Lebanon 'ready to counter Israeli threat'

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136999§ionid=351020203


Lebanese President Michel Sleiman says that his country's military forces are ready to confront any threat posed by the Israeli regime.

Speaking at a ceremony marking Lebanon's Army Day on Sunday, the president also called on all the political groups to maintain unity against the enemy.

Meanwhile, he said that Beirut would always defend the rights of Palestinians, specially their refugees to return to their homeland.

He made the remarks after Israeli reconnaissance warplanes violated Lebanon's airspace during the last weeks.

The Tel Aviv regime has launched two wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The 33-day war claimed the lives of about 1,200 Lebanese -- mostly civilians -- four years ago.

However, Israel on both occasions fell short of achieving any of its objectives and the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah forced the Israeli military into retreating.

Tension between Lebanon and Israel has increased in recent months after Beirut arrested several people on suspicion of spying for Tel Aviv.

The Lebanese president noted that the suspected spies working for Israel inside Lebanon would be charged.

Dozens of people, including members of Lebanon's telecommunications personnel, were detained since last year on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli spy agency, Mossad.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, cabinet members and other diplomatic figures attended the 65th anniversary of the Lebanese army.

French Christians: End Israel's impunity

This file photo shows Palestinians and Arab-Israeli
Christians holding a protest against Israel.


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136638§ionid=351020603


A number of Christian organizations in France have called on the government to hold Israel accountable for its violation of Palestinians' rights.

Five institutions including Secours Catholique, Cimade, Acat-France, Defap and les Amis de Sabeel-France wrote a letter to the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Wednesday, calling for action against Israeli crimes in Palestinian territories.

The letter urged the "French government to act, to put an end to the impunity accorded to ... Israel as regards the violation of international law," AFP quoted the letter as saying.

The move came after Palestinian Christians approached the organizations, asking for help against an Israeli military decree aimed at expulsion of thousand of Palestinians from the West Bank, the groups said.

The only way for achieving a "just and fair" peace in the Middle East is observance of international laws by Israel, the letter went on to say.

The Christian institutions also urged for the suspension of the European Union-Israel Association Agreement which constitutes legal grounds for relations between the European bloc and Tel Aviv.

Hamas slams Israel's Negev demolitions

Villagers and activists in al-Araqib light bon fires
as Israeli forces raze houses in the Bedouin village
in the Negev desert, July 27, 2010


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136482§ionid=351020202


The Islamic Hamas movement has condemned the Israeli regime for the demolition of tens of Palestinian houses in a Bedouin village in the Negev desert.

More than 1,500 Israeli forces attacked al-Araqib village shortly before dawn on Tuesday. They bulldozed all houses and uprooted hundreds of olive trees belonging to the villagers, AFP quoted activists who tried to prevent the demolition.

Israeli authorities claimed that the homes had been built without legal permits.

In a statement released later on Tuesday, Hamas slammed the move, charging Israel with efforts to expel Palestinians, over baseless excuses, out of villages and places where they and their fathers have been living for years, IRNA reported.

The movement also praised the villagers and activists who staged a "bare-hand resistance against the occupation forces and their bulldozers."

It further called on the Palestinians to stand up against Israeli plans to raze another 45 Palestinian homes in Negev.

Hamas also urged the Arab League and the United Nations to fulfill their obligations concerning Israel's escalating violations against Palestinians.

On July 21, Amnesty International reiterated its call on Israel to stop the demolition of Palestinian houses and other buildings in the West Bank.

The international rights watchdog condemned Israel's "unacceptable" demolition policy and charged Tel Aviv with removing the Palestinian population from the West Bank through razing their homes.

The Tuesday demolition displaced about 300 Bedouins -- desert-dwelling Arabs who have been living in the Negev desert for centuries.

Israel threatens Lebanon with invasion

Israeli Defense Minister and War criminal Ehud Barak


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136317§ionid=351020203


Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has warned that Tel Aviv would strike directly at the Lebanese government, should violence break out the next time.

In an interview with the Washington Post published Monday, the minister said, "if it happens that Hezbollah will shoot into Tel Aviv, we will not run after each…launcher of some rocket in all Lebanon. We'll see the government of Lebanon responsible."

"We will see it as legitimate to hit any target that belongs to the Lebanese state, not just to Hezbollah," said Barak.

Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, however, has repeatedly dismissed the accusations that it fires rockets into Israel.

The movement says such allegations are part of Israeli propaganda which aims to justify another invasion.

The Israeli regime has launched two wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The second round of the all-out offensives killed about 1,200 Lebanese -- mostly civilians.

However, Tel Aviv on both occasions fell short of achieving any of its objectives and Hezbollah forced the Israeli military into retreating.

Tension between Lebanon and Israel has increased in recent months as Beirut arrested several people on suspicion of spying for Tel Aviv.

Dozens of people, including members of Lebanon's telecommunications personnel, have been arrested since last year on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli spy agency, Mossad

'US Psy-war plan includes 2 hot wars'

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136359§ionid=351020101


Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the United States and Israel plan to attack two countries in the Middle East as part of a conspiracy to apply pressure on Iran.

"We have precise information that the Americans have devised a plot, according to which they seek to launch a psychological war on Iran," Ahmadinejad stated in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Monday.

"They plan to attack at least two countries in the region within the next three months," he added.

He said the US seeks to achieve two main objectives with the scheme.

"First of all, they want to hamper Iran's progress and development since they are opposed to our growth, and secondly they want to save the Zionist regime because it has reached a dead-end and the Zionists believe they can be saved through a military confrontation," Ahmadinejad explained.

He also advised US President Barack Obama not to follow the policies of George W. Bush.

In addition, he warned Russian officials to avoid playing into the hands of Washington because that would go against their national interests.

Commenting on the nuclear issue, Ahmadinejad said Iran will resume nuclear talks with the West in September, adding that Iran wants Turkey and Brazil to participate in the negotiations.