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Politics : World Affairs Discussion -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Machaon who wrote (2166)	9/30/2002 10:08:09 PM
From: lorne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3959

Report: U.S. suspends Lebanon aid BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The United States has suspended $35 million in aid to Lebanon as tension mounted between the countries especially over the militant Hezbollah, Lebanon's As Safir newspaper reported Monday. As Safir quoted U.S. sources in Washington as saying U.S-Lebanese relations have been strained for months and might further deteriorate because of a series of measures and stands from both sides. The increased tension, especially concerning Hezbollah, prompted the State Department to suspend all assistance allocated to Lebanon for 2002 -- a total of $35 million -- in what the newspaper described as "a surprise move which has not been announced officially." As Safir said Lebanon hasn't received any of the economic and teaching aid for this year but "this does not necessarily mean that it would be deprived of such an assistance" that was approved by the Congress. They could be delayed until disputes between the two countries were resolved or Lebanon accepts the U.S. conditions. The U.S. officials were extremely annoyed by Hezbollah's continued activities against the Israeli forces in the disputed border area of Shabaa farms, particularly the clashes that broke out last April, prompting Secretary of State Colin Powell to intervene to impose calm. The U.S. sources explained that the State Department decided to freeze $32 million and the Congress $3 million that had been allocated to Lebanon. They said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who is known for his recent tough stands regarding Hezbollah, was believed to be behind the decision. A water dispute between Lebanon and Israel over the Wazzani River and the "Syria Accountability Act" tabled before the Congress added to the tension between Beirut and Washington. The Lebanese government reportedly angered U.S. State Department officials by threatening to punish some Christian opposition leaders for supporting the "Syria Accountability Act" that calls for imposing sanctions on Syria for backing terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas and for failing to withdraw from Lebanon in compliance with U.N. Resolution 520. On the Wazzani River, the U.S. officials consider that Lebanon's project to pump more water was not illegal but the Beirut government could have notified the United Nations or Washington of its plans. Observers in Washington said the increased tension between the two countries came at a time it was clear President George W. Bush was heading toward war with Iraq and amid fears of attempts "to warm up" the Lebanese-Israeli front before or during the confrontation with Baghdad. worldtribune.com

To: Machaon who wrote (2166)	10/1/2002 3:22:48 AM
From: GUSTAVE JAEGER	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3959

Re: A security pact between Israel and Russia? I wonder if it will come to be? There are a lot of Russians living in Israel. It would be very beneficial to both countries. Barry-come-lately, that's an old story.... I clued you in several years ago: Message 16198293 Message 15375667

To: Machaon who wrote (2166)	10/1/2002 8:01:22 AM
From: lorne	Respond to of 3959

Univ. of Michigan to Host 'Zionism is Racism' Conference By MICHAEL FREUND Sep. 30, 2002 The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor is slated to play host to a national student conference late next week, one of whose "guiding principles" is that it "condemns the racism and discrimination inherent in Zionism", the Jerusalem Post has learned. The Second National Student Conference on the Palestine Solidarity Movement, which is scheduled to begin on October 12, is being sponsored by pro-Palestinian and socialist groups. It aims to promote an end to US aid to Israel and to encourage divestment by universities and corporations from the Jewish state. In the conference's promotional material, organizers refer to "apartheid Israel", and refuse to condemn Palestinian terrorism, stating, "As a solidarity movement, it is not our place to dictate the strategies or tactics adopted by the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation." In addition to asserting that "racism" is "inherent to Zionism", the organizers call for "the right of return and repatriation for all Palestinian refugees" as well as "an end to the Israeli system of Apartheid and discrimination." Panelists at the conference include Dr. Sami Al-Arian, a former Professor at the University of South Florida who was fired after reports surfaced linking him to Middle Eastern terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic Jihad. A similar conference on divestment, held earlier this year at Berkeley, caused an uproar among American academics, leading Harvard President Lawrence Summers to criticize the divestment scheme as "anti-Semitic." In a statement issued last week, University of Michigan President Mary Coleman appeared to distance the school from the conference, stating, "The agenda of the conference represents the views of the organizers and not the University of Michigan." She added that the university had no intention of divesting from Israel. "I do not support this divestment," she said, adding, "As a matter of University policy, we do not believe political interests should govern our investment decisions." jpost.com