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Tuesday, October 12, 2010     GET YOUR INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

Ahmadinejad huddles with Hizbullah in Lebanon, plans visit to Israel's border

NICOSIA — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad intends to confront Israel during his visit along the southern Lebanese border with the Jewish state.

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Lebanese government sources said Ahmadinejad has informed the Beirut government that he plans to visit the Lebanese border with Israel during his three-day stay. They said Ahmadinejad has directed units from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to accompany the president when he walks to the Israeli border fence on Oct. 14.

"This will clearly be the most important part of his visit," a Lebanese source said.


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The sources said Ahmadinejad would spend much of his visit in talks with the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah as well as the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. They said Ahmadinejad would offer defense and energy assistance to Lebanon, including the sale of weapons and military equipment as well as a nuclear reactor.

"Ahmadinejad's visit will also represent an opportunity in an official framework to increase cooperation in a number of areas of mutual benefit to both Lebanon and Iran," Lebanese parliamentarian Ayoub Humayed said. "This is in addition to the fundamental issue, which is supporting the Lebanese military. It only remains for Lebanon to find out what it requires."

Hizbullah has been preparing for Ahmadinejad's visit, particularly in southern Lebanon. The sources said Hizbullah has been organizing parades and hanging banners throughout villages near the Israeli border, particularly in Qana and Bint Jbeil, where Ahmadinejad was expected to visit.

Iran has not disclosed Ahmadinejad's intinerary. But the sources said Lebanese government ministers and commanders have already been told to be available to accompany Ahmadinejad.

"Ahmadinejad wants to be seen as the leader of the Islamic and Arab world, particularly in the holy war against Israel," the Lebanese source said. "He sees this as a golden opportunity to show the entire world that he doesn't fear Israel or its ally, the United States."

Pro-Western parliamentarians have expressed concern that Ahmadinejad's visit, which on Oct. 11 was extended from two to three days, could signal an impending Hizbullah war with Israel. They did not rule out that Hizbullah would use Ahmadinejad's visit to further erode the authority of the Hariri government.

"Hizbullah wants to maintain quiet until Ahmadinejad's visit to Beirut, and then resume the war against us," Antoine Andreius, the deputy chairman of the ruling Future Movement, said.



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