Excerpts: Palestinian boycott of Israeli participation.Jordan not informed
Dead Sea Project.Lebanon unrest.US reappointing ambassador to Syria , June
29, 2009

+++JORDAN TIMES 29 June '09:Politics bars Dead Sea from contest", by Douglas
Hamilton and Ali Sawafta,Reuters

QUOTE:"The Dead Sea, known for its curative properties, will be eliminated
from a contest to choose seven natural wonders of the world because of a
Palestinian boycott over the participation of an Israeli settler council"

JERICHO - The Dead Sea will be eliminated next week from a contest to choose
the seven natural wonders of the world because of a Palestinian boycott over
the participation of an Israeli settler council.
Its almost certain exclusion from a competition, which it had good chances
of winning, underline how the bitter politics of the Middle East conflict
permeate every aspect of Palestinian life, no matter how harmless or even
beneficial it may seem.. . .
Dead Sea Council spokeswoman Gura Berger told Reuters."The Dead Sea is so
unique it's beyond politics. Neither my kids nor Palestinian kids will be
able to enjoy it if nothing is done to save it."

+++JORDAN TIMES 29 June '09:"Jordan not informed about World Bank approval
of
Red-Dead project'"By Hana Namrouqa

QUOTE:"A feasibility study and environmental assessment are currently being
implemented"

EXCERPTS:AMMAN - Jordan was not informed that the World Bank has approved
the Red-Dead canal plan and its decision to finance the project with $1.25
billion, Jordanian officials said Sunday.
Ministry of Water and Irrigation officials complained that the Kingdom is a
key partner in the Red-Dead Water Conveyance Project and must be informed of
any developments regarding the project.
"We read the news in the newspapers and were shocked that a major decision
was taken without our knowledge. It is not clear whether it is correct or
not. we are contacting the World Bank to check," Red-Dead Water Conveyance
Project Director Fayez Batayneh told The Jordan Times yesterday.
On Saturday, a news report cited Israeli Development Minister Sylvan Shalom
as saying that the World Bank approved a pilot plan for the Dead Sea canal
project and will provide $1.25 billion in funding for it.
"I hope, of course, the news report is true, because it means real progress
on the project," Batayneh noted.
Agence France-Presse said that Shalom, who met World Bank President Robert
Zoellick in Washington on Friday, said approval from the global institution
was a "spectacular" development aimed at relaunching the project.
Water Ministry Assistant Secretary General and Spokesperson Adnan Zu'bi also
noted that the ministry did not receive any information from the World Bank
confirming the approval and financing of the project.
The Red-Dead canal project, which will be implemented by Jordan, Palestine
and Israel, is part of international efforts to save the Dead Sea. . . .A
feasibility study and environmental assessment are currently being
implemented to examine the impact of the Red-Dead canal project on the Gulf
of Aqaba and the Dead Sea.

+++JORDAN TIMES29 June '09:"Lebanese army issues warning after Beirut
clash",Reuters

QUOTE:" 'orders have been given to (the army) to open fire on any armed
person appearing on the streets"

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said on Sunday(28 June) it would open
fire on any armed person appearing on the streets, after a brief clash
between supporters of rival political factions in western Beirut killed one
person.
Gunfire erupted in the Aicha Bakkar area when Sunni Muslim followers of
anti-Syrian Saad Al Hariri's Future movement clashed with supporters of the
pro-Syrian Amal Movement, which is led by Shiite Parliament Speaker Nabih
Berri.
Security sources said one woman was killed, and two people were wounded.
. . . "Orders have been given to [the army] to open fire on any armed
person appearing on the streets and it will not tolerate any breach of
security," a statement from the army leadership said.
Sunni-Shiite tensions threatened to boil over into a civil war last year
when Shite Hizbollah fighters routed supporters of Hariri and his allies in
Beirut and mountains to the east.
A Qatari-mediated deal defused the crisis, but sectarian tensions rose again
in the run-up to the election. Hariri is due to begin consultations on
Monday(29 June) to try to achieve his pledge of forming a national unity
government.

+++SYRIA REPORT 29 June '09:"US Appoints Ambassador to Damascus"
EXCERPT:The United States has announced that it was
reappointing an ambassador to Damascus four years after it withdrew its
envoy there . . .
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Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA