Friday, March 23rd 2007
Beirut, Lebanon

The past few months have seen Billboards around Lebanon plastered with Thank Yous to certain the Arab States who supported Lebanon in the wake of the Summer 2006 Israeli War on Lebanon.

Yesterday, ex US Ambassador to the United Nations [during war], John Bolton, said:

"Many of the Arab states did give private support to Israel."

tags: israeli war crimes, kuwait, saudi arabia, qatar, united arab emirates, dubai, 2006 war, jordan, oman, beirut, lebanon, hizballah, billboards, war support, advertisement

-finkployd- Purple News on BloggingBeirut.com

Introduction

1. The present report is submitted in response to the request of the Security Council, in its Statement by the President of 12 December 2006 (S/PRST/2006/52), “to report on a quarterly basis on the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), notably on further progress made towards the achievement of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution” This is the third report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701(2006). It follows the letter of 1 December 2006, which was a factual update on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) (S/2006/270), in particular on UNIFIL’s operations and other relevant UN activities. The present report provides a comprehensive assessment of the steps taken to implement resolution 1701 (2006),
2. I am pleased to report that the overall commitment by the Governments of Israel and Lebanon to Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) remains strong. I am also encouraged by the major strategic changes that have occurred in the area south of the Litani River, including the near full deployment of a strengthened UNIFIL together with the deployment of the Lebanese Army as well as the absence of any positions other than that or the LAF and UNIFIL along the Blue Line, However, this report is submitted against the background of an acute and continuing political crisis in Lebanon and mounting Israeli concerns about the unauthorized transfer of arms across the Lebanese- Syrian border. I am also concerned that there has not been greater progress on key issues, which are vital to the achievement of a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution, such as the Israeli captured soldiers and the Lebanese prisoners, the Shab’a Farms and the halting of Israeli overflights. I am also distressed by the continuing dangers posed to Lebanese citizens in the south of Lebanon due to the use of cluster bombs by the Israeli [military] during the 2006 conflict.

Summary

The Security Council, in resolution 1644 (2005) of 15 December 2005, requested the United Nations International Investigation Commission to report to the Council on its progress, including on the cooperation received from the Syrian authorities, every three months.
The attached report summarizes the progress made by the Commission in its investigative activities since the last report to the Council on 12 December 2006. During the reporting period, the Commission has remained focused on its primary objective in the investigation of the Hariri case and has provided technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities in 16 other cases including the assassination of Minister Pierre Gemayel and, most recently, the Ain Alaq bombings of February 2007.
In the Hariri case, the Commission has made progress in collecting new evidence and in expanding the forms of evidence collected. This has enabled the Commission to narrow its focus in a number of areas during the reporting period, particularly in relation to establishing the motive behind the execution of the crime.
The Commission continues to maintain a close working relationship with Lebanese authorities on all matters relevant to its mandate. The Commission also continues to receive responses to its requests to other Member States, including the Syrian Arab Republic. This cooperation remains an important component of the Commission’s work.
Since the last report, the political and security environment in and around Lebanon has remained unstable. The Commission continues to monitor the political situation in the region and its potential impact on its investigations and requirements for its security.
In light of the current and planned investigative activities, it is unlikely that the Commission will complete its work before its current mandate expires in June 2007. The Commission therefore welcomes the request for an extension of its mandate beyond this date.

Blend will be performing LIVE at NOVA (Sin el Fil)

Friday March 23rd, 2007

Blend Band Music and Vids <<< CLICK

tags: blend, band, nova, live, beirut, lebanon, sin el fil, march 2007

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(click here for Part 1)

So here we are waiting for the water to boil in -4 degrees weather…

In the meantime we discussed and reviewed our march, where we went wrong, how we could have done it better etc… I had a couple of avocados I had brought with me, to everyone’s amusement. Hey avocados are just as much food as tuna and corn (without lemon in the occurrence). Also it’s an energy rich food filled with all sorts of good oils and liposoluble vitamins, fiber and lutein etc etc I could go on but that’s another story.

Anyways two hours in we realize the water is nowhere close to boiling, we leave the burners on and go to bed…

Monday 12th of March 2007

The Foreign Ministry recalled Israel's ambassador to El Salvador, Tzuriel Refael, after he was found in the back yard of his residence naked, drunk, bound and gagged, it emerged on Monday.

According to reports, San Salvador policemen found Refael inebriated, with his hands tied, his mouth gagged with a rubber ball and carrying accessories that implied he had been involved in sexual activity. --Haaretz

tags: israel, israeli, ambassador, bondage, gagged, drunk, bound, naked, el salvador, tzuriel refael

-finkployd- Ils Sont Fou ces Israéliens