Israeli Interior Minister: Lebanon War was a Divine Loss

Israeli Minister of the Interior Eli Yishai believes that Israel lost the July 2006 war because Israelis have turned their back on God:

“But here we come to the Second Lebanon War, without Syria, without Jordan, without Libya – just 2,000 Hezbollah men. 2,000! And look at what happens. Do you know why? Because we said, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth’. What do you think? That you can succeed without help from God? Without the Torah of Israel? Without the learned of the Torah?” he commanded.

With Hassan Nasrallah declaring a “divine victory” and Eli Yishai declaring a “divine loss”, it seems that both Hezbollah and Israel are on the same page.

Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai: Lebanon war lost due to distance from God

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Lebanese Stocking Up on Jordanian Property

A report earlier this month has shown that property sales in Jordan are on the rise thanks to its neighbors:

The total value of property deals in Jordan rose 18 percent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period last year as lower prices pushed up demand and oversupply eased, official data showed Monday.

[...]

Jordan’s once-booming property sector was underpinned by strong demand from Iraqis, Palestinians, expat Jordanians and Lebanese seeking a safe haven in a country with a record of political stability.

Lebanese make it within the top foreign investors in the sector:

1. Iraqis – 92.8 million dinars (US$131 million)
2. Saudis – 8.6 million dinars (US$ 12 million)
3. Lebanese – 7.5 million dinars (US$ 11 million)

Not bad when compared to the sheer number of Iraqis and and bank balances of Saudi investors.

Jordan property sales see 18 percent rise on the back of Lebanese investments.

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One Percent of UAE Foreign Aid to Lebanon in 2009

The UAE Foreign Ministry has released for the first time, their Foreign Aid report for 2009 covering the donations they made during that year. In total, the Emirates (government and NGOs) gave AED 8.93 billion (US$ 2.43 billion) to 92 countries across the world. Here’s the list of key recipients:

1. Yemen – AED 2,836 million (US$771 million)
2. Pakistan – AED 1,604 million (US$ 436 million)
3. Afghanistan – AED 1,261 million (US$ 343 million)
4. Palestinian Territories – AED 965 million (US$ 262)
5. Syria – AED 310 million (US$ 84 million)
6. Tanzania – AED 180 million (US$ 49 million)
7. USA – AED 154 million (US$ 42 million)
8. Egypt – AED 143 million (US$ 39 million)
9. Seychelles – AED 132 million (US$ 36 million)
10. Kazakhstan – AED 91 million (US$ 25 million)
11. Morocco – AED 78 million (US$ 21 million)
12. Lebanon – AED 77 million (US$ 21 million)
13. Eritrea – AED 75 million (US$ 20 million)
14. Maldives – AED 56 million (US$ 15 million)

Of the US$21 million that was donated to Lebanon, half of it came from the UAE Federal government; the rest originated from NGOs and other organizations. Of the US$ 11 million provided by the government, 85% went towards education, 13% towards government and civil society projects, and the remainder was donated to Lebanese NGOs.

Gulf News: The UAE provided $21 million in aid to Lebanon in 2009.

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No More Space to Dump Waste in Lebanon? How About Iraq?

After satisfying our need to pollute our land, sea and air with waste, we’ve apparently started to use Iraq as a new dumping ground according to one Iraqi who has been contracted by the US Army there to dispose of their waste:

An Iraqi who runs a company that disposes of U.S. military waste since the war began defended American contractors. “The Americans properly separate the hazardous material from the plastic and scrap metal,” Qahtan Khalaf said. He pinned the blame on Lebanese and Kuwaiti companies who receive the recycled parts, then mix it with the toxic material and send it back to Iraq. “That’s how they get rid of things.”

The dumping issue had arisen from an investigation done by The Times in which they have found that the Americans failed to properly dispose or recycle their waste. The only finger-pointing towards Lebanon comes from Qahtan Khalaf, the Tikrit-based owner of al-Shefar Group:

“The Americans properly separate the hazardous material from the plastic and scrap metal, and then pass it on to Kuwaiti and Lebanese companies. Some of the companies then mix it back together and pass it on to Iraqi companies.”

Iraqi companies who do what then? Dump it in their backyards? Maybe fingers should be pointed in other directions.

An Iraqi woman carries a sack over her shoulder as she makes her way to the garbage dump close to where she and her family live on the southern outskirts of the city of Karbala. Sawaf/Getty

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Freedom Flotilla: Lebanese Representative Injured

Deutsche Press is reporting that the head of the Lebanese mission to the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ Hani Suleiman, was wounded in the Israeli attack on the ship.

PM Hariri has responded by describing Israel’s action as “crazy”.

Here in the UAE, local newspaper Gulf News has a journalist, Abbas Al Lawati, aboard the ship. Apparently, they lost contact with him around midnight UAE time (8pm GMT) last night. Today, the newspaper has a strongly worded statement to Israel:

Gulf News is following with great concern the news of the Israeli terrorist attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla in the international waters.

Gulf News holds the Israeli government responsible for the safety of its journalist, Abbas Al Lawati, who is onboard the leading ship Mavi Marmara; and the safety of other journalists and peace activists.

Gulf News strongly condemns the attack and calls on the United Nation to hold Israel responsible for its violation of the Geneva Conventions which protect journalists and civilians against such piracy acts.

Early Photos: A television grab made on May 31, 2010 from the Turkish TV channel shows an injured human-rights activist onboard the Turkish aid boat "Mavi Marmara," carrying aid to the Gaza Strip on May 30. (AFP)

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