An event and a Regional Trend

After the painful Palestinian operation against the Israeli security system discussions in Israel concentrate on the dilemma of the confrontation with the Palestinian factions. A Palestinian source referred to remarkable signs:
 1. The emergence of a new resistance which is different in the way of its work and techniques and the bravery of its fighters in the field confused the Israeli military establishment. This was completed by al-Qudus operation against the Talmudic institute from which generations of extremist Zionists graduate. The operation was retaliation against Gaza’s massacre.
 2. The Israeli experts believe that the Palestinian resistance has developed capabilities in missiles’ deterrence and in ant-shields weapons which are not used yet and warn of important surprises.
 3. A growing development in the spirits of the Palestinian people and a rising support for the resistance in the West Bank and the 1948 lands. This coincides with the failure of the US political process due to the nature of the Israeli stand, which is supported by the US.
 4. The Israeli anticipations say that a third intifada is on the road and the new generations of resistance are more qualified due to the accumulation of expertise after July war on Lebanon.
 5. The continuity of the Israeli massacres under a US cover and Bush’s administration’s condensed pressures on some Arab governments to make them participate in covering the Israeli massacres which will only lead to the adoption of the resistance option,

An Event and a Lebanese Trend

Al-Qudus Operation, the Summit and the Stunning

The unprecedented operation which was carried out by a resistance man in al-Qudus dominated the press scene in Lebanon and the area and attracted political and popular attention.
The Lebanese press talked about a general climate of solidarity with the Palestinian cause and the emergence of a new generation of resistance men who can penetrate the Israeli security. The operation was considered a natural retaliation against Israel’s massacres in Gaza. What is eye-catching is that a political silence dominated the circles of the loyalists while the opposition said the operation is qualitative and complicates the Israeli dilemma and strangles the Arab stands that revolve in the US orbit.
 1. The press information concerning the discussion of the Arab foreign ministers’ council said the item of the Syrian-Lebanese relations is in the list of the items which will be discussed between the opposition and the loyalists.
 2. The topic of Amr Musa’s visit to Beirut is not clear and the Arab league’s sources say that Musa will not visit Beirut until he receives new data concerning reaching a compromise.
 3. Lebanon will answer the invitation to attend Damascus’s summit while discussion continues on the topic of representation.
 4. The observers said the loyalists are shocked by the signs which say that Damascus’s summit will be the most important Arab summit on the level of representation or presence.

Arab and International Press

The Iranian paper Goya said the Iranian officials exchanged for more than two weeks congratulations concerning achieving victory on the US through the international atomic energy agency’s acceptance of Iran’s stand in the nuclear field.
The Iranian paper Mulli said the national forces in Iran announced that they will not participate in the Shura council’s elections.
The Emirate paper al-Khalij said the Israeli siege of Gaza led to humanitarian deterioration.
Al-Bayan said the US elections this year are a remarkable station in the history of this event.
The Syrian daily Tichrin said instead to asking Israel to stop its aggressions, Rice asked Abbas to lift pressure on his team of negotiators and allow them to take decisions without returning to him.

Satellite Stations’ News

The Syrian satellite station said that president Bashar al-Assad discussed with the Iranian first vice-president bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Lebanese Press

Ad-Diyar said a Palestinian resistance man carried out a brave suicide operation inside an Israeli religious school as a retaliation against Gaza massacres killing 8 Israelis and wounding 35 others.
As-Safir said the operation represents the will of the Palestinian resistance and introduced an essential modification to the balances of the general forces of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
An-Nahar said the political forces coldly dealt with the results of the Arab foreign ministers’ meeting on the Lebanese level.

Television Stations’ News in Lebanon

Al-Manar wondered if the period that precedes holding Damascus summit will stay calm.
The NTV said the US said the crisis will continue in Lebanon and that the international and local efforts did not succeed in solving it.
The NBN said the US influence was clear in the results of the Arab foreign ministers’ meeting.
The OTV said a condensed political movement started after the Arab foreign ministers’ meeting in Cairo. What is remarkable is that this movement includes an Iranian element.
The LBC said the meeting of the two foreign ministers Saud al-Faisal and Manusahr Mutaqqi reflected Saudi-Iranian intentions to discipline the Lebanese arena.
The Future said many questions surround the level and size of participation in Damascus’s summit.

Television Stations’ Interviews in Lebanon

The LBC
Program: People’s Talk
Former ambassador Juni Abdah said General Michel Oun is responsible for the continuity of the presidential vacuum.

Tendencies is a daily political watch newsletter about the Near East, issued by New Orient News agency in Beirut, Lebanon. It is available on Voltairenet.org in Arabic, English, French, German, and Spanish languages. Also worth a read is Indicators, the daily Near East economic watch newsletter, available in Arabic, English and Spanish.