General Yosef Mishlav, the coordinator of the government's activities in the territories, has instructed the army to temporarily relocate the soldiers serving in the Coordination and Liaison Authority near the Erez crossing to the Julis base, located about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) away from the Strip.

This unprecedented decision sparked a great deal of criticism in the IDF. "(The decision to evacuate the base) is an admission of our failure to protect the lives of our citizens and soldiers," an army official said.

"The army and members of the security establishment should be at the front and serve as a buffer between the enemy and our civilian population. It is wrong to evacuate them because of a threat. What will the residents of Netiv Ha'asara, who live near the base, say? They will justifiably demand that the State evacuate them as well."

The decision to evacuate the base was reached prior to last week's attempt to launch an attack at the Erez crossing with the use of a truck bomb.

The evacuated soldiers will continue with their work, including the coordination of the transfer of Palestinians and goods to Gaza, from the Julis base. A small number of soldiers will remain at the base near Erez.

The base near the Erez crossing was exposed to terror attacks prior to Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Strip. The IDF particularly feared that terrorists would transfer explosives to the base through an underground tunnel and then set them off.

'Like waving a white flag'

Following the disengagement, the base was relocated to the upgraded Erez crossing, which contains fortified structures. Millions of shekels worth of additional fortification apparatus was brought to the base.

The base that is slated for evacuation has become a favorite target for terrorists since Hamas' violent takeover of the Strip in June 2007, with more than 200 mortars and rockets of various kinds fired in its direction.

The Zikim army base, located south of Ashkelon, was not evacuated even after a Qassam rocket attack last September left some 70 soldiers injured. Other bases that were also exposed to terror threats were not evacuated for fear of the message such an act might send to the Palestinians.

The office of Maj.-Gen. Mishlav said that "in light of the security situation at the Erez crossing the coordinator decided to temporarily relocate the soldiers to a home front base because there is no point in jeopardizing their lives. The decision is temporary and may change according to security estimates."

Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev (National Union-NRP) said in response to the decision "Those who run away from terror - terror will chase after them. The solution of relocating an entire IDF base is a cowardly one. Are they also planning to relocate Sderot, Kfar Aza and Ashkelon?"

MK Otniel Schneller of Kadima called the decision to evacuate the base "a show of weakness", adding that it is "akin to waving a white flag in surrender."

"This is not characteristic of the IDF. This is a show of weakness by people and commanders who do not understand what the IDF stands for," he said.

MK Danny Yatom (Labor) was less critical of the move, as he claimed the soldiers being evacuated were not combat soldiers. "I can't see any reason to make claims against the security forces for moving these soldiers, who are not combat soldiers, elsewhere. It shouldn't be perceived as the waving of a white flag," he reasoned.

'Disgrace for IDF'

Residents of the southern town of Netiv Haasara were shocked by the decision. Chairman of the town's security committee, Ziv Volk, said that it constituted "impudence, gall, and disgrace for the IDF and the State of Israel." He thought for a moment and then added, "Actually, nothing surprises us anymore.

"We have been under fire for three years now, since the pullout. We have had ministers, Knesset members, and security officers from the very highest levels visit us and promise to protect us, but in the end they run away. When the State makes such a decision it is shameful," Volk said.

Residents of Netiv Haasara also commented upon the decision. "This means we are staying here alone," one resident remarked. "It leaves us vulnerable to other infiltration incidents." Another resident commented that "perhaps next they will give us rifles or mortars to shoot at the Palestinians ourselves."

Alon Shuster, head of Shaar HaNegev Regional Council, was also upset by the decision, especially since no one had informed him ahead of time. "Unfortunately nobody thought to update us and we learned about the decision from Ynet. The decision may not have an operational impact, but it certainly has psychological repercussions," he said.

Meanwhile, the IDF is continuing to asses the damage done to the crossing following the attempted truck bomb attack. Army officials said the cost of renovating the site may exceed NIS 2 million (about $600,000).

The renovation works at the Kerem Shalom crossing, which was attacked by Palestinian terrorists in Passover, have yet to commence. The security establishment does not plan on reopening the crossing anytime soon.

Published: 05.25.08, 17:35 / Israel News

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3547674,00.html

UN says Israel erected more West Bank roadblocks

Number of checkpoints has increased by 41 since September despite Israeli pledges to reduce them, Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports

News agencies

The number of roadblocks in the West Bank has increased by 41 since September despite Israeli pledges to reduce them, the United Nations reported on Friday.

The total number of roadblocks in the Palestinian territory rose from 566 on September 4 to 607 by April 29, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

A total of 144 new closures were erected while 103 were removed, an OCHA report said.

The closures severely restrict the mobility of people and goods within the West Bank, and also affect access of UN staff crossing from the West Bank to Jerusalem, the agency added.

The international community has urged Israel to ease restrictions on movement in the West Bank as part of peace efforts with the Palestinians.

During a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in March, Israel pledged to remove 50 West Bank roadblocks.

Israeli authorities later claimed they did away with 61 roadblocks, but OCHA said only 44 had actually been removed and that most of those were of little or no significance.

Israel started installing the roadblocks, some staffed by soldiers and others unmanned, during the first Palestinian uprising in the late 1980s in order to curb militant attacks on targets in Israel.

The number of barriers increased during the second uprising which began in 2000.

'Israel doing its utmost'

The report came out shortly after visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner criticized Israel's network of roadblocks and checkpoints, which are seen as a key impediment to the recovery of the Palestinian economy.

"The restrictions on access and mobility are still significant," Kouchner said at a Palestinian investment conference in Bethlehem. "They have not yet been alleviated as they should have. Israel should and Israel can exert more efforts in this regard without endangering its security."

Israel says it cannot move faster in easing restrictions because Palestinian militants still pose a threat.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev, speaking before the OCHA report was published, said Israel is doing its utmost to improve freedom of movement in the West Bank.

"That's our challenge to take down roadblocks, to try to create greater movement and access for Palestinians while maintaining security. That's what we're trying to do," He said.

Published: 05.23.08, 23:42 / Israel News

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3547078,00.html

Christian Zionist Implies God Sent Hitler to Hunt Jews

McCain Rejects Hagee Backing as Nazi Remarks Surface

By Michael Luo

SAN JOSE-Senator John McCain rejected the endorsement on Thursday of the evangelical leader, the Rev. John C. Hagee, three stormy months after it was first announced as part of an effort to shore up Mr. McCain's standing among Christian conservatives.

The rejection of Mr. Hagee's endorsement occurred after another controversial sermon from the televangelist and pastor of Cornerstone, a mega-church in San Antonio, surfaced in which he argued that biblical verses made clear that Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust was part of God's plan to chase the Jews from Europe and drive them to Palestine.

"Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible," Mr. McCain said in a statement Thursday. "I did not know of them before Reverend Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well."

Audio of the latest controversial sermon by Mr. Hagee, from the late 1990s, was first posted last week by the Web site, Talk to Action, which scrutinizes the Christian right, and then reported by the Huffington Post.

Mr. Hagee quoted from the Old Testament Book of Jeremiah, Mr. Hagee said in his sermon, according to the Huffington Post, "And they the hunters should hunt them," arguing this referred to "the Jews."

He went on to read from the same passage, "From every mountain and from every hill and from out of the holes of the rocks."

"If that doesn't describe what Hitler did in the Holocaust, you can't see that," Mr. Hagee said.

At roughly the same time Mr. McCain's campaign issued a statement repudiating Mr. Hagee on Thursday, Mr. Hagee himself put out a statement saying he had withdrawn his endorsement of Mr. McCain.

"Ever since I endorsed John McCain for president, people seeking to attack Senator McCain have combed my records for statements they can use for political gain," Mr. Hagee said. "They have had no qualms about grossly misrepresenting my position on issues most near and dear to my heart if it serves their political ambitions. I am tired of these baseless attacks and fear that they have become a distraction in what should be a national debate about important issues. I have therefore decided to withdraw my endorsement of Senator McCain for President effective today, and to remove myself from any active role in the 2008 campaign."

Prior to its repudiation of Mr. Hagee's endorsement on Thursday, the McCain campaign had already endured a series of other disclosures of controversial past statements from Mr. Hagee about his views of Catholics, especially, as well as Jews.

Mr. McCain subsequently distanced himself from Mr. Hagee, saying he did not endorse all the views of his endorsers and condemned any of Mr. Hagee's views that were offensive to Catholics. Mr. Hagee also sought to make amends with Catholics, who represent a crucial swing constituency in the general election.

The latest remarks from Mr. Hagee to surface strike at the heart of Mr. McCain's efforts to reach another critical group, Jews, who have viewed Mr. McCain's likely Democratic opponent, Senator Barack Obama, with suspicion.

Mr. Hagee's controversial views are explained in part by his adherence to what is known in evangelical circles as dispensationalism, a literalistic approach to biblical prophecy that places a special emphasis on the role of the nation of Israel in the end of history.

Dispensationalists, who scholars say likely represent a vocal but small faction of evangelicals, believe that Israelites' return to the promised land are a requirement of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Mr. McCain's advisers have admitted they did not vet Mr. Hagee's background enough, although they began seeking his endorsement more than a year ago.

Mr. McCain has a rocky history with evangelicals, having once called the Rev. Jerry Falwell and the Rev. Pat Robertson "agents of intolerance." Many evangelicals, who were crucial to President Bush's re-election in 2004, remain skeptical of Mr. McCain, with many Republican leaders fretting they will not turn out for him this fall.

Mr. Obama, of course, has had his own troubles with regard to religious leaders, drawing fire for the controversial remarks of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Mr. McCain sought to distinguish his ties to Mr. Hagee from Mr. Obama's with Mr. Wright in his statement, saying: "I have said I do not believe Senator Obama shares Reverend Wright's extreme views. But let me also be clear, Reverend Hagee was not and is not my pastor or spiritual advisor, and I did not attend his church for twenty years. I have denounced statements he made immediately upon learning of them, as I do again today."

May 22, 2008, 5:14 pm

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/mccain-rejects-hagee-backing-as-nazi-remarks-surface/index.html?hp

Democracy Triumphs in Lebanon

Hezbollah has succeeded in negotiating a reversal of features that had been fixed to keep the Christian minority and the Bush puppet "Cedar Revolution" minority in control of the government.

QUOTE: As part of the deal, 11 of the 30 ministers in a national unity government in Beirut will be Hizbullah members, giving the Shiite organization the right to veto any decision. This was one of the main demands made by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah during the recent crisis. . . Another important achievement for Hizbullah was an amendment to the current election law: The sides agreed to return to the 1960 Election Law, which includes a change in the election districts, and particularly in the Beirut district which will be divided in three. The current law allowed the anti-Syrian camp to win the elections.

Hizbullah gets veto power in unity government

Major triumph for Lebanese opposition: All demands made by Nasrallah materialized in breakthrough agreement between feuding factions announced by Arab mediators after five days of talks in Qatar to end Lebanon's 18-month political crisis; Damascus welcomes deal

Roee Nahmias

Hizbullah strikes another achievement at the end of a particularly severe round of violence in Lebanon : Arab mediators have announced a breakthrough deal between feuding Lebanese factions struck after five days of talks in Qatar to end Lebanon's 18-month political crisis.

As part of the deal, 11 of the 30 ministers in a national unity government in Beirut will be Hizbullah members, giving the Shiite organization the right to veto any decision. This was one of the main demands made by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah during the recent crisis.

Sixteen of Lebanon's current ministers will serve in the new government, and another three will serve on behalf of the president. Hizbullah agreed to compromise on its demand to establish an interim government and hold elections, and had refused at first to settle for only one-third of the government members.

The sides also agreed to appoint Lebanon's army commander, General Michel Suleiman, the next Lebanese president.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani said at a ceremony Wednesday in Doha that the agreement is be "carried out immediately" and that the election of a new president of Lebanon will follow within 24 hours.

Another important achievement for Hizbullah was an amendment to the current election law: The sides agreed to return to the 1960 Election Law, which includes a change in the election districts, and particularly in the Beirut district which will be divided in three. The current law allowed the anti-Syrian camp to win the elections.

And what about Hizbullah's weapons? The issue was not seriously discussed, and the sides only agreed "not to use weapons for political purposes." It was also agreed to resume the dialogue "in order to bolster the state's institutions."

Opposition-allied Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also spoke at the ceremony, saying an opposition tent encampment, which has been going on for over a year in downtown Beirut across from the government building, will be dismantled following the deal.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora praised the Arab League and Qatar for their mediation, which "serves Lebanon and the neighboring sister country - Syria." He called on all factions "to renounce violence and promise not to use weapons again in future political disputes. We must accept the other and hold a cultural and democratic dialogue."

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem rushed to welcome the Doha agreement. Saed Hariri, one of Hizbullah's rivals in Lebanon, also supported it. Despite the opposition's clear achievements, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa concluded that "There are no winners and no losers in this document."

Hizbullah, a group backed by Iran and Syria, increased pressure on the ruling alliance this month by routing its followers in a military campaign. The Qatari-led negotiations built on mediation that ended violence which killed 81.

Worst crisis since civil war

It was Lebanon's worst civil conflict since the 1975-1990 war and exacerbated tensions between Shiites loyal to Hizbullah and Druze and Sunni followers of the ruling coalition.

Syria, a close ally of Iran, was forced to withdraw troops from Lebanon in 2005 following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

The United States has held up the withdrawal as a foreign policy success story.

But Hizbullah's military campaign this month was a major blow to US policy in Lebanon and forced Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government to rescind two measures targeting the Iranian-backed group.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report

First Published: 05.21.08, 07:53

Latest Update: 05.21.08, 11:11 / Israel News

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3545897,00.html

Pressure on Israeli Government for US Traitor Pollard's Release

Many of us think that one of George Bush's final outrages before leaving office will be pardoning this American traitor.

PM says willing to cooperate with comptroller on Pollard affair

By Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz Correspondent

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday reneged on his previous statements and said he was willing to cooperate with State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss on the Jonathan Pollard affair.

Pollard, a civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy, was convicted of selling military secrets to Israel while working at the Pentagon. He was arrested in 1985 and pleaded guilty at his trial. He is serving a life sentence in a U.S. federal prison.

The prime minister on Monday told MK Zevulun Orlev, head of the Knesset's State Control Committee which oversees the workings of the state comptroller, that Cabinet Secretary Ovad Yehezkel and his political advisor, Shalom Turjeman, have already given the comptroller all the information that was at the government's disposal regarding the case.

However, the prime minister added, he would cooperate in addressing any remaining questions in writing and would disclose further material if needed.

A few months ago, Lindenstrauss started compiling a report on whether Israel has been doing everything within its capacity to ensure the release of the jailed spy.

Lindenstrauss then criticized Olmert in what could be construed as accusing him of creating the impression that the inquiry into the government's conduct in the affair puts Pollard's potential release at risk.

Lindenstrauss said then: "If I'm wrong I'll be the first to admit it, and I wish I am, but someone here is behaving in a shady manner."

Last update - 23:55 19/05/2008

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/985041.html

Another Witness on Bush-Cheney Iran War Plan

COMMENT: this jibes with Lebanon Daily Star story that US pressed Israel to bomb Hezbollah in Beirut in May, 2008.

White House denies Iran attack report

By JPOST.COM STAFF

The White House on Tuesday flatly denied an Army Radio report that claimed US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term. It said that while the military option had not been taken off the table, the Administration preferred to resolve concerns about Iran's push for a nuclear weapon "through peaceful diplomatic means."

Army Radio had quoted a top official in Jerusalem claiming that a senior member in the entourage of President Bush, who concluded a trip to Israel last week, had said in a closed meeting here that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that military action against Iran was called for.

The official reportedly went on to say that "the hesitancy of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice" was preventing the administration from deciding to launch such an attack on the Islamic Republic for the time being.

The Army Radio report, which was quoted by The Jerusalem Post and resonated widely, stated that according to assessments in Israel, the recent turmoil in Lebanon, where Hizbullah has de facto established control of the country, was advancing an American attack.

Bush, the official reportedly said, considered Hizbullah's show of strength to constitute evidence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's growing influence. In Bush's view, the official said, "the disease must be treated - not its symptoms."

However, the White House on Tuesday afternoon dismissed the story. In a statement, it said that "[the US] remain[s] opposed to Iran's ambitions to obtain a nuclear weapon. To that end, we are working to bring tough diplomatic and economic pressure on the Iranians to get them to change their behavior and to halt their uranium enrichment program.

It went on: "As the President has said, no president of the United States should ever take options off the table, but our preference and our actions for dealing with this matter remain through peaceful diplomatic means. Nothing has changed in that regard."

In an address to the Knesset during his visit here last week, Bush said that "the president of Iran dreams of returning the Middle East to the Middle Ages."

"America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions," Bush said. "Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

May 20, 2008 11:00 | Updated May 20, 2008 19:26

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1210668683139&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Nazis in Israel: Burning the Christian Bible

We saw what happened in Iraq when a soldier shot his gun at a Koran. The Israelis are lucky Christians are a more reasonable people. Sorry, but this is so reminiscent of German students building bonfires of books after Hitler took power.

Orthodox Jewish youths burn New Testaments in Or Yehuda

By The Associated Press

Orthodox Jews set fire to hundreds of copies of the New Testament in the latest act of violence against Christian missionaries in the Holy Land.

Or Yehuda Deputy Mayor Uzi Aharon said missionaries recently entered a neighborhood in the predominantly religious town of 34,000 in central Israel, distributing hundreds of New Testaments and missionary material.

After receiving complaints, Aharon said, he got into a loudspeaker car last Thursday and drove through the neighborhood, urging people to turn over the material to Jewish religious students who went door to door to collect it.

"The books were dumped into a pile and set afire in a lot near a synagogue," he said.

The newspaper Maariv reported Tuesday that hundreds of yeshiva students took part in the book-burning. But Aharon told The Associated Press that only a few students were present, and that he was not there when the books were torched.

"Not all of the New Testaments that were collected were burned, but hundreds were," he said.

He said he regretted the burning of the books, but called it a commandment to burn materials that urge Jews to convert.

"I certainly don't denounce the burning of the booklets, he said. I denounce those who distributed the booklets."

Jews worship from the Old Testament, including the Five Books of Moses and the writings of the ancient prophets. Christians revere the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, which contains the ministry of Jesus.

Calev Myers, an attorney who represents Messianic Jews, or Jews who accept Jesus as their savior, demanded in an interview with Army Radio that all those involved be put on trial. He estimated there were 10,000 Messianic Jews, who are also known as Jews for Jesus, in Israel.

Police had no immediate comment.

Israeli authorities and Orthodox Jews frown on missionary activity aimed at Jews, though in most cases it is not illegal. Still, the concept of a Jew burning books is abhorrent to many in Israel because of the association with Nazis torching piles of Jewish books during the Holocaust of World War II.

Earlier this year, the teenage son of a prominent Christian missionary was seriously wounded when a package bomb delivered to the family's West Bank home went off in his hands.

Last year, arsonists burst into a Jerusalem church used by Messianic Jews and set the building on fire, raising suspicions that Jewish extremists were behind the attack. No one claimed responsibility, but the same church was burned down 25 years ago by ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremists.

Last update - 18:04 20/05/2008

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/985362.html

Report: US Wanted Israel to Bomb Beirut in May 2008

QUOTE: BEIRUT: Israeli security website Debka Files reported on Sunday that the US had given the Israeli government a green light on May 10 to attack Hizbullah, arguing that the Jewish state's military was ready to attack Hizbullah in western Beirut and the South, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Foreign Affairs minister Tzipi Livni were "reluctant to do so, which angered the US."

[COMMENT: this story covers two topics, the Beirut Bombing story is the second one.]

Graziano plays down chances of conflict in South

Peacekeeping force has moved into northern ghajar, commander adds

Daily Star staff

Graziano plays down chances of conflict in South

BEIRUT: Major General Claudio Graziano, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), said on Monday the international force started conducting patrols on the Lebanese side of the border region of Ghajar earlier this month, reassuring the Lebanese that no war would erupt again in the South.

In an interview with As-Safir newspaper, Graziano said his forces had not faced any problems south and north of the Litani River during recent clashes between government and opposition supporters.

"The Lebanese Armed Forces [LAF] has taken security measures in the whole region and has cooperated, as usual, with the international force without facing any obstacles," he said. "All Lebanese parties have agreed to fully support UNIFIL and the latest incidents have not posed any danger on our mission."

"In fact, political and security stability in Lebanon are necessary for us to accomplish our mission successfully," he added.

Highlighting the importance of the "excellent" relationship between UNIFIL and the LAF, Graziano avoided tackling the issue of the presidential election.

"We are looking forward to boosting cooperation with the Lebanese Army and on the personal level, I have an excellent relationship with its commander [consensus presidential candidate General Michel Suleiman]," he said.

The Italian commander rejected claims that UNIFIL had become an "Israeli eye."

"We discuss with the Israelis the issue of violations when they occur but we do not give any information about South Lebanon to anyone," Graziano said, adding that the continuous Israeli violations of Lebanon's airspace are "unjustifiable."

Asked about the issue of the border region of Ghajar, Graziano vowed to deliver "good news" in the next couple of months.

"UNIFIL has started carrying out patrols in Ghajar's Lebanese part as of May 5 and now we have some information about an Israeli withdrawal from the remaining area to give way to our force to fulfill the humanitarian needs of the residents of the northern side," he said.

The default Israeli-Lebanon border, the Blue Line, places one-third of Ghajar in Lebanese territory and the other two-thirds on the Israeli side, contributing to a tenuous situation in and around the village.

According to Graziano, one cannot ignore terrorist threats because "they might happen," in reference to threats launched by Al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri earlier last month.

"We have some modern protection techniques to deal with such threats," he said, stressing the need to maintain cooperation with LAF.

Zawahiri had called on Sunni extremists in Lebanon to take up arms against United Nations peacekeepers.

About a new war, Graziano said: "There is no benefit to any party from both sides of the Blue Line to launch a new conflict south the Litani."

"But we are ready to face any threat launched by any party," he added. "I can reassure the Lebanese that there will be no war here and that we are capable of preventing any attacks."

Tackling the issue of cluster bombs littering in the South dropped by Israel during its 2006 war on Lebanon, Graziano expressed satisfaction over the efforts deployed by the UN Mine-Action Center (UNMAC), while voicing discontent with the Israeli cooperation in this regard.

"According to UNMAC, cluster-bomb-clearance operations will be concluded by the start of next spring as 60 percent of land has been cleared," he said. "The maps offered by Israel are not enough; we need the coordinates they have used to launch those munitions."

"They vowed to do so and we hope they will," he added. - The Daily Star

US urged Israel to 'surprise' Hizbullah during internal clashes - report

BEIRUT: Israeli security website Debka Files reported on Sunday that the US had given the Israeli government a green light on May 10 to attack Hizbullah, arguing that the Jewish state's military was ready to attack Hizbullah in western Beirut and the South, but Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Foreign Affairs minister Tzipi Livni were "reluctant to do so, which angered the US."

The site, which specializes in intelligence and security news, quoted a high-ranking source who accompanied US President George W. Bush during his recent visit to Israel as saying "Israel missed a golden chance to destroy one of its four main rivals who threaten its security in the region, which are Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas."

The site reported that an Israeli intelligence source said that if Israel were to attack Lebanon, Hizbullah would bombard the north of Israel with 600 rockets daily.

According to Debka, the White House pressured the Israeli prime minister to go through with the attack on Hizbullah, saying that the internal struggles in Lebanon, with Hizbullah using its weapons against rival parties, presented Israel with a rare opportunity.

The site quoted US intelligence sources as claiming that Hizbullah moved 5,000 of its gunmen toward Beirut after they realized that the Israeli Army was not willing to launch any operations on the border, and it was at this moment that the US asked Israel to "surprise" Hizbullah.

The site said that the plan was for the Israeli Air Force to launch continuous strikes on Hizbullah positions in western Beirut and the South, which would allow its rivals to open a simultaneous front from the inside.

"The Israeli tank divisions would enter the Lebanese border at the same time and head for Beirut on two fronts, the first being the coastal road, and the second being the road of Nabatiyeh, Jezzine and Zhalta Aley," it added. - The Daily Star

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=92202

Israel Negotiating with Hamas "Terrorists"

What will George Bush do? He's always exhorting people not to deal with Hamas "terrorists." Will he punish Israel?

'Gov't negotiating with Hamas contrary to its own decision'

By JPOST.COM STAFF

Vice Premier Haim Ramon acknowledged on Monday that Israel is conducting negotiations with Hamas - contrary to the government's own policy on the matter, even if those talks are held via Egyptian mediator Omar Suleiman.

"Negotiations are being conducted with Hamas in contrast to the government's decision, which has determined that it will only be possible to deal with Hamas after it accepts the conditions of the Quartet," Ramon stated during a Gaza policy discussion which was held as part of a Kadima faction meeting.

"We aren't fighting against a terror organization, rather a state of terrorism," Ramon continued, "a terror organization has an area under its control and Israel cannot, in my opinion, make peace with a Hamas state on the southern border."

"We decided that we would speak with Hamas only if it accepts the Quarter's conditions. I really hope that we will take the strategic position to reconcile ourselves to accepting a Hamas state on our borders," the vice premier stated.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the government would not let Independence Day celebrations and elaborate State visits detract attention from the situation in the South of the country. He reminded Kadima MKs about his comments from Sunday, in which he warned of possible action to stop the unrelenting Kassam rocket fire.

"I said the decision is getting closer and closer," Olmert said. He added that the "perpetual threat has reached a climax," and vowed not to let the current reality for residents of the South continue for much longer.

"The hour of decision is near," he assured, repeating comments he made during Sunday's cabinet meeting.

May 19, 2008 13:10 | Updated May 19, 2008 19:18

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