Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 5, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba A6 crisis in the Mideast Winnipeg free press saturday August 5, 2006 israeli attacks called crime canadians body returns Home by Juliet Oneill Ottawa ? two israeli bombings in which canadians were killed in Lebanon May constitute War crimes says human rights watch. In a report on the Middle Eastern conflict released this week the new York based International non governmental organization says directing an attack against civilians regardless of their political sympathies is a War the quote is from a Section referring to the july 16 bombing of a Home in the Village of Ait Aroun that killed 11 Mem Bers of the Al Akhrass family eight of them on vacation from Montreal. Referring to the missile hit on a in base in Hiyam the report says direct ing attacks against peacekeepers or objects involved in a peacekeeping operation is prohibited and constitutes a War the july 25 bombing killed maj. Pasta Hess von Kruedener of Kingston ont., and three other unarmed Uno servers stationed in Southern Lebanon. His body arrived in Canada last night. More than 20 israeli attacks on civil ians Are examined in the 50-Page report alleging a pattern of deliberate target ing and indiscriminate killing of civil ians in their Homes and while trying to flee to safety in their cars. The human rights watch report defies repeated claims by israeli government officials and diplomats that the High civilian casualty rate in Lebanon is the fault of Hezbollah militia hiding themselves and their weapons among the civilian population. The government of Canada does not comment on reports of Independent organizations said a foreign affairs spokeswoman Friday. Ofir Gendelman an israeli Diplomat in Ottawa said Israel has promised to investigate the incident at Ait Aroun and the Canadian military attache in Tel Aviv is in close Contact with the israeli Mili tary about it. Israel has made it very Clear that it will share All the findings with the Canadian government he said. Both Israel and the in Are investigating the attack on the in Post. Human rights watch said villagers in Ait Aroun vigorously denied the Al Akhrass family had any connection with Hezbollah and said the group which Canada and other countries have labelled a terrorist entity was not Active near the House or the Village at the time of the attack. In any Case the report said the Polit ical leanings of the civilian population in a Given area or Village Are irrelevant As far As their civilian status is concerned. To the extent that civilians do not participate in hostilities that is do not com Mit acts that by their nature or purpose Are Likely to cause harm to the personnel and equipment of the enemy they continue to Benefit from the Protection afforded by their civilian in none of the 153 cases of civilian deaths documented in the report human rights watch said is there evidence to suggest that Hezbollah was operating in or around the area during or prior to the the report alleged a pattern of failure by the israeli military to distinguish Between combatants and civilians in the current military Campaign against Hezbollah. ? can West news service israelis bomb vital Road destroyed lebanese Highway major route for food medical supplies by Steven r. Hurst b Beirut ? Israel and Hezbollah fought bloody ground Battles and exchanged fierce air and missile strikes yesterday ? including bombing raids that severed Lebanon a last major Supply link with Syria and the outside world and the guerrillas deepest rocket attack inside Israel to Date. After Days of desultory diplomacy Washington said it was near agreement with France on a in ceasefire Resolution possibly by Early next week. But Israel and Hezbollah showed no signs of holding their fire. Israeli aircraft on a Mission to destroy weapons caches hit a refrigerated Ware House where farm workers were Load ing fruit killing at least 28 near the Lebanon Syria Border. And three Hezbollah rockets landed near Hadera 80 kilo metres South of the Israel Lebanon Border 188 rockets rained on other towns killing three israeli arabs. Given the determination of both Hezbollah and Israel to look victorious when the conflict finally ends the worst of the fighting May still lie ahead with the militant shiite guerrilla fighters per haps making Good on their threat to rocket Tel Aviv and Israel launching an All out ground offensive pushing North Ward to the Litany River. Israeli military officials said yester Day they completed the first phase of the offensive securing a 6.4-Kilometre Buffer zone in South Lebanon though pockets of Hezbollah resistance remained. Defence minister Amir Peretz told top army officers to begin preparing for a push to the Litany about 30 Kilometres North of the Border ? a move that would require Cabinet approval. Peretz vowed his forces would Complete the whole Mission of driving guerrilla fighters out of missile Range a defiant response to the Hezbollah leaders threat to launch missiles into Israel a largest City. Israeli air strikes destroyed four key Bridges after Dawn severing Beirut a final major connection to Syria and Rais ing the threat of severe shortages of food gasoline and medicines within Days. The attack in the Christian heart land just North of Beirut killed four civil ians and a lebanese Soldier. Israel said it targeted the Bridges to Stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah from Iran through Syria. Those weapons include not Only missiles but sophisticated anti tank missiles said to be responsible for most of the 44 israeli sol Diers killed in More than three weeks of fighting. However Aid workers said the destroyed Highway was a vital conduit for much needed food and supplies with Christiane Berthiaume of the world food program calling it Lebanon a umbilical this Road has been the Only Way for us to bring in Aid. We really need to find other ways to bring Relief in she said in Geneva Switzerland. Hospitals were in danger of closing soon because medicines Hospital sup plies and fuel for generators was fast running out. Staples like milk Rice and sugar were growing Short across the country. Lines at Beirut filling stations stretch longer by the Day. On the 24th Day of the conflict the state department said yesterday the United states and France were nearing completion of a in Resolution designed to halt the fighting in Lebanon and to set out principles for a lasting cease fire. We Are very close to a final draft with the French on a text department spokesman Sean Mccormack said. In a sign of billowing support for Hezbollah a shiite fighters across the Arab world tens of thousands of shiite muslims protested in Baghdad a Sadr City slum chanting death to Israel death to America the biggest rally in support of the militant shiite Organiza Tion since the fighting began. As of yesterday the associated press count showed at least 559 lebanese have been killed including 482 civilians con firmed dead by the health ministry 27 lebanese soldiers and at least 50 Hezbollah guerrillas. ? associated press Harper Sticks to his foreign policy guns by Mike de Souza Cornwall ont. ? prime minister Stephen Harper says he in to concerned about the recent backlash from various ethnic communities regarding his government a foreign policy because he believes his stance is perfectly in tune with the views of canadians regarding the War on terrorism. After wrapping up a summer Retreat with his conservative caucus Harper dismissed recent polls and protests which suggest Many canadians want him to Back away from his support of Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and his resolve to pursue the Canadian military Mission in Afghanistan. I think the position we have properly understood is exactly the position of canadians Harper told reporters yesterday. Canadians want to see peace and stability in the Middle East. Canadians Are not Neutral on terrorism or on terrorist groups and canadians want us to work with the International Community to develop a Strong position that can Lead to a durable and lasting following the news conference Harper had a different message for a Quebec audience in a to interview ? Back tracking on his earlier assessment of the israeli military strikes in Lebanon As a measured response. Now we have a completely different situation from three weeks ago As i be said Many times. We have a full blown conflict almost a War and its hard to say whether a response is proportional to another. Its a War Harper told the French language Tva network in que Bec. Outside the corneal caucus dozens of protesters waving Canadian lebanese and palestinian flags tried to push their Way past police to Tell Harper they disagreed. Some of the protesters from Cornwall Montreal and Ottawa said Harper is wrong to Label Hezbollah in Lebanon As a terrorist group. Hezbollah Are lebanese civilians said Fatima Mustapha 20, a Mon Trealer who spent the past five years in Lebanon leading up to the recent evacuation. Its the Only one who is defending us. Its the Only one who is defending the children who Are dying the families who Are crushed by the bombs of while the prime ministers office eventually allowed two representatives of the protesters to meet with foreign affairs minister Peter Mackay and International cooperation minister Josee Verner Harper refused to Back Down from his stance in support of meanwhile Harper added that he was Israel a right to defend itself As he spoken to worried about alienating voters in to reporters in English. Many reporters various cultural communities explain including All of the French speaking ing that the situation in Afghanistan and journalists did not ask questions the Middle East represents a threat to because of the ongoing dispute Between Canada in Light of the recent terrorism the parliamentary press gallery and the related arrests in Toronto. Pm Over the protocol at news Confer ? can West news service fences. Automotive auction thurs., aug. 10 6 . 7130 Roblin blvd. Featuring Fleet vehicles Agency sold unreserved 2000 Malibu 2000 Gumc 2500 4x4, 2000 Savana Van 2001 Cavalier 2001 win Star 1992 15p Chev Van 2-1996 voyager 1997 Cavalier 1997 safari Van 1998 Cavalier 1998 Ford ext cab 1999 Cavalier 1999 Dodge ram 1500, 1999 Dodge ram1500 4x4, 1999 suburban 1999 Ford explorer 1999 caravan 1999 Gumc Savana 2000 Gumc Sierra 6-2002 Chev Silverado 1500 1/2 tons. Also this Sale approx. 100 other vehicles some subject to Reserve Many safety certified repossessions 1999 Jayco 5th wheel trailer 2002 explorer Eddie Bauer 2006 Dodge ram 2002 Pont gunfire 2000 Ford Taurus 2000 win Star 2000 explorer 1998 Gumc safari. Many More by Sale time. Repos Are subject to the Banks approval. Subject to additions and by Sale time. Complete listing can be found at viewing thursday 8 am until Sale time. Terms $300.00 Deposit at time of conducted by associated Auto auction Ltd. Only at auction associated Auto auction 7130 Roblin blvd. 895-9790 ;