Change MPs Firas Hamdan, Najat Saliba, Yassine Yassine, Paula Yacoubian and Melhem Khalaf have condemned an “incitement and treason accusations campaign” against fellow MP Ibrahim Mneimneh, after he criticized the appearance of Jamaa Islamiya gunmen in Beirut during the funeral of a group fighter who was killed by Israeli fire in south Lebanon.
Full StoryMaronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has told the ambassadors of the member states of the five-nation group for Lebanon, as he met them Monday in Bkerki, that the call for dialogue to elect a president surprises him.
"The Constitution is the highest law, so why are we trespassing it?" Bkerki's spokesperson Walid Ghayad said.
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Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday warned that if the caretaker government “appoints 234 customs agents not including a single Christian,” it would be “insisting on excluding Christians from the state.”
Full StoryAs UNIFIL marked the 46th anniversary of its establishment today, Tuesday, its leadership renewed calls for all actors to "put down their weapons, recommit to Security Council Resolution 1701, and work toward a political and diplomatic solution," a statement said.
“Resolution 1701 has been challenged by current events, but it remains as relevant and necessary as ever,” said Head of Mission and Force Commander Aroldo Lázaro. "We call on all parties to commit to implementing the resolution in full. Our more than 10,000 peacekeepers continue their critical monitoring, de-escalation, and liaison work, and we stand ready to support a peaceful resolution to the current situation," he added.
Full StoryIsraeli warplanes struck Tuesday a house in the southern border town of al-Odaisseh, as the war enters its sixth month.
Border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have de-escalated in the past few days during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan while International mediators pushed for a truce in Gaza. It is still not clear whether a Gaza ceasefire would apply to Lebanon.
Full StoryIsraeli warplanes struck Monday a house in the border town of Mays al-Jabal and a building in al-Odaisseh.
Border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have de-escalated in the past few days as Gaza truce talks gained steam.
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Lebanon’s General Security directorate on Monday briefly detained outspoken political activist Makram Rabah following interrogation over an interview in which he attacked Hezbollah and talked about alleged Hezbollah arms storage and manufacturing sites.
Full StoryQatari Ambassador to Lebanon Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has invited former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil to visit Qatar to discuss the presidential file with top officials there, Nidaa al-Watan newspaper said.
The daily reported Monday that Al-Thani will visit other political leaders soon to invite them to talks in Doha.
Full StoryThe ambassadors of the member states of the five-nation group for Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, met Monday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
"The meeting was very good," Berri said, adding that there will be other meetings. "There is an agreement that an understanding must be reached and a president must be elected."
Full StoryFree Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has pleaded to Lebanon’s political parties and religious leaders, mentioning them by name one by one.
“I urge Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan and the leaders of the Sunni community, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with his leadership, Speaker Nabih Berri with his wisdom, former Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat and his son Taymour with their understanding of Mt. Lebanon, and all Lebanese leaders not to let go of balanced and equal partnership,” Bassil said in a speech at the FPM’s annual convention.
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