The speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri
Lebanon-Israel, Politics, 5/20/2000

The speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri today that he sent an urgent message to the US President Bill Clinton, President Jacques Chirac of France, the UN Secretary general, Kofi Annan, the Director general of UNESCO, the chairman of the Inter-parliamentary Union and the chairman of the Arab parliamentary them in which he urged them to pressure Israel not to blow off al-Shaqif castle before its proposed withdrawal from South Lebanon.

Meantime Lebanese Premier Salim al-Hoss also today sent similar cable to the UN chief and to the UNESCO's director of fears of Israel's intention to explode this monumental castles which dates back to the 12th century and a symbolic embodiment of military architecture.

Al-Hoss also talked to the ambassadors of the US and France accredited to Lebanon and asked them to convey this message to their governments to prevent Israeli for blowing off this strategic castle which has been under occupation since 1982.

News reports from South Lebanon on Friday evening said that the Israeli forces transported to the al-Shaqeif castle during the few past days three trucks loaded with explosives of 6 TNT tons.

Besides its historical and archaelogical significance, this castle enjoys a strategic location. It is 716 meters above the sea-level. It overlooks al-Nabatieh city, the villages of Yahmur, Arnoun, Kafer Tibnet, al-Tibe, Deir Meimas, al-Qleya, Marhyoun and al-Khardaly bridge. It was occupied by the Israeli forces following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

The occupation of the castle by the Israeli forces was preceded by several aggressions including land and air raids. A matter which inflicted great damages to the castle. It was visited by the Israeli prime minister Menahim Begin, just one month after occupation. A visit which was viewed as an evidence on its importance.

There are several accounts about this castle. Some say it dates back to 1139 A.D. Other historians say that it dates back to the era before the crusaders. It had successive civilizations and states, including the Umayyads, the Abbasids, the Seljuks, Turks and the Crusaders. It had been expanded and reclaimed at several times, yet has been mostly devastated following the repeated Israeli aggressions against it.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Hoss to meet today with ambassadors of the UN Security Council permanent states   (5/15/2000)
  Israel and withdrawal from South Lebanon   (5/15/2000)
  Lahoud: No Amnesty for Israel's agents, commitment to comprehensive settlement within track cohesion   (5/12/2000)

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