1. U.N. SAYS SYRIA BEHIND KILLING OF EX-LEBANESE PM…Senior figures in Syria and Lebanon were behind the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, according to the interim report on the murder compiled by an international team of investigators on behalf of the United Nations. The report which was submitted to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday and will be handed to the Security Council on Friday, describes the killing as nothing short of a terrorist act. The names of those incriminated have not been made public, but U.N. sources say they include the head of Syrian intelligence, the state president’s brother-in-law A’sif Shawkat. In Lebanon some politicians are calling for the resignation of the country’s president Emil Lahoud, amid allegations that he knew of the plot prior to Al-Hariri’s death.
2. REPORT: U.S. BLOCKS ISRAEL, VENEZUELA AIRCRAFT DEAL…The United States has once again reportedly forced Israel to shelve plans for an arms deal with a third country. This time it was a $100 million contract to upgrade American-built F-16 aircraft for Venezuela, according to Israel’s state broadcaster. The U.S. asked for a freeze of the deal, which was relayed to the Venezuelans by Israel. At that point, Caracas informed Jerusalem it could not wait and would have to look elsewhere for the refit. Two similar incidents took place when Israel was in the process of organizing deals with China in the last few years.
3. BUSH CALLS FOR GAZA, WEST BANK LINK…A solution must be found that will allow for the early physical linking of the two Palestinian areas: Gaza and the West Bank, according to United States President George W. Bush. He is also calling on Israel to open the Rafah crossing point into southern Gaza as soon as possible. He made the calls during a news conference, following his meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud ‘Abbas in Washington on Thursday. Bush also reminded Jerusalem that its separation barrier from the Palestinians is for the purpose of security, not the creation of political facts on the ground. ‘Abbas expressed his satisfaction with the talks.