the news in arabic

Al-Jazeera used this shot from al-Manar with their article.

Al-Nour, the Hezbullah radio station, used this screen shot with their article.

The Secretary General of Hezbullah Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech today in Beirut 40 days after the assassination of Hezbullah military commander Imad Mughniya. (The time period of 40 days is significant because it represents the 40 days of mourning in Shi’i Islam for Imam Husayn, who is seen as the most prominent martyr.)

You can listen to the full speech here with Real Player, but al-Jazeera also has a concise wrap-up. Nasrallah reiterated that he is determined to react to Israel’s assassination of Mughniya. He also said that the public has expressed their support for the Resistance (al-muqawama) through a series of several polls. Nasrallah said that 80% of Lebanese from different sects expressed support action that would lead to the downfall of the zionist regime (al-nidham al-sahyoniyya) and that 50% want to see Israel totally disappear (zawal).

There will be mixed translations of the word “zawal” which I have chosen to translate as “disappearance,” but it can also be translated as “extinction” or “cessation.”

Balloons? Doves? I’m not convinced.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) celebrates its 30th year of being a peacekeeping force in Lebanon. I don’t want to be an age-ist, but isn’t there an age limit for these soldiers? Is Lebanon where the UN sends all the elderly soldiers?

The above cartoon is from the Lebanese daily al-Nahar. The text in the top right corner reads: UNIFIL, 30 years in Lebanon. The patched sign in the back reads: The South, referring to southern Lebanon where UNIFIL troops have been stationed. The basic message of the cartoon is that while UNIFIL troops have been establishing their roots in southern Lebanon, it’s actually the citizens of southern Lebanon who have bore the brunt of Israeli aggression while UNIFIL troops have stood by idly.

30 years, guys! Great work!

This photo from al-Nahar shows the envelope containing an invitation to the Damascus Summit given to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora from the Syrian Prime Minister Naji Atri. I had no idea that Syria even had a prime minister. It is still unclear whether Lebanon will send a representative to the Damascus Summit which will be held at the end of March.

(Image of Sayyid Muhammad Ali al-Husayni from al-Arabiya.)

Al-Arabiya reports that Sayyid Muhammad Ali al-Husayni, a Lebanese Shi’i marja (source of religious emulation), has received a series of letters threatening to kill him and his family which are signed by the Shi’i Youth of the Resistance (shabaab al-shia al-muqawama). Al-Husayni has recently given several interviews to newspapers in which he has been critical of Hezbullah, even suggesting that he could be an alternative to the current secretary general Nasrallah. Al-Husayni describes his relationship with Hezbullah as “very bad.” But al-Husayni does not claim that Hezbullah sent the letters to him.

(Above image of the USS Cole from al-Jazeera English.)

Al-Jazeera reports that three U.S. warships, including the USS Cole, have been stationed off the Lebanese coast. One U.S. official is quoted as saying this is a measure which shows the U.S.’s commitment to stability in the region. Here is an article in English.

Are you kidding me? Docking your war ships off the coast of Lebanon is not a stabilizing act — it is a blatant provocation and an attempt to intimidate Syria and Hezbullah a week after Nasrallah said he welcomed an open war with Israel.

Al-Jazeera ran the above photo — which shows the USS Cole after a 2000 bombing off the coast of Yemen — with their story.

This man –

is not this man –

but some media institutions and “terrorism experts” can’t tell the difference between Abbas al-Musawi (top photo) and Hassan Nasrallah (bottom photo).

Musawi was the second secretary general of Hezbullah and Nasrallah is the current secretary general.

The Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism might have a better shot at preventing “terrorism” if they could actually identify the supposed terrorists. Their information page on Hassan Nasrallah labels the poster below as a “poster of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah,” but it is actually Ragheb al-Harb on the left and Musawi on the right.

The group took the above image from PBS who also erroneously labeled Musawi as Nasrallah, but it seems PBS is a repeat offender. In this web-version of a FrontLine documentary from 2004, the poster below of Musawi is labeled again as Nasrallah. They have had four years to correct this error!

Hezbullah’s weekly journal “al-Intiqad” meaning “review” or “critique” publishes political, cultural, and analytical articles. The textual fare is pretty standard, but some of their covers deserve a look.

“Sign of the definitive victory.” From left: Hezbullah military commander ‘Amad al-Mughniya (assassinated 2008); Sayyid Abbas al-Musawi (assassinated 1992); and Shaykh Ragheb al-Harb (assassinated in 1984). Underneath Mughniya, the text reads, “Commander of the Resistance”; Musawi “Sayyid of the Resistance”; and Harb “Shaykh of the Resistance.”

“After August 14th 2006 — a different ‘Middle East’.” August 14th is the day the 2006 July War ended — a day celebrated by Hezbullah as “yom al-intisar” or “day of victory”. The image of Nasrallah in the upper corner of this cover was part of a widespread ad campaign in the summer of 2007 which touted the much-awaited one-year anniversary of Hezbullah’s victory in the July War. Billboards promising a new era of victories popped up all over southern Beirut.

“Defeat.” Most likely in reference to the July War, or possibly a reaction to the findings of the Winograd Commission.

To see more covers, click here.

Here are some posters submitted to the website Wa’ad.

The text reads: Lebanon

(Image of Imam Musa al-Sadr from here.)

The Imam Musa al-Sadr Foundation for Research and Studies brings us this report via Press TV:

Lebanon has called Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi to a court hearing on Shia leader Imam Musa Sadr who was abducted in Libya 30 years ago

Examining magistrate, Samih el-Haj, has summoned Qaddafi to report to the Beirut Justice Ministry in April, in connection with his alleged role in the 1978 mysterious disappearance of Imam Musa Sadr, chairman of Lebanon’s Shia Islamic Council, and two of his aides

In case Qaddafi fails to report on schedule, an arrest warrant would be issued in absentia in line with Lebanon’s criminal law, Lebanese News Agency reported without further elaboration

In August 1978, Iranian-born Lebanese philosopher and prominent Shia religious leader, Sayyid Musa Sadr, and two of his companions departed for Libya to meet with officials from Qaddafi’s government.

They were never heard from again.

Libya has constantly denied responsibility, claiming that Sadr and his companions left Libya for Italy. Some have reported that he remains secretly incarcerated in the North African country. His disappearance continues to be a major source of dispute between Lebanon and Libya

(Image of the Lebanese Parliament from al-Jazeera.)

The Lebanese Parliament convened today for the 15th time since late November in an attempt to elect a new president, but an agreement could not be reached. The Opposition and the Loyalists (aka the Majority) have agreed to elect Army Chief Michel Suleiman as president, but the Loyalists have rejected the Opposition’s demand for veto power on governmental decisions and this disagreement has delayed the election process.

Al-Jazeera reports that Shi’i Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has postponed the vote until March 11. In a statement, Berri said that the extra time will allow for more efforts to reach a solution.

Who that?

The Opposition consists of the Shi’i parties Hezbullah and Amal as well as Michel Aoun’s Maronite Christian party. The Loyalists, also known as the March 14th coalition, consists of Sunni Sa’ad al-Hariri, Druze Walid Junblatt, and Maronite Christian Amin Gemayel among several other Christian parties.

The secretary general of the Arab League ‘Amr Moussa has been involved in negotiations with both sides and has been leading the “Arab efforts” to solve the Lebanese presidential crisis. The Opposition has been critical of Moussa, with Hezbullah remarking that Moussa needs to learn how to speak Arabic before he can solve Lebanon’s problems.

The Lebanese Constitution

Article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution describes the process by which the president is elected:

The President of the Republic shall be elected by secret ballot and by a twothirds majority of the Chamber of Deputies. After a first ballot, an absolute majority shall be sufficient. The President’s term is for six years. He may not be re-elected until six years after the expiration of his last mandate. No one may be elected to the Presidency of the Republic unless he fulfills the conditions of eligibility for the Chamber of Deputies.

From left: Sa’ad al-Hariri, Michel Aoun, ‘Amr Moussa, and Amin Gemayel from al-Nahar.

Flattering angles of Sa’ad al-Hariri and ‘Amr Moussa from al-Sharq al-Awsat.

Secretary General of Hezbullah Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah will give a speech Friday at the Martyr’s Complex in al-Dahiyya, continuing the mourning of assassinated military leader ‘Amad al-Mughniya. Al-Manar quotes Hezbullah representative Husayn Fadlallah (not the Ayatullah) as saying, “The Zionist enemy is working [for a new time] in ignorance because it did not understand, until now, what is the meaning of killing a leader to our people. . .” Tens of thousands of chairs have been set up in anticipation of the ceremony.

All images are from the Ihrar Gallery.

The National Liberal Party, or Hezb al-Watineen al-Ihrar, is a Maronite group which was formed in 1958 by former Lebanese President Camille Chamoun. Like most Lebanese sectarian groups, it has undergone several transformations — from political party to sectarian militia and then back to political party. Currently, it is a political party under the leadership of Duri Chamoun, the son of Camille, affiliated with the March 14th Movement — the coalition of political/sectarian parties which initiated the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005. The process by which al-Ihrar was able to transform itself from a participant in a bloody civil war into a political group with a Facebook following is beyond me, but it is surely a process familiar to all Lebanese sectarian groups. (Most of this information is from an Arabic-language documentary called “Ihzab Libnan.”)

(Camille Chamoun)

Al-Ihrar and the Lebanese Civil War

In 1975, Lebanon was engulfed in sectarian conflict which would last over a decade. Al-Ihrar did not participate militarily at first, but in 1978, the group formed a militia called “al-Numoor” or the Tigers. Camille Chamoun’s son Dani led the military wing until he was killed by gunmen along with his wife and two children. The military wing took part in the massacre at Tel al-Zatar, but the group describes this incident as a “battle.” Al-Ihrar accepted military aid from Israel and is not very apologetic about it. One member said that not many countries were willing to help the group out financially and that in those desperate times, money was money.

Poster of an Ihrar martyr.

Eventually, the military activities of al-Ihrar faded out and there was more of a focus on political participation and re-building the party after the death of Camille Chamoun in 1987.

Here is the group’s website where there is plentiful amounts of party propaganda and photos.

(Also, credit to Travis for the heading whose suggestion for my thesis title was “Lebanon: Too Sect-sy?”)

(Mughniya’s father, on the left, mourns his son’s death. Image from al-Jazeera.)

Al-Jazeera reports on Nasrallah’s speech yesterday at a ceremony for the assassinated Hezbullah military leader ‘Amad al-Mughniya. Nasrallah said that Israel assassinated Mughniya because of the country’s defeat in the 2006 July War. Nasrallah vowed that if Israel wants an open war (al-harb al-maftoha) in this manner, then they will get one — referring to the way they killed Mughniya.

(Screen shot of southern Beirut from al-Jazeera. The caption reads: Breaking: Hezbullah blames Israel for the assassination of ‘Amad al-Mughniya and Tel Aviv denies any connection to the assassination.)

Al-Jazeera reports that a senior Hezbullah military leader, ‘Amad al-Mughniya, was killed by a car explosion in a residential area of Damascus. Hezbullah says that Israeli operatives are responsible for the assassination. Crowds flooded the street in al-Dahiyya (southern Beirut) and Mughniya’s brother opened up his home for mourning.

The al-Jazeera correspondent in Damascus said that the security situation around the site of the explosion in Damascus is incredibly tight and no one is being allowed to take photographs. (Contrast this with every explosion in Beirut in which images are immediately and widely publicized.) The correspondent said that the car (a Mitsubishi) was moved an hour after the explosion — the bulk of the damage can be seen on the driver’s side.

Al-Jazeera reports that in the US, Mughniya is being portrayed as a “big terrorist” who was responsible for several hostage situations.

Israel’s Involvement

Al-Jazeera says that Israeli officials have denied any connection to the assassination after a period of silence, but Hezbullah is confident that Israel was behind the assassination — a claim bolstered by Israel’s numerous assassinations and attempted assassinations of Hezbullah leaders in the past.

The Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon has condemned the assassination and so has Hamas. The March 14th forces have called for shared mourning on February 14th, which is the third anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri. Sayyid Fadlallah, who has been the target of a failed Israeli assassination attempt, issued a statement condemning the assassination.

Al-Manar Coverage

Al-Manar published an article which praises his involvement in the Resistance and his love of Palestine. A statement from Hezbullah states that Mughniya was martyred at the hands of the Zionist enemy and that the Resistance will continue on his path until a full victory has been achieved, God willing. Al-Manar also says that Mughniya is joining a list of martyrs that have been assassinated by Israel.

Western Press Coverage

The Western press has already launched a campaign to further demonize Hezbullah and cast the assassination as a much-deserved killing. ABC News portrays Mughniya as a “U.S.-Wanted Terrorist,” even commenting that, “His death is a significant achievement for the intelligence organization that caused it.”

The NY Times also focuses on Mughniya’s role in “terrorist” activities and says that American officials consider Mughniya responsible for the bombings of the Marine barracks and the US embassy in Beirut in 1983. The Times article, as well as several others, makes reference to Mughniya being a “master of disguises” by having undergone plastic surgery to change his appearance.

(From al-Nahar. 1975 was the first year of the Lebanese Civil War.)

(From al-Quds al-Arabi. Setting fire to a match-made cedar tree — a symbol of Lebanon.)

The above two cartoons reflect the prevailing sentiments in today’s coverage of the Lebanese political crisis — that the past few days have witnessed an escalation in the verbal, media battle between political leaders as well as a rise in tensions on the street.

Al-Jazeera takes note of an escalated “war of words” between the Opposition, led by Hezbullah and Michel Aoun, and the Loyalists (aka the “Majority”), with support from Sa’ad Hariri and Walid Junblatt. Some members of the Opposition fear that Loyalists will use the anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri on February 14th to instigate a new civil war.

The most publicized remarks have come from Druze leader of al-hezb al-taqadami al-ishtiraki Walid Junblatt. He said to the Opposition: “You want chaos? (We) welcome chaos. You want war? (We) welcome war. There’s no problem with weapons…we’ll take the missiles from you.” In response to the comments, Hezbullah said that they wish to avoid any type of civil war.

The LA Times published a short profile of Sayyid Fadlallah, the highest-ranking Shi’i cleric in Lebanon. The photo below ran next to the web-version of the story. Everyone knows that the open-mouth photo of a public figure is NEVER flattering, so I question why the LA Times chose to run a photo of Fadlallah where he looks like he’s about to sneeze or yell at somebody.

(AP)

The LA Times article is sympathetic to Fadlallah — or as sympathetic as a Western media outlet will allow — and doesn’t fall back on too many misconceptions, namely, that Fadlallah is the “spiritual leader” of Hezbullah. (Though the author does erroneously say that Fadlallah was “once” the group’s spiritual leader.) In fact, the author portrays Fadlullah’s relationship with Hezbullah as more of a competition. A quote from the article:

“There’s a real rivalry with Nasrallah, [the secretary general of Hezbullah] who has become both a military and religious leader,” Traboulsi said. “Many conservative Hezbollah clerics are reacting against Fadlallah’s rulings.”

I think it is a little hasty and probably inaccurate to portray the situation as a “rivalry” between Fadlallah and Nasrallah. Both figures occupy totally different roles in Lebanon — and I doubt that many people would argue that Nasrallah fashions himself as a religious leader. Fadlallah’s position as a widely-respected and followed marja has been solidified and there is nothing that either camp could gain by engaging in a competition.

But still, A.R. Norton’s book on Hezbullah actually states that the majority of Lebanese Shi’a follow Sistani, as opposed to Fadlallah, but this does not lessen Fadlallah’s impact.