In an exclusive interview on Friday Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri told DPA the failure of the international community to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the heart of Lebanon’s tense relationship with the Jewish state, which is constantly searching for a pretext to attack Lebanon.
“War in the region has never been due to a decision taken by Lebanon. Any war is a direct result of inaction on the part of the international community and the failure to move seriously on the peace process,” the 39-year-old son of assassinated Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri said in Beirut, ahead of a three-day visit to Germany starting Sunday.
Israel and Lebanon have traded threats in recent months over the apparent build-up of forces by Hezbollah along the border between the two states. In 2006 Israel invaded southern Lebanon and bombed Beirut in response to what it saw as the Hezbollah threat.
Hezbollah and Lebanon’s other political factions have returned to the so-called National Dialogue despite tensions over the fact that Hezbollah — now a part of the government — refuses to concede that it having its own heavily armed militia is at odds with democratic politics.
Hariri brushes over the arms issue.
“This is not the first time that Hezbollah has been part of the government. This goes to show how the Israelis are always looking for pretexts. Hezbollah is represented in Parliament as a result of democratic elections.”
The group, which has vowed to keep its arsenal to defend the southern border has 13 members in Parliament and two ministers in Hariri’s government.
Hariri said he will travel on Sunday to Berlin to “discuss the regional situation and how to protect Lebanon from regional conflicts.”
Berlin has been active in Middle East peace moves this year, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak have all held talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“All wars with Israel, in which Lebanon has been the victim of, have been launched by Israel, not by us, and Lebanon is the one who paid a very high price, in human lives, displaced people and destroyed infrastructure,” Hariri said.
“The problem is that we live in a volatile region. It all boils down to what got us to be in this situation of regional instability, and the answer to that is failure to do anything on the peace process, particularly for the Palestinians and their rights,” he said.
Hariri said his talks in Berlin will tackle ways to boost cooperation with Germany which contributes to the United Nations peacekeeping force that monitors Lebanon’s borders with Israel.
Lebanon’s National Dialogue has the aim of putting in place a defense strategy for the country. Some parties have objected to Hezbollah’s military activities and called for its disarmament.
“Lebanon is a democracy. And any democracy has its differences. Is there unity among the Lebanese on absolutely every single issue? Frankly, no, because in reality this is simply impossible. But there is definitely unity among the Lebanese on dialogue, on managing our differences, and on providing safety and civic rights to our citizens,” he said.
Hariri warned of growing political extremism given the failure to date of the Mideast peace process.
“Today fighting extremism is not the responsibility of one country alone, it is the responsibility of the whole world. In our region, for instance, extremists are unfortunately gaining audience, at the expense of moderates, by simply asking one simple question: Show us one achievement in the domain of Palestinians rights to a state, a capital, a right of return, any domain of their rights, after 62 years of plight, of which almost four decades of attempts at a negotiated settlement,” he said.
Lebanon has suffered a series of terror attacks over the last five years, including the massive bombing that killed Rafik Hariri in 2005. Many have blamed the wave of killings on Syria, which denied the accusations but was then forced to end 29 years of military occupation in Lebanon.
Saad Hariri as prime minister, has attempted to rebuild relations with Damascus.
“Our relations with Syria are on the right track. We are approaching them in a very positive attitude, and we are met with a very positive attitude by Damascus. We are two neighbors, united by Arab identity, and we have common interests in economy, in trade, in security, in culture, and on a regional level, we are facing the same challenges as a result of the absence of progress on peace.”
Hariri said he will be visiting Damascus again “in the coming weeks for more in-depth discussions on all these issues.”
However Hariri awaits progress on the troubled Hague tribunal that has attempted to solve his father’s murder — with a former UN investigator, Detlev Mehlis, saying recently it may never be cleared up.
“I have complete faith in the Tribunal. Whatever the results from it, I will accept.
“This has always been my position, and it will remain the same,” he said. DPA
God bless you Hariri. Every single word I’ve read here is true. The fact that the region is facing boiling tensions and the increase of extremism from so many factions due to the lack of negotiation between israel-palestine, is dangerous! When will they just sit down and solve their difficulties, because when they do Lebanon will be at peace finally.. we won’t have to be paying the price of these murderers that were the main reason for the beginning of plight in Lebanon in the 70’s-80’s. God bless and spare Lebanon from all troubles, its about time somethinghas improved, changed and progressed in the tiny and shattered Levant.
Rating:
0
So he’s a total liar and so are you. Lebanon attacked in 1948 and Lebanon allowed its domestic based militias to attack Israel in the 70s, 90’s and post millennium.
Rating:
0
Adam, they were reactions to Israeli actions. The Lebanese have never instigated a war….. So, are you saying that “Israel” in its history has never started a conflict??? Stop kidding yourself, the reality is that no one is sinless in the Middle East. Peace
Rating:
0
Which “Israeli actions” against Lebanese cause Lebanon’s entrance into the 1947-49 war? Which “Israeli actions” caused Lebanon to allow Palestinian fedayeen to murder Israeli civilians from her territory???
Rating:
0
The crisis in the Middle East ,wars,religious fanaticism,and terrorism will continue as long as there is no solution to the Palestinian question!The creation of a Palestinian state is the answer.The Palestinians have the right to return to their land !Israel cannot continue to defy ,cannot continue to build more settlements denying the rights of the Palestinians!This injustice will only give birth to more extremism,hatred ,war and destruction.
Rating:
0
There were more than a million people who became refugees as a result of the creation of Turkey. There were many Muslims who had to leave the Balkans when the Ottoman’s withdrew from there as well. When Cyprus fell to the British, its Muslim majority fled to Anatolia.
According to UNHCR definitions for refugees, only the original refugees themselves count and any descendants are not Israel’s responsibility.
In addition, those who advocate the two state solution, cannot support this. One would have a Jewish majority and one would have a Muslim Arabic speaking majority.
You can’t expect that Israel should have an Arab minority, remove hundreds of thousands of ethnic Jews from lands Arabs want for a state, because they want a Jew free state AND ALSO they want all of their refugees to go to the Jewish of the two states. There were nearly twice as many Jewish refugees from Arab countries. The right of return is INCOMPATIBLE with the two state solution.
Rating:
0
As much as I am a fan of Hariri, I do not agree with him that it was always Israel who attacked Lebanon. If Israel atacked Lebanon because it was provoked, not by the Lebanese government, but by terrorists and outlaws, whether Palestinians or Lebanese, because the Lebanese government was not taking the responsibility of the security on the ground, and this is true up to date. Every now and then we see rockets that are sent to Israel from Lebanon, don’t we? Or the farmers find rockets ready to be launched towards Israel and then the army comes to defuse them. If the Army is controlling 100% the security of the Lebanese territory, then there would no attacks on Israel by no body and then Israel would not have any excuse to attack Lebanon, as simple as that.
Unfortunately, the Lebanese like to blame ALWAYS others for their misfortunes, and who better than blaming the ENNEMY (Israel), while they are exercising the politics of the Ostrich and not taking care of their business at HOME.
Please do not interpret this that I am a pro-Israel: I am not. I am a pro-Lebanon Free, Independent, Strong, Democratic excluded from any militias or illegal armed factions.
Rating:
0
Oooooh the taboo of being “pro – Israel”. It is possible to be pro Israel and pro Lebanon
Rating:
0
TO Constanti:
I dont know what country, or what planet u live on for that matter! EVERYDAY ISRAEL CONTINUES TO ILLEGALLY VIOLATIONS INTO LEBANESE AIR SPACE! Tell me what country IN THE WORLD would allow this to happen on a daily basis??!! But I guess u dont call that provations, nor the the kidnapping of helpless Lebanese shepherds and farmers, OUR HOW ABOUT THE SIMPLE FACT THAT PART OF YOUR COUNTRY IS STILL OCCUPIED!…Your undertone is so OBVIOUS! Say what u always want to say, say whats really in your heart, THAT YOU HATE HEZBOLLAH AND AS LONG AS THERE AROUND YOU FIND IT “OK” FOR ISRAEL TO CONTINUE ANY ILLEGAL PROVACTION AGAINST YOUR COUNTRY BECAUSE YOU HATE HEZBOLLAH! (Remember there Shia, and like you stated in earlier posts “what have the Shia community ever contributed to Lebanon…other then not paying there electricity bills) your past words tell what you really feel. The Prime Minister has woken up to the reality and the truth on the ground and to what the RESISTANCE really is and means to OUR country, I pray one day, you do the same.
Salem
Rating:
0
ya jawad
1-you are right about the violations of israel of the lebanese air space and the kidnapping of the helpless lebanese shepherds.
but listen carfully because this is where we start disagreeing and this talk is not from another planet but from another lebanese that has the same freedom of expression as you do.
2-what about the weapons that keep pouring in from our NEIGHBOR without prior consent from lebanese people or government, what about all the latest un reports that mention both israel and certain factions in lebanon as violating the 1701 and the previous resolutions.
3-part of lebanon is still occupied! ok fine with me in principle but you have to convince the international community of the validity of your claims by providing necessary documents from syria showing official maps and saying these territories are lebanese.if we lebanese do not provide these required documents to the un we cannot convince the world community these lands are ours.
4-we like all lebanese to be governed under the same law, without any exceptions.
when we see and hear about certain armed groups some are lebanese and some are not, having exra privileges that are forbidden to the average lebanese citizen because these groups intimidate the authorities and put pressure on them utilizing right or wrong the cause of resistence being lebanese or palestinian.
when you see all these incidents happening periodically and the average citizen not belonging to any affiliation lahawla wa la qouaata feels degraded to the status of a second class citizen, dont be surprized to hear complaints for left and from right and believe me if these complaints are not addressed in time and properly, they could degenerate later on into serious problems nationwide.
Rating:
0
If you date back to the time of moses, it clearly states in the Torah, the expansion of israel extends from the nile to Iraq, so believe that these regions are rightfully israeli land, and we are only leasing the land to the people of the middle east, eventually israel will consolidate greater israel into one great nation…
Rating:
0
Ya Voice of Truth (lol couldnt help myself)
1. Ya habibi, Israel threatens our country be it through verbal provocations or physically with there planes. The US and the rest of Europe supply them with the most state of the art weapons and I dont hear any one of you complain expect when they fall on our land. The US and most other Europeans WONT SUPPLY LEBANON with any type of DEFENSIVE weapons ( the US has actual laws preventing it) to deter Israel making sure they are ALWAYS the dominate power in the region.
2. 1701 Has been in place now for 4yrs, all it has attempted to do is stop the follow of arms to Lebanon to defend itself, but NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PREVENT ISRAEL FROM BREAKING LEBANESE SOVOUGNTY ON A DAILY BASIS…We should all ask why not? Ill answer, to PROTECT ISRAEL NOT LEBANON! Furthermore under international law any country or group has THE RIGHT to resist any occupying force PERIOD (if you would like i can sent you the complete stature).
3. “Saying Syria hasnt given the proper paper work” is a common mistake (be it unintentional or otherwise). Syria HAS in fact given all the proper paper work to the UN showing that Shebba Farms and the rest of the occupied lands are in fact LEBANESE. But guess what, this may surprise and shock you, ISRAEL DOSNT CARE! and they continue to occupy the land. Some media outlets (mostly American) continue suggest this LIE (again if you would like me site sight specifics, paper work and dates sighting Syria demcratising the boundary with Lebanon, I will).
4. Lastly Hezbollah has been given EXCLUSIVE PERMISSION BY LAW TO HOLD THEIR WEAPONS AND RESIST BY THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT. However, I completely agree with you that no other group should continue to hold arms, expect for those that have been given permission by the state. Any palastine group still holding arms should have them removed.
Look you and I arent really in any disagreement if you look at the entirety of the situation. We all love, and care for our country, we just disagree on MINOR points, but regardless I am still and will always be proud to call you my brother.
Salem
Rating:
0
Jawad,
I think your forgetting that the jews have been persicuted for years dating back to the time of the pharroh, and kicked out of the land of israel, by your own people… Israel is only taking back what has always belong to them. I understand your frusteration, if hezbollah disarms I can assure you the lebanese people will not have to live in fear. they will be at peace under israeli leadership…
Rating:
0
Agreed
Rating:
0
Mr Gold or Silver or Bronze or whatever,
Get your history straight, FIRST the story of the Israelites and the splitting of the Sea and the Exodus is all myth. However, the Jews were kicked out of Jerusalem and Palestine but not by the Arabs but by the Romans. Later on they thrived under Arab rule only to be slaughtered by the Crusaders on their way to “liberate” the holly land. If you ask me I’d say if this stupid holly land and this Jerusalem did not exist the world would have been a better place. It should have been the light of the world but instead it only brought misery and death to humanity. Even Jesus cursed it. So get your history straight that Europeans persecuted the Jews in old times under Rome and modern times under the whole Christian “mea culpa” charade and then Nazi Germany.
As to Israel taking back what is theirs, THAT IS THE BIGGEST MORONIC statement I’ve ever heard. May be the Native Americans should take back America.
Rating:
0
Actually Walid, the Romans only ethnically cleansed central Judea. Jews were (along with Samaritans) around half of the population until at least the second century of Arab rule.
Rating:
0
To Mr. Gold
” jews have been persicuted for years dating back to the time of the pharroh, and kicked out of the land of israel, by your own people” This is what you wrote Miles…Lets play a history lesson for a bit.
1. Im sure your familar with THE JEWISH GOLDEN AGE it lasted about 4 centurys. IT WAS UNDER MUSLIM RULE! Jews built a civilization, based in Cordoba, known as Al-Andalus, which was more advanced than any civilization in Europe at that time. Jews were able to coexist peacefully under ARAB RULE. So While the rest of Europe persucuted the Jewish people, they ran to Arabs and found peace and security, in there bothers of faith (hell were your cousins! lol). Arabs and Jews lived together for centurys in peace and harmony, it was only until THE EVIL ESTABLISHMENT OF ZIONISM in the late 19th century when some Jews saw there Arab brethern as enemys and began persucuting US! Its funny when you speak “Israel is only taking back what has always belong to them” a notion so unbelievable to the jewish people untill the establishment of Zionism.
2. Israel was persucuting Lebanon before there even was a HEZBOLLAH! The Zoinist monsters that run your country never need a pretext for war, they would just create one. Lebanon has been attacked by Israel all the way back since 1948! If you would like me to cite the HUNDERS of incidents, I will gladly oblidge. Israel is a war mongering state and needs to stay in a state of prepetucal war for its exsistance to continue. Well unfortunatly for Israel Mr. Gold, the tide is starting to turn. Hezbollah has exceeded in doing what no Arab nation was able to do before, shatter the false illusion of an invincible Israel army, create detterence and begin shifting the balance of military might and statergy. Next time Israel thinks about hitting Lebanon your youll think it over not once but a 1000x and know, you hit us WERE GOING TO HIT YOU BACK!
Rating:
0
No. Israel reacted to Lebanon allowing Palestinian terrorists to attack Israeli civilians from Lebanese soil.
Rating:
0
What about what Syria and Iran are doing to Lebanon..
Rating:
0
Mr. Abboud & Mr. Adam ben Yoel,
Thank you for being in agreement with me, that lebanon is better off under Israeli control…
Rating:
0
I do NOT agree with that.
Rating:
0
Mr. Jawad,
I know you love your country; I can sense the passion behind the words you have chosen. I respect that you are fighting for a cause that you believe in, a group of people that has brainwashed you into believing they are fighting for you’re freedom. The fact is mr. Jawad you are not free, these terrorist have chained you down and insulted your race by launching attacks with there katusha rockets, against the innocent in haifa. They destroyed roads and buildings, which is an example of terrorism.
I do agree that the Jews were prosperous under Islamic rule, but that was centuries ago when your people were united. Today there is no safety for the Jewish community in the Middle East, nor is there any safety for your own people, there are too many sects in your society and the government is in constant disagreement on how they should run a country. The truth is the people of the Middle East do not have the mental capacity to run a country today. Where is the infrastructure in Lebanon? (you have streets of flowing garbage). Where is the infrastructure in Syria, Iraq, Iran? The only countries in the middle east that has some knowledge of running a country is Jordan, Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia… Why? Because they have decided to create peace with Israel, Guess what? It’s not too late to have peace, and there is a solution to create peace, and that is Hezbollah needs to lay down there weapons in order to allow a peaceful resolution.
Israel is willing to offer the same respect to your people that the Islamic people have offered the Jewish people, the freedom to practice your religion and the freedom to express yourself in society. That will only happen under Israeli Rule, remember the world backs Israel, I would feel bad if war breaks out again in your country. Because this time there is no mercy, the foundation of Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East will feel a blow that would be heard by the rest of the world, the screams will send a shockwave across the Atlantic. And after everything is said and done, only then we will have peace in the Middle East when the Arabians will bow down to there commander and chief. Long Live Israel Mr. Jawad
Rating:
0
Mr. Gold you are a hypocrite, not to mention an arrogant lying snake. Oddly enough you have managed to live up to every stereotype your people are trying to run away from.
Listing the UAE as a country that has a peace agreement with Israel is laughable. Do countries with peaceful relations typically work behind eachothers backs, breaks laws, and assassinate people on eachothers soil? Even if there were some worthless document that stated such, Israel has no friends or allies in the world, as the backstabbing and blackmail tactics have distanced Israel from its closest allies. Jordan, Egypt, the UAE and Saudia Arabia do not respect your country.
Israel doesn’t even respect it’s own Arab citizens. A recent poll in your hometown newspaper Haaretz indicated that half of Israeli high schoolers oppose equal rights for Arabs, with 82 percent of religious students saying they opposed equal rights for Arabs.
Beirut has streets flowing with garbage? Not sure what propaganda you gathered that from, but don’t come onto a Lebanese website and spew lies about our country.
Do us all a favor and crawl back to the ministry of propaganda in tel aviv, your feeble attempts to divide and conquer may have worked in the past, but Lebanon is a stronger country today.
Samir Gemayel
Rating:
0
yup it is a problem. However, if Lebanon had chosen the way of Syriac immigration or lesser Lebanon, would there have been such a Christian exodus?
Rating:
0
Like I said even the lebanese people ally with Israel, to prove my point thank you mr. Abboud and mr. Adam Ben Yoel, I appreciate you offering your opinion to mr. Jawad, to deter the support of your Government, and allowing Israel to maintain control of you’re country
. You would be considered an honorary citizen of Israel.
Rating:
0
Miles, as you day dream in your little fantasy of owning everything in the world, I would like to ask you why you are even on this site? You seem to be the type that loves to glorify himself but give absolutely no positive and or effective comments/feedback on this site. We get it (since you mentioned it a few times just in this post!) that you want to be ruler… well guess what you can!! it is a game called sim city and you can be king of the world!!
But back to the point, stick to making some descent comments or don’t say anything at all.
Rating:
0
Again Fadi,
You have failed to comprehend what you are doing, You are sidelining with the enemy… If you love Lebanon, you would understand that the country needs a captain to steer the ship, and that is Hassan Nasrallah! Face it, put your hate for islam aside and act a little more political and supportive for your people… this is a leader of Lebanon, respect and love him so people like mr. GOlD cannot bash your country and people. You represent Lebanon, express your patriotism.
Rating:
0
“I think your forgetting that the jews have been persicuted for years dating back to the time of the pharroh, and kicked out of the land of israel, by your own people… Israel is only taking back what has always belong to them.”
This is one of the most “scientific” arguments usually made about the ME problem. Common fallacies are common place from all sides when it comes to Israeli-Palestinian conflict; however u can rarely squeeze so many fallacies in one statement. Among others “Appeal to Authority”, “Appeal to Spite”, and a “Genetic Fallacy” can be observed here. 2700 hundred years ago the Pharaoh, who is surely one of your grand fathers you people, persecuted the Jews. This is absolutely true because the old book mentioned the persecution and it was proven the Pharaohs lived in Egypt and you live around the Area. Accordingly the “Jews” -a word which has the exact meaning as the “State of Israel”- have the right to expel and persecute you. In addition, you people are forgetting that the “Jews” have always been persecuted by others so it is high time they drop some napalm on your kids. Israel is only taking back the right which is in the “Book”. I’m afraid there are few other “Books” around; all signed by the same dramatist.
Sam
Rating:
0
Mr. Gold. You are a fool. You are a Zionest Pig.
Rating:
0
He may be foolish but I don’t think you know what “Zionist” is.
Rating:
0
Miles and Adam, the Lebanese want to be under the control of nobody other themselves, and certainly not under Israeli control. All our neighbors envy Lebanon, and they want either to control it or occupy it, whether Israelis, Palestians or Syrians, but to the dismay of all these LEBANON is very very hard to control or swallow and at the end all of these armies and forces get OUT OF LEBANON humiliated.
This said, I am very much a pro peace agreement with Israel. It would be wonderful for both countries and people and very beneficial especially to the southern regions of Lebanon. 2 main conditions for peace: 1- Israel respects our territorial integrity (returns the rest of the occupied land, respects our air space and sea limits) 2- Take all the palestinians back, not necessarily to 1948 Palestine but to the west bank is fine with me. Or organize their living anywhere else in the world, I would not care less if they go back to Palestine or to hell for that matter.
Rating:
0
I NEVER said that I support Israeli control of Lebanon.
Rating:
0
Contantin,
You make no sense, and I quote
“This said, I am very much a pro peace agreement with Israel. It would be wonderful for both countries and people and very beneficial especially to the southern regions of Lebanon.”
And then you state “I would not care less if they go back to Palestine or to hell for that matter.”
These are you human beings you’re talking about… I would assume you’re capable of being a little more intelligent especially when discussing peace with everyone.
I mean choose a side either you’re a peace loving individual who wishes well on the world as a whole or something else.
I guess you and Jumblatt have something in common, you can’t choose a side. Well start choosing or nobody will take you serious!
Rating:
0
Joe, I am peace loving but the Palestinians I just cannot stand them anymore and want them out of Lebanon ASAP. I became almost allergic to them. They are supposedly guests in our country and they act in the camps and outside as the landlords. On the other hand, I support the Palestinians inside Palestine struggling for their rights, but in Lebanon no way! Yeah of course they are human beings, but ungrateful and nothing but trouble we got from them. I want them OUT period.
Rating:
0
Books prior to British rule put Tyre and Damascus and Amman in this ‘Palestine’ that you speak of.
Rating:
0
I know I sounded a little harsh on the Palestinians but forgive me I just cannot stand them in Lebanon anymore.
Rating:
0
I seem to remember Hezbollah, not Israel, crossing the border, killing and kidnapping soldiers, and launching missiles over the border while the Israelis were still having their morning tea peacefully on their side of the border. Wikipedia and newspaper archives seem to remember it that way, too.
Maybe Hariri is confused?
Rating:
0
Ok, I read the whole thing and I couldn’t help but replying.
First of all, I am a pro-peace. I am not here to blame Lebanon, be it Hizbollah or the Government, or to blame Israel. The wars have been faught. Nothing will bring back the dead, ON BOTH SIDES. What the people of Lebanon and the people of Israel should look up to is ways of peace, and coexistence.
I would like to note something, Adam Ben Yoel has stated the UN definition of “Refugee”, “According to UNHCR definitions for refugees, only the original refugees themselves count and any descendants are not…” well, are you the original Refugees of the Exodus? You’re not. So your allegations of righful control over the territories from Nile to Iraq are invalid as you are not the Arab’s responsibility. However, you have created your country, and the choice of eliminating Israel is a rather non-humane, non-rightful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. I believe that the citizens of Israel have the rights of living safely just as much as the Arabs have the right of living safely. Same goes for security.
In the words of the Israeli people who have been blogging on here, I sensed a feeling of arrogance (living under the Israeli control etc…) with this mentality, you will never be able to acheive the peace which we all desire. We will not accept Israeli control over Arab Countries… yet, You have every right to reject Arab control over your country. What I am trying to say is peace should be acheived through equality, not supremacy. Yet, I see the Israeli point of view of enforcing their hegemony over neighbouring as a mean of achieving peace.
Our ancestors have peacefully coexisted, why can’t we? We have managed to twist our religions, be it Islam, Christianity, or Judaism into ones calling for war, when their true message was that of peace, of coexistence, of justice. All we’re doing is throwing blames at eachother; we need to stop, Israelis and Arabs, and take a step back and see that we’re both guilty of what’s going on. We cannot go on living with the mentality of military deterrence and supremacy. This only gives the image that we’re ready to fight, kill, and destroy anytime. That’s the not message true peace seekers would want to convey. We can’t as Arabs say: “Israel has killed my people, Its people must die” and Israelis have no rights of saying: “The Arabs took our lands, we must kill them and get our lands bla bla bla”.
As for the lebanese related palestinian problem stated by Constantin, although I don’t approve of your methodology in approaching the topic, I must say you’re right. Palestinians in Lebanon have crossed the lines in regards to their arms, their control in refugee camps, and their usage of Lebanese territories to conduct “Resistance” against Israel. Lebanon is a sovereign land, and Palestinians have no right of defending their country through Lebanon.
I am sorry my message was long, but I hope you found it useful. I wanted to write more about the 2 states solution. If you guys are interested, then I’ll write it down.
Rating:
0
99.9% of Israeli Jews would love a peace deal with Lebanon.
Rating:
0
Thanks The Middle Man! We Lebanese should NEVER side with foreigners (whether Palestinians, Syrians, Iranians, etc…) against each other. If we only apply this principle, we would be in much more better position than where we are now.
I find it funny and curious that there are Israelis on this LEBANESE site sharing their views. Well civilized discussion does not hurt I guess…
Rating:
0
Why is it funny? Our countries are very similar and we are neighbours. Plus we have issues that are linked.
Rating:
0
Also, I do agree that Lebanon’s foreign policy should be for Lebanon and no one else.
Rating:
0
Its has nothing to do with Hate for any religion but everything to do what an independent, sovereign, democratic and civil State. A free Lebanon from Syria, Iran, USA and Israel and loyal to the state and its laws NOT a loyal to an illegal militant Group, regardless of their religious beliefs, they do not and will never have my support or the Support of Thousands of Lebanese who feel the same way. Again, you have failed to understand.
Rating:
0
Of course it’s related. Every time our Muslim relatives get a country, the percentage of non-Muslims plummets.
Rating:
0
Fadi I wish I could agree with you about the religion part. We DO hate other Religions and we are not as tolerant as we think we are. Take Lebanon for example, we are so proud of our “Religious Tolerance”, are we tolerant? think about it!! our whole political system is based on intolerance of the other!!! it proves that there is no trust at all between sects! As a Sunni Muslim, personally, I have absolutely no problem to have a cabinet made of Christians only, as long as they uphold the constitution, preserve my freedom, ensure my safety and security! Same goes for Muslim only cabinet or Shiite only or Sunni only. But is this EVER going to happen in Lebanon? NO! y? because we are not tolerant of each other! and we dont trust eachother!why do we curse the jews when it comes to israel? are all jews pro-israel? NO!
so Fadi, with all do respect my friend, revise your definition of “regardless of religious beliefs”.
i am against the arms of hezbollah too. not because i am sunni, not because i got shot at several times in may 7 clashes, but because its not logical for a group of civilians to hold such a massive artillery!
Pro-Hizbollah people may say that the resistance is justified because of the chebaa farms, but if you see ther speeches of the Hezbollah leaders, these people dont seem to be willing disarm upon israeli withdrawal from chebaa. these people have in mind to keep fighting israel till the “liberation of palestine” and that alone is a threat to the lebanese security and sovereignty. The problem is that the cabinet is unable to disarm hezbollah and thats because of 2 reasons
1- Israeli threat to Lebanon. Hezbollah is currently the only deterrent to an israeli offensive over lebanon.
2- whenever the cabinet move forth to preparing for such a move, Hezbollah and its allied, AMAL, move towards causing instabilities in Lebanon.
But I can go as far as saying that the Lebanese people does not want Hezbollah or its weapons or its hegemony over the Lebanese territories. and that was proven through the victory of 14 march in the elections.
Rating:
0
TO GOLD, ADAM, BRAD, FADI, AND CONSTANTIN!
First things first…GOLD, judging by what you have written, I dont think your a real person, just some idiot who is trying to incite hatred, If by chance I mistaken and your really the hate monger you make yourself out to be be, than there is no need for me to respond to anything that you have said. YOU HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB OF ILLUSTRATING WHY ISRAEL AND ZIONISTS ARE THE MOST HATED STATE AND IDEAOLGY ON THE PLANET!
ADAM…First let me state this, you and I have had civil debates in the past, and I sincerely believe you are a good individual. With that being said, I know you are EXTREMELY misinformed. My friend to know thy enemy (not saying we are its just a phrases) you must first now thy self. You must look ALL the information not just what was given to you by your sources i.e. Israeli, American, Western media. This is not an easy thing to do for many people, but I think you and I in many ways are similar, in that we have CURIOSITY, and the ability to read outside the lines. There are irrefutable facts that im pretty sure your not aware of, that will completely paint into a different light what Israel, and Zionism truly are. Just to make it perfectly clear, I was born in the states and lived here my whole life, I grew up HATING HEZBOLLAH, AND HAMAS, because of the information I was feed living here. It wasnt until my first eye opening experience in Lebanon (in 1996) and Palestine, did i WITNESS the truth with my own eyes, spoke to people, pooled information from respected independent sources did I realize what was REALLY going on and seen the veil over my eyes all those years. If you like to go down the rabbit hole I will HAPPILY provide you with information.
BRAD…quickly last I checked Israel still occupied Lebanon and until after the 2006 war ISRAEL WAS HOLDING LEBANESE PRISONERS THEY KIDNAPPED OF LEBANESE GROUNDS! Under international law, any state or group has the RIGHT to resist an occupying force! Like some many ill informed Israelis you always seem to look at the effect but NEVER THE CAUSE! GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY! GIVE UP OUR ILLEGALLY HELD CITIZEN! AND GO TO HELL!
LASTLY to my LEBANESE BROTHER AND SISTER FADI AND CONSTANTIN
I NEVER insult another fellow Lebanese infront of “Outsiders” but you really need to take a step back and realize what you my be preaching out there.
CONSTANTIN, you really have some personal issues, I dont want to call you racist or self hating Arab, but your words speak otherwise. Ive commented to you on a couple different occasions and you never responded. Please, all I ask of you is be cautious with your words, because they incite hatered.
FADI, your words seem sincere, and you obviously care for your country and rule of law. I respect that and agree with what you say. You and I have MINOR disagreements on the methods though. HEZBOLLAH is NOT and illegal millita. They have been given the RIGHT TO RESIST BY LAW AND THE GOVERMNET. we can have this debate another time and I welcome it and your oppinon on the matter.
Salem
Rating:
0
Israel does NOT occupy one millimeter of Lebanon according to UN maps, Lebanese military maps and basically all but one or two unreliable dusty maps. The area in question was never under Lebanese control. I could also rant about how the ‘Confessionalist’ or Lebanist entity is “evil”. Your comments are entirely lacking in substance and are nothing more than personal attacks and hurling accusations aimlessly around regarding ideologies that you do not even yourself understand.
Rating:
0
Sam Jawad,
FYI, First: Constantin is a MAN’s name and not a woman’s, i.e. I am your BROTHER too.
Second: I can assure you my Lebanese fellow I don’t want to incite hatred towards anybody.
I will re-read my messages before I send them in the future and see how they could be perceived by others. However, sometimes the facts are the facts and I don’t want to say other than that. If the fact insults others…what can I do. We have to admit our mistakes in life and go forward and try not to repeat them.
An example: You say: Hizbullah is not an illegal militia and it was given legality by the government to resist”:
This is exactly what we do not agree upon Sam. There is no legality when you put a gun to my head and force me to accept you and your acts as legal. This is called TERRORISM! You are using force against me (and the government) to impose your wishes and demands. Exactly like what the Syrians did when they were in Lebanon. This is where we differ!
I hope no body is insulted by saying that, and nobody feels hated by stating this fact.
Rating:
0
Both Syria and Lebanon agree that the Shebaa Farms are within Lebanese territory, however, Israel maintains that the area is within Syria’s borders and CONTINUES TO ILLEGALLY OCCUPY THE TERRITORY! Syria supported Lebanon’s claim. This was made public in the UN SC/6878 of June 18, 2000 which stated “Concerning the Shab’a farmlands, both Lebanon and Syria state that this land belongs to Lebanon. To state the area hasnt been demarcatized IS A IDOTIC ISRAELI PLOY! EITHER WAY THE ZIONIST STATE IS STILL ILLEGALLY OCCUPYING THE LAND SMARTASS!
Again your statement is sited with so many INCORRECT STATE YOU DEEM AS FACTS! for example lets leave Sheba aside you said:
Israel does NOT occupy one millimeter of Lebanon according to UN maps…WRONG!!! Again forget Sheba, what about GHAJAR VILLAGE! Even Israels puppet the U.S. and U.N. Urge Israel to Pull Out! I think my earlier assessments of you were off and I have no desire to debate a Zionist which you appear to be, Zionist are not welcomed on Lebanese soil, or our websites! LONG LIVE LEBANON! LONG LIVE PALESTINE!
Salem
Rating:
0
Not everyone hates other religions.. so please speak for yourself, as you are, respectively. There is a difference between willingly given the right to exist and given the right to exist due to fear and intimidation with weapons..
Civilians and politicians live in fear and are afraid to speak out because the law of the country is not being respected and nobody is being held accountable for their actions and there is nobody to protect them under the law unless they side with those who intimidate…… those Few that do speak out are automatically considered an enemy of Lebanon and sometimes considered to be supporters of Israel which is not correct.
I am speaking out and i pledge allegiance to Lebanon First and not any other Foreign country.
Rating:
0
Fadi, here i totally agree with you. I was not referring to you when i gave my example.
Rating:
0
Thank you..I realize that sometimes we can agree to disagree and that some people here Truly have Lebanon’s and not any other country’s or Political agenda/group’s best interest at heart. Ultimately the goal is the same although the plan of action may differ. However , we need to keep an open mind and be unbiased in our support for different ideas. It doesn’t make any sense or logic to support a politician or their agenda when its clear at times that their agenda is not in Lebanon’s best interest.
Rating:
0