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Israel Mum over Strike Claims, Considers Transfer of Weapons to Hizbullah 'Red Line'

Israel was on Thursday tightlipped over Syrian claims it had bombed a military site near Damascus, while stressing that any transfer of advanced weaponry to Hizbullah would cross a red line.

Israeli officials and the military refused to confirm or deny any involvement in the alleged attack and had no comment on separate reports from security sources that its warplanes had struck a weapons convoy along the Syria-Lebanon border.

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Suleiman Hopes Aid Pledges to Syrians would be Translated into Deeds

President Michel Suleiman hoped on Thursday that the promises of the international community to help Lebanon meet the demands of Syrian refugees escaping the fighting in their country would be translated into deeds.

“We received signals that there is a certain support … But previous experiences haven't been very encouraging,” Suleiman told a delegation from the Association of Arab Newspaper Reporters in Lebanon.

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Lebanese Officials Denounce Israeli Aggression on Syria

Several Lebanese officials condemned on Thursday an Israeli air strike against a Syrian military research center, accusing the Jewish state of exploiting the current situation in the neighboring country to carry out its “flagrant aggression.”

“Israel is exploiting the developments in Syria to carry out its aggressive policies, indifferent to all the humanitarian and international treaties,” President Michel Suleiman said in a statement issued by his press office.

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Geagea Lauds Hariri, Shrugs off Differences on Vote Law

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea hailed on Thursday ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri for exerting strong efforts to help the different factions agree on an electoral draft-law that guarantees the best representation for all the Lebanese.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Geagea said he was glad that discussions on an electoral draft-law have reached their final stages. “We will continue to seek with al-Mustaqbal movement and the rest of the parties in the parliamentary subcommittee to reach (an agreement) on the law.”

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Hizbullah Condemns Israeli Attack on Syria, Considers it Attempt to 'Destroy' Damascus

Hizbullah condemned on Thursday a reported Israeli attack on a Syrian military research center, saying it reveals the Jewish state's attempts to destroy Damascus.

The attack “fully unmasked what has been happening in Syria over the past two years and the criminal objectives of destroying this country and weakening its army, which discloses a bigger conspiracy against the Arab and Muslim countries,” a statement issued by Hizbullah said.

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Gemayel Says he Received French Promises to Consolidate Lebanon

Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel has said that French President Francois Hollande, who encourages dialogue among the Lebanese, promised him to consolidate his support for Lebanon.

The French “administration is working for Lebanon and the interest of all the Lebanese no matter what their religious or political belongings are,” Gemayel said following his talks with Hollande at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday.

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Hariri Contacts Berri, Emphasizes Need to Maintain National Unity According to Taef

Speaker Nabih Berri received on Wednesday a telephone call from former Prime Minister Saad Hariri to discuss the latest developments, announced the latter's press office in a statement.

The two officials stressed the need to preserve national unity and “maintain the principles of coexistence” in line with the Taef Accord, especially in light of the challenges Lebanon is facing on the local and regional scenes.

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Syria Says Israel Bombed Military Center near Damascus as Reports Say Arms Convoy Hit near Lebanon

The Syrian army said that an Israeli air strike at dawn on Wednesday targeted a military research center in Jamraya, near Damascus, after several media reports said Israeli warplanes bombed a weapons convoy near the border with Lebanon.

Residents who spoke to Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity, however, said the strike targeted a non-conventional weapons research center some 15 kilometers (10 miles) northwest of the Syrian capital.

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Miqati Meets Erdogan, Urges Turkish Pressure on Abductors of Lebanese Pilgrims

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Wednesday held talks in Ankara with Turkey's President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, requesting that Turkey pressure the abductors of the nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims in Syria's Aazaz to secure their release.

After his meeting with Erdogan, Miqati expressed satisfaction with the talks, calling for "full cooperation between the two countries in all fields in a manner that would serve them both."

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Petition Demanding Enhanced Safety on Faraya Mzaar Ski Slopes

A petition raised by parents of a 9-year old child, urged people to sign a petition demanding enhanced safety precautions on the slopes of Mzaar ski resort.

The petition goes as follows: On Saturday January 26th 2013, Adel was involved in a life-threatening incident that left all the onlookers frozen in shock, and left him traumatized by his ordeal.

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