Lebanon Transformed: A Hizbullah Nation, Iranian Proxy
by Chana Ya'ar
November 24, 2010, Kislev 17, 5771

Lebanon is Hizbullah-Iran Nation A new Hizbullah country seems to be developing in place of the sovereign nation of Lebanon, and its population is preparing for another war with Israel.

Hizbullah may be feeling particularly bold due to the impending arrival of its prime patron, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is set to arrive October 13 on his first state visit to the country since entering office in 2005.

A significant faction of Hizbullah-linked legislators plays a major role in the country’s parliament, with several ministers included in the cabinet as well. More to the point, Iran’s role in the Beirut government and the country’s infrastructure, through its links with Hizbullah, should not be underestimated.

Iranian money has financed reconstruction projects in Lebanon, including a set of multi-million dollar apartment complexes in a Beirut Hizbullah stronghold that was reduced to rubble during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. A network of new roads honeycombing southern Lebanon and connecting Hizbullah-linked border villages with interior communities was also designed and paid for by Iran.

And although the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Army were intended to enforce a demilitarized zone between Israel’s northern border and the Litani River, ensuring Hizbullah disarmed, they did not. In fact, Hizbullah and the Lebanese Army have essentially merged into one seamless unit, with the Lebanese government asserting its support for Hizbullah’s right to bear arms, and the terrorist group asserting its right to “defend” Lebanon. Together the two combined intelligence efforts, leading to the arrest by Lebanese officials of more than 100 Lebanese citizens over the past two years accused of spying for Israel.

Now the Iranian president is coming to see the results of his investment – and his protégés are eager to please him.

Ahmadinejad will tour several major Hizbullah installations, and will meet with the terrorist group’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah, as well as with all of Lebanon’s top officials, including the president, prime minister and parliamentary speaker.

The Iranian leader has also vowed to visit Lebanon’s border with Israel and hurl rocks at IDF soldiers from across the security fence, as a gesture of defiance towards the Jewish State.

Israel has asked Britain, France and the United Nations to intervene and prevent the provocation; in fact, it has requested that Lebanon cancel the visit altogether in order to prevent any possible outbreak of hostilities.

The terrorist organization has infiltrated most, if not all, of the towns and villages in the southern region of the country, building a comprehensive, integrated network of weapons facilities and other military infrastructure. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/138488

Hizbullah has been digging tunnels, preparing communications infrastructure and making other preparations for war since the end of the previous conflict, according to an officer in the IDF Northern Command.

The group is placing its military positions, weapons and explosive charges next to schools and hospitals in order to maximize civilian casualties in any future conflict with Israel, thus creating a public relations nightmare for the Jewish State.

For years, Hizbullah has stockpiled mortars, missiles and other arms in the buildings of quiet villages nestled in the hills of southern Lebanon. The IDF is aware of the strategy and has marked the targets in anticipation of any future conflict. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138496

NATO submarines spent months watching the Syrian coastline as ships smuggled weapons to the terrorist entity, including dozens of military vehicles and the high-powered Scud missiles, which can easily strike Tel Aviv from Beirut. Satellite images of one Hizbullah complex, located near the Syrian town of Adra, northwest of Damascus, allegedly revealed shelters, weapons and a fleet of trucks presumably ready to be used to transfer the ordnance.

Unifil stond er bij en keek er naar...
Uit het nieuws
25 juli 2010   

Het was aanvankelijk niet meer dan een jaarlijks terugkerende routine klus, aan de grens met Libanon op 3 augustus 2010. Israelische militairen waren in overleg met Unifil (de ‘vredestroepen’ van de Verenigde Naties) aan de Israelische kant van de grens begonnen met het snoeien van een aantal struiken en bomen toen plotseling vanuit Libanon het vuur werd geopend. Het snoeien zou om 9.00 uur plaatselijke tijd beginnen, maar werd op verzoek van Unifil twee uur uitgesteld. In die tijd informeerde Unifil het Libanese leger, wat overigens een standaardprocedure is. Een officier van het Libanese leger besloot de situatie uit te buiten, plande een hinderlaag en liet de Libanese media komen om dat te filmen. De scherpschutters van het Libanese leger werden in stelling gebracht op bevel van de legerleiding en op het moment dat de Israelische militairen begonnen met snoeien, werden Lt.Col.Dov Harari en reserve kapitein Ezra Lakia die op een afstand toekeken, onder vuur genomen. Harari liep daarbij een dodelijke hoofdwond op en Lakia raakte levensgevaarlijk gewond door een schot in zijn borst. Beiden liepen nietsvermoedend in de doelbewust opgezette val van het Libanese leger. Alle partijen waren op de hoogte van de hinderlaag, Unifil, het Libanese leger, locale media en de Libanese terreurbeweging Hezbollah “Partij van Allah”. Militairen van Unifil stonden zelfs naast militairen van het Libanese leger toen deze zich prepareerden voor een aanval op Israel. De commandant van de 9^de Brigade van het Libanese leger die bevel gaf aan sluipschutters het vuur te openen op de Israëlische militairen, is in Libanon tot held verklaard.

 Libanon beweerde dat het snoeien zich afspeelde op Libanees grondgebied, maar dat werd door Unifil tegengesproken. Op de afbeelding is duidelijk te zien dat het leger zich niet op Libanees grondgebied bevond maar binnen de internationaal erkende grens.

Kaart van Israel en Libanon: http://translate.google.nl/translate?hl=nl&langpair=en|nl&u=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Line_%28Lebanon%29

Ondanks dit bewijs beweerde de Libanese minister van informatie Tareq Mitri doodleuk dat Israelische militairen het grondgebied van Libanon waren binnengedrongen en dat daarom het Libanese leger het vuur had geopend. Libanese fire unwarranted, said UNIFIL  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3929835,00.html Mitri beweerde ook dat de militaire actie van Libanon plaatsvond onder supervisie van Unifil. http://cj.myfreeforum.org/about647.html  Het Israelische leger beantwoorde de provocatie met artillerie, tank en geweervuur waarbij drie Libanese ‘militairen’ en een journalist van de door Hezbollah gecontroleerde krant al-Akhbar werden gedood. Gedurende de Israelische aanval vroeg een militair van het Libanese leger om een staakt-het-vuren om de doden te evacueren. Israel ging akkoord, maar de overeengekomen gevechtspauze werd al snel door de Libanezen geschonden, door een Israelische tank onder vuur te nemen. De Israelische luchtmacht bombardeerde daarop een hoofdkwartier van het Libanese leger met helikopters en artillerie.

Het Libanese leger bevestigde – na het eerst te hebben ontkend- later wel via het Franse AFP nieuws dat zij met vuren waren begonnen maar bleven erbij dat de Israelische troepen zich op Libanees grondgebied bevonden. Volgens de Libanese president Michel Suleiman zal zijn land, iedere agressie van Israel waarbij de soevereiniteit van Libanon in het geding is, met geweld beantwoorden.

Een video die in Libanon werd gepubliceerd maakte duidelijk dat Unifil soldaten collaboreerden met het Libanese leger. Op de video is te zien dat Unifil wederom als vredesmacht volkomen nutteloos bleek. Niet verwonderlijk dus dat Israel geen enkel vertrouwen meer heeft in deze ‘vredesmacht’ van de Verenigde Naties. De dubieuze rol van Unifil werd verder bevestigd door een bericht in de Jakarta Globe. Daarin werd melding gemaakt van de vlucht van twee Indonesische Unifil soldaten toen de gevechten uitbraken. http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/criticism-as-two-indonesian-soldiers-flee-lebanese-Israeli-battle-in-taxi/389588 Bekend is dat een deel van Unifil bestaat uit moslimmilitairen uit Indonesië.

In eerste instantie leek de door Syrië en Iran gesteunde Hezbollah niet bij het incident betrokken te zijn geweest maar sinds enige tijd is duidelijk dat het Libanese leger grotendeels geïnfiltreerd is door deze islamitische terreurbeweging. Daarom bestaat het vermoeden dat de gedode Libanese militairen in werkelijkheid leden van Hezbollah waren die uniformen droegen van het Libanese leger. De ter plaatse gedode Hezbollah verslaggever geeft verder voeding aan dit vermoeden. De collaboratie tussen het Libanese leger en Hezbollah is inmiddels openlijk toegegeven door vooraanstaande Libanese leiders. Ook op de website van het leger wordt gemeld dat een aanval op Hezbollah een aanval op het leger is, en andersom ook.

De VN troepen hebben sinds haar installering in het zuiden van Libanon in 1978 bewezen bijzonder ineffectief te zijn en voert al sinds haar aanwezigheid in dit gebied een falend beleid. Unifil is officieel neutraal, maar daar blijkt in de praktijk helemaal niets van. De troepen hebben nooit iets ondernomen tegen de terreur van onder meer Hezbollah tegen Israel. In 1982 liet het Israel geen andere keus dan Zuid Libanon binnen te vallen om Arafat’s moordende benden te verdrijven en na Israels vertrek uit Libanon in 2000 faalde de VN opnieuw door toe te staan dat de shi’itische terreurbeweging Hezbollah de controle in het gebied over nam.

Een bijna identiek incident als die op 3 augustus, vormde in de zomer van 2006 de aanleiding voor een oorlog tussen Israel en Hezbollah. De al jaren gespannen situatie aan Israels noordgrens escaleerde toen na herhaalde provocaties op 12 juli 2006, acht Israelische militairen door Hezbollah werden vermoord en twee ontvoerd. Bij de twee ontvoerden ging om Eldad  Regev en Ehud Goldwasser. Beiden zijn op 16 juli 2008 door Hezbollah aan Israel overgedragen. Levend gevangen genomen en in lijkkisten teruggestuurd in ruil voor het stoffelijke overschot van de terroriste Dalal Mughrabi en de nog levende kindermoordenaar Samir Kuntar. Mughrabi gaf leiding aan de gruwelijke terreuraanslag op 11 maart 1978 die bekend staat als de  “Costal Road Terror Attack”. Daarbij kwamen in totaal 38 Israelische burgers om het leven waaronder 13 kinderen. Samir Kuntar, in Israel “Het Beest” genoemd, zat al dertig jaar in een Israeische cel, voor een weerzinwekkende moordpartij op onschuldige Israëlische burgers op 22 april 1979 in de plaats Nahariya.

Eldad  Regev en Ehud Goldwasser. Levend gevangen genomen en in lijkkisten teruggestuurd. Wie weet hoe gruwelijk deze jongens om het leven zijn gebracht.

De Israelische regering besloot na de gebeurtenissen in 2006, te reageren met aanvallen op stellingen van Hezbollah in het zuiden van Libanon. De reactie van de terreurbeweging was een regen van raketten op het noorden van Israel. Als antwoord daarop bombardeerde Israel  posities van Hezbollah in onder meer Beiroet. Voor een uitvoerig verslag van deze oorlog, zie mijn artikel : Godsspraak over Libanon  http://www.franklinterhorst.nl/Godsspraak%20over%20Libanon.htm

Een commandant van Hezbollah verklaarde na deze oorlog op de Israelische tv zender Channel 10 News, dat wanneer de oorlog nog tien dagen langer zou hebben geduurd, zijn beweging totaal verslagen zou zijn. Hij vertelde dat een kwart van de manschappen van Hezbollah was omgekomen (volgens een lijst van Israel in totaal 732, waarvan er 532 met naam en toenaam werden genoemd) en dat Israel praktisch de hele infrastructuur van de terreurgroep had vernietigd. Het staakt-het-vuren van de VN kwam daarom als geroepen. Hezbollah terreurleider Hassan Nasrallah gaf later toe dat het provoceren van Israel door zijn beweging een tactische blunder is geweest.

Gedurende de gevechtshandelingen in de zomer van 2006, heeft Unifil de Israelische troepen in groot gevaar gebracht door dagelijks de troepenbewegingen, locaties en militaire uitrusting van Israel in kaart te brengen en deze gegevens vervolgens op internet te zetten. Unifil heeft zich hiermee volledig ten dienste van Hezbollah gesteld. De informatie was soms maar 30 minuten oud en dus uitermate belangrijk voor de terreurbeweging. Zo berichtte Unifil op 25 juli: “Gisteren en gedurende de laatste nacht heeft het IDF zich in de regio Marun al Ras, aanmerkelijk versterkt met tanks, bulldozers en infanterie”. Unifil gaf daarbij exact de locaties aan en in welke richting de troepen zich bewogen. Unifil publiceerde niets over de locaties van Hezbollah, noch over hun bewapening of raketlanceerinstallaties, terwijl ze er als het ware, met de neus bovenop zaten.

Tijdens de oorlog in 2006 wapperden de vlaggen van Hezbollah en de Verenigde Naties gebroederlijk naast elkaar.

Het is inmiddels wel duidelijk dat Libanon een pact heeft gesloten met de terreurstaten Syrië en Iran. Direct ná de oorlog tussen Israel en Hezbollah in 2006, is Syrië onder het oog van Unifil begonnen met de levering van raketten en allerlei ander wapentuig aan Hezbollah. Deze leveringen zijn volledig in strijd met resolutie 1703 van de Verenigde Naties. Unifil heeft tot taak daartegen op te treden maar onderneemt niets. De Israelische brigadegeneraal Yossi Baidatz sprak zijn groeiende zorgen uit over de steeds groter wordende stroom geavanceerde wapens die door Syrië en Iran aan Hezbollah worden geleverd. Maar Unifil zegt van niets te weten. De levering van onder meer Scud raketten leidde bijna tot een Israelische aanval op het konvooi dat de raketten afleverde. Israel zou om onbekende reden op het laatste moment een aanval op dit konvooi hebben afgeblazen. Weer een opdracht van de grote baas in Washington misschien?

Israel houdt de huidige ontwikkelingen bij haar noordelijke grens met Libanon nauwlettend in de gaten. In juli 2010 publiceerde het IDF tot dan toe geheim materiaal. Daaruit bleek dat vele dorpen in het zuiden van Libanon zijn veranderd in wapenopslagplaatsen, bunkers en commandoposten allemaal als voorbereiding op een toekomstige oorlog. Hezbollah heeft op grote schaal huizen aangekocht met Iraans geld waar wapens worden opgeslagen en raket lanceringinstallaties zijn ingericht. De bevolking van deze dorpen zullen net als in de oorlog van 2006 door Hezbollah als menselijk schild worden gebruikt wat opnieuw veel burgerslachtoffers zal veroorzaken. Tijdens de oorlog van 2006 heeft Hezbollah alles geprobeerd het aantal Libanese slachtoffers zo hoog mogelijk op te voeren voor hun eigen nazipropagandadoeleinden. Unifil komt uit veiligheidsoverwegingen niet in deze dorpen, en dus kan Hezbollah daar zonder probleem haar gang gaan. Ook het voorkomen van wapensmokkel door Hezbollah – een onderdeel van het Unifil mandaat onder VN resolutie 1701- is niets terecht gekomen. Hezbollah beschikt nu zelfs over 45.000 raketten en heeft aangekondigd dat in een volgende oorlog tegen Israël alle Israëlische steden en belangrijke infrastructuur doelwit zullen zijn.

 Hezbollah terreurleider Hassan Nasrallah

Volgens Israel opereren inmiddels 5000 leden van Hezbollah in het zuiden van Libanon. In totaal zou Hezbollah thans over 20.000 manschappen beschikken. Een derde hiervan heeft een gevechtstraining in Iran achter de rug. Deze opbouw van Hezbollah heeft ertoe geleid dat Libanon tot een vazalstaat van Iran en Syrië is omgevormd. Dit past in de Iraanse strategie om via vazal staten en organisaties te proberen Israël van de wereldkaart te verwijderen. Dat gebeurt allemaal onder de neus van de 12.000 Unifillers en niet te vergeten, de wereldleiders.

Washington meent Libanon te moeten helpen de soevereiniteit te helpen verdedigen tegen Hezbollah en heeft voor dat doel sinds 2006 Libanon 720 miljoen dollar gedoneerd voor de aanschaf van wapens. Nu is gebleken dat Hezbollah ook het Libanese leger controleert – heeft Barack Hoessein Obama, besloten zijn politiek ten aanzien van Libanon in  heroverweging te nemen. Dit resulteerde onlangs in stopzetting van de wapenhulp en het doneren van miljoenen dollars. (Washington Institute for Near East Policy). http://washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3241

Ook Frankrijk heeft allerlei oorlogstuig aan Libanon geleverd waaronder geavanceerde antitank raketten. In de praktijk blijken de door Washington en Frankrijk geleverde wapens tegen Israel te worden gebruikt. Foto’s die genomen werden tijdens en na de aanval op de Israelische militairen op 3 augustus bewezen dat er Amerikaanse wapens zijn gebruikt. http://www.mererhetoric.com/2010/08/07/photos-confirm-lenanon-used-american-weapens-to-attack-Israel

De Bijbel maakt duidelijk dat er een moment zal komen waarbij Libanon een zware tol zal moeten betalen vanwege haar agressie tegen Israel.

Jesaja 23:11-15: … de Here heeft aangaande Kanaän (Israel) bevel gegeven zijn vestingen te verwoesten…. En het zal te dien dage geschieden, dat Tyrus vergeten zal worden, zeventig jaar lang, …

Ezechiël 28:22-23: zo zegt de Here Here: zie Ik zal u, Sidon! In uw midden zal Ik mij verheerlijken; en zij zullen weten, dat Ik de Here ben, wanneer Ik gerichten aan die stad voltrek en Mij aan haar de heilige betoon. Ik zal daarin de pest zenden, bloed op haar straten; doden zullen daar vallen door het zwaard dat aan alle kanten tegen haar gericht is.

Amos 1:10 …, zal Ik vuur werpen binnen de muren van Tyrus, zodat het zijn burchten verteerd.

Overige bronnen: http://missingpeace.eu/nl/artikelen

Clinton Supports Funding for Lebanese Army
by Chana Ya'ar
March 3, 2011, Adar 27, 5771

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging the Congress to continue its funding to the Lebanese Army.

She testified on Capitol Hill on Wednesday that Lebanon's army is professional, and non-sectarian, according to the Associated Press.

However, a number of Congress members noted that the increased participation of Hizbullah in Lebanon's government and in its military affairs raises the risk that the army may fall under the terrorist organization's control.

Clinton responded to the concerns by saying that no evidence exists to demonstrate the military has been compromised by Hizbullah influence.

The United States provides some $100 million annually to Lebanon to support its military, a funding source Clinton contends is essential to the stability of the country.

Lebanon Transformed: A Hizbullah Nation, Iranian Proxy
by Chana Ya'ar
November 24, 2010, Kislev 17, 5771

A new Hizbullah country seems to be developing in place of the sovereign nation of Lebanon, and its population is preparing for another war with Israel.

Hizbullah may be feeling particularly bold due to the impending arrival of its prime patron, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is set to arrive October 13 on his first state visit to the country since entering office in 2005.

A significant faction of Hizbullah-linked legislators plays a major role in the country’s parliament, with several ministers included in the cabinet as well. More to the point, Iran’s role in the Beirut government and the country’s infrastructure, through its links with Hizbullah, should not be underestimated. 

Iranian money has financed reconstruction projects in Lebanon, including a set of multi-million dollar apartment complexes in a Beirut Hizbullah stronghold that was reduced to rubble during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. A network of new roads honeycombing southern Lebanon and connecting Hizbullah-linked border villages with interior communities was also designed and paid for by Iran.

And although the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Army were intended to enforce a demilitarized zone between Israel’s northern border and the Litani River, ensuring Hizbullah disarmed, they did not. In fact, Hizbullah and the Lebanese Army have essentially merged into one seamless unit, with the Lebanese government asserting its support for Hizbullah’s right to bear arms, and the terrorist group asserting its right to “defend” Lebanon. Together the two combined intelligence efforts, leading to the arrest by Lebanese officials of more than 100 Lebanese citizens over the past two years accused of spying for Israel. 

Now the Iranian president is coming to see the results of his investment – and his protégés are eager to please him.

Ahmadinejad will tour several major Hizbullah installations, and will meet with the terrorist group’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah, as well as with all of Lebanon’s top officials, including the president, prime minister and parliamentary speaker.

The Iranian leader has also vowed to visit Lebanon’s border with Israel and hurl rocks at IDF soldiers from across the security fence, as a gesture of defiance towards the Jewish State.

Israel has asked Britain, France and the United Nations to intervene and prevent the provocation; in fact, it has requested that Lebanon cancel the visit altogether in order to prevent any possible outbreak of hostilities.

Hizbullah Honeycombs the South

The terrorist organization has infiltrated most, if not all, of the towns and villages in the southern region of the country, building a comprehensive, integrated network of weapons facilities and other military infrastructure. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/138488

Hizbullah has been digging tunnels, preparing communications infrastructure and making other preparations for war since the end of the previous conflict, according to an officer in the IDF Northern Command.

The group is placing its military positions, weapons and explosive charges next to schools and hospitals in order to maximize civilian casualties in any future conflict with Israel, thus creating a public relations nightmare for the Jewish State.

For years, Hizbullah has stockpiled mortars, missiles and other arms in the buildings of quiet villages nestled in the hills of southern Lebanon. The IDF is aware of the strategy and has marked the targets in anticipation of any future conflict. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138496

NATO submarines spent months watching the Syrian coastline as ships smuggled weapons to the terrorist entity, including dozens of military vehicles and the high-powered Scud missiles, which can easily strike Tel Aviv from Beirut. Satellite images of one Hizbullah complex, located near the Syrian town of Adra, northwest of Damascus, allegedly revealed shelters, weapons and a fleet of trucks presumably ready to be used to transfer the ordnance.

NATO Watches Syria Smuggle Weapons to Hizbullah
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/138077

Although Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah claims his missile arsenal numbers at 40,000 – a figure Israel does not dispute – other intelligence officials estimate there may be more, possibly between three or four times the 20,000 missiles the group possessed prior to the start of the 2006 Second Lebanon War.

At least one Hizbullah supporter in the town of Aita al Sha’ab – from which the Second Lebanon War was launched – told a reporter from The New York Times this week that he was “expecting the war this summer. It’s late.” 

Persecution under Islam
Tishrei 13, 5771, 21 September 10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWpIWDjQLUU

Allah is mercyfull deel I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN0rcX91e4s

Christians in Lebanon/Palestine, deel I  en II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN_o63Bxsmc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=safd9zpcnT4&translated=1

Report: US to Continue Supplying Lebanon with Arms
by Gil Ronen
September 5, 2010, Elul 26, 5770 

The United States Administration has decided to continue supplying military equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), despite the August 3 border attack in which IDF Lt. Col. (res.) Dov Harari was shot and killed. The report on the US decision appears in Lebanon's An-Nahar daily newspaper.

Soon after the shooting incident last month, US Representatives Nita Lowey and Howard Berman announced they would hold up $100 million that was approved for Lebanon's army but had not been spent. Eric Cantor,  a senior House Republican, said future funding should also be called off, pending an inquiry.  

A source told An-Nahar that the US administration had so far spent around $700 million on arming and training the LAF, which the American superpower believes will be capable of preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty.

The source added that the LAF had stood up to its commitment to forbid the leakage of certain weapons to political parties or factions in Lebanon. The unstated reference was almost certainly to Hizbullah. 

Israel's ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren, warned Friday that Hizbullah is a very serious threat to Israel, having placed 15,000 rockets along Lebanon's southern border with Israel. These include missiles that could hit the southern port city Eilat, at the most southern point in Israel, he explained.

Lebanon to US: 'Keep Your Money, and Israel Too'
by Chana Ya'ar
August 12, 2010, Elul 2, 5770 

Lebanon has told the United States to keep its money if America insists that it cannot be used on weapons with which to fight Israel.

Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr told reporters at a Beirut news conference on Wednesday that those who want to help the Lebanese Army but place conditions on how their funds or weapons are used, should “keep the money.”

Murr's comments followed a U.S. Congressional decision to freeze a previously approved $100 million aid package to Lebanon.

The decision was made only 24 hours before an attack on an IDF unit conducting routine border maintenance last week by Lebanese Army soldiers. Snipers shot and killed an IDF officer and wounded a second.

The ambush took place while the Israeli troops were trimming brush on the Israeli side of the northern border in order to maximize the visibility of a Lebanese village. The incident occurred after the IDF had notified the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) of its plans, which in turn notified the Lebanese Army.

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman said he decided August 2 to suspend Lebanon's military funding in light of the increased involvement by the Hizbullah terrorist organization in Lebanese Army affairs, concerned that the money would be spent on weapons with which to attack the U.S. ally.

Berman added in a statement after the attack, “The incident on the Israel-Lebanon border only one day after my hold was placed simply reinforces the critical need for the United States to conduct an in-depth policy review of its relationship with the Lebanese military.”

In response, Murr told journalists at a Beirut news conference, “Whoever sets as a condition that the aid should not be used to protect Lebanon's land, people and borders from the [Zionist] enemy can keep their money.

“Let them keep their money or give it to Israel. We will confront [Israel] with our own capabilities.”

A second Lebanese official had preceded Murr earlier in the week by calling on the Beirut government to turn to Russia, China, Syria and Iran for future support.

Congress Blocks Military Aid To Lebanon
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
August 8, 2010

The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Monday evening he is holding up previously authorized military aid to Lebanon following last week’s Lebanese army attack on the IDF in Israeli territory. Senior reservist officer Dov Harari was killed by a bullet fired by a Lebanese army soldier. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/138924

California Democrat Howard Berman said he is concerned that the $100 million in military aid for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will be used by Hizbullah terrorist forces. 

Earlier in the day, number 2 GOP Congressman Eric Cantor (pictured) said he would act to block the military assistance, and Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who chairs a key House subcommittee, said separately that she will delay implementation of the military aid.

Implying that the Lebanese army and Hizbullah terrorists are corroborating against Israel, Rep. Cantor said, “The days of ignoring the LAF's provocations against Israel and protection of Hizbullah in Southern Lebanon are over. Lebanon cannot have it both ways. If it wants to align itself with Hizbullah against the forces of democracy, stability and moderation, there will be consequences.”

Israel has warned that the lines between Hizbullah and the Lebanese army have been blurred as the terrorist organization’s political arm increases its political power in the pro-Syrian government in Beirut. 

Earlier this week, visiting Democratic Rep. Ron Klein, who is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he will bring up the question of American aid to Lebanon, but he did not take a clear stand against the assistance pending a committee examination.

Rep. Cantor pointed out Monday that the United States has given Lebanon $720 in military aid since 2006 “to build up a Lebanese fighting force that would serve as a check on the growing power of the radical Islamist Hizbullah movement. For the past few years, the United States and the international community looked the other way as the lines between Hizbullah and the Lebanese military and government became blurred.”

Lebanese politicians reacted angrily Saturday to what they alleged was “a campaign to prevent the army from being properly equipped.”  ( Article: Anger in Lebanon as US Aid Called into Question)

U.S. Army General James Mattis, who will succeed General David Petraeus as the Head of the U.S. Central Command, was quoted by the Arabic language As-Safir newspaper as saying that the Lebanese Army was a “non-political institution.” He added, “I believe it will be fruitful to focus on building the capabilities of LAF to balance against the influence of Syria and Hizbullah.

A U.S. embassy statement in Lebanon two weeks ago stated, "This financing [military aid] will help the Lebanese army to continue its program of equipment and training over several years and allow it to preserve security and combat cross-border smuggling [and] prevent militias and other non-government organizations from resorting to violence to undermine the authority of the Lebanese government."

In response to tough questioning by reporters last week, U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. “We have no indication that U.S. equipment played any role” in the Lebanese army attack on the Israel Defense Forces."

Retired Major-General Giora Eiland said after the attack, “Due to the fact that Hizbullah is the only significant military force north of border, I would not hesitate to think Hizbullah persuaded a Lebanese commander to do something,” TIME magazine reported.

After the clash, in which a second Israeli officer was seriously wounded and three Lebanese soldiers and a journalist were killed, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah praised the Lebanese army and warned that Hizbullah will not be passive. He said, “The army fought heroic confrontation with the Israeli enemy in southern Lebanon. This time we stood and watched ... but next we will not. Israel's aggression on Lebanon has never stopped. We will not stand idle ... we will cut any hand that attack our army."

In a wide-ranging interview with the Washington Post before last week’s battle, Defense Minister Barak warned “that the walls between the Lebanese armed forces and Hizbullah—it's quite porous. And whatever you give the Lebanese armed forces might end up in the hands of Hizbullah, be it technology or weapons or whatever.”  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138794

Referring to the Second Lebanon War in 2006, he added, “We didn't [attack Lebanon]. I think that they're responsible for what happens, and if it happens that Hizbullah will shoot into Tel Aviv, we will not run after each Hizbullah terrorist or launcher of some rocket in all Lebanon. We'll see the government of Lebanon responsible for what happens, and for what happens within its government, its body politic, and its arsenal of munitions. And we will see it as a legitimate to hit any target that belongs to the Lebanese state, not just to the Hizbullah.”

Anger in Lebanon as US Aid Called into Question
by Maayana Miskin
August 8, 2010, Av 28, 5770 

Lebanese politicians reacted angrily Saturday to what they alleged was “a campaign to prevent the army from being properly equipped.” They appeared to be referring to calls from Israel to restrict the sale of advanced weapons to the Lebanese army, and to fears that the United States may reduce military funding.

"The cabinet will draw up a plan to equip the army with all the weaponry it needs, and without taking the attitude of certain countries into account,” said Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. A statement from Suleiman's office said he would turn to “neighboring and friendly states” to obtain “all kinds of arms that will allow him to defend the country.”

MP Ali Khreis accused members of the US Congress of talking about “halting aid to the Lebanese Army because it challenged Israeli aggression.” The US “always supported Israel,” he said.

According to US officials in Beirut, America is planning to give Lebanon 100 million dollars in military aid this year.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak complained to the United States and France last week over weapons sales to Lebanon following a border clash Tuesday that broke out when Lebanese soldiers opened fire on IDF troops on the Israeli side of the border.

US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley later said there is “no evidence that the Lebanese army used American-made weapons” in the attack on Israeli troops. He condemned the “unjustified and completely impermissible” shooting, but said the US would continue to provide military support to Lebanon, support which he said contributes to regional stability.

While Crowley attempted to reassure Lebanese lawmakers, a Florida congressman said he expects that Congress will reassess aid to Lebanon in light of the border shooting. Representative Ron Klein, who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Jerusalem Post that the incident “is certainly going to come up in our conversations in the Congress about the continued support of the Lebanese Army.”

Israel's objections to weapons sales to Lebanon predate the border clash. Israeli military leaders have expressed concern that advances weapons given to the Lebanese army could fall into the hands of Syrian-backed terrorist group Hizbullah.

Netanyahu to Lebanon, Hamas: 'Don't Test Us'
by Gil Ronen
August  4, 2010, Av 24, 5770 

Netanyahu issues warning to Israel's enemies, following a series of attacks on Israel on several fronts.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the family of Lt.-Col. (res.) Dov Harari, who was killed in an ambush by the Lebanese Army Tuesday. He also sent get-well wishes to Captain (res.) Ezra Lakia, who was wounded in the attack, and who is now conscious and recovering.

"In the past few days we have witnessed three criminal attacks on Israel's territory,” Netanyahu said. “An attack from Gaza on the the city of Ashkelon and the Gaza Belt communities; an attack on IDF forces who were carrying out routine activity inside Israeli territory – and I stress, they were inside Israeli territory; and between these two, another attack from the Sinai on the city of Eilat, and the city of Aqaba in Jordan.”

"The use of a peace-seeking third country's territory to launch missiles at Israel will not aid Hamas in evading responsibility,” he warned. “The government of Israel views gravely the attacks on its citizens – in an attempt to harm its relations with Egypt and Jordan. Whoever fires at Israel, no matter where he fires from, we will reach him and hit him with great force.”

"Immediately after the attack on Ashkelon,” the Prime Minister stated, “I instructed the IDF to respond decisively and it indeed did so. The IDF acted in Gaza, attacked Hamas facilities and killed a senior commander in Hamas's military wing. Also yesterday, in the North, the IDF responded quickly and hit the Lebanese Army and its facilities.”

"I want to make clear to Hamas, and also to the government of Lebanon which we hold responsible for the violent provocation against our soldiers: do not test our determination to protect the citizens of Israel and its soldiers. It seems someone understood this, and tried to evade responsibility for his crimes,” Netanyahu said, in a hint at Hamas's evasion of responsibility for the missile attack on Ashkelon and Eilat.

"Three days after our retaliation in Gaza," he said, "Grad missiles were fired from Sinai at Eilat and Aqaba by a supposedly anonymous agent. Several months earlier, on April 22, 2010, similar fire was carried out at Eilat. We investigated both of these incidents. We found beyond any doubt that a unit from Hamas's military wing fired the missiles in stealth, in both cases.”

Israeli PM Netanyahu - 'We Will Never Apologize for Defending Ourselves'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOcFVhIsPsI

Netanyahu: Israel will Respond Forcefully to Further Attacks
by Gil Ronen
August  4, 2010, Av 24, 5770 

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu instructed the IDF to respond forcefully to any further aggression from Lebanon, and laid the blame for Tuesday's deadly incident on the government of Lebanon.

"Israel views the attack on IDF soldiers with great gravity,” Netanyahu said in a formal statement Tuesday evening. “This is a grave breach of [United Nations] Security Council Resolution 1701,” he said. “I see the Lebanese government as directly responsible for this violent provocation against Israel. Israel has responded forcefully and will do so in the future as well, against any attempt to break the peace on the northern border and to harm the residents of the north and the soldiers who defend them.”

Defense Minister Ehud Barak called the incident a “murderous terror attack” and warned the Lebanese government against “continuing to provoke the IDF as they have been doing recently.” He demanded that the Lebanese Army investigate and find out who was responsible for Tuesday's attack.

The United States said Tuesday that it is "extremely concerned" about the violence on the Lebanon/Israel border. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the U.S. was in touch with both governments to try and establish what exactly happened.

"We deeply regret the loss of life; we urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint to avoid an escalation and maintain the ceasefire that is now in place," Crowley told reporters.

"We are trying to understand what happened ... Our greatest concern is that whatever did happen not be repeated. The region has enough tension as it is. The last thing that we want to see is that this incident expand into something more significant," Crowley said according to Reuters.

Egypt Says Gaza-Based Terrorists Fired on Eilat from Sinai
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
August  4, 2010, Av 24, 5770 

Egyptian security sources admitted Wednesday that Monday’s rocket attack on Eilat was launched from within its territory in the Sinai and blamed a Gaza-based terrorist group, without identifying it. Other sources identified Hamas by name.

Cairo previously had claimed that the Katyusha rockets were not fired from within its borders. The official Middle East News Agency reported that the terrorists infiltrated from Gaza into the Sinai through smuggling tunnels.

Hamas controls Gaza and has denied any involvement in the launching of the missiles. One of the missiles hit the Jordanian side of the Gulf of Aqaba and killed one person.

The Fatah Intifada Movement representative in Lebanon said Monday his group backs rocket attacks on Israel and would be willing participate, a Lebanese television station reported.

The Islamic Action Front (IAF), Jordan's largest opposition political party, accused Israel of being behind the rocket attack on Eilat, saying it was "undoubtedly a Zionist act [to] shake the safety and stability of Jordan and drag countries in the region to increased security coordination with Israel." 

Eilat police updated a previous report and said that two of the six rockets exploded within the city’s limits and not in the sea, as was previously stated by Eilat Mayor Yitzchak HaLevi. Authorities have not yet located the impact sites of three other missiles that landed in the area.

Israel National News Tuesday night that if Hamas terrorists from the Sinai were involved in the attack, it would be strong evidence of its ability to use the Sinai Peninsula to stage attacks on Lebanon. 
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138936

Israel withdrew from the Gaza area in 2005 and surrendered control of the Philadelphi smuggling route along the Egyptian-Gaza border. Smuggling of terrorists, weapons and human traffic—particularly Africans—has increased sharply since then, often with the cooperation of Bedouin tribes.

Failure of Egypt to prevent cooperation among Hamas, Bedouin and Egyptian’s Muslim Brotherhood terrorists would increase Hamas’s stature in Gaza and in other parts of the Arab world while trying to draw Israel into a conflict on an additional front.

IDF, Lebanese forces exchange fire on northern border
By Yaakov Katz and Jpost.com.staf
March 8, 2010

Security sources and witnesses in Lebanon said three Lebanese soldiers and a local journalist were killed in the clash. 

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3929503%2C00.html?tr=y&auid=6746210

The fire erupted after IDF soldiers performing routine operations in a border-area enclave within Israeli territory came under fire. Some frightened northern residents rushed for cover in secured rooms and bomb shelters. Many locals  informed Ynet of loud explosions heard in the region.

'Feeling of confusion, uncertainty'

Kiryat Shmona Mayor Nissim Malka spoke of a "feeling of confusion and uncertainty" I the wake of the military flare-up.

"Many parents arrived at the swimming pool to pick up their children…I am in constant touch with senior officials at the IDF Northern Command, and as an initial step decided to alert all the heads of emergency units operating in the area, in order to be ready for any development," he said.

Smoke billows on Lebanon border (Photo: Ohad Yom Tov)