Mission & Justice

12/8/08

Lebanon’s new government has won a vote of confidence, approving a policy statement recognising Hezbollah’s right to use all means possible to regain Israeli-occupied land claimed by Lebanon. One hundred members of the 128-seat parliament voted in support of the cabinet proposal on Tuesday, allowing the cabinet to finally start work. “One hundred MPs have given their confidence to the cabinet, five voted against and two abstained,” Nabih Berri, the parliament speaker, announced to the assembly. The policy statement recognises the right of Lebanon, its government, people and armed movements to use all means possible to regain land claimed by Lebanon, a reference to the Shebaa Farms and nearby Israeli-held parts of Ghajjar village.

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30/4/08

Several Palestinian factions have accepted, in principle, to a ceasefire with Israel. A Palestinian official has said that 11 small groups agreed in Cairo on Wednesday to proposals that include a six-month truce, a prisoner exchange and reopening of the border between Gaza and Israel. Israel will now be asked if it accepts the proposal. The truce, if it is implemented, will initially take effect in Gaza, with a view to being extended to the West Bank. Egyptian security officials mediated the talks with the factions, including Islamic Jihad, but not Hamas or Fatah, who control Gaza and the West Bank respectively.

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