Arabic News Weekly Edition for Lebanon, 10/13/1997
Weekly Edition, Lebanon - Week of October 13, 1997
- Israel raids Palestinian base near Beirut, injures civilian in South
A truck driver was wounded in south Lebanon when a shell fired from the Israeli-occupied sector struck near the front-line town of Mashghara in the southern Bekaa Valley. Lebanon, Military, 10/18/1997 - Amnesty International criticizes human rights violations in Lebanon
A 38-page report by the London-based international human rights organization said the government was carrying out arbitrary political arrests, torture and ill-treatment of suspects in Lebanon and named three detainees who allegedly died under torture in 1994. Lebanon, Politics, 10/18/1997 - Lebanese government hits back at Amnesty report of abuses
"The report's content is the imagination of some Lebanese who are in contact with this organization, giving it false information that is adopted without checking its accuracy," Interior Minister Michel Murr told reporters. Lebanon, Politics, 10/18/1997 - Electricity workers suspend strike
The strike, during which workers left damages to the power grid unrepaired and halted collection of bills, began Tuesday after the state company, Electricite du Liban, failed to meet workers' demands for higher wages and improved conditions. Lebanon, Business, 10/18/1997 - Hizbullah offers to reconcile Arab governments with their Islamic foes
"We are ready to welcome in Hezbollah any person, regardless of their religious, sectarian or political affiliations," Nasrallah said., adding that Iran does not dictate policy to Hezbollah. "There is close cooperation but we do not take instructions from anybody. We are totally independent." Lebanon, Politics, 10/17/1997 - Union could lead to all-out strike damaging the country
Striking electricity workers plan to continue their protest until they receive an official, written memoranda accepting all their demands, despite signs that half of the outstanding issues have been resolved. Lebanon, Economics, 10/17/1997 - Remains of Israeli tank recovered
An Israeli investigation into the disastrous commando raid on Ansariyeh last month in which 12 elite marines were killed concluded that the soldiers died in a chance ambush rather than from the explosives they were carrying. Lebanon, Military, 10/17/1997 - Lebanon's cabinet: Just call me mister
Cabinet abolishes grandiose titles for top officials.The ministers also decided to hold an exceptional meeting next Tuesday to study new proposals by Interior Minister Michel Murr concerning municipal and mayoral elections. Lebanon, Politics, 10/17/1997 - Saudi billionaire buys half of Meridian
"There is no doubt that each trip I make, I find significant progress in the country and I hope to see more of the same on my next trip," Prince Al-Waleed added. Lebanon, Business, 10/17/1997 - Israeli jets attack Palestinains in Lebanon Lebanon, Military, 10/17/1997
- Ansariyeh bodies exchange Lebanon-Israel, Military, 10/17/1997
- High temperatures spark Arsoun fire Lebanon, Local, 10/17/1997
- Hizbullah gets radio up and revelations of advanced weapons
However, the guerrillas are rumored to have acquired the more-advanced Spigot anti-tank missiles which are capable of knocking out Merkavas Hizbullah has consistently refused to confirm whether the fighters have obtained the missiles. Lebanon, Politics, 10/16/1997 - Anti-hostage bill is approved
MP Najah Wakim, who was the first to speak, demanded a no-confidence vote against the cabinet. Speaker Nabih Berri intervened between the deputies' speeches to explain that no troika was formed during Baabda's meeting Lebanon, Politics, 10/16/1997 - Four charged over slaying of Amal leader
For the last four years, the four had allegedly threatened to avenge the murder of Khodor Kamaleddine. They believed the Amal party was responsible for the murder. Lebanon, Judicial, 10/16/1997 - Workers break their strike to repair lines destroyed by Israel
Workers of the Electricity Company of Lebanon continued their open strike for the second day, leaving some areas, needing repair, completely in the dark. Lebanon, Business, 10/16/1997 - Last meeting yields agreement and specific results
Berri and Hariri held a press conference announcing the reconciliation and stating the six points that were agreed upon during the meeting. These six points, put in writing, include: Lebanon, Politics, 10/15/1997 - Greenpeace activists launch campaign to clean Lebanese coastline
"Greenpeace does not want to close down any factory or industry. On the contrary we want them to make money and expand, but not at the expense of the environment or people's health," said the head of Greenpeace in Lebanon. Lebanon, Local, 10/15/1997 - Israel's man in south Lebanon urges Israeli troops to stay
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would withdraw from the south, only of the Lebanese army promised to secure the border and incorporate Lahd's men into its ranks. Lebanon, Politics, 10/15/1997 - Hello? ! i’m speaking on the cellular
To realize the seriousness of the phenomenon, you should go to a dinner party . Each guest has, beside his plate, a fork, a knife, a spoon and a cellular phone. Lebanon, Short Essay, 10/15/1997 - Kuwait, Lebanon sign $33 million US deal
The statement said the KD 10 million agreement would help finance the Uzai Bridge and the southern entrance of Beirut to ease the daily traffic jam in the region. Kuwait-Lebanon, Business, 10/15/1997 - Beirut port fraud details disclosed
Customs inspectors allegedly embezzled money by underpricing imported goods to be inspected, reducing duties paid by importers and pocketing bribes. Lebanon, Judicial, 10/15/1997 - Russian foreign minister to visit Lebanon on tour of region
The Russian ambassador to Lebanon said, "We are in complete cooperation with the French with regard to European and Middle Eastern affairs." Lebanon, Politics, 10/15/1997 - Open electricity strike
The worker's union said that despite eight months of promises from company and ministry officials, none of their demands had been met. Lebanon, Local, 10/15/1997 - Syrian-Lebanese academic program
The program provides for holding scientific symposiums in the sciences of objects, biological diversity and earthquakes. Syria-Lebanon, Education, 10/15/1997 - Fairuz given Jerusalem Award
Fairuz had sung about Jerusalem in "The Flower of the Cities" and "Old Jerusalem", by the Rahbani brothers. With her angelic voice, she had fought for our rights and raised our name to the skies. Lebanon, Culture, 10/15/1997 - Hariri to visit Iran
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Hizbullah's secretary general Hassan Nasrallah to enlarge the Resistance's basis by allowing Christians and Druze to join it, and by "rearing intellectuals and ideologists as well as fighters." Lebanon, Politics, 10/15/1997 - Planned mutiny the only way to topple authorities says Toufeili
Toufeili described the Lebanese leaders as "carnivorous vampires and criminals who rob the people's money," and asked citizens not to pay taxes or water and electricity bills. Lebanon, Politics, 10/14/1997 - Israeli warplanes blast Hizbullah radio station in eastern Lebanon
Israeli fighter-bombers on Tuesday blasted a Hezbollah radio station in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa valley, few hours after guerrillas wounded two Israeli soldiers in south Lebanon, Lebanese security sources said. Lebanon, Politics, 10/14/1997 - Lahd says Israeli withdrawal could cause SLA troops to join Hizbullah
SLA leader, General Antione Lahd, said that if Israel pulled out of its south Lebanon occupation zone without an agreement, countersigned by Syria, guaranteeing the safety of his troops, half of the troops would join Hizbullah and the others would begin attacks on Israel. More Israeli arrest in the south. Lebanon, Military, 10/14/1997 - Shiite cleric blames foreign and local powers for Lebanon's woes
Fadlallah warned of a situation in the region that might "turn the future upside down for Lebanon." Fadlallah argued that foreign forces influenced different Lebanese sects which resulted in the Lebanese feeling more loyalty to the sect than to their country. Lebanon, Politics, 10/14/1997 - Famine warning from Bekaa MP
Ibrahim Bayan also criticized Solidere's decision to sell shares to non Lebanese. He said this would open the way for Israelis and Americans to buy shares. Lebanon, Politics, 10/14/1997 - Teachers call for pension law move
The teachers pension law would include a backdating clause to render justice to retired teachers who received their pension on the basis of their old salary scale. Lebanon, Business, 10/14/1997 - Parliament's committee met yesterday
Minister of Finance Fouad Sanyura said that the government was only insisting on keeping the percentage of the deficit stable and that the proposed taxes could be modified. Lebanon, Economics, 10/14/1997 - Third Baabda meeting adjourns without apparent progress
The minister of the interior Michel Murr had predicted, in the previous morning to the session, that if the leaders didn't have any comments, that it would mean the conflict isn't settled. Lebanon, Politics, 10/14/1997 - Two SLA members killed
Meanwhile, Israeli troops kidnapped six young men from the towns of Erton and Bint Jubeil inside the occupied strip of South Lebanon Lebanon, Military, 10/13/1997 - Lebanon's leaders meet in effort to end conflict
The five-hour meeting, which started with mutual blaming, didn't resolve the problem but opened the way for further talks. Lebanon, Politics, 10/13/1997 - Abou Rizk calls for public protests
He said that the GLC had warned that the country would reach this state if the government continued squandering money and incurring more public debt. Lebanon, Politics, 10/13/1997 - Increase in custom duties on imported cars?
The customs administration has been monitoring the investigation into who leaked the information about the increase in duties on imported cars. Lebanon, Economics, 10/13/1997 - Fishermen paid for port blockade
The higher relief committee paid in March 1995 235.8 million Lebanese Lira to 1,157 fishermen affected by the Israeli blockade, which was imposed in February 1995, Hariri said. Lebanon, Local, 10/13/1997 - Budget and finance committee to meet today
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and several ministers were invited to join the meeting in order to discuss the government's financial policy. Lebanon, Economics, 10/13/1997