UN fails to protect Lebanon resources

UN spokesman Martin Nesirsky

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/158867.html


The United Nations has declined Lebanon's request to protect the country's natural gas reserves along its maritime border with Israel.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Shami sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, protesting Israel's exploitation of his country's energy resources.

The move came days after US firm Noble Energy announced that the gas field, offshore Israel, holds an estimated 450 billion cubic meters (16 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas.

“Some of the discovered wells are in joint fields between Lebanon and Israel,” Shami said in the letter addressed to the UN chief.

“We request you do everything possible to ensure Israel does not exploit Lebanon's hydrocarbon resources, which fall within Lebanon's economic zone as delineated in the maps the foreign ministry submitted to the United Nations in 2010,” he added.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirsky, however, said in response to the request that the international body was not prepared to intervene in the dispute, Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported.

“Security Council Resolution 1701 does not include delineating the maritime border,” Nesirky said.

“We are talking about two different things - coastal waters and a disputed maritime border,” the spokesperson went on to say.

The United Nations demarcated the land border separating Israel and Lebanon in 2000, but there is no official maritime border.

Lebanon, however, is planning to outline its maritime borders, and auction off rights to explore potential offshore natural gas and petrol reserves in 2012

Israel under spell of Nasrallah words

Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=134401§ionid=351020203



Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah's speeches have swayed Israeli public opinion, making him the first Arab leader to affect Israelis in decades, a study indicates.

The finding came in a study by the chief intelligence officer for the central command of the Israeli army who analyzed Nasrallah's speeches in the course of graduate studies at the University of Haifa Ha'aretz reported on its website on Monday.

The high-ranking officer described Nasrallah as the first Arab leader in 30 years to affect the Israeli public so strongly through the power of his words, placing him after President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt in the 1960s.

In his study, the colonel identified by only his first name as Ronen analyzed 10 speeches by Nasrallah that were broadcast during the 2006 Israeli war against Lebanon.

Nasrallah's only public press conference during the war was on the first day of war followed by recorded speeches later broadcast by Arab television networks, amid threats of Israeli attempts to assassinate the Lebanese resistance leader, he notes.

Widely covered in Israel during the summer conflict, the speeches by the highly popular Hezbollah leader successfully highlighted solidarity among the Lebanese nation, laid bare the weaknesses of the Israeli military and political leadership while emphasizing the righteousness of armed resistance against Israel.

Ronen says the rhetoric and content of the speeches were influenced by Nasrallah's understanding of the development of the war, based on information from the field.

The officer, who previously held senior positions in the research division of military intelligence, argues that had Israeli decision makers analyzed these speeches in due time it could have altered the course of the war.

Since the war, Col. Ronen writes, the resistance movement has held its ground and unity among the Lebanese has not been undermined.

UN chief warns of fresh Middle East war

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=133163§ionid=351020203



UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned that a fresh conflict could erupt in the Middle East, following an increase in tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

In a report to the UN Security Council on Friday, Ban said the mounting tensions "raised the specter of a miscalculation by either party leading to a resumption of hostilities, with potentially devastating consequences."

The UN chief went on to accuse both sides of violating the 2006 cease-fire resolution that ended the 33-day war between Israel and the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah.

Israel continues to defy international law by conducting daily military flights over Lebanon and by refusing to withdraw from the disputed northern border village of Ghajar, the UN chief said.

He also expressed concern about Israel accusing neighboring Syria of having provided Scud missiles to Lebanon's Hezbollah, saying it has "resulted in increased tension" in the region.

The Israeli accusations were leveled against Syria as both governments in Damascus and Beirut have categorically denied the missile transfer allegation.

The secretary general also voiced concern over the recent scuffles between Lebanese civilians and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The confrontation came after UNIFIL staged a controversial maneuver at the beginning of July, which raised public ire in southern Lebanon.

The unilateral drill, which was reportedly aimed at protecting Israel from possible missile attacks from southern Lebanon, was stopped amidst civilian protests.

The Lebanese people have denounced the move as out of ordinary and not in accordance with the mandate of the UNIFIL. They have also blamed the peacekeepers for their inaction toward the almost daily violation of the UN-drawn Blue Line by Israeli forces.

Lebanon warns of new 'Israeli war'

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=132872§ionid=351020203



Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has declared that Israel could launch a new war against Lebanon, vowing tough response to those Lebanese convicted of spying for Israel.

"The occurrence of an Israeli war is possible, but I don't want to generate an atmosphere of fear," Lebanon's Naharnet quoted Suleiman as saying on Wednesday.

"Israeli threats against Lebanon are persistent and aim at dividing the Lebanese between those who back fighting Israel and those who don't," he noted.

Suleiman also vowed to sign "any death sentence issued against individuals convicted of spying for Israel," a Press TV correspondent in Beirut reported.

His comments come only days after the arrest of Charbel Qazzi — a technician working for the state-owned mobile phone firm Alfa — on suspicion of spying for Israel.

Lebanon began a wave of espionage-related arrests in April 2009. It has detained dozens of people suspected of spying for Israel.

A retired brigadier general of the General Security Directorate was among the high profile officials detained. More than 20 people have been formally charged.

Lebanon says the crackdown has dealt a major blow to Tel Aviv's spy rings.

Beirut warns Israel against ship attack

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=131544§ionid=351020203



As a Lebanese aid convoy is preparing to set sail for the Gaza Strip, Beirut says Tel Aviv would be held accountable for any attack against the vessel.

In a letter to the United Nations on Tuesday, Lebanon's Foreign Ministry said "Israel will be held fully responsible for any attack on Lebanon," AFP reported.

Lebanon "cannot prohibit a ship from leaving its ports if its cargo, passengers and destination all comply with Lebanese law."

The letter came after the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations sent a letter to the UN, threatening that it would use "all necessary means" to stop the Gaza-bound aid convoy.

Earlier on Monday, Lebanese authorities granted permission for one of the two ships, the Julia, to sail to Cyprus and then to Gaza. With Lebanon and Israel technically still at war, the ship cannot directly sail for the Gaza Strip.

The aid mission comes as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned earlier that Lebanon would be responsible for any confrontation with vessels sailing to Gaza from its shores.

The ships, which have been organized by the Free Palestine Movement, would be carrying humanitarian supplies for the besieged people of Gaza.

The pro-Palestinian campaigners planned the mission after Israeli commandos stormed the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid convoy on May 31, killing at least several civilian activists and injuring dozens of others in international waters.

Lebanon, Egypt condemn Israeli threat

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130933§ionid=351020203



The Lebanese and Egyptian premiers have condemned a new Israeli threat against Beirut, saying it "might have dire consequences” for Tel Aviv.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Nazif took the stance after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned the Beirut government against allowing an aid ship to depart Lebanon for the besieged Gaza Strip.

"The Israeli government continues to threaten Lebanon," Hariri said at a news briefing with the visiting Nazif in Beirut on Thursday.

Last week a group of female Lebanese activists announced a plan to send an aid ship loaded with medical supplies to Gaza.

The organizers of the aid convoy say 50 Lebanese and foreign activists would be aboard the ship.

"There are fleets coming from Europe," said Hariri, asking that "will the Israeli defense minister attack Europe or other countries sending aid to Gaza?"

"Enough lies ... Israel's actions are not humanitarian and rejected by all human rights treaties," AFP quoted the Lebanese prime minister as saying.

Israeli forces on May 31 attacked the multinational Freedom Flotilla relief mission, which had set sail to break Tel Aviv's siege of the Gaza Strip. The assault in international waters left at least 20 human rights campaigners dead and over 40 other injured.

Nazif, for his part, warned Israel against consequences of a similar assault on the women activists' aid ship.

The Egyptian premier said that an Israeli attack on the ship "might have dire consequences as we saw with the Turkish Freedom flotilla."

"The region is facing a crossroads between the will for peace, which all Arab states voice and the international community supports, and Israel's reluctance and intransigence," Nazif said.

The attack on the Freedom Flotilla has provoked ferocious international condemnation of Israel.

Israel warns Lebanon over Gaza aid

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130926§ionid=351020203



A senior Israeli military official has warned the Beirut government against allowing an aid ship to depart Lebanon for the besieged Gaza Strip.

"I say clearly to the government of Lebanon: You are responsible for the sea vessels leaving your ports with a clear and known intention of trying to break the naval blockade on Gaza,” Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday.

The warning came days after a group of female Lebanese activists announced a plan to send an aid ship loaded with medical supplies to Gaza.

Israel said that its navy would not allow the boat to reach Gaza.

“The Lebanese government has responsibility for such vessels leaving its ports ... as their cargo that could result later in a violent and dangerous clash if the ship refuses to come to Ashdod (port)," Barak said.

The organizers of the aid convoy say 50 Lebanese and foreign activists would be aboard the ship.

“We are all independent women who believe in breaking the siege on Gaza,” said Samar Hajj, who is coordinating the trip.

Israeli forces on May 31 attacked the multinational Freedom Flotilla relief mission, which had set sail to break Tel Aviv's siege of the Gaza Strip. The assault in international waters left at least 20 human rights campaigners dead and over 40 other injured.

The attack on the Freedom Flotilla has provoked ferocious international condemnation of Israel.

Chomsky slams Israel 'madness'

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=128244§ionid=351020202



Renowned Jewish-American scholar Noam Chomsky has warned of a madness-charged Israeli war on Lebanon, amid Tel Aviv's recurrent threats against the country.

Tel Aviv could turn aggressive out of the "mentality of madness" which characterizes many across Israel, Chomsky said on Thursday, Ynet reported.

Suffering from a persecution complex, Israel could launch a war anytime it feels it is being cornered, he added.

The 81-year-old senior academic made the remarks during a meeting with leading Lebanese cleric Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah. The meeting came after Israeli officials prevented Chomsky from visiting the occupied Palestinian territories over his anti-Israeli stance.

Israel initiated offensives against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 and was heavily defeated by the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah.

The regime recently initiated a number of military escalations near the Lebanese border after accusing Syria of supplying Hezbollah with Russian-made Scud missiles. Subsequently, Israeli staged military drills near the border, prompting Hezbollah to place its fighters on alert.

Fadlallah, for his part, said that Israel's irrational attitude would not push the regime into renewing its attacks. The "opposition's" resources of experience, potential, combat readiness and strategic plans can deter Tel Aviv from risking another war, he added.

The cleric also said that the main problem was the policies adopted by the United States which, he said, did not honor humanity.

Lebanon boosts defense near S border

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=127951§ionid=351020203



The Lebanese army has beefed up defenses along the country's southern border, launching a military exercise against a backdrop of Israel's ongoing war games.

Lebanon deployed its 11th infantry brigade along the western sector in the south, media reports quoted the country's al-Manar TV network as saying on Wednesday.

Security officials in Beirut said forces were deployed across the border with Israel "in order to thwart any possible offensive from the enemy, and close any loopholes that it might use during an attack scenario."

The officials also said the army was ready to counter any possible Israeli incursion.

The deployment came two days after Israeli forces, backed by military vehicles, took up combat positions near Fatmeh Gate and in the groves adjacent to Kfar Kila, prompting Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers in the area to go on alert.

The Lebanese army said earlier on Wednesday its anti-aircraft artillery opened fire at two intruding Israeli warplanes flying at medium altitude over the Lebanese territory.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, had earlier warned about Israel's violation of Lebanese airspace, saying they were in breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a 33-day Israeli offensive on southern Lebanon in 2006.

The development comes amid ongoing Israeli military drills codenamed "Turning Point 4" in 68 different towns and cities - which is widely viewed as an indication of another Israeli war in the region.

The secretary general of Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, vowed on Tuesday to respond to any renewed Israeli offensive on Lebanese territory.

"If we are targeted, we target them as well. [If] we are killed, we can kill. [If] we are forced to leave our homes, we force them to leave their homes. [If] we are confronted, we confront them and so they will have a real problem," Nasrallah said.