July-War Secrets: Exposed by Nabih Berri and Retold by Ali Hassan Khalil (Episode 20)
TRANSLATED from Lebanese Daily As-Safir- Local Editor
Southerners Return to Their Demolished Villages. Army's First Time along Southern Borders
Jumblatt's Proposal for Quadrilateral Meeting Including Berri, Nasrallah, Hariri, Him Fails
It is the day the villagers set off to their villages as their eyes miss looking at the water mirrors. Now the grains are ready to be baked into bread, and the sun can hardly wait for the moon to give way; it almost rises before its time to announce the return march.
The last night hours of August 13 witness how MP Berri encourages the migrants to leave the schools they have resided in and the houses that have embraced them this summer; now they should return to their houses even if only ruins are left, but the malicious "Israel" exploits its fire and races the time to perpetrate two more massacres in Bekaa and to bombard the heart of a mountain.
Now the villagers move like wind. They miss their porches, the forgotten pomegranates, and olives - the heritage of Mount Amel.
They race to the South to check the tobacco leaves as they've missed the season for 'collecting tobacco leaves'. As for the residents of Beirut Sothern Suburb, they walk to their houses, which no longer look like houses; yet, they 'camp' amid the ruins, promising and promised that by a sunny day Beirut Southern Suburb will have looked even better.
Strong enough, they set their return march as they wait for no guarantees. Although their return could have turned into a tragedy, they pass the mine fields without hesitation, and they trust the speaker of the parliament and stick to him, for he will not sacrifice their lives for a venture, and he wants them to be the first to receive the trust of their land as the most beautiful thing about land. is being on it.
Considering this scene, MP Berri deducts his well-known equation: "Army-People-Resistance", which gets later included in the records of ministerial statements and appears to be a part of the conventions of the constitution and the local familiarity.
The fourteenth of August, 2006 was a transitory day, for now the path had changed, and the pressure of the days of the July Aggression and negotiations had shattered. A different kind of communications began, the talk about which was long through the days to follow.
And the recording of which related to another context, witnessing the challenges we faced. Those challenges generally affected the political interior situation in Lebanon and created new horizons that allowed us to see how hard it was to attempt breaking the rules of the already planned game, to refuse the defeat that was already planned for a fate, and to cope with the imposed actualities instead of creating a scene like it should be created.
In spite of the confused interior atmosphere concerning how to deal with the coming stage, we began to prepare for the cease-fire stage; whereby cease-fire was going to be declared on Monday, August 14, at 8:00 AM, and "this in particular is going to allow the creation of new public and political actualities that will change the stances of many people," said MP Berri as he pointed out the importance of focusing on "The April Agreement" (also "The Grapes of Wrath Understandings") in regard to the separating period (between the cease-fire and the "Israeli" withdrawal), which meant the Resistance had the right to counteract in case of any aggression or the continuity of the occupation.
Furthermore, we abided by the generalization issued by the command of the Amal Movement, which stated that we had to prepare well for the widest campaign of the migrants' return to the regions they'd been dislodged from. We had to give no chances at all for the people that suspected the reality of the triumph; such return was going to demonstrate the strongest response.
Contrary to what had been rumored regarding the refusal of the states participating in the missions of the UNIFIL to send their forces, many of those states confirmed - during calls - their participation without any prior conditions or explanations that some of the Lebanese sides desired.
In the meantime, "Israel" continued to revenge, performing airstrikes that resulted in the massacres of Al-Jammalieh and Britel in Bekaa and martyring thirteen innocent civilians just two hours before cease-fire. On the other hand, the Resistance continued to launch missiles against different "Israeli" regions so as to challenge "Israel" and prove the Resistance's power, which had already become more obvious upon the demolition of more "Israeli" tanks in Sahl Al-Khiyam (Al-Khiyam Plain) after the burning of others previously; now "Israel" had more tanks to drag from the Lebanese territories.
The 14th of August was an exceptional day as the Lebanese people in general and the southerners in particular proved their capacity to endure calamities and overcome them, growing firmer and more faithful; also that they appreciated the triumph even though it had cost them much. Hereupon, tens of thousands of Lebanese people could be seen heading to the South and Beirut Southern Suburb, in addition to the regions of Bekaa which some had left, going to Syria instead. "Israel", however, did not miss a single moment before the execution of cease-fire; whereby it launched missiles against the mountainous region of Kayfoun just minutes before 8:00.
It was a day long political talk was held, and it deserved long political talk, for that day introduced a long stage of extended political and diplomatic meetings and debates before the siege was broken, the normal life was sustained, and the constitution of a new scene of the Lebanese political life commenced: a scene classifying powers clearer and having criteria different from the previous ones.
As that day began, MP Berri addressed the Lebanese people, thanking all of the Lebanese people who had endured the "Israeli" greed and massacres ever since the existence of the Zionist entity. As well, Berri thanked the Lebanese people who embraced the dislodged ones, whom he addressed, asking them "to return to our homes of dignity - the streams of resistance and confrontation. He/she who returns home without finding his/her house should cling to his/her land in any possible mean until we reconstruct that house."
Besides, that day Berri made his golden troika, saying, "We need to support the Army and the UNIFIL in order to stand side by side with the Resistance and the people." Berri insisted on that call although some sides tried to warn from the dangers of a quick return upon the presence of mines and projectiles that had not yet exploded. But the issue required sacrifice so as to prevent the abortion of the moment of triumph upon hesitation.
On the same day, too, Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addressed the Lebanese people, declaring that Lebanon, including all of its regions, had achieved a strategic and historic triumph. As well, Sayyed Hassan thanked all of the Lebanese people who had contributed to this triumph, promising to offer them immediate help with reconstruction and re-lodge and saying His Eminence wasn't going to wait for the usual governmental mechanisms; instead, His Eminence exposed an integrated reconstruction and families-re-lodge program.
Then, Sayyed Nasrallah talked about the Resistance's arms, saying, "During the July-War, a debate existed regarding the situation of the South - the South Litany Region in particular; also regarding the Resistance's role and its relation with the Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon), in addition to the Resistance's arms and future position and conduct. The debates were serious, and they were being run by our grand brother MP Nabih Berri, who represents a grand and national guarantee. Therefore, I hope that all debaters listen well to him and respect what he says concerning the treatment of this extremely critical and fatal issue."
Jumblatt Proposes Quadric Meeting. Berri Refuses
After we kept up with the details of the touching return of the Lebanese people's to their villages and towns, which were directly televised, MP Berri again began to pursue the way out of the Ministerial Council's debate concerning the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South; whereby Berri questioned the relation of the Ministerial Council with the issue of the arms' future, which was listed on the agenda of the National Dialogue Conference. Hereupon, MP Berri's point of view was now as such:
1- The Ministerial Council is to sustain no further debate of the arms issue.
2- The Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL are to be deployed, and they are to confiscate any apparent arms they find.
3- After "Israel" withdraws completely beyond "The Blue Line", the Resistance is to reposition its arms in a way that does not contradict with the UN Resolution 1701, and this is to take place in accordance with the explanation (of Resolution 1701) we've made with Premier Fouad Siniora, as well as the oral understanding the Lebanese Army and the Resistance have made.
Then MP Berri received Minister of Information Ghazi Al-Aridi, who was delegated by Minister of the Displaced and Interior Walid Jumblatt so as to explain the latter's point of view regarding the developments of the latest session of the Ministerial Council, holding both sides responsible (the ministers of "the March-14 Alliance" and those of "the March-8 Alliance"). As well, Jumblatt said that after the Ministerial Council's resolution was issued, the sides directly involved were hesitant concerning the way to act, especially the Ministry of Defense.
Now MP Berri proposed that the Ministerial Council no longer sustain the debate regarding the deployment of the Lebanese Army, asking Al-Aridi to report this proposal to Jumblatt and Siniora; whereas Berri was going to sustain his efforts to see what could happen in the hours to follow.
At 7:15, we met with Sayyed Nasrallah's Senior Aide Haj Hussein Khalil, who reported to us that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was quite relieved upon the people's return that day and upon the way they dealt with the fighters of Hizbullah. Haj Hussein added, "Your Excellency, His Eminence tells you everybody's going to accept your proposal regarding the absence of only apparent armament."
Haj Hussein then said that the Intelligence Bureau Director Colonel Wissam
Al-Hassan had called Haj Wafik Safa to inform him - upon MP Saad Hariri's statement - that the foreign atmosphere was too bad and that Hariri talked to the French President Jacque Chirac, who understood the privacy of the stage, especially when Hizbullah had just been done with a strong battle; therefore, the probability to treat the issue of arms existed - saw Hariri, who promised to debate this issue with Premier Siniora and convince him with his point of view.
Hereupon, MP Berri said, "If this is Hariri's stance, then I'll talk to Siniora. Anyway, I've informed Al-Aridi of my proposal that the Ministerial Council no longer sustain the debate regarding the issue of arms and assign the Lebanese Army to handle this issue instead. Al-Aridi proposed a quadric meeting including Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt, and I, but I refused this upon the critical security situation of Sayyed Hassan; whereby I wouldn't approve of this even if Sayyed Hassan did."
Haj Hussein again called Haj Wafik Safa to sum what outcome Wissam Al-Hassan and Haj Safa had reached. Haj Hussein added that Sayyed Nasrallah requested that Al-Hassan be informed that MP Berri had the answer to the solution formula.
Siniora Asks Again: What about Arms?
MP Berri asked me to go meet with MP Saad Hariri, who spoke positively to me, "The international atmosphere has become better, and I'm ready to deal with the formula of 'no apparent armament and no breaks in' along the South Litany Region. Yet, this issue needs to be discussed with Siniora. Actually, I'm willing to accept any formula that Siniora and Hizbullah agree on."
I came back from Qreitem to Ain el Tineh, where MP Berri was having a meeting with Premier Siniora and his Senior Aide Dr. Muhammad Shatah, whereby Berri was informing them of what had been reported upon Hariri's statement. Now Berri asked me about my meeting with Hariri, and I explained Hariri's vision. MP Berri added that he had the information that "Israel" would withdraw completely on Wednesday, the 16th of August and that the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) could get deployed along "the Blue Line" then; as for the Lebanese Army, it could get deployed there on Thursday, the 17th of August.
Quickly and nervously, Siniora said, "I am not familiar with such talk. The question is: Are arms still going to exist in the South Litany Region?!"
Berri: "Well, this is simple. Let's say someone in Beirut is seized by the Lebanese Army upon his/her possession of arms; then he/she is transferred to the Martial Court. So is the case when a fight or fire-shooting takes place. And this is exactly applicable in the South. I can't even see it is necessary that this issue be debated by the Ministerial Council; instead, the Lebanese Army can debate it with the Resistance. Neither do I see it is of our interest to postpone the session; we can say that we've been working to facilitate the migrants' return and provide them with services."
Siniora: "This is not enough. Today, I summoned the ambassadors of the five member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to talk to them about breaking the siege of the Lebanese ports after I had talked to the U.S. President George Bush and the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the same issue. And the ambassadors agreed, but they said that we would have to be committed to maintaining discipline along the Lebanese borders. This is why I brought the ministers of defense and interior, as well as the directors of the General and Internal Security Forces to discuss this issue."
Berri: "Let's not digress from our subject. What problem obstructed the understanding regarding arms?"
Siniora: "1- The Lebanese Army is not to be restricted from searching any place. I even agree that the Army searches my house.
2- Neither military bases nor arms are to exist.
3-It is of the Army's right to break into any place when it has been reported that this place has arms.
4-Any present arms are considered illegal; thus, they are to be confiscated."
Now Shatah interfered, "We must know that air surveillance is to exist because we need to know what is being done with the missiles. Yet, it's more critical that we can't get the Army and the UNIFIL deployed when we have still reached no agreement with the arms keepers (Hizbullah) and when their unauthorized arms still exist. In that case, we'll hold the responsibility of any problem."
Berri: "In case of any problem or "Israeli" aggression, all of us will be responsible for confronting "Israel", and I won't be ashamed of these arms. But I know that we're not going to use them unless "Israel" starts another aggression."
Shatah: "And who can guarantee that no operations will be performed along the borders or "The Blue Line"?"
Berri: "In the first place, what the Resistance has performed so far has been for the sake of freeing the Lebanese captives. I say that the Lebanese Army holds full responsibility for "The Blue Line"."
Now Shatah tried to discuss the details of this issue, and Premier Siniora said, "We can do a paper on this issue and send it to you later."
Lebanese Army's First Deployment until Blue Line
In the following days, MP Berri held meetings with Arab and foreign ministers, premiers, ambassadors, and figures; whereby he held his first meeting with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo D' Alema, who arrived directly in Beirut Southern Suburb as his visit was of great significance at a time Italy was to send the biggest number of UNIFIL's troops. Then Berri held another meeting with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gϋl, who inquired whether there was any reservation on Turkey's contribution to the UNIFIL, so MP Berri joked, "I'll handle this issue with all of the Lebanese people except the Armenians, whom you'll have to deal with!" Afterwards, Berri met with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Philippe Douste-Blazy, who was studying the speech of the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad regarding the Lebanese situation and its reflections on the situation of the Middle East.
Douste-Blazy also spoke about Iran's role in case of more sanctions, so MP Berri said that Iran already had many capacities and did not need to make use of the Lebanese situation to create political pressure.
Those days witnessed "Israel's" disability as disappointment masked its military and political levels after the July War. "Israel" hadn't achieved any of its aims; instead, it continued to bet on some details of Resolution 1701 so as to compensate for its failure at a time the "Israeli" interior escalated its demand: It was required that investigation committees inquire into the different "Israeli" commands. Now the withdrawal processes, which had become obligatory upon the actualities, started to accelerate; whereas the Lebanese Army was preparing for deployment in the South Litany Region.
On Wednesday, at 5:30, the Ministerial Council held the session it had postponed earlier. Among the attendees were the Army Commander General Michele Suleiman and the Director of the Lebanese Intelligence Bureau Brigadier General Georges Khouri, who had met with MP Berri earlier and agreed with him on the final retouches to be made to the deployment resolution and reference to "the Law of Defense" (of the Lebanese constitution) in marking out the nature of the South Litany Region.
The Ministerial Council issued a resolution stating the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the entire South Litany Region until "The Blue Line" - the deployment which had been the first in many decades. National convention and emphasis existed regarding the facilitation of the Army's mission and role after the Ministerial Council had become no longer in charge of the political debate concerning the future of the Resistance's arms; the Army and the Resistance would coordinate for that issue in accordance with the laws validated in the rest of the Lebanese regions.
Feltman Hints at Maritime and Air Siege
The next morning, the entire South, starting with Saida until the regions along the borderline, reveled, receiving the Lebanese Army; whereas international preparations were being made to form the extra force that was to participate in the UNIFIL's missions. By now, the image of the Resistance men's heroism in the various confrontation zones had become more obvious. Also having become more obvious were the numerous stories, which were fit for teaching lessons on the Resistance's battles and the steadfastness experiences of a unique people.
On the other hand, another image of the Lebanese political context was starting to appear as more speeches on controversial issues were being made; now the situation looked like it was a process of settling calculations among the different sides in regard to the post and positioning of each in the regional and interior equation, especially when everyone recognized the importance of the triumph achieved, its effects on the Arab and international levels, and its repercussions on the existence of "Israel".
The days that followed witnessed accelerating events: "Israel" was quickening its withdrawal; whereas tens of thousands of Lebanese people, who iterated their steadfastness and fidelity to the convoys of the Lebanese martyrs, were participating in their funeral and burial rituals. Also, it was the Lebanese Army's first time to reach the regions of Al-Orkoub, Shebaa, and Kfarchouba.
On Friday, August 18, the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman again interfered to report to MP Nabih Berri that "arms are being smuggled from Syria, which does violate Resolution 1701. Actually, "Israel" is monitoring this process; yet, it hasn't bombarded the arms convoys upon the request of the Unites States. Thus, "Israel" insists on not breaking the siege of Beirut International Airport and the Port of Beirut." Such talk marked the beginning of a chapter of a new stage: "Working to break the siege".
Episode 21 (The Last One):
- Migrants' Return Complete; Army Deployed
- "Israel" Intensifies Air, Maritime Siege; Open Parliamentary Sit-in in Nejmeh Square
Source: As-Safir newspaper, Translated and edited by moqawama.org
Southerners Return to Their Demolished Villages. Army's First Time along Southern Borders
Jumblatt's Proposal for Quadrilateral Meeting Including Berri, Nasrallah, Hariri, Him Fails
It is the day the villagers set off to their villages as their eyes miss looking at the water mirrors. Now the grains are ready to be baked into bread, and the sun can hardly wait for the moon to give way; it almost rises before its time to announce the return march.
The last night hours of August 13 witness how MP Berri encourages the migrants to leave the schools they have resided in and the houses that have embraced them this summer; now they should return to their houses even if only ruins are left, but the malicious "Israel" exploits its fire and races the time to perpetrate two more massacres in Bekaa and to bombard the heart of a mountain.
Now the villagers move like wind. They miss their porches, the forgotten pomegranates, and olives - the heritage of Mount Amel.
They race to the South to check the tobacco leaves as they've missed the season for 'collecting tobacco leaves'. As for the residents of Beirut Sothern Suburb, they walk to their houses, which no longer look like houses; yet, they 'camp' amid the ruins, promising and promised that by a sunny day Beirut Southern Suburb will have looked even better.
Strong enough, they set their return march as they wait for no guarantees. Although their return could have turned into a tragedy, they pass the mine fields without hesitation, and they trust the speaker of the parliament and stick to him, for he will not sacrifice their lives for a venture, and he wants them to be the first to receive the trust of their land as the most beautiful thing about land. is being on it.
Considering this scene, MP Berri deducts his well-known equation: "Army-People-Resistance", which gets later included in the records of ministerial statements and appears to be a part of the conventions of the constitution and the local familiarity.
The fourteenth of August, 2006 was a transitory day, for now the path had changed, and the pressure of the days of the July Aggression and negotiations had shattered. A different kind of communications began, the talk about which was long through the days to follow.
And the recording of which related to another context, witnessing the challenges we faced. Those challenges generally affected the political interior situation in Lebanon and created new horizons that allowed us to see how hard it was to attempt breaking the rules of the already planned game, to refuse the defeat that was already planned for a fate, and to cope with the imposed actualities instead of creating a scene like it should be created.
In spite of the confused interior atmosphere concerning how to deal with the coming stage, we began to prepare for the cease-fire stage; whereby cease-fire was going to be declared on Monday, August 14, at 8:00 AM, and "this in particular is going to allow the creation of new public and political actualities that will change the stances of many people," said MP Berri as he pointed out the importance of focusing on "The April Agreement" (also "The Grapes of Wrath Understandings") in regard to the separating period (between the cease-fire and the "Israeli" withdrawal), which meant the Resistance had the right to counteract in case of any aggression or the continuity of the occupation.
Furthermore, we abided by the generalization issued by the command of the Amal Movement, which stated that we had to prepare well for the widest campaign of the migrants' return to the regions they'd been dislodged from. We had to give no chances at all for the people that suspected the reality of the triumph; such return was going to demonstrate the strongest response.
Contrary to what had been rumored regarding the refusal of the states participating in the missions of the UNIFIL to send their forces, many of those states confirmed - during calls - their participation without any prior conditions or explanations that some of the Lebanese sides desired.
In the meantime, "Israel" continued to revenge, performing airstrikes that resulted in the massacres of Al-Jammalieh and Britel in Bekaa and martyring thirteen innocent civilians just two hours before cease-fire. On the other hand, the Resistance continued to launch missiles against different "Israeli" regions so as to challenge "Israel" and prove the Resistance's power, which had already become more obvious upon the demolition of more "Israeli" tanks in Sahl Al-Khiyam (Al-Khiyam Plain) after the burning of others previously; now "Israel" had more tanks to drag from the Lebanese territories.
The 14th of August was an exceptional day as the Lebanese people in general and the southerners in particular proved their capacity to endure calamities and overcome them, growing firmer and more faithful; also that they appreciated the triumph even though it had cost them much. Hereupon, tens of thousands of Lebanese people could be seen heading to the South and Beirut Southern Suburb, in addition to the regions of Bekaa which some had left, going to Syria instead. "Israel", however, did not miss a single moment before the execution of cease-fire; whereby it launched missiles against the mountainous region of Kayfoun just minutes before 8:00.
It was a day long political talk was held, and it deserved long political talk, for that day introduced a long stage of extended political and diplomatic meetings and debates before the siege was broken, the normal life was sustained, and the constitution of a new scene of the Lebanese political life commenced: a scene classifying powers clearer and having criteria different from the previous ones.
As that day began, MP Berri addressed the Lebanese people, thanking all of the Lebanese people who had endured the "Israeli" greed and massacres ever since the existence of the Zionist entity. As well, Berri thanked the Lebanese people who embraced the dislodged ones, whom he addressed, asking them "to return to our homes of dignity - the streams of resistance and confrontation. He/she who returns home without finding his/her house should cling to his/her land in any possible mean until we reconstruct that house."
Besides, that day Berri made his golden troika, saying, "We need to support the Army and the UNIFIL in order to stand side by side with the Resistance and the people." Berri insisted on that call although some sides tried to warn from the dangers of a quick return upon the presence of mines and projectiles that had not yet exploded. But the issue required sacrifice so as to prevent the abortion of the moment of triumph upon hesitation.
On the same day, too, Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addressed the Lebanese people, declaring that Lebanon, including all of its regions, had achieved a strategic and historic triumph. As well, Sayyed Hassan thanked all of the Lebanese people who had contributed to this triumph, promising to offer them immediate help with reconstruction and re-lodge and saying His Eminence wasn't going to wait for the usual governmental mechanisms; instead, His Eminence exposed an integrated reconstruction and families-re-lodge program.
Then, Sayyed Nasrallah talked about the Resistance's arms, saying, "During the July-War, a debate existed regarding the situation of the South - the South Litany Region in particular; also regarding the Resistance's role and its relation with the Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon), in addition to the Resistance's arms and future position and conduct. The debates were serious, and they were being run by our grand brother MP Nabih Berri, who represents a grand and national guarantee. Therefore, I hope that all debaters listen well to him and respect what he says concerning the treatment of this extremely critical and fatal issue."
Jumblatt Proposes Quadric Meeting. Berri Refuses
After we kept up with the details of the touching return of the Lebanese people's to their villages and towns, which were directly televised, MP Berri again began to pursue the way out of the Ministerial Council's debate concerning the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the South; whereby Berri questioned the relation of the Ministerial Council with the issue of the arms' future, which was listed on the agenda of the National Dialogue Conference. Hereupon, MP Berri's point of view was now as such:
1- The Ministerial Council is to sustain no further debate of the arms issue.
2- The Lebanese Army and the UNIFIL are to be deployed, and they are to confiscate any apparent arms they find.
3- After "Israel" withdraws completely beyond "The Blue Line", the Resistance is to reposition its arms in a way that does not contradict with the UN Resolution 1701, and this is to take place in accordance with the explanation (of Resolution 1701) we've made with Premier Fouad Siniora, as well as the oral understanding the Lebanese Army and the Resistance have made.
Then MP Berri received Minister of Information Ghazi Al-Aridi, who was delegated by Minister of the Displaced and Interior Walid Jumblatt so as to explain the latter's point of view regarding the developments of the latest session of the Ministerial Council, holding both sides responsible (the ministers of "the March-14 Alliance" and those of "the March-8 Alliance"). As well, Jumblatt said that after the Ministerial Council's resolution was issued, the sides directly involved were hesitant concerning the way to act, especially the Ministry of Defense.
Now MP Berri proposed that the Ministerial Council no longer sustain the debate regarding the deployment of the Lebanese Army, asking Al-Aridi to report this proposal to Jumblatt and Siniora; whereas Berri was going to sustain his efforts to see what could happen in the hours to follow.
At 7:15, we met with Sayyed Nasrallah's Senior Aide Haj Hussein Khalil, who reported to us that Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was quite relieved upon the people's return that day and upon the way they dealt with the fighters of Hizbullah. Haj Hussein added, "Your Excellency, His Eminence tells you everybody's going to accept your proposal regarding the absence of only apparent armament."
Haj Hussein then said that the Intelligence Bureau Director Colonel Wissam
Al-Hassan had called Haj Wafik Safa to inform him - upon MP Saad Hariri's statement - that the foreign atmosphere was too bad and that Hariri talked to the French President Jacque Chirac, who understood the privacy of the stage, especially when Hizbullah had just been done with a strong battle; therefore, the probability to treat the issue of arms existed - saw Hariri, who promised to debate this issue with Premier Siniora and convince him with his point of view.
Hereupon, MP Berri said, "If this is Hariri's stance, then I'll talk to Siniora. Anyway, I've informed Al-Aridi of my proposal that the Ministerial Council no longer sustain the debate regarding the issue of arms and assign the Lebanese Army to handle this issue instead. Al-Aridi proposed a quadric meeting including Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt, and I, but I refused this upon the critical security situation of Sayyed Hassan; whereby I wouldn't approve of this even if Sayyed Hassan did."
Haj Hussein again called Haj Wafik Safa to sum what outcome Wissam Al-Hassan and Haj Safa had reached. Haj Hussein added that Sayyed Nasrallah requested that Al-Hassan be informed that MP Berri had the answer to the solution formula.
Siniora Asks Again: What about Arms?
MP Berri asked me to go meet with MP Saad Hariri, who spoke positively to me, "The international atmosphere has become better, and I'm ready to deal with the formula of 'no apparent armament and no breaks in' along the South Litany Region. Yet, this issue needs to be discussed with Siniora. Actually, I'm willing to accept any formula that Siniora and Hizbullah agree on."
I came back from Qreitem to Ain el Tineh, where MP Berri was having a meeting with Premier Siniora and his Senior Aide Dr. Muhammad Shatah, whereby Berri was informing them of what had been reported upon Hariri's statement. Now Berri asked me about my meeting with Hariri, and I explained Hariri's vision. MP Berri added that he had the information that "Israel" would withdraw completely on Wednesday, the 16th of August and that the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) could get deployed along "the Blue Line" then; as for the Lebanese Army, it could get deployed there on Thursday, the 17th of August.
Quickly and nervously, Siniora said, "I am not familiar with such talk. The question is: Are arms still going to exist in the South Litany Region?!"
Berri: "Well, this is simple. Let's say someone in Beirut is seized by the Lebanese Army upon his/her possession of arms; then he/she is transferred to the Martial Court. So is the case when a fight or fire-shooting takes place. And this is exactly applicable in the South. I can't even see it is necessary that this issue be debated by the Ministerial Council; instead, the Lebanese Army can debate it with the Resistance. Neither do I see it is of our interest to postpone the session; we can say that we've been working to facilitate the migrants' return and provide them with services."
Siniora: "This is not enough. Today, I summoned the ambassadors of the five member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to talk to them about breaking the siege of the Lebanese ports after I had talked to the U.S. President George Bush and the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the same issue. And the ambassadors agreed, but they said that we would have to be committed to maintaining discipline along the Lebanese borders. This is why I brought the ministers of defense and interior, as well as the directors of the General and Internal Security Forces to discuss this issue."
Berri: "Let's not digress from our subject. What problem obstructed the understanding regarding arms?"
Siniora: "1- The Lebanese Army is not to be restricted from searching any place. I even agree that the Army searches my house.
2- Neither military bases nor arms are to exist.
3-It is of the Army's right to break into any place when it has been reported that this place has arms.
4-Any present arms are considered illegal; thus, they are to be confiscated."
Now Shatah interfered, "We must know that air surveillance is to exist because we need to know what is being done with the missiles. Yet, it's more critical that we can't get the Army and the UNIFIL deployed when we have still reached no agreement with the arms keepers (Hizbullah) and when their unauthorized arms still exist. In that case, we'll hold the responsibility of any problem."
Berri: "In case of any problem or "Israeli" aggression, all of us will be responsible for confronting "Israel", and I won't be ashamed of these arms. But I know that we're not going to use them unless "Israel" starts another aggression."
Shatah: "And who can guarantee that no operations will be performed along the borders or "The Blue Line"?"
Berri: "In the first place, what the Resistance has performed so far has been for the sake of freeing the Lebanese captives. I say that the Lebanese Army holds full responsibility for "The Blue Line"."
Now Shatah tried to discuss the details of this issue, and Premier Siniora said, "We can do a paper on this issue and send it to you later."
Lebanese Army's First Deployment until Blue Line
In the following days, MP Berri held meetings with Arab and foreign ministers, premiers, ambassadors, and figures; whereby he held his first meeting with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo D' Alema, who arrived directly in Beirut Southern Suburb as his visit was of great significance at a time Italy was to send the biggest number of UNIFIL's troops. Then Berri held another meeting with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gϋl, who inquired whether there was any reservation on Turkey's contribution to the UNIFIL, so MP Berri joked, "I'll handle this issue with all of the Lebanese people except the Armenians, whom you'll have to deal with!" Afterwards, Berri met with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Philippe Douste-Blazy, who was studying the speech of the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad regarding the Lebanese situation and its reflections on the situation of the Middle East.
Douste-Blazy also spoke about Iran's role in case of more sanctions, so MP Berri said that Iran already had many capacities and did not need to make use of the Lebanese situation to create political pressure.
Those days witnessed "Israel's" disability as disappointment masked its military and political levels after the July War. "Israel" hadn't achieved any of its aims; instead, it continued to bet on some details of Resolution 1701 so as to compensate for its failure at a time the "Israeli" interior escalated its demand: It was required that investigation committees inquire into the different "Israeli" commands. Now the withdrawal processes, which had become obligatory upon the actualities, started to accelerate; whereas the Lebanese Army was preparing for deployment in the South Litany Region.
On Wednesday, at 5:30, the Ministerial Council held the session it had postponed earlier. Among the attendees were the Army Commander General Michele Suleiman and the Director of the Lebanese Intelligence Bureau Brigadier General Georges Khouri, who had met with MP Berri earlier and agreed with him on the final retouches to be made to the deployment resolution and reference to "the Law of Defense" (of the Lebanese constitution) in marking out the nature of the South Litany Region.
The Ministerial Council issued a resolution stating the deployment of the Lebanese Army in the entire South Litany Region until "The Blue Line" - the deployment which had been the first in many decades. National convention and emphasis existed regarding the facilitation of the Army's mission and role after the Ministerial Council had become no longer in charge of the political debate concerning the future of the Resistance's arms; the Army and the Resistance would coordinate for that issue in accordance with the laws validated in the rest of the Lebanese regions.
Feltman Hints at Maritime and Air Siege
The next morning, the entire South, starting with Saida until the regions along the borderline, reveled, receiving the Lebanese Army; whereas international preparations were being made to form the extra force that was to participate in the UNIFIL's missions. By now, the image of the Resistance men's heroism in the various confrontation zones had become more obvious. Also having become more obvious were the numerous stories, which were fit for teaching lessons on the Resistance's battles and the steadfastness experiences of a unique people.
On the other hand, another image of the Lebanese political context was starting to appear as more speeches on controversial issues were being made; now the situation looked like it was a process of settling calculations among the different sides in regard to the post and positioning of each in the regional and interior equation, especially when everyone recognized the importance of the triumph achieved, its effects on the Arab and international levels, and its repercussions on the existence of "Israel".
The days that followed witnessed accelerating events: "Israel" was quickening its withdrawal; whereas tens of thousands of Lebanese people, who iterated their steadfastness and fidelity to the convoys of the Lebanese martyrs, were participating in their funeral and burial rituals. Also, it was the Lebanese Army's first time to reach the regions of Al-Orkoub, Shebaa, and Kfarchouba.
On Friday, August 18, the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman again interfered to report to MP Nabih Berri that "arms are being smuggled from Syria, which does violate Resolution 1701. Actually, "Israel" is monitoring this process; yet, it hasn't bombarded the arms convoys upon the request of the Unites States. Thus, "Israel" insists on not breaking the siege of Beirut International Airport and the Port of Beirut." Such talk marked the beginning of a chapter of a new stage: "Working to break the siege".
Episode 21 (The Last One):
- Migrants' Return Complete; Army Deployed
- "Israel" Intensifies Air, Maritime Siege; Open Parliamentary Sit-in in Nejmeh Square
Source: As-Safir newspaper, Translated and edited by moqawama.org
