Berri Questions Silence over Israeli Border Violation: Turkish Pilots Musn't Be Harmed
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri condemned the abduction of two Turkish pilots in Beirut on Friday, while questioning the silence over last week's Israeli violation of the Lebanese border, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.
He told the daily: “Regardless of our position on Turkey's official approach on the kidnapping of the Lebanese pilgrims in Aazaz, the Turkish pilots are innocent and should not be harmed.”
A Turkish pilot and co-pilot were kidnapped by gunmen on Friday.
Six gunmen intercepted a van carrying the Turkish Airlines employees from Rafik Hariri International Airport to a hotel in the Ain Mreisseh seafront at dawn Friday, kidnapping the two pilots - Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca - but leaving the four other crew members behind.
The relatives of the pilgrims held in Aazaz were quick to deny having any links to the abduction.
Eleven pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region in May 2012 as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from pilgrimage in Iran.
Two of them have since been released, while the rest remain in Aazaz.
Their relatives have held Turkey responsible for their ongoing abduction.
They have repeatedly vowed to take action against Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to release the captives.
Commenting on the Israeli violation on Wednesday, Berri wondered: “Why is it that an uproar is created over Syrian border violations and eery silence prevails over Israeli ones?”
He warned that the ambivalence over the violation has demonstrated that some sides have accepted them and that “the psychological barrier with Israel has been broken in that they no longer view it as an enemy.”
It is no easy feat for Israeli troops to infiltrate Lebanese territory by 400 meters, meaning that the latest violation should be considered “blatant” and it should not be dealt with lightly, said the speaker.
He criticized the Lebanese official silence over the issue, while United Nations Interim Force Commander Major General Paolo Serra was quick to condemn it.
Four Israeli soldiers were injured in a landmine blast along the northern border with Lebanon, media reports said on Wednesday.
A Lebanese army communique said that the “Israeli patrol violated Lebanon's sovereignty."
"An infantry patrol of the Israeli army penetrated 400 meters inside Lebanon in the Labbouneh area at 00:24 local time," the statement said.
"An explosion took place and the soldiers were wounded, with blood found at the scene. A military committee has opened an investigation in coordination with UNIFIL," the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, it said.
12 August 2013, 08:18
110
am i reading well? Berri says that the pilots should not be harmed! Shouldn't he say rather that the pilots should be released?
12 August 2013, 08:33
49
I would say that Mr. Berri has got his facts the wrong way round.
Over the weekend we have seen investigations by UNIFIL, complaints to the UN, about the Israeli incursions, and nothing about any possible complaints concerning Syrian border infringements.
Perhaps Mr. Berri knows exactly where the Turkish pilots are being held, and by whom, so he can ask that they not be harmed whilst negotiating for their release in exchange for..........
12 August 2013, 08:47
101
You never fail to deliver your deflective jewish politicization as always phillipo; keep trucking.
12 August 2013, 19:04
00
endless and benzona - instead of attempting to throw racial insults at me, which by the way, are the activities as stupid little children, why don't you just look at reality and see that more people are in favour of what I wrote than against it.
That surely must say something about your bias.
12 August 2013, 22:14
01
Racial insults? I'm afraid I see no difference between you and I. I only spot a political one.
What's your problem? Going paranoid on us?
My family has been decimated in the Russian Goulags, only a few people escaped or else I wouldn't be born.... Don't try victimizing yourself, it doesn't suit you.
12 August 2013, 08:45
111
God Bless you Barrrrri for stating the Turkish pilots are innocent and should not be harmed. However, they should be kidnapped and held hostage until our pilgrims are released by the terrorist Turkish regime of Erdogan. The "environment" of the resistance and its honorable Joumhour will never harm these useless pilots but rather keep onto them to pressure their salfist government into succumbing to the wishes of the Islamic Secular Resistance aka HA (Hussain Army). We, the Shia of Ali Ibn Taleb will never give up on our beloved pilgrims.
12 August 2013, 09:23
011
Berri you and the other Assad puppets never say a word when the Syrian regime bombs Lebanon, so you should keep your trap shut.
12 August 2013, 20:57
00
Berri and SHN already turned Lebanon into another Syria (Oh you mean Rebels Syria? I was thinking Assad's Syria). Only difference between Bashar's Syria's and Berri's/SHN's Lebanon is that Syria has no resistance only its army.
12 August 2013, 09:48
19
there shouldn't be silence on ANY infringement of Lebanese territory--now tell that to your lapdog mansour.
12 August 2013, 11:33
15
Southern your dillusional.. hezbollah or amal must be paying for these ridiculous posts
12 August 2013, 15:07
23
We have so many problems with the enemy within to deal with Israel.
12 August 2013, 15:09
53
Mr.Berri although a warlord but at least he knows who are our nemesis & foe !
So be it, Israeli , Jewish, or Yahudi , all the same baked pie . As for Mrs. Phillipo go & take care of your children instead of inciting hatred on a Lebanese site you have more too worry about than to take up cyber warfare !
Signed Wolf.....
12 August 2013, 19:11
22
___-wolf-___
Here you go trying to insult other writers once again, and of course showing your ignorance.
As Israeli can be Jewish, Moslem, Christian, Druze, Hindu or any other religion he/she desires.
A Jew can be Israeli, British, American, Iranian, Lebanese, or wherever
in the world (with the sole exception of Saudi Arabia).
So just exactly can they be the same?
I certainly not a woman, as you stupidly claim, and on top of that my children are all grown up and have minds of their own.
I would like you to show all the people on this site one word of mine in which I have tried to incite hatred.
12 August 2013, 20:19
02
To the Israeli, Jewish , Zionist , Yahudi terrorist State ;
Stop all illegal fly overs into Lebanon.
Stop illegal penetration into Lebanon.
Stop illegal settlements on occupied lands.
Stop murdering people on foreign land ( Mossad)
Stop arresting humans without public trials ( especially ) five year boys !
Take back ALL Palestinian Refugees from Lebanon & resettle them in the West Bank .
Take ALL Syrian Refugees & resettle them in the Golan heights .
Stop stealing our territorary hand back our Shebaa Farms .
Stop stealing our resources such our water, gas & oil.
Stop your industrial espionage activities .
Stop killing innocent people .
Stop kidnaping innocent people .
Stop your torturing of innocent people.
Stop using fake passports to gain entry in other countries .
Stop amassing nuclear warheads.
You Israelis should be listed on the terrorist list !
Signed Wolf !
12 August 2013, 21:00
01
He was in the Yulon that ambushed Arsal's Mayor. It takes time to go homme, nap, shower, change, and catch his breath.
