BEIRUT: Israeli allegations that Hizbullah is stockpiling Syrian-supplied Scuds are intended to scare away tourists, said Foreign Minister Ali Shami Thursday.
I can see that the cruise ship operators would get nervous ...
| If I didn't misunderstand the story, they've already been shamed into cancelling stops there. It seems the cruise operators' original response to threats against passengers holding Israeli passports was to forbid Israelis from getting on their ships. But there was an outcry, and for now they've cancelled that port of call altogether. I do hope it isn't just a very vicious rumour. |
After a meeting with ambassadors from Arab and Security Council member countries, Shami also said Lebanon had the right "to use all available means to liberate its territories."
| They mean the Shebaa Farms, that sweet little corner of Syria. |
"The recent Israeli threats not only increase military tensions in the region but also harm investment in Lebanon and our upcoming tourism season," the NNA reported Shami as telling the ambassadors.
| They really, really don't want another season like the last Israeli invasion. The image -- not to mention the reality -- of foreign navy ships coming to rescue their dual citizens from Beirut did terrible things for business. |
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