[conservative in nyc]

How has Lebanon tried to stall our efforts at extraction? It's an honest question -- I hadn't heard this.

There were unconfirmed reports, perhaps on the live thread, that the Lebanese government wasn't letting the US-chartered ship dock. I don't know whether this is true, and don't think I saw any link to any article. But the Lebanon has such close ties to the French government that the French Foreign Minister paid a visit earlier in the week in solidarity with the Lebanese people. The Lebanese would likely jump through hoops for the French, who have been the most critical of Israel among the G-8.

There were also reports that the Israelis were holding the ship up, which might actually be somewhat true. Apparently the chartered cruise ship was already in Cyprus, waiting to go to its final port in Lebanon, and was carrying a few hundred Lebanese who wanted to come home. The Israelis may have boarded it to vet those on board.

[Peach]

I'm not disbelieving you about the French Foreign Minister, and maybe I'm just mixing up titles, but I thought I read that the French Foreign Minister expressed great solidarity with the Israeli people.

It was one of the French ministers because I read his statement (in shock) aloud to my husband.

I did read about the Israelis holding up a ship for security concerns; I think it had to do with dual citizenship issues.