Thursday, May 31, 2007

The World Doesn't Need Marxists

The world doesn't need so called "academics" who would "not confirm" links to bla and bla..

The World needs people who would speak up for the weak with clear "confirmed" facts.


وقّع مجموعة من المثقفين من مختلف دول العالم البيان رقم 2 بعنوان «نتهم وندعو» بعد أن سبق ووقّعوا بيان رقم 1 عقب اندلاع أحداث مخيم نهر البارد. وجاء في البيان «نحن الموقّعين أدناه نتهم كثيراً من الزعماء اللبنانيين باستخدام الشعب الفلسطيني ومقاومته من أجل غاياتهم الطائفية والصغيرة ـــ صغر زعاماتهم. نتهمهم بتغطية الاعتداء على مخيم فلسطيني ـــ لبناني مكتظّ تحت شعارات «سيادية» غالباً ما استعملت في لبنان ضد الضعفاء والفقراء.
نتهمهم باعتناق عقيدة فاشية كالتي رافقت وسوّغت حصار مخيميْ تل الزعتر والضبية واقتحامهما في منتصف السبعينيات، وباستعارة خطاب بوش عن الإرهاب وكأنّ على الشعب الفلسطيني كله أن يتحمل وزر عصابة تؤكّد أجهزةُ السلطة اللبنانية نفسها أنها معزولة شعبيّاً. نتهمهم بالتغطية على بناء جهاز أمني غير خاضع لرقابة الشعب وممثليه، كما سبق أن غطّى أدعياءُ السيادة الجدد الجهازَ الأمنيَّ أثناء حقبة سيطرة النظام السوري على لبنان.
نتهم جماعة 14 آذار تحديداً بالترويج لمشروع يستهدف سلاحَ المقاومة اللبنانية والفلسطينية، لكنه يعزز من تسليح العصابات الطائفية، بما يؤدِّي إلى تأجيج الصراع في لبنان خدمةً لمشروع إمبريالي يمتد من المغرب إلى أفغانستان.
نتهم بعضَ المعارضة بالوقوف من دون اعتراض وراء مخطط السلالة الحاكمة لمجرد أنَّه يستهدف «طائفة» غير محمية في لبنان ـــ هي الشعب الفلسطيني.
ونتهم بعضَ المعارضة باجترار خطاب العداء ضد الشعب الفلسطيني. نتهم بعضَ اللبنانيين بإغلاق ملاجئهم ومدارسهم أمام اللاجئين الفلسطينيين من مخيم نهر البارد، في الوقت الذي فَتحت فيه المخيماتُ الفلسطينيةُ أبوابَها أمام اللاجئين اللبنانيين أثناء الحرب الإسرائيلية الأخيرة على لبنان صيف 2006. نتهم مثقفينا الليبراليين بالترويج لمفهومَيْ «السيادة والعنفوان» بدلاً من «الأخوّة والمواطنية».
ونتهمهم بالنفاق المقزّز حين يدينون قتلَ المدنيين الإسرائيليين ولكنّهم لا يعترضون على دكّ مخيم بأكمله على رؤوس أصحابه. كما نتهمهم بالحرص على حقوق الإنسان في بلد عربي واحد لا غير. نتّهم «الوطنية» اللبنانية، التي تحاول بناءَ وطن على أشلاء ضحايا القصف العشوائي في مخيم نهر البارد، بالعنصرية البغيضة.نتهم بعضَ القيادات الفلسطينية، لدوافع فئوية ومالية معيبة، بالتغطية على الحرب الجارية
نتهم السلفيين المتعصبين (المدعومين والمموّلين، بالمناسبة، من الأطراف عينها التي تدعم وتموِّل السلطةَ اللبنانيةَ الحاكمة) بنشر الكراهية والطائفية و«ثقافة» التكفير والإلغاء والواحدية. نتهم أولئك اللبنانيين، الذين يزعمون أنّ الجسر الجوي الأميركي عمل بريء أو إنساني، بالسذاجة السياسية في أحسن الأحوال، وبالتواطؤ مع الحرب المتفاقمة في أسوإها.
بناءً على ما سبق، دعا الموقّعين إلى وقف كل الأعمال الحربية ضد مخيم نهر البارد. رفض اقتحام المخيم الآهل. التشديد على أنّ عقيدة الجيش اللبناني تَعتبر الإسرائيلي، لا الشعبَ الفلسطيني، هو العدوّ لا الجار
إدانة التأجيج الطائفي المتّبع بفجاجة من قِبل السلالة الحاكمة منذ انتخابات الشمال عام 2005 بصورة خاصة.
العمل على تغيير الوضع اللاإنساني للمخيمات الفلسطينية في لبنان.
إعطاء الشعب الفلسطيني في لبنان كاملَ حقوقه المدنية إلى حين عودته إلى وطنه فلسطين.
وقف الكلام المجترّ عن «خدمات لبنانية» للقضية الفلسطينية لعلمنا أنّ أطرافًا أساسيةً في لبنان حوّلتْ هذا البلد إلى مقرّ للتآمر على القضية الفلسطينية.
مطالبة القوى الوطنية والديموقراطية بالوفاء لتاريخ النضال اللبناني ـــ الفلسطيني المشترك، وباتخاذ مبادرة تنقذ المخيم وأهله
.الموقّعون بين 28 و29 أيار الخامسة مساءً:
أسعد أبو خليل، كيرستن شايد، سامي شرف، زينة زعتري، عساف خوري، أحمد الخميسي، بسام فرنجية، غياث اليافي، ملاك خالد، سوسن البرغوثي، علي وهبي، أمل كعوش، معاذ نصار، عمر البرغوثي، بشير نافع، كمال خلف الطويل، ابراهيم يسري، رفيق الزين، النادي العربي الفلسطيني في فيينا، محمد أبو الروس،علي ملاح، كمال خليفة، سهير داود، ريم النويري، نجيب صفي الدين، خضر عواركة، حميد دباشي، فيصل بن خضرا، اسطفان شيحا، أيمن حداد، أحمد دلال، اليسار غزال، محمد شهاب، رنا بشارة، محمد رياض، كرم دانه، أسعد غصوب، هاني البرغوثي، زينب غصن، نصير عاروري، هلال شومان، إياد قيشاوي، أسعد غانم،فيصل جلول، مريد البرغوثي، خالد عايد، عماد قيشاوي، بسام أبو غزالة، صالح عرقجي، حسناء رضا مكداشي، انيس قاسم، فاطمة شرف الدين، غادة اليافي، كمال بلاطة، فادي ماضي، منذر سليمان، زياد حافظ، علي كاف وسماح ادريس

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

A Letter from a Syrian Worker in Lebanon

This letter is written post to the explosion in Alay area in Lebanon. He refused to write his name underneath the letter choosing instead a profile attributed to him by the Lebanese society.

You find us everywhere in Lebanon. We work hard day and night. We have many skills and long experience. We are looking for a means to survive searching for a life we haven't found back home. We lost hope to have such life under the current rule in Syria which hasn't given us the minimum living conditions one ought to have.

We are Syrian workers.

In Lebanon, our hopes are now starting to flee away. We are outcasts. We receive all kinds of cursing and swearing from people. We sometimes got hit and killed. This happens when politicians, deliberately and non deliberately, make their loaded statements. Each time some huge event occurs in Lebanon, we are hit.

What has the workers got to do with an explosion? assassination? or a demonstration? Why are we to blame if someone wants to divide this country and destabilize it?

We are the ones who lose the most if this country won't find peace and stability; our jobs and lives are right here.

Brothers and sisters, the Syrian worker is not the one to blame every time a wife and husband quarrel! We are in Lebanon searching for a life, just like the Lebanese are scattered around the globe to find a one too.

Syrian Worker

Originally published in Assafir Newspaper here.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

أن تكون موضوعيّا

لا يعني أن تكون حياديّا

عزمي بشارة

VIP: Very Important Palestinians

Title of the post is taken from Dr. Azmi Bishara.

A very interesting and crucial interviews made by Jackson Allers and a member of our group, Rasha Moumneh, in which they interviewed Hajj Rif'at, Director of Media for Fatah and the spokesperson for the PLO in Lebanon. My reading to this interview, is that Allers was reminding the guy that there are Palestinian victims in the camp, the PLO spokesperson was supportive of the army more than of the Palestinian civilians; he mentioned the word "army" 18 times, while the Palestinian civilians 4 times only!! Not to mention that the PLO actually approved for the first time in the history of the Palestinian camps in Lebanon to enter with the army the Nahr el Bared camp. Entering a camp means entering the rest under the protection of other slogans.

Allers and Rasha interviewed Khaled Yamani, the spokesperson of the PFLP official; Treasurer of the Committee for the Festival of Right of Return (a grouping of 23 civil society organizations) and an organizer of the youth wing, who was right the opposite to the statements and hints to the former PLO guy. Yamani in short was a spokesperson of the Palestinian people rather than anything else.

Angry Anarchist presents extracts from "Mustakbal" May 2005 articles in which she shows that the Hariri have links to the growing Salafi movements in the North post to the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. The following is a summary to her post English:

"These are two articles that appeared in Al-Mustaqbal (Hariri) newspaper in May 2005, which addressed the question of the Dinnieh and Majdal Anjar events, as well as the Salafi movements in Lebanon. The excerpt I quoted from the first article argues that Al-Qaida in Lebanon is fictitious, and that Syria was just trying to convince western "centers of decision" that it does exist, in order to do business with the "Islamic condition" in the "global terrorism bazaar". The second article talks about the Salafi movements post-Syrian withdrawal, and heaps praise on the newly found freedom of activity of these groups, which are divided into two groups: the "Jihadi" ones (which carry out military operations), and the "intellectual" ones. It also says that Syria used to restrain these groups, but following the Hariri assassination and the Syrian withdrawal, their activities have increased. Most importantly, they receive financial support and morale boost from various Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabian associations."

In other post, Angry Anarchist mentions that Jund el Sham, another Salafi movement in Lebanon, is funded by Bahya el Hariri. Hilal supported her claim in the comment section with a news link.

Sami Hermez, a member of "No Exception" group, and who joined us in one of our visits to Baddawi camp, has written an article in which he recalls the Lebanese racism against the Palestinian refugees in the 70s, when some used to cry: "Let the army finish us from the Palestinians once and for all."

Another interesting observation Hermez made was that the Nahr el Bared crisis is a "a trap to bait the Lebanese into becoming a stronger ally in America's "war on terror."

This explains the support the Army gets from 14. March leaders, and how U.S accused Al Qayida, for the first time, instead of Syria.

My own reading to all this, is that it is really serious that the US did not blame the Syrian regime for the violence occurring in both Beirut and the North. Blaming Al – Qaida is making the international opinion familiarizes between Al- Qaida form of "ideology" to that of Palestinian and HezbAlla ones. Of course, I am not saying that Fath el Islam is Palestinian, I think the 10 bodies found in Tripoli, which are Lebanese out of 17, is one sustained proof of the conspiracy theory the Lebanese government is planning for both the Lebanese army and the Palestinian refugees.


It is not about the Palestinian existence in Lebanon, it is about linking "militias" to HezbAlla and Hamas, and the Syrians so far have not made one statement in support of both parties.


While 14. March movement leaders are accusing Syria, US is accusing Qaida, so we see a clash between allies here, the US has another priority right now, which is Iraq, not Lebanon.

All this goes hand in hand with what's happening in Gaza Strip, PLO authorized for the first time to get into a Palestinian camp with the Lebanese army on the one hand, and in Gaza, the Mekka agreement is on the stake, on the other. Hamas is supported by Syria, in both Gaza and Lebanon, and PLO by 14. March and U.S.

Who supports the VIPs??

Blame Syria

Taken from Lazarus

A Lebanese Southpark

In the usual trend of placing blame, several of our politicians have invoked the ultimate explanation of blaming Syria. Yes, many of the demonstrators were Syrian/Palestinian. Yes, there was probably Syrian incitement. But some were also Lebanese. And there was also Lebanese responsibility.

In mainly analyzing the demography of the thugs involved in yesterday's hell, these politicians completely miss the point - that there is something wrong in the state of Lebanon.

Because of this fascination with Syria, and a blind eye with regards to other important factors (at the expense of none other but the Lebanese public), I have come to the conclusion that these politicians have watched Southpark.

Seriously. How else could the tune they sing be so close to that of the famous song "Blame Canada".

(Just read the slightly modified lyrics below.)

Times have changed,
Our kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents,
They just want to fart and curse.
Should we blame the government, or blame society,
or should we blame the images on tv No!
Blame Syria! Blame Syria

With all their beady little eyes,
their flapping heads so full of lies
Blame Syria!
Blame Syria!
We need to form a full assault,
it's Syria's fault!
Don't blame me, for my son Stan, He saw the darn cartoon,
and now he's off to
join the klan! And my boy eric once,
had my picture on his shelf, but now when I see him,
he tells me to fuck myself.

Well, Blame Syria!

It seems that everything's gone wrong since
Syria came along
Blame Syria!
Blame Syria!
They're not even a real country anyway.
My son could of been a doctor or a lawyer, it's a true,
Instead he burned up like a piggie on a barbecue.
Should we blame the matches?
Should we blame the fire, or the doctor who allowed him to expire.
Heck no!
Blame Syria!
Blame Syria!
With all their hockey hubaloo and that bitch Anne Murray too.
Blame Syria!
Shame on Syria!

The smut we must stop
The trash we must smash
Laughter and fun
must all be undone
We must blame them and cause a fuss
Before somebody thinks of blaming us!


*Disclaimer: I am not exonerating Syria. At all. But I also don't think that constantly blaming Syria vindicates our responsibility and the government's responsibility, etc.

Nahr el Bared Relief Campaign: New Website

Taken from Dr. Marcy Newman

For those of you following our work and wanting to help, we have a new website: http://www.nahrelbaredcampaign.org/ On this website we also have 3 ways for people to donate money because we know that there are some problems with our AUB web donation portal.

1. Online Donations (Credit Card – safe):

(Specify Naher El-Bared under “Other”)

https://rtf.aub.edu.lb/

or
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~webtfrcs (Link to DONATIONS AND FUNDING)

2. Bank Transfer Donations:

Bank Name: Citibank, NA Lebanon
Account Name: AUB Development Office - Donation Account
Account Number: 0-600224-115
Swift Address: CITILBBE
(Specify: TFRCS – Naher El-Bared)

3. Cash, Check, or Salary Deduction Donations:

Cash to AUB Development Office, College Hall 3rd Floor, AUB.

Check payable to: AUB – TFRCS – Naher El-Bared (send to AUB Development Office address).
Salary Deduction: Send e-mail to development@aub.edu.lb (Specify: TFRCS – Naher El-Bared, name, payroll, & amount).

4. In-Kind Donations:

If you have supplies you would like to donate, such as medication, clothes, mattresses, food items, diapers, etc, you can drop them off at:

Teh Marboota Cafe

Pavillion Center, Hamra main road

Please make sure to check our updated lists of needs here.

Monday, May 28, 2007

WE Love Life 7abibi


Tamara Qiblawi

Rania el Masri (author of article appeared on Electronic Intifada, a professor in Balamand).

Sharif Bibi, Dr. Newman and Bahaa' Kayyali



Tamara Qiblawi and Bahaa'

Tamara Qiblawi

Dr. Marcy Newman Baha' Kayyali, Maher and Tamara Qiblawi

Tamara, Mohammad Kaddoura, Dr. Newman, Mahmoud Halima and Baha' Kayyali.



this girl was guiding me to Nahr el Bared families located in Shatilla Camp.

the Palestinian rapper i made an interview with from Nahr el Bared, i posted part of the lyrics to his song. (AR)


List of the Palestinian Victims Confirmed by the Palestinian Red Crescent

Confirmed by Dr. Saber Hassan in Safad Hospital in Baddawi Camp.

1- Abd el Latif khalil.

2- Raed el Shans.

3- Jihad Azzam.

4- Linda Jaber.

5- Oday Naser Ismail.

6- Nayef Salah Saleh.

7- Mahmoud Awad Hussien.

8- Saeed Heidar Abu Haeidar.

9- Salim Saleh Bahar.

10- Asaleh Al Rashed.

11- Montaha Abu Radi.

12- Adel Younes Khalil.

13- Amer Ahmad Hussien.

14- Khaled Rasheed Suleiman.

15- Ahmad el Tayyar.

16- Ahmad Abd el Aal.

17- Nader Hussien.

Some Lebanese bloggers have called me a liar when posting on the 23th. a list of Palestinian victims based on my interviews with the civilians in Badawi camp near Tripoli, and in Burj el Barajneh and Shaltilla camp in Beirut. This list has mentioned ALL the names except two: Ahmad Daghloul and Ashraf Akl. The Bhar son is seen in a hospital and thankfully he made it. so it was only the father who died when the house fall on them.

So I wonder, who's falsifying the "truth", the Army or the civilians?

This list has been published on Al-Akhbar newspaper.

This is an update for my list based on the interviews I am making in two camps; Baddawi in Tripoli, Shatilla in Beirut:

1- Mahmoud Ahmad Mansour.

2- Amer Ahmad Mansour, 15 years old.

3- Raiq Yousef Hamed, 30 years old.

4- Saeed Heidar. (mentioned on PRC list)

5- Saleh Mawled.

6- Mahmoud Hussein, 40s. (mentioned on PRC list).

7- Abdalla Mansour.

8- Assal Al Rashed. . (mentioned on PRC list).

9- Abd el Latif el Raed.

10- Fakhri Yousef Al Hassan.

So my first list has two additional names to PRC's list, and my new list has already three in common with their's only 7 additional names.


A Letter from a Child to the Army



Report from Palestinian Red Crescent : 20/ 5


If anyone can offer to translate this, I'd be grateful.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

SOLIDARITY ACTION FOR NAHR EL BARED

Nahr el Bared Relief Campaign

Dear Friends,Unlike what the media has been reporting, the Lebanese army is refusing to allow relief items into the camp. Please join the relief workers in the action they will hold tomorrow, 28 May 2007 in front of the Naher al Bared Camp to pressure the army into allowing relief items to the Palestinians refugees still residing in Naher Al Bared. The demonstration will start from 12 noon till 2 pm.

Please Confirm your participation by calling or sending an sms the following numbers Rasha 03356644 Marcy 70977812or by email: r.moumneh [at] gmail [dot] com

Luv You Dad

I had a call from dad that i should come right away to Damascus.
I told dad I’m not coming.
He told me he won’t give me money anymore if I won’t come.
I am looking at 100$ now.
I love you dad.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Electronic Intifada: "The situation is very bad"

Taken from here.

Jackson Allers and Rania Masri writing from Lebanon, Live from Lebanon, 23 May 2007The following interview with Ashraf Abu Khorj, a youth organizer, was conducted on May 21 at around 3pm as the Lebanese Army was shelling the Nahr al Bared refugee camp:


Nahr al-Bared Refugee Camp (UNRWA)The situation has calmed down now -- from a half hour ago.For the past two days, and since 4 am this morning, there have been lots of attacks. Homes attacked. Homes burned. People injured. Children hit. Youth killed. The situation is very bad. No electricity for the past two days. There is no water. There is nothing. We don't have a hospital in the camp. There is a small clinic -- that people can't access -- there is nothing in the clinic to cover the casualties and the wounded.The camp is 1 km2 -- 35,000 people living in this space. And if you can imagine, 35,000 people living in the camp and their homes are being attacked/bombed. The situation is very bad. And very difficult.

As you know, there are attacks and people are getting injured -- the children are scared. The young children want to play; they don't understand that there is a war; they can't play; there is fear; it cannot be described, it is beyond description.As I told you, there is no water. The food supplies are decreasing. People can't leave the camp; people can't come into the camp. And the camp is very small and people weren't expecting that this would happen; people weren't taking their precautions [referring to stocking up on supplies].Even we, we're volunteers. During the July war, we were volunteers and we were going around and helping but now the camp is being attacked, and we can't move around.And even the communications inside the camp, if you move a bit within the camp, you lose the connections of the mobile phone.

There are people who can't charge their phone; they have no electricity. Our neighbor came to me -- I have a device, a UPS, and our neighbor came to my house to charge his phone so he could speak to his relatives outside the camp. People are very worried. There are no communications w/in the camp. We do not know what to do. The situation is very bad and very difficult.***How can I describe it to you? As I told you, because we do not have electricity, we do not have TV, we are sitting in our homes and we see our homes being bombed, and that is all. We cannot move around in the camp. I walked around a bit and saw that the homes beside our home were bombed. I see someone injured on the street. Someone killed.The people that were killed yesterday, there is no hospital in the camp, there is no place to put the dead. This morning, our neighbor was killed -- at 6.30 am -- and he is still in the room and his body is starting to smell within the house. The injured -- the same situation.

Our neighbor, Abu Sleiman, God rest his soul, this morning, a tank rocket/missile hit his home, and it destroyed a wall in his house and he was hit. He died. We tried to help his family escape. Only his sons know that he was killed. His daughters still do not know that their father has been killed. There is no ice, no refrigerator to store the body. We are keeping him in the room. [In reference to an earlier statement in which he said that their neighbor has been killed and the smell of his dead body is filling the house]

Yesterday, we heard from many of my journalist friends [who] have told me that the Red Cross wants to come in at night -- but it seems that no one was able to come in. Cars can't pass. The situation is scary.***We are besieged. They are besieging us. Nothing is coming in, and no one is allowed in. From a little bit, a friend of mine from the LA Times called and he is at the door of the camp and he can't come in. I was asking him if he could send medical assistance, there are people that are injured, we need help, and he said that no one could come in. The roads are not safe. Not at all. And the army from far is bombing the camp.

We are appealing to the international agencies, the human rights organizations, the organizations for the rights of the child, we are appealing to them, we gave our life to the children -- to do activities for the children. We have lots of youth who are dedicated to children in the camp. We are not concerned with ourselves -- we are concerned with the children in the camp. We are asking -- secure a path for the children -- the children and the injured -- to leave the camp. It is a shame. Children are horrified. It is beyond description, what can I say? We are helpless, we can do nothing.Where I am standing now is not very safe, but I have to be outside to get a signal for the phone so I can talk -- I am risking my life for the phone so that I can continue to communicate with people outside the camp. If I go inside the home, there won't be any more connection for the phone.I hope, I hope, that the international agencies will speak up.I hope that someone will hear our appeal. Those politicians. Those that gave the green light -- on what basis did they give the green light. Yes, okay, we are all with the army, but on what basis? On what basis?

Jackson Allers is a Middle East correspondent for Inter Press Service and Free Speech Radio News and has produced for Al Jazeera International's "People and Power." He is based in Beirut, Lebanon.
Rania Masri is a writer and Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Balamand, Lebanon.

URGENT Aid to Nahr el Bared

Taken from Dr. Newman:

They called it a second nakba (catastrophe). "The first one in 1948 was a black and white nakba, it was easy to know who our enemies were. This one is more colorful."
This is how Palestinian refugees from Nahr al Bared camp described their flight to Badawi refugee camp, about twenty kilometers away. Their escape, as with their experience under fire in the Nahr al Bared camp, was traumatizing. Not only did they escape Fatah al Islam sniper fire and the Lebanese army's heavy artillery shelling, they also encountered a third group along the way, a militia group they identified as a local, Tripoli Sunni group who seems to have been operating inside Nahr al Bared camp as well.

The road to Nahr al Bared was a difficult one. For those who traveled on buses to Badawi camp they found their children taken off and assassinated by this militia group. For others they found themselves cramped into a refugee camp far smaller than their own and the new arrivals doubled the population of Badawi camp which previously held 18,000. The upsurge in population happened so suddenly that aid agencies have not had time to coordinate aid relief distribution. About 75% of the Nahr al Bared refugees who arrived in Badawi camp are living in people's homes--sometimes adding an extra 20-30 people into an already extraordinarily small space. The other 25% are camped out in various schools throughout the camp. But NGOs have primarily been distributing aid among the people in the schools; 80% of the aid is going to the people in the schools even though this only gets at a small percentage of the population in need.


In order to remedy the situation a group, Nahr el Bared Relief Campaign has formed to organize itself on behalf of those not getting NGO aid. Our group, made up of students, professors, and activists is working through the civil society organization League of Al Awda, which is a composite group of twenty-three various groups. Our grass roots effort with only two days work has brought much needed medicine, food, and diapers to people fleeing intense violence and trauma in Nahr al Bared Camp. Given that we are a small group with very limited financial resources we are seeking funds to purchase a variety of materials requested by the new refugees including: milk, diapers, women's sanitary napkins, pillows, mattresses, sheets, soap, towels, toothpaste, loofa, plates, glasses, utensils, house cleaning supplies, clothes, garbage bags. We are seeking donations, which may be sent to the following account:

Donation Account DetailsFor tax-deductible donations to the Nahr el Bared Relief Campaign please use the following account:

Office of Developmenthttps://rtf.aub.edu.lb/Please make sure to specify that your donation is going to the Nahr el Bared refugees.

Nahr El Bared Relief Campaign

Thursday, May 24, 2007

بيان: كرامة الوطن ليس ثمنها دم المدنيين

يتعرّض مخيّم نهر البارد منذ أيام لهجومٍ عنيفٍ من قبل الجيش اللبناني لم يوفِّر المدنيين والمناضلين الذين لا علاقة لهم مطلقاً بـ "فتح الإسلام
إنّ الموقِّعين أدناه يستنكرون القصف العنيف الذي يُطاول أحدَ أهم خزّانات المقاومة الفلسطينية والعنفوان اللبناني ـ العربي. وهم, إذ يشدِّدون على كرامة الجيش اللبناني الذي لم ينجرَّ إلى مؤامرةِ نزع سلاح المقاومة الوطنية اللبنانية خدمةً للمخططات الأميركية ـ الإسرائيلية, يناشدون كافة القيادات السياسية والوطنية والعسكرية والأمنية فتحَ المجال أمام بعثات الإغاثة للوصول إلى هذا المخيم المناضل, وألاّ يُؤخَذَ المدنيون اللبنانيون والفلسطينيون, ولا مناضلو الفصائل الفلسطينية العريقة, بجريرة "فتح الإسلام" ولا بجريرةِ مَن يحاول أن يدقّ إسفيناً بين الجيش اللبناني والفصائلِ المذكورة

إنّ كرامةَ الوطن يجب ألاّ يكون ثمنَها دمُ المدنيين, ولا أكواخُ الفقراء, ولا أرواحُ المناضلين الفلسطينيين واللبنانيين. فليتوقّف القصف فورا, وليفسح المجال أمام تسويةٍ لبنانيةٍ مع فصائل المقاومة ومع اللجان الشعبية داخل مخيم نهر البارد. وليفسح المجال, قبل كل شيء, أمام قوافل الإغاثة والإسعاف

الموقّعون
سماح ادريس (كاتب)، كيرستن شايد (استاذة جامعية)، رانية المصري (استاذة جامعية)، اسعد ابو خليل (استاذ جامعي)، سامي هرمز (طالب دكتوراه)، خلود ناصر (مسرحية)

ولّع سيجارة, ولا قلك خليك بتشرب شاي

I made this interview with a Palestinian rapper called Ziad Odeh, he is a refugee in nahr el Bared, now in Badawi camp. i am so tired to post it now, i'll just share this song he composed for Nahr el Bared three months ago. He has been shot twice on both legs and now he is being hospitalized. this is one part of the song's lyrics:

ولّع سيجارة
خلص سيجارة وارجع ولع سيجارة
صيّح عليه الجندي
قالولي عطيني هويتك
سمعتا حريتك
قولتللووين الحرية؟
مصارت سرية
سمعني لقلك شوبصير
مخيمنا صعب
سجن كبير
الاعلام دبحنا
الاعلام دمرنا.

Don't Feel Sorry for Me; See Me!!!

So today and after we delivered the supplies to the Safad Bedawi hospital, and to a clinic in Bedawi camp, we went to these theoretical meetings Swedish NGO called Save the Children which are organizing to "educate" the Palestinian refugees' student since they are missing classes and all. So we are talking about people who have no place to stay, no covers, not enough food, no diapers, wounded, have missing families..etc and they are worried about educating them, so we left them alone with their meetings.

A professor in AUB named Rami Zurieq had this amazing plan and some rare statistics he managed to make in collaboration with a Palestinian civil organization and this is what they said:

70% of the Nahr el Bared refugees have been hosted by the Badawi camp families.

20 % of the Nahr el Bared refugees are in schools of Badawi camp.

Now here's the serious damage:

80% of the supplies of Red Cross and UNRWA and taken to the schools. and 20% to homes.

So this is the areas in which we'd be working on in the future days; we are going to track refugees living in the houses and find out what they need.

As we are planning, Dr. Marcy Newman, Baha’ and I were very much interested in interviewing the refugees and find out more about their misery under the bombs. So we dragged ourselves to school, and talked to mothers, sons and children. I've heard same stories repeatedly and to be honest I am not going to publish them today, I want to make sure if they’re true first.

So I asked them about the number of the martyrs they did see and they recognized their bodies. This list is the first appeared in the media so far and I have asked a lot of people who confirmed to me that they have seen the bodies. Ironically, the honorable Lebanese army has stated today that they have caused one death to the Palestinian civilians and a number of wounded. I am not proud to say that they are wrong, I am disgusted of an army that treat the dead as invisible. Shame on them.

This is the initial number of the Palestinian civilians in Nahr el Bared who have lost their lives in the fight for "honor" of the Lebanese Army, i am going to update the list daily:

1- Montaha Kamal Khalil.
2- Ahmad Daghloul.
3- Ra’ed el Shans.
4- Abd el Latif Al Kaza’.
5- Oday Nser Ismail 16 years old.
6- Jihad Abo el Ez 35 years old.
7- Ashraf Akl 30 years old.
8- Adel Younes, a teacher, 50 years old.
9- Lina Jabr, 18 years old, her house have fallen on her.
10- Abo Leiman Bhnan.
11- Sleiman Bhnan, a doctor.
12- Nayef el Saleh.
13- Amer Nadwa.
14- Saeed Sleiman.

Al-Akhbar have just contacted me and they got all their names, they are supposed to be published tomorrow, not sure if they will.

This is the list of the civil institutions, medical centers and mosques that have been bombed:

Jenin Medical Center.
Amal Medical Center.
Bayt el Maqdes.
Palestine Center, Dr. Fathala.
Khaled Ben Walid Mosque.
Al Qudes Mosque.
Al Jalil Mosque.

You’ll be updated tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Proud to be Broke

I am 26 years old, and I have never felt functioned the way I felt today, tonight.

We were five, Dr. Marcy, Mohammad, Mahmoud, Raji and I. We went to three NGOs; Norwegian People's Aid, RARD and Palestinian Human Rights' Org-Phro. These NGOs did nothing to actually aid the campaign, but we managed to get a cover from them to help us get through the checkpoints recently put in the way to Badawi camp, especially we are mostly Palestinians, Jordanians, and other non- Lebanese groups. So now we have cards to get us safe to Bardawi camp.

What we have done today, after trillion phone calls, and many discussions, is 3000$. I have to say that without the determination of professor Marcy, whom I went to her house, and saw how much she is devoted to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, their would have been no aid at all. It was because of her connections with other professors, friends of Palestine and her planned and focused mind, we are able now to deliver three cars full of supplies.

We are delivering tomorrow medicine, bread, milk, and water. We're broke.

Tomorrow we are leaving at 6:30 AM to Badawi camp, wish us luck guys.

Actually, i was really broke, i couldn't help aiding the campaign.

Please check our website for more updates.

Ordinary Racism in Lebanon

Lebanese blogger Sophia has translated an excellent article written by Khalid Saghiyyeh appeared on Al- Akhbar newspaper.

حول وساخة البوستات واليسارية اللبنانية

يا ستي مبارح ونحنا بالاجتماع الانف الزكر, صارت مية خناقة وخناقة, حول هيبة الجيش, كرامة الجيش, واجرامه.

كنا الحقيقة 3 او اربع مجموعات, مجموعة يسارية من اصول فلسطينية ياللي كتبت البيان الانف الزكر, ومجموعة يسارية لبنانية اتهمت الجبش اللبناني صراحة انو اسرائيلي اخو شرموطة, ومجموعة ماناعرفانه ربا وين متل حكايتي, وبالاخر انضم الينا اليساريين الراسماليين تبعوت جنبلاط واخوانه العكاريت.

هادا ياستي ماانتي, فتلك المثقف واليساري ابو النظارت نديم جرجورة وقاطع واحد لبناني كان عم يتهم الجيش اللبناني تاريخيا بارتكاب المجازر ضد الفلسطينية العزل وقال:

"مو بس اللبنانية ياللي جزروا, السورية والاسرائيلية كمان"

ولك كسسسسسس اخوك!!! مين في غير الجيش اللبناني هلا عم يقصف يا شرموط؟؟؟!!!!

وقال لما خلص الاجتماع لقينا غراسين التاء مربوطة قالبين خلقتن فيني, يه!!! رحت حكيت مع الدوموزيل, قلبت خلقتا, رحنا حكينا مع التاني, قال هو مو مع وقف اطلاق النار, هو يساري وضد اسرائيل ومع الحريري ومع الشعب السوري والفلسطيني بس مو مع وقف اطلاق النار. قلنالو ولك يازلمة عم يقصفو اربعين الف مدني مشان 300 واحد, شو مشان؟؟ قال لكن يموتو الجبش احسن؟؟؟

ولك كسسسسسس اخوك اخو شرموط!!!!

ولك انا راسمالية قزرة, معي موبايل وبروح عالبابز والمطاعم والمسارح!! لك لا شيغيفارا بيعلمني الانسانية ولا خر تاني من روسيا, لك انتو شراميط اليسارية ولك انتو وساخة البوستات.

ولك كس اخت النخبة اليسارية برجلي جميعا من جنبلاط وعطاالله لفراتيك الحمراء.

في الختام, لا تعتزر الكاتبة الراسمالية السورية البعصية عما سبق.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Help Nahr el Bared: Action!!!

A Lebanese blogger has sent me an email to join a group demonstrating in Hamra street to condemn the Lebanese army bombings on Nahr el Bared camp. We were students, journalists and professors. We carried signs and lightened candles.

After that we headed to T Marbouta, we had a meeting to organize ourselves. We divided ourselves to two groups, one would stay in Beirut and organize demonstrations, political messages and make people aware of the deaths and casualties among the Palestinian civilians, and the second group in which I assigned myself into, are going to collect supplies and logistics from NGOs and TV channels and go to Badawi Refugee camp and hand the supplies to the hospital there, the nearest hospital to Nahr el Bared.

Tomorrow at 8:30 I am meeting two members of the group and we'll start begging :D

I met an American journalist who was cursing the Lebanese army..hehe..and told me that we should demand them to let the casualties out cause their bleeding to death.

i'll keep you updated tomorrow.

they declared the following:

البيان الصادر :


لا نستطيع اعتبار أحداث نهر البارد أمرا مستجدا و لا حتى مفاجئا، فهذا كله و كالعادة نتيجة السياسات المهملة بحق الموطنين والمقيمين في هذا البلد وامتداد للتأثيرات الإقليمية الخارجية.

ومن الواضح أن هذه الحالة لن تنحصر في الشمال او في مخيم نهر البارد فقط بل ستمتد الى كافة المناطق والمخيمات. أن إطالة الحصار على المدنيين الفلسطينيين سيؤجج نار الفتنة في باقي المخيمات الفلسطينية، خصوصا في ظل السياسات العدائية واللا عادلة للحكومة اللبنانية تجاه اللاجئين الفلسطينيين.

أول ما يجب استدراكه هو التضامن مع المدنيين داخل وخارج المخيم وتحييدهم ومساعدتهم بشتى الطرق و الوسائل، وهذا لن يتحقق دون المطالبة بهدنة او وقف اطلاق نار فوري

التضامن المعنوي مع الجيش اللبناني ومساعدته على إقرار الأمن عبر تخفيف ضغوط الخلافات الداخلية عنه، خاصة بعد انتشاره في الجنوب وعلى الحدود مع سوريا وحول المخيمات، وعدم تحميله نتيجة قرارات سياسية خاطئ، و بالتالي تحييد الجيش عن الخلافات السياسية الطائفية وحصره في نطاق الأمن.

دعوة جميع الاطراف اللبنانية من الأحزاب والتنظيمات إلى عدم المشاركة باي نوع من الاعمال العسكرية لان من شأنه أن يفجر صراعات قديمة لم تنطو بالكامل وتحويل الصراع بين الجيش وفتح الاسلام الى صراع لبناني فلسطيني.


العمل بشكل جدي على إيجاد حلول اجتماعية –سياسية جدية لأوضاع المخيمات وكافة المناطق المحرومة و الذي من شأنه تحسين الظروف المعيشية لابناء هذه المناطق واحترام حقوقهم الإنسانية الكاملة في العيش الكريم و التعبير عن النفس وبالتالي ترويج أفكار مناهضة للتعصب والتطرف.


ندعوكم إلى إضاءة شموع من اجل التضامن مع المدنيين الفلسطنينين واللبنانيين عند الساعة 7 من مساء يوم الثلاثاء 22/5/2007 على تقاطع ويمبي –مودكا، شارع الحمرا الرئيسي.



سيكون هناك تعديل على البيان حسب اقتراح جنابي وهو الاتي:

نتضامن مع الجيش اللبناني في قتاله مع الحركه الارهابية المدعوة بفتح الاسلام وندينه بقصفه للمدنيين, نقطة انتهى.

Nahr el Bared: War on Palestinians!!

TV channels are saying that Badawi camp people want to "launch war" on the Lebanese army, these people are CIVILIANS god damn it!!! and they want to help their brothers and sisters in the Nahr el Bared camps who are being subjected for the THIRD day to random bombings causing UNKNOWN deaths and casualties among the civilians. In Nahr al Bared camp living conditions are getting much worse, they cannot bury the dead nor take the wounds to hospitals, not to mention that they are out of water and food for the third day.
I am no news analytic, but i think the bombs in Beirut has one thing to do with Nahr el Bred is that it is a distraction, and to make the Lebanese people feel "less" sorry for the Palestinian civilians, which is exactly what happening. i do not care who the hell are Fath Al Islam, whoever they are they ARE terrorists because they are damaging the Palestinians BEFORE they are damaging the Lebanese. There is no whatsoever excuse for bombing 40, ooo people for the sake of 300 armed ones!!

The Lebanese army is unfortunately becoming a closer version of Israeli mentality: "we are sorry for causing death among the innocents, but we need to act determinative."

Calling the honorable Lebanese Army to STOP bombing the Nahr el Bared NOW!!!

This is a letter from Ahshraf's friend in Nahr el Bared camp, an email:

Dear Ashraf i hope you r doing good.

I have some news that u can write about it.

I got this news from Tripoli and from Bedawi camp, the Palestinian youth from the latter camp are walking again towards Naher el Bared camp trying to break down the army blockade carrying with them food, water and medication . But it seems it is very difficult to get through and make it to the borders of the camp, that's because TYARE EL MOSTAKBL guys are armored and shooting at them.

TYARE AL MOSTAKBLE GUYS are shooting at the ambulances that are heading towards Naher el bared camp. Tayyare al mostakbale guys at Minyeh in Tripoli, they set up check points and they arresting according to the ID, they are not arresting Palestinian men only but also girls and women from Naher El Bared.

The army shooting with tanks and heavy weapon randomly, one woman said i have three dead civilians and one injured in front of my house door, no one is able to move them. The Fath Al Islam militias are taking the civilians' rooms as shelters, each room is inhabited by 60 to 80 PERSONS and most of them are children and women. So when a bomb falls on one of these rooms, you can imagine the damages.

There is no water since 3 DAYS.

The army has just bombed a shelter which is inhabited at least by 100 Palestinian civilians. We do not know if they are alive or not.

Link to Damascus Spring

Free Damascus Spring


copy this code to your page please.


Many thanks to fellow blogger Jon.

Monday, May 21, 2007

شو يعني "لبنان أولا" ازا ماكان لبنان "انساني" اساسا

أُخذ من اللبناني القادم في الشهر المقبل لا محاله هلال

- مجموعة فتح الإسلام "سنية". تعادلت كفة الميزان مع "الشيعة الحاملين للسلاح". جيد. سـُحِب الفتيل المذهبي حتى حين. عدا ذلك لا شيء. من هي مرجعية فتح الإسلام؟ في حالة حزب الله هناك من يتكلّم معه. هنا نكلّم من؟

- المجموعة ليست فلسطينية. القسم الأعظم منها لبناني. تكرار: لبناني.

- التقصير الأمني الفادح لمراقبة نشاطات التنظيم الذي دخل المخيّم قبل أكثر من ستة أشهر، والذي يبدو أنه ممتد داخل وخارج المخيّم أكثر من المتوقع.

- مثل هذه الجماعات عادةً ما تكون مختـَرقة من كذا جهة وبوسائط قد لا يعرفون أعضاء الجماعات أنفسهم إلى أين تمتد.

- التقارير الأوليّة تشير أن الأمور بدأت مع قوى الأمن الداخلي لدى اقتحامها الشقة التي لجأ إليها سارقو بنك البحرالأبيض المتوسط (يملكه آل الحريري، السارقون سرقوا 1500$ ). هنا، يجدر السؤال: هل هناك تنسيق بين الجيش وقوات الأمن الداخلي؟ ام أن الجيش زُجَّ زجّاً؟ السؤال مدعاه أنّ قوى الأمن الداخلي أثبتت في أكثر من مرة سقطاتها وتحيزها داخلياً فضلاً عن أخطاء مهنية فادحة.

- حرق ورقة الجيش: إذا حسم الجيش عسكرياً فإن هذا الحسم سيجيء بعد معارك دامية يذهب ضحيتها المدنيون رهائن المخيّم (خاصّةً وأنّ الجيش لن يدخل –على الأقل حتى الآن- إلى داخل المخيم ويكتفي بإطلاق النار من الخارج أو من المداخل أو الشوارع القريبة) إذا لم يحسم الجيش، فإنه سيخرج ضعيفاً مما سينحـّيه عن أيّ دور مستقبلي في المرحلة الانتقالية لحظة نهاية ولاية رئيس الجمهورية.

- لمنع إضاعة وقتكم، لا تقرأوا النهار والمستقبل اليوم أو غداً او اي من المدونات اللبنانية السياسية "المتحضّرة"، يمكن اختصار التغطية بما يلي: "بشار الأسد أوفى وعده بتحويل لبنانا عراقاً آخر "، "النظام السوري غبي ويرتكب دائماً الجرائم التي تعطي ردة فعل عكسية". طبعاً لا تقرأوا الديار المعارِضة أيضاً. ليست جريدة بأي الأحوال.

- "تخلّصوا منهم. أبيدوهم. الفلسطينيون الـــ....": المنحى اللبناني الشارعي على الطريقة الأميركية للتخلص من "الباد غايز". سؤال: هل الجيش اللبناني محضَّر لخوض مثل هذه المعارك التي تدور في مناطق سكنية؟ بعض أفراد الجيش قـُتـِلوا وهم يديرون ظهورهم للمخيم. تقارير أخرى تتحدث عن قطع رؤوس لآخرين (!) ومقتلهم بدم بارد.

- المنحى اللبناني لحل أي شيء: غض النظر حتى انفجار الوضع واتخاذ قرار كلامي لقلع كل شيء من مكانه بعد انفجاره ومن ثم الوصول إلى تسوية لينفجر الوضع بعدها .. أكثر.
- أكل الخرى اللبناني المنحى المتمثّل بنزول المواطنين (يـُحتـَرَمون بإطلاق عليهم هذه الصفة) لمؤازرة الجيش، منزلين معهم أسلحتهم الشرعية ليشاركوا بالمعركة.

- مخطئ من يعتقد أنّ الجيش مدعوم وطنياً. هناك ناس متدينون يدعمون فتح الإسلام.

- قبل شهر أو أكثر، نشر في جريدة الأخبار الملف التالي عن السنّة في شمال لبنان. (القسم الأول، القسم الثاني، القسم الثالث، القسم الرابع). لغير المتعمقين في الشؤون الداخليّة اللبنانية، قد تعطي المقالات صورة عن الوضع في الشمال. تجدر الإشارة أن علاقة الكاتب بتيار المستقبل ليست جيدة لوضع الأمور في سياقها الصحيح.

- أين أصبحت الزيارة الاستعراضية لنواب لبنان للمخيمات الفلسطينية التي حدثت قبل أكثر من عام؟؟

- مثل هذه الأحداث في المخيم لا يعفي بعض اللبنانيين وممثليهم في الحكومة والبرلمان من كونهم أناس عنصريين مسؤولين عن تحويل بعض المخيمات والمناطق المحرومة لبؤر من الجهل والفساد..

- امتلأ بريدي الاكترونني برسائل من شباب لبنان تدعو إلى توقيع العرائض لدعم الجيش. مش رح وقّع لأنو ببساطة ما فهمتها هاي. ح توقِّف مقتل عناصر الجيش أو رح تدعمه معنوياً؟؟

- لحظة أعفي عن سمير جعجع، أعفي أيضاً عن السنة المتهمين بأحداث الضنية (بعضهم كان بريئاً والبعض الآخر كان مضطلعاً بما حصل من أحداث) على قاعدة "الستة والستة مكرَّر". إنّ رجال دولة يعفون عن متهمين بسبب التوازن الطائفي وعن مجرم أدين بجريمة قتل رشيد كرامي (المحالة على المجلس العدلي، أي لا يشملها قانون العفو العام) وأعفوا عن سلطان ابو العينين "الفلسطيني" المطلوب لا يحق لهم أن يتشدّقوا بالشرعية. وصراحة بلَّشِت القصة تعمل معي ردة فعل عكسية.

- ماذا ننتظر؟؟ تسوية أخرى. ولعلمكم أنا مع التسوية ومش مع الحسم العسكري.

- باي ذي واي، صولانج الجميل ظهرت أمس على شاشة التلفاز لتقول بعد انفجار الأشرفية ما معناه أنه "هذا هو تاريخ الأشرفية". لصولانج نـَكول، غوحي تعلّمي عـَغـَبي يا تانت.

- ولعلمكم، نازل ع لبنان أول الشهر الجايي لو شو ما صار.


وبحب ضيف انو ماتقرو لحدا سوري معارض كمان


وايضا اقرأي هنا عن مساطيل يحبون الحياة

U.S. policy turnabout may enable Israel to enter talks with Syria



By Ze'ev Schiff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service

Washington has given Israel the green light to accept Syrian President Bashar Assad's call for peace talks, in a change of position accompanied by several preconditions.

The Bush administration has given Israel permission to discuss the future of the Golan Heights, security arrangements and Israeli-Syrian peace accords if it agrees to talks with Syria.

However, Washington has stipulated that Israel must not agree to any negotiations, even indirectly, on the United States' position, or on the future of Lebanon.

Furthermore, Israel must not make promises to Syria regarding U.S. policy. According to the new position, Washington will deal directly with Syria on these matters.

Syria's role in terrorism, the presence of terrorist organizations in Damascus and its involvement in smuggling weapons to Hezbollah and the Palestinian territories are currently issues which the U.S. is not discussing with Damascus.

Iran and its military connection with Syria is also not a topic that is open to discussion at present.

During a recent visit to Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice responded forcefully when the issue of Assad's call for a resumption of negotiations with Israel was raised.

"It is best that you avoid even exploring this possibility," she said.

Israel's government interpreted this as a firm American stance preventing Syria from taking advantage of talks with Israel to extricate itself from diplomatic isolation before fulfilling its obligation to control insurgents from crossing into Iraq, and before meeting the demands of the international investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

In past closed meetings, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has argued that U.S. President George Bush opposes talks between Israel and Damascus.

Mossad chief Meir Dagan also opposed talks with Syria. However military intelligence leaders including former Military Intelligence chief, Major General (res.) Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash, and his successor, Major General Amos Yadlin, were in favor.

Former chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon raised the issue of talks with Syria in meetings with former prime minister Ariel Sharon, who rejected the proposal.

The American position changed due Syria's participation in the Arab League summit in Riyadh.

During the meeting of Iraq's neighbors, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem adopted a moderate position. Rice then held a private meeting with Mualem.

Rice intends to invite Syria as well as Palestinian representatives and Israel to an international summit on the Arab-Israeli conflict, according to a plan being drafted by the U.S. State Department.

If this occurs, the American position regarding possible talks between Israel and Syria will no longer be relevant.

Stop Bombing Nahr El Bared NOW!!!

My friend Ashraf, a Palestinian refugee in Rashydyeh Camp in the South, has recently launched his blog, and posted about the current Uncovered situation of Nahr el Bared camp. He called his friends and this is what we know so far:

"Naher al bared" is a Palestinian refugee camp in the north of Lebanon, this camp is subjected to violent bombing from the Lebanese army in an attempt to vanish the a terrorist movement called " Fateh al Islam" which is Al- Qaieda ally in the region.

i just call my friend in the camp " Naher al bared", an he told me the Lebanese army is bombing the camp randomly, many houses fall down on their owners, they bombed clinics, and some houses for " Fateh al Islam".

Ahmad, a friend of mine, living in the camp, told me that they don't have water now, nor bread, nor hospitals. They are starting to feel hungry, they can't take the injuries outside the camp nor the dead, mostly civilians.

There are no reasons to bomb all of the camp, and we should not. The attacks on the Lebanese army happened yesterday outside the camp, and they discovered those terrorists inside a house in Tripoli.

The Palestinians inside the camp offered the Lebanese government help to cooperate with them to fight this terrorist movement but the government rejected the offer.

So what is the reason for these bombings? The camp is facing a disaster if they don't stop bombing NOW!!

Lebanese Faces



It's Sunday, people have fun.

My room was two blocks away from the explosion, while I was in Jemmayza having coffee with a friend, Jemmeyza is three blocks away from the explosion.

The pub was considerably empty for the Northern attacks on the Lebanese Army/Nahr el Bared Camp, 47 men died, 110 injured. While we were talking, we saw people running out, the owner of the pub announced the news: "Spennis was exploded" he said. I panicked, we live there!!! "Please take me home" I said.

We paid, stepped out of the pub, saw people running, dressed up and running, all upset, scared, cell phones glued to their cheeks, heading towards their cars.

We got into the car and drove to Spennis, people were driving like crazy, or crazier, red cross cars, civil defense trunks, and as we took the turn to Spennis, we realized that it isn't Spennis that was exploded, but the parking parallel to ABC, my heart was beating fast, my sister!!!

We couldn't drive through, parked the car, we walked through the crowd.

I was walking on glasses, glasses of bed rooms, living rooms, of homes. It was so crowded, with families wearing pajamas, pink, blue, yellow, scared, panicked, I saw a guy with a wet face, and a woman grabbed my friend's arm asking him about her house, we left her.

I don't know why, but I shed a tear.

I looked at my Southern friend's face, he was in the South when Israel bombed it, he heard the noises, saw the red, all this is very familiar to him, very not to me.

I saw the fire, I saw the giant thing glowing in the panicked people's eyes, I do not know how does it feel to be Lebanese, to have a Lebanese face, I haven't lived a "civil" war, nor a terrorist war, June war. I haven't heard a single noise outside the screen, we shared history??

We made it though the crowd, I told him to leave and get home safely. I ran for my building, I saw the room's light on, a bit relived, walked down the stairs, and nervous as I was, I couldn't use my key, I knocked on the door, Nadine!! Nadine!!!

Nobody answered, I got mad, I hit hard, and shouted, Nadine!!!

Yes yes yes!!!

My sister was holding the cat, and the remote control: "dad called."

I made some tea.

This morning, i woke up unusually 8:30, called dad and couple friends in Tripoli. got dressed and took off. People were gathered to see the explosion, cars were parked over, women were crying, people were checking on the neighboring apartments: "7amdella 3ala salametkon" (thank God you're all safe).
i saw the exploded building, its front was beautiful; plants, chairs and ACs, but its back was gone, completely. People have just lost their homes.
i heard a man yelling, we looked back and we saw a police officer writing a warning for a guy whose car was parked on the line, he was yelling so hard, he is here to see, he is for he's scared, he told the officer: "how could you??!! how dare you? answer me!!!"

i guess he meant that he had the right to remain scared.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Open letter to the Rolling Stones regarding planned gig in Israel

Taken from Sabbah's blog

Please circulate and forward widely

Boycott IsraelThe following letter is addressed to the Rolling Stones who are planning a concert in Israel. At this point we are soliciting endorsements from artists, cultural figures, intellectuals and cultural organizations, and others who wish to lend their support.

Please send endorsements to info@boycottisrael.ps , with your name/name of organization, city and country.


Boycott Israel - Don’t Play another “Sun City”!

An open letter to the Rolling Stones regarding their planned gig in Israel

18 May 2007

Dear Rolling Stones,

The Palestinian arts community received in disbelief media reports of your upcoming performance in Israel, at a time when Israel continues unabated with its colonial and apartheid designs to further dispossess, oppress, and ultimately ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their homeland. If the news is accurate, we strongly urge you to cancel your plans to perform in Israel until the time comes when it ends its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and respects fundamental human rights as well as the relevant precepts of international law concerning Palestinian rights to freedom, self-determination and equality.

Performing in Israel at this time is morally equivalent to performing in South Africa during the apartheid era. We all remember how leading Rolling Stones musicians played a prominent role in enforcing a cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa in the 1980’s, and participated in recording the timeless song, Sun City, which had a singular influence on raising public awareness about apartheid and its injustices. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights Prof. John Dugard, and South African government minister Ronnie Kasrils have repeatedly declared, Israel has created a worse system of apartheid than anything that ever existed in South Africa.

Indeed, Israel’s policies throughout its illegal military occupation of Palestinian territory, which have surpassed their South African counterparts, include house demolitions; Jews-only colonies and roads; uprooting hundreds of thousands of trees; indiscriminate killings of civilians, particularly children; incessant theft of land and water resources; denying freedom of movement to millions under occupation, cutting up the occupied Palestinian territory into Bantustans, some entirely caged by walls, fences and hundreds of roadblocks. Sixty years since the Nakba, Israel’s planned campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people, and 40 years into its military occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territory, Israel has consistently and relentlessly violated basic human rights and relevant precepts of international law with utter impunity. Moreover, Israel’s war of aggression against Lebanon last year caused more than one thousand civilian deaths, not to mention massive destruction to infrastructure and decimation of entire residential neighbourhoods.

The resounding failure of the international community to date in ending Israel’s occupation, collective punishment, and other forms of oppression was what prompted Palestinians to appeal to international civil society to bear its moral responsibility to put an end to injustice, just as it did against apartheid South Africa. To this end, Palestinian civil society has almost unanimously called for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it fully complies with international law and recognizes the fundamental human rights of the people of Palestine. A specific call for cultural boycott of Israel was issued last year, garnering wide support. Among the many groups and institutions that have heeded the Palestinian boycott calls and started to consider or apply diverse forms of effective pressure on Israel are the Church of England; the US Presbyterian Church; a group of top British architects; the British National Union of Journalists in the UK; the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU); the South African Council of Churches; the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in Ontario; Aosdana, the Irish state-sponsored academy of artists; celebrated authors, artists and intellectuals led by John Berger; and Palme d’Or winner director Ken Loach. Is it too much, then, to expect conscientious artists like the Rolling Stones to similarly uphold the values of freedom, equality and justice for all by supporting the growing boycott against Israel?

We appeal to your moral principles and your record of standing up for human rights and human dignity. We sincerely hope that you shall cancel this ill-conceived and particularly harmful concert in Israel.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned:

————————————————————————

Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
www.pacbi.org
info@boycottisrael.ps

لا

كيف نقول لا بالسوري؟

موقع معارض


اخذ من موقع الرأي والذي رأى في المعارض الجديد خدام التالي:

هاجم نائب الرئيس السوري السابق عبد الحليم خدام النظام السوري، متهما الرئيس بشار الاسد بـ افقار شعبه و قمعه ، وذلك قبل ايام من استفتاء في سورية علي ولاية ثانية للاسد.

وقال خدام مساء الاربعاء في حديث الي تلفزيون المستقبل اللبناني الذي تملكه عائلة رئيس الوزراء السابق رفيق الحريري الذي اغتيل في شباط (فبراير) 2005 نريد نظاما ديمقراطيا (...) بشار زرع الرعب وافقر الشعب السوري.

وهاجم ايضا عائلة الاسد متهما اياها باحتكار كل السلطات.

ووجه خدام الذي اسس في منفاه عام 2006 جبهة الخلاص الوطني التي تضم معارضين سوريين ابرزهم جماعة الاخوان المسلمين، نداء قبل الاستفتاء المقرر اجراؤه في سورية في 27 ايار (مايو) علي ولاية جديدة للرئيس بشار الاسد تمتد سبعة اعوام.

ودعا العلويين (الطائفة التي تنتمي اليها عائلة الاسد) والبعثيين (الحزب الحاكم) وعناصر الجيش الي تحمل مسؤولياتهم لانقاذ البلاد علي حد قوله.

ولفت خدام الي مستويات قياسية من الفساد لم تشهدها البلاد في عهد الرئيس الراحل حافظ الاسد كما قال.

وخدام هو احد ابرز وجوه الحرس القديم في سورية، وكان استقال في حزيران (يونيو) 2005 بعدما انتقد السياسة الخارجية التي تنتهجها دمشق.

وفي ايار (مايو) 2005 اصدر القضاء السوري مذكرة توقيف بحقه وعممها بواسطة الانتربول، بعدما اتهمه مجلس الشعب السوري بالفساد والخيانة العظمي.

كثير من الصواب

أفقدني الحنين الى الصواب

Friday, May 18, 2007

Interview with Abu Fares

Guess what? Yazan interviewed our Abu Fares, very nice one, here's one paragraph of it:

Q- A very important question would be, in a country like Syria, how are you able to stay away from politics?

A- I don’t think I stay away from politics, I rather circumnavigate some sensitive topics in a way where I do not offend the “others” too much and at the same time, where I do not jeopardize my own wellbeing and safety. There is a lot to read between the lines in some of my posts. However, as a rule, I follow a tactic of a great journalist, the late Saeed Frayha. His political and/or social criticism of the other is like a pinprick. It’s meant to draw attention, but never to cause any serious bleeding.

read full interview here.

Leave comments on the original post please ;)

Help Lebanon: Ban Cluster Bombs!


Taken from Dr. Newman

The 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah this summer is over, but up to a million unexploded cluster munitions that Israel left behind in Lebanon are the terrible remnant of that war. Lebanese are still being killed or maimed by the bomblets.

If left on the ground, a slight disturbance may cause bomblets to explode. Worse, many bomblets are brightly colored, with others attached to small parachutes, making them look like toys and enticing kids to pick them up. No international treaties outlaw the use of cluster bombs, although the Geneva Conventions contain laws to protect civilians during conflict.

According to the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre of South Lebanon, unexploded cluster munitions have killed 30 civilians and permanently wounded 191, including the young Lebanese boy to the right who lost both of his legs, since hostilities ended on August 14th, 2006. (Photo source: UN MACC-SL)

The 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah this summer is over, but up to a million unexploded cluster munitions that Israel left behind in Lebanon are the terrible remnant of that war. Lebanese are still being killed or maimed by the bomblets.

If left on the ground, a slight disturbance may cause bomblets to explode. Worse, many bomblets are brightly colored, with others attached to small parachutes, making them look like toys and enticing kids to pick them up. No international treaties outlaw the use of cluster bombs, although the Geneva Conventions contain laws to protect civilians during conflict.

According to the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre of South Lebanon, unexploded cluster munitions have killed 30 civilians and permanently wounded 191, including the young Lebanese boy to the right who lost both of his legs, since hostilities ended on August 14th, 2006.

What You Can Do About These Insidious Weapons:

Sign the petition below to ask President Bush, Secretary of State Rice, your state's U.S. Senators and your Member of Congress to restrict and limit the use, transfer or sale of cluster bombs.

Read the on-the-ground ATFL report on the unexploded ordnance problem in Lebanon,"A Million Unexploded Cluster Bomblets: The Deadly Legacy of Israel's Assault on Lebanon."

See more photos of cluster bomb victims at the website for the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre of South Lebanon, the agency responsible for clearing the bombs from Lebanon.

Make a tax-deductible donation
to support ATFL's "Stop the Carnage, Ban the Cluster Bomb" campaign.

Interview

A friend asked me to join him to go to one of the bars in Monot Street along with Swedish staff of a NGO located here in Beirut. I hate NGOs in Lebanon, especially the western ones, but my friend insisted and I cannot resist another night in Monot.

As expected, I am starting to feel bored, at their discoveries of my miseries, till one of them asked me:

- so what do you do miss?

- Am here doing my Master's.

- Oh, so you're not Lebanese?

- No, am Syrian.

- Aahhhh.

(ohh dear)

- and what do you think of the referendum?

- Not sure, what do you think bout it?

- Hahaha, well am not Syrian.

- Its complicated.

- You see, I am preparing an interview with Bayanouni, you know him right?

- Ahhh, yeah!!!?

- And what do you think about him?

I looked at my friend who is starting to have that yellow face alerted to my coming explosion in the car.

I looked back at that pale face and bursted:

- look!! its raining on my beer, i do not like this gathering and my shoes hurt! You are asking about my country, about my history, hell, what do you know about us?? you support your allies and you oppose your enemies, I wish it is that simple to me but it isn't, I cannot "tell" you about it!! you have a good luck with that bastard and good evening.

I grabbed 5ooo LB from my wallet and put it on the table, my friend followed me, silent. We walked all through the street, both silent, getting distant from the car. It was still raining.

But somehow I made it home.

Opposition

is autonomy
even from the "No".

Thursday, May 17, 2007

National Referendum to withdraw from Golan Heights

New law to require referendum before future Israeli withdrawals

By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent

The Knesset plenum on Wednesday passed a new law requiring a voter referendum before any further Israeli withdrawal from territories. The law was passed in its preliminary reading despite strong opposition, including from the prime minister's bureau.

The law, passed by a margin of 26 MKs for to 18 against, was the initiative of former coalition government head and Kadima MK Avigdor Yitzhaki. MKs Ze'ev Elkin and Marina Solodkin of the Kadima faction voted in favor of the law, as did head of the Labor faction Yoram Marciano and fellow Labor MKs Avishay Braverman and Orit Noked.

The law was supported by a concerted effort on the part of a lobby for the Golan Heights communities, who maintain that a potential Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights will be much less likely to occur if it will require the approval of a national referendum.


A law written by MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beitenu) and MK Zevulon Orlev (NRP) was also passed by the Knesset plenum during its preliminary reading on Wednesday. The law would require MKs to pledge their devotion to keeping Israel "a Jewish and democratic state, both in character and symbolism."

The law is one of a number of new legislative measures taken against Arab MKs after the revelation that the security establishment suspects former-MK Azmi Bishara (Balad) of assisting Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon War.

During the debate in the General Assembly, MK Zehava Gal-on (Meretz) called the law "a fascist law" and MK Ahmad Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al) said that "soon enough they'll require us to wear a uniform."

MK Rotem stated that if faith in the State of Israel is fascist, "then I'm a fascist."

MK Orlev added that the passing of the law signified "a great day for the Knesset and the State of Israel. Zionism won. The Knesset has proven that it is not ready to commit suicide."


قانون إسرائيلي يربط الانسحاب من الجولان باستفتاء شعبي

إقرار مشروع القانون رهين بموافقة البرلمان في ثلاث قراءات(الفرنسية-أرشيف)
وافق البرلمان الإسرائيلي (الكنيست) اليوم في قراءة أولى على مشروع قانون يقضي بإجراء استفتاء على أي قرار للحكومة بالانسحاب من هضبة الجولان السورية المحتلة.

وأوضح مصدر برلماني أنه لإقرار مشروع القانون هذا يجب أن يوافق عليه البرلمان في ثلاث قراءات.

وأشارت مصادر إعلامية إلى أن المشروع قدم من قبل نائب حزب كاديما الحاكم أفيغدور إسحاقي، الذي طالب مؤخرا علنا رئيس الوزراء إيهود أولمرت بالاستقالة إثر نشر تقرير فينوغراد.

وكان التقرير قد حمل أولمرت مسؤولية الفشل في الحرب التي شنتها إسرائيل على لبنان الصيف الماضي.

للإشارة فإن مباحثات السلام السورية الإسرائيلية بشأن هضبة الجولان السورية، التي احتلها إسرائيل في حرب يونيو/حزيران 1967 وضمتها عام 1981، مجمدة منذ يناير/كانون الثاني 2000.

ورفضت إسرائيل مرارا في الأشهر الأخيرة مبادرات الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد، مشترطة لفتح مفاوضات سلام مع دمشق أن توقف سوريا على الخصوص دعمها لحزب الله اللبناني ولحركتي حماس والجهاد الإسلامي الفلسطينيتين.

الحص يدعو الرئيس السوري إلى العفو عن سجناء الرأي

Arraee

2007/05/15

دعا رئيس الحكومة اللبنانية السابق سليم الحص، الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد إلى العفو عن سجناء الرأي الذين حكم عليهم الأحد الماضي بالسجن ما بين ثلاث سنوات وعشر سنوات، فيما اختتم مؤتمر المغتربين السوريين في دمشق أعماله بتدارس الفساد في السفارات السورية في الخارج.

وقال الحص في بيان إنه «منذ اعتقلت السلطة في الشقيقة سوريا الأستاذ ميشال كيلو (الذي حكم عليه بالسجن ثلاث سنوات)على موقف أدلى به في شأن العلاقات بين البلدين الشقيقين، لبنان وسوريا،أدليت بتصريح في حينه أدعو فيه إلى الإفراج عنه». وأضاف «وهاأنذا، بعدما شهدت الساعات الأخيرة أحكاما صدرت من المحاكم السورية تفرض عقوبة السجن على شخصيات أدلت بآراء لا تروق للسلطة في سوريا، بمن فيهم ميشال كيلو، أعود فأهيب بالرئيس الشاب الواعد الدكتور بشار الأسد أن يمنح كل هؤلاء عفوه الخاص فيفرج عنهم جميعا، خصوصا في مناسبة الدعوة إلى استفتاء عام تجديدا لولايته الرئاسية».



وتمنى الحص أن «تعيد سوريا النظر في موقفها من أصحاب الرأي الحر، وان كان في رأيهم ما لا يروق للمسؤولين». ولفت إلى أن «حرية التعبير والمعتقد هما أعز حقوق الإنسان في وطنه، واحترام هذه القيم أضحى معيار التقدم الحضاري في أي مجتمع». إلى ذلك، شهدت جلسات مؤتمر المغتربين السوريين نقاشات بالعمق مع كبار المسؤولين السوريين بشأن بعض الإجراءات الأمنية الخاصة بالمغتربين، وعلاقاتهم مع السفارات السورية في الخارج. وقال مساعد وزير الخارجية السورية فيصل مقداد في الجلسة الختامية «إذا كان هناك فساد في السفارات والقنصليات السورية في الخارج فأنتم تتحملون جزءا منه كما نتحمل نحن لأنكم لم تخبرونا به».



وشدد على أن «تعليمات وزارة الخارجية للدبلوماسيين السوريين تتلخص في القول لهم أنتم خدم للسوريين الموجودين في المناطق التي سنرسلكم إليها، ولولا ذلك لم يكن هناك حاجة لإرسالكم». وقال «قلنا لهم إذا دخل المواطن السوري عليكم مطأطأ الرأس لسبب أو لآخر يجب أن لا يخرج إلا وهو مرفوع الرأس». وأضاف «نحن لا نرتاح لأي سفير أو دبلوماسي يغلق باب مكتبه في وجه المغتربين السوريين ويجلس على كرسيه الوثير». وأكد وزير الداخلية بشام عبد المجيد أيضا على «وجود تعليمات صارمة بعدم ترصد أي مواطن سوري ما لم يكن مقصودا لذاته بعد التأكد من ذلك».

دمشق، بيروت ـ البيان

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

3anjad Nice

MICHAEL BUBLE LYRICS

"Home"

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home



Update: Pick One of Two!

Update: this photo is taken by an Israeli named TalShavit, I like this photo's symbolisms, she supports our campaign to free Occupied Golan Heights. I think it would be nice if Israelis are part of our campaign.




or this second one:



Occupation 101

Voices of the Silenced Majority


Synopsis

A thought-provoking and powerful documentary film on the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film ever produced on the conflict -- 'Occupation 101' presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never ending controversy and dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions.

The film also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The roots of the conflict are explained through first-hand on-the-ground experiences from leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders and humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in American media outlets.

The film covers a wide range of topics -- which include -- the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe in the 1880's, the 1920 tensions, the 1948 war, the 1967 war, the first Intifada of 1987, the Oslo Peace Process, Settlement expansion, the role of the United States Government, the second Intifada of 2000, the separation barrier and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as many heart wrenching testimonials from victims of this tragedy.

Featured Interviews

Occupation 101 features a leading list of some of the most credible Middle East scholars, historians, peace activists, journalists, and humanitarian workers. For a complete listing, please click here.




عن مقالة السنيورة في نيويورك تايمز


نشر الأستاذ فؤاد عبد الباسط السنيورة (أي رئيس الحكومة اللبنانية المتنازَع على شرعيتها أو لا شرعيتها) مقالة في النيويورك تايمز تجدون نسختها الأصلية بالانكليزية هنا :

يصح لنا كقراء عاديين تسجيل الملاحظات التالية:

1- استخدام السنيورة لكلمة "عنف" (violence) غير مرة في المقال، وعدم استخدامه لكلمة "مقاومة" (على الأقل تلك التي سبقت حرب تموز حيث أصبح لفظ المقاومة موضع جدل). "العنف" هو التعبير الذي تستخدمه الإدارة الأميركية بالإضافة إلى "ضبط النفس" لدى نشوب الأزمات (لم ترد "ضبط النفس" في المقال). على أنّ هذه الملاحظة تصبح منطقية عند النظر للملاحظة 7 أدناه.
2- لجوئه إلى التعميم غير ذات مرة عند الحديث عن المبادرة العربية لدرجة تشعر القارئ بأنّ مجرد اقرار السلام مع اسرائيل سيحل كل المشاكل المتراكمة بكبسة زر سحرية. كما يشعر بأنّ الرئيس السنيورة شارك بل هو من دفع لمبادرة السلام العربية حين أضاف بأنّ "العرب على استعداد لدفع هذا الثمن الباهظ".
3- لجوئه إلى تعبير "الواقع" (Reality) وهو تعبير يترافق دائماً مع تبرير التنازل عن الحقوق.
4- يشعر القارئ ولوهلة أن الكاتب (أي السنيورة) لا علاقة له بلبنان على الإطلاق. بل يتكلّم من موقع المهتم بقضية الصراع العربي اجمالاً لا محلياً. نقصد بمحلياً المشاكل التالية: الوضع الفلسطيني في المخيمات، وضع حزب الله، الوضع السني المستجد منذ سنتين وأكثر (الإرث الجهادي الناهض لدى الشيعة عامة والسنة السلفيين المدعومين حريرياً، التفجيرات المتنقلة (الملقاة على عاتق سورياً بسبب "قراءات سياسية" لا تخطئ)، الاغتيالات المتنقلة، سرقة المياه. ربما لا يصح الدخول في التفاصيل عند التخاطب مع المجتمع الدولي.
5- منحى "بدنا نعيش" الذي تعبق به المقالة والمنتشر لدى الأكثرية الساحقة من الشعب يجعل من السنيورة رئيساً شعبوياً، وهو إنجاز يحيّى عليه.
6- لجوئه إلى جمل يمكن وضعها تحت خانة "طمأنة" الولايات المتحدة الأميركية المجتمع الدولي واسرائيل (The Arab states are not seeking to wipe Israel off the map.) ، وهذا عادة ما يتم اللجوء إليه في المحادثات الدولية حول النزاعات القائمة. لكنها للأسف باتت حجة بالية مرادفة لـِ "شو عم تضحك عليي" حيث أنّ الواقع على الأرض أعقد بكثير من أسلوب الطمأنة التبسيطي إياه.
7- عبارات تقع تحت خانة النفاق السياسي للولايات المتحدة الأميركية من مثل " بسبب دورها الفريد في العالم تتحمل الولايات المتحدة مسؤولية إظهار القيادة والشجاعة في مساعدة الجانبين على تحقيق سلام عادل ودائم" (Because of its unique role in the world, the United States has a responsibility to display leadership and courage in helping the two sides achieve a just and lasting peace. ) . هذا شيء حسن فهو يرطّب الأجواء مع الشيطان الأكبر (لدى حزب الله). لذلك نتمنى أن ينسحب هذا الوضع ليشمل سوريا أيضاً (الشيطان الأكبر لدى الأكثرية النيابية – 14 آذار).
8- محاولته تحفيز الإدارة الاميركي من خلال اعتماد مفهوم الاعتدال والتطرف ذاته لمعتمد لديها بالتدخّل أكثر للعب دور قيادي، لأنه "سيقدم لها سبيلا للتصالح مع العالم الاسلامي في وقت يزداد فيها الانقسام والتشدد"، أي تتدخل لتدعم المعتدلين.
9- إيضاحه بأنّ "الاحتلال غير المشروع وانتهاك الأجواء واحتجاز الأشخاص وتدمير المنازل وإقامة نقاط التفتيش المذلة والهجمات والهجمات المضادة (بالمناسبة حـُذِف تعبير الهجمات والهجمات المضادة من أكثرمن موقع عند الترجمة ) تواصل تصعيد الغضب واليأس في نفوس الشعوب العربية"
10- الحديث عن اسرائيل وما فعلته اسرائيل كجزء لا يتجزأ من مبدأ نفي الاتهام الحاضر له ولغيره.
11- بالإجمال يعتمد رئيس الحكومة شعار "انبطح للشرعية الدوليّة ومن وراءها حتى النصر".

بالمناسبة، وبعيدا عن مقالة" نيويورك تايمز"، نتمنى أن لا ينتظر السيد رئيس الحكومة أي عدوان اسرائيلي على المنتجعات البحرية غير الشرعية (الاملاك البحرية غير الشرعية يضاف إليها الأملاك النهرية ربما) ليقول بأنّ أصحاب المنتجعات بنوا على أراضٍ ليس ملكهم، فيرفض دفع التعويضات لهم، بل ربما يسعى لاستردادها بعد أن استقالت الدولة من مسؤولياتها (او تعاون رجالها على سرقة خزينتها تحت شعار الانماء المناطقي المتوازن)على الأقل خلال الخمسة عشر عاماً الماضية.
بانتظار المقالة التالية.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

59th. Memory of Al-Nakba

Check out Nakba site.

Taken from beautiful NightS

نكبة



لن أبقى لاجئاً: على مدخل إقرث

جريدة الأخبار

مواجهة النكبة: التمسّك بالذاكرة


and this from beautiful Serene

15 May 1948

A crystallisation: 59 years of terror, colonialism, racism, dishonesty, hypocrisy, abuse, classism, theft, systematic ethnic cleansing, forced expulsion, miseducation, misinformation, bombardment, suppression of the human right to resist oppression, cultural plundering, devastation of agriculture, militarism, uprooting of a people, and yet... ... the dream of freedom, of Palestine at the core of that dream today, only grows stronger.


and finally from an American blogger named Luis

Happy Birthday, McZionism- Making the correaltion of neglegent policy in the U.S. and Israel

So aside from the increasingly-difficult turn my life has taken, this recent week, I've been fortunate enough to have the time to catch up on some research.

So the apartheid anniversary has now reached its 59th year and it has never been more apparent to the world what a travesty this path has taken religious Jews--in respect to their ties to Israel. With such heresies taking place as I write, I can not help but continue to wonder what human rights violations are taking place through the use of my tax dollars. This makes me indirectly accountable and therefore gives me every right in the United States to continue voicing my opinion within these borders and without, for negative foreign policy that still resonates.

Marcy Newman indeed has a point and I can strongly concur with her claims, without reservation, that Israel's human rights violations have in fact been dealt with a blind eye from the U.S.' purview of the region and, most importantly, the role of Holocaust remembrance and its ability to obscure such a blatant indifference to Palestinian rights. It is in fact one of the most effective tools in the Israeli arsenal of public (with respect to Palestinians living inside Israel) and foreign policy with its neighbors (primarily the victimized Palestinians, who are never more than a kilometer away from an illegal settlement).

Dubbed one of the "most controversial" conflicts in our time, a reasonable scholar will rightfully deduce such a title to be nothing short of fallacious, with utter disregard for the fast-growing wealth of knowledge that inhabit our lecture halls and academic institutions, not to mention the media's growing ability to undauntedly report such blatant violations of human rights, that adamantly contradicts the Zionist unanimity. In my most ardent opinions, I believe this conflict is, in stark contrast, one with perhaps the easiest solution to create and most transparent in our generation (and hopefully will not exist for future generations)to discuss. Whether these effortless ideas of peace can in fact be attainable and implemented in the region is a question that will for now be deferred to Israel, as they remain the occupying power; so long as they can manage to maintain the Jewish majority within Israel... What will the Israelis do when they are overtaken internally and democratically through the growing population of Palestinians, whose population is said to be growing more than 3 times that of the average Jewish Israeli citizen.

Either the Palestinians are given a state soon, or they will overtake Israel before my time in this world has elapsed. It's your move Israel.

In closing, I would like to express my remembrance of Israel's birthday with great contempt in regards to those displaced by the hijacking of the daily life in Palestine (pre-Zionist movement) and transformation to their current lives in exile and separation from loved ones. The Middle East has long accepted the existence of Israel.

It seems to me, and the rest in the world with some common sense, that Israel has chosen to learn from their Nazi oppressors rather than their liberators. This state is destitute as far as their ability to reach a consensus on the topic of Palestinian human rights is concerned; their transparency will continue until sufficient pressure is applied from their sponsors and/or until justice is rightfully served to their oppressed hosts in Palestine.

لا نبكي اليوم ميشيل ومحمود بل الشعور القومي

I thought i could share this with you for some bloggers have subjective definitions to "national feelings" exactly as that of whom they oppose; Assad.

بقلم: هيثم مناع *

أخبار الشرق – 13 أيار/ مايو 2007

عندما وصلتني لائحة الاتهام بحق ميشيل كيلو ومحمود عيسى وقرأت فيها:

1- جناية إضعاف الشعور القومي وإثارة النعرات الطائفية والقومية والمذهبية وفق أحكام المادة 285

2- جناية تعريض سورية لأعمال عدائية وفق أحكام المادة278 من قانون العقوبات السوري.

3- الظن عليه من جنحتي إذاعة أنباء كاذبة والذم والقدح وفق أحكام المواد 307 -376 من قانون العقوبات.

قلت في نفسي: كيف اتفق ميشيل ومحمود على إثارة النعرات الطائفية في بيان مشترك وقعه مثقفون من كل الطوائف والمذاهب في سورية ولبنان دون استثناء؟

ألا تسأل قيادة حزب البعث في سورية نفسها السؤال: هل الشعور القومي مصاب بنقص المناعة الذاتية حتى يهتز من عريضة للمثقفين والمدافعين عن الحقوق المدنية؟

منذ قرابة عام وميشيل كيلو ومحمود عيسى وأنور البني (والقائمة لم تعد حصرية للأسف)، يتناوبون على جناح جرائم الاغتصاب وهتك العرض والشرف في سجن عدرا. ذلك في عملية تنكيل وإيذاء نفسي ومحاولة تحطيم معنوي لأنهم في لحظة من حياتهم العامة قرروا تحديد موقف من العلاقات السورية اللبنانية. قرار مستقل عن كل مراكز القرار في البلدين. صرخة مدنية تقول بأن الجار قبل الدار وأن التكامل العربي ممارسة سلمية للتعدد السياسي والتنوع الثقافي والتصاهر والتبادل والتشبيك بين الناس. وقبل أن يكون قرارا فوقيا مفروضا من أي طرف على آخر.

كلاهما سبق واعتقل. ولمحمود في ذمة السلطة التسلطية، قبل اعتقاله الأخير، ثماني سنوات سجن وحرمان من الحقوق المدنية والسفر والعمل في القطاع العام. الجريمة دائما، الخلاف في وجهة النظر مع السلطة السياسية الأمنية في البلاد.

إعلان دمشق بيروت- بيروت دمشق لم يكن قرآنا مقدسا بل وجهة نظر. ترجمة طبيعية عن الحق الأساسي للبشر في التعبير السلمي عن وجهة نظرهم في قضية لا يمكن أن يوضعوا خارج قوس فيها بقرار من الأمن السياسي. مشاركة من المواطن في واجبه المواطني، ضمن حقه المنطقي في الخطأ والإصابة.

لا يمكن حصر موقف السلطات السورية بما يسميه بعض أعضاء الجبهة الحاكمة بمؤشر لفلتان الأمور فيما يتعلق بالملف اللبناني داخل سورية. خاصة وأن معظم مكونات المعارضة السورية لم تدخل في مماحكات المزايدات والمناقصات الخاصة باغتيال الفقيد رفيق الحريري أو التعويل على سقوط النظام في دمشق من بيروت أو باريس أو واشنطن. لكن هناك نوع من الخلط المتعمد بين كل مكونات المعارضة ومشروع التدخل الخارجي، خاصة بعد أن حصل نوع من الانفراج العربي والدولي تجاه الحكم السوري. بحيث تضرب أجهزة الأمن الخطاب الديمقراطي الأكثر نزاهة ووطنية وأمانة لمقومات مشروع قومي حديث جدير بالتسمية. وذلك باسم ارتباط هذا الخطاب بالخارج ووهن الأمة وإضعاف العروبة وضرب سيادة الدولة.

لم تتوقف الاعتقالات على رموز النشاط المدني، بل شملت نشطاء الانترنت وإسلاميين من عدة اتجاهات ونشطاء أكراد وعائدين للوطن لا يوجد بحقهم أي حكم قضائي. وأخيرا شبيبة تحت سن البلوغ ومواطنين غير مسيسين إثر اضطرابات مدينة الرقة. وقد رصدت اللجنة العربية لحقوق الإنسان مثول أكثر من ستين ناشطا أمام القضاء السوري في الأشهر الثلاثة الأخيرة.

في حفلة الملاحقة والمتابعة ونقل المعارضة الداخلية لمواقع الدفاع، تتم حفلة أخرى من نوع مختلف خلال هذا الربيع الخريفي المعالم اسمها: آخر استفتاء في التاريخ السياسي المعاصر على تسمية رئيس جمهورية للبلاد في ترشيح واحد أحد.

تذكرت ما قالته لي أمي التي انتسبت لحزب البعث قبل ولادتي وتركته قبل وصوله السلطة: "يا إبني شو تشرشح الشعور القومي في هذا الزمان"!

__________

* كاتب سوري وناشط في مجال حقوق الإنسان

Monday, May 14, 2007

Free Damascus Spring

This is the logo my sister made us for the Damascus Spring campaign.
I do not know how to make a link out of this, so if any would volunteer and do it for us to use it on our blogs i'd appreciate it.

If there are any suggestions please let me know.



Amnon Levy: Don't believe the Shin Bet

Ynetnews

Does anyone really believe Bishara had access to sensitive information?

Amnon Levy
Published: 05.14.07, 12:38 / Israel Opinion

To tell you the truth, I wanted to write about the Bishara affair for quite some time, to say that I feel there's something wrong with the whole deal; I don't believe the Shin Bet, and I believe that a red line has been crossed in our relationship with elected Arab officials.

I wanted to say all this, but I was afraid, because how would I know? Did I see the classified information? Did I hear the information revealed through phone-tapping? Do I know exactly what they found out there?

They are talking about Bishara receiving money in exchange for classified defense information handed over to Hizbullah during wartime. If that's true, that's very grave. I may end up writing something in favor of Azmi Bishara here and ultimately see unequivocal proof that the man indeed committed treason.

I decided to overcome the fear and write. For too long we have allowed what is referred to as "classified security considerations" to scare us. Too often the public debate had been silenced because of secret evidence that nobody saw, but security officials who waved it in our faces promised that it included clear-cut proof of a grave offence.

Azmi Bishara was a Knesset member. A legitimate, publicly elected official. If there is proof, it should be submitted immediately. We cannot treat a Knesset member as if he was some kind of small-time snitch. Besides, the time has come to overcome the fear and say what appeared quite clear from the start: I do not believe that Bishara handed over intelligence information to the enemy.

First of all, in order to hand over intelligence information, the traitor must possess such information. Does anyone believe Bishara knew something that was not published in the press? Does anyone think that any security official ever handed him sensitive information? That he has access to such information? After all, to this day Arab political representatives are kept away from any location that has sensitive information. For years, the right to send a representative to the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee was based on the following formula: A party had to have a number of Knesset members that is equal to one more than the largest Arab party…

Idiotic act

Moreover, we are told, the Shin Bet was eavesdropping on Bishara. Had intelligence information, in the clearest form of what this means, been provided, it is clear Bishara would have been arrested on the spot. It is clear that he would not have been allowed to exit the country.

The interpretation according to which he was allowed to leave because he was a Knesset member is ridiculous: His phones were bugged despite him being a Knesset member, yet he was allowed to leave the country because he is a Knesset member? Where is the logic in that? It is likelier that the taped conversations did not provide clear-cut proof that Bishara handed over intelligence information to the enemy.

And had Bishara not handed over information, what else could he have provided? I'm guessing that he talked politics, provided estimates, commentary, and views. How should we address such conversation during wartime? Here we are dealing with a very sensitive question: What is the legitimate boundary of contact between an elected Arab official and hostile Arab elements? What was included in Bishara's conversation with Hizbullah?

I have no accurate information regarding what was said there. I am also not overly excited about conversations with the enemy while missiles were landing here. It would be proper for even such a controversial Arab Knesset member to display certain solidarity with his country of residence. Yet nobody should be put on trial for bad taste.

On the other hand, the interpretation that views such talks as treason is a very dangerous one. Arab Knesset members serve as a very important and authentic mouthpiece for their constituents in the Knesset. It may be unpleasant to hear their words, but it's necessary. In the framework of their job, they represent the constituency that elected them not only before the State of Israel's institutions, but also in the world, and particularly in the Arab world. This is their role. They were elected for that purpose. This is how it works in a democracy.

Azmi Bishara was the most fluent and challenging Arab-Israeli spokesperson in recent years. Silencing him and making him run away from Israel not only constitutes the crossing of a red line – it is also an idiotic act: There is an attempt here to make the difficult political and ideological argument with Bishara shallower, and bring it back to a security argument like we used to have when Israeli-Arab communities were under a military administration.

Instead of facing him at the Knesset, security officials brought the argument back to the interrogation cells. And so, we reverted to the classic role played by Arab-Israelis: Not partners for dialogue, but rather, mere enemies. Not partners, but rather, mere traitors. Not people that should be convinced, but rather, mere Arabs that must be imprisoned.

Yalla Vote for our Golan Campaign!!

Update: this photo is taken by an Israeli named TalShavit, I like this photo's symbolisms, she supports our campaign to free Occupied Golan Heights. I think it would be nice if Israelis are part of our campaign.



Ok, i know this week's been hard on all of us, so you can vote whenever, we need to make the Golan Heights' cause revived, as Wassim said in his post, we need to make few steps, these are some picture i've found on Golan taken from Jawlan site. If most of you agreed on one pic, or two, we can use it as a background to a logo. we need to discuss it. This is just a suggestion.
Please feel free to contribute with your suggestions or pictures.

Select the number of the picture you think it is nice for a logo's background. I liked pictures 6 and 9.


1-2-
3-

4-5-

6-7-
8-
9-
10-

Sunday, May 13, 2007

ســــــأخون وطــــــني 2


NO to another 7 years of Souriya El Assad: Assadian Syria.

ســـــــــــــأخون وطنــــــــــــــي


BBC

Syrian democracy activists jailed
Michel Kilo
Michel Kilo is one of Syria's leading writers
A Syrian court has sentenced two democracy activists, Michel Kilo and Mahmoud Issa, to three years in prison.

The pair were convicted of spreading false information, encouraging sectarian strife and weakening national sentiment, a Syrian rights group said.

The men were arrested last year after signing a petition that called on Syria to improve its relations with Lebanon.

Several other prominent government critics and rights campaigners have been jailed in Syria in recent weeks.

Michel Kilo is a veteran democracy activist and one of the country's leading writers.

Mahmoud Issa is a translator and former political prisoner who has already spent eight years in jail.

They were arrested a year ago after they signed a petition calling for a radical reform of Lebanese-Syrian relations.

This has been a particularly sensitive subject for Damascus since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005.

UN investigations have implicated Syrian and Lebanese officials in the killing, although Damascus has denied any involvement.

The petition was signed by 300 Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals.

Other prominent signatories have received heavy prison sentences in the past month as the Syrian government has reasserted a crackdown on advocates of democratic reform in Syria.

Update: Al- Akhbar Newspaper.

Invisible Palestinians Exist in Legal Limbo in Lebanon

New York Times

May 6, 2007
Invisible Palestinians Exist in Legal Limbo in Lebanon
By NADA BAKRI

BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 5 — Three generations of the Hamdallah family have lived in Lebanon. And for three generations not a single member of the family has been allowed to graduate from school, legally marry, or hold a job, or even set foot outside of the rundown camps that have been home to generations of Palestinians.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency estimates that more than 400,000 Palestinians live in Lebanon — refugees, their children and their children’s children — all denied many basic rights in their adopted homeland on the Mediterranean.

But within that diaspora at least 3,000 people, including the Hamdallah family, are invisible to the legal system, aid groups here say. When their families arrived in Lebanon, they failed to get refugee status, and without it they cannot get identification cards, the currency of all life transactions in this region. Marriage, travel, work — all are impossible without a national identification document.

“They are not persons in front of the law,” said Stéphane Jacquemet, regional representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon. “They live in camps, don’t have access to services, schools, hospitals, and strictly speaking a person with no documents can be arrested. They absolutely have no future, and they are giving their no future to their children.”

Palestinian refugees have been denied citizenship in Lebanon for years, and they are prohibited from practicing more than 70 professions. The Lebanese government has insisted that the plight of the refugees should not be settled at the expense of host nations, and it has made clear that it eventually wants the Palestinians to go back to Israel after a settlement with that government.

At the heart of that policy lies the fear that the refugees could upset Lebanon’s already complicated and tenuous power-sharing system, based on ethnic and sectarian affiliation. Because most Palestinians are Sunni Muslims, nationalizing them would throw the power balance to Sunnis.

So, with no real hope of becoming Lebanese citizens, Palestinians remain squeezed in dark, small camps where sewage water often runs in claustrophobic alleys, the only playground of young refugees. Outside most of these camps, the Lebanese Army maintains a heavy presence.

But while most Palestinians are denied citizenship, a vast majority have identification papers that allow them to participate in society.

“Generally speaking, everyone must have and is entitled to a legal identification paper,” said Fateh Azzam, a regional representative of the International Council on Human Rights here. “In this part of the world you can’t do anything without it.”

That is a reality that the Hamdallah family has struggled with for generations.

Born in Jerusalem, the oldest member of the family, Moetaz Hamdallah, 65, came to Lebanon in 1970 from Jordan after “Black September,” when King Hussein expelled Palestinian militants. Mr. Hamdallah was one of those militants. He arrived in Lebanon when the Palestine Liberation Organization — then ensconced in southern Lebanon — was at the height of its power, and so he never thought about legalizing his status.

“The revolution was strong, I was strong,” Mr. Hamdallah said in an interview. “I never thought about identification papers or what would happen to me and to my children without them.”

But when the P.L.O. was driven out of Lebanon in 1982, “I started pitying myself,” he said as he sat on a plastic chair outside his concrete-block house in the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Inside, flies buzzed under a zinc roof and unpainted walls.

Mr. Hamdallah did not flee when Israel was formed over the former Palestine in 1948, and so he and his family did not meet the United Nations definition of Palestinian refugees. In Lebanon, the P.L.O. was blamed for igniting civil war, and so Mr. Hamdallah, like others with his background, were not welcomed.

Their situation came to light in 2001 when a young refugee without proper identification was fatally shot in the back by Lebanese soldiers after he ran from a security checkpoint monitoring his refugee camp. When investigating why he ran back toward the camp, the army found out that he had a forged ID card and feared arrest.

“They have melted into the background for too long,” said Richard J. Cook, director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East. “This is a problem not going to go away on its own; now is the time to solve it.”

But obstacles complicate the more direct possible solutions, human rights advocates say. For example, Jordan and Egypt have refused to renew the passports of the Palestinians who used to live there before their move to Lebanon. Refugees cannot transfer their files with the United Nations to Lebanon from their previous resident countries unless they have the approval of those countries and Lebanon.

One of the solutions would be for the Lebanese government to provide Palestinians with some sort of documents that recognize them as a special category of refugees entitled to remain in the country until the issue of the so-called right to return to Israel is settled. But the government said that a lack of a thorough and well-documented survey about them prevents that for now.

“They are illegal in the country, so they are not going to raise their hands up and say, ‘We are illegal, can you help us?’ ” Mr. Cook said.

The Danish Refugee Council, a nongovernmental organization funded by the European Union Commission Humanitarian Aid Department, put the number of undocumented Palestinians in Lebanon at 3,000, while other nongovernmental organizations put it at as high as 5,000.

Some human rights advocates insist that the real problem is not a lack of clear statistics, but the government’s objection to any measure that would raise the official number of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

That charge is denied by Khalil Makkawi, a former Lebanese ambassador to the United Nations who now leads the committee negotiating with the Palestinians on how to regulate their presence here.

“It has no foundation whatsoever,” Mr. Makkawi said. “It is in our interest to solve the problem and identify them as Palestinians.”

When the government gets clear figures from the P.L.O. office here, it can start talks with Jordan and Egypt to renew refugees’ old identification papers and to transfer the files of those registered with the United Nations elsewhere to Lebanon, he said. As for those who lack papers and have never been registered anywhere, the government will seek a special solution, he said.

When Mr. Hamdallah’s oldest son, Mohannad, 34, was a child, he asked his father why he did not have an identification paper like his fellow classmates. He was told that he would get papers when they returned home — meaning Jerusalem, he said.

Recently, when Mohannad Hamdallah was asked how he would respond if his 7-year old daughter, the oldest of a third generation of refugees in his family without identification, someday asks him why she cannot graduate from school, he thought for a moment before answering.

“I would tell her they were burned during the war,” he said.

Desperate for some form of legal identity, he has throughout his life collected hundreds of papers with his name, place and year of birth written on them from local mayors, hospitals and schools where he studied but never graduated.

He keeps the papers, their edges worn from use, in a briefcase, and the briefcase in a safe. “I keep every piece of paper because I am like the drowning man who clutches at a straw,” he said. Still, at one military checkpoint, they evoked only mockery, then detention, he said.

He looks for work as a freelance accountant, but can only keep a job until his employer asks for legal identification.

“When they do, I disappear,” he said. “I can’t tell them I don’t have an ID. They won’t understand.”

Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company
Mohannad Hamdallah, left, his children and brother Talib at home in one of the Lebanese camps where three generations of the family have lived. (Paul Taggart/World Picture Network, for The New York Times)

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Planning the Previous War

I decided to start reading Israeli newspapers and i have just read two articels which i really liked; one is by Amira Hass and other is by Uzi Benziman and i thought i could share with you the latter.

Planning the previous war

By Uzi Benziman

Like generals spending all their energy preparing for the next war, when in reality they are planning for the previous one, the politicians in Israel are knee-deep in the trauma of the Second Lebanon War, stuck in a morass that is dictating their priorities and their moves, and does not contribute to understanding the root of the country's distress and the direction where potentially safer ground lies.

The political world is now focused on the critical question of who has greater experience to deal with the military challenges ahead: Shimon Peres or Ehud Barak. The test of leadership set by the Winograd Committee is based on defense and diplomatic experience, and the candidates competing for the leadership of the country are evaluated on this basis. The political maneuvers in Labor and Kadima are being carried out on the assumption that in the coming months, the country is once more expected to face serious security crises: in the Gaza Strip, in Lebanon and possibly against Syria.

Barak, Ami Ayalon, and also Ehud Olmert, Peres, Tzipi Livni and Shaul Mofaz, are waving the diplomatic and/or defense experience they've accumulated, in an effort to gain or to retain the crown over their parties. Their political future hinges on their ability to convince their constituents (or the institutions of their parties) that they are more qualified than their rivals to deal with the security challenges ahead.

The field of competition has been selected by the competitors themselves: E ach of them sings his own praises about his military and/or diplomatic experience, while emphasizing his ability to correct the failures that emerged last summer and prepare the country for the war hurtling toward us.

This is an assumption that could be justifiably challenged: Instead of focusing on preparations for a war that allegedly is unavoidable, the candidates for the leadership of the country should be asked to present the citizenry with a peace plan. More important to Barak's political ambitions are his views on Israeli-Palestinian relations rather than his military career or the recommendations he whispered to Peres at the start of the Lebanon war. The public is entitled to know what lessons Barak learned from his failure as prime minister to reach a permanent solution with Yasser Arafat. Is he returning as a candidate in the political arena with fresh insights on the chances for dialogue between the two peoples? Does he still aspire to reach a permanent solution or does he prefer the interim arrangement? Has the rise of Hamas to power changed his outlook? Does he think that the conflict can be solved, or has he come to terms with the approach that says we should make do with managing the conflict and avoid a thorough solution?

Olmert also has a few questions to answer. He was elected on the basis of the convergence plan that declared his intention to narrow the Jewish presence in the West Bank. This idea faded with Hamas' rise to power, the resumption of rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip and the impact of the Second Lebanon War. In the name of what agenda is Olmert holding on to power? What is he offering the Israeli public, apart from a spectacle of political acrobatics whose sole purpose is his personal political survival?

Benjamin Netanyahu is also not exempt from answering these same questions. What is the Likud's recipe for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? On the face of it, Netanyahu's doctrine is clear: The occupation is not the root of the country's problems, but rather, it is the attitude of the Arab world in general, and of Islamic fundamentalism led by Iran in particular. But Netanyahu has already been prime minister, and has experienced first-hand the impact of the conflict on the fabric of Israeli life. He cannot ignore the corrosive effect of this chronic problem if he expects the public to regard him as a national leader and not only a party head with an ideological fixation. Does Likud have a reasonable solution to the contradiction between the wish to retain the Zionist and democratic character of the state and the continued hold over the territories, with all the demographic implications inherent in this?

It is no coincidence that the candidates for the leadership of the country are concentrating on the next war and ignoring their duty to propose solutions to the country's fundamental problem: the occupation.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

بالوش سوري وبالقفا لبناني

So I went to this Syrian Movies Series event happening now at AUB, West Hall. (movies start at 7).

I went there, late as always, wishing to meet more Syrians and perhaps discuss the movie together. We saw Duried Laham's Kasak Ya Watan, and again, it is marvelously applicable to now, maybe to tomorrow as well. And it still manages to find the short cut to my tear.

The audience' presence was shy; there were really less than ten Syrians. TEN!!! So aren't there Syrian students in the AUB?? Or maybe they're too snobbish to watch "Arab movie"? a "Syrian movie"! What happened to the hundreds all of the sudden??

I was disappointed, this adds to the load of disappointments I have receiving from the Syrian students in Lebanon.

For example: the play obviously was copied from a TV channel and was broadcasting live news: "US bomb Iraq, 4 Palestinian shot dead by Israeli army in the West Bank"..and the audience found it funny and laughed!! you see, it is Durid Laham's funny play, we are here to laugh, on just about anything!!

Syrian students are mirrors to Lebanese; they do not speak their dialect, they either speak English or Lebanese, or both of them, but not Syrian. They choose to escape all the Syrian/Lebanon fiasco by becoming Lebanese in order to fit in.

We are not talking about group of people who were born, raised and spent their whole lives in a certain country, so they "are" part of it, we talking about group of people who're spending 4 years, or 6 six maximum and starting to assimilate not to "whole" of the Lebanese society, but with the "propagandist" snobbish elite one.

I am not proud of the Syrian student in Lebanon, I am proud of Palestinians, they "speak" their dialect so proudly, they are active as always, they engage in the Lebanese society and let themselves heard.

The reason that I mentioned the Palestinians is that they get harsher racism from some Lebanese, than Syrians do, yet they proudly demonstrate their difference. Unfortunately, some Lebanese racist view Palestinians and Syrians as "natives" and "primitive", which we widely find Syrians adapt another, in this case elite –like, identity outfit.

I met this Syrian girl who will take the lead of this Syrian club next year, I have great faith in her, I hope she manages to switch this club into a living Syrian soul that is desperately needed.

Monday, May 07, 2007

RSF petition to free Egypt bloggers

taken from Free Space Beirut

Click here to sign a Reporters Without Borders petition calling organisers of the UN Internet Governance Forum to prevent Egyptian state participation unless bloggers Kareem Amer and Abdel Moneim Mahmoud are freed.

(Archive image shows the first Kifaya demonstration, downtown Cairo, December 2004. The public struggle in Egypt for rights, political and human - though far, far, very far from being complete - has no doubt taken massive leaps since then.)

Update on Missing Canadian: Your Help is Needed!!

Ok there are some updates on the missing Canadian girl, I contacted a friend and he is now on regular contact with Mathew, Nicol's brother. And this is the latest update he wrote to me:

I'm not in contact with the police, just her brother, but they are doing their thing investigating the situation and they know everything that we know. Her brother has recently had contact from someone in the Syrian government, but I don't know his position and how much he is capable of helping.


I'm suggesting to him approaching the situation from an angle that the police probably haven't, which is getting in contact with religious leaders in the area and asking them for help reaching out to the locals through mosques and such. The area she went missing is in the semi-desert east of Hama, and it is mostly bedouin and small villages out there, very traditional/conservative. It is an area where I imagine the people would be more likely to cooperate if they were urged to by local religious and tribal leaders rather than the police. I know some people in Homs that might be able to help, so I'm thinking to travel there soon... and her brother will probably come to Syria within a week.

I'm thinking of going to go to Homs because I have some connections to religious leaders there whom I think would be willing to help. If he comes to Syria he'd likely go directly to Hama, and I imagine I'd meet him there later on. I'm thinking to try to organize a group of people willing to travel along the stretch of road she probably went missing on and stop in all of the villages to talk to the local people and explain the situation..

I'm only going through Homs because I know some Christian leaders there that do a lot of outreach work with Muslims and have close connections with Muslim leaders, and I think they have the resources to help.

I think anyone living in Hama could help, particularly anyone that is familiar with the region between (and around) al-Hamra and Qasr Ibn Wardan, which is seems to be the most likely place she was abducted. Anyone willing to travel to the villages in that area and talk to local people about the situation (particularly community and religious leaders) would be incredibly helpful, I think. As of now we've only had foreigners able to hand out some 'missing person' notices to microbus drivers in Hama, and I don't think that will produce results. We need to get some people out in these villages and in the local mosques, people who will be respected by the local communities there.

We've got the impression that the police aren't interested in many people knowing about the situation... they've been asking people, but they haven't tried to publicize the fact she has gone missing. I think we need to get everyone in the area talking about it and asking questions to see any results.

Please contact people you know in these areas; semi-desert east of Hama particularly between and around al-Hamra and Qasr Ibn Wardan, they are in need of people from these particular areas. Send emails to your friends.

For contact, send an email to Mathew: mattv99@hotmail.com

Cute

Cute is when I received a message from a friend telling me that Izzi is back on blogsphere, after her blog had been hacked by Zionists. (it would be great of you to show some support :-)

Cute is when I read this morning a post by my man on his wonderings on us.

Cute is when I read a smart analysis by a young Lebanese man when the Lebanese media is full of bull shit.

Cute is when courageous people still hang in there.

Cute is when dad calls wishing me go back home and not telling.

Cute is when people are shy.

Cute is when people say they're sorry in their funny ways.

Cute is when my cat is filling the place of my clock alarm.

Cute is when I find myself inspired by cute people.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

The Facebook Conspiracy Theory

I thought this should be interesting, taken from Above and Beyond.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Attention, Montreal activists

Take from Angry Anarchist.

Take note of the following event



The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) and Tadamon call upon you to join a picket against the Chapters-Indigo bookstore chain which funds apartheid in Palestine/Israel

Saturday, May 5th, 2007, 1:00-3:00 pm
Indigo Bookstore, west of McGill College (McGill Metro)
For more information about the campaign, check out the following leaflet
Or call: 514.941.9792
Or email: endapartheid aaaaat riseup dooooot net

Please circulate widely and inform your friends and relatives.
Even if they might not be interested in attending the picket, they would be aware of where their money is going.

Don't forget to boycott the bar code 729 (made in Israel).

"Totally Mine"

Though they leave her heartbroken, she has learned to appreciate the nerd.

It is becoming her second home, this corner over here. Where Hamra street is right there in front of her, forbidden bottles of alcohol set on her right, and an everlasting empty chair taken for him on her left.

She never thought that nerds can be bartenders; they are usually tattooed, pierced, with long hair and weird shirts.

He was her type exactly:

Classic clothes.

Glasses.

Her dad's hair cut.

And shy.

She never noticed him before, or she never thought he worked here. It was him who made himself existable:

- Shall I get you anything?

- What?

The guy bumbled wishing he never pumped the question:

- Do you need anything?

- Oh, oh..no..thank you, I mean I have just ordered, shukran!

He tried to smile, or that was his smile and kept himself busy.

So she started to watch him, the bumbling guy; he has many friends, lucky for her all guys, never seen him with a female, excellent. He sits alone on the bar, he is quite, he is peaceful. He is totally hers.

He was one of those guys who have no idea how sexy they are.

She let her eyes rest slowly on his body; she pictures his back, his butt, she pictured her hands taking off his glasses, violently pulling his hair, gradually letting her lips getting closer to his ear, and never kiss him goodbye.

But that's not what she really wants to do, she wants to hear him.

All day.

And night.

She is in love with his bumbling.

Ever since she had her eyes on him, he started to avoid her; he wouldn't take her order, nor look into her eyes, so she had to move to plan B.

She started to show him that she is interested; she gave him a look or two, smiles then get back to her friends.

And finally, he grabbed his empty chair and sat on the other corner, drinking tea.

She can feel him watching her, for minutes, then getting back to his tea.

She stumbled; what if he is a Hariri? Junblati? He is certainly not a Lebanese forces, what if he hates Palestinians? Syrians? Shiaas? What ifs?

She looked at him while looking at his lonely tea cup, grabbed her jacket, kissed her friends and head to the cashier.

She looked back, he was looking at her, wondering.

She paid for her scotch, and left.

She walked down the stairs, looking around her..

- hey..

he said while trying to catch his breath.

- hey..

she said, looking at his glasses.

- I…am, there is going to be a band playing in an hour..

- Ah, what kind of band?

- Ah…

- Is there going to be a dirbakkeh?

(he laughed)

(she smiled)

- I love dirbakkeh.. she said.

- I like Oud..

- I hate ghitar..

- You're not Lebanese!

- Am Syrian..

- Really?

- Yup…?

- I never met a syrian girl before..what's your major?

….

When am I ever going to stop wondering?

P.S. I intended to write some erotic piece; somehow i ended up with the same damn wonderings.

Syrian Prisoners Protest in London

Taken from Fares.

Message from Maureen of Amnesty International.

Hello,

In the light of the prison sentence given to Anwar al-Bunni at the end of last month and the probable sentencing of Michel Kilo tomorrow [I think it is may 7] and Kamal al-Labwani on 10th May, Amnesty International are calling for a Day of Action in protest on 9th and/or 10th May. These will take place in various countries. They are also supported by Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First.

In London there will be a peaceful demonstration outside the Syrian Embassy, 8 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH from 2pm to 4pm on Wednesday 9th May. Please put in an appearance if you possibly can during these two hours; just a few minutes of “solidarity” with the Prisoners of Conscience in Syrian jails will mean a lot. Please also encourage as many people as you can to take part.

I should be grateful if you could give me an idea of how many people you anticipate will be able to get there, as this will greatly help the organisers.

Best wishes,
Maureen Thomas.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

وحدة, حريّة واستقلال

استفاق لبنان على فشل إسرائيلي أنجزته المقاومة اللبنانية الصيف الماضي

وبينما سارعت الصحف اللبنانية على إظهار الخبر, عكس فريق 14 آذار فهمه "المودرن" للديمقراطية.

لنستعرض عناوين الصحف:

في جريده الأخبار حمل الخبر العنوان: "إسرائيل تصحو على فشل"

في السفير: "الحـرب الإسـرائيلية على لبـنان «تأكـل» أبطـال فشـلها"

في الديار: "لجنة فينوغراد تؤكد فشل إسرائيل وتُحمّل أولمرت وحالوتس المسؤولية"

في الحياة: ؟؟؟؟؟

في البلد: "أولمرت الفاشل لن يستقيل" (زكي بس غبي)

وفي المستقبل: "أعراض "فينوغراد" تهدد الحكومة الإسرائيلية: استقالة وزير وتصاعد المطالبة برحيل أولمرت"

وفي النهار: "فينوغراد: المسؤولية الشاملة على أولمرت والحرب لم يكن لها داعٍ وغير واقعية"


بئس وطن جعل من أنصاف الرجال رجالا

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Nicole Vienneau Missing in Syria


This is taken from Nicole's brother Matthew Vienneau blog

My Sister, Nicole Vienneau, Has Gone Missing in Syria


May 1st UPDATE (Afternoon):

Here is a summary of my sister's information:

Passport name: Jacqueline Nicole Vienneau
Passport number: JP588938
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: approx 130 lb
Brown hair and brown eyes
She had a 6 month Syrian visa # 000166020, issued Oct 5, 2006 and good until Apr 5th 2007
Last Heard From: March 29th in Syria. Likely Damascus. She had just returned to Syria from Lebanon with the intent to travel Syria until her visa expired on April 5th, and then on to Turkey. We still don't know if she made it out of Syria - the request to find out was submitted to Turkey ten days ago (see below for bureaucratic issues)

At this point I'm concentrating on searching for her in Syria. If we find that she's made it to Turkey, then the possible options become much larger.

Nicole is travelling alone but would ocasionally meet up with other travellers and they would travel together.

Her Plan/Itinerary: She is using the Lonely Planet guide to the Middle East for the Syria portion of her trip. Thus we can roughly guess at where she would visit based on whether it's covered in the book. On the other hand, she also liked to borrow country-specific guidebooks from other travellers or hotels to get an idea of things she might be missing, and she might visit something that is highly recommended by others but not in the guidebook.


Travel Style: She is very cost-conscious - she uses the cheapest hotels/hostels and the cheapest travel options including local mini- and micro-buses.

Based on the Lonely Planet and my experiences travelling with her, I suspect her itinerary would include Damascus, Hama and Aleppo for certain. Potentially Palmyra, and a slim possibility of Bosra and Lattakia. I have a list of three hotels in each of these cities that I'm hoping can be contacted by someone who speaks Arabic, either on-site, or by telephone, to see if she stayed there between March 29th and April 5th.

If you are able to help with this, please email me at mattv99@hotmail.com and I'll send you the list - I don't want to have too much overlap and barrage these poor hotels with calls.

In the Memory of the Syrian Workers in Lebanon

With all the difficulties I am facing right now in at the time being as a Syrian who proudly speaks her Syrian dialect, Syrian workers' misery is tragical. Their lives are in danger each time Lebanon loses one of its personals. Cowardly enough, it is not the Syrian with deep pockets, students and business men, whom are subjective to this form of racism but it is those who are poor and also victim of its own government, Syrian government; the Syrian workers.

I'd like to note that racism is not strict to Lebanon but it is a global sickness. And Syrian people are racist towards the Kurds, Iraqis and Palestinians.

It is outrageous that the Syrian government is a primer contributor with the Lebanese government, to their use of the Syrian workers as a card to push one another.

There is no committee, international or local, that follows the Syrian workers' special politicized case in Lebanon. While there is an international tribunal that investigates the murder of one man, 20 Syrian workers were reported dead and no human rights organization has broken the silence and speak of the violations of both Syrian and Lebanese regimes.

As long as the human rights are silence, the Syrian workers' lives in Lebanon will remain endangered unless the whole tension between the countries is over.

I recommend my readers to read an article written by a French professor named Fabrice Balanch who has offered detailed analysis on the suffering of the Syrian workers in Lebanon, which shows how both of the Bathi and the Hariri regimes are playing with the lives of the Syrian workers in a political means.

There is one thing I don't like about his article was his reference to the current regime as the "Alawite ruling regime". I don't think with Bashar's rule this is correct. I personally think that the Sunnis are ruling Syria now, not the Alawites. I think it is true that when Hafez Assad was ruling you can say that the regime is sectarian to other sects but it was unjust to "all" sects. Now I think the regime is not sectarian, but it is still unjust to all. Furthermore, I think the Syrian people are getting sectarian now not the regime. My personal note.

read the article here. (Article in Arabic- I cannot seem to find the English/French version of it)

This is what Angry Arab says about the Syrian workers in Lebanon:

Syrian workers in Lebanon.
What has not been covered in the Western press, is the extent to which the "Cedar Revolution" has brought about the lynching of Syrian workers in Lebanon. But the racism against Syrians (and Palestinians) in Lebanon is such that even members of the opposition remain silent about the abuse and murder of Syrian workers in Lebanon. So don't expect Hizbullah or Amal or SSNP or Tayyar to speak up on their behalf. People don't know that after every assassination in Lebanon, Syrian workers are targeted for murder and abuse. After the assassination of Jubran Tuwayni, for example, armed goons of Jumblat's gang (known as the Progressive Socialist Party) went on a rampage in the `Alay region, maiming and killing any Syrian worker in sight. Today, in his badly written weekly article for his mouthpiece, Al-Anba', Jumblat said that there is no reason for the presence of Syrian workers in Lebanon, and that the Lebanese economy (given its slowdown) does not require that number of workers. Jumblat was hereby giving license for more lynching of Syrian workers in Lebanon. He should be held responsible for whatever happens to Syrian workers in Lebanon given his clear words of incitement to violence. He basically was telling his audience that all Syrian workers in Lebanon work for the mukhabarat, and that their abuse is thus justified. Thus spoke the member of the Socialist International. You may ask why human rights organizations are not documenting the cases of abuse of Syrian workers in Lebanon. Well, last summer I was officially notified that Human Rights Watch was working on a report on the matter--I even supplied some sources to the staff in Lebanon. Well, the report has not been issued as of yet. Well, maybe because the regional director of Human Rights Watch is busy drafting op-ed pieces against Syrian human rights violations--and only in Syria. (It must be hard to find Western publications willing to publish op-ed pieces against Syria, I am sure.) He was outraged that Pelosi visited Damascus--given the conditions of human rights there--but was not outraged--and neither was Human Rights Watch, it seems--about her visits to Saudi Arabia or Lebanon--unless the new line of Human Rights Watch is that human rights violations don't occur under governments that are loyal to the Bush administration.

for those of you who are on Facebook, there is a group that supports that Syrian workers in Lebanon, join here.