by havanagilla » Sun Jul 16, 2006 6:32 pm
<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://lebanesebloggers.blogspot.com/">lebanesebloggers.blogspot.com/</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br><!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr><br> <br>This blog was created to honor the memory of heroes of all the Lebanese sects who were assasinated for their patriotic stands.... May God bless their souls and bless Lebanon.<br><br>Sunday, July 16, 2006<br>Peaceful Demonstrations in Canada <br><br>MONTREAL <br>TUESDAY, JULY 18 @ 5:00 PM <br>DORCHESTER SQUARE, 1155 METCALFE<br><br>TORONTO<br>TUESDAY, JULY 18 @ 5:00 PM<br>QUEENS PARK, DOWNTOWN TORONTO<br>----<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://stopdestroyinglebanon.com/">stopdestroyinglebanon.com/</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>----<br>PLEASE STOP THE AGGRESSION AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF LEBANON.<br><br>"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."<br><br>posted by Doha @ 5:29 PM 0 comments <br><br>UN Delegation Support Lebanese Government <br><br>Veejay Nambia, one of the UN delegation representatives, standing alongside UN Middle East mediator, addressed the Lebanese people by saying that the UN calls for three things:<br><br>The end to killings of innocent civilians and destruction of infrastructure, on both sides. <br>The full support of the Lebanese government and the Prime Minister Seniora for his call to an immediate ceasefire. <br>The return of the captive Israeli soldiers as a solution towards ending this conflict. <br>Sounds reasonable. Looking forward for these ideas to be translated on the ground.<br><br>Update: AlJazeera is claiming that the rockets which hit Haifa today were Syrian-made rockets. Why is Lebanon being punished?<br><br>"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."<br><br>posted by Doha @ 2:11 PM 32 comments <br><br>G-8 Summit Statement <br><br>The G-8 Summit leaders have released a statement requesting a ceasefire on both sides, asking for Hizbullah to return the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, and asking the UN to send troops to the South of Lebanon to help the Lebanese Army deploy on the borders.<br><br>Addendum: Since a decision was made to disable comments, I got a lot of emails supporting me and some against it. I have consulted with my fellow blogger Raja and decided to bring back the comment section when cooler heads start prevailing (which is very soon). We both believe in open debate, but also responsible debate, especially that we are going through tough times right now.<br><br>Update: A whole neighborhood in Tyre was hit. The death toll has increased to 16 and might be even higher. On another front, 7 have died, 5 of whom hold the Canadian citizenship, in a southern village, Aitroun, by Israeli rockets.<br><br>Update 2: 20 dead now in the Tyre massacre. EU envoy Javier Solana will very soon be making a public address. He has met with PM Seniora, Parliament Speaker Berri and MP Walid Jumblatt. Shimon Perez, former Israeli Prime Minister, said that the IDF is only hitting Hizbullah fighters. Is the picture below a depiction of a fighter?: <br><br><br><br>"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."<br><br>posted by Doha @ 12:48 PM 9 comments <br><br>"Banned" Weapons Used Now <br><br>Phosphorus incendiary bombs, which are "banned" weapons (some are saying that they're not banned) and are poisonous, have been used by the IDF on some southern villages, al-Habariyye and Qlayle. Hizbullah has also hit the Golan Heights.<br><br>Update: Tyre has been hit severely. A 12-story high building for the Lebanese Civil Defense have been shelled. Tens of dead and wounded reported. Also a residential building in Tyre has been destroyed, with reported of about ten dead already.<br><br>Addendum: It was a painful decision, but I have decided to block comments for now. Though this blog is a public forum and I believe in freedom of speech, but I don't believe it's the time for sarcasm and caustic comments when on both sides of the border people are dying. Lebanese citizens are being killed by the dozens; it hurts too much to overanalyze such realities. I will continue to update the blog regularly for all the Lebanese (and others) abroad who are concerned about what is going on inside Lebanon.<br><br>Update 2: Hizbullah's Secretary General Sayyid Nasrallah has just addressed everyone. His speech I felt was geared towards the Israeli government and to the "Arab/Muslim Street" and less addressed to us, the Lebanese.<br><br>Update 3: Read From Beirut to the Beltways Massacre in Tyre.<br><br><br>"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."<br><br>posted by Doha @ 10:45 AM 13 comments <br><br>Updates and Mediations <br><br>Hizbullah hit Haifa a couple of hours ago and killed 8 and the number of wounded has gone up to 40. Israel has asked its citizens to be on alert in Tel Aviv. The IDF has been hitting and has increased its shelling of southern villages and of the southern suburbs of Beirut. The death toll in Lebanon has increased tremendously, beyond the 100+ as of yesterday night. Israel has asked its citizens to be on alert in Tel Aviv.<br><br>Saudi Arabia has pledged $50 million for aid to Lebanon.<br><br>The Lebanese government is stepping up to its duties by being on alert humanitarian wise. The Social Affairs Minister Moawwad is in Beirut working to funnel refugees from the south to Beirut's public schools. She has also called on private schools to open their doors for the refugees.<br><br>The Cabinet has also called on all government workers to uphold the role and presence of the Lebanese state.<br><br>Two mediation teams are arriving to Beirut today: one headed by Javier Solana of the EU and another from the UN. Lebanon will be a big subject on the G-8 Summit agenda in Russia.<br><br>Italy's Prime Minister appears to be playing a mediator role. He was the first European high level official to call directly the Syrian President Assad yesterday. He has called PM Seniora to reiterate Israeli PM Olmert's conditions for cease-fire, namely to return the kidnapped soldiers and to have Hizbullah retreat its forces behind the Litani River. Yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister has rejected PM Seniora's plea for ceasefire and gave these two conditions.<br><br>A lot of information, perhaps I'm sounding less coherent. Check out a new blog by a Swedish friend who's stuck in Beirut (or let's just say, who doesn't want to leave Beirut): Beirut Under Siege.<br><br>I will keep you posted of things as they come this Sunday.<br><br><br>"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."<br><br>posted by Doha @ 7:50 AM 8 comments <br><br>Projections And The Wild Card <br><br>From Stratfor.com<br><br><br>So far, there has been only one reported airstrike on a Syrian target. Both Israel and Syria were quick to deny this.<br><br>What is interesting is that it was the Syrians who insisted very publicly that no such attack took place. The Syrians are clearly trying to avoid a situation in which they are locked into a confrontation with Israel. Israel might well<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--> <p></p><i></i>