Elias Bejjani

Argentina Ccaptured a three-man Iranian-Hizballah Terrorist cell

2012-01-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

Argentina Ccaptured a three-man Iranian-Hizballah Terrorist cell
Elias Bejjani/28.01.12/My new below Lebanese Audio commentary sheds light on a report published today DEBKAfile site. It stats that Argentina has captured a three-man Iranian-Hezbollah cell and is hunting for the rest of the network, who were planning attacks against several centers in the country, part of a worldwide joint terrorist offensive against Israeli and Jewish targets. Two strikes were thwarted earlier this month in Thailand and Azerbaijan. The three-man cell was captured in the Argentine resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche, 1,680 kilometers from Buenos Aires, a favorite starting-point for Israeli backpackers touring Patagonia and the Andes. The town is situated on the banks of Lake Naheil Huapi, a major tourist attraction of the Rio Negro district which is famous for its beauty. Click Here to read the report
ارهاب حزب الله وخيانة من يغطي مشروعه الإيراني في لبنان
بالصوت/قراءة في أهم أخبار اليوم للياس بجاني وتعليق يتناول ارهاب حزب الله المحلي والدولي وجريمة كل من يغطي مشروعه الإيراني الواضح المعالم في لبناننا المحتل/28 ك2"/12
الياس بجاني/من ضمن النشرة تركيز على خبر اعتقال مجموعة ارهابية من حزب الله والمخابرات الإيرانية في الأرجنتين حيث ورد في تقرير مرفق بالإنكليزية أن السلطات الأرجنتينية اعتقلت اليوم مجموعة ارهابية تابعة لحزب الله وإيران كانت تنوي تتفيذ عمليات تفجيرية ضد 10 مراكز يهودية في الأرجنتين والسلطات تلك تتعقب باقي افراد المجموعة علماً أن مجموعات أرهابية تابعة لحزب الله وإيران كانت اعتُلقت هذا الشهر في كل من تايلند وأذربجيان واحبطت مخططاتها الإجرامية حيث كانت تنوي القيام بعمليات اغتيال وتفجيرات ضد مراكز يهودية وأميركية .هذا هو حزب الله على حقيقته، جيش ايراني ارهابي لا أكثر ولا أقل، وهو نفسه الحزب الذي يتحاور معه البطريرك الشارد بشارة الراعي ويسعى لحماية سلاحة، وهذا هو نفس الحزب المتحالف معه ميشال عون الساقط في كل تجارب أبليس، وهو نفس الحزب الذي يريد الرئيس ميشال سليمان، مطران مكة، اجبار اللبنانيين على التحاور معه ليستسلموا لإرهابه. هذا الجيش الإيراني يحتل لبنان بالكامل وكل قول في غير هذا المنحى هو نفاق ودجل وتحايل وخيانة للبنان ولهويته اضغط هنا لقراءة التقرير/ التعليق الإيماني مستوحى من انجيل القديس لوقا 12/13-21/"وقال للجموع: إنتبهوا وتحفظوا من كل. طمع، فما حياة الإنسان بكثرة أمواله.وقال لهم هذا المثل: كان رجل غني أخصبت أرضه، فقال في نفسه: لا مكان عندي أخزن فيه غلالي، فماذا أعمل؟ ثم قال: أعمل هذا: أهدم مخازني وأبني أكبر منها، فأضع فيها كل قمحي خيراتي. وأقول لنفسي: يا نفسي، لك خيرات وافرة تكفيك مؤونة سنين كثيرة، فاستريحي وكلي واشربي وتنعمي! فقال له الله: يا غبي، في هذه الليلة تسترد نفسك منك. فهذا الذي أعددته لمن يكون؟ هكذا يكون مصير من يجمع لنفسه ولا يغنى بالله".

Attack Iran Today And Not Tomorrow

2012-01-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Elias Bejjani

Attack Iran Today And Not Tomorrow
By: Elias Bejjani

January 21/2012

My new Arabic editorial of today addresses the world-wide Iranian atomic threat in case the Iranian religious rulers did acquire offensive atomic capabilities.

The Israeli Prime Minister believes strongly that Iran must be attacked sooner not later and before it is too late. The USA Obama administration does not see the Iranian atomic danger eye to eye with Israel.

Israeli creditable media reports have been during the last ten days focusing on the great and wide differences between Netanyahu and Obama. The USA administration is demanding strongly that it MUST be informed in advance before any Israeli military attack against Iran while Israeli is declining from any commitment to do so.

Meanwhile High ranking military and political USA and Israeli officials have been exchanging very important visits between the two countries in a bid to reach an agreement on the ways and means needs to contain the Iranian very serious threats.

Apparently the Obama administration is so hesitant and not taking the required measures that would force the Iranian leadership to put a halt on their ongoing efforts to acquire the atomic bomb.

The editorial calls on the Arab countries and in particular the Arabian Gulf states and kingdoms to step forward and start dealing with the Iranian fatal threats more openly and more seriously because once Iran succeeds in having an atomic bomb they all will be its first target.

It also cautions the Western countries not to replicate with Iran their devastating mistakes with Hitler.

The Editorial dwells at the same time on the bizarre Lebanese status quo and stresses the sad fact that the Iranian Terrorist Hezbollah is currently in full control over the Lebanese government, all Lebanon's officials and all the Lebanese institutions including the Military forces.

Hezbollah via terrorism, bribery, corruption, money, sectarianism, embezzlement, and all sorts of intimidation has tamed all the Lebanese communities and marginalized their leadership.

In this context Lebanon's leadership prime problem lies in their shameful subservience, passiveness and detachment from faith and all that is dignity and self respect.

Almighty God endowed the Lebanese people with a piece of an earthly heaven. Instead of protecting this great heaven that is Lebanon and make it a role model country for peace, democracy, independence, human rights and freedom, Lebanon's rotten leadership destroyed it.

Why we did they commit this fatal sin? Simply because stupidly, blindly and like sheep they are a bunch of evil and corrupted clergymen, politicians and officials.

Meanwhile Countries are not the land, but the citizens. While good and patriotic citizens with their hard work and devotion can build great countries, we know very well that stupid and selfish citizens destroy great countries and wipe them from the map.

Sadly the majority of the Lebanese clergymen, officials and politicians as well many citizens are destroying our beloved Lebanon. This crime is going on because, the people are passive, not taking a stance and acting like slaves.

In conclusion Lebanon will not reclaim itself and be again a great country unless its people go back to faith and start to fear Almighty God in all that they do, say and think.

بالصوت/ضرورة ضرب إيران اليوم قبل يوم غد/الياس بجاني/21 ك2"/12
http://216.18.20.116/elias1.events/elias.iran.israel21.1.12.wma

ضرورة ضرب إيران اليوم قبل يوم غد/الياس بجاني/21 ك2"/12
http://10452lccc.com/elias%20arabic11/elias.dabki20.1.12.htm

Pain Is a Bless, Not A Curse

2012-01-13T22:47:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Job 1/21: "And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great gift. The gift of life itself that He has endowed and entrusted to us. We MUST never ever underestimate, humiliate or defile this great and valuable Godly gift of life or try at any time to neglect or end it under any given circumstances. He who gave it to us, and He is the only one who takes it when ever He decides to do so. Our own life does not belong to us, but to Almighty God who gave it to us.

When we are facing any difficulty we MUST call on Him and He will come to our rescue. Matthew 7/7. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you"

God never forgets us, we are His beloved Children. He even comes to our help without us asking or calling on Him as he did with the widow whose her only son died (Luke 07/11-17). He felt her pain, anguish, great loss and sorrow. He touched her son's coffin and brought him back to life. Psalm 34/18: "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit"

Let us take this below Biblical miracle as a marvelous example of God's unlimited and unconditional love to each and every one of us. Let us learn how much He cares even when we do not call for His help.
Luke 07/11-17: "Soon afterward Jesus went to a town named Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, Don't cry. Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, Young man! Get up, I tell you! The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They all were filled with fear and praised God. A great prophet has appeared among us! they said; God has come to save his people! This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory."

Let us with no hesitation depend on His mercy and love when we are facing any kind of pain or hardship, no matter what and He will be constantly beside us. He will help us in ways and means that can never even be imagined or grasped by our human mind. God is so gracious let us leave all our burden within His Holy hands, carry His cross and follow Him all the way. "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11/28)

Meanwhile Jesus shares His pains and sufferings with those whom He loves so much. Many saints prayed and begged Him to make them sick and physically crippled in a bid to share His pains and sufferings. Both Saint Rita and Saint Rafka did so and God showered them with His graces, responded to their prayers and shared with them His sufferings and pains.

God is always with us. He hears, sees, feels and knows all what we say, do, and think. He is a loving, caring and forgiving father who never ever abandons us because we are His children. Accordingly we have to keep holding on to both faith and hope when are sick and encountering pain. How true is the saying: " He who depend on God shall never be disappointed". Romans 8/8: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us".

Pain for the believers is not a punishment or a sin, but a grace and a bless. Through pains and sufferings we share with Jesus some of what He Himself went through on the cross. We share His pain and His death so we can share His resurrection.

Saint Peter in his first letter (12,13,16,19) dwells on suffering in Christianity: "My dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful test you are suffering, as though something unusual were happening to you. Rather be glad that you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may be full of joy when his glory is revealed" "So then, those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps his promise".

Pains and sufferings should not make us question God's existence, mercy, love or wisdom. On the contrary they are ought to purify and cleanse us, mind, body and spirit from all doubts, hesitations and fears so we can strengthen our faith and get closer to Him. Psalm 18/2: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold".

Saint Peter teaches us to be strong, firm and resist. Let us with joy take on his advice.1 Peter 5/9-10: "Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you".

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

A New Prasitic Lebanese Political Christian Gathering

2012-01-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

A bunch of notorious Lebanese Christian politicians met today at the Kesroun Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa Shrine in a bid to lobby for the ailing Syrian dictatorship regime and its bloody butcher Bachar Al Assad, to cover the anti Lebanese and anti-Christian stances adopted by the derailed Maronite Patriarch Bchara Al Raei, and to side with the Terrorist Hezbollah against the State of Lebanon.

These second, third and fourth class with no backbone politicians are remotely controlled by Micheal Smaha, a Lebanese Christian disreputable politician appointed by the Syrian regime to coordinate its media and political activities inside Lebanon and abroad.

Nahernet posted on its web site today the following report: "reported that a group of independent Christian figures on Sunday held a meeting at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa to “discuss the national and political affairs and the outcome of the alignments and conflicts in Lebanon, inside and outside state institutes, and in the Arab world,” state-run National News Agency reported. The conferees also discussed “the situations the Christians are going through, especially in the hotspots, and the repercussions of the sudden changes on their freedoms and existence.” The meeting with attended by head of the basilica, Father Khalil Alwan, ex-ministers Elias Saba, Joseph al-Hashem, Suleiman Trabulsi, Karim Pakradouni, Naji al-Bustani, George Qurum, Yacoub Sarraf, Elias Hanna, Jack Jokadrian, ex-MPs Elie al-Ferzli, Jebran Touq, Elias Skaff, Fares Boueiz, Marwan Abu Fadel, George Najem, Pierre Daccash, Abdullah Farhat, Salim Habib, ex-Phalange Party chief Munir al-Hajj, lawyer Rashad Salameh, ambassador Fouad al-Turk, Shadi Masaad, Charles Ghostine, Fouad Abu Nader, Joe Edde, economist Joseph Yachoui, retired Brig. Gen. Michel Karam and Claude Boueiz Kanaan. “Given what Lebanon is going through and the dangerous developments in the region, and the concerns they raise, as (recently) expressed by (Maronite) Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, especially over the fate of the Christians, we believe, as independents, that we have to shoulder the responsibility of drafting an unchained national plan for the future,” the conferees said in a statement issued after the talks. The plan in question would “tackle the main central issues away from the mentality of alignments, for the sake of a pluralistic civil state and the drafting of a new social contract,” they said. The Christian figures added that they will hold another meeting on January 20 to discuss a paper that is currently being drafted by a specialized committee"

It is worth mentioning that the majority of these politicians were either well known Syrian tools during Syria's occupation of Lebanon, or a sheer horde of opportunists and hunters for personal gains. Some of them were even active members in Christian parties and militias but sold out their loyalty to Lebanon and to he Christian communities to become well exposed trumpets and mouthpieces for the Syrian regime, the Iranian Mullahs and for its militant proxy, Hezbollah.

The estranged Christian politician Michael Aoun, Hezbollah, the Syrian regime, and President Micheal Suleiman, have been exering a great deal of effort to create such a fake and camouflaging political Christian front to act as a Christian umbrella for the derailed Maronite Patriarch Bchara Al Raei whose stances are pro Hezbollah and the Syrian regime, while at the same time anti Lebanon and completely contradicting to the historic Maronite Christen Church political convictions and stances on all levels.

During the passed thirty years the Lebanese political and national arenas have witnessed numerous such mercenary Christian, Muslim and Druze gatherings. All of them without one exception were transient, fully exposed, unproductive and could not camouflage their evil Syrian-Iranian hidden agendas. All of them crumbled quickly, and failed to became history.

In conclusion, There is no doubt that the fate of this mercenary so called Christian gathering is not going to be any different by any way or means

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

New Year Wishes: Love, Forgiveness And Wisdom

2011-12-31T03:07:00.001-08:00

With the beginning of the new year 2012, let us all ask almighty God genuinely to shower on every one the graces of health, prosperity, peace, faith, and hope

Let us all put our burdens, pain, sickness, deprivation, persecution, separation, broken hearts, disappointments, frustrations, bereavements, injustice, abandonment, and anger in the hands of Almighty God and follow the teachings of His Gospel. God, with his gracious wisdom and abundant generosity, shall definitely see in every way possible that we all safely overcome with faith and hope all kinds of failure temptations, hardships and difficulties. Let us all trust in Him and recognize that we are all His beloved children and that He has created us in his image.

Romans 8:16-19: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God."

We should doubt God's deep love for each and every one of us. How could He not, as He sent his only son, Jesus Christ to defeat death, give us the eternal life, suffer and be crucified so we, His children, can become purified and absolved from the original sin and be helped to walk safely the path of eternal salvation.

John 3:2 : "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is".

Let us ask Almighty God to help us live in peace and harmony with ourselves and others. Lead our steps into the righteous paths and grant us the strength of endurance and hold us back from the sin of hurting or hating others. Grant us the graces of love, meekness, humbleness, transparency, honesty and forgiveness. Maintain our hearts and minds pure, and free from grudges and selfishness. Help us to remember that vengeance is evil and forgiveness is a Godly grace. Not allow vengeance to take control of our lives.

Being faithful to God's holy teachings, is being loving and forgiving. For when we trust God and believe in His justice, we ought to leave Him punish those who are evil. (Matthew 13:43): "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear".

God's teachings in regards to vengeance is very clear .

Romans 12:19-21: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

This verse frees us from the burden of taking justice into our own hands. It tells us "Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ God will repay those who are righteous"..

Since God is going to take up our cause and see to it that justice is done, we should lay it down, work hard not to succumb to our human destructive and evil instincts.

We don’t have to carry anger, bitterness, resentment or revenge no matter what is our burden because refusal to forgive will make it impossible for us to understand and experience the forgiveness of God for us. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). Then commenting on that prayer, Jesus said, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15).

Saint Paul says leave it to the wrath of God. ”Then the wrath of God is defined further as God’s vengeance, “Vengeance is mine.” So wrath is connected with God’s response to something that deserves vengeance. And then it says, “I will repay.”

So God’s wrath is treated as a repayment to man for something man has done. This simply means that the wrath of God is God’s settled anger toward sin expressed in the repayment of suitable vengeance on the guilty sinner.

God will and shall see that justice is done on the Day of Judgment. So let us be forgiving and avoid any sort of vengeance.

Daniel 12:2-3: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever".

With the 2012 new year, let us pray from the depth of our hearts for all those who hate and hold grudges against us. Let us ask almighty God to cure them from these evil ailments and grant us the grace of forgiveness and the strength of faith to keep loving them.

No one should forget that our live on this earth is too short, and that we must be righteous to deserve the eternal one in Heaven where there will be no pain or fights, but happiness and peace.

Corinthians 2:2-10: "But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the spirit searches everything, even the depths of God".

O Lord may your peace, your true love, your eternal and divine graces be with us and among us all the days of the 2012 new year and we will offer glory and thanksgiving to you, now and forever.

Happy New Year

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com

*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Is The Maronite Patriarch Al Raei a committed and loyal Baathist!!

2011-12-28T13:16:00.001-08:00

Is The Maronite Patriarch Al Raei a committed and loyal Baathist!!
By: Elias Bejjani*

December 28/11

As a Maronite Canadian Lebanese human Rights activist, I am seriously wondering if the derailed Maronite Patriarch Bchara Al Raei is a committed member in the cadets of Syrian Baathists Party?

The question becomes so legitimate and so urgent when I hear his on going bizarre rhetoric and watch his deceiving stances.

He is boldly, openly and shamelessly calling the Syrians and Lebanese "One people in two countries". An obsolete slogan the Assad Baathists adopted since the early sixties as a media ideological camouflaging tool in bid to justify the occupation of neighboring Lebanon, annihilate its unique deeply rooted identity, uproot its rich history, displace its peace loving people, and distort its cultural and co-existence role.

He is portraying the horrible, savage and barbaric crimes the Syrian President Al Assad and his militias and army are committing as a kind of political reforms.

He is denying that there is actually a public uprising and revolution in Syria. He calls all this as "Internal disturbances"

He is calling on the Lebanese people to adopt neutral stances and accordingly allow Iran, Syria and their military tools and mercenaries to freely and without any kind of resistance devour Lebanon and every thing that is Lebanese.

He is evilly using his tongue to advocate fore the Axis of evil schemes.

He is cajoling and appeasing the rulers of Syria and the Hezbollah leadership.

He is supporting Hezbollah's weaponry and ministate.

In my new Lebanese Audio commentary of today, I am comparing Al Raei stances, tactics, alliances and Rhetoric to the spirit, essence and core of the below verses from the letter of Saint James to show and prove biblically that he is derailed from his clergy role and Maronite holy mission

The link for my Lebanese Audio commentary
http://216.18.20.116/lccc/news28.12.11.wma

ـJames 02/01-03: "My friends, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance. Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes. If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him"

James 02/08-12: "You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, Love your neighbor as you love yourself. But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker. Whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all. For the same one who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not commit murder. Even if you do not commit adultery, you have become a lawbreaker if you commit murder. Speak and act as people who will be judged by the law that sets us free. For God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful; but mercy triumphs over judgment."

James 04/17: "So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin"

James 03/ 06-12: "Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies and spreading evil through our whole being. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes to it from hell itself. We humans are able to tame and have tamed all other creatures—wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish. But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen! No spring of water pours out sweet water and bitter water from the same opening. A fig tree, my friends, cannot bear olives; a grapevine cannot bear figs, nor can a salty spring produce sweet water".

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Christmas and Prayers for the Wicked

2011-12-24T09:17:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

The most effective, productive and everlasting participation that we can offer on this Holy Christmas Day is our authentic and honest prayers for the repentance and salvation of evildoers. We must pray for those evil and wicked world leaders, rulers, politicians, fundamentalists and outlawed militants whose devastating culture of greed and vicious acts of terrorism are threatening peace and tranquility over four continents.

Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Romans speaks about these evil people and describes thoroughly their thinking and conduct 03/10-18: "As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.’ 3:13 Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit. The poison of vipers is under their lips; “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways. The way of peace, they haven’t known. There is no fear of God before their eyes."

One might wonder why we should pray and particularly on the Christmas Day for those that are creating world-wide havoc, advocate grudges and hatred, classify us as infidels, allege we are their worst enemies, call openly for our death, and proudly legitimize our slaughter?

The answer is very simple. We should pray for them because they are lost, evil, morally sick and need our help. Jesus has already answered this question in Matthew 9/12 & 13: "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. But you go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.".

The faithful and righteous man has an obligation to love his enemies and forgive them as well as to bless those who hate, persecute and curse him. Luke 6:28: "bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

The secret and magic formula word in all this holy cycle of forgiveness, meekness, patience, endurance and acceptance of others is LOVE, and as the bible teaches us LOVE is GOD. Proverbs 19:11: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense".

Apostle Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians explains what love is and what it encompasses: 13/4-13: "Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 1 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love."

If we love those who love us, help those who do not need help, pray for those who are righteous, and feed those who are not hungry, we do nothing different from anybody else including the sinners and wicked. But when we can tame ourselves to love those who hate us and help those who need help, than we are making something different. 1 Samuel 24:17: "You are more righteous than I, he said. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly."

Almighty God loves us, we His children, and wants us to return back to His heavenly mansions that have been prepared for us. Therefore, He has sent His begotten son to be humiliated, tortured, persecuted and crucified in a bid absolve our original sin and be a role model in love and sacrifice. John15/12 & 13: “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends"

With the Christmas Spirit let all genuinely pray for those of us who are hurt, lonely, feel betrayed and deserted by their beloved ones. Those who are enduring in silence pain, anguish, and are deprived of happiness, warmth and joy on this holy and adorned day.

Let us all take Jesus a role model in our lives. Let us learn from Him the graces of forgiveness, sacrifice, love and the obligation for helping those who need our help and even those who hate and hurt us. Romans 12:20: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

May God Bless you all and shower upon you, your families, friends, and beloved ones all graces of joy, health, love, forgiveness, meekness and hope. 1 Thessalonians 5:15: "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else".

I call on you all to pray for the salvation of our beloved country of Lebanon and ask Almighty God to lead and bless the peace endeavors of righteous politicians and leaders all over the world.

On this Christmas Day may Jesus Christ, God of love, justice and mercy, dwell in your hearts, minds, souls and conscience to purify you and lead your steps into righteousness.

Merry Christmas

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

A Big No For Hypocrisy And Hypocrites

2011-12-19T08:17:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Jesus Condemns Hypocrisy and hypocrites: Matthew 23/13-15: "How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You lock the door to the Kingdom of heaven in people's faces, but you yourselves don't go in, nor do you allow in those who are trying to enter! How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You sail the seas and cross whole countries to win one convert; and when you succeed, you make him twice as deserving of going to hell as you yourselves are

Hypocrisy, cowardice, selfishness, hatred and deceit are the main evil manifestations of our evil instincts. These instincts are constantly Endeavoring to distance us away from the spiritual Godly gifts, especially the great gift of love, in a bid to lead our steps into temptation and to make us easy indefensible and helpless preys for the devil and his venomous works.

In fact the actual devil is inside us. He is deeply root in our instincts of hatred, malice, revenge, greed, sex, vice, jealousy, war, selfishness and the list goes on and. It is up to us to either be Godly and hail the Godly spiritual gifts, or to become blind heart and soul, fully surrender to lust and accept the slavery of our evil instincts.

The choice is ours, no body's else. This big choice decides the path that we shall walk on the Day of Judgment. Either back to our Godly mansions in heaven, or to Hell where there will be no end for pain, and grinding of teeth

Our hardest on going struggle and challenge is not with any body, but with ourselves. We are fully and solely accountable for all our deeds. Accordingly if we have faith and believe in God we are ought to be fully aware of the Day of Judgment no matter what.

If we keep in mind this inevitable accountability day and remember that we come from dust; and to dust we shall return, then we could tame our instincts, follow the ten Commandments and abide by them in all that we say, think and do.

When we fear God and succeed in taming and reining our instincts we become Godly and good people, love others and work for the welfare of our countries and people. The greatest wisdom lies in the constant remembering of the Judgment Day when we will face God to pay for our deeds. No one can carry with him from this mortal earthly world but his deeds. These deeds are the only and only assets that matter on the Judgment Day

When we get confused, worship money and all the other perishable world riches, forget all about the Judgment Day and its inevitable accountability, fail to control the evil desires of our instincts and succumb to their lust and insatiable tendencies, we become mere tools for these instincts and abandon every thing that is Godly and human.

Our beloved countries, as well as our families and people depend on us to be righteous and to adhere to the values of love, forgiveness, tolerance, acceptance of others and to fear Almighty God in every word we utter and with each act that we do.

While we are approaching Christmas, we need to fill ourselves with its spirit and act accordingly. The spirit of love, modesty, forgiveness and holiness.

Let us pray, that we and every body else shall wake up from the coma of selfishness and remember the true meaning of love as Jesus taught us.

"My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them". (John 15/12-13)

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

Faith, Love, Commandments And Works

2011-12-07T07:02:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

John 15/10: " If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love".

Do not ever be ashamed or feel guilty for having a good, loving, caring and forgiving heart. There is nothing wrong when we adopt an on going extended hand attitude with a positive approach in face of setbacks, betrayals, hardships, disappointments, enmities and all sorts of difficulties. It is extremely righteous for each one of us to genuinely turn off any page that has been dark, painful and non functional to go on with life journey looking for what is like ourselves and not like any body else.

Righteous virtues are not the out come of weakness but of strength, not of naivety, but of nobility, not of cowardice, but of great courage. Only people with strong faith can cherish and hold to such life qualities and practice what they preach.

We all ought to continuously remember that flowers are not ashamed from the intensity of their fragrant and beauty, nor the sun is shy of its light. The sun shines on all people, bad and good, poor and rich, sick and healthy. We have to be so generous with every body else and non judgmental like the water spring that provides water to who ever comes to drink without asking questions. It abundantly gives to who ever is thirsty

Our Life is always what we want it to be. When we pursue misery, miserable it will become. When we look for happiness, happiness shall prevail. Faith in God is a cornerstone in our lives provided we complete it with works.

With faith we get hope and respect for life itself. We know who we are, who created us and why on His image. We come to fully recognize where we are, what is right and what is wrong and to understand that all people, no matter what the color of their skin is are our bothers and sisters and that Almighty God is our Loving Father.

Faith opens both minds and hearts on the Judgment Day when either we go back to our God's mansions or be thrown in Hell.

Faith equips us with a clear criteria for what is right and wrong, righteous and evil, acceptable and unacceptable.
Faith helps us to enjoy self respect, dignity and actual internal peace.
Faith makes us believe in equality and in practicing it to its full in our lives.
Faith teaches us to accept ourselves and others for who we are.
Faith makes us recognize that each person is a unique entity.
Faith makes us understand without any doubts that by the end, no matter what, the devil and the evil people will never be victorious. Why? because God, Our Father does not allow that to happen.

Faithful people know for sure that evil may prevail for some time, but the last word is for Almighty God and for every thing that is Godly.
Faithful people know for sure that injustice may prevail for some time, but the last word is always for God's Justice.
Faithful people know for sure that hatred may win for some time, but the last word is for love

Why by the end evil never wins and is always defeated and downtrodden?
Simply because the Lord is stronger than all evil, all injustice, all grudges and all sorts of hatred, and most importantly because He is the God of peace, forgiveness, Justice and love.

God Himself is love, Yes, God is love and the Bible tells us clearly that the act of loving is the cornerstone of all commandments.
Matthew 22/37-40: "Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Saint Peter's description of love is so powerful: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13/4-8)

Can any one love and hate at the same time? No not the righteous ones who know that hatred and love can not live together. Only hypocrites can do that. And yes they might succeed in fooling and tricking others for a while, but never they can fool or trick Almighty God.

In conclusion: Love Does Not Seek its own and does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Love rejoices with the truth. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ" (Romans 10/17)., But at the same time "Faith Without Works Is Dead" as Saint James ( 2/14-20) explains: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead".

Let us pray for the God of Love to fill our hearts and minds with the gifts of love, modesty, forgiveness and not to subject us to the final test.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

Deport Hezbollah's militants and leadership to Iran

2011-11-30T16:20:00.000-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani

What should the Lebanese people, the Arab countries, Israel and the free world do with Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist militia and its armed ministate, when the Syrian Assad regime falls? Some ignorant and short-sighted leaders in Lebanon are proposing that the government should buy Hezbollah’s weaponry and recruit most of its mujahedin fighters into the Lebanese army. In fact this is the most stupid, sickening, evil and fatal formula for Lebanon.

In case such a proposal is executed, Hezbollah will simply take over Lebanon, enslave its people and remain a serious threat not only to neighboring Israel and to peace and stability in the Middle East, but a cancerous ongoing threat to each and every Arab country and to the global war against terrorism and terrorists.

The thousands and thousands of Hezbollah's fighters, the mujahedin were physically, psychologically, mentally, militarily, ethically, socially, religiously and dogmatically trained by Iran and turned into Iranian mujahedin that have nothing, completely nothing in common with Lebanon, the Arab countries and the free world.

What all the Lebanese and worldwide strategists and politicians must be aware of is that Hezbollah's leadership and fighters including its General Secretary, Hassan Nasrallah, have no respect for human dignity, human rights, democracy, freedom, judiciary or even the human mind. Nothing in their thinking and minds is Lebanese or Arabic or human at all because of their extensive Iranian kind of training and breeding. They are all entrapped psychologically in a very sickening mentality that sees no one, respects no one and recognizes no one but the Iranian mullahs' leadership.

Hezbollah's leadership and its mujahedin are totally entrapped in their own world of Iranian denominational fantasies and dogmas. Accordingly, the criteria and standards of what is right and wrong to which they abide, honor and follow are totally set up and shaped by the Iranian mullahs. These anti-democratic and oppressive criteria and standards are continuously manipulated, changed, adjusted and shuffled by the Iranian mullahs to suit their dream of reviving the Persian Empire.

Due to this twisted psychological and radical Islamic religious training and breeding, Hezbollah's leadership is unpredictable and cannot be trusted by any means. They are blood merchants and sadly their merchandise is the people of Lebanon, including their own community members. They do not care who starves or even who dies. They have no actual or permanent allies or friends, only hired and temporary followers and mercenaries, who have been bought with the Iranian petrodollar "Clean Money".

In reality and actuality and based on the scientific and strategic vision and studies of numerous well respected worldwide think tanks, Hezbollah is the most dangerous terrorist militia in the world, much more lethal than even Al Qaeda.

Based on all of the above, the 14th of March Lebanese coalition must not compromise on any basic issue with Hezbollah on the account of Lebanon's constitution, human rights, multiculturalism or the country's ties and relations with the UN, Arab countries, and free world.

Hopefully the leadership of this pro- Lebanon independence, freedom and sovereignty coalition by now has learned from its previous naive, short-sighted and fatal mistakes and miscalculations that ultimately put Hezbollah and its puppet allies in power with full control over the Lebanese government, parliament, presidency and armed forces.

Logic, reason, past experience and facts must teach this coalition not again to come to Hezbollah's rescue when the Syrian regime falls as was the stupid situation in 2006 in the aftermath of the Hezbollah-Israeli war. This coalition obstructed in 2006 the UN General Assembly from Implementing UN Resolution 1701 under chapter seven, leaving Hezbollah to rearm and control the whole country.

When the Syrian Assad regimes falls, Hezbollah's fighters and leadership on all levels must be deported with all their weaponry caches to Iran and never ever integrated into the Lebanese armed forces.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army itself needs to be shuffled and reconstructed due to the fact that Hezbollah, Syria and Iran have turned it into a mere useless and helpless militia that they use and abuse.

The model for dealing with Hezbollah when the Syrian Assad regime falls has been created in 1982 and in 2000.
In 1982 the free world, UN and Israel forced Arafat and his PLO fighters and terrorists to leave Lebanon to Tunisia, Yemen and other Arab countries.
In 2000 Israel took with her the South Lebanese Army Soldiers when it implemented UN Resolution 525 and withdrew unilaterally from South Lebanon.

In conclusion, these two already accomplished examples must be taken into real and serious consideration when the time comes to end Hezbollah as a state inside the state and disarm its militia.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

Lebanon's Confiscated Independence

2011-11-22T12:46:00.000-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani

This morning, Lebanon sadly celebrated its 68th Independence Day. The celebration was for some thing that actually does exist at all, because Lebanon is not independent by any standard or criteria. The country unfortunately is fully and totally occupied by the Axis Of Evil powers, Syria, Iran and their militant terrorist organization, Hezbollah.

Meanwhile all the current Lebanese officials, on all levels, and in all positions, especially the high-ranking ones; The President, The Prime Minister, the House Speaker, and the army and internal Security Chiefs are all either Syrian-Iranian puppets, or cowards who have no guts to execute their duties and national obligations.

The present Lebanese government headed by Mr. Najeb Mikati has nothing at all to do with Lebanon or its people. In reality it is Hezbollah's government no more, no less, and came to power through a series coupe of intimidation, terror, criminal acts, assassinations and savage military invasions.

In this context those Lebanese subservient officials who celebrated the independence event today and accepted congratulations in the country's presidential Palace, are in fact mere mercenaries who have sold Lebanon, its people, and its independence to Syria, Iran and their proxy Hezbollah. With no shame or dignity, they openly take their orders directly from Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah and from his both masters, Iran and Syria.

These low class Lebanese officials were not the right ones to be congratulated as the sad and disgusting situation today, but the ones that must be arrested and put on trial for being actual obstacles for reclaiming the confiscated independence and sovereignty.

The congratulations must have gone to Lebanon's martyrs and their families who offered themselves on the country's alter so the Lebanese people can still live with dignity, freedom and not enslaved.

Yes, celebrating the Independence Day is a must and surely a national obligation, but only, and only, when occupied Lebanon is again free, independent and Sovereign. Until this day comes, the day of liberation, and definitely its coming, all celebration like the ones that took place today in Lebanon's capital Beirut are evil charades for puppets, traitors and mercenaries.

In this realm of treason, sin and camouflage, it is worth mentioning that the current Lebanese governing bodies with no exception are all under the full control of Syria, Iran and Hezbollah. Accordingly all countries who really want to help Lebanon and the Lebanese people to reclaim their confiscated independence need to exert all available and possible pressures on Syria and Iran to leave Lebanon and put an end for their evil hegemony and atrocities that they are inflicting on the free Lebanese people.

Because of Lebanon's Martyrs very generous sacrifices, we the Lebanese people remained and Lebanon remained and by God's will we shall remain till the last hour as long as our patriotic and faithful women and men are always ready to defend Lebanon and its freedom. God bless the Souls of all Lebanon's martyrs and safeguard Lebanon and its people.

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

History shall have no mercy for Al Assad and his puppet Lebanese Mercinaries

2011-11-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

Elias Bejjani
The end of the criminal Syrian Al Assad regime is looming and it is only a matter of time before it is toppled by the Syrian people.

Meanwhile all those Syrian and Iranian Lebanese puppets, mercenaries, merchants of fake libration, obstruction and resistance including Hezbollah, Aoun, Mikati, Suleiman and all the other cheap and mean subservient evil creatures will experience the same end as their master Al Assad and dictatorship regime.

History shall have no mercy for them and their ultimate rest will be in its dust bin with disgrace and shame.

No matter what Lebanon will be liberated and its peace loving people by God's will shall again enjoy independence, Freedom, and sovereignty.

With Profit Isaiah (33-01) we loudly remind the oppressors with their definite end: " Our enemies are doomed! They have robbed and betrayed, although no one has robbed them or betrayed them. But their time to rob and betray will end, and they themselves will become victims of robbery and treachery".

لبنان دولة مارقة وفاشلة وحكامه أوباش ومرتزقة
الياس بجاني/14 ت2"/11/مؤسف ومحزن أن يصل حال وطننا الأم لبنان إلى هذا الدرك الميليشياوي والفوضوي والمأساوي والخطير على كل الصعد وعلى مختلف المستويات حيث أصبح بحكمه وحكامه ومسؤوليه وسياسييه ورجال دينه ومؤسساته غريباً عن أهله ولم يعد يشبههم بشيء ولا عاد على صورتهم ومثالهم بعدما تفشى سرطان حزب الله الإيراني القاتل والفيرس البعثي الفتاك في مؤسساته الحكومية والمدنية ونخر عظامها وحولها إلى هياكل لا حياة ولا روح فيها. مؤسف ومعيب ومخجل أن يصوت لبنان الحكم ضد ثورة الشعب السوري في الجامعة العربية ويقف إلى جانب الطاغية الأسد ويناصر المجرمين وفرق الشبيحة. مؤسف أن بتبجح كل من ميشال سليمان والميقاتي والساقط ميشال عون وباقي ربع المعالف والتبن والمال النظيف والحلال بتأييدهم لنظام لا يعرف غير لغة القنل والدم ولم يجلب للبنان غير المآسي والمصائب منذ العام 1975. من هنا نعلنها مدوية ونقول إن لبنان الوطن هو رهينة مخطوفة ودولة مارقة ومحتلة من دولتي محور الشر والإرهاب سوريا وإيران والمنظمات الإرهابية التابعة لهما مباشرة مثل حزب الله وغيره من أدوات القتل والفجور والمكر والجحود. إلا أن زمن المحل هذا أشرف على نهايته وكذلك نهاية أهل الظلم والفجور وهز الأصابع وأصحاب الحناجر المؤجرة في سوريا ولبنان، ومع النبي اشعيا (33-01)نردد: "ويل لك ايها المخرب وانت لم تخرب، وايها الناهب ولم ينهبوك. حين تنتهي من التخريب تخرب، وحين تفرغ من النهب ينهبونك".

Honor Your Father And Mother

2011-11-12T05:03:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani

One very important concept and an extremely wise approach MUST apply and prevail when reading the Holy Bible in a bid to understand its contents and observe the Godly instructions and life guidelines that are enlisted. The concept needs to be a faith one with an open frame of mind free from questioning and challenges.

Meanwhile the approach and interpretation both MUST be kept within the abstract manner, thinking and mentality frame, and not in the concrete way of thinking and interpretation. The Biblical quote (Matthew 15/04"For God said, Respect your father and your mother, and If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death), must not be read concretely and taken merely in its verbatim content. I posted this verse in both English and Arabic yesterday on my Face Book page and was moved by the kind of comments that it generated.

Below are three of these comments:
1-"I pray that this does not apply to teenagers?"

2-"Who else would it apply to? From teenagers to adults to married to parents...Until their own parents die; then they weep and wail"

3- "Thank goodness because I think we would all be dead if it applied to teenagers at some point, just learning about the "teenage years" with my oldest"

This verse simply dwells on The Fifth Biblical Commandment: "Honor your Father and Mother". To grasp this verse rightfully and put it in its right faith content one should understand that death in the Bible is not the death of the body as we experience and see on earth. DEATH in the Bible means the SIN that leads to the eternal anguish in Hell.

The Bible teaches us that through His crucifixion, death and resurrection Jesus defeated death in its ancient human, earthly concept. He broke the death thorn and since than, the actual death became the sin. Those who commit the sin die and on the judgment day are outcast to the eternal fire. Death for the believers is a temporary sleep on the hope of resurrection.

Accordingly the verse "If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death", means that those who do not honor their parents, help, support and respect them commit a deadly sin and God on the Judgment Day will make them accountable. God is a Father, a loving, passionate and caring One, and in this content He made the honoring of parents one of the Ten Commandments.

Below are three Biblical verses that documents the Fifth Commandment
1-“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

2-“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16)

3-“You shall each revere your mother and father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:3)
In conclusion: The abstract and faith interpretation of the quote in question, (Matthew 15/04"For God said, Respect your father and your mother, and If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death), must not be related to children or teenagers who because of an age and maturity factors might temporarily repel against their parents and disobey them.

Hopefully, each and every one of us, no matter what religion or denomination he/she is affiliated to will never ever ignore his parents and commit the deadly SIN of not honoring them through every way and mean especially when they are old and unable to take care of themselves.

في أعلى تفسير للوصية الخامسة من الوصايا العشرة التي تقول باحترام وتكريم الأب والأم. كما تشرع معنى الموت في المسيحية. الموت هو الخطيئة وليس موت الجسد فنحن لا نموت بل نرقد على رجاء القيامة. المسيح بصلبه وموته وقيامته قهر الموت وكسر شوكته.

Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

Everlasting Peace in the Middle East requires tolerance and acceptance of others

2011-11-07T10:34:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani

Unless the Arab countries and Arab people give up on their deeply rooted education of hostility, hatred, terrorism, and rejection of others who belong to different religions, denominations, cultures, ethnicities, and minorities, they will remain living in the stone age era and isolated from the rest of the civilized and free democratic world.

The Arab countries and people are required to immediately start amending their educational curriculums and media regulations to begin peacefully and seriously raising their new generations on a set of principles that respect those different others without persecuting and apartheid mentality as the on going shameful status quo is in Egypt where Coptic Christians are not treated as second class citizens and savagely persecuted.

All actual realities and facts indicates clearly that there will be no revolutions or uprisings that can help the Arab countries to be free, democratic and take their respectable place among other free nations if they do not pursue real change.

If they do not do so they will keep on getting out of one devastating trap and falling into another, toppling one dictator and endorsing another.

Education tolerance, peace and acceptance of others are the kind of revolutions and uprisings that the Arab world and people need urgently.

In order for the Arab world and people to actually and practically move on successfully to the twenty-first centaury and live in peace and harmony among themselves and with their neighbors, especially with Israel, they must first free themselves from the deadly education of hostilities and unequivocally, completely and without any conservations honor, abide by and practice The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

Below is the Arabic summary for the editorial

ثقافة الحقد ورفض الآخر هي المشكلة الأساس في الدول العربية
الياس بجاني/06 تشرين الثاني/11/إن السلام الدائم والعادل في الدول العربية نفسها ومع بعضها البعض ومع جيرانها بمن فيهم إسرائيل لن يتحقق قبل أن تتخلص الشعوب العربية كافة من كل عاهات ثقافة الكراهية والعداء والتمييز العنصري ورفض الأخر المختلف بدينه ومذهبه ووضعه الاجتماعي والعددي وتبدأ كل تلك الدول ودون استثناء بتغيير مناهجها التعليمية الرسمية وسياساتها الإعلامية بقناعة تامة بهدف تربية وتنشئة الأجيال الجديدة على مبدأ قبول الأخر واحترامه وتقديس كل حقوقه وحرياته دون اضطهاد وكراهية وفوقية كما هو للأسف الحال المعيب في مصر حيث يُضطهد الأقباط المسيحيون ويعاملون معاملة دونية. إن ثقافة العداء ورفض الآخر هي مشكلة الدول العربية الأساسية وطالما لم تتغير هذه الثقافة لن تجدي كل الثورات والانتفاضات وسوف يرحل طاغية ليحل مكانه آخر أسوأ منه وهكذا دواليك. المطلوب من هذه الدول الدول ومن شعوبها أن تحترم كرامة الإنسان قولاً وفعلاً وتصون حقوقه وتؤمن له حريته وتلتزم في دساتيرها شرعة حقوق الإنسان العالمية وإلا "فالج لا تعالج"

Crucifying Dr. Walid Phares and the Facts

2011-11-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

By Elias Bejjani*

It was very sad, extremely annoying and so frustrating to myself as a proud Lebanese Christian activist and to many, many of my own people all over the globe to observe that our honest and genuinely "patriotic Lebanese Christian Resistance Forces" (1975-1990) were unfairly blemished, and wrongly portrayed as an organization of terrorism and massacres in the heated debate that has been raging for weeks in the USA media between supporters and opponents of Dr. Walid Phares, the renowned American Lebanese Christian intellectual who immigrated to the USA in 1990. Phares's opponents are trying to crucify him on the basis that he was a member in our resistance after he was appointed as the Middle East Adviser for Mitt Romney.

While it is a given right and a legitimate practice for those who oppose or support Dr. Phares's appointment to this very critical and influential position to debate the issue and use all arguments, reason and defaults to advocate for their own stances and views, we strongly believe that it is not ethical, fair, legal or even humane in any way to falsely portray our Lebanese Christian Resistance Forces as a terrorist group and tag its previous or current supporters, members and leadership accordingly as terrorists or advocates for terrorism.

The issue here is not if Dr. Phares was a member in this resistance or not because basically there was no membership in this public resistance, but as far as we are concerned the issue goes much further than that when unjustly and viciously the Lebanese Christian Resistance is attacked in the USA media and falsely portrayed as a bunch of brutal murderers who committed massacres. No, No, these mere lies are actual atrocities against our people, and are not acceptable and have no ground in reality whatsoever.

It is worth mentioning that the ongoing Lebanese crisis and dilemma since the early seventies are so complicated even for the Lebanese intellectuals themselves to understand and explain due to the sophisticated fact that it is so interwoven and tied to the Israeli-Arab conflict, as well to regional, sectarian, cultural, educational and religious historical enmities, difficulties and contradictions. Also because of the expansionism and savage ambitions of many Middle East dictators and fanatics spearheaded by the Syrian Baathist regime, the mullahs of Iran, the terrorist group Hezbollah, the Palestinian armed militias, and many others.

In this piece I will refute and strongly criticize the rhetoric of both opponents and supporters of Dr. Phares's appointment for the superficial and naive manner in which our resistance was portrayed and dealt. The opponents tried to criminalize Phares for being a member in our resistance and the supporters fell in this trap and tried stupidly to cosmetically justify his involvement instead of explaining the reality of this great resistance.

Below are some facts that hopefully all those involved in the debate will grasp and accordingly correct their fallacies and wrong information about our resistance:

1- Our resistance was not an organization, a party, a militia or an army. It was all our people; yes merely all our people, men, women, children and the clergy. It was in every village and city where our people lived. The Lebanese Christians were forced to defend their own lives, faith, freedom, entity and the core of their existence after the PLO, Syria, the Arab regimes, many Muslim countries, and 10th of Islamic and Arabic extremist organizations militarily invaded Lebanon and waged a holy war against the Christians in a bid to erect a substitute state for the Palestinians and then use it as a base to attack Israel and fight the West.

2-The Lebanese army as well as the rest of the state institutions were either controlled by the invaders or helpless and unable to execute their obligations. Our people were faced with two choices: either to be killed and slaughtered like sheep, or to defend themselves and stand tall like their Holy Cedars. They did defend themselves and because of their faith, love for their country, dignity, sacrifices and heroism, were able to hold and remain in their country. Our resistance was always in the defensive and never ever in the offensive status.

3- Our people had to buy their own weapons and ammunition from their own pockets; not even one country in the world came to their rescue. Up till 1990, there was no membership in this resistance because all the residents of the Christian villages and cities, including the clergymen and nuns, were the resistance. Accordingly, every Christian residing in the regions that were not conquered by the invaders was an active fighter and a resistance member, each individual in his/her own capacity.

4- Due to a drastic lack of finances, Arab attacks on all levels, intimidation, imprisonment, forced displacement and exodus, persecution and ethnic cleansing, our resistance was not able to advocate for its holy and patriotic cause in any country, while our enemies who are now officially recognized and listed as terrorists in the Western and Free World and with their petrodollars (Wahabists, Kaddafi, Sadam, Iran, Yemen, Somalia, PLO, etc.) were able to exert a tremendous influence on world media facilities, governments and thinking tanks, especially in the USA, Canada and many European countries. They distorted and falsified facts and attributed to our resistance crimes and massacres like Sabra and Chatila, while covering up the hundreds of brutal massacres that they inflicted on our people and still do.

5- It is worth mentioning that the Sabra and Chatila massacre was not committed by our resistance nor by the Israeli Army, but by Mr. Elie Hobeika, a Lebanese forces military leader, and his men. Hobeika's stinking reality was unveiled after the Syrian army invaded and conquered all of Lebanon in 1990. He was a top notch Syrian agent, which simply means that the Syrian regime was fully responsible for this terrible crime. Seeing what the Syria regime is inflicting on its own people during the last months explains the identity of this butcher.

6- Christians in Lebanon are peace loving people, faithful, respect coexistence, honor human rights, and are enriched with a deeply rooted history of 7,000 years. More than two million Americans are Christian Lebanese descendents while 12-14 million Lebanese Christians are living peacefully, productively and honorably in almost every country in the world. Dr. Walid Phares is one of those people who carry the Lebanese message of peace wherever they go or settle. We honestly believe that he is a great asset to the position that is debated and not the contrary.

In conclusion, if we can tag our troops in Afghanistan who are fighting terrorism as dangerous to hold any position when they return home, than we can crucify Phares for being a Lebanese Christian who with his people were forced to defend themselves against all those who are now recognized worldwide as terrorists and our troops are fighting them all over the world.

Hopefully this explanatory message will make some difference for those involved in the Phares's appointment debate because our Lebanese Christian Resistance Forces are as noble and genuine as was the patriotic French Resistance and even more.

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

Israel Is Not the Enemy, But the Syrian and Iranian Axis Of Evil Regimes are

2011-10-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

Elias Bejjani

My new Arabic editorial (text/Audio) carries the title: "Israel Is Not the Enemy, But the Syrian and Iranian Axis Of Evil Regimes are". It focuses with complete openness and transparency on "Israel The Enemy" tag and dissects it to differentiate with solid facts reality from fantasy and truth from lies. In actual reality this tag is bogus, demagogue, deceptive and fantasizing

Sadly its misleading rhetoric has been used and abused for the last sixty years as a camouflaging and evil self destructive means by numerous Arab countries, Iran and terrorist organizations. All of those who carried this tag, countries and organization, did so to justify their dictatorships, and the oppression, persecution, impoverishing and killing of their own people.

That was the situation with Kaddafi of Libya, Nasser of Egypt, the two Assads of Syria, Iranian Mullahs, Hamas, Hezbollah etc. Day after day allas facts, setbacks, loses, disasters and corruption show that these so called heroes of "Resistance and Liberation" are mere cheap and mean merchants that have no conscience, patriotism, credibility, faith or any respect for their own people, or human dignity.

Lebanon and its people have suffered the most from this big lie and heresy and still are. Since the early seventies most of the Arab rulers and Iran turned Lebanon by force, terrorism and crime, and against the will of the majority of its people into an arena and backyard for absurd wars against Israel.

The PLO destroyed Lebanon and instigated a civil war in the seventies and eighties, and now Hezbollah, the Iranian armed terrorist militant organization is taking the country and its people a hostage under the same pretext of fighting Israel, "the enemy".

Loudly we say, Israel is not the actual enemy but both the Syrian and Iranian regimes with their Lebanese and Palestinian terrorist armed proxies. It is time for all the Lebanese as well as for the Arab people to wake up and start dealing seriously with their two aggressive and dictatorship enemies, the Syrian and Iranian regimes

Arabic links Audio/Text
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias%20arabic11/elias%20enemies28.10.11.htm
http://www.bejjani46.com/bejjaninews11/eliastaelek.israel30.10.wma

Let the axis of evil mouthpieces cry and scream in vain

2011-10-14T21:43:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Let every Lebanese and Maronite take note: we do not see in Bchara Al Raei a genuine Maronite Patriarch, but a man of cloth and a Trojan horse who is doing all that he can in numerous devious, sinister and camouflaged ways, rhetoric, sermons, speeches, interviews, statements, manners, patterns and styles to make our peace-loving Lebanese people fall into temptation and commit suicide by siding with dictatorships, murderers, terrorists and outlaws, exactly like Beelzebub, the prince of demons.

Accordingly, we can't and must not debate or argue with those who are viciously defending the Syrianized and Iranianized Al Raei anti-Christian, anti-Lebanese, anti-peace, anti-democracy anti-faith stances and evil rhetoric because this same bunch of opportunists, terrorists, Pharisees and mercenaries is defending the Syrian and Iranian dictatorial regimes and hailing Hezbollah's terrorism and the ongoing conspiracy of the axis of evil countries to devour Lebanon and erect a replicate of the Iranian mullahs' radical Islamist regime.

In reality, these people, regardless of their social, religious or political statuses or names, are merely an echoing trumpet, cheap opportunists and ignoramuses. Meanwhile, we can and we should peacefully and wisely continue to loudly voice our own patriotic and faithful convictions, and free opinions.

We have an obligation to act in an honest and morally responsible way to strengthen a free Lebanon, for the sacrifices of our martyrs, and, at the same time, to courageously expose the hazardous, fatal and devastating consequences of Al Raei’s derailed stances and rhetoric.

It worth mentioning that getting involved directly or indirectly with those mercenaries and Trojan horses in arguments or debates is a complete waste of time and effort and makes us lose track of our main cause. We don’t need to stoop that low because we surely know who they are, who their masters are and what exactly their evil aims are.

So let them say whatever they like, distort the truth, lie as they choose, cry and scream as loud as they can. On our side we have to keep confidently and honestly saying what we have to say with no fear or any kind of hesitation or shame.

We MUST not be distracted from being ourselves, from whom really we are, from our holy patriotic cause, from the truth and foundations of honesty and transparency. We must keep on advocating for human rights, freedom and peace because we are Lebanese and because Lebanon's prime message is peace, coexistence, multiculturalism, freedom and acceptance of others.

For those who are hesitant, spineless, procrastinating, acting with humiliating cowardice like puppets, not taking honorable stances and are afraid to stand tall like the Holy Cedars of their beloved Lebanon and tell Al Raei what they think about his pro- axis of evil stance, we say what Jesus said to His disciples: "Why are you so frightened? What little faith you have!" (Matthew 08/26)

The real challenge for all patriotic Lebanese Maronite Christians as well as for all the peace-loving Lebanese mosaic communities in Lebanon and the diaspora lies in their crucial success in exposing and aborting all Al Raei pro-axis of evil endeavors.

The prime question for all Maronites who hail Lebanon's message of peace and multiculturalism is whether we are going to allow the derailed Al Raei keep our Maronite church as a mere puppet and satellite revolving in the axis of evil's orbit without mounting a tough and faithful opposition? Are we going to take a staunch stand against him or will we act like sheep and walk silently to the slaughterhouse? The two choices are very clear and distinct: either the slaughterhouse or a free and democratic Lebanon.

In conclusion, we are against Al Raei's political choices both in Lebanon and in neighboring Syria. In Lebanon he sided with Hezbollah's ministate and destructive and deadly arsenal against the Lebanese constitution, the judiciary, the Taef Agreement, the Charter of Human Rights and the UN resolutions related to the ongoing Lebanese crisis. He also adopted Hezbollah's hostile stance against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). Meanwhile, regionally he is supporting Al Assad’s criminal Syrian regime against the Syrian uprising and falsely alleging that this notorious dictatorship is protecting the Christians in the Middle East.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

Egyptian authorities commits a heinous crime against Coptic Christians

2011-10-10T10:55:00.000-07:00

Elias Bejjani*

What is a shame and a disgrace, when the Military Egyptian authorities with no mercy, and with cold blood commits a heinous and barbaric massacre against unarmed Coptic Christian civilians who were just protesting in a peaceful and civilized manner the shameful atrocity of burning one of their churches by fundamentalist (in the village of Elmarinab in Edfu, Aswan).

Click Here to read the report that shows the details of the savage attack http://www.aina.org/news/20111010003621.htm

On Sunday, Egyptian military forces attacked the Coptic demonstrators savagely using all kinds of weapons including armored vehicles, tanks and tear gases. Initial reports indicated that at lease 35 Coptics were killed and more than 300 injured. The number of the victims could rise dramatically as many bodies are still unidentified and disfigured beyond recognition.

We strongly condemn this savage crime of hatred and barbarism and call upon the Egyptian authorities to assume their full responsibilities and once and forever stop justifying their anti Coptic crimes with false fabrications and empty accusations of foreign conspiracies.

An immediate judicial thorough investigation must be carried out without any delay under international supervision. All officials and military personnel who instigated and executed the criminal attack must be held responsible and put on trial.

Apparently, the ruling Egyptian Military Council has completely abandoned its governing responsibilities, negated its security obligations and with the Salafist fundementalists is openly persecuting and murdering the Coptics. The crime of yesterday is a huge insult to the military Egyptian rulers and to all the Arab countries .

It has become a must that the persecuted, threatened, scared and abandoned Copts call on the UN and Free World countries to step in and protect them from their own rulers, army and people. The Free World countries and UN have a moral obligation to intervene by all available means and on all levels in a bid to protect the Egyptian Copts and to condemn the escalating anti-Coptic stances that the military rulers of Egypt are taking, while the fanatical Muslim Salafists are attacking the Copts, invading their homes, killing them, burning their churches and threatening to kill their clergy.

We offer our heartily felt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in Egypt yesterday and wish a quick recovery to those who were injured. Our thoughts are with all those were affected by the savage crime.

In conclusion, it’s the national duty of the Egyptian state and people to produce an effective legal, social and security apparatus through which the safety, freedom, faith, churches and property of the Copts are safeguarded from the savagery of the Salafists and other fanatics.

Meanwhile, all Copts' rights as equal Egyptian citizens should be fully honored without racism, discrimination or injustice. And most importantly, both Article Two of the Egyptian constitution and the "Hamayoni Decree" (a clause in the Egyptian law, dating back from Ottoman rule, February 1856, that regulates Church construction and maintenance), MUST be abolished.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/

To the Maronite Patriarch Bchara Al Raei: Read, Repent And offer The Penances

2011-10-01T16:42:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Below is an open and actual message for your Beatitude, a message from Iran.

Please note that an Iranian court has imposed the death sentence on Yousef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old protestant preacher, for apostasy after he repeatedly refused to recant his Christian faith.

Against all Christian values, teachings and the faith of the majority of your people the Maronites all over the world, you have boldly and with no shame sided with the Iranian and Syrian regimes of Axis of Evil.

Not only you hailed their criminal atrocities but also you have been advocating for their Hezbollah's proxy arsenal of destruction and terrorism in Lebanon.

We wonder how a man of cloth with you noble status and position would abandon Jesus Christ, as well as the historical convictions of the Maronite Church and replicate Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus who handed Him to the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver. Below is a report, an actual one, a human Dilemma that shows in reality how the Iranian regime that you blindly support is protecting and safeguarding the Christians. Is this the kind of protection that you are endeavoring to bring to the Lebanese Christians? Shame on you!!

We call on you to repent, ask Almighty God for forgiveness and to immediately revoke all your pro Axis of Evil stances and offer the required penances.

At the same time we reiterate our call for all the Maronites in the USA to boycott all the events where you will be present during your pastoral visit. Again you do not represent us, we the Maronites and accordingly we have no what so ever obligation to abide with your instructions and political stances.

Read the below report and take action!!

Death Sentence on Christian Leader Yousef Nadarkhani
http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2011/sep/29/death-sentence-christian-leader-yousef-nadarkhani
30 SEP 2011 Comments'I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant.'
[ quote, unquote ] An Iranian court has imposed the death sentence on Yousef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old protestant preacher, for apostasy after he repeatedly refused to recant his Christian faith. The verdict has generated international condemnation this week. The following are excerpts from the verdict and U.S. and British reaction.
Reported excerpts from the court verdict"He has frequently denied the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam and the rule of the sacred religion of Islam. And he has proven his apostasy by organizing evangelistic meetings and inviting others to Christianity, establishing a house church, baptizing people, expressing his faith to others and denying Islamic values."
-- National Post
"Yousef Nadarkhani confessed that he converted to Christianity and helped other people to convert and named himself a shepherd and insisted in Christianity. He doesn't believe in Mohammad, Imams and the Quran.
"The contents of the file also support these facts but investigation is needed to prove that he was a Muslim after the age of maturity and practicing Islam. There is not any witness from friends, relatives, family and Muslim people who were in contact with him so the file is incomplete.
"According to the sentence of Imams such as [Ayatollah] Khomeini, the witness is needed to prove whether or not he was a Muslim and if he was a Muslim but remained unwilling to repent, the execution ruling is to be issued."
-- New Statesman
Pastor Nadarkhani statement refusing to recant: "I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant."
White House statement on the verdict Sept. 29: "The United States condemns the conviction of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people. That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations.
"A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion.
Cong. John Boehner on religious persecution in Iran, Sept. 28: "Religious freedom is a universal human right. The reports that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani will be sentenced to death by the Iranian government unless he disavows his Christian faith are distressing for people of every country and creed. While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare Yousef Nadarkhani's life, and grant him a full and unconditional release.
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Sept 28: "Despite the finding that Mr. Nadarkhani did not convert to Christianity as an adult, the court continues to demand that he recant his faith or otherwise be executed. The most recent court proceedings are not only a sham, but are contrary to Iranian law and international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague's statement Sept. 28: "I deplore reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith. This demonstrates the Iranian regime's continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom. I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence."
**This article is presented by Tehran Bureau, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars as part of the Iran project at iranprimer.usip.org.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php

Patriarch Bchara Al Raei Does Not Represent Us

2011-09-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*
october 01/11

The derailed, Syrianized and Iranianized Maronite Patriach Bchara Al Raei Al Raei will be visiting the USA tomorrow for 19 long days. Let us as patriotic diaspora Christian Maronites in particular and free Lebanese in general be loud, courageous witnesses for the truth and say to this man of cloth a big NO for all his denounced and shameful pro-Axis of Evil stances and rhetoric.

Let us tell him with no hesitation, fear, or shame that we the Christian Maronites adore peace, fear Almighty God, hail coexistence, advocate for democracy and acceptance of others, and accordingly we cannot support killers and murderers or keep a blind eye on human rights' criminal atrocities in neighboring Syria or in any other county all over the world.

Let us be what we are and what we proudly have been for 7,000 years: a people of love, peace, faith, devotion, and openness.

Let this arrogant, conceited and estranged Patriarch take note that a Maronite noble and faithful clergyman is not recognized, respected or honored by us the Maronites when he against all our deeply rooted history, culture, faith and education supports the terrorist Hezbollah's arsenal of terrorism, destruction and invasions, stupidly sides with the evil Syrian regime, shamelessly advocates hatred and sickening grudges against other religious denominations in Lebanon, blesses Hezbollah's oppressive and occupational government in Lebanon, opposes the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, does not witness for the truth no matter what the hardships are, does not honor the sacrifices of our great martyrs, and is not meek, loving, forgiving and humble.

We call on all our brothers and sisters, the American Lebanese in the USA to completely boycott all religious and social events that Patriarch Al Raei will be involved in during his pastoral visit to the USA and to loudly make their stances be heard all over.

Meanwhile, we hail the righteous and courageous stance that the USA administration has taken by not giving Al Raei any opportunity to meet with any USA official.

Al Raei by siding with terrorism and terrorists is negating all Maronite history.

It is worth mentioning that the Maronites made Lebanon their homeland since the 4th century after converting its native inhabitants to Christianity. They were identified by it, and it was identified by them; they were and still are one entity. The Maronite people were always hopeful, faithful and strong believers in the Christian Catholic doctrine. They made victories of defeats, joy of sorrow and hope of despair. The Maronites successfully created Maronite nation with hard work and a great deal of faith and sacrifices, by fulfilling its four basic pillars, a land, a people, a civilization and an independent political entity. They constantly fight for what was theirs, and never ever surrendered to despair.

Fouad Afram Boustani (the Maronite historian) described the Maronite denomination as, a faith of intelligence, an identify of life, a solid belief in Catholicism, a love for others, an ongoing endeavor for righteousness, a mentality of openness on the whole world, and on its different civilizations, and a vehicle for martyrdom. The Maronites established the state of Lebanon and made it an oasis for the persecuted in the area. They believed and practiced multiculturalism and pluralism. They created with the help of other minorities in the Middle East the unique nation of Lebanon.

We call on Al Raei to repent and be what he should be, a good and righteous shepherd. With him and for him we ask Almighty God to:
Help us live in peace and harmony with ourselves and others.
Lead our steps into the righteous paths and grant us the strength of endurance and hold us back from the sin of hurting or hating others.
Grant us the graces of love, meekness, humbleness, transparency, honesty and forgiveness.
Maintain our hearts and minds pure, and free from hatred, grudges and selfishness.
Constantly remind us that vengeance is evil and forgiveness is a Godly grace.
Help us not to allow vengeance to take control of our lives.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php

The Axis of Evil Is Holding Lebanon a Hostage

2011-09-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. (Kahlil Gibran)

Both Logic and reality tell us that not even one sane person can dream that a meek sheep can fight a lion or even defend himself in a bid not to be devoured. This very simple fact is totally ignored by the Free World and the majority of the Arab countries when occupied Lebanon's dilemma is the issue. The whole world knows with no shed of doubt that Lebanon is still an occupied country and that the occupiers are Syria, Iran and their proxy armed terrorist militias, with Hezbollah in the forefront.

In 2005, Syria was forced to withdraw her occupational army from Lebanon after 28 years of barbaric oppression and inhuman atrocities against all the Lebanese people. But since then, nothing really has positively changed with regard to reclaiming independence and sovereignty by the Lebanese authorities. On the contrary, everything on all levels and in all domains has been getting worse and worse. In reality, the whole country, her ruling bodies, officials and people have all been hijacked and are being held as hostages.

During the era of its occupation, Syria evilly dissected Lebanon, divided its multicultural communities, killed, imprisoned or sent into exile all patriotic leaders and intellectuals who opposed its ironic and criminal hegemony. At the same time, Syria’s secret intelligence services armed the 13 Palestinian refugee camps and made them outlaw-Mafiosi mini-states. In conjunction with the Iranian mullahs, Syria erected Hezbollah's mini-state and armed its militia with a huge and deadly arsenal that became not only a threat to the Lebanese, but also to all the Arab and Middle East countries.

Hezbollah's 70.000 thousand full time armed (mujahedeen) men took over Lebanon after Syria was forced to withdraw her army, while thousands of Syrian secret intelligence service agents remained free and active all over the country. Meanwhile, Syria left intact four military bases under the camouflaged pretext of Palestinian resistance, one of them (Al Naemi base) is a few kilometers from Beirut international Airport.

The majority of the Lebanese people (from all denominations) who kindled the torch of the Cedars' Revolution won two parliamentary elections since 2005, but could not rule or put into office a free president, house speaker, army chief or any high-ranking official because Syria and Iran through their armed proxies aborted all peaceful and democratic endeavors, and militarily invaded and controlled most of the Lebanese regions. In last January, Hezbollah toppled the coalition government by force and intimidation and formed its own, while the whole world carelessly watched and did nothing besides empty rhetorical releases and statements of condemnation.

The irony lies in the fact that the US government has labeled Hezbollah, in its State Department report of 2008, as the world's most effective terrorist organization. The report said that Iran remains the most active state sponsor of terrorism, including supporting terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to the same report, "Iran's involvement in the planning and financial support of terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia had a direct impact on international efforts to promote peace, threatened economic stability in the Gulf, and undermined the growth of democracy". It singled out the Qods Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as the Islamic republic's main means to cultivate and support terrorists overseas. The Qods Force gave "weapons, training and funding" to Hamas and other Palestinian anti-Israeli groups, Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as Iraq-based militants and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. (http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/nea/119120.htm)

One wonders how can the US, the mightiest military and financial power in the whole world, officially recognizes the serious and great dangers of Iran and its terrorist proxy ,Hezbollah, while expecting the Lebanese people and their patriotic leaders and parties to tame, control, disarm this terrorist organization and reclaim alone their country’s confiscated independence?

It is worth mentioning that Hezbollah from day one of its creation by Iran in 1982 and up until now has been a serious and deadly threat to all the civilized and Free World countries. As such, it is not merely Lebanese problem, but rather a serious problem, grave threat and challenge to global peace, stability and democracy. Hezbollah's essence and spiritual, cultural and political foundation are totally derived from the Iranian mullah's doctrine of “Wilayat Al-Faqih”.

The main pillars of this doctrine are zero tolerance for all others who are of different faiths and cultures and who do not fully submit to their control. It is a blatant rejection of the civil, democratic and free societies; a systematic, tireless effort to export the "Wilayat Al-Faqih", and impose it on the whole world through "Jihad" (holy war), deeply rooted hatred for the Western democracies and cultures, staunch enmity and hostility towards the US and Israel, all with a suicidal mentality. One of its prime aims is to destroy Israel and ‘liberate’ the Holy city of Jerusalem.

Therefore, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant organization on all levels and by every definition. Its Iranian mission, terrorist activities and objectives have become crystal clear, not only to the Lebanese people who are suffering on a daily basis from its oppression, intimidation and dictatorship, but also to the majority of the Arab states, US, Canada and Australia. This intimidation, fear mongering and illicit fundraising activities also extend to many European, African and South American countries.

Hezbollah has nothing to do with resistance, liberation or any actual patriotic Lebanese or Arabic causes by any means. In reality, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant brigade, a division of Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guards_Corps)

According to dozens of well documented and trustworthy reports, Hezbollah continues to run a vast, well organized and extremely sophisticated global network of drug trafficking, crime, terrorism and arms trafficking, infiltrating many Arab states, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Australia, United States, Europe, South America and numerous previous Islamic states of the USSR.

Since 1982, Hezbollah has systematically been devouring the state of Lebanon, destroying her military, judicial and financial institutions, crippling her legislature and democratic government and fragmenting and terrorizing her delicate social fabric, all the while solidifying the terrorist infrastructure and Iranian-modeled institutions of its mini-state and scattered cantons.

What is unfortunate and shameful, is that the Free World and surrounding Arab countries, are not showing enough determination, transparency, seriousness or persistence in dealing with Hezbollah. the most dangerous terrorist organization in the whole world, while they openly admit that Hezbollah and its Iranian masters are taking a very active criminal role in killing the Syrian and Iranian people who are revolting against the al-Assad and the Iranian mullahs’ dictatorial regimes.

In conclusion, Lebanon is an occupied country by all international means and legal criteria. The occupiers are the two Axis of Evil countries, Syria and Iran, with their armed proxies spearheaded by the terrorist Hezbollah. Simply and openly we strongly believe that the Lebanese people are not any more capable of freeing their country on their own while all the governing bodies and officials do not represent them but the occupiers. In this context, it is time for the Free World and Arab countries to courageously step in directly or through the UN and do something about this barbaric occupation and use all their available resources including force to free Lebanon and end its people’s oppression.

Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php

he Burning Coals Of Hatred

2011-09-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

(1 Samuel 24/12): "May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you”

Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated “vengeance,” “revenge,” and “avenge” have as their root meaning the idea of punishment. This is crucial in understanding why God reserves for Himself the right to avenge. Believers should refrain from acts of revenge and let God do His work. In both the New and Old Testament God asks us to leave the revenge issues for him.

(Deuteronomy 32/35): "To me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste". (Deuteronomy 32/36): "For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining bond or free." ".

It is a known fact that the severance of communication between people is a form of death and an evil readymade formula for bloody and destructive confrontations. When people cease to communicate with each other because of hostility, hatred, resentment, stupidity, ignorance, lack of faith, pompousness or fear of confrontation they simply abandon God Himself because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John1-1).

How could anyone who alleges to be religious and to fear God, allow himself to assume God's work and judge others based on his/her own concepts and self made criteria for what is right and wrong, and simply put them on trial and issue verdicts against them? He who does so does not really understand Christ's teaching which said: "Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged, for with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7/1-2). Those who unlawfully give themselves this Godly right Christ calls them hypocrites.

When two individuals speak two different languages that neither of them comprehends no actual communication takes place. One of them has to learn the other's language in a bid for the communication to be productive and a two-way one, or otherwise they keep on speaking an incomprehensible Babylonian language.

In this same context righteousness and evilness are two different human qualities with two contradicting frames of mind and mentalities. Those who abandon love, become dominated by hatred, hold grudges, judge others, cease to communicate speak the language of Satan, while those who believe in God and know that He is love, speak His language of problem solving, mercy, openness, consoling, forgiveness and meekness. (Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 13/1-3): "If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing."

A proven devastating fact that is often ignored by the conceited, selfish, stubborn, childish, opinionated and stupid is that dire consequences occur when two parties become possessed with hostilities. They turn into rivals and speak the language of Satan. These two parties fall prey to a vicious cycle of hostilities and an endless cycle of retaliations. (John12/40): “He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”.

Impulsivity and anger are common human traits through which one loses control and acts stupidly without thinking of the dreadful consequences. We all know for sure that it does not take much of an effort to hate, despise, resent, act evilly or hold grudges against others, particularly those with whom we might have serious or crucial problems and conflicts with.

At the same time, it is very primitive to act violently and take revenge by physical or emotional means against those who one believes have inflicted pain on him or unlawfully took what is his by force or fraud.

"We should aim in all our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from sin and trouble, that we may do the better service to the Lord; that we may serve Him without fear. If His grace has delivered our souls from the death of sin, He will bring us to heaven, to walk before Him forever in light." (Matthew Henry: 56:8-13)

Meanwhile, to love and forgive is a very difficult task to do. The matter needs a great deal of self control, anger taming, and nobility not to react with revenge against those who confront us with hatred, grudges and evilness, especially when they purposefully hurt us and infringe on our rights, property, and beloved ones. (Matthew 5/44): "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

A well know Lebanese proverb says: "when in the woods if you are not a lion, lions will devour you". Yes, this is 100% right if we were animals, but we are not and the wood's doctrine, "the stronger eats the weaker", does not apply to human beings. Why it does not? Simply because we are God's children and He has created us in His image and we must act accordingly (Genesis 1/27): "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."

Our conduct ought to be righteous and not evil, civilized, peaceful, loving and shaped in a human and not in an animal manner. As God's children we are taught to love and not to hate, especially those to whom we see as enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. (Luke 6/27): "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you."

As God's Children, we are not supposed to take revenge no matter what, but instead forgive and leave the vengeance for God. (Romans 12/19): "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord". (Leviticus 19/18): "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD". (Nahum1/2): "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and maintains His wrath against his enemies."

As devoted believers, we are required to leave the work of judgment for the rulers and courts even if we feel they are biased and unfair. God Himself will punish them if they do not fear Him and not perform their duties with justice. (1Peter 2/13-14): "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”

(Hebrews 10/30): "For we know him who said, “vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

There is no doubt that in this contemporary competitive and merciless society that we live in, self defense and protecting oneself and one’s interests is a lawful right, because the law does not protect those who are stupid. Self defense needs a great deal of wisdom, understanding and restraining of physical abilities by spiritual attainment. This simply means that the one who has the ability to bring great harm doesn’t mean he or she needs to use it for more than is required for self defense. Just because we can break someone’s arm, doesn’t mean we need to use that ability. Just because we have a gun doesn’t mean we need to fire on someone who breaks into the home.

Psalm 94/: "1 O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth"
The question is, when we are hurt do we have to act on our revenge impulses? Some say by taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior.

Those possessed with hatred and grudges suffer the most. They sit on unseen burning coals that make them continuously sad, angry, hostile, miserable, unsocial and vindictive.

Let us trust in Almighty God, fear no one but Him, and beg Him to cure us from all ailments of hatred, grudges and hostilities

Psalm 56/11: "In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
LCCC Face Book http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17974722934

N.B: It was first published in April/2010

I Asked Almighty God, He Said: No

2011-08-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

I asked Almighty God to kill my pride, He said: No, I do not have to do so, you should tame it yourself because I do not have mercy on the wicked and proud.. “For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will burn them up,” says Yahweh of Armies, “that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. (Malachi 4/1-2).

I asked Almighty God for a cure to my physically challenged son, He said: No, his spirit is what matters and his spirit is perfect. Meanwhile, his body is inevitably mortal. "For dust you are and to dust you will return". (Genesis 3:19)

I asked Almighty God to grant me patience, He said: No, patience comes from tribulations. Patience is not granted but earned.

I asked Almighty God if the greater love is loving ourselves. He said No, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15/13)

I asked Almighty God to grant me happiness, He said: No, I shower you with blessing and graces while happiness is to be made by you.

I asked Almighty God to spare me pain, He said: No, pain keeps you away from earthly concerns and brings you closer to me.

I asked Almighty God to make my soul grow and thrive. He said: No, your soul's growth and prosperity is your own responsibility, but I will pull you towards Me so you might abundantly bear fruits.

I asked Almighty God to make me rich and powerful and at the same time solidify my faith. He said: No, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money". (Matthew 6:24).

I asked Almighty God to help me lay earthly treasures. He said No, “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 06/19-22)

I asked Almighty God to help me take acts of revenge against those who harmed me badly. He said: No, "Do not take revenge, but leave room for My wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," (Romans 12:19)

I asked Almighty God to allow me hate those who hate me. He said: No," Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:28).

I asked Almighty God to spare me from temptation. He said: No, "Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. (James 01/13-15)

I asked Almighty God if He forgives those who are evil and cause others to stumble. He said: No, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea." (Matthew 18/06)

I asked Almighty God to love me, He said: Yes I do, I have sacrificed My only begotten son so you can live forever, if you believe in Me.

Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
*Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Iran and Syria orchestrated the terrorist attacks on southern Israel

2011-08-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

It is well known to all Middle East analysts and specialists as well as to Western and Arab countries that the majority of the terrorist and jihadist organizations all over the world, including al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Hamas, are mere military tools and proxies that are found, financed, used, sponsored and fully controlled by rogue and dictatorial regimes, especially the two notorious regimes of Syria and Iran.

In this context, the bloody terrorist attacks that took place in southern Israel on Thursday August 18/11 need to be dealt with as mere Syrian and Iranian criminal and war acts. Accordingly, both countries' leadership must be held fully accountable for all the human loses and damages.

Debkafile's website’s military sources in a detailed report on the attacks (18.08.11) estimated that Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah experts may have aided the terrorists in setting up the complex operation. http://www.debka.com/article/21217/

The Syrian regime intended the attacks to detract the Arabic and global political pressures that President al-Assad is facing because of his ongoing criminal atrocities against the peaceful Syrian public uprising that has been escalating for the last five months and is seriously threatening to topple his regime.

In the same realm, Iran which also is encountering immense internal and worldwide setbacks and problems did not dare to ask its militant proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, to attack Israel as al-Assad has been requesting because of the very serious Israeli warnings. Israel has made it very clear that her army will respond with extreme military harshness to any stupid Hezbollah attacks and stressed the fact that its response will include Syria itself.

Meanwhile, putting an end to such crimes necessitates a solid, united and crystal clear worldwide approach towards both the Syrian and Iranian axis of evil regimes. Sadly, the Western countries and all the Arab states are still indecisive on this matter, especially the Obama administration that against all odds is still appeasing and cajoling the criminal rulers of both countries. It took President Obama five months to finally call on Syria's Dictator Bashar al-Assad to step down, but at the same time stressing the fact that his administration doesn’t have the means to force al-Assad to do so.

One cannot rationally dissociate Syria and Iran from terrorism all over the world. Both countries provide a safe haven for a myriad of terrorist organizations, (Hezbollah, Hamas and many others), direct their operations, and use Hezbollah's and the Palestinians' ministates in Lebanon as their main field of recruiting, training and operations.

Like the Mafia which uses money, crime, fear, intimidation, and violence as instruments of pressure to buy silence from otherwise good and honorable people, the Syrian and Iranian regimes use their proxy terrorist organizations (Hamas, Hezbollah and new versions of al-Qaeda) as instruments of pressure on their neighboring countries and as bargaining tools in their foreign policy strategies that have earned them a "no questions asked" attitude from the Free World with regard to their bloody interference in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, the West Bank, Egypt, Kuwait, Yemen, South America and many other countries. In 1983, Syrian and Iranian terrorist proxies were responsible for bloody attacks against the American embassy, marine compound and French troops in Lebanon costing hundreds of Lebanese, French and American lives.

The Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council (LCCC) without any reservations fully shares, adopts and supports the Canadian government's official stance and statement that addressed the terrorist attacks on southern Israel. Our Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird's statement of condemnation stated: “Canada condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in southern Israel today. These cowardly attacks, particularly on civilian targets, are abhorrent and criminal. “On behalf of all Canadians, I send my heartfelt condolences to those affected by today’s vicious attacks. “Israel has a right to defend itself against such terrorist acts in conformity with international humanitarian law. Those responsible for these horrific attacks must be held accountable.”

In conclusion, not even one country in the world could be safe from terrorism and its debilitating cancer. This solid reality must motivate all countries to take an active role in the global fight against terrorism and help the Lebanese people to liberate their country that is occupied by the terrorist Iran- Syrian Hezbollah militia.

Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
*Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Stop your enmity towards Israel and start taking care of your own people

2011-07-30T16:33:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani

My new Arabic audio commentary that was posted on the LCCC web site and the Phoenician News line today is based on the below Isaiah's verses that speak about God's wrath and how He will punish the wicked and the evil who do not follow His holy Book, advocate for sin, preach hatred and commit crime. Sadly the majority of our Lebanese politicians and officials as well as many of our clergymen are wicked and evil, so their fate is going to be as the verses depicts.

Meanwhile the commentary calls on the 14th of March leaders to stop stupidly falling into Hezbollah's traps of hatred and enmity rhetoric. They need to shut up once and for ever in regard to Israel and do what their masters in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and the rest of the Arab countries has done years ago.

Enough is enough. They must put an end to their deception and stone age education of hatred against Israel. Israel is there to stay. Lebanon and the Lebanese people can not stand or tolerate any more the "battlefield and mail box" Lebanon. All patriotic Lebanese leaders should say no to all those merchants of fake and camouflaged liberation, obstruction and resistance. We, the Lebanese have had our share from the PLO criminal atrocities and now we are suffering from the terrorist Hezbollah for the same issues.

The commentary emphasis that Fayez Karam, the imprisoned FPM politician for betrayal is more patriotic than all those who are trying to crucify him because once the same judiciary criteria is applied for what is called treason and betrayal in Lebanon there will be no doubt that all Lebanon's leaders and politicians will end in jail. Shame is what these Trojan politicians should learn and especially the 14th of March leaders. Enough stupidity and enough enmity.

The commentary is based on the below Biblical verses
Isaiah 9/12-20: "12 The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Yahweh of Armies. Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day. The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. Through the wrath of Yahweh of Armies, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother. One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still

The link for the commentary
http://www.bejjani46.com/bejjaninews11/news30.7.11.wma

Cowards and sheep
By: Elias Youssef Bejjani
July 29, 2011
In my New Arabic posted audio commentary of Friday 29 July/11, I am spoke boldly about the low glass cheap Lebanese leaders and clergy who are mere opportunists, merchants, and void of self respect, honour, dignity, patriotism, conscience and morals. For Amin Gymayel to receive Jumblat today in his house after Jumblat's evil stances that put Hezbollah in charge of the government is not only condemned, but despised, rejected and shows how much Amin Gymayel is detached from his brorher, Bachir in every life and national aspect. Meanwhile Patriach Al Raei's questionable rhetoric and stances are creating a lot of confusion among the Lebanese Christian communities in both Lebanon and Diaspora. The commentary also addresses Hezbollah's challenging demonstration that took place yesterday in Al Maten Al shmali (Aljdaydi) where all others in the area were silent. It is very sad that many of our people are enjoying the role of sheep and blindly supporting those who are destroying their country and confiscating its independence and sovereignty

The link for the commentary
http://www.bejjani46.com/bejjaninews11/news29.7.11.wma

The Syrian regime's survival is Lebanon's demise

2011-07-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

For the majority of the Lebanese people, the holistic patriotic picture has become very clear. In general, they are now fully aware of the precipitating factors and perpetuating elements underlying the ongoing flagrant direct and indirect Syrian-Iranian occupation of their country through armed militias and a bunch of traitorous, Trojan horse politicians and officials spearheaded by the terrorist – fundamentalist Hezbollah.

Lebanese people both in the homeland and Diaspora are very much aware of the numerous evil, vicious Syrian-Iranian obstacles deliberately employed and imposed on them by force and murder to hinder their beloved Lebanon from fully reclaiming its independence, sovereignty, freedom, tranquility and peace.

The free and patriotic Lebanese strongly reject and ridicule the fake and camouflaging slogans of hostility towards Israel, the USA and the Western Free world, as well as those of resistance, liberation, the people, government, and army triad, one people in two countries, and the many other deceitful tools of deception that Hezbollah utilizes as a pretext to maintain its ministate and hegemony on Lebanon and its people.

Since 1975, a state of darkness started to prevail among some misled Lebanese, leaders and citizens because of the Machiavellian Syrian-Iranian "divide and rule" imperialistic tactics. Meanwhile, subservient stances adopted by the Syrian-Iranian installed Lebanese officials and politicians created a class of shameless collaborators, opportunists, mercenaries and traitors. Sadly, these parasites still dominate the country from top to bottom and blindly serve the interests of their masters through persecution of the free Lebanese people.

The current Lebanese government headed by billionaire Najib Mikati is totally manipulated and controlled by Hezbollah on behalf of its two evil regime sponsors, Iran and Syria. This anti-peace and anti-freedom government that was forced on the Lebanese by terrorism, extortion and intimidation has nothing to do with Lebanon the state and the constitution or the interests and welfare of the Lebanese people. Simply it is a human tool that Hezbollah is using and abusing to continue its devouring of the country while hindering by force the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) that has already indicted four of its top notch leaders.

The current Lebanese-installed regime and government and on all levels are fully manipulated by the Syrian and Iranian Axis of Evil regimes. Sadly, our Lebanese people are used mercilessly to serve Syria's and Iran's terrorist and expansionism agendas.

Hopefully, the ambiguousness, terrorism, barbarism, and distortion created by the two Evil of Axis countries since the early seventies to justify their ongoing occupation of Lebanon through murderous armed proxies and mercenary officials and politicians will vanish soon by the help of the Free World, UN, and after the Syrian al-Assad dictatorship regime is toppled and replaced by a new, free and democratic Syrian regime.

The Syrian and Iranian Axis of Evil regimes have polluted Lebanon with their Stone Age education of hatred, rejection of others, hostility, fanaticism, wars, and anti-peace, anti-human rights mentality. The majority of the Lebanese have become completely disgusted with these devious tactics.

The Syrian leadership has imposed its version of nationalism on Lebanon to justify scarifying the Lebanese men, women and children in endless and futile Syrian wars. They brainwashed many politicians, officials and citizens through confusion, terrorism, manipulation, cheating, intimidation, and blatant instigation of sectarian divisions.

Time after time, Syria, Iran and their armed proxies beat the drums of war and raise provocative sectarian slogans to further divide the Lebanese. All along, we have heard and witnessed numerous Syrian and Iranian figures, puppet Lebanese politicians and officials do so by their ferocious rhetorical attacks against each other and against patriotic figures.

Ever since Syria assumed total control over Lebanon in 1990 and installed a Lebanese satellite regime, the Lebanese have been spoon-fed by the Syrianized Lebanese media on a daily basis and told that the civil war will be rekindled should the Syrian army ever be forced to depart from their country. In fact when the Syrian army was forced in 2005 to withdraw from Lebanon, no such fallacies happened, but on the contrary the Lebanese from all sects became more united and laid ground for the Cedars Revolution.

Since the early sixties and even before that, the Syrian regime has instigated all the wars in Lebanon, supplied all the outlaws with arms, encouraged and used the Palestinian refugees to challenge the Lebanese authorities and the army and to erect their own ministates, helped the Iranian mullahs' regime to hijack the Lebanese Shiite community through the armed terrorist group, Hezbollah and establish its ministate. In fact, all Lebanon's problems since 1925 were made in Syria.

Lebanon's enemies currently control its regime and follow the militias' model. They have created sectarian barriers among the people and destroyed the national foundations of the country. They boldly accuse patriotic leaders of preaching hatred and opposing social modernization. What proof do they have for these false allegations? What are their examples? Nobody in fact knows. Although they expect us to blindly believe what they say, march behind them and repeat like parrots whatever they utter, as some simple-minded imbeciles do.

The Syrian regime and its installed puppets in Lebanon do not want us to think or talk about the Syrian-Iranian occupation that is forced through Hezbollah, or otherwise they threaten that the massacres will start again. They want us to lose our national self-confidence and pride. They want us to live in continuous fear and intimidation under the delusion that only the Syrian regime is capable of preventing internal conflicts from igniting.

While the Syrian revolution against the al-Assad dictatorship has been getting stronger and more widespread, the Syrian regime's deceptive media propaganda is trying to sell the Free World a big lie in regard to the safety of Christian communities in both Syria and Lebanon. This lie alleges that al-Assad regime is protecting the Christians and in case it would be toppled the Salafist Sunnis will massacre the Christians as was the situation in Iraq after its liberation from Saddam Hussein's dictatorship by the USA and other Western armies. What a fallacy.

The question is, how can a wolf protect his prey? No way, because a savage, inhuman and murderous regime like that of al-Assad's dictatorship knows only how to enslave, torture and kill. Christians in Syria are abused by al-Assad regime and persecuted like the rest of the Syrian people from all sects. When Hafez al-Assad took over Syria 42 years ago through a bloody coup, Syrian Christian numbers were between 20- 25% of the country's population. Since then their numbers have been reduced to 5-6%.

Meanwhile, during Syria's bloody 30-year occupation of Lebanon all Christian Lebanese communities were persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, kidnapped, liquidated, displaced, terrorized, forced to leave the country and exposed to hardships that they never encountered in their history. In 1994, the Syrian occupation illegally granted Lebanese citizenship to more than half million Muslim Syrian, Arabs and Palestinians making the Christians less than 50% of the country's 4 million population. No occupier in history has harmed Lebanon's Christians more than the Syrian al-Assad regime.

In conclusion, as long as the Syrian Baathist regime remains in power, Lebanon and its people, as well as all the neighboring countries, including Israel, will never have peace or stability. Sadly, Lebanon will remain in the eyes of President Bachar al-Assad and the thugs of his regime the haven they have always aspired to own and control. Without a shred of doubt, Syria would have preferred to keep the Israelis in south Lebanon in the year 2000 so it could continue occupying the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, the Syrian regime will do anything not to lose its iron grip on Lebanon and definitely has no intention whatsoever to let this country peacefully reclaim its confiscated independence and sovereignty. Al-Assad's agenda is to keep Lebanon under occupation indefinitely and accordingly will instigate all kinds of wars no matter what the consequences in a bid to maintain his full hegemony.

Hopefully, the Baathist, al-Assad Stone Age regime will be toppled soon by the free Syrian people simply because the equation for Lebanon is: The Syrian regime's survival is Lebanon's demise.

Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
*Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

The Lebanese Presidency: Marginalization and Dhimmitude

2011-07-15T19:11:00.001-07:00

Elias Bejjani*

In my new Arabic editorial that was published earlier this week the main focus was on the heretical and non- Lebanese practices of the last three Lebanese Maronite Presidents, Elias Hrawi, Emile Lahoud, and Michael Suleiman. The three have been as foreign to the true spirit of the Lebanese and Maronites as the oppressive and criminal Syrian regime which put them in power to serve its interests and schemes

The Lebanese in general, and the Maronites in particular, feel that the role of the presidency post in their beloved has been not only marginalized, but humiliated, belittled, hijacked, enslaved and emptied of its context in the symbols of Lebanon’s national unity.

Meanwhile the three presidents who were appointed by the Syrian Dictatorship’s Baathist regime against the will of the majority of the Lebanese people since 1990 have been nothing but puppets. Mere mercenaries for Syria and Iran with no backbone or any kind of decency. They did not represent us, the Free Lebanese, in any manner or way. In reality they were alien from everything that is Lebanese.

These Presidents have proved through the past twenty-one years that in their hearts, minds and consciousnesses they were neither Lebanese nor Maronites. They knew nothing about Lebanon's great history and identity, or its great peoples' love for peace, freedom and independence.

The most sickening and disgusting phenomena that the three presidents shared was that they did not honour the sacrifices of Lebanon's great martyrs and had no respect for law, dignity, order, human rights, national commitments, or international obligations.

The sad and disappointing reality that the whole world must be aware of lies in the bare fact that Lebanon currently is an occupied country by all standards. All its officials, including the Maronite President, the Sunni Prime Minister and the entire new government headed by Najib Mikati and without exception are Syrian or Iranian puppets. These politicians and officials have no role in any matter, internal or external, when it comes to decision making.

Based on this worrying fact, all acts adopted and stances declared by the Lebanese current government at all levels does not represent the will of the majority of the free and peace-loving Lebanese. Simply and without any cosmetics Lebanon is a country occupied by Syria, Iran and their Lebanese armed proxies headed by the Terrorist Iranian Hezbollah militia.

This very heartbreaking reality has been inflicted on Lebanon by Syria, Iran and their Lebanese armed proxies and local mercenaries. But heretical and evil eras like the one Lebanon is suffering from today cannot overturn 7000 years of deeply rooted Lebanese history. In the end, as always, Lebanon emerges from the dust like the phoenix to be victorious over all of its enemies.

The sacred and blessed land of Lebanon needs presidents, officials, politicians and leaders who have solid faith and strong will to stand tall like its holy cedars. Lebanon cannot and will not accept dhimmitude and opportunistic presidents like the three ones appointed by the Syrian regime.

The Lebanese always cling to their strong and solid faith, and always have been able to regain their country and freedom. We strongly believe that whenever life's burdens oppress us and trials seem too much to face, we have to remember God's strength in our weakness, and He'll give us His power and grace. For God gives enough grace for whatever hardships we face, when we hold on to our faith and confidence in Him…”

In conclusion, we, the free Lebanese both at home and in the Diaspora, have a holy obligation to hold dear to our faith and hope. We must witness for the truth and never succumb to occupation or its local collaborators. By God's will the light of liberation shall rise over the skies of our beloved Lebanon, and once again love , tranquility, stability and peace shall prevail.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
*Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Barbarism of the Syrian Regime

2011-07-09T10:37:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

The world has known many brutal and bloody regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere since WW1, but none of them was more barbaric, savage and cruel than the current Syrian al-Assad Baathist dictatorship. Even the late Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq, and also Hitler and Mussolini, were not as merciless, sadistic, bloody, evil, mean and ferocious as Syria’s al-Assad ruling family dynasty.

The murderous al-Assad Syrian regime that has been in power for almost 42 years shows no respect whatsoever to its own people’s dignity, rights, feelings, pain, grief, safety, and welfare. It has been ruling all these years under the emergency law with an iron and oppressive fist, depriving the Syrian people even of their own basic freedom and rights.

Those Syrians who attempted to oppose al-Assad’s dictatorship and authority even through peaceful and democratic means were either murdered, imprisoned and tortured or forced into exile. When Hama City revolted against this oppressive regime in February 1982, the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad quelled and totally crushed the revolt by sending his malicious private army troops to invade the city, destroy most of the infrastructure and buildings and murder with cold blood more than 25 thousand of its residents. Many other thousands were arbitrarily arrested and left to rot and die in imprisonment without trials.

During its Stalinist occupation era of Lebanon (1976-2005), the Syrian regime resorted to evil tactics of murder, terrorism, kidnapping, assassination, cruelty, a policy of divide and conquer, and barbarism against the Lebanese people. More than 20 thousand Lebanese citizens disappeared, one and half million fled the country, thousands were imprisoned, and scores of presidents, politicians, clergy, journalists and intellectuals were assassinated, and all the country’s governmental institutions were infiltrated with Syrian spies and agents, marginalized and Syrianized.

This awkward Stalinist Syrian regime has never changed and will never do so. The only language that its rulers and officials comprehend is crime, blood and murder. In 1980, the Syrian army that was occupying Lebanon, kidnapped the well known Lebanese journalist Salim Al Lawzi, who opposed the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, cut off his right hand fingers, slashed his throat, badly mutilated his body and dumped him in the woods nearby Beirut.

The same Al Lawzi barbaric scenario was replicated few days ago in the Hama Syrian city. Al-Assad thugs and mobs known as "Al Chabiha" kidnapped the Syrian activist Ibrahim Kashoush, who is also a singer and songwriter, slashed his throat, mutilated his body and dumped him in Al Assi River. Click on the link below and watch the graphic video that was posted on YouTube on Wednesday July 06/11. It shows Kashoush's body with his throat slashed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ1h2WHwIms

This patriotic Syrian man inspired the Syrian uprising with songs that spread all over Syria and were chanted during the demonstrations. He did not have a gun or a cannon and he was not a terrorist or a fundamentalist. He was just a Syrian citizen who loved peace, freedom and democracy, yearned for a better life and expressed his feelings and wishes through his emotional and patriotic songs.

The Syrian criminal al-Assad regime could not tolerate Kashoush's songs and decided to end his life as was the situation with Al Lawzi and hundreds of Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals and politicians. Al-Assad thugs (Al Chabiha) kidnapped him and ended his life so he can no more annoy al-Assad, while the USA and the Free World countries are still naively calling on this criminal dictator to reform and not calling for toppling his regime and for putting him on trial for committing crimes against humanity.

The question is: are those people who committed this horrible crime human beings? No they are not. They are criminals, killers and mere barbaric savages that must not be left to continue ruling Syria and terrorizing its people.

Excerpts from Ibrahim Kashoush’s popular song lyrics:
Bashar, depart from here
You lost all your legitimacy
Depart depart, Bashar
Bashar, you are not one of us
Take Mahir (Basher’s brother) and depart from here
Depart depart, Bashar
Bashar, you are lying
You had bad speech
Freedom is very near
Depart depart, Bashar
These lyrics are from Ibrahim Kashoush’s song, ‘Yalla Erhal Ya Bashar’ (It’s time to leave, Bashar), demanding an end to the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The song gained popularity in recent weeks as thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Hama to protest against the violent crackdowns on civilians in the country.

The Free World and Arab countries have a moral obligation to come to the rescue of the Syrian people and to forcibly topple the brutal al-Assad regime, similar to Afghanistan and Iraq, and the sooner the better.

The Irony here lies in the traumatic reality that while the Syrian people are struggling to topple al-Assad’s barbaric regime, Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist armed militia, and all the other Lebanese mercenary politicians and officials who are mere puppets of either the Syrian or Iranian regimes have toppled the legitimate Lebanese pro-western government through intimidation, terror, and bribery. Against the will of the majority of the Lebanese people they formed a new government that is totally under the control of the Axis of Evil countries, Syria and Iran. Meanwhile, the Free World and Arab countries, and especially the US administration, are still cajoling and appeasing the Syrian regime and not toppling it.

In conclusion, an ape cannot be made to look like a man no matter how much cosmetics are put on his face, because an ape is an ape and man is a man. At the same time, no sane person who plants a thorn can expect it to bear figs. The same principle applies to the Syrian regime that is uncorrectable, cannot be changed and will not be changed while the only language that its rulers comprehend and respond to is absolute power. Meanwhile, as a Lebanese man living in the Diaspora, I wonder why any free and intelligent Lebanese would not fight to keep the vicious Stone Age Syrian al-Assad regime model far away from Lebanon.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
*Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Syria's Butcher and the World's Shameful Silence

2011-06-25T10:36:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

The free world and Arab countries ought to immediately adopt a unified, loud, forceful and clear stance in toward deterring the unprecedented barbaric and savage atrocities the brutal and oppressive Syrian regime has been mercilessly inflicting against Syria's peaceful public uprising.

It is very obvious that strategies of verbal and written warnings as well as imposing economic sanctions are not achieving any positive results. The free world's diplomatic rhetoric and approaches are falling on deaf ears, hardened hearts, and numbed consciences. All peaceful and civilized means should instantly come to an end because in the eyes of Syrian dictator Bachar Al Assad and his totalitarian regime's thugs, they are futile and signs of hesitation, fear and cowardice.

We have for years cautioned that the Syrian Baathist dictatorship and its evil ally, the regime of the Iranian mullahs, as well as their armed proxies Hezbollah and Hamas, do not respond to words alone. They do not by any means understand or master the language of condemnations, warnings, sanctions, tags of terrorism , logic or any peaceful tool that is human and civilized. The sole language that they comprehend and respond to is force and force alone.

Their sickening lies, depraved narcissism, culture of hatred and delusions of grandiose make them humiliate, ridicule and completely ignore those forces and countries who do not speak their own satanic language. This kind of deranged mentality is always boldly expressed with no boundaries by Iran's President Ahmadinejad. With conceit and arrogance, he keeps on challenging the whole world while bragging that the Western countries are cowards and do not posses the guts to go to war.

More than one hundred days have passed since the beginning of the peaceful uprising of the Syrian public in pursuit of freedom, democracy, and human dignity. This means having equal opportunities, respect for human rights, employment opportunities, an openness to the outside world and an end to all forms of corruption including embezzlement, injustice and discrimination. In spite of the unprecedented barbaric acts of mass murder that the totalitarian Syrian regime is exercising to control the uprising, it has been escalating around the clock on all levels and throughout all the Syrian territories.

In fearing for their life fifteen thousand unarmed Syrian citizens made up of mostly children, the elderly and women escaped from Syria and took shelter in the neighboring Turkey. Thousands, including children and teenagers, were arbitrarily arrested, mutilated, and brutally tortured. Almost fifteen hundred victims were killed at the hands of President Bachar Al Assad's Alawite armed mobs, and thousands of houses were destroyed.

The Alawite minority to which Al Assad belongs is desperately trying to cling to power. The country's Alawite-controlled army is waging a vicious and merciless campaign to muffle the uprising using all sorts of weaponry including tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, jets, choppers and so forth.

The Syrian opposition inside Syria and abroad have claimed that the Syrian army’s Alawite leadership headed by the president's younger brother, Maher Al Assad who is aided by a number of his cousins and relatives, have executed hundreds of soldiers who refused to shoot at the peaceful demonstrators in several Sunni cities and towns.

The Kuwaiti Alseyasi daily reported that the executed soldiers and officers were secretly buried in mass graves in the cities of Daraa and Jisr al-Shughour with their military uniforms and weapons. The daily stated that the Syrian regime later alleged that Sunni fundamentalists and Jihadists killed and buried these soldiers. It is worth mentioning that the Syrian regime invited all foreign envoys in Damascus and some international media facilities to show them one of these mass grave to support their claims.

One might wonder why Syrian citizens are taking refuge in Turkey only and not also in neighboring Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. The answer lies in the fact that Jordan has totally closed its borders with Syria. The Jordanian king is trying emphatically to distance his fragile kingdom from the Syrian uprising because he fears the same public protests might target him too. On the other side, Iraq does not attract Syrian refugees due to safety and stability issues caused by the kind of violence and chaos that Iraq encounters on a daily basis.

Meanwhile Lebanese authorities have been arresting the Syrians who enter Lebanon and extraditing them back to Syria in breach of all international accords and laws. According to reports issued by well respected Human Rights organizations and the Syrian opposition leadership, four Syrian soldiers that the Lebanese Army extradited to Syria were executed on the same day. It is worth mentioning that the majority of Lebanon’s officials in the puppet regime were handpicked by the Syrian dictator personally during the twenty-eight years of Syrian occupation of in Lebanon that ended on 2005.

We strongly believe that the Syrian butcher Bachar Al Assad, his armed mobs called Al Chabiha, and the Syrian army must be forced to stop immediately the killing of the Syrian people. It is very clear by now that this human and noble objective will not be achieved voluntarily by Al Assad and his regime. It must be enforced through military intervention under the UN flag as was the situation in many other countries. The butcher Al Assad must be arrested and put on trial with all his family members and aids who are leading the killing campaign. Such stone age creatures must be made accountable for their criminal acts.

In conclusion, Syria's Al Assad dictatorship regime must be toppled by force as soon as possible and the Syrian people given the chance to govern themselves under the auspices and help of the United Nations. The Arab and the Western democracies need to understand once and forever that with Al Assad's Syrian regime in power instability in the Middle East will continue. Instability that includes Lebanon never enjoying independence, the continuing chaos prevailing in Iraq, Jordan’s sovereignty always being threatened, and Hamas and Hezbollah continuing to grow stronger. In other words, the global war on Islamic fundamentalist terrorism will not be won and the Israeli-Arab conflict will never be solved.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
*Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Father's Day and the Holy obligations

2011-06-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani

Proverbs 23/22: "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old".

Today, is a happy day for all families, it is the Fathers' Day. My best wishes to all fathers who are family, relatives, friends and acquaintances. On this special day I am sure that my father's and mother's spirits are roaming around all our family members sharing with them their joy and happiness. God bless their souls and bless the souls of all those deceased parents whose memories will be today present with their families while celebrating the happy event.

Hopefully all men will have the blessed grace of being fathers. Being a father is a heavenly endowment, a great satisfaction, and a fulfilling Godly obligation as the Holy Bible teaches us: "Genesis 1/28 "God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.".

God is our Holy Father, and we all, men, women, are His beloved children. Fathers on earth are God's servants who are entrusted by Him to safeguard, raise, embrace, support, provide and teach their children. Fathers and mothers are required to carry their holy duties in raising their children with full devotion and all sacrifices needed.

Life is a cycle, those who are children today will be fathers and mothers in the near future and so on. Those who are young, healthy, strong and productive today, will get older and need the help of their children when they can not take care of themselves. Children's Holy obligation is to take care of their parents, so when they are parents and old their children will do the same. Proverbs 20/20: "If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness."

Almighty God has blessed both parents, fathers and mothers and recommended that they be honored, respected, cared for, and obeyed by their children. God's fifth commandment delineates this heavenly obligation and duty: ""Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which The Lord your God gives you." (Exodus 20:12 )

Many verses in the Holy Bible (Old and new testament) overtly call on the children to treat their parents with love, endurance, affection and utmost care. At the same time the Bible instructs parents to value the Godly entrust in them to raise their children with all means of righteous, protection and providing.

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother," this is the first commandment with a promise, that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:1-4)

"The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (Ezekiel 18:20)

Children, when they become grown up men and women will not appreciate their parents' sacrifices unless they themselves become parents. Back home in Lebanon where the family has always been sacred, we have a saying that shows how important it is in the eyes of the God that parents are always respected, honoured and loved. "God will not bless or facilitate the life of those who mistreat their parents and He will reply to the parents' wrath when they ask for punishment for their ingratitude children".

Isaiah 46:4: "Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."

Fathers are the cornerstone of their families upon which children lean, learn, nurture, hold on and shape their lives. Caring, devoted and righteous fathers are always given a hand by God and blessed for carrying their raising and providing obligations. Colossians 3/20: "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord".

Leviticus 20:9: "For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him"

Happy Fathers' Day to all Fathers

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Lebanon's New Government: A Bunch of Mercenaries and Terrorists

2011-06-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the official rulers of occupied Lebanon are now a gang of criminals and Syria's and Iran's subservient Trojans, proxies, mercenaries, opportunists and armed militias, including the notorious terrorist and fundamentalist, Hezbollah, as well as the Baathist Syrian Party, the Shiite Amal Movement, the Nazi Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) and the derailed Christian narcissist, Michael Aoun,

This Lebanese national disaster is by all means a reality now that will definitely have dire and scary consequences not only on the oppressed Lebanese people's everyday life, but also on the whole Middle East’s future, the Arab-Israeli peace process, the global war against terrorism and world stability.

Unfortunately, at a time when the Western Free World countries and the selfish Arab dictatorial governments are still naively cajoling and appeasing Syria's butcher, president Bachar Al Assad and deluding themselves that he is a potential reformer, and while watching him idly and carelessly massacring his own people, and when boldly and aggressively the Iranian mullah's fanatical and bellicose regime is getting much closer to having its own nuclear bomb, during all this, Lebanon fell completely into the hands of terrorists, and the will of the majority of her people has been forced into a very dangerous alliance with the Axis of Evil countries, their proxies and armed militias.

On Monday June 14, 2011, our beloved country of the Cedars was completely devoured by Syria and Iran who through their Lebanese thugs and proxies rose to a position of unprecedented dominance after forcing on the peaceful Lebanese people a new government that has nothing at all to do with Lebanon. It is an Iranian and Syrian one that will be solely run and controlled by both Axis of Evil countries.

Lebanon's Syrian handpicked prime minister, billionaire Najib Mikati, announced his new cabinet after a five month period of Syrian -and Iranian-dictated procrastinations, around the clock fake media plays, fabricated rumors, gossip and maneuvers. The timing of the government formation, members, portfolios and announcement came on the request of Syria's President Bachar Al Assad in a desperate endeavor to save his regime from being ousted and toppled after an ongoing and escalating four month angry public Syrian uprising.

The Druze Lebanese Leader, MP, Walid Jumblat, out of fear, intimidation, selfishness, cowardice and lack of nationalism, had abandoned the 14th March Majority coalition and joined the Hezbollah-dominated parliamentary block. He was summoned last week to Damascus where he met President Al Assad and received from him the instructions for forming the Lebanese government. Two days later the government was announced as per Al Assad's orders.

Lebanon's Christian President, Michel Suleiman, who owes his position to Syria, did not abide by the country's constitution or by the unsigned national accords and agreements that necessitates the participation of all Lebanese communities in cabinets. He issued the presidential decree for the announcement of the new government without any attempt to exercise his constitutional role. Suleiman once again proved with no shed of a doubt that he has no backbone and that his subservience to Syria is not going to be changed. According to the Lebanese constitution the government needs the president's approval to be official.

Simply and without any fake hopes or delusions, all the thirty politicians, academics and leaders who were named ministers in the new Lebanese government were, still are, and will remain submissive Syrian - Iranian robots, cheap tools and chips under the command of the Axis of Evil. How could they govern and lead when they are mere puppets and mercenaries? Sadly, Lebanon during its 7,000 years of deeply rooted history has never been put in such a difficult position even through the 450 years of barbaric Ottoman occupation.

It is worth mentioning that the new Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, is a mere Syrian-made politician who has very close and intimate financial relations with the Al Assad family. Since his day one in politics Mikati has been and still is revolving in the Al Assad orbit. He can't but be an obedient and submissive student for his teachers, the Al Assad clan. Accordingly, he is a Syrian employee and not a Lebanese Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, it is very important to point out that the Christian MP, Michael Aoun, who stupidly is bragging and alleging a victory over other Lebanese Christian politicians and parties, is a mere opportunist. Aoun - for personal gain and due to crazy ambitions, greed, a sickening complex of hatred and grudges, grandiose delusions and lack of insight - in 2006 had abandoned his conviction to the historical Maronite Christian and Lebanese independence and sovereignty and joined Hezbollah. This Trojan acrobat is a narcissist and an opportunist par excellence. Definitely, he does not represent the Maronites' pride, faith, dignity, aspirations, hopes, pain and history.

The new Lebanese government, according to its overt and covert Syrian - Iranian schematic, terrorist and expansionism agenda, will attempt to:

*Sever all Lebanese ties with the Special Tribunal For Lebanon (STL). The tribunal is expected to indict prominent Hezbollah and Syrian officials very soon on charges of assassinating Lebanon's late Prime Minister Raffic Al Hariri and other Lebanese leaders, politicians and journalists.

*Marginalize and abandon all UN resolutions related to Lebanon's independence, territorial sovereignty and the Lebanese state's authority, especially resolutions 1559 and 1701 that call for immediate and unconditional dismantling and disarming of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, including the terrorist Hezbollah and all the Palestinian armed factions stationed in 13 refugee camps over which the Lebanese government has no authority whatsoever.

*Support the Syrian regime against its own people and on the regional and international arenas, including the UN and its Security Council.

*Fill all the Lebanese governmental positions including the military with pro-Syrian and -Iranian officials.

*Reinforce on Lebanon all the biased accords that Syria imposed on the country during its occupation period that ended in 2005, especially the military and defense ones.

* Keep on using Lebanon as an arena and backyard for the Iranian and Syrian wars, schemes and terrorism.

* Change Lebanon's peaceful, democratic and free multicultural society, and her open, tolerant, educated and civilized nature, and replace them by an oppressive militant dictatorial regime, a replicate of those in both Syria and Iran.

* Assassinate, imprison and muffle all opponents to the Syrian-Iranian dominance and occupation.

* Obstruct and hinder all regional and international efforts for peacefully ending the Arab-Israeli conflict.

In conclusion, the free people of Lebanon have been forced into a very bizarre, awkward and satanic situation in which their only remaining choice is to stand tall like their Holy Cedars, refuse to succumb, bravely resist, and defend themselves as they have successfully done for the last 7,000 years. Yes, the Syrian Baathist regime will fall very soon and the Iranian and Syrian schemes against the Country of the Cedars will be defeated by the Lebanese people, no matter what the sacrifices will have to be made.

Click Here to read the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.mikati%20cabinet15.6.11.htm

Click Here to listen to Arabic version of the above editorial (Media player)
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias%20mikati%20govr15.6.11.wma

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

The Faithful Lebanese and their Holy Lebanon

2011-06-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

The Faithful Lebanese and their Holy Lebanon
By: Elias Bejjani*

June 03/2011

When we proclaim loudly who we are, we don't brag or boast. No, we do not do this at all. But with simple faith and self confidence we say proudly who we are. We say to the forces of evil that are occupying our country and oppressing our people that no matter what, sooner or later, they will be forced to leave Lebanon in disgrace. Defeat and humiliation is the fate of all occupiers who have found that Lebanon and its people cannot be enslaved. The Syrians, Iranians and their proxy militias like Hezbollah, who are at the present time taking Lebanon hostage, ought to learn from history and foresee their ultimate fate.

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians (5-6), described the believer’s role by saying: “A little bit of yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise.” This is exactly the divine responsibility of the patriotic Lebanese people who believe in the 10452 km square concept, honor the distinguished Lebanese identity, are proud of the rich Lebanese culture, affiliate spiritually to Lebanon’s 7000 year history, and are deeply rooted to the holiness of the Lebanese soil.

They have to be like the blessed dough. They have to strengthen the faith of their people, support them in their agony, and be witnesses for the truth with integrity, devotion and endurance. Saint Paul also said to the Corinthians: “If my aim was only to satisfy the people, I would not have been Jesse’s servant, we don’t speak to please the people, but to please Almighty God.”

We are the patriotic Lebanese who carry Lebanon’s torch and its Cross at the same time. We are the ones who are witnessing for the truth, defending our beloved country and fighting for its sovereignty, independence, and unique identity. Our quest is to provide freedom for our people and secure their right to choose their leaders and officials without oppression or persecution.

We the Free Lebanese all over the world have decided with solid faith to carry Lebanon’s Cross with perseverance, courage and devotion till the day Lebanon is fully liberated. Sadly, at the present time, Lebanon is still an occupied country. Its freedom and decision-making are confiscated and held hostage by the Iranian-armed terrorist militia Hezbollah. The militia holds power over Lebanon by force using corruption, crime and terror.

Against all odds, we have decided to walk the path of struggle and resistance regardless of material gain or loss. We have decided to walk “Lebanon’s Calvary road” and endure all the pain and the humiliation needed to reach the salvific end.

Our civilized and peaceful struggle is not a choice but a fate. It is a divine price that we have to pay for the gift of being born Lebanese, and for the Godly grace that we were molded of Lebanese holy soil and its blessed water. Our quest for liberation is derived from a set of solid national convictions inherited from our great ancestors who created the nation of Lebanon through hard work and remarkable devotion in all through 7000 years of martyrdom.

We are the sons of the great Lebanon, the land of the holy cedars, We are the sons of the nation of civilization, science, culture, We are the sons of the Phoenicians, who gave the world its first Alphabet, We are the sons of the Phoenicians who taught the whole world the science of navigation and the art of trade, We are the sons of the Phoenician King Aheram, whose architects and craftsmen of Tyre built the great temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, We are the sons of the great Phoenician Hannibal, the mightiest military leader, We are the sons of Sheik Bashir, Al-Bustani, Kadmous, Zaynon, Europe, and Malek, We are the sons of the 10452 km square Lebanon.

Because of all of the above and because of who we are it is a sin for us under any given circumstances, no matter what the sacrifices are, to compromise on any of our holy convictions or national beliefs. We say to those who advise us every now and then to be pragmatic and to accept the imposed occupational status quo: "NO, NO, NO."

Your advice simply means enslavement, submission and surrender to the devil. It is a ticket for tyrants and occupiers to control the whole world based on the Darwinist principle of survival of the strongest.

We patriotic Lebanese can’t accept the occupation of our country. No matter who is the occupier, be it the Syrian, Iranians or others, we will resist with all means available to reclaim our freedom and independence. We are fully aware that the process is hard and requires a great deal of sacrifice, but we have no other choice for this is our fate.

We can’t accept the subordination and Dhimmitude principles and give away our history, culture, identity and pride. We can’t accept ignorance, treason and collaboration, and we can’t accept going back to the stone ages.

Our understanding of patriotism is completely different than that advocated by those of other faiths in Lebanon who will for ultimate victory have been weakened. Lebanon for us for means the full understanding of obligations and commitments, and the responsibility to take a courageous stance for our nationhood.

Those who preach enslavement should remember that if Jesus Christ had accepted the painful reality imposed on him by the Pharisees, and had abandoned his heavenly mission, that there would have been no Christianity. If black people had accepted the horrible reality of being slaves, they would not have won their battle and become free. If General DeGaulle had accepted the reality of the Nazi occupation of his country, France would have not been liberated.

Succumbing to evil powers to save one’s physical body leaves one void of faith, hope or aspirations and destroys the soul. It is a conduct based on tangible, visible facts removed from those intangible, spiritual realities. The concept of succumbing to a foreign enemy has no place in nationalism because it is synonymous with surrender. Martyrdom knows nothing of temporary material gains and loses, because the struggle for freedom and liberty is metaphysical and eternal.

Freedom is a gift from Almighty God. He created man in His image and distinguished him from other creatures with remarkable intellectual faculties including emotions, conscience, judgment and creativity. Once man loses these faculties, he loses his human-divine nature.

Any Lebanese who accepts the reality of the occupation of his country and declines resisting and fighting the occupiers does not deserve the privilege of being Lebanese. We ask those who preach ‘subordination to Hezbollah, Syria and Iran’ to strengthen their weakened Lebanese faith and fight fiercely to change the imposed satanic reality on their country of Lebanon.

Free we were born, free we shall die. Lebanese we were born, and Lebanese we shall remain till the Day of the Lord.

Long Live Free Lebanon!

Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Hezbollah's bogus Liberation & Resistance Day

2011-05-23T18:22:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Believe it or not, on May 25 each year since 2000 Lebanon has been celebrating a so-called "Liberation & Resistance Day." Sadly, this celebration commemorates a bogus event, and a phony heroism that did not actually take place.

On May 22, 2000 the Israeli Army unilaterally and for solely Israeli domestic reasons withdrew from the security zone of South Lebanon in accordance with UN Resolution 425. The withdrawal was a fatal Israeli decision that has inspired the Hamas terrorism acts and the on-going havoc in the Palestinian Gaza strip.

During the last 11 years many Israeli officials and politicians form all parties openly and harshly criticized Barak's Government (Barak was PM at that time) hasty and unwise decision through which Israel' abandoned its ally the South Lebanon Army (SLA) and gave Hezbollah all south Lebanon on a plate of sliver.

The unilateral Israeli withdrawal created a security vacuum in south Lebanon. The Syrians who were occupying Lebanon at that time and fully controlling its government, did not allow the Lebanese Army to deploy in the south and fill this vacuum after the Israeli withdrawal. Instead Syria helped the Hezbollah militia to militarily control the whole southern region, and even patrol the Israeli-Lebanese border.

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army's withdrawal was executed without any military battles, or even minor skirmishes with Hezbollah, or the Lebanese and Syrian armies. The Syrian regime, in a bid to justify both its on going occupation of Lebanon and the avoidance of disarming Hezbollah, came up with the "Shabaa Farms occupation big lie" and declared Hezbollah a Liberator, alleging it had forced Israel to withdrawal from South Lebanon.

Syria, in the same camouflaging and devious context, dictated to both the Lebanese parliament and government to declare May 25th a National Day under the tag of "Liberation & Resistance Day".

In reality Hezbollah did not force the Israeli withdrawal, and did not play any role in the Liberation of the southern Lebanese region. In fact both Hezbollah and Syria deliberately hindered and delayed the Israeli withdrawal for more than 14 years.

Every time the Israelis called on the Lebanese government to engage in a joint, serious effort under the United Nations umbrella to ensure a safe and mutually organized withdrawal of its army from South Lebanon, the Lebanese government refused to cooperate, did not agree to deploy its army in the south, and accused the Israelis of plotting to divide and split the Syrian-Lebanese joint track. This approach to the Israeli calls was an official Syrian decision dictated to all the Lebanese puppet governments during the Syrian occupation era.

Since then, Hezbollah has been hijacking Lebanon and its people, refusing to disarm and advocating for the annihilation of Israel. This Iranian mullahs' terrorist army stationed in Lebanon, is viciously hiding behind labels of resistance, liberation and religion. Hezbollah has recklessly jeopardized the Lebanese peoples' lives, safety, security and livelihood. It has been growing bolder and bolder in the last four years and mercilessly taking the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people hostage through terrorism, force and organized crime.

Sadly, Hezbollah is systematically devouring Lebanon day after day, and piece by piece, while at the same time marginalizing all its governmental institutions in a bid to topple the Lebanese state and erect in its place a Shiite Muslim regime, a replica of the Iranian Shiite mullahs' fundamentalist republic. Meanwhile the free world and Arabic countries are totally silent, indifferent, and idly watching from far away the horrible crime unfolding without taking any practical or tangible measures to put an end to this anti-Lebanese Syria-Iranian scheme that is executed through their spearhead, the Hezbollah armed militia.

Who is to be blamed for Hezbollah's current odd and bizarre status? Definitely the Syrians who have occupied Lebanon for more than 28 years (1976-2005). During their bloody and criminal occupation, Syria helped the Iranian Hezbollah militia build a state within Lebanon and fully control the Lebanese Shiite community.

But also the majority of the Lebanese politicians, leaders, officials and clergymen share the responsibility because they were subservient and acted in a dire Dhimmitude, selfish and cowardly manner. If these so-called Lebanese leaders had been courageous and patriotic and had not appeased Hezbollah and turned a blind eye to all its vicious and human rights atrocities, intimidation tactics, crimes and expansionism schemes, this Iranian Shiite fundamentalist militia would not have been able to erect its own mini-state in the southern suburb of Beirut, and its numerous mini-cantons in the Bekaa Valley and the South; nor would Hezbollah have been able to build its mighty military power, with 70 thousand militiamen, or stockpile more than 50 thousand missiles and force the Iranian "Wilayat Al-Faqih" religious doctrine on the Lebanese Shiite community and confiscate its decision making process and freedoms.

Since Hezbollah's emergence in 1982, these politicians have been serving their own selfish interests and not the interests of the Lebanese people and the nation. They went along with Hezbollah's schemes, deluding themselves that its militia and weaponry would remain in South Lebanon and would not turn against them.

This failure to serve the people of Lebanon allowed Hezbollah to make many Lebanese and most of the Arab-Muslim countries through its terrorism propaganda to blindly swallow its big lie of theatrical, faked resistance and Liberation.

Hezbollah would not have been able refuse to disarm in 1991, like all the other Lebanese militias in accordance to the "Taef Accord," which called for the disarmament of all militias. Hezbollah would not have become a state inside the Lebanese state, and a world-wide terrorism Iranian-Syrian tool which turned against them all after its war with Israel in year 2006 and after the UN troops were deployed on the Lebanese - Israeli borders in accordance with the UN Resolution 1701.

On May 7, 2008 Hezbollah invaded Sunni Western Beirut killing and injuring in cold blood hundreds of its civilian citizens, and attempted to take over by force Mount Lebanon.
Hezbollah's General Secretary Sheik Hassan Nasrallah called that day (May 7, 2008) a great and glorious victory for his resistance, and keeps on threatening the Lebanese that a replicate of that day will take place if they do not succumb and obey his Iranian orders.

Hezbollah is a deadly dragon that the Lebanese politicians have been allowing him to feed on sacrifices from the southern Lebanese citizens, especially on those who were living in the "Security Zone" and who fled to Israel in May 2000 after the Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. This dragon who enjoyed devouring his southern sacrifices has now turned on all the Lebanese and if they do not stand for their rights and dignity, he will keep on devouring them all one after the other.

We call on the Lebanese government, the Lebanese Parliament and on all the free and patriotic Lebanese politicians and leaders to cancel the May 25 National Day, because it is not national at all, and also to stop calling Hezbollah a resistance, put an end for its mini-state, cantons and weaponry, and secure a dignified, honorable and safe return for all the Lebanese citizens who have been taking refuge in Israel since May 2000.

Click Here to read the updated Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.thrier25.5.11.htm

Click Here to listen to the updated version of the above editorial (Media player)
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias.tahrier24.5.11.wma

*Elias BejjaniCanadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

N.B: This editorial was first published on 25/05/2009. I an republishing it today with minor changes because the same problems that it addressed remain unsolved.

10452identity.faith.history@gmail.com | Settings | Help | Sign out

2011-05-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani *

Medically proved scientific strategies teach us that treating any disease has to start first with an accurate diagnosis in accordance with recognizing a set of signs and symptoms. Once the diagnosis and the cause or causes are pinpointed and identified, the treatment is initiated through which the main cause of the disease is targeted. Meanwhile, treating only the diseases' signs and symptoms without identifying and treating the primary cause is a waste of time, effort and resources. Such a derailed strategy leads to the disease becoming worse and putting the patient’s life at dire risk.

Based on this scientific strategy and concept one can examine Lebanon's ongoing problems. Since the early seventies Lebanon's main and disastrous problem has been the confiscation of its independent, freedom, and sovereignty as a state. Sadly, the Arab states and Iran have turned this multicultural, democratic and deeply rooted country into an arena, a mail box and a battlefield for their deceit and a windmill of wars against the State of Israel.

The Arab regimes without any exception and the Iranian mullahs were able to achieve this evil ploy and turn Lebanon an into arena and a backyard for their fake wars and schemes because certain Lebanese communities have never recognized Lebanon since 1920 as an independent entity, and, accordingly, became Trojan horses for foreign and neighboring powers: the Egyptians, Syrians, Iranians, Libyans, Islamic terrorists, fundamentalists, etc.

To secure stability in their countries, safeguard their thrones, wealth and ruling power, and to conceal their corrupt nature and practices, these dictatorships, Stone Age and oppressive regimes aimed on destabilizing Lebanon through religious strife, bribery, fraud, terrorism, murder, assassinations, ministates, militias and division.

Sadly, these regimes with the help of Lebanese Trojans, fundamentalists, opportunists and mercenaries were able to dismantle the foundations of the Lebanese state and to turn the whole country into an arena for their destructive ploys. They used the Lebanese people as fuel in their camouflaging war against Israel under fake banners of resistance (Mukawama), obstruction (mumanaa) liberation, Arabism and fundamentalism; while in reality the majority of them have either officially signed peace accords with Israel or covertly have established very close and friendly relations with her government.

An independent Lebanon with democracy, freedom, openness, equality, respect of human rand a just judiciary is the worst enemy for all Arab regimes as for Iran because such a Lebanon exposes their oppressive and dictatorial regimes. They all continue hindering Lebanon from regaining its independence, unity and stability so they can keep on forcing their own people into intolerance, fanaticism, ignorance, illiteracy, rejection of others and fundamentalism.

The Syrian totalitarian Baathist regime is the most notorious in all schemes of deception, oppression, fundamentalism, ethnic cleansing, crime, assassinations, hatching and exporting terrorism, and in all matters of malicious interference in other countries' internal affairs. This regime has managed to remain in power since the early sixties because of the no peace, no war status in the Middle East that its rulers adopt, advocate and implement.

Under the camouflage of resisting Israel, the Syrian regime oppresses, impoverishes, humiliates, persecutes and kills its own people, while at the same time keeps on destabilizing neighboring Lebanon through all means, including murder, sectarian strife, fake resistance against Israel, terrorism and bloody abuse and manipulation of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian refugees in both Lebanon and Syria..

In this devilish context, the Syrian regime derives its life elixir from the false and deceptive support it allegedly provides to the Palestinian cause, while for the last 40 years has been aborting all peace initiatives between Israel and the Arab countries under the big lie of resistance. Peace with Israel is the number one enemy for the Syrian regime because once it happens, all its lies and deception will be unveiled and the Syrian people would revolt and eliminate it. The kind of brutality and massive slaughter that this regime has been using against the Syrian peoples' uprising for the last three months explains its evil and deceptive nature and mentality.

Last Sunday, on the Palestinian Nakba Day, (anniversary of Israel’s founding in 1948), the Syrian rulers with their vicious Iranian allies instigated and orchestrated bloody confrontations on both Syrian and Lebanese borders with Israel. The victims and fuel for these futile confrontations were sadly the Palestinian refugees who by thousands were bused by Syrian and Iranian means of transportation, full supervision, facilitations and financing to Majdal Shams on the Golan Heights and the Maroun al-Rass in south Lebanon. The demonstrations ended with more than 13 Palestinians killed and hundreds injured when the Palestinian demonstrators tried to cross the border fences to attack the Israeli army.

According to a report published by Ken Timmerman on May 17/11( http://www.newsmax.com/KenTimmerman/iran-israel-syria-hamas/2011/05/17/id/396681)
"The Iranian regime called the political leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah to Tehran last month, to work out the details of an unprecedented series of protests they wanted them to launch along Israel’s border on the anniversary of Israel’s founding in 1948, according to Iranian dissidents. The meetings were an overwhelming success. Thousands of Palestinians participated in organized protests, storming across mine fields and border fences into Israel from the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Syria."

Based on all of the above, we strongly believe that Lebanon will not know peace or stability before its borders with Syria are fully controlled, and not before forging a peace accord with Israel as Egypt and Jordan did years ago, and as is the case with most of the Arab countries which overtly or covertly has ended the war status with the Jewish state.

In conclusion, the Lebanese people and their leaders need to pinpoint the main problem of their country and accordingly look for an everlasting and curative solution. Lebanon's main problem lies in the "arena, battlefield and mailbox" status that has been forced on the country by Iran, Syria and their militant proxies and outlawed Syrian Iranian and Palestinian ministates. To finally put an end to this bizarre status, Lebanon needs to immediately close this "arena", end the war status, sign a peace accord with Israel, and then work hard to regain its independence, free decision making process, and sovereignty. All ministates erected in Lebanon by Syria, Iran, and the Palestinians must be dismantled and all militias disarmed. All other temporary endeavors that address only the symptoms of the problem and not the main cause will make things worse.

Click Here to read the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.dawlat18.5.11.htm

Click Here to listen (Window Media Player) to the above editorial in Arabic
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias.peaceaccord20.5.1.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.
*Face Book group, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

Egypt's New Rulers Must Protect the Copts, not Persecute them

2011-05-13T12:47:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Were we all fantasizing, naive and foolish when the recent peaceful and civilized Egyptian revolution led by the new youthful generation made us and the whole world believe that its prime objectives were stability, freedom, justice, peace, equality, democracy, openness, respect for human rights, a dignified life with no oppression, education about hatred and discrimination and a secular constitution that secures equality in rights and obligations for all Egyptians citizens of all religions?

Like many others, we are enraged, disappointed and sad because the "Higher Military Egyptian Council” that assumed power after the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak and his government, has badly covertly and overtly adopted all the previous Egyptian regimes' despicable inhuman practices, intolerance, discrimination, injustice and persecution of the Christian Copts. Not only that, but against all logic, patriotism, and obligations towards other Arab countries has embraced the Iranian mullahs' fundamentalist and terrorist regime, undeterred by its flagrant terrorism, hostility, and interference in the internal affairs of the Gulf Arab States, Lebanon and Iraq. One wonders if the only achievement of the Egyptian revolution was the replacement of one Pharaoh with another.

Sadly, so far, nothing substantial has changed in Egypt, except in the camouflaged firing, hiring and arrest of a number of high ranking officials, mainly ministers, army intelligence officers and governors.

The first and major failure and setback committed by the "Higher Military Egyptian Council" members was in their stubborn clinging to Article Two in the country's constitution that legalizes discrimination and apartheid. It states verbatim: "Islam is the religion of the state, Arabic is its official language, and the principles of Islamic Sharia are the main source of legislation".

In this realm of discrimination, the Council refused to appoint Christians and women in the judicial committee that was designated to study and propose constitutional amendments. The approved amendments were few, insubstantial and merely decorative and cosmetic.

Constitutions in all free and democratic countries are secular and not based on any religion because a free and democratic state does not require the protection of any one religion, but its institutions assume the responsibility of protecting and facilitating the religious rights and freedom for all citizens. Religion must be a free personal choice and should not by any means be forced on any individual no matter what, while no one legally or morally has the right to impose any religious lifestyle or beliefs on others.

Article Two preaches, fosters and fortifies racism and discriminates between the citizens of Egypt according to their religious beliefs. It cultivates and nurtures par excellence feelings of hostility, grudges, inequality and a sense of superiority for Muslims and inferiority among Christians.

The Council refused to amend this discriminating article without giving any justifications; and while the majority of the Egyptians are Sunni Muslims, there are more than 15 million Christians, more than one million Shiite Muslims, as well Baha'is, Jews and even atheists.

The racist Article Two has been for many, many years encouraging the Egyptian Muslim Salafists and other Islamic fundamentalists to deal with their fellow Christian citizens with superiority, contempt, humiliation, hostility, intolerance, ongoing bloody violent infringements on the Coptic faith, rituals, everyday lifestyle, property, freedom of work, residence, movement, family affairs, and churches.

In reality, Egyptian authorities have always turned a blind eye on the fanatical assailants and perpetrators, protected their violent acts and ignored enforcing the law on them. Earlier this month (08.05.11), Coptic Christians in the area of Embaba (Cairo) were massively attacked by 3,000 Muslim Salafists continuously for 14 hours without any police or army intervention. The attackers fired guns and rifles and hurled Molotov cocktails at Coptic churches, houses and businesses. Twelve Copts were killed and 232 wounded. The Higher Military Egyptian Council did not assume its national duties, declined from protecting the Copts and just passively watched while the Copts were being slaughtered.

The Free World countries and UN have a moral obligation to intervene by all available means and on all levels in a bid to protect the Egyptian Copts and to condemn the stance of dire indifference that the actual new military rulers of Egypt are taking, while the fanatical Muslim Salafists are attacking the Copts, invading their homes, killing them, burning their churches and threatening to kill their clergy including the Coptic Pope Shenouda.

Apparently, the Council has abandoned its security obligations and it is either not interfering at all or succumbing to the Salafist fundementalists’ threats. Last month, the Salafists challenged the Council when it appointed a Christian Governor and through violent demonstrations it was forced to retreat and rescind the appointment.

It's really a huge insult to the new Egyptian rulers and to all the Arab countries when the persecuted, threatened, scared and abandoned Copts need to call on the UN and Free World countries to step in and protect them from their own rulers, army and people.

In conclusion, it’s the national duty of the Egyptian state and people to produce an effective legal, social and security apparatus through which the safety, freedom, faith, churches and property of the Copts are safeguarded from the savagery of the Salafists and other fanatics. Meanwhile, all Copts' rights as equal Egyptian citizens should be fully honored without racism, discrimination or injustice. And most importantly, both Article Two of the Egyptian constitution and the "Hamayoni Decree" (a clause in the Egyptian law, dating back from Ottoman rule, February 1856, that regulates Church construction and maintenance), MUST be abolished.

Click Here to read the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.akbat13.05.11.htm

Click Here to listen (Window Media Player) to above editorial in Arabic
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias.akbat13.5.11.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.
*Face Book group, http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_128479277182033&ap=1

The need to topple regimes that sponsor terrorism

2011-05-06T20:08:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Isaiah 33/1: "Woe to you who destroy, but you weren’t destroyed; and who betray, but nobody betrayed you! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed; and when you have made an end of betrayal, you will be betrayed."

Faithful people who strongly believe in the Day Of Judgment and in God's sole authority of revenge do not hail, rejoice, encourage, or commit the act of killing humans under any given circumstances, no matter what are the justifications or reasons. The two pillars of Faith are love and forgiveness, and not hatred or revenge as per the Bible teaching. (Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans 12/18-20: "If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”)

Murderers at the intellectual, academic, and leadership level, like the late terrorist Bin Laden, choose their evil lifestyle of hostility, corruption and crime. They distance themselves from God and faith, cowardly disregard all human rights' covenants, disrespect and breaks laws, lack the spirit of accountability and responsibility, and openly despise all values and morals. By walking this awkward and dangerous life path of rebellion against all society and faith norms they put themselves in a very vulnerable position where others, be individuals or authorities, are forced to deal with them in the same manner of force, deterrence and elimination.

In this context Osama bin Laden's acts of massive murder, terrorism and crime has brought on him the fatal end that he asked for and ultimately received. USA military forces haunted and killed him for the horrible massacre that he committed against the American people on the11th of September/2001, in which more than 3000 innocent individuals were murdered, mostly Americans, including 24 Canadians. He planned, financed and ordered this terrorist unprecedented bloody massacre, the biggest against the American people since the surprising air raid carried out by the Japanese Imperial Navy on December 07/1941 on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor.

It is an incontestable fact that killing bin Laden is a superb success in the global war against terrorism for military, legal and psychological reasons. Meanwhile his physical liquidation does not mean by any way that the evil education of terrorism, suicide and homicide, fundamentalist zealotry, and the culture of hatred that he has cultivated and spread were buried in the Arabian Sea along with his body. No, the death of the Saudi-born, wealthy fundamentalist and terrorist has not made the world terrorism-free. The impact of Osama Bin Laden as a symbol will most likely keep inspiring affiliated groups and individuals for some time, a fact that calls for an on going global vigilance and a need to continue all joint international efforts to contain, prevent and fight terrorism.

For achieving ultimate success and triumph in the global fight against terrorism, the main focus in this very costly and highly sophisticated war must be on the regimes that harbor, breed, and export it, and not only on organizations and individuals. There is no doubt that global fundamentalism and terrorism will continue to be a dire threat to world peace and stability after the physical absence of bin Laden as long as there are rogue regimes left alone without any kind of deterrence to use terrorism in their expansionism, sectarianism, hostility and destructive schemes. At the forefront of regimes that sponsor terrorism are the countries of Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Gaza Strip, Egypt, Iraq and the mini-state of Hezbollah, the Palestinian refugee camps and the Syrian military bases in Lebanon.

Bin Laden could not have escaped his deadly fate since 2001, if Pakistan and other countries were not providing him and his top notch terrorist aids with a safe haven. In this realm the American military and intelligence sources disclosed that Abbottabad, where Bin Laden was shot dead Sunday night on May 2, is a Pakistani garrison town where a large military base is located. His mansion was just 100 meters away from Pakistan's military academy and 120 kilometers from the capital of Islamabad and Pakistani intelligence headquarters. These sobering facts indicate that the Pakistani military and its intelligence must have known who was living in the exceptionally large, heavily guarded mansion in their midst and in plain sight and kept this knowledge from the Americans. The mansion was encircled by 12-15 meter high walls topped by 7 foot privacy wall and barbed wire accessed through two steel, electrically-operated security gates. The Pakistani authorities could not have missed it when it was built in 2005 and more buildings were added later.

Bin Laden's hypocrisy was unveiled and plainly exposed in the kind of life style that he was enjoying in the midst of a semi-urban Pakistani area. While he was sending men and women to their deaths, he was not hiding in a hole, in a jungle, or in a remote mountainous cave. No, he was residing comfortably in a million-dollar three-storey mansion with his wives, children, close family members and aids, while getting the best of the latest telecommunication and leisure technology.

It is so frustrating, and extremely sad that since the mid-fifties our peace-loving Lebanese people have been and still are victims for all forms of terrorism. Syria is fully behind all the terrorists that have been inflicting all sorts of terrorism on the Lebanese. Syria has instigated in Lebanon endless futile wars, chaos, instability, exodus, corruption, crime and the confiscation of the country's independence, freedom and sovereignty. Syria, jointly with its Iranian mullah allies, completely embraces both Hezbollah and Hamas as well as a score of radical and Islamic fundamentalist organizations. Syria and Iran breed, cultivate, recruit, train, finance and use the majority of terrorism organizations

Autocratic and oppressive regimes in both Syria and Iran are the sole godfathers for most of the terrorist groups and individuals all over the world. They are creating chaos and instability in Arab and Middle Eastern countries under camouflaged and deceptive religious slogans. Meanwhile, the free world up till now not only doing nothing but is, instead, cajoling and appeasing both rogue regimes.

To globally eliminate and eradicate all forms of terrorism, regimes that harbor terrorists must be contained militarily or toppled. The Syrian and Iranian regimes should be at the top of the list for this effort. Meanwhile, all politicians, academics and clergy who advocate or sponsor terrorism must be arrested and put on trial through international tribunals

In conclusion, the majority of the terrorist organizations all over the world including Hezbollah, and Hamas are mere military tools and proxies that are found, financed, and sponsored by the two rogue regimes of Iran and Syria. Therefore, an effective global war against terrorism can not by any means be successful if the regimes that breed terrorism are not dealt with first. Fighting only fundamentalist and terrorist organizations will not put an end to global terrorism. What is required foremost is the eradication of the regimes that foster, produce, protect and export terrorism.

Click Here to the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.benladen%206.5.11.htm

Click Here to listen to the above editorial/Lebanese dialogue
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias6.5.11.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Syria's rogue regime is doomed to fall

2011-04-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani
Indeed, the term "rogue", accurately describes the savage and brutal practices, as well as the evil and murderous mentality of the dictatorial Syrian Baathist regime that has been in power since the early sixties via force, murder and oppression against the free will of the majority of the Syrian people. In reality it is the both the number one enemy of its own people, and the most diabolical worldwide regime that masters and performs all vicious tactics of initiating, hosting, embracing, recruiting, financing, exporting, using and manipulating all forms of terrorism and fundamentalist and Mafiosi terrorist groups.

For many years, Al-Assad’s Syrian regime has been overtly and covertly spreading throughout the whole Middle East an ongoing havoc, chaos, instability, schemes and terrorism, and obstructing the peace process. The Syrian ruler’s deadly terror acts and destructive schemes have targeted most of the region's countries through their criminal offshoot organizations, especially Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, and many of the Arabian Gulf Emirates and kingdoms.

The Syrian dictator, Bachar Al-Assad, in conjunction with his Iranian mullah allies, fully trains, arms, hosts, sponsors and supports Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as many other Palestinian radical groups. It is a well known fact that the majority of the worldwide terrorist groups are either hatched in the Syrian terrorism incubator or are fully coordinated with the notorious Syrian Intelligence Services. (Al Mukabarat)

The Syrian regime is totally alienated from its own people and does not in reality belong to the 21st century's mentality, culture or civilization. It is par excellence a poisonous global epicenter of terrorism and fundamentalism. Since the early sixties, it has been ruling Syria with a merciless iron fist, holding the Syrian people hostage and hindering the whole peace process in the Middle East.

Because of its awkward, criminal, and terrorist nature, this Stone Age era regime cannot reform under any given circumstances. Therefore, it will stubbornly and foolishly keep on escalating the bloody war against its own people till its last day in power. Meanwhile, it is doomed to fall no matter what, and this is only a matter of time. The Free World will no longer be able to protect this regime and keep a blind eye on its criminal repression and oppression of the majority of the Syrian people.

The Free World ought to know very well that the only language that the bloody Syrian regime speaks, understands and responds to is power. In this context, all kinds of economical and political sanctions, all sorts of rhetorical condemnations, advice and recommendations will be in vain, a mere waste of time and effort, and will definitely fall on the deaf ears, hardened hearts and numbed consciences of the ruling Al- Assad family members.

Both the Syrian and the Iranian rogue regimes look at the countries that abstain from using the language of force to communicate with them as weak, indecisive, cowardly and afraid of engaging in war. In this realm all the sanctions that were applied against these two regimes have failed miserably and did not deter their dictators from striving to develop weapons of mass destruction, including the nuclear bomb, or stopping their expansionist schemes.

Psychologically, the massive peaceful and civilized demonstrations of the courageous unarmed Syrian people all over Syria have broken the shield of fear, and will not stop no matter what force is used against them until the regime is finally toppled. The use of force by the regime is going to make things worse for its brutal rulers, and as more innocent victims fall in the streets, the stronger the public uprising will become.

It is really sad and disappointing the American Obama administration, the world champion of freedom, human rights and democracy, is not yet openly supporting the Syrian peoples' uprising, but instead is still fantasizing that Al-Assad will change his regime’s oppressive behavior, reform it and break all ties with Iran. This is merely delusional and will never ever happen.

It is so bizarre and odd that President Obama and his administration have played a crucial role in toppling the USA’s two prime allies in the Middle East, Egypt's President Mubarak, and Tunisia's President Zien Al Abedien, while still waging an actual war to force their friend, Libya's Al Kaddafi, to quit. Meanwhile, the same administration is shamefully cajoling and appeasing the Syrian regime, the number one Iranian ally and the well known terrorist and anti-USA and anti-Western regime.

Most of the countries justify their no action stances against the Syrian regime with an alleged fear of the unknown substitute, that to say, those who will take over the ruling of Syria once Al-Assad regime is gone. No matter who shall rule after Al-Assad, things can't by any means be worse because no one can practice more cruelty, terrorism, corruption, and bribery than the current Syrian regime.

We call on the USA, Europe and all the Arab countries to overcome their hesitation, tame their timidity and start immediately and openly to support the Syrian people who are longing for freedom and peacefully challenging their regime's corruption, dictatorship, brutality and repressiveness. The courageous Syrian people deserve the world's acclamation, attention and support.

Click Here to the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.syria27.4.11.htm

Click Here to listen to the above editorial/Lebanese dialogue
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias.syrianregime27.4.11.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Easter Sunday: Love, Forgiveness, Penances & Humbleness

2011-04-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here (Mark 16/05)

Do not be afraid, “Don’t be amazed", with these reassuring and soothing words The Angel spoke to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. They had came to the tomb on Sunday morning to mummify and anoint Jesus' Body as the Jewish tradition required. They thought death had defeated Jesus and ended His life as it does to every human being. On their way, they were sadly thinking and wondering who will roll for them the stone away from the tomb's entrance so they can get in and perform the mummifying and anointing process. While halfway from the tomb, they saw that the enormous stone had been rolled away. When they entered the tomb they found that Jesus' body was not there. They found only the shrouds that His body was wrapped with on His burial after the crucifixion.

Saint Mark's (16/01-13) Gospel describes thoroughly what has happened with these three loyal and faithful women: "When the Sabbath was, past Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back. Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him! But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid. Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either."

Lord Jesus who died on the cross, had risen from the dead on the third day just as He has said while proclaiming His message. He triumphed over death, defeated the forces of darkness, overcame pain, abolished anguish and brought despair to an end. He rose from the tomb to be constantly with those faithful to Him throughout their lives, and to never abandon them. He shall empower forever those who believe in His message and observe His commandments with the spirit of truth, knowledge, wisdom and solidarity with His Father, Almighty God.

Christ is the Way, Christ is the Truth, and Christ is the actual eternal life that we long for. We strongly believe with full conviction that Christ dwells in His Holy Church, and exists in its Mysteries (Sacraments). He is always present in the Holy Eucharist that we receive during every mass. Christ at all times is ready, willing and delighted to help us in our burdens when we call on Him and ask for His mercy. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew11:28)

The miracle of resurrection is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. This pivotal liturgical fact was strongly stressed by Saint Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians, (15/12-26): " Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s, at his coming. Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death".

Through Crucifixion and resurrection, Christ has overcome death, broke its thorn, and granted us His eternal forgiveness from the original sin. With His death and resurrection, death in its traditional earthly human concept has been abolished forever and Sin since then has become the actual death that leads the sinners to Gahanna into the unquenchable fire.

When our bodies die, we sleep in the hope of resurrection. On Jesus' return on the Day of Judgment, the dead will be the first to rise and escort Him. "Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed", (Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15 / 51-52).

Easter Sunday is a holy feast of love, humility, forgiveness, brotherhood, tolerance and repentance. Religiously we are not to participate in any of these feast prayers or make any offerings or receive the Holy Communion unless we replace hatred with love, grudges with forgiveness, rejection of others with tolerance, arrogance with humility, greed with contentment, deception with transparency, and evil with righteousness.

If we do not learn how to tame our selfishness, anger, hatred and forgive others for whatever evil deeds they commit against us and reconcile with them, than we do not qualify to be called Jesus' followers. Our prayers will not be heard or responded to, if we do not practice the grace of forgiveness as did He who was crucified for our salvation.
“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift". (Matthew 5/23-24).

Meanwhile our true faith in Jesus and in His Sacrifices won't be complete unless we adopt in our thinking, deeds and language the pure components of sacrifice, honesty, truth, self respect, meekness and decency. "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4/29-32)

For our prayers to be looked upon and heard by Almighty God, we are required to reconcile with ourselves and with all others on whom we have inflicted pain and injustice, and treated with an evil manner. To please the Lord we are required to genuinely, heartily and overtly perform all required acts of repentance for all our mischievous conducts and wrongdoings. Mark 11/24-26: "Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions"

Almighty God has endowed us with His love talent, (minas) and expects us to faithfully invest it in helping others who are in need. He expect us to observe all the teaching of His Bible so that He will reward us on the Day of Judgment and put us on His Right Side.

On this Holy Day of Resurrection, we must be aware that Jesus' Holy blood was shed on the Cross for our sake. Remembrance of His death and resurrection is a Godly consignment that we are entrusted with. It’s up to us either to honour this trust or betray it. In regards to what is committed to us, Saint Paul conveyed to his disciple Timothy the following advice (6/20-21): "Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; which some professing have erred concerning the faith".

Halleluiah! Jesus has risen! Indeed He has risen.

Click Here to read the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias%20.arabic.eastern11.htm
Click Here to listen to the above editorial (Lebanese dialogue) Window Media file
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias.easter11.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Thursday of the Holy Mysteries

2011-04-21T04:53:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

The Maronite Catholic Church celebrates today, "The Thursday of the Holy Mysteries", (Kamies Al Asrar), which is also known as the "Washing Thursday "(Kamies Al Kesiel), the "Covenant Thursday", and the "Great & Holy Thursday". It is the holy day feast that falls on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His 12 Apostles as described in the gospel. It is the fifth day of the last Lenten Holy Week, that is followed by the, "Good Friday", "Saturday Of The Light (Sabet Al Nour) and "Easter Sunday".

Luke 22/1-30: "Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, drew near. The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people. Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve. He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. They were glad, and agreed to give him money. He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude. The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed. He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.” They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes.” He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!” They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am in the midst of you as one who serves. But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Thursday of the Holy Mysteries (Secrets-Sacraments) is the heart of the last Lenten holy week, in which the Maronite Catholic Church lives with reverence and devotion the Lord's Last Supper spirit and contemplation through prayers and deeply rooted religious rituals and traditions:

*The Patriarch prays over and blesses the chrism (Al-Myroun), as well as the oil of baptism and anointing that are to are distributed on all parishes and churches.

*During the mass that is held on this Holy Day, the priest washes the feet of twelve worshipers, mainly children (symbolizing the apostles numbers)
Jesus washed His disciples feet and commanded them to love each other and follow his example in serving each other. “So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13/12-16).

*Worshipers visit and pray in seven Churches. This ritual denotes to the completion of the Church's Seven sacraments (Secrets) : Priesthood sacrament, Eucharist sacrament, Holy Oil sacrament, Baptism sacrament, Confirmations sacrament, anointing sacrament and Service sacrament.
This tradition also denotes to the seven locations that Virgin Mary's went to look for Her Son, Jesus, after she learned about His arrest. The detention place, The Council of the Priests, twice the Pilate's headquarters, twice the Herod Headquarters, till She got to the Calvary.
Some Christian scholars believe that this tradition was originated in Rome where early pilgrims visited the seven pilgrim churches as an act of penance. They are Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul-outside-the-Walls, Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem, and traditionally Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls. Pope John Paul II replaced St. Sebastian with the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love for the jubilee year of 2000.

*The Mass of the Lord's Supper is accompanied by the ringing of bells, which are then silent until the Easter Vigil. Worshipers used to kneel and pray the rosary in front of the Eucharist (Blessed Sacrament) all Thursday night. The Blessed Sacrament remains exposed all night, while worshipers are encouraged to stay in the church as much as they can praying, meditating upon the Mystery of Salvation, and participating in the “agony of Gethsemane” (Garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives) in Jerusalem where Jesus spent his night in prayer before His crucifixion on Good Friday.

*After the homily washing of feet the service concludes with a procession taking the Blessed Eucharist (Sacrament) to the place of reposition. The altar is later stripped bare, as are all other altars in the church except the Altar of Repose.

Thursday of the "Holy Mysteries", is called so because in His Last Supper with the 12 disciples, Jesus Christ established the Eucharist and Priesthood Sacraments when "He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes.” "He took bread, broke it and gave it to the disciples saying: This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me. And when He Likewise, took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you".

Jesus ordained His disciples as priests of the New Testament when he said to them during the Last Supper: "But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Before Celebrating the Resurrection Day (Easter) worshipers live the "Paschal Mystery" through the Thursday Of the Sacraments, Good Friday and Saturday Of The Light (Sabet Al Nour).

Because He loves us and wants us to dwell in His Fathers' Eternal Heaven, Jesus Christ for our sake willingly suffered all kinds of torture, pain, humiliation and died on the Cross to pave our way for repentance and salvation.

Let us pray on this Holy Day that we always remember Jesus' love and sacrifices and live our life in this context of genuine, faith, love, meekness and forgiveness.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Innocent Nigerian Christians are left for the wolves to be devoured

2011-04-19T13:43:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani

The Free World countries, Arab States, UN, and Europe democracies should all be ashamed of themselves. Where are all those prominent leaders, politicians and clergy; the hypocrites who only and only rhetorically advocate for peace, freedom and democracy?

Their empty words have no meaning because they are backed with no actual deeds.
Why president Clinton and his Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton are so silent?

And why the European countries are not taking any action? And why not even one Arabic country condemned the massacre? Simply, because they are all selfish, materialistic, abandoned faith, total detached from any human feelings, numbed their consciences and distanced themselves from Almighty God.

For all these earthly reasons they do not care anymore.

The savage criminals sure can kill the bodies of those poor and peaceful Christians, but will never be able to kill their souls that are now in heaven.

Let us pray for the souls of all the innocent victims in Nigeria and strongly denounce the Horrible crimes that are unfolding against peaceful Christians in Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria and other countries.

Background
Muslim Mobs Kill At Least 100 Christians, Burn Over 40 Churches in Northern Nigeria
http://www.persecution.org/2011/04/19/muslim-mobs-kill-at-least-100-christians-burn-over-40-churches-in-northern-nigeria/
Washington, D.C. (April 19, 2011) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Muslim rioters have killed more than 100 Christians and burned down more than 40 churches in an attack that began yesterday in response to the election of Jonathan Goodluck, a Christian, as president of Nigeria. The rioters even destroyed the homes of many Muslims who supported President Jonathan Goodluck.
The Muslim attackers allege that the election was rigged and General Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim presidential candidate, is the rightful winner. Yet, impartial observers have called this election the fairest in decades. According to the Commonwealth observers’ report, “The elections for the National Assembly and the Presidency were both credible and creditable and reflected the will of the Nigerian people."
According to ICC sources, it is difficult to know the full extent of the damage. The casualties could be much higher as the attacks took place over many of the 12 Muslim majority states in northern Nigeria. The situation is beginning to calm since security forces were deployed and enforced a 24 hour curfew. Christian minorities living in northern Nigeria have faced repeated bouts of violence and discrimination at the hands of the Muslim majority. Since the introduction of Sharia law in northern Nigeria in 2001, tens and thousands of Christians have been killed.
“Christians in northern Nigeria are being killed and their churches and property destroyed for voting for the candidate of their choice. Why should churches be burned when just it’s an issue of politics? Why should Christians be killed just because someone won an election? Goodluck is not the president just for Christians; he is the president for every Nigerian. Why should Christians suffer because Jonathan won the election?” said a Christian leader in the northern Nigerian state of Kaduna.
Jonathan Racho, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa, said, “We are very saddened by the violence against Christians and their property in northern Nigeria. Disputes over elections shouldn’t have been allowed to lead to religious violence against Christians. We have repeatedly seen Muslims attack and kill those of other faiths at the slightest provocation. We urge Nigeria to fully investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. As long as these attackers operate with impunity, the attacks will continue.
You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441

Palm Sunday: Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

2011-04-16T20:23:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

(Psalm118/26): "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of Yahweh! We have blessed You out of the house of Yahweh".

On the seventh Lantern Sunday, known as the "Palm Sunday", our Maronite Catholic Church celebrates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The joyful and faithful people of this Holy City and their children welcomed Jesus with innocent spontaneity and declared Him a King. Through His glorious and modest entry the essence of His Godly royalty that we share with Him in baptism and anointing of Chrism was revealed. Jesus' Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, the "Palm Sunday", marks the Seventh Lantern Sunday, the last one before Easter Day, (The Resurrection).

During the past six Lantern weeks, we the believers are ought to have renewed and rekindled our faith and reverence through genuine fasting, contemplation, penance, prayers, repentance and acts of charity. By now we are expected to have fully understood the core of love, freedom, and justice that enables us to enter into a renewed world of worship that encompasses the family, the congregation, the community and the nation.

Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time to participate in the Jewish Passover Holiday. He was fully aware that the day of His suffering and death was approaching and unlike all times, He did not stop the people from declaring Him a king and accepted to enter the city while they were happily chanting : "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”.(John 12/13). Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Luke 19/39-40). Jesus entered Jerusalem to willingly sacrifice Himself, die on the cross, redeem us and absolve our original sin.

On the Palm Sunday we take our children and grandchildren to celebrate the mass and the special procession while happily they are carrying candles decorated with lilies and roses. Men and women hold palm fronds with olive branches, and actively participate in the Palm Procession with modesty, love and joy crying out loudly: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21/09).

On the Palm Sunday through the procession, prayers, and mass we renew our confidence and trust in Jesus. We beg Him for peace and commit ourselves to always tame all kinds of evil hostilities, forgive others and act as peace and love advocates and defend man's dignity and his basic human rights. "Ephesians 2:14": "For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us"

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus's story into Jerusalem appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19). The four accounts shows clearly that the Triumphal Entry was a significant event, not only to the people of Jesus’ day, but to Christians throughout history.

The Triumphal Entry as it appeared in Saint John's Gospel, (12/12-19), as follows : "On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!” Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, “Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt. ”His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him, and that they had done these things to Him. The multitude therefore that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it. For this cause also the multitude went and met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.” Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast. These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus."

The multitude welcomed Jesus, His disciples and followers while chanting: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!”.(John 12/13). His entry was so humble, meek simple and spontaneous. He did not ride in a chariot pulled by horses as earthly kings and conquerors do, He did not have armed guards, nor officials escorting him. He did not come to Jerusalem to fight, rule, judge or settle scores with any one, but to offer Himself a sacrifice for our salvation.

Before entering Jerusalem, He stopped in the city of Bethany, where Lazarus (whom he raised from the tomb) with his two sisters Mary and Martha lived. In Hebrew Bethany means "The House of the Poor". His stop in Bethany before reaching Jerusalem was a sign of both His acceptance of poverty and His readiness to offer Himself as a sacrifice. He is the One who accepted poverty for our own benefit and came to live in poverty with the poor and escort them to heaven, the Kingdom of His Father.

After His short Stop in Bethany, Jesus entered Jerusalem to fulfill all the prophecies, purposes and the work of the Lord since the dawn of history. All the scripture accounts were fulfilled and completed with his suffering, torture, crucifixion, death and resurrection. On the Cross, He cried with a loud voice: “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.(John19/30)

The multitude welcomed Jesus when He entered Jerusalem so one of the Old Testament prophecies would be fulfilled. (Zechariah 9:9-10): "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth".

The crowd welcomed Jesus for different reasons and numerous expectations. There were those who came to listen to His message and believed in Him, while others sought a miraculous cure for their ailments and they got what they came for, but many others envisaged in Him a mortal King that could liberate their country, Israel, and free them from the yoke of the Roman occupation. Those were disappointed when Jesus told them: "My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom" (John 18/36)

Christ came to Jerusalem to die on its soil and fulfill the scriptures. It was His choice where to die in Jerusalem as He has said previously: "should not be a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem" (Luke 13/33): "Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem".

He has also warned Jerusalem because in it all the prophets were killed: (Luke 13:34-35): "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! "ehold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord".

Explanation of the Palm Sunday Procession Symbols

The crowd chanted, "Hosanna to the Son of David" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21/09), because Jesus was is a descendant of David. Hosanna in the highest is originated in the Psalm 118/25: "Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success". It is a call for help and salvation as also meant by the Psalm 26/11: "But I lead a blameless life; redeem me and be merciful to me". Hosanna also means: God enlightened us and will never abandon us, Jesus' is a salvation for the world"

Spreading cloth and trees' branches in front of Jesus to walk on them was an Old Testament tradition that refers to love, obedience, submission, triumph and loyalty. (2 Kings 09/13): "They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!". In the old days Spreading garments before a dignitary was a symbol of submission.

Zion is a hill in Jerusalem, and the "Daughter of Zion" is Jerusalem. The term is synonymous with "paradise" and the sky in its religious dimensions.

Carrying palm and olive branches and waving with them expresses joy, peace, longing for eternity and triumph. Palm branches are a sign of victory and praise, while Olive branches are a token of joy, peace and durability. The Lord was coming to Jerusalem to conquer death by death and secure eternity for the faithful. It is worth mentioning that the olive tree is a symbol for peace and its oil a means of holiness immortality with which Kings, Saints, children and the sick were anointed.

The name "King of Israel," symbolizes the kingship of the Jews who were waiting for Jehovah to liberate them from the Roman occupation.

O, Lord Jesus, strengthen our faith to feel closer to You and to Your mercy when in trouble;
O, Lord Jesus, empower us with the grace of patience and meekness to endure persecution, humiliation and rejection and always be Your followers.
O, Lord Let Your eternal peace and gracious love prevail all over the world.

A joyous Palm Sunday to all

To Read the Arabic Version of the editorial Click Here
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias%20chanien17.4.11.htm

Audio/To hear an explanation for the blind's healing miracle (Lebanese dialogue/Windows Media Player file) Click Here
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/elias%20audio11/elias%20chaanien11.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Bartimaeus's Faith cured His Blindness

2011-04-11T14:19:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

John 09:39: “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”

On the sixth Lenten Sunday, our Maronite Catholic Church cites and recalls with great piety Jesus' healing miracle of the blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus. This amazing miracle that took place in Jerusalem near the Pool of Siloam is documented in three gospels; Mark 10/46-52, John 9/1-41, Matthew 20/:29-34.

Maronites in Lebanon and all over the world strongly believe that Jesus is the holy and blessed light through which believers can see God's paths of righteousness. There is no doubt that without Jesus' light, evil darkness will prevails in peoples' hearts, souls and minds. Without Jesus' presence in our lives we definitely will preys to all kinds of evil temptations.
John 09:5: "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world".

In every community, there are individuals from all walks of life who are spiritually blind, lacking faith, have no hope, and live in dim darkness because they have distanced themselves from Almighty God and His Gospel, although their eyes are physically perfectly functional and healthy. Meanwhile the actual blindness is not in the eyes that can not see because of physical ailments, but in the hearts that are hardened, in the consciences that are numbed and in the spirits that are defiled with sin.
Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear"

The Miracle: Mark 10/46-52: " They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still, and said, “Call him. ”They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!” He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

The son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who was born to two blind parents truly believed in Jesus. His heart, mind and spirit were all enlightened with faith and hope. Because of his strong faith he knew deep inside who actually Jesus was, and stubbornly headed towards him asking for a Godly cure. He rebelled against all those opportunist and hypocrites who out of curiosity and not faith came to see who is Jesus. He refused to listen to them when they rebuked him and tried hardly to keep him away from Jesus. He loudly witnessed for the truth and forced his way among the crowd and threw himself on Jesus' feet asking Him to open his blind eyes. Jesus was fascinated by his faith, hailed his perseverance and gave him what he asked for. He opened his eyes.

John's Gospel gives us more details about what has happened with Bartimaeus after the healing miracle of his blindness. We can see in the below verses that after his healing he and his parents were exposed to intimidation, fear, threats, and terror, but he refused to succumb or to lie, He held verbatim to all the course details of the miracle, bravely witnessed for the truth and loudly proclaimed his strong belief that Jesus who cured him was The Son Of God. His faith made him strong, fearless and courageous. The Holy Spirit came to his rescue and spoke through him.
Romans 8:26: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans"

John 9/13-34: "They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.” Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them. Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.” So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?” They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.”

The man answered them, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him. Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” They threw him out.

Sadly our contemporary world hails atheism, brags about secularism and persecutes those who have faith in God and believe in Him. Where ever we live, there are opportunist and hypocrites like some of the conceited crowd that initially rebuked Bartimaeus, and tried with humiliation to keep him away from Jesus, but the moment Jesus called on him they changed their attitude and let him go through. Meanwhile believers all over the world suffer on the hands of ruthless oppressors, and rulers and men of authority like the Pharisees who refused to witness for the truth.

But despite of all the dim spiritual darkness, thanks God, there are still too many meek believers like Bartimaeus who hold to their faith no matters what the obstacles or hurdles are.
Colossians 3:12: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience"

Lord, enlighten our minds and hearts with your light and open our eyes to realize that You are a loving and merciful father.
Lord Help us to take Bartimaeus as a faith role model in our life.
Lord help us to defeat all kinds of sins that take us away from Your light, and deliver us all from evil temptations.

Psalm 29:2: "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness"

To Read the Arabic Version of the editorial Click Here
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.ebenteima10.4.11.htm

Audio/To hear an explanation for the blind's healing miracle (Lebanese dialogue/Windows Media Player file) Click Here
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/cermons%20elias/blind.elias21.3.10.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

The desirable Habit of praying for Others

2011-04-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani *

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11/28-30)

The habit of praying for others in any manner or pattern is a desirable religious practice, especially when the prayers are for the sake of those who are sick, persecuted, oppressed, poor, lonely and distressed, or have fallen prey to evil temptations.

Praying for others whether they are parents, relatives, strangers, acquaintances, enemies, or friends, and for countries, is an act that exhibits the faith, caring, love, and hope of those who offer the prayers. Almighty God, Who is a loving, forgiving, passionate, and merciful Father listens to these prayers and always answers them in His own wisdom and mercy that mostly we are unable to grasp because of our limited human understanding. "All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21/22)

On the fifth Lenten Sunday that fell this years on April 02/2011, the Catholic Maronites cite and recall with great reverence [ ] the Gospel of Saint Mark( 2/1-12): "The Healing Miracle of the Paralytic": "When he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door; and he spoke the word to them. Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him. When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to tell the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and take up your bed, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”— He said to the paralytic— “I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house.” He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

This great miracle in its theological essence and core demonstrates beyond doubt that intercessions, prayers and supplications for the benefit of others are acceptable faith rituals that Almighty God attentively hears and definitely answers.

It is interesting to learn that the paralytic man as stated in the Gospel of St. Mark, didn't personally call on Jesus to cure him, nor he asked Him for forgiveness, mercy or help, although as many theologians believe Jesus used to visit Capernaum, where the man lives, and preach in its Synagogue frequently. Apparently this crippled man was lacking faith, hope, distancing himself from God and total ignoring the Gospel's teaching. He did not believe that the Lord can cure him.

What also makes this miracle remarkable and distinguishable lies in the fact that the paralytic's relatives and friends, or perhaps some of Jesus' disciples were adamant that the Lord is able to heal this sick man who has been totally crippled for 38 years if He just touches him. This strong faith and hope made four of them carry the paralytic on his mat and rush to the house where Jesus was preaching. When they could not break through the crowd to inter the house they climbed with the paralytic to the roof, made a hole in it and let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on in front of Jesus and begged for his cure. Jesus was taken by their strong faith and fulfilled their request.

Jesus forgave the paralytic his sins first (“Son, your sins are forgiven you) and after that cured his body: "Arise, and take up your bed, and walk". Like the scribes many nowadays still question the reason and rationale that made Jesus give priority to the man's sins. Jesus' wisdom illustrates that sin is the actual death and the cause for eternal anguish in Hell. He absolved his sins first because sin cripples those who fall in its traps, annihilates their hopes, faith, morals and values, kills their human feelings, inflicts numbness on their consciences and keeps them far away from Almighty God. Jesus wanted to save the man's soul before He cures his earthy body. "For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?" (Mark 08:/36 & 37).

Our Gracious God does not disappoint any person when he seek His help with faith and confidence. With great interest and parental love, He listens to worshipers' prayers and requests and definitely respond to them in His own way, wisdom, time and manner. "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened". (Matthew 07/07 &08)

In this loving and forgiving context, prayers for others, alive or dead, loved ones or enemies, relatives or strangers, are religiously desirable. God hears and responds because He never abandons His children no matter what they do or say, provided that they turn to Him with faith and repentance and ask for His mercy and forgiveness either for themselves or for others. "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. 5:14 Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 5:15 and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up". (James 5:13)

There are numerous biblical parables and miracles in which Almighty God shows clearly that He accepts and responds to prayers for the sake of others, e.g.:
Jesus cured the centurion's servant on the request of the Centurion and not the servant himself. (Matthew 8/5-133:
Jesus revived and brought back to life Lazarus on the request of his sisters Mary and Martha. (John 11/1-44)

In conclusion: Almighty God is always waiting for us, we, His Children to come to Him and ask for His help and mercy either for ourselves or for others. He never leaves us alone. Meanwhile it is a Godly faith obligation to extend our hand and pull up those who are falling and unable to pray for themselves especially the mentally sick, the unconscious, and the paralyzed. In this realm of faith, love and care for others comes our prayers to Virgin Mary and to all Saints whom we do not worship, but ask for their intercessions and blessings.

O, Lord, endow us with graces of faith, hope, wisdom, and patience. Help us to be loving, caring, humble and meek. Show us the just paths. Help us to be on your right with the righteous on the Judgment Day.

God sees and hears us all the time, let us all fear Him in all what we think, do and say..

N.B: Click here to read the Arabic version of the above editorial
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias%20paralysed3.4.11.htm

Click Here to listen to the editorial in the Lebanese dialogue
http://www.eliasbejjani.com/cermons%20elias/paralysed.elias14.3.10.wma

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Al Assad's Speech: Mere Rhetoric and Futile Rumination

2011-04-01T10:34:00.001-07:00

*By: Elias Bejjani

One wonders when the Arab countries, the Western Free World and, in particular, the Obama administration will wake up and start to recognize once and for all that Al Assad's Syrian Baathist regime is an oppressive, police dictatorship, and a stone age remnant that cannot be changed, modified or reformed whatever the circumstances or foreign or internal pressures.

All European, Arabic and American self-deceptive hopes that President Bachar Al Assad and his ruling family will adopt and implement acceptable democratic, social, financial, judicial and human rights' reforms are merely delusional, or in the best scenario a sort of day dreaming.

Al Assad can't implement any positive changes even if he genuinely endeavors to do so, because if he takes this fatal risk his regime will collapse as was the situation with the Soviet Union during its last years in power before it crumbled and fell totally from within.

It is worth mentioning that President Bachar Al Assad had inherited the Syrian presidency post after his father's (Hafez Assad) death on June 10, 2000. Hafez Al Assad ruled Syria with an iron and bloody fist from March 12, 1971 till his death on June 10, 2000.

Al Assad's Syrian regime was erected via a serious of bloody military coups and has from day one been governing under the state of emergency law, breeding terrorist groups, brutally eliminating all forms of opposition, suffocating the Syrian people, holding them hostages, and like a vampire, surviving on their blood.

The Al Assad family with its handpicked, subservient officials in the military, judiciary, civil government, private institutions and educational bodies rule Syria through the Baathist Party which in reality is a mere camouflaging cover, while the parliament (Majlis As-Shaab), as well as the cabinet are directly or indirectly appointed by Al Assad personally.

In this context of unrestrained dictatorship, the Syrian parliament and cabinet have no actual power, influence or a say in any matters. Both bodies are completely toothless, helpless and marginal, and follow verbatim all Al Assad's orders and directions without question. This sad reality simply means that changing the government or the parliament in Syria would have no tangible effect whatsoever as long as Al Assad's regime remains intact.

On Wednesday March 30/2011, President Al Assad made his long-awaited speech to supposedly address the massive civil protests and demonstrations that broke out all over the country on March 16/2011, and which subsequently have been increasing on a daily basis. The Syrian military relentlessly and ruthlessly attacked the demonstrators killing over 200, badly injuring more than 1000 and arbitrarily detaining thousands.

Sadly, Al Assad's theatrical and deceitful speech offered mere vague and false promises to introduce reform, fight corruption and secure more freedoms. He did not lift or abolish the state of emergency law, as was anticipated, although this military tool of oppression and humiliation has been in place since his father became a president in 1971. He instead spoke of a new committee that will be designated to look into alternative anti-terrorism laws with no time frame or specific guidelines.

He electively and deviously ignored his peoples' dire hardships, poverty, loud demands for freedom, democracy and jobs, and did not focus on ways or means to devise effective solutions and remedies. In a deceptive, emotional tone he strongly accused foreign powers and countries of being behind the demonstrations, and threatened to punish them, claiming that his wise and patriotic policies have been defeating all those foreign enemies who were trying to attack Syria and put an end to its resistance against Israel and the imperialistic schemes.

What unfortunately helps Al Assad's regime against all odds to remain in power despite all its horrible ongoing atrocities inside and outside Syria rests in the paradox that most of the Arab countries, Europe, Israel and the USA fear the Islamic alternatives and the prospects of chaos in Syria and her neighboring countries. Although these same countries know very well that this regime is the number one in the whole world in breeding, training, using, hosting, and exporting all kinds of terrorist and Islamic groups, including Hamas, Al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Fateh Al Eslam, Jund Al Islam, Fateh al entefada and many others.

The imagined fears, hesitations, wrong calculations and anxieties that these countries envisage and anticipate in case Al Assad's regime falls are not realistic or even substantiated because in reality there would not be a worse, more terrorist and anti-peace regime than this existing one. Definitely, there isn't one country or a free Syrian citizen that has been fooled by Al Assad's sacking of his government or believed any of his rhetorical promises of reform, judiciary inquiries and freedom.

In conclusion, Al Assad's regime cannot change itself and, on the contrary, it will only worsen as time goes on. We call on the Western and Arabic countries not to help Al Assad hold on to power against the will of the Syrian people, but instead they must cease all their appeasing and cajoling maneuvers towards his regime and start to seriously support the Syrians to freely choose their own regime and rulers.

Meanwhile, the Free World countries ethically and morally ought to pressure Al Assad to mind his own business, stop his country's blatant interferences in Lebanon's internal affairs, bring an end to all shipments of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist organizations, free all Lebanese detainees, engage seriously in the Arabic-Israeli peace process, halt developing Syria's clandestine nuclear capability, and stop all Syria's atrocities and terrorist activities in all her neighboring countries.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

The Prodigal Son Parable and Repentance

2011-03-29T01:23:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Lent is a prime time for spiritual change through genuine praying, serious and in depth self-examination, return to the roots of faith, repentance and forgiveness.

Almighty God is ready and always willing to turn everything around and take the hands of those who purse with perseverance forgiveness and repentance. He, with love and extreme happiness leads their steps towards all virtues of righteousness. He who in the Cana Wedding changed the water into wine and cleaned the Leper is willing all the time also to transform our minds and consciences from wickedness to goodness and salvation if and when call for His help.

In our Maronite Catholic Church's rite, on the Fourth Lent Sunday, that fell this year on March 27, we recall and cite the biblical Lost Son's parable that is known also as The Prodigal Son. This impulsive, selfish and thoughtless son, as the parable tells us, fell prey to evil's temptation and decided to take his share of his father's inheritance and leave the parental dwelling.

He travelled to a far-away city where he indulged badly in all evil conducts of pleasure and corruption until he lost all his money and became penniless. He experienced severe poverty, starvation, humiliation and loneliness. In the midst of his dire hardships he felt nostalgic, came back to his senses and decided with great self confidence to return back to his father's house, kneel on his feet and ask him for forgiveness. On his return his loving and kind father received him with rejoice, open arms, accepted his repentance, and happily forgave him all his misdeeds. Because of his sincere repentance his Father gave him back all his privileges as a son.

The Lost (prodigal) Son's parable: Luke15/11-32: He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. 15:17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants .”’ “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate. “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 15:30 But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.

This parable is a road map for repentance and forgiveness. It shows us how much Almighty God our Father loves us, we His children and how He is always ready with open arms and willing to forgive our sins and trespasses when we come back to our senses, recognize right from wrong, admit our weaknesses and wrongdoings, willingly return to Him and with faith and repentance ask for His forgiveness.

Asking Almighty God for what ever we need is exactly what the bible instructs us to do when encountering all kinds of doubt, weaknesses, stumbling, hard times, sickness, loneliness, persecution, injustice etc. Matthew 7/7&8: "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened" All what we have to do is pray and to ask Him with faith, self confidence and humility and He will respond. Matthew 21/22: "All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

We are not left alone at any time, especially when in trouble, no matter how far we distance ourselves from God and disobey His Holy bible. He is a Father, a loving, caring and forgiving Father. What is definite is that in spite of our foolishness, stupidity, ignorance, defiance and ingratitude He never ever abandons us or gives up on our salvation. Because He loves, we His children, he sent His only begotten son to be tortured, humiliated and crucified in a bid to absolve our original sin.

He carries our burdens and helps us to fight all kinds of Evil temptations. Matthew11/28-30: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

God is waiting for our repentance, let us run to Him and ask for forgiveness before it is too late

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Hassan Nasrallah’s Elective Tunnel Vision

2011-03-22T14:26:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

The terrorist Hezbollah's General Secretary, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, is rhetorically attacking the Arabian Gulf joint armed forces that were assigned to rescue the Kingdom of Bahrain and its peace-loving people from the bloody Iranian dragons who are endeavoring to devour this small Arabian country through ongoing lies, instigations, plots and ignition of denominational strife.

On direct instructions from their masters in Iran, Nasrallah and his armed Hezbollah group leadership are angrily and loudly targeting these Arab peace-keeping forces with all kinds of fabricated accusations of betrayal and treason. Nasrallah, who has been living in an underground bunker since 2006, is keeping a blind eye on the Syrian regime's cruel brutality which was savagely inflicted on the unarmed peaceful Syrian citizens of Daraa and many other Syrian cities during the last few days, where tens were killed, hundreds injured and thousands arbitrarily detained.

The hypocritical Nasrallah is militarily helping Assad’s regime in Syria with hundreds of his armed "Mujahedeen" terrorists to oppress and muffle the Syrian citizens who are courageously and peacefully calling for the release of hundreds of innocent detainees, and for freedom and democracy.

Nasrallah's "Mujahedeen", as we recall, took a major role in oppressing and assaulting the Iranian people themselves during the massive demonstrations that erupted in many Iranian cities in response to the systemic forging of the last presidential elections. "Nasrallah is just a cheap Iranian trumpet no more no less", as the renowned Kuwaiti Journalist Ahmad Jarallah said in an editorial he published in Al Seyasi Kuwaiti daily on Monday.

Nasrallah completely ignored the fact that Syria's dictator, Bashar Al Assad, sent on Monday, March 21, the 4th Armored Division commanded by his younger brother, Maher Assad, to suppress the four-day uprising in Darra city, capital of the southern Hauran region, and blockade the adjoining Jabal ad-Druze, where a demonstration is planned for March 26 at As-Suwada. Al Assad, posted two expanded Syrian army brigades at Darra, where some 20 demonstrators were killed and 300 wounded by tear gas and live bullets.

It seems that Nasrallah has chosen not to hear the Syrian demonstrators calling on their citizens all around the country to join them at a rally to mourn those who died in clashes with police over the past three days. He has turned his head away from the oppressive Syrian scene to attack the Bahraini authorities infringing on all traditional diplomatic protocols.

The Bahraini Government did the right thing to hold the Lebanese government responsible for Nasrallah's blatant and hostile remarks, saying his statements would have a negative impact on ties between Lebanon and Bahrain. Bahrain officially condemns Nasrallah's "lies and allegations over the events in the Kingdom aimed at serving foreign interests”. The condemnation response stated that Hizbullah's leader through his "terrorist speeches" was interfering in Bahrain's internal affairs and attacking its figures and people. Nasrallah's remarks "do not serve the security and stability of the region and would impact Lebanon's interests in the Kingdom of Bahrain and Gulf Cooperation Council countries," the Bahraini foreign ministry warned. It vowed that Bahrain's people "would remain united against all those who want to harm our security and stability."

Nasrallah in a fiery speech that he delivered on Saturday said that Arabian Gulf countries sent troops to Bahrain to "defend a regime which no one is threatening to topple." "I ask some in the Arab and Islamic worlds: Why have you remained mum over the tyranny against our people in Bahrain, is it only because they are Shiites?" he wondered.

In the midst of the ongoing Arabic public revolutions against the tyrant regimes, those Arab leaders, officials and politicians who have been badly addicted to double standard stances, dhimmitude and hypocrisy, like Amr Moussa, the General Secretary of the Arab League, must be forced to step down and spare the world their fake Arabism, hatred, fundamentalism and self-centered mentality.

The Arabian Gulf states did the right thing in sending their troops to safeguard the Kingdom Of Bahrain. In the same realm, it was great to see the Free World countries' armies attack Qaddafi and put an end to his horrible massacres that he has been inflicting on his own people, but strategically it is more vital and more important that these same countries start working seriously on toppling the Baathist Syrian regime, and on eradicating Hezbollah's ministate in Lebanon, or otherwise the mullahs in Iran will keep on spreading more and more of their schemes of terrorism, violence, unrest and havoc, not only in Lebanon and Gaza, but also in all the Arabian Gulf states, Arab countries, and the whole world.

What the Western World officials and politicians need to comprehend once and forever is that all forms of rhetoric statements of condemnation are futile, a waste of time and fall on deaf ears and numbed consciences when both the Syrian and Iranian regimes are their focus. There is no shred of doubt that the tyrannical leadership in both countries understands and responds only to the military force and deterrence.

We strongly believe that the time has come for the Arab countries to have their own terrorist lists similar to those kept by the USA, Australia and Canada, and to start eradicating the terrorist groups, especially Hezbollah, Al Qaeda, Hamas, and Muslim Brotherhood.

Lebanese people who honor peace, democracy, freedom and human rights, are wondering when the Free World countries together with the Arab world will start to see things as they are in Lebanon without any cosmetics and accordingly witness the truth and stop alleging that Hezbollah has two wings, one social and the other militant. The reality is that the USA and UK in particular are fully aware that Hezbollah by all means and according to each and every criterion is an armed Iranian proxy terrorist brigade stationed in Lebanon and has no such imaginary wings. Brutality, violence and terrorism are Hezbollah's only game plan.

Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

The Bleeding Women: Faith & Hope

2011-03-19T20:05:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

(John 6:68): “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life"

Whenever we are in real trouble encountering devastating and harsh conditions either physically or materially, we unconsciously react with sadness, anger, confusion, helplessness and feel abandoned. When in a big mess, we expect our family members and friends to automatically run to our rescue. But in the majority of such difficult situations, we discover with great disappointment that in reality our heartfelt expectations do not unfold as we wish.

What is frustrating and shocking is that very few of our family members and friends would stand beside us during hardships and endeavour to genuinely offer the needed help. Those who have already walked through these rocky life paths and adversities definitely know very well the bitter taste of disappointment. They know exactly the real meaning of the well-know saying, "a friend in need is a friend indeed".

Sadly our weak human nature is driven by inborn instincts that often make us side with the rich, powerful, healthy and strong over the poor, weak, needy and sick. Those who have no faith in Almighty God find it very difficult to cope in a real mess.

Meanwhile, those whose faith is solid stand up with courage, refuse to give up hope, and call on their Almighty Father for help through praying and worshiping. They know for sure that our Great Father is loving and passionate. He will not abandon any one of us when calling on Him for mercy and help because He said and promised so. Matthew 11/28-30: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

One might ask, 'Why should I pray?' And, 'Do I have to ask God for help, can't He help me without praying to Him?' The answer is 'no'. We need to pray and when we do so with faith and confidence God listens and responds (Mark 11/:24): "Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them"

Yes, we have to make the effort and be adamant and persistent. We have to ask and knock in a bid to show our mere submission to Him and He with no doubt shall provide. (Matthew 7/7 & 8): "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened".

On this second Sunday of Lent in our Catholic Church's Eastern Maronite rite, we cite and recall the miraculous cure of the bleeding woman in Matthew 9/20-22, Mark 5/25-34, and Luke 8/43-48. As we learn from the Holy Gospel, the bleeding woman's great faith made her believe without a shred of doubt that her twelve years of chronic bleeding would stop immediately if she touched Jesus' garment. She knew deeply in her heart that Jesus would cure her even without asking him. Her faith cured the bleeding and made her well. Her prayers were heard and responded to.

Luke 8/:43-49: "A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by any, came behind him (Jesus), and touched the fringe of his cloak, and immediately the flow of her blood stopped. Jesus said, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 8:46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.” When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. He said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

The woman's faith cured her chronic bleeding and put her back in the society as a normal and acceptable citizen. During that era women with uterus bleeding were looked upon as sinners, defiled and totally banned from entering synagogues for praying. Meanwhile, because of her sickness she was physically unable to be a mother and bear children. Sadly she was socially and religiously abandoned, humiliated and alienated. But her faith and hope empowered her with the needed strength and perseverance and enabled her to cope successfully against all odds.

Hallelujah! Faith can do miracles. Yes indeed. (Luke17/5 & 6): " The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you". How badly do we today need to have a faith like that of this women?

Let us all on this second Lent Sunday pray with solid faith.
Let us ask Almighty God who cured the bleeding women, and who was crucified on the cross to absolve our original sin, that He would endow His Holy graces of peace, tranquility, and love all over the world. And that He would strengthen the faith, patience and hope of all those persecuted, imprisoned, and deprived for courageously witnessing the Gospel's message and truth.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

What is happening to the USA policies in the Middle East?

2011-03-17T03:24:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

We are really sad, disappointed and shocked because the US administration is not openly hailing and fully supporting by all means the courageous and wise Saudi military intervention in the Kingdom of Bahrain and instead resorting to a hostile rhetoric that simply is a mess with no positive or fruitful strategic horizon.

Myself, like many other Lebanese and Middle East human rights and democracy advocates, can no longer understand America’s bizarre and against all odds Middle East policies.

We are so confused and unable to tell if the Obama administration is actually supporting the terrorist Syrian and Iranian Axis of Evil regimes and their military tools, Hezbollah and Hamas, or still honoring its historical pro-Western allies, especially the Arabian Gulf states, Emirates and kingdoms?

Hearing what Secretary of State Clinton has said on Wednesday March 16/11, about the Arabic Gulf States’ military intervention in Bahrain makes us so suspicious about the actual US agenda in the Middle East. We wonder if Clinton and President Obama want the Arab regimes, especially in the Arabian Gulf, to stay idle while watching Iran's mullahs and their local armed and militant militias topple all their regimes and do nothing.

Isn't Clinton aware that if Iran takes over Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf regimes will automatically fall one after the other under Iran's terrorism and hegemony?

Sadly, the recent US stances in regard to what is called "Revolutions", are very odd, completely unacceptable and fully serve the Iranian -Syrian destructive and evil schemes of expansionism and wreaking havoc throughout the region.

Looking back on what has lately happened in Egypt and the actual outcome, one can't but be more suspicious about the US role. In fact nothing has changed in Egypt at all in spite of all the so called historic revolution. Until now, the only tangible change that has happened is simply the replacement of President Mubarak by the strong military man, Al Mushir Tantawi. Meanwhile, the newly proposed constitutional amendments won’t even give Egyptian Christians any of their deserved equal citizenship rights! So where is the revolution?

In the context of this confusion, the US administration for reasons that we cannot grasp has returned its ambassador to Syria that recently openly granted its terrorist regime a green light with a blind eye to enforce its brutal hegemony over neighboring Lebanon and to topple its democratic, free, and pro-Western government. Is this really what president Obama is after?

Because of this bizarre American policy Hezbollah now is in full control of Lebanon and has appointed against the will of the majority of the Lebanese Sunnis, the Lebanese Sunni Syrian puppet, Mr. Najib Mikati, to form a subservient government that Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's General Secretary, will not only control, but make it a vicious tool to erect an Iranian mullah's republic in Lebanon.

We wonder if the Obama administration was not aware of the horrible and savage murder that the Iranian Hezbollah's proxy, the " Imad Mughniyah group", committed in the West Bank last week, when an Israeli family of five, including three children, was slaughtered. Or it did not hear about the Iranian weapons that Israel confiscated from a ship this week in the Mousterian Sea en route to Egypt and that would have been transferred to Hamas in Gaza. In the same realm, Egyptian authorities on Tuesday confiscated a fleet of trucks loaded with Iranian weapons via Sudan that were also heading to Gaza

We call on the US administration to stop its unexplainable pro- Iranian and -Syrian policies and to act in its historic role as a guardian for peace and stability in the Middle East and as a supporter of pro-Western free and democratic regimes, especially Lebanon.

We remind both President Obama and Secretary Clinton that one million peaceful, patriotic Lebanese citizens demonstrated on Sunday March 13/11, in downtown Beirut against the Hezbollah terrorists and the evil schemes of both its masters, the Syrian and Iranian Axis of Evil regimes. At least the US administration is expected not to side with the Axis of Evil countries and organizations against the peace and democracy loving Lebanese people.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

The Faith of the Leper

2011-03-12T04:22:00.000-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Christ, the Son of God, is always ready and willing to help the sinners who seek forgiveness and repentance. When we are remorseful and ask Him for exoneration, He never gives up on us no matter what we did or said. As a loving Father, He always comes to our rescue when we get ourselves into trouble. He grants us all kinds of graces to safeguard us from falling into the treacherous traps of Satan's sinful temptations.

Jesus the only Son Of God willingly endured all kinds of humiliation, pain, torture and accepted death on the cross for our sake and salvation. Through His crucifixion He absolved us from the original sin that our first parents Adam and Eve committed. He showed us the righteous ways through which we can return with Him on the Day Of Judgment to His Father's Heavenly kingdom.

Jesus made his call to the needy, persecuted, sick and sinners loud and clear: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) The outcast leper believed in Jesus' call and came to Him asking for cleansing. Jesus took his hand, touched him with love, and responded to his request.

The leper knew deep in his heart that Jesus could cure him from his devastating and shameful leprosy if He is willing to do so. Against all odds he took the hard and right decision to seek out at once Jesus' mercy.

With solid faith, courage and perseverance the leper approached Jesus and begging him, kneeling down to him, and says to him, "If you want to, you can make me clean." When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean. Jesus extended His hand and touched him with great passion and strictly warned him, "See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them." But the leper went out, began to proclaim it much, and spread about the matter so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places: and they came to him from everywhere. (Mark 1/40-45)

We sinners, all of us, ought to learn from the leper's great example of faith. Like him we need to endeavour for sincere repentance with heartfelt prayer, begging Almighty God for absolution from all our sins. Honest pursuit of salvation and repentance requires a great deal of humility, honesty, love, transparency and perseverance. Like the leper we must trust in God's mercy and unwaveringly go after it.

The faithful leper sensed deep inside his conscience that Jesus could cleanse him, but was not sure if he is worth Jesus' attention and mercy.

His faith and great trust in God made him break all the laws that prohibited a leper from getting close to or touching anybody. He tossed himself at Jesus' feet scared and trembling. With great love, confidence, meekness and passion he spoke to Jesus saying “If you will, you can make me clean.” He did not mean if you are in a good mood at present. He meant, rather, if it is not out of line with the purpose of God, and if it is not violating some cosmic program God is working out then you can make me clean.

Lepers in the old days were outcasts forced to live in isolation far away from the public. They were not allowed to continue living in their own communities or families. They were looked upon as dead people and forbidden from even entering the synagogues to worship. They were harshly persecuted, deprived of all their basic rights and dealt with as sinners. But in God's eyes these sick lepers were His children whom He dearly loves and cares for. “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you". Matthew(5/11-12)

The leper trusted in God's parenthood and did not have any doubts about Jesus' divinity and power to cleanse and cure him. Without any hesitation, and with a pure heart, he put himself with full submission into Jesus' hands and will knowing that God our Father cannot but have mercy on His children. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God". (Matthew5/8)

We need to take the leper as a role model in our lives. His strong and steadfast faith cured him and put him back into society. We are to know God can do whatever He wants and to trust Him. If He is willing, He will. We just have to trust in the goodness and mercy of God and keep on praying and asking, and He surely will respond in His own way even though many times our limited minds can not grasp His help.

Praying on regular basis as Jesus instructed us to is an extremely comforting ritual: "Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions" (Mark 11/24-26)

The leper's faith teaches us that God always listens and always responds to our requests when we approach Him with pure hearts, trust, confidence and humbleness. Almighty God is a loving father who loves us all , we His children and all what we have to do to get His attention is to make our requests through praying. "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened". (Matthew 7/8 -9)

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

A horrible Terrorist Crime in Pakistan

2011-03-03T00:43:00.001-08:00

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:10).

Why, for heaven's sake are the free and democratic countries of the world, the USA, Europe and all the others, turning a blind eye, adopting an indifferent and laissez-faire stance, and not taking any practical deterrent action against their close ally, the government of Pakistan who boldly and savagely continues to either commit or cover up heinous and brutal crimes against minorities, especially against the persecuted and impoverished Christians and their clergy, politicians, officials and leaders?

Most of these crimes that range between systematized persecution, planned inhuman atrocities, shameful discrimination, fabricated judicial charges, unjust trials and harsh sentences are inflicted by the government itself through notorious controversial blasphemy laws that deprive non-Muslim Pakistani citizens of their basic rights.

Incredibly, Pakistan receives billions of dollars in aids annually from the USA and other Western countries while its record in both human rights violations and terrorism is one of the worse in the world. The question is why the continued aids are not made conditional on the Pakistani government ensuring equal citizenship rights for minorities. This is the least that the Western countries ought to do.

The Western countries have moral, ethical and human obligations to force their close ally, the Pakistani government to change its anti- minority attitudes and to cancel all the barbaric and inhumane blasphemy laws.

With no doubt the statements of condemnation that the Western countries issue after each crime that targets Christians in Pakistan are ignored and will continue to be a waste of time unless they coincide with economic sanctions and a clear set of pre-conditions on the aids that Pakistan receives.

Yesterday another horrible crime took place in Pakistan when the honorable Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities was assassinated. The victim was the only Christian Minister in the Pakistani cabinet. He was a courageous human rights activist who spoke loudly against terrorism and terrorists, stood bravely against the Pakistani blasphemy laws and witnessed for what is fair and righteous for all the Pakistani persecuted minorities.

In my capacity as founder and chairman of the Lebanese Canadian Coordinated Council (LCCC), I condemn this cowardly attack against a brave, honest, and faithful man who had the guts to speak out loudly against extremists in his own country and denounce their terrorism, evil schemes and horrible atrocities.

The LCCC totally adopts the statement of condemnation that was issued yesterday by the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs. It urged the Pakistani Government to protect all those who find the courage to speak out against the country’s controversial blasphemy laws and to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime. The statement called on the Government of Pakistan to prevent the abuse of the blasphemy laws, which restrict freedom of religion and expression and have disproportionately targeted religious minorities.

From the LCCC we extend our deepest condolences to the Pakistani Christian communities, and to the family, and friends of Minister Bhatti and to the Pakistani people.

With our Canadian people and Government we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who defend human rights around the world.”

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Madameek: A Struggle for Peace in a Zone Of War

2011-02-10T06:43:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends". (John: 15:13)

Crystal clear patriotic stances are extremely hazardous and challenging when against all odds an individual dearly and stubbornly embraces them and holds on to the triangle code of faith, self respect and gratitude. The Holy Bible stressed the crucial importance of stances in many verses: "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16). "The person who isn't with me is against me, and the person who isn't gathering with me is scattering." (Matthew 12:30).

Colonel Charbel R. Barakat deeply loves his mother country, Lebanon, and her people. He sturdily honors the sacrifices of its martyrs throughout their land’s tumultuous history and genuinely endeavors to show his overt gratitude to their heroism. He also respects himself and never compromises on his faith or patriotic stance. He is a benevolent Lebanese Christian intellectual who has willingly devoted all his life to loudly and staunchly advocating for and defending the cause of freedom of our beloved Lebanon.

Colonel Barakat's main focus since he was a teenager living in his ancestors' ancient Christian village "Ain Eibel", (South Lebanon), was and still is the dignity, culture, education, prosperity, safety, history, traditions and faith of his people. As an officer in the Lebanese army, leader of the South Lebanese Army (SLA), teacher, human rights advocate, writer, and specialist on terrorism he never deviated from these moral paths.

In spite of all the hardships, actual threats from and wars with terrorists, and all kinds of losses and sacrifices, Barakat has never allowed fear, the temptation of earthly riches or authority and positions to stand in his way. He deeply trusted in Almighty God and decided to "strive to enter by the narrow door" (Luke 13:24), unlike so many others.

The salvation of his country and people was and remains his prime goal regardless what sacrifices he had to tangibly pay: “I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke12:4-5).

All Colonel Barakat's values, knowledge, honesty, experience, and love for Lebanon and her people are portrayed in his extremely informative book, "The Madameek"

With great interest and self gratification I read Barakat's original Arabic version of "The Madameek" in 2000 and was overwhelmed by the depth and richness of the information it contained about the Middle East, a region that was and remains a puzzle for many Western researchers, politicians, academics and think tanks. Based on his extensive firsthand experience, the author has genuinely portrayed the dire hardships of his people, the Southern Lebanese citizens, who despite their anguish, sacrifices and losses remained tall as the cedars of their country and held dearly to their land, identity, faith and history. They never gave up the hope and dream of freedom, democracy and peace.

I am extremely joyful because last month "The Madameek" appeared in its English translated version. I genuinely believe that this precious book will be extremely informative to all those interested in the Middle East's deeply rooted history of wars, conflicts, terrorism, and diverse cultures. Barakat approaches and addresses all these subjects in an unprecedented informative and unbiased way.

Dr. Walid Phares, the well known Lebanese American writer and scholar in global conflicts based in Washington DC, read the book and wrote: "The building blocks of a nation… I have read Charbel Barakat's powerful story, Madameek, in its original version in Arabic. It is a narrative expressing lived moments and historical stages by a brave population in the most dangerous places on the Planet. Barakat, a retired officer, a historian and a prolific writer, acts as a witness on behalf of a community thrown into the arena of violence and freedom deprivation. The story of the villages and towns of the southern border of Lebanon, of their ordinary people of those who suffered from terror and suppression, was still hidden under the rubbles of the exodus that dispersed thousands of them around the world. Barakat's book reassembles these building blocks and makes the case for them, particularly the suppression of their cause and their rights as citizens of a nation, bleeding and aching still. It is a must read for those who seek the truth, behind the smallest stone".

Much gratitude is due to Colonel Barakat, for his tireless efforts to accomplish this difficult work in making his valuable and informative book available in English. He also deserves our thanks, we the Lebanese activists, for being a role model and witness for the sake of truth that many other intellectuals, leaders and politicians in our Lebanese Christian communities in both Lebanon and the Diaspora did not have the faith, patriotism and courage to do.

It is true that our people in Lebanon are oppressed and persecuted by the Axis of Evil, Syria, Iran and Hezbollah, but what is true too is that they will never, ever under any circumstances accept the status of slavery, or forsake their freedom and faith. Khalil Gibran who was a Lebanese Christian intellectual knew this reality: "Not everyone in chains is subdued; at times, a chain is greater than a necklace."

Those interested in obtaining a copy of Madameek Courses, should click on this link and follow the instructions,
http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000368253 .

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Islamic Radical Regimes and Western Ignorance

2011-02-01T20:10:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

On January 31/2011, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted this statement on his website: "there is no doubt that based on realities envisioned by God, a new Middle East will be formed and this Middle East will be an Islamic Middle East."

Apparently, the western world and its US leadership are walking blindly through a field of explosive mines in the entire Middle East. This questionable and confusing path is seen by many Arab, Israeli and Lebanese analysts and politicians as a self destructive act due to the fact that all the pro-western regimes are falling one after the other, while the west it self is paving the way and preparing the milieus for Islamic fundamentalist groups to take over.

Sadly, it makes no difference if western policies are executed intentionally or unintentionally because they are advocating for the model of the two axis of evil regimes, Syria and Iran, which operate using Hezbollah and Hamas as their terrorist militias. The perplexing western acts of hostility toward their own allies by characterizing them as oppressive and not respecting the will of their own people, are portraying these two evil regimes as substitutes for all the pro-western ones.

It is strongly believed that the western cowboy-like policies are completely detached from the Middle East realities and alienated from all its social and religious norms. The policies of the west if not reassessed will definitely lead to more chaos, anarchy, disasters and loses in the whole Middle East.

The west, for reasons that are not understood yet, is abandoning all its Middle East allies under the pretext of the two false slogans of democracy and freedom. Western leaders ignore the deeply rooted fact that the majority of the Middle Eastern people comprehend these slogans in a very different way than to western societies. The criteria for norms in the Middle East and the western world are not only different, but at times completely contradict each other.

One wonders why suddenly the west has decided to get rid of its number one ally in the Middle East, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak after toppling their other loyal ally, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia. There is no doubt Mubarak is a very bad ruler. But if he is compared to the Muslim Brotherhood organization's leadership, who might now get their hands on Egypt and turn it into another Iran, Mubarak looks like a guardian angel. It is worth mentioning that Ayman Muhammad Rabaie al-Zawahiri, the number two man in Al Qaeda's hierarchy, is an Egyptian and not much different from his Muslim Brotherhood organization counterparts.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood organization is the oldest and largest radical Islamic group, the grandfather of Hezbollah, Hamas, and al-Qaeda. Its main objective is to erect a Muslim regime in Egypt and all other Muslim countries and impose Islamic Sharia law. Dr. Walid Phares, a well known terrorism analyst and writer, has studied the Muslim Brotherhood. Phares says its history shows that the group is not secular and not moderate. “The Muslim Brotherhood is the mothership for the jihadi ideologies and thinking. And therefore one can say today's Al Qaeda, and today many other jihadists, are off shoots of the Muslim Brotherhood.”

One also questions the western wisdom in keeping a blind eye on what is happening in Turkey whose current Islamic leadership is gradually changing their secular country into another fundamentalist Iran, while still receiving western aid worth billions of dollars. The same Turkish scenario is gradually unfolding in Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria, and Sudan.

The same question applies to the Baathist Syrian regime, the most notorious dictatorship in the world. The USA, and all the European countries are appeasing and cajoling this murderous regime and allowing its merciless leadership to sabotage its neighboring countries Iraq and Lebanon. Syria is given free reign to interfere in their internal affairs through terrorism and murder. Syria's President Bachar Assad was again last month given the West's blessings to abort Lebanon's Cedar Revolution, topple its unity government, and appoint a pro Syria-Iranian PM to form a new anti-Western government. It seems also that the pro-western Jordanian monarchy is on its way to face the same Mubarak fate.

Since the early seventies and up until today the bizarre and questionable policies of the USA and the majority of the European countries have been offering wrong predictions and calculations in regards to all the radical Islamic regimes in the Middle East. Looking thoroughly and objectively in some of the dramatic unfolding events since 1970 we learn with great disappointment that all the Islamic radical regimes were brought in power by the USA and Europe on the account of their pro western allies. The sequence of the following events show plainly this problematic trend:

In year 1975: Arab countries, Europe, and USA gave Syria's notorious butcher and dictator Late Hafez Al Assad the green light and full support to invade and occupy Lebanon, the only multi-cultural, democratic country in the Arab world. In 2005 the Lebanese Cedars Revolution forces Syrian troops to leave Lebanon. Last month Lebanon fell again a prey to Syria and Iran and again the with the blessing of western countries.

In 1979, the USA brought to Iran Ayatollah Khomeini and his Islamic revolution on the account of its strong and powerful ally Shah Reza Shah Pahlevi. The Iranian Islamic Revolution under the late Khomeini and his current his successor, Supreme Leader, Sayyid Ali Khamenei oppressed its people, murdered or muffled all opposition groups' and individuals. Iran is now working hard on owning an atomic bomb, destabilizing Arabian Gulf Emirates and kingdoms through terrorism, demonizing the USA as a satanic regime, and is terrorizing the Middle East through its armed militias Hezbollah and Hamas. Meanwhile, the west has turned a blind eye to Iran establishing a mini-state in Lebanon through its armed militia, the terrorist Hezbollah..

In 2003, the USA invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussien's regime and replaced it by a pro Iran-Syrian one that have massacred the Christians and forced most of them to leave Iraq in fear for their lives.

In Afghanistan the USA nurtured and created the monster Al-Qaida and its devil Ben Laden, who orchestrated and executed the 911 terrorist attacks that instigated the western invasion of Afghanistan. Meanwhile the USA and Europe support and finance the most notorious fanatic and oppressive regimes in the world including Pakistan, Syria and others.

Elections and democracy are not always the road for freedom and liberation. No one should forget that in 1932 Adolf Hitler through structural elections took over Germany and created the worst dictatorship in history.

In this same western kind of mentality and wrong calculations, Ehud Barak's Israeli government abandoned its Lebanese loyal allies in south Lebanon in the year 2000 and handed south Lebanon without any fight to Hezbollah. While in June 2007, Ehud Olmert's government watched silently as Hamas took over the Gaza strip without giving its Palestinian allies any help.

Iran's President Ahmadinejad, Syria's dictator Bashar Al Assad, Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas' leadership, and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez among many leaders supporting terrorism allege that the West is a coward when it comes to confrontation, does not have the guts to fight, and always abandons its allies after using them. Well, the recent events unfolding in the Middle East make these allegations credible.

In conclusion, we believe that the western world has an obligation to help its Middle Eastern allies to gradually adopt a kind of democracy that is tailored to the culture, beliefs, traditions and history of their societies. They should not take any role in toppling them and help the Islamic fanatics to take over. Hopefully, the Western policy makers will wake up soon to the reality that they are playing with fire in the Middle East, because as we say back home in Lebanon, " He who plays with fire ultimately burns his fingers".

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Western military fleets are heading to Lebanon & Israel's army is on full alert

2011-01-24T04:11:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Hezbollah, the armed Iranian-Syrian terrorist proxy, is resorting to all sorts of force, terrorism, intimidation, threats, bribery, division, sectarianism, and instigation to install a new puppet government in Lebanon after toppling on January 13/2010 the Hariri national unity one in response to direct orders from its two Axis of Evil supporters, Syria and Iran.

In a report that was published today in the Kuwaiti daily Alseyiasi, veteran analyst and journalist Hamid Gheriafi wrote that many Western and Arabic countries have been lately issuing urgent travel warnings cautioning their citizens who are residing in Lebanon to take the highest required measures to avoid being targeted by Syria's and Hezbollah's armed groups and advising them not to travel deep into Lebanon's southern and Bekaa Valley regions or to go to Beirut areas where there are Sunni Shiite tensions.

The report stated that the whole democratic and Free World and the majority of the Arab countries are extremely concerned that Tehran's and Damascus's allies could take full control of the Lebanese state and all of its institutions, including both the army and internal security forces. USA, European countries, England, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and many other countries have been conducting around the clock consultations on the highest level to abort this vicious Syrian- Iranian scheme. The Syrian-Iran full control of Lebanon will impose a dire threat to all the Arab countries, Israel, and Europe.

Mr. Gheriafi learned from reliable European Intelligence sources in Brussels that at least two well equipped Western military fleets were urgently ordered to move from the Arabian Gulf to positions close to both Syria and Lebanon in the Mediterranean Sea with strict instructions to fully monitor and watch the unfolding events in Lebanon, especially in case Hezbollah, backed by Syria and Iran, succeeds in taking over the new Lebanese government.

The intelligence sources did not unveil the identity of the Western fleets, but confirmed that they comprise two nuclear aircraft carriers with 210 jet fighter planes on board, and more than 30 ships carrying about 5,800 marines armed with the latest technologies.

The same sources said that the Israeli air and navy forces have been on a high alert status since last Friday after Lebanon's Druze Leader, MP Walid Jumblat, decided to join Hezbollah and Syria with his parliamentary block, giving them the upper hand and a parliamentary majority that enables them to form a new pro-Syrian and -Iranian government, killing all chances for caretaker PM Saad Hariri to return as a PM.

A new Hezbollah-controlled government will cut all Lebanon’s legal and financial relations with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and force the country to fully join the Axis of Evil terrorist front comprised of Syria, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. The STL is expected to indict members from Hezbollah, Iran and Syria for the assassination of late Lebanese PM Raffic Hariri and dozens of high ranking Lebanese politicians, clergy, journalists and intellectuals.

Meanwhile, Israel's PM Netanyahu, his deputy and other high ranking officials expressed their very serious concerns in regard to the looming possibility that Lebanon will have a pro-Syrian and -Iranian government fully controlled by the terrorist Hezbollah and its allies.

The USA administration and both Houses are looking seriously into the dreadful hazards that could affect both the peace process and stability in the Middle East, in case Hezbollah succeeds in forming and fully controlling Lebanon's new government. The Obama administration will most probably halt all kinds of aid to Lebanon and even impose harsh sanctions.

In this same context, all the 18 countries with troops participating in the UNIFIL forces deployed in South Lebanon on the Lebanese-Israeli border are extremely concerned about their safety. These countries are definitely going to reevaluate their participation in UNIFIL, as well their aid to Lebanon once Hezbollah's government is in office.

In conclusion: The Free World and the Arabic countries have an obligation to help the Lebanese people by all available means, including military forces in a bid to stop Iran and Syria, through its armed terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, from taking over Lebanon and turning it into an arena for evil wars against all the democracies in the world. The confrontation with the Axis of Evil is inevitable and now it is the right time to act before it is too late and before a new Nazi dragon starts goose stepping in to devour all the Arab countries and Europe.

Click Here to read Alseyiasi, Hamid Gheriafi's Arabic repot /http://www.10452lccc.com/h.geriafi07/hamied24.1.11.htm

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Syria, Iran & Hezbollah Occupy Lebanon

2011-01-19T07:08:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Edmund Burke: "Evil Prevails When Good Men Fail to Act"

What is currently going on in my beloved home country Lebanon is extremely pathetic, very bizarre, dreadful and explosive. While the prevailing enforced status quo is unprecedented. It is well known internationally as well as legally that when an occupying force withdraws from a country that it occupies the withdrawal must include all military, civil and paramilitary personnel, and all secret services bodies in a bid to allow the people of that country to run their own affairs independently.

This golden thumb rule was not implemented by the notorious Syrian Baathist occupation when the Syrian authorities were forced in 2005 to withdraw their occupying army from Lebanon after 28 years of barbaric, iron-fisted oppression. Syria left behind fully intact the notorious Hezbollah militia within its de facto mini-state that is much stronger and better equipped than the Lebanese army. It also left intact four Syrian military camps camouflaged under Palestinian armed factions and thirteen other armed Palestinian refugee camps that are all mini-states over which the Lebanese government has no authority or presence.

Since 2005, Syrian intelligence services scattered all over Lebanon have infiltrated all governmental institutions, directly and through their Lebanese and Palestinian armed militias. Hezbollah and other terrorists, mercenaries, and spies have assassinated numerous patriotic Lebanese figures including clergymen, parliamentary members, politicians, journalists, and intellectuals. At the same time Syria, with the help of its 'Axis of Evil' ally Iran, prevented Lebanese authorities from implementing the "Taef Accord" along with UN Resolutions 1559, 1701 and 1757. These resolutions called for the disarming the illegal Lebanese and Palestinian militias, entering and controlling the mini-states, safeguarding the country's borders with Syria, and an independent government free from foreign interference.

In response to direct orders from the two axis of evil countries Iran and Syria and against the wishes of the majority of the Lebanese people, on January 12/2011, Hezbollah toppled Lebanon's national coalition government. It is further threatening to topple by force Lebanon's democratic, secular, and multicultural government if it allows the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) designated by the UN General Security Council to continue its investigation of the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's Sunni Prime Minister Raffic Harriri and twenty-two others.

On January 17th 2011, the STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare submitted the tribunal's indictment to the Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen. It is strongly believed that top members from Hezbollah, Syria and Iran will be indicted. Fransen has up to 10 weeks to either accept the indictment and publicly announce it or send it back to Bellemare asking for more investigation in the crime.

In 2006, Hezbollah instigated a devastating war with neighboring Israel that killed more than 1,500 citizens and injured 4,000 others, displaced almost one third of the country's population, ruined thousands of buildings and houses, and destroyed most of the Lebanon's infrastructure with losses estimated at 20 billion dollars. The UN intervened to put an end to the war and the UN Security Council issued Resolution 1701 that called for the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other armed militias alongside Lebanese authorities to deploying their own armed forces all over the country.

In 2008, Hezbollah invaded the Sunni West Beirut suburbs and a part of the Druze Mount Lebanon killing and injuring hundreds after which it forced the "Doha Accord". This accord gave its leadership the upper hand in the government, legitimized its weaponry, as well as its terrorist mini-state. Meanwhile, Syria and Iran kept on supplying Hezbollah with all sorts of weaponry among which are more than 50,000 long, short and medium range rockets.

Since then, the Lebanese authorities have failed to implement any of the three above mentioned UN resolutions. Lebanon's governmental authorities have become a hostage to Hezbollah which has by force, bribery, and trafficking spread its armed control all over Lebanon and erected military bases on all Lebanon's strategic posts. As of now, the entire South Lebanon is under its full control with attacks on UNIFIL forces through by its militia occurring every so often.

Lebanon is a completely occupied country according to each and every legal criterion. Iran's Hezbollah proxy army in Lebanon has become a lethal threat not only to Lebanon and Israel, but also to peace and tranquility in all the Arabic countries, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and many other states. Sadly, Hezbollah's terrorist military grip on Lebanon's governmental institutions is escalating on a daily basis.

The UN has an obligation to enforce its two major Resolutions 1559 and 1701 and not to bury its head in the sand. Appeasing Hezbollah has only made its UNIFIL troops in south Lebanon mere hostages and under the mercy of both Iran and Syria. We call on the UN Security Council to vigorously implement UN Resolution 1701 lest Hezbollah topple the Lebanese government and replace it with an Islamic republic similar to the Iranian one.

In conclusion, the Lebanese people alone are by any means no longer able to disarm Hezbollah, dismantle its mini-state or rule their country independently as long as this Iranian-Syrian armed terrorist proxy has the upper hand. Needless to say that force and military deterrence are the only two languages that Hezbollah and its evil masters in both Iran and Syria will understand. A final military confrontation between the Free World and the 'Axis of Evil' that includes Iran, Syria and Hezbollah is inevitable. Based on the lessons of Hitler's aggression, the sooner this bloody confrontation occurs the better. Every passing day makes the price of blood and treasure to be paid more and more expensive.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Terrorism: A Product of Rogue Regimes

2011-01-11T20:44:00.000-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani

On September 25th 2010, Al-Azhar's Islamic Research Council, headed by Egypt's Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb issued this statement, "Egypt is an Islamic State, according to the text of its Constitution, which represents the social contract between its people. From this stems the rights of citizenship, as taught to us by the Messenger of Allah, in his pact with the Christians of Najran. In this pact, he decided that Christians would enjoy the same rights and freedoms as the Muslims. However, these rights and freedoms would be conditional to their respect for the Islamic Identity and the rights of citizenship as set by the Constitution." The Christians of Najran, Medina, refused conversion to Islam in 631 A.D. and offered to Mohammad that they could keep their faith in exchange for their acceptance of Islamic dominance and their payment an annual tax (Jizya). He accepted this deal and the pact was sealed between them.

On January the 9th of 2011, in his Sunday sermon, Maronite Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, strongly denounced the persecution of Christians, as well as all discrimination and acts of violence in the world linked to religion, particularly in Asia and Africa. He stressed that "the majority of the victims were members of religious minorities. These victims were not allowed to freely practice their faith nor celebrate their spiritual rituals and in such, had their basic human rights and freedoms violated". "Cardinal Sfeir proposed that defending and securing these rights of freedom of religion, could be achieved through the advocacy of all universal basic human rights and freedoms. He added that the protection of religious minorities was not a threat to the identity of the majority, but rather an opportunity for dialogue and the establishment of cultural richness and diversity".

Religious persecution and more specifically, Christian discrimination and intolerance, is most rampant in Muslim dominated countries of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The Christian minorities of many of these countries have most recently been facing dire hardships, unprecedented discrimination and even death.

A world wide wave of condemnation, fear and angry protests was waged in the aftermath of the recent savage terrorist attacks that targeted peaceful Christian worshippers and their churches in Iraq, Egypt, Sudan and Nigeria. Sadly, the focus of this wave of global unrest was the crime and not the problem nor the triggers that fuelled these tragedies. The catalyst and sources of this religious terrorism is a deeply rooted, systemic discrimination and suspicion of all things non-Islamic and Western. Unfortunately the Muslim fanatic, rigid and fundamental regimes produce the fertile educational and cultural milieus of hatred, ignorance and transgression.

Both the governments of Iraq and Egypt, where the most recent and bloodiest attacks against Christians took place, have blatantly ignored all precipitating factors that led to these horrific attacks. These governments, in a very superficial and patronizing display of concern, they reacted strongly with a wink and a nod, only to appease global anger and outrage.

On the Coptic Orthodox Christian celebration of Christmas Day that fell on January 6th, Egyptian authorities, in an apparent display of power, concern and tolerance, deployed more than 70.000 police and security officers throughout the country to guard Churches, while President Mubarak's two sons attended a Christmas mass celebrated by the Coptic Pope Shenouda. In Iraq, a similar display of concern and strict security measures were enacted .

It is with no doubt, that these superficial and temporary displays of power and concern, would not provide a solution to the deeply embedded insecurities, suspicions and rogue elements that helped to fuel these criminal acts of murder nor would they help to foster a safe environment for the persecuted Christian communities.

The persecution of Christians and all other minorities in the Middle East is not a recent phenomena, but rather has been going on for almost the last 1400 years. The worst periods of discrimination and persecution that Christians suffered and endured were during the Ottoman and Mamluke rule that spanned a period of more than 700 years.

It is worth mentioning that in all Muslim dominated governments, their constitutions and judiciaries are based on the Islamic Sharia (law), in which Christians and Jews are treated as second class citizens (Dhimmis), and in such are deprived of their basic human rights. These ‘Dhimmitude’ communities are inferior to their fellow Muslim citizens in all domains and walks of live. The most notorious countries in which the ‘Dhimmi’ class is strictly enforced and abused are Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Iran and Turkey.

The two main retributions that Christians and other minorities endure in Muslim dominated countries are the deprivation of their basic rights and the forced indoctrination through a mandatory Islamic education based on a fundamentalist curriculum. These rigid religious beliefs are often state sponsored and officially fostered in all schools and universities. Discrimination, persecution and humiliation are integrated in the everyday life, while the governments of these countries through their institutions, legislatures, judiciaries, and educational facilities, encourage, foster and legitimize such mentality and practices.

The cure to these problems do not lie in temporary and superficial security measures, but rather through the complete abolishment of the ‘Dhimmitude’ class, ‘infidel’ and "blasphemy" designation. Muslim governments are required to deal with their Christian citizens as equal citizens and grant them all their legitimate rights and freedoms in all domains. The Western free world countries as well as the UN are required to play a pivotal role in helping, encouraging and even politically forcing all Muslim country regimes to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Once these obstacles are addressed, then all terrorist organizations world-wide will be weakened, marginalized and alienated in their own societies. This collapse will be propagated in part due to the reality that these extremist organizations do not stand on their own in terms of identity; instead, they are proxies to regimes that provide them with financial means and an operational framework for their terrorist activities.

The Muslim regimes that have been breeding, recruiting, hosting, sponsoring, training, financing and using terrorist and fundamental organizations are Syria, Iran, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The most notorious are the two axis of evil countries, Iran and Syria. Saudi Arabia has been for years the main source for financing many fundamental terrorist groups among which is Ben Laden's Al-Qaida. For the last few years many fundamentalist groups have been fighting against the Saudi monarchy and threatening its grip on the country. While the Saudi regime is now fighting these terrorists, many Saudi rich men, businesses and institutions are still grossly financing many terrorist groups, especially Al Qaeda.

Fighting only the terrorist organizations is futile and a waste of time, men and resources, because the clandestine nature of the above listed regimes and specially the Iranian and Syrian ones would allow them to quickly and easily reform and restructure new organizations with completely new aliases who are ready to resume operations in full capacity.

One cannot rationally dissociate Syria and Iranian from terrorism all over the world. Both countries provide a safe haven for a myriad of terrorist organizations, (Hezbollah, Hamas and many others), direct their operations, and use Hezbollah's and Palestinians' ministates in Lebanon as their main field of recruiting, training and operations. Like the Mafia which uses money, crime, fear, intimidation, and violence as instruments of pressure to buy silence from otherwise good and honorable people, the Syrian and Iranian regimes use their proxy terrorist organizations (Hamas, Hezbollah and new versions of Al Qaeda) as instruments of pressure on their neighboring countries and as bargaining tool in their foreign policy strategies that has earned them a "no questions asked" attitude from the free world with regard to their bloody interference in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, West Bank, Egypt, Kuwait, Yemen, South America and many other countries. In 1983 Syrian and Iranian terrorist proxies were responsible for bloody attacks against the American embassy, Marine compound and French troops in Lebanon costing hundreds of Lebanese, French and American lives.

We strongly believe that the effective long-term solution to the spread of fundamentalism and terrorism is through containing the rogue regimes. At the same time through the spread of democracy and freedom, and abidance of all Muslim countries' regimes with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

An effective global war against terrorism can not by any means be successful if the countries that breed terrorism organizations are not handled and contained first. In this same context, the war against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Yemen will not be won unless the Pakistani, Yemeni and Iranian regimes are forced to totally cut their ties with terrorists and honour Humane Rights, freedom and democracy.. In the same token peace and stability in Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, West Bank, Gaza, and Egypt will remain out of reach unless the Syrian and the Iranian regimes are international and regionally dealt with in a bid to stop all their terrorist tactics, games and ploys.

In conclusion, All the terrorist organizations all over the world including Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Hamas are mere military tools and proxies that are found, financed, sponsored and fully controlled by rogue regimes. Accordingly the terrorists that attacked Christians and their Churches in both Iraq and Egypt are most probably Iranian and Syrian proxies. Therefore putting an end for such terrorist atrocities necessitate a solid, united and clear crystal world-wide approach towards both the Syrian and Iranian axis of evil regimes.

Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Statement by Elias Bejjani addressing Arizona's tragedy

2011-01-09T07:37:00.001-08:00

(Jeremiah 32:17: "Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.")

From the Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council (LCCC), we extend our warmest heartfelt condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the innocent victims that lost their precious lives in the tragedy of Arizona (US) yesterday.

We strongly deplore this senseless and inhuman act of violence, and wish a fast and complete recovery to USA Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and to all others who were injured. Our Sympathy goes in particular to the family of the young girl who sadly was among the victims.

We stress on fact that violence acts against democratically elected officials regardless of where they take place affect and undermine world peace, freedoms and democracy.

As Canadian Lebanese human rights advocates we stands with the people of the United States, our valued friends and neighbours, in this time of grief.

Elias Bejjani/LCCC Founder & Chairman

Massacre of Egyptian Christians

2011-01-02T03:47:00.001-08:00

By: Elias Bejjani

There are no sufficient or adequate words or sentiments that can express our sorrow, grief and pain with regard to Saturday's barbaric and savage attack that targeted by a car full of explosives and a booby-trapped bomb a Christian Coptic church in the vicinity of the Egyptian city of Alexandria as about a thousand worshipers were leaving the church after taking part in the New Year’s mass prayers. Reports stated that 21 Christian worshipers were killed, while more than 80 others seriously injured.

Egyptian President Mubarak publicly condemned the massacre and promised to prosecute and punish the criminals alleging that they were not Egyptians. Meanwhile, many countries all over the world, Church leaders, legal advocates and numerous international humanitarian organizations strongly deplored the brutal bloody premeditated attacks that constantly target and persecute Egyptian Christians. In the same context, two days ago 2 Christians were killed and 11 others injured in the Iraqi capital, Bagdad, when their neighborhoods were hit by an orchestrated series of terrorist explosions.

Apparently, rhetorical means of condemnation, denunciation and deploring are falling on deaf ears and numbed consciences in both Egypt and Iraq. We strongly believe that it is time for the UN and its General Council, Arab states, USA, Russia, Canada and all democratic and free countries to immediately step in and take all needed measures on all levels to actually and not just verbally protect Christians in both Egypt and Iraq, where sadly the ruling authorities and their security apparatuses bear full legal and humanitarian responsibility for the attacks. These authorities in both countries do not only abstain from carrying out their designated security duties, but also encourage encroachment on Christians and their churches, turn a blind eye on all terrorist attacks targeting Christians and help the attackers to escape judicial accountability. Ridiculously most of the Egyptian fanatical attackers who assaulted Christians and their churches were falsely alleged to be mentally sick.

Egypt, the biggest Arabic country, is one of the most notorious countries worldwide that systematically oppresses, discriminates and persecutes its Christian citizens. Egyptian authorities deprive their 12-15 million Christian population of most of their basic rights, while rigorously nurturing and promoting a culture of intolerance, hatred, and fanaticism that tags Christians as infidels and heretics. In the same realm, Egypt does not honor the Charter of Human Rights and instead governs its Christian population in accordance to the discriminative, racial and brutal Ottoman law known as the "Hamayouni Decree". It is worth mentioning that the Arab League has always been indifferent and silent in regard to all the assaults that target Egyptian Christians.

We strongly condemn the failure of the Egyptian authorities on all levels in fulfilling their legal, security and human obligations to protect Christians and hold them fully responsible for the heinous crime that on Saturday targeted faithful, peaceful and unarmed Christian worshipers in the city of Alexandria.

We urge our government of Canada to exert its utmost diplomatic efforts in a bid to help the persecuted Egyptian Christians, advocate for their just humanitarian cause at the UN, take all necessary measures to safeguard their rights, and ensure the freedom of their religious belief.

From the Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council (LCCC), we extend our warmest heartfelt condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the victims, and wish a fast and complete recovery for all the wounded and injured.

Our conciliation for the ongoing Egyptian Christian ordeal is in the Gospel of Saint Matthew 5/9-12: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” 5:10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 5:11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” 5:12 “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Background
The Hamayouni Decree (Wikipedia, encyclopedia).
The Hamayoni Decree, also "Hamayonic", or "Hamayouni" (Arabic: الخط الهمايونى‎), is a clause in Egyptian law, dating back to Ottoman rule (February 1856) that regulates church construction and maintenance. It is currently a cause of much controversy due to the conditions that need to be fulfilled in order for the permit to be granted. These same restrictions do not apply to mosques. The law requires that each permit must be issued by the Egyptian President. The requirements are complex, and frequently arbitrary, for building and repairing churches or church-owned buildings. These culminate in the requirement that the state president must personally approve all building applications, and the provincial governors must approve all applications for repairs, even for something as small as repairing a toilet or a broken window.

Click here to read the Arabic version of the editorial/ http://www.10452lccc.com/elias.arabic09/elias.maser02.1.11.htm

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Lebanese Diaspora leaders call on Christian Sunnis and Druses to resist Hezbollah in Lebanon

2010-12-31T10:28:00.001-08:00

In an article published in daily As Siyasa http://www.al-seyassah.com/AtricleView/tabid/59/smid/438/ArticleID/120955/reftab/76/Default.aspx
several Lebanese Diaspora leaders called on Christian, Sunni and Druse leaders in Lebanon to form "defensive areas" against Hezbollah's terror and penetration.

The Diaspora leaders called on President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Hariri, the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces to stop the infiltration by Hezbollah cells into areas outside the Shia enclaves and defend what is known as "March 14" zones of support. But the emigres' leaders also addressed the top politicians from the legislative majority who oppose Syrian influence to "work immediately on setting the defenses of the zones contiguous to the areas dominated by the Iranian backed militia.

As Siyasa reported that coordinated statements were issued today december 30th by Sheikh Sami el Khoury, the President of the World Maronite Union based in Miami, Florida, Joe Baini the President of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution based in Sydney, Australia, Elias Bejjani the chairman of the Lebanese Canadian Coordination Council based in Toronto and the Secretary General of the International Committee for UNSCR 1559 Tom Harb, who briefs Western Governments on Lebanon.

The statements called for removing the weapons deployed by Hezbollah and its allies including Christian Michel Aoun, Sunni Abdel Rahim Mrad, Druse Wi'am Wahhab, and the Syrian National-Socialist Party (SSNP) in the districts with Christian, Sunni and Druse majority and enable civil society to defend itself if Hezbollah would wage military offensives and terror acts in the near future.

The Diaspora leaders claimed the Iranian and Syrian backed militias have been smuggling weapons from the Hezbollah areas of control into opposing regions and that Christian, Sunni and Druse communities should stop Hezbollah's advances into their areas.

Christmas and Prayers for the Wicked

2010-12-22T19:12:00.000-08:00

Statement by Elias Bejjani on Forest Fire in Israel

2010-12-04T08:40:00.001-08:00

Statement by Elias Bejjani on Forest Fire in Israel
On behalf of the Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council (LCCC), I offer my condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the recent devastating forest fire in the State of Israel, and wish a quick recovery to those who were injured. My thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible fire.
The LCCC strongly supports the Statement issued yesterday in this regard by Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Honourable Lawrence Cannon.

Elias Bejjani
LCCC Founder & Chairman
http://www.10452lccc.com

Lebanon First and Last

2010-10-20T12:10:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

Psalm 92:12: "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon".

There are numerous reasons behind the ongoing devastating internal and external wars that are being waged against Lebanon and his people. These reasons have varied throughout contemporary history with the changing instruments of fighting, circumstances, financiers and profiteers. However, the main reasons and targets were always and still are the privileged Lebanese distinctive identity, multiculturalism, freedoms and coexistence. Almost every nation and people in the Middle and Far East look upon Lebanon as a heaven for freedoms and as an oasis for the persecuted.

At the present time and since 1982, the Iranian armed terrorist militia, Hezbollah, which was created by the Iranians with its mini-state during Syria's bloody occupation era of Lebanon (1976-2005) imposes an extremely serious and fundamental threat to all that is Lebanese: culture, identity, history, civilization, freedoms, coexistence, tolerance, democracy, peace, openness, order and law.

But as our deeply rooted history teaches us, this Stone Age armed terrorist group shall by God's will be defeated as was the fate of all invaders, tyrants, dictators and occupiers whose sick minds fooled them that Lebanon could be tamed and his people could be subdued and enslaved. They all were disappointed and forced to leave with humiliation and disgrace. The Syrian occupier in 2005 and after almost 30 years of savage occupation had to face the same scornful fate. Hezbollah will have ultimately the same end sooner or later although its armed militiamen are Lebanese.

We thank God for the ultimate failure of all savage attacks which the faithful Lebanese shattered with stubbornness, perseverance, courage and self-confidence, and remained attached to their identity, and steadfast against hatred, foreign expansionism schemes and evil conspiracies.

The distinction of Lebanon is that it is a nation of diverse religious denominational groups and civilizations living together in agreeable coexistence, without coercion or oppression or becoming a melting pot, despite transient harsh confrontations at certain periods of history always instigated and orchestrated by external forces. Lebanon’s air of liberty has been made equally available to its extensive mosaic of communities to help them maintain freedom of their cultural and religious particularities and distinctions.

All Throughout history these distinctions gave Lebanon his pluralist flavor and made the majority of the Lebanese people into a homogeneous society attached heart and spirit to the one Lebanese identity that personifies their roots, cultures, hopes and civilizations.

The confessional diversity permits each of Lebanon’s 18 ethnic communities to express its original goodness within its core and the sanctity of its faith. Even though the communities’ perspective towards God may be different, they do not disagree on the truth of God’s essence, and He remains the All Mighty Creator and the source of all good to all people.

Accordingly, all Lebanese have learned that none of them should presume to monopolize God’s relationship through himself, or seek to acquire all God’s graces by eliminating others, because these others were also created by God and are also His children, and that He is the only ultimate judge.

All religions in Lebanon worship the same God, and He definitely accepts them all each according to their sincerity and trust. God knows the content of hearts and intents, and He is not fooled by the various rituals and styles of worship. The majority of the peace loving Lebanese people strongly believe that no one Lebanese community should claim that it is the best, or the closest, or the only path to God. They all trust in the fact that God knows all wants, and uncovers all intents. Hezbollah is an odd exception among the Lebanese communities.

Despite the ongoing Lebanese success of coexistence and diversity of civilizations, cultures and religions within the scope of the uniform Lebanese identify, and despite the good and civilized relationship that the Lebanese always endeavor to maintain with neighboring countries, Syria still keeps on trying by force, vicious interferences and terrorism to impose on them an alternative identity, life style, regime and ideology.

The Syrian Baathist regime has been, and still is, an actual disaster for Lebanon and his people and an ongoing annoying headache in all levels and domains. Syria has been ferociously behind all Lebanese problems, wars and sufferings for the last 30 years, including the creation of the Terrorist Hezbollah and its mini-state, as well as the status quo of havoc and disorder in the 13 Palestinian camps of which the Lebanese government has zero control.

To know Lebanon well and to understand his importance in the Middle East, one needs to review his rooted history. In this context, below are some historic excerpts that address Lebanon’s "particularity", the spoken languages of his people and other related documented historical facts:

Lebanon has been known since ancient through modern times, as a crossroad of civilizations and peoples. Since 4000 BC, waves of people settled and fought on his land, including Kananites, Phoenicians, Aramites, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Europeans, and Syrians. Lebanon's spoken language varied with the times. Originally, Phoenician was the mother tongue followed by the Egyptian and Babylonian languages for commerce.

During the Persian rule (539-332 BC), Aramaic was the official language of the empire, in addition to Phoenician in Lebanon. During Greek rule (322-63), ancient Greek became the official language equivalent to the Aramaic mother language. With the Roman rule, Latin became the language of law and administration, in addition to ancient Greek as the language of culture next to Aramaic which remained the mother language.

With the Arab conquest (625 AD), Arabic imposed by the Amawites rulers started to compete with the Aramaic/Syriac variations and replaced them. Then the Ottoman Turks taught Turkish, while schools of the era taught and continue today to teach French, English, and Armenian. Lebanon's current official language is Arabic, although the Lebanese dialect language spoken is a combination of many languages, especially Aramaic and Syriac.

Union with diversity within the distinct Lebanese identity is Lebanon’s civilization and the choice of its multi-ethnic-religious people. This diversity is known as the "Lebanese particularity” and as Lebanon’s humanistic message to its neighbors, as well as to the whole world, and if it is lost, God forbid, Lebanon would lose the reason of his existence (his raison d’etre).

Lebanon’s "particularity" yielded his national covenant and his political system. The covenant is coexistence amongst Christians and Moslems. The Christian Lebanese adhere to it by abandoning their tendency for Western style secularism and by renouncing the protection of any Western nation, and the Lebanese Moslems, in turn, abandon their tendency to Islamic theocracy and cease their quest for protection under any Arabic or Islamic nation.

The National Covenant specifies the principles of "coexistence" from Independence and President Becaharra Khoury on the day of his election on September 20, 1943, as well as the first Governmental Communiqué issued by Prime Minister Riad Solh on October 7, 1943. The most important clauses of the Covenant are:

*Lebanon is an independent republic, with complete independence, and a final homeland for all his children, sovereign, free and independent in his internationally recognized borders.

*Lebanon is a founding active member of the Arab League and is adherent and committed to its principles. Lebanon is also a founding and active member of the United Nations and committed to its principles and to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

*There would be no hegemony requested, no protection sought, and no special privileges granted to any other nation, and no union nor unification with any other nation.

*Maximum cooperation with the Arab countries, by maintaining equilibrium with all of them, and maintaining friendship with all foreign nations that recognize Lebanon’s total independence and respect it. There will be no legitimacy to any authority that contradicts the covenant of national coexistence. It was on the basis of this covenant that the political system in Lebanon was conceived distinctively from all other political systems in the Arab and Western nations, and it is on this same basis that all Lebanese ethnicities agreed to unite within the scope of the Lebanese identity. This political system produced special attributes that distinguished Lebanon from its neighbors and they are:

*The democratic parliamentary system;
*the National Concord;
*the public liberties and most significantly the freedom of opinion, religion, and free enterprise. The system also yielded a dialogue without duress (conciliatory dialogue) about the affairs and politics of the nation as specified in the constitution, such as the modification of the constitution, war and peace and treaties with other nations.

This Lebanese civilization which constitutes the heritage of Lebanon, and which is the result of existential living and political dialogues among all successive cultures and civilizations on his land, has continued to allow the Lebanese to remain steadfast in the face of conspiracies of partition and settlement and regime change, and to survive his most critical stages during years of fierce wars.

"Lebanon First"", is the patriotic emblem under which the "Cedars Revolution" united the majority of the Lebanese people in 2005 against the Syrian occupation and liberated the country. The Lebanese identity which distinguishes Lebanon has held steadfast in the past and will prevail and be ultimately victorious. It will also firmly endure in the protection of our forefather’s inheritance, God willing. All the forces of hate and evil including Syria, Iran and Hezbollah shall fail to marginalize it or replace it with another identity.

In conclusion, for Lebanon, the land of the holy cedars to be victorious in the face of the Axis of Evil powers dirty and evil wars against his existence, Each and every Lebanese in both Lebanon and Diaspora has a patriotic and ethical obligation and a holy duty to preserve by all means Lebanon's graceful identity and solidify its implantation in the conscience, hearts and souls of the new Lebanese generations and to root it in their awareness, as well as in Lebanon's blessed soil.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Ahmadinejad on the Lebanese - Israeli border

2010-10-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

"For He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”( 01 Peter1/3/10-12)

Unfortunately, Lebanon is facing at the present time a crucial and fatal Syrian-Iranian threat to the core and essence of its existence, soul of coexistence and freedom. And as if Lebanon's ongoing very serious and extremely explosive internal tribulations are not enough, the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is ruthlessly and sadistically planning to pour oil over these volatile problems in a bid to fully control the country. Recklessly, with cold blood and numbed conscience his planned, irresponsible acts in south Lebanon might set the whole Middle East on the verge of a very dangerous military confrontation.

It has been confirmed by both the Iranian and Lebanese authorities that on October 13/2010 during Ahmadinejad’s controversial official visit to Lebanon, he will be the star of a number of show off public events in south Lebanon adjacent to the Israeli border. These events will be organized and fully controlled by the terrorist fundamentalist Hezbollah militia.

Two of these southern events are the inauguration of a garden financed by Iran, and an egotistical visit to the "Fatema Gate". Both sites are located on the Israeli - Lebanese border. At the "Fatima Gate", Ahmadinejad plans to throw a stone towards the Israeli side of the border to practically demonstrate his deeply rooted hatred and hostility against the Jewish state. This display of abhorrence, lack of tolerance, and anti-peace conduct goes along with his ongoing avert threats to annihilate the Jewish state that his country staunchly refuses to recognize.

It is worth mentioning that Hezbollah had started the symbolic stone throwing ritual at the "Fatima Gate" towards Israel after the unilateral Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000. The hasty and questionable Israeli withdrawal gave this Iranian armed terrorist militia a golden opportunity to fully control the whole southern Lebanese region after Syria that was occupying Lebanon at that time did not allow the Lebanese Army to fill the Israeli withdrawal gap and deploy in the south and on the Lebanese Israeli borders. That bizarre status quo laid the foundation for the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Ahmadinejad is expected to visit an established Iranian center in the village of Maroun A-Ras, where a fierce battle took place in the 2006 war between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. He will also deliver a provocative and fiery demagogic speech in the southern city of Bint-Jbiel through which he will attack the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah oppose and are endeavouring by all means to discredit and abort.

Diplomatic officials in Jerusalem said that Lebanon, not Israel, would be the party to suffer most from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s scheduled visit to southern Lebanon. “Lebanon is the primary victim, and if it wants to stop slipping into the jaws of the Iranian crocodile, it – and the moderate Arab world – should raise a strong voice and say this provocateur is not welcome,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levy said.

The USA on its part has raised serious concerns with the Lebanese officials including President Michele Suleiman about the visit. The American administration is worried about possible incidents along the volatile Lebanon-Israel border and is questioning the Lebanese wisdom and rationale in allowing the Iranian president to visit the tense border area. A USA official said on 05/10/10: "stone-throwing - either figurative or literal - is not a constructive behavior".

What is really scary about Ahmadinejad’s visit is that many Middle East analysts see it as a pretext to an imminent Hezbollah coup in Lebanon. According to a report published by the "DEBKAfile web site" on October 4, 2010: "The presidents of Iran and Syria agreed in Tehran on Saturday, Oct. 2, to support a Hezbollah military takeover of Lebanon's power centers, including the capital Beirut, right after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ends his controversial visit to the country on October 13-14. Ahmadinejad and Assad also decided to continue to harass Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri by delegitimization of his government, as well as intimidation and humiliation to force him to dissolve the Special Tribunal for Lebanon-STL which has brought charges against Hezbollah officials for the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005. If this campaign disables the Hariri government, so much the better, because then Hezbollah will be able to walk in and set up a transitional administration together with its allies, the Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt, and the Christian ex-general, Michel Aoun. This administration will rule the regions dominated by Hezbollah gunmen and proclaim its legality as a viable alternative to the failed Hariri government, http://www.debka.com/article/9062/.

Sadly, Lebanon at the present time is not a free or an independent country because of the Syrian - Iranian military hegemony enforced directly through Hezbollah's armed militia that remains the most technically-capable terrorist group in the world and a continued security threat to the United States, Arab and Middle East countries and to all the Free World. Hezbollah is responsible for some of the deadliest terrorist attacks against Americans in history. The United States, Australia, and Canada have designated Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization.

Hezbollah is not a Lebanese party by any criterion, but rather a foreign army in Lebanon. Its decision-making process, financing, ideology, training, supplies and weapons all come from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard headquarters and leadership. It has been well documented by several informed resources that Iran annually pays Hezbollah billions of dollars.

This militia was founded in Lebanon by the Iranian mullahs and the Syrian regime in 1982 and its main mission was and still is to export, advocate and spread by force the Khomeini religious ideology to all Middle Eastern countries. Hezbollah has been entrusted by the Iranian mullahs and the Syrian Baathist regime to topple the Lebanese Free State and erect in its place an Iranian satellite state.

The Lebanese people who oppose the growing Syria - Iranian devastating influence over their country are totally against Ahmadinejad’s visit and envisage it as a real threat to the fragile peace in the region and a dire infringement on their country's sovereignty and independence, especially that Ahmadinejad and other high ranking Iranian officials have boldly announced publically that "Lebanon is Iran's border with Israel" and that "Iran will defeat the Satanic USA and Israel in Lebanon".

In the same realm, many members of the Lebanese democratic March 14 Alliance - the political bloc headed by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Harri - have criticized the planned Iranian visit as a bid to underline Iran's potential to disrupt Middle East peace efforts. Meanwhile, the Christian Lebanese Forces leader, Dr. Samir Geagea, has called on the Iranian president to act as a respected official visitor and not as an instigator, to honor Lebanon's sovereignty and to utter his hostile and hate mongering stances from Iran and not from Lebanon.

In conclusion, Ahmadinejad’s provocative visit to Lebanon is not welcomed at all by the majority of the Lebanese people. Meanwhile, many Lebanese pro-peace and -democracy groups and parties are planning massive peaceful protest demonstrations in several towns and cities to show their opposition to visit.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Woe to those who cause divisions and occasions of stumbling

2010-10-02T06:16:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

James 4:14: "Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away"

In this earthly life each and every human being is a mere temporary guest in a mortal body, and the moment almighty God calls back his soul, the body becomes cold, motionless and dies, after which it quickly disintegrates and turns back to dust. Genesis 3:19: " By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return"

If human beings keep in mind this reality and act accordingly, not even one person will never ever be greedy, envious, harm others, do or say things that are
un-Godly and sinful. But sadly many of us blindly chose to ignore the significant fact of death and act as if they are immortal. Those who cause divisions and occasions of stumbling fall under this category of blinded people.

Life is full of all sorts of human struggles conflicts, strives, difficulties, hardships and sophisticated problems. In every encounter man's responses are motivated, managed, and determined either by righteousness or evilness . Needless to say that it is the responsibility of each person to see that the evil instincts are always tamed, restrained and put under control. Meanwhile it is a religious obligation for every faithful individual to handle all kinds of adversities with fear of God, commitment to the Bible teachings, love, forgiveness, fairness and openness.

The bible teaches us to respect and love others as we and respect love ourselves, hail their rights, honour their dignity and respond to the cries of help uttered by all those in need in all walk of life. When we do so, and help others we are in fact helping Jesus Himself. This is exactly the heavenly criteria according to which God will judge us on the last day because every person who is lonely, sick, crippled, retarded, hungry, thirsty, persecuted, and imprisoned is Jesus Himself. "1Corinthians10:24 "Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good" John 15/12-13: “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends"

Almighty God is our Holy Father and we are all His beloved children no matter what is our skin colour, or our physical, educational or social status. He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to be tortured, persecuted, humiliated and crossed in a bid to clean us from the original sin and set us free from the yoke of the devil's slavery. Accordingly He expects us, we His children to love and help each other.

Meanwhile many people chose to defy the Holy Father, ignore His Ten Commandments, defile and tarnish all heavenly graces, ridicule the Holy Bible and live in sin. These sensual mockers and sinners do not have the spirit, walk after their own ungodly lusts and fall preys to the devil's temptations. These un-Godly men creep like snakes and viciously endeavour to turn the grace of our God into indecency, and boldly deny our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ. They are opportunists, lairs, murmurers and complainers, walking after their body desires and their mouths speak proud things, and show respect of persons to gain advantage.

Matthew 18:7 “Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes" They are the ones who by their smooth and flattering speech and camouflaged conduct deceive the hearts and souls of the innocent and cause divisions and occasions of stumbling among them contrary to the Bible teachings. They are the ones who don’t serve our Lord, but their own belly and instincts. We are ought to identify these chameleons and trouble makers and turn away from them.

Luke 17:1-4: "He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble".
God will keep these wicked people in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day when He shall cast them into the unquenchable fire of Gehenna.

Romans 12:19: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord".

We all suffer because of such wicked peoples' deeds who love to cause divisions and enjoy planting seeds of evil where ever they can. They are people whom we deal with around the clock in all walks of life and could be family members, beloved ones, friends, colleagues, acquaintances as well as strangers. Sadly their venomous and mockery deeds are the same and accordingly our faithful defensive stances needs to be the same. We have a religious obligation to genuinely help them by all available means, and try to pull them out of their viciousness, but if all our efforts fail we ought to turn away from them and watch out to see that they do not make us preys for their immorality and subtleness. James 4:17: " To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin".

Turning away from them does not mean hatred and grudges, but mere cautionary stances. Meanwhile we are supposed to be always ready to forgive them when they repent.

Luke17:3 Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

The Bible calls on the faithful to be wise and cautious, but at the same time humble, meek and transparent. Matthew 10/16-20: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Let us pray that Almighty God shall save us from the traps and wickedness of those problem, heart, and family breakers.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

Hezbollah's looming Coup Scenario

2010-09-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

The fundamental elite leadership of the pariah terrorist organization Hezbollah is becoming more aggressive, arrogant, and wicked. This is evident in the increasingly demeaning, humiliating and boastful manner with which they are dealing with both the Lebanese government and people. They are not bridling their overt hostile rhetoric or attitudes against all those Lebanese who oppose the Iranian-Syrian scheme to topple the country's democratic government, and erect in its place a regime that replicates Iran’s dictatorship of the mullahs. Their Mafioso tactics and criminal acts are increasing by the hour as well as their defiance to the state's constitutional authorities, and more importantly its regional and international commitments.

Hezbollah is putting enormous pressure on the Lebanese government and its political adversaries to kill the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) that is designated by the UN to investigate the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former PM, Rafiq Hariri, along with his escorts. Hezbollah believes that the tribunal will soon indict prominent members of its leadership with the crime.

Hezbollah's Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah has vowed not to abide by its rulings, tagging the tribunal as an Israeli-American conspiracy and a tool of treason against Lebanon. He has alleged that it was set up and fabricated through false witnesses to corner his "resistance" militia in a bid to dismantle and disarm it. Along with these provocative stances, the Iranian-backed militia's logistical preparations in the capital Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Bekka Valley, Southern Lebanon and other regions foretell a looming coup on the horizon to topple the government.

Last week, several local and regional reports have addressed this devastating coup threat giving many details. On the 20th of September 2010, the Kuwait AlWatan published a detailed report on the Hezbollah coup.

The report stated that Hezbollah's storming of the Beirut International Airport on September 19th 2010 to prevent the arrest of former General Security Department Chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed was a show of power. It makes clear that this brazen maneuver indicates an imminent coup is on the horizon should the Lebanese government fail to torpedo the STL. It is worth mentioning that Hezbollah's gunmen and high ranking leaders escorted Sayyed from the Beirut Airport Runway in a show of power described by observers as an invasion of the facility.

The report went into further details stating that vehicles loaded with Hezbollah gunmen welcomed Sayyed at the Beirut International Airport tarmac and took him to the VIP lounge without a permit from the foreign ministry. During his press conference at the lounge, Sayyed launched a vehement attack against Prime Minister Saad Hariri, State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, Police Chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Detlev Mehlis, former head of the U.N. investigation into the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri. After this press conference, the head of Hezbollah's Security and Liaison Committee, Wafiq Safa, and his bodyguards were inside one of the vehicles which escorted Sayyed to his home.

According to the report, Hezbollah's recent aggressive rhetoric and military movement have been sending a clear message to all those concerned in both Lebanon and abroad. The message is that once the tribunal's indictment is issued against Hezbollah’s leadership the group's armed militia will be unleashed to take control of the state's institutions, and destroy media facilities owned by their adversaries in a replication of the notorious invasion of West Sunni Beirut on May 07 of 2010. The report’s sources also revealed that the Hezbollah's coup will be initiated by the resignation of its ministers from the Hariri government in a bid to instigate a major political and national crisis. This will be followed by an invasion of the entire country in an arrangement similar to that forced by Hamas in Gaza.

The source added that Hezbollah and its pro Syrian and pro Iranian allies have set up a progressive invasion plane to achieve this objective. It includes the following scenario:

They will initiate a rapid invasion of the Sunni Western Beirut and gain control over all roads from Beirut to the south throughout Chouf coast, AlKaroub region, and Sidon. They will not face any resistance with this part of the invasion because Druze leader Walid Jumblatt is expected to take a neutral stance. In case any resistance brakes at the "AlNaeme" Sunni Coastal town, Hezbollah has assigned its Sunni allies in Sidon City like Islamist Sheikh Maher Hammoud and the Nasserite Popular Organization led by Osama Saad to deal with it.

In regards to the Christian regions, Hezbollah will adopt a different strategy due to the fact that even if they succeed in invading these regions they won't be able to remain there for long. Instead, they will invade and then withdraw after the deployment of the Lebanese army troops while holding on to only certain important hotbeds of resistance, notably in AlMetn and Al Fanar areas. Meanwhile, the group's heavy military presence in the Jubail (Byblos) Shiite villages will not face any major obstacles. This dominance will give Hezbollah an opportunity to secure a bridge through which it can control the coastal highway linking the entire Northern Lebanon with Beirut at the Jubail city crossroads.

After Hezbollah secure this key area of transportation it will have control of all roads stretching from the high mountains down to the northern Bekka Valley and Baalbek city. Hezbollah is also counting on General Michel Aoun's military aid in the Christian regions. Aoun's role is to contain and abort by force any resistance from the Lebanese Forces and the Phalanges Parties. According to Hezbollah's scheme, the Lebanese army will deploy in the Christian regions after the withdrawal of its militia. The report further alleges that the army will give Hezbollah and its allies full freedom of movement in these regions.

Hezbollah will work on dismantling the Future Sunni Movement headed By P.M, Saad Al Hariri in western Sunni Beirut suburbs and Al Tarek Al Jdedi neighborhood, while in the north the group's focus will be on Alaweet and some Tripoli suburbs. A number of fundamental Sunni militias that Hezbollah has trained and armed, such as "The Islamic Tawheed Front" and "The Islamic Action Front", will be assigned to take control of Tripoli city. In the Bekka Valley Hezbollah will endeavour to see that Sunni towns residents such as Taalabaya and Saad Nile will not block the roads between northern and southern Bekaa. They will try with minimal losses to control the entire Bekka Valley midst from Majdal Anjar to Chtoura, Qeb Elias, and Saad Naeil.

In conclusion, based on Lebanon's deeply rooted history of resistance, mountainous geography, and mosaic-like demography, Hezbollah's plan for a coup as delineated by the report is doomed to fail.

Meanwhile, the report did not address any deterrence role that the Lebanese Army might provide. It is not likely that the free world, moderate Arab countries and Israel will allow Iranian-backed Hezbollah to topple Lebanon’s democratic government and replace it with an Islamist republic.

We strongly believe that all these democratic countries have an obligation to put a decisive immediate military end to the Syrian-Iranian expansionism and havoc schemes, and to as soon as possible eradicate totally their terrorist proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas or otherwise there be no peace or stability in the whole middle east.

Click her to read the Arabic Alwatan report
http://www.10452lccc.com/reports/alwatan20.09.10.htm

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

An Imminent Coup by Hezbollah in Lebanon

2010-09-18T04:37:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

A Saudi advice has delayed the return of Lebanon's PM, Saad Al Hariri, from Saudi Arabia to Beirut. Meanwhile, 3500 Hezbollah militiamen are secretly deployed in the Eastern Christian region according to a report that was published yesterday by the "Beirut Observer" web site. Hezbollah has reached its final logistic preparations to execute an armed coup to take over all of Lebanon by force. The web site attributed its information to well-informed sources in the Saudi media. Below is a summary of the report with other related information:

Well-informed Saudi sources have confirmed to the "Beirut Observer" that the delay of Lebanon's PM return to Beirut came in response to advice by Saudi officials. The Saudis are extremely concerned in regards to information became available to them indicating that an imminent Hezbollah coup is in on the horizon. The Saudis are fearful that Hezbollah’s threats are not mere political rhetoric this time. The Iranian-armed militia has set all the needed logistic preparations for the coup and is only waiting for the zero hour.

According to the report, Hezbollah's planned coup will take a camouflaged cover of civilian protection this time. But the reality on the ground is that it will not be different from Hezbollah's bloody and cruel invasion of Western Sunni Beirut and Druze Mount Lebanon in May 2008. The coup will be initiated by putting government officials under house arrest. This will include Lebanon's PM, Saad Al Hariri, General prosecutor Said Mirza, Internal Security Forces General Director General Ashraf Rifi as well as many other officials and politicians. Sources said that Information Branch President Colonel Wesam Hassan will be spared from house arrest in the early hours of the coup.

The report went on to conclude that at the present time the centre of attention is a scheduled visit by a Saudi envoy to Damascus today and on the results of his talks with Syrian officials. The Saudi mission to Syria will focus on the current volatile situation in Lebanon, the avoidance of bloodshed, strife and and the repetition of what happened on May 2008. The Saudis fear that the impact of any military coup executed by Hezbollah in Lebanon will spread chaos over the entire region.

Private sources from Beirut unveiled that Hezbollah has deployed 3500 of its armed militia men along the Mediterranean coast in the Christian region from Beirut northwards through the cities of Junieh, Tabarja and Batroun. These bearded Hezbollah men are residing in chalets and apartments located in Christian areas and on standby alert status in case of any political development or security emergency that may require their armed intervention.

According to the report, a decision was taken by Hezbollah's leadership to invade Christian regions loyal to the March 14 Coalition, and subdue them by military force. Hezbollah's Leadership aim from such an invasion is to deliver a bloody intimidation message to all Lebanese who oppose its hegemony over the country. They want to prove on the ground that they have the upper hand, the sole power and the authority all over the country.

The report attributed to the same sources that Hezbollah has bought real estate in the Christian area of Muarab through Christians intermediaries loyal to General Michel Aoun, and in the Christian town of Bikfaya through Syrian Socialist National Party loyalists. In anticipation of potential fights with parties, possession of this real estate allows Hezbollah militia to surround the head of the Christian Lebanese Forces Party, Dr. Samir Geagea, and the Head of the Kataeb Christian Party, Amin Gemayel.

Yesterday, Hezbollah issued a statement saying that Lebanon's Attorney General Judge Said Mirza’s request to summon former General Security chief Jamil as-Sayyed on Thursday was political par excellence: "We were surprised by the judiciary’s decision which is political and oppressive to those who declare the truth,” the statement said. It is worth mentioning that Hezbollah invaded West Beirut and Mount Lebanon in May 2008 because the Lebanese Government decided to transfer the Beirut airport security chief, a Hezbollah loyalist. The Lebanese are fearful a replication of the same defiance scenario is imminent.

Hezbollah's statement comes after Sayyed said on Sunday that “[Prime Minister Saad Hariri] should take a lie detector test to prove he did not support or fund false witnesses in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL),” in investigating the 2005 assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri, and vowed to take his right “with his own hands.” Sayyed was detained from 2005 to 2009 on suspicion of involvement in the Rafik Hariri murder. In April 2009, the STL ordered his release without charges due to lack of evidence.

Hezbollah has called for revoking the judiciary's decision to summon Sayyed for questioning, adding that it should have summoned “those who were bragging that they collaborated with Israel at a certain period of time.” Hezbollah and its two evil of axis masters, Syria and Iran with all their Lebanese mercenary armed allies are ratcheting up pressure aiming to discredit a UN-backed tribunal expected to implicate Hezbollah and most likely Syria in the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

Below is the link for the Arabic report published yesterday by the Beirut Observer web site
http://beirutobserver.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37340:hariri-&catid=39:features

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.

The Lebanese will never succumb to terrorism

2010-09-11T20:34:00.001-07:00

By: Elias Bejjani*

The on going dire challenges that are imposed on our Lebanese people and beloved country, Lebanon, by the Axis of Evil countries and organizations, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran and their mercenaries, does not affect our self confidence or weaken our strong spirit of peaceful and civilized resistance. These existential challenges make us stronger and more adamant to reclaim by all means our confiscated freedom, independence and sovereignty.

With each and every threat Hezbollah voices to subdue us, take over Lebanon and annihilate our identity and culture, our perseverance and longing for a free Lebanon without Hezbollah and its likes are reignited and rejuvenated. Threats and intimidation never scared our courageous, peace loving people in the past, and definitely will never now or at any time in the future no matter who is threatening or how loud and sturdy are the threats.

We, the sovereign and faithful Lebanese, intensely believe in our legitimate and holy right to a descent, free and democratic Lebanon. It must be crystal clear to all aggressors, fundamentalists, terrorists and powers of evil that we shall never allow any of them to control our country or force on our people a regime that drags us back into a Stone Age era like the Syrian Baathist and Iranian mullahs' regimes.

We plan, anticipate, wait and hold on to our faith and hopes. We strive and work hard for achievable reachable, reasonable, legitimate, righteous, acceptable and logical aims. We have always been convinced that our patriotic dreams and hopes can be fulfilled when genuinely embraced with faith, self-confidence, perseverance, determination, devotion, knowledge and a strong will. We strived and shall keeping on striving to keep Lebanon a pioneering, civilized nation and to live peacefully under the umbrella of law, justice, freedom and human rights.

We strived and shall keeping striving to make our society an example in righteous virtues and tolerance.We struggled and shall keep struggling to be in full control of our destiny, history, heritage and culture.We worked hard and shall continue doing so for a Lebanon in which only the language of peace and love will prevail.

We are hopeful that the day of positive change will come soon to fulfill our people’s dreams, ambitions and aspirations. We are hopeful that equality will rule where individual rights are respected, law is the criteria for judgment and qualifications are the only basis for reward and appreciation. We are adamant to fight for righteous national slogans that our people understand and respect. We long that peace shall defeat war, stability beat terrorism, qualifications overcome favoritism, righteousness replaces oppression, nationalism abolishes subservience and openness wins over isolation.

Lebanon cannot survive without justice no matter what price the Lebanese need to pay. Meanwhile, Lebanon will not be again an oasis for peace if the criminals are not made accountable and put on trial. History tells us that political assassinations and oppression will not end unless the state of law prevails. Accordingly, all Lebanese politicians and leaders who are currently hailing all vicious attacks against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) must be identified and tagged as traitors who are succumbing to terrorism and willingly carrying the yoke of enslavement.

The Lebanese need to be fully aware that the vicious ongoing campaign against the STL waged by Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and their mercenaries is a destructive well planned scheme against the Lebanese people’s dignity, honor, rights and future.

Hezbollah's terrorism scheme to intimidate the Free World, Arab countries and the UN must not be allowed to succeed or otherwise Lebanon will fall prey to Syria and Iran. Those wicked and cowardly Lebanese politicians who are trying to corner the Lebanese people between either stability or justice must be indicted on charges of treason because no country can be independent and free without justice.

The Lebanese dreams and hopes in a civilized and prosperous free, democratic and multicultural Lebanon will all be evaporated and buried if, God forbid, justice is compromised and Hezbollah is allowed to get away with the Hariri crime and other horrible atrocities. Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, and all other suspects in the Hariri crime and other political crimes must be put on trial and justice served.

To those Lebanese politicians who sold out their country and its people for thirty pieces of silver we say: enough is enough, no more deceiving and conniving. The time has come for you to face justice and pay for your crimes.

In conclusion, no matter what the hardships are, the faithful Lebanese people will not abandon their patriotic obligations to defend their beloved country, and by God's graces shall always stand tall like their Holy Cedars, and will never ever succumb to terrorism.

*Elias Bejjani
*Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
*Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
*Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
*Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.