War (of Words) with Syria
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Tuesday, May 20, 2003
Lebanon targets Islamic radicals
Pressured by the US, Arab countries are arresting dozens of Islamic militants, some with Al Qaeda ties.
Christian Science Monitor -- May 20
By Nicholas Blanford
BEIRUT, LEBANON – Lebanon has arrested dozens of Islamic militants accused of mounting a series of bomb attacks against Western targets and plotting to assassinate the United States ambassador to Beirut.
[snip]
However, the timing of the crackdown has raised suspicions that the alleged plots have been "manufactured" in order to please Washington.
[I smell boiler plate in this AFP article. La même merde, jour différent.]
Hezbollah fires on Israeli planes violating Lebanon airspace
AFP via Space Daily -- May 18
TYRE, Lebanon -- The radical Shiite Muslim Hezbollah movement said Sunday it had opened fire from its southern Lebanese stronghold on Israeli warplanes overflying the area.
Hezbollah shops plan
to organize in Iraq
Terrorists, Syria discuss infiltration to undermine American occupation
WorldNetDaily -- May 19
Hezbollah and Syrian officials are discussing a plan by the Iranian-backed terrorist group to organize cadres among the Shiite population inside U.S.-occupied Iraq, according to a report in the latest issue of Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin online intelligence newsletter.
During the two-day visit to Damascus of Iran's leader Mohammad Khatemi, President Bashar Assad promised Syria would resist a U.S. request to curb Hezbollah, according to G2 Bulletin's Israeli intelligence sources.
[There's more than one way to be a rejectionist.]
Israelis at Al Aqsa may cause tensions: Syria
Hi Pakistan -- May 19
DAMASCUS: Allowing Israelis to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Al Quds would create new complications in the Middle East region, a Syrian newspaper said Sunday.
Israel's Police Minister, Tzahi Hanegbi, angered Muslims this week by saying he believed Jews would soon be able to visit the disputed holy site. Non-Muslims have been barred from the compound since a September 28, 2000 visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, then Israel's opposition leader. That visit, meant to demonstrate Israeli control, triggered widespread protests by Palestinians and quickly escalated into the current conflict.
"Sharons government has planned.. to explode the situation.. by announcing its determination to allow Israelis to enter al-Aqsa Mosque and pray in it," said the Al-Thawra government newspaper in an editorial.
"Such a declaration, and at this particular time, is certainly not an innocent declaration.. The Israelis and the Americans as well are fully aware of the dangers of undertaking such a provocative step, which harbours sinister intentions that aim at introducing new complications to the already explosive and complicated situation," it added.
Gush Shalom (via Scoop), Ha'aretz and Ireland On-Line coverage of Hanegbi's statements ...
Requiem For The Roadmap?
Gush Shalom via Scoop -- May 19
To cap it all, Sharon's Police Minister Tzahi Hanegbi declared on the Knesset floor that "soon the police will enforce Jewish presence and Jewish personal prayers on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem", knowing full well that no other issue could so strongly inflame both Palestinian national and Muslim religious feeling. And at the same time, the police launched a spectacular midnight raid, arresting the leadership of the Israeli Muslim Movement - the one group which in the past two years, with West Bank and Gazan Muslims completely excluded from Jerusalem, took up the task of mainataining a daily presence at that holy site...
Hanegbi says Jews will soon worship at Temple Mount
Ha'aretz -- May 14
Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said Wednesday that the Temple Mount would shortly be opened to Jews for visits and praying.
"It will be opened by agreement, but if no agreement is reached, things will be done without agreement," he said. "It is impossible to reconcile ourselves to a situation where it is not permitted for adherents of all religions to visit and pray at the Temple Mount for a prolonged period. There is no justification for this."
Israelis and Palestinians gear up for crunch talks
Ireland On-Line -- May 16
In Jerusalem’s Old City today, hundreds of Israeli police were keeping order during weekly Muslim prayers. Palestinian men under the age of 40 were barred from the Al Aqsa Mosque amid fears they would gather to protest against the arrests this week of the leader of Israel’s Islamic Movement and 14 of the group’s members.
Police believe the movement gave funds to the radical Palestinian group Hamas to help support the families of its suicide bombers.
Israel’s police minister also angered Muslims this week by saying he believed Jews would soon be able to visit the disputed holy site.
Non-Muslims have been barred from the mosque compound since a September 28, 2000 visit by Sharon, then Israel’s opposition leader.
That visit, meant to demonstrate Israeli control, triggered widespread protests by Palestinians and quickly escalated into the current conflict.
Radical Palestinian groups closing Damascus offices
AP via Ha'aretz -- May 20
DAMASCUS, Syria - Radical Palestinian groups were closing down operations in Syria, their offices closed and officials confirming the move following intensified U.S. pressure on Syria to curb Palestinian militants.