Protest at UN House demands release of detainees in Israeli prisons
A large protest was staged Friday in front of the UN House as a show of solidarity with Arab detainees in Israeli prisons, some of whom have been held for more than 20 years. The secretary general of the Follow-Up Committee for the Support of Lebanese Detainees (FCLD) in Israeli Prisons, Mohammad Safa, said the protest was aimed at supporting the 8,600 Palestinian and Arab detainees who are unlawfully imprisoned in the "tombs of Israeli prisons." Read More
Families of detainees in Israel denounce Larsen
UN special envoy reported to have said 'the justifications for the resistance are over'
The families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons denounced comments made by UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen Monday that there was no longer a need for a Lebanese resistance.
The angry rejection came in a statement jointly released Tuesday by the families of detainees Samir Qantar, Yehia Skaf, Nassim Nisr and the families of other Lebanese men missing since the Israeli invasion in 1982.. Read More
Families of detainees in Israel denounce Larsen
UN special envoy reported to have said 'the justifications for the resistance are over'
The families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons denounced comments made by UN special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen Monday that there was no longer a need for a Lebanese resistance.
The angry rejection came in a statement jointly released Tuesday by the families of detainees Samir Qantar, Yehia Skaf, Nassim Nisr and the families of other Lebanese men missing since the Israeli invasion in 1982.. Read More
Demands Israel to release Barghouthi and Kuntar
The Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat, demanded Israel to add the names the jailed legislator and Fateh leader Marwan Bargouthi, and Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese fighter captured by Israel on April 22, 1979, to the list of detainees the Palestinian Authorities demands Israel to release.
The Israeli Radio interviewed Erekat on Tuesday morning. Erekat said that liberating Palestinian and Arab detainees is one of the important demands in order to hold the summit between Abbas and Sharon; the summit is most likely to take place November. Read More
Israeli paper reports Hizbullah renewed efforts to retrieve fighter's body
Hizbullah made headlines in Israeli newspapers with reports of renewed efforts to obtain the body of a Hizbullah fighter killed two months ago and a claim that Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Hizbullah would disarm under certain conditions.
According to an article published by Haaretz on Monday, "Hizbullah has launched a campaign to get the body of one of its fighters back, but through 'indirect routes,' by appealing to Lebanese officials and not contacting Israel directly." Read more
FCLD, PA prisoner affairs minister meet with UN officials
The Follow-Up Committee for the Support of Lebanese Detainees in Israeli Prisons (FCLD) met UN officials at UN House in Beirut. Also present was Palestinian Authority Minister of Prisoner Affairs Ziad Abu Ein. FCLD chief Mohammad Safa declared the meeting a success, saying the UN representatives had expressed their full support for the Palestinian detainees. They agreed with the FCLD to step up the Red Cross' activity in Israeli prisons and prepare a special, first-of-its-kind report to the UN on the detainees. Read More
Families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met in the Grand Saray in Beirut the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
The families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met in the Grand Saray in Beirut the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. The families delivered a memorandum to Solana during the meeting. The memorandum included the following:
“The Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons are not a «terrorist» as Israel is trying to promote. The Lebanese citizens were leading a peaceful life, until the savage occupation invaded his land in Southern Lebanon in 1978, killed children and women. Thus, in response to the humanistic conscience they joined the resistance in order to defend their homeland and people, a thing that the International Conventions assure as a right for the populations whose lands are under occupation.
Hezbollah-Israel talks over prisoners, Arad to resume
Israel and Hezbollah renewed the second stage negotiations secretly to conclude a new deal on the missing Israeli navigator Ron Arad, the
London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Similar to the first stage, these talks are held through the German mediator Ernst Uhrlau. According to the deal, Israel will release Arab and Lebanese prisoners including Samir Al-Kuntar, the oldest Lebanese prisoner in Israeli jails, in exchange of receiving information about the fate of Arad, who went missing in Lebanon during a battle with the Lebanese resistance in 1986 after the Israeli invasion to southern Lebanon.
How bassam keeps in touch with a sibling held since his teens in an Israeli jail
Bassam Kuntar has a special relationship with the brother he has not seen for 27 years.
The youngest brother of Samir Kuntar, the longest serving Lebanese prisoner in Israel, Bassam, 28, has been communicating with Samir for five years through a Web site dedicated to the detainee.
"When Samir was taken away, he was 16 years old," Bassam said, "and I was just a year old. So I never knew him or played with him like any two brothers would normally do. Just when my life was beginning his was ending."
Israeli troops arrested Kuntar, a resident of the village of Abey, Aley, on April 22, 1979 for his involvement in an attack on an Israeli patrol at Nahariya that cost the lives of six soldiers from the Hebrew State. Two of Kuntar's comrades were also killed in the attack.
As Samir, now 43, enters his 27th year of detention, Bassam's Web site is beginning its fifth year of existence.
"This Web site is my oxygen, the only way for me to live my brotherhood with Samir," Bassam said, looking at his computer screen longingly
Samir Qantar's case to be presented to head of UN rights commission
The case of Samir Qantar, "the dean of Arab detainees in Israel," along with thousands of other Arab prisoners, will be presented to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as a "great violation of human rights." "There are 32 detainees that have been held for more than 25 years, which is a clear violation of human rights and should not be ignored," said his brother Bassam Qantar to The Daily Star.
Samir, crowned "the longest-held Lebanese detainee in Israeli prisons," will have spent 28 years in prison after being given a jail sentence of 542 years by an Israeli court in 1980 for killing several Israelis in a raid on northern Israel.
"It is an insult too see the UN stand by and not blink an eye at the atrocities committed by Israel and ignore the ongoing torturing of detainees in Israeli jails while putting great efforts into the disarmament of Hizbullah," said Bassam, who will be heading to Geneva on Saturday to present the cases of the detainees held in Israel.
Nasrallah challenges critics of Hizbullah to prove their loyalty
“We have a duty to try to capture Israeli soldiers and swap them for Arab prisoners in Israel”
Those who question Hizbullah's loyalty to Lebanon must show their credentials first, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday in his toughest response yet to critics who believe the resistance acts upon Syrian and Iranian orders. Nasrallah was speaking to a mass rally in Beirut's southern suburbs, gathered for a funeral procession for the three resistance fighters killed during Monday's clashes with Israeli troops.
Sharon: Nasrallah's threat should be taken seriously
Hizbullah leader's speech arouses mixed reactions
A threat by Hizbullah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah to capture Israeli soldiers must be taken seriously, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Sunday. Following a flare-up in violence on the disputed frontier, Sharon said that Israeli troops stationed in the area were on red alert in case of any cross-border kidnapping raids.
"We must take precautions to avoid this happening at all costs and maintain the state of alert at the highest level on the northern border," Sharon was quoted as telling the weekly Cabinet meeting.
Bassam Qantar, the brother of Lebanese detainee Samir Qantar, called on Israel to grant detainees the immediate and permanent right to see their families, lawyers and physicians and to spare them torture and humiliation.
Qantar delivered a letter Thursday to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Fabrizio Hochschild, at the Wilson Palace in Geneva, on behalf of the families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons, the North-South 21 Organization and the Follow-Up Committee for the Support of Lebanese Detainees in Israeli prisons.
Also present was Lebanon's permanent envoy to the UN and international organizations, Gebran Soufan.
Hochschild described Samir Qantar's case as "impressive," and said Qantar, the longest-held Lebanese detainee in Israel, is the model of Lebanese citizens who suffered "the cruelty of the occupying forces."
The families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met in the Grand Sérail in Beirut the UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process
Alfaro De Sotto.
The families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met in the Grand Sérail in Beirut the UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process Alfaro De Sotto. The families delivered a memorandum to De Sotto during the meeting. The memorandum included the following:
We are glad to be given the opportunity by H.E Prime Minister Mr. Fouad Seniora to meet you in the Grand Sérail to address the issue of the Lebanese detainees in Israeli Prisons. Its is clearly known that the UN Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/8 of 15 April 2003, was the latest serious action done in the case of the Lebanese citizens still detained in Israel as a hostages for trade.
Today we are gravely concerned about the lack of action done to solve this human case, which is highly considered a major obstacle to peace in the Middle east.
Germany grants reprieve to Lebanese plane hijacker
Diplomats fear strained ties with United States
Germany has granted a Lebanese man sentenced to life imprisonment a reprieve for hijacking a TWA airliner and killing a U.S. Navy diver, despite an extradition request from the United States, according to local sources. Mohammad Ali Hammadi is believed to be a member of Hizbullah, but the group's officials in Beirut have denied any connection to Hammadi since his arrest in 1985.
Diplomatic sources said Germany's decision would complicate its relations with the U.S. They added that Germany, which opposes the death penalty, had insisted on prosecuting Hammadi themselves, ignoring a U.S. extradition request.
Family of Samir Kuntar received a new picture of the jailed legislator and Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi, and Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese fighter who was captured by Israel on April 22, 1979, inside Israeli prison. The picture shows both prisoners smiling.
Samir Kuntar sent a greeting card to the Lebanese
Every New Year Samir Kuntar sent greeting card that symbol to the issue of detainees in Israeli prisons. The public, private, NGO’s and supports in Lebanon and around the world receive these greeting cards annually.
Families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met Jack Straw
The families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met in the Grand Sérail in Beirut the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw.
The families delivered a memorandum to Straw during the meeting. The memorandum included the following:
We are glad to be given the opportunity by H.E Prime Minister Mr. Fouad Seniora to meet you in the Grand Sérail to address the issue of the Lebanese detainees in Israeli Prisons.
After you’ll finish this trip you will surely be eager to go back to your homeland to see your son and daughter. You will be also eager to practice recreations such as walking, music, cooking puddings.
Bassam Kantar shouts anti-Israeli and American slogans next to a poster featuring U.S. President George W. Bush
Bassam Kantar the brother of Samir Kantar, who is the longest serving Lebanese prisoner held in Israel since 1979, shouts anti-Israeli and American slogans next to a poster featuring U.S. President George W. Bush carrying an axe with the number 1559 which relates to the U.N. Resolution 1559 , which calls for Hezbollah's disarm, ahead of a meeting between Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, in front of the government house, in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006
(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Samir Kuntar's Family met on 27-01-2006 the Chek Hassan Nasrallah Secretary General of Hizboulah.
Former detainees gather in solidarity with prisoners in Israel
Kuntar: the neglect of the detainees' cause and its separation from the ongoing debate these days is an act of national treason that I will not accept
The Lebanese Association of Former Detainees marked Freedom Day Monday with a gathering held in solidarity with those Lebanese held captive in Israeli prisons. Freedom Day was initiated by Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on January 29, 2004 after a German-brokered prisoner swap with Israel.
Held under the theme "What The Detainees Would Say," this year's event took place at Press Federation headquarters and saw the participation of President Emile Lahoud, represented by International Affairs adviser George Deeb, former detainees, disabled persons and veterans of the resistance.
In a letter read by his brother Bassam, detainee Samir Kuntar said "radical changes" have taken place in Lebanon since the 2004 prisoner swap. Kuntar, imprisoned for the past 26 years, is the longest held Lebanese detainee in Israel.
Families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met Ramón Johansson Norway Minister for Foreign Affairs assistant
The families of Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons met in the Grand Sérail in Beirut Mr. Ramón Johansson Norway Minister for Foreign Affairs assistant, the families delivered a memorandum to Johansson.
The memorandum included the following:
We are glad to be given the opportunity by H.E Prime Minister Mr. Fouad Seniora to meet you in the Grand Sérail to address the issue of the Lebanese detainees in Israeli Prisons.
We show great gratitude on the efforts that Norway had exerted to support the issues of Human Right, and we hope that Norway will play an important role in supporting the case of the Lebanese detainees still held in Israel.
Today we are gravely concerned about the lack of action done to solve this human case, which is highly considered a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
Nasrallah: We are working on making this year the year to free our brothers in Israeli detention
Heading a march by hundreds of thousands of Shiite Muslims in Lebanon on Thursday, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said U.S. President George W. Bush and his secretary of state should "shut up" after they accused Syria and Iran of fueling protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
Addressing some half a million Shiites who turned up despite bad weather to commemorate Ashoura, Nasrallah urged Muslims around the world to keep up the protests as long as no apology has been received for the offence.
The Hizbullah leader also reasserted the party's commitment to defend Lebanon against Israeli aggressions, and to free the remaining Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons.
Bassam Kantar, second right, brother of Samir Kantar, Israel's longest-held Lebanese prisoner, and Mohammed Safa, left, head of a Lebanese committee set up to follow up the case of Lebanese prisoners in Israel, hold pictures of Samir Kantar and the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmed Saadat, with three other protesters during a demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy, in the hilly suburb of Aukar, north of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, March 16, 2006. Four men and a woman made it to the protest after thousands of Lebanese troops and police mobilized outside the U.S. Embassy Thursday to block an unauthorized demonstration against "American-British collusion" with Israel in a dramatic prison raid in Jericho earlier this week.
Members of the Lebanese interior security forces patrol a street nearby the U.S. Embassy, in the hilly suburb of Aukar, north of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, March 16, 2006. Thousands of Lebanese troops and police mobilized in Beirut and outlying regions Thursday to block an unauthorized march on the U.S. Embassy against "American-British collusion" with Israel in a dramatic prison raid in Jericho earlier this week. Writing in Arabic on the shield read "Interior security forces
The Lebanese flag flies over a Hamas protest in Gaza
The Lebanese flag flies over a Hamas anti-Israeli protest in Gaza city July 14, 2006. Thousands of Palestinian participated in the protest against Israeli attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. REUTERS
Address of General Secretary of Hizballah, Hassan Nasrallah (14 July 2006)
"In this first address that I give in these days following Operation True Promise, I would like to say a few words -- a word to the Lebanese people, a word to the resistance fighters, a word to the Zionists, and a word to the Arab rulers. I will not offer words to the international community because I have never for one day believed that there is any such thing as an international community, just as many in our nation feel."
The address of the General Secretary of Hizballah, His Excellency Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah, to the Nation, the Lebanese people, the resistance fighters, the Zionists, and the Arab leaders.
Peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings!
Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regive are seen in this undated hand out released 14 July 2006. The two soliders kidnapped by the Lebanese-based Hezbollah 12 July, which also saw the death of eight other Israeli soldiers. AFP
Noor al Samra
Noor al Samra who was injured in yesterday Israeli air strike lies on a bed in Jaball Amel hospital in Southern Lebanese town of Soure July 17, 2006. Israel bombarded Lebanon for a sixth day on Monday and dismissed as premature a U.N. Proposal for an international peacekeeping force to help end the worst fighting across the Israeli-Lebanese border in more than 20 years
Noor al Samra, who was injured by Sunday's Israeli fighters' air strike,
is treated in Jaball Amel hospital in the southern Lebanon town o
f Tyre July 17, 2006
Three-year-old boy
A medic inspects an injured three-year-old boy in Beirut July 17, 2006. The boy was injured by the Israeli attacks on a home, in Tyre, southern Lebanon. Israel bombarded Lebanon for a sixth day on Monday and dismissed as premature a U.N. Proposal for an international peacekeeping force to help end the worst fighting across the Israeli-Lebanese border in more than 20 years.
Lebanese civilian killed in an Israeli air raid
A civil defense member transports the corpse of a Lebanese civilian killed in an Israeli air raid that targeted the Rmeyleh bridge in Saida 17 July 2006. Israeli air strikes continued against Lebanon for the sixth consecutive day pushing the overall toll of the Lebanese civilians killed to at least 170. The Israeli attacks, which begun after the abduction of two of its soldiers in a crossborder raid by Hezbollah, have also injured some 400 people, closed the Beirut International Airport and destroyed roads and bridges across the country.
A badly injured Lebanese civilian
A badly injured Lebanese civilian is seen at a hospital following Israeli air strikes on a house in the southern city of Tyre, 17 July 2006. At least 46 Lebanese were killed in Israeli strikes today and 10 bodies were found, pushing the overall death toll in Lebanon from the Israeli offensive to more than 200 over the past six days. The overall toll now comprises 195 civilians and 12 soldiers killed in Lebanon since last Wednesday, medics and police said. Nine of the 12 soldiers were killed today.
Remains of a woman
A Lebanese rescue worker gathers the remains of a woman from the rubble of residential buildings hit by the Israeli bombardement in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, 18 July 2006. Israeli jets pounded Lebanon with a blistering wave of deadly raids under the cover of darkness on today, the seventh day of an assault that has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing for their lives.
Israeli children
sends gifts to
Lebanese children:
Israel willing to discuss prisoner swap-report
Israel is willing to discuss a possible release of Hizbollah prisoners in exchange for freeing two Israeli soldiers abducted by Lebanese guerrillas last month, the Haaretz newspaper reported on Sunday.
The report was published on the newspaper's Web site as the Israeli cabinet met to approve a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of the month-long conflict which is expected to go into effect on Monday.
Spokesmen for the Israeli government could not immediately be reached for comment.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will not
Egypt daily reports deal on Israel-Hezbollah prisoner swap
Hizbollah said Italy was trying to play a part in negotiations on a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizbollah.
"Contacts recently began for negotiations. It seems that Italy is trying to get into the subject. The United Nations is interested and the negotiations would be through (parliamentary speaker Nabih) Berri," Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told New TV in an interview to be broadcast later on Sunday.
Hizbollah has been holding two Israeli soldiers since July 12. It caught them in a cross-border raid and wants to exchange them for some of the thousands of Arabs in Israeli prisons.
Israel would discuss freeing Lebanese prisoners for two soldiers
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday renewed his calls on Israel to lift a blockade on Lebanon swiftly and to withdraw fully from the country as soon as 5,000 U.N. peacekeepers are in the south.
