The five-nation cease-fire monitoring group today meets at the UNIFIL's headquarters to discuss three Lebanese complaints filed over Israel's re-occupation of the southern village of Arnoun four days ago and other violations of the truce.
Sources close to the meeting described the atmosphere as highly tense in light of Israeli intransigence coupled with US leniency towards the Israeli stance. The Lebanese side to the panel is insisting that the monitoring group issue a decision calling on Israel's immediate withdrawal from Arnoun.
Before the monitoring group started its meeting in Naqoura, Israeli forces and their allied militiamen were enforcing their occupation of the village of Arnoun seeking to consolidate their defenses.
The militia broke into the house of Nasser Alawiyeh, ordering its inhabitants to evacuate it, and rendering it as another military position in the area.
The Israeli allied militia also installed machinegun posts both on the roof of the house and around it. Mr. Alawiyeh has deported the village along with his family.
As the April Understanding Monitoring Group was studying Lebanese complaints filed over Israeli violations of the truce, Israeli occupying forces continued their attacks on the villages of the occupation zone.
Israeli shelling of the village of Arab Saleem injured Lebanese civilian Jawad Mohammed Moussa and caused damage to a number of civilian homes and properties including the village's public school.
Israeli bombardment early this morning targeted the valley of Habboush and the riverbanks of Zahrani following late night shelling on Mazraat Al-Hamra and the outskirts of Yohmor.
For its part, the Lebanese Resistance retaliated by attacking Israeli outposts in Qalaat Shkeef, Sojod, Hmayyed, and Radar.
During a meeting with the US Ambassador to Lebanon David Satterfield, President Emil Lahhoud stressed Lebanon's adherence to its sovereignty over Arnoun and all Israeli occupied areas in the country.
Lahhoud also said Israel's occupation of Arnoun is aimed at building another Berlin Wall between the people of Lebanon. The president reiterated adherence to the terms of the April 1996 Understanding.
The president also voiced Lebanon's rejection to such recurrent Israeli measures, describing Arnoun's re-annexation to the occupation zone as a flagrant violation of the April Understanding.
House Speaker Nabih Berri told reporters in parliament that Israel's invasion of the southern village of Arnoun is an attack on Lebanon's future.
The speaker also stressed Lebanese efforts to boost the steadfastness of the resistance and the southerners against the occupying forces. He also reiterated the right of the resistance to fight the occupation as long as it persists.
Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss has revealed that Lebanon demanded from the member states at the April Understanding Monitoring Group to back Lebanon's call on the panel to decide on the necessity of Israel's immediate withdrawal from Arnoun.
Prime Minister Hoss told visitors at the Grand Saray what happened in Arnoun causes great pain to the country. He added the government is seeking all possible measures to liberate Arnoun once again.
Three years have passed since Israel's Grapes of Wrath Operation and the Qana massacre. 107 Lebanese civilians were killed when Israeli forces bombarded a UN base in the village of Qana.
Rallies were held everywhere in the country to commemorate the painful massacre and pay annual tribune to its victims. Huge delegations gathered around the tombs of the martyrs to pay respects and lay flower wreaths.
Among those who visited Qana were First Lady Andre Lahhoud, her daughter Karin, the House Speaker's wife Randa Berri and Deputy Bahiyya Al-Hariri. They also met with a number of relatives of the martyrs.
In commemoration of the massacre, officials in the country gave statements denouncing the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and the continued Israeli attacks. Speakers also stressed the right of the resistance to fight the occupation and the necessity to boost the steadfastness of the southerners in the face of the occupation.
The head of the General Labor Confederation Elias Abu-Rizk announced his surprise resignation yesterday from the union's top post. Abu-Rizk's decision follows his ouster Friday as the president of the National Social Security Fund and replacement by a government-supported candidate, Maurice Abu-Nader.
Abu-Rizk revealed his decision to resign from the GLC leadership during a rally held by the union in Tyre to mark the third commemoration of the Qana massacre. Abu-Rizk blamed government interference that targeted the unity and independence of the labor body. He also said he will consult with GLC officials to assign a date for electing another president as soon as possible.
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