أرشيف موقع العهد الإخباري من 1999-2018
ارشيف من : 2005-2008
Observation Committee, Part of World Comprehensive Solidarity…Beirut International Meeting in Support of the Resistance:“International Front” in Opposition to U.S. Hegemony
and patriotic forces in support of the resistance and in salutation of the Lebanese nation’s steadfastness against the Israeli aggression, established an important springboard to re-boost the comprehensive liberal Arab fight against the U.S.-Zionist program as well as to strengthen world solidarity with the struggle of the Arab nations and their patriotic resistance in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq.
The conference hosted almost 400 personalities representing the unions and parties that oppose globalization and the American policy in the world. They came from 34 countries in all of the five continents. The conferees discussed for four days through different sessions and dialogues the dimensions of the aggression to which the region is being subjected, particularly the Arab and Muslim world. They also discussed the manifestations of the aggressive U.S. method that threatens the future of the nations in this region and how to reach a summary of visions that will cut the road in the face of any new aggression being prepared for the region. In addition, they discussed ways to found coordinative frameworks that will unite the active forces that oppose these gravities.
Chairman of the Consultative Center for Studies and Documentation, Dr. Ali Fayyad said to Al-Intiqad: “The conference is the first of its kind on the level of world demonstration, where various world parties, unions and figures with Marxist, Socialist and Leftist tendencies answered the invitation launched by Hizbullah and the other patriotic parties in support of the resistance.” He adds, “This support placed the resistance as first item on the agenda of the international forum. In the future, an international forum will be held in “Nairobi”, with other continental forums: European, African, Asian, and the resistance issue will be amongst the debates of each of these forums.”
Fayyad explained that “the discussions that took place between those at the forum were honest and distanced from employing any kind of jumping to conclusions, where they discussed various subjects in an open and transparent way without any advanced terms.”
Fayyad exposed “a wide current that began forming in the west, which was discussing the resistance issue without any reservations,” and indicated, “the first step which we took through this conference was to establish an ‘international front’ that would oppose the U.S. hegemony.”
Regarding the concluding statement, Fayyad drew attention saying, “There are several items that require follow-up and observation including, for example, holding an international conference in solidarity with the Lebanon nation on July 12, 2005, and creating a website to exchange legal experiences in the domain of legal allegations against "Israel" as well as other items that require dedicated follow-up.”
Opening
The conference was opened last Thursday afternoon in the presence of a crowd of current and former MPs, representatives of the Lebanese parties and Palestinian brigades, and Arab and world personalities. The participants were headed by the deputy of Hizbullah Secretary-General, his eminence Sheikh Naim Kassem.
Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss gave his speech confirming, “National unity is Lebanon’s strong fort”, considering, “There are evil attempts to ignite the sectarian and religious seditions in Lebanon,” and stressing, “National dialogue will be useless between he who blames the Israeli enemy for causing war and catastrophes and he who falsely blames the resistance for all that happened; or between he who regards the war aftermath as a victory and he who, out of stubbornness, sees nothing in it but destruction.”
After saluting the resistance, Hoss selected a number of facts, the most prominent of which states that the resistance finished the legend that "Israel" was invincible. Hence, it defused its security role in the region after a super power employed it as a heavy baton; and that the resistance way proved its usefulness against the uselessness of the traditional war with "Israel". He also indicated that the inauguration of the armed resistance “was associated with certain considerations, the most important of which was the existence of occupied land, the existence of captives inside the Israeli prisons, and Lebanon’s exposedness to almost daily attacks by sea and air and sometimes by land.”
Wakim
Leader of the People’s Movement, Najah Wakim gave his speech stressing, “This attendance is the true participation pertaining to the humanitarian solidarity.” And added, “The attack on our nation and country continues, and has moved inland from the border, spreading creative havoc where hundreds of sabotage networks are waiting the signal to begin their work.”
“Since the collapse of the socialistic symphony, the U.S. has been launching a war to establish a new world system.” He addressed the participants at the conference saying, “Your siding with us will enable the resistance to establish victory in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq, which serves the liberal movements.”
Representatives of the Continents
Then, the representative of Latin America, Gilberto Lopez, a founder of the network organization “anti-preemptive war ideology thoughts”, spoke calling on “The struggle of the nations against the U.S. imperialism.”
On the other hand, Mohammad Salim, Member of Indian Parliament, stressed that “the success of the resistance is a success for the Lebanese nation.” He added, “This war took place with foreign support provided by the U.S. through "Israel"; and we all must conduct an important role against this aggression for the sake of the whole world.”
The representative of “the anti-debts organization” Dr. Victor Zouzi, from Congo, gave Africa’s speech to say, “What the resistance achieved is unbelievable; the Lebanese people caused concern for America and "Israel".” He added, “The time has come for all the nations of the world to be united; accept our support and victory is inevitable.”
Europe’s speech was given by “Babadi Costas,” from the lawyers union in Greece. He saluted the resistance and said, “This was a victory which indicated that no invincible imperialism or power exists in the world; and that the world nations have taken a step forward in their fight against imperialism.”
The coordinator general of the Egyptian Kifaya Movement, George Isaac, spoke in the name of all the patriotic forces in Egypt to stress that “the Lebanese experience taught us the values of resistance and steadfastness; that our enemies are obvious, and that we must resist and unite.”
Haddadeh
The Secretary-General of the Lebanese Communist Party, Dr. Khalid Haddadeh gave his speech displaying a number of remarks, comparisons and conclusions. He said, “(…) the resistance in Lebanon finished the U.S. presence in the Middle East. Now, the resistance fighters of all the religious, leftist and national tendencies can work together for the cause of independence and of defeating the U.S. imperialist program,” and called the Arab nation to follow in the footsteps of the resistance in Lebanon. He regarded that “he who was defeated in Lebanon was not only "Israel" and the U.S. program and Arab regimes, but was also the policy of surrendering and the structure of the sectarian system in Lebanon.”
Kassem
Deputy of Hizbullah Secretary-General, his eminence Sheikh Naim Kassem gave his speech in which he saluted those guests from all parts of the world, and confirmed that “the path of the resistance was the path of liberating mankind.” His eminence added, “Let us raise our voice together: Ye the depressed, impoverished and free people of the world unite; our resistance in Lebanon was a defensive resistance and an act in retaliation to the occupation; this is because the history of "Israel" was ever hostile.”
Kassem addressed the audience saying, “Together, we will break this image to portray the image of the resisting fighter in Lebanon, Palestine and everywhere.” His eminence confirmed, “What happened in Lebanon was U.S. aggression coupled with international silence and Israeli instrument.”
Kassem stressed that "Israel" was defeated in Lebanon, that the invincible army was vincible, and was conquered by a few heroes and courageous citizens.” His eminence added, “"Israel" has been defeated, not only on the military level, but, for the first time, on the level of its program. In the future, you will see that July 12 was the beginning of the Israeli and U.S. defeat in our region.” His eminence stressed that “the Islamic resistance was the natural expansion of each earlier resistance that remained with us and will continue with us in Palestine and other areas,” and pointed that “there was a living patriotic unanimity pertaining to the resistance. This unanimity comes from all, Moslems, Christians, patriots, locals, nationals, and internationals.”
His eminence also said, “We will not allow "Israel" to remain on our land, will not allow the U.S. to confiscate our independence; and if they threaten us with death we will threaten them with martyrdom;” and confirmed, “It is our concern to oppose the U.S. hegemony in the region and world because it will damage humanity and all mankind.”
Kassem added, “If you wish to know us better, you can do so by not observing our words, but our achievements; and perhaps behavior expresses more truthfully than words. Our Islam in Hizbullah is a mercy, we are defending ourselves.”
Sessions of the Conference
The activities of the conference began Friday, where its workshops were divided into four axes: Media, Law, Building, and Strategy.
Building
This axis gathered Arab and foreign journalists and media workers who covered the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. It was also characterized by protruding the role, concept and the necessity of the continuation of the resistance in the shade of the world media which they described as a monopolized, politicized and patterned media. This axis was administered by researcher Nahla Shahal who said that she and a specialized team translated, during the times of aggression, the speeches of Hizbullah Secretary-General, his eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, addressing the Israelis. This issue forced the enemy TV to display a translation of the speech of his eminence Sayyed Nasrallah.
Moreover, an editor of an Indian newspaper “Sima Mustafa” called on benefiting from the Internet as a means of communication between those journalists because, “The western media created patterned images regarding terrorism, Islamists and Communists, and organized them according to a certain mechanism. Later, they launched their wars for which they found justifications.”
Aura Mohammad talked about the experience of “Islamonline” website, discussing the differences between the Shiites and Sunnites, because, “There are those who do not differentiate between Al-Qaeda organization and Hizbullah.”
Siham Al-Andalosi, in charge of the Islamic website “aljod.net” in France, said, “During the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, the French were receiving misleading information about Hizbullah.”
“Pope Memakilians”, a university tutor, called on launching a battle against advanced thoughts and said; “The western civilization is not unique.”
Moreover, a Greek journalist called on building a news observatory as well as on working to legitimatize it so that the western public can correctly absorb it.
Another western journalist said, “The media means of the west now has less credibility in the eyes of its public. This issue was apparent through the poll that was conducted by the European commission, which considered that "Israel" was a source of threat to world peace.”
Meanwhile, Australian journalist Leo Gabriel called on creating a network for journalists of northern Europe and the U.S. to circulate the true news reports regarding the events in the Middle East.
On the other hand, Hafez Sayegh, representative of the national assembly in support of the resistance choice in Lebanon said, “The Arab reality suffers weakness because of the lack of the anti-normalization Arab media strategy, which rejects all forms of foreign supremacy.”
Strategy
This axis was headed by the member of the patriotic council of the Lebanese Communist Party, Mr. Riyad Soma. He said, “The liberal forces succeeded and achieved victory when they allied together. Now, we need an alliance to challenge the beginning of the U.S. defeat.”
Journalist Walid Shararah said, “The failure of the “settlement process” was the reason that forced the U.S. to employ the policy of the open war, that the ideology of the civilizations conflict was the reason that provided the political cover for these wars.”
The Secretary-General of the Labor Party in Egypt, Majdi Hussein said, “We are experiencing a progressive not a retrogressive stage because of the victories of the resistance in 2000 and 2006.”
Chairman of the Consultative Center for Studies and Documentation, Dr. Ali Fayyad, marked July 12 an international day in solidarity with the resistance.
Dr. Hisham Shbani (Jordanian citizen) defined four points relating to the reasons behind the weakness of the International Movement to protest the international imperialism, the most important of which is the existence of world movements that still believes in the existence of "Israel".
Jan Martinez from Britain talked about an anti-Moslem racial wave, considering that this was like an ideological cover for the imperialistic wars.
Mary Luke, activist of an Arab organization that consists of Arabs and blacks in New York, congratulated Hizbullah on the victory it had achieved and said, “We talked frequently about Hizbullah there and we raised up its flag and distributed its stickers displaying its achievements.”
Samira Saleh, member of the Palestinian National Council called on “The U.S. society to rise against its governments, especially against their representatives to the United Nations.
French citizen “Michelle Cebone” demanded the French Jewish Union for “Peace”, which contains 16 French Jewish organizations, to involve the Jews in a movement that supports the resistance, and praised the present alliance between Hizbullah and the Communist Party.
Law
The law axis was headed by the former president of the lawyers’ syndicate, Issam Karam, who described the resistance as “The safeguard of the state’s sovereignty.”
Also Dr. Hassan Juni spoke regarding this axis and presented a reading about the international law classification of the aggression, and how "Israel" violated all the international laws. He also presented a study about the possibility of suing "Israel" because of the attack it launched on Lebanon.
Lawyer Albert Farhat demanded the establishment of legal mechanisms and the conducting of an international, Arab and local campaign to put pressure on the international institutions and governments in order to apply the humanitarian and international laws on "Israel".
Former minister Issam Noaman suggested a studied proposal to establish a world civil committee for human rights from legalists and Arab organizations that work with human rights. He also suggested the opening of a “dreadful” record for war criminals and those responsible for tortures and violations.
This axis also discussed details about building cases at the specialized courts; and within this framework it also discussed the initiative for a conscience court that started in Paris under the care of the “Bertrand Russell” foundation.
The assembly reached a practical recommendation stipulating that each participating legalist shares the burden of pursuing the task in his country through the international relations network in the field of law and defending human rights.
Building
This axis was headed by deputy chairman of the Consultative Center for Studies and Documentation, Abdul Halim Fadlallah. He indicated, “This axis aims initially to give the chance to the participants to discuss the needs of rebuilding that which the Israeli enemy has destroyed and provide contributions and suitable recommendations.”
Also the general manager of Jihad El-Binaa foundation, Kassem Elleik talked about the losses that resulted from the Israeli aggression and the programs which the foundation executed pertaining to estimating the damages during the aggression and the reparations required for the aggrieved as well as inspecting the cracked buildings.
Chairman of the free professions in Hizbullah, engineer Hassan Hejazi talked about two tendencies required for rebuilding: the first is the comprehensive preplanning of the destructed area in Haret Hreik, the other supports rebuilding to its former state.
Economic expert Ghalib Abu Mosleh focused on the role of the state and the local authorities regarding the rebuilding process.
For his part, the Iranian official delegate in Lebanon Hussam Khosh Novits, confirmed, “Iran will put all its capacities and power at the service of the rebuilding needs, whether on the field of finance and techniques or the field of experiences and experts.”
Short films of Lebanese and international film makers were screened during the conference. They were shot during the aggression.
Discussions and rounds
On the following day (Saturday), the discussion focused on the Arab axis. Free discussions of more than 45 speakers focused mostly on presenting new and numerous visions, thoughts and suggestions that concerns also the future and pertains to the means that are required to support and aid the resistance.
In this context, Dr. Ali Fayyad stressed, “There is no retreat from the choice of the resistance because it is a religious and human obligation.” He also wondered, “How can the resistance win three wars while the political tone remains the same on the Arab arena?”
Moreover, researcher and writer Nahla Shahal interposed called on, “Issuing a condemnation of the sectarian and religious division in the Arab countries.”
Others called on the Arab regimes to define a clear attitude towards "Israel" and avoid giving consideration to the European feeling.
That day witnessed a poetic and musical soirée for the Egyptian “Street” bank, part of the works of Poet Fouad Haddad, presented by Samia Jahin and Amin Haddad.
Also on that day, the participants visited the southern suburb to observe the haughtiness of the Israeli enemy on the peaceful citizens. The participants took pictures of the destruction in the southern suburb, especially in Haret Hreik, or the well-known “Security Bloc”. They were shocked by the magnitude of the destruction and losses that were inflicted upon this area.
On the last day (Sunday) of the conference, the participants visited the south and toured the city of Bint Jbail and village of Ayta El-Shaab to take a close look to the perpetrations of the Israeli destructive machine against the southerners.
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Recommendations: An international day for the resistance, international observatory, and legal framework against war criminals
The most important recommendations that were included in the conclusive statement came under the title: “The right of the nations to resist.”
One: On the general political field, the conferees agreed to reject the program of the greater Middle East and the ideology of the civilizations conflict, to form an observation committee with an aim to build an international unanimous solidarity framework, which would include the movements of the resistance and the forces that support them, and must also work on developing the progressing relations between the leftist, democratic and national trends as well as the Islamic resistance movements. Moreover, the conferees stressed on supporting the Iraqi resistance against the U.S. occupation, developing a multiform support for the struggle of the Palestinian people, providing solidarity to the struggle of the Jordanian people in the context of rejecting the processes of normalization and rejecting the Wadi Araba covenant with its stipulations.
In addition, the conferees approved to celebrate a day of solidarity with the Lebanese people and its resistance on July 12, with the Iraqi people and its resistance on March 20, and with the Palestinian people on September 28 of each year. Moreover, they approved to strengthen and widen the scope of efforts that aim to protest and challenge the launched campaigns, especially in the western mediums that seek to tarnish the image of the resistance.
The conferees saw that the U.S. and Zionist threats to the nations in the region and their countries were a motive to establish Arab-Iranian strategic understanding that will help unite the living forces to oppose the U.S.-Zionist program.
Two: On the legal field, the conferees recommended the establishing of a world forum for human rights and the nations of the world with legal rights, a website to exchange legal experiences on the field of building cases against the Israeli war criminals. They also recommended the coordination of the efforts to gather the documents, testimonies and facts relating to the aggression aftermath within the framework of “the Arab center of the documentation of war crimes and legal pursuit.” Moreover, they decided to back the conscience court that will be held in Geneva to try "Israel" and the Israeli war criminals for their perpetrations during the recent aggression on Lebanon. The court will be under the care and participation of the “Bertrand Russell” foundation on the first commemoration of the aggression. Also they warned about the necessity in challenging any interpretation of the UN resolution 1701 in the form that may place the “UNIFIL” forces against the Lebanese resistance.
The conferees agreed to conduct international and informative campaign to introduce the Lebanese Islamic resistance and the rest Arab resistances in Palestine and Iraq against the Israeli and U.S. occupations, to explain their aims and the justice of their causes and the legality of their struggles.
Three: On the media level, the conferees recommended to protrude the humane aspects of our struggle interrupted by the struggles of the other nations, to form a preparatory committee of participant journalists and writers as well as supporters of the resistance choice, and to establish an informative observatory that will keep a list of the antagonist journalists and writers and observe all that is being circulated in order to prepare the necessary response.
Four: On the level of rebuilding, the assembly agreed to describe the aftermath of the Israeli aggression as an act of “genocide” against the populated residential areas; and called on adopting a developmental and social vision for the process of rebuilding as well as form a civil supportive committee in each country of the world with a task to support the Lebanese people against the aggression.
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Al-Intiqad’s Section in Tyre Finds Excellent Attendance
Al-Intiqad, 2006-11-24
Al-Intiqad newspaper displayed pictures on the margin of the international conference that was held in Beirut in support of the resistance. Its section was distinguished by the size of the LCD screen that continuously showed images of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon with pictures of the massacres and the steadfastness of the people. Moreover, it employed a subjective method at the exhibition from the very first moments of the aggression until the time of the victory festival. The film focused on the Zionist barbarism that claimed the lives of children and citizens. Also pictures of the resistance and freedom fighters were displayed with characteristics.
Next to the pictures, the exhibition displayed the special issue that was released by Al-Intiqad on the sixth holiday of the liberation coupled with a small book that was also released by Al-Intiqad in English, bearing the title “Lebanon Triumphs.”
The section was regarded by the participants at the conference as an excellent section and a symbol of the resistance as well as becoming a station for press interviews.
Some visitors among the participants at the exhibition stopped to reflect on the pictures and their significances, hence, they cheered for the resistance and Addahiya (Beirut’s southern suburb). Some could not contain themselves from crying as they were touched by the pictures of the martyred children. Many visitors believe that there had been a forced media blackout where the western media means and world agencies did not show the Israeli crimes. Therefore, they supplied Al-Intiqad section with some pictures that mirrored the truth. They said, “Let the world see that which has been hidden from it.”
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Interviews on the Margin of the Conference in Support of the Resistance
Al-Intiqad, 2006-11-24
On the margin of the international conference that was held in Beirut in support of the resistance, Al-Intiqad interviewed a number of participants of various nationalities and asked them about the significance of the conference that was taking place in the shade of the circumstances which the region experiences.
- Dr. Issam Noaman (a former minister), believes that the significance of this international conference is that “it gave the chance for the free people of the world to understand the dimensions of the present conflict between "Israel" and us, as well as to learn about the crimes "Israel" perpetrated against humanity so that together we can study the means required to challenge this serious menace as well as establish rules and principles that will guarantee the prevention of these crimes resurfacing.”
- Jamal Fahmi (head of the external Arab affairs in the Egyptian journalist union) saw that “this meeting was held at a time in which we are witnessing the signals of the failure of the U.S. program in the region,” believing, “that Arab solidarity with our critical causes must be axiomatic because monstrous globalization aims to engulf the entire fortunes of the region and hold sway over its nations.”
- Haidar Awadallah (politburo member of the Palestinian Communist Party) drew attention to, “This world demonstration in Beirut was proof to the U.S. ideological policy frustration regarding the crises in the Middle East. It also exposed the falsifications that were embraced by the U.S. capitalism and its media means that portray "Israel" as a victim in this region.”
- Dr. Shafee Khodor (representative of the Sudanese Communist Party) stressed that, “This demonstration passed the political and diplomatic obstacles on which the Arab regimes were established, and opened the horizon before the nations in this region to create relations among them that may support the resistance with its various fields,” rejecting, “The attempts that seek to describe the resistance and the liberal movements in the world as terrorist.”
- Noaman Abu Sakhr (member of the international committee of the Syrian Communist Unit) said, “Representing four corners of the globe at the conference was extremely important,” indicating, “These colorations of my country, from Marxism to Socialism, confirm that the anti-U.S. front is widening; but it is important to learn how to administer this unity in the way that will achieve the required aim.”
- Raymond Shahda (French citizen of Lebanese ethnicity) is an activist in an anti-"Israel" organization in the French city of “Saint Étienne”, and participates in France in several demonstrations that protest the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. He said, “His participation at the conference aims to look along with those at the forum for a way that is necessary to circulate the truth of what was happening in Lebanon to the French nation and Lebanese society there. This is because the western media means hides the truth and sympathizes in a great form with the Jewish society.”
- David Wilson (Swiss activist) is living at present in Germany. He said, “Bush is the greatest terrorist in the world,” expressing his relief towards the conference because, “It created a network of international relations between the free people in the world.” Mr. Wilson said also that the magnitude of the destruction that struck Lebanon because of the Israeli aggression shocked him and confirmed, “"Israel" is a state that is an enemy of mankind.”
Al-Intiqad, 2006-11-24
Author: Hussein Awad
Photographer: Issam Qbaisi