جعجع المتقلب! وجيشه الإلكتروني من الشتامين
د.توفيق هندي/فايسبوك/02 تشرين الثاني/2019

طرح الدكتور جعجع بخصوص المطالبة ب”حكومة غير شكل” وإنتقاده الحكومات السابقة يشكل إستخفاف بعقول الناس.

فهو يتغاضى عن موازين القوى وعن أن حزب الله لا يزال ممسك بالسلطة في لبنان وأن الآليات الدستورية لا يمكنها إلا أن تنتج حكومة تمثل إرادة الغالبية البرلمانية، علما” أن هذه الغالبية لن تتخلى عن تسلطها على السلطة وأن الشارع يفتقد إلى قيادة، وليس بإمكانه أن يفرز قيادة حكيمة بوقت ضيق فيما الأحداث تحتم السرعة، قيادة يمكنها أن تكسر ميزان القوى أو أقله تعدل به بقدر معقول، في ظل وضع دولي وإقليمي عاجز وغير راغب بدعم الإنتفاضة الشعبية.

وأتساءل لماذا طرح جعجع نفسه عراب التسوية-الصفقة ولماذا شارك في هذه الحكومة والتي سبقتها وأكد أن ما فعله كان عين الصواب وهاجم من رفضها؟؟!!

فهو أساء التقدير سابقا”. لذا عليه أن يعترف بهذا الخطء الجسيم ويعتذر من الشعب اللبناني عن فعلته التي ساهمت بوصول الوضع إلى ما وصل إليه ويعتزل السياسة لأنه ليس أهلا” لها.

برسم الشتامين
يظهر أن جعجع حرك جيشه الإلكتروني. فأتت غالبية الردود تعبر عن تدني مستوى كاتبيها وتدلل على ثقافة الشتيمة وفقدان المعرفة وتأليه القائد الملهم الذي لا يخطأ وغددية التصرفات والردود.

التسوية-الصفقة هي مع حزب الله بالمضمون وتدور حول ترئيس عون بالشكل. هدفها الرئاسة حتى لو عن طريق إيران وحزب الله ومن خلال وضع رجل في البورة ورجل في الفلاحة.

موقفي هو موقف سياسي-وطني-سيادي بإمتياز، موقف من مواقف جعجع وليس من شخصه، وليست مواقف تنبع من مشكلة شخصية معه، بالرغم من الإساءات لي ولعدد كبير من الرفاق المناضلين.

وللذين يتساءلون أو يتجاهلون عمدا” مواقفي تجاه حزب الله والطبقة السياسية الحاكمة والفاسدة ومواقفي السيادية، فليلقوا نظرة على مواقفي المستدامة على صفحتي فيسبوك وعلى إطلالاتي على الإعلام المرأي والمسموع. حبذا لو تكون الردود سياسية.

في مطلق الأحوال ، لا مكان على صفحتي هذه للشتيمة والتعرض الشخصي والإهانة التي لا تدلل إلا على فقدان الحجة المنطقية لأصحابها

The post د.توفيق هندي/جعجع المتقلب! وجيشه الإلكتروني من الشتامين appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

 نصرالله: مكانة ولاية الفقيه فوق دستور لبنان والعماد ميشال عون من احفاد علي بن ابي طالب”.

من أرشيف المركزية/13 آذار/2018

نقل موقع “فردا نيوز” الإيراني عن الأمين العام لـ”حزب الله” السيد حسن نصر الله قوله امام الإيرانيين المقيمين في لبنان خلال لقائه بهم “نحن لا نقاتل من اجل بشار الأسد، نحن نقاتل من اجل التشيع، ولولا “حزب الله” وإيران لسقطت سوريا”، مشدداً على “ان الشيعة اليوم في ذروة قوتهم في المنطقة”، ومعتبراً “ان رئيس الجمهورية العماد ميشال عون من احفاد علي بن ابي طالب”.

وحول اوضاع الشيعة في لبنان قبل نجاح الثورة الإيرانية، قال نصر الله “كان الشيعة في لبنان مضطهدين، وليس لهم من يدعمهم كباقي الطوائف التي كانت مدعومة من السعودية وروسيا وبريطانيا وفرنسا. كان امل الشيعة الوحيد في لبنان هو الإمام موسى الصدر، الذي جاء من مدينة قم الإيرانية، لكن علماء لبنان كانوا يقولون له: انت إيراني. والصدر هو من ايقظ الشيعة، حيث لم تكن لديهم ثقة بالنفس، لأن الحكم كان دائما بيد العثمانيين وابن تيمية والعباسيين، ولم يستطع الشيعة إظهار معتقدهم”.

وحول اصول مدينة طرابلس وتركيبتها المذهبية، قال نصر الله “الكثير من الشيعة تسننوا، ومدينة طرابلس قبل 100 عام كانت للشيعة، وسكانها من الشيعة، ومدينة صيدا كانت شيعية، والآن اصبحت سنّية”.

وحول اصول الرئيس عون، قال نصر الله “ميشال عون من احفاد علي بن ابي طالب، والكثير من الشيعة في جزين إما تسننوا او تنصروا، ومدينة جزين اصبحت مسيحية”.

وعن نشأة “حزب الله”، قال نصر الله “نحن ولدنا مع الثورة الإيرانية، لقد حصلنا على حياتنا ووجودنا من خلال الثورة، واهم تجربة لولاية الفقيه في الخارج كانت في لبنان، وإذا كنا الآن احياء ونعيش بعزة وكرامة، فذلك ليس بسبب السلاح والمال، بل بسبب اعتقادنا بولاية الفقيه”، لافتاً الى “ان اعتقاد “حزب الله” بولاية الفقيه يفوق اعتقاد الإيرانيين انفسهم”، مضيفاً “إيماننا بولاية الفقيه يختلف مع العديد من الإيرانيين، فمعتقدنا اقوى منهم، ونحن نؤمن ان طاعة ولاية الفقيه هي طاعة المعصوم”.

كما اعتبر “ان مكانة ولاية الفقيه فوق الدستور اللبناني، ونحن نؤمن بذلك، ونعتبر تنفيذ اوامر ولي الفقيه واجبا إجباريا”.

واعتبر الامين العام لـ”حزب الله” “ان الإيرانيين هم انصار الإمام المهدي الغائب، وظهور الإمام المهدي سيكون على يدهم، والثورة الإسلامية الإيرانية مهّدت الأرضية لظهور المهدي، وهذا لا مثيل له في التاريخ”.

وهاجم نصر الله الثورة الخضراء التي شهدتها إيران عام 2009، قائلا “وجود الشيعة في العالم، ومقامات ومزارات الشيعة، مرهونة بوجود الجمهورية الإسلامية والشعب الإيراني، وفي فتنة عام 2009 ذهبت إلى إيران، والتقيت قادة الثورة الخضراء، وقلت لهم ان جميع اعداء إيران سعداء، وجميع الشيعة في العالم منزعجون مما حدث”.

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يوم أعلن السيّد الحرب على الفقراء
رياض طوق/ليبانون ديبايت/السبت 02 تشرين الثاني 2019

أوصى المرشد الأعلى للثورة الاسلامية في إيران السيد علي خامنئي “الحريصين على العراق ولبنان أن يعالجوا أعمال الشغب وانعدام الأمن الذي تسببه في بلادهم أميركا والكيان الصهيوني وبعض الدول الغربية وبعض الدول الغربية بأموال بعض الدول الرجعية”.
هذه التغريدة على تويتر للمرشد الأعلى كانت كفيلة بحسم موقع وموقف حزب لله من الانتفاضة الشعبية في لبنان. فحسابات حقل المطالب الشعبية لا تتطابق مع حسابات بيدر حزب الله. فهذا الحزب العابر للحدود الذي لطالما قال انه يقف الى جانب الشعوب المظلومة في البحرين واليمن والعراق وسوريا وفلسطين ها هو يعلن وبكل وضوح وصراحة وقوفه في وجه لبنانيين مظلومين قرروا رفع الظلم المتمادي بحقّهم.
فهو أصرّ منذ 17 تشرين أن يشيطن الحراك، تارةً عبر وصفه بالمشبوه وطوراً عبر اتهامه بأنه نتاج سفارات وأيادٍ خفية تتآمر على الوطن. قمع الثورة في مناطق نفوذه وحاول خنق صوتها في صور والنبطية، والضاحية وبعلبك.
لم يقنع نصرالله جمهوره هذه المرّة، بل فرض عليه ما يناسب الحزب في هذه المرحلة. لم يقل لهم بأنه سيمنع انهيار الليرة، وبأنه سيحافظ على سعر الصرف. لم يتعهّد بانه سيوقف تدمير مرج بسري وبانه سيجد حلّاً للنفايات المكدّسة فوق صدورهم. لم يقطع أيدي مختلسي الاملاك البحرية ولم يتدخل لضبط التهرّب الجمركي في المطار والمرفأ والحدود البرية. لم يعدهم بأنهم لن يدفعوا بعد اليوم فاتورتين للماء والكهرباء. جلّ ما قاله ان هذه الثورة هي مشبوهة ويجب وأدها في مهدها.
حسناً، شهر سلاحه وأرسل سرايا المقاومة لتقتصّ من متظاهرين مسالمين لا يمتلكون من حطام هذه الدنيا سوى هواتف خلوية توثّق لحظات تاريخية من ثورة شعبية وطنية نابعة من عمق الطبقات الشعبية.
اليوم، عيّب على المتظاهرين الشتائم والعبارات التي يتلفظون بها ولكنه لم يعر أي اهتمام لمشهد ضرب النساء في ساحتي رياض الصلح والشهداء. لم يتلفّظ ولا حتى بعبارة شجب أو استنكار للاعتداء على شابات وشباب لبنانيين ينادون بإنقاذ وطنهم من الضياع. لقد ألقى محاضرة دامت عشر دقائق على الهواء، أدان فيها المتظاهرين وحمّل الاعلام مسؤولية ما يجري.
قد ينتصر حزب الله في قمع الثورة في مناطق نفوذه، وقد يحاول في لبنان كلّه نظراً الى سيطرته على كل مفاصل الدولة، لكنه خسر اجتماعياً ووطنياً. فهو سيجد من يطيعه من باب الترهيب او الترغيب ولكنه لن يجد من سيقتنع بحربه على هذه الثورة.
هذه ثورة الجياع لا تضمّ جيفري فيلتمان ولا سفارة سعودية تغدق مكارمها عليها ولا تطبّق قرارات صادرة عن مجلس الأمن. لا بل لا توجد مجموعة في كل هذا التيار الجارف تضمّ أكثر من عشرين شخصاً، ولذلك لم تجد السلطة من تتفاوض معه ولن تجد.
فهل السلطة مستعدة لمفاوضة سائق سيارة الأجرة والطالب الجامعي وأستاذ المدرسة والجندي المتقاعد والمزارع الذي كسد موسمه؟ فكلّ من حاول التفاوض باسم الفقراء والمساكين سقط في الشارع، وسيسقط كل من يحذو حذوه.
السيّد يريد اسكات الفقراء الذين لا يمتلكون الا الشتيمة للتعبير عن غضبهم ونقمتهم، فهؤلاء يريدون تأمين مأكلهم ومشربهم. ولا يستسيغون الكلام الخشبي ولا يعنيهم التكرار المملّ لشعارات فارغة. حتى ان المعركة مع حزب الله لم يكن لها الصدارة في انتفاضتهم.
فهؤلاء الذين انفجروا يوم 17 تشرين الأول في لحظة غضب جماعي لم يكن في بالهم لا حزب الله ولا سلاحه ولا سراياه ولا آلاف الصواريخ ولا منظومته الأمنية. فهم رافضون للإذلال المزمن الذي يتعرضون له من قبل سلطة سياسية فاسدة متحالفة مع برجوازية رأسمالية جشعة لا تشبع. في 17 تشرين لم يكن في بال أحد على امتداد الجغرافيا اللبنانية ثلاثية جيش وشعب ومقاومة، أو شبكة اتصالات المقاومة. في 17 تشرين لم يكن أحد يتذكر أن قرار الحرب والسلم في يد حزب الله حتّى انهم قد تناسوا بأنه على هذه الأرض هناك ما يسمّى بمحور الممناعة.
لا ينكر أحد أن حزب الله هو الأقوى، فهو ليس بحاجة لإقناعنا بذلك، ولم يكن على السيد تكرار ذلك في تهديد مبطن. وهذا يبدو عرضاً مفرطاً للعضلات وغير مقنع. فقد صرح بأنه في لحظة الانهيار المالي للدولة فان المقاومة ستدفع الرواتب، ولكنه تمنّع عن ذكر ان الأزمة الاقتصادية التي تعصف بلبنان ستطال بيئته واللبنانيين أيضاً.
فحصار الأسرة الدولية للمصارف وللدولة اللبنانية التي تبدو في عزلة شديدة أحد أهمّ أسبابه هو حزب الله نفسه، كما ان الجمهورية الاسلامية الايرانية الراعية له والداعم الأساسي لسياسته وآلته الحربية تتخبّط في أزمات مالية حادّة.
وحتى ولو دفعت المقاومة رواتبها، ماذا سيفعل نصرالله بعشرات الآلاف من الطائفة الشيعية الذين يتقاضون رواتبهم من الدولة اللبنانية؟ ماذا سيفعل بمناصري الرئيس نبيه بري الموزعين على مختلف الوظائف والمواقع؟ هل ستدفع المقاومة رواتبهم أيضاً؟
والتلويح بالانهيار النقدي يطال الجيش حتماً سيقضي على جهوزيته وقدراته القتالية، وكما يبدو من القراءة بين السطور، فإن الجيش بات هدفاً واضحاً للسلطة السياسية، ليس لسبب الا لرفضه الانصياع لرغباتها بفضّ الحراك الشعبي بالقوة من جهة، ومن جهة أخرى بسبب هتافات الجماهير المؤيدة له بصفته المؤسسة الدولتية الوحيدة التي لم تنغمس في فساد المنظومة ولم تنخرط في لعبة السلطة في مواجهة مواطنيها لا سيما الفقراء منهم.
يوم أمس، قال أمين عام حزب الله ما لم يقله رئيس الجمهورية في كلمته التي توجه فيها إلى اللبنانيين بمناسبة مرور ثلاث سنوات على اعتلائه سدة الرئاسة. اذ قدّم ما يشبه جردة حساب لعهده من دون التطرق الى الأزمة الحالية او كيفية معالجتها. وبدا وكأن هذه المهمة يتولاها السيد نصرالله وكانه الناطق باسم السلطة والمقرّر عنها منفرداً.
فالمكاسب التي حققها نصرالله في السنوات الماضية والتي أتت برئيس للجمهورية يمارس السياسة دون تخطي السقف الذي يرسمه الحزب مروراً بإنتاج قانون انتخابي حقق اكثرية برلمانية تدور في فلكه وصولاً الى حكومة يضبط ايقاعها وزراء الحزب على طاولة مجلس الوزراء جعلته اكثر تمسكاً بالتسوية القائمة واكثر حرصاً على هذه المكاسب ولا يريد أن يفقد احدها.
وإذا كانت الثورة قد تمكنت من اسقاط الحكومة، فهذا لا يعني بالنسبة للحزب بأنه عاجز عن انتاج حكومة شبيهة بها. وهذا ما قاله السيد نصرالله عندما شدد على ضرورة تشكيل حكومة سيادية، أي سياسية تلتزم خيارات حزب الله في علاقات لبنان بالمجتمع الدولي.
وهنا يجب التذكير بأن المتظاهرين قد لا يهتمون بالسياسة الخارجية للحكومة المنوي تشكيلها بقدر ما تهمهم اسماء المستوزرين الجدد وتاريخهم السياسي والاخلاقي وكفاءاتهم واستقلاليتهم والمسافات التي تفصلهم عن الاحزاب الحاكمة.
فالسيادية قد تعني توزير أقطاب من الأحزاب السياسية الحليفة للحزب. وهذا ينذر بعودة الوجوه المستفزة للثورة. فالحزب الذي سيتشارك مع قوى السلطة الدائرة في فلكه والمنفذة لسياساته لن يرضى بكسر أجنحته.
في المحصّلة، يبدو ان الحزب قد عقد العزم على المضي قدماً بحكومة مواجهة للثورة ونكون بذلك قد دخلنا في الجولة الثانية من التظاهرات والاحتجاجات والاعتصامات وقطع الطرقات لأن الثوار الذين أجبروا الحكومة على الاستقالة لن يساوموا على نضالهم وتعبهم ولن يقبلوا بسرقة إنجازاتهم وبإعادة عقارب الساعة إلى ما قبل 17 تشرين الأول مع تغيير ببعض الديكورات.
فالإنهيار الإقتصادي لا يتحمّله شعب 17 تشرين وإنما مماطلة الطبقة السياسية وعناد راعيها في تأبيد الوضع القائم.

The post رياض طوق/يوم أعلن السيّد الحرب على الفقراء appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

With Lebanon making fragile progress, now is the wrong time to pull US assistance
جيفري فيلتمن ينتقد الإدارة الأميركية لتجميدها مساعدة للبنان بقيمة 105 مليون دولار في ظل وضع لبنان الحالي العش
Jeffrey Feltman/brookings.edu/November 02/2019

Lebanon’s protesters show that the once-unthinkable may now be plausible. The proxies of Iran and Syria in Lebanon, after years of solidarity, show tentative signs of diverging. With even Shia protesters on the street, and with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s calls to disperse unheeded, Hezbollah’s façade of invincibility is showing cracks.

The Lebanese army and security forces have responded with admirable courage, restraint, and independence in defying calls by Hezbollah leaders and private pleas from the presidential palace to clear the streets. In contrast with unprecedented and overt criticism of Hezbollah, public support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is soaring.

These trends, while nascent and fragile, are promising and very much in U.S. interests. Yet rather than reinforcing them, the White House, in an astonishingly ill-timed decision, suspended $105 million in U.S. security assistance to the very institutions that have defied Hezbollah’s demands to end the protests. The Trump administration’s move gives both Damascus and Tehran the gift of a unifying message to the Lebanese about America’s unreliability as a partner.

It also undercuts the argument that the LAF — with improving capabilities thanks primarily to U.S. support — provides better and more professional security for Lebanon than Hezbollah’s rockets, which only create dangers rather than provide genuine protection. (Those who argue that the LAF is mere cover for, or an enabler of, Hezbollah underestimate the increasing annoyance of LAF officers, who know how much the LAF’s capacities have grown thanks to the United States, with Hezbollah’s arrogance and constant belittling of the army. LAF pride and capabilities, both linked to years of sustained U.S. support, endanger Hezbollah’s “resistance” narrative.)

These trends, while nascent and fragile, are promising and very much in U.S. interests. Yet rather than reinforcing them, the White House [issued] an astonishingly ill-timed decision.

For years, Iranian and Syrian interests and tactics in Lebanon have largely coincided: They seek to discredit and divide the so-called “March 14” movement that emerged against Damascus and Tehran in the aftermath of the murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005; “resist” U.S. and French efforts to bolster’s Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence; and use Lebanon to threaten Israel.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has expanded its influence in, and in some cases control over, Lebanon’s domestic institutions via its 2006 memorandum of understanding with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), a Christian party. The FPM gave Hezbollah, an Iranian-supported Shia terrorist group, the veneer of national, cross-sectarian political legitimacy it previously lacked.

Hezbollah returned the favor by backing FPM founder Michel Aoun for president three years ago. Since 2006, Aoun and his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassile, have been reliable fronts for Hezbollah’s and thus Iran’s interests in Lebanon. Until recently, Aoun and Bassile probably saw no contradiction between their alliance with Hezbollah/Iran and Damascus’ interests in Lebanon.

The current demonstrations have the potential to shake the foundations of both the Iranian-Syrian solidarity in Lebanon and the Hezbollah-FPM relationship. Nasrallah has used speeches filled with innuendos and thugs on motorcycles in what so far have been unsuccessful attempts to undercut the demonstrations and prevent the Saad Hariri government from resigning.

By contrast, some of Syria’s traditional allies in Lebanon, including Bashar al-Assad’s childhood friend Sleiman Franjieh, have remained conspicuously silent or even sent relatives to join the demonstrations. The notorious former security chief Jamil as-Sayyid, one of the enforcers of Syria’s pre-2005 control over Lebanon, has issued statements sympathizing with the anti-corruption and/or anti-establishment demands of the protesters.

Moreover, Lebanese political activists detected significance in the absence of a bilateral meeting between Aoun or Bassile and the Syrian delegation on the margins of this year’s U.N. General Assembly. In another reported example of how Aoun and Bassile are thought to be viewed in Damascus, no high-level Syrian official attended Aoun’s U.N. General Assembly address. The value of Hezbollah’s FPM-provided Christian veneer has declined precipitously, with Bassile now a favorite target of the protesters as a symbol of everything that ails Lebanon.

Iran and Syria may be starting to eye each other with suspicion in Lebanon; it would not be the first time that regional actors used Lebanon as the theater for their competition. Two Lebanese politicians speculated about a connection to what is happening in the Alawite regions of Syria, where Bashar al-Assad may view Iranian influence and Shia proselytizing as a threat to his secular, Alawite base. Assad, who would have considered Hezbollah a junior partner during the pre-2005 Syrian occupation of Lebanon, may also resent the current strength and presence of Hezbollah in Syria: Who’s the junior partner now? How much control can Assad exert over Hezbollah inside Syria? Given that Assad still needs Iran’s and Hezbollah’s help in Syria, he can, according to this theory, use Lebanon to send a message.

One can imagine that, if Michel Aoun’s ill health led to a presidential vacancy now, any Syrian-Iranian divergence would surface more visibly, with Hezbollah (and Iran) backing Bassile and Damascus wanting to restore its primacy in Lebanon via someone like Franjieh. The presumed candidacy of Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun, with his enhanced credibility for independence, would be more aligned with the sentiments of the street. But the Lebanese president is elected by parliament, not the people. While the current Lebanese parliament reflects the very establishment that the protesters wish to topple, one hopes that the members of parliament will think about protesters’ views if they are put in a position as to whether to choose between Damascus, Tehran, or their own Lebanese constituents.

As inspiring as the current demonstrations are, it is hard to be optimistic when no leaders with broad cross-sectarian credibility are emerging to constructively channel the energy of the streets. The worrying economic and financial situation adds additional strains. Still, the potential for positive change exists in a way that a few weeks ago was unimaginable. We should not want to make it easier for the pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian forces to overcome any differences and prevail in the end over the protesters.

There’s an argument for the United States maintaining a low profile, to undercut Nasrallah’s predictable arguments about a U.S. conspiracy, and a guiding principle should always be “do no harm” when trends emerge that are clearly in U.S. interests. Instead, the White House suspension of security assistance at this of all times, gives Damascus’ and Tehran’s Lebanese allies a message around which to re-unite: that the United States is an unreliable partner and that the LAF will not get needed assistance, meaning Hezbollah’s arsenal remains essential to Lebanon’s security. American officials who are seeking to promote U.S. interests in Lebanon face a strange set of bedfellows — Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and apparently the White House — and face the difficult task of pushing back against all four.

*Jeffrey Feltman/John C. Whitehead Visiting Fellow in International Diplomacy – Foreign Policy
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/11/01/with-lebanon-making-fragile-progress-now-is-the-wrong-time-to-pull-u-s-assistance/

The post جيفري فيلتمن ينتقد الإدارة الأميركية لتجميدها مساعدة للبنان بقيمة 105 مليون دولار في ظل وضع لبنان الحالي العش/Jeffrey Feltman: With Lebanon making fragile progress, now is the wrong time to pull US assistance appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نحزن على حال عون وعلى حال الباقين معه من أهلنا الصنميين
الياس بجاني/01 تشرين الثاني/2019

محزن الحال الكياني والسيادي والاستقلالي والتبعي والغرائزي والملالوي الذي انحدر إليه ميشال عون.

لقد خيب عون آمال كل من رأى فيه مخلصاً وطنياً وصدقه ونحن منهم بعد أن انتقل على خلفية أجندات سلطوية وشخصية إلى قاطع أخر غير لبناني وغير كياني وأخذ معه كثر من أهلنا.

انجيلياً، لقد وقع عون في التجارب التي نذكرها في صلاتنا الربانية (الأبانا)، وهو للأسف لا يزال هناك دون وعي وإدراك وتوبة وكفارات.

نحزن على حاله السيادي، وعلى حال كل أهلنا الباقين معه من الصنميين والأتباع الذين أضاعوا بوصلة كل ما هو وطن وقضية وبصر وبصيرة ورؤية وقرار حر واستبدلوهم بعبادة شخص وتأليهه.

أن رفضنا ومعارضتنا وانتقاداتنا للتحولات الدراميتيكية التي قام بها عون عام 2006 يوم وقع ورقة التفاهم مع حسن نصرالله، وعدم قبولنا بها ورفضنا العلني لانقلابه على كل ما كان يرفعه ويسوّق له من قضايا وملفات كيانية واستقلالية وحريات وسيادة .

هذا كله لا يعني بأي شكل من الأشكال بأننا نرى في أي سياسي أو صاحب شركة حزب ماروني آخر بديلاً سيادياً للرجل من أمثال سمير جعجع وسامي وأمين الجميل وغيرهم لا من قريب ولا من بعيد.

فهؤلاء وطنياً وسيادياً ومقاومة وممارسات ومفاهيم ديموقراطية وإيمان بحريات هم فاشلين وفشلهم وخيباتهم ونرسيسيتهم أصلاً كانوا وراء ظهور ميشال عون على الساحة السياسية والمارونية تحديداً…وهم لا يزالون على حالهم التعيس وطنياً وسيادياً.

والحقيقة أن صعود عون ومن ثم باسيل مارونيا بعد العام 2006 رغم توقيع ورقة تفاهم مار مخايل، وما قبل ذلك أيضاً، كان ولا يزال سببه انعدام وجود بدائل وطنية وسيادية وكيانية وبشيرية لهما .. ولا يزال الوضع الماروني التعتير هذا على حاله.

في الخلاصة نحن الموارنة نمر حالياً بحالة من الخواء والجهل والنرسيسية والصنمية والدكتاتورية على المستويين القيادي الزمني والديني .

إلا أن رجائنا بظهور قيادات مارونية صادقة ومؤمنة وتخاف الله ويوم حسابه الأخير هو رجاء قوي جداً لأننا أهل رجاء..وهذه القيادات التي نريدها وننتظرها هي آتية بإذنه تعالى.

*الكاتب ناشط لبناني اغترابي
عنوان الكاتب الالكتروني
Phoenicia@hotmail.com
رابط موقع الكاتب الالكتروني على الإنترنت
http://www.eliasbejjaninew.com

The post الياس بجاني/نحزن على حال عون وعلى حال الباقين معه من أهلنا الصنميين appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Thabet Thabet Is a Canadian Lebanese Patriot Held Hostage In Occupied Lebanon
الحرية للمخطوف في لبنان الكندي اللبناني تابت تابت
Elias Bejjani/November 02/2019

Mr. Tahbet Thabet is a Canadian – Lebanese citizen and a freedom peaceful advocate and activist.

Mr. Thabet was arbitrarily and unlawfully was arrested at the Lebanese Beirut airport few days ago while he was trying to enter Lebanon in a bid to visit his parents.

Up till today no one know where he is held, or why he was arrested and according to what charges. Based on its oppressive record the Lebanese authorities might fabricate a case of treason against him, as they do with many of the Lebanese Diaspora freedom advocates and activists.

We learned from unconfirmed resources that the Lebanese military authorities are not allowing him to see a lawyer or even meet with any visitor.

We call on the Canadian government and the Canadian embassy in Lebanon to follow up on Mr. Thabet’s case who is actually a hostage, no more no less.

We strongly believe that the Canadian Government, and the Canadian embassy in Lebanon both by law carry a legal and ethical obligation to ensure by all means that Mr. Thabet is not tortured and that he is set free and returned safely to Canada to be with his family.

Yes, Mr. Thabet has been very active on all the social media facilities in advocating for a free and independent Lebanon, and at the same criticizing and opposing the puppet subservient Lebanese authorises and officials. But he did not break any Canadian law and simply he was practising his own holy right in voicing his free and patriotic opinion in a very peaceful mean.

Meanwhile, we call on each and every free and patriotic Lebanese in the Iranian occupied Lebanon, as well in all Diaspora countries to consider Thabet’s case as their own. Yes as their own because each  free and patriotic Diaspora Lebanese might confront the same hostage fate and be taken hostage when ever he or she decides to visit their home land at any time.

Once again Mr. Thabet is a genuine patriot and an active advocate for a free Lebanon.

It is worth mentioning that Mr. Thabet and before his immigrating to Canada has served in the Lebanese army as a Lebanese soldier.

We, call also on all the human rights’ organization, in Lebanon and world-wide to adopt Mr. Thabet’s case and work on freeing him as soon as possible.

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com & media.lccc@gmail.com
Web Sites http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com & http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/phoeniciaelias
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يا شعب الثورة ضد الفساد أين أنتم من وفائكم لمناضليكم؟
جورج خضرا/02 تشرين الثاني/2019
إن العسكري المتقاعد، والمناضل الإجتماعي الذي كان يدافع بشراسة عن حقوق العسكريين والمدنيين على حد سواء، ويفضح حقائق الفساد ويساعد وينبّه الشعب اللبناني بنشره فديوهات الحقيقة، ثار وناضل للحق وبالحقيقة، وعندما انتفض الشعب أبى أن يبقى بعيداً عنه، قرر أن يناضل معهم على الارض، كيف لا وهو العسكري الذي قضى حياته على الجبهات مضحياً بعمره لخدمة وطنه وارضه ومواطنيه. ترك كندا وتوجّه الى مطار بيروت، حيث وللفور اقتيد للإعتقال دون توجيه رسمياً أي تهمة إليه ودون محاكمته، ومنذ ذاك اليوم اختفى واختفت أخباره هل أصبح مطار بيروت مصيدة لأبناء الوطن العائدين؟
أين أختفى تابت تابت؟
وبعد أيام بدأنا نسمع أقاويل وتبريرات بأنه أُعتقل ومن ثم فبركوا له وكما عادتهم لكمّ أفواه الأحرار- فبركوا له تهمة انه متعامل مع العدو
يا شعب لبنان ويا شعب الثورة: العسكري المتقاعد ترك كندا وركض ليكون معكم، اعتقلوه على المطار، وما من احد سأل أو يسأل عنه؟ اما تتظاهرون تحت راية لبنان ينتفض ضد عهد الفساد وعهد القمع ؟
المواطن تابت تابت هو معتقل سياسي بامتياز فقط لأنه أزعجهم بقوله للحقائق والحق .
كلنا_تابت تابت
الحرية لتابت تابت
كلنا معنيّين وكلنا سنرفع قضيته على صفحاتنا، من حق أهله وناسه وشعبه ان يعرفوا أين هو ولماذا اصطادوه من على مطار بيروت الدولي ؟؟؟!!!!
إرفعوا قضيته على صفحاتكم وغروباتكم .
ضد_القمع
لبنان_ينتفض

The post Elias Bejjani: Thabet Thabet Is Canadian Lebanese Patriot Held Hostage In Occupied Lebanon/الحرية للمخطوف في لبنان الكندي اللبناني تابت تابت appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

أَمَّا الفُجُورُ وكُلُّ نَجَاسَة، أَوِ الجَشَع، فلا يُذْكَرْ حتَّى ٱسْمُهَا بَيْنَكُم، كَمَا يَلِيقُ بِالقِدِّيسِين؛ ولا البَذَاءَةُ ولا الكلامُ السَّفِيه، أَوِ السُّخْرِيَّة، كُلُّ هذِهِ لا تَلِيق، بَلْ بِالأَحْرَى الشُّكْرَان
رسالة القدّيس بولس إلى أهل أفسس05/من01حتى07/:”يا إِخْوَتي، كُونُوا مُقْتَدِينَ بِٱللهِ كأَوْلادٍ أَحِبَّاء. وَٱسْلُكُوا في المَحَبَّةِ كَمَا المَسِيحُ أَيْضًا أَحَبَّنَا، فَبَذَلَ نَفسَهُ عَنَّا قُربَانًا وذَبيحَةً لله، طيِبًا ذَكِيَّ الرَائِحَة. أَمَّا الفُجُورُ وكُلُّ نَجَاسَة، أَوِ الجَشَع، فلا يُذْكَرْ حتَّى ٱسْمُهَا بَيْنَكُم، كَمَا يَلِيقُ بِالقِدِّيسِين؛ ولا البَذَاءَةُ ولا الكلامُ السَّفِيه، أَوِ السُّخْرِيَّة، كُلُّ هذِهِ لا تَلِيق، بَلْ بِالأَحْرَى الشُّكْرَان. إِعْلَمُوا هذَا جَيِّدًا: إِنَّ كُلَّ زَانٍ، أَو نَجِس، أَو جَشِعٍ عَابِدِ أَوثَان، لا مِيرَاثَ لَهُ في مَلَكُوتِ المَسِيحِ والله. لا يَخْدَعَنَّكُم أَحَدٌ بِكلامٍ بَاطِل، فبِهذَا يَنْصَبُّ غَضَبُ اللهِ على أَبْنَاءِ العُصْيَان. فلا تَكُونُوا لَهُم شُرَكَاء.”

But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving
Letter to the Ephesians 05/01-07:”Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them.”

قال آشَعْيَا النَّبِيّ: «يَا رَبُّ، مَنْ آمَنَ بِمَا سَمِعَ مِنَّا؟ ولِمَنْ أُعْلِنَتْ ذِرَاعُ الرَّبّ
إنجيل القدّيس يوحنّا12/من37حتى43/:”صَنَعَ يَسُوعُ أَمَامَ اليَهُودِ تِلْكَ الآيَاتِ كُلَّهَا، فَمَا كَانُوا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ، لِتَتِمَّ الكَلِمَةُ الَّتِي قَالَهَا آشَعْيَا النَّبِيّ: «يَا رَبُّ، مَنْ آمَنَ بِمَا سَمِعَ مِنَّا؟ ولِمَنْ أُعْلِنَتْ ذِرَاعُ الرَّبّ؟». لِهذَا لَمْ يَقْدِرُوا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا لأَنَّ آشَعْيَا قَالَ أَيْضًا: «لَقَدْ أَعْمَى عُيُونَهُم، وقَسَّى قُلُوبَهُم، لِئَلاَّ يَرَوا بِعُيُونِهِم، ويَفْهَمُوا بِقُلُوبِهِم، ويَتُوبُوا فَأَشْفِيَهُم». قَالَ آشَعْيَا هذَا، لأَنَّهُ رَأَى مَجْدَ يَسُوعَ وتَحَدَّثَ عَنْهُ. غَيرَ أَنَّ كَثيرينَ مِنَ الرُّؤَسَاءِ أَنْفُسِهِم آمَنُوا بِهِ، ولكِنَّهُم بِسَبَبِ الفَرِّيسِيِّينَ لَمْ يَجْهَرُوا بِإِيْمَانِهِم، لِئَلاَّ يُفْصَلُوا عَنِ المَجْمَع. فَقَدْ فَضَّلُوا مَجْدَ النَّاسِ عَلى مَجْدِ الله”.

Isaiah: ‘Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12/37-43:”Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. This was to fulfil the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him. Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.”

The post أَمَّا الفُجُورُ وكُلُّ نَجَاسَة، أَوِ الجَشَع، فلا يُذْكَرْ حتَّى ٱسْمُهَا بَيْنَكُم، كَمَا يَلِيقُ بِالقِدِّيسِين؛ ولا البَذَاءَةُ ولا الكلامُ السَّفِيه، أَوِ السُّخْرِيَّة، كُلُّ هذِهِ لا تَلِيق، بَلْ بِالأَحْرَى الشُّكْرَان/But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For November 03/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for November 03/2019

The post Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For November 03/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For November 02-03/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 17th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
November 02-03/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 02-03/2019

Western Powers Call for Speedy Formation of Lebanese Govt. of Technocrats
Lebanon’s Banks See No ‘Extraordinary Movement’ of Money on Reopening
Lebanon: Protesters Pressure Political Parties to Speed up Cabinet Formation
Report: PM Could Be Named Tuesday, Stakes High for 14-Member Cabinet
Sfeir Says Banks See No Unusual Movement of Funds after Protests
Fitch: Changing Lebanon’s Dollar Peg Would Be Painful, But Benefits
Police Arrest Man for Making Threats to Bomb Bank
Protesters Rally near Baabda Palace, Several Hurt in Sidon Scuffle
Lebanon president seeks to solve ‘complications’ before new PM consultations
President Michel Aoun has not yet set a date to hold a formal consultations to Name A New PM

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 02-03/2019
Thabet Thabet Is Canadian Lebanese Patriot Held Hostage In Occupied Lebanon
الحرية للمخطوف في لبنان الكندي اللبناني تابت تابت
Elias Bejjani/November 02/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/80128/elias-bejjani-thabet-thabet-is-canadian-lebanese-patriot-held-hostage-in-occupied-lebanon/
Mr. Tahbet Thabet is a Canadian – Lebanese citizen and a freedom peaceful advocate and activist.
Mr. Thabet was arbitrarily and unlawfully was arrested at the Lebanese Beirut airport few days ago while he was trying to enter Lebanon in a bid to visit his parents.
Up till today no one know where he is held, or why he was arrested and according to what charges. Based on its oppressive record the Lebanese authorities might fabricate a case of treason against him, as they do with many of the Lebanese Diaspora freedom advocates and activists.
We learned from unconfirmed resources that the Lebanese military authorities are not allowing him to see a lawyer or even meet with any visitor.
We call on the Canadian government and the Canadian embassy in Lebanon to follow up on Mr. Thabet’s case who is actually a hostage, no more no less.
We strongly believe that the Canadian Government, and the Canadian embassy in Lebanon both by law carry a legal and ethical obligation to ensure by all means that Mr. Thabet is not tortured and that he is set free and returned safely to Canada to be with his family.
Yes, Mr. Thabet has been very active on all the social media facilities in advocating for a free and independent Lebanon, and at the same criticizing and opposing the puppet subservient Lebanese authorises and officials. But he did not break any Canadian law and simply he was practising his own holy right in voicing his free and patriotic opinion in a very peaceful mean.
Meanwhile, we call on each and every free and patriotic Lebanese in the Iranian occupied Lebanon, as well in all Diaspora countries to consider Thabet’s case as their own. Yes as their own because each free and patriotic Diaspora Lebanese might confront the same hostage fate and be taken hostage when ever he or she decides to visit their home land at any time.
Once again Mr. Thabet is a genuine patriot and an active advocate for a free Lebanon.
It is worth mentioning that Mr. Thabet and before his immigrating to Canada has served in the Lebanese army as a Lebanese soldier.
We, call also on all the human rights’ organization, in Lebanon and world-wide to adopt Mr. Thabet’s case and work on freeing him as soon as possible.

While waiting for the next crisis or next war, is regretting being born in Lebanon.
Roger Bejjani/Face Book/November 02/2019
47 days after I turned 18, the war started in Lebanon between on the one hand the paramilitary Lebanese groups predominantly Christian and on the other hand the PLO/other paramilitary groups predominantly Muslim. The latter insisted on burning Lebanon for the service of the Palestinian and pan-Arab cause.
44 years later, and after going through all sorts of hell during those 44 years, we are @ the mercy of a terrorist organization that names Presidents, PMs, defines the foreign policy through few stooges and represents a permanent clear and present danger that threatens the livelihood of what’s left of this conglomerate of retarded and retrograded sects.
Not a single day of normal life in this country that I learned to hate.
The same shallow people who considered the young men and women of 1975 as gangsters (ze3ran), did applaud the election of Bachir, avoid today talking about Hezbollah and have lived recently the illusion of having a “revolution” against “corruption”.
The insurmontable problem is that there is nothing that can be done. Nothing. I don’t know who’s more reliable: the demonstrators or the governors.
Even splitting the country in 2 is impossible. Not on sectarian base but rather between secular peaceful haven and a resistance black hell hole is practically not doable.
The only concrete thing that is left for me at age 62, while waiting for the next crisis or next war, is regretting being born in Lebanon.
Our only chance is either:
(a) a successful uprise of the Iranian people against the Mollahs. Difficult task with the revolutionary guard and the Bassijs.
(b) a war that would wipe out Iranian and/or Hezbollah capabilities.
Peaceful demonstrations are cute and lovely but will not lead to the Lebanon we want, even if corruption is wiped out and all proven guilty of such are jailed. The country will never witness growth and stability and a secular peaceful state will remain a dream with Hezbollah.

The demographic analysis of the October popular uprise
Roger Bejjani/Face Book/November 02/2019
The demographic analysis of the October popular uprise can be defined as follows:
1. A core group of communist hard liners, responsible of igniting the streets ( and responsible in killing 2 Syrian poor workers in their sleep the first night and destroying properties). Those do not represent even 1% of the total crowd.
2. Opportunistic party: Sab3a that tried to ride the wave. Probably another 1%.
3. Intellectuals (the best chunk of the protestors) with free minds and great ideas. Less than 1%.
4. Some uncommissioned parties’ members or parties’ sympathizers. Maybe 2%.
5. University students who want to finish with the sectarian corrupt anti- state building system (5%).
6. A certain bourgeoisie that firmly and truly believe that we need to change the way this country is governed (10%).
7. And 75% of the needy (genuinely) but quite ignorant people.
Whereas the non participating crowd were:
Amal, Hezbollah, PSP, PSNS, Aounist, Mustaqbal and most of the LF and Kataeb crowds (partisans and sympathizers).
The majority of Shi’a, Sunni, Druze and Christians did not participate in the protests.

Western Powers Call for Speedy Formation of Lebanese Govt. of Technocrats
Beirut – Khalil Fleihan/Saturday, 2 November, 2019
Major powers have displayed great interest in the popular protests that swept Lebanon since October 17 and which led to Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation on Tuesday. The foreign ministers of the United States, France, Germany and Italy have called on Lebanon to quickly form a new government of technocrats, free of any political or party representatives that were present in the resigned cabinet, said western ambassadors, according to a diplomatic source. President Michel Aoun and other political parties and movements have accepted this demand, the western diplomat told Asharq Al-Awsat. Despite Hariri’s resignation, the people took to the streets on Wednesday to demand Aoun to accept his resignation and criticize him for failing to call for binding parliamentary consultations required for naming the next prime minister. The ambassadors and protesters were not convinced by some justifications that were leaked by sources from the Baabda presidential palace to explain the delay. Consultations must normally kick off the day after a premier steps down. Baabda sources had said Aoun did not set the date for consultations because he was surprised by Hariri’s decision to quit and which he was not informed of. They also said that several heads of parliamentary blocs were traveling abroad. They also cited the numerous roads that were blocked by protesters and which hampered the travel of lawmakers, which forced the delay of the consultations. The ambassadors hoped that the process of political change would kick off in Lebanon without delay. The sources warned that the people should not be underestimated and that they would be ready to return to the streets in droves to press their demands, in spite of the rain and riot police that have recently prevented them from blocking roads.

Lebanon’s Banks See No ‘Extraordinary Movement’ of Money on Reopening
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 2 November, 2019
Lebanon’s banks did not see “any extraordinary movement” of money on Friday or Saturday, the first two days they reopened to the public after a two-week closure due to nationwide protests, the head of the banking association said on Saturday. “The reaction was almost the way we expected and anticipated. However, people were asking a lot of questions and we provided as much assurances as possible,” Salim Sfeir, head of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, told Reuters by email. Central bank Governor Riad Salameh said the reopening of banks “in general … did not cause any disturbance at any bank”. “This is important given the long period of shut down and the events our country went through,” he told Reuters in written comments.Analysts and bankers had cited widespread concern about a rush by depositors to withdraw their savings or transfer them abroad when the banks reopened. The nationwide protests that erupted on October 17  tipped Lebanon into political turmoil as it grapples with the worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. The uprisings led Saad Hariri to quit as prime minister this week. “We are trying to counter rumors and avoid panic in order to prevent any unnecessary and unjustified withdrawals,” Sfeir said. When banks opened their doors on Friday, no formal capital controls were imposed, but customers encountered new curbs on transfers abroad and withdrawals from US dollar accounts, bankers and customers said. “No formal capital controls are considered,” Salameh said on Saturday, adding that such a move would require a vote in parliament. “The banks are professionally handling [the situation] and the central bank is backing them,” he said. A banking source said branch operations so far had been “better than expected”.Amid rain, protest activity was low on Saturday, but there were calls on social media for gatherings later in the day.

Lebanon: Protesters Pressure Political Parties to Speed up Cabinet Formation
Beirut – Nazeer Rida/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 2 November, 2019
Sporadic protests and ongoing street tension across Lebanon have put additional pressure on political parties to initiate contacts aimed at forming a “salvation government” capable of listening to the people’s demands following the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that most parties were pushing for the formation of a smaller cabinet but have not yet agreed on the Sunni figure who will head it. The sources said all the parties agree that the next cabinet should be different from the one headed by Hariri, who resigned 13 days after mass protests gripped the country.
After clinching their first victory in bringing the government down, protesters are now asking for swift measures to form the new cabinet, resorting to road closures despite the Lebanese army’s repeated attempts to open major highways. Clashes with the army in Sidon left one person injured when protesters blocked the road near the southern city’s central bank branch. In Beirut, some protesters sat on the ground in Mar Elias street, while others stormed the headquarters of the Association of Banks in Lebanon in the city center to protest new banking policies. A group of protesters also organized a demonstration near the Presidential Palace in Baabda, giving political parties a two-week deadline to form a new government. The ongoing protests pushed several parties to announce their vision for the next cabinet. Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea called for a “salvation government,” formed of independents and experts. Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said that the new government should be formed as soon as possible and should listen to the demands of the people. In his televised speech, Nasrallah stressed that the cabinet should also work to regain the people’s confidence and be transparent.

Report: PM Could Be Named Tuesday, Stakes High for 14-Member Cabinet
Naharnet/November 02/2019
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri will likely be named to form a new government amid reports saying the size of the government could be reduced to 14 ministers from the original 30, al-Liwaa daily reported on Saturday. An unnamed source told the daily that the ongoing consultations between political parties have reportedly “agreed” to reassign Hariri to form a new government, and that the decree could be issued on “Tuesday.” They said that discussions weighed the possibility of lining-up a “14-member cabinet, half of them technocrats and half politicians.”The source expected the “designation journey to take time due to the current circumstances and pressures.”

Sfeir Says Banks See No Unusual Movement of Funds after Protests
Naharnet/November 02/2019
Chairman of the Association of Banks in Lebanon Salim Sfeir assured on Saturday that Lebanese banks have not seen “any unusual or extraordinary movements” of funds on Friday and Saturday after a two-week closure due to protests across the country, media reports said. Sfeir said the banks have reopened to the public and the reaction of people was almost “expected and anticipated.” He added that banks were keen on providing assurances to the people. Lebanon banks reopened for the first time in two weeks Friday as the country began to return to normal following mass demonstrations for radical political change. There has been widespread concern that the reopening of the banks will be accompanied by a mass withdrawal of deposits and transfer of funds abroad. In addition to fear of a devaluation of the Lebanese pound but the central bank said the currency was still pegged to the greenback at 1,507 pounds to the dollar.

Fitch: Changing Lebanon’s Dollar Peg Would Be Painful, But Benefits
Reuters/November 02/2019
Changing Lebanon’s currency peg to the dollar would be a painful move that would see the country’s pound weaken sharply though it could also reap long-term benefits, ratings agency Fitch’s Director, Sovereigns Toby Iles said. The 22-year-old currency peg has come under increasing scrutiny as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades amid widespread protests that toppled the coalition government of Saad al-Hariri. “If you were to change the peg, it amounts to a repricing of the Lebanese economy …and given the imbalances that one sees in Lebanon, such as the current account deficit, it would result in a much weaker currency,” Iles told Reuters. “The near-term costs of coming off the peg would be painful, even if an adjustment could bring long-term benefits.” A number of countries have unshackled currencies in recent years to allow economies to adjust to large current account deficits and other imbalances. The central bank has repeatedly ruled out a break in the peg which fixes the pound at 1,507.5 to the dollar. But with black market exchange rates indicating a discount of more than 20% in recent days, observers say a double-digit devaluation has become increasingly likely.
The possible imposition of capital controls as banks reopened on Friday following a two-week closure posed a “big question”, said Iles. “Even if it could help stem outflows in the near term, Lebanon needs inflows, and failure to get the inflows would mean a huge readjustment of the economy in a very short period of time, and a massive recession,” he said. “And how would that play into political dynamics?” The central bank promised not to introduce controls when banks re-opened. While no formal curbs were imposed, banks told customers they could not transfer funds abroad unless for specific reasons such as education, health or family support. Customers also faced limits on U.S. dollar account withdrawals. With 75% of deposits denominated in dollars, possible large withdrawals could hit FX reserves as banks face a big mismatch in FX liabilities, or short-term deposits, and FX assets, or dollars parked at the central bank which – apart from reserve requirements – had longer maturities, said Iles. “Would it allow banks to access their U.S. dollar deposits at the central bank ahead of maturity to make dollars available? If it did that, then any bank run on U.S. dollar deposits would feed through on lower FX reserves, and that would be kind of a self-reinforcing cycle.”

Police Arrest Man for Making Threats to Bomb Bank
Naharnet/November 02/2019
Police on Saturday arrested a man for making threats to bomb a bank in the southern city of Tyre. Early on Saturday, the security forces cordoned off MEAB bank at the Jumblat roundabout in the city after finding a paper with threats to bomb the bank, the National News Agency reported.
Security Forces ran investigations and were able to arrest the culprit. The suspect, Lebanese, admitted his motives were on “personal backgrounds.”

Protesters Rally near Baabda Palace, Several Hurt in Sidon Scuffle
Naharnet/November 02/2019
Around 30 protesters on Friday staged a symbolic rally near the presidential palace in Baabda, demanding “the speeding up of the (binding) parliamentary consultations” necessary to form a new government. “Consultations Now!” read the banners that they carried. In a statement recited at the sit-in, the protesters said the new government should comprise competent figures from outside the political class, warning that the cabinet formation process should not take more than two weeks. Another group of protesters meanwhile rallied outside al-Helou barracks in Corniche al-Mazraa to demand the release of an activist who was held in the morning in connection with the storming of the building of the Association of Banks in Lebanon in downtown Beirut. All others activists held over the move had been released earlier in the day. The protesters later left the area after being told that the activist will be released later in the day. They had blocked the road outside the barracks in both directions. In the southern city of Sidon, five protesters and two soldiers were meanwhile injured as the army intervened to reopen the blocked Elia roundabout, MTV said. Lebanon’s banks reopened for the first time in two weeks Friday as the country began to return to normal following mass demonstrations for radical political change. The unprecedented popular push to remove a political class seen as corrupt, incompetent and sectarian, had kept the country on lockdown since October 17. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted his government’s resignation in response to pressure from the street, despite warnings from some of his senior coalition partners against such a move. Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday said that his party did not back the government’s resignation.
Instead, it would have preferred quick reforms combatting corruption, Nasrallah said in a televised speech.
He called for a swift replacement, warning against the chaos caused by a void in government, and urged dialogue between parliament and representatives of the protest movement. President Michel Aoun on Thursday said ministers in the next government should be picked for their skills, not their political affiliation, appearing to endorse demonstrators’ demands for a government of technocrats. Aoun has asked Hariri’s government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new one can be formed, but Lebanon has entered a phase of acute political uncertainty, even by its own dysfunctional standards. With a power-sharing system organized along communal and sectarian lines, the allocation of ministerial posts can typically take months, a delay Lebanon’s donors say the debt-saddled country can ill afford.

Lebanon president seeks to solve ‘complications’ before new PM consultations
AFP, Tripoli, Lebanon/Sunday, 3 November 2019
Thousands of Lebanese flocked together in Tripoli on Saturday, an AFP reporter said, to keep a protest movement alive in a northern city dubbed “the bride of the revolution,” Despite its reputation for conservatism, impoverished Tripoli has emerged as a festive nerve center of anti-graft demonstrations across Lebanon since October 17. The movement has lost momentum in the capital since the government resigned this week, but in the Sunni-majority city of Tripoli late Saturday it was still going strong. In the main square, protesters waved Lebanese flags and held aloft mobile phones as torches, before bellowing out the national anthem in unison, the reporter said. “Everyone means everyone,” one poster read, reiterating a common slogan calling for all political leaders from across the sectarian spectrum to step down. Many people had journeyed from other parts of the country to join in. Ragheed Chehayeb, 38, said he had driven in from the central town of Aley. “I came to Tripoli to stand by their side because they’re the only ones continuing the revolution,” he said. Leila Fadl, 50, said she had travelled from the Shiite town of Nabatiyeh south of Beirut to Tripoli to show her support. “We feel the demands are the same, the suffering is the same,” she said. In Tripoli, more than half live at or below the poverty line and 26 percent suffer extreme poverty, a UN study found in 2015. On Tuesday embattled Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his cabinet would step down. But it is still unclear what a new government would look like and if it would meet protesters’ demands that it include independent experts. Roads and banks have reopened after nearly two weeks of nationwide paralysis. Fahmy Karame, 49, called for a “rapid solution to the economic crisis.” “We’re waiting for a government of technocrats,” he said. In the Lebanese capital, hundreds protested on Saturday evening after a day of rain. “Down with the rule of the central bank,” they shouted at the top of their lungs, clapping their hands near the institution’s headquarters.Economic growth in Lebanon has stalled in recent years in the wake of repeated political crises, compounded by an eight-year civil war in neighboring Syria.

President Michel Aoun has not yet set a date to hold a formal consultations to Name A New PM
Reuters, Beirut/Saturday, 2 November 2019
Lebanon’s president said on Saturday he will soon set a date for formal consultations with lawmakers to pick a new prime minister following Saad al-Hariri’s resignation this week, but is working to resolve some complications first. President Michel Aoun is obliged to hold a formal period of consultations with members of parliament and designate the figure with the most support as the new prime minister who will be tasked with forming a government. Aoun has not yet set a date for those consultations to begin, but said he had been making the “necessary calls” to lay the ground for them to start.
“The challenges in front of the future government require a rapid but not hasty approach to the designation process, because rushing in such cases can have harmful consequences,” the presidency media office said in a statement. The statement said Aoun needed to resolve some complications but did not elaborate. Prime Minister Hariri resigned on Tuesday after nationwide anti-government protests. The protests have been less intense since he resigned, but demonstrators are still on the streets, and one of their main demands is for the rapid formation of a new government led by technocrats to carry out badly needed economic reforms. The nationwide protests that erupted on October 17 tipped Lebanon into political turmoil as it grapples with the worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. The uprisings caused banks to close for two weeks on security concerns. Analysts and bankers had cited widespread concern about a rush by depositors to withdraw their savings or transfer them abroad when the banks reopened. No formal capital controls were imposed when banks opened their doors on Friday, but customers encountered new curbs on transfers abroad and withdrawals from US dollar accounts, bankers and customers said. The head of Lebanon’s banking association said banks did not see “any extraordinary movement” of money on Friday or Saturday. Central bank Governor Riad Salameh said the reopening of banks “in general … did not cause any disturbance at any bank”.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 02-03/2019

Thabet Thabet Is Canadian Lebanese Patriot Held Hostage In Occupied Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/November 02/2019
While waiting for the next crisis or next war, is regretting being born in Lebanon./Roger Bejjani/Face Book/November 02/2019
The demographic analysis of the October popular uprise/Roger Bejjani/Face Book/November 02/2019
Lebanese protesters plan rally for ‘salvation’ government/Nagia Houssari/Arab News/2019
Protesters in Iraq and Lebanon are shunning Iran’s influence/The National/November 02/2019
With Lebanon making fragile progress, now is the wrong time to pull US assistance/Jeffrey Feltman/brookings/November 02/2019
White House Freezes Military Aid to Lebanon, Against Wishes of Congress, State Dept. and Pentagon/Edward Wong, Vivian Yee and Michael Crowley/The New York Times/November 02/2019
Lebanon’s government has fallen: but will anything change?/The National/November 02/2019
From Iraq to Lebanon, Iran’s expansionist project is under siege/Raghida Dergham/The National/November 02/2019
Why the key to Lebanon’s future may lie in its past/Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/November 02/2019
Lebanese with special needs revolt/Maysaa Ajjan/Annahar/November 02/2019

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 02-03/2019

Lebanese protesters plan rally for ‘salvation’ government
Nagia Houssari/Arab News/2019
Future Movement warns ‘coexistence between Hariri and Bassil no longer possible’
BEIRUT: Protesters in Lebanon are planning mass demonstrations on Sunday in Riad Al-Solh and Martyrs’ Square in the heart of Beirut to further their demands for political reform in the country. Zeina Al-Helou, a public affairs analyst, told Arab News that “the call to bring down the government has been met, but there are other demands we want to achieve.” Protesters are now focused on forming a government from outside the ruling political groups, she said. “We did not topple Saad Hariri personally, but we toppled a government that includes Hezbollah, the Free Patriotic Movement and other political components, because their political practice over the years brought us to the situation we are in,” she added. Protests across the country eased on Saturday, the 17th day of unrest. Meanwhile, supporters of the Amal Movement staged a counter-protest near the home of Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri following a rumor on social media that protesters would rally there on Saturday to call for his resignation. Al-Helou said that although the social media rumor was false, “protesters’ enthusiasm has not cooled.”
“We are counting on people to join the central rally on Sunday. The protests are continuing,” she said.
“Protesters are in one valley and the political forces in power are in another,” she said.
Al-Helou said that the Lebanese authorities “are all betting on procrastination and negotiating their shares. They do not know that the people have something else in mind. “It is not our goal to bring in a government that follows the same approach and style. This is not what is required. People are more aware than the authorities and their demand is a salvation government with specific powers to reform the judiciary, adopt an electoral law, hold early elections and set laws to prevent collapse. It is not enough to have a technocrat government; it must understand and feel the people’s pain. “We will spare no effort to use the street as a means of pressure,” she added. Lebanon’s presidency has yet to issue a schedule of parliamentary consultations to appoint a replacement for Hariri, who resigned four days ago.
The protesters are in one valley and the political forces in power are in another. The Presidential Press Office said on Saturday that President Michel Aoun has been making the necessary contacts, “but the current situation in the country requires a calm handling.”
“Expediting consultations in such cases can have harmful repercussions,” the presidency said. Meanwhile, a leading figure in the Future Movement, Mustafa Alloush, said that communication “is no longer possible between Prime Minister Hariri and the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gibran Bassil, and the past experience between the two men made the coexistence between them intolerable after the dictates became boundless.”
“Bassil is a person who wants everything in the state. Coexistence with him is impossible,” Alloush said. “The sovereign government demanded by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is a government that maintains the same balance of the outgoing government, and Hezbollah refuses to change the current structure,” Alloush said. “The structure of the current system is no longer useful today and the opposition must be a real force of pressure. We refuse to be in a government ruled by Gibran Bassil.”Supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement are due to hold a protest near the presidential palace on Sunday.

Protesters in Iraq and Lebanon are shunning Iran’s influence
The National/November 02/2019
Tehran is no longer as powerful as it used to be, it is scrambling to keep its stranglehold on the two countries as the popularity of its proxies wanes
This past week has seen unprecedented and seismic upheaval across the region as Lebanese and Iraqi citizens of all sects have mobilised in their respective countries to demand better living conditions, the fall of a corrupt and sectarian ruling elite, and an end to foreign interference in their nations’ affairs.
In Iraq, protesters have been gathering for the past month to call for an overhaul of deeply entrenched flaws in the ruling class, yet their legitimate demands have been met with bullets and teargas by authorities and Iran-backed militias. The backlash has not stopped people from demonstrating and on Friday, Iraq saw its largest protests since the fall of Saddam Hussein, with thousands gathering in central Baghdad. At least 250 people have been killed in the past few months. In Lebanon, the protest movement that has seen more than one million pouring onto the street have yet to dissipate, even after prime minister Saad Hariri and his government stepped down last week.
Faced with an impasse, Iraqi president Barham Salih accepted prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s resignation on condition it did not create a “constitutional vacuum”. But just as Mr Hariri’s resignation did not resolve Lebanon’s woes, Mr Abdul Mahdi stepping down will not bring an end to Iraq’s crises. An overhaul of the sectarian-based political systems in Iraq and Lebanon is needed to weaken Iran’s grip on the two nations, which has contributed to the rise of clientelism and deep internal divisions that have led to today’s stalemate. But Tehran will not give up its scramble for power that easily.
On Wednesday, Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, went to Baghdad in a bid to stop Mr Abdul Mahdi’s resignation. This was not his first visit to Iraq since the uprising began on October 1. The day after protests erupted, Mr Soleimani headed a meeting with top Iraqi security officials in Baghdad, eclipsing the prime minister’s authority. The day after his visit, more than 100 people were killed at the hands of unidentified snipers and members of Iran-backed militias. The issue of militias is one that has brought troubles to Iraq for years, and today are under the banner of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). Although they were meant to be integrated into the Iraqi military after helping defeat ISIS and supposedly answerable to the prime minister, the 40 factions that make up the PMF have varying political allegiances and often act without accountability or authority. In September, the PMF even announced it would be launching its own airforce, separate to Iraqi defence forces. Tehran is anxious to keep wielding influence via such proxies – no matter the cost to Iraqi lives or sovereignty.
In Iraq and Lebanon, citizens are waking up to the reality that sectarianism only divides nations, giving foreign powers such as Iran a chance to interfere
Although Mr Soleimani’s presence in Baghdad signals Iran’s meddling is as brazen as ever, the fact the IRGC chief has felt the need to visit Iraq several times since the start of protests shows that Tehran is no longer as powerful as it used to be. It is scrambling to keep its stranglehold on the country as the popularity of its proxies wanes across the region. There is no better proof of this decline than the fact that Hezbollah’s elusive leader Hassan Nasrallah, who seldom makes public statements, has appeared in three televised speeches in two weeks since the start of Lebanon’s protests. Iran and its proxies are clutching at straws as their power is seriously challenged.
In both Iraq and Lebanon, citizens are waking up to the reality that sectarianism only divides nations, giving foreign powers such as Iran a chance to interfere with their sovereignty. Iran had sought to portray itself as a defender of Shiites, cashing in on sectarian divisions to finance armed proxies that terrorise ordinary civilians. But Iraq’s protests first broke out in the country’s Shiite-majority south, a sign that people in the community are tired of being manipulated by Tehran – a regime that claims to protect them but has not held back from spilling Iraqi blood in Karbala and Baghdad.
But protesters refuse to be intimidated. Despite the soaring death toll, they are taking to the streets of Iraq in even larger numbers and have attacked Iran’s proxy militias directly. Last week, they marched on the headquarters of Asaib Ahl Al Haq, a PMF militia, in Nasiriyah and were met with gunfire. In the southern city of Diwaniyah, 12 demonstrators were killed when the headquarters of the Badr Organisation, another PMF unit, was set alight.
The fact demonstrators are ready to give their lives to fight back against militias shows the extent of their rejection of these forces. These proxies have effectively stolen their right to self-determination and prevented a country with a wealth of oil, history and religious sites of significance for Sunnis and Shiites alike, from flourishing and providing its citizens with a decent living. Iraqis want a sovereign nation, one that prioritises their rights and needs above those of any other country. After decades of hardships, it is high time for Iraq’s leaders to heed these demands and stop the bloodshed.

With Lebanon making fragile progress, now is the wrong time to pull US assistance
جيفري فيلتمن ينتقد الإدارة الأميركية لتجميدها مساعدة للبنان بقيمة 105 مليون دولار في ظل وضع لبنان الحالي العش
Jeffrey Feltman/brookings/November 02/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/80119/%d8%ac%d9%8a%d9%81%d8%b1%d9%8a-%d9%81%d9%8a%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%85%d9%86-%d9%8a%d9%86%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a%d8%a9/
Lebanon’s protesters show that the once-unthinkable may now be plausible. The proxies of Iran and Syria in Lebanon, after years of solidarity, show tentative signs of diverging. With even Shia protesters on the street, and with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s calls to disperse unheeded, Hezbollah’s façade of invincibility is showing cracks. The Lebanese army and security forces have responded with admirable courage, restraint, and independence in defying calls by Hezbollah leaders and private pleas from the presidential palace to clear the streets. In contrast with unprecedented and overt criticism of Hezbollah, public support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is soaring.
These trends, while nascent and fragile, are promising and very much in U.S. interests. Yet rather than reinforcing them, the White House, in an astonishingly ill-timed decision, suspended $105 million in U.S. security assistance to the very institutions that have defied Hezbollah’s demands to end the protests. The Trump administration’s move gives both Damascus and Tehran the gift of a unifying message to the Lebanese about America’s unreliability as a partner. It also undercuts the argument that the LAF — with improving capabilities thanks primarily to U.S. support — provides better and more professional security for Lebanon than Hezbollah’s rockets, which only create dangers rather than provide genuine protection. (Those who argue that the LAF is mere cover for, or an enabler of, Hezbollah underestimate the increasing annoyance of LAF officers, who know how much the LAF’s capacities have grown thanks to the United States, with Hezbollah’s arrogance and constant belittling of the army. LAF pride and capabilities, both linked to years of sustained U.S. support, endanger Hezbollah’s “resistance” narrative.)
These trends, while nascent and fragile, are promising and very much in U.S. interests. Yet rather than reinforcing them, the White House [issued] an astonishingly ill-timed decision.
For years, Iranian and Syrian interests and tactics in Lebanon have largely coincided: They seek to discredit and divide the so-called “March 14” movement that emerged against Damascus and Tehran in the aftermath of the murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in 2005; “resist” U.S. and French efforts to bolster’s Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence; and use Lebanon to threaten Israel.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has expanded its influence in, and in some cases control over, Lebanon’s domestic institutions via its 2006 memorandum of understanding with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), a Christian party. The FPM gave Hezbollah, an Iranian-supported Shia terrorist group, the veneer of national, cross-sectarian political legitimacy it previously lacked. Hezbollah returned the favor by backing FPM founder Michel Aoun for president three years ago. Since 2006, Aoun and his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassile, have been reliable fronts for Hezbollah’s and thus Iran’s interests in Lebanon. Until recently, Aoun and Bassile probably saw no contradiction between their alliance with Hezbollah/Iran and Damascus’ interests in Lebanon.
The current demonstrations have the potential to shake the foundations of both the Iranian-Syrian solidarity in Lebanon and the Hezbollah-FPM relationship. Nasrallah has used speeches filled with innuendos and thugs on motorcycles in what so far have been unsuccessful attempts to undercut the demonstrations and prevent the Saad Hariri government from resigning. By contrast, some of Syria’s traditional allies in Lebanon, including Bashar al-Assad’s childhood friend Sleiman Franjieh, have remained conspicuously silent or even sent relatives to join the demonstrations. The notorious former security chief Jamil as-Sayyid, one of the enforcers of Syria’s pre-2005 control over Lebanon, has issued statements sympathizing with the anti-corruption and/or anti-establishment demands of the protesters.
Moreover, Lebanese political activists detected significance in the absence of a bilateral meeting between Aoun or Bassile and the Syrian delegation on the margins of this year’s U.N. General Assembly. In another reported example of how Aoun and Bassile are thought to be viewed in Damascus, no high-level Syrian official attended Aoun’s U.N. General Assembly address. The value of Hezbollah’s FPM-provided Christian veneer has declined precipitously, with Bassile now a favorite target of the protesters as a symbol of everything that ails Lebanon.
Iran and Syria may be starting to eye each other with suspicion in Lebanon; it would not be the first time that regional actors used Lebanon as the theater for their competition. Two Lebanese politicians speculated about a connection to what is happening in the Alawite regions of Syria, where Bashar al-Assad may view Iranian influence and Shia proselytizing as a threat to his secular, Alawite base. Assad, who would have considered Hezbollah a junior partner during the pre-2005 Syrian occupation of Lebanon, may also resent the current strength and presence of Hezbollah in Syria: Who’s the junior partner now? How much control can Assad exert over Hezbollah inside Syria? Given that Assad still needs Iran’s and Hezbollah’s help in Syria, he can, according to this theory, use Lebanon to send a message.
One can imagine that, if Michel Aoun’s ill health led to a presidential vacancy now, any Syrian-Iranian divergence would surface more visibly, with Hezbollah (and Iran) backing Bassile and Damascus wanting to restore its primacy in Lebanon via someone like Franjieh. The presumed candidacy of Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun, with his enhanced credibility for independence, would be more aligned with the sentiments of the street. But the Lebanese president is elected by parliament, not the people. While the current Lebanese parliament reflects the very establishment that the protesters wish to topple, one hopes that the members of parliament will think about protesters’ views if they are put in a position as to whether to choose between Damascus, Tehran, or their own Lebanese constituents.
As inspiring as the current demonstrations are, it is hard to be optimistic when no leaders with broad cross-sectarian credibility are emerging to constructively channel the energy of the streets. The worrying economic and financial situation adds additional strains. Still, the potential for positive change exists in a way that a few weeks ago was unimaginable. We should not want to make it easier for the pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian forces to overcome any differences and prevail in the end over the protesters.
There’s an argument for the United States maintaining a low profile, to undercut Nasrallah’s predictable arguments about a U.S. conspiracy, and a guiding principle should always be “do no harm” when trends emerge that are clearly in U.S. interests. Instead, the White House suspension of security assistance at this of all times, gives Damascus’ and Tehran’s Lebanese allies a message around which to re-unite: that the United States is an unreliable partner and that the LAF will not get needed assistance, meaning Hezbollah’s arsenal remains essential to Lebanon’s security. American officials who are seeking to promote U.S. interests in Lebanon face a strange set of bedfellows — Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and apparently the White House — and face the difficult task of pushing back against all four.
*Jeffrey Feltman/John C. Whitehead Visiting Fellow in International Diplomacy – Foreign Policy
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/11/01/with-lebanon-making-fragile-progress-now-is-the-wrong-time-to-pull-u-s-assistance/

White House Freezes Military Aid to Lebanon, Against Wishes of Congress, State Dept. and Pentagon
نيويورك تيمز: البيت الأبيض يجمد مساعدة للبنان بقيمة 105 مليون دولار متخطياً رغبات الكونغرس ووزارة الخارجية ووزارة الدفاع
Edward Wong, Vivian Yee and Michael Crowley/The New York Times/November 02/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/80110/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%b6-%d9%8a%d8%ac%d9%85%d8%af-%d9%85%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%af%d8%a9-%d9%84%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d9%82%d9%8a%d9%85%d8%a9-10/
The indefinite hold halts a $105 million package that the State Department and Congress had approved. Analysts say the winners could be Iran, Russia, the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has frozen all military aid to the Lebanese army, including a package worth $105 million that both the State Department and Congress approved in September, congressional officials said Friday.
The halt to American funding of the Lebanese Armed Forces, an important multisectarian group, comes at a critical time for Lebanon, as officials are grappling with the country’s largest street protests since its independence in 1943 and a change in leadership forced by the demonstrations. A freeze on the assistance could give Iran and Russia an opening to exert greater influence over the Lebanese military, analysts say, and perhaps even allow the Islamic State and Al Qaeda to gain greater footholds in the country.
The delivery of military aid, especially in cases that involve White House intervention, has become a delicate and divisive issue in Washington. Congressional committees are overseeing an impeachment inquiry into whether President Trump held up $391 million in military aid to Ukraine in an effort to coerce Ukrainian leaders to do political favors for him. Though the president has denied it, senior administration officials have testified that there was indeed a quid pro quo, and the top American diplomat in Ukraine said he sent a cable telling Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that it was “folly” to withhold the aid.
The Pentagon and State Department pressed for the aid for the Lebanese Armed Forces, congressional aides said, and officials in both departments say the military organization is an important bulwark against extremist elements and armed factions of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite group that has political and military wings.
But officials on the national security staff at the White House recently asked the Office of Management and Budget to freeze all aid to the Lebanese military, two congressional officials said Friday. Officials at the State Department and Pentagon only learned of the halt in recent days. It is unclear if anyone has told the Lebanese government of the freeze.
The State Department referred questions about the freeze to the budget office, which did not have immediate comment, and the Defense Department referred questions to the White House, where officials declined to comment.
On Friday afternoon, Nathan A. Sales, the State Department’s top counterterrorism official, said, when asked about the freeze, that the Lebanese military was an important counterweight to Hezbollah, though he did not address the aid freeze itself.
“We see Hezbollah as a terrorist organization,” he said, “and that is why we have worked over the years, over many years, to strengthen the institutions of the Lebanese state, such as the Lebanese Armed Forces, to ensure that there is no felt need in Lebanon to rely on any purported services that Lebanon might receive from Hezbollah. That has been our policy and that remains our policy.”
Congressional aides got confirmation of the freeze on Thursday, and Reuters reported it. Congressional officials were surprised, since State Department officials notified Congress on Sept. 5 that the United States was moving ahead with a $105 million package of aid to the Lebanese military. The package is known as foreign military financing, which is major aid that is usually managed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, part of the Defense Department.
Mr. Trump has broadly criticized how the United States distributes foreign aid, and some conservative Middle East policy analysts have argued that aid to the Lebanese military could end up helping Hezbollah.
One congressional official said it was troubling that the White House had ordered the action against the recommendations of both the State and Defense Departments. The official said that the United States closely monitors how the aid is used, and that any fear that the money could fall into the hands of Hezbollah is a myth.
In December, Jim Mattis, who was defense secretary at the time, described the Lebanese Army Forces as “legitimate” and a partner of the American military. “They are helping to keep the situation stable right now,” he said, speaking of a flare-up in tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, two longtime enemies.
Other top American officials have given similar assessments. David Schenker, the State Department’s new assistant secretary of near eastern affairs, argued in an August 2017 paper that, although the Lebanese military had been “colluding” with Hezbollah, it had helped stabilize the country and repel militant Sunni influence. Earlier that year, General Joseph L. Votel, then the leader of United States Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Lebanese army had “demonstrated tremendous return on investment in recent years,” and that Washington should consider increasing its support.
Analysts said Friday that the United States was acting against its own goals by withdrawing the aid, especially at a time when Lebanese protesters are also questioning why the United States has stood by Lebanon’s government, which they oppose. Severing ties with the Lebanese army could create an opening for other sources of money, notably Iran or Russia, whose power in neighboring Syria has increased since Mr. Trump withdrew American troops last month from the Syria-Turkey border region.
“We still have U.S. interests in the region, and losing our toehold there — no matter how slim it may be now — will prevent us, in the future, from steering things in a better way for us and for Lebanon,” said David Daoud, a Hezbollah analyst at United Against Nuclear Iran, which advocates tougher United States policies on Iran.
“Does that mean we should be O.K. with what the L.A.F. is doing now?” he added. “Absolutely not. There should be more accountability, there should be a little bit more tough love, but to cut off the aid would be, I think, counterproductive for our interests.”
In recent years, though, some prominent conservatives in Washington — particularly those who view contesting Iranian influence as a central goal — have called for decreasing military aid to Lebanon’s army. In 2017, Elliott Abrams, a Middle East policy official under President George W. Bush, testified before the House of Representatives that Lebanon’s army “is increasingly intertwined with Hezbollah.”
“If we have tried to make the L.A.F. a counterbalance to Hezbollah, we have failed,” said Mr. Abrams, who has since become Mr. Trump’s special representative for Venezuela. “Perhaps things would be even worse today without our aid and our efforts, but that is a proposition that should be examined and tested.”
In June, several Republicans in Congress, led by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, introduced a measure called the Countering Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Military Act, which would withhold 20 percent of American military assistance to the country unless the president can certify that the Lebanese military is taking “necessary steps to end Hezbollah and Iran’s influence over the L.A.F.,” as Mr. Cruz put it in a June statement.
Top Israeli officials share that alarm about the influence, but are also anxious that aid cuts to a key Lebanese government institution could exacerbate Lebanon’s growing political instability. Israel has, however, asked the United States and European nations to condition aid to Lebanon on Hezbollah’s missile factory shutdown.
The Lebanese Armed Forces is one of the few institutions in the country that enjoys broad popularity across all religious and political divides, in part because it employs people from all of Lebanon’s 18 officially recognized religious groups — including Shiite Muslims, who make up Hezbollah’s base.
Many Lebanese have relatives or friends in the army. Despite sporadic scuffles between security forces and protesters during Lebanon’s ongoing anti-government demonstrations, support for the army has not wavered. Protesters have chanted pro-army slogans, waved the army’s flag alongside the Lebanese flag and even handed roses to soldiers at roadblocks.
The United States provided more than $2.29 billion in military assistance to Lebanon between 2005 and 2019. The American ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth H. Richard, is a strong supporter of security aid to the army, viewing it as one way the United States can create good will. As recently as August, she congratulated the Lebanese army while viewing a military exercise, saying, “We are firm believers in this army and I hope every Lebanese believes in this army, as well.”
Like the Lebanese government and the Lebanese themselves, the army appears to treat Hezbollah, which has representation in parliament and in ministries, as a fact of life. It occasionally coordinates with Hezbollah, as it did in August, when Hezbollah claimed it had shot down two Israeli drones south of Beirut. After doing a preliminary investigation, Hezbollah turned the information over to the army.
Edward Wong and Michael Crowley reported from Washington, and Vivian Yee from Beirut. Thomas Gibbons-Neff contributed reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan. Isabel Kershner contributed reporting from Jerusalem.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, Steps Down in Face of ProtestsOct. 29, 2019
Edward Wong has been a diplomatic and international correspondent for The Times for more than 20 years, 13 of those in Iraq and China. He received a Livingston Award for his Iraq War coverage and was on a team of Pulitzer Prize finalists. He has been a Nieman Fellow at Harvard and a Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton. @ewong
Vivian Yee is an international correspondent covering the Middle East. She is based in Beirut. Previously, she wrote about immigration policy and immigrants in the United States during the Trump administration and reported on New York politics. @VivianHYee
*Michael Crowley is a White House correspondent, covering President Trump’s foreign policy. He joined The Times in 2019 from Politico, where he was the White House and national security editor, and a foreign affairs correspondent. @michaelcrowley

Lebanon’s government has fallen: but will anything change?
The National/November 02/2019
Saad Hariri has resigned, but people on the streets are not rising up against one man, they are demanding the fall of an entire system
“We have reached a dead end.” So said a shell-shocked Saad Hariri, standing in front of a portrait of his late father Rafic, as he announced the resignation of the entire Lebanese government.
As crowds cheered in the street and waved flags, the sombre prime minister admitted: “No one is bigger than this country.”
The announcement follows an extraordinary fortnight in Lebanon. For 13 days, more than one million Lebanese people have taken to the streets, demanding the fall of the government and rising up against sectarian-based politics, widespread corruption, unemployment and poor access to basic services. That they have achieved their aim in such a short time might give them cause for celebration tonight but tomorrow, the sobering thought of what might replace the outgoing government will undoubtedly strike home. It is critical that those elements who already seek to sow divides among the Lebanese, such as Hezbollah, are not able to exploit this power vacuum. This is a precarious moment and it is vital whoever is responsible for taking the country forward seeks to establish stability and security quickly.
In truth, Mr Hariri was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Blamed for many of Lebanon’s failures, the clock was ticking on his time in power – but the fall of the government with him was an unexpected consequence of a great swelling of discontent over years of incompetence and inefficiency. Mr Hariri tried to quell public disquiet by announcing a host of sweeping government reforms eight days ago – but it was too little too late. A proposed cabinet shuffle also failed to stay the tide of resentment. The powerful Hezbollah and its Free Patriotic Movement ally refused to accept a change of leadership that might have de-escalated the situation. As a result, more than a million people took to the streets at the height of the demonstrations. Given these circumstances, Mr Hariri had little choice but to resign.
Now that he has quit, Lebanon is running out of time to find a consensus that will end the current crisis. If parliament cannot agree on a new prime minister, Mr Hariri might need to remain in power as head of a caretaker government. This could be a lengthy process taking years. For instance, before president Michel Aoun took up his role, the country was left without a head of state for two years. But even if parliament agrees on another prime minister, there is no guarantee that protesters will be satisfied with the new nominee.
It is critical that those elements who already seek to sow divides among the Lebanese, such as Hezbollah, are not able to exploit this power vacuum
Nor does the government’s resignation resolve the country’s woes. People on the streets are not rising up against one man, they are demanding the fall of an entire system based on corrupt sectarian politics. Mr Hariri was simply the face of this system, and he was not even one of its worst offenders. He is, in fact, one of the rare political leaders in the country without blood on his hands. Many of Lebanon’s top officials today are warlords turned politicians, including Mr Aoun and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri.
However, Mr Hariri’s rise to power is indicative of many of the flaws of Lebanon’s political system. He was a businessman for most of his life and only became a political figure in 2005 when he took on the leadership of the Future Movement after the assassination of his father, who was prime minister at the time. He has since been Lebanon’s prime minister twice, leading two unity governments. This tradition of political dynasties is one of the causes of opprobrium from protesters but Mr Hariri’s case is in no way unique. Mr Aoun’s son-in-law Gebran Bassil, who is also foreign minister and leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, has been vying for the presidency for years. Meanwhile, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt announced two years ago that his son Taymour will be his political successor.
His son’s legacy will be one of a plethora of political impasses that propelled him into the position of mediator. Lebanon does not have a two-party system. It is instead governed by a number of parties, none of which have a majority in parliament on their own. The country’s political system relies instead on coalitions between these factions and sectarian-based groups to be able to function. Despite these difficulties, Mr Hariri often managed to find compromises to get political leaders to resolve their differences. One of his biggest challenges was Hezbollah’s rising influence in the country, which his party has been unable to counter. Backed into a corner, he has led a unity government since 2016 in which the terrorist group wielded far too much power and left little room for sensible voices to be heard. With him gone, there is a chance that Hezbollah will take advantage and attempt to find a pro-Iranian replacement for Mr Hariri. This prospect is likely to anger protesters even more but the terror group has not shied away from using violence to intimidate those who oppose it and has already started targeting protesters. A government in which Hezbollah plays an even more powerful role must be avoided at all costs. Mr Hariri’s resignation might be a victory for the protest movement but for now, it is a cosmetic change only. A great mountain of tasks lies ahead of Lebanon’s future leader to put an end to the country’s problems.

From Iraq to Lebanon, Iran’s expansionist project is under siege
Raghida Dergham/The National/November 02/2019
Tehran’s leaders are in a state of panic – but the country has only itself to blame for this crisis
Iran’s projects in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen are coming under siege to such an extent that its leaders are in a state of panic. In Syria, the Iranian project has been set back by a Russian-approved US-Turkish deal, effectively blocking the strategic causeway Tehran was planning to complete its crescent of power, stretching all the way from Tehran to the Mediterranean via Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. In Iraq, there is a Shiite backlash against Iran’s excessive meddling in Iraq, to the point that protesters are chanting: “Iran get out”, despite a violent backlash from the IRGC-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces, who have fired live ammunition at protesters in Karbala, the consecrated heartland of Shiite religious doctrine.
In Lebanon, fear of Hezbollah has collapsed along with the unity government of accord it forms part of and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is reduced to pointing the finger of blame. In Yemen, Iran’s expansionist project is facing a setback as the Saudi-Emirati exit strategy from the war is bearing fruit, giving Houthis a new path of belonging to a federalised Yemen, instead of looking towards Iran and its attempts at warmongering, with funds dwindling under US sanctions.
It is not clear what Iran will do under these circumstances but it faces some hard choices, especially if it insists on refusing to adjust and reform the regime’s expansionist logic. Perhaps the only thing Iran’s leaders can do now is to bet on US President Donald Trump not getting re-elected. This is now a distinct possibility. Mr Trump’s mercurial decision-making and disregard for US constitutional norms is wearing thin among Americans. However, even if Mr Trump is not re-elected, the US military and civilian establishment is pursuing a clear Iran policy based on military deterrence and maximum pressure through sanctions. This policy, which simultaneously seeks to avoid direct war with Iran, will remain in place unless Tehran or one of its proxies attacks US troops in the Middle East, triggering a military response, or exits the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, triggering an escalation in sanctions. This is a US doctrine, however, not Mr Trump’s.
General Kenneth McKenzie Jr, head of US Central Command (Centcom), last week addressed a conference held by the National Council for US-Arab relations. He said Iran remains a priority, but less so than China and Russia, in US strategic planning. He warned against false interpretations regarding the deployment and withdrawal of US troops in the Middle East and the Gulf, saying Iran continues to be monitored. And he spoke of deterrence “without provocation” as an important challenge to US calculations regarding Iran.
This means that the plans of some Iranian leaders attempting to lure the US into a military strike against Tehran have failed. Iran has only itself to blame for its crisis. Thanks to its regional expansionism, proxy warfare in sovereign countries and belligerent policies, it finds itself today besieged and heavily sanctioned, along with its extraterritorial militias. The Iranian regime’s logic is fundamentally flawed and unsuited to this time of a new, conscious generation.
This Generation Z is forging its future in Lebanon, away from Hezbollah’s dominion. They have been joined by the millennials, alongside their parents, the baby boomers. All have taken to the streets and are standing up to provocation. So far, they have thwarted the schemes of the corrupt class, who had, until now, been well versed in containing and frustrating such uprisings.
The young generation in Lebanon as well as in Iraq stand for victory against fear and blind obedience. They have risen up against corruption in their countries and against a political class that foolishly thought their power was permission to be greedy and venal. But this generation is also rising up against the 40-year-old presumption of the Iranian regime that it can dominate Arab youth through sectarianism, intimidation, oppression and Iranian-backed militias.
The young generation in Lebanon as well as in Iraq stand for victory against fear and blind obedience. They have risen up against corruption in their countries and against a political class that foolishly thought their power was permission to be greedy and venal
Hezbollah will not disappear tomorrow because of the uprising. Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces will not agree to merge wholly with the Iraqi army after Iran prevented it from doing so. But these forces have been greatly weakened. They are facing the wrath of the same people they assumed would be their followers by default. The PMF will pay a heavy price for firing at Iraqi Shiite Muslims opposed to the militia’s allegiance to Iran, and for inviting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to help suppress the protests with force. Iraq’s revolutionaries are demanding an end to Iranian meddling in Iraqi affairs and its neighbour’s domination over its fate.
Lebanon’s revolutionaries, meanwhile, want Hezbollah to stop declaring its allegiance to the Iranian regime as its first priority. Theirs is not the country of the Iranian regime and never will be because its political structure and demographic composition cannot allow such deviation from its civil trajectory. The protesters demanded and succeeded in toppling the government of accord that Hezbollah had formed with Saad Hariri, the prime minister who resigned last week, and Michel Aoun, the president who installed his demagogical and provocative son-in-law Gebran Bassil as his viceroy.
Hezbollah might resort to spilling blood if the uprising against corruption and the ruling class continues. It might decide that a victorious revolution could mean removing it from power and ending its domination of Lebanon as well as its central position in the Iranian regional project.
But what would the Lebanese army do if a decision is taken to deploy loyalist thugs and turn the arenas of peaceful protests into a battlefront? Will the military stay on the fence or will it stand with the people?
So far, army chief General Joseph Aoun is reassured by his forces’ cohesion and conduct. There is no fear of the army splitting. Rather, it is Hezbollah’s ranks that could split. So far, the army has not begun repressing protests, which would be a fateful and costly decision. In this context, Mr Trump’s decision to withhold $105 million in military assistance to Lebanon should be seen as a warning against making wrong decisions.
The nations concerned for Lebanon are not rushing to rescue it from collapse as long as the beleaguered administration remains in power. They want the desired change to take place immediately, beginning with the formation of a technocratic government, without the usual deals. Mr Hariri’s resignation is the first step, but it must not be the only step. All parties poised to rescue Lebanon economically are ready to step in, as soon as they received a signal of intention to form a technocratic government, enact laws to punish corruption and hold new, fair and just elections.
Mr Hariri’s resignation was important because it met a basic demand of the revolution. However, it triggered concern in the Sunni community, which is worried the political class will settle for his resignation in return for guaranteeing his safety and perhaps returning him to head a technocratic government.
His stepping down did weaken the Hezbollah-Aoun alliance, a major achievement that must be built upon. This is a revolutionary trajectory, not just a one-off, and must be seen through to its conclusion.

Why the key to Lebanon’s future may lie in its past
Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/November 02/2019
As popular discontent grows with the current corrupt and sectarian political elite in Lebanon, I cannot but think of Fuad Chehab, who was president from 1958 until 1964. Chehab brought stability to the country and built its institutions. He would have been so happy to see the Lebanese reject sectarian leaders and the “Fromagistes,” or the cheese eaters, as he used to call corrupt politicians.
Chehab became commander of the Lebanese army in 1945, and twice refused requests for his forces to intervene in uprisings against President Bechara El-Khoury. In 1952, El-Khoury asked him to lead the country in a transitional period leading to the election of a new president by the parliament. Chehab did so for four days, until Camille Chamoun was elected to succeed El-Khoury.
What is most impressive about Chehab is that he was a military leader who rejected military coups at a time when they were the norm elsewhere. In Egypt and Iraq, military officers rose up and deposed royal regimes, but Chehab, more than any other general, was determined to preserve democracy, the constitution and the rule of law. In 1958, with protests again rocking the country, President Chamoun called for American help and US Marines landed in Beirut. Following this episode of high tension and foreign intervention, Chabab became president. His period in office was noted for prosperity, stability and security, which kept Lebanon shielded from foreign interference.
Saad Hariri’s resignation as prime minister last week did not prevent people from protesting. Some signalled that, as a goodwill gesture before the formation of a new government, the protesters should open the roads they had blocked. However, the issue is more than a change of government; it is about a change of reality, a change of a system that is built on corruption, clientelism and sectarianism.
Hariri has said he would be willing to return to office if he could form a government of technocrats, but a government of technocrats cannot carry out the necessary serious and drastic reforms as long as it is hostage to the corrupt political elites — the fromagistes, as Chehab called them. Lebanon’s “hirak,” the popular protest movement, has resulted in the emergence of different indigenous groups who gathered on regional, occupational and gender bases. They are putting forward demands for social and economic change, but their structure is very fluid. These small movements need maturity. If they are now put in the spotlight, they might clash. It is better to allow them the space to develop and to work on the maturity of their local and national agenda, and this is not possible when the fromagistes control power. Lebanon not only needs a person to take the country into a difficult transition, it also needs to revive the spirit of Chehabism. The new Chehabism will bind the different Lebanese across the different sects. Only a spirit that is based on the national identity and on institution building can take the country forward.
Saad Hariri’s resignation as prime minister last week did not prevent people from protesting.
At the end of his period in office, Chehab had a very pessimistic view of Lebanon — indeed after only two years he had offered to resign. He believed Lebanon was not ready to get over sectarianism. He also predicted that the Lebanese would clash with each other. He knew Lebanon was a fertile land for foreign interference.
Chebab refused to permit a change in the constitution to allow him to serve a second consecutive term as president, and he was succeeded in 1964 by Charles Helou. The election of Suleiman Frangieh in 1970 marked the end of the Chehab era. He purged Chebab officers, dismantled the security services and made the country more vulnerable to foreign intelligence activities. Frangieh lost the balance Chehab had created and preserved between Lebanon’s sovereignty and its role as a member of the Arab family of nations. Later presidents could not restore this balance, nor could they retain the independence of state institutions from the different sectarian political parties. Chebab’s biographer Nicolas Nassif wrote that the former president burned all his papers; he did not want anything he had written to justify his rule, and preferred to leave that task for history.
Today’s Lebanese leaders are totally unaware of the metamorphosis the Lebanese people are undergoing. They think they still have a chance, when they don’t. They cannot see that their narrative is dead. They are making promises; to remove secrecy from their bank accounts; to bring to justice those who embezzled money; to decrease the fiscal deficit — promises, promises, promises that cannot be fulfilled, because to do so would be to expose their own corruption and vile sectarianism.
To mark the completion of the first half of his presidency, Michel Aoun made a speech last week in which he promised to change Lebanon into a civil state. But how can someone who campaigned on a sectarian agenda, and used as a narrative “Christian rights” versus the rights of other denominations, work toward a civil state? There is a huge disconnect here
Now there are talks about consultations among the different “political parties” to create a new government, but these political leaders don’t understand that they belong to a bygone era. Their audience is eroding. They no longer have any popular legitimacy. Lebanon wants a new national leadership that will build institutions and conduct serious economic social and political reforms. Today, the Lebanese are mature enough to embrace the spirit of Fuad Chehab and a new Chehabism.
*Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She holds a PhD in politics from the University of Exeter and is an affiliated scholar with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut.

Lebanese with special needs revolt
Maysaa Ajjan/Annahar/November 02/2019
BEIRUT: When Faten Merashly decided to take her 17 year old son Mahmoud Hijazi, who suffers from autism, to the second day of the protests in Riad El Solh, she didn’t know what to expect.
“It was Mahmoud’s idea that we go down and join the protesters,” Merashly told Annahar. “One night before he went to bed, he told me that he wanted to join the protests the next day.”
After carefully explaining to her son the concept of a protest and a revolution, Merashly brought two pieces of cardboard and began writing slogans on them, demanding the rights of autistic children to free therapy sessions and to inclusive schools, two causes that are dear to her heart.
“As the mother of an autistic child, you quickly learn that people with special needs are a forgotten segment of the population,” she told Annahar. “They have no rights to any free service- it’s just ink on paper, what they tell you about their rights.”
Merashly and her son were able to garner support from most if not all the protesters who joined them in their cause and took pictures with Mahmoud. “
I was so proud of Mahmoud for standing up for his rights and for remaining calm amidst the noise,” Merashly said. “Everyone was so friendly and understanding and compassionate to his case. Moreover, a lot of people who follow my Facebook page asked me to be a voice for them as they or a family member also have special needs.”
Merashly, who is still participating in protests to this day with her son, was not the only one protesting for the rights of people with special needs.
Sylvana Lakkis, President of the Lebanese union of people with physical disability, who is herself bound to a wheelchair, was among the many who turned up to protest.
“We have released a statement at the union stating that we have the same demands as the protesters,” Lakkis told Annahar. “Even though we are marginalized, we are still part of this country, and we can see that getting to our rights can not happen without repairs and peace.”
Annahar spoke to Ibrahim Abdallah, an activist and a member of the National Council on Disability, who explained that many people with special needs protested in Tyre, Tripoli, and Downtown Beirut. He also spoke of the history of the Lebanese laws on disabilities.
“In May 2000, the Lebanese Parliament approved a new legislation, Law No. 220, which “secured” the basic rights for the disabled, such as the right to education, employment, healthcare and nurturing environment,” he said. “But effectively, it was only ink on paper.”
“We are now demanding for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was issued by UNICEF in 2006. It was signed but not ratified by Lebanese law,” he added.
Abdallah ended his talk by saying that people with special needs can play a valuable role in society if their needs are met and if they are given the right training. “We are a marginalized group, and we will continue to participate actively in protests to ask for our basic human rights that we have been deprived of for too long,” he said.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For November 02-03/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 17th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 03 تشرين الثاني/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 03 تشرين الثاني/2019

ارشيف نشرات أخبار موقعنا اليومية/عربية وانكليزية منذ العام 2006/اضغط هنا لدخول صفحة الأرشيف

عناوين أقسام نشرة المنسقية باللغة العربية
الزوادة الإيمانية لليوم
تعليقات الياس بجاني وخلفياتها
الأخبار اللبنانية
المتفرقات اللبنانية
الأخبار الإقليمية والدولية
المقالات والتعليقات والتحاليل السياسية الشاملة
المؤتمرات والندوات والبيانات والمقابلات والمناسبات الخاصة والردود وغيره

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قراءة في هرطقة كلمتي عون وباسيل من قصر الرئاسة
الياس بجاني/03 تشرين الأول/209

بداية لم يعد على أرض الواقع اللبناني عملياً حزب “تيار وطني حر”، بل مجموعة في فريق من التابعين والصنميين والودائع والانتهازيين والملحقين بحزب الله، الذي هوالمحتل الإيراني الملالوي، وذلك منذ العام 2006 ومنذ اللحظة الأولى التي وقع فيها عون وحسن نصرالله ما يعرف “بورقة التفاهم”.

إنه ومنذ بروز ظاهرة ميشال عون كان هذا الرجل ينادي بالحرية وبالسيادة وبالاستقلال وبمحاربة الإحتلالات والتخلص منها، وتحديداً الإحتلاليين السوري والإيراني، إضافة إلى رفضه التام للإقطاع والإقطاعيين والمذهبية والتوارث العائلي في المواقع الحزبية والرسمية، كما تسويّقه العالي النبرة لمبدأ تداول السلطات في كافة المواقع الرسمية والحزبية.

كما كان عون طالب قبل العام 2006 ومن منفاه الباريسي ومن خلال سلسلة مقالات عددها 13 بعدم مصالحة نظام الأسد والتعامل معه أو مسامحته تحت أي ظرف ورفع إجرامه وإرتكاباته إلى المحاكم الدولية على خلفية بأن ما ارتكبه من إجرام بحق اللبنانيين والسوريين والإنسانية…ونحن شخصياً من نشر ووزع وترجم المقالات ال 13 هذه وهي لا تزال موجودة على مواقعنا الالكترونية.

عقب توقيع عون ورقة التفاهم مع حزب الله انقلب على كل ما ذكرناه في أعلى لحد أنه طالب الشعب اللبناني بالاعتذار من النظام السوري، كما اعتبر في ورقة تفاهمه مع نصرالله بأن الاحتلال السوري للبنان كان تجربة شابتها بعض الأخطاء فقط .. في حين الورقة قدست وأبدت سلاح حزب الله ومن خلالها تنازل كلياً عن ثلاثية الحرية والسيادة والاستقلال واستبدلها بثلاثية الجيش والشعب والمقاومة.

كما أنه مارس ولا يزال يمارس داخل حزبه “الشركة” الذي لا يختلف عن أي شركة حزب لبنانية أخرى مسيحية أو إسلامية في لبنان، مارس الفوقية والدكتاتورية والعائلية والمحسوبيات والشخصنة التي وصلت لحد الصنمية.

كما قام على خافية “نكران الجميل” بإبعاد كل من عارض دكتاتوريته ونصب صهره جبران باسيل بقوة الفرض رئيساً لشركة حزبه، وهذا الأخير أيضاً تمادى وبوقاحة ونكران للجميل فاقع بطرد كل من عارضه.

واليوم في كلمته من قصر بعبدا أكمل باسيل عنترياته ودكتاتوريته وافترئاته وقام باتهام من ترك من النواب كتلته النيابية بالخيانة.

كلمة باسيل اليوم وأيضاً كلمة عون تميزا باللجوء المرّضي اللافت للآليات النفسية الدفاعية التالية:
الإنكار Denial
والإسقاط، Projection
والتبرير Rationalization
إضافة إلى انسلاخ مخيف عن الواقع الحالي المعاش Detachment from reality
والغرق في غياهب وهمي العظمة والاضطهاد Delusions of grandiose and persecution

علمياً وعملياً ومنطقياً، فإن ما يمكن استنتاجه من كلمتي عون وباسيل اليوم من القصر الرئاسي هو أنهما يفتقدان كلياً لكافة آليات واستراتجيات التعاطي مع حل المشاكل Problem solving strategies .

ولهذا غرقا في أوحال الشعبوية والديموغوجية والإنكار والإسقاط والتبرير والأوهام والانسلاخ عن الواقع والحقائق والهرب إلى الأمام مما سيُعقد الأمور أكثر ويزيدها تفاقماً وخطراً.

وحتى لا نطيل الكلام ونضيع البوصلة وباختصار نقول، بأن مشكلة لبنان الأولى الوجودية والكيانية والاستقلالية والتعايشية اليوم لا هي خطاب وممارسات عون أو جبران باسيل، ولا هي تبعية وغنمية ونرسيسية وطروادية غالبة أصحاب شركات الأحزاب التجارية والوكالات للخارج كافة، ولا هي ورغم ثقلها وخطورتها الأزمات المعيشية بكل تفاصيلها وتلاوينها.

بل المشكلة الأولى والأخطر والأهم هي و100% الاحتلال الإيراني المتمثل بحزب الله وبإرهابيه وبمذهبيته وبدويلته وبحروبه وبفساده وبمشروعه الفارسي التوسعي وبتناقضه الكلي مع كل ما هو لبنان ولبناني وسلم واستقرار وانفتاح ورسالة وتعايش وهوية وحضارة وثقافة ونمط حياة ودستور وأعراف وحريات وديموقراطية.

وبالتالي، وفي السياسة والشأن الوطني، فإن باسيل وعون، وغالبية الطاقم السياسي والحزبي، ومعهم كل الصعاب والأزمات الحياتية والمالية والاجتماعية هي رزم ورزم من أعرض سرطان الاحتلال، وعملياً وإمكانيات لا يمكن حتى البدء بحل أي من هذه المشكل الأعراض في ظل الاحتلال.

لقد طالب عون اليوم في كلمته بالحوار بين اللبنانيين ودعا إليه الجميع، فيما المطلوب حقيقة هو الحوار مع إيران ومع حزبها وسيده نصرالله وذلك بإشراف وتحت رعاية الأمم المتحدة ومجلس الأمن والجامعة العربية والمجتمع الدولي، بهدف التوصل السلمي والدستوري والعاجل إلى آلية وجداول زمنية ملزمة لتطبيق القرارات الدولية الثلاثة الخاصة بلبنان:
اتفاق الهدنة مع إسرائيل
وال 1559 وال 1701..
وكل ما عدا هذه المقاربة الوطنية والدولية والإقليمية لسرطان الاحتلال الإيراني المدمر.. فالج لا تعالج.

*الكاتب ناشط لبناني اغترابي
عنوان الكاتب الالكتروني
Phoenicia@hotmail.com
رابط موقع الكاتب الالكتروني على الإنترنت
http://www.eliasbejjaninew.com

في أسفل نص كلمتي عون وباسيل

رئيس الجمهورية في كلمة الى الحشود على طريق القصر الجمهوري: ادعو الجميع الى الاتحاد لمكافحة الفساد والنهوض بالاقتصاد وارساء الدولة المدنية
الأحد 03 تشرين الثاني 2019
وطنية – دعا رئيس الجمهورية العماد ميشال عون المواطنين الذين احتشدوا على طريق قصر بعبدا قبل ظهر اليوم، بدعوة من “التيار الوطني الحر” الى الاتحاد “لأن الساحات الجديدة يلزمها دعم وجهاد”، وقال: “كثرت الساحات التي لا يجب أن تكون ساحة ضد أخرى”. واعتبر أن “تحقيق اهداف محاربة الفساد والنهوض بالاقتصاد وارساء الدولة المدنية يحتاج الى تعاون الجميع وتوحيد الساحات”.
كلام الرئيس عون جاء في ختام التظاهرة الشعبية الحاشدة التي غصت بها طريق القصر الجمهوري في بعبدا في مناسبة الذكرى الثالثة لانتخابه رئيسا للجمهورية.
وخاطب رئيس الجمهورية المشاركين في التظاهرة عبر شاشات كبيرة مباشرة من قصر بعبدا. وفي ما يلي نص كلمة الرئيس عون:
“يا شعب لبنان العظيم، اهلي واحبائي، جئتم اليوم لتجددوا العهد. أهلا وسهلا بكم، وأنا أيضا على العهد والوعد. لقد كثرت الساحات، وثار الشعب الذي يعيش عوزا، وحقوقه مفقودة، وفقد ثقته بدولته، وهنا تكمن المشكلة التي يجب حلها عبر إعادة ثقة الشعب بدولته. كثرت الساحات التي لا يجب أن تكون ساحة ضد أخرى وتظاهرة ضد أخرى. وأنا أدعو الجميع الى الاتحاد لأن الساحات الجديدة يلزمها الدعم والجهاد. فالفساد لا يذهب بسهولة لأنه متجذر منذ عشرات السنين ولا يمكن محاربته إلا عندما تبذلون الجهد اللازم وتساعدوننا على ذلك”.
واضاف: “رسمنا خارطة طريق تشمل نقاطا ثلاث، وهي: محاربة الفساد، النهوض بالاقتصاد، وارساء الدولة المدنية. وهذا لا يمكن تحقيقه بسهولة، ونحن بحاجة لجهدكم، والى ساحة تتألف منكم ومن كل الذين تظاهروا لتدافعوا عن حقوقكم. فتحقيق هذه الاهداف هو من حقكم، في مقابل وجود الكثير من المعرقلين ولذلك سنتواصل للإتفاق ونجاهد سويا. جئتم لتقولوا لي نحنا معك، وأنا اقول لكم أنا معكم، ومن خلالكم أرى شعب لبنان كله. واقول لكم أنا أيضا أحبكم، أحبكم كلكن يعني كلكن. عشتم وعاش لبنان”.

باسيل: الأولوية لتأخير الانهيار ويجب ألا يكون بيننا خائف ولا خائن كرامتنا آدميتنا ولا نقبل بأن تنتهي الثورة ببقاء الفاسدين ورحيل الأوادم
الأحد 03 تشرين الثاني 2019
وطنية – ألقى رئيس “التيار الوطني الحر” وزير الخارجية والمغتربين في حكومة تصريف الأعمال جبران باسيل، كلمة أمام الحشود على طريق القصر الجمهوري قال فيها: “مثلما تواعدنا نحن واياكم في 13 تشرين بالحدت، نلتقي اليوم على طريق بيت الشعب في بعبدا، بمناسبة مرور نصف الولاية الرئاسية لنبدأ بحراك شعبي، لأننا لا نقدر وحدنا من خلال المؤسسات الدستورية فقط ان نحقق التغيير الكامل، وصار لزاما ان تشاركوا معنا أكثر. وقتها أسميتها قلب الطاولة، ولكن الناس سبقتنا وقلبت هي الطاولة.
نحن كنا حذرنا شركاءنا اننا واصلون الى هنا ولا نستطيع ان نكمل هكذا! وأعطينا نفسنا فرصة لـ 31 تشرين! سبقنا الناس وبدأوا، ونحن هنا لا لنناقضه أو نواجهه، بل بالعكس لنكمل سويا فيه”.
اضاف: “كثر اعتقدوا انكم غير مبالين بوطنكم، واتت انتفاضتكم لتبرهن انهم ليسوا على حق، حتى لو كانت الموسيقى وسيلة لجذب البعض، انما بقي النشيد الوطني أعلى من أي صوت ثان. أنا تابعتكم لحظة بلحظة وسمعت صوتكم ورأيت الحماس بعيونكم. ارى نفسي فيكم، بالغضب الطالع من حناجركم، نحن مثلكم انتفضنا على الظلم، لذلك نحن لا نظلم أحدا. وبقدر ما شعرت بالغضب الصادق من اكثريتكم، شعرت بالظلم الذي اتعرض له من اقلية بينكم طلب منهم هذا الشيء بتوجيه من الخارج. ومن حرصي على نجاح ثورتكم، اقول لكم: “الثورة هي انتفاضة على الظلم، بس الثورة ما لازم تظلم والا بتسقط”.
وتابع باسيل: ” ليس عدلا اننا ننظلم مرتين، مرة من رموز الفساد، ومرة من ضحايا الفساد. نحن من 90 الى 2005 نفونا وعزلونا واضطهدونا وعملوا كل سياسات الهدر والنهب والفساد. وعدنا بقوة حلم التحرير وبقوة القضية التي ناضلنا من أجلها. دخلنا الدولة وبدأنا نضالا من نوع ثان ضد الفساد. كنا وحدنا، وصرنا نعيش الحلم ان نبني دولة، ولم نفقد الأمل ان شعبنا يحقق هذا الحلم، لأن رهاننا هو فقط على شعبنا. اليوم نرى سويا هذا الحلم، لا تقتلوا الأمل بأننا نقتلع الفساد ونبني دولة لأنه اذا عممتم تهمة الفساد، تحمون الفاسدين من دون ان تعرفوا. ماذا يريد الفاسد احسن من ان يتساوى بالآدمي؟ يشوه له صورته بالكذب والإشاعة حتى يصبحوا مثل بعضهم.
اذا اتهمتم الكل، الفاسدين والأوادم، لا نقدر ان نحاسب احدا. هكذا يهرب الفاسدون من الحساب ويصير الأوادم هم ضحية التهمة!
لهذا يجب ان يكون شعار “كلن يعني كلن” للمساءلة وليس للظلم. كلهم يجب ان يكونوا تحت المساءلة ونحن أولهم، وكلهم يجب ان يكونوا تحت المحاسبة إذا كانوا فاسدين ونحن أولهم. ولكن لسنا كلنا فاسدين وزعران، الفاسدون هم من عمروا قصورهم من مال الدولة والناس، الزعران هم من ركبوا الحواجز وأخذوا الخوات وذكرونا بالميليشيا وبأيام الحرب” .
وقال: “أنا تجرأت وكشفت حساباتي من سنتين من دون ان يسألني احد، وبالأمس رفع وزراؤنا ونوابنا السرية المصرفية ودعينا البقية ليفعلوا مثلنا. البعض لا يريد ! تحججوا ان هذا غير كاف. فلتكن البداية، وبعدها تفضلوا باقرار القوانين التي قدمناها عن رفع السرية المصرفية ورفع الحصانة عن المسؤولين والموظفين الحاليين والسابقين الذين تعاطوا بالمال العام، قانون استرداد الأموال المنهوبة يعني سرية، حصانة، استرداد.
نحن رفعنا لمدة 15 سنة شعار “حرية سيادة استقلال” حتى استرددناهم، واليوم نرفع شعار “سرية حصانة استرداد” حتى نسترد أموالنا التي تسد لنا عجزنا. بدل قطع الطرق على الناس، فلنقطع الطريق على النائب الذي يرفض ان يقر هذه القوانين، وعلى السياسي الذي يهرب من المحاسبة، وعلى القاضي الذي لا يحاسب ولا يطبق القانون!
ودعونا لا نقطع الطريق على نفسنا بمطالب سياسية يعجز تحقيقها اليوم، لأنكم تكونون تسرعون بالانهيار المالي. الوقت اليوم والأولوية هي لتأخير الانهيار وليس لتسريعه (بركي منمنعه). فلنطالب بالمحاسبة وهذا يمكن تحقيقه اليوم. لننظف سياستنا وننجو من الانهيار ووقتها نحقق مطلبنا بأن يصبح لدينا دولة مدنية من دون ان نقلب النظام بل بتطويره من خلال دستورنا، ومن خلال انشاء مجلس شيوخ يكون لديه الصلاحيات الكيانية والميثاقية، ونطبق اللامركزية الإدارية والمالية الموسعة التي تسهل حياة اللبنانيين وتنمي مناطقهم. هكذا نبدأ بقانون موحد للأحوال الشخصية وننتقل تدريجيا للدولة المدنية انطلاقا من المادة 95 من الدستور. نحن كنا اعددنا مشروعا كاملا نعلنه بأول مناسبة. هذا فكر ميشال عون، وهذه مدرسته التي تأخذ الناس بإرادتهم للدولة العصرية العلمانية”.
اضاف باسيل: “يا أهل الوفاء، نحن اليوم جئنا عند الرئيس عون لنستمد منه الدعم ونشاركه بتطبيق برنامجه الذي أعلنه بنصف ولايته وأول عملية “أيادي نظيفة” يفرضها الشعب هي ان يلزم كل المسؤولين والموظفين، الحاليين والسابقين، بقانون أو من دون قانون، ومن دون حكم قضائي، ومن دون شكوى، بكشف حركة حساباتهم من اول توليهم مسؤولياتهم أمام هيئة التحقيق الخاصة بمصرف لبنان، وتتشكل إذا لزم الامر هيئة قضائية خاصة يرأسها رئيس المجلس الأعلى للقضاء.
من يكون هناك شبهة بحساباته يحال الى التحقيق واذا كانت أمواله غير نظيفة يحال الى المحاكمة. وليخضع كل من صرح أمام المجلس الدستوري عن أمواله وممتلكاته لمقارنة بين اليوم ووقت استلم مسؤولياته؛ وهذه تكون مكاشفة من نوع ثان للرأي العام.
هكذا يميز الناس الآدمي من الفاسد، ويعرف من خلال القضاء، البريء من المجرم المالي، ووقتها تنفضح الكذبة والإغتيال السياسي المبرمج.
هذا هو التحدي بالآدمية الذي يرفعه “التيار الوطني الحر” أمام كل الناس، وهكذا نذهب الى انتخابات فارزين فيها الأوادم الذين قبلوا من الفاسدين الذين رفضوا، ويعرف الناس ان يميزوا بينهم.
هذا هو دورنا، والدور وقتها أهم من الموقع. الموقع يكبل أحيانا متل ما حصل معنا، الدور يحرر دائما. وفي كل الأحوال الكرامة أهم من الاثنين. وأمام الكرامة لا تهم المناصب. نحن كرامتنا هي آدميتنا. انتم لا تقبلون ولا نحن نقبل ان تنتهي الثورة ببقاء الفاسدين ورحيل الأوادم”.
وتابع: “أيها الشباب، نحن لم نخطىء كأن تعايشنا مع الفساد، بل على العكس حاربناه ولم نسكت عن الفاسدين، بل سميناهم، وكان هناك مئة مشكلة معهم، ولكن محاكمتهم ليست مسؤوليتنا بل مسؤولية القضاء الذي يملك الملفات. واعتقدنا اننا من خلال المصالحة، قادرون على أن نحقق الاصلاح، وهنا نعترف بأننا فشلنا بالاصلاح بالتراضي لأن بين الفاسدين شبكة مصالح كانت أقوى من قدرتنا السياسية وحدها، ولكن معكم نستطيع أن نفككها. أخطأنا بأننا التهينا بالعمل والمشاريع وكان همنا الانجاز أكثر من التصدي للذين يكذبون ويشوهون صورتنا ويزرعون في عقول الناس صورة خاطئة عنا. اعتبرنا أن الحقيقة ستظهر مهما كان الثمن وأنها أقوى من الانطباع الخاطئ. وتبين لنا أن هذا الانطباع الناتج من الكذب والإشاعة والاغتيال السياسي، صار حقيقة في ذهن بعض الناس. ولكن تأكدوا أن الحقيقة ستنتصر في النهاية”.
وقال: “أخطأنا أكثر عندما استوهلتنا فكرة أننا نصطدم بطائفة بأكملها كل مرة نمس بفساد زعيم لها أو مسؤول فيها، وعندما اعتبرنا ان الحفاظ على الوحدة الوطنية هي أهم من أن نحافظ على صورتنا وندافع عن آدميتنا، ولما اعتقدنا أن مقولة “اكذب اكذب، يعلق شيء في الاذهان”، نستطيع أن نربح عليها بمقولة “اعمل اعمل، بتشيل أي غشاوة من الأذهان”. أما الخطأ الأكبر يا رفاقي في “التيار الوطني الحر”، فهو أكثر شيء نفتخر به وبسببه ندفع الثمن الغالي. نتعرض لحملات موجهة ضدنا، بدأها الناس الطيبون “بكلن”، وأنهاها المحركون الأساسيون فينا وحدنا، وانتقلنا من كلن “لوحدن” لأن الهدف من الأساس هو إسقاط العهد وحذفنا السياسي. ولكني أقول أن لا أحد يستطيع أن يلغينا لأننا نحن شعب. يستطيعون حذفنا جسديا والشعب يكمل ولا شيء يوقفنا”.
أضاف: “يا رفاقي، خطأنا الأكبر هو فخرنا الأكبر. فخرنا كوني قلت “بأني مش زلمة حدا بلبنان، بل أنا زلمة لبنان”. فخرنا أننا قلنا إن وحدتنا الوطنية هي أهم من العالم كله، وأن ثلث شعبنا ليس إرهابيا، وأننا لن نقبل بأن نعزل أي مكون منا لكي لا ينفجر وطننا من الداخل، وأنه مهما كان الثمن علينا لن نكون اداة بيد الخارج. فخرنا التسوية مع مكون رئيسي في وطننا لنحصن بلدنا من دون أن تكون التسوية على الحسابات المالية أو مساومة على حساب الوطن. فخرنا أننا قلنا إننا متعصبون لوطنيتنا وعنصريون في لبنانيتنا ومنفتحون في مشرقيتنا. فخرنا الأكبر أننا عندما قلنا إن اللبناني المقيم والمنتشر هو قبل اللاجىء والنازح، قالوا “النازحين جوا جوا وجبران برا برا”. فخرنا أننا لم نتآمر مع دولة خارجية على أولاد بلدنا، ولا تآمرنا مع أولاد بلدنا على دولة خارجية. فخرنا أننا نجحنا بتحويل لبنان الى بلد نفطي على الرغم من رغبات الكثيرين الذين يريدون أن نبقى قاصرين ماليا، ومادين ايدنا اليهم. فخرنا أننا ردينا الميثاقية والشراكة الكاملة بين اللبنانيين وجعلناهم يشعرون بأنهم متساوون بالحقوق وبعزة النفس. فخرنا أننا نرد التوازن باداراتنا ومؤسساتنا واقتصادنا. فخرنا أننا أعدنا وصل المنتشرين بوطنهم وأعدنا لهم حقوقهم في الجنسية وفي الانتخاب. فخرنا أننا لم ندخل منظومة الفساد ولم نشارك بأي صفقة مع الفاسدين، ونتحدى أي أحد يثبت العكس. فخرنا أننا “نعذب” ولا ننصاع ونعاند كل من يرد أن يطوعنا لكي نصبح جزءا من تركيبة سياسية نرفضها، لا تشبهنا ولا نشبهها. قصاصنا كبير لأننا نعرف الكثير ونعاند أكثر، ولكن لا تخافوا لأننا قادرون على أن نتحمل أكثر”.
وتابع: “انتبهوا لأن أمامنا أياما صعبة وطويلة. كنا نسابق الزمن لكي نمنع الانهيار، ولكن الفساد والهدر والدين العام سبقونا. نحن قادرون على أن نتحمل لأن أهل الوفا كثر بيننا وأهل الخيانة قلائل جدا في صفوفنا. في الأزمات الكبيرة يا رفاقي، يظهر أمران: الخوف ونستطيع فهمه، والخيانة ولكن لا مبرر لها. نحن جيل عون، ولكي نقدر أن نتحمل الكثير، يجب ألا يكون بيننا خائف ولا خائن. رئيس الجمهورية أمس رسم لنا طريقا نلتزمها ونمشيها لنحقق حلمنا بلبنان”.
وقال: “للعماد عون أقول، أنت علمتنا أن كل شي يرخص للبنان ويهون. ول”التيار الوطني الحر” أقول إنني أسمع دقات قلوبكم وأعرف شعور كل واحد منكم، قلت لكم من قبل اننا مقبلون إلى 13 تشرين اقتصادي ونحن الآن في قلبه، ولكن أنتم قادرون على أن تخرجوا منه لأنكم ابناء 13 تشرين 1990، الصمود. وراء كل غيمة سوداء تشرق الشمس، و”التيار الوطني الحر” كان وسيبقى شمس لبنان”.
وختم باسيل متوجها لأمه: “أعتذر منك إذ بسببي طالك الأذى وانت لا ذنب لك، ولكنك يا أمي علمتني حب لبنان وان كرامتي الشخصية ليست أهم من كرامة وطني. علمتني ان لا أحد يقدر أن يمس كرامتك الا اذا انت مسستها بعمل شائن. انت تعرفين ماذا ربيت يا امي. تحملت الكثير، إلا أن الوقت كفيل أن يرد لك حقك ويبين الحقيقة”.

The post الياس بجاني: قراءة في هرطقة كلمتي عون وباسيل من قصر الرئاسة/مع نص الكلمتين appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

فيديو مداخلة للياس بجاني من قناة i24NEWS Arabic عبر سكايب تتناول آخر التطورات في لبنان بما يخص مجريات الحراك الشعبي بكافة جوانبه
03 تشرين الثاني/2019

أخبار الساعة السابعة/تقديم شيرين يونس
كيف تتجه الأمور في الشارع اللبناني بين المحتجون من جهة ومؤيدو ميشال عون من جهة أخرى
i24NEWS Arabic
تقرير عروة سيف
مداخلة عبر سكايب/للياس بجاني/ناشط لبناني اغترابي

قراءة في هرطقة كلمتي عون وباسيل من قصر الرئاسة
الياس بجاني/03 تشرين الأول/209
بداية لم يعد على أرض الواقع اللبناني عملياً حزب “تيار وطني حر”، بل مجموعة في فريق من التابعين والصنميين والودائع والانتهازيين والملحقين بحزب الله، الذي هوالمحتل الإيراني الملالوي، وذلك منذ العام 2006 ومنذ اللحظة الأولى التي وقع فيها عون وحسن نصرالله ما يعرف “بورقة التفاهم”.

إنه ومنذ بروز ظاهرة ميشال عون كان هذا الرجل ينادي بالحرية وبالسيادة وبالاستقلال وبمحاربة الإحتلالات والتخلص منها، وتحديداً الإحتلاليين السوري والإيراني، إضافة إلى رفضه التام للإقطاع والإقطاعيين والمذهبية والتوارث العائلي في المواقع الحزبية والرسمية، كما تسويّقه العالي النبرة لمبدأ تداول السلطات في كافة المواقع الرسمية والحزبية.

كما كان عون طالب قبل العام 2006 ومن منفاه الباريسي ومن خلال سلسلة مقالات عددها 13 بعدم مصالحة نظام الأسد والتعامل معه أو مسامحته تحت أي ظرف ورفع إجرامه وإرتكاباته إلى المحاكم الدولية على خلفية بأن ما ارتكبه من إجرام بحق اللبنانيين والسوريين والإنسانية…ونحن شخصياً من نشر ووزع وترجم المقالات ال 13 هذه وهي لا تزال موجودة على مواقعنا الالكترونية.

عقب توقيع عون ورقة التفاهم مع حزب الله انقلب على كل ما ذكرناه في أعلى لحد أنه طالب الشعب اللبناني بالاعتذار من النظام السوري، كما اعتبر في ورقة تفاهمه مع نصرالله بأن الاحتلال السوري للبنان كان تجربة شابتها بعض الأخطاء فقط .. في حين الورقة قدست وأبدت سلاح حزب الله ومن خلالها تنازل كلياً عن ثلاثية الحرية والسيادة والاستقلال واستبدلها بثلاثية الجيش والشعب والمقاومة.
كما أنه مارس ولا يزال يمارس داخل حزبه “الشركة” الذي لا يختلف عن أي شركة حزب لبنانية أخرى مسيحية أو إسلامية في لبنان، مارس الفوقية والدكتاتورية والعائلية والمحسوبيات والشخصنة التي وصلت لحد الصنمية.

كما قام على خافية “نكران الجميل” بإبعاد كل من عارض دكتاتوريته ونصب صهره جبران باسيل بقوة الفرض رئيساً لشركة حزبه، وهذا الأخير أيضاً تمادى وبوقاحة ونكران للجميل فاقع بطرد كل من عارضه.

واليوم في كلمته من قصر بعبدا أكمل باسيل عنترياته ودكتاتوريته وافترئاته وقام باتهام من ترك من النواب كتلته النيابية بالخيانة.

كلمة باسيل اليوم وأيضاً كلمة عون تميزا باللجوء المرّضي اللافت للآليات النفسية الدفاعية التالية:
الإنكار Denial
والإسقاط، Projection
والتبرير Rationalization
إضافة إلى انسلاخ مخيف عن الواقع الحالي المعاش Detachment from reality
والغرق في غياهب وهمي العظمة والاضطهاد Delusions of grandiose and persecution

علمياً وعملياً ومنطقياً، فإن ما يمكن استنتاجه من كلمتي عون وباسيل اليوم من القصر الرئاسي هو أنهما يفتقدان كلياً لكافة آليات واستراتجيات التعاطي مع حل المشاكل Problem solving strategies .

ولهذا غرقا في أوحال الشعبوية والديموغوجية والإنكار والإسقاط والتبرير والأوهام والانسلاخ عن الواقع والحقائق والهرب إلى الأمام مما سيُعقد الأمور أكثر ويزيدها تفاقماً وخطراً.

وحتى لا نطيل الكلام ونضيع البوصلة وباختصار نقول، بأن مشكلة لبنان الأولى الوجودية والكيانية والاستقلالية والتعايشية اليوم لا هي خطاب وممارسات عون أو جبران باسيل، ولا هي تبعية وغنمية ونرسيسية وطروادية غالبة أصحاب شركات الأحزاب التجارية والوكالات للخارج كافة، ولا هي ورغم ثقلها وخطورتها الأزمات المعيشية بكل تفاصيلها وتلاوينها.

بل المشكلة الأولى والأخطر والأهم هي و100% الاحتلال الإيراني المتمثل بحزب الله وبإرهابيه وبمذهبيته وبدويلته وبحروبه وبفساده وبمشروعه الفارسي التوسعي وبتناقضه الكلي مع كل ما هو لبنان ولبناني وسلم واستقرار وانفتاح ورسالة وتعايش وهوية وحضارة وثقافة ونمط حياة ودستور وأعراف وحريات وديموقراطية.

وبالتالي، وفي السياسة والشأن الوطني، فإن باسيل وعون، وغالبية الطاقم السياسي والحزبي، ومعهم كل الصعاب والأزمات الحياتية والمالية والاجتماعية هي رزم ورزم من أعرض سرطان الاحتلال، وعملياً وإمكانيات لا يمكن حتى البدء بحل أي من هذه المشكل الأعراض في ظل الاحتلال.

لقد طالب عون اليوم في كلمته بالحوار بين اللبنانيين ودعا إليه الجميع، فيما المطلوب حقيقة هو الحوار مع إيران ومع حزبها وسيده نصرالله وذلك بإشراف وتحت رعاية الأمم المتحدة ومجلس الأمن والجامعة العربية والمجتمع الدولي، بهدف التوصل السلمي والدستوري والعاجل إلى آلية وجداول زمنية ملزمة لتطبيق القرارات الدولية الثلاثة الخاصة بلبنان:
اتفاق الهدنة مع إسرائيل
وال 1559 وال 1701..
وكل ما عدا هذه المقاربة الوطنية والدولية والإقليمية لسرطان الاحتلال الإيراني المدمر.. فالج لا تعالج.

*الكاتب ناشط لبناني اغترابي
عنوان الكاتب الالكتروني
Phoenicia@hotmail.com
رابط موقع الكاتب الالكتروني على الإنترنت
http://www.eliasbejjaninew.com

The post فيديو مداخلة للياس بجاني من قناة(اي 24 نيوز) عبر سكايب تتناول آخر التطورات في لبنان بما يخص مجريات الحراك الشعبي بكافة جوانبه appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For November 04/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for November 04/2019

The post Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For November 04/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For November 03-04/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 18th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
November 03-04/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 03-04/2019
Lebanon’s President: We Have Drawn Up a 3-Point Plan
Aoun Urges Squares to Unite on Economy, Civil State and Anti-Corruption Fight
Lebanese flock to presidential palace in rally to support Aoun
Bassil Says People ‘Turned the Tables’, Slams ‘Corrupts, Thugs’
Lebanon’s Gebran Bassil joins pro-Aoun protest supporting ‘reform plan’
FPM Endorses Protesters Demands in Pro-Aoun Baabda Demo
Lebanon’s anti-government protesters return to streets, call for general strike
Lebanese keep protest alive in northern city of Tripoli
Israel pushing foreign allies to impose sanctions on aid to Lebanon: Reports
Lebanon’s Anti-Government Protesters Call for General Strike
Protesters Hold Central Demo in Beirut to Show ‘Unity’, Exert ‘Pressure’
Report: Lebanon to Have 24-Minister ‘Techno-Political Govt.’
Jumblat Decries ‘Empty Populist Stances’ after Aoun, Bassil Speeches
Strong Lebanon Bloc Cautions against Technocrat Govt.
Hizbullah’s al-Manar TV Says Twitter Accounts Suspended

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 03-04/2019

Lebanon’s President: We Have Drawn Up a 3-Point Plan
Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 3 November, 2019
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said Sunday that a three-point plan had been drawn up around tackling corruption, restoring the economy, and building a civil state. Aoun, who must now hold consultations with members of parliament to designate a new premier following the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, said: “These three points are not easily achieved, we need your efforts, and we need a square filled both by you and the (anti-government) protesters to defend your rights. “Many are trying to be obstructive. This is why we need to make a huge effort,” said Aoun in a televised speech, addressing his supporters who converged on the presidential palace in Baabda to back him. Hariri resigned on Tuesday following unprecedented nationwide protests.Aoun has signaled support for a more technocratic government, saying in a speech after Hariri’s resignation that ministers should be chosen “according to their competencies and expertise, not political loyalties.”Hariri’s government has continued in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed. In his speech on Sunday, Aoun described corruption, a primary protestor grievance, as having become “nested” in the state. Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Aoun’s son-in-law and an object of ridicule by anti-government protesters, addressed supporters at the rally, pledging to root out corruption and hold all who had taken state funds accountable. “Be careful, we have long and difficult days ahead of us. We were racing against time to prevent a collapse but the corruption, squandering (of resources) and public debt beat us.”

Aoun Urges Squares to Unite on Economy, Civil State and Anti-Corruption Fight
Naharnet/November 03/2019
President Michel Aoun on Sunday said that “squares are plenty” in Lebanon and that “no one should think that there is a square against another.”
He was addressing via video link thousands of Free Patriotic Movement supporters who rallied near the presidential palace to voice support for his stances on the third anniversary of his election as president of the republic. “The people have lost confidence in their state and this is a big problem,” Aoun lamented. “We have drawn a roadmap of three points: (fighting) corruption, (fixing the) economy and (building a) civil state. The three of them are not easy to achieve,” the president added. “We want a square composed of you and of those who protested. These three points are your right and a lot are practicing obstruction,” Aoun went on to say.He added: “I love all of you and I mean all of you.”The demonstration near the presidential palace in Baabda comes after more than two weeks of widespread anti-government demonstrations. Another such anti-government protest is scheduled for later Sunday in central Beirut. The anti-government demonstrations have united people from the country’s many religious sects and factions against the political class. The leaders who have ruled Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war are widely seen as having tanked the economy. Aoun, one of the main targets of the protesters’ anger, gave a speech late Thursday proposing that Lebanon should move away from the decades-old sectarian political system. He said the country is at a “dangerous crossroads.”

Lebanese flock to presidential palace in rally to support Aoun
Reuters, Beirut/Sunday, 3 November 2019
A rally of support for Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun swarmed the country’s presidential palace on Sunday, a rebuke to broader protests that have demanded the wholesale ouster of the country’s elite and which have toppled the government. Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned on Tuesday following unprecedented nationwide protests, deepening a political crisis and complicating efforts to enact badly needed economic reforms. A convoy of cars, some waving Aoun’s orange Free Patriotic Movement party flags and his portrait snaked across a main highway on Sunday while a sea of protesters marched to Baabda palace. They were joined by Lebanese Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil, Aoun’s son-in-law and an object of ridicule by anti-government protesters, who addressed supporters at the rally and called on them to refrain from accusing everyone of corruption, Lebanese news outlets reported. Some of the protesters demands are “destructive to the economy” and “uncompromising,” Bassil said, adding that “the slogan ‘everyone means everyone’ should be used to hold officials accountable and not for injustice.” “Be careful, we have long and difficult days ahead of us. We were racing against time to prevent a collapse but the corruption, squandering (of resources) and public debt beat us,” he said. Though no immediate estimate of the rally’s size was available, many thousands spread across a roadway leading to the palace. It was the biggest counter protest to the wave of demonstrations that have gripped Lebanon since Oct. 17 and which have included Aoun’s removal among a set of sweeping demands. “We’re here to say to Aoun that we love you and renew our trust in you,” said Hiyam Khairat at the rally. In a televised speech, Aoun, who must now hold consultations with members of parliament to designate a new premier, said a three-point plan had been drawn up around tackling corruption, restoring the economy, and building a civil state. “These three points are not easily achieved, we need your efforts, and we need a square filled both by you and the (anti-government) protesters to defend your rights. “Many are trying to be obstructive. This is why we need to make a huge effort,” said Aoun. He described corruption, a primary protestor grievance, as having become “nested” in the state. Wearing a shirt emblazoned with Aoun’s face, George Barbar said he had driven from northern Lebanon to show his support: “If people don’t join hands with the president, there will be no Lebanon,” said Barbar.

Bassil Says People ‘Turned the Tables’, Slams ‘Corrupts, Thugs’
Naharnet/November 03/2019
Free Patriotic Movement chief and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Sunday noted that the people have “turned the tables,” as he slammed political rivals as “corrupts” and “thugs.”“We had warned our partners that we would reach this stage and the people (who took part in the unprecedented popular revolt) acted before us and turned the tables and we are here to back them,” Bassil said at an FPM rally near the presidential palace in Baabda, reminding of his recent warning that the FPM would soon “turn the tables” in the country. “We are not all corrupt and thugs. The corrupts are those who built their castles from the money of the people and the thugs are those who blocked roads and asked for extortion money,” Bassil added. The FPM and its allies have accused Lebanese Forces supporters of “setting up checkpoints” that evoke the civil war era and of practicing extortion, claims that the LF and the protest movement have both dismissed as rumors. “The priority today is for delaying the financial collapse, not for speeding it up, and let us call for accountability to purify our policies and achieve our demand of building a civil state without toppling the system,” Bassil added. “We do not accept the end of the revolution with endurance of the corrupts and the departure of the upright officials,” he said. “We dare anyone to prove that we are part of any suspicious deal,” he went on to say. He added: “We moved from (the slogan) ‘all means all’ to ‘them alone’ because the main goal was the ouster of the president’s tenure but no one can eliminate us.”The pro-Aoun demo in Baabda comes after more than two weeks of massive nationwide anti-graft protests that brought down the government. Another such anti-graft demonstration is planned in Beirut to demand a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt.In Baabda, Aoun supporters said they backed the general demands of protesters nationwide, but insisted the president was the only man able to bring about reforms.

Lebanon’s Gebran Bassil joins pro-Aoun protest supporting ‘reform plan’
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Sunday, 3 November 2019
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil on Sunday joined thousands of people taking part in a rally in support of President Michel Aoun, and called on demonstrators to refrain from accusing everyone of corruption, Lebanese news outlets reported. Some of the protesters demands are “destructive to the economy” and “uncompromising,” Bassil said, adding that the slogan “everyone means everyone” should be used to hold officials accountable and not for injustice. A huge convoy of cars, some waving Aoun’s orange Free Patriotic Movement party flags and his portrait snaked across a main highway on Sunday while a sea of protesters marched to Baabda palace. It was the biggest counter protest to the massive wave of demonstrations that have gripped Lebanon since Oct. 17 and which have included Aoun’s removal among its demands. “We’re here to say to Aoun that we love you and renew our trust in you,” said Hiyam Khair. Wearing a shirt with Aoun’s face, George Barbar said he had driven from northern Lebanon to show his support: “If people don’t join hands with the president, there will be no Lebanon,” said Barbar. A semblance of normality returned to Lebanon this week, with roads re-opening and banks opening to customers on Friday after being shut for two weeks, though restrictions were reported on foreign currency withdrawals and transfers abroad.

FPM Endorses Protesters Demands in Pro-Aoun Baabda Demo
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 03/2019
Supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement on Sunday flocked to the presidential palace road in Baabda from areas across Lebanon to show support for President Michel Aoun on the third anniversary of his election, and in the face of unprecedented protests against the entire political class.
“We tell all those who took to the squares that their demands are our demands and nothing separates us other than disinformation and those trying to exploit them,” Nicolas Sehnaoui — an ex-telecom minister and a former FPM deputy chief — told reporters at the rally. MP Asaad Dergham of the FPM’s Strong Lebanon bloc meanwhile told MTV that the FPM demo is not aimed at pitting a street against another and is not a “show of force.”
“We tell our brothers on the squares that we complete each other,” he added. Noting that the new government will comprise “less than 30 ministers” and that there is “no problem” with caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri or any other candidate, Dergham stressed that the FPM “wants transparency and a state of institutions and will no longer accept bargains.”The National News Agency said the FPM demonstrators were calling for “a fight against corruption and the fulfillment of demands according to a legal mechanism and the president’s plan.”All parties must “go to parliament to legislate laws, recover the looted funds and lift bank secrecy,” NNA quoted the protesters as saying. The rally started at 11:30 am with a speech by President Aoun’s adviser Pierre Raffoul, who called for supporting the president and thanked the demonstrators for their stances and “honorable participation.”The rally was dubbed “O People of Loyalty”.
NNA meanwhile reported “fainting” cases among the demonstrators. “God, Lebanon and Aoun” and “Hela, Hela, Ho, We Love Jebran Bassil” were some of the slogans chanted by demonstrators. Some of the demonstrators had overnight camped in the area near the Baabda Palace to prepare for the rally. The pro-Aoun demo comes after more than two weeks of massive nationwide anti-graft protests that brought down the government.
Another such anti-graft demonstration is planned in Beirut to demand a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt. In Baabda, supporters of Aoun filled up a two-kilometer-long road leading to the presidential palace, an AFP correspondent said. Fans of the president waved large Lebanese flags and orange-colored banners of the political party he founded, the Free Patriotic Movement. “We are here, General. We won’t abandon you as long as we live,” one poster read, responding to a cross-sectarian movement calling for an end to his term.
Some Aoun supporters wore orange T-shirts while others held up portraits of the 84-year-old president. “General Aoun is a reformist and sincere man — not corrupt nor a thief,” said one supporter who gave her name as Diana.
“There has been corruption in the state for 30 years. The president isn’t responsible. He’s trying to fight against graft,” she said. In Baabda, Aoun supporters said they backed the general demands of protesters nationwide, but insisted the president was the only man able to bring about reforms.
“There were slogans against the president. That’s not fair,” said Hanna Nader, an unemployed man in his forties. More than 25 percent of the Lebanese live in poverty, the World Bank says. Economic growth in Lebanon has stalled in recent years in the wake of repeated political crises, compounded by an eight-year civil war in neighboring Syria. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his cabinet would step down. But it is still unclear what a new government will look like and if it will include independent technocrats as demanded by demonstrators.Thousands of anti-government protesters flocked together in the northern city of Tripoli Saturday night, many from other parts of the country.

Lebanon’s anti-government protesters return to streets, call for general strike
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Sunday, 3 November 2019
Lebanese protesters demanding the overthrow of their country’s ruling elite poured back onto the streets on Sunday in the largest numbers since the government was toppled and hours after opposing supporters of President Michel Aoun staged a rally. Protesters have poured into Riad al-Solh Square and Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut, with many of them confirming that they will continue with their protests until their demands are met amid calls for a general strike on Monday. The protesters called for the closure of all major roads across the country in order “to topple the government,” Al Arabiya correspondent reported.
Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned on Tuesday following unprecedented nationwide protests, deepening a political crisis and complicating efforts to enact badly needed economic reforms in Lebanon. On Sunday evening anti-government protesters flooded streets in Beirut and north and south of the capital, rejecting Aoun’s attempt to position himself as the guarantor of the protest movement and its anti-corruption drive. “All of them means all of them,” protesters chanted in central Beirut, a reference to the wholesale removal of an elite they accuse of pillaging the state and steering it into crisis. Earlier in the day, thousands of Aoun supporters had attended a rally just outside Beirut, some waving his Free Patriotic Movement party’s orange flags, engulfing a main road leading to the presidential palace. It was the biggest counter punch to the broader wave of demonstrations that have gripped Lebanon since October 17 and which have included Aoun’s removal among a set of sweeping demands. In a televised speech, Aoun, who must now hold consultations with members of parliament to designate a new premier, called for protesters to unify behind efforts to stamp out corruption, which he described as having become “nested” in the state. He said a three-point plan had been drawn up around tackling corruption, revitalizing the economy and building a civil state. The anti-government protests had largely subsided after Hariri resigned, with smaller groups remaining on the streets and pushing for core demands like the rapid formation of a government led by technocrats to carry out the badly needed economic reforms. “All that we have gotten so far is the government’s resignation. We still have a long way to go,” said Charbel al-Zaani, an engineer. “If the new government that is formed isn’t one that the people want, the revolution will return even bigger,” said Zaani. A semblance of normality returned to Lebanon this week, with roads re-opening and banks opening to customers on Friday after being shut for two weeks, though restrictions were reported on foreign currency withdrawals and transfers abroad.
Lebanon’s import-dependent economy has been hit by years of regional turmoil and a slowdown in capital flows that has put its foreign currency reserves under pressure.Aoun has signaled support for a more technocratic government, saying in a speech after Hariri’s resignation that ministers should be chosen “according to their competencies and expertise, not political loyalties.” Hariri’s government has continued in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed. Lebanon’s powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, which backs Aoun, has said Hariri’s resignation will waste valuable time in enacting measures needed to tighten state finances and convince foreign donors to release some $11 billion in pledged aid.
With Reuters

Lebanese keep protest alive in northern city of Tripoli
AFP, Tripoli, Lebanon/Sunday, 3 November 2019
Thousands of Lebanese flocked together in Tripoli on Saturday, an AFP reporter said, to keep a protest movement alive in a northern city dubbed “the bride of the revolution,” Despite its reputation for conservatism, impoverished Tripoli has emerged as a festive nerve center of anti-graft demonstrations across Lebanon since October 17. The movement has lost momentum in the capital since the government resigned this week, but in the Sunni-majority city of Tripoli late Saturday it was still going strong. In the main square, protesters waved Lebanese flags and held aloft mobile phones as torches, before bellowing out the national anthem in unison, the reporter said. “Everyone means everyone,” one poster read, reiterating a common slogan calling for all political leaders from across the sectarian spectrum to step down. Many people had journeyed from other parts of the country to join in.
Ragheed Chehayeb, 38, said he had driven in from the central town of Aley. “I came to Tripoli to stand by their side because they’re the only ones continuing the revolution,” he said. Leila Fadl, 50, said she had travelled from the Shiite town of Nabatiyeh south of Beirut to Tripoli to show her support.
“We feel the demands are the same, the suffering is the same,” she said. In Tripoli, more than half live at or below the poverty line and 26 percent suffer extreme poverty, a UN study found in 2015. On Tuesday embattled Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his cabinet would step down.
But it is still unclear what a new government would look like and if it would meet protesters’ demands that it include independent experts. Roads and banks have reopened after nearly two weeks of nationwide paralysis. Fahmy Karame, 49, called for a “rapid solution to the economic crisis.” “We’re waiting for a government of technocrats,” he said. In the Lebanese capital, hundreds protested on Saturday evening after a day of rain. “Down with the rule of the central bank,” they shouted at the top of their lungs, clapping their hands near the institution’s headquarters.Economic growth in Lebanon has stalled in recent years in the wake of repeated political crises, compounded by an eight-year civil war in neighboring Syria.

Israel pushing foreign allies to impose sanctions on aid to Lebanon: Reports
By Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Sunday, 3 November 2019
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing foreign allies to impose sanctions on aid to Lebanon in order to pressure Lebanese officials to clamp down on Hezbollah’s missile-development activities, following reports that the Trump administration suspended millions of dollars’ worth of aid to Lebanon, according to several Israeli media outlets. During a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last week, Netanyahu reiterated Israeli suspicions, shared by Washington that Iran has been trying to equip Lebanon’s Hezbollah with precision-guidance systems. The US State Department informed congressional officials on Thursday of the suspension, which includes $105 million in security aid, according to the Wall Street Journal, however, officials said the State Department gave no reason for the cutoff of the funds. A State Department official had told Al Arabiya on Saturday that the Trump administration’s stance on suspending aid to the country was unchanged, stressing on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s call on political leaders “to urgently facilitate the formation of a new government that can build a stable, prosperous, and secure Lebanon.” The holdup comes at a time when Lebanon is in political turmoil, with weeks of protests leading to the resignation of Saad Hariri from the office of prime minister. The Wall Street Journal cited a congressional official as saying that the Lebanese Armed Forces is “a critical institution” to the country’s stability, ensuring that Lebanon can carry out operations against ISIS, al-Qaeda and Hezbollah smuggling networks. However, Washington has repeatedly expressed concern over the growing role of Hezbollah in the Beirut government, the armed Shia group backed by Iran and listed as a terrorist organization by the US. Lebanon has been arguing with foreign donors over international aid for months. Before he resigned, Hariri failed to convince foreign donors to release $11 billion in assistance pledged at a Paris conference last year.

Lebanon’s Anti-Government Protesters Call for General Strike
Asharq Al-Awsat/Sunday, 3 November, 2019
Tens of thousands of Lebanese packed on Sunday into central Beirut for an anti-government demonstration hours after a rally was held in support of President Michel Aoun. The protesters called for a general strike Monday and for the government to speed up the political transition following Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation last week. Anti-government protests first erupted Oct. 17 to call for sweeping changes to the political system. The resignation of the cabinet was a first victory, but demonstrators have vowed to press ahead with their other demands. “All of them means all of them,” protesters chanted on Sunday in central Beirut, a reference to the removal of an elite they accuse of pillaging the state and steering it into crisis. Earlier Sunday, Aoun’s supporters gathered near Baabda’s presidential palace in a rally to express support for the president and his son-in-law FPM leader Gebran Bassil. Aoun addressed the Lebanese in a televised speech. “I call on you all to unite,” the president said. He said a roadmap had been drawn up to tackle corruption, redress the economy, and put together a civil government. “It won’t be easy, and we need your efforts,” he said. Bassil, who is Lebanon’s caretaker foreign minister, warned the pro-Aoun rally of “difficult days ahead” and said the country had been “racing against time to prevent a collapse.”

Protesters Hold Central Demo in Beirut to Show ‘Unity’, Exert ‘Pressure’
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 03/2019
Lebanon’s anti-corruption protesters were on Sunday flocking to Beirut’s Riad al-Solh and Martyrs squares to take part in a central demo dubbed “Sunday of Unity” and “Sunday of Pressure”. As protesters from across Lebanon joined demonstrators in downtown Beirut, the anti-corruption rallies continued in the northern city of Tripoli, the southern city of Tyre, the southern city of Sidon and the Mount Lebanon city of Aley. Activists had called for a million-strong protest in downtown Beirut. Other protesters also marched from the southern town of Kfar Rumman towards the city of Nabatiyeh.
Earlier in the day, thousands of Free Patriotic Movement supporters had rallied near the Baabda Palace in support of President Michel Aoun. Addressing the Baabda demo, Aoun called on citizens to unite behind reforms, after more than two weeks of nationwide anti-graft protests that brought down the government. Unprecedented cross-sectarian demonstrations have gripped Lebanon since October 17, demanding a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt. The cabinet stepped down on Tuesday, but protesters have said this was not enough. Along with its allies including powerful Iran-backed party Hizbullah, Aoun’s political party holds the majority in parliament. The FPM is now headed by his son-in-law Jebran Bassil, who has emerged as one of the most reviled figures in the protests. Before the cabinet resigned on Tuesday, Bassil was foreign minister. A proposed tax on calls via free phone applications such as WhatsApp triggered protests last month. But they soon morphed into a huge nationwide movement to denounce a raft of woes including a lack of basic services, a failing economy, and rampant sectarianism. On Tuesday, prime minister Saad Hariri announced his government would be stepping down.But it is still unclear what a new cabinet will look like, and if it will include independent technocrats as demanded by demonstrators. After around two weeks of closure, banks and some schools re-opened this week. But protesters have vowed to press ahead with their demands. On Saturday night, thousands of anti-government protesters had flocked together in the impoverished northern city of Tripoli to keep the popular movement alive. Several said they had traveled to the Sunni-majority city from other parts of the country, inspired by the after-dark street parties that earned it the title “bride of the revolution”. More than 25 percent of Lebanese citizens live in poverty, the World Bank says.The country’s economic growth has stalled in recent years in the wake of repeated political crises, compounded by an eight-year civil war in neighboring Syria.

Report: Lebanon to Have 24-Minister ‘Techno-Political Govt.’
Naharnet/November 03/2019
President Michel Aoun is expected to set the date of the binding parliamentary consultations to form a new government within 24 hours, sources said. “The government is expected to be comprised of 24 ministers and it will be techno-political, after a lot of parties rejected the formation of a purely technocratic government,” the unnamed sources told Kuwait’s al-Jarida newspaper in remarks published Sunday. “Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri is insisting on returning to the premiership with his own conditions and he has rejected ceding the post to a figure that is close to him,” the sources added. “The sovereign portfolios – defense, foreign affairs, interior and finance – will go to non-provocative figures belonging to political parties or closely associated to them,” the sources said. “The other portfolios will go to independent, or technocrat, figures,” the sources added.

Jumblat Decries ‘Empty Populist Stances’ after Aoun, Bassil Speeches
Naharnet/November 03/2019
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Sunday lamented what he described as “empty populist stances,” shortly after President Michel Aoun and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil addressed a loyalist demo in Baabda. “We have returned to square one with empty populist stances that date back to 30 years ago. He had earlier slammed the ongoing delay in setting a date for the binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier. “At the peak of the political crisis that the country is facing and its economic and social repercussions, and after the protest movement toppled most of the political class if not all of it, someone is toppling the constitution under the slogan ‘formation before designation’ for the sake of the authoritarian interests of one person and an absurd political movement,” Jumblat tweeted, in an apparent jab at Aoun and Bassil. On Sunday, the Presidency said “the challenges that the new government will face require a quick but not a rushed approach towards the process of designating a new premier,” adding that “the date of the consultations will be announced soon.”

Strong Lebanon Bloc Cautions against Technocrat Govt.
Naharnet/November 03/2019
Parliamentary sources from the Strong Lebanon bloc have warned that any technocrat government “might be doomed to fail due to its limited jurisdiction, especially if it did not enjoy a political cover.”“It might not be able to deal with any security developments,” the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Sunday. “We cannot take risks during this period, especially that we are standing on the brink of the abyss,” the sources added.
“A strong government that can make quick achievements is needed,” the sources went on to say.

Hizbullah’s al-Manar TV Says Twitter Accounts Suspended
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 03/2019
The Hizbullah-affiliated al-Manar TV has protested that most of its Twitter accounts have been suspended. Al-Manar accused the U.S.-based social media platform of giving in to “political pressures.” “Account suspended,” one such Arabic-language account, @almanarnews, read late Saturday.
“There is no place on Twitter for illegal terrorist organizations and violent extremist groups,” a Twitter spokesperson told AFP. The accounts in English, French and Spanish were also not available, but the Twitter handles of specific television shows seemed to be functioning.
Iran-backed Hizbullah is designated a “terrorist” group by the United States and several of its officials are under U.S. sanctions, but it is also a key political player in Lebanon. The group held three ministerial posts and a majority with its Christian allies before Lebanon’s cabinet fell this week after 13 days of mass anti-graft protests. Hizbullah is the only group not to have disarmed after Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, and it fought Israeli troops who occupied southern Lebanon until 2000. It has also been a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the neighboring country’s eight-year conflict.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 03-04/2019
Thabet Thabet Is Canadian Lebanese Patriot Held Hostage In Occupied Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/November 02/2019
Tighter US sanctions are weakening Iran’s grip on Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq: Hook/ Al Arabiya English/November 03/2019
Revolutionary leadership/Ahmad Saade/Annahar/November 03/ 2019
Protesters call for a general strike on Monday/Sally Farhat/Annahar/November 04/2019
Failure not an option as Iraq, Lebanon rebel against Iranian influence/Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/November 03/2019
As Lebanon and Iraq Protests Flare, Iran Clings to Hard-Earned Sway/Agence France Presse/November 03/2019

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 03-03/2019

Thabet Thabet Is Canadian Lebanese Patriot Held Hostage In Occupied Lebanon
الحرية للمخطوف في لبنان الكندي اللبناني تابت تابت
Elias Bejjani/November 02/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/80128/elias-bejjani-thabet-thabet-is-canadian-lebanese-patriot-held-hostage-in-occupied-lebanon/
Mr. Tahbet Thabet is a Canadian – Lebanese citizen and a freedom peaceful advocate and activist.
Mr. Thabet was arbitrarily and unlawfully was arrested at the Lebanese Beirut airport few days ago while he was trying to enter Lebanon in a bid to visit his parents.
Up till today no one know where he is held, or why he was arrested and according to what charges. Based on its oppressive record the Lebanese authorities might fabricate a case of treason against him, as they do with many of the Lebanese Diaspora freedom advocates and activists.
We learned from unconfirmed resources that the Lebanese military authorities are not allowing him to see a lawyer or even meet with any visitor.
We call on the Canadian government and the Canadian embassy in Lebanon to follow up on Mr. Thabet’s case who is actually a hostage, no more no less.
We strongly believe that the Canadian Government, and the Canadian embassy in Lebanon both by law carry a legal and ethical obligation to ensure by all means that Mr. Thabet is not tortured and that he is set free and returned safely to Canada to be with his family.
Yes, Mr. Thabet has been very active on all the social media facilities in advocating for a free and independent Lebanon, and at the same criticizing and opposing the puppet subservient Lebanese authorises and officials. But he did not break any Canadian law and simply he was practising his own holy right in voicing his free and patriotic opinion in a very peaceful mean.
Meanwhile, we call on each and every free and patriotic Lebanese in the Iranian occupied Lebanon, as well in all Diaspora countries to consider Thabet’s case as their own. Yes as their own because each free and patriotic Diaspora Lebanese might confront the same hostage fate and be taken hostage when ever he or she decides to visit their home land at any time.
Once again Mr. Thabet is a genuine patriot and an active advocate for a free Lebanon.
It is worth mentioning that Mr. Thabet and before his immigrating to Canada has served in the Lebanese army as a Lebanese soldier.
We, call also on all the human rights’ organization, in Lebanon and world-wide to adopt Mr. Thabet’s case and work on freeing him as soon as possible.

Tighter US sanctions are weakening Iran’s grip on Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq: Hook
Al Arabiya English/November 03/2019
The recent tightening of US sanctions on Iran has weakened the regime’s grip on Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, raising the prospect of reform and peace across the region, America’s top Iran advisor told Al Arabiya in an exclusive interview.
The Trump administration has imposed a “maximum pressure” campaign – increasing targeted sanctions on the Iranian regime since leaving the Obama-era nuclear deal in 2018, which has succeeded in decimating its industrial sector, reduced its funding of conflict across the Middle East and offers hope for resolution of some of the region’s most long-standing conflicts, US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said in an interview in Saudi Arabia.
“We are sanctioning Iran on an almost weekly basis and there is still plenty left for us to do. And, unfortunately for the Iranian regime, this is the price that they are paying for an expansionist and revolutionary and violent foreign policy that has caused so much suffering,” said Hook, mentioning September’s attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, which the US has attributed to Iran, and attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
Hook said the US administration is making it harder for Iran to conduct foreign interference operations as “Iran doesn’t have the money that it used to.”
“This is money that the regime spends in places like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen,” said Hook.
The Trump administration’s oil sanctions on Iran, which Hook described as unprecedented, have led to “a complete collapse of Iran’s oil sector.” Hook said US sanctions have collapsed Iran’s petrochemical, industrial metal, and precious metals sectors, as well. Meanwhile the administration announced Thursday that it imposed sanctions on Iran’s construction sector.
US President Donald Trump’s decision in May 2018 to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has given “enormous leverage” to sanction Tehran, according to Hook.
“We’re going to keep imposing sanctions on Iran until we’re able to get a new and better deal to replace the Iran nuclear deal that we left,” said Hook.
Saudi Arabia, the first country to support Trump’s decision to withdraw from the JCPOA, has borne the brunt of Iran having the largest missile inventory of any state in the Middle East, according to Hook. He said the US has responded to Iranian attacks by providing its ally with military assistance.
“These [Iranian] missiles find their way…into Saudi Arabia…After getting Iran’s oil exports to zero, there have been a number of attacks here in Saudi. We [The US administration] have increased the number of troops in this region by 14,000 since May and in October, we announced another 3,000 forces to Saudi Arabia alone,” said Hook.
Hook said the maximum pressure campaign isn’t limited to Iran, but countries like Russia and China.
“We have sanctioned Russia for its complicity in helping to illegally move Iranian oil to Syria. Some of [China’s] private companies started to import Iranian crude oil and they did not have a waiver to import that oil. And so we sanctioned them. This is a message to any country in the world, if their companies are considering importing Iranian crude oil, it’s not worth the risk,” said Hook.
Besides economic pressure, Hook said the US’ diplomatic isolation of Iran is spreading internationally.
“We have seen a number of Iranian diplomats expelled from Europe for conducting terror operations or terrorist attempted attacks. Morocco has severed diplomatic relations with Iran. We have seen a number of countries, especially the UK, France and Germany, identify Iran by name as responsible for attacking Saudi Arabia on September 14,” said Hook, adding that more countries need to identify Iran as the country behind the Saudi Aramco attacks.
While Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, the international community largely rejected the claim.
“When Iran asked the Houthis to claim responsibility for the attacks…It was a mistake for the Houthis to do that. I think they recognized it. They were embarrassed by it,” said Hook.
Hook said Iran’s strategy in Yemen is to do “what they accomplished 40 years ago in Lebanon with Hezbollah.”
“Iran has no legitimate interests in Yemen. And yet here, here they are in the middle of the civil war using this proxy to attack Saudi Arabia. They would like to turn the Houthis into their proxy right on Saudi’s southern border so that they’re able to attack at will – through the Houthis – Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE,” said Hook.
Hook blasted Tehran’s leadership as being “a corrupt religious regime that robs its own people blind” to pay for their proxies in Iraq and Lebanon, where recent demonstrations have called for Iranian presence to leave the countries.
“It’s no surprise that these same proxies [in Lebanon and Iraq] are as corrupt as the Iranian regime…We’re seeing these protests against corruption and a lot of the frustration and anger that we’re seeing and protesters is directed at Iran and its proxies,” said Hook.
Iran has accused the US and Arab states of stoking unrest in Lebanon and Iraq, as demonstrators in the countries call for reforms and the end of corruption.
“The Iranian regime and its proxies oppose these reforms because Iran and its proxies, wherever they go, always prioritize ideology and terror over the welfare of the people in that country,” said Hook.

Revolutionary leadership
Ahmad Saade/Annahar/November 03/ 2019
To the best of my knowledge, Lebanon is no sanctuary for human rights advocates, and the regime is no stranger to twisted methods of oppression.
Revolution is only sincere, honest and real in the hands of the masses – Bakunin
In this article, I seek to address a concern expressed by some “experts” and fractions of the population in regard to the revolution’s lack of leadership. Mainly, contrarily to the predominant opinion, I argue that the absence of a leader is an asset and not a liability or risk to the revolution. I will describe why a revolutionary leader would be ineffective but also a danger for the revolution.
To the best of my knowledge, Lebanon is no sanctuary for human rights advocates, and the regime is no stranger to twisted methods of oppression. We can expect that, in the case of the emergence of a revolutionary leader at this stage, the regime will use coercion, corruption or violence to get rid of this individual. Does one grow ahead for it to be chopped off?
The emergence of a revolutionary leader would be useless. Our people are fighting a long-established structured system of corruption, a spider’s web of oligarchs. Such a structure cannot be challenged by one, two or three honest men or women. They will be eliminated, one way or another. The establishment must be torn apart by the disorganized masses. Furthermore, is there anything more confusing than not being able to identify your enemy? The unfolding of a popular leader will only help the regime put a face on the revolution, and then get rid of it. The people must not give this privilege to the oppressor.
The emergence of a revolutionary leader would be a direct threat to the uprisings’ objectives. First, the elimination of this person, whether physically or through corrupting her (rendering her a traitor to the revolution), would be a major hit to the population’s morale. As History has repeatedly shown, this hit in morale will probably lead to a deceleration of revolutionary efforts. Second, let us not drown in the illusion of popular union. Indeed, people are more united than ever, but this union is not strong enough.
Sectarian, geographic and other types of tensions remain, and the emergence of a leader will only cause a feeling of alienation among other popular subgroups, hence division among protesters. Revolutionaries must remain conscious as not to use a “divide and conquer” strategy against their own selves, as honest and pure their intentions might be. Third, History does not swear to revolutionary leaders’ post-revolution goodwill. Assad, Castro, Gaddafi, Stalin, Mugabe and Mussolini (among many others) were all revolutionary figures once, individuals who ended up making history, not in the emancipation of their people, but in its oppression. Is it really what we want, to replace tyrants with new ones?
Nominating a leader at this stage would give him a sacred popular image, which in case of revolutionary success, will give him some kind of unquestionable right and predisposition to govern. In fact, aren’t the current Lebanese uprisings targeted at individuals who once fought for their people? Let us not replace a corrupt establishment with another. Leaders must emerge only after the despots go away, after the revolution, only when the people have the ability to rationally, and not emotionally, choose their representatives. Such is the democratic way to freedom, for democracy is the fruit of reason, not emotions.
It would be naïve to expect that this article will change the human tendency to look for and follow a leader. In their risk-averse nature, in fear of chaos, people find comfort in the organization hence in leadership. Consequently, and building on my aforementioned discussion, Lebanese revolutionary leadership must take a council form. This council should include representatives of all popular subgroups to prevent alienation. It should be large enough in order to minimize the potential damage in case of government reprisals against one of its members. Finally, it must be dynamic in its individual constituents, decentralized, much similar to a syndicalist structure, without any “superstars”.
*Ahmad Saade is a Doctoral Researcher in Economic Policy at Cranfield University. The Economics Group he belongs to is consistently ranked among the best in the world. His work is centered around Inequality, Poverty Alleviation and overall Political Economy.)

Protesters call for a general strike on Monday
Sally Farhat/Annahar/November 04/2019
From Lebanon’s far south to its far north, crowds filled the streets, blocking some areas including: Jal el-Dib, Ring Bridge, and Bliss Street.
BEIRUT: Demonstrators rushed back to the streets on Sunday and called for a general strike on Monday.
While schools will be closed and banks will be tentatively open, most universities did not issue any statement, meaning classes are still set to resume on Monday.
“I’ve been protesting since day one and I’m glad to see the Lebanese coming back on track and revolting again,” Tatiana Sibai told Annahar. “Time’s over, we are not leaving the roads until all our demands are met.”The country is six days post the fall of the cabinet. After Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned last Tuesday, protesters opened the roads and gave the government a few days to process their two remaining demands: the formation of a technocrat government and early elections. Nonetheless, the government has not yet responded to the cries of the the Lebanese.
Accordingly, protesters united once again on Ahad Al Daghet, which translates to Sunday’s pressure in English. From Lebanon’s far south to its far north, crowds filled the streets, blocking some areas including: Jal el-Dib, Ring Bridge, and Bliss Street.
Annahar Correspondent reported from Jal el-Dib that demonstrators were able to block the highway from its north to its south in sizable numbers despite the army’s attempt to prevent them, exceeding all expectations. Church bells rang while demonstrators chanted: Selmiye (peaceful) and thawra (revolution).
“Nothing drove me back to the streets, as I have never really left,” A protester at Ring Bridge said. “The spirit of the people today was refreshing, it seemed as if everyone was ready to start all over again. The government has resigned yet no PM was assigned, and we do not have any clue on what the new government would look like. This is why we need to stay in the streets to pressure the political class into creating the desired government in the fastest time frame possible and with our conditions.”
*TK Maloy and Paula Nawfal contributed to the article.

Failure not an option as Iraq, Lebanon rebel against Iranian influence
Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/November 03/2019
With the disintegration of their respective governments, Iraq and Lebanon have passed the point of no return. Yet furious protesters won’t accept the months of prevarication that habitually accompanies the formation of new governments, as corrupt vested interests haggle to secure maximum personal benefit.
This goes way beyond choices of prime minister. Iraqi and Lebanese citizens demand that the rotten, corrupt political order be burnt to the ground and replaced by sovereign and accountable governing systems, offering them prosperity, dignity and hope.
Hassan Nasrallah and Hadi Al-Amiri’s struggles to prop up governments whose leading ministers are clamoring to be allowed to resign demonstrates the irreplaceable stake pro-Iranian elements have in upholding the ugly, sectarianized status quo. These seasoned terrorists will fight tooth and nail to thwart change.
Demonstrators know that if they back down it could take generations for another comparably united grassroots movement to emerge. Although many originally came out over issues of jobs, the cost of living and failing services, the protests evolved into an existential confrontation with the agents of Iran and their malign impact on society.
The protesters express fury that their countries have been stolen, rendered unrecognizable by chronic Iranian manipulation. In a society where the strong expression of emotion is taboo, protesters in Basra have hugged their national flag and openly wept at the miserable, humiliating state they have been reduced to. In the sacred Shiite city of Karbala, incensed citizens have burned the Iranian flag and beaten their shoes against images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Lebanese protesters chant that they will no longer accept the narratives of sectarian discord propagated by leaderships whose tribalist worldviews have failed to evolve since the 1980s.
The Quds Force’s Qassem Soleimani has made multiple visits to Iraq in recent weeks, meeting paramilitary leaders to orchestrate the campaign against the protests from a Green Zone operations room. Senior Iraqi security personnel were astonished to attend a meeting due to be chaired by Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, only to find Soleimani sitting in his place. Soleimani’s campaign included killing sprees by snipers and murderous attacks to break up protest camps and intimidate demonstrators. Army officers warnedcitizens against joining protests, with one declaring: “I swear by Allah that the militiamen and the snipers will kill you.”
Citizens have justice and weight of numbers on their side, but lack organizational direction. The creation of a loose cross-sectarian body representing protesters would be a huge step forward in sidelining corrupt factions that have perpetuated the sectarian discord.
The protesters express fury that their countries have been stolen, rendered unrecognizable by chronic Iranian manipulation.
Al-Amiri’s vision for “constitutional amendments” would mean the sidelining of Parliament and domination of the Iraqi state by pro-Iran elements; using paramilitary force to crush all opposition to Tehran-sanctioned dictatorship. We shouldn’t look for democratic roadmaps from someone with a CV built on sectarian cleansing and militancy, who, according to the constitution, should not even be allowed to participate in politics.
In comments inspired by his mentor Khamenei, Nasrallah blames the unrest on “agents of embassies,” claiming that a “political coup was being plotted in order to plunge the country into a vacuum.” He threatened that he had thus far prevented Hezbollah from genuinely flexing its muscles, but protesters would soon discover what the movement was capable of.
Nasrallah has already sent out his thugs to beat up congregations of female protesters, so is he threatening to ignite a Syria-style civil war? Nasrallah must know that such an eventuality would unite Lebanon against Hezbollah, including its erstwhile allies among the Christian population (about 40 percent of Lebanon’s population) and nationalist Shiites, whose eyes have been opened to the malign consequences of Iranian hegemony. Hezbollah may be armed to the teeth, but that won’t help it after the movement’s own actions render it a detested minority within a minority.
Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi has become a gigantic millstone around the necks of Iraq’s Shiite communities: Dominating local economies, acting like mafia gangs to extort money out of local people, and submerging these communities in the worst forms of organized crime. This was consciously inspired by how Hezbollah operates in Lebanon, where it exploits its control of institutions and distribution networks to exclude other economic actors.
With funding from Tehran drying up in the context of renewed US sanctions, Hezbollah fails to materially benefit even its staunchest supporters, who lost sons during Hezbollah’s bloody Syrian odyssey and its battles with Israel. Nasrallah’s grassroots is realizing that the movement cannot be depended on. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s long list of assassinations of journalists, politicians and national figures remains bitterly fresh in the collective Lebanese memory.
A new US State Department report again rates Iran as the world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism, spending an estimated $1 billion annually to bankroll overseas proxies. Tehran won’t peacefully relinquish Arab nations, which it regards as indivisible components of its “axis of resistance.” Protesters must unitedly pursue their shared aspirations at the national level, to avoid Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi and Hezbollah politically subverting these demands while forcibly regaining control of the streets.
The forthcoming battle will be bitterer than most people realize, yet it is unavoidable. Better it is waged now than after five or 20 years of Tehran’s theological vampires sucking the lifeblood from Arab nations. Syria and Yemen today lie in ruins (the direct consequence of Iran’s warmongering) and are unable to resist Tehran’s stifling embrace. Nevertheless, the ayatollahs should take heed of events in Lebanon and Iraq and know that, at some point in the future, their immense investments in exported arms and purchased political loyalties will be swept into the sea upon a tidal wave of popular anger. Tehran’s superficial regional supremacy will ultimately count for nothing, despite the millions of innocent lives squandered in pursuit of this goal. Instead of amassing staunch regional allies through policies of good-neighborliness, Iran will find itself mistrusted and shunned.
Iraq and Syria have undergone massive demographic displacements in Tehran’s favor. Allowing Iran to regain the initiative would entail its proxies embarking on new bouts of sectarian cleansing with a view to vengefully ensuring that Iran’s pre-eminence could never again be challenged.
This is an existential battle for the survival of national identity and sovereignty, vis-a-vis insidious creeping Iranian hegemony. It is now or never — do or die. The anti-Iran resistance movement of popular, peaceful protests must succeed. For those striving to regain their stolen nations, failure is not an option.
*Baria Alamuddin is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in the Middle East and the UK. She is editor of the Media Services Syndicate and has interviewed numerous heads of state.

As Lebanon and Iraq Protests Flare, Iran Clings to Hard-Earned Sway
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 03/2019
Iran has worked to turn sweeping anti-government protests in Iraq from a threat to its hard-earned influence over its neighbor into an opportunity for political gains, analysts say. In Lebanon too, where similar rallies against corruption and government inefficiency have broken out, Iran’s main ally Hizbullah has managed to maintain its influence. “Very clearly, Iran in both Lebanon and Iraq wants to protect the system and not allow it to fall apart,” said Renad Mansour, researcher at London-based Chatham House. In both countries “it considers the demands of protesters potentially destabilizing,” he told AFP.
In Iraq, many demonstrators calling for an overhaul to the political system over the past month have pointed at Tehran as its primary sponsor — a worrying accusation for Iranian officials. The leaders in Iran “are probably at peak influence and don’t want anything to change, because it’s exactly where they want to be,” said Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute.
For decades, Iran has carefully crafted ties to a vast range of Iraq political and military actors, from Shiite opponents of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein to Kurdish factions in the north and even Sunni tribes in the west.
It therefore can play a crucial mediating role in Iraq’s political crises, and Qasem Soleimani, who heads the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force, often visits Baghdad during such times. Tehran also backs many of the factions in Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, which was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group. And it sells crucial electricity and natural gas to supplement Iraq’s gutted power sector and is Baghdad’s second-biggest source of other imports, from fruit to carpets and cars.
– ‘Palm of Iran’s hand’ –
The political and economic sway is perhaps more valuable than ever amid Washington’s efforts to isolate and economically handicap Iran. The leaders in Tehran “have absolutely everything to lose and will do anything to defend it,” said Knights. “In the course of that, they are exposing their hand and their allies, and building even greater anger towards them.” Since protests erupted on October 1 in Iraq, many demonstrators have accused Iran of propping up the corrupt, inefficient system they want to overthrow. One in five Iraqis live below the poverty line and youth unemployment stands at 25 percent, despite the vast oil wealth of OPEC’s second-largest crude producer. “All our leaders are in the palm of Iran’s hand,” said Azhar, a 21-year-old protester in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.
In unprecedented displays of anti-Iran sentiment, demonstrators chanted “Out, out, Iran! Baghdad will stay free!”
Online footage showed Iraqis hitting pictures of Soleimani with their shoes, a severe insult in the region. The criticism caught Iran’s attention, and Soleimani has visited Iraq multiple times over the past five weeks to “advise” factions on how to respond, sources told AFP. “He’s running the show,” said a government official. “They agreed on a way to deal with protesters that allows the current political leadership to stay,” another source with knowledge of Soleimani’s visits said. One such meeting blocked a potential deal between paramilitary chief Hadi al-Ameri and populist cleric Moqtada Sadr to oust Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, sources said. But parties appear to have closed rank around the embattled premier again, maintaining the status quo. And amid the chaos of protests, several military commanders seen as close to the United States have been sidelined. “Iran has tightened its grip considerably and become much more bold,” said Knights.
– Lebanon erupts –
A week before the resumption of Iraq’s anti-government rallies on October 24, another Middle Eastern country erupted in anger at systemic corruption: Lebanon. Lebanon’s government is dominated by the allies of Shiite armed movement Hizbullah, through which Iran exerts significant influence.
“Hizbullah has never had it this good,” said Amal Saad, a Hizbullah expert and professor at the Lebanese University. But after rallies unexpectedly reached the party’s strongholds in Lebanon, “Hizbullah and Iran are in a precarious situation,” Saad told AFP. Criticism of the movement’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah even aired on the Hizbullah-run al-Manar TV, which was previously unimaginable for its propaganda arm. After initially backing the protests, Nasrallah said his party would not back the government’s resignation, which he said would lead to a dangerous political vacuum. Party loyalists have also launched counter-demonstrations, sparking scuffles with protesters and journalists. Despite the initial threat, said analyst Qassem Qassir, the party is as strong as ever. “It may have lost some morale or taken a hit in the media, but its strength remains,” Qassir told AFP.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For November 03-04/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 18th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 04 تشرين الثاني/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 04 تشرين الثاني/2019

ارشيف نشرات أخبار موقعنا اليومية/عربية وانكليزية منذ العام 2006/اضغط هنا لدخول صفحة الأرشيف

عناوين أقسام نشرة المنسقية باللغة العربية
الزوادة الإيمانية لليوم
تعليقات الياس بجاني وخلفياتها
الأخبار اللبنانية
المتفرقات اللبنانية
الأخبار الإقليمية والدولية
المقالات والتعليقات والتحاليل السياسية الشاملة
المؤتمرات والندوات والبيانات والمقابلات والمناسبات الخاصة والردود وغيره

The post نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 04 تشرين الثاني/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

كُلُّ بَشَرٍ كَالعُشْب، وكُلُّ مَجْدِهِ كَزَهْرِ العُشْب. العُشْبُ قَد يَبِسَ والزَّهرُ قَد سَقَط. أَمَّا كلِمَةُ الرَّبِّ فَتَبْقَى إِلى الأَبَد
رسالة القدّيس بطرس الأولى01/من22حتى25/:”يا إخوَتِي، الآن، بَعْدَ أَنْ طَهَّرْتُم أَنْفُسَكُم بِالطَّاعَةِ لِلحَقّ، مِنْ أَجْلِ مَحَبَّةٍ أَخَوِيَّةٍ لا رِيَاءَ فِيهَا، أَحِبُّوا بَعضُكُم بَعْضًا بقَلْبٍ طَاهِرٍ حُبًّا ثَابِتًا. فإِنَّكُم وُلِدْتُم وِلادَةً جَدِيدَة، لا مِن زَرْعٍ فَاسِد، بَلْ مِنْ زَرْعٍ غَيرِ فَاسِد، بكَلِمَةِ اللهِ الحَيَّةِ البَاقيَة. فَالكِتَابُ يَقُول: «كُلُّ بَشَرٍ كَالعُشْب، وكُلُّ مَجْدِهِ كَزَهْرِ العُشْب. العُشْبُ قَد يَبِسَ والزَّهرُ قَد سَقَط. أَمَّا كلِمَةُ الرَّبِّ فَتَبْقَى إِلى الأَبَد». هذِهِ هِيَ الكَلِمَةُ الَّتي بُشِّرْتُم بِهَا”.

All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures for ever
First Letter of Peter 01/22-25/:”Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. For ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures for ever.’ That word is the good news that was announced to you.”

الحَجَرُ الَّذي رَذَلَهُ البَنَّاؤُونَ هُوَ صَارَ رَأْسَ الزَّاوِيَة؛ مِنْ لَدُنِ الرَّبِّ كانَ هذَا، وهُوَ عَجِيبٌ في عُيُونِنَا
إنجيل القدّيس مرقس12/من01حتى12/:”وبدَأَ يُكَلِّمُهُم بِأَمْثَال: «رَجُلٌ غَرَسَ كَرْمًا، وسَيَّجَهُ، وحَفَرَ مَعْصَرَةً، وبَنَى بُرْجًا، ثُمَّ أَجَّرَهُ إِلى كَرَّامِين، وسَافَر. ولَمَّا حَانَ الأَوَان، أَرْسَلَ عَبْدًا إِلى الكَرَّامِين، لِيَأْخُذَ مِنْهُم حِصَّتَهُ مِنْ ثَمَرِ الكَرْم. فقَبَضُوا عَلَيْهِ وضَرَبُوه، ورَدُّوهُ فَارِغَ اليَدَيْن. وعَادَ رَبُّ الكَرْمِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِم عَبْدًا آخَر، وهذَا أَيْضًا شَجُّوا رَأْسَهُ وأَهَانُوه. وأَرْسَلَ آخَر، وهذَا أَيْضًا قَتَلُوه. ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ غَيْرَهُم كَثِيريِن، فضَرَبُوا بَعْضًا، وقَتَلُوا بَعْضًا. وبَقِيَ لَهُ وَاحِد، هُوَ ٱبْنُهُ الحَبِيب، فَأَرْسَلَهُ أَخِيرًا إِلَيْهِم وقَال: سَيَهَابُونَ ٱبْنِي. ولكِنَّ أُوْلئِكَ الكَرَّامِينَ قَالُوا فِيمَا بَيْنَهُم: هذَا هُوَ الوَارِث! تَعَالَوْا نَقْتُلُهُ، فَيَكُونَ المِيرَاثُ لَنَا. فقَبَضُوا عَلَيْه، وقَتَلُوه، وأَخْرَجُوهُ مِنَ الكَرْم. فمَاذَا يَفْعَلُ رَبُّ الكَرْم؟ سَيَأْتِي ويُهْلِكُ الكَرَّامِين، ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ الكَرْمَ إِلى آخَرين. أَمَا قَرَأْتُم هذِهِ الآيَة: الحَجَرُ الَّذي رَذَلَهُ البَنَّاؤُونَ هُوَ صَارَ رَأْسَ الزَّاوِيَة؛ مِنْ لَدُنِ الرَّبِّ كانَ هذَا، وهُوَ عَجِيبٌ في عُيُونِنَا؟».وكَانُوا يُحَاوِلُونَ أَنْ يُمْسِكُوه، لأَنَّهُم أَدْرَكُوا أَنَّهُ قَالَ هذَا المَثَلَ عَلَيْهِم. ولكِنَّهُم خَافُوا مِنَ الجَمْع، فَتَرَكُوهُ ومَضَوا”.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 12/01-12/:”Then he began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watch-tower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, “They will respect my son.”But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.”So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”?’When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.”

The post كُلُّ بَشَرٍ كَالعُشْب، وكُلُّ مَجْدِهِ كَزَهْرِ العُشْب. العُشْبُ قَد يَبِسَ والزَّهرُ قَد سَقَط. أَمَّا كلِمَةُ الرَّبِّ فَتَبْقَى إِلى الأَبَد/All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures for ever appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

ثورة وحرب تحرير ايضاً.. الثورة هي ضد الطبقة السياسية وضد الوصاية الإيرانية!
المحامي عبد الحميد الأحدب/04 تشرين الثاني/2019

أول ثورة في تاريخ لبنان منذ ثورة طانيوس شاهين!
حتى في تاريخ سويسرا كانت هناك ثورات! حتى استقر الشعب على الحرية وبالحرية!

كنا في جلسة محاكمة تحكيمية في سويسرا منذ سنوات أثناء الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية وكان لبنان مشتعلاً، قلت لجمع من المحامين ان لبنان كنا نسميه سويسرا الشرق، فقالوا لي: ولكن سويسرا أمضت أكثر من ثلاثة قرون في حروب أهلية وثورات ومن خلال هذه الحروب والثورات خرجت الحرية واستقرت الديمقراطية!
فعلاً كان يوم 17 تشرين هو نهاية الحرب الأهلية ولكنه كان بداية لثورة عارمة وحرب تحرير على الوصاية الإيرانية، وكان من الطبيعي بعد الفحش الذي استفحل وسط الطبقة السياسية الحاكمة المحمية من الوصاية الإيرانية ان ينفجر البلد عن ثورة على يد شباب قاطَعَ أي صلة مع الطبقات الحاكمة وفكرها ومفاهيمها ومسلكها مُسقطاً كل النظام الذي عشناه خلال الحرب الأهلية ثم من الطائف الى 17 تشرين.

الثورة لا تُعد بالأيام! والحلول لن تأتي بعد أيام!
والثورة هي ضد الطبقة السياسية وضد الوصاية الإيرانية!
ولكن حتى يتبين الضوء الأبيض من الضوء الأسود يجب ان نتطلع بواقعية الى مفهوم الطبقة السياسية،
هي الرؤساء الثلاثة (استقال أحدهم) وأحزابهم، والقوة المسلحة التي بيدها اركان الدولة، أي حزب الله.

فالثورة هي حرب تحرير ضد حزب الله الذي يخضع له الرؤساء الثلاثة!
وحزب الله يعيش على “ولاية الفقيه”،
وفقيه حزب الله هو المرشد الأعلى الإيراني، ا
اذاً فمطالب الثورة تصطدم بولاية إيران على حزب الله الذي أتاح لأحزاب الرؤساء الثلاثة ان يرتبوا 80 مليار دولار نهباً من أموال الدولة اللبنانية.
فالحل ليس ببسيط!

وهو ليس محض لبناني بل إيران جزء أساسي منه!
وإيران في حرب مع الولايات المتحدة، وهي ممسكة بالعراق وسوريا واليمن، وتكاد تمسك بلبنان!
ما يجري في العراق هو امام انظارنا والثورة في العراق هي ضد إيران،
وما يجري في اليمن مع الحوثيين كذلك!

في سوريا تحالف روسي إيراني ممسك بسوريا، الولايات المتحدة انسحبت منه وبقيت تركيا داخلة وخارجة من التحالف!

ففي وجه الثورة والإصلاح لا تقف الطبقة السياسية وحدها، فبشار الأسد كانت قد سقطت من سلطته ثلاثة ارباع الأراضي السورية قبل التدخل الجوي الروسي والتدخل الإيراني الأرضي، فالعامل الخارجي يلعب دوراً وازناً في تثبيت عملاء إيران.

كما هو وضع العراق الذي يحرق الشيعة قنصليات إيران في التظاهرات المليونية وكذلك اليمن مع الحوثيين!

هل تترك إيران لبنان يسقط من يدها؟
والى اين في حرب ترامب مع إيران، لاسيما وان ترامب متقلب بشكل جنوني في سياسته الخارجية وهناك إجراءات عزله التي أصبحت علنية في الكونغرس.
الطبقة الحاكمة في لبنان تساندها إيران ولكن يواجهها ويواجه الشعب اللبناني إعصار مالي اقتصادي نقدي، من الهدر الذي اوصلها واوصل شعب لبنان الى الإفلاس!

من هناك فإن الإصلاح ليس سهلاً لأن عوامل خارجية تتصدى له،
الحزن مرسوم على الغيوم والأشجار والستائر والثورة انتصرت ولم تنتصر،
وعوامل اقتصادية تحول دون تحقيق الثورة لأهدافها، ولكن الطبقة السياسية سقطت والعوامل الخارجية متغيرة والزمن معنا في نهاية المطاف.

التغيير سيتقدم كجرافة البولدوزر لرفع الأنقاض والنفايات والمسامير المتراكمة على ارض هذه المنطقة منذ ان احتل ملالي طهران السلطة، والتغيير سيكون بالتقسيط ولا حول ولا قوة الا بالله.
يا لبنان الأخضر، كيف خلاصنا؟
لم يبقَ من كتب السماء كتاب!
وماتت خيول بني امية خجلاً وظل الصرف والإعراب.

The post المحامي عبد الحميد الأحدب: ثورة وحرب تحرير ايضاً.. الثورة هي ضد الطبقة السياسية وضد الوصاية الإيرانية appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

سعد الحريري بالشخصي “طيوب” ولكن في السياسة قمة في الفشل
الياس بجاني/04 تشرين الثاني/2019

بداية في الشخصي فالسيد سعد الحريري  “طيوب” وخفيف الظل، ومرح وقريب من القلب وغير مستفز والأهم هو رجل منفتح وعصري في نمط حياته الغربية الشخصية والعائلية.

هذا في الشخصي .. ولكن ودون مواربة نقول بأن كل هذه الصفات الشخصية والحياتية والأخلاقية والإيجابية لا علاقة لها بقدراته السياسية التي هي فعلاً كارثة، وتحت الصفر…والرجل مدمّن تنازلات وتغيير مواقف.

أُدخله القدر إلى العمل السياسي مرغماً ودون تحضير مُسبق أو حتى خيار بالرفض منذ أن فرضت الظروف المأساوية عليه أن يحل مكان أبيه الشهيد عقب اغتياله في العام 2005…

وفي جردة وبتجرد وبموضوعية لإنجازاته ونجاحاته السياسية لا نرى غير الفشل والتنازلات والاستسلام ونقض لكل الوعود والعهود والشعارات.

نشير هنا إلى أن من أهم مقومات القائد في أي حقل كان تأتي بصيرته وقدرته وفروسيته في وعلى اختيار فريق عمله ومستشاريه.

وهنا السيد سعد فشل فشلاً ذريعاً، وبنتيجة كارثية خياراته هذه نرى أن أكثر من أوقع الأذى به وبتحالفاته وورطه في رزم من المشكل هم المحيطين به والذين وباعترافه العلني قد سرقوه.

هؤلاء وهم كثر شوهوا صورته وادخلوه في آلاعيب ودهاليز السياسة اللبنانية التجارية والمافياوية حتى انتهى به الأمر غطاء لحزب الله ولاحتلاله ومندوباً له فوق العادة دولياً وإقليمياً.

وفي مجال الثبات على المواقف وفي مفاهيم الالتزام بالوعود فهو أكثر من كارثة.

وبجردة على رزم وعوده والشعارات التي رفعها منذ العام 2005 نرى أنه متقلب ومتلون ولم يلتزم بأي منها ودائماً بحجج صبيانية وساذجة من مثل مقولات المحافظة على الاستقرار  وأم الصبي والخ..

وقد وصل به مسلسل التنازلات والمساومات إلى حد تسخيف المحكمة الدولية الخاصة بلبنان التي تنظر في جريمة اغتيال أبيه ووضعها في “الجارور” والتحالف مع القتلة والتفنن في إيجاد مبررات لاحتلالهم.

خياره الرئاسي لعون، وعقده صفقة تجارية وسلطوية مع جبران باسيل، وفرطه 14 آذار مع الواهم والباطني سمير جعجع والأكروباتي وليد جنبلاط ودخوله معهم الصفقة التسوية الخطيئة كان خياراً مدمراً، وها هو لبنان وكل اللبنانيين يحصدون النتائج المفجعة على كافة الصعد.

أما قمة جهله القيادي والسياسي فيتجسد في تحالفه مع جبران باسيل السيكوباثي والمفرسن والمبعثن 100%.

من هنا فالسيد الحريري السياسي غير مؤهل لا من قريب ولا من بعيد في هذه المرحلة بالذات لتولي قيادة دفة سفينة لبنان المحتل وإخراجه من فك وسجون وأغلال وهمجية الاحتلال الإيراني.

يبقى بأن الطائفة السنية اللبنانية فيها المئات من الشخصيات الوطنية والقيادية والسيادية التي تتمتع بكل مقومات الكفاءة والعلم والمعرفة والوطنية والرؤية والخبرة لتولي موقع الرئاسة الثانية من مثل الدكتور مصطفى علوش والمحامي عبد الحميد الأحدب واللواء أشرف ريفي على سبيل المثال وليس الحصر.

وصحيح بأن المحتل الإيراني ومن خلال أدواته والتابعين عنده الأكثرية النيابية التي بمقدورها تسمية من تشاء، لرئاسة الحكومة، ولكن الحراك الشعبي العارم والعابر للمناطق والمذاهب واللابط لكل شركات الأحزاب التجارية ولوجوه أصحابها المصابين بكل عاهات والنرسيسية والطروادية قد سحب الشرعية من هذه الأكثرية ومن حق الحراك وهو قادر أن يمنحها لمن يستحقها رغماً عن أنف واستكبار وهيمنة وتشبيح حزب الله وبري وعون وهزلية عنتريات السيكوباثي باسيل وكل الباقين من أفراد الطاقم السياسي والرسمي الملجمي والتاجر والفاجر.

ولأن سعد الحريري بالشخصي والأخلاق “طيوب” عليه هو أن يبادر إلى تزكية شخصية سنية تتمتع بكل الكفاءات اللازمة لتولي الموقع ومساعدته وتأييده والتسوّق له وتركه مع الأحرار والسياديين العمل على إنهاء الاحتلال الإيراني من لبنان.

في الخلاصة، السرطان المدمر الذي يفتك بلبنان ويعيث به فساداً وإفساداً وارهاباً وكفراً هو حزب الله الإيراني الذي يحتل لبنان.. وبظل احتلاله لا مجال لحل أي مشكل.

*الكاتب ناشط لبناني اغترابي
عنوان الكاتب الالكتروني
Phoenicia@hotmail.com
رابط موقع الكاتب الالكتروني على الإنترنت
http://www.eliasbejjaninew.com

The post الياس بجاني/سعد الحريري بالشخصي “طيوب” ولكن في السياسة قمة في الفشل appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For November 05/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for November 05/2019

The post Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For November 05/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For November 04-05/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 19th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
November 04-05/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on November 04-05/2019

Aoun Meets Kubis: Anti-Corruption Measures Tops Next Govt. Tasks
Hariri, Bassil Hold First Meeting since PM Resignation
Sources: Government Formation Ensued from Hariri, Bassil Meeting
Lebanon’s Aoun: Dialogue with protesters crucial to solve issues at hand
Lebanon Bonds Extend Rally
Protesters block roads in Beirut, other parts of Lebanon
Schools shut for third week/Worst economic crisis since 1975-90 civil war
Mustaqbal Denies Being behind Some Road-Blocking Protests
Choucair Orders Sale of Recharge Cards according to Official Exchange Rate
Financial Prosecutor Sues CDR, Several Firms over Brissa Dam File
Lebanon’s Parliament Postpones Session to Elect Secretaries, Commissioners
Abdullah Urges Hariri to Form Govt. of People’s Aspirations
Protests Against Political Class Gain Momentum in Lebanon
Protesters close roads, paralyzing Lebanon as crisis worsens
Al-Akhbar Journalists Resign over Paper Policy on Lebanon Uprising

Aoun Meets Kubis: Anti-Corruption Measures Tops Next Govt. Tasks
Naharnet/November 04/2019
President Michel Aoun on Monday said in talks with U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis that the first task for the upcoming government is to put anti-corruption measures in practice. “One of the first tasks of the new government will be to follow up on anti-corruption and the investigation process, which will involve all officials in (state) departments at various levels,” he told Kubis. “Dialogue with demonstrators is necessary in order to reach an understanding on the issues at hand,” he added. Aoun and Kubis held their talks at Baabda Palace where discussions focused on the latest developments amid nationwide cross-sectarian rallies that gripped Lebanon since October 17. Demonstrators are demanding a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt.
The meeting comes days before a Security Council meeting to discuss the stages of implementing resolution 1701.

Hariri, Bassil Hold First Meeting since PM Resignation
Naharnet/November 04/2019
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement chief and caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil were on Monday holding their first meeting since the October 29 resignation of Hariri. According to MTV, General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim played a mediation role to arrange the meeting.“The meeting between Hariri and Bassil cannot be described as positive or negative because it was shrouded by confidentiality,” MTV added. The TV network also described as “baseless and inaccurate” a media report published by the kataeb.org news website about the deliberations between Hariri and Bassil. The website had reported that a preliminary agreement has been reached between Hariri and Bassil on forming a 24-minister cabinet headed by Hariri and allotting the so-called sovereign portfolios to Bassil, Ali Hassan Khalil of the AMAL Movement and Wael Abu Faour of the Progressive Socialist Party. “Twenty ministers would be independent experts and two more sovereign portfolio ministers would be described as expert and independent but they would be associated with Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement,” the website added. “It has been agreed that the line-up would be accompanied by a policy statement promising major reform pledges in addition to a work plan whose implementation would involve the civil society, with the aim of calming street protests and sparing the ruling political class the bitter cup that it has been tasting since the revolution erupted on October 17,” kataeb.org said. Hariri is reportedly seeking a government that would exclude figures that “provoke” large segments of the public opinion, such as Bassil, caretaker Telecom Minister Mohammed Choucair and caretaker Environment Minister Fadi Jreissati.Bassil’s Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullah and their allies are meanwhile opposed to Hariri’s re-designation as premier should Bassil be excluded from the new cabinet’s line-up, according to some media reports.

Sources: Government Formation Ensued from Hariri, Bassil Meeting
Kataeb.org/November 04/2019
The new Cabinet will consist of 24 ministers to be headed by resigned Prime Minister Saad Hariri whose objective aims at pacifying protesters’ fury, sources told Kataeb website. The initial agreement reached between Hariri and caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil during a meeting held on Monday at the Center House indicate that Bassil, Ali Hassan Khalil and Wael Bou Faour will be assigned three of the sovereign ministries while 20 independent specialists will obtain the rest of the seats, provided that two of those will pertain to Hezbollah and the Future Movement. The new government will issue a ministerial statement presenting a list of reformative promises along with a work roadmap calling for the civil society to assist in its implementation.

Lebanon’s Aoun: Dialogue with protesters crucial to solve issues at hand
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Monday, 4 November 2019
Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun said on Monday that there is a need for dialogue with demonstrators in order to come to an understanding on the issues at hand. On its official Twitter page, The Lebanese Presidency cited Aoun as saying to the UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon that one of the first tasks of the new government will be to follow up the anti-corruption, and carry out an investigation process that will include all officials in departments at different levels. Demonstrators continue to block roads across Lebanon, including in the capital Beirut, as anti-government protests enter their third week. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that while some roads such as the Nahr al-Kalb highway had been reopened, others remain closed by protesters on Monday morning. A rally of support for President Aoun took place on Sunday, in a seeming counter-move against the nationwide protests, which have called for the resignation of the entire government. Aoun’s son-in-law Gebran Bassil, who is also leader of his political party the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and foreign minister, attended the rally and called on demonstrators to refrain from accusing everyone of corruption. Aoun previously gave a speech on Thursday calling for a new cabinet. Protesters seem to have largely ignored his calls as banks and schools were again closed on Monday.

Lebanon Bonds Extend Rally
Reuters/November 04/2019
Lebanon sovereign dollar-bonds rallied again on Monday following almost two weeks of hefty losses as the country was facing its biggest economic crisis in decades, though protests showed little sign of abating. The gains came across most of the curve with the 2021 bond enjoying the largest jump, adding 2.12 cents in the dollar to trade at 74.375 cents, Tradeweb data showed. However, this was still well below the near-90 cents in the dollar pre-protests. Many longer-dated issues added around 1.5 cents in the dollar on Monday. On Monday, protesters blocked roads in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, pressing a wave of demonstrations against the ruling elite that have plunged the country into political turmoil at a time of acute economic crisis. The nationwide protests, which were ignited on Oct. 17 by a government proposal to tax WhatsApp calls, led Saad al-Hariri to resign as prime minister last week. Formal consultations over the formation of a new cabinet have yet to begin.

Protesters block roads in Beirut, other parts of Lebanon
Reuters/November 04/2019
Protesters blocked roads in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Monday, pressing a wave of demonstrations against the ruling elite that have plunged the country into political turmoil at a time of acute economic crisis.
The nationwide protests, which were ignited on Oct. 17 by a government proposal to tax WhatsApp calls, led Saad Al-Hariri to resign as prime minister last week. Formal consultations over the formation of a new cabinet have yet to begin.After Hariri quit, protests had ebbed, roadblocks were lifted and banks reopened for the first time in two weeks on Friday. But in the early hours of Monday, new roadblocks emerged on in Beirut and around the country, snarling major traffic arteries including the main seaside highway north and south of the capital. Schools called off plans to reopen and are now in their third week of closure. “The slogan is ‘this revolution doesn’t know sleep, form the government today’,” said Hashem Adnan, one of several dozen protesters blocking the Ring Bridge in Beirut, demanding a new cabinet independent of the political elite which protesters accuse of corruption and steering Lebanon into economic crisis. “People are continuing because you know you can’t trust this regime, any part of it,” he said.
In the northern city of Tripoli, demonstrator Rabih Al-Zein said protesters had escalated again because they do not trust the ruling elite to meet demands for a new administration that will act against corruption.We want technocrats (in  government) and we want judges to fight corruption, recover stolen money and hold the government accountable,” he said. Lebanon is grappling with the worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. With growth around zero percent, a slowdown in capital inflows has led to a scarcity of US dollars and pressure on the pegged Lebanese pound.
Lebanon is one of the world’s most heavily indebted states and is widely seen to be in need of urgent moves that would narrow the government’s gaping deficit and revive confidence. Though no formal capital controls were announced, customers encountered new restrictions on withdrawals of US dollars and transfers abroad when the banks opened on Friday. Protesters in the southern city of Sidon mobilized outside government-run agencies and commmercial banks on Monday, forcing them to close, a witness said. Hariri, who is aligned with Western and Gulf Arab states, continues in a caretaker capacity until the formation of a new government.The prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim under the Lebanese sectarian system of government and President Michel Aoun must designate the politicians with most support among MPs. Aoun, a Maronite Christian allied to the powerful, Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, has yet to begin the formal consultations with MPs to designate the next prime minister. On Saturday, the presidency said he was working to resolve “complications” first and would start the consultations soon. Supporters of Aoun staged a big rally near the presidential palace on Sunday, followed by large anti-government protests in Beirut and other parts of the country later in the day.

Schools shut for third week/Worst economic crisis since 1975-90 civil war
Reuters/November 04/2019
Protesters blocked roads in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Monday, pressing a wave of demonstrations against the ruling elite that have plunged the country into political turmoil at a time of acute economic crisis.
The nationwide protests, which were ignited on Oct. 17 by a government proposal to tax WhatsApp calls, led Saad Al-Hariri to resign as prime minister last week. Formal consultations over the formation of a new cabinet have yet to begin.After Hariri quit, protests had ebbed, roadblocks were lifted and banks reopened for the first time in two weeks on Friday.

Mustaqbal Denies Being behind Some Road-Blocking Protests
Naharnet/November 04/2019
Al-Mustaqbal Movement on Monday denied allegations accusing it of orchestrating the road-blocking protests in some regions to press for the re-appointment of caretaker PM Saad Hariri as prime minister. “Some news websites and social media activists are holding al-Mustaqbal Movement responsible for the blocking of roads in several regions, attributing their allegations to an alleged order for the Movement’s supporters to take to the streets to take part in a tug of war over the parliamentary consultations and support the designation of PM Saad Hariri,” al-Mustaqbal said in a statement. It added: “Al-Mustaqbal Movement stresses that everything that is being published and circulated in this regard is coming from tools and writers who are seeking sedition and incitement and are annoyed by the sentiments of solidarity with PM Hariri.”“PM Hariri will not, under any circumstances, put himself in a position of racing for the premiership in media outlets, and he considers the premier designation process a constitutional issue subject to binding parliamentary consultations, not to the wishes of some of those who are seeking sectarian incitement on social networking websites,” Mustaqbal said.

Choucair Orders Sale of Recharge Cards according to Official Exchange Rate
Naharnet/November 04/2019
Caretaker Telecommunications Minister Mohammed Choucair on Monday ordered mobile network operators touch and Alfa to sell prepaid recharge cards according to the official dollar exchange rate set by the central bank, after dollar rationing in the country led to a hike in prices.
“After a series of meetings and contacts held by Minister Choucair with the various parties and officials concerned with the issue of recharge cards, it has been decided to deliver these cards to distributors in Lebanese lira and according to the official US dollar exchange rate set by Banque du Liban,” Choucair’s press office said in a statement. “Accordingly, Minister Choucair has asked the two mobile network firms and their distribution employees to sell these cards to citizens according to the set prices as of tomorrow, Tuesday, calling on the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Consumer Protection Directorate to prosecute anyone who violates this decision,” the statement added. The statement also said that the minister has sought to find a solution that “does not contradict with the contracts signed with the two mobile network operators, which limit the jurisdiction of changing the prices of recharge cards to the government exclusively.”The statement also reminded citizens that they can continue to purchase recharge cards according to the official exchange rate through the 300 touch and Alfa centers spread across Lebanon, ATM machines and the Alfa and touch websites and mobile applications.

Financial Prosecutor Sues CDR, Several Firms over Brissa Dam File
Naharnet/November 04/2019
Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim on Monday filed a lawsuit against the state-run Council for Development and Construction and several private companies on charges of wasting public funds in connection with the Brissa Dam project, the National News Agency said. LBCI television said several corruption-related files will be tackled after Monday’s move. The TV network said the files pertain to the telecom sector, illegal phone services, customs and cases related to the state’s finances. The development comes amid unprecedented, nationwide and cross-sectarian protests that have gripped Lebanon since October 17, demanding a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt.

Lebanon’s Parliament Postpones Session to Elect Secretaries, Commissioners
Naharnet/November 04/2019
The Parliament speakership announced on Monday the postponement of a legislative session set to elect two secretaries and three commissioners, the National News Agency reported.The session was scheduled to be held on the 5th of November. It was rescheduled for November 12.

Abdullah Urges Hariri to Form Govt. of People’s Aspirations
Naharnet/November 04/2019
MP Bilal Abdullah, of the Progressive Socialist Party parliamentary bloc, called upon caretaker PM Saad Hariri to form a government that meets the people’s aspirations and leave his rivals to bear the consequences should they fail to listen to the popular street demands. The MP said that political figures are exploiting their popular gatherings to impose conditions and enhance their power shares. “In the designation (of PM) and formation (of government), some (politicians) use the squares to impose conditions and enhance quotas, and also disregard the constitution and customs…we listen to the statements of ministers and deputies of a particular party talking about the diversity of their choices,” said Abdullah. The MP addressed Hariri and urged him to form a government that meets the conscience of the people, “Sheikh Saad, your street is closest to the pulse of the street, why don’t you form a government that meets the people’s conscience and let them (his rivals) bear the consequences alone,” he said. Since October 17, Lebanon has been gripped by unprecedented anti-government and anti-austerity protests for nearly two weeks. Last week, the Lebanese government led by Hariri resigned under pressure from the street. President Michel Aoun acknowledged Hariri’s resignation as prime minister but asked his government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.

Protests Against Political Class Gain Momentum in Lebanon
Associated Press/Naharnet/November 04/2019
Lebanese demonstrators blocked key roads around the country on Monday after a weekend of mass rallies confirmed that political promises had failed to extinguish the unprecedented protest movement. In a now almost daily game of cat-and-mouse with riot police, increasingly organised protesters erected temporary road blocks using dumpsters and parked vehicles. In the capital Beirut, they sat cross-legged on a key flyover and gathered near the Central Bank, which protesters blame for fuelling Lebanon’s economic crisis. Schools had been due to reopen on Monday after weeks of sporadic closures, but some remained shuttered as much of the country remained on partial lockdown for a third Monday. Unprecedented cross-sectarian demonstrations have gripped Lebanon since October 17, demanding a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt. The nationwide street movement has brought down the government, in what is regarded as its first major win. Protesters have however vowed to keep up the street movement until all their demands are met, including the formation of a technocratic government. Yusef Fadel, a demonstrator, ruled out the possibility that the next government could also include party loyalists. “I reiterate, we are demanding a technocratic government and not a techno-partisan one,” said the 25-year-old who holds a masters degree in finance but remains unemployed.
“We need new blood.”
Lebanon’s president has said the country’s next cabinet should include ministers picked on skills, not political affiliation, seemingly endorsing protester demands. On Sunday, tens of thousands took to the streets, calling for an end to President Michel Aoun’s tenure, as well as the removal of a political system dominated by the same figures and families since the end of the civil war. The mobilisation followed a large rally organised by Aoun supporters in front of the presidential palace.

Protesters close roads, paralyzing Lebanon as crisis worsens
Associated Press/November 04/2019
On one of Beirut’s main avenues, protesters distributed leaflets apologizing for closing roads and saying that the “roads will remain closed until an independent government is formed.”
BEIRUT: Protesters have closed major roads in and elsewhere in Lebanon, paralyzing the country as the political crisis over the formation of a new government worsens. Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned last Tuesday, meeting a key demand of the protesters that have been holding demonstration since Oct. 17 demanding an end to widespread corruption and mismanagement by the political class that has ruled the country for three decades. President Michel Aoun has not yet set a date for consultations with heads of parliamentary blocs to name a new prime minister.Many schools, universities and businesses were closed on Monday. Art of Change: Revolutionary street art loudening Lebanon’s voice .On one of Beirut’s main avenues, protesters distributed leaflets apologizing for closing roads and saying that the “roads will remain closed until an independent government is formed.”

Al-Akhbar Journalists Resign over Paper Policy on Lebanon Uprising
Naharnet/November 04/2019
Two Journalists in Hizbullah-led al-Akhbar newspaper submitted their resignation recently rejecting the paper’s position about the nationwide demonstrations that gripped Lebanon since October 17 demanding a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt.
Mohammed Zbeeb, editor in chief of al-Akhbar newspaper business page, wrote in a tweet on Monday: “I submitted my resignation from al-Akhbar last week to protest the administration’s attitude towards the Revolution.” The second journalist, Joy Slim, announced her resignation on Facebook last week because of her coverage of the Lebanese revolution. She wrote: “I submitted my resignation from al-Akhbar after working for five years and a half in the newspaper.”She added: “The past days were decisive for me, I was disappointed how the paper covered the uprising after working for months (and perhaps years) to provide evidence that it had to happen. As soon as it happened, the newspaper quickly joined the ranks of the counterrevolution, introducing inflammatory plots and rumors that fueled what happened today in the street and the attack of “citizens” (as al-Akhbar called them on facebook) on the protesters.”It is noteworthy that many articles written by the editor-in-chief of al-Akhbar newspaper, Ibrahim al-Amin, considered the October 17 uprising as “suspicious and funded by foreign embassies.”

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on November 04-05/2019
As Lebanon and Iraq Protests Flare, Iran Clings to Hard-Earned Sway/SourceAgence France Presse/November 04/2019
Lebanon Protests Rage on as Politicians Stall/Agence France Presse/November 04/2019
Sami Gemayel Lambastes Delay in Government Formation/Kataeb.org//November 04/2019
Lebanese Passport Ranked Among Worst in the World/CNN International/November 04/2019
By becoming an active part of Lebanon’s loathed political class, Hezbollah has faced the wrath of protestors too./Mohanad Hage Ali/Carnegie MEC/November 04/2019
Students protest against the university’s decision to resume classes/Sandra Abdelbaki/Associated PressN/ovember 04/2019
Beware of the Worried Arabs… Beware of the Worrying Arabs/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al Awsat/November 04/2019

As Lebanon and Iraq Protests Flare, Iran Clings to Hard-Earned Sway
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/November 04/2019
Iran has worked to turn sweeping anti-government protests in Iraq from a threat to its hard-earned influence over its neighbor into an opportunity for political gains, analysts say. In Lebanon too, where similar rallies against corruption and government inefficiency have broken out, Iran’s main ally Hizbullah has managed to maintain its influence. “Very clearly, Iran in both Lebanon and Iraq wants to protect the system and not allow it to fall apart,” said Renad Mansour, researcher at London-based Chatham House. In both countries “it considers the demands of protesters potentially destabilizing,” he told AFP. In Iraq, many demonstrators calling for an overhaul to the political system over the past month have pointed at Tehran as its primary sponsor — a worrying accusation for Iranian officials. The leaders in Iran “are probably at peak influence and don’t want anything to change, because it’s exactly where they want to be,” said Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute. For decades, Iran has carefully crafted ties to a vast range of Iraq political and military actors, from Shiite opponents of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein to Kurdish factions in the north and even Sunni tribes in the west.
It therefore can play a crucial mediating role in Iraq’s political crises, and Qasem Soleimani, who heads the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force, often visits Baghdad during such times.Tehran also backs many of the factions in Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, which was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group. And it sells crucial electricity and natural gas to supplement Iraq’s gutted power sector and is Baghdad’s second-biggest source of other imports, from fruit to carpets and cars.
‘Palm of Iran’s hand’ –
The political and economic sway is perhaps more valuable than ever amid Washington’s efforts to isolate and economically handicap Iran. The leaders in Tehran “have absolutely everything to lose and will do anything to defend it,” said Knights. “In the course of that, they are exposing their hand and their allies, and building even greater anger towards them.” Since protests erupted on October 1 in Iraq, many demonstrators have accused Iran of propping up the corrupt, inefficient system they want to overthrow. One in five Iraqis live below the poverty line and youth unemployment stands at 25 percent, despite the vast oil wealth of OPEC’s second-largest crude producer. “All our leaders are in the palm of Iran’s hand,” said Azhar, a 21-year-old protester in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square. In unprecedented displays of anti-Iran sentiment, demonstrators chanted “Out, out, Iran! Baghdad will stay free!” Online footage showed Iraqis hitting pictures of Soleimani with their shoes, a severe insult in the region. The criticism caught Iran’s attention, and Soleimani has visited Iraq multiple times over the past five weeks to “advise” factions on how to respond, sources told AFP.”He’s running the show,” said a government official. “They agreed on a way to deal with protesters that allows the current political leadership to stay,” another source with knowledge of Soleimani’s visits said. One such meeting blocked a potential deal between paramilitary chief Hadi al-Ameri and populist cleric Moqtada Sadr to oust Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, sources said. But parties appear to have closed rank around the embattled premier again, maintaining the status quo. And amid the chaos of protests, several military commanders seen as close to the United States have been sidelined. “Iran has tightened its grip considerably and become much more bold,” said Knights.
Lebanon erupts
A week before the resumption of Iraq’s anti-government rallies on October 24, another Middle Eastern country erupted in anger at systemic corruption: Lebanon. Lebanon’s government is dominated by the allies of Shiite armed movement Hizbullah, through which Iran exerts significant influence.
“Hizbullah has never had it this good,” said Amal Saad, a Hizbullah expert and professor at the Lebanese University. But after rallies unexpectedly reached the party’s strongholds in Lebanon, “Hizbullah and Iran are in a precarious situation,” Saad told AFP. Criticism of the movement’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah even aired on the Hizbullah-run al-Manar TV, which was previously unimaginable for its propaganda arm. After initially backing the protests, Nasrallah said his party would not back the government’s resignation, which he said would lead to a dangerous political vacuum. Party loyalists have also launched counter-demonstrations, sparking scuffles with protesters and journalists. Despite the initial threat, said analyst Qassem Qassir, the party is as strong as ever. “It may have lost some morale or taken a hit in the media, but its strength remains,” Qassir told AFP.

Lebanon Protests Rage on as Politicians Stall
Agence France Presse/Monday, 4 November, 2019
Demonstrators in Lebanon blocked key roads and prevented some public institutions from opening Monday after mass rallies showed political promises had failed to extinguish the unprecedented protest movement. Nationwide cross-sectarian rallies have gripped Lebanon since October 17, demanding a complete overhaul of a political system deemed inefficient and corrupt. The movement forced the government to resign last week and has spurred a raft of promises from political leaders, who have vowed to enact serious reforms to combat corruption. But on Monday demonstrators battled on, vowing to keep up their street movement until all their demands are met, including the formation of a technocratic government.”The people in power are not serious” about forming a new government, said Aadi, a 30-year-old demonstrator blocking a road that connects the capital to the southern city of Sidon. “They think we are playing here.”In Sidon, protesters gathered in front of public institutions and banks to prevent them from opening, an AFP reporter said. Another reporter saw similar scenes in the northern city of Tripoli. In a now almost daily game of cat-and-mouse with riot police, increasingly organized protesters erected temporary road blocks using dumpsters and parked vehicles. In the capital Beirut, they sat cross-legged on a key flyover and gathered near the Central Bank, which protesters blame for fueling Lebanon’s economic crisis. Schools had been due to reopen Monday after weeks of sporadic closures, but some remained shuttered as much of the country was on partial lockdown for a third Monday.
‘New blood’
Lebanon’s under-fire political class has repeatedly warned against the chaos a government resignation would cause, but they have yet to make progress on appointing a replacement. President Michel Aoun has asked the outgoing government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new one is formed, but Lebanon has entered a phase of acute political uncertainty, even by its own dysfunctional standards. With a power-sharing system organized along sectarian lines, the allocation of ministerial posts can typically take months, a delay demonstrators say the country can ill afford. “The people and the politicians are living on two different clouds,” said Steven, a 34-year-old from the Bekaa Valley who was blocking a key flyover in Beirut. “The president hasn’t even called on parliament to discuss the formation of a new government,” he added. “Nobody is listening to us.”
One week after the government’s resignation, there had still been no consultations between the president and parliamentary blocs.
These are to look into who would lead the next government, as well as the distribution of cabinet posts among established parties and independents.
Yusef Fadel, a demonstrator in central Beirut, ruled out the possibility that the next government would include members of established parties.
“I reiterate, we are demanding a technocratic government and not a techno-partisan one,” said the 25-year-old who holds a masters degree in finance but remains unemployed.
“We need new blood.”
On Monday, Aoun called for dialogue with “protesters to reach an understanding”, and said fighting corruption was a priority. “The investigation will include all officials, of all ranks, in all administrations,” he said on Twitter.
Cross-sectarian
Lebanon’s largely sectarian political parties have been flat-footed by the cross-communal nature of the demonstrations. Waving Lebanese national flags rather than the partisan colors normally paraded at demonstrations, protesters have been demanding the resignation of all of Lebanon’s political leaders.
Such was the scene on Sunday, when tens of thousands took to the streets across the country. “All of them means all of them,” they chanted, calling for political leaders from all sectarian stripes to step down. Draped in white sheets, three demonstrators staged a mock execution of the grievances that pushed them down into the street. Nooses around their limp necks, they bore signs referring to corruption, sectarianism, and the 1975-1990 civil war. Sunday’s mobilization followed a large rally organized by Aoun supporters in front of the presidential palace. Aoun’s supporters said they backed the overall demands of anti-graft protesters, but insisted the president was the only man able to bring about reforms.The president has said the members of the next government should be picked on merit, not political affiliation, seemingly endorsing protester demands for a technocratic government. On Sunday, he urged the Lebanese to rally behind a roadmap to tackle corruption, redress the economy, and put together a civil government. But he is also thought to be insisting on keeping his son-in-law Gebran Bassil, who is Lebanon’s foreign minister and one of the most reviled figures among protesters, in government.

Sami Gemayel Lambastes Delay in Government Formation
Kataeb.org//November 04/2019
Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel on Monday slammed the delay in the Cabinet formation noting that it exacerbates the crisis, deeming it shameful to count on people to break or on suppressing them. “We do not want a technopolitical government, or a political one, or any suggested biased form of a government,” Gemayel said during a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Saifi. “We want an independent government that restores the international community’s trust, embarks on reforms and alleviates the monetary condition,” Gemayel stressed. “The people are calling for implementation of the Constitution, early Parliamentary elections and appointment of a new Prime Minister while you are procrastinating and asking them to form committees to negotiate with you,” he stressed. “The people are tired of closed doors, of political settlements and deals and are pleading for their demands to be respected,” he emphasized.
“How will the people trust you in resolving the country’s crisis while you are incapable of even forming a new government?”“Politicians should take a six-month break to review their steps before running for early elections,” he proposed.
“A neutral technocratic government and specialized ministries are needed in a transitional phase until early Parliamentary elections are set up which would generate people’s true representatives,” he stated. “The Parliament’s mandate can be shortened same as it was extended to allow people to express their opinion and we have submitted a law to the Parliament calling for that,” Gemayel explained that if approved, Parliament elections will be held in six months.
“Holding fast to your seats has destroyed the country” “Why are you afraid if you trust yourself?” “As an opposition force to the political settlement and the partitioning logic of detrimental implications, we urge all blocs and parties to acknowledge Lebanon’s need for a neutral competent government,” he indicated.
“The current mentality is destroying the country and egging on corruption which the citizens refused,” he lambasted. “Those protesting in the streets are not happy to be there; they are suffering and weary but this is their chance for a better life, better future for their children and better country” he declared.
“Today, we can see the Lebanese dreaming again and aspiring for an improved country,” he noted.

Lebanese Passport Ranked Among Worst in the World
CNN International/November 04/2019
It’s been a two-horse race this year to be named the world’s most powerful passport, with both top contenders in Asia.
Now, as we enter the final quarter of 2019, Japan and Singapore have held onto their position as the world’s most travel-friendly passports.
That’s the view of the Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the access each country’s travel document affords.
Singapore and Japan’s passports have topped the rankings thanks to both documents offering access to 190 countries each.
South Korea rubs shoulders with Finland and Germany in second place, with citizens of all three countries able to access 188 jurisdictions around the world without a prior visa.
Finland has benefited from recent changes to Pakistan’s formerly highly restrictive visa policy. Pakistan now offers an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) to citizens of 50 countries, including Finland, Japan, Spain, Malta, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates — but not, notably, the United States or the UK.
The European countries of Denmark, Italy and Luxembourg hold third place in the index, with visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 187 countries, while France, Spain and Sweden are in the fourth slot, with a score of 186.
Five years ago, the United States and the UK topped the rankings in 2014 — but both countries have now slipped down to sixth place, the lowest position either has held since 2010.
While the Brexit process has yet to directly impact on the UK’s ranking, the Henley Passport Index press release observed in July, “with its exit from the EU now imminent, and coupled with ongoing confusion about the terms of its departure, the UK’s once-strong position looks increasingly uncertain.”
The United Arab Emirates continues its ascent up the rankings, up five places to rank 15th.
“It’s the strongest climber this quarter,” Lorraine Charles at Cambridge University’s Centre for Business Research says in the October release.
“While the UAE may not be able to compete with Saudi Arabia — the regional hegemon — in terms of military strength and economic power, the projection of its soft power is uncontested in the GCC.”
At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan is once again at the bottom of the rankings, with its citizens needing a prior visa for all but 25 destinations worldwide.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the creator of the passport index concept, says in the July release: “With a few notable exceptions, the latest rankings from the Henley Passport Index show that countries around the world increasingly view visa-openness as crucial to economic and social progress.”
The best passports to hold in 2019 are:
1. Japan, Singapore (190 destinations)
2. Finland, Germany, South Korea (188)
3. Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg (187)
4. France, Spain, Sweden (186)
5. Austria, Netherlands, Portugal (185)
6. Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland (184)
7. Malta, Czech Republic (183)
8. New Zealand (182)
9. Australia, Lithuania, Slovakia (181)
10. Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Slovenia (180)
The worst passports to hold
Several countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to fewer than 40 countries. These include:
100. Lebanon, North Korea (39 destinations)
101. Nepal (38)
102. Libya, Palestinian Territory, Sudan (37)
103. Yemen (33)
104. Somalia, Pakistan (31)
105. Syria (29)
106. Iraq (27)
107. Afghanistan (25)
Other indexes
Henley & Partner’s list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.
The Henley Passport Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated in real time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index takes into consideration the passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories — ROC Taiwan, Macau (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican. Territories annexed to other countries are excluded.
Its 2019 index puts the UAE on top with a “visa-free score” of 177, followed by Germany, Finland, Luxembourg and Spain with 170.

By becoming an active part of Lebanon’s loathed political class, Hezbollah has faced the wrath of protestors too.
Mohanad Hage Ali/Carnegie MEC/November 04/2019
As the uprising in Lebanon has continued against the political elite and its corruption and mismanagement of power, a surprising victim of the popular unrest has been Hezbollah. Protests have taken place in Shi‘a areas of Lebanon, despite efforts by the party’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, to undercut the demonstrations. This has only cast light on how the Hezbollah of today is not the same party that took on a central political role in Lebanon in 2005.
Hezbollah’s decision to enter the first Lebanese government after the Syrian withdrawal in 2005 transformed it into a full-fledged partner of the country’s failed political class. The image last week of Hezbollah-backed thugs and loyalists attacking peaceful protesters will long stain the party’s self-professed reputation as the protector of Lebanon against Israeli aggression and an “outsider” with regard to the political elite. Indeed, Hezbollah in the past two weeks has stood as a main defender of this elite, whose system protects the party, with Nasrallah repeatedly trying to demobilize the protest movement.
A historical look back at Hezbollah’s recent history helps to better understand why many in the Shi‘a community joined the protest movement, after a long record of disciplined involvement in Hezbollah’s political gatherings. How has the party reached this stage, after a period when “the resistance” was considered above the petty maneuvering of internal Lebanese politics?
The questions is more striking given that the party was never a full participant in the formative postwar period after 1990. That is when Lebanon’s current economic model was defined, empowering Lebanese warlords to extend their clientelistic networks and sectarian partisanship into government institutions.
During that period, the Syrian regime compartmentalized the roles of its clients and cronies in the country. Hezbollah was focused mainly on combating Israel’s occupation until 2000. Throughout those years the party’s participation in parliamentary and political life was relatively limited, in comparison to the Amal movement, which was the main representative of the Shi‘a in government. While Amal gained by rewarding its loyalists, its behavior was marred with accusations of corruption, undermining its popularity.
Back then, Hezbollah, as a resistance movement, accumulated military achievements and was perceived as having stayed clear of corrupt Lebanese politics. Within the Shi‘a community, the party was respected and was regarded as pious, while Amal appeared to embody greed and a lust for power.
Hezbollah’s standing in elections expanded as a consequence. For the critical mass of Lebanese Shi‘a, Hezbollah’s success in forcing an Israeli withdrawal in 2000 sanctified the organization as a liberator. The death of Hassan Nasrallah’s son while fighting against the Israelis in 1997, meant that he was viewed as being of a different cloth than most other Lebanese politicians. This helped Hezbollah to portray itself as the antithesis of Lebanese politics.
The party hesitated at first to enter Lebanese politics in 2005, when the Syrian army and security forces withdrew from Lebanon after the assassination of the former prime minister, Rafiq al-Hariri. The party defined its new government role as complementary to its resistance. Given the Syrian pullout, Hezbollah sought mainly to safeguard its weapons by bestowing legitimacy on its own resistance role by anchoring this in a new government. Hezbollah forged close ties with Amal, which remain in place to this day. The former enemies and competitors became the “Shi‘a duo,” inseparable in politics. The party also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) of Michel Aoun in 2006, paving the way for deeper ties with his political heir Gebran Bassil, who now heads the FPM and is a main target of the protesters.
Regional conflicts only intensified these alliances. The 2005–2015 decade was a highly volatile one for Hezbollah, as it faced many crises. This included the Syrian withdrawal and accusations that the party was involved in the Hariri assassination, a war with Israel in 2006, a short-lived domestic conflict in 2008, when Hezbollah and its Amal allies took over western Beirut, and the party’s entry into the war in Syria in 2013.
Hezbollah survived all these events with little discernible impact on its Shi‘a base of support. Sectarian polarization allowed the party to keep its constituency mobilized. By overstating alleged internal and external threats to the party and to Lebanon’s Shi‘a, Hezbollah enjoyed a wide margin of maneuver.
All this changed in 2016. A year after Russia’s intervention in Syria, the Assad regime was gaining ground and Hezbollah found itself on the winning side there. This is when the party decided to translate such gains inside Lebanon. Hezbollah played an integral role in sustaining a vacuum in the presidency as a means of putting pressure to pave the way for Michel Aoun’s election as president. In return, Aoun and the FPM helped Hezbollah secure the passing of a favorable electoral law that allowed the party and its allies, including the FPM, to win a majority in the 2018 elections. To secure a large turnout in the Biq‘a and South Lebanon, Nasrallah pledged to personally oversee the party’s efforts to fight corruption. At the time the Lebanese Shi‘a shared the nationwide fatigue with the slowing economy, rising inequality, the youth bulge, and unemployment.
Nasrallah’s anticorruption promise did not materialize, and given the United States’ rising pressure against Iran and Hezbollah, the party prioritized its external conflicts yet again. However, the mandate the party had gotten from Lebanon’s Shi‘a in 2005 is today overstretched. The idea of external conspiracies, existential in nature and seemingly never ending, is increasingly less believable. If the ruling elite fails again, the economic crisis will drive people into the streets with even more force than what we’ve seen until now.
Nasrallah and his patron, the Iranian supreme leader ‘Ali Khamenei, have already attempted to demonize the demonstrators, a tactic that was used to justify some of the violence used against protestors. Yet this triggered criticism from within pro-Hezbollah institutions. Journalists at the Al-Akhbar newspaper, for example, have resigned in protest against the publication’s efforts to tarnish the protestors.
That explains why Nasrallah’s most recent speech was more about damage control. Hezbollah’s secretary general was conciliatory toward the protestors, praising them and their role, while explaining how his previous remarks on how the protests hid external conspiracies were taken out of context. Even if the party tries to pose as a reformer, little might stop the snowballing perception that Hezbollah is now a pillar of the failing and resented ruling class.

Students protest against the university’s decision to resume classes
Sandra Abdelbaki/Associated Press/November 04/2019
After the rush of demonstrations on Sunday night, many roads were blocked and students coming from outside Beirut weren’t able to attend their classes.
BEIRUT: As many universities have decided to open their doors on the 19th day of Lebanon’s revolution, many students have called for protests against this decision.
Since the wave of protests were quite calm after the government’s resignation, many universities such as the Lebanese American University, the American University of Beirut, the American University of Sciences and Technology, Saint Joseph University and the Lebanese University issued a decision to resume classes on Monday November 4. And with this decision came the opposition of students.
Many students from LAU and AUB gathered at the universities’ main gates and had a peaceful sit-in this Monday morning as an objection to the resumption of classes. AUB students blocked Bliss street with garbage cans on Sunday night. The protests’ aim is to send a message that the revolution needs to proceed with the students because they represent a big number of the protesters. The students, however, decided not to do it on the pavement but on the street itself because the pavement is public property.
“I didn’t attend my classes today because this is a historical moment in our country, it’s a moment of national unity,” said Antonio Chdid, a mechanical engineering student at AUB. “It’s the job of students to be part of this revolution because we are the educated youth in this country and we have the energy and spirit to enact real change. Our place isn’t in the classes right now. We should be on the streets.”
“We, as students, have the right to protest and it is not feasible with the university’s pressure and deadlines,” said Lea Fakih, one of the students at LAU. “It is like we have to choose between our country and our education, and it’s as if we are studying for a future that does not exist in case the revolution failed.”
After the rush of demonstrations on Sunday night, many roads were blocked and students coming from outside Beirut weren’t able to attend their classes. Consequently, universities such as AUB and LAU were cooperative and supportive of the students.
“We believe that students have the right to express themselves on campus or off campus,” Raed Mohsen, Dean of Students at LAU, told Annahar. “The university decided to resume its classes but the professors have instructions not to count the students who have not attended as absent.”
According to Mohsen, almost 40% of the students attended LAU today. Others were protesting or couldn’t attend due to the sudden roadblocks.
Talal Nizameddine, Dean of Student Affairs at AUB, believes that no matter how great a cause is, students shouldn’t lose themselves in it.
“We are very proud of our community and our students, and we have to make sure we do the right thing in the right way. People have to get their right, and they have to work for that while studying,” Nizameddine said. “We decided to open our classes since last Thursday because we have a lot of requirements to meet and we barely have one month of this semester left.”
Many students are still willing to continue with the protests and take part in Lebanon’s revolution considering that their future is at stake in this country.
“We’re not going to stop protesting and standing for what we believe in because no one else is going to do it for us,” Fakih told Annahar.

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