Hussein Assi

24/01/2010 Israel is heading toward a "new confrontation" with Hezbollah in South Lebanon, an Israeli minister claimed on Saturday…

A few hours later, a top Israeli military commander denied reports of another imminent round of fighting with Lebanon and said such reports constitute a "virtual escalation with no basis in reality"…

Two "contradictory" statements were issued by Israeli officials in less than 24 hours, reflecting the fact that Israelis seem to be "perplexed" and "undecided" or even "unaware" of what's happening, at the time the "Moghniyyeh ghost", in reference to the Islamic Resistance top commander martyr Imad Moghniyyeh, returns to the Israeli scene on the eve of his martyrdom's second anniversary.

So, on Sunday, Major General Gadi Eizenkot of the northern command told Israeli media at a conference in Tel Aviv that there were no rising tensions with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border a day after an Israeli minister warned of a new war. Reports of another imminent round of fighting represent a "virtual escalation" with no basis in reality, Eizenkot claimed. "Hezbollah hasn't executed an attack since the Second Lebanon War," Eizenkot said. "But Hezbollah is getting stronger and we are preparing for all options in order to be able to act effectively," he added.

For his part, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said on Sunday said that while Israel was faced with military threats on all sides, it has strategically chosen to make every effort to avoid entering armed conflict with its enemies. Vilnai claimed that Israel had its eyes on Hezbollah, who it believes is rearming in violation of a United Nations resolution, and was ready to contend with any threat.

These "No War" remarks came the day after Yossi Peled, a minister without portfolio, said Israel was heading toward a "new confrontation" with the group.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to dispel tensions following Peled's remarks by issuing a statement stressing that "Israel does not wish at all" to have a confrontation with Lebanon. The Zionist entity seeks "peace with Lebanon and with all its neighbors," the statement added.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Sunday told the United Nations envoy to Lebanon that Israel viewed "the flow of weapons from Iran and Syria to Hezbollah as the greatest threat to the northern border."

But Eizenkot warned that Hezbollah has doubled its rocket cache and that should there be a confrontation with the Lebanese group, Israel's response would be "disproportionate."

http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=121199&language=en

24/01/2010 Ahead of Monday's general parliamentary session, Lebanese youth seem to be "perplexed"...

For more than one year, they believed that all political parties represented in the government were their first "supporters"…

They believed that lowering the voting age, for instance, became and reality and was just waiting some "legal procedures"…

Their belief was more than "justified": all these parties have promised them that approving this "right" was their "duty"…

Yet, when the "duty time" was reached, the "opinions" suddenly changed…

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has declared his position: his MPs won't participate in amending the Constitution to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. In fact, he wants something in parallel: granting expatriates the right to vote.

So, according to Geagea, the "reform" should come in the form of a "full package," and only in this case, he might give Lebanese youth the "gift" of granting them the right to vote.

As for the Phalange MPs, nothing is certain yet. On Sunday, Phalange MPs will hold an extraordinary meeting under Phalange leader Amin Gemayel in Bikfaya. The conferees will issue a statement about their stance on Monday’s parliamentary session.

As for the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, one thing is certain. Its MPs will be at the Parliament. But whether they will vote in favor of the law or not, this would be the session's "surprise" according to MP Abbas Hashem who stressed that his bloc was always in favor of lowering the voting age and would always be.

The Future Movement seems to have a similar position. According to MP Hadi Hbeish, lowering the voting age is certainly a right of the Lebanese youth. While saying that no one can be against such right, Hbeish noted that the issue was subject to some discussions especially regarding the balance of sects in the country. He noted that approving this right should be preceded by some form of understanding between all parties.

Meanwhile, the head of the Democratic Gathering MP Walid Jumblatt reiterated his position in favor of lowering the voting age, but said he won't impose anything on his MPs. "Historically, the Progressive Socialist Party has been with the lowering of the voting age to 18. This is also the position of MPs in the National Struggle Front," Jumblatt told Lebanese daily An-Nahar on Sunday. "As for Democratic Gathering MPs, I won't impose anything on them," he added.

In the meantime, Lebanese Youth are awaiting the session amid serious feelings that the quorum would be simply "lost" on Monday postponing the "challenge" once again…

But, of course, the youth would be able to learn the lesson this time!

http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=121195&language=en