Lebanon, France sign five agreements

Lebanon and France signed Thursday five cooperation agreements in presence of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his French counterpart François Fillon

Israeli cabinet undecided on withdrawal from Ghajar

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told Israeli radio that the Israeli cabinet has not taken a final decision on withdrawal from the northern part of the Ghajar Village.
He added : “Any decision would take into consideration the security and well-being of the residents.”

Kouchner: Border demarcation issue should be resolved

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Thursday with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who praised the improvement in Lebanese-Syrian , but told reporters :
“There is a problem regarding border demarcation,” . He urged “cooperation” from both the Lebanese and Syrian sides to help resolve this issue.
Kouchner unveiled that efforts were underway to resolve obstacles facing the withdrawal of Israel from Ghajar.
The French foreign ministry described Hariri’s visit as an “opportunity to express France’s firm support for Lebanon and its institutions” and to renew Paris’ “commitment to Lebanon’s stability, unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”
Lebanon and France are expected to sign five significant agreements.

The tree-lined bunkers that could change the face of the Middle East

By Robert Fisk
The border looks peaceful, but Hizbollah and Israel are preparing for war

Palestinians: No Israeli presence in our future state

The Palestinians on Thursday rejected the idea of an Israeli presence on the eastern border of their future state, which was mooted by Israel’s hawkish prime minister.
“The Palestinian leadership will not accept the presence of a single Israeli soldier in the Palestinian territories after the end of the occupation,” Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for president Mahmud Abbas, told AFP.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel would patrol the eastern border of any future state to prevent the smuggling of weapons, especially rockets like those fired from the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. AFP

UNIFIL chief: No signs of a possible war between Israel, Lebanon

Major General Claudio Graziano, Commander of the United Nations peacekeeping operation (UNIFIL) in south Lebanon told An-Nahar newspaper that the recent incidents that occurred in South Lebanon, such as Israeli violations of Lebanon’s airspace among others, do not show any signs of a possible war between the two states.
“The situation in the South is positive, and we remain optimistic,” Graziano said, adding that there has been great progress in the area over the last three years.
Major General Alberto Asarta Cuevas, a Spanish national will be replacing Graziano within days

Peres: Delay in peace talks could lead to a 3rd intifada

Israeli President Shimon Peres recently warned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that continuing the deadlock in negotiations with Israel could lead to a third intifada and that in delaying, Abbas was “playing with fire.”
Yesterday, U.S. special envoy George Mitchell came to the region in another attempt to jump-start talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
At a meeting at the President’s Residence on Sunday, Peres told Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store about his discussions with Abbas.
Store told Peres that Israel should take more steps to support Abbas. “Abu Mazen [Abbas] is vulnerable and feels hurt, and his position needs to be bolstered by American support,” Store said . Haaretz

U.S. urging a major role for Saudi in Yemen

The Obama administration is urging a major role for Saudi Arabia in an emerging international effort to stabilize Yemen, said U.S. and European officials involved in the diplomacy.
In doing so, the White House risks relying on an ally whose interests in Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula don’t always align with Washington’s.
One difference has already arisen: While Riyadh continues a military campaign against insurgents based inside Yemen’s northern border with Saudi Arabia, the U.S. on Wednesday called for political dialogue in the conflict with the rebel group, the Houthis. The U.S. coordinates closely with Saudi Arabia in combating Iranian influence across the Middle East, but U.S. officials say they’ve received no intelligence to back Riyadh’s claims that Iran is arming and funding the Houthi. WSJ

Hariri: We fear an Israeli operation against Lebanon

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived Wednesday in Paris for an official three-day visit, heading a delegation of ministers and officials.
Hariri was welcomed by French Minister for Rural Affairs, Town and Country Planning Michel Mercier, Lebanese Ambassador to France Boutros Assaker, French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton and staff members of the Lebanese Embassy in France.
The delegation traveling with Hariri includes Ministers Elias al-Murr, Ali Shami, Adnan al-Kassar, Ibrahim Najjar, Ziad Baroud, Selim Sayegh and Rayya al-Hassan as well as Hariri’s counselors.
In an interview by the French newspaper Le Monde, Hariri said: “We fear an Israeli operation. Last week, 25 Israeli overflights were recorded in one day.”
Hariri added : “What have the Israelis done in 2006? All of the bridges in Lebanon were destroyed. Isn’t that an aggression against Lebanon?”
“Israel can find any excuse , not to mention it doesn’t need excuses and it is not doing anything for the sake of the peace process.”

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri (L) with Bernard Accoyer, President of the National Assembly of France

Haiti aftershock causes panic

The powerful aftershock that struck Haiti early this morning incited panic among residents who are sleeping in the streets and could hinder rescue efforts as the clock ticks to save those buried alive under the rubble.
Registering at a magnitude of 6.1, it is the largest aftershock since the devastating quake a week ago Tuesday killed tens of thousands of people and left hundreds of thousands wounded and homeless.
There were no immediate reports of serious damage after the latest earthquake, centered 35 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, but it could hamper aid efforts, which have finally gained steam after Haitians complained that food and water were not reaching their settlements . CSM