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Report: Israel plans to kill Lebanese civilians in a future conflict

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A New York Times report revealed Israel’s plan to kill Lebanese civilians and target southern Lebanese towns in the event of another conflict with Hezbollah.

A senior Israeli military official told the U.S.-based newspaper that if civilians are killed, it should not be considered Israel’s fault.

“The civilians are living in a military compound,” the official said on the condition of anonymity because he was discussing “delicate” intelligence matters.

The official adds that a future battle with Hezbollah is “inevitable” and could quickly spread to other Lebanese towns, causing mass civilian causalities. Israel blames Hezbollah for using civilians as “human shields.”

“We do not intend to stand by helplessly in the face of rocket attacks,” the official said.

Israel has also blamed Hamas for using civilians as “shields,” despite a former statement by the head of the civil and international law branch at the Israeli Defense Forces, which read: “We are a small country. If you said you can’t put an artillery piece within 30 kilometers of a village, we couldn’t operate.”

United Nations statistics show that last year’s 50-day conflict resulted in more than 2,100 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians. 70 Israelis were killed, according to the UN.

In 2006, Israel killed almost 1,200 Lebanese, a third of whom were children. An additional 4,000 were injured, and almost one million displaced. According to Amnesty International, Israel deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure.

The Israeli military says Hezbollah is placing military sites in southern Lebanese towns, such as Shaqra, which has a population of about 4,000. The New York Times report said the Israeli Defense Forces identified about “400 military sites” in the village.

“At the end of the day, it means that many, many Lebanese will be killed,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser now at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. “Where is the world? Why does it not stop the buildup?”

The United Nations Security Council issued a report in March expressing “deep concern” over recent episodes of excessive Israeli force, including the killing of a Spanish peacekeeper by Israeli fire in January and “the presence of unauthorized weapons” there.

Israeli also often violates the Lebanese border in the air and on the ground, according to frequent reports from the Lebanese National News Agency.

Hezbollah has come under fire in recent years by some Lebanese political groups for its involvement in the conflict in neighboring Syria. According to the New York Times, before the 2000’s, most Lebanese viewed Hezbollah as a legitimate group that was simply resisting occupation.

But since then, Lebanese political factions have been split on Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon’s domestic politics.

Hezbollah argues that the Lebanese Army is not capable of defending the country from Israel.

Armenian-Lebanese Apostolic leader visits U.S. diaspora

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The Armenian-Lebanese community in the United States welcomed His Holiness Aram I Keshishian, the leader of the Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church during an official visit this month.

The religious leader’s month-long visit includes meetings with American diplomats and lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and a keynote address to the Armenian Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly on June 7.

Keshishian, who resides in Antelias, Lebanon, had planned a visit to the United States on October 2012 but canceled because of the conflict in Syria that impacted the Syrian-Armenian community.

His stay in the United States will include stops at several Prelacy parishes, where services will focus on the theme “Faithfulness to Our Armenian Christian Heritage,’’ according to a statement released by the Armenian Prelacy.

“In order to remain rooted in our Armenian identity in the diaspora, we should organize and be renewed as community in the church,” the religious leader said.

Keshishian visited the Lebanese Embassy in Washington D.C. on May 11 to meet with Ambassador Antoine Chedid. They discussed the ongoing political and security situation in Lebanon and the threats Christians face in the Middle East.

Keshishian also met with In Defense of Christians Coalition President Toufic Baakline, and Senior Advisor Andrew Dorani. The Catholicos thanked the coalition for their advocacy on behalf of Christians in the Middle East and for their recent statement on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Before Keshishian returns to Lebanon in June, he will visit churches in Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

It is his fourth visit to the Eastern Prelacy — the first one was in 1997.

‘Lebanese-Mexican House’ launched in Batroun

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and his Mexican counterpart José Antonio Meade Kuribrena launched the “Lebanese-Mexican House” in Batroun during a celebration on Tuesday.

Bassil has been hosting the minister since his arrival in Beirut on Sunday, on a trip to “consolidate” bilateral relations between the two countries.

Bassil welcomed the minister, who is of British and Lebanese descent, and noted the presence of 7 ministers of Lebanese origin in the Mexican cabinet, according to Bassil.

“There are 500,000 people of Lebanese origin in Mexico, and they should know that they now have a house in Lebanon,” Bassil said during the ceremony. “They are invited to visit it and get to know their families and villages in Lebanon.”

Bassil stressed the importance of effectively activating the relations between Lebanon and Mexico for both tourism and trade. He noted that Lebanon exports to Mexico are valued at $400,000 annually, while Mexico exports are valued at $50 million.

Kuribrena echoed those remarks during meetings with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri before visiting the port of Beirut, and laying a wreath at the monument of Lebanese emigrants.

The minister is accompanied by entrepreneurs and representatives of the Mexican community of Lebanese origin who will participate in the Lebanese Diaspora’s Energy Conference, scheduled from May 21 to 23 in Beirut.

Meade’s delegation also includes the general director of ProMexico, Francisco Gonzalez Diaz, and the coordinator of Ports and Merchant Marine of the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Guillermo Ruiz de Teresa.

George Clooney: “We’re going to go to Beirut”

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — First Salma Hayek, now George Clooney? Will one of the world’s most recognized couples really come to Beirut?

On Tuesday, George Clooney announced that he and his wife Amal Alamuddin were planning to visit Beirut in the “near future” to meet his Lebanese in-laws.

“We’re going to go to Beirut and I’m really excited to do that but I didn’t know much about the Lebanese culture including how many family members I now have in Lebanon, which is a thousand I think,” he said.

Clooney explained how his marriage to Alamuddin, who was born in Lebanon, has taught him about the country’s culture.

“What I have learned from Amal is about Lebanese culture and (it’s) absolutely fascinating to me,” he said.

Alamuddin’s family hails from Baakline, a well-known Druze town and seat of the sect’s religious leader in the Chouf district of the country.

Alamuddin’s father, Ramzi, is a retired professor at the American University of Beirut, while her mother, Baria, is a well-known former beauty-queen turned journalist with the newspaper Al-Hayat.

The family left Lebanon in the 1980s at the height of Lebanon’s civil war. They settled in London, with Amal going on to earn a law degree from the prestigious Oxford University and later a Master’s degree from New York University.

Clooney spoke of the couple’s vested interest in politics and his freedom to talk more openly about his beliefs than his wife, who may deal with different countries in her line of work.

“Well she’s not involved in politics, she’s active on the international stage. I would argue that both of us are equally involved politically. I’m in a much better place and able to do a lot more by not having to compromise,” he added.

The news comes just one day after Clooney called the conflict in Syria “incredibly complex.” He also explained how Amal has given him a “new perspective” on the country.

Clooney also told the BBC that he intends to do more to help the people of Syria without being formally involved in politics.

Advisor to Ayatollah Khomeini calls on Lebanon to elect president

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The advisor of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini urged Lebanon on Monday to end its presidential vacuum and continue its fight against extremists along the Syrian border.

Ali Akbar Velayati spoke to reporters upon arriving at the Beirut International Airport for an official visit to the country this week. Velayti was the former minister of foreign affairs from 1981 to 1997, before becoming a chief advisor on international affairs for Iran’s leader.

“The solution to Lebanon’s political problems is up to the Lebanese themselves,” Velayati said. “We are confident that, given Lebanon’s longstanding democracy, the Lebanese will find the right solutions to the ongoing presidential vacuum.”

Velayati was received by Hezbollah lawmaker Ali al-Muqdad, Iranian ambassador in Beirut Mohammad Fateh Ali, and Khalil Hamdan, a member of the Shia Amal Movement.

During a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh, Velayati praised Hezbollah for confronting armed takfiri groups in Syria’s Qalamoun region.

“We are glad to see that the Lebanese have been able to agree on consolidating national unity and moving forward in confronting Israel and extremist forces,” Velayati added.

His trip to Beirut comes two days after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah announced that jihadists from al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State have been pushed out of large areas of Qalamoun.

Velayati will meet with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and other Lebanese officials to discuss the “fight against dark forces and terrorists.”

The latest high-ranking Iranian official to visit Beirut was chairman of Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi in January.

Lebanese man proposes to girlfriend by drone!

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A Lebanese man used a drone recently to organize a surprise proposal to his girlfriend on the rooftop of the Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut.

A relaxing dinner overlooking the beautiful Zaitunay Bay was interrupted by an incoming drone carrying the proposal ring.

Hotel guests sealed the deal as they applauded around the couple.

WATCH the surprise proposal here:

Mabrouk!

Surprise drone proposals are becoming increasingly popular around the world, prompting the United States Federal Aviation Administration to add new regulations on all “small unmanned aircraft systems.”

RELATED: Watch filmmaker Georges Chahoud propose to his Ukranian girlfriend at the Beirut International Airport here!

Emirates to add more flights to Beirut

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Emirates Airlines has announced plans to gradually increase its services to Beirut with a third daily flight, fully effective on October 1.

The addition of this service will take the total number of weekly Emirates flights serving Lebanon to 21, the Dubai-based carrier said in a statement.

It said that flight timings have been scheduled to facilitate more effective onward connections from Dubai to destinations in the United States such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago as well as vital connections to Australian points like Sydney and Melbourne.

Some of the largest Lebanese communities reside in these countries with estimates of more than 3.5 million people of Lebanese origin in the United States, according to data from the Arab American Institute.

The third daily flight will be serviced by the 267 seat A340-300 in a three class configuration.

EK 955 departs Dubai at 20:55 arriving in Beirut at 00:05 the next day. EK 956 leaves Beirut at 02:00, arriving in Dubai at 07:10.

The change plans to add connectivity routes to Lebanese diaspora communities, according to airline officials.

“Emirates’ expanded schedule from Beirut will offer enhanced connectivity for our customers when travelling onwards to destinations in the United States and Australia, where many of the major Lebanese communities can be found,” said Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president of Emirates.

He adds that flight timings will increase connectivity to African points in the Emirates network.

Iowa family accused of smuggling weapons to Lebanon

(DES MOINES, IOWA) — Four relatives were charged in Iowa on Tuesday with conspiring to smuggle guns and ammunition to Lebanon that were hidden with equipment exports and supplies for Syrian refugees.

Federal agents intercepted cargo containers in March and again last week that were bound for Beirut carrying a total of 152 firearms and 16,000 rounds of ammunition, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday.

The suspects were identified as Ali Herz, 50 and his 22-year-old son, Adam Herz; Ali Herz’s younger brother, Bassem Herz, 29; and Bassam Herz’s wife, Al Sarah Zeaiter, 24. All four live in Cedar Rapids, where they were arrested Tuesday as local, state and federal officers executed search warrants in the city.

During initial court appearances Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Linda Reade ordered them jailed pending a detention hearing set for Friday.

“We believe there is immense risk to public safety,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Murphy.

The four said little in court, where they appeared in street clothes, their wrists handcuffed and legs shackled. Their attorneys declined to comment on the allegations following the hearing.

The complaint says the four came under suspicion as they stockpiled more than $100,000 worth of guns and ammunition legally purchased from dealers in eastern Iowa over the last 17 months. A gun store owner in February expressed concerns to authorities after the group twice purchased all of his store’s 5.7 millimeter ammunition. One of the men also requested accessories for military-style rifles after reviewing a text message written in a foreign language, the owner reported.

On Tuesday, agents searched a pizza shop linked to Bassem Herz; a Cedar Rapids address tied to Adam Herz; and Midamar Corp., a maker of halal foods whose shipping service the alleged conspirators used to transport the firearms.

Adam Ben Ali Herz, Ali Afif Al Herz, Bassem Afif Herz, and Sarah Majid Zeaiter are accused to smuggling the guns.
Adam Ben Ali Herz, Ali Afif Al Herz, Bassem Afif Herz, and Sarah Majid Zeaiter are accused to smuggling the guns.

No one with Midamar was charged in the alleged plot. Midamar attorney Michael Lahammer said company employees were unaware the weapons were in the containers and weren’t involved with packing them. He said a company named in the complaint, Herz Enterprises, contracted with Midamar to use its shipping facility, which is made available to other exporters.

Midamar was “used to facilitate this illegal activity by Herz Enterprises, if what the government says is true,” he said.

The firearms found in March were hidden inside of a container that had three skid loaders that were being exported and Midamar boxes marked “Syria” that were filled with clothing, shoes, honey and household supplies.

Midamar made arrangements to ship the container after its founder, Bill Aossey, promoted a clothing drive for Syrian refugees stranded in Lebanon, the complaint says. In an online posting seeking donations, Aossey wrote that the supplies would be added to an equipment container already scheduled for export.

After the container arrived by train at a seaport in Norfolk, Virginia, investigators found 53 guns and 6,800 rounds of ammunition during a March 26 inspection.

Last week, agents searched a container the suspects had brought to Midamar for shipment that had 99 firearms, over 9,500 rounds of ammunition and firearms parts and accessories that were hidden in skid loaders and inside suitcases and boxes that contained clothing.

The four suspects, who are in the United States legally, are not licensed to sell or export firearms, the complaint says. An earlier shipment wasn’t intercepted, and investigators cannot account for dozens of weapons they purchased.

The Herzes previously caught attention for their ties abroad.

Ali Herz, who was born in Lebanon, had $61,400 in cash on him when he returned to the U.S from overseas in December and has sent and received $160,000 in wire transfers over the last two years, the complaint says.

Adam Herz, a college student born in the United States, was questioned after returning to the U.S. in 2012 and 2014 from what he said were lengthy visits to Lebanon.

Bassem Herz, who was born in Kuwait, has made many trips abroad and previously exported other equipment to Lebanon. Zeaiter said she is a citizen of Lebanon who is a college student.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Ex-Lebanese minister Michel Samaha sentenced to prison

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A Lebanese military court sentenced ex-Lebanese minister Michel Samaha to four and a half years in prison for forming a group with plans to carry out terrorist attacks.

Samaha, 66, was arrested three years ago for smuggling explosives into Lebanon from neighboring Syria and allegedly creating a plot with Syria’s security chief, Ali Malmuk. Samaha confessed to the charges last month.

According to the National News Agency, the Lebanese military court ruled that Samaha would also be stripped of his civil rights, meaning that he could not serve in any government jobs or election.

Samaha previously served as the minister of information and tourism. He’s known for his pro-Assad government views, even serving as a former public relations advisor to Bashar Assad in Europe.

The U.S. government named Samaha a “global terrorist” under an executive order 13224 in December 2012. He has been in detention since August 2012.

Lebanese Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi said the sentence was a “travesty” of justice, adding that Samaha deserved a tougher punishment.

“This is a black day in the history of this court … what happened in the case is a disgrace, and we will do everything to amend the ruling,” Rifi said in a statement. “This is not a court. We will take legal measures.”

The head of Syria’s National Security Council, Brig. Gen. Ali Mamlouk, and a Syrian aide were also indicted in the case. Their case was separated from Samaha’s because they could not be brought to the court.

Samaha’s lawyer, Sakhr al-Hashem, said last month that his client denied any role in selecting targets for the planned attacks, which were said to target a Sunni Muslim lawmaker and Muslim holiday banquets. The plots were ultimately foiled by Lebanese authorities.

Lebanon’s intelligence chief, Wissam al-Hassan, who helped uncover the bombing plot, was assassinated in a car bomb in Beirut only months after Samaha’s indictment.

President Obama honors Lebanese entrepreneur

(WASHINGTON, DC) — U.S. President Barack Obama honored Lebanese entrepreneur Ziad Sankari for creating innovative heart technology during a White House global entrepreneurship event on May 11.

The White House invited emerging entrepreneurs from around the world to highlight the importance of investing in young businesspeople and innovative solutions. Sankari was among only five others who were honored.

Sankari started CardioDiagnostics in 2012, several years after losing his father to a heart attack. He pursued studies in understanding the electrical activity of the heart and how monitoring and analyzing that activity can save lives.

Today, his company uses FDA-approved wearable devices that are 24/7 GPS-enabled heart rate monitors allowing for heart monitoring centers to communicate diagnostic and preventive information to patients in the United States and Lebanon. The center has more than 40 employees.

In 2008, Sankari attended Ohio State University on a U.S. Fulbright scholarship. After returning to Lebanon, he was selected to pitch his idea at the 2011 Global Innovation through Science and Technology’s (GIST) Tech-I competition where he won first place.

Sankari received his first round of seed funding and traveled through various U.S. cities to expand his network, learn how to negotiate, and connect with mentors. Given his experiences, Sankari sees education as essential to successful entrepreneurship and to combat rising issues of poverty and extremism.

He hopes to support other startups and build a high-performing educational system in Lebanon and throughout the Middle East that leverages U.S. expertise and connections to open a world of opportunities to younger generations.

The event comes ahead of the President’s travel to this summer’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya and provides a unique opportunity to galvanize global attention on emerging women and young entrepreneurs.

Guest speakers during the event included Shark Tank stars Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, and Daymond John. The White House also named nine other top American entrepreneurs as Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship, according to a news release.

WATCH President Obama recognize Sankari:

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