Cabinet Fails to Agree on Arsal, Appointments after Extensive Debate

The cabinet failed Monday to reach an agreement over the thorny issues of Arsal's outskirts and the security appointments, postponing discussions to Thursday's session.

“The ministers explained their viewpoints and the stances were thoroughly debated,” Information Minister Ramzi Jreij told reporters after the session.

“The discussions will be continued in Thursday's session,” he added.

Media reports said the conferees did not discuss the issue of the appointment of top security and military officials during the four-hour session and the debate remained focused on the situation in Arsal.

“We cannot disregard national interests and the army is carrying out its duties to the fullest and it will decide what to do in Arsal,” Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi told reporters before the session.

According to al-Jadeed television, Rifi warned during the session that “we have become before a four-party equation involving the army, the people, the resistance and 'Hashed al-Shaabi'.”

“Let us unite to preserve the land and country and the current period does not allow anyone to disregard the national interest,” Rifi was quoted as saying.

The Shiite-led Hashed al-Shaabi militia is a government-sanctioned paramilitary force that has played a key role in Iraq's fight against the Islamic State jihadist group.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has recently warned that “our people in Baalbek and Hermel” will not tolerate “the presence of a single terrorist in the outskirts of Arsal and the Bekaa,” calling on the state to act against the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front militants who are entrenched in Arsal's peripheries.

On Sunday, a number of Baalbek tribes announced the formation of what they called al-Qalaa Brigade, saying they stand ready to intervene militarily in Arsal's outskirts if Nasrallah gives them the greenlight.

“There is a possibility for a technical, political and military solution for Arsal's issue,” Health Minister Wael Abou Faour said during Monday's session, warning that “Arsal might become another Ain al-Rummaneh,” in reference to the infamous incident that sparked Lebanon's 15-year civil war.

“Dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement should address the issue of Arsal,” he added.

According to Future TV, Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb -- who like Abou Faour is close to centrist leader MP Walid Jumblat -- was supposed to raise the issue of “demarcating the border in Arsal” during the session.

Media reports said should an agreement be reached over Arsal, the Lebanese army would be tasked with devising an appropriate plan.

“During the session, Minister Wael Abou Faour tried to raise the issue of a girl who needs urgent medical care, but (Foreign Minister Jebran) Bassil interrupted him and refused that anything other than Arsal and the appointments be discussed,” MTV reported.

“The conferees decided to postpone the discussion of the appointments to Thursday after (Prime Minister Tammam) Salam requested that it be separated from the issue of Arsal,” it said.

In a statement after the session, Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, who is close to MP Michel Aoun, said “the issue is bigger than Arsal's outskirts and the appointments.”

“Failure to approve the two issues is political obstruction and obstruction of the work of cabinet,” he lamented.

Aoun has repeatedly warned the government against extending the terms of the army and Internal Security Forces chiefs, deeming it illegal.

He allegedly backs the appointment of his son-in-law, Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, as army commander.

Military chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji is set to retire on September 23.

The top security posts in Lebanon are suffering due to the months-long presidential vacuum caused by the parliament's failure to elect a successor to Michel Suleiman whose tenure ended in May last year.

Y.R.