Kouchner: 'There's a new spirit in Lebanon'

Syria won't meddle in cabinet formation - Paris
Daily Star staff
BEIRUT: French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said during a visit to Damascus on Sunday that Syria agrees Lebanon should be allowed to form a new government without outside interference. Both Damascus and Paris believe "it is up to the Lebanese to organize their government" following their elections in June won by a Western-backed camp, Kouchner said after a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"It is up to the Lebanese parties which I met, including Hizbullah, to agree under the leadership of prime minister-designate Saad Hariri," said Kouchner, who also held talks last week in Beirut including with Hizbullah.

"There is a new spirit in Lebanon. There is a will to set up a national unity government as soon as possible," he said.

In Beirut on Friday, the French foreign minister said that he was pleased with the improvement of his country's relations with Syria, Lebanon's former powerbroker.

"I am not unaware that Syria continues to be important in this part of the world, and we are pleased to have established normal relations with Syria," Kouchner said.

Diplomats in Riyadh, meanwhile, say that the Saudi kingdom has welcomed Damascus' apparent non-interference in Lebanon's June 7 elections, which led to Hariri's designation as premier.

The French foreign minister had stressed on Saturday in Beirut that he "saw no major obstacles to the formation process of the Cabinet."

Following talks with opposition groups including Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Kouchner expressed his belief that the formation of a national-unity government was the major focus of Lebanon's political leaders.

The minister said that succeeding in reaching an agreement on the cabinet's make-up would mean major progress in the political situation.

In an interview published on Saturday, Kouchner told the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat that a government make-up involving veto power contradicted democratic values.

"The concept of veto power in the government is not democratic," he said.

Kouchner added that the next Cabinet should be able to "function normally away from tension and opposition."

On Saturday, Prime Minister-designate Hariri said the formation of the upcoming national-unity government would be "completed on time."

Following deliberations with President Michel Sleiman regarding the Cabinet's make-up at the Baabda Palace, Hariri stressed that he and the president shared the concern of reaching an agreement on the structure of the new cabinet.


Hariri also highlighted that the formation course was moving forward "according to [constitutional] norms."

Also commenting on the government formation, Hizbullah's Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Nieem Qassem stressed on Sunday that Lebanon's nation-building process could only move forward based on consensus among Lebanese factions.

Qassem said that both the opposition and the parliamentary majority agreed that the next cabinet should be governed by consensus; however he added that "both groups have so far different perceptions."

Hizbullah's second in command explained that monopoly over decision making in the past period "almost led to the country's destruction." Qassem added that the opposition demanded real partnership "so as to preserve Lebanon's security."

Concerning the implementation of United Nation Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel, Qassem slammed the almost-daily Israeli violations and continued occupation of Lebanese territories.

Qassem said Lebanon fully implemented Security Council Resolution 1701, adding that the international community should pressure Israel to halt its breaches to Lebanon's sovereignty.

Qassem also welcomed recent visits to Beirut by foreign officials "as long as they acknowledge that Lebanon can only be ruled through consensus on key issues."

Tackling reconciliation efforts between Hizbullah and the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Qassem said the reconciliation course was in progress given the agreement on key political principles between the two parties.

Reconciliation efforts kicked off last month following talks between Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and PSP head MP Walid Jumblatt and aimed to put an end to Shiite-Druze sectarian tensions. Sectarian tension built up following clashes between Hizbullah and PSP supporters in the Chouf mountains region in May 2008 subsequent to the government's decision to dismantle Hizbullah's telecommunication network.

Also on Sunday, Amal Movement MP Hassan Khalil expressed his party's will to cooperate with the next government to help Lebanon overcome its political and economic crisis.

Khalil stressed on Sunday that his party wanted "to join hands with Hariri to establish a real partnership in the Cabinet."

"A government based on real partnership would be capable of handling Lebanon's future challenges," Khalil said. - The Daily Star, with AFP

Obama cought ogling

President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy appear to be caught looking at a hot Brazian bum (16-year-old Mayora Tavares) up on the dias at a gathering of "Junior G8" delegates, but some pics can be misleading... what do you think?

From the German website BILD.de:

Oh là là - US President snapped checking out delegate's bum!

He may be the worlds most powerful man but even Barack Obama is not immune to the charms of a nice bottom!

At the G8 summit in Italy, he was snapped apparently checking out the perfect curves of a young lady.

And French President Nicolas Sarkozy (54) was looking on in amusement Oh là là, Monsieur le Président!

So who was the lady in red who caught the eye of Obama - or should that be O-BUM-a?

Her name is Mayora Tavares, she is 16 and she comes from Brazil.

Mayora was at the G8 summit in Italy as part of the J8 a group of 53 people aged between 14 and 17 who have been meeting in Rome since the start of the week. The group were there to discuss how the lives of young people around the world can be improved.

After they presented their results and ideas on Thursday to their senior counterparts, the delegates had a group photo with them when Obama (47) was snapped.

But now Mayora has found herself at the centre of 'O-bum-a-gate', the 'did he or didn't he' question that is causing controversy around the world.

Video evidence has thrown doubt on the fact that Barack Obama was checking her out. But it now doesn't look good for President Sarkozy.

From The New York Post:

TAIL TO THE CHIEF
O-GLER PREZ JOINS 'KOZY FOR A SUMMIT REAR VIEW

YES, NICE CAN: The red-blooded presidents of the US and France study a matter of international interest yesterday.

Baby got Barack!

The leader of the free world and his French counterpart were caught sneaking a peek at a the pink-satin-draped booty of a 17-year-old junior G-8 delegate just moments before the summit's official group photo was snapped in Italy yesterday.

Obama wasn't the only head of state getting Yankee Doodle randy.

The president got a show of support for his stimulus package from French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- whose wandering eyes also couldn't help but take in the view.

The beauty who prompted the president to channel his inner Bill Clinton was identified as Rio de Janeiro resident Mayara Tavares. The girl from Ipanema had been selected to attend a meeting of young people held in conjunction with the summit.

While Obama and Sarkozy were playing, their wives were enduring an awkward time. The summit host, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, was recently ditched by his wife because of a sex scandal, throwing social events for spouses into chaos.

Later, a video from ABC News, showed that Obama was turning to offer his arm to another woman who was coming down the stairs behind him. Sarkozy craned his neck in order to get a better view of the young woman's derriere.

Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship partners in launching a Business Plan Competition across MENA

Amman

The Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship as a regional partner recently announced the launch of the MENA 100 Business Plan Competition, which is organized by the MENA-OECD Enterprise Financing Network, in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank and the MENA Center for Investment.
The primary objective of the MENA 100 business plan competition is to encourage existing and inspire potential entrepreneurs and connect the 100 best of them in the Middle East and North Africa region with potential sources of finance to generate business transactions.
The MENA 100 Competition addresses innovative entrepreneurs, from the 18 Arab countries participating in the MENA OECD Investment Program (Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen).
In this competition entrepreneurs will have the chance to conceive new ideas, enter new markets and find new resources through forming networks with counterparts regionally and globally, it will also offer a connection to a network of professionals providing technical support to help innovators develop their start-ups and ventures, and offer financial and in-kind support to candidates. The winners of the competition will be highly exposed through award ceremonies and promotion of business ideas through media.

**

About Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE): The Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) is a not-for-profit & non-governmental organization. Established in October 2004 and located at the El Hassan Science City, Jubaiha. Its mission is to support economic growth by providing an array of services in entrepreneurship development and technology commercialization through the several programs conducted by QRCE such as: Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition (QRNEC), Technology Commercialization Program (TCP), CONNECT JORDAN, and the student Entrepreneurship society (DART). The QRCE is sponsored by Jordan Dubai Capital, Jordan Commercial Bank, Optimiza, Orange, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Jordan Business Magazine, and Google.

****
For more information, please call
PR Launchers / Tel: 0096265691861 - Fax: 0096265691863
Email: info@PRLaunchers.com – Web: www.PRLaunchers.com

Arab Identity and National Liberation

By Sobhi Ghandour

An Arab is a person who belongs to the Arab culture or has Arab cultural origins. The Arab identity is not linked to an ethnicity, religion, political stand, or ideology, and it does not depend on changing political circumstances.

Adhering to pan-Arabism means belonging to one nation with a common language and culture, and a shared history on a shared land. This nation also shares the same interests and destiny, which may, in the future, take the shape of a federation or an integration of its countries.

The Arab identity as a language and culture existed before Islam, but it was confined to Arab tribes that shared certain geographic boundaries.

Before Islam, pan-Arabism meant the Arabic language and culture, but it began to become a civilization and a cultural identity and allegiance with the birth of Islam and its strong connection with the Arabic language, the language of the Quran, and the spread of Islam by Arab pioneers.

Islam and the Quran contributed significantly to transforming Arabism from the identity of a small Arab race into the horizons of a greater cultural identity as part of a common Islamic Civilization that also includes Arab non-Muslims as well as non-Arab Muslims.

Arabism as a solution to crisis

Arabism can provide a solution to the crisis of inter-Arab relations. It can also be a cultural and social fortress that can safeguard and protect the national identity of each Arab country.

Perhaps one of the most important obstacles that needs to be addressed is the current weak sense of national identity and the dominance of sectionalism, which prevails in many Arab countries. This weakens the domestic, constitutional, and political structure, leads to the dominance of sectarian and ethnic identities over Arab societies, and eventually leads to domestic crises and tensions in each Arab country. These sectionalist allegiances are also used to preserve political or personal gain or to seize them from others in power.

This weak sense of national identity also paves the way for foreign interference and even foreign occupation in some instances. This occurs when priority is given to narrow affiliations that are used as pretexts to deal with foreign parties.

The weak sense of common national identity is an expression of a misunderstanding about other affiliations. Belief in different religious sects or being proud of ethnic and tribal origins is a natural and healthy phenomenon in multi-ethnic and religious communities. But, a problem occurs when this difference is transformed into violent struggle and bloody political conflicts that contradict pluralism and cause us to hold others accountable for the group or religion they were born into, instead of for their deeds and ideas. This is in contradiction to all divine and earthly teachings.

The role of the intellectual

Being intellectual is an individual status; it does not describe a group with shared objectives or behaviors.

An intellectual is not necessarily a researcher, writer, or even an educated person. He or she does not always assume oppositionist or nationalist positions. An intellectual who is committed to his nation's causes combines his personal concerns with the issues of the people around him. He combines education and professionalism with awareness and knowledge of social problems.

The question that arises, then, is, what is the role of intellectual Arabs?

Before discussing their role, we must identify those intellectual Arabs who have common ideological concepts about allegiance and identity, and common ways to describe realities on the ground and the true causes of problems. They should also seek a joint vision for a better Arab future. And they need to agree upon definitions for the three main pillars for change: ideological foundations, methods, and objectives. Nothing can be achieved without these three basic pillars.

This means that a national objective cannot be achieved through sectarian or sectional foundations or methods.

Defining ideological foundations, methods, and objectives is the best way for the intellectuals who are committed to their nation's issues to play a more positive and effective role.

Unfortunately, there is a major imbalance in the Arab world when it comes to dealing with the critical goals of democracy, liberation, and Arab identity. This is the fault of the Arabs and is not necessarily caused by foreign interference or American domination.

For example, some Arabs call for liberation and resisting occupation, but from a sectional ideological perspective or from an anti-Arab identity standpoint.

Meanwhile, others adhere to their Arab identity and liberation slogans, but within the framework of regimes or organizations that oppose democracy.

And some suppress the opinions of others and fight against ideological and political diversity, which are the cornerstones of any healthy democratic society.

The Arab countries have an urgent need to build a liberal democratic Arab movement that must be based on a balance of ideology and practice between democracy, national liberation, and Arab identity.

This intellectual, cultural, and political movement must bring all Arabs together within a single nation. If the proper mechanisms are in place, it would be very easy to implement these ideals.

------------------------

*This article is an edited version of an article that was originally published on-line in Gulf News on July 10, 2009:

http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/region/10330047.html

**Sobhi Ghandour is the Director of Al Hewar Center www.alhewar.com, Washington, USA.

alhewar@alhewar.com

G8 warning on Iran crackdown

BBC
G8 leaders are "seriously concerned" about the "appalling events" after Iran's elections, US President Barack Obama said as the summit closed.

He said the global leaders were also "deeply troubled" by Iran's nuclear programme. Iran denies claims it is trying to build a nuclear bomb.

Mr Obama rebuffed suggestions that the summit had fallen short in failing to agree fresh sanctions in Iran.

The G8 leaders said they would review Iran's progress in September.

A joint declaration from the summit in L'Aquila, Italy, said that media restrictions and the detention of foreign nationals by Iran was "unacceptable".

Iran has recently released eight of nine British embassy staff that it arrested and accused of spying during protests against the alleged rigging of presidential elections last month.

But one Briton and a French language teacher, Clotilde Reiss, 23, remain in Iranian custody.

On Friday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called for her release and said espionage accusations against her were "stupid".

Israel 'not alone'

The G8's joint declaration warned Tehran to comply with UN resolutions calling for a freeze on its uranium enrichment activities - a process which can be used to make material for a nuclear bomb - "without further delay."

Between August and September it's for them [the Iranians] to decide how they want things to evolve

Nicolas Sarkozy,
French president
Speaking on Thursday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that a unilateral Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would be an "absolute catastrophe".

But he reassured Israel that it was "not alone".

Mr Sarkozy threatened further sanctions against Iran if it failed to respond to US overtures for talks on its nuclear activities.

Mr Obama said the international community would not wait "indefinitely" for Iran to comply with its demands.

The joint declaration said the leaders would "take stock" of whether Iran had complied with demands for a freeze on its nuclear activities at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh in the US in September.

"Between August and September it's for them to decide how they want things to evolve. Pittsburgh is the date," said Mr Sarkozy.

The summit follows pledges earlier this week by the US and Russia to cut their stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

Mr Obama is planning an international conference on nuclear proliferation in March 2010.

Saudi court convicts 330 terrorists for attacks

DUBAI (Al Arabiya)

A Saudi court tried 330 charged with involvement in al-Qaeda's violent 2003 campaign of attacks inside the country and sentenced one person to death, the justice ministry said on Wednesday.

State television said the rulings involved 330 suspects in 179 cases but did not give a breakdown of the sentences or specify how many were acquitted.

Sentences ranged from house arrest to imprisonment and, in one case, the death penalty. More than 1,500 suspects are to go on trial and the media are expected to be allowed to cover the appeals, a court official told Al Arabiya on condition of anonymity.

All those convicted will be able to appeal the decision, Dr. Mohammed Alnjami, a member of the Islamic Fiqh Academy in Riyadh, told Al Arabiya.

In the first of the long-awaited trials of 991 people charged after the Qaeda campaign, an unspecified number were convicted on charges including conspiring with al-Qaeda, plotting to disrupt national security and financing terrorism, the ministry said in a statement.

The accused include some clerics -- Nasser al-Fahd, Ali al-Khodeir and Faris al-Shuweil -- who had publicly backed the militants. Fahd and Khodeir appeared on Saudi state television after their arrests in 2003 to call for an end to the bloodshed.


Deadly attacks

Saudi former al-Qaeda militants play volleyball at a rehabilitation center for militants in RiyadhThe trials related to a series of attacks in Riyadh carried out between 2003 and 2006 that killed more than 120 people, including 74 members of the security forces and 90 civilians including foreign residents.

The group called al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula carried out suicide bombing at upscale compounds housing mostly European and American expatriates in Riyadh and at al-Mohaya compound, which housed mostly Arab expatriates west of Riyadh in 2003,

The trials also covered attacks on the interior ministry headquarters and other government offices in Riyadh and a failed attempt in 2006 to storm the world's biggest oil processing plant in eastern Saudi Arabia, the last militant operation of note.


Rahabilitation

Saudi Arabia has arrested hundreds of suspects over the last two years on suspicion of trying to revive militant cells and created a successful rehabillitation program.

The munasaha, Arabic for "advice," program in which the Saudi government enrolls repentant terrorists and returnees from Guantanamo or militant camps outside the kingdom has even been examined as a model for similar programs in the U.K. and Canada.

Alnjami said that Wednesday’s judicial ruling did not indicate that the government’s rehabilitation program for extremists and al-Qaeda suspects had failed. The vast majority have been rehabilitated only a minority had to stand trial, he added.

Those the suspects were tried according the Sharia law, and the fact that only one was sentenced to death, while others were acquitted or put under house arrest, demonstrated the independence of the Saudi judiciary, said Alnajami.

Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship

Shares Experience with Milan Chamber of Commerce


Milan Chamber of commerce last week hosted a regional conference, the aim of which is exploration of communication opportunities, business development, and ways and means of supporting emerging companies, particularly in the spheres of media and digital technology. The conference singled itself out by inviting Arab and European professionals to talk about the available mutual opportunities for emerging companies in Jordan and Italy with the purpose of increasing the technical and marketing capabilities of both countries.

In their conference speeches, Engineer Mohammad Khawaja, the Executive Director of QRCE, Mr. Mohammad Abdullah, Dubai Media City Manager, and Mr. Abdul-Latif As-Sayigh, the New Media Company Executive Director, tackled the new trends in the media, the Internet, and ways of boosting emerging companies competitiveness through providing the necessary environment that guarantees expansion. They also gave a summary of various success stories in both the Arab World and Italy.

Khawaja focused, in his speech, on the significance and manner of transferring technology and innovation into economic opportunities, and also briefed the audience on the achievements of several Jordanian small and medium-size companies. He also stressed the importance of creativity by saying, “Innovation in the business sector is a basic means of establishing differentiation among companies in the 21st century, whereas in the 20th century quality and the lowest price was the determining factor in distinguishing companies from each other,” he added, “for more than two years, we, at the QRCE, have worked to initiate a specialized branch at the Center to be concerned with the provision of courses and consultations on methodological creativity and innovation in a step to create the competitive edge on the international scale and with the least possible expenses to both big and emerging companies.”

The conference has also highlighted the World Economic Opportunities Program which seeks the creation of companies by multi-national entrepreneurs, and the Program’s aim of training a pioneering group of young men from Jordan, Argentine, and South Africa to launch international companies. The Jordanians participating in the conference enjoyed the pleasure of meeting with Queen Rania where she was briefed on their project ideas. She furnished the participants with her recommendations to further their entrepreneurial spirit.

The event concluded by talking on Jordanian emerging companies that realized international acclaim in a short period of time after having benefited from the services and programs provided by the QRCE, the most prominent of which are the Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship competition (QRNEC), the Made In Jordan Competition (MIJC), and the Student Entrepreneurship Society (DART).

Noteworthy, the QRCE is one of the region’s first establishments to offer consultations and courses on methodological innovation, which is a branch of science based on the review of existing innovations and patents, in order to generate new, scientific methods and means that help to accelerate the innovation wheel, and increase the creativity volume of the companies sector, which, in turn, would promote the value of products and services rendered by such companies.

-Ends-

About Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE): The Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE) is a not-for-profit & non-governmental organization. Established in October 2004 and located at the El Hassan Science City, Jubaiha. Its mission is to support economic growth by providing an array of services in entrepreneurship development and technology commercialization through the several programs conducted by QRCE such as: Queen Rania National Entrepreneurship Competition (QRNEC), Technology Commercialization Program (TCP), CONNECT JORDAN, and the student Entrepreneurship society (DART). The QRCE is sponsored by Jordan Dubai Capital, Jordan Commercial Bank, Optimiza, Orange, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Jordan Business Magazine, and Google.


*****
For more information, please call
PR Launchers / Tel: 0096265691861 - Fax: 0096265691863
Email: info@PRLaunchers.com – Web: www.PRLaunchers.com

Hezbollah's wickedness & Our People In Israel

By: Elias Bejjani


“Let no one ask us to tag as traitors our Southern “Lebanese” citizens who entered Israel at a certain period, because the “Lebanese” state has abandoned them. They are our brothers and we will definitely demand that they return to their homes, and families.” (Lebanese MP, Sami Gemayel 28/6/09).

We value, and greatly appreciate MP Sami Gemayel's courageous, genuine and transparent stance in regard to our Southern Lebanese citizens who because of serious and imminent fears for their lives and the fate of their children were forced in May 2000 to take refuge in neighboring Israel. These citizens are not traitors by any means, but patriotic, noble, decent, and Lebanese par excellence.
It is worth mentioning that in May 2000, the Israeli government after its occupation of the “Southern Lebanese Security Zone” for 25 years had decided for internal reasons to unilaterally withdraw its troops in accordance with UNSC Resolution 425.

In the aftermath of this withdrawal, more than 6,500 Southern Lebanese men, along with members of their families, had no option but to leave their towns, villages and abandon all their properties and to hastily run for their lives. While Israel was logistically preparing for withdrawal, Hezbollah waged a merciless and savage media campaign against the Southern Lebanese Citizens. The campaign was aired publicly on all local and international TV and radio stations. The most frightening threats were uttered personally by Hezbollah's General Secretary, Sheik Nasrallah, who savagely said, “We will enter their bedrooms, pierce their stomachs, slaughter them and slice their throats.”

Between 2000 and 2005, Syria which was still occupying Lebanon, accordingly had the sole and upper hand in appointing, firing, disciplining, exiling and fully controlling all the country's governments officials, officials, armed forces and members of the parliament, at the same time was intimidating and manipulating the judiciary to serve its schemes.

The Syrians not only fully hindered the dignified return of our people from Israel, but made hell the lives of those southern citizens who hesitated and did not escape to Israel. They were ripped of their civil rights and deprived of all governmental services while been tagged as collaborators and traitors. Many of them were exposed to arbitrary trials and sentenced harshly.

The 4000 Lebanese whose nostalgia made them take the risk, not consider the consequences and return from Israel to Lebanon were immediately arrested, tortured, humiliated, imprisoned and charged with treason, collaboration, contacting an enemy and living in an enemy country.

The trials that they had were a mere farce, biased, fabricated, false and void from all recognized standards of international laws. The military prosecutor tried all these cases, and in the majority of these trials, the accused Southern Lebanese citizens were not allowed to even hire lawyers to defend them. Most of the local and international human rights organizations have stated in their documented reports that each of these theatrical trials did not last for more than 10 minutes. Many of these victims were sentenced in absentia and more than seventy of them received death penalties.

In 2005, the Syrian army was forced to withdraw in accordance with UNSC Resolution 1559, and the Syrian occupation was over. Since then numerous attempts were initiated by the Maronite church, a few Christian MPs and other human rights bodies all aiming to secure a dignified and safe return for the more than 2,500 Southern Lebanese people who had remained in Israel. Unfortunately all these genuine attempts were aborted by Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist militia who after the Syrian military withdrawal in 2005 had become the sole controlling military power in Lebanon.

Hezbollah's mullahs’ swollen and inflated egos and their mere detachment from reality have made them hostages and prey to a set of sickening grandiose delusions. They are damn mistaken to falsely believe that they can continue to forever block the return of our people from Israel to our Land of the Holy Cedars, and to unjustly deprive them from embracing the Lebanese soil that they, their fathers and their grandfathers have for the past 7000 years been safeguarding, plowing, planting, and enriching with their sweat, blood and sacrifices.

No matter what the hardships are or will be, the free people of Lebanon will not allow Hezbollah’s mullahs to topple the Lebanese regime
of multiculturalism, freedom and peaceful co-existence and replace it with a replicate of the Iranian mullah’s Islamic Republic. Iran’s denominational “Wilayat Al-Faqih doctrine” of Khomeini has been stubbornly rejected by the majority of the Lebanese people and will never ever be forced on them.

Meanwhile, the ongoing suffering of our people in Israel is not that different from the kind of suffering that our people in West Beirut and Mount Lebanon went through last year when Hezbollah fighters, the “Mujahedeen” invaded their suburbs, destroyed their homes, vandalized, shut down and occupied their schools, hospitals, media facilities and institutions, kidnapped, humiliated, tortured and with cold blood murdered more than 100 innocent civilians.

It is both a shame and a crime for all of Lebanon's 18 mosaic communities dignitaries and members, and for all Lebanon's clergy, politicians, officials and intellectuals to be demoralized and scared by Hezbollah's rhetoric, and accordingly succumb to its derailed "Khomeini" criteria for treason and patriotism, as well as for good and evil. These criteria that Hezbollah tags as "divine" have been sadly hindering the honorable and safe return of our people from Israel.

We call on Lebanon's President, House Speaker, Prime Minster and all politicians and clergy to help in ending the dilemma of our people in Israel. Their return needs to be a priority, and it must be with honor, dignity, respect and definitely without any kind of farce trials. These people are heroes and not traitors, and every Lebanese with faith and conscience is fully aware of this reality and substantially unshaken tangible fact.

MP Sami Gemayel has taken the initiative in courageously and transparently addressing the dilemma of our people in Israel. Hopefully he with the help and support of other MPs from all Lebanon's religious denominations will soon see that an appropriate amnesty law is drafted and passed in the Parliament, for enough is enough.

History teaches us that nothing in this mortal, earthly life lasts except the face of God, and that all human wicked traits such as injustice, lying, heresy and arrogance, eventually hurt those holding on to them in the face of their fellow men.

We advise all those who evilly and intentionally are inflicting pain and injustice on our people in Israel and arrogantly blocking their return to their homeland, to read the following biblical verse and take notice on how Almighty God rewards the meek and how He takes revenge on the wicked:

“For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will burn them up,” says Yahweh of Armies, “that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 4:2 But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall. 4:3 You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says Yahweh of Armies"). (Malachi 4/1-3”.

Girl 'raped by dad found on internet'

ninemsn
The German teenager who says her father kept her as a sex slave. (Getty)
A man accused of raping his teenage daughter and keeping her as a sex slave after she went to visit him for the first time has been dubbed a "South African Fritzl".

Police allege the 53-year-old man, known only as "Heinz", raped his 18-year-old daughter, called "Sandra", up to three times a day for two months, the UK's Telegraph newspaper reports.

The German teenager had never met her father before but managed to find him on the internet.

When she flew out to South Africa to meet him he is alleged to have locked her in his Cape Town home and forced her to have sex with him.

"We were lying on his bed watching DVD's," Sandra was quoted as telling a counsellor.

"First he held me in his arms and stroked my back but then he started touching my body all over, and told me to take my clothes off."

Sandra refused to take off her clothes but said her father grabbed a knife and threatened her with it before cutting them off.

Heinz allegedly kept his daughter prisoner in the house, forcing her to sleep in his bed where he raped her up to three times a night.

The teenager only managed to escape after her father took her with him on an overnight trip to visit friends.

Sandra managed to slip the friends a note during the visit in which she told them of her ordeal.

Heinz was arrested and charged with incest, rape and assault with intent of grievous bodily harm.

The case has been compared to that of Austrian man Josef Fritzl, who kept his daughter imprisoned in a dungeon underneath his home for 24 years and fathered seven children by her.

Dom and lorraine Baini wedding