IPS piece on Lebanon

… is here. Also here.
I’m running to the airport.Going to Doha via Geneva and London. Crazily pushed for time. Forgotten a zillion things. (Jacket! Electric adaptors! Yikes!)

9 thoughts on “IPS piece on Lebanon”

  1. Israel isn’t alone in considering Shebaa Farms part of Syria. The UN does. That’s why the Security Council did not endorse the Abdullah plan that called for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon. (Lebanon was added at the behest of Bashar Assad, when Abdullah was traveling the Arab world to get support for his plan.)
    Saying that Shebaa Farms is part of Lebanon is a pretext so that Hezbollah can still attack Israel and demonstrates that first and foremost, Hezbollah is a terrorist organization.

  2. Ah, but Syria and Lebanon both say it is part of Lebanon, so I wonder how a UN determination gets to over-ride that?
    If Israel wanted calm on the border it could easily stop the provocative and illegal overflights and work for a quiet rsolution of the Shebaa Farms issue. As it happens both Israel and Hizbullah want to keep that tiny portion of the Lebanese front-line simmering at a very low level.
    Um, how does Hizbullah’s concern for Shebaa make it into a “terrorist” organization?
    Oh, and Israel could participate seriously in the big, 41-years-overdue land-for-peace agreement with Syria that would make the whole Shebaa Farms issue moot and enable a speedy peace agreement with Lebanon… But I ain’t holding my breath for that either.

  3. Helena,
    so I wonder how a UN determination gets to over-ride that?
    hahaaaha……., no wonder Helena, you should know better than all of us.
    Some one like you working on ME and US policies and all this long names and big titles and now coming here with saying “I wonder how a UN determination gets to over-ride that?…. honest, do you joking Helena?
    and Israel could participate seriously in the big, 41-years-overdue land-for-peace agreement with Syria that would make the whole Shebaa Farms issue moot and enable a speedy peace agreement with Lebanon… But I ain’t holding my breath for that either.
    Again some thing surprising here…..Israel likes to hold talk with here neighbours on Peace-For-Land scenario individually like they done with Egypt and Jordan.
    As for Syrians and Lebanon they insisted to negotiates peace deals with Israeli both together not individually, that lead to the US administration used UN (no wonder here Helena) that made Syrian to withdraw from Lebanon (We still have many land invaded and occupied by Israel, Iran etc., UN kept tied lips about them).
    Iraq also invaded and occupied Helena or you still think the democracy flourishing in Iraq?
    Read this in case you still “holding my breath” till now about Iraq and Iraqi life under your administration which not changed bit after 100 days of the NEW US administration…….

  4. Helena do you invited to this event in Doha?
    The potential of media in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation will be the topic of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009 to be celebrated on 2-3 May 2009 in Doha, Qatar.There will also be a ceremony where Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, will award the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2009.
    http://www.unesco.org/en/doha/single-view/news/3_may_2009_in_doha/back/925/
    Its same UN Helena here……. “holding your breath”!

  5. Yup, Salah. That’s where i am. We’re having a conference prior to the award presentation. I made my contribution today.

  6. Qatar (from CIA Factbook):
    chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, fourth son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note – Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
    Legislative branch: uniicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
    note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; . .

  7. Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani
    Another US loving kid, they need these shaky monarchy milking them with US military bases and stations in the region good money for their support and existence.
    His wiefe Mozza (meaning “Banana” in English) she is very influential woman, she is member of RAND Centre in US she travelling all the time but hardly her photos put on the western media although here photos can be seen on Qatary newspaper from time to time.

  8. Insisting that Shebaa Farms is part of Syria despite Syria’s declaration that that it is part of Lebanon is an obvious pretext so that Israel can 1) continue to occupy and exploit it, 2) keep tensions going with Hezballah.

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