Iran using Hezbollah as diversion from nukes
While Ahmadinejad warns of a war in the north, U.S. advisor James Jones warns of the opposite scenario.
By Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel Tags: Hezbollah Iran nuclear Israel newsDoes a Christian Phalange leader in Lebanon know something that Israeli newspaper readers do not know? In a statement published in Lebanon, Dr. Samir Ja'ja claims that Hezbollah may involve his country in a war in the near future. He also warned that the Lebanese home front is far less prepared than its Israeli counterpart for war and therefore the civilian population in his country will bear the brunt of any future round of fighting.
The unusual statements by Ja'ja, who is affiliated with the Christian-Sunni camp led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, is only one of a series recently published in Lebanon that discuss a possible conflagration along the border with Israel.
His statements were published yesterday while a Saudi newspaper reported that Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is due to arrive in Damascus for meetings with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, but also with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the Hamas politburo chief in Damascus, Khaled Meshal.
Last week Ahmadinejad warned publicly that Israel was planning to attack Syria and Lebanon and vowed that Iran would stand by them. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to deny there was any truth to such warnings.
The reports of tension between Israel, Lebanon and Syria are coming at a time when there is a daily torrent of assessments, threats and forecasts concerning the progress of Iran's nuclear program. The two subjects are linked. In view of the tension in the north, there had been consideration of possibly delaying a visit to the U.S. by Defense Minister Ehud Barak. In the end, Barak decided yesterday to travel to Washington and New York, where he will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, among others. Syria and Lebanon will be at the center of his agenda in the U.S., as will the efforts to block Iran's nuclear program and restarting the peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
So, what is happening on the northern border? Ahmadinejad warns of one scenario several days after U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones warns of an opposite likelihood. Iran, Jones argued, may try to divert international public opinion from the Obama administration's initiative to step up sanctions against it through an attack on Israel via Hezbollah or Hamas. Along with the Iranian connection, Hezbollah is also providing cause for heightened Israeli alertness. In his speech last week Nasrallah reiterated his view on the balance of terror. He claimed he will attack Tel Aviv and Ben-Gurion International Airport in response to Israeli attacks on Beirut and Lebanon's civilian infrastructure.
A possible trigger to such confrontation, besides paranoia, is that Iran's encouraging its partners is linked to the delivery of arms. Israel believes, in retrospect, it failed when it did not focus its efforts on preventing the transfer of arms from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah following the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 may have declared an arms embargo, but it was never enforced along the border between Lebanon and Syria.
GOC Northern Command Gadi Eizenkot recently said in a lecture at Tel Aviv University that the Israel Defense Forces' working assumption is that the advanced arms in the Syrian arsenal will also eventually make their way to Hezbollah.
Several times during the past two years Israel knew how to draw red lines, such as when it suspected Syria was about to make the mistake of passing on dangerous weapons. It's possible the issue of red lines will reemerge in the near future.
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Resolution 1701 seems to contradict itself. Paragraph 3 states:?....so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon". But later in Paragraph 8 it says: "...full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that, pursuant to the Lebanese cabinet decision of 27 July 2006, there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese State." So is it paragraph 3-no weapons without the consent of the Gov. of Lebanon, or paragraph 8-no weapons other than that of the Lebanese State?
Just what we do not need. Maybe the Dubai police can make itself useful on this issue?
I am Canadian, and I think the actions of my government - handing over detainees to Afghan police knowing they will be tortured - an absolute disgrace. I believe that the Conservative government, in light of this disgrace, should immediately step down, but instead, the prorogued our Parliament to hide from any criticism and fallout. I also think that the horrors and tragedies inflicted on the native inhabitants of America (both North and South) to be appalling; a very dark moment for history. We can't change the crimes of the past, but we sure can try and change the present, and the future. It's interesting that you compare the genocide of the American Indians with the displacement and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians! What are you trying to tell us?
It is rather obvious that Iran is using Syria, hizbollah and hamas as proxies against Israel.In the case of an attack on Iran or if international sanctions become unbearable for Iranan regime (very unlikely), hamas, hizbollah and a suicidal Syria, will attack Israel.The Lebanese are too weak to act against hizbollah, which is holding most of the Lebanese hostage.Like last time, the hamas leadership will cower in their tunnels, while the gazans will bear the brunt of any Israeli retaliation.Syria will only attack Israel directly, if Assad feels his regime is about to be toppled.Assad knows very well that, even if he launches only a few missiles at Israel, Lieberman's words will haunt him for the few seconds that Assad will remain alive.I'd strongly advise Damascus to be totally evacuated before Syria starts another war with Israel.Damascus' name will have to be changed to Dam-ASH-cus.
Hey Dickie, you claim to understand war crimes? Why don't you take a look at your back yard before displaying your ignorance to the world?: http://www.jpost.com/Features/InThespotlight/Article.aspx?id=169378 The Palis are lucky to have Israelis as enemies
Are arabs ready to die for persians ? Would arabs be ready to die for Persians if the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps are posted in the front lines and use force to capture territories in violation of int'l law.? Would arabs and persians use again their non combatants terror supporters as human shields in violation of int'l law .? Iran-Syria-Hezbanon-Hamas (4)against (1)IDF: Would dhimmedias support that as proportionate use of force . ? Would dhimmedias support the tyrants and tyranies war crimes aggression against democracy that fight within the rule of the Law of War and with one hand tied ?
" don`t try to divert us u live on a land belonging to the indian" So if they give the land back to the Indian, the non-Indian Jewish population can go live in Israel and Israel will give back all the territory it has illegally acquired to the Palestinians and Syrians. Then there'll be no reason for animosity between Israel and it's neighbours. Brilliant. What a good idea. " what do you think of mistake of the NATO forces in afganisthan that kill hundreds of civilians every day with the blessing and assistance of canada ?" I agree entirely. Only Israel can have collateral. A question...You weren't for the war on terror?
Sweet Dreams Arnold from Canada, Have you tried to go near a Jew with a UZI machinegun, eager to steal land and water?? You definitely do not want to see him cross the borders to Lebanon.
remains the whole situation in the ME. Be aware that China and Russia stand behind Iran. A war will have catastrophic consequences for the region and the whole world. God forbid!
the facade is, after all, rather frail.
"Bomber Harris" causing untold civilian casualties in Germany was loved by the British people. So was Mashal Zhukov ,emptying German cities of German populaion. Your Communist Dad loved him too. Learn history of Britain,marrano. And read newspapers ,how NATO troops ,also British ill more civilians in Afghanistan than they kill the real Talebans.
were allies of Israel during the occupation, and were armed by Israel who provided security when they went on the rampage through Shabra and Chatila. So it is no surprise when they already blame Hezbollah for the coming war, nice touch about Lebanon's preparations of the Home Front. Already spinning for the mass civilian casualties that Israel loves causing.
Somehow, I would have thought that Israeli "journalists" would have better reading skills. "UN Security Council Resolution 1701 may have declared an arms embargo, but it was never enforced along the border between Lebanon and Syria." - Harel & Issacharoff You guys have to go back and take some English reading lessons again. Your copy of the translation into Hebrew is not accurate. Read 1701 in the original English or French. Learn what it really says. Hint: The Lebanese government gets to say who gets arms, not Israel or the US or anybody else.
How true. The above article may sound far fetched,..to some. The upcoming summit in Damascus will most certainly raise the subject of sanctions, President Obama,US Military presence in the Gulf and obviously,"How to divert attention,by heating up the Northern Border"! Its doubtful that Syria would want a border skirmish, which could well end up in the total destruction of Damascus. Furthermore, its also doubtful whether Mr.Nasrallah wishes to embroil Lebanon in an all out war with Israel. Israel, no doubt, especially under PM Netanyahu will not hesitate in unleashing ZAHAL. One can only guess, how Mr.Ahmadinejad will beg his proxies for "martyrdom"! Good day.
it's quite amazing that ancestor of people who commited genocide and that live on a land that belong to the indians are coming here to give us moral lessons ! by the way what do you think of mistake of the NATO forces in afganisthan that kill hundreds of civilians every day with the blessing and assistance of canada ?
to divert attention away from the palestinian issue.
IRAN already supplied HIZBOLLAH and syria with modern advanced arms which would wreak havok upon israel when the war breaks out .can israelis handle war on many fronts ? i doubt this .can they sustain thousands of missiles and projectiles thrown at them ? can they live in shelters for months ? can they live normally in this situation ? i leave answers for the elite in israel .
The earth is flat, the moon is made of green cheese, denial is a river in Mesopotamia, and you are a brilliant fellow! "Iran isn`t building nukes. Hezbollah is legitimate. Hamas is legitimate. Syria is legitimate."
manner of goings on can be made up. However, it remains ONLY speculation.
the lessons of King Jotham and King Ahaz.
lets put it this way, i find this story quite funny, especially this part "it failed when it did not focus its efforts on preventing the transfer of arms from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah following the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 may have declared an arms embargo, but it was never enforced along the border between Lebanon and Syria." riiight, so those daily 20 plus overflights were for?, look, there is no way of stopping them, they have outsmarted israel and will continue to do so, and some logic for thought, if hezbollah has so much and did what it did, imagine what their trainers syria and iran have?, not rocket science, occupiers never win.
could be seen as fair play. But it seems more like Iran is rattling its sabre in response to Israel and the US rattling theirs. The US has said any attack on Israel will be treated like an attack on the US, and now Iran has said that any attack on Lebanon will be treated like an attack on Iran. Perhaps now might be a good time for Israel to tell the Phalangist groups it sponsors that if they try another armed rebellion against their elected government, Israel and the US won't be able to do much to shield them from the Lebanese government.
We have a large Lebanese community in Montreal. The Jewish and Lebanese communities get along very well as we both have a mutual respect for one another. I have several conversations with a close Lebanese friend. We discuss the Middle East up and down. We both see the rights and wrongs of Israel and Lebanon. The one thing that we both agree on is that for some reason Lebanon is the "monkey in the middle." Poor Lebanon suffers because both Syria amnd Iran use Lebanon as the field of war games in their dispute with Israel. If Lebanon and Israel were ever to be able to work out a peace accord...these 2 countries could be a power house of economics in the region. Ashem, Allah, and Jesus gotta get it together.
Dear Amos and Andy, Iran isn't building nukes. Hezbollah is legitimate. Hamas is legitimate. Syria is legitimate. The tactic of branding freedom fighters "terrorists" is transparent. It also allows assassination (oh, he's a terrorist, murder him.) There are no problems with Iran unless the goofy leadership of Israel attacks first. Iran will then build the bomb. Do you want a nuclear exchange? If so hell awaits you and your tribe. Salaam/Shalom