Rifi Says Solution in Arsal Political as Kabbara Blames 'Syrian-Iranian Conspiracy'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stressed Sunday that the way out from the current confrontation in Arsal should be through a “political solution,” as Tripoli MP Mohammed Kabbara of the Mustaqbal bloc described the incidents in the Bekaa border town as a “Syrian-Iranian conspiracy.”
“The solution in Arsal is political and we must protect our northern Bekaa from the volcano's lava and we must preserve coexistence,” Rifi said in remarks to MTV.
“The mission of protecting northern Bekaa is the mission of all of its residents and our salvation lies legitimate state institutions,” Rifi added, pointing out that “the statelet” of Hizbullah is to blame for the current situation in the country.
The minister warned that “we are before a major challenge and a critical moment,” urging an end to the crisis in Arsal “as it might lead to incidents in other regions.”
Earlier on Friday, Kabbara demanded “the withdrawal of all gunmen” from Arsal.
“We demand that the cabinet convene to restore political authority over the army,” the MP said after a meeting at his Tripoli residence for the Islamic National Gathering, a grouping of northern MPs, Muslim scholars and dignitaries.
He called for the immediate interrogation of the detained militant leader Imad Jomaa, whose arrest on Saturday had sparked the military confrontation with the army and security forces.
Kabbara said a quick probe would “determine whether there is a legitimate cause for his arrest.”
Reciting a statement issued by the conferees, the lawmaker described the developments in Arsal as “a Syrian-Iranian conspiracy against the Sunnis.”
He also warned against "transforming the army into one similar to the one in Iraq under Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki."
At least 10 Lebanese Army troops have been killed and 25 others wounded while 13 troops have gone missing since the clashes with armed groups erupted in and around Arsal on Saturday. Dozens of gunmen have been killed or arrested in the fighting.
The battle started after the army arrested al-Nusra Front top official Imad Ahmed Jomaa.
Army chief General Jean Qahwaji has however announced that the clashes had been “premeditated” by the armed groups.
Y.R.
03 August 2014, 17:55
94
haboub is right, rifi is a traitor for forgetting his city, his people, for letting Eids bomb our mosques and then flee, for letting sunnis in roumieh without trial, for sitting at the same table with WIssam HASSAN's and Hariri's murderers. No honour in Rifi and Mashnouq, there are the reason why hopeless sunnis turn to Assir or Daesh...
04 August 2014, 10:29
01
Shame on naharnet for trying to silence opinions. reposting:
Nusra killing our soldiers while the rififi-kakabara duet are demonstrating M14's political cover of these terrorists.
A special award goes to kakabara for trying to turn this into a sectarian issue.
They are both complicit in the killing of our troop, and should be should be prosecuted for treason and sectarian incitement.
In the mean time, no mercy, Go LAF! Exterminate the vermin, you have the full support of all real Lebanese.
04 August 2014, 10:29
01
rifi calling for a political solution, as if nusra had any legitimate political claims in Lebanon.
Just a little reminder, because it might have slipped your mind just like it did the justice minister's: nusra is responsible for a campaign of terrorist bombings in Lebanon which killed tens and tens of people. They are also now guilty of attacking and killing soldiers, and taking a number of ISF and LAF hostages.
There is no "political solution" here, no negotiations to have, they need to be wiped out.
03 August 2014, 17:19
47
Humm, were did I hear this kind of silly argument before.. let me think.. Ah I remember there it is..
26- 05- 2007- Hassan Nasrallah called for a negotiated settlement rather than a military assault on the Nahr el-Bared camp. "Does it concern us that we start a conflict with al Qaeda in Lebanon and consequently attract members and fighters of al Qaeda from all over the world to Lebanon to conduct their battle with the Lebanese Army and the rest of the Lebanese? We will not accept or provide cover or be partners in this."
We told the idiot not to get involved in Syrian for these exact reasons but if the idiot didn't want to listen to us the idiot should have at least listened to himself.
03 August 2014, 19:23
35
sealed off Qalamoun, yeah sure he did do that obviously. It seems that since the battle of al Qalamoun started, every time the Syrian army announced that it surrounded a town most of the fighter trapped inside managed, or more likely were allowed, to withdraw towards the Syrian Lebanese border and the unmarked mountain range.
03 August 2014, 17:25
64
Kabarra and Rifi you are a bunch of traitors and mhst be thrown in jail
Stop defending terrorists and animals only because they claim they are Sunni. Your hate toward the state and the army is huge
03 August 2014, 17:58
74
lebfirst, army is not perfect, in lebanon and worldwide.
We dont criticize the institution, but its political use.
Many people served or are serving in LAF, ISF,etc...
Most are disgusted since 7 ayar...
03 August 2014, 19:42
13
cedre. I am as frustrated as you that HA put itself in a situation pretending it were legal, while it is not. I am frustrated that the exactions of HA go unpunished, especially 7 ayyar, especially Hashem el Salman.
But our army, even if i sometimes feel acts like an ally of HA, should not be critisized.
03 August 2014, 20:56
51
lebfirst, in all honesty, would u think the same if instead of targeting sunnis, the LAF was targeting christians ?
LAF is supposed to protect ALL lebanese not be HizbIran's tool...
04 August 2014, 00:17
31
i partially agree with u lebfirst...
LAF not targeting sunnis per se, but because Hizb orders it or creates tensions...
03 August 2014, 18:12
47
dear mowaten: please, don't be upset. I am one of a few who really know you and know how you feel. You don't have one single sectarian bone in your tender body unlike all the claims to the contrary. Just keep posting and posting and posting. I care....
03 August 2014, 19:00
24
Exterminate.... Is that all the logic you can muster @mowaten?
Ever occurred to you that despite deep disagreement with Al-Nusra's philosophy they are humans too?
Most Lebanese have similar deep disagreement with HA but you don't see us calling for extermination. Have you lost all of your humanity?
03 August 2014, 19:04
36
he thinks he is in dahyeh and naharnet is his office. let him spew his totalitarian fantasies.
03 August 2014, 19:35
95
i'm not interested in having compassion for terrorists who kill civilians and soliders alike lebnanfirst.
i'll let your fellow takfiri lovers here cheer their "philosophy" with you, while the army does what needs to be done.
04 August 2014, 00:58
23
Sectarian threats at the gates of Keserwan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjK2I907iqo
04 August 2014, 03:03
31
civilians were evacuated in nahr bared + situation was totally different...
