Ain-Al-Yaqeen - August 4, 2006

		August 4, 2006

A MESSAGE FROM THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES TO THE YEMENI PRESIDENT ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN LEBANON AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES AND COORDINATION OF THE ARAB STANDS.
PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL SPEAKS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HOLDING AN ARAB MINISTERIAL MEETING IN BEIRUT IN SUPPORT OF THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT AND RULES OUT USING OIL AS A WEAPON.
A MESSAGE FROM MUBARAK TO LAHOUD AND MEETINGS BETWEEN LEBANESE OFFICIALS AND THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF EGYPT, JORDAN, IRAN AND MORATINOS.
THE ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL REITERATES SUPPORT TO THE SEVEN- POINT-DOCUMENT OF LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER FOUAD SANIORA AND THE THREE-POINT -DOCUMENT OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKER NABIH BERRI.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz sent a message to Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Salih.

The message was delivered to the President by the Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz during an audience in Sanaa.

The message dealt with bilateral relations and cooperation, current developments in the region in view of the continued Israeli aggression against the Palestinian and Lebanese people and coordination of Arab stands towards this matter.

President Ali Abdullah Salih sent a reply message with Prince Mohammad to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques wishing him good health and the Saudi people continuous progress and prosperity.

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Foreign Minister, held the periodic press briefing.

At the beginning of the briefing, he made a statement detailing Saudi efforts to contain the crisis in the Middle East.

He said Saudi Arabia views that the current international efforts to contain the crisis have not yet reached their goals in the light of the continued Israeli ugly attacks against Lebanon and Palestinian territories.

Prince Saud called for an immediate and decisive ceasefire.

Following the statement reiterating Saudi position on the crisis, Prince Saud answered reporters' questions.

He hoped the US will change its position to support an immediate ceasefire.

Saudi Arabia criticized the United States for doing nothing to stop the Israeli military aggression against Lebanon and urged Washington to press for an immediate cease-fire.

"We disagree with the US policy in this regard ... the United States is the super power and it can seek an immediate cease-fire," Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said. Addressing the news conference, Prince Saud also spoke about the possibility of holding an Arab ministerial meeting in Beirut soon in support of the Lebanese government.

He said Washington has a moral responsibility to prevent Israel from using US weapons to kill innocent people. He also said he hoped that the US would change its policy toward Lebanon, a democratic country that faces inhuman and unjustified attacks for reasons not caused by the Beirut government.

Prince Saud also narrated the efforts being made by Saudi Arabia to achieve an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, adding that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had sent messages to leaders of the permanent UN Security Council members in this respect. He hinted at the possibility of changing the scheduled foreign visits of the king and other officials considering the present situation. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia would take adequate precautions to strengthen its security and confront any danger.

He said the international move to achieve a cease-fire would fail as long as Israel continues its repulsive aggression against Lebanese and Palestinian people. He said the Qana massacre that claimed the lives of 62 people, mostly women and children, should have moved the world to press for an immediate cessation of the Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

"A cease-fire is essential to reach the most wanted humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people and prepare the ground for finding political solutions to the crisis through negotiations between the relevant parties," he explained.

Prince Saud said any solution to end the crisis should support Lebanon's independence and sovereignty and expand the Lebanese government's power over all of its territory on the basis of the Taif Accord. He also urged the international community to work earnestly to end the plight of Palestinians.

He said Saudi Arabia is executing its duty of supporting Lebanon citing what Lebanese themselves are saying in this regard.

He said holding an Arab summit requires consultation, preparation and identification of clear goals for it.

He called upon Arab countries to take a united stand. "We should talk on these issues in one voice at international forums and the United Nations. We should also unite against the ideology that tries to tamper with the Arab national security and create an explosive situation in the region by causing division among its countries," he said.

Prince Saud hoped the US will concentrate on its principles concerning the cause of Lebanon and return to its principles because Lebanon is a democratic state suffering from vicious and inhuman attacks with no justification since the state of Lebanon is not responsible for what happened.

He added that if Israel had an intention to harass Syria, then, he hoped there would be a US deterrent position. He stated that Arab countries will oppose any threat to Syria. He said, "If there is any threat against Syria, which is a member of the Arab League, all Arab countries will confront any aggression against any Arab country," the Saudi Press Agency quoted Prince Saud as telling reporters.

The minister also slammed US plans for a "new Middle East" that Washington says is aimed at promoting peace and democracy in the region.

"We would like to return to the old Middle East as we did not see anything in the new Middle East apart from more problems," he said. "The Middle East is not an uninhabited area, it has people, governments and our destiny is determined after God's will by its people."

He stated that the fate of the Middle East will be decided by its people and not by others.

He explained that Saudi Arabia will participate in the Islamic meeting called for by Malaysia.

Prince Saud said Lebanon's Premier was right in demanding Israel to pay for all the destruction it caused in Lebanon.

In his wide-ranging press conference, the Saudi chief diplomat said Israel was seeking to achieve suspicious objectives by continuing its military campaign in Lebanon without listening to international calls for an immediate truce.

Asked whether oil would be used as a weapon if the current situation deteriorates, he said it would not be in the interest of Arab nations and their people. However, he said the oil wealth must be utilized to strengthen the defense and economic infrastructure of Arab countries. He ruled out using oil as a weapon saying oil is used as an economic capability and for the interests of citizens. No wise government accepts to harm citizens, who will be the first to suffer if oil is used as weapon, he added.

In Beirut two airplanes coming from Saudi Arabia and carrying 24 tons of medical supplies and food stuffs landed at Rafiq Al-Hariri International Airport.

The airplanes were received by Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khojah and other officials.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said that his country was seeking international consensus acceptable by Lebanon, not only for a ceasefire, but also on the deployment of the international peacekeeping forces. Speaking to reporters following his meeting with President Emile Lahoud, he expressed hope that the international Security Council meets within the upcoming two days and decide on a ceasefire, noting that this was an Arab, Egyptian and international request backed by the European Union and the United Nations.

He said this effort was opposed by some forces that he did not identify, expressing hope that all would reach an agreement in the near future.

He conveyed to Lahoud a letter of strong support from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to the people of Lebanon and government that confirmed the need to achieve a ceasefire for the war on Lebanon.

He added that Egypt would work within the framework of the United Nations and the Security Council with all the effective international powers, the EU, UN, China, Russia and the United States to achieve the ceasefire.

He pointed out that Egypt was in contact with all the parties to reach an international agreement acceptable to Lebanon on the form of the proposed international peacekeeping forces.

In response to a question whether there was an intention to hold an Arab summit, he said this matter was raised and consultations have revolved around it, noting that the question is when and how to prepare for the summit.

He added: "We are at such a summit, and we hope that the summit is convened and if not there were several Arab and Egyptian efforts to achieve this objective." Regarding the position of the Egyptian military developments, Abul Gheit said four hours after the start of the military operations, he was assigned by President Mubarak to contact Syrian President Bashar al Assad to discuss the Lebanese matter.

The Egyptian position since the first moment, is a position of support to the people of Lebanon. "We have made a lot of contacts with the American, European and also with the Israeli side to find a solution for the issue," he said.

Egypt's foreign minister expressed hope that the UN Security Council would issue an appeal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah within the next 48 hours. "I hope that in the next 48 hours there will be an appeal from the UN Security Council for a ceasefire. This is an Arab, Egyptian and international demand," Ahmed Abul Gheit told reporters.

"There are perhaps forces who are opposed to this request but I think that in any case we will arrive at a ceasefire."

Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah Khatib agreed that there was a "possibility to reach a ceasefire in the next days".

"Jordan will act with the international community to arrive at this goal," he said as he arrived in Beirut.

Both of the ministers, who arrived on board planes transporting humanitarian aid, were expected to meet their Lebanese counterpart to express their solidarity in the face of the Israeli offensive, now in its fourth week.

Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Al Khatib conveyed, during a visit to Lebanon, a letter of solidarity from King Abdullah II to the Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora.

The letter affirmed Jordan's full support to the Lebanese government and people as well as Jordan's condemnation of the Israeli aggression.

Khatib reviewed the King's continued efforts to work with the international community and all world powers to achieve an immediate ceasefire.

During his meeting with the Lebanese Prime Minister, the two sides affirmed the importance of providing all support to the Lebanese government by the international community to end the aggression. Khatib also conveyed His Majesty's assertion that Jordan will place all its potentials at the service of Lebanon and work to end the Israeli aggression.

He also conveyed to Saniora the King's directives to provide Lebanon with oil derivatives in response to an appeal made by the Lebanese people.

During the visit, the foreign minister also met with speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri and discussed with him developments in Lebanon and the need for concerted international efforts to end the Israeli aggression.

Berri expressed thanks and appreciation for the King's efforts to assist Lebanon, particularly reopening the airport and dispatching humanitarian aid. He also valued the King's efforts to continue contacts and diplomatic moves to end the current crisis.

Al Khatib also conveyed the King greetings to the Lebanese President Emile Lahoud as well as Jordan's support to Lebanon. After his meeting with speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Khatib affirmed Jordan's condemnation of the Israeli aggression.

He also condemned Israel's killing of innocent civilians and the ugly crimes committed by Israel such as the one in Qana.

The Foreign Minister stressed Jordan's support to the seven-point plan to achieve a ceasefire and end the Israeli aggression, which was approved by the Lebanese cabinet.

In a statement after his meeting with Khatib, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud called on Arab countries to support Lebanon in its plight.

He said that Israel was committing crimes due to the lack of an effective international position that deters the Israeli aggression.

During the visit, the foreign minister, accompanied by the Lebanese Education Minister Khaled Qabani inspected the Jordanian field hospital, which came within His Majesty's initiative to provide all necessary support to the Lebanese people.

The Lebanese minister voiced thanks and appreciation for Jordan's King, government and people for their support to Lebanon.

He also noted efforts being exerted by the king to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Al Saniora received a telephone call from Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, during which he briefed him on the latest developments and results of his contacts worldwide to attain cease fire.

The Egyptian President renewed his country's support to the stances of the Lebanese government, especially the government's program.

The Lebanese Premier also made phone calls to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz and Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Akmal-Edine Uglo, urging them to work on achieving cease-fire and halting the Israeli aggression.

The Foreign ministers from Spain, Jordan and Egypt held meetings with Lebanon's three top officials before leaving Beirut to continue their efforts to end the 22-day-old conflict.

Spain's Miguel Angel Moratinos went to Damascus as a representative of the European Union in the first visit of an EU envoy to Syria since March.

Moratinos said he would meet with Syria's top officials, including President Bashar Assad, and that "Syria has a constructive role" to play in the latest Middle East crisis.

Moratinos did not meet with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, but instead held talks with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Fouad Saniora.

"It is important that Hezbollah and Israel approve a cease-fire as soon as the Security Council makes its decision," Moratinos said after a luncheon grouping the premier and the three foreign ministers.

"Spain is looking for a political solution to realize a cease-fire ... it is not looking for a military solution to end this crisis," he added.

Moratinos said Saniora's proposed seven-point plan to end the ongoing violence "is an essential foundation to a cease-fire ... we are doing our best diplomatic efforts to reach a solution and would include Saniora's plan in that."

"I hope, and I am sure, we will succeed," he added.

During a meeting with Aboul Gheit, President Emile Lahoud said Israel has used "phosphorous and uranium bombs and internationally banned weaponry to eliminate as many Lebanese as possible."

The President added that Lebanon intended to file a complaint against Israel "for targeting civilians and using internationally banned weapons; that, in addition to demanding Israel pay compensation for the losses Lebanon has suffered from its aggression."

Meantime Iran's foreign minister blasted the UN Security Council for failing to stop the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, and called the U.S. and Israel "partners in these brutal crimes" against Lebanese civilians.

"The UN Security Council has proven its uselessness and ineffectiveness during this (Israeli) aggression," Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters after meeting with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.

He also accused the United States, without naming it, of complicity in bringing about the death and destruction caused by Israel's 20-day-old offensive in Lebanon.

"We think that the protectors of the Zionist entity and those who support it are partners in these brutal crimes being committed against the innocent women and children" of Lebanon, Mottaki said.

At a news conference before leaving the Lebanese capital, Mottaki insisted there be an immediate cease-fire, opening the way for negotiations.

The Minister said "We will support anything that all the sides in Lebanon can unanimously agree on," he said.

"The aim of my visit was to declare our support for the Lebanese government, people and resistance in the face of Israeli aggression," he said.

Mottaki met with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, who was in Beirut for the third time since the Israeli offensive that has killed hundreds of people, mostly civilians.

Both meetings took place at the Iranian Embassy, but participants made no comments to the press.

Mottaki's visit comes a day after Israeli warplanes bombed a house in the southern Lebanese town of Qana, killing at least 60 civilians and provoking worldwide condemnation.

On the other hand the Arab League called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israel from all Lebanese territory beyond the Blue Line.

In a press statement issued at the conclusion of a meeting in Cairo, the Arab League delegates to that meeting stressed the absolute solidarity with Lebanon and lauded support for the steadfastness of its people, cherishing the resistance and the unity of the Lebanese position in the face of this brutal Israeli aggression.

The Arab delegates rejected the attitudes that paralyzed the the United Nations Security Council's actions against the decision of the cease-fire, noting that in the absence of the Security Council, the Arabs will go to the United Nations General Assembly to convene an emergency special session to take a proper attitude towards putting an end to this aggression.

In their statement, the Arab delegates reiterated support with the Lebanese people and government, pledging to provide political back up to the seven- point-document of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and the three-point -document of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

The delegates strongly condemned the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and the targeting of civilians and the destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure, denouncing the Israeli barbaric massacres that claimed the lives of hundreds of children and women, the latest of which was the massacre of Qana.

The Arab delegate emphasized that the massacre of Qana was a war crime and represent a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions of 1949, expressing dismay and shock at the failure of the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities in an immediate ceasefire and called for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate the Israeli war crimes in Lebanon.

The Arab delegates instructed the Arab group in Geneva to invite the UN Human Rights commission for an emergency meeting to address the humanitarian aspects of this brutal attack on innocent civilians and held Israel responsible for compensation for the material and human losses and destruction of the infrastructure of Lebanon.

The Arab delegates called on Arab, regional and international humanitarian organizations to intensify its relief efforts and lend support for the displaced Lebanese people, demanding that the International Committee of the Red Cross to take action to force Israel to enable medical teams provide the necessary care for the wounded people.

In a message from the Executive Secretary of ESCWA (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) Ambassador Mervat Tallawi said the attack on the UN House on 30 July 2006 was a dramatic experience for our Beirut team and other UN the staff. I am gratified that this incident did not result in injuries to any of the staff, albeit the UN House did sustain heavy physical damage. I wish to express my deep appreciation and admiration for your commitment and your invaluable contribution to maintaining ESCWA's operations in these difficult times. I am particularly proud of the team spirit demonstrated by everyone during the clean up operations in the aftermath of the attack. It is this spirit that brings us all closer to each other and to the Organization that we are proud to be part of. It is this newly discovered collective spirit that we must all hold on to in the days to come.

The gruesome events in Qana are deplorable, and must be condemned in the strongest of terms. We understand the grief and emotional reaction of the Lebanese people to the heartbreaking events in Qana. We also understand that this in no way represents the true feeling of the Lebanese people towards the UN, and particularly ESCWA. ESCWA has always received the full support of the Lebanese government, the country's civil society, and its people at large.

I received calls from H. E. Fawzi Salloukh, Minister of Foreign Affairs on 30 July 2006. Minister Salloukh conveyed the Cabinet's collective expression of regret and apology for the acts of vandalism against the UN House. He assured me on behalf of the Cabinet that this incident is not condoned by the Lebanese Government, and does not reflect its position towards the UN or ESCWA. Minister Salloukh was keen to enquire about the safety and security of all the staff and asked me to transmit the Lebanese Government's position to the Secretary-General.

I also received calls of support from H. E. Nabih Berri, Speaker of the House, as well as the Minister of Interior, Mr. Ahmed Fatfat, who personally visited the UN House on 30 July. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Elias El-Murr, gave me personal assurances for the protection of the UN staff and facilities.

I have also received several calls from Ms. Baheya El-Hariri, and from prominent personalities enquiring about the safety of the staff, and offering to renew and rehabilitate the damaged floors at no cost to United Nations or ESCWA.

The Secretary-General has been constantly monitoring the situation. He has personally addressed a message to all staff a few days ago expressing his support and concern. The DSG has sent me a message expressing the SG's and his own "admiration for how you and all your colleagues have managed this dangerous and complicated transfer of the office to Vienna while keeping vital reporting and conference preparations, etc. going. And even more important, we are relieved the evacuation went so well". These messages are a clear recognition of the dedication you, the staff, have demonstrated in the current circumstances.

I have no doubt that ESCWA will return to its permanent headquarters in Beirut as soon as the situation permits. Out presence in Vienna is, by definition, temporary. So is the presence of some staff members in Amman, or in their home countries. We shall all return to our homes and to our ESCWA in Beirut. While the current security phase and duty station classification are intended to reflect the situation on the ground, I wish to remind you that these are interim measures to ensure staff safety and well being. They are not permanent decrees. I shall personally ensure that these classifications are updated to reflect the situation in Beirut as it develops.

Meanwhile in London Amnesty International said: The devastating attack on Qana makes clear that an immediate and full ceasefire is urgently needed. Measures taken by Israel to temporarily suspend airstrikes over southern Lebanon are insufficient. Both sides to this conflict have shown a blatant disregard for the laws of war and civilians on both sides are paying the price as war crimes abound.

"In view of the defiant disregard for fundamental humanitarian principles by both parties, it would appear that only an immediate, full and effective cease-fire will protect civilians on both sides of this conflict," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

"It is utterly shameful that governments who have influence over Israel and Hezbollah and who could help end this crisis, continue to prioritize political and military interests over innocent lives of civilians."

Amnesty International is calling on the international community to urgently negotiate an immediate and full ceasefire, and to convene a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to ensure that attacks such as Qana are independently and impartially investigated and those suspected of war crimes brought to justice.

Amnesty International researchers in Lebanon who went to Qana shortly after the bombing found rescue workers pulling children's bodies from the rubble and digging furiously in search of survivors.

At Tyre hospital, Mohamed Qasem Shalhoub, whose wife, elderly mother and five children aged from two to 11 were killed, said that he had been in a room in the basement and that 17 children were sleeping close by him, only one of whom survived. Another survivor, whose sister and brother were killed, told Amnesty International that she and her family had been sheltering in the house for the past 10 days, emerging during the day to wash, and that their presence must have been known to Israeli forces whose surveillance drones frequently flew over the village.

"Calls for the warring parties to obey the laws of war and protect civilians have fallen on deaf ears. Israel is carrying out disproportionate and targeted attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, while Hezbollah continues to launch rockets at Israeli civilian population centres," said Irene Khan.

Israeli authorities have claimed that Hezbollah intentionally used civilians in Qana as "human shields". International humanitarian law expressly prohibits the use of tactics such as "human shields" to prevent an attack on military targets. However, international humanitarian law also makes it clear that even if one side is shielding itself behind civilians, such an abuse does not "...release the Parties to the conflict from their legal obligations with respect to the civilian population and civilians."

Reports that Israel has warned all civilians living south of the Litani River to leave the area demonstrates how the concept of effective warning is being distorted. If anything, such a warning to over 400,000 people seems only to spread panic among the civilian population, rather than enhance their safety. Many fear they are more likely to be attacked on the road. Some simply are not able to leave. In several cases where Israeli forces gave warning to residents of certain towns or villages in southern Lebanon, they then attacked those trying to flee. Israel's relentless bombing of roads and bridges has also made it extremely difficult for civilians in south Lebanon to flee north following warnings from Israel.

Under customary international law, intentionally launching a disproportionate or indiscriminate attack or intentionally directing attacks at civilians or civilian objects is a war crime.

"The concept of 'free-fire' zones is incompatible with international humanitarian law. The attack in Qana is symptomatic of the way in which this conflict has been fought to date and indicates either that Israel is failing to take necessary precautions to spare civilians or that it has intentionally launched a disproportionate attack on civilians," said Irene Khan.