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Excerpts: Syria relies on Lebanon for transit of oil procurements.
Excerpts: Syria relies on Lebanon for transit of oil procurements. Sinai =
pipeline blown up fourth time this year. Turkish opposition alleges Erdogan =
corruption. Iraq denies Iran arms deals. Report: Hizbullah threatens =
targeting Israeli officials. Hizbullah claims Israel strike. Egypt sentence=
s =
‘terror group’ aimed at Suez Canal. Jordan Lower House re 1994 Israel peace =
treaty. Iran says Israeli strike tactics studied. February 26, 2014
+++SOURCE: The Syria Report Feb.24 =9214:=94Syrian Imports of Oil Products =
Through Lebanon Surge
SUBJECT:Syria relies on Lebanon for transit of oil procurements
QUOTE: =93Syria=92increasingly relied on its smaller neighbor to transit it=
s oil =
procurements=94
TEXT:Syria=92s imports from Lebanon increased to $524 million in 2013 as th=
e =
country increasingly relied on its smaller neighbor to transit its oil =
procurements.
SOURCE: AlArabiya News 26 Feb.=9214;=94Is Hezbollah =91sleeping with the de=
vil?=92
By Ahmad Adnan | Special to Al Arabiya News
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
An explosion that targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs on Feb. 19 came 48 =
hours after Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said: =
“Takfiris threaten the region as they don’t accept those whom they =
ideologically, politically and intellectually disagree with, and they seek =
to eliminate them and cancel them.”
Nasrallah is portraying Hezbollah as an enemy of takfiris, but is that so? =
The first incident linked to political Islam in Lebanon happened in May 200=
7 =
in Tripoli, where a battle erupted between the Lebanese army and the Fatah =
al-Islam organization. The latter was established by Palestinian guerrilla =
Shaker al-Abssi, who was serving jail time in Damascus. Syrian President =
Bashar al-Assad released him under a special amnesty.
Abssi came to Lebanon and established his takfiri organization, which =
defected from the Fatah al-Intifada organization. Assad wanted to weaken =
Sunni leader Saad Hariri by attracting the Sunnis of northern Lebanon to a =
takfiri organization that derives power from the tough economic and social =
situation there.
Ever since the army emerged victorious from its battle with Fatah al-Islam =
in Nahr al-Bared, northern Lebanon, the group’s members have been in Roumie=
h =
prison in eastern Beirut. They have not been tried, nor will they be until =
Assad is toppled. He who made the decision to eliminate this takfiri group =
was then-Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, while he who objected to this move =
was Nasrallah when he declared Nahr al-Bared a “red line.”
In Aug. 2008, Hezbollah signed a memorandum of understanding with the Salaf=
i =
movement. It wanted to build an alliance to weaken Hariri’s Future Movement=
, =
but this attempt failed. Hezbollah, which had signed agreements with certai=
n =
parties, now considers them a regional threat financed by Saudi Arabia and =
the Future Movement.
The role of Qatar
Relation between Hezbollah and takfiri groups cannot be understood without =
pointing out the Qatari role in Lebanon. Following the assassination of =
former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri, Qatar had an opinion different from =
all Arab countries. It supported the parties of political Islam rather than =
the March 14 coalition. This led Qatar to side with the Syrian-Iranian axis =
in Lebanon and the region.
The end of the Nahr al-Bared battle was a signal for Qatar to infiltrate =
Sunni society in northern Lebanon via Salafis and political Islamist =
factions. Funds came in, and figures and institutions that later allied wit=
h =
Hezbollah against the Future Movement were invited to visit Doha. During =
that time, the presence of a controversial figure in northern Lebanon =
increased.
It was Sheikh Omar Bakri Fustok, who came from Britain after he made =
statements sympathizing with those who carried out the London attacks in =
2005. “Assassinating Rafiq Hariri served Islam and Muslims because he did =
not serve as God [ordered],” said Fustok, who joined Salafi institutions in =
northern Lebanon. He built relations with Salafis – even those who were =
rivals among each other – and was a source of advice to them.
His visits to Doha continued, as did his bragging about the comprehensive =
Qatari support for him financially and morally. Qatar hired an army of =
lawyers to defend Fustok amid the detentions and cases filed against him. =
His compass is in total harmony with the Qatari radar in Lebanon and the =
region.
When he arrived in Lebanon, Fustok considered Hezbollah an infidel. When =
Hezbollah allied with Qatar, he considered them good Muslims like himself. =
When Qatar’s policy turned against Assad after the Syrian revolution began, =
he again categorized the party as an infidel.
Hezbollah’s alliance with Qatar was a means for the movement to ally with =
takfiri groups. Hezbollah wanted to target the Future Movement, and Qatar =
wanted to protest against Saudi Arabia in the region and to weaken Riyadh’s =
influence in Lebanon. Relations between Doha and Hezbollah ended, so rivalr=
y =
erupted between takfiris and Hezbollah.
Not long ago, Qatar produced another version of political Islam that suits =
its new orientations: Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir in Sidon, southern Lebanon. =
Before Assir went into hiding, no Arab country minded him except for Qatar, =
which invited him to visit Doha.
Former Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, despite his rivalry with Saudi =
Arabia, described Assir as “a Qatari project aiming to sabotage Lebanon.” =
Lahoud knows well that since the Sept. 2001 attacks, Riyadh has excluded =
political Islam from its tools of international activity.
Hezbollah’s upper hand
Nasrallah’s speeches, and his decision to go against the Syrian revolution, =
prove that he and his party know Syria and Iran well, but they know nothing =
about Lebanon. Hezbollah, which accuses takfiris of aiming to eliminate =
others, has accused all its rivals of being traitors and Israeli agents. Th=
e =
Special Tribunal for Lebanon has accused Hezbollah of political =
assassinations that targeted its Lebanese political rivals.
The movement has never missed a chance to humiliate and weaken Saad Hariri, =
to the extent of toppling his cabinet. This is how Hezbollah – directly =
during the period of alliances, and indirectly during the period of =
rivalry – supported Salafis who want to turn everyone against Saad Hariri.
The parties that are targeting Hezbollah are the same ones that were allied =
with it to target the Future Movement. Qatar financed these parties and =
Hezbollah armed them. Hezbollah wanted a battle to erupt between Salafis an=
d =
the Future Movement, but instead Hezbollah’s men are being assassinated in =
Lebanon and Syria.
This article was first published in Al-Arab Online on Feb. 22
+++SOURCE: Al Arabya News 26 Feb.=9214:=94Egypt militants blow up Sinai gas =
pipeline=94, Staff Writer
SUBJECT: Militants blow up Sinai gas pipeline fourth time this year
QUOTE: The Egyptian army has poured troups into the mountainous and =
underdeveloped region to combat the growing militancy=94
FULL TEXT:Militants blew up a pipeline in Sinai late Tuesday[25Feb.] that =
transports gas to Jordan, security officials said, in the fourth such attac=
k =
this year in the restive peninsula.
The rebels planted explosives under the pipeline south of the city of =
Al-Arish in an area called Lehfen, they said, according to Agence =
France-Presse.
The explosion sent thick flames of fire shooting into the sky, security =
officials said, adding that fire engines and ambulances had been rushed to =
the site.
No casualties were immediately reported, according to AFP.
On February 11, militants planted a bomb under a pipeline that transported =
gas to an industrial area of the restive Sinai.
Since the 2011 ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, militants have regularly =
targeted pipelines in the peninsula, repeatedly forcing a halt in gas =
supplies to Israel and Jordan.
The Egyptian army has poured troops into the mountainous and underdeveloped =
region to combat the growing militancy.
+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 26 Feb.=9214:=94Entangled in the =91tape=92,Erdoga=
n cries =
foul=94, by Agencies
SUBJECT: Opposition alleges Erdogan corruption
Quote; =93disclosure of audio recordings purportedly of him (Erdogan) order=
ing =
his son to dispose of vast amounts of cash amid a graft probe=94
FULL TEXT:ANKARA =97 An opposition party leader on Tuesday[25 Feb.] demande=
d =
an investigation into Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for =
alleged corruption, a day after the disclosure of audio recordings =
purportedly of him ordering his son to dispose of vast amounts of cash amid =
a graft probe.
Erdogan met with Turkey=92s intelligence chief shortly after voice recordin=
gs =
of two people =97 alleged to be Erdogan and his son =97 circulated on the =
Internet.
The voices were heard discussing means of getting rid of large amounts of =
money from an undisclosed residence.
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey=92s far-right Nationalist Action Party=
, =
on Tuesday [25 Feb.] called the recordings =93mind-blowing=94 and urged =
prosecutors and other judicial bodies to intervene.
He said Erdogan should =93not even think about=94 escaping blame by claimin=
g the =
tapes were edited.
The Republican People=92s Party, Turkey=92s main opposition, called on Erdo=
gan =
to resign, saying the government had lost its legitimacy.
Erdogan condemned leaked recordings as a =93vile attack=94 by rivals.
=93What was done is a vile… and a treacherous attack against the prime =
minister of the Republic of Turkey. It will not go unpunished,=94 Erdogan t=
old =
his ruling party lawmakers in parliament. The phone conversations, posted o=
n =
YouTube, allegedly reveal Erdogan asking his son Bilal to turn millions of =
euros in cash stashed at several houses into =93zero.=94
Bilal at one point can be heard saying: =93There is 30 million ($41 million=
) =
euros more.=94
The leaked discussions, which could not be independently verified, were sai=
d =
to have taken place on December 17, the same day key Erdogan allies were =
caught up in police raids linked to a corruption investigation that has =
rocked the government.
In one conversation, Erdogan can supposedly be heard briefing Bilal about =
the raids, which saw top businessmen and the sons of former cabinet =
ministers detained on allegations of bribery, gold smuggling and illicit =
dealings with sanctions-hit Iran.
The premier=92s office said the wiretapped conversations were fabricated an=
d =
vowed to take legal action against those behind =93this dirty setup.=94
=93The recordings… are the product of an immoral montage and completely =
untrue,=94 Erdogan=92s office said in a statement late on Monday after the =
material was leaked online.
Erdogan has come under intense pressure since the corruption scandal =
erupted, throwing up the biggest challenge yet to his 11 years in power =
ahead of key local elections in March.
He has blamed his ally-turned-rival, US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen=
, =
for instigating the graft probe, accusing him of seeking to create =93a =
parallel state=94 in Turkey.
The leaked recordings appear to be the latest fallout from their feud, afte=
r =
the Turkish government on Monday said thousands of influential people, =
including the premier, cabinet ministers and journalists, had been =
wiretapped by Gulen supporters in the police and the judiciary.
Local media said the widespread surveillance was discovered by prosecutors =
who were appointed following a mass purge of the police and prosecution =
service in response to the corruption probe.
Erdogan, whose speech in parliament was repeatedly interrupted by party =
loyalists chanting =93Turkey is proud of you!,=94 said his government would=
not =
fall into traps set by rivals.
=93We are not scared of anyone, any country… We are not scared of any =
traitor,=94 he said. But the controversy prompted fresh calls from the =
opposition for the government=92s resignation.
=93The government has lost its legitimacy… and must resign immediately,=
=94 =
Haluk Koc, a spokesman for the main opposition Republican People=92s Party, =
told a news conference late Monday. Devlet Bahceli, leader of the =
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said the alleged recordings were =
=93dazzling,=94 and demanded that the prime minister be brought to justice.=
=97 =
Agencies
+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 26 Feb.=9214:=94Under U.S. Pressure, Iraq Den=
ies =
Iran Arms Deals=94,Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Iraq denies Iran arms deals
FULL TEXT:Iraq, facing heavy pressure from the United States, has denied =
signing deals for weapons and ammunition with Iran in apparent violation of =
international sanctions.
The defense ministry said a variety of international firms had sought to =
supply Iraq with ammunition and night vision equipment, including one =
company from Iran.
But contrary to media reports, “no contract was signed with the Iranian =
company”, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website on =
Tuesday[25 Feb.].
Washington has piled pressure on Baghdad after reports that it had signed =
multiple deals for weapons, gear and ammunition emerged earlier this week.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that “any transfer of arms from =
Iran to a third country is in direct violation” of United Nations sanctions =
on the Islamic republic.
“We are seeking clarification on this matter from the government of Iraq an=
d =
to ensure that Iraqi officials understand the limits that international law =
places on arms trade with Iran,” she added.
America is by far the largest supplier of military equipment to Iraq, with =
Psaki saying the U.S. has provided more than $15 billion (11 billion euros) =
in equipment, services and training.
The U.S. has speeded up delivery of equipment including Hellfire missiles t=
o =
Iraq to help Baghdad battle militants who seized one city near Baghdad and =
parts of another in January.
But officials have complained about the pace of delivery of some American =
weapons, providing an opening for other countries to make gains in =
diplomatic and military ties — a situation Baghdad could also seek to use =
as leverage with Washington.
Both the Russian and Chinese foreign ministers discussed arms sales during =
recent visits to Baghdad.
+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 26 Feb.=9214:=94Report: Hizbullah May Target =
Israeli Officials in Light of Monday=92s[ 24 Feb.] Strike=94. Naharnet News=
Desk
SUBJECT: Report: Hizbullah threatens targeting Israeli officials
FULL TEXT: Hizbullah may begin targeting Israeli officials in retaliation =
against Monday’s Israeli strike against a party target near the =
Lebanese-Syrian border, reported Israel’s Haaretz daily on Wednesday.
The party may begin targeting senior Israeli officials, sources told the =
daily.
On Monday night, “two Israeli raids hit a Hizbullah target on the border of =
Lebanon and Syria,” a Lebanese security source told AFP.
The National News Agency confirmed the report, adding that the raids =
targeted the countryside of the Lebanese town of Nabi Sheet on the border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel was doing all =
that was “necessary” to ensure its security.
“We will not say what we’re doing or what we’re not doing” to maintain =
Israel’s security, he added.
In late October, media reported that Israeli warplanes struck a Syrian =
airbase where missiles for Hizbullah were stockpiled.
At the time a U.S. official confirmed to Agence France Presse an Israeli =
strike in Syria but did not elaborate.
+++SOURCE:Naharnet (Lebanon) 26 Feb.=9214:=94Hizbullah: We Will Choose =
Appropriate Time to Retaliate to Israel=92s Strike=94, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Hizbullah claims Israel strike
QUOTE: Netanyahu: =91We will not say what we=92re doing or what we=92re not=
doing=92 =
to maintain Israel=92s security=94
Hizbullah confirmed on Wednesday[26 Feb.] that Israeli fighter jets had =
shelled one of its positions on the Lebanese-Syrian border on Monday[24 =
Feb.].
It said in a statement: =93The resistance will choose the right time and pl=
ace =
to retaliate to the strike near the Bekaa region of Jinta.=94
It added that no one was killed or injured in the attack, saying that only =
material damage was incurred.
It refuted media reports that rocket positions were targeted or that =
resistance fighters were killed in the attack.
=93The attack is a new blatant assault against Lebanon, its sovereignty, an=
d =
land, and not just the resistance,=94 continued Hizullah
=93The attack demonstrates the hostile nature of the Zionists and demands a =
clear and honest stance from all sides,=94 it stressed.
=93The assault will not pass without a retaliation by the resistance,=94 vo=
wed =
the party.
On Monday[24 Feb. night, "two Israeli raids hit a Hizbullah target on the =
border of Lebanon and Syria," a Lebanese security source told Agence France =
Presse.
The National News Agency confirmed the report, adding that the raids =
targeted the countryside of the Lebanese town of Nabi Sheet on the border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday[25 Feb.] that Israel was =
doing all that was “necessary” to ensure its security.
“We will not say what we’re doing or what we’re not doing” to maintain =
Israel’s security, he added.
+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 26 Feb.=9214:=94Egypt Sentences 26 to Death o=
ver =
=91Terror Group=92 =94,Agence France Presse
QUOTE: Egypt sentences =91terror group=92 aimed at Suez Canal
FULL TEXT:An Egyptian criminal court on Wednesday[26 Feb.] sentenced 26 =
militants to death for founding a “terror group” that aimed to target ships =
in the Suez canal, judicial sources said.
Prosecutors also accused the defendants of making rockets and explosives =
while monitoring various security headquarters to plan attacks on them, the =
sources said.
The defendants were condemned for “founding and leading a terror group that =
aimed to attack people’s freedom, damage national unity and (attack) the =
Suez canal waterway”, according to one source.
The court referred the verdict to the mufti, a top Islamic official who =
under Egyptian law has to validate the sentence, and set March 19 for the =
final verdict.
The defendants have the right to appeal.
The sources gave no further details about the group, nor about the alleged =
plot to target ships in the Suez canal, one of the world’s busiest petroleu=
m =
shipping channels.
An Al-Qaeda-inspired group, Furqan Brigades, attacked vessels passing =
through the canal last year and have vowed to conduct more attacks in the =
future.
However it was not clear if those sentenced on Wednesday[26 Feb.] are =
linked to that group.
At nearly 200 kilometers (125 miles) long, the Suez canal is owned by Egypt =
but governed by an international treaty that guarantees free navigation.
It provides a vital link between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
Since the military ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July, =
militants have stepped up their attacks on security forces, killing scores =
of policemen and soldiers.
To combat the growing militancy, the army has poured troops into the =
mountainous and underdeveloped northern Sinai Peninsula, where most of the =
attacks have been taking place.
Jihadist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis (Partisans of Jerusalem) has claimed =
most of the deadliest attacks in Egypt since Morsi’s ouster, saying they =
were to avenge the crackdown by security forces.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in the crackdown, according to =
rights group Amnesty International, and thousands have been jailed.
+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 25 Feb.=9214:=94Lawmakers push for abolishing peace =
treaty with Israel=94,by Khaled Neimat
SUBJECT: Jordan=92s Lower House re 1994 Israel peace treaty
FULL TEXT:AMMAN =97 The Lower House urged the government on Tuesday[25 Feb.=
=94 =
to take a firmer stand as the Israeli Knesset has scheduled a renewed debat=
e =
over a proposal to strip Jordan from its status as the custodian of the hol=
y =
shrines in Jerusalem.
In response, 47 MPs signed a petition Tuesday[25 Feb.] calling for drafting =
and submitting a new legislation to cancel the 1994 peace treaty with =
Israel.
They criticised the government for not taking a =93strong and solid=94 stan=
d =
against the Knesset=92s attempts to revisit Jordan=92s role as custodian of=
the =
Islamic and Christian shrines in Jerusalem, in a bid to bring the holy city =
under full Israeli control.
MP Khalil Attiyeh told the MPs that Knesset member Ahmad Tibi informed him =
that Israeli lawmakers are going to discuss this issue in their session =
Tuesday.
News agencies confirmed that the debate was scheduled for Tuesday[25 Feb.] =
evening, but no vote was expected.
Several other MPs expressed their support for this proposal, with the =
chairman of the House Palestine Committee Yihya Saud urging the government =
to also expel the Israeli ambassador in Amman and recall the Jordanian envo=
y =
in Tel Aviv.
Last week, the same proposal was submitted by Knesset member Moshe Feiglin, =
who is also head of the =93Jewish Leadership=94 faction of Israel=92s gover=
ning =
Likud Party. He opposes a two-state solution and advocates that Israel anne=
x =
the West Bank and Gaza.
He calls for full Israeli sovereignty on Jerusalem, revoking all peace =
accords that Israel signed with its Arab neighbouring countries, including =
the Wadi Araba Peace Treaty between Jordan and Israel in 1994.
Senior officials said that the Israeli Knesset does not have the power to =
cancel Jordan=92s role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.
=93Not one and not even 1,000 Knesset members can cancel the Hashemite =
custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy shrines in Jerusalem,=94 Foreig=
n =
Minister Nasser Judeh said last week.
=91High tension=92 at Al Aqsa
Israeli occupation forces early Tuesday entered the sensitive Al Aqsa Mosqu=
e =
compound in Jerusalem=92s Old City to =93disperse stone-throwing Palestinia=
n =
protesters=94, a spokesman said, as quoted by Agence France-Presse.
The Israeli troops used stun grenades to disperse the Palestinians, Micky =
Rosenfeld told AFP, adding that there was =93high tension=94 ahead of the =
discussions expected in the Israeli parliament of a plan to annex the site, =
known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
No vote is envisaged at the end of debate. Israeli Premier Benjamin =
Netanyahu is opposed to the bill and commentators say it is unlikely to =
attract much support, AFP said.
The compound, or Al Haram Al Sharif, is Islam=92s third-holiest site.
+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 26 Feb.=9214:=94Iran has studied Israeli strike =
tactics=97official=94, by Associated Press
SUBJECT: Iran says Israeli strike tactics studied
FULL TEXT:TEHRAN =97 A senior Iranian military official said Tuesday[25 Feb=
.] =
that the Islamic republic has analysed Israeli strikes during the 2006 war =
in Lebanon to boost its own defence capabilities against the US and Israel.
Iran sees Israel as its arch-nemesis. Israel fought a 2006 war against Iran=
=92s =
ally, the Lebanese group Hizbollah. Israel and the US have not ruled out a =
military option against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Gen. Gholam Reza Jalali, who heads a unit in charge of civil defence, said =
Iran sent a team to Lebanon to study strikes during the 2006 war and change=
d =
its defence plans accordingly.
=93After Hizbollah=92s 33-day war, we sent a team to Lebanon and probed the =
models of Israel=92s attack on Lebanese buildings and collected 5,000 photo=
s =
of all the destroyed buildings,=94 the daily Kayhan quoted Jalali as saying =
Tuesday[25 Feb.].
Jalali said Iranian military officials learned after analysing the package =
that tall buildings collapsed not because of a bomb=92s power, but the =
engineering technique used to bring it down.
Iran has employed what it calls =93passive defence=94, measures to minimise=
the =
effects of damage caused by attacks.
It has built underground nuclear facilities, such as the Fordo uranium =
enrichment site, which it says is buried under 90 metres of rock for maximu=
m =
protection from aerial attack.
Jalali told military officials that Iran has also adopted a new military =
doctrine to neutralise any possible plans by the US to attack the Islamic =
republic.
=93It took three years to develop the new doctrine to confront the US,=94 h=
e =
said. He says the new doctrine made Iran spread out its installations and =
combat forces to minimise damage in a possible war.
=93We changed the deployment of military forces from a mass concentration t=
o =
managed format,=94 he said.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Sue Lerner – Associate, IMRA =
________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on A=
rab-Israeli relations
Website: www.imra.org.il
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Source: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=63307
