Israel,  Lebanon

Lebanon Watch: Assassinated Lebanese Minister Pierre Gemayel to Be Buried Thursday

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Lebanese mourners carry the coffin of Lebanon’s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel past a poster of him in Bekfaya, Mount Lebanon, November 22, 2006.

Reuters: Leaders call Lebanese to slain minister’s funeral

Assassinated Lebanese minister Pierre Gemayel will be buried on Thursday and his allies have called for a large turnout to strengthen their hand in a political struggle with the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Gemayel, 34, was shot dead on Tuesday in the sixth killing of an anti-Syrian figure in less than two years.

The funeral is set to be an outpouring of anger at Damascus, which Gemayel’s supporters have blamed for the assassination.
Syria has condemned the killing and denied involvement.

Leading members of the ruling majority have also blamed Damascus for Gemayel’s killing, seeing an attempt to derail plans for an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A U.N. inquiry into the killing has implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials. Syria denies involvement. The government has asked for U.N. help to investigate the Gemayel killing.

“I call on everybody who loves Rafik al-Hariri, everybody who wants the truth, the international tribunal and an end to the assassinations … to come out with us tomorrow,” Hariri’s son, Saad, told the Future Television.

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Rice falls on the coffin of assassinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel (portrait) as it is carried through the Gemayels’ hometown Bikfaya, in the mountains northeast of Beirut. Lebanon was in turmoil as it began three days of mourning for Gemayel, gunned down in an attack that stoked fears the country may again be plunged into civil strife.

Will Lebanon break down into Civil War?

Perhaps and will Israel join the fray?

Possible, since the UNIFIL mission is a failure and Hezbollah continues to rearm. The Israel-Hezbollah 33 day War this summer was just a warm-up for a broader war that is on the brink of starting.

Stay tuned…….

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Patricia Gemayel (C), wife of Lebanon’s Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, reacts as his coffin passes in a street in Bekfaya, Mount Lebanon November 22, 2006.

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