A Famous Psychic

This news comes from Associated Press. Since he predicted the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri and as well as Journalist Tuene, Michel Yayek, psychic, has become very famous in Lebanon (he actually gained notoriety when he predicted US space shuttle would crash). Every year, he gives his predictions for the year to come. When Rita told me about what he said would happen in 2006, I just laughed and said: "c'mon, do you really believe in those things???" Well, next time, I'll keep my mouth shut...

Lebanese Psychic Flooded With Calls, AP

Michel Hayek, Lebanon's most famous psychic, predicted an Israeli incursion into the south - and since the fighting began, he's been fielding calls from frantic Lebanese and Arabs asking how long the conflict will last, if the economy will crash and if they should leave the country. Hayek tells his callers they have to make their own decisions. But he also said he is not fleeing Lebanon.

"That reassures them, and many have decided to stay because I'm staying," the tall, dark-haired, 39-year-old psychic told The Associated Press Monday.

Skeptics may shrug off Hayek's predictions as nothing more than pure chance. But it's not the first time he's been right. Hayek said he gets his visions by tuning in to "the billions and billions of vibrations in the sphere."

In his annual TV appearance on New Year's Eve in 2004, Hayek said a huge attack in the capital would disrupt life in downtown Beirut. Six weeks later, a car bomb killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He also warned that anti-Syrian lawmaker Gibran Tueni would be targeted for assassination. Tueni was brutally murdered Dec. 12. Hayek says his prognostications cover 18 months.

Magazines later reported more of his predictions from that Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. TV appearance.

The April-May 2005 issue of Al-Hadath Al-Arabi Wal Duwali reported that Hayek predicted a massive Israeli offensive and incursion would occur in Lebanon, and that Beirut's airport would be touched by an incident.

Beirut airport has been a target of Israeli bombardment during the offensive.

The Feb. 7, 2005 issue of Al-Shiraa magazine listed two of Hayek's other predictions:

- We will see piles of garbage in Lebanon.

- Accidents will be reported in Israel's air force.

Garbage is indeed filling Lebanon's streets because the offensive has prevented garbage collectors from doing their jobs. On Monday, an Israeli Apache helicopter crashed near the Lebanese border while last week two Apache attack helicopters collided in northern Israel.

Since that set of predictions, Hayek has kept a low profile, saying he does not want to be the bearer of bad news. Plus, he was getting threatening calls and faced accusations he has privileged access to information because he works for the secret service, a charge he denies.

"My kind of fame is a headache. I need special skills to deal with it," Hayek said.

What does he foresee for Lebanon's future?

Hayek said Lebanon will thrive in the long term and he senses something positive about the economy that he may soon announce.

"While everyone is talking about the destruction of the infrastructure and the economy and while everyone is taking stock of the losses, I see progress instead of decline and I see the glory of the economy preparing to shine over all of Lebanon," Hayek said.