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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 01- 02/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 46th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 01- 02/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 46th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 02/2019

Tites For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 01-02/2019
Protesters March in Beirut amid Rival Demos in Baabda
Lebanon army separates protests near Aoun’s palace
Sunday of Clarity” marches in Beirut: For a transitional government to face corruption
Lebanese army separates rival protests near president palace
‘Crucial 48 Hours’ as Hizbullah Speaks of ‘Int’l Support’ for Solutions
Lebanon stops migrant boat carrying 34 Syrian refugees
Al-Sayyed: Hizbullah Won’t Bow, No Govt. Next Week
Kanaan: PM May be Named Next Week, Caretaker Govt. Must Act
Kanaan: The President did not ask for dialogue over the form of government only, but over the next stage’s content and form as well
Energy Ministry to open gasoline tender on Monday
Baalbek movement continues its protest at Khalil Moutran Square
Women’s march in Sidon: Rejection of war, corruption, discrimination and intimidation
El-Khalil: Next week will witness the birth of a government in an image that matches the aspirations of the people and the movement
Kouyoumjian: Our youth want Lebanon a developed state, free of corruption and deals
Lebanese Rally against Iraq’s Crackdown on Protesters
French-Lebanese Engineer Chosen as Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Secretary General
Rahi calls for dialogue

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 01-02/2019
Protesters March in Beirut amid Rival Demos in Baabda
Naharnet/December 01/2019
Anti-corruption protesters on Sunday marched from Hamra, Ashrafieh and Mathaf towards central Beirut as rival demos were held near the presidential palace in Baabda. One of the demos in Baabda was organized by the Sabaa Party and civil society protesters while the other was organized by supporters of President Michel Aoun. The army intervened to contain scuffles between the two groups after the National News Agency reported that the rival demonstrators had engaged in a “peaceful and optimistic” dialogue. Scuffles had erupted Tuesday during similar demos in the area, prompting the intervention of security forces. Anti-corruption protesters meanwhile marched Sunday from Hamra, Ashrafieh and Mathaf towards Martyrs Square and Riad al-Solh Square in central Beirut. The protesters marched under the slogans “Sunday of Clarity” and “Unity and Solidarity of the Lebanese People”. They called for the formation of a “transitional government” free of ruling parties’ representatives in order to “take urgent measures in the face of the economic collapse caused by the ruling class.”Protesters also called for “the independence of the judiciary and the prosecution of corrupts and those who robbed public funds and public and private property including bank deposits.”Carrying olive branches, some protesters called on the ruling parties not to try to scare them with “civil war” threats, emphasizing on the peaceful nature of the protests. Protesters have called on President Michel Aoun to call for binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier following the resignation of Saad Hariri on October 29. Aoun has delayed the consultations, arguing that a prior agreement is needed on the shape of the new government in order to avoid a political clash and a lengthy formation process.

Lebanon army separates protests near Aoun’s palace
The Associated Press/Monday, 02 December 2019
Lebanon’s armed forces have deployed near the presidential palace east of Beirut to prevent friction between rival Lebanese protesters as the stalemate over forming a crisis government continues. Anti-government protesters called for a rally on Sunday outside the Presidential Palace in Baabda to press President Michel Aoun to formally begin the process of forming a new government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned over a month ago amid nationwide protests accusing the political elite of corruption and mismanagement of the economy. The call prompted a counter-rally by supporters of Aoun.
Army soldiers formed a human chain to separate the groups on a highway leading to the palace, preventing clashes. Meanwhile, hundreds of anti-government protesters marched toward central Beirut amid a deepening economic crisis. On Sunday, Lebanon’s caretaker Trade Minister, Mansour Bteish, said that he and others had asked the central bank governor and commercial banks at a recent meeting to reduce interest rates by roughly half. Since protests erupted across Lebanon on October 17, pressure has piled on the financial system. A hard currency crunch has deepened, with many importers unable to bring in goods, forcing up prices and heightening concerns of financial collapse.

Sunday of Clarity” marches in Beirut: For a transitional government to face corruption
NNA/December 01/2019
“Sunday of Clarity” marches set out in the streets of Beirut today, namely from the Museum, Hamra and Jeitaoui areas, under the slogan of “Unity and Solidarity of the Lebanese People”, in a sign that the demonstrators are clear in their goals and are in solidarity together until their goals are achieved.
The marches are to join in Sodeco and continue towards Riad El Solh and Martrys’ Squares in Downtown Beirut. Protesters called for “a transitional government in which the authority is not represented, so as to adopt urgent measures to face the economic collapse caused by the ruling class, and to ensure the independence of the judiciary and proceed with the prosecution of the corrupt and looters of public and private property and money, including bank deposits.” Additionally, protesters called for “overthrowing the scarecrow of the civil war and its political and cultural system, while emphasizing the unity and peacefulness of the popular uprising squares.”

Lebanese army separates rival protests near president palace
Associated Press/ December 01/2019
The call prompted a counter-rally by supporters of Aoun who called him a “red line.” Army soldiers formed a human chain to separate the groups on a highway leading to the palace, preventing clashes.
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s armed forces have deployed near the presidential palace east of Beirut to prevent friction between rival Lebanese protesters as the stalemate over forming a crisis government continues. Anti-government protesters had called for a rally Sunday outside the Presidential Palace in Baabda to press President Michel Aoun to formally begin the process of forming a new government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned over a month ago amid nationwide protests accusing the political elite of corruption and mismanagement of the economy. The call prompted a counter-rally by supporters of Aoun who called him a “red line.” Army soldiers formed a human chain to separate the groups on a highway leading to the palace, preventing clashes. Meanwhile, hundreds of anti-government protesters marched toward central Beirut amid a deepening economic crisis.

‘Crucial 48 Hours’ as Hizbullah Speaks of ‘Int’l Support’ for Solutions
Naharnet/December 01/2019
A Hizbullah minister has noted that there could be a solution soon to the government formation crisis after the international community sent a “message” to all political forces. “A solution started looming after the international message reached the various political parties,” caretaker State Minister for Parliament Affairs Mahmoud Qmati said, noting that “several international parties” are pushing for a solution in Lebanon. Describing President Michel Aoun’s decision to postpone parliamentary consultations for naming a new PM as “rational and wise,” Qmati acknowledged that any one-sided government would face huge international pressures. He also said that the re-designation of caretaker PM Saad Hariri or picking someone close to him would help Lebanon win international support for the new government. Sources informed on the negotiations pertaining to the governmental crisis meanwhile said that the next 48 hours will be “important, and perhaps crucial, in terms of negotiations with Hariri with the aim of re-designating him.”The coming hours will determine whether “the language of conditions and counter-conditions has receded,” An-Nahar newspaper quoted the sources as saying in remarks published Sunday.

Lebanon stops migrant boat carrying 34 Syrian refugees
AFP, Beirut/Monday, 2 December 2019
Lebanon’s army on Sunday said it stopped a boat carrying 34 Syrian refugees who were trying to leave the protest-hit country. It stopped the boat near the coast of the northern city of Tripoli on Saturday, it said in a statement. The army said it arrested a Lebanese citizen who was trying to smuggle them out of the country, adding that there were five Lebanese on board the vessel. The boat’s final destination was not immediately clear. Lebanon, a small Mediterranean country of some 4.5 million people, says it hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees.Those escaping Lebanon by boat have often tried to cross into Europe through Turkey or Cyprus, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) away. In October, Lebanon said it agreed to work with Cyprus to prevent migrants from reaching its shores. Lebanon has been rocked by unprecedented anti-government protests since October 17. The government resigned two weeks after demonstrations started, bowing to popular pressure. The country’s deeply divided political parties have yet to form a new one.

Al-Sayyed: Hizbullah Won’t Bow, No Govt. Next Week
Naharnet/December 01/2019
MP Jamil al-Sayyed has stressed that no premier-designate will be picked next week to form the new government. “According to the obvious indications, there will be no government next week and the issue is related to its shape,” al-Sayyed, who is close to Hizbullah, said in a TV interview. “Hizbullah won’t cede in peacetime what it didn’t cede in wartime,” al-Sayyed emphasized, suggesting that calls for forming a technocrat government are aimed at reining in Hizbullah’s political influence. “Several proposals were raised, the first of which was the exit of all former ministers from the government, including foreign minister Jebran Bassil,” the MP said. “The president informed Hizbullah of this format and the latter dispatched finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Hizbullah secretary-general’s political aide Hussein Khalil to resigned PM Saad Hariri to inform him of this format, but he then moved to demanding other things, including the formation of a technocrat cabinet,” al-Sayyed revealed. He added that Hariri then demanded a technocrat cabinet, the dissolution of parliament and the finance portfolio. At this point, Hizbullah, the Free Patriotic Movement and the AMAL Movement “preferred to keep the caretaker cabinet,” al-Sayyed said.

Kanaan: PM May be Named Next Week, Caretaker Govt. Must Act
Naharnet/December 01/2019
A premier-designate is supposed to be named next week if the intentions turn out to be “honest,” Strong Lebanon bloc secretary MP Ibrahim Kanaan said on Sunday. “It is needed to activate the work of the caretaker government pending the formation of the new government,” Kanaan said in a radio interview.
“Any official must work for 24 hours amid the current circumstances and it is a duty to maintain the continuity of the state and its institutions,” he said. He added: “We must show solidarity to halt the collapse.”e prosecution of the corrupt and looters of public and private property and money, including bank deposits.” Additionally, protesters called for “overthrowing the scarecrow of the civil war and its political and cultural system, while emphasizing the unity and peacefulness of the popular uprising squares.”

Kanaan: The President did not ask for dialogue over the form of government only, but over the next stage’s content and form as well
NNA/December 01/2019
MP Ibrahim Kanaan pointed out in an interview with “Voice of Lebanon” Radio Station today that “the President of the Republic did not ask for dialogue on the form of government solely, but on the content and form of the next stage as well.”He added: “The Free Patriotic Movement advocates holding the binding parliamentary consultations immediately, but to form which government, and for what purpose and what program?””What is required of the PM-designate is to be able to form a government quickly,” he said, noting that “President Aoun is trying within his constitutional powers to secure the conditions of this rapid formation that the country needs.”Kanaan indicated that next week is expected to be the week of commissioning, followed by the cabinet formation, if intentions are true. However, he deemed that “the activation of the work of the caretaker government is required, until the formation of the new government,” stressing that hands ought to be joined together to stop the country’s collapse. “The citizen wants answers from the civic movement to determine his options; is the movement with the displaced staying? Does it support a free economic system or another system? What election law does it want? Are we before a project that places the poor class against the rich?” questioned Kanaan. He considered that “there are practices in the name of the revolution that contradict the slogans raised.”The MP highlighted the need for efforts to be focused on developing a common vision, away from contradictory choices that contribute to obstruction. “What’s needed is a Lebanese project that we market internationally, and not an external project that markets Lebanon,” he said. Kanaan concluded by expressing a word of praise for the initiatives of women and mothers in the popular movement, for their conscious and wise demonstration, hoping that a woman would be commissioned to form the next government.

Energy Ministry to open gasoline tender on Monday
NNA/December 01/2019
The Department of Oil Installations called on concerned companies to participate in the tender to import gasoline for local market use, tomorrow Monday at 10:00 a.m. in the presence of Caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Nada Boustani, in Hazmieh.

Baalbek movement continues its protest at Khalil Moutran Square
NNA/December 01/2019
Baalbek’s citizens rallied in the square of the poet Khalil Moutran in front of the city’s archaeological site today, cutting off the entrance of the city on the commercial market’s side across the square, NNA correspondent reported.
Protesters pursued their vigil carrying Lebanese flags and chanting their demand slogans, while the Lebanese singer Ahmed Kaabour contributed with some of his songs.

Women’s march in Sidon: Rejection of war, corruption, discrimination and intimidation

NNA/December 01/2019
A women’s march set out from Qunaya roundabout towards the intersection of Elia in Sidon this afternoon, to protest against war, corruption, discrimination and intimidation, in which women from Sidon and its neighboring areas participated, carrying Lebanese flags and chanting slogans calling for unity and popular demands. The message behind the organized march was to “break down all sectarian barriers, and to keep away the specter of war and infighting,” and to “emphasize that Sidon, like other Lebanese regions, will remain united and away from all forms of strife, and will remain a city of diversity and coexistence, and a role model for national unity.”

El-Khalil: Next week will witness the birth of a government in an image that matches the aspirations of the people and the movement
NNA/December 01/2019
“Development and Liberation” Parliamentary Bloc Member, MP Anwar El-Khalil, anticipated the birth of a new government next week, whose image would reflect the aspirations of citizens and the people’s movement.
Speaking to the popular delegations who visited him at his Hasbaya residence today, El-Khalil said: “Our limited information indicates that the commissioning process will be followed by the formation process in a single basket. If this expectation is true, it will carry next week to the Lebanese the news that we have been awaiting for a long time, and we hope that this government will be in the form that the people desire and the popular movement demands.” “We do not forget the problems related to the economic, financial and banking issue, which can never be solved unless there is a responsible government,” El-Khalil underlined. He emphasized the need for the new cabinet, once formed, to immediately address the economic issue, pointing herein to the agreed upon “list of reforms” presented by Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Referring to Lebanon’s payment of its foreign debts, El-Khalil said: “This is what we have always stressed. Lebanon is not like the Greek State and has not failed, even once, to pay its external debts or banks as well.” He concluded by stressing that “everyone should work on the birth of the government, which would contribute to a speedy improvement of the economic situation.”

Kouyoumjian: Our youth want Lebanon a developed state, free of corruption and deals
NNA/December 01/2019
“The flavor of Lebanon’s independence this year is the flavor of the revolution,” said Caretaker Social Affairs Minister, Richard Kouyoumjian on Sunday. Addressing the students of Vahan Tekeyan School in Bourj Hammoud in an event marking Independence Day, Kouyoumjian said: “The new generation dreams of a modern state and from here we see its rally around the Lebanese army and its refusal that any party takes up arms.”He added: “The army has proved its capability to carry out its duty to the utmost, whether in the battles of Nahr al-Bared and Fajr al-Jouroud, or in maintaining security at home.” Kouyoumjian hoped that “the coming days will bring about political solutions to the situation, for Lebanon is under political, economic and social crises.”

Lebanese Rally against Iraq’s Crackdown on Protesters
Naharnet/December 01/2019
Dozens of people in protest-swept Lebanon have staged a candlelit vigil outside Iraq’s embassy to denounce the excessive use of force against demonstrators there. They raised pictures of Iraqi protesters who have been killed since the unprecedented anti-government movement began on October 1.
Some raised the Lebanese flag, while one woman wrapped the Iraqi tricolor around her shoulders. Iraq’s grassroots protest movement has been the largest the country has seen in decades — but also the deadliest. More than 420 people have been killed and 15,000 others wounded since early October, according to an AFP tally compiled from medics and an Iraqi rights commission. The toll spiked dramatically this week, when a crackdown by security forces left dozens dead in Baghdad, the Shiite shrine city of Najaf and the southern hotspot of Nasiriyah — the birthplace of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, who vowed to resign on Friday. Lebanon has also seen an unprecedented anti-government protest movement since October 17. Layal Siblani, the organizer behind the vigil, said the spiraling crackdown in Iraq this past week prompted the idea. “The uprising in Iraq and the uprising in Lebanon are one,” she told AFP.
“A protester killed there is a protester killed here.”Like their counterparts in Iraq, Lebanese demonstrators are rallying against corruption, unemployment and appalling public services. They are also pushing for an end to the kind of political system that prioritizes power-sharing between sects over good governance.
Despite confrontations with security forces and supporters of established parties, protesters in Lebanon have largely been spared the violent crackdown seen in Iraq. But rights groups and the United Nations last week criticized security forces for failing to protect protesters after they were attacked by backers of Hizbullah and the AMAL Movement at several locations. Amnesty International on Friday urged the Lebanese Army “to end arbitrary arrests” and “torture” of peaceful protesters following a wave of detentions. Hussein, at the vigil outside the Iraqi embassy, said Lebanese protesters had a duty towards those in Iraq. “We have to stand in solidarity with our Iraqi counterparts who are being arrested and killed on a daily basis,” he said.

French-Lebanese Engineer Chosen as Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Secretary General
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 01/2019
A French-Lebanese engineer has been chosen as secretary general of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi auto alliance, part of a new business framework announced a year after former boss Carlos Ghosn was arrested. Hadi Zablit, 49, will oversee industrial cooperation projects to improve the efficiency and financial performance of the partnership, a source close to the matter told AFP on Friday, confirming a report in French newspaper Le Figaro.The operational revamp aims to mark a new start for the trio as they battle to emerge from the shadow cast by the legal woes of Ghosn, detained last November over allegations of financial impropriety. Zablit is currently business development chief for the French-Japanese auto alliance, which sold 10.6 million vehicles worldwide in 2017. The dual citizen, born in Lebanon, first joined Renault as an engineer and product manager in 1994. He left to work for the Boston Consulting Group in 2000 and returned to the French car giant nearly three years ago. Ghosn’s sudden arrest last year at a Tokyo airport sent shockwaves through the business world. The 65-year-old Brazil-born executive — one of the world’s best-known and respected tycoons — is now out on bail after 130 days in a Japanese detention center. He faces charges of deferring part of his salary until after his retirement and concealing this from shareholders, as well as siphoning off millions in Nissan cash for his own purposes. Ghosn says he is innocent and is seeking to have his case declared null and void — even if legal experts and his own defense deem his chances unlikely.

Rahi calls for dialogue
NNA/December 01/2019
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rahi, said Sunday that “it is time for those who control political power to resume national dialogue to break the deadlock and solve all pending matters to save the state from doom.”
Speaking during Sunday Mass in Bkirki, Rahi added that “Lebanon needs genuine men of politics who work for elevating the country from its suffering on the political, social and security levels.”Rahi also called on the demonstrators to maintain their protests, civilized and peaceful, in order to form a government and begin serious reforms.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 01-02/2019
‘Murder, Starve, Oppress’: Envoy reveals Hezbollah operations in Venezuela/Abdulla Almanai/Al Arabiya/December 01/2019
Iran’s proxies in Iraq, Lebanon signing own death warrants/Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/December 01/2019
Lebanon’s total economic collapse creeping ever closer/Randa Takieddine/Arab News/December 01/2019
Hezbollah, Amal turn to violence as ongoing protests shake Lebanon’s sectarian system/Simon Speakman Cordall/The Arab Weekly/December 01/2019
No end in sight for political impasse in Lebanon amid fears of ‘economic free fall’/Samar Kadi/The Arab Weekly/December 01/2019
There is light at the end of the tunnel for Lebanon/Khairallah Khairallah/The Arab Weekly/December 01/2019
Sunday’s March of Clarity: Restating the revolution’s demands/Nessryn Khalaf/Annahar/December 01/2019
Lebanon: Money Transfer Crisis Affects Foreign Workers/ Hanan Hamdan/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 01/2019
Lebanese Shi’ite Scholar Sami Khadra: I Apologize For The ‘Bad Image’ Of Lebanese Women As Revealed In Protests/MEMRI/December 01/2019
Lebanese Rally against Iraq’s Crackdown on Protesters/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 01/2019
AMCD Commends UN Secretary General for Stance on Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon/AMCD/December 01/2019
Hezbollah uses Germany to finance terrorism, weapons purchases – report/Jerusalem Post/December 01/2019

The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 01-02/2019
‘Murder, Starve, Oppress’: Envoy reveals Hezbollah operations in Venezuela
Venezuela’s Vanessa Neumann.
Abdulla Almanai/Al Arabiya/December 01/2019
Lebanese Hezbollah controls vast swaths of territory in Venezuela, has close ties to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and leads drug trafficking and illegal gold mining efforts in the country, Venezuelan opposition ambassador to the UK Vanessa Neumann told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview.
“The Hezbollah presence in Venezuela has been part of the death and suffering of my people. [Hezbollah leader] Hassan Nasrallah is interfering in our politics and giving training to murder, starve, and oppress us,” Neumann said in an interview at the IISS Manama Dialogue summit in Bahrain.
Neumann described how Hezbollah controls swaths of territory in the country.
In Venezuela’s western region, the group has led a drug trafficking organization for decades, according to Neumann, who says she was relayed this information by Hezbollah commanders in 2012 in Beirut.
In the eastern region, Hezbollah is profiting from illegal gold mining, with the gold being transferred to Turkey and Iran on airplanes owned by Maduro, said Neumann. Venezuela is known to have some of the world’s largest gold reserves. Hezbollah, which Iran assisted in founding and continues to back today, is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries including the US. Despite Hezbollah being most known for its destabilizing and terrorist activities in Lebanon and Syria, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed the organization has active cells throughout South America, specifically mentioning Venezuela during an interview in February.
Neumann said Venezuela’s relationship with Hezbollah and its backer Iran “comes straight from the top.”
“Nicolas Maduro has direct relations with Hezbollah. Maduro’s foreign minister Jorge Arreaza visits Hassan Nasrallah directly,” said Neumann.
Syrian-Lebanese Venezuelan Tareck El Aissami, who currently serves as Minister of Industries and National Production under Maduro, is “Hezbollah’s main point of contact, bagman in Venezuela,” according to Neumann.
The US blacklisted El Aissami for drug trafficking in 2017. El Aissami and his family have helped sneak Lebanese Hezbollah militants into the country, gone into business with a drug lord and shielded 140 tons of chemicals believed to be used for cocaine production, according to a secret dossier reported by The New York Times. Neumann says she hopes the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will help fight the Maduro-Hezbollah alliance in Venezuela.
“Hezbollah are part of the repressive regime. While they help our oppressors and our murderers, they personally enrich themselves. By helping us purge the Hezbollah influence, it will help us attain the free and democratic Venezuela we are trying to attain,” said Neumann.
Neumann was appointed to her position as ambassador to the UK by Venezuela’s interim ruler Juan Guaido, who assumed his position in January following the disputed re-election of his rival Maduro. Guaido is recognized as Venezuela’s leader by almost 60 countries, including the US and UK.
Venezuela, once one of the richest countries in South America, is now in the midst of one of the Western Hemisphere’s worst humanitarian crises. Government repression and economic recession have caused a mass exodus. It is estimated the number of refugees will reach eight million by the end of 2021.
Venezuelans are faced with deadly shortages of food and medicine.
Neumann said Hezbollah is part of the system that keeps Venezuelans hungry while personally enriching themselves. “We have hundreds of thousands of children starving and every morning a mother has to decide which of her children she is going to feed because she can’t feed all of them. And Hezbollah is intricately involved in this,” said Neumann.

Iran’s proxies in Iraq, Lebanon signing own death warrants
Baria Alamuddin/Arab News/December 01/2019
With 400 already dead, the killings in Iraq escalated horrifically at the weekend following the torching of Iran’s consulate in the holy city of Najaf. About 70 protesters were gunned down in just 48 hours, largely at the hands of unaccountable Tehran-backed paramilitaries. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s representative incited Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi militants to “pursue” and “uproot” those responsible for the consulate fire.
Tehran’s crackdown strategies in Lebanon, Iraq and upon its own streets increasingly reek of desperation. Playing for time and making cosmetic political changes have failed. Attempts to terrorize and crush the demonstrations have simply brought out thousands more furious and defiant protesters. When Hezbollah personnel taunted protesters with their yellow flags and sectarian slogans, citizens defiantly chanted back: “This is Lebanon, not Iran,” and “Hezbollah is a terrorist.” Accusations of being “Zionist stooges” or failing to support the “axis of resistance” used to intimidate Hezbollah’s critics into silence. Now such rhetoric is incessantly ridiculed in the protest camps.
At recent international conferences, regime-connected Iranian academics have floated proposals for converting Hezbollah into a purely political entity. Hezbollah is Tehran’s crown jewel in terms of its overseas sedition. The fact this is even being mooted suggests a degree of panic within the regime due to the existential threat that current developments pose.
Having used an iron fist against Iranian protesters, Khamenei believes that proxies in Iraq and Lebanon haven’t been sufficiently aggressive. On Nov. 21, Khamenei summoned to Tehran Iraqi officials, including paramilitary leaders Falih Al-Fayyadh and Hadi Al-Amiri, and reportedly demanded “extreme levels of violence” to crush protests, even if the death toll extended into the thousands. “Iran will not give up Iraq and will not allow its influence to be reduced,” Khamenei was quoted as saying.
The Quds Force’s Qassem Soleimani micromanaged the crackdown. Most deaths in Iraq are attributable to his paramilitary allies. According to eyewitness accounts, Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq personnel in Shiite-majority towns like Nasiriyah and Amarah opened fire on protesters from the roofs of their own offices, as well as driving around shooting indiscriminately at citizens. There have been intensifying campaigns of abductions by paramilitaries, with instances of torture reported.
In the wake of the Najaf consulate incident, proxy leaders Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis (Kata’ib Hezbollah) and Qais Al-Khazali (Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq) called for deploying their forces in the holy cities, claiming — improbably — that protesters were plotting to attack their outspoken defender Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani. Indeed it was Al-Sistani’s call for Iraq’s leaders to “reconsider their choices” that is credited with forcing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s resignation. Tehran has pursued various pretexts for beefing up its presence in Iraq’s holy cities, having recently seen its proposal to send 20,000 Iranian security personnel to “protect pilgrims” rebuffed.
Abdul Mahdi’s resignation was jubilantly celebrated by demonstrators, but it changes nothing. The prime minister has been threatening to resign for weeks and was only prevented by the interventions of Soleimani, Al-Amiri and Al-Muhandis. Just as in Lebanon, constituting a new government could take months and will simply promote a new combination of the same corrupt, discredited faces. Protesters’ goals can only be achieved when the entire Tehran-sponsored sectarian system is razed to the ground.
Khamenei is desperate for rapid and decisive solutions because prolonged instability in Lebanon and Iraq weakens his ability to hold sway
Khamenei is desperate for rapid and decisive solutions because prolonged instability in Lebanon and Iraq weakens his ability to hold sway, while risking further contagion of unrest to Iranian cities. As well as harming ordinary Lebanese, the imminent collapse of the banking system would also impact Iran and Hezbollah, which have systematically laundered and hoarded funds via these channels. Tehran furthermore fears that, just as happened in 1982, Israel would exploit Lebanese civil conflict to try and eradicate the “resistance” once and for all.
Hezbollah can only hold sway in Lebanon via the collaboration of Christian leaders like President Michel Aoun and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, whose support within their communities is rapidly draining away. Hassan Nasrallah fears that killing protesters will further unite Lebanon against Hezbollah. Nevertheless, just as Khamenei arm-twisted Nasrallah into wading into the Syrian conflict, if Hezbollah’s paymasters demand blood, then the streets of Beirut will obediently run red.
The fatigued response from Western leaders has encouraged Iran’s allies that they can repress citizens with impunity. If we are to avoid an exponentially higher death toll, then diplomats must forcefully stipulate that there will be meaningful consequences (UN measures, sanctions, war crimes investigations, diplomatic action, etc.) if the aspirations of demonstrators are ignored and the authorities continue down the path of repression.
Although Khamenei is trying to peddle the model of brutal crackdowns as a magic solution to domestic unrest, protests inside Iran persist and may become further inflamed. Iranian protesters have been brutally crushed over and over again in recent years, yet still they courageously come out against their oppressors.
In the late 1970s, the shah of Iran desperately oscillated between confused attempts to appease Iranian demonstrators and botched crackdowns, which only succeeded in uniting the entirety of Iran against him. The result was the 1979 revolution, in which Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini came out on top and ruthlessly crushed all other segments of the opposition.
The protests in Iraq and Lebanon today are likewise on the brink of passing the point of no return. Through their escalating reliance on brutal and excessive force, Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi and Hezbollah are tantalizingly close to signing their own death warrants, as they continue to undermine any remaining popular legitimacy among their grassroots supporters.
If this is indeed the beginning of the end for Iranian hegemony in Iraq and Lebanon, then we still have a long and bloody road ahead of us. Khamenei, Nasrallah and Al-Amiri are far from admitting defeat. Tehran has invested billions in its regional dominance strategy and won’t simply walk away. Their knee-jerk response to recent setbacks may be to ramp up the killing. This will reap a horrific toll, yet such atrocities will ultimately only serve to reinforce the popular determination to eliminate all manifestations of Iranian influence — permanently.
• 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.

Lebanon’s total economic collapse creeping ever closer
Randa Takieddine/Arab News/December 01/2019
A gathering of Lebanese anti-government protesters getting haircuts in front of the central bank building in Beirut last week attracted many jokes and much amusement. The protesters were expressing their rejection of a potential move by banks to take a proportion of their depositors’ money — known as a “haircut” — as a result of the country’s ongoing financial crisis.
The demonstrators were having fun and enjoying this original way of protesting despite their fears over the uncertainty of the outcome of their popular uprising against corruption and the failures of the political classes. Salim Sfeir, the head of the Association of Banks in Lebanon, said in an interview with Reuters that a haircut would not solve the problem and, on the contrary, would scare off customers. The Lebanese diaspora has plenty of money overseas and this money would never come back if there was a haircut, Sfeir said.
The Lebanese economy is experiencing its worst crisis since the civil war began in 1975. Government debt amounts to $88.4 billion — 150 percent of Lebanon’s gross domestic product. However, despite the liquidity crisis that is endangering the country, Lebanon last week settled a maturing $1.5 billion Eurobond, signaling to the market that, despite the political and economic crisis, it has not defaulted.
But the political stalemate — with the political class denying the people’s demands for a new government of honest, independent people — is aggravating the financial situation. The banks were shut at the beginning of the protest for two weeks. They reopened last week but limited weekly withdrawals to $1,000 and restricted transfers abroad. Added to that, depositors can only withdraw money in Lebanese pounds, which they can change for US dollars with an exchange agent. As a result of this unofficial market, the dollar rate reached as high as 2,000 Lebanese pounds, even though the currency is officially pegged to the dollar at 1,500.
These measures have created panic among the people. A growing fear surfaced about the possibility of banks failing to give money to their depositors. The confidence of nonresident depositors has been lost. Banks have been targeted by many protesters, some shouting at central bank governor Riad Salame to “give us back the stolen money.” Rumors have spread in the cities, with crowds rushing to the banks to withdraw money.
The central bank said last week that it was allowing banks to borrow dollars without limits at 20 percent interest to secure depositors’ needs, but stressed that the funds should not be sent abroad. The Institute of International Finance said that deposits had dropped by more than $10 billion dollars since the end of August. An important part of this money was sent abroad, while more than $4 billion of it is being kept in people’s homes.
Hezbollah and its allies are dragging their feet with no concern for the demands of the people.
One group of Lebanese economists proposed an emergency economic rescue plan, which recommended: The careful management of Lebanon’s rapidly dwindling foreign currency reserves; defending the value of the Lebanese pound, including tighter measures of capital control; a deep fiscal plan to fight corruption; new social policies to protect those most affected by the current crisis; a negotiated debt reduction plan with a fair sharing of the burden across society; and a monitoring mechanism that allows the people to put pressure on their leaders to implement these reforms while state oversight mechanisms are reinforced.
The country is on the brink of total economic collapse, with people getting poorer, more than 250 restaurants closing, many people unable to pay for imported goods because of the dollar restrictions, and hotels cutting salaries and laying off many workers. Unemployment is increasing rapidly.
The start of a solution to this catastrophic situation could come from international and regional support, but only if a credible government with honest, capable ministers who can inspire confidence is formed. But, since Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s resignation, President Michel Aoun, who is constitutionally required to start consultations with Parliament to nominate a replacement, has been delaying. The president and his foreign minister son-in-law Gebran Bassil, who are allies of Hezbollah, are in denial over the requests of the protesters on the street. They think the country can wait while they endlessly discuss with their ally Hezbollah its choice of government. Both seem to want a mix of political and technocratic ministers to come back with the same politicians who are hated on the street. The pro-Iran Hezbollah is insisting on having Hariri back on its own conditions, whereas Hariri insisted on a purely technocratic government, as demanded by the popular will. Hezbollah has less to lose from the liquidity and economic crisis. Its money is in homes or in its caves and tunnels — it has no money in Lebanese banks because of American sanctions. Nevertheless, the group has a large number of government employees who need their end-of-month salaries. But this does not look to be a worry for Hezbollah.
The financial crisis is being driven by the rising burden of servicing and refinancing the public debt and the sharp fall of capital inflows. Meanwhile, Hezbollah and its allies are dragging their feet with no concern for the demands of the people. Some observers of Hezbollah’s relations with Iran think that, usually, Hassan Nasrallah has the leverage to act however he sees fit in Lebanon but, this time, in view of the violent outcomes of the popular uprisings in Iran and Iraq, Tehran is pressuring Hezbollah not to give in to the protesters’ demands. The unstable political situation, the serious incapacity of a political class that is eager to keep its benefits, Hezbollah’s grip on its power to decide the kind of government it wants, and the corruption of many in government and within the administration all contribute to making the future of Lebanon very bleak unless something is quickly done to save it.
*Randa Takieddine is a Paris-based Lebanese journalist who headed Al-Hayat’s bureau in France for 30 years. She has covered France’s relations with the Middle East through the terms of four presidents.

Hezbollah, Amal turn to violence as ongoing protests shake Lebanon’s sectarian system
Simon Speakman Cordall/The Arab Weekly/December 01/2019
TUNIS – As Lebanon’s protests stretch into their second month, much of the early optimism is giving way to an overriding sense of caution, as the country finds itself navigating rising sectarian violence, government paralysis and an economy that looks to be rapidly circling the financial plug hole.
On the street, protesters are calling for the dismantling of Lebanon’s confessional system of government, where positions and ministries are allocated according to religion or sect, in favour of a technocratic body capable of tackling the corruption and reversing much of the economic damage they feel the current system has wrought.
For supporters of the Shia, Amal and Hezbollah groups, who see their political survival as vested in the status quo, the struggle is becoming increasingly desperate. Brutal clashes between protesters and supporters of the two groups rocked Martyrs’ Square in Lebanon November 24, as moped-riding counter-protesters attempted to force their way into the crowds of anti-government demonstrators.
“We are standing before two dangers that are racing with each other, the danger of financial collapse and the danger of security collapse. It is an unprecedented situation,” Nabil Bou Monsef, deputy editor-in-chief of the An-Nahar newspaper, told the Associated Press.
Foreign Policy reported chants of “Terrorists, terrorists, Hezbollah are terrorists,” had taken hold among protesters in Beirut, a public sentiment unimaginable just a few weeks ago.
One senior Shia cleric, Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, cautioned against the street again spinning out of control, leading “our nation into a slide towards anarchy.” He urged politicians to “remedy the situation and contain the deterioration,” Reuters reported. The state’s military, the heavily Western-backed Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), has appeared to hold back and, assuming the role of policeman, concentrated on keeping roads open and warring crowds of protesters apart.
Mona Yacoubian, senior adviser for Syria, Middle East and North Africa at the US Institute of Peace, cautioned “…though their behaviour has been largely professional, there are some worrying trends to watch: First, the LAF appears to be largely absent in Hezbollah and Amal strongholds, increasingly allowing thugs and others to intimidate protesters in those areas. Second, there are reports that elements of the LAF, particularly military intelligence, are arresting and torturing protesters.”
While initially both Hezbollah and Amal appeared accommodating of the protesters, going to lengths to sympathise with their grievances, their leadership has clung to the notion of government by confessional divide, which they insist is vital for Lebanon’s survival.
“The last few days have witnessed a decided shift in the behaviour of Amal/Hezbollah supporters,” Yacoubian said. “They have become increasingly brazen in their intimidation tactics, harassing protesters, burning tents and essentially looking to turn the otherwise peaceful protests violent.”
“It appears that this shift in behaviour could be the result of Hezbollah leadership determining that the protests increasingly pose a threat to the status quo and may lead to an outcome that is not favourable to their interests,” she added. Yacoubian said two developments, in particular, appear to have underpinned the shift in tactics: “increasing pressure to form a cabinet — Hezbollah is insisting on some political elements to the cabinet, rather than a purely technocrat cabinet as demanded by the demonstrators. Second, it is interesting to note that this shift also coincides with the outbreak of demonstrations across Iran, initially peaceful and against gas price hikes, but quickly evolving into protests against the supreme leader and the revolutionary government. Protests in Iraq are also becoming increasingly dangerous and violent.”However, Yacoubian cautioned that, though there was no direct link between Lebanon’s protests and those in Iraq or Iran, the popular cries for good governance and an end to corruption were strikingly similar. “Hezbollah and Amal are prime beneficiaries of the current status quo in Lebanon and would be threatened by a shift in the system of governance,” Yacoubian concluded.

No end in sight for political impasse in Lebanon amid fears of ‘economic free fall’
Samar Kadi/The Arab Weekly/December 01/2019
BEIRUT – More than a month after anti-government protests toppled Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s cabinet, there is no indication that a new government will be formed soon despite looming economic and financial collapse. Demonstrations demanding an overhaul of the entire political system and a ruling class accused of corruption and bankrupting the country have rocked Lebanon since mid-October, forcing Hariri to resign on October 29. Protesters came from all walks of life, regions and sects challenging the sectarian-based system. “The protest movement has definitely destabilised the (sectarian) political parties. None (including Hezbollah) can now claim to command the total allegiance of its partisans or community. All the politicians are being questioned and held accountable for widespread corruption at a time of financial and economic duress,” said Riad Tabbara, former Lebanese ambassador to the United States and director of the Centre for Development Studies and Projects (MADMA).
The country’s bitterly divided political leaders have yet to form a new cabinet. Hariri’s outgoing cabinet remains in a caretaker capacity as leaders haggle over the next government make-up, which the protesters demand be composed entirely of independent experts. President Michel Aoun has yet to schedule mandatory parliamentary consultations to appoint a cabinet. Aoun, whose Christian Free Patriotic Movement party is backed by Hezbollah and the Shia Amal movement of Speaker Nabih Berri, said he supports forming a government of technocrats and representatives of the popular movement but also including members of established parties.
Hariri, the main leader of the Sunni community, said he will not head the next government, an obvious reaction to the rejection of his condition to lead an independent cabinet with extraordinary powers. While politicians were dragging their feet, tensions have been on the rise. In the most recent violence, Hezbollah and Amal followers attacked anti-government protesters in several spots in Beirut and in the southern port city of Tyre. Intense clashes, mostly fist-fights and stone hurling, occurred between Chiyah and Ain Remmaneh, a former frontline in Beirut during the civil war (1975-1990). In reaction, hundreds of women from all religions marched pledging no return
to civil strife.
Protesters remained defiant despite the repeated attacks. “They are trying to instil fear in us as people, so we don’t progress and stay at home. But the attack gave us a sense of determination,” Dany Ayyash, 21, told Agence France-Presse.
Michel Nawfal, a political observer, said the violence was a “turbulence” that is unlikely to be repeated. “It was a failed attempt to intimidate the protest movement and turn it into sectarian friction. In fact, these acts backlashed and tarnished the image of the concerned parties, even within their own community.”
“The next turbulence will be triggered by the collapsing economy unless a reliable and capable government is formed quickly to deter the economic free fall,” Nawfal said. “Businesses are closing down; others are paying half salaries and many people are no longer able to pay for their children’s schooling… That will definitely lead to strong reactions.”
Lebanon is reeling under the worst financial crisis in decades with unprecedented control in place over banking transactions. Fearing capital flight and amid a hard currency shortage, commercial banks have placed tight restrictions on withdrawals and transfers abroad. Faced with the restrictions, customers turned to the black market where the price for US dollars has surged since the start of the unrest, reaching over 2,000 Lebanese pounds to the dollar, about a third higher than the pegged rate of 1,507.5. “The absence of a functional and efficient government compounded with more than a month of protests that put the country to a standstill is obviously speeding up economic collapse,” says Tabbara. “Lebanon’s main foreign currency resources have stopped almost totally. These include remittances by Lebanese expatriates, foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism. For instance, hotel occupancy which reached 70-80% in September and October, dropped drastically to 5% after the outbreak of the protests,” Tabbara said. “The situation in Lebanon could be described as a stunt doing acrobatics on the verge of a ravine,” he warned. With no sign of a political breakthrough amid the failing economy, Lebanon is in for a long crisis, Nawfal contends. “Lebanon is experiencing not only a cabinet crisis; but a crisis of its entire (sectarian-based) political system, which is no longer viable,” he said. “The system should either be reformed or changed altogether. There would be a transitional period during which solutions and ways of reforming the political system can be explored. But, in the meantime, a social security network is needed urgently as we are heading towards a more difficult period which necessitates supporting the most impoverished classes.”Tabbara underlined Lebanon’s need for international support to help pull it out of the economic and financial mayhem. “But the authorities need to win the confidence of the international community first in addition to winning back the trust of the Lebanese.”

There is light at the end of the tunnel for Lebanon
Khairallah Khairallah/The Arab Weekly/December 01/2019
Friends of Lebanon cannot deal with a country whose government includes Hezbollah ministers.
There is a need to simplify things in Lebanon in order to avoid wasting more time, and time is a luxury that Lebanon cannot afford right now in light of the gravity of the economic crisis. It seems useful to note that the Lebanese banking system, which was the first line of defence for the country and its economy, has lost some foundations following the recent measures taken that restrict people’s access to their funds in Lebanese banks and their ability to transfer them elsewhere. In the past Lebanon was a safe haven for both the rich and the poor from Lebanon, Arab countries and the wider world, but, with these measures who in their right mind would be willing to risk depositing their money in Lebanese banks? With these restrictions on fund transfers, one of the reasons for the existence of Lebanon is gone. This reveals the depth of the crisis that the country is going through, a crisis that clearly seems to have been completely ignored by Lebanese President Michel Aoun in his speech on the eve of the 76th anniversary of independence.
His words revealed a strange inability to understand the complexities of the current situation and the need to move to a higher level of thinking, that is to consider whether there is room to seek a way out of the deepening crisis away from the complexes, obsessions and knots of the past. This includes the Rafik Hariri complex from which everybody at the Free Patriotic Movement is suffering. The president’s speech was characterised by ignoring the reasons for the economic crisis, despite his focus on corruption. And even his talk about corruption was misplaced. The reason is simple. Corruption has become a common phenomenon in the country with the establishment of the quota system, one that is staunchly supported by Hezbollah, which is only interested in making Lebanon a playing card in Iran’s hand.
It is this grave reality that Aoun omitted to mention in his independence anniversary speech. This omission simply confirms the fear that the era in place since his election as president on October 31, 2016, is really Hezbollah’s era. Such an era cannot defend the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese. This is an era that refuses to grasp the meaning and significance of the popular revolution that erupted on October 17 and it cannot solve any of the underlying problems. To give just one small example, how can the camp controlling this era justify the dismal situation of electricity in Lebanon when ministers from it have been at the helm of the Ministry of Energy since 2008? This sector is costing the Lebanese state $2 billion a year in losses and fixing it can easily absorb a good chunk of Lebanon’s deficit. Is there a bigger corruption than the one in the electricity sector? Some might argue that there are plenty of other sectors where corruption is widespread but we cannot ignore the fact that the electricity sector has been under the domination of the Aoun camp for more than 10 years, always benefiting from a cover generously provided by Hezbollah. It is a party that cares less about what may happen to Lebanon and more about making it an Iranian “space.”Is Lebanon an Iranian “space” or not? This is the fundamental question that needs to be addressed right now. And yet Aoun chose not to answer this question in his anniversary speech. He simply disregarded the fact that the Lebanese know very well what they want. They want to end the “Hezbollah era,” which is responsible for bringing about US sanctions against Lebanese banks and for isolating Lebanon from its Arab environment.
To get out of its crisis, Lebanon needs a miracle. Unfortunately, it is not possible to bet on the present era to achieve this miracle for at least two reasons.
First, it’s hard to find among the political class people who are gutsy enough to examine the relation between the economic crisis and Hezbollah’s dominance over decision making in Lebanon, including who to have as president and how to form the cabinet. The second reason why this miracle is not possible under the current circumstances has to do with the fact that it is impossible to dissociate the components of the current era and Hezbollah. Hezbollah has not come all this way since October 31, 2016, to accept to back away a bit and agree to a cabinet made up of qualified and specialised individuals and headed by Saad Hariri or someone else with Hariri’s qualities. The fact remains, however, that until further notice, there is no other alternative to Hariri among the Sunnis in Lebanon, especially when it comes to opening channels of fruitful dialogue with the Arab world, the US administration and senior European officials concerned with Lebanese matters. Neither the Americans nor the Arab countries really capable of helping Lebanon are willing to deal with a government that includes Hezbollah ministers.
No one can deny that Hezbollah is in Lebanon to stay but these same sane persons cannot ignore the fact that Lebanon’s economy concerns all Lebanese and that the deposits in banks are for all Lebanese, including members of the Shia community that Hezbollah claims to have seized. In case the banking sector is exposed to any harm, there will be no discrimination between this Lebanese and the other based on their sects. The difficulty of the Lebanese situation is due to the fact that the “Hezbollah era” cannot overturn itself. That miracle requires politicians of another kind, people who can deal with the situation in a cool and rational manner and not fall prey to the illusion that Lebanon’s gas and oil will be flowing by tomorrow. Oil and gas specialists are saying that no gas will appear before 2029 at best. Lebanon is heading for a disaster, despite the high hopes raised by the popular revolution, which still needs to write a clear and reasonable list of demands. There may be a glimmer of hope at the end of the dark tunnel if all parties become convinced of the necessity to place authority in the hands of specialists who will tackle the economic problems with the help of Lebanon’s friends in the world. What must be understood is that these friends of Lebanon cannot deal with a country with a government that includes Hezbollah ministers. That’s all there is to it. Can Hezbollah’s era overturn itself and accept this last chance?

Sunday’s March of Clarity: Restating the revolution’s demands
Nessryn Khalaf/Annahar/December 01/2019
The aim was to remind everyone of what the protesters are actually requesting and desire to see as an outcome of this revolution.
BEIRUT: Since the dormant Lebanese politicians have proved to be inactive in fulfilling the demands of the distressed protesters, this Sunday’s demonstration was established as the Sunday March of Clarity (مسيرة أحد الوضوح). At 2 pm, protesters assembled in front of the National Museum, Sassine Square, and the Central Bank preparing to march to Sodeco. Then, at 3 pm, the steadfast protesters marched from Sodeco to Martyrs’ Square and Riad el Solh. Holding banners that read “our demands are clear, we want a technocratic government” and “national unity against sectarianism,” protesters once again asserted the pleas, which the government has turned a deaf ear to for the past 46 days.“Many political parties are trying to instill fear in the people’s hearts by bringing up the prospect of a new civil war, but we won’t let that happen,” Nada Karaki, a protester in Sodeco, expressed while waving the Lebanese flag.
Marwan el Helou, a demonstrator in Riad el Solh, told Annahar that “my wife and I are here today because we want to provide our children with a future that does not comprise of wars, corruption, unemployment, and immigration.”
The aim was to remind everyone of what the protesters are actually requesting and desire to see as an outcome of this revolution. That includes the establishment of a transitional government with exceptional legislative powers, whose members are not affiliated with any of the ruling political parties.
Many protesters expressed their dissent and irritation with the country’s feeble political and economic situation during the march, and Maria Abou Arraj, an economics graduate from AUB protesting in Martyrs’ Square, told Annahar that “immediate procedures need to be implemented to halt Lebanon’s severe economic collapse and protect citizens from drowning in a pond of poverty.”The zealous citizens also chanted and reemphasized their unity through anti-sectarian slogans like “we don’t want sectarianism” and “the government will not divide us.”
Their demands are plain and conspicuous, and while the government may be refusing to listen, they will not abandon their ardent cause.

Lebanon: Money Transfer Crisis Affects Foreign Workers
 Hanan Hamdan/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 01/2019
A few days ago, Bouzi, an Ethiopian worker, was unable to transfer a small sum to her family back home after learning that a money transfer company has placed a ceiling for financial transfers to $300 per week.
Bouzi told Asharq Al-Awsat she had to return the next day and send only $200 to her family. The Ethiopian girl is one of few foreign domestic workers who are still receiving their salaries in the US dollar. “The majority of foreign domestic workers are now being paid in the Lebanese Lira,” Zeina Ammar, a Lebanese activist with the Anti-Racism Movement, told Asharq Al-Awsat. She said the Movement encourages employers to pay those workers in the US dollar to help them avoid facing problems when transferring the money to their homeland. “A week ago, the money transfer companies accepted to transfer their salaries in the Lebanese Lira at the exchange rate of LL1,520 per $1. But, now, they are only accepting transfers in the US dollar, a move that prevented several workers to send money to their needy families or forced them to exchange their salaries at a rate of LL2,000 per $1,” Ammar said.
In Sidon, several money transfer firms were accepting sums the Lebanese Lira, however, they exchange those sums at a high rate, exceeding the LL1,508 set by the Central Bank.
Malak, a Lebanese woman from the southern city, said she had to pay an extra LL120,000 ($80) to the money transfer firm to be able to send LL450,000 ($300), the salary of her domestic helper, to Ethiopia.
What happens with the foreign domestic workers in Lebanon applies to all foreign workers who are paying the price of the currency crisis. Director of the Employees’ and Workers’ Unions in Lebanon (FENASOL), Castro Abdullah, told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Most foreign workers at local factories and companies are now losing 30 to 40 percent of their salaries. Those workers have to exchange their salaries paid in the Lebanese Lira to the US dollar before transferring the sum to their families.”However, head of Public Relations at OMT Joyce Mouawad told Asharq Al-Awsat the company had not placed any ceiling or new measures on money transfers. She said OMT operates through Western Union and abides by international rules.

Lebanese Shi’ite Scholar Sami Khadra: I Apologize For The ‘Bad Image’ Of Lebanese Women As Revealed In Protests

MEMRI/December 01/2019
Lebanese Shi’ite Scholar Sheikh Sami Khadra responded to a viewer’s question on a religious TV show aired on Iranian Kawthar TV on November 20, 2019, about vetting online dating candidates. Khadra said that many people across the Arab world want to marry Lebanese women because Lebanon is the land of Jihad and Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, he recommends that these men “take their time.” He wondered whether they were familiar with Lebanese women, “their mentality, their views, their clothes, their habits, their customs,” as revealed in the recent protests. Khadra continued to apologize to the Arabs and Muslims “for the bad image of Lebanese women”. He said that the entire Lebanese society was portrayed badly in the protests, especially the women, “their expressions, their clothes, their movements, their absurdity…” This video, which was also posted on Khadra’s Twitter account, generated angry reactions in Lebanon. Following the backlash, Khadra posted a video, in which he said that this did not apply to 95% of Lebanese women.
Sami Khadra: “We are experiencing a certain problem. Many brothers from across the Arab world call me to express their fascination with Lebanese women.”
Interviewer: “There is a certain general perspective…”
Sami Khadra: “Perhaps the reason is that Lebanon is the country of Jihad and resistance, the country of Hassan Nasrallah, and they see the mujahideen and so on… So they call and say that they want to marry a Lebanese woman. I get many such messages. If anyone starts a matchmaking office, he is bound to make good business. There is nothing to prevent them from getting married, but I tell them to take their time. I ask if they are familiar with Lebanese women’s mentality, their views, their clothes, their habits, their customs, their demands, their conduct… The way they mix with men in public… In Lebanon, we have many problems in this respect.”
Interviewer: “Right.”
Sami Khadra: “What exposed us the most is what happened in the past 10 days – the so-called Lebanese protest. I am very sad to say…”
Interviewer: “The image of women that was revealed…”
Sami Khadra: “I apologize to all the Arabs and Muslims for the bad image of Lebanese women portrayed during the demonstrations. Lebanese society as a whole was portrayed badly, and especially Lebanese women: Their expressions, their clothes, their movements, their absurdity…”
Interviewer: “Indeed, this was a comic play…”
Sami Khadra: “It was very shameful.”

Lebanese Rally against Iraq’s Crackdown on Protesters
Asharq Al-Awsat/December 01/2019
Dozens of people in protest-swept Lebanon staged a candlelit vigil outside Iraq’s embassy on Saturday to denounce the excessive use of force against demonstrators there. Participants at the Beirut observance raised pictures of Iraqi protesters who have been killed in an unprecedented anti-government movement. Some raised the Lebanese flag, while one woman wrapped the Iraqi tricolor around her shoulders, said AFP. Iraq’s grassroots protest movement has been the largest the country has seen in decades — but also the deadliest. More than 420 people have been killed and 15,000 others wounded since protests began on October 1, according to an AFP tally compiled from medics and an Iraqi rights commission. The toll spiked dramatically this week, when a crackdown by security forces left dozens dead in Baghdad, the city of Najaf and the southern hotspot of Nasiriyah. Nasiriyah is the birthplace of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, who vowed to resign on Friday. Lebanon has also seen an unprecedented anti-government protest movement since October 17. Layal Siblani, the organizer behind the vigil, said the spiraling violence in Iraq this past week prompted the show of solidarity.
“The uprising in Iraq and the uprising in Lebanon are one,” she told AFP. “A protester killed there is a protester killed here.” Like their counterparts in Iraq, Lebanese demonstrators are rallying against corruption, unemployment and poor public services. They are also pushing for an end to the kind of political system that prioritizes power-sharing between sects over good governance. Despite confrontations with security forces and supporters of established parties, protesters in Lebanon have largely been spared the violent crackdown seen in Iraq. But rights groups and the United Nations last week criticized Lebanese security forces for failing to protect protesters from attacks by backers of the Shiite Hezbollah and Amal movements. Amnesty International on Friday also urged the Lebanese army “to end arbitrary arrests” and torture of peaceful protesters following a wave of detentions. Lebanon and Iraq are ranked among the most corrupt countries in the region by anti-graft watchdog Transparency International. At the vigil on Saturday, a demonstrator who gave his name as Hussein said that in light of excesses committed by Lebanese security forces, protesters had a duty towards their peers in Iraq. “We have to stand in solidarity with our Iraqi counterparts who are being arrested and killed on a daily basis,” he said.

AMCD Commends UN Secretary General for Stance on Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon
AMCD/December 01/2019
The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy commends United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for boldly calling for the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. A new UN report has confirmed that Hezbollah is preventing the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon from operating in Hezbollah-controlled areas. In September, Hezbollah launched rockets against Israel’s defense forces in Northern Israel and the terror group is now preventing the UNIFIL from inspecting the area.
Said Secretary General Guterres, “I call upon the Government of Lebanon to take all actions necessary to ensure the full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords and of resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), which require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon so that there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than those of the Lebanese State.”
“The Lebanese government must disarm Hezbollah or it will never regain full sovereignty over its territory,” said AMCD co-chair, John Hajjar. “Unfortunately, the government may not be strong enough to accomplish this alone and the UN peacekeeping force does not have the mandate to help with that mission. The UNIFIL was tasked with keeping the peace between Lebanon and Israel after the Lebanese government was supposed to have disarmed this terrorist organization. Unfortunately, Hezbollah never disarmed and so Iran now has control of vast swathes of Southern Lebanon.”
“No country can survive in the long-run with a foreign terrorist organization operating freely within its territory,” added AMCD co-chair, Tom Harb. “Iran has poured millions of dollars into Lebanon, employing Hezbollah fighters and supplying them with advanced weapons, including the rockets they fire into Israel. If Lebanon is to survive, its national armed forces must be strengthened while Iran’s forces are diminished.”
“We applaud President Trump for applying strong sanctions against Iran,” said AMCD vice-chair, Hossein Khorram. “The people of Iran are rising up in protest against their nation’s limited resources being lavished on terrorist groups in foreign countries. They’re tired of sacrificing for the mullah’s foreign adventures. They want to turn toward positive goals of national development and away from the mullahs’ obsession with destroying Israel.”

Hezbollah uses Germany to finance terrorism, weapons purchases – report
جيروسالم بوست: حزب الله يستخدم ألمانيا لتمويل الإرهاب ومشتريات الأسلحة
Jerusalem Post/December 01/2019
Some 30 mosques and cultural centers in Germany have links to Hezbollah, according to a 2019 Hamburg intelligence agency report.
The Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah uses a center in Berlin as well as other locations across Germany to recruit members and raise funds for terrorism and weapons purchases, according to a report by the Berlin-based Tagesspiegel newspaper.
Tagesspiegel on Saturday published a detailed exposé on how the Lebanese terrorist organization uses Germany for “money generated” illicit activities and those funds are “used for arms purchases and for financing attacks.”
According to the article, Hezbollah members “use Germany as a place for drug trafficking, trade in stolen cars and money laundering. The implications of the group for the drug business are well documented.”
The report said that Hezbollah’s “main routes now move from South America to Africa into the EU. Cocaine reaches Germany mainly via the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.”
Within the capital city of Berlin, “Hezbollah is also allowed to spread propaganda here in the Reuterstrasse, recruit new members, collect donations – and then forward them to Beirut,” Tagesspiegel reported.
The Islamic Center Imam Riza, a Shi’ite institution, is located on Reuter Street in the Berlin district of Neukölln. Berlin’s intelligence agency – the rough equivalent of Shin Bet – revealed in its 2019 report that 250 Hezbollah members live in the capital. A total of 1,050 Hezbollah members and supporters operate across Germany, according to other German intelligence reports.
Muhamad Abdi and Sebastian Leber, the Tagesspiegel journalists who wrote Saturday’s article, reported that the Islamist Tevekkül Erol, from the Islamic Center Imam Riza, preached against Israel and spreads Hezbollah propaganda on Twitter and Facebook. Erol circulates incitement messages from the Hezbollah leaders who are celebrated as “the right fighters” against the USA, they wrote. He has also posted the Hezbollah logo that depicts an upraised arm grasping an AK-47 assault rifle.
When asked by Tagesspiegel if he is a member of Hezbollah, Erol refused to comment.
The Berlin paper wrote that Erol is filled with anger as he scolds the “Zionists who kill our siblings in Palestine with bombs.”
The radical Islamist lashes out at the USA and Muslims who dare to conduct business with the “Zionists” or forge diplomatic relations with Israel, the report noted. It also said that Erol claimed that these Muslim who align themselves with the USA and Israel will regret their bad deeds.
He declared, “They will all end up in hell.”
The Tagesspiegel article reports that Erol spreads incitement online, including antisemitic conspiracy theories. A telling example, Erol contends that the Jews are behind the terrorist organization the Islamic State. Erol says that the slain Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is Jewish and his real name is Simaun Eliot.
The paper reported that a second building near the Islamic Center Imam Riza is a meeting and prayer place for supporters of Hezbollah. The association Al-Irschad is, according to security officials, a hot spot for Hezbollah members. The paper wrote that Islamists like Kassem R., who pledged his loyalty to Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah on Facebook, visits Al-Irschad. Kassem is a barber who posted photographs of his two sons in soldier’s uniforms, one of which was holding a firearm.
Some 30 mosques and cultural centers in Germany have links to Hezbollah, according to a 2019 Hamburg intelligence agency report.
“In Germany, there are currently about 30 known cultural and mosque associations in which a clientele regularly meets that is close to Hezbollah or its ideology,” wrote the intelligence agency.
The Jerusalem Post exclusively reported in August that a Hezbollah mosque in the German city of Münster posted a shocking video on its Facebook page announcing it was proud of terrorism and its allegiance to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
A Lebanese member of the Imam Mahdi Zentrum Shi’ite mosque in Münster declared: “We belong to the party of Ruhollah [Khomeini]. We have been accused of being terrorists – we are proud of terrorism.”
In July, the Post reported an increase of Hezbollah members in Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Münster is located. According to the intelligence document reviewed by the Post, the number of Hezbollah members climbed from 105 in 2017 to 110 in 2018 in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The Iranian regime supplies Hezbollah with funds and weapons and the Lebanese Shi’ite organization is Tehran’s chief strategic ally in the Middle East.
The Al-Mustafa Community Center in the northern German city-state of Bremen is a major hub for raising funds for Hezbollah, according to an intelligence report from the city-state of Bremen.
The German government has rejected appeals to outlaw Hezbollah’s so-called political wing from the country; the military wing was banned by the Germany and the European Union in 2013.
The Iranian regime supplies Hezbollah with funds and weapons and the Lebanese Shi’ite organization is Tehran’s chief strategic ally in the Middle East.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 01- 02/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 46th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 02 كانون الأول/2019

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 02 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 02 كانون الأول/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 02 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

ميشال عون: لا هو جبل ولا هو قديس

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ميشال عون: لا هو جبل ولا هو قديس
الياس بجاني/02 كانون الأول/2019

ميشال عون رجل سياسي وحزبي، وفي موقع رسمي، وكثر من اللبنانيين يعارضونه ويرفضون خياراته وتحالفاته، وهو ليس قديساً ولا آلهة.

لم نفاجئ أمس بمسؤول مكتب الوزير جبران باسيل، السيد منصور فاضل وهو من على شاشة الجديد وباستكبار وفوقية يكرر وصفه لميشال عون بالجبل ويفاخر بتاريخ الرجل.

وفي نفس إطار الحالة الصنمية والواهمة هذه شاهدنا أمش على عدد لا بأس به من شاشات التلفزيونات مقطع فيديو لسيدة أربعينية متوترة وغاضبة وتهاجم “زعيقاً” وصراخاً وبتلويح اليدين وبهسترية كل من ينتقد ميشال عون ويطالب باستقالته، وقد وصل حد دفاعها الصنمي والغنمي للقول حرفياً “في السما الله وعلى يمينه ميشال عون وعلى يساره جبران باسيل، وعلى الأرض نحن “العونيين” ومنشان هيك لن يسقط ميشال عون”.

بداية ما قاله منصور، وما “زعقت” به السيدة، ليس هو شرود منطق، وسرطان ثقافة، وتزلم وعمى بصر وبصيرة، فقط زلم وأتباع وهوبرجية عون-باسيل، بل هي ثقافة صنمية مرّضية وبالية متجزرة في عقول وخطاب ومقاربات 99% من قطعان أصحاب شركات الأحزاب اللبنانية كافة.

وكنا في مقالتنا ليوم أمس ألقينا الضوء على المكونات الثلاثة الإبليسية لعدة شغل الحكام والطقم السياسي وأصحاب شركات الأحزاب وهي:

بنك، وشركات تعهدات، وقطعان من الأغنام البشرية.

وهنا لا فرق بين زعيم وآخر، وصاحب شركة حزب وقرينه في شركة حزب أخرى.

وكلن يعني كلن مع الفوارق في الحجم والميليشيا والرصيد والبيئة.

وكلنا يتذكر كم من غزوة جاهلية استهدفت مناطق معينة على خلفية ما اعتبره صاحب شركة حزب أو رئيس ميليشيا مذهبية شتيمة أو إهانة لصنميته أو لمعتقد مذهبي أو ديني.

بالعودة إلى ميشال عون فلا هو طوباوي، ولا هو قديس، ولا هو جبل، وتاريخه ما قبل 2006 هو من نقضه ودفنه.

ميشال عون سياسي ومسؤول رسمي وصاحب شركة حزب، وبالتالي من حق أي لبناني أن ينتقده ويعطي رأيه به وبممارساته وبمواقفه وبتحالفاته سلباً أو إيجاباً وليس في القانون ما يمنع ذلك.

ولأن لبنان اليوم في وضعية ثورة شعبية يُحمل الناس أسباب قيامها الحكم والحكام وفي مقدمهم الرئيس عون، فحتى الشتائم بالشخصي وإن كانت أفعال غير أخلاقية وممجوجة، إلا أنها متوقعة وليست أيضاً جريمة يعاقب عليها القانون.

والشتم في حالة الثورة، ومهما كان دركياً، ورغم عدم أخلاقيته، فهو عمل غير عنفي ونوع من التعبير اللفظي الفظ.

وإن كان لهذه الثورة أن تنجح فأهم ما يجب أن تقوم به بعد تحرير البلد من احتلال حزب الله واستعادة السيادة والاستقلال والقرار الحر، هو إعادة تنظيم الأحزاب طبقاً لقانون عصري ملزم وله آلية تنفيذية واضحة تمنع استنساخ زعامات وأصنام وأشباه آلهة.

قانون حزبي عصري جديد يحترم عقول وكرامات الناس، ويؤمن حرية تبادل المواقع والشفافية، ويلزم بعلانية مصادر التمويل داخل الأحزاب كما هو الحال في كل البلدان الغربية الديمقراطية.

ونعم، لقد قد حان الوقت لأن يتخلص لبنان وشعبه من ثقافة العقلية العثمانية البالية، والانتقال إلى حقبة الأحزاب العصرية بمفهومها الغربي، وليس الإبقاء على شركات الأحزاب التجارية والعائلية، والأحزاب الوكالات للقوى غير اللبنانية.

من المحزن أن أصحاب شركات أحزابنا المسيحية تحديداً، وهون كلن يعني كلن، وعلى خلفية الإسخريوتية وخور الرجاء وانعدام الرؤية والإيمان، يسعون بغباء لاستنساخ هيكلية وتنظيم ونموذج حزب الله بدلاً من أن يكونون هم نموذجاً يقتدي به الحزب اللاهي.

يبقى بأن ما قاله السيد منصور فاضل، وما قالته السيدة “زعيقاً” هو منطق صنمي معيب، وخلفيته عشق العبودية، والتزلم، وقلة الإيمان والجهل الإنجيلي إن لم نقل الكفر والتجديف، لأن لا ميشال عون ولا جبران باسيل هما السيد المسيح “عليه السلام” ليجلسا على يمين أو يسار الله، ولا عون هو جبل.

عون وباسيل بشر وفقط بشر، والبشر غرائزيون وخطاءون.. والسلطة والمال بغياب الإيمان، وعدم الخوف من يوم الحساب الأخير، يقودون بعض البشر إلى مسالك الأبواب الواسعة بمفهومها الإنجيلي التي تؤدي إلى نار جهنم وإلى حضن دودها.
ونقطة ع السطر.

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

The post ميشال عون: لا هو جبل ولا هو قديس appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

تخلصوا من كل حقد ونقمة وغضب وصياح وشتيمة وما إلى ذلك من الشرور، وليكن بعضكم لبعض ملاطفا رحيما غافرا كما غفر الله لكم في المسيح/Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you

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تخلصوا من كل حقد ونقمة وغضب وصياح وشتيمة وما إلى ذلك من الشرور، وليكن بعضكم لبعض ملاطفا رحيما غافرا كما غفر الله لكم في المسيح”.
رسالة أفسس الفصل 4/24-32/:”والبسوا الإنسان الجديد الذي خلقه الله على صورته في البر وقداسة الحق. لذلك امتنعوا عن الكذب، وليتكلم كل واحد منكم كلام الصدق مع قريبه لأننا كلنا أعضاء، بعضنا لبعض. وإذا غضبتم لا تخطئوا ولا تغرب الشمس على غضبكم. لا تعطوا إبليس مكانا. من كان يسرق فليمتنع عن السرقة، بل عليه أن يتعب ويعمل الخير بيديه ليكون قادرا على مساعدة المحتاجين. لا تخرج كلمة شر من أفواهكم، بل كل كلمة صالحة للبنيان عند الحاجة وتفيد السامعين. لا تحزنوا روح الله القدوس الذي به ختمتم ليوم الفداء. تخلصوا من كل حقد ونقمة وغضب وصياح وشتيمة وما إلى ذلك من الشرور، وليكن بعضكم لبعض ملاطفا رحيما غافرا كما غفر الله لكم في المسيح”.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you
Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 04/24-32: “and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another. 4:26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.”* Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil. 4:28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you’”

لِيُكَرِّمَ الجَمِيعُ الٱبْنَ كَمَا يُكَرِّمُونَ الآب. مَنْ لا يُكَرِّمُ الٱبْنَ لا يُكَرِّمُ الآبَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَهُ
إنجيل القدّيس يوحنّا05/من17حتى23/:”قالَ الربُّ يَسوع: «أَبِي مَا يَزَالُ يَعْمَلُ وأَنَا أَيْضًا أَعْمَل». لِذلِكَ ٱزْدَادَ طَلَبُ اليَهُودِ لِقَتْلِهِ، لأَنَّهُ مَا كَانَ يَنْقُضُ السَّبْتَ فَحَسْب، بَلْ كَانَ أَيْضًا يَدْعُو اللهَ أَبَاهُ مُسَاوِيًا نَفْسَهُ بِٱلله. وكَانَ يَسُوعُ يُجِيبُهُم ويَقُول: «أَلحَقَّ ٱلحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُم، لا يَقْدِرُ الٱبْنُ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ شَيئًا مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِهِ إِلاَّ مَا يَرَى الآبَ يَعْمَلُهُ. فَمَا يَعْمَلُهُ الآبُ يَعْمَلُهُ الٱبْنُ أَيْضًا مِثْلَهُ. فَٱلآبُ يُحِبُّ الٱبْنَ، ويُريهِ كُلَّ مَا يَعْمَل، وسَيُرِيهِ أَعْمَالاً أَعْظَمَ لِتَتَعَجَّبُوا. فَكَمَا أَنَّ الآبَ يُقِيمُ المَوتَى ويُحْيِيهِم، كَذلِكَ الٱبْنُ أَيْضًا يُحْيِي مَنْ يَشَاء. فَٱلآبُ لا يَدِينُ أَحَدًا، بَلْ أَعْطَى الٱبْنَ أَنْ يَدِينَ الجَمِيع،

All may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 05/17-23/:”Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is still working, and I also am working.’For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God. Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him.”

The Gifts Of Humbleness and Forgiveness
Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 04/24-32: “and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another. 4:26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.”* Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil. 4:28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you’”

The post تخلصوا من كل حقد ونقمة وغضب وصياح وشتيمة وما إلى ذلك من الشرور، وليكن بعضكم لبعض ملاطفا رحيما غافرا كما غفر الله لكم في المسيح/Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

د. وليد فارس: الثورة اللبنانية فاجأت واشنطن/Dr. Walid Phares: The US was surprised by the Lebanon Protests as they evolved into a Lebanese Revolution

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د. وليد فارس: الثورة اللبنانية فاجأت واشنطن
“ليبانون ديبايت/الاثنين 02 كانون الأول 2019

نفى الدكتور، وليد فارس وجود أي دور أميركي رسمي بتفجير الثورة في لبنان، وذلك بعكس ما تحاول جماعات إيران ترويجه.
وقال فارس في حديث لـ “ليبانون ديبايت”، “ليس هناك أي دور أميركي حتى ان الأجهزة الاستخباراتية والإدارة تفاجأت بانفجار الثورة في لبنان، ومن خلال مراجعتنا لكل ما قيل في التقارير خلال العامين الأخيرين في الامن القومي والكونغرس، لم نر أي مؤشر الى استعدادات لما يجري في لبنان”.
وأضاف، “واشنطن تفاجأت بالشعب اللبناني ينتفض وتفاجأت أكثر بشكل التعبير الراقي والحضاري، وساهمت هذه الأمور في دفع الإدارة الى مراجعة سياساتها حيال بيروت، ولكن لا يعني ان يحاول البعض تصوير السياسة القادمة على انها تحريض للبنانيين على الثورة، وانما أعلنت بلسان وزير خارجيتها، مايك بومبيو انها تدعم ما يطالبه اللبنانيون وتقف الى جانبهم معنويا حتى تتبلور الخطط والبرامج السياسية بالتعاون مع المجتمع الدولي”.
وتابع، “جدير بالذكر انه منذ انطلاقة ثورة أكتوبر كنت من بين الذين طالبوا الإدارة بالالتزام بمبدأ حماية الثورة وكانت لي تغريدة طالبت خلالها من الرئيس دونالد ترمب اتخاذ موقفاً دفاعياً عن المتظاهرين، ولكن بعد اقل من ساعتين ظهرت بشائر حملة شاملة نفذها الجيش الالكتروني لحزب الله ومجموعات يسارية متطرفة تدور في فلكه، ركزوا خلالها على ضرورة عدم تدخل اميركا، واكتشفنا فيما بعد ان حزب الله نظم هذه الموجة خصوصا انه وصلتنا الاف الرسائل من لبنان تطالب بتوعية الإدارة الأميركية لخطوة ما يجري على الأرض، لأن اولوية حزب الله منع أي وثبة أميركية لمساندة المتظاهرين ومحاسبة الكثير من القادة السياسيين والامنيين المنغمسين بفساد واعمال غير شرعية”.
وفي رده على سؤال حول الجنون في المراهنة على اميركا خصوصاً بعد قرارها الانسحاب من شمال سوريا، قال، “الجنون ان يتخذ البعض موقفا يربط ما يجري في لبنان بسياسة اميركا حيال سوريا. امران مختلفان لا علاقة لهما ببعضهما البعض مع العلم انني اعتبر ان موقف ترمب الأول بالانسحاب من سوريا تم تعديله بالانسحاب من منطقة محدودة وإعادة تنظيم التواجد الاميركي مع قوات سوريا الديمقراطية”.
وأشار، “إلى ان اميركا ستكون مؤيدة وداعمة معنويا لأي شيء يريده الشعب اللبناني ولكن هناك امران يجب الالتفات اليهما، الأول ان إدارة ترمب منهمكة في مواجهة معارضة عنيفة من خلال محاولات العزل، والثاني يتجسد في انتخابات رئاسية قادمة، ما يعني ان على الثورة الاستعداد والصمود حتى الانتخابات، كما ان عليها البدء بمرحلة ثانية من مطالبها الاستراتيجية التي تبعد ابعد من نقطة تشكيل حكومة تكنوقراط، أي ان المطلوب برنامج أكثر دقة يكون واضحا للمجتمع الدولي ويمكن بناء خارطة طريق من خلاله”.

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Dr.Walid Phares/Face Book/December 02/2019
My interview with Lebanon Debate: the US was surprised by the Lebanon Protests as they evolved into a Lebanese Revolution. Washington is siding with civil society’s legitimate demands for freedom of expression, as Secretary Pompeo has stated. But realistically the protesters should brace at least for a year, before the international community is able to support the demands fully.

Dr.Walid Phares/Face Book/December 01/2019
قامت ماكنة حزب الله بفبركة سلسلة من الخرافات وحاولت نشرها من بينها انني احد المنظمين الكبار لهذه الثورة في لبنان ومنسقها في الخارج، وردا أقول يا ليت.، لان ثورة لبنانية صنعها اللبنانيون داخل لبنان.
Among the many canards and “fakenews” fabricated and disseminated by Hezbollah’s propaganda machine over the past month, a story that I am one of the main organizers of the revolution in Lebanon and its coordinator worldwide. In response I say: I wish I was, but I am not. This is a Lebanese revolution made and led by Lebanese inside Lebanon.

Elias Youssef Bejjani/Face Book/December 01/2019 
Hezbollah is 100% not Lebanese by any means. This terrorist armed Iranian proxy hates Lebanon and every thing that is Lebanese, and that why its leadership and media facilities do their best in either killing those Lebanese politicians and intellectuals who opposes their Iranian Scheme against Lebanon or try to blemish their patriotric reputation by labeling them as traitors. Their dirty media war against Dr. Walid and other patriotic Diaspora Lebanese intellectuals comes in this context.

الياس بجاني/فايسبوك/01 كانون الأول/2019
حزب الله واتباعه من أصحاب شركات الأحزاب التعتير والمرتزقة والطرواديين ولأنهم جماعة من المرتزقة والإرهاب والقمع والدكتاتورية ومأجورين تافهين لقوى غير لبنانية ينفذون أوامرها فهم يعتقدون بعقولهم المرّضة بأن الجميع مثلهم ومن خامتهم العفنة. هؤلاء جماعة يعشقون ثقافة المؤامرة فيما بالواقع العملي هم مؤامرة على لبنان وعلى اللبنانيين.

The post د. وليد فارس: الثورة اللبنانية فاجأت واشنطن/Dr. Walid Phares: The US was surprised by the Lebanon Protests as they evolved into a Lebanese Revolution appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

وليد شقير/الأميركيون لم يقولوا إنهم ضد دخول حزب الله الحكومة والمجتمع الدولي يفتقد شريكاً يسمح له بدعم لبنان في غياب حكومة غير مستفِزة

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الأميركيون لم يقولوا إنهم ضد دخول “حزب الله” الحكومة والمجتمع الدولي يفتقد شريكاً يسمح له بدعم لبنان في غياب حكومة غير مستفِزة
وليد شقير/انديبندت عربية/02 كانون الأول/2019

بات واضحاً أن النجدة الدولية للبنان على الصعيدين المالي والاقتصادي لن تصل، إلاّ إذا تألّفت حكومة جديدة، وبسرعة. هذا ما يردّده معظم المسؤولين في عواصم الدول الدائمة العضوية في مجلس الأمن، سواء في عواصمها أو عبر دبلوماسييها في بيروت، وهذا ما تشدّد عليه باريس التي تتولّى الاتصالات من أجل تأمين عقد اجتماع لـ”مجموعة الدعم الدولية للبنان”، بغية البحث في سبل مساندته للخروج من الأزمة المالية التي وقع فيها.

ومع أنّ باريس لم تقل إنها لن تبادر إلى الدعوة لعقد الاجتماع إذا لم تتشكل الحكومة، فإن الدبلوماسيين الغربيين الذين يتابعون الشأن اللبناني يتساءلون إذا كان مفيداً عقد مثل هذا الاجتماع قبل أن تتألف الحكومة، لأن الانطباع العام الذي تتركه أسئلة العواصم الكبرى، يتمثّل في الخشية من عدم تمكنها من تحديد كيفية مساعدة لبنان، إذا لم يكن هناك في البلد شريك للمجتمع الدولي للبحث معه في سبل إنقاذه من الانهيار. ويقول مصدر دبلوماسي رفيع لـ “اندبندنت عربية” إنه مقابل أن تساعد الدول القادرة لبنان في إدارة أزمته، فإن الشريك المحلي الذي عليها التعاون معه في هذا الشأن غير موجود بغياب حكومة.

بيان مجلس الأمن
ويبرز الاهتمام بالوضع اللبناني من خلال حركة الدبلوماسيين الأجانب في اتجاه المسؤولين كافة، ومن خلال إجماع الدول الأعضاء في مجلس الأمن أيضاً على البيان الصحافي الذي صدر عنه في 25 نوفمبر (تشرين الثاني) الماضي، لمناسبة مناقشة أعضائه تقرير الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة أنطونيو غوتيريش حول تطبيق قرار المجلس رقم 1701، والذي تناول أعضاؤه الأزمة اللبنانية منذ اندلاع الانتفاضة الشعبية في 17 أكتوبر (تشرين الأول) الماضي، وانعكاساتها على مستقبل الوضع في البلاد. فالبيان رأى أن لبنان يمر بوضع حرج وأن أعضاء المجلس شدّدوا على تشكيل حكومة جديدة في وقت قريب، في إطار الدستور، بإمكانها التجاوب مع تطلعات الشعب وإعادة الاستقرار. كما لم يخلُ البيان الدولي من التأكيد على قيام حوار وطني والإبقاء على سلمية التظاهرات عبر تجنب العنف واحترام حق التجمع والاحتجاجات، فضلاً عن امتداحه دور الجيش اللبناني وسائر المؤسسات الأمنية في حماية هذا الحق.

لا إدارة للأزمة المالية الاقتصادية
إلاّ أنّ ما يثير قلق الدبلوماسيين المهتمين بالأزمة اللبنانية هو أنهم لا يرون إدارة فعلية للأزمة الاقتصادية المالية، علماً أنه سبق لهم أن طالبوا لبنان بتنفيذ التزاماته في ما يتعلّق بالإصلاحات المطلوبة في سياق معالجتها. والمشكلة، وفق مصدر دبلوماسي واسع الاطلاع على عمق هذه الأزمة، هي أن الدول المعنية تفتقد إلى مَن يدير تلك الأزمة، على الرغم من أن بعض كبار المسؤولين يعتقدون في حديثهم مع الدبلوماسيين الذين يلتقونهم بأنهم يديرون الأزمة، في وقت يتطلب الأمر تأليف حكومة جديدة، ويشدد الخبراء الاقتصاديون على ذلك أيضاً. فالمسؤولون في البنك الدولي وصندوق النقد الدولي يرون أن لبنان في قلب الأزمة التي لا يجدون مَن يديرها، إذ يصعب على حكومة تصريف الأعمال أن تقوم بذلك. لكن المصدر عينه يشير إلى أن الإلحاح الدولي على قيام حكومة لا يقترن مع الانخراط في النقاش حول صيغتها ولا مَن يكون عضواً فيها أو لا يكون، أو إذا كان يجب أن يبقى “حزب الله” داخلها أو خارجها، حتى في لقاءات الغرف المغلقة. بل يكتفون بالحديث عن مواصفاتها أي أن تلبي تطلعات الحراك الشعبي وموثوقة في ما يخص إعادة الاستقرار، وأن تتحلى بدعم أكثرية واسعة في البرلمان، حتى تتمكن من الحصول على الدعم.

ويغلب الاعتقاد لدى المصدر الدبلوماسي بأن الجانب الأميركي ليس ضد وجود “حزب الله” في الحكومة، على الرغم من أنه قد يكون مسروراً إذا بقي خارجها. كذلك، لم يطرح أي من الدول الأعضاء في مجلس الأمن ذلك، إذ من المعروف أن أحداً في الانتفاضة الشعبية لم يتطرّق إلى مسألة سلاح الحزب، فهو ليس على الأجندة، إلاّ أنّ هذا لا يحول دون حذر بعض الدول من سعي عددٍ من الأحزاب والقادة إلى الاستفادة من الأزمة وتفاقمها. وإذ يراقب المجتمع الدولي النقاش الدائر حول ما إذا كانت الأطراف تستعجل تأليف الحكومة، فإن استطلاع مواقف الفرقاء يفضي إلى نتيجة بأن بعض القوى السياسية يهدف إلى قيام حكومة سريعاً، والبعض يقول إن “حزب الله” مع هذا التوجه. كما أن هناك اهتماماً بمعرفة أي نوع من الحكومات يفضّل الفرقاء، وجرى نقاش عمّا إذا كان قيام حكومة من أكثرية تقتصر على أكثرية قوى 8 آذار، أو تحظى بدعم أكثرية أوسع من ذلك. لكن، إذا كانت ستستند فقط إلى أكثرية 8 آذار، فمن الصعب تأمين الدعم على الصعيدَيْن الاقتصادي والمالي للبنان. ونية المجتمع الدولي هي تقديم المساعدة لحكومة تمثيلها واسع وتضم أكثرية ذات قاعدة عريضة، تدل على اقتناع بالحاجة الملحة إلى التغيير، إذ لم تعد هناك إمكانية لأن يستمر الوضع BUSINESS AS USUAL ، كما كان عليه قبل 17 أكتوبر.

عدم “تجميل” وجوه مرفوضة
وفي وقت يبدو أن القوى الدولية غير مهتمة بالتدخل في تفاصيل الحكومة البديلة، فإن التوجه العام لدى الدول المتابعة للشأن اللبناني هو أن هذا يعود إلى اللبنانيين، لكنه لم يمنع تقديم النصيحة القائلة بعدم استفزاز الحراك الشعبي بوجوه مرفوضة منه أو عبر تجميل من كانوا في الحكومة المستقيلة وهم غير مقبولين. لكن المفتاح لمحاولة معالجة الأزمة يبقى في تسريع تأليف حكومة، تستمع إلى مطالب المواطنين وتضع برنامجاً، بدلاً من غياب أي إدارة للأزمة كما هو حاصل الآن، في وقت يمكن تفادي الانهيار خلال الأشهر المقبلة بإجراءات قد تكون موجعة. فالمشكلة حالياً هي أن هناك قيادة ذاتية للطائرة، بينما إيجاد قيادة فعلية لها قد لا يجنّبها الهبوط الآمن، لكنّ هبوطاً في ظل قيادة، أفضل من عدم وجودها، لأن لبنان قد يقدم على ثورة جياع واضطراب اجتماعي إذا لم تُعالَج الأزمة قريباً.

The post وليد شقير/الأميركيون لم يقولوا إنهم ضد دخول حزب الله الحكومة والمجتمع الدولي يفتقد شريكاً يسمح له بدعم لبنان في غياب حكومة غير مستفِزة appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

سام منسى/الارتباك في طهران والكر والفر في بيروت وبغداد

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الارتباك في طهران والكر والفر في بيروت وبغداد
سام منسى/الشرق الأوسط/02 كانون الأول/2019

في حوار مع صديق منذ أيام، قال لي: «ينبغي أن يتوقف هذا الحراك الشعبي مهما كان الثمن»، فأجبته بسؤال آخر: «ماذا تفضل؟ نهاية الانتفاضة وترسيخ سيطرة محور (حزب الله) على البلد، مع كل ما يعنيه ذلك من مواصلة تفتيت نسيج المجتمع اللبناني، وعزله عن محيطه الإقليمي كما عن المجتمع الدولي؟ أم استمرارها فترة قد تطول أو تقصر مع التحلي بالصبر والمثابرة والحكمة، لاستعادة الدولة وإعادة الوطن معها؟».

هذا المزاج يراود للأسف كثيرين هذه الأيام، ما يدفعنا إلى مراجعة وقائع عدة أفرزتها الانتفاضة الشعبية، وردة فعل السلطة الحاكمة عليها، وأعني بها تحديداً «حزب الله» وفريق رئيس الجمهورية، و«التيار الوطني الحر».

لا بد من الاعتراف بداية، بأن هذه السلطة تمكنت من بعث أشباح الماضي، من شبح الحرب الأهلية إلى شبح 7 مايو (أيار) 2008، وهو قمة استعراضات قوة «حزب الله» في المواجهات، بين قوى «14 آذار» و«8 آذار»، وذلك عبر افتعال سلسلة من الحوادث اتسمت بالطابع الأمني، وكان عنوانها الرئيس فورة «عفوية» لشارع مناصري الثنائي الشيعي و«التيار الوطني الحر»، ضد شارع أهل الانتفاضة. نفذ الشارع الأول هجمات على الشارع الثاني في مناطق عدة، بواسطة العصي والحجارة والسكاكين والأدوات الحادة، أو بواسطة مواكب الدراجات النارية وأحياناً السيارات، وصفت بتعبير جديد على لبنان وهو «ترهيب السلطة». هذه المشهدية وضعت الانتفاضة على المقعد الخلفي، وانصب التركيز على نتائج هذه الحوادث، مع سعي البعض إلى التهويل بعودة الاقتتال بين اللبنانيين.

ولا بد من الإقرار ثانية بأن السلطة الحاكمة تقف ضد الانتفاضة، على الرغم من تغليف خطاب قادتها بمواقف تتبنى مطالبها، مع توجيه انتقادات لها بدأت باتهامها بالتبعية للسفارات، واتهام أكثر من ثلث الشعب اللبناني بالعمالة للخارج، وانتهت بانتقاد أداء المتظاهرين؛ لا سيما لجهة قطع الطرقات «والتعرض لحرية التنقل التي يضمنها الدستور»، وعدم وجود قيادة لهم تتفاوض معها. كل المؤشرات تدل حتى الآن على تمسك السلطة بموقفها المناوئ للانتفاضة، ونسأل هنا: إلى أي مدى قد يصل «حزب الله» وحلفاؤه في التصدي لها؟

ولا بد من الإشارة ثالثاً إلى أن عدم تحديد موعد للاستشارات النيابية الملزمة لتكليف رئيس للحكومة حتى الآن، يظهر التردد والارتباك في صفوف السلطة الحاكمة؛ وخصوصاً محركها الأول «حزب الله»، بما قد يعكس التردد والارتباك الذي يسود مركز صناعة قرار الحزب، أي طهران. إذا وضعنا جانباً العقوبات الأميركية والدولية المفروضة على إيران، وإذا استثنينا الحالة السورية؛ حيث تتقاسم إيران المكاسب مع روسيا، نرى أن ما تشهده العواصم العربية الثلاث التي زعمت إيران سيطرتها عليها، أي بيروت وبغداد وصنعاء، يهدد بتهاوي بناء النفوذ والتوسع الذي عمل النظام الإيراني على تشييده، منذ اندلاع الثورة الإسلامية عام 1979. فعنوان الثورة الشعبية في العراق هو رفض الهيمنة الإيرانية على البلاد. والموقف الأخير للمرجع الشيعي الأعلى السيد علي السيستاني الذي دان فيه استخدام العنف ضد المتظاهرين، وطالب مجلس النواب بحجب الثقة عن الحكومة، موجه في الأساس ضد أذرع إيران في الداخل العراقي.

وعنوان الانتفاضة الشعبية في بيروت هو الرفض لأداء السلطة، وعلى رأسها «حزب الله»، بينما تتحدث الأنباء عن فتح قنوات حوار بين الحوثيين في صنعاء والسعودية.

إذا كان القاسم المشترك بين هذه العواصم في السابق هو سيطرة إيران عليها، فالقاسم المشترك بينها اليوم هو شقوق واسعة في هذه السطوة. ومع ذلك، لا تجوز الاستكانة، كما لا يجوز اعتبار أن التردد والارتباك لدى هذا المحور يعنيان التراجع أو عدم الإقدام على خطوات أمنية وعسكرية قد تغير المشهد لصالحه.

في ظل هذه الوقائع، وعلى خلفية تمترس قوى السلطة وراء ترسانة «حزب الله» وسطوته، ما هي الخيارات المتاحة أمام الانتفاضة الشعبية في لبنان؟

إذا صحَّت مقولة إن المتحكم في القرار بلبنان هو إيران، فطريق الانتفاضة محفوف بالصعاب وكثير من العقبات؛ لأن مصلحة لبنان واللبنانيين في أسفل أولويات طهران مقابل استراتيجيتها في الإقليم. وعليه، قد يتأخر التكليف، وإذا حصل فقد يتأخر التأليف، في محاكاة لتشكيل حكومة الرئيس تمام سلام الذي تطلَّب 11 شهراً، أو تشكيل حكومة الرئيس سعد الحريري الأخيرة، الذي استغرق أكثر من تسعة أشهر، وستتأخر أي مبادرة لحل الأزمة الاقتصادية والمالية والنقدية التي تضرب البلاد.

إن استمرار هذه الأزمة مع الإجراءات المتخذة اليوم على الصعيد المصرفي والنقدي، من شأنه إخراج لبنان من النظام المالي العالمي، بفعل تقييد التحويلات المالية إلى الخارج، والمسحوبات بالدولار الأميركي، في بلد اقتصاده شبه مدولر، ويعتمد على تحويلات مالية من الخارج، ويستورد معظم استهلاكه، ما يرسم صورة قاتمة لما ستؤول إليه الأمور، تذكِّر بما حصل من انهيار مالي واقتصادي واجتماعي في دول مجاورة.

إذا كانت الضيقة الاقتصادية دافعاً للحراك، فقد يكون الخنق الاقتصادي قاتلاً له، وهنا الخوف على الانتفاضة، علماً بأن التراجع عنها لا يعني إطلاقاً تغيير المسار التدهوري الذي تتجه إليه الأوضاع النقدية والمصرفية.

من جهة أخرى، على الانتفاضة تسمية الأمور بأسمائها، والخروج من محاولات فصل الاقتصاد والاجتماع عن السياسة. فالسياسة ليست فقط ميزان قوة بين أحزاب سياسية وسياسة خارجية ومحاور إقليمية ودولية؛ بل هي أيضاً إدارة شؤون الناس عبر سياسات وخطط اقتصادية واجتماعية وتربوية وإنمائية وبيئية، تحت مظلة نظام حكم واضح المعالم، ومؤسسات دستورية يتألف منها كيان الدولة المعنوي. إذا اختل هذا النظام، وإذا خطفت المؤسسات الدستورية، فستغيب الدولة، وتغيب معها إدارة شؤون الناس.

إن الأزمة الاقتصادية والمالية والنقدية التي تلفنا، لها دون أدنى شك أسبابها التقنية؛ لكن سببها الرئيس هو سياسي ذو بعدين: الأول انتهاك سيادة الدولة من خلال وجود دويلة تتحكم في مفاصلها وتتفوق عليها عسكرياً، والثاني غياب الحكومة الرشيدة، بما تفترضه من تخطيط ومساءلة وشفافية. لن تستمر الانتفاضة، ولن يكتب لها الانتصار، إذا لم تضع الأصبع على الجرح.

إن القيمين على الدويلة داخل الدولة، ومن سمحوا لها بالتمدد لتسمح لهم بالتربع على الكراسي، يدركون تماماً أن تحقيق مطالب الانتفاضة سيكون كمن يطلق النار على نفسه؛ لأن تحقيق المطالب يعني استعادة الدولة.
وبانتظار وضوح الرؤية الإيرانية، بدءاً من مآلات ما يجري في العراق وسوريا واليمن، وصولاً إلى نتائج الانتخابات الرئاسية الأميركية المقبلة، يبقى السيناريو الأكثر رجحاناً في لبنان هو استمرار الوضع على ما هو عليه، بسمة رئيسة هي الكر والفر: كر وفر على الصعيد الحكومي، أي تكليف دون تأليف.

كر وفر في الشارع، في إطار استمرار المواجهات بين المحتجين والموالين للسلطة.

كر وفر بين السلطة ومصرف لبنان وجمعية المصارف، بشأن اتخاذ إجراءات آيلة للحد من الانهيار المالي والنقدي والاقتصادي، يتهرب الجميع من تحمل مسؤولية قوننتها، جراء التداعيات المتوقعة على أكثر من صعيد.

The post سام منسى/الارتباك في طهران والكر والفر في بيروت وبغداد appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

علي الأمين/أحد وضوح الشمس: الإنتفاضة تتربع والسلطة تتصدع

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“أحد وضوح” الشمس: الإنتفاضة “تتربع” و السلطة “تتصدع”!
علي الأمين/نداء الوطن/02 كانون الأول/2019

في “أحد الوضوح” يؤكد الشعب اللبناني وضوح الأهداف لانتفاضة 17 تشرين، على الرغم من المحاولة البائسة لتشويش الرؤية وحجب شمس الحق، على طريق بعبدا امس، حيث عمد “التيار العوني” إلى “اختراع” شارعه للتمويه على المطالب المحقة، مقابل شارع المنتفضين الذين أرادوا أن يسمعوا رئيس الجمهورية صوتهم، ويتجدد اشكال المواجهة مع السلطة، ويمضي رغم كل المصاعب نحو أفق لبناني جديد، عنوانه المواطنية في مواجهة كل وسائل تقويضها، لصالح الحاكم والرعية لصالح الزعيم والتابعين، لصالح الدويلة لا الدولة.

على هذا المسار من استعادة الدولة والدستور والقانون، يمضي المنتفضون لتأكيد الحقّ في تشكيل حكومة من المستقلين، باعتباره مطلباً انقاذياً للبنان، لا رغبة في مزاحمة هذا الزعيم أو ذاك، بل لإدراك ووعي عميقين لدى عموم الشعب، بأن قواعد السلطة واللعبة السياسية التي أرستها منذ عقود ولا سيما في العقد الأخير، باتت عاجزة عن انتاج الحلول للأزمات التي استفحلت على مختلف المستويات الاقتصادية والمالية والسياسية.

هذا ما لا تريده السلطة وهي تعتقد واهمة، أن ابتزاز المواطنين بالأزمات المعيشية، وسعر صرف الدولار، ومختلف تداعيات السياسات التي اعتمدت في الحكومات السابقة، لا سيما في عهد الرئيس ميشال عون، سوف يؤدي الى استسلام الشعب لها، وما محاولات استثارة الفتنة الطائفية والمذهبية وعبارة “شيعة شيعة شيعة” ترميز لا لبس فيه لهذه المحاولات، سوى تعبير عن عزم السلطة لاستنقاذ قواعد اللعبة السياسية التي حكمت لبنان قبل الانتفاضة، تلك التي قامت على معادلة الأمن مقابل نهب الشعب، والأمن مقابل استباحة الدستور والقانون، والأمن مقابل الولاء الطائفي والزبائنية.

فاحراق الخيم في صور ومهاجمة المعتصمين في بعلبك، وشيطنة ثوار جلّ الديب، واقتحام الساحات في وسط بيروت، لم تنفع السلطة، وأظهرت أن اللبنانيين باتوا أكثر وعياً وتمسكاً بنظام مصالحهم اللبناني، وبهويتهم الوطنية، ومبادرون الى إطفاء كل فتنة تحاول السلطة اشعالها، من مشهد “عين الرمانة والشياح” الى مشهد “التباريس وخندق الغميق”. تفقد السلطة قدرتها على التجدد، لذا تحاول استنقاذ ما لا يمكن انقاذه، فهي لم تزل أسيرة عزلة ناديها السياسي الذي فقد قدرته على التفاعل مع الشعب، فقد قدرته على الاستجابة لمتطلبات التغيير الملحّ، هو نادٍ محكوم بالموت وهو يفقد مبرر وجوده وبقائه، فالسلطة الغارقة في الفساد والمحاصصة والزبائنية، انتجت أزمات عاجزة عن العمل بل التفكير في مجابهتها ومعالجتها، ذلك أنها تدرك أنّ عملية الإصلاح تتطلب اصلاحاً في الأدوات، فالبنى الحزبية التي تمثلها، ونظام الزعامة الذي تستند اليه، هو ما يجب إصلاحه وإعادة تدويره أولاً، حتى يمكن الحديث عن فرص لهذه السلطة بكل مكوناتها أن تستعيد ثقة الشعب.

بنى تحتية مهترئة
ما يهتز ويتصدع هو تلك البنى الحزبية المهترئة، التي باتت عاجزة عن انتاج قيادات وبرامج سياسية ووطنية، بل تفتقد حتى فرص التغيير في بناها الداخلية والتنظيمية، اذ يكفي أن أحزاب السلطة، لا تخجل من ان تعتبر رئيس الحزب أو أمينه العام أو زعيمه هو من يعطي الحزب القوة والزخم والشرعية. علماً أن حزباً لا يستطيع انتاج قيادة جديدة ونخباً حزبية، هو حزب ميت، وما استمراره الا احتفاء بهذا الموت. من هنا تتأتى فرصة ما تبقى من حياة للأحزاب التي حكمت وتحكم الدولة وتتحكم بها، فرص لاعادة التجديد ولاعادة الاعتبار للعمل الحزبي، فالحيوية التي عبر عنها الشعب اللبناني في هذه الانتفاضة، تجاوزت قدرة أحزاب السلطة على اللحاق بها، التي لم يعد لديها لمواجهة التحديات الوطنية على مختلف المستويات، الا وسائل التخوين والترهيب، فالمجتمع المدني الذي يبدع ويبتكر في جسم الثورة أو الانتفاضة، وسائله النضالية، وافكاره الثورية، وحلولاً لمشكلات تعاني منها الدولة، يفضح عجز القوى الحزبية السلطوية والتقليدية عن مواكبة المجتمع، عجزها عن المبادرة بغير القمع الفكري والأمني، من دون أن تعي أن هذا الأسلوب لم يعد مجدياً، بل بات عنصر قوة للتغيير الذي تمثله الانتفاضة اليوم. سيما أنّ هذه الأحزاب وتحديداً السلطوية منها، كانت شريكاً فاعلاً في السياسات التي أدت الى ما وصلت اليه الدولة ومؤسساتها والحياة السياسية من هزال ومن فساد واسترزاق.
التحدي الذي تفرضه الانتفاضة اللبنانية على هذه الأحزاب، هو ليس الموت، بل الحياة والتجدد واحداث التغيير السلمي والديموقراطي في البنى الحزبية، فالمأزق الذي تعانيه الدولة اللبنانية، لا يمكن مجابهته بإحالة أسبابه للمؤامرة الخارجية، ولا يمكن الاتكاء على هذه النظرية بعد مشهد الانتفاضة، والتهويل به بات مؤذياً لأصحابه، لأن ما يشهده لبنان هو انتفاضة حقيقية في وجه كل ما مورس من سياسات قدمت مصالح الخارج على الداخل، لذا هي ليست من اجل استعداء الخارج، بل انتفاضة من أجل وعي المصلحة الوطنية أولاً التي لن تستقيم بلا الانفتاح على العالم، لا استجدائه كما قالت وفعلت أحزاب السلطة.

The post علي الأمين/أحد وضوح الشمس: الإنتفاضة تتربع والسلطة تتصدع appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 03/2019

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Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 03/2019

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

Click Here to enter the LCCC  Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006

Titles Of The LCCC English News Bulletin
Bible Quotations For today
Latest LCCC English Lebanese & Lebanese Related News 
Latest LCCC English Miscellaneous Reports And News
Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources

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

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 02- 03/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 47th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 02- 03/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 47th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 03/2019

Tites For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 02-03/2019
STL Schedules Public Hearing on Connected Case against Ayyash
Report: International Support Meeting on Lebanon Postponed
Trump administration quietly releases Lebanon military aid
US releases $105m of withheld aid to Lebanon’s armed forces
Aoun meets President of Beirut Bar Association: The Movement has removed a lot of red lines
Citizen kidnapped in West Bekaa
Rahi, UN’s Kubis tackle current situation
Aoun Promises Measures that Will ‘Satisfy All Lebanese’
Suicide of Unemployed Man Strikes a Chord in Crisis-Hit Lebanon
Bustani Delays Gasoline Tenders to ‘Enable More Competition’
Oil Syndicates Agree to Share Losses Resulting from Dollar Shortage
Bteish Rejects Calls for Hiking Bread Price
Austerity budget to be re-upped in 2020
Teachers Strike after Private Schools Cut Salaries
Lebanon Energy Ministry Delays Petrol Tender One Week to Enable ‘Competition’
New Lebanese Government Looming on the Horizon
Army Stops Migrant Boat Carrying 34 Syrian Refugees
In Death and Life, Lebanese Woman Shows Religious Law Fight

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 02-03/2019
STL Schedules Public Hearing on Connected Case against Ayyash
Naharnet/December 02/2019
Trial Chamber II of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) issued Monday an order scheduling a public hearing on 13 December 2019 at 10:00 A.M. (CET) to hear arguments from the Office of the Prosecutor and the Head of the Defense Office on initiating in absentia proceedings against Salim Ayyash over the Murr, Hawi and Hamadeh attacks, the STL said. Trial Chamber II has also invited the Registrar to make submissions on his efforts to publicize the indictment and the service of the indictment on the Accused. This step comes after the Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen seized Trial Chamber II, on 21 November 2019, to determine whether to initiate proceedings in absentia Ayyash, following the outstanding arrest warrant against him. Trial Chamber II will have to determine whether the required conditions have been met in order to start the proceedings in absentia whilst preserving the rights of the Accused. It will issue a decision in this regard in due course based on the oral submissions it hears on December 13.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On 16 September 2019: The STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen lifted the confidentiality of his decision confirming an indictment against Ayyash. The indictment, dated 14 June 2019, alleges Ayyash is involved in the 1 October 2004 attack against Marwan Hamadeh, the 21 June 2005 attack against Georges Hawi and the 12 July 2005 attack against Elias Murr. These attacks were found to be “connected” to the 14 February 2005 attack that killed ex-PM Rafik Hariri. These attacks constitute a new case dubbed STL-18-10. Judge Fransen also made public the arrest warrants issued against Ayyash.
On 17 September 2019, the STL President Judge Ivana Hrdličková issued a statement calling the accused to surrender and to participate in the proceedings, informing him of his rights before the Tribunal and notifying the public of the new indictment.
On 24 September 2019, the President further ordered that the service of the indictment against Ayyash be effected in an alternative manner, including through public advertisement.
On 07 October 2019, the poster was published in five Lebanese newspapers.
On 08 October 2019, the STL released an audio-visual and audio public service announcement as well as a poster with the biographical information of Ayyash as part of the STL public advertisement campaign.
On 06 November 2019, the STL President issued an order convening the Trial Chamber II in the connected case STL-18-10.
On 21 November 2019, the STL Pre-Trial Judge requested Trial Chamber II to determine whether proceedings in absentia should be initiated in Connected Case STL-18-10.
On 29 November, STL Trial Chamber II unanimously elected Judge Nicola Lettieri as Presiding Judge for a term of 18 months.

Report: International Support Meeting on Lebanon Postponed
Naharnet/December 02/2019
There were no regional or international positions regarding the latest developments in protest-hit Lebanon, but a “friendly” tripartite American-British-French meeting on Lebanon has been postponed, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday. The meeting, orchestrated by French President Emmanuel Macron, was expected to be held this week in London to discuss the situation in Lebanon. Macron aims to relay a strong message to Lebanon’s political class urging it to address the rightful demands of the protesters, expedite the formation of a government and implement reforms, paving the way to unlock billions in investments agreed at CEDRE aid conference in April 2018. “It has been postponed to a later date until contacts about the developments in Lebanon are complete,” diplomatic sources who spoke on condition of anonymity told the daily. It brings together the heads of Middle East departments in the three foreign ministries – the American David Schenker, the French Christophe Farnaud and the British Stephanie al-Qaq – which was held last month in Paris. Macron suggested the meeting in a bid to showcase international support for Lebanon’s stability, as the Mediterranean country grapples with nationwide protests since October 17.
With demonstrations continuing well into their second month demanding an overhaul of the entire political class, President Michel Aoun has yet to call for binding parliamentary consultations after the resignation of PM Saad Hariri. Hariri resigned on October 29 bowing to the people’s demands.

Trump administration quietly releases Lebanon military aid
Associated Press/December 02/2019
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has quietly released more than $100 million in military assistance to Lebanon after months of unexplained delay that led some lawmakers to compare it to the aid for Ukraine at the center of the impeachment inquiry. The $105 million in Foreign Military Financing funds for the Lebanese Armed Forces was released just before the Thanksgiving holiday and lawmakers were notified of the step on Monday, according to two congressional staffers and an administration official. All three spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly to the matter. The money had languished in limbo at the Office of Management and Budget since September although it had already won congressional approval and had overwhelming support from the Pentagon, State Department and National Security Council. The White House has yet to offer any explanation for the delay despite repeated queries from Congress. Lawmakers such as Rep. Eliot Engel, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., had pressed the administration since October to either release the funds or explain why it was being withheld. The State Department had notified Congress on Sept. 5 that the money would be spent.
Earlier this month, the delay came up in impeachment testimony by David Hale, the No. 3 official in the State Department, according to the transcript of the closed-door hearing. Hale described growing consternation among diplomats about the delay. The White House and the Office of Management and Budget have declined to comment on the matter. The State Department had offered only a cryptic response to queries, defending the assistance but also calling for Lebanese authorities to implement economic reforms and rein in corruption. As with the Ukraine assistance, OMB did not explain the delay. However, unlike Ukraine, there has been no suggestion that President Donald Trump is seeking “a favor” from Lebanon in exchange for the aid, according to officials familiar with the matter. The delay had frustrated the national security community, which believes the assistance that pays for U.S.-made military equipment for the Lebanese army is essential, particularly as Lebanon reels from financial chaos and mass protests. The aid is intended to help counter Iran’s influence in Lebanon, which is highlighted by the presence of the Iranian-supported Shiite Hezbollah movement in the government and the group’s militias, officials have said.
Some pro-Israel members of Congress have long sought to de-fund the Lebanese military, arguing that it has been compromised by Hezbollah, which the U.S. designates as a “foreign terrorist organization.” Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has long advocated cutting the assistance and is expected to introduce legislation that would bar such aid as long as Hezbollah is part of Lebanon’s government. The Pentagon and State Department reject that view, saying the army is the only independent Lebanese institution capable of resisting Hezbollah.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 01-02/2019
US releases $105m of withheld aid to Lebanon’s armed forces/Joyce Karam/The National/December 02/2019
In Death and Life, Lebanese Woman Shows Religious Law Fight/Associated Press/Naharnet/December 02/2019
Will Hezbollah survive the Lebanese revolution/Makram Rabah/The Arab Weekly/December 02/2019
US’ Lebanon policy should not be guided by Israeli perspective/Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/December 02/2019

US releases $105m of withheld aid to Lebanon’s armed forces
Joyce Karam/The National/December 02/2019
A senior US official confirmed the news
The Trump administration told Congress on Monday that it has released the $105 million in annual aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces, which had been withheld after a White House request. “The United States remains committed to strengthening the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure Lebanon’s borders, defend its sovereignty and preserve its stability,” a US State Department official said. The official said the armed forces was the only legitimate defence arm of the government of Lebanon. Last month it was reported that the Trump administration was withholding the amount and had informed Congress.
There was no official explanation given for the hold, which some officials attributed privately to “bureaucratic measures”.On Monday, congressional staffers confirmed the release of the aid and said there had been no delay in any deliveries. Since 2005, the US has provided $2.29bn in military assistance to Lebanon. A US defence official also confirmed the continuity of the Train and Equip aid programme for the Lebanese forces. “There is no change to Section 333 assistance at this time,” a Pentagon official told The National.
Hanin Ghaddar, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, attributed the release of the aid to pressure from Congress, the State Department and the Pentagon, against what was seen as a White House push to freeze the aid. Ms Ghaddar said there was also “a general realisation in Washington that this is the worst time to hold the aid”. US Senator Chris Murphy visited Lebanon last week and heavily criticised the administration for the aid freeze, calling it “the dumbest thing we could do to weaken Hezbollah”.
Ms Ghaddar said: “Despite violations of the military intelligence [against the armed forces], it has been generally doing a great job at protecting the protesters and challenging Hezbollah’s plans.” Lebanon has been swept with anti-corruption protests since mid-October, which have toppled the government of Saad Hariri and have been met with opposition from Hezbollah. Firas Maksad, an adjunct professor at George Washington University, said the release of aid was a boost to the armed forces at a critical time. “The military, with a good but imperfect record of dealing with peaceful protesters, has been resisting significant pressure from Hezbollah to forcefully reopen major highways and stand aside as its supporters attack the demonstrators,” Mr Maksad told The National. “Despite its shortcomings and much room for improvement, the US aid to the Lebanese army remains key for maintaining some US leverage in Beirut and preventing near total Iranian dominance.” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the Lebanese army and security services “to continue to ensure the rights and safety of the protesters”.Washington’s ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard, is preparing to leave her post and the Trump administration has nominated career diplomat Dorothy Shea for the position.

Aoun meets President of Beirut Bar Association: The Movement has removed a lot of red lines
NNA/December 02/2019
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, on Monday affirmed that “We all want reform, despite the obstacles in front of the course of events”, saying that the “Movement” came today to “Break a lot of reserves and remove a lot of red lines, and you will witness what satisfies you, and the Lebanese people, in the next stage”.
“We are not confronting the corrupt people in the Government or who were in it only, but the protection of a society for them because those who are affected do not complain, but only speak in salons. We cannot prosecute people for corruption without evidence, and we want the people to resist with us,” President Aoun said.
In addition, the President stressed the need to prosecute those who negatively promote national currency in accordance with the laws, pointing to the existence of some problems in the judicial laws, which lead to delay the course of lawsuits and must be amended.
President Aoun’s stances came during his meeting with the President of the Lebanese Bar Association, Melhem Khalaf, who was accompanied by former Captains, and members of the retirement committee.
At the outset of the meeting, Captain Khalaf, delivered the following speech:
“On November 17, the General Assembly of the Bar Association took us to the responsibility and honor to serve it, and today we are in the traditional visit to your esteemed office. It is a matter of joy and pride, not coincidence, that the percentage of the Bar Association, which was founded in 1919 coincides with the percentage of the State of Greater Lebanon, which was announced in 1920. Indeed, it was the Bar Association that was the first tributary of the men of the state at the time. Today, I am delighted to be accompanied, along with the dear members of the Bar Association and the Committee of the Retirement Fund, by Captains who have been in charge for nearly 40 years. These are among the followers of the great men, the fathers of the profession, on whose sleeves the glory of the law is built in Lebanon.
Mr. President, we come to you today, while you are in your inclusive position as the custodian of all Lebanese, entrusted with the maintenance of the Constitution and the application of laws, the guarantor of the constitutional institutions. I am deeply impressed by the interest that the Lebanese people have shown in the Bar Associations elections, this year, and with the sincere sentiments expressed by the Lebanese people in general, and the younger generation in particular. Today, electoral competition is over and union brings us together.
Mr. President, my conviction is that the Bar is the crane of a homeland. It is the crane of a homeland, because it is keen to support the state, the state of law and regulations. It is the crane of a homeland, because it is also keen to regularize the work of constitutional institutions, the essence of democratic work and the secret of its existence.
It is the crane of a homeland since lawyers only adapt with the rule of law, and combine themselves with it.
It is the crane of a homeland, along with an independent, effective, impartial, scholarly, fair, anti-corruptive, and accountable judicial authority. In any case, the Bar Association is the natural avant-garde campaign for the independence and justice of the judiciary.
It is the crane of a homeland, because justice is not without lawyers.
It is the crane of a homeland, because it feels the pain of the people and knows their worries and cries. It is the crane of a homeland, because it is the first defender of public freedoms and human rights, whatever the circumstances
It is a crane of a homeland, because it is the natural refuge for every oppressed.
Mr. President, the Lawyers Syndicate knows that Lebanon today, in the difficult circumstances imposed by the financial, economic and social crisis, needs an effective, rational, and salivary approach to keep up with the people who have peacefully emerged in all its categories, in all its ages, and in all regions, showing the strength of its faith, its solid will and its commitment to the homeland and to life. It is a people created by its history, and individuality, capable of changing the bitter reality, lying on the forehead and creating a process of renewal that does not stop or collapse. It is one of the greatest roles of the Bar Association to erase the distortions of hatred and distort on the face of this homeland, and to restore its true face, the face of love, tolerance and respect, the face of good and beauty, the face of freedom and joy.
Mr. President, maybe someone would ask: What can we do? and why?
I answer what Volney said more than two hundred and fifty years ago, who was amazed by the Lebanese peoples’ cultural and economic progress. Volney said: “How can we explain such prosperity in such a narrow land? After contemplation and reflection, I find no reason except the ray of freedom that shines there”. Mr. President, there is no fear of the freedom of this people, no fear of its rightful demands, no fear of its uprising, which comes from the womb of the wombs. And at all, there is no fear of renewed powers, today before tomorrow, to consolidate our democratic system.
The Bar Association is committed to the Constitution and constitutional institutions and its symbolism. Its first concern is to insert democracy into these institutions, starting with filling the vacuum within the procedural authority, in accordance with the constitutional mechanisms and demands of the people, the source of all powers.
Mr. President, the Bar Association has the will, determination, ability and courage to keep up with those concerned, at the right time and in the appropriate means, to fortify the homeland and protect the state in accordance with the hopes of the people. It is well aware of the accuracy of its role in being a crane of the homeland.
In turn, President Aoun responded by welcoming the President of the Bar Association and the accompanying delegation, pointing to the great appreciation he holds for the Association because “There is no judiciary in the absence of a lawyer who is the third pillar in justice after the Public Prosecution and the judiciary.””It is important that these three pillars are far from corruption, which has become a common disease in Lebanon,” the President added.
The President of the Republic said: “The movement has come today to break a lot of reserves and remove a lot of red lines, and you will see in the next stage what satisfies you and all the Lebanese”.
“We have made three appeals to those in charge of the Movement for dialogue, and to identify the demands accurately to help resolve things. The answer was that no one has the character to talk to us” President Aoun said.
The President added that “We are not only confronting corrupt people in the Government or those who were in power, because this is commonplace, but we are confronted with the protection of society for them, because those who are harmed do not complain but speak in salons. Can we prosecute people for corruption without evidence? No, we can’t. We want people to resist with us. Sometimes there are those who do not complain because they are benefitting from the situation, and there are some who share the benefit with the employee, through tax manipulation. This is an important kind of corruption. There is also legal corruption, such as when a piece of land is sold and registered with the notary more than once without paying the tax. For this I tell you objection alone is not enough”.
President Aoun then touched on the issue of freedoms in Lebanon and considered that it had reached anarchy. Noting that there are no journalists in prison because they are guaranteed freedom of expression.
“They are exposed to us on social media, and no one is exposed to them. But the freedom that we defended exceeded its limits, after insult became part of the freedom of the media, which is unacceptable. Lawyers can help control public morals”.
Regarding the current financial and economic crisis, the President pointed out that it has grown considerably as a result of accumulation of tens of years, explaining that he warned of the explosion on more than one occasion.
“I talked a lot about corruption, and the most important thing I mentioned, on this subject, was on the 14th of May this year, in a speech at the “Iftar” of Ramadan, in the presence of all state activities. I pointed out, at that time, that Lebanese rejection of taxes reflects mistrust in the state, and warned that the voice of the people will rise one day rejecting the fait accompli” President Aoun said. The President saw that rumor defeats truth today, and pointed to the existence of a large number of laws which are not implemented, including what has been issued since 1943 related to bad promotion of the national currency, and those who do should be prosecuted.
President Aoun pointed out that there are some problems in judicial laws that lead to delaying the course of calls, and must be amended, such as the issue of submitting defenses more than six times, the delay in the holding of hearings, and the accumulation of cases. “I hope that we will help together to correct our society from the diseases it suffers from,” the President concluded.

Citizen kidnapped in West Bekaa
NNA/December 02/2019
Masked gunmen in a dark-glass Jeep Cherokee without a license plate number on Monday abducted a citizen from the town of Kamed al-Louz in the western Bekaa, as he was driving a pickup truck on Jabal al-Bireh, Kamed al-Louz road to inspect a construction site of his. Meanwhile, the security forces have kicked off their investigations to unveil the identity of the kidnappers.

Rahi, UN’s Kubis tackle current situation
NNA/December 02/2019
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rahi, received this Monday in Bkirki the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, with whom he discussed the current situation in the country.

Aoun Promises Measures that Will ‘Satisfy All Lebanese’
Naharnet/December 02/2019
President Michel Aoun on Monday noted that the protest movement that has been sweeping the country since Oct. 17 has “breached a lot of (sectarian) protectorates and eliminated a lot of red lines.”“In the coming period, you will witness things that will satisfy you and all Lebanese,” Aoun told a delegation from the Beirut Bar Association led by its newly-elected chief Melhem Khalaf – a prominent civil society figure who is backed by the protest movement. “We are not only being impeded by the corrupts who are in power, or those of them who were in power, because this has become familiar, but we are also being impeded by the protection they are receiving from society,” the president added. Lamenting that “a large number of laws are not being implemented, including some that have been in place since 1943,” Aoun called for prosecuting those who “talk negatively about the national currency.”

Suicide of Unemployed Man Strikes a Chord in Crisis-Hit Lebanon
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 02/2019
A suicide in Lebanon committed over a small debt sparked a social media outcry in the protest-hit country, where weeks of political and economic turmoil have raised alarm. Naji Fliti, a 40-year-old father of two, committed suicide outside his home in the eastern border town of Arsal on Sunday because he could not pay outstanding medical bills for his cancer-stricken wife, his relative told AFP on Monday. The death resonated with many on social media, who blamed the country’s under-fire political class for failing to address a months-long economic downturn that has resulted in inflation, swelling unemployment and fears of a currency devaluation. “He is a victim of this regime, of this political class and their financial and monetary policies,” Doumit Azzi Draiby, an activist, said on Twitter. An unprecedented anti-government protest movement has gripped Lebanon since October 17, fueled in part by deteriorating living conditions.
The World Bank has warned of an impending recession that may see the number of people living in poverty climb from a third to half of the population. Unemployment, already above 30 percent for young people, would also go up, it said. Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s cabinet resigned two weeks into the protest movement, bowing to popular pressure. But the country’s deeply divided political class has yet to form a new cabinet, frustrating demonstrators who have remained mobilized. Public fury was fueled further following Fliti’s death. “Our anger is as strong as our determination to change this deadly and corrupt state,” Ghassan Moukheiber, a former lawmaker, said on Twitter, attaching a picture of the deceased. Fliti, a former stone quarry worker, had been unemployed for the past two months because of a crunch in demand for one of the town’s main exports, his cousin Hussein told AFP on Monday. “He is a victim of the economic situation,” Hussein said. “The blame is squarely on the corrupt political class that brought us here.”

Bustani Delays Gasoline Tenders to ‘Enable More Competition’
Naharnet/December 02/2019
Caretaker Minister of Energy Nada Bustani on Monday postponed a fuel tender to import gasoline by one week “to pave way for more competition.”Bustani was set to publicly open bids from private fuel companies on Monday following the strike of gas station owners last week that paralyzed the country.
The Ministry “received two gas tenders and two requests to delay the tender for one week until next Monday. This way, we would allow more competition,” said Bustani in remarks she made in a press conference. The Ministry “initiated the tender for fuel imports in a bid to control prices from rising and avoid fuel shortages,” she said. She urged private companies to step forward and submit their documents before next week “for better competition and better prices.” Knowing that around 14 companies submitted their documents to partake in the tender, she said: “In the last 48 hours pressure was exerted on (some) companies. Having only two companies does not mean the tender failed,” she added. The Ministry “decided to enter the competition after the fuel crisis. We decided to get involved when the current oil companies said they were incapable of opening letters of credit (in dollars) from the bank,” to import fuel.
Lebanon’s fuel crisis emerged last week against the background of a shortage in dollars. The Lebanese pound is pegged at around 1,500 pounds to the dollar, and both are used interchangeably in everyday transactions. But banks in Lebanon have been rationing dollar withdrawals, forcing those in need to resort to money-changers and pushing the unofficial exchange rate above 2,000 pounds to the greenback. The central bank last month said it would help fuel importers with access to the dollar at the lower official exchange rate. But petrol stations say they are making losses because they are forced to buy dollars at the higher rate to pay importers demanding the foreign currency. The government stepped down on October 29, less than two weeks after the October 17 demonstrations erupted, but the country’s deeply divided political parties have failed to form a new one.

Oil Syndicates Agree to Share Losses Resulting from Dollar Shortage
Naharnet/December 02/2019
Caretaker Energy Minister Nada Bustani on Monday announced that all oil sector syndicates have agreed to share losses resulting from the country’s dollar shortage crisis. After a meeting with the heads of the syndicates, Bustani said each stakeholder will contribute a certain share.
The minister however noted that the contributed shares will not be sufficient to cover the entire exchange rate losses. “The prices schedule will be issued on Wednesday,” Bustani said. “I will not allow the credit mechanism that the central bank has imposed on gas station owners to be turned into a burden on citizens. The burdens will be distributed on the syndicates so that citizens don’t bear them,” the minister added. Gas station owners had staged a strike on Friday, bringing the country to a standstill and drawing angry reactions from citizens, especially taxi drivers and delivery workers. On September 30, the central bank said it would facilitate access to dollars for importers of petroleum products, wheat and medicine. “Banks that issue letters of credit for the importation of petroleum products (petrol, fuel oil and gas), wheat and medicine will be able to ask the Banque du Liban to ensure the value of such credits in U.S. dollars,” the central bank said. The mechanism requires that a “special account” be opened at the central bank, and at least 15 percent of the value of the credit be deposited in it in U.S. dollars, as well as the full value in Lebanese pounds, it said, adding that the central bank would take 0.5 percent from each transaction. Lebanon has been grappling with widespread anti-government protests since October 17, a free-falling economy, and an escalating liquidity crisis. The dollar exchange rate in the parallel market has shot up from the pegged rate of 1,507 pounds to the greenback to around 2,250.Banks have meanwhile imposed restrictions on withdrawals and transfers.

Bteish Rejects Calls for Hiking Bread Price
Naharnet/December 02/2019
Caretaker Economy Minister Mansour Bteish on Monday reiterated his rejection of any increase in the price of bread amid the economic and financial crises in the country. Bteish’s stance came in two separate meetings with delegations from the association of mill owners and the association of bakery owners. During the meeting, bakery owners demanded “hiking the price or slashing the weight” of the standard pack of Lebanese pita bread. Bteish rejected the demand and briefed the delegation on an agreement he reached with mill owners under which they would sell wheat to bakeries for the price of LBP 565,000 per ton. The minister also cited a study conducted by the Directorate General of Grain and Sugar Beet and international sides. Weeks ago, the central bank said it would facilitate access to dollars for importers of petroleum products, wheat and medicine. The Lebanese pound has been pegged to the greenback at around 1,500 for two decades and the currencies are used interchangeably in daily life. But amid a deepening economic crisis, banks have gradually been reducing access to dollars in recent months, forcing importers to resort to money changers offering a higher exchange rate and sparking price hikes. On the open market, the dollar has been selling for more than 2,000 pounds.

Austerity budget to be re-upped in 2020
Annahar Staff/December 02/ 2019
MP Ibrahim Kanaan said the measures would decrease the spending of all institutions except those “concerned with social or health care.”
BEIRUT: Lebanon will re-up its austerity budget in 2020 with the aim of reducing the deficit by another LBP 453 billion according to the head of Parliament Finance and Budget Committee. MP Ibrahim Kanaan said the measures would decrease the spending of all institutions except those “concerned with social or health care.” “All unexplained spending and compensations and aid for organizations that are not concerned with social and health care must be crossed out or have a big part of it eliminated,” he said. New taxes or cuts to public sector wages will not be introduced, he said. The committee has been holding around the clock meetings to complete the 2020 budget and refer it back to parliament before the constitutional deadline. The draft budget also includes the series of measures approved by the Cabinet before caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted his resignation.
A reduction in electricity subsidies, minister wage cuts and other reforms were agreed hours after nationwide protests gripped Lebanon. On paper. the budget deficit was also reduced to 0.6 percent of GDP, down from 11.1 percent in 2018.
Meanwhile, caretaker Energy Minister Nada Boustani extended a tender to import 150,000 tons of gasoline by week to “allow for more competition.”
Only two companies submitted offers for the tender, Boustrani said, despite being received by another 12. On Saturday, owners of gas stations in Lebanon suspended a one-day strike that paralyzed the country and raised fears over a possible shortage of fuel.  Sami Brax, the head of the Syndicates of Gas Station Owners, announced suspending the strike “after holding contacts with the Energy Ministry,” said LBCI. The tender, offered by the state, looks to import that amount of gasoline in an attempt to avert any fuel shortages and “ensure that prices do not rise for Lebanese consumers,” Boustani said.
Lebanon has been rocked by nationwide protests for the better part of a month, kicked off initially by a proposed WhatsApp tax. Demonstrators have been decrying increased living costs and high unemployment, while a shortage in dollar liquidity has raised fears of a possible default.
Speaking on Monday, President Michel Aoun on Monday praised certain aspects of the movement, saying that protestors had “breached a lot of (sectarian) protectorates and eliminated a lot of red lines.”“In the coming period, you will witness things that will satisfy you and all Lebanese,” Aoun told a delegation from the Beirut Bar Association led by its newly-elected chief Melhem Khalaf – a prominent civil society figure who managed to defeat the establishment’s candidates last month. “We are not only being impeded by the corrupts who are in power, or those of them who were in power, because this has become familiar, but we are also being impeded by the protection they are receiving from society,” the president added.

Teachers Strike after Private Schools Cut Salaries
Naharnet/December 02/2019
A number of private school teachers went on strike Monday to protest cuts to their salaries, amid a dire economic and financial crisis in the country. LBCI television said the teachers stopped teaching after schools withheld portions of their salaries. “Each teacher was paid 1 million Lebanese liras and was promised to get paid when parents pay tuition installments,” LBCI said. Lebanon has been grappling with widespread anti-government protests since October 17, a free-falling economy, and an escalating liquidity crisis. The dollar exchange rate in the parallel market has shot up from the pegged rate of 1,507 pounds to the greenback to around 2,250.Banks have meanwhile imposed restrictions on withdrawals and transfers.

Lebanon Energy Ministry Delays Petrol Tender One Week to Enable ‘Competition’
Beirut- Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 2 December, 2019
Lebanon’s energy ministry delayed a fuel tender by one week on Monday to allow for more competition as it seeks to stave off supply shortages during the worst economic crisis in decades. The ministry is trialing a state tender for 150,000 tons of 95 octane gasoline and has received offers from two companies.
The tender, which aims to supply around 10% of the country’s needs, is a first in import-dependent Lebanon, where private companies usually procure fuel. Gas stations suspended a strike on Friday to hold talks with authorities, after shutting down across the country and complaining of losses from buying dollars on the black market. Caretaker Energy Minister Nada Boustani has said private buyers recently sought to hike petrol pump prices to compensate for the rising cost of dollars on the parallel market, now the main source of hard currency. The country’s economic crisis has been long in the making and now come to a head. The Lebanese pound has slumped as much as 40% below the official dollar peg rate in recent days on the parallel market and a hard currency crunch has left many importers unable to bring in goods, forcing up prices. Since protests erupted on Oct. 17 and with political gridlock over forming a new government, pressure has piled on the financial system. Banks have curbed US dollar withdrawals and blocked nearly all transfers abroad. The central bank said in September it would prioritize foreign currency reserves for fuel, medicine, and wheat, though buyers must still supply 15% of their dollar needs. Fuel imports had since resumed, but traders were asking for 100% of the bill in US dollars to keep buying.Boustani said on Monday she hoped the central bank would re-evaluate its plan to deal with the ministry under the same mechanism that covers 85% of the dollar need for importing fuel, rather than all of it. “We took the decision (to postpone) to guarantee more competition and get the best prices for the Lebanese state,” she told a press conference.

New Lebanese Government Looming on the Horizon
Asharq Al-Awsat/Monday, 2 December, 2019
Several sources confirmed on Sunday that Lebanon is close this week to reaching a solution to the cabinet crisis. Sources from al-Mustaqbal and Amal movements and the Free Patriotic Movement predicted that the deadlock could be solved this week. Development and Liberation Parliamentary Bloc Member MP Anwar el-Khalil anticipated the formation of the new government this week, saying it would reflect the aspirations of citizens and anti-government protesters. “There’s indication that the naming of a PM will be followed by the formation process. If this was true, then the Lebanese should expect the good news that they have been awaiting for,” he said. “We hope that this government will meet the expectations of the people and protesters,” he added. For his part, FPM deputy Ibrahim Kanaan said if intentions are true the cabinet would be formed this week. “The PM-designate is required to swiftly form a government quickly,” the deputy told a local radio station. “President Michel Aoun is trying within his constitutional powers to secure the conditions for this rapid formation.”Amid those assertions, Hezbollah deputy Mohammed Raad said Sunday that the Lebanese crisis would only be solved after the formation of a “national unity government based on the Taef Accord.”“If not the case, the country will remain ruled by a caretaker government. We will push ministers to continue their work and we will punish those who will not,” he said. Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on Oct. 29 amid nationwide protests accusing the political elite of corruption and mismanagement of the economy.

Army Stops Migrant Boat Carrying 34 Syrian Refugees
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 02/2019
Lebanon’s army on Sunday said it stopped a boat carrying 34 Syrian refugees who were trying to leave the protest-hit country. It stopped the boat near the coast of the northern city of Tripoli on Saturday, it said in a statement. The army said it arrested a Lebanese citizen who was trying to smuggle them out of the country, adding that there were five Lebanese on board the vessel. The boat’s final destination was not immediately clear. Lebanon, a small Mediterranean country of some 4.5 million people, says it hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees. Those escaping Lebanon by boat have often tried to cross into Europe through Turkey or Cyprus, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) away. In October, Lebanon said it agreed to work with Cyprus to prevent migrants from reaching its shores. Lebanon has been rocked by unprecedented anti-government protests since October 17. The government resigned two weeks after demonstrations started, bowing to popular pressure. The country’s deeply divided political parties have yet to form a new one.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 02-03/2019
US releases $105m of withheld aid to Lebanon’s armed forces/Joyce Karam/The National/December 02/2019
In Death and Life, Lebanese Woman Shows Religious Law Fight/Associated Press/Naharnet/December 02/2019
Will Hezbollah survive the Lebanese revolution/Makram Rabah/The Arab Weekly/December 02/2019
US’ Lebanon policy should not be guided by Israeli perspective/Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/December 02/2019

In Death and Life, Lebanese Woman Shows Religious Law Fight
Associated Press/Naharnet/December 02/2019
Nadyn Jouny’s sister taped up two messages in her memory inside a closet at the family home — one of motherly love tinged with pain, another of defiance.
The first Jouny wrote to her 9-year-old son on the one day a week she was allowed to see him under a custody ruling by a Shiite religious court. “Peace be upon the holy nights when you fall asleep near me,” she wrote. “Peace be upon the trace of love painted on your face and features … This is my night.”
That night, Oct. 4, would be her last with her son. Two days later, Jouny was killed in a car accident at age 29. The second message, written by a relative, has a photo of a smiling Jouny with her son’s arms wrapped around her neck. “They think your voice has disappeared. Nadyn, we are your voice; get some rest…we will fight for you,” it declares. In death as in life, Jouny — affectionately called Om Karam, Arabic for “mother of Karam” — has showcased the struggles of Lebanese women who are battling laws that give religious courts say over many aspects of their lives. Lebanon allows its many religious sects to govern personal status issues in their communities, resulting in 15 different sets of laws over such things as rules for marriage, divorce and custody and visitation of children. In cases of divorce for Shiite Muslims like Jouny, the Shiite religious courts usually grant custody of children to the fathers at age two for sons and age seven for daughters. Jouny waged a campaign — online and in street protests — against the laws ever since she lost custody of her son and was given visitation rights of only 24 hours a week.
Supporters of the system say it reflects the country’s plurality of faiths. Critics say it discriminates against women of all faiths and means women are treated differently based on their sect. For example, divorced Sunni mothers can keep sons and daughters until age 12.
“Women have really borne the brunt of the sectarian system of governance and we see that in the personal status laws,” said Lama Fakih, Human Rights Watch Beirut office director. “These are egregious abuses that are resulting in violence against women, that are resulting in outcomes where children are not being taken care of by the parent that is most suited to take care of the child, where families are really not well served.”
Multiple solutions and demands have been put forward: reform or oversight of the religious courts, an option of a civil system for those who don’t want to use religious courts, or a unified civil personal status law for all.
Protests convulsing Lebanon for more than a month have given a new platform for those demanding change. The protests erupted over proposed new taxes and escalated into calls for the removal of Lebanon’s entire political elite and its sectarian power-sharing system.
Zoya Rouhana of the feminist organization KAFA said the myriad of personal status laws is intertwined with sectarian politics.
“Unfortunately, this renaissance that we’ve witnessed and seen on the streets lately through the leadership of women … is not reflected in the laws,” she told a small group who had gathered to discuss a KAFA-proposed draft for a civil personal status law.
Jouny died just before the current protests. But her face or name have at times appeared on protesters’ signs and banners. “The beautiful revolutionary … Your soul is present here with us,” read one. At a memorial marking 40 days since her death, candles spelling out her name in Arabic lit up a main Beirut protest square. “We cannot delay issues of women’s rights … Death does not wait,” read a pin on her sister Nada’s chest. Badia Fahs, a 49-year-old who has turned out for the current round of protests, first met Jouny at a protest years ago. She remembers a young woman, her hair down, wearing — Fahs thought disapprovingly — too much red lipstick. Jouny was chanting, “Corruption, corruption, it’s underneath the turbans,” a controversial slogan she became known for, referring to allegations against some religious judges.
Fahs, who covers her hair with a scarf, said she was so amazed she broke into tears. “What a way to shatter taboos. I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Even our men cannot talk like that.”
“I would look at her and think here’s this young girl who feels like she can change the world and she is not afraid — not of a sect or of clerics … What am I lacking?” Fahs said.
Lawyer Fadia Hamzeh said she often hears criticism from her Shiite community that she is scandalizing them. She founded a Facebook page called “Revolution of a Shiite woman” to educate women about their rights in the Shiite courts, share their stories and let them know that “if you don’t rebel, you won’t get your rights.””We opened the door. Most families are suffering from tragedies. I didn’t create this,” she said. “We must offer an example for other sects because just like we have injustices in religious courts, other sects do too.”
Hamzeh was inspired by the ordeal of her sister, who made news in 2016 when she was arrested and held for a few days over her refusal to turn over her son to his father. Jouny, she said, was one of the people who helped her sister’s case become public and led chants in a march to the police station where she was taken. “Where are we headed when our mothers die feeling oppressed and when we are depriving our children of their mothers when they’re still alive?” she said.
Sheikh Moussa al-Sammoury, a judge who sits on one of the Shiite courts, said, “Religious matters are not subject to street pressure. The issue has to do with God’s satisfaction; God wants this or doesn’t want this,” adding, “The judge is not acting on a whim or on what he wants.”
But, he said, he and his fellow judges have room to consider the children’s best interest on a case-by-case basis. “If he’s a bad father and is not to be trusted, we don’t award him custody,” he said.
Ahmad Taleb, a Shiite cleric, said the solution is to reform the rules of religious courts, noting that there is more than one opinion on the custody issue in Shiite jurisprudence. He supports raising the maternal custody age to at least seven while allowing judges to leave the kids with the mother longer when it’s in their best interest. “Religion in its essence is mercy, not plastic texts,” he said. “People who are religiously devout, and I am one of them, demand change.” He said failing to provide solutions within the religious context could drive people to look elsewhere. “Today in Lebanon, there are complaints about religious courts of all sects, Muslim and Christian.”
Zeina Ibrahim, who founded a campaign to raise the age of maternal custody, said she supports the idea of a unified civil law for personal status but believes it is a “far dream.” A more attainable goal, she said, is to raise the age to seven for boys and nine for girls.
She remembered Jouny, with whom she worked for years, as “extremely enthusiastic” and extremely “hurt.” In many of her photos, Jouny flashes a wide, seemingly carefree smile that belies the anguish her family says she kept private. “She would tell me, ‘Mama, I’m burning from the inside. My son is getting older and I know nothing about him,'” her mother Majida said. Married before she turned 19, Jouny’s relations with her husband and in-laws soured early on. There was violence. Her sisters said they saw bruises. One day after a fight with her husband, she tried to leave only to have her husband and his mother yank Karam away, her family said. Her activism on the custody issue was born.
“She considered her cause one for all women,” her father said. Her family said she advocated for many causes, including helping street children and refugees and campaigning against sexual harassment and the marriage of minors.
In the Beirut square where Jouny’s family and friends gathered to commemorate her death, Zainab Kawtharani, 25, lit a candle. “Your cause is safe with us. We will continue till the end,” she said she wanted to tell Jouny.
She then clutched a sign: “Your voice has been and will continue to be a revolution, Nadyn.”

Will Hezbollah survive the Lebanese revolution?

Makram Rabah/The Arab Weekly/December 02/2019
Contrary to Hezbollah’s aspirations, neither missiles nor funds can reverse the revolution that has unfolded nor can violence address the economic crisis at hand.)
Over 40 days have elapsed since the start of the Lebanese revolution, October 17, and many uncertainties and challenges still face the people of Lebanon.
There is the bleak economic outlook. Equally menacing perhaps is the predicament of Iran’s Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, which declared early on that the Lebanese revolution and anyone participating in it were part of an American and Western conspiracy that uses the streets to encircle and ultimately neutralise the so-called “axis of resistance.”
Unquestionably, Hezbollah is right to dread the revolution, as it is a direct blow to the sectarian and clientelist system that allowed it to abduct the Lebanese state and use it as a cover to legitimise its Iranian arsenal and be able to deploy across the region in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and beyond.
Hezbollah is believed to have instigated the initial wave of protests against the Hariri government in the first few days of the revolution in an attempt to undermine and rein in Prime Minister Saad Hariri and force him to take a firmer position against the US sanctions.
Hezbollah, however, underestimated the popular rage that has been brewing within the public, which felt that the corrupt governance system coupled with Hezbollah’s infinite regional ambitions made the chances of Lebanon’s economic recovery virtually impossible.
Consequently, what was supposed to be a simple government shakedown by Hezbollah sprouted an existential threat to both the political class and Hezbollah.
In his recurrent TV appearances since the start of the US sanctions against Iran, Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, never misses the chance to declare that his organisation is unaffected by the revolution or by the sanctions, affirming that “Hezbollah is stronger than ever and that they [Hezbollah] are able to make payroll.”
Nasrallah’s “business as usual” mentality, however, reveals the predicament that Iran’s militias are facing across the region as the popular uprisings in the streets of Lebanon, Iraq and Iran place them and their budgets as well as their arms under scrutiny. They stand accused of protecting as well as partaking in the corruption of these crumpling states.
Hezbollah might indeed be able to make payroll and keep its fighters and bureaucrats orderly for a few months but it certainly cannot cater to the vast social services network it operates, simply because this network relies on the Lebanese government and its subsidies to keep its clientelist network operative.
More importantly, the Lebanese revolution does not only threaten Hezbollah’s Lebanese operation but also has direct economic implications on Syria’s Assad regime, which for years has been using the Lebanese banks as well as Hezbollah’s dark channels to escape sanctions, especially getting access to hard currency, which, in turn, caused the rush on US dollars a few months ago.
The ability of Hezbollah to wreak havoc and destruction is clear, be it in Syria or throughout the region but this Iranian proxy, or any other Iranian entity for that matter, has never shown any ability to deploy any model of soft power nor to lead any sustainable efforts to develop any of the economies it feasts on. Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran are cases in point.
The Lebanese revolution has so far wisely shied away from directly challenging the legitimacy of Hezbollah weapons. Instead, the Lebanese are demanding better services, good governance, judicial reforms and rule of law — all items that are more dangerous and deadly to Hezbollah than any potential Israeli military campaign.
Both as a militia and as an ideology, Hezbollah stands as the antithesis of the Lebanese revolution. While Hezbollah strives on sectarianism and might, the revolution celebrates diversity and unity and abhors violence.
While Hezbollah might have prepared itself for a doomsday scenario and stocked up on weapons and, more importantly, dollars to soldier through the rough times ahead and to fight and defeat the popular protests which, it sees as directly targeting it, this might not be enough for Hezbollah to survive the revolution.
Contrary to Hezbollah’s aspirations, neither missiles nor funds can reverse the revolution that has unfolded nor can violence address the economic crisis at hand. But what is certain is that time is not on the side of Hezbollah nor Iran, which time and again have proven that they are no different from the tyrants that they claim to oppose.

US’ Lebanon policy should not be guided by Israeli perspective
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/December 02/2019
Israel, which has an important voice in Washington, is constantly trying to influence US policy toward Lebanon. The main problem is that Israel looks at its northern neighbor only in terms of Hezbollah. However, Lebanon is much more than that and this misguided view will lead to further instability, as it will erode US influence inside the country.
Unfortunately, Israel seeks to stop any aid to Lebanon as it is short-sighted by the view that the nation is a breeding ground for Hezbollah and that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) provide cover for the armed group. However, US experts on Lebanon know this is not the case and that the LAF are actually the only counterbalance to Hezbollah. Any weakening of the army will play into the hands of the Shiite Hezbollah militia, Sunni militants, Iran and Russia. The pro-Israel groups try to make any US aid to Lebanon conditional on a confrontation between the LAF and Hezbollah. However, experts on Lebanon like former US Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman know that such a precondition is a recipe for civil war. He clarified this point during his testimony to the House Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism last month.
Pro-Israel think tanks constantly promote the idea that the LAF are “colluding” with Hezbollah. Tony Badran, the Lebanon-born and raised scholar, and Jonathan Schanzer published an article in Mosaic, the pro-Israel outlet, saying that the LAF work “hand in hand” with Hezbollah. Building on this narrative, Israel has tried to block a $105 million State Department aid package to the LAF. Since June, Israel’s allies in the US, including Christian evangelicals who are the core supporters of President Donald Trump, have lobbied Congress and the National Security Council to stop the aid to Lebanon. Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a bill over the summer requiring the army to disarm Hezbollah before the aid is released. When protests erupted in Lebanon in October and a few sporadic clashes occurred between protesters and members of the army, Cruz found it a good opportunity to renew his pitch.
However, the State Department and the Pentagon are well aware of the importance of the LAF. Less than two weeks after the White House announced that the military aid had been frozen, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Schenker told reporters in Jerusalem that an Israeli request to withhold aid to the LAF had been rejected. “We consider the funding to the LAF to be a good investment,” he said. Schenker’s statement coincided with the vision of Feltman, who said in his testimony that, when dealing with Lebanon and its armed forces, the US should think long term. This view contradicts the Israeli perspective that pushes for the US to deal with the armed forces in a transactional and conditional manner. Tel Aviv also views the current difficult situation in Lebanon and the LAF’s need for external support as an opportunity to pressure the armed forces to confront Hezbollah.
At the same hearing as Feltman, Hanin Ghaddar, Friedmann Visiting Fellow at the pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said in her recommendation that the LAF had “vacated” Shiite towns and areas. She added that the LAF should be present in those areas to allow the Shiite protesters to speak up against Hezbollah. However, the situation is very delicate and, in this moment of high tension, such a confrontation would be a recipe for disaster. She also accused the military intelligence of human rights violations and recommended that they be deprived of the overall aid. Nevertheless, such a policy would not allow the armed forces to operate smoothly as one organization and could create a fracture that would ultimately benefit Hezbollah.
Pro-Israel think tanks constantly promote the idea that the LAF are ‘colluding’ with Hezbollah.
The US State Department, Congress and the Pentagon all have seasoned experts in regional politics who realize that the LAF are the only hope for Lebanon. The army has been protecting protesters. In more than 40 days of demonstrations, only one protester has been killed, whereas in countries like Iraq and Iran hundreds of peaceful protesters have been targeted and killed by the army and security forces. Those numbers show that the Lebanese army has been respecting citizens’ right to protest peacefully. It has also been protecting them from belligerent factions who are trying to break the demonstrations by force.
However, the US policy depends on Trump’s whims. As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated Lebanon on the occasion of its independence day on Nov. 22, he did not offer any clarification on the release of the aid. This transactional manner of conducting foreign policy, heavily influenced by the narrow perspective of the domestic pro-Israel interest groups, will not allow the US to build any significant alliance with Lebanon. It will also prevent Washington from building capital with Lebanon’s most important institution, and the only institution that enjoys popular legitimacy — its armed forces.
*Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She holds a Ph.D. 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.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News’ point-of-view

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 02- 03/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 47th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 03 كانون الأول/2019

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 03 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 03 كانون الأول/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 03 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Elias Bejjani/Lebanon’s Iranian Cancerous Occupation and The Required Solutions/سرطان الإحتلال الإيراني للبنان والحلول الدولية المطلوبة

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Lebanon’s Iranian Cancerous Occupation and The Required Solutions
سرطان الإحتلال الإيراني للبنان والحلول الدولية المطلوبة
Elias Bejjani/December 03/2019

Lebanon’s current problem is the cancerous Hezbollah’s Iranian Occupation that is systematic, and since 1982 has been covertly and overtly devouring Lebanon and everything that is Lebanese in all domains and on all levels.

The Solution is through the UN declaring Lebanon a rogue-failed country and the strict implementation of the three UN Resolutions addressing Lebanon’s
ongoing dilemma of occupation:
The Armistice agreement
The 1559 UN Resolution
The 1701UN Resolution.

All other approaches, no matter what, will only serve the occupying Mullah’s vicious scheme of destroying Lebanon and strengthening its ironic, terrorist grip on the Lebanese.

All Pro-Lebanon’s Freedom demonstrations in any country in the Diaspora that are carried on by the Lebanese MUST call for this only International
solution.

Meanwhile, yes, Lebanon and the Lebanese are facing very serious crises, hardships and problems in all life sectors; e.g., poverty, unemployment, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, politicization of the judiciary, electricity shortage, a scandalous disarray in trash collection, lack of health benefits, education, and numerous social services … and the list goes on and on.

BUT, non of these hardships in any way or at any time will be solved as long as the terrorist Iranian Hezbollah remains occupying the country and terrorizing its people. At the same time, the majority of Lebanese officials, politicians and political parties are actually the enemies of both Lebanon and its citizens.

In this context, President Michael Aoun, His son-in-law, the FM, Jobran Bassil, Amin Gymael and his son Sami, PM, Saad Hariri, Druze leader Walid Jumblat, House Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Geagea, Slieman Frangea and many other politicians, as well
as numerous topnotch clergymen from all denominations are all cut from the same garment of oligarchic, narcissism, trojanism, greed, and feudalism in their mentality and education.

They all, with no sense of patriotism, have succumbed to the Hezbollah’s Iranian savage occupation.

They all and each from his status and based on his capacity and influence, have traded Lebanon’s independence, freedom, decision making process and sovereignty with mere personal power and financial gains.

In reality, they have sold their country to the occupier, Hezbollah, and with no shame have accepted the status of Dhimmitudes, puppets, tools, trumpets, cymbals and mouthpieces for the terrorist occupier. They betrayed, and still betraying, the country and their own people.

In this realm, the Lebanese demonstrators who are loudly shouting the Slogan, “All of them” are 100% right and are righteously witnessing for the truth because all of the above political and official prominent figures are practically mere merchants with numbed consciences.

All Of Them definitely means all of them.

It is worth mentioning that the Lebanese constitution is ideal for the nature of the multi-cultural and multi-religious denominational composition of the mosaic of diversified Lebanese society.

The governing disasters that have been targeting and hitting Lebanon since the early seventies has nothing to do with the great and ideal covenantal (unwritten pact) constitution, but with the foreign occupations and the oligarchic Lebanese corrupted officials and politicians.

My fellow patriotic and God fearing Lebanese from all religious denominations and all walks of life in both Lebanon and the Diaspora, stand tall and steadfast like our cedars. Do not lose faith or give up on hope, and never ever forget that our beloved, country, Lebanon is holy.

Yes, Lebanon is holy and has been blessed by Almighty God since he created man and woman and put them on earth.

Pray for our oppressed and occupied country and that Almighty God shall always guard, protect and defend it through His saints and angels.

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentatorEmail phoenicia@hotmail.com media.lccc@gmail.com
Web Sites http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com & http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
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The post Elias Bejjani/Lebanon’s Iranian Cancerous Occupation and The Required Solutions/سرطان الإحتلال الإيراني للبنان والحلول الدولية المطلوبة appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

مَنْ يَسْمَعُ كَلِمَتِي ويُؤْمِنُ بِمَنْ أَرْسَلَنِي، يَنَالُ حَيَاةً أَبَدِيَّة، ولا يَأْتِي إِلى دَيْنُونَة بَلْ قَدِ ٱنْتَقَلَ مِنَ المَوتِ إِلى الحَيَاة/I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life

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مَنْ يَسْمَعُ كَلِمَتِي ويُؤْمِنُ بِمَنْ أَرْسَلَنِي، يَنَالُ حَيَاةً أَبَدِيَّة، ولا يَأْتِي إِلى دَيْنُونَة بَلْ قَدِ ٱنْتَقَلَ مِنَ المَوتِ إِلى الحَيَاة
إنجيل القدّيس يوحنّا05/من24حتى30/:”قالَ الربُّ يَسوع: «أَلحَقَّ ٱلحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُم: مَنْ يَسْمَعُ كَلِمَتِي ويُؤْمِنُ بِمَنْ أَرْسَلَنِي، يَنَالُ حَيَاةً أَبَدِيَّة، ولا يَأْتِي إِلى دَيْنُونَة، بَلْ قَدِ ٱنْتَقَلَ مِنَ المَوتِ إِلى الحَيَاة. أَلحَقَّ ٱلحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُم: تَأْتِي سَاعَةٌ، وهِيَ الآن، فيهَا يَسْمَعُ الأَمْوَاتُ صَوْتَ ٱبْنِ الله، ويَحْيَا الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُون. فَكَمَا أَنَّ الآبَ لَهُ الحَيَاةُ في ذَاتِهِ، كَذلِكَ أَعْطَى الٱبْنَ أَيْضًا أَنْ تَكُونَ لَهُ الحَيَاةُ فِي ذَاتِهِ. وأَعْطَاهُ سُلْطَانًا بِهِ يَدِين، لأَنَّهُ ٱبْنُ الإِنْسَان. لا تَتَعَجَّبُوا مِنْ هذَا! إِنَّهَا تَأْتِي سَاعَة، فِيهَا يَسْمَعُ صَوْتَهُ كُلُّ مَنْ فِي القُبُور، فَيَخْرُجُ الَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِلى قِيَامَةِ الحَيَاة، والَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ إِلى قِيَامَةِ الدَّيْنُونَة. أَنَا لا أَقْدِرُ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ شَيْئًا مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِي: كَمَا أَسْمَعُ أَدِين، ودَيْنُونَتِي عَادِلَة، لأَنِّي لا أَطْلُبُ مَشيئَتِي، بَلْ مَشيئَةَ مَنْ أَرْسَلَنِي”.

I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 05/24-30/:”Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life. ‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. ‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”

ٱلإِنسانَ لا يُبَرَّرُ بِأَعمالِ ٱلنّاموسِ، بَل إِنَّما بِٱلإيمانِ بِيَسوعَ ٱلمَسيح
رسالة القدّيس بولس إلى أهل غلاطية16/20/:”يا إِخوَة، لعِلمِنا أَنَّ ٱلإِنسانَ لا يُبَرَّرُ بِأَعمالِ ٱلنّاموسِ، بَل إِنَّما بِٱلإيمانِ بِيَسوعَ ٱلمَسيح. وَنَحنُ قَد آمَنّا بِٱلمَسيحِ يَسوعَ، لِكَي نُبَرَّرَ بِٱلإيمانِ بِٱلمَسيحِ لا بِأَعمالِ ٱلنّاموسِ، إِذ لَن يُبرَّرَ بِأَعمالِ ٱلنّاموسِ أَحَدٌ مِن ذَوي ٱلجَسَد. فَإِن كُنّا وَنَحنُ طالِبونَ ٱلتَّبريرَ في ٱلمَسيحِ نوجَدُ نَحنُ أَيضًا خَطَأَةً، أَفَيَكونُ ٱلمَسيحُ خادِمًا لِلخَطيئَة؟ حاشى! فَإِن عُدتُ أَبني ما قَد هَدَمتُ، جَعَلتُ نَفسي مُتَعَدِّيًا. لِأَنّي بِٱلنّاموسِ مُتُّ لِلنّاموسِ لِكَي أَحيا لله. إِنّي مَصلوبٌ مَعَ ٱلمَسيحِ، وَأَنا حَيٌّ، لا أَنا بَعدُ، بَل إِنَّما ٱلمَسيحُ حَيٌّ فِيَّ. وَما أَحياهُ ٱلآنَ في ٱلجَسَدِ إِنَّما أَحياهُ في ٱلإيمانِ بِٱبنِ ٱللهِ، ٱلَّذي أَحَبَّني وَبَذَلَ نَفسَهُ عَنّي”

Through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe
Letter to the Galatians 03/22-29/:”Brothers and sisters: Scripture confined all things under the power of sin, that through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe. Before faith came, we were held in custody under law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed. Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian. For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise.”

The post مَنْ يَسْمَعُ كَلِمَتِي ويُؤْمِنُ بِمَنْ أَرْسَلَنِي، يَنَالُ حَيَاةً أَبَدِيَّة، ولا يَأْتِي إِلى دَيْنُونَة بَلْ قَدِ ٱنْتَقَلَ مِنَ المَوتِ إِلى الحَيَاة/I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

باسم الشاب: مطلوب من أميركا أن تتعاون مع روسيا لإخراج إيران من لبنان/Basem Shabb: The US should cooperate with Russia to get Iran out of Lebanon

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The US should cooperate with Russia to get Iran out of Lebanon
باسم الشاب: مطلوب من أميركا أن تتعاون مع روسيا لإخراج إيران من لبنان
Basem Shabb/Al Arabia/December 03/2019

The US has made it clear it wants to help free Lebanon from Iranian influence, but it cannot do so alone. The protests across the country have weakened Hezbollah, but they are unlikely to diminish Tehran’s influence, especially as the US disengages from the region.

Moderating Iranian influence requires the help of another power, which is credible with the non-Western leaning crowd and enjoys good relations with Lebanon’s neighbors: Russia.

Washington should consider coordinating with Russia to maintain stability and curb Iranian excess in Lebanon.

By challenging the status quo, the protests are a clear danger to the order Hezbollah has meticulously woven for over a decade, enabling its transformation from a non-state actor to a domineering political party. Unlike during the Cedar Revolution of 2005, Hezbollah has not been able to convincingly smear the current protests with accusations of hidden Israeli or US agendas due to their narrative of social justice.

The fact that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have stayed neutral has further compounded Hezbollah’s position, as it shows that Hezbollah’s allies – President Michel Aoun and the Future Patriotic Movement (FPM) – no longer enjoy their previous levels of influence with the LAF. This was evident when the LAF refused to act on the demands of President Aoun to clear the streets and confront the protestors.

Combine these factors with the risk of economic collapse due to a lack of Iranian funding and poor governance, and it is clear that Hezbollah is weakened. But it is far from defeated. Given Iranian intransigence and US disengagement from the region, it will be difficult for Lebanon to get rid of Hezbollah – and Iranian influence – alone. Russia is the ideal partner for the task.

Russia’s strength is that it is a regional power broker in the Levant which has good relations with various rival powers. Since its intervention in Syria, Moscow has been an effective negotiator – it successfully established an Iranian disengagement zone in southern Syria, and was also successful in diffusing the latest Kurdish-Turkish confrontation and negotiating an understanding between the Syrian regime and the Kurdish forces in Syria.

The US could not have achieved this. Russia is better positioned in the Levant because of its neutral stance in the Arab-Israeli conflict and its good relations with various rival powers such as Iran, Israel, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Lebanon is now a similar case. Unlike the US, Russia has good rapport with all parties, including both the pro-Western and pro-Syrian factions. Despite its recent intervention on behalf of the Syrian regime, Moscow has maintained close ties with Lebanese Sunni factions. It has also forged close ties with various Christian communities, presenting itself as the patron saint of Eastern Christianity.

Russia’s enhanced status as a regional actor does not mean it cannot work the US, in Lebanon or elsewhere. Russian and US influence frequently coexist, and both countries have a vested interest in a strong central government and the stability of Lebanon.

While Russia may work with Iran in Syria, it approaches Lebanon differently to Tehran.

In Lebanon, Russia’s relationship with Hezbollah is rather formal and not a close alliance. Unlike Iran, Russia deals exclusively with the Lebanese authorities and has repeatedly affirmed its support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, in contrast to Iran’s preference for non-state actors.

The US and Russia have successfully coordinated against terrorist activities in Afghanistan and Syria, so there is no reason why they can’t coordinate in Lebanon. Most importantly, with escalating tensions between the US and Iran, both powers are concerned that an Israeli-Iranian confrontation in Lebanon could spill over to Syria. Russia can effectively mediate with the Syrian regime on important issues for Lebanon such as refugees and trade.

Despite these advantages, Washington currently fears that coordinating with Russia in Lebanon would erode American influence.

But American influence is strong due to trade, education, soft power and diaspora connections, as well as close ties to the exclusively US-trained and equipped LAF. This influence survived under Syrian hegemony, and would not be negated by coordinating with Russia.

The current standoff will not rid Lebanon of Iranian influence, and European powers will do little to help. Russia’s position may be vital to leverage against Iran and could be the only way to avert conflict with Israel. For these reasons, US-Russian cooperation is the best way forward for Lebanon.

*Basem Shabb is a former member of the Lebanese parliament.

The post باسم الشاب: مطلوب من أميركا أن تتعاون مع روسيا لإخراج إيران من لبنان/Basem Shabb: The US should cooperate with Russia to get Iran out of Lebanon appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

د. وليد فارس/لماذا يعتبر حزب الله الثورة اللبنانية بمثابة حاجز أمامه؟/Hezbollah, who wages war in Syria, Iraq, Yemen & beyond, fears the non- armed & nonviolent Because Lebanese youth are fed up with militias

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لماذا يعتبر حزب الله الثورة اللبنانية بمثابة حاجز أمامه؟/”الشعب اللبناني ليس خائفاً من حزب الله وإنما خائف من قيام الحزب بتدمير لبنان”
د. وليد فارس/انديبندت عربية/03 كانون الأول/2019

Dr.Walid Phares: Hezbollah, who wages war in Syria, Iraq, Yemen & beyond, fears the non- armed & nonviolent Because Lebanese youth are fed up with militias

كما هو معروف، تفجرت الثورة في لبنان لأسباب اقتصادية واجتماعية، لكنها حلقة من سلسلة محاولات التخلص من هيمنة قوى الأمر الواقع التي ضربت ذلك البلد منذ 30 عاماً، أي منذ توقيع اتفاق الطائف وفرضه بالقوة العسكرية والأمنية.

ظهرت موجات سابقة في التسعينيات عبر انتفاضات طلابية وشبابية، وبعد عام 2000 بدأت تحركات داخل لبنان وخارجه أدت إلى تفجير “ثورة الأرز” التي طالبت بإزالة قوى الأمر الواقع التي فُرضت بعد عام 1990. ركزت الثورة الأولى جهودها على ما كان يُعتبر وقتها السبب الرئيس في فرض طبقة سياسية، عبثت باقتصاد لبنان ونشرت الفساد على مدى 15 سنة، أي أن الثورة كانت سياسية – اقتصادية، لكن النخبة السياسية التي قادت “ثورة الأرز” منذ انسحاب قوات الأسد ومثّلتها في الحكومة، تراجعت عن شعاراتها بعد ضرب حزب الله تلك الثورة وإقامة نظام أكثر خضوعاً لإيران عبر الميليشيا. هذا الأمر كان السبب الأساسي لعودة الموجات الشعبية وخروج أجيال شابة ولِدت خلال الاحتلال السوري وشبّت تحت وطأة سيطرة حزب الله والطبقة الفاسدة، على الحكم.

صحيح أن الثورة اللبنانية الثانية –ثورة 17 أكتوبر (تشرين الأول)- انطلقت أساساً بعد فرض ضرائب على كامل أوجه الحياة الاجتماعية في لبنان، وتفجّرت بعد الإعلان عن ضرائب غير طبيعية على استعمال تطبيق “واتساب” الذي يُعدُّ بمثابة نبض الحياة لمئات آلاف اللبنانيين. كما أسهمت الانهيارات الاقتصادية والفساد اللامحدود في تغذية الثورة.

ومن البديهي أن يربط المنتفضون هذا الفساد بطبقة سياسية تتعامل أساساً مع حزب الله الذي أنتج معادلة قصمت ظهر اللبنانيين، قائمةً على شبه مبدأ “لي سلاحي ولكم فسادكم”، ما يعني أن ثورة 17 أكتوبر هي ثورة اقتصادية – اجتماعية – سياسية، وأن حزب الله القوي في المنطقة والذي أصبح يُحسب له حساب بفعل دوره الرئيس في الحرب الأهلية السورية، وامتداده إلى العراق واليمن، والمصنَّف إرهابياً بالنسبة إلى الولايات المتحدة ودول غربية وعربية، وجناح إيران الضارب، لا يخشى اليوم سوى جماهير وطنية غير مسلحة موجودة معه على الأرض ذاتها التي تشكّل معقله، وهي تهدّده ليس بالسلاح، بل بالقيم والشعارات والمُثل التي تقدمها للقواعد الشعبية في حاضنته الشيعية خصوصاً.

إذاً، بات حزب الله الذي لا يخاف أي قوة دولية أو إقليمية، يحسب حساباً للشعب اللبناني المقهور الذي يحتجّ في طول لبنان وعرضه. وهذا أكثر ما تخشاه قيادة حزب الله، لماذا؟ لأنها تدرك تماماً أنّ حاضنته التي ساعدته في تحقيق إنجازاته وانفلاشه، تمر بأزمة سياسية واجتماعية وإلى حد ما، أزمة ثقة بالقيادة، ويكفي أن تنظر إلى ما يجري في لبنان والمنطقة وداخل إيران من احتجاجات لتعلم مدى خطورة ما يجري، ولهذا يُعدُّ استمرار التحركات السلمية أخطر ما يكون على حزب الله، لأنه يتغلغل إلى داخل حاضنته ويجعلها قوة معارضة قبل أي طائفة أخرى، للتنظيم المحسوب على إيران.

في المقابل، تتأنى قيادة حزب الله في اتخاذ قرار نهائي واضح في التعاطي مع الظروف. فهي من جهة، تحاول تخويف المتظاهرين وإيهامهم بأن هناك خطوطاً حمراء لا يمكن تجاوزها، ومن جهة ثانية، لا تريد اتخاذ قرارات ميدانية من شأنها أن تُدخل الحزب في المجهول.

لذلك، يعتمد الحزب استراتيجية ثنائية تتمحور حول محاولة استيعاب ما يجري، متكئاً على عامل الوقت، إذ إنّ لديه قدرات لوجستية تمكّنه من الاستمرار مؤقتاً على الرغم من انهيار الاقتصاد اللبناني، بينما يطلق جماعاته للاعتداء على المتظاهرين، كما رأينا في مناطق لبنانية عدّة من بيروت إلى الجنوب والبقاع.

غير أن اللبنانيين عامة والمتظاهرين على وجه الخصوص الذين عاشوا تحت قبضة حزب الله لعقود، أصبحوا أكثر إدراكاً لواقعه الداخلي، وأحسنوا التواصل مع حاضنة الحزب وفهموا معاناتها واستحالة إدارة الأزمة من قبل قيادة الحزب. وبمعنى آخر، الشعب اللبناني ليس خائفاً من حزب الله وإنما خائف من قيام الحزب بتدمير لبنان.

وكجزء من البروباغندا التي اتّبعها حزب الله عندما وجد استحالةً في ضرب الثورة بالوسائل التي اعتمدها، بثّت قيادته أخباراً مزيفة، وهي أساساً تقارير فارغة تحضّرها قيادة “الحزب” وينشرها جيشه الإلكتروني وتتركز على استهداف شخصيات لبنانية قادرة على توجيه الأمور والتواصل مع المجتمع المدني، وتجهد للتشويش على مَن بإمكانه التأثير في الخارج وتحديداً في الولايات المتحدة على شرح ما يجري في لبنان للرأي العام الأميركي والكونغرس والإدارة في واشنطن. وشاءت الظروف أن أكون من بين الأميركيين الذين يحاولون مساعدة لبنان في واشنطن، ولذلك فبركت ماكينة حزب الله سلسلة من الخرافات وحاولت نشرها، من بينها أنني أحد المنظمين الكبار لهذه الثورة في لبنان ومنسقها في الخارج، ورداً أقول “يا ليت، لأنها ثورة لبنانية صنعها اللبنانيون داخل لبنان”.

The post د. وليد فارس/لماذا يعتبر حزب الله الثورة اللبنانية بمثابة حاجز أمامه؟/Hezbollah, who wages war in Syria, Iraq, Yemen & beyond, fears the non- armed & nonviolent Because Lebanese youth are fed up with militias appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


تحليل سياسي وثوثيقي نشره موقع ميمري وهو من جزئين ويشرح أسباب عداوة حزب الله للإنتفاضة الشعبية في لبنان/H. Varulkar and C. Jacob/MEMRI: Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part I: Hizbullah’s Hostility To The Protests And The Reasons Behind It

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Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part I: Hizbullah’s Hostility To The Protests And The Reasons Behind It
H. Varulkar and C. Jacob/MEMRI/December 03
تحليل سياسي وثوثيقي من موقع ميمري من جزئين يشرح أسباب عداوة حزب الله للإنتفاضة الشعبية في لبنان

Introduction
The mass protests in Lebanon over the economic crisis and government corruption, which broke out in October 17, 2019, have placed Hizbullah in a difficult position, because the organization, which for years has been presenting itself as the defender of the oppressed and fighter of corruption, is now an integral part of the government. Hizbullah initially tried to contain the protests, taking a very cautious position regarding them and expressing sympathy for the demonstrators rather than attacking them. This was evident in Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s speech on October 19,[1] and in statements by other Hizbullah officials.

Hizbullah maintained this cautious line for some ten days, apparently in hope that the protests would abate. However, when this failed to occur, the organization changed tack. In a speech he delivered on October 25, Nasrallah presented three No’s: no to deposing the president, no to deposing the government and no to holding early parliamentary elections, thus effectively rejecting the protesters’ three main demands. Nasrallah also claimed that the protests – in which several hundred thousand and perhaps even millions of people have participated, from every part of the country and from all social sectors – are neither authentic nor spontaneous, but are funded by foreign intelligence apparatuses and embassies. He called on the Lebanese not to attend the demonstrations, and urged the protesters to stop blocking roads and allow the country to go back to normal, warning against a possible slide into “chaos.”[2]

Since delivering this speech, Hizbullah, by means of its officials and media, has continued to spread the narrative that the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia are encouraging the protests and even controlling them in order to sow chaos in Lebanon and topple its government, in which Hizbullah is a member, and in order to incite against this organization and its weapons. Things came to a point where, on several occasions, Hizbullah activists violently attacked protesters on the streets.

In the past week, the demonstrations have taken a more violent turn, with clashes breaking out between the supporters of rival parties, resulting in the death of two people and the wounding of dozens. In addition, Hizbullah has begun coming out against the protesters for blocking roads, describing them as “militias of chaos” that are driving the country to civil war, and accusing all those who call for the establishment of a government of technocrats of succumbing to U.S. dictates.

This report describes the bind in which Hizbullah finds itself since the outbreak of the protests, and the reasons for its hostile position towards them.

Mass protest in Lebanon (Source: lebanon24.com, November 11, 2019)
Hizbullah’s Difficult Position And The Reason For Its Hostility Towards The Protests

From the very start, the protests in Lebanon created a problem for Hizbullah that made it difficult for the organization to determine its position on them. Having presented itself as a the champion of the undertrodden and standard bearer of the fight against corruption, especially since the May 2018 parliamentary election, the organization felt the need to express solidarity with the demonstrators, who were protesting the difficult economic situation and demanding to punish corruption and restore stolen public funds. Moreover, the Shi’ites in South Lebanon have taken part in the protests, and demonstrations were held even in strongholds of Hizbullah and its Shi’ite ally, Amal, such as Al-Nabatieh and Tyre. The Shi’ite support for the protests and their demands is another factor that makes it difficult for Hizbullah to oppose them.

However, once it realized that many of the demonstrators’ demands – specifically the demands for the resignation of the president and government and the holding of early parliamentary elections – threatened the organization’s interests and the stability of the government, of which it is a central component, Hizbullah changed its attitude and began attacking the protests.

Hizbullah has several reasons to oppose the current wave of protests:
The organization dominates the current parliament and government, and is therefore uninterested in early parliamentary elections
In the May 2018 parliamentary election, the May 8 Forces, comprising Hizbullah and its allies, won the majority of seats. These results are also reflected in the makeup of the government, in which Hizbullah’s faction – which also includes the Shi’ite Amal movement and the Free National Current led by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil – has 18 ministers, as opposed to only 11 ministers from the rival March 14 Forces and one minister who is considered independent. Controlling nearly two thirds of the government ministries is the major achievement of the March 8 Forces, which allows it to veto any decision it opposes. Another achievement is that, despite American opposition, Hizbullah received the large-budget health portfolio, with Jamil Jabaq, formerly Nasrallah’s personal physician, serving as minister of health. Yet another achievement was the appointment of Elias Bou Sa’ab, who has been criticized as “identifying with Hizbullah,” as defense minister.[3] Hizbullah is therefore uninterested in early parliamentary elections, which may cause it to lose these achievements.

Hizbullah fears the ouster of President ‘Aoun, Foreign Minister Bassil and Prime Minister Al-Hariri, Who Back It.

The political arrangement that lasted for several years, until the outbreak of the protests, whereby Michel ‘Aoun, a Christian, is president and the Sa’d Al-Hariri, a Sunni who is considered a rival of Hizbullah, is prime minister, actually benefited Hizbullah. In fact, this may be the optimal arrangement, as far as Hizbullah is concerned. President ‘Aoun and his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, head of the Free National Current, which is the largest party in parliament, are both allies of Hizbullah. These two figures lend the organization absolute support, backing its decisions and granting it freedom of action – both in the domestic arena and in the international diplomatic arena vis-à-vis the U.S., which has imposed sanctions on Hizbullah for its terrorist activity. ‘Aoun and Bassil, both of whom are Maronite Christians, effectively serve as a Christian “fig leaf” for Hizbullah and its actions.

Paradoxically, the appointment of Al-Hariri, considered to be a rival of Hizbullah, as prime minister likewise worked in this organization’s favor. Regarded by the international community as an experienced and moderate statesman, Al-Hariri lent the Lebanese government a fairer guise, blurring the reality whereby Hizbullah effectively controls the country and imposes its position in nearly all matters. Al-Hariri thus served as the address for any complaint by the international community, and enabled the international community to continue cooperating with Lebanon, signing agreements with it, and extending aid to it.

Moreover, if in the past Al-Hariri was a vociferous opponent of Hizbullah and expressed harsh criticism of it, in the past few years he has allowed this organization to do as it pleased in the domestic and international arenas, and mostly refrained from speaking out against it. Given this state of affairs, Hizbullah clearly has no interest in placing one of its allies in the role of prime minister, for this would only make trouble for it and attract criticism, making it easier for the international community to take a firm position vis-à-vis Hizbullah and Lebanon as a whole.

Hizbullah fears it will be held responsible for the economic crisis in Lebanon due to the sanctions imposed on it.

The protests in Lebanon were sparked by the government’s intention to raise taxes despite the severe economic crisis in the country, including by taxing WhatsApp calls, a move that enraged many. Although the protests span all of Lebanese society and are not confined to any particular sector, many are convinced that Hizbullah bears much of the responsibility for the economic crisis, due to the U.S. sanctions on it. The crisis has grown even worse since the U.S. increased these sanctions, imposing them on more and more of the organization’s officials and institutions, and on Lebanese banks, and even threatening to extend them Hizbullah’s allies, such as Foreign Minister Bassil.

The most prominent expression of the crisis is a mammoth national debt of $100 billion (almost twice Lebanon’s gross domestic product), which has forced the Lebanese government to enact radical measures and reforms, in order to qualify for the $11 billion international aid package pledged to Lebanon at the April 2016 Cedar Conference in France. Furthermore, in the weeks before the outbreak of the protests, the Lebanese pound plummeted and the market suffered a dollar shortage, which further destabilized the local economy.

In fact, even before the protests broke out, many accused Hizbullah of causing the economic crisis and driving Lebanon towards economic collapse through its activity in the service of Iran.[4] Thus, Hizbullah’s opposition to the protests may also stem from its fear that they could generate further accusations of this sort, and could spark a debate on its status and the status of its weapons, and about its terrorist activity around the world which causes sanctions to be imposed on it and on Lebanon.

The protests have an anti-Iran dimension
Another reason, perhaps the main one, for Hizbullah’s position is that the protests have an anti-Iran dimension. This aspect is hardly visible in the demonstrations themselves, but it is occasionally evident in articles by Lebanese journalists.[5] Furthermore, the wave of protest in Lebanon is concurrent with the one in Iraq, in which opposition to Iran’s involvement in the country is openly expressed. This similarity between the protests in Lebanon and Iraq has been noted by many Arab journalists and analysts. Iran itself, Hizbullah’s patron, regards the protests in both Lebanon and Iraq as an American conspiracy aimed at eroding its influence in these countries, as its officials have claimed, and it is reportedly even acting to stop them. It appears that Iran’s position on the protests largely dictated that of its proxy Hizbullah.

Shi’ites participate in the protests while criticizing Hizbullah and Amal.

As stated, the protests have surprisingly involved even the Shi’ites of South Lebanon, who took to the streets voicing the same slogans and demands as the demonstrators in the rest of the country. Protests were held even in villages and cities where Hizbullah and Amal – Lebanon’s second Shi’ite party, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri – are dominant, such as Al-Nabatieh and Tyre. According to some reports, Hizbullah and Amal were surprised by the scope and violence of the protests in these areas.

In Al-Nabatieh, dozens of demonstrators called out “Nabih Berri is a thief,” and some attacked the offices of the municipality, which is associated with Hizbullah. Dozens of protesters also came to the office of the chairman of Hizbullah’s faction in parliament, Muhammad Ra’ad, and shattered the sign at the entrance, shouting, “The people want to topple the regime.”

Furthermore, protesters came to the home of Amal MP Yassine Jaber and burned a sign bearing his name, and protesters also vandalized the office of Amal MP and political bureau member Hani Qobeisi.

[6] In Bint Jbeil, a demonstration was held in front of the office of Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah.

[7] In Tyre, protesters torched a guest house belonging to Nabih Berri’s wife, Randa Berri.[8]

Hizbullah presumably realized that the participation of the Shi’ite public in the protests, and the accusations of corruption made against it and against its ally Amal, may decrease its popularity among this public, which is its natural support base. Nasrallah therefore called on the supporters of the resistance not to participate in the protests, which indeed led to a significant decrease in their scope.

It appears that all these factors, together, are behind Hizbullah’s decision to oppose the protests and claim that they are funded by foreign elements hostile to the Lebanese state. Things came to the point where, on several occasions, Hizbullah and Amal activists on motorcycles arrived at the scene of demonstrations – especially in Shi’ite-dominated areas but also in Beirut – and tried to forcefully open the roads that the protesters had blocked.

*H. Varulkar is director of research at MEMRI; C. Jacob is a research fellow at MEMRI.
[1] Alahednews.com.lb, October 19, 2019.
[2] Alahednews.com.lb, October 25, 2019.
[3] On Hizbullah’s achievements in the parliamentary elections and government makeup, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1447, As U.S. Secretary Of State Pompeo Prepares To Visit Lebanon, Hizbullah Is In Complete Control Of Lebanese Government – And The March 14 Camp, Saudi Arabia, And U.S. Have Cooperated With It And Come To Terms With The Situation, March 21, 2019.
[4] On this, see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 8332, Lebanese Politicians, Journalists, Before The Outbreak Of The Current Protest-Wave: It Is Hizbullah That Caused The Economic Crisis In The Country, October 25, 2019.
[5] See Al-Arab (London), November 17, 2019; Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), October 22, 2019, November 12, 2019.
[6] Alarabiya.net, October 18, 2019.
[7] Alarabiya.net, October 18, 2019.
[8] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), October 20, 2019.
https://www.memri.org/reports/lebanese-protests-place-hizbullah-bind-%E2%80%93-part-i-hizbullahs-hostility-protests-and-reasons

Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part II: Hizbullah’s Position On Protests Evokes Unusually Harsh Criticism Among Its Supporters, Prompts Wave Of Resignations From Pro-Hizbullah Daily ‘Al-Akhbar’
By: H. Varulkar and C. Jacob*

Introduction
The mass protests in Lebanon over the economic crisis and government corruption, which broke out on October 17, 2019, placed Hizbullah in a bind which made it difficult for the organization to formulate its stance on them. Hizbullah, which for years has been presenting itself as the defender of the oppressed and fighter of corruption, felt compelled to show solidarity with the protesters, who are decrying the difficult conditions in the country and demanding to punish government corruption. The fact that Shi’ites in Lebanon identify with the protests and their demands, and have participated in them, is another factor which makes it difficult for Hizbullah to come out against them. However, once it realized that many of the demonstrators’ demands – specifically the demands for the resignation of the president and government and the holding of early parliamentary elections – posed a threat to the stability of the government, in which Hizbullah is a major component, the organization quickly changed its position. It began attacking the protests, claiming that they are funded by foreign countries, chiefly the U.S. and Israel, with the aim of sowing chaos in Lebanon and harming Hizbullah. Things came to the point where, on several occasions, activists from Hizbullah and its ally, the Shi’ite Amal movement, violently attacked protesters and tried to disperse them.[1]

Hizbullah’s dilemma regarding the protests is also shared by its supporters, especially by journalists with the pro-Hizbullah daily Al-Akhbar, and it appears that several of them do not agree with the Hizbullah position. Broadly speaking, Al-Akhbar adopted Hizbullah’s narrative that the protests had been derailed by foreign elements that took control of them. This claim was made in the paper on a daily basis, including in articles by its editor-in-chief, Ibrahim Al-Amin. However, the doubt expressed by Hizbullah, and especially by its leader Nasrallah, regarding the authenticity of the protests, and in particular the violence of Hizbullah activists towards protesters, apparently did not sit well with some of Al-Akhbar’s writers. Following these violent incidents, the daily took the unusual step of publishing articles harshly critical of Hizbullah, including one by Ibrahim Al-Amin himself, and another by a writer who described himself as a staunch Hizbullah supporter but nevertheless accused the organization of turning a blind eye to government corruption.

Subsequently, after Al-Amin decided to readopt Hizbullah’s position regarding the protests and stop the criticism against it, five Al-Akhbar journalists, some of them senior, resigned in protest of the daily’s bias and its hostility towards the protests. Some two weeks later, two senior reporters with the pro-Hizbullah television channel Al-Mayadeen resigned as well. These reporters gave no specific reason for their resignation, but some speculated that they too were motivated by the channel’s hostile coverage of the protests.

This report reviews the criticism expressed against Hizbullah in Al-Akhbar, and the resignation of the Al-Akhbar journalists.

Al-Akhbar Editor To Nasrallah: Stop The Brutal And Unjust Violence Against Protesters

On October 30, 2019, after Hizbullah and Amal activists attacked protesters in South Lebanon (especially in Al-Nabatieh and Tyre) and Beirut, Al-Akhbar editor-in-chief Ibrahim Al-Amin harshly criticized the attackers, whom he identified as Amal activists only, and called on Nasrallah, Amal’s ally, to prevent the recurrence of such events. He wrote: “Let me take this opportunity to address the attitude of the resistance and its supporters [i.e., the Amal movement] toward some ordinary citizens who, faced with the injustice perpetrated against them, consciously decided… to raise the level of their resistance and to cry out in protest. Employing the usual methods of protest, they expressed their opinion against the government and the corrupt authorities… What happened in Al-Nabatieh, Tyre and central Beirut can be described in only one way: as the ugliest sort of brutality…

“I am personally acquainted with Mr. Hassan Nasrallah. I have known him for a long time and I know his heart and mind. I know how he is [often] hard with himself and his family for the sake of [pursuing] a just cause. I know how often he has restrained himself and remained silent in the face of grave transgressions, just in order to protect the resistance… I know he knows the meaning of manliness, nobility of spirit, and human dignity. I know how much he feels for every child, man and woman, every father and mother, and therefore I ask him: Is it possible that you, [Hassan Nasrallah], will not take the initiative to stop this ongoing injustice your brothers are suffering just because they expressed an opinion that contravenes that of the leader and his associates?

“Let us be clear and honest. The Amal movement is directly and fully responsible [for what happened], from its head [Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri] to its [other] political leaders – ministers, MPs, municipal council members, security officers, clerics and [other] influential figures – as well as the thugs and the army of strongmen who acted to humiliate people and punish them just because they were protesting the [poor] performance of the government, of which Amal forms a sizable part…

“Every [incident in which a] resident of Beirut, South [Lebanon] or the Beqaa Valley was humiliated or pressured in order to prevent him from voicing his opinion, changing his opinion, or leaving his home [and taking to the street] is a barbaric incident that blackens the face of its perpetrators. The offenders must be punished, along with those who are behind their acts of brutality. This demand is no less important than the demands of the poor for a country where justice prevails.”[2]

Lebanese Journalist To Nasrallah In Al-Akhbar Article: Hizbullah Has Ignored The Government’s Corruption; Your Statements Enraged Many Hizbullah Supporters Who Identify With The Protests

Two days later, on November 1, 2019, Al-Akhbar published an article by journalist Maher Abi Nader. After professing support for the resistance and admiration for Nasrallah, he addressed Nasrallah and pointedly accused Hizbullah of turning a blind eye to the corruption of the government in return for the government’s disregard of its weapons. He also condemned the Amal and Hizbullah activists’ “barbaric repression” of demonstrators, and rejected Nasrallah’s doubts regarding the authenticity of the protest, stating that it is a sincere outpouring of frustration by Lebanon’s poor, some of whom are Hizbullah supporters and deserve its sympathy, rather than its hostility.

Abi Nader wrote: “Like you, I was born and grew up in the Al-Nab’a neighborhood, part of the belt of poverty that surrounded Beirut before and after the civil war. Despite the ideological disagreements between us, I, like you, espouse the idea of opposing injustice, oppression, poverty and occupation. I regard you as a leader the likes of which the Lebanese people and Arab nation did not manage to produce for many long decades. I address you with love and appreciation, in a clear and sincere manner.

“First, honorable Sayyed [an honorific title denoting people accepted as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad], I would like to say that the so-called ‘presidential’ arrangement [i.e., the agreement reached in 2016 and implemented until recently, according to which Michel ‘Aoun became president and Sa’d Al-Hariri prime minister], did the resistance a grave injustice. [This agreement] granted the presidency to [Hizbullah’s] ally Gen. Michel ‘Aoun, and the role of prime minister to Sheikh Sa’d Al-Hariri. But the secret part of the arrangement was [an understanding that] the resistance [i.e., Hizbullah] would turn a blind eye to the government’s economic and fiscal policy – namely to the systematic corruption that prevails in the country – and in return, [the government] would ignore the weapons of the resistance and officially legitimize their existence. The first injustice here is the treatment of the weapons of the resistance as weapons of a group, party or sect, rather than as weapons of the homeland… The second injustice is that [the arrangement] transforms the resistance into a guardian of the bastion of corruption and all its components, whether voluntarily or by force of circumstance…

“Honorable Sayyed [Nasrallah], under this ‘presidential’ arrangement, which did the resistance an injustice, you were forced to accept a government whose makeup you could not tolerate… and an economic and fiscal policy [that drove] the country towards the abyss of poverty, hunger, want, unemployment and bankruptcy, until the situation became unbearable… The straw that broke the camel’s back was the decision of the media minister, which was also endorsed by the ministers of the resistance within the government, to tax WhatsApp calls, a free service that is based abroad and which the Lebanese state has no right to tax. This drove the public to take to the streets, regardless of religion, sect or party, [chanting] slogans unprecedented in Lebanon’s history…

“Between [the time of] your first speech after the outbreak of the protests and your second speech, the people’s demands did not change, nor did their pain and hunger. But your position towards the protest movement did change. I agree with you that certain elements and embassies tried to forcefully infiltrate the protest and derail it from its course… but they did not succeed.

“Sayyed [Nasrallah], the calls heard [at the protests] against you and against the resistance were voiced by a small group of demonstrators… a group that represents [forces] that were your partners in the government and your allies in the professional syndicate elections… Resistance members started reacting to this small group… by barbarically and violently repressing protesters in Al-Nabatieh and Tyre, which are strongholds of the resistance, causing some people – including former resistance fighters – to be injured, wounded or imprisoned. Later, dozens of unknown individuals on motorcycles stormed the main center of protests [in Al-Nabatieh and Tyre], waving Hizbullah and Amal flags. [They] also raided the protesters in [Beirut’s] Riad Al-Solh Square, calling out slogans [of support] for you.

“Your latest speech, Sayyed [Nasrallah], enraged people who support, love and cultivate the resistance. These supporters of the resistance [simply] do not want it to become the one that defends the bastion of corruption from its [i.e., the resistance’s] own support base, [namely from] poor people [who live in every part of Lebanon], from the tip of the north Beqaa Valley to the southernmost tip [of Lebanon], including in the Dahia [Hizbullah’s stronghold in Beirut], some of whose areas have become hotbeds of want and poverty. These [Hizbullah supporters] do not regard these mass protests as the product of [foreign] embassies that hatched a plot against the resistance, [as you claim].

“Oh Sayyed [Nasrallah], these people want to hear an apology for the gravely mistaken [actions] committed by certain elements against the resistance and its supporters and public, and against the demonstrators. Those who dared to place the resistance in conflict with its [own] people… by means of their brutal behavior at the scenes of the protest, [behavior] that does not befit the resistance members and their upbringing and culture, must be severely punished. Honorable Sayyed [Nasrallah],… just as the resistance is a natural outcome of the occupation, the popular protest, belated though it may be, is a natural outcome of the injustice, oppression, corruption and thievery. I call upon you to return the resistance to the bosom of the people and to its natural [position] of solidarity with the pain, the hunger and the outcry of the people…”[3]

Al-Akhbar Journalists Resign Over Its Hostile Coverage Of The Protests
However, despite his criticism, Al-Akhbar editor Ibrahim Al-Amin ultimately maintained his support for Hizbullah and its positions. Apart from the two critical articles quoted above, the daily’s articles and reports continued to claim that the protests had been politicized and were controlled by foreign elements seeking to harm Lebanon and especially Hizbullah. As a result, five of the daily’s journalists resigned over what they called the daily’s slanted and hostile coverage of the protests.

The first to resign was Al-Akhbar’s culture reporter Joy Slim. In an October 29 Facebook post, she clarified the reason for her decision, lashing out at the daily for its position on the protests and even holding it responsible for the violent attacks on protesters by Hizbullah and Amal activists. She wrote: “Today I resigned from the Al-Akhbar daily after working there for five and a half years. The past few days were decisive for me. I gave up hope that the paper’s coverage of the uprising [would change]. For months, or even years, it kept explaining why [such a protest] must break out; but the minute it did, it rushed to join the counter-uprising and even advanced conspiratorial and inciting rumors that contributed to [prompting] the recent attacks on protesters in the streets by ‘residents,’ as Al-Akhbar called them on its Facebook page. The paper’s stance on the protests, and the way it covered them in the days after they broke out, was almost scandalous, in my opinion. The paper bears partial responsibility for every drop of protesters’ blood spilled by [those] ‘residents,’ supporters of the ruling parties [Hizbullah and Amal].”

Slim added: “This resignation comes at a difficult time for me, personally, but I nevertheless decided to take a leap into the unknown… rather than stay in a [work]place I felt had betrayed the people at the most crucial moment, myself among them…”[4]

Three days later, on November 3, Mohammad Zbeeb, the head of the daily’s economic section, resigned as well. He tweeted: “In order to remove any doubt, [let me clarify that] I resigned from the Al-Akhbar daily… in protest of its stance towards the uprising.”[5]

The other three reporters resigned On November 5. Sabah ‘Ayoub, who had been with the paper since its inception and had served as its deputy editor, its opinion section editor, and most recently as the head of its website team, tweeted: “I resigned from Al-Akhbar for a number of reasons, chief among them its coverage of the October 17 uprising.”[6] Viviane ‘Akiki, who worked in the paper’s economic section, tweeted: “I resigned from Al-Akhbar for professional reasons related to its coverage of the popular uprising, as well as other reasons having to do with its professional performance, which were never addressed…”[7] Muhammad Al-Jannoun tweeted: “I hereby announce that I have stopped writing in Al-Akhbar, because it does not recognize the legitimate right to [hold] the popular protests [of] the October 17 revolution. I thank the daily for the opportunity it gave me for five years, [but] it is inconceivable that freedom of the press should be influenced by politics or affiliation.”[8]

As stated, a fortnight later, two reporters from the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen channel, which is likewise affiliated with Hizbullah, resigned as well. The first to resign was senior journalist Samy Kleyb, who was among the channels’ founders and is known as a supporter of the Syrian regime, Hizbullah and its allies. He tweeted on November 22: “I resigned from Al-Mayadeen today, prompted by my positions, beliefs and conscience. I wish them ongoing progress and success.”[9] Although Kleyb did not specify the reasons for his resignation, some speculated that, like in the case of the Al-Akhbar journalists, the reason was the channel’s hostile coverage of the protests.”[10] Two days later, journalist Lina Zahredine, who had been with the channel for eight years, announced her resignation, writing: “Due to the historic moments were are experiencing, I found it necessary to resign from Al-Mayadeen. I wish the channel longevity and our peoples [the Arab peoples] a better future…”[11] Her resignation too was seen in the Lebanese press as an act of protest over the channel’s coverage of the current events in Lebanon.[12]

*H. Varulkar is director of research at MEMRI; C. Jacob is a research fellow at MEMRI.

[1] For more on Hizbullah’s hostility to the protests and the reasons behind it, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No.1492, Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part I: Hizbullah’s Hostility To The Protests And The Reasons Behind It, December 3, 2019.
[2] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), October 30, 2019.
[3] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), November 1, 2019.
[4] Facebook.com, joy.slim.18, October 29, 2019.
[5] Twitter.com/mzbeeb/status, November 3, 2019.
[6] Twitter.com/sabahayoub, November 5, 2019.
[7] Twitter.com/vivianeakiki, November 5, 2019.
[8] Twitter.com/mhdJannoun, November 5, 2019.
[9] Twitter.com/samykleyb, November 22, 2019.
[10] Independentarabia.com, janoubia.com, almodon.com, October 24, 2019.
[11] Facebook.com/LinaZahredine, October 24, 2019.
[12] Independentarabia.com, janoubia.com, almodon.com, October 24, 2019.

https://www.memri.org/reports/lebanese-protests-place-hizbullah-bind-%E2%80%93-part-ii-hizbullahs-position-protests-evokes

The post تحليل سياسي وثوثيقي نشره موقع ميمري وهو من جزئين ويشرح أسباب عداوة حزب الله للإنتفاضة الشعبية في لبنان/H. Varulkar and C. Jacob/MEMRI: Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part I: Hizbullah’s Hostility To The Protests And The Reasons Behind It appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

روبرت رابيل: القيمة الحقيقة للقوى اللبنانية العسكرية الشرعيةRobert G. Rabil/The National Interest: The True Value of Lebanon’s Armed Forces

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The True Value of Lebanon’s Armed Forces
روبرت رابيل: القيمة الحقيقة للقوى اللبنانية العسكرية الشرعية
Robert G. Rabil/The National Interest/December 03/2019

The LAF has been the most respected institution in confessional Lebanon. It is regarded by many as the defender of the country and the patriotic glue that binds the various confessions whose national aspirations have been often at cross purposes.

Alongside a campaign to push for a war with Iran, there is a parallel campaign to undermine Iran’s proxies is equating the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with Hezbollah. Though the armed forces need to answer and act on some legitimate concerns, this pairing is not only erroneous but also dangerous because it undermines the only institution stabilizing Lebanon.

Patched together into a quilt of various confessional communities, Lebanon gained its independence from France in 1943 and based its national identity and political system in a National Pact (al-Mithaq al-Watani). In fact, a Maronite-Sunni alliance churned out the pact whereby political power would be distributed along religious (confessional) lines and Lebanon’s identity would be characterized by an “Arab face” and manifested by the slogan “No East, No West.” Other communities, especially the Shi’a community given its demographic significance, had little, if any, role in the process of concluding the National Pact. Evidently, the National Pact helped bring about under special circumstances communal conciliation, and to some extent unity. But it neither fostered nor forged a national identity. It was based on a compromise guided by the false assumptions that Muslims would “Arabize” the Christians while Christians would “Lebanonize” Muslims. Lebanon’s weak national identity and quasi-democratic system made the country a lightning rod for almost all political currents sweeping the Arab world since the Arab defeat in the 1948 War and through what Melcolm Kerr famously described the Arab Cold War.

Significantly, though it was influenced by the country’s confessional system, the Lebanese army, known as the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), stood out as an institution welding a nationalist esprit de corps. The LAF has been the most respected institution in confessional Lebanon. It is regarded by many as the defender of the country and the patriotic glue that binds the various confessions whose national aspirations have been often at cross purposes.

Admittedly, since Lebanon’s independence from France in 1943, the LAF has sought to remain a neutral actor on the domestic and foreign levels. More specifically, it sought to serve as a neutral arbiter guaranteeing free elections and political stability, while at the same time maintaining its distance from regional problems, especially the Arab-Israeli conflict. The LAF, for example, remained in its barracks during Lebanon’s brief civil war in 1958, and it neither participated in the 1967 War nor in the 1973 War.

Significantly, following the defeat of the Arab armies in the 1967 War, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), led by Yasser Arafat, increased its militant activities targeting Israel from Lebanon. Broadly speaking, whereas the Christian leadership opposed PLO actions, the Muslim leadership, led by pan-Arabists and leftists, supported the PLO. This polarized the country into two diametrically opposed camps and led to skirmishes between the army and the PLO’s military wing Fatah. Conceding to pressure from Arab leaders, the Lebanese government signed the 1969 Cairo agreement, which essentially allowed the PLO to engage in armed struggle against Israel.

Subsequently, the influx of PLO fighters into Lebanon from Jordan in 1970 following their botched attempt to remove the Jordanian monarch further deepened the country’s polarization. Before long, the country descended into civil war in 1975 and the army disintegrated along confessional lines. In the summer of 1976, Syrian forces entered Lebanon as an Arab Deterrent Force to stop the fighting. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon and evicted the PLO from Beirut to Tunis. Subsequently, Israel withdrew from Lebanon but not before setting up and occupying a buffer zone on its border. Meanwhile, several attempts were made to restructure the army and rehabilitate its impartial image. But these attempts were doomed to failure insofar the civil war continued relentlessly until Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Seeking the participation of Syrian troops in the U.S.-led international coalition to extract Iraq from Kuwait so as to legitimize the coalition in the eyes of Arabs, Washington green-lighted the complete occupation of Lebanon by Syrian troops. Lebanese troops who resisted the Syrian onslaught were murdered and dozens of army officers and soldiers, following their surrender, were shot point-blank in the courtyard of the Lebanese Defense Ministry in Yarze. Those who were spared were taken to Syrian prisons and are still unaccounted for by the Syrian regime.

The end of the civil war was legitimized by the signing of the Document of National Understanding, known as the Taif Accord, which introduced significant amendments to the Lebanese constitution. The Accord shaped the political system of the Second Republic.

The thrust of political reforms revolved around conferring equal powers to the three high posts in the land, the presidency (Christian), the premiership (Sunni) and the speakership (Shi’a). The other sections dealt mainly with building the armed forces to shoulder their responsibilities in confronting Israeli aggression and taking the necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territory from Israeli occupation. In line with the Taif Accord’s emphasis on the Lebanese-Syrian special relations, the Syrian and Lebanese presidents in 1991 signed the Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation, and Coordination and the Lebanon-Syria Defense and Security agreement, which essentially institutionalized Syrian occupation over Lebanon.

The Syrian regime, through its mukhabarat (intelligence), ruled Lebanon on the basis of a delicate balance between a divide and rule policy and maintaining to more or less a confessional equilibrium in favor of supporting Syrian loyalists. The LAF under Syrian occupation was robbed and depleted of its raison d’etre and power, respectively. Meanwhile, thanks to Iranian and Syrian support, the Shi’a Islamist party Hezbollah enhanced its military power and sanctified its role as a resistance movement against Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon. Both Lebanese and Syrian authorities legitimized Hezbollah’s role, thereby turning the Lebanese army an obsolete force.

To be sure, Shi’a ascendency in Lebanon, as led by pro-Syrian Hezbollah, was frowned upon by Muslim and Christian parties, which resented Syrian hegemony in the country. In response, attempts focusing on the army and intelligence and security apparatus were made to counter Hezbollah’s growing power. In particular, the Internal Security Force, under Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri (1992–1998 and 2000–2004) was enlarged, better equipped, and put under the direct control of the prime minister. Trained and equipped by France and the United States, the Internal Security Force was staffed mainly by Sunnis, heightening sectarian bias within state institutions. On the other hand, General Security Directorate was supported by pro-Syrian politicians and often was charged with colluding with Syria. In the meantime, the army experienced selective recruitment, reversing the historic pattern of maintaining a confessional balance within its ranks.

Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 and the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003 upended the regional dynamics in general and Lebanon’s political dynamics in particular. Opposition to Syrian presence in Lebanon grew and peaked with the murder of Hariri in 2005, allegedly by Syria and Hezbollah. Many Lebanese took the street claiming for their independence from Syrian hegemony and launched what came to be known as the Cedar Revolution. This led to the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and the collapse of the Second Republic. Also, it split the country into two camps, one anti-Syrian, led by the Hariri Future Current and known as the March 14 movement, and the other pro-Syrian and known as the March 8 movement, led by Hezbollah.

Interestingly enough, during the turmoil, acting Prime Minister Omar Karami ordered the LAF to break up the demonstrations. Commander of the Army, Michel Suleiman, defied the order and sought to restore the army’s neutral role. In fact, since the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Beirut attempts have been made to restore the LAF as the flame of national unity. Liberated from Syrian yoke, the LAF has worked hard to restore its neutrality, professionalism and non-bias sectarianism. The LAF resumed its build-up on the basis of an equitable Christian-Sunni-Shi’a recruitment while walking a fine line amidst strong internal divisions between the two rival blocs. During the 2006 summer conflagration between Hezbollah and Israel, the LAF remained largely a spectator, focusing on relief efforts and maintaining law and order. Nevertheless, the LAF lost forty-nine soldiers from Israel’s fire. It’s noteworthy that whereas Israel accused the LAF with providing coordinates to Hezbollah to fire an anti-ship missile at an Israeli corvette, Hezbollah accused the LAF of close cooperation with the U.S. leadership and military.

Significantly, a number of classified documents leaked by Wikileaks revealed that the Lebanese defense ministry and government cooperated and coordinated with the U.S. government to curb the power of Hezbollah. Moreover, leaders from across the country’s confessions virtually aspired that Israel would defeat Hezbollah. In a document dated July 17, 2006, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt stated that “although March 14 must call for a cease-fire in public, it is hoping that Israel continues its military operations until it destroys Hizballah’s military capabilities . . . Then the LAF can replace the IDF once a cease-fire is reached.” A document dated August 7, 2006, revealed that Christian leaders meeting with Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman and Assistant Secretary Charles Welch argued that “The Lebanese government will need to be in a position of strength to deal with Hizballah once the conflict is over . . . To this end, they would support a continuation of the Israeli bombing campaign for a week or two if this were to diminish seriously Hizballah’s strength on the ground.” In the meantime, as revealed by a document dated August 8, 2006, the Defense Minister Elias Murr, confident about a rapid LAF deployment, “stated clearly that the LAF was prepared to hit back at Hizballah if they attempted to fire at Israel or tried to draw Israeli fire by placing launchers near to LAF positions.” Moreover, a document on the same day revealed that Murr “claimed that LAF forces had stopped and seized a truck carrying Hezbollah missiles.”

These documents show that the LAF did not cooperate with Hezbollah; rather it demonstrated the LAF’s indispensable and alternative force to stability and Hezbollah. No sooner, the litmus test of the imperative need of the LAF took place in 2007 when a Salafi-jihadi organization Fath al-Islam took over the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. Lacking equipment and ammunition, the LAF, despite its vigorous spirit, was virtually incapacitated. Thanks to a swift American supply of weapons and ammunition, the LAF prepared to storm the camp despite a warning from Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah that the camp is a “red line.” Following bloody pitched battles the LAF reclaimed the initiative against and defeated Fath al-Islam. The battle cost the LAF 166 soldiers and dozens wounded. This was the high price that the LAF had to pay. Still, it was a price that elevated the LAF to a popular level beyond reproach or sectarian politicking. Since then, seeing the benefit of the LAF as a force against Al Qaeda and its sister jihadi organizations, Washington began to systematically equip the LAF with defensive weapons and train some of its officers.

This led to a nuanced and contradictory relationship between the LAF and Hezbollah. The popular enhanced stature of the LAF following its costly defeat of the Salafi-jihadi organization Fath al-Islam, coupled with the Lebanese government’s need for U.S. support, forced Hezbollah to look askance at, yet not disrupt, the U.S. training and arming of the LAF. The LAF and Hezbollah, though in principle integral parts of Lebanon’s societal fabric, perceived each other a rival and a threat to its raison d’etre.

Robert G. Rabil is a professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University and Francois Alam is an attorney at Law and Secretary General of the Christian Federation of Lebanon and the Levant.
The authors can be followed @robertgrabil and @francoisalam.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/true-value-lebanons-armed-forces-101512?fbclid=IwAR28ue3nETyNOkNwqN4VArsJFUDmla2832gSZjSTJtk3SOUnmfJUl2Garws

The post روبرت رابيل: القيمة الحقيقة للقوى اللبنانية العسكرية الشرعيةRobert G. Rabil/The National Interest: The True Value of Lebanon’s Armed Forces appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 03- 04/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 48th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 03- 04/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 48th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 04/2019

Tites For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 03-04/2019
Lebanon’s Iranian Cancerous Occupation and The Required Solutions
Aoun on National Day for Integration of People with Special Needs: Rights of this segment should not be neglected
Aoun Promises ‘Positive Developments’ amid Progress in Govt. Talks
Details of New Government’s Line-Up Emerge
Hariri: I Support Samir Khatib and Technocrats Will Represent Me in Govt.e
Hariri receives Jumblatt, says he supports Khatib’s designation
Woman in Tripoli attempts to set herself on fire over her living conditions
Army Commander chairs meeting of high level steering committee of assistance program to protect land border security
Bassil: Govt. Success More Important than Our Presence in It
Jumblat Says Haggles over Nominee for PM ‘Unconstitutional’
Protesters in Tripoli Block Roads, State and Public Institutions
Hundreds of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Return Home
Protesters Throw Stones at Troops, Injuring Some
Suicide of Unemployed Man Strikes a Chord in Crisis-Hit Lebanon
Syrian Pound Hits New Black Market Low amid Liquidity Crunch in Lebanon
Trump Administration Lifts Hold on Lebanon Security Aid
In Protest-Hit Lebanon, Debate Tents Draw in the Street
Lebanon’s outgoing PM backs businessman to replace him

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 03-04/2019
Lebanon’s Iranian Cancerous Occupation and The Required Solutions
سرطان الإحتلال الإيراني للبنان والحلول الدولية المطلوبة
Elias Bejjani/December 03/2019
Lebanon’s current problem is the cancerous Hezbollah’s Iranian Occupation that is systematic, and since 1982 has been covertly and overtly devouring Lebanon and everything that is Lebanese in all domains and on all levels.
The Solution is through the UN declaring Lebanon a rogue-failed country and the strict implementation of the three UN Resolutions addressing Lebanon’s
ongoing dilemma of occupation:
The Armistice agreement
The 1559 UN Resolution
The 1701UN Resolution.
All other approaches, no matter what, will only serve the occupying Mullah’s vicious scheme of destroying Lebanon and strengthening its ironic, terrorist grip on the Lebanese.
All Pro-Lebanon’s Freedom demonstrations in any country in the Diaspora that are carried on by the Lebanese MUST call for this only International solution.
Meanwhile, yes, Lebanon and the Lebanese are facing very serious crises, hardships and problems in all life sectors; e.g., poverty, unemployment, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, politicization of the judiciary, electricity shortage, a scandalous disarray in trash collection, lack of health benefits, education, and numerous social services … and the list goes on and on.
BUT, non of these hardships in any way or at any time will be solved as long as the terrorist Iranian Hezbollah remains occupying the country and terrorizing its people. At the same time, the majority of Lebanese officials, politicians and political parties are actually the enemies of both Lebanon and its citizens.
In this context, President Michael Aoun, His son-in-law, the FM, Jobran Bassil, Amin Gymael and his son Sami, PM, Saad Hariri, Druze leader Walid Jumblat, House Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Geagea, Slieman Frangea and many other politicians, as well
as numerous topnotch clergymen from all denominations are all cut from the same garment of oligarchic, narcissism, trojanism, greed, and feudalism in their mentality and education.
They all, with no sense of patriotism, have succumbed to the Hezbollah’s Iranian savage occupation.
They all and each from his status and based on his capacity and influence, have traded Lebanon’s independence, freedom, decision making process and sovereignty with mere personal power and financial gains.
In reality, they have sold their country to the occupier, Hezbollah, and with no shame have accepted the status of Dhimmitudes, puppets, tools, trumpets, cymbals and mouthpieces for the terrorist occupier. They betrayed, and still betraying, the country and their own people.
In this realm, the Lebanese demonstrators who are loudly shouting the Slogan, “All of them” are 100% right and are righteously witnessing for the truth because all of the above political and official prominent figures are practically mere merchants with numbed consciences.
All Of Them definitely means all of them.
It is worth mentioning that the Lebanese constitution is ideal for the nature of the multi-cultural and multi-religious denominational composition of the mosaic of diversified Lebanese society.
The governing disasters that have been targeting and hitting Lebanon since the early seventies has nothing to do with the great and ideal covenantal (unwritten pact) constitution, but with the foreign occupations and the oligarchic Lebanese corrupted officials and politicians.
My fellow patriotic and God fearing Lebanese from all religious denominations and all walks of life in both Lebanon and the Diaspora, stand tall and steadfast like our cedars. Do not lose faith or give up on hope, and never ever forget that our beloved, country, Lebanon is holy.
Yes, Lebanon is holy and has been blessed by Almighty God since he created man and woman and put them on earth.
Pray for our oppressed and occupied country and that Almighty God shall always guard, protect and defend it through His saints and angels.

Aoun on National Day for Integration of People with Special Needs: Rights of this segment should not be neglected
NNA/December 03/2019
President of the Republic, General Aoun, stressed on the National Day for the Integration of People with Special Needs, that the rights of this segment should not be neglected, but that all efforts should be made to ensure them for their dignity and their natural interaction with the society.
President Aoun stressed his belief in the importance of strengthening frameworks for the integration of people with special needs, especially in the fields of study and work, to benefit of their own energies, and to provide the necessary support for them and their families.
The President said that he is exerting efforts to solve the current crisis, which affects institutions and associations dealing with the affairs of people with special needs, despite the complexities and difficult circumstances in the country, because this file cannot wait for solutions and clearing problems.
On the other hand, Aoun continued his meetings and contacts to address the current political and economic situation and followed up the work of Ministries.
In this framework, President Aoun received the Minister of Displaced Affairs Ghassan Atallah, who said after the meeting: “I visited the President of the Republic to put him in the latest atmosphere concerning the files of the Ministry of Displaced, and to prepare all the final schedules that I committed to according to the plan that we set, as well as to update his excellency on files that were completed in the caretaker period, Especially in the evacuation clause that we have taken upon us, which is completed and its funds are secured by the Council of Ministers”.
“I also put President Aoun in the atmosphere of the rest of the files that were prepared to be ready when securing funds to be paid quickly, as well as the work of the Ministry in general. The meeting was special” Atallah stated.
Asked whether the appropriations of the Ministry of Displacement had been transferred to it, Minister Atallah explained that his ministry is using the funds that were allocated before taking over its responsibilities, “Because the appropriation of the 40 billion, allocated in the 2019 budget, have not yet been transferred from the Ministry of Finance to our ministry’s fund” Atallah said.
President Michel Aoun then received the head of the “Arab Unity Party”, former Minister Wiam Wahhab, and discussed with him the general situation and recent developments. Wahab explained that he had discussed, with the President, the social conditions and the suffering of people from high prices and lack of control of commercial enterprises. He stated that “People are complaining about the greed of politicians and about traders for their livelihood.””President Aoun is in a hurry to start parliamentary consultations, the problem is with the others” Wahhab concluded.
The President met the head of the Association of Banks, Dr. Salim Sfeir, and discussed with him banking and financial affairs. President Aoun met a delegation from “Dialogue and Bridges”, and answered their questions stressing that the coming days will carry positive developments.
The President stressed on the work to find appropriate solutions to various aspects of the crisis, and reiterated the continuation of the fight against corruption and the call for citizens to contribute to the detection of corrupt individuals and manipulators of the livelihood of citizens.
The President focused on the role of the judiciary, after the recent appointments, that will help to hold perpetrators accountable and achieve justice. On the other hand, President Aoun congratulated the Chairperson of the European Commission, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyne, on her election and the confidence she received from the European Parliament, wishing her success in her responsibilities “To preserve the spirit of constructive cooperation between EU countries and their distinctive historical heritage.”
The President expressed Lebanon’s pride in its relations with the European Union, and its efforts to “strengthen partnership with it to achieve the goals we meet around, which are based on the promotion of international peace and development, and to strengthen cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian, and other fields”.
President Aoun also received a cable of congratulations on Independence Day from Iranian President, Sheikh Hassan Rouhani, wishing Lebanon further prosperity and pride for the Lebanese. President Rouhani wrote: “I am confident, as before, that the initiatives of your Excellency, officials and the Lebanese people, will result in increased stability, security and progress for your country. The Islamic Republic of Iran, as always, will spare no effort to promote bilateral cooperation, in line with the common interests of the two countries.” The President also sent condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, condoling the death of Royal Highness, Prince Miteb bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Aoun Promises ‘Positive Developments’ amid Progress in Govt. Talks
Naharnet/December 03/2019
President Michel Aoun on Tuesday announced anew that “the coming days will carry positive developments,” as talks to name a new premier reportedly made major progress. Aoun voiced his remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Dialogue and Bridges group. Al-Jadeed TV meanwhile reported that “an agreement has been reached on the broad lines of the upcoming techno-political government, pending the continuation of the consultations with Samir Khatib, whose nomination is still ongoing until the moment.”And as media reports said Khatib had met with Aoun and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil in Baabda on Tuesday morning, presidential palace sources denied that the meeting took place, saying such a meeting might be held after reaching “an agreement with the rest of politicians.”MTV however insisted that the meeting took place, quoting sources who participated in the talks. And as al-Jadeed said that Bassil is insisting on the energy portfolio and Speaker Nabih Berri is clinging to the finance portfolio, the TV network said Ali Hassan Khalil is expected to be in the new government but this time as a state minister. The interior portfolio will meanwhile go to a technocrat figure close to caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri, al-Jadeed said. “The parliamentary consultations will likely be held on Thursday and this is hinging on the outcome of Bassil’s meeting with Khatib,” MTV reported. MTV said General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim had accompanied Khatib to the Baabda Palace where they met with Aoun and Bassil, adding that “an agreement was reached at the end of the talks on holding another meeting between Khatib and Bassil.”“The stance that Bassil will voice after the meeting of the Strong Lebanon bloc today will determine how things will move forward,” MTV said. The TV network added that “Hariri has reportedly said that he is willing to publicly endorse Samir Khatib for the post but only after setting a date for the parliamentary consultations and this is the point of contention.”

Details of New Government’s Line-Up Emerge
Naharnet/December 03/2019
The new government will be techno-political and will consist of 24 ministers – six political figures as state ministers and 18 technocrats and representatives of the protest movement, media reports said on Tuesday evening, as the engineer and businessman Samir Khatib emerged as a consensus candidate for the PM-designate post. “The ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Mohammed Fneish and Salim Jreissati will certainly return as state ministers in the new government, while Speaker Nabih Berri is clinging to the finance portfolio, PM Saad Hariri is insisting on the interior portfolio and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil is clinging to the energy portfolio,” al-Jadeed TV quoted sources as saying. “Six seats will go to the popular protest movement while two seats will be allocated to the Druze community, and if (Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid) Jumblat refuses to participate, one of the seats will go to the Lebanese Democratic Party while the other will go to the protest movement,” the sources added. As for the Christian share, seven seats will go to the Free Patriotic Movement and President Michel Aoun, a seat will go to the Tashnag Party, a seat to the Marada Movement and three will go to the protest movement, the sources said. “No agreement has been reached on granting the government any extraordinary powers and it will work on devising a new electoral law,” the sources went on to say.

Hariri: I Support Samir Khatib and Technocrats Will Represent Me in Govt.
Naharnet/December 03/2019
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday publicly announced that he endorses the nomination of the engineer and businessman Samir Khatib for the PM-designate post. “I support Samir Khatib but some details remain pending and I will not take part in the government,” Hariri told reporters following a meeting with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat at the Center House. “Everyone is seeking to overcome this difficult stage,” Hariri added. In response to another question, he said that he has not set any conditions and that “the Prime Minister is the one who forms the government.”
Asked whether he will participate in the government, Hariri said: “Not through political figures but through technocrats.”Media reports have said that Hariri will hold a decisive meeting at night Tuesday with the political aides of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
“Tonight (Ali Hassan) Khalil and (Hussein) al-Khalil will meet with Hariri. If he pledges to them that he will endorse Samir Khatib, the (parliamentary) consultations (to name the PM-designate) will be held within days,” the journalist Salem Zahran, who is close to Hizbullah, tweeted.
“As for (Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid) Jumblat, he has taken a final decision to take part in a techno-political government in which Hizbullah would be represented,” Zahran added. Hizbullah’s al-Manar TV later reported that Hariri will meet with Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Khalil to “put the final touches ahead of designating a premier and forming the government.”Political talks to name a premier-designate have reportedly made major progress over the past few hours, amid a reported meeting between Khatib, President Michel Aoun and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil. Khatib heads one of Lebanon’s largest engineering and contracting companies and did not hold any political roles in the past. Over the past weeks, politicians failed to agree on the shape and form of a new government. Hariri had insisted on heading a government of technocrats, while his opponents, including Hizbullah, want a Cabinet made up of both experts and politicians. It was not clear how the protesters who have been demonstrating against widespread corruption and mismanagement in the country would respond to the possible formation of the government. The frustrated protesters have resorted to road closures and other tactics to pressure politicians into responding to their demands for a new government. They have insisted that a new Cabinet be made up of independent figures that have nothing to do with the ruling elite that have been running the country since the 1975-90 civil war ended. On Tuesday evening, a number of protesters staged a sit-in outside Khatib’s residents in Beirut’s Tallet al-Khayyat area to reject his reported nomination for the PM post.

Hariri receives Jumblatt, says he supports Khatib’s designation
NNA/December 03/2019
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri received this evening at the Center House the head of the Progressive Socialist Party, former MP Walid Jumblatt, accompanied by Minister Wael Abou Faour, in the presence of former Minister Ghattas Khoury. The meeting focused on the political developments in the country. Upon leaving the Center House, Jumblatt refused to make any statement. Hariri said in a chat with reporters that he supports the designation of Engineer Samir Khatib for the Premiership, but there are still some details to finalize and everyone is seeking to overcome this difficult stage.
In response to another question, he said that he did not set conditions and that the Prime Minister is the one who forms the government.
Question: Will you participate in the government?
Hariri: Not through political figures but through technocrats.

Woman in Tripoli attempts to set herself on fire over her living conditions
NNA/December 03/2019
A Lebanese woman, identified as Fatima al-Mustafa, from the Tabbaneh area in Tripoli, on Tuesday attempted to set herself on fire at Abdel Hamid Karami Square, due to her simmering living conditions. However, young men from “City Guards” intervened and managed to prevent her from doing so. The young men took her to their Center at the Square. It is to note that Al Mustafa is homeless living in the street with her grandson for 40 days, and suffering from malnutrition and several diseases.

Army Commander chairs meeting of high level steering committee of assistance program to protect land border security
NNA/December 03/2019
Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Tuesday presided over the meeting of the high-level steering committee of the Assistance Program for the protection of the Lebanese land borders, in Yarzeh, in presence of US Ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard, UK Ambassador to Lebanon, Chris Rampling, Canadian Ambassador, Emmanuelle Lamoureux, along with members of the joint work team. Richard and Rampling lauded the significant performance and achievements of the military in controlling the Lebanese border and countering terrorist organizations, and commended the efforts of the joint work team to strengthen the special regiments’ capacities for border protection. The US and UK ambassadors also confirmed their countries’ continued support for the army to carry out its tasks in defense of Lebanon and in preservation of its stability and territorial integrity. Ambassador Lamoureux, for her part, expressed delight in contributing to the success of this project. General Aoun, in turn, expressed his confidence in the completion of the implementation of the program, based on the ability of the army officers and military to deal with any new equipment or weapon with high professionalism, and the commitment of friendly countries to continue to provide quality support to the army, in addition to the common goals of all sides, especially the continuation of the war on terror. The army commander also thanked the US and British authorities for continuing to implement the special assistance program to equip land border regiments, and thanked the Cabadian authorities for joining this program.

Bassil: Govt. Success More Important than Our Presence in It
Naharnet/December 03/2019
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday announced that the success of the new government is more important than the presence of his movement in it. “If some believe that our presence in the government would prevent salvation or impede the electricity plan, we are willing to stay outside it,” Bassil said after a periodic meeting for the Strong Lebanon bloc. “Nominating a premier, our participation in the government and granting it our confidence depend on how much it can be successful,” he pointed out. “We cannot imagine the presence of a government that would stand idly by towards corruption,” Bassil added. Noting that the FPM wants a government in which it can place its confidence, the FPM leader said he wants the new government to succeed in boosting the economy and preserving security. “We hope that we are nearing a happy ending and the president is using his powers wisely and calmly,” he said about the ongoing talks to name a premier-designate. “From the beginning, our demand was the formation of a government of technocrats with political backgrounds but this demand was not accepted,” he reminded. Bassil also stressed that “the formation of the government is a priority in order to relaunch the economic cycle.”“We are not obstructing but rather facilitating the formation of the government to the extent of self-elimination,” he said. Bassil added: “We are not clinging to seats but rather to fighting corruption.”Noting that the new government will respect the National Pact in its structure, the FPM leader stressed that “no one wants to eliminate the other.”He added: “We have borne a lot of false accusations and remained silent in order not to obstruct the situation and in order to end the state of the absence of a government to move to another stage in which work would begin.”

Jumblat Says Haggles over Nominee for PM ‘Unconstitutional’
Naharnet/December 03/2019
Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Tuesday said the ongoing debate to pick a PM before the binding parliamentary consultations was “unconstitutional.” “The binding parliamentary consultations must be held in line with regulations. Everything happening now is unconstitutional,” said Jumblat from Ain el-Tineh where he met with Speaker Nabih Berri. Asked whether he supports Samir Khatib, a nominee for the premiership post to succeed outgoing PM Saad Hariri, he said: “I am not the one who nominates Samir Khatib or any other. This is unconstitutional.”According to the constitution, the President of the Republic designates the Prime Minister in consultation with the Speaker based on binding parliamentary consultations, the content of which he shall formally disclose to the latter. Hariri’s outgoing cabinet remains in a caretaker capacity as leaders haggle over the next government make-up. Hariri resigned on October 29 bowing to the people’s demands. Demonstrations demanding an overhaul of Lebanon’s entire political system have rocked the small Mediterranean country since mid-October, President Michel Aoun, whose powers include initiating parliamentary consultations to appoint a cabinet, has yet to schedule such talks. On his ties with Berri, Jumblat said: “It has been a while since my last visit to Berri because of the developments in the country, and I don’t want anyone to misinterpret this. I visited Berri to affirm our historic relations and friendship.”
Jumblat concluded by saying he is scheduled to meet Hariri later today.

Protesters in Tripoli Block Roads, State and Public Institutions
Naharnet/December 03/2019
Protesters blocked several roads in the northern city of Tripoli and gathered outside state institutions as Lebanon’s uprising against the entire political class enters day 48. Trash bins, barriers and stones were used to block the roads and prevent employees from reaching schools and offices, the National News Agency said. NNA said that Lebanese army troops intervened immediately and embarked on opening all the roads. Only the roads leading to al-Nour Square in the city remain blocked since the uprising erupted on October 17. Moreover, students of the Lebanese University in Tripoli’s al-Bahsas staged a sit-in outside the university’s campus. They sat on the ground preventing vehicles and buses from driving into the campus, said NNA. A number of other protesters blocked the entrance of the city’s technical institute to protest against difficult living conditions and manipulations of the US dollar exchange rate.Road blockages renewed on Tuesday as protesters blocked overnight the Naameh highway, south of Beirut. The Lebanese army said in a statement on Tuesday that several troops were injured when protesters hurled stones at soldiers opening Naameh highway. The army said that protesters in the town of Naameh fired bullets from a pistol the night before. It says that made the troops fire in the air to disperse the protesters. Mounting debt sparked a social media outcry in the protest-hit country, where weeks of political and economic turmoil have raised alarm. A man committed suicide on Sunday in the eastern border town of Arsal because he could not pay outstanding medical bills for his cancer-stricken wife. His suicide sparked a social media outcry in the protest-hit country. An unprecedented anti-government protest movement has gripped Lebanon since October 17, fuelled in part by deteriorating living conditions.
The World Bank has warned of an impending recession that may see the number of people living in poverty climb from a third to half of the population. Unemployment, already above 30 per cent for young people, would also go up, it said. Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s cabinet resigned two weeks into the protest movement, bowing to popular pressure. But the country’s deeply divided political class has yet to form a new cabinet, frustrating demonstrators who have remained mobilised.

Hundreds of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Return Home

Associated Press/Naharnet/December 03/2019
Hundreds of Syrian refugees have headed home in the first batch to leave Lebanon since protests broke out in the small Arab country more than a month ago. Since the early hours of Tuesday, scores of Syrians boarded buses in several locations in Lebanon before heading back to their hometowns in war-torn Syria. Vanessa Moya of the U.N. refugee agency known as UNHCR, said some 225 Syrian refugees were scheduled to head back to Syria, raising the number to about 27,000 refugees who have returned to Syria over the past two years. Thousands of Syrians have returned home from Lebanon since June 2018 as calm returns to parts of Syria. Lebanon is hosting some 1 million Syrian refugees who fled their country after the war broke out eight years ago.

Protesters Throw Stones at Troops, Injuring Some

Associated Press/Naharnet/December 03/2019
The Lebanese army says protesters have hurled stones at soldiers opening a highway south of Beirut, injuring several troops. The army said in a statement on Tuesday that one of the protesters in the town of Naameh fired bullets from a pistol the night before. It says that made the troops fire in the air to disperse the protesters. Across Lebanon, protesters have been holding demonstrations since Oct. 17, demanding an end to widespread corruption and mismanagement by the political class that has ruled the country for three decades.Protesters have resorted to road closures and other tactics to pressure politicians into responding to their demands for a new government after Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned more than a month ago, meeting a key demand of the demonstrators.

Suicide of Unemployed Man Strikes a Chord in Crisis-Hit Lebanon
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 03/2019
A suicide in Lebanon committed over a small debt sparked a social media outcry in the protest-hit country, where weeks of political and economic turmoil have raised alarm. Naji Fliti, a 40-year-old father of two, committed suicide outside his home in the eastern border town of Arsal on Sunday because he could not pay outstanding medical bills for his cancer-stricken wife, his relative told AFP on Monday. The death resonated with many on social media, who blamed the country’s under-fire political class for failing to address a months-long economic downturn that has resulted in inflation, swelling unemployment and fears of a currency devaluation. “He is a victim of this regime, of this political class and their financial and monetary policies,” Doumit Azzi Draiby, an activist, said on Twitter. An unprecedented anti-government protest movement has gripped Lebanon since October 17, fueled in part by deteriorating living conditions.
The World Bank has warned of an impending recession that may see the number of people living in poverty climb from a third to half of the population. Unemployment, already above 30 percent for young people, would also go up, it said. Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s cabinet resigned two weeks into the protest movement, bowing to popular pressure. But the country’s deeply divided political class has yet to form a new cabinet, frustrating demonstrators who have remained mobilized. Public fury was fueled further following Fliti’s death. “Our anger is as strong as our determination to change this deadly and corrupt state,” Ghassan Moukheiber, a former lawmaker, said on Twitter, attaching a picture of the deceased. Fliti, a former stone quarry worker, had been unemployed for the past two months because of a crunch in demand for one of the town’s main exports, his cousin Hussein told AFP on Monday.”He is a victim of the economic situation,” Hussein said. “The blame is squarely on the corrupt political class that brought us here.”

Syrian Pound Hits New Black Market Low amid Liquidity Crunch in Lebanon

Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 03/2019
The value of the Syrian pound on the black market sank to 1,000 to the dollar at some money changers Tuesday, marking a new record low for the nosediving currency. The drop comes amid a spiralling liquidity crunch in neighbouring Lebanon, which has long served as a conduit for foreign currency entering the heavily sanctioned government-held areas of Syria. One currency exchange office in the Syrian capital Damascus told AFP he was selling dollars on the black market for 1,000 pounds for the first time on Tuesday. A specialised website put the volatile rate at 975 pounds to the dollar — more than double the official rate of 434 Syrian pounds posted by the central bank on its website. At the start of the war in 2011, the rate stood at around 48 pounds to the dollar. In the Old City of Damascus, a trader who preferred not to give his name said everything from food to transport had become more expensive in recent weeks. “Prices have doubled in the past two months,” the trader said. “Everybody prices their items according to the new dollar exchange rate” on the black market, he explained. Syria analyst Samuel Ramani said the pound had fallen by 30 percent since anti-government protests erupted in Lebanon on October 17. An economic downturn has accelerated since the protests started, and a liquidity crunch has become more acute in a country that has long served as an economic and financial lifeline for dollar-starved Syrian businesses. As Western sanctions tightened on Syria during the war, many in the country have opened businesses in neighbouring Lebanon, stashed their money in its banks and used the country as a conduit for imports. But Lebanese banks started introducing controls on dollar withdrawals over the summer, straining the supply of the greenback to Syrian markets.

Trump Administration Lifts Hold on Lebanon Security Aid
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 3 December, 2019
US President Donald Trump’s administration has lifted a mysterious “hold” on more than $100 million in security aid for Lebanon, congressional and State Department officials said, more than a month after lawmakers learned the funds were being blocked. As first reported by Reuters, the US State Department told Congress on October 31 that the White House budget office (OMB) and National Security Council had decided to withhold $105 million in foreign military assistance, without providing any explanation. As lawmakers demanded answers from the administration about why the aid had been withheld, some compared it with a similar decision from the administration to withhold nearly $400 million in security assistance to Ukraine that also had been approved by Congress. That decision has been at the center of an impeachment inquiry into Trump. Members of Congress and US diplomats had strongly opposed the move to withhold the aid to Beirut, saying it was crucial to support Lebanon’s military as it grappled with instability within the country and the region. Congressional aides said on Monday the administration had still provided no explanation for the decision to withhold the money, which had been approved by Congress and the State Department. They said the OMB released the hold last Wednesday and the administration had begun to “obligate” it, or finalize contracts for how it should be spent. A senior State Department official confirmed that the money had been released but declined to provide an explanation for why it was suspended or why it was released, beyond referring to recent comments by Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale. Hale said during congressional testimony that there had been some disagreements about the efficacy of US aid to the Lebanese armed forces. On Monday, the senior State official said on a conference call with reporters that Lebanon’s army is “an excellent partner to the United States” in fighting extremism. Lebanon also houses thousands of refugees from war in neighboring Syria.

In Protest-Hit Lebanon, Debate Tents Draw in the Street
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 3 December, 2019
A secular state, early elections, solving poverty. Every evening, Sarah al-Ghur joins other residents of Lebanon’s second city Tripoli to debate how to fix her protest-gripped country. “I’d rather take part in the discussions than applaud or shout out slogans,” says the 32-year-old in the city’s al-Nour square, reported AFP. After years of disillusionment and apathy, a free-falling economy and anti-government protests have spurred Lebanese back into political debate. Across the Mediterranean country, squares where protesters have denounced mismanagement and corruption have also become centers of spontaneous discussion.
In Tripoli, Ghur walks between debate tents, stopping outside one where dozens of people are discussing a “roadmap for the revolution”. Men and women of all ages sit on the floor, huddle on benches, or stand arms crossed, listening to the latest speaker. Nearby, protesters revel to the sound of patriotic tunes and techno beats. “I’ve discovered laws I knew nothing about,” says Ghur, her hair trimmed short and wearing a dress. “Now I’m more aware of my rights and my duties,” she says, in an impoverished city that has emerged at the forefront of the protests.
A young protester takes the microphone to say he thinks the “popular revolution” must evolve towards “political dialogue”. He calls for “early parliamentary elections”, as a first step towards an overhaul of the political system. ‘They’d lost all trust’ Every evening from 5 pm to 9 pm, Tripoli residents gather under the tents to rebuild their country one idea at a time.
University professors, activists or even economists are often in attendance. They talk of secularism and sectarianism, in a country whose legacy from a devastating 1975-91 civil war is a political system that seeks to maintain a fragile balance of power between the myriad of religious communities.
They discuss poverty, in a country where around a third of the population are poor, and the World Bank warns that proportion could soon rise to half. But they also discuss what they view as the questionable independence of the judiciary, corruption, plummeting public funds, and sometimes urban planning.
In Tripoli, half of all residents already live at or below the poverty line.
Some six weeks into the protest movement, demonstrators in the northern city have continued to gather on a daily basis, even as numbers dwindle in other parts of Lebanon. The government resigned on October 29, but no concrete measures have been taken to form a new cabinet since.
Philosophy professor Hala Amoun says that, before the protests, most Lebanese had long given up on any political activity. “They’d lost all trust in the political class,” she said in classical Arabic. Lebanese have long complained of endless power cuts, gaping inequality, unemployment, and alleged official graft.
But in October, a proposed tax on calls via free phone applications such as Whatsapp, pushed them over the edge and onto the streets.
‘Meaning of a revolution’
“This revolution is people becoming more aware,” said the woman, who appeared in her forties, wrapped in a warm red coat. “But taking to the streets was not enough. They felt they needed to understand, to know more.” Every evening, she heads down to the square to help dissect the “structural problems” of political power in Lebanon. “Lebanese are hungry for knowledge,” she says. “It’s as if they needed to re-examine their economic, social and political reality, to understand how their political and sectarian leader is controlling their life.”
Nadim Shakes, a doctor, is one of the proud initiators of the debate evenings, which he calls “awareness raising conferences”.
The aim is to “think about the country’s future, what will happen after this revolution,” says the 47-year-old, wearing a dark blue jacket over a slightly unbuttoned shirt. Around the tent, young participants sit together in small groups, chatting in hushed tones or raising their voices when they grow excited or want to make a point. In one corner, students discuss whether or not they should continue an open-ended strike that will make them lose a year of lectures at university. Noha Raad, a 49-year-old Arabic language teacher, said she was delighted to be learning something new every evening.
“People need to be made aware,” she says, dressed in a flowery shirt and blue cardigan.But mostly, she said, “they made us understand the meaning of a revolution”.

Lebanon’s outgoing PM backs businessman to replace him
Associated Press/December 03/2019
Hariri last week withdrew his candidacy for the premiership, saying he hoped to clear the way for a solution to the political impasse amid nearly eight weeks of anti-government protests
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday he supports the nomination of a prominent contractor to become the country’s next premier, a move that will likely pave the way for the formation of a new Cabinet amid a severe economic and financial crisis.
Hariri last week withdrew his candidacy for the premiership, saying he hoped to clear the way for a solution to the political impasse amid nearly eight weeks of anti-government protests. Speaking to reporters Tuesday night, Hariri said he backs Samir Khatib to become the country’s next prime minister adding that “there are still some details and God willing something good” will happen. Hariri added that “everyone is trying to pass through this difficult period.”Khatib heads one of Lebanon’s largest engineering and contracting companies and did not hold any political roles in the past.
Over the past weeks, politicians failed to agree on the shape and form of a new government. Hariri had insisted on heading a government of technocrats, while his opponents, including the militant group Hezbollah, want a Cabinet made up of both experts and politicians.
Asked if he is going to take part in the new Cabinet, Hariri said: “I will not nominate political personalities but experts.”
It was not clear how the protesters who have been demonstrating against widespread corruption and mismanagement in the country would respond to the possible formation of the government. The frustrated protesters have resorted to road closures and other tactics to pressure politicians into responding to their demands for a new government.
They have insisted that a new Cabinet be made up of independent figures that have nothing to do with the ruling elite that have been running the country since the 1975-90 civil war ended. President Michel Aoun now is expected to call for binding consultations with heads of parliamentary blocs to name the new prime minister. But since Hariri, the most powerful Sunni leader in the country said he will back Khatib, the contractor is widely expected to get the post. According to Lebanon’s power sharing system implemented since independence from France in 1943, the president has to be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister should be a Sunni and the parliament speaker a Shiite. Cabinet and parliament seats are equally split between Christians and Muslims.
Earlier in the day, outgoing Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil hinted that he will not be part of the new government telling reporters that “the success of the Cabinet is more important than our presence in it.”The apparent breakthrough comes as Lebanon is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades with one of the highest debt ratios in the world, high unemployment and an expected contraction in the economy in 2020. Local banks have imposed capital control measures unseen before in the country known for its free market economy. The possible breakthrough came a day after protesters hurled stones at soldiers while opening a highway south of Beirut, injuring several troops. The Lebanese army said in a statement on Tuesday that one of the protesters in the town of Naameh fired bullets from a pistol the night before adding that the shooting made the troops fire in the air to disperse the protesters.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 03-04/2019
Lebanon’s Iranian Cancerous Occupation and The Required Solutions/Elias Bejjani/December 03/2019
Lebanon: suicide of indebted father sparks anger as economic woes grow/Sunniva Rose/The National/December 0/2019
The US should cooperate with Russia to get Iran out of Lebanon/Basem Shabb/Al Arabia/December 03/2019
The True Value of Lebanon’s Armed Forces/Robert G. Rabil/The National Interest/December 03/2019
Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part I&2: Hizbullah’s Hostility To The Protests And The Reasons Behind It/H. Varulkar and C. Jacob/MEMRI/December 03/2019
Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part II: Hizbullah’s Position On Protests Evokes Unusually Harsh Criticism Among Its Supporters, Prompts Wave Of Resignations From Pro-Hizbullah Daily ‘Al-Akhbar’
H. Varulkar and C. Jacob/MEMRI/December 03/2019

The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 03-04/2019
Lebanon’s Iranian Cancerous Occupation and The Required Solutions
سرطان الإحتلال الإيراني للبنان والحلول الدولية المطلوبة
Elias Bejjani/December 03/2019
 Lebanon’s current problem is the cancerous Hezbollah’s Iranian Occupation that is systematic, and since 1982 has been covertly and overtly devouring Lebanon and everything that is Lebanese in all domains and on all levels.
The Solution is through the UN declaring Lebanon a rogue-failed country and the strict implementation of the three UN Resolutions addressing Lebanon’s
ongoing dilemma of occupation:
The Armistice agreement
The 1559 UN Resolution
The 1701UN Resolution.
All other approaches, no matter what, will only serve the occupying Mullah’s vicious scheme of destroying Lebanon and strengthening its ironic, terrorist grip on the Lebanese.
All Pro-Lebanon’s Freedom demonstrations in any country in the Diaspora that are carried on by the Lebanese MUST call for this only International solution.
Meanwhile, yes, Lebanon and the Lebanese are facing very serious crises, hardships and problems in all life sectors; e.g., poverty, unemployment, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, politicization of the judiciary, electricity shortage, a scandalous disarray in trash collection, lack of health benefits, education, and numerous social services … and the list goes on and on.
BUT, non of these hardships in any way or at any time will be solved as long as the terrorist Iranian Hezbollah remains occupying the country and terrorizing its people. At the same time, the majority of Lebanese officials, politicians and political parties are actually the enemies of both Lebanon and its citizens.
In this context, President Michael Aoun, His son-in-law, the FM, Jobran Bassil, Amin Gymael and his son Sami, PM, Saad Hariri, Druze leader Walid Jumblat, House Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Geagea, Slieman Frangea and many other politicians, as well
as numerous topnotch clergymen from all denominations are all cut from the same garment of oligarchic, narcissism, trojanism, greed, and feudalism in their mentality and education.
They all, with no sense of patriotism, have succumbed to the Hezbollah’s Iranian savage occupation.
They all and each from his status and based on his capacity and influence, have traded Lebanon’s independence, freedom, decision making process and sovereignty with mere personal power and financial gains.
In reality, they have sold their country to the occupier, Hezbollah, and with no shame have accepted the status of Dhimmitudes, puppets, tools, trumpets, cymbals and mouthpieces for the terrorist occupier. They betrayed, and still betraying, the country and their own people.
In this realm, the Lebanese demonstrators who are loudly shouting the Slogan, “All of them” are 100% right and are righteously witnessing for the truth because all of the above political and official prominent figures are practically mere merchants with numbed consciences.
All Of Them definitely means all of them.
It is worth mentioning that the Lebanese constitution is ideal for the nature of the multi-cultural and multi-religious denominational composition of the mosaic of diversified Lebanese society.
The governing disasters that have been targeting and hitting Lebanon since the early seventies has nothing to do with the great and ideal covenantal (unwritten pact) constitution, but with the foreign occupations and the oligarchic Lebanese corrupted officials and politicians.
My fellow patriotic and God fearing Lebanese from all religious denominations and all walks of life in both Lebanon and the Diaspora, stand tall and steadfast like our cedars. Do not lose faith or give up on hope, and never ever forget that our beloved, country, Lebanon is holy.
Yes, Lebanon is holy and has been blessed by Almighty God since he created man and woman and put them on earth.
Pray for our oppressed and occupied country and that Almighty God shall always guard, protect and defend it through His saints and angels.

Lebanon: suicide of indebted father sparks anger as economic woes grow
Sunniva Rose/The National/December 0/2019
The man was one of around 6,000 in the area laid off from the quarrying industry due to declining sales
An unemployed debt-ridden Lebanese father of two died by suicide on Sunday in the remote north-east town of Arsal as the country sinks deeper in an economic and financial crisis. Local officials told The National that Naji Fleity, 40, took his own life when he was unable to provide for his family after losing his job at a local stone quarry two months ago. Fleity’s last conversation was with his six-year-old daughter, who asked him for 1,000 Lebanese pounds ($0.67; Dh2.45) to buy a manoushe, a popular Lebanese street food similar to a pizza, Rima Kronbi, deputy mayor of the small rural community on the Syrian border told The National on Monday.
She said he told his daughter he did not have the money and later that day took his life. Fleity left the army six years ago to look after his first wife, who was diagnosed with cancer. He had two wives and two children. Ms Kronbi, like Fleity’s family and many in Lebanon, are linking his death to the worsening financial situation that sparked mass rallies in the middle of October. “The bad economy is putting a lot of pressure on people,” Ms Kronbi told The National. She said that like Fleity about 6,000 employees at local stone quarries, the backbone of the area’s economy, recently lost their jobs due to declining business. Arsal stone quarries cannot compete with cheaper imports from abroad and Lebanese businessmen have stopped investing locally, she said.
For the past year, the national economy has been slowly grinding to a halt, pushing the Lebanese, who are increasingly losing their jobs or receiving only a portion of their monthly salaries, to take to the streets in nationwide protests on October 17. People are demanding that leaders return “the looted money” from the state after years of corruption and nepotism.
The World Bank projects growth this year of -0.2 per cent in Lebanon.
Local media reported that Fleity had debts of 700,000 Lebanese pounds ($462; Dh1,711). But, Mrs Kronbi said that his debts were more substantial although she was not sure of the exact amount. Fleity’s death shocked Lebanon, with local media blaming politicians for neglecting the increasing difficulties faced by Lebanese families. According to the United Nations Development Programme, 27 per cent of Lebanese people live on less than $270 per month. The price of basic goods such as olive oil and cheese has been increasing since banks restricted access to American dollars, used interchangeably with the local currency, in early November. While the official rate is around 1,507 pounds to the dollar, on the black market rates have surpassed 2,000 pounds to the dollar.
Fleity’s uncle Mahmoud, quoted by local daily Al Akhbar, said his suicide was “only the beginning of a phenomenon that we will see in the future after people from Arsal, and other Lebanese, lose their pride and dignity”. He berated the Lebanese government, accusing it of “bankrupting” the country “without paying attention to citizens who go hungry and die from unemployment, debt and lack of access to hospitals.” Fleity’s death has sparked an outpouring of anger online with Lebanese people demanding action to form a government that is able to tackle the current crisis after Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on October 29, collapsing the administration. Discussions are yet to begin officially to select a new administration. Jan Kubis, the United Nations Special Co-ordinator for Lebanon, also asked if politicians would ever start tackling the crisis. “How many Naji’s, may his soul RIP, will the leaders of Lebanon need to start dealing effectively with the economic & social crisis?” he asked. “How much time they will give themselves before agreeing on the new PM & government that will respond to the cries, concerns & demands of the people?” After some politicians said they were ready to provide support to the Fleity family, Ms Kronbi said they didn’t want charity from outside. “His family will only receive sympathy from locals, nothing from politicians”, she said.In a similar incident in February, father-of-two George Zreik died after setting himself on fire in front of his daughter’s school in north Lebanon after he was unable to pay her fees. At the time, a Kuwaiti politician donated $10,000 to help his family.

The US should cooperate with Russia to get Iran out of Lebanon
باسم الشايب: مطلوب من أميركا أن تتعاون مع روسيا لإخراج إيران من لبنان
Basem Shabb/Al Arabia/December 03/2019
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The US has made it clear it wants to help free Lebanon from Iranian influence, but it cannot do so alone. The protests across the country have weakened Hezbollah, but they are unlikely to diminish Tehran’s influence, especially as the US disengages from the region.
Moderating Iranian influence requires the help of another power, which is credible with the non-Western leaning crowd and enjoys good relations with Lebanon’s neighbors: Russia.
Washington should consider coordinating with Russia to maintain stability and curb Iranian excess in Lebanon.
By challenging the status quo, the protests are a clear danger to the order Hezbollah has meticulously woven for over a decade, enabling its transformation from a non-state actor to a domineering political party. Unlike during the Cedar Revolution of 2005, Hezbollah has not been able to convincingly smear the current protests with accusations of hidden Israeli or US agendas due to their narrative of social justice.
The fact that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have stayed neutral has further compounded Hezbollah’s position, as it shows that Hezbollah’s allies – President Michel Aoun and the Future Patriotic Movement (FPM) – no longer enjoy their previous levels of influence with the LAF. This was evident when the LAF refused to act on the demands of President Aoun to clear the streets and confront the protestors.
Combine these factors with the risk of economic collapse due to a lack of Iranian funding and poor governance, and it is clear that Hezbollah is weakened. But it is far from defeated. Given Iranian intransigence and US disengagement from the region, it will be difficult for Lebanon to get rid of Hezbollah – and Iranian influence – alone. Russia is the ideal partner for the task.
Russia’s strength is that it is a regional power broker in the Levant which has good relations with various rival powers. Since its intervention in Syria, Moscow has been an effective negotiator – it successfully established an Iranian disengagement zone in southern Syria, and was also successful in diffusing the latest Kurdish-Turkish confrontation and negotiating an understanding between the Syrian regime and the Kurdish forces in Syria.
The US could not have achieved this. Russia is better positioned in the Levant because of its neutral stance in the Arab-Israeli conflict and its good relations with various rival powers such as Iran, Israel, Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Lebanon is now a similar case. Unlike the US, Russia has good rapport with all parties, including both the pro-Western and pro-Syrian factions. Despite its recent intervention on behalf of the Syrian regime, Moscow has maintained close ties with Lebanese Sunni factions. It has also forged close ties with various Christian communities, presenting itself as the patron saint of Eastern Christianity.
Russia’s enhanced status as a regional actor does not mean it cannot work the US, in Lebanon or elsewhere. Russian and US influence frequently coexist, and both countries have a vested interest in a strong central government and the stability of Lebanon.
While Russia may work with Iran in Syria, it approaches Lebanon differently to Tehran.
In Lebanon, Russia’s relationship with Hezbollah is rather formal and not a close alliance. Unlike Iran, Russia deals exclusively with the Lebanese authorities and has repeatedly affirmed its support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, in contrast to Iran’s preference for non-state actors.
The US and Russia have successfully coordinated against terrorist activities in Afghanistan and Syria, so there is no reason why they can’t coordinate in Lebanon. Most importantly, with escalating tensions between the US and Iran, both powers are concerned that an Israeli-Iranian confrontation in Lebanon could spill over to Syria. Russia can effectively mediate with the Syrian regime on important issues for Lebanon such as refugees and trade.
Despite these advantages, Washington currently fears that coordinating with Russia in Lebanon would erode American influence.
But American influence is strong due to trade, education, soft power and diaspora connections, as well as close ties to the exclusively US-trained and equipped LAF. This influence survived under Syrian hegemony, and would not be negated by coordinating with Russia.
The current standoff will not rid Lebanon of Iranian influence, and European powers will do little to help. Russia’s position may be vital to leverage against Iran and could be the only way to avert conflict with Israel. For these reasons, US-Russian cooperation is the best way forward for Lebanon.
*Basem Shabb is a former member of the Lebanese parliament.

The True Value of Lebanon’s Armed Forces
روبرت رابيل: القيمة الحقيقة للقوى اللبنانية العسكرية الشرعية
Robert G. Rabil/The National Interest/December 03/2019

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The LAF has been the most respected institution in confessional Lebanon. It is regarded by many as the defender of the country and the patriotic glue that binds the various confessions whose national aspirations have been often at cross purposes.
Alongside a campaign to push for a war with Iran, there is a parallel campaign to undermine Iran’s proxies is equating the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with Hezbollah. Though the armed forces need to answer and act on some legitimate concerns, this pairing is not only erroneous but also dangerous because it undermines the only institution stabilizing Lebanon.
Patched together into a quilt of various confessional communities, Lebanon gained its independence from France in 1943 and based its national identity and political system in a National Pact (al-Mithaq al-Watani). In fact, a Maronite-Sunni alliance churned out the pact whereby political power would be distributed along religious (confessional) lines and Lebanon’s identity would be characterized by an “Arab face” and manifested by the slogan “No East, No West.” Other communities, especially the Shi’a community given its demographic significance, had little, if any, role in the process of concluding the National Pact. Evidently, the National Pact helped bring about under special circumstances communal conciliation, and to some extent unity. But it neither fostered nor forged a national identity. It was based on a compromise guided by the false assumptions that Muslims would “Arabize” the Christians while Christians would “Lebanonize” Muslims. Lebanon’s weak national identity and quasi-democratic system made the country a lightning rod for almost all political currents sweeping the Arab world since the Arab defeat in the 1948 War and through what Melcolm Kerr famously described the Arab Cold War.
Significantly, though it was influenced by the country’s confessional system, the Lebanese army, known as the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), stood out as an institution welding a nationalist esprit de corps. The LAF has been the most respected institution in confessional Lebanon. It is regarded by many as the defender of the country and the patriotic glue that binds the various confessions whose national aspirations have been often at cross purposes.
Admittedly, since Lebanon’s independence from France in 1943, the LAF has sought to remain a neutral actor on the domestic and foreign levels. More specifically, it sought to serve as a neutral arbiter guaranteeing free elections and political stability, while at the same time maintaining its distance from regional problems, especially the Arab-Israeli conflict. The LAF, for example, remained in its barracks during Lebanon’s brief civil war in 1958, and it neither participated in the 1967 War nor in the 1973 War.
Significantly, following the defeat of the Arab armies in the 1967 War, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), led by Yasser Arafat, increased its militant activities targeting Israel from Lebanon. Broadly speaking, whereas the Christian leadership opposed PLO actions, the Muslim leadership, led by pan-Arabists and leftists, supported the PLO. This polarized the country into two diametrically opposed camps and led to skirmishes between the army and the PLO’s military wing Fatah. Conceding to pressure from Arab leaders, the Lebanese government signed the 1969 Cairo agreement, which essentially allowed the PLO to engage in armed struggle against Israel.
Subsequently, the influx of PLO fighters into Lebanon from Jordan in 1970 following their botched attempt to remove the Jordanian monarch further deepened the country’s polarization. Before long, the country descended into civil war in 1975 and the army disintegrated along confessional lines. In the summer of 1976, Syrian forces entered Lebanon as an Arab Deterrent Force to stop the fighting. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon and evicted the PLO from Beirut to Tunis. Subsequently, Israel withdrew from Lebanon but not before setting up and occupying a buffer zone on its border. Meanwhile, several attempts were made to restructure the army and rehabilitate its impartial image. But these attempts were doomed to failure insofar the civil war continued relentlessly until Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Seeking the participation of Syrian troops in the U.S.-led international coalition to extract Iraq from Kuwait so as to legitimize the coalition in the eyes of Arabs, Washington green-lighted the complete occupation of Lebanon by Syrian troops. Lebanese troops who resisted the Syrian onslaught were murdered and dozens of army officers and soldiers, following their surrender, were shot point-blank in the courtyard of the Lebanese Defense Ministry in Yarze. Those who were spared were taken to Syrian prisons and are still unaccounted for by the Syrian regime.
The end of the civil war was legitimized by the signing of the Document of National Understanding, known as the Taif Accord, which introduced significant amendments to the Lebanese constitution. The Accord shaped the political system of the Second Republic.
The thrust of political reforms revolved around conferring equal powers to the three high posts in the land, the presidency (Christian), the premiership (Sunni) and the speakership (Shi’a). The other sections dealt mainly with building the armed forces to shoulder their responsibilities in confronting Israeli aggression and taking the necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territory from Israeli occupation. In line with the Taif Accord’s emphasis on the Lebanese-Syrian special relations, the Syrian and Lebanese presidents in 1991 signed the Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation, and Coordination and the Lebanon-Syria Defense and Security agreement, which essentially institutionalized Syrian occupation over Lebanon.
The Syrian regime, through its mukhabarat (intelligence), ruled Lebanon on the basis of a delicate balance between a divide and rule policy and maintaining to more or less a confessional equilibrium in favor of supporting Syrian loyalists. The LAF under Syrian occupation was robbed and depleted of its raison d’etre and power, respectively. Meanwhile, thanks to Iranian and Syrian support, the Shi’a Islamist party Hezbollah enhanced its military power and sanctified its role as a resistance movement against Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon. Both Lebanese and Syrian authorities legitimized Hezbollah’s role, thereby turning the Lebanese army an obsolete force.
To be sure, Shi’a ascendency in Lebanon, as led by pro-Syrian Hezbollah, was frowned upon by Muslim and Christian parties, which resented Syrian hegemony in the country. In response, attempts focusing on the army and intelligence and security apparatus were made to counter Hezbollah’s growing power. In particular, the Internal Security Force, under Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri (1992–1998 and 2000–2004) was enlarged, better equipped, and put under the direct control of the prime minister. Trained and equipped by France and the United States, the Internal Security Force was staffed mainly by Sunnis, heightening sectarian bias within state institutions. On the other hand, General Security Directorate was supported by pro-Syrian politicians and often was charged with colluding with Syria. In the meantime, the army experienced selective recruitment, reversing the historic pattern of maintaining a confessional balance within its ranks.
Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 and the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003 upended the regional dynamics in general and Lebanon’s political dynamics in particular. Opposition to Syrian presence in Lebanon grew and peaked with the murder of Hariri in 2005, allegedly by Syria and Hezbollah. Many Lebanese took the street claiming for their independence from Syrian hegemony and launched what came to be known as the Cedar Revolution. This led to the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and the collapse of the Second Republic. Also, it split the country into two camps, one anti-Syrian, led by the Hariri Future Current and known as the March 14 movement, and the other pro-Syrian and known as the March 8 movement, led by Hezbollah.
Interestingly enough, during the turmoil, acting Prime Minister Omar Karami ordered the LAF to break up the demonstrations. Commander of the Army, Michel Suleiman, defied the order and sought to restore the army’s neutral role. In fact, since the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Beirut attempts have been made to restore the LAF as the flame of national unity. Liberated from Syrian yoke, the LAF has worked hard to restore its neutrality, professionalism and non-bias sectarianism. The LAF resumed its build-up on the basis of an equitable Christian-Sunni-Shi’a recruitment while walking a fine line amidst strong internal divisions between the two rival blocs. During the 2006 summer conflagration between Hezbollah and Israel, the LAF remained largely a spectator, focusing on relief efforts and maintaining law and order. Nevertheless, the LAF lost forty-nine soldiers from Israel’s fire. It’s noteworthy that whereas Israel accused the LAF with providing coordinates to Hezbollah to fire an anti-ship missile at an Israeli corvette, Hezbollah accused the LAF of close cooperation with the U.S. leadership and military.
Significantly, a number of classified documents leaked by Wikileaks revealed that the Lebanese defense ministry and government cooperated and coordinated with the U.S. government to curb the power of Hezbollah. Moreover, leaders from across the country’s confessions virtually aspired that Israel would defeat Hezbollah. In a document dated July 17, 2006, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt stated that “although March 14 must call for a cease-fire in public, it is hoping that Israel continues its military operations until it destroys Hizballah’s military capabilities . . . Then the LAF can replace the IDF once a cease-fire is reached.” A document dated August 7, 2006, revealed that Christian leaders meeting with Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman and Assistant Secretary Charles Welch argued that “The Lebanese government will need to be in a position of strength to deal with Hizballah once the conflict is over . . . To this end, they would support a continuation of the Israeli bombing campaign for a week or two if this were to diminish seriously Hizballah’s strength on the ground.” In the meantime, as revealed by a document dated August 8, 2006, the Defense Minister Elias Murr, confident about a rapid LAF deployment, “stated clearly that the LAF was prepared to hit back at Hizballah if they attempted to fire at Israel or tried to draw Israeli fire by placing launchers near to LAF positions.” Moreover, a document on the same day revealed that Murr “claimed that LAF forces had stopped and seized a truck carrying Hezbollah missiles.”
These documents show that the LAF did not cooperate with Hezbollah; rather it demonstrated the LAF’s indispensable and alternative force to stability and Hezbollah. No sooner, the litmus test of the imperative need of the LAF took place in 2007 when a Salafi-jihadi organization Fath al-Islam took over the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. Lacking equipment and ammunition, the LAF, despite its vigorous spirit, was virtually incapacitated. Thanks to a swift American supply of weapons and ammunition, the LAF prepared to storm the camp despite a warning from Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah that the camp is a “red line.” Following bloody pitched battles the LAF reclaimed the initiative against and defeated Fath al-Islam. The battle cost the LAF 166 soldiers and dozens wounded. This was the high price that the LAF had to pay. Still, it was a price that elevated the LAF to a popular level beyond reproach or sectarian politicking. Since then, seeing the benefit of the LAF as a force against Al Qaeda and its sister jihadi organizations, Washington began to systematically equip the LAF with defensive weapons and train some of its officers.
This led to a nuanced and contradictory relationship between the LAF and Hezbollah. The popular enhanced stature of the LAF following its costly defeat of the Salafi-jihadi organization Fath al-Islam, coupled with the Lebanese government’s need for U.S. support, forced Hezbollah to look askance at, yet not disrupt, the U.S. training and arming of the LAF. The LAF and Hezbollah, though in principle integral parts of Lebanon’s societal fabric, perceived each other a rival and a threat to its raison d’etre.
Robert G. Rabil is a professor of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University and Francois Alam is an attorney at Law and Secretary General of the Christian Federation of Lebanon and the Levant.
The authors can be followed @robertgrabil and @francoisalam.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/true-value-lebanons-armed-forces-101512?fbclid=IwAR28ue3nETyNOkNwqN4VArsJFUDmla2832gSZjSTJtk3SOUnmfJUl2Garws

Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part I&2: Hizbullah’s Hostility To The Protests And The Reasons Behind It
H. Varulkar and C. Jacob/MEMRI/December 03
/2019
تحليل سياسي وثوثيقي من موقع ميمري من جزئين يشرح أسباب عداوة حزب الله للإنتفاضة الشعبية في لبنان
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Introduction
The mass protests in Lebanon over the economic crisis and government corruption, which broke out in October 17, 2019, have placed Hizbullah in a difficult position, because the organization, which for years has been presenting itself as the defender of the oppressed and fighter of corruption, is now an integral part of the government. Hizbullah initially tried to contain the protests, taking a very cautious position regarding them and expressing sympathy for the demonstrators rather than attacking them. This was evident in Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s speech on October 19,[1] and in statements by other Hizbullah officials.
Hizbullah maintained this cautious line for some ten days, apparently in hope that the protests would abate. However, when this failed to occur, the organization changed tack. In a speech he delivered on October 25, Nasrallah presented three No’s: no to deposing the president, no to deposing the government and no to holding early parliamentary elections, thus effectively rejecting the protesters’ three main demands. Nasrallah also claimed that the protests – in which several hundred thousand and perhaps even millions of people have participated, from every part of the country and from all social sectors – are neither authentic nor spontaneous, but are funded by foreign intelligence apparatuses and embassies. He called on the Lebanese not to attend the demonstrations, and urged the protesters to stop blocking roads and allow the country to go back to normal, warning against a possible slide into “chaos.”[2]
Since delivering this speech, Hizbullah, by means of its officials and media, has continued to spread the narrative that the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia are encouraging the protests and even controlling them in order to sow chaos in Lebanon and topple its government, in which Hizbullah is a member, and in order to incite against this organization and its weapons. Things came to a point where, on several occasions, Hizbullah activists violently attacked protesters on the streets.
In the past week, the demonstrations have taken a more violent turn, with clashes breaking out between the supporters of rival parties, resulting in the death of two people and the wounding of dozens. In addition, Hizbullah has begun coming out against the protesters for blocking roads, describing them as “militias of chaos” that are driving the country to civil war, and accusing all those who call for the establishment of a government of technocrats of succumbing to U.S. dictates.
This report describes the bind in which Hizbullah finds itself since the outbreak of the protests, and the reasons for its hostile position towards them.
Mass protest in Lebanon (Source: lebanon24.com, November 11, 2019)
Hizbullah’s Difficult Position And The Reason For Its Hostility Towards The Protests
From the very start, the protests in Lebanon created a problem for Hizbullah that made it difficult for the organization to determine its position on them. Having presented itself as a the champion of the undertrodden and standard bearer of the fight against corruption, especially since the May 2018 parliamentary election, the organization felt the need to express solidarity with the demonstrators, who were protesting the difficult economic situation and demanding to punish corruption and restore stolen public funds. Moreover, the Shi’ites in South Lebanon have taken part in the protests, and demonstrations were held even in strongholds of Hizbullah and its Shi’ite ally, Amal, such as Al-Nabatieh and Tyre. The Shi’ite support for the protests and their demands is another factor that makes it difficult for Hizbullah to oppose them.
However, once it realized that many of the demonstrators’ demands – specifically the demands for the resignation of the president and government and the holding of early parliamentary elections – threatened the organization’s interests and the stability of the government, of which it is a central component, Hizbullah changed its attitude and began attacking the protests.
Hizbullah has several reasons to oppose the current wave of protests:
The organization dominates the current parliament and government, and is therefore uninterested in early parliamentary elections
In the May 2018 parliamentary election, the May 8 Forces, comprising Hizbullah and its allies, won the majority of seats. These results are also reflected in the makeup of the government, in which Hizbullah’s faction – which also includes the Shi’ite Amal movement and the Free National Current led by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil – has 18 ministers, as opposed to only 11 ministers from the rival March 14 Forces and one minister who is considered independent. Controlling nearly two thirds of the government ministries is the major achievement of the March 8 Forces, which allows it to veto any decision it opposes. Another achievement is that, despite American opposition, Hizbullah received the large-budget health portfolio, with Jamil Jabaq, formerly Nasrallah’s personal physician, serving as minister of health. Yet another achievement was the appointment of Elias Bou Sa’ab, who has been criticized as “identifying with Hizbullah,” as defense minister.[3] Hizbullah is therefore uninterested in early parliamentary elections, which may cause it to lose these achievements.
Hizbullah fears the ouster of President ‘Aoun, Foreign Minister Bassil and Prime Minister Al-Hariri, Who Back It.
The political arrangement that lasted for several years, until the outbreak of the protests, whereby Michel ‘Aoun, a Christian, is president and the Sa’d Al-Hariri, a Sunni who is considered a rival of Hizbullah, is prime minister, actually benefited Hizbullah. In fact, this may be the optimal arrangement, as far as Hizbullah is concerned. President ‘Aoun and his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, head of the Free National Current, which is the largest party in parliament, are both allies of Hizbullah. These two figures lend the organization absolute support, backing its decisions and granting it freedom of action – both in the domestic arena and in the international diplomatic arena vis-à-vis the U.S., which has imposed sanctions on Hizbullah for its terrorist activity. ‘Aoun and Bassil, both of whom are Maronite Christians, effectively serve as a Christian “fig leaf” for Hizbullah and its actions.
Paradoxically, the appointment of Al-Hariri, considered to be a rival of Hizbullah, as prime minister likewise worked in this organization’s favor. Regarded by the international community as an experienced and moderate statesman, Al-Hariri lent the Lebanese government a fairer guise, blurring the reality whereby Hizbullah effectively controls the country and imposes its position in nearly all matters. Al-Hariri thus served as the address for any complaint by the international community, and enabled the international community to continue cooperating with Lebanon, signing agreements with it, and extending aid to it.
Moreover, if in the past Al-Hariri was a vociferous opponent of Hizbullah and expressed harsh criticism of it, in the past few years he has allowed this organization to do as it pleased in the domestic and international arenas, and mostly refrained from speaking out against it. Given this state of affairs, Hizbullah clearly has no interest in placing one of its allies in the role of prime minister, for this would only make trouble for it and attract criticism, making it easier for the international community to take a firm position vis-à-vis Hizbullah and Lebanon as a whole.
Hizbullah fears it will be held responsible for the economic crisis in Lebanon due to the sanctions imposed on it.
The protests in Lebanon were sparked by the government’s intention to raise taxes despite the severe economic crisis in the country, including by taxing WhatsApp calls, a move that enraged many. Although the protests span all of Lebanese society and are not confined to any particular sector, many are convinced that Hizbullah bears much of the responsibility for the economic crisis, due to the U.S. sanctions on it. The crisis has grown even worse since the U.S. increased these sanctions, imposing them on more and more of the organization’s officials and institutions, and on Lebanese banks, and even threatening to extend them Hizbullah’s allies, such as Foreign Minister Bassil.
The most prominent expression of the crisis is a mammoth national debt of $100 billion (almost twice Lebanon’s gross domestic product), which has forced the Lebanese government to enact radical measures and reforms, in order to qualify for the $11 billion international aid package pledged to Lebanon at the April 2016 Cedar Conference in France. Furthermore, in the weeks before the outbreak of the protests, the Lebanese pound plummeted and the market suffered a dollar shortage, which further destabilized the local economy.
In fact, even before the protests broke out, many accused Hizbullah of causing the economic crisis and driving Lebanon towards economic collapse through its activity in the service of Iran.[4] Thus, Hizbullah’s opposition to the protests may also stem from its fear that they could generate further accusations of this sort, and could spark a debate on its status and the status of its weapons, and about its terrorist activity around the world which causes sanctions to be imposed on it and on Lebanon.
The protests have an anti-Iran dimension
Another reason, perhaps the main one, for Hizbullah’s position is that the protests have an anti-Iran dimension. This aspect is hardly visible in the demonstrations themselves, but it is occasionally evident in articles by Lebanese journalists.[5] Furthermore, the wave of protest in Lebanon is concurrent with the one in Iraq, in which opposition to Iran’s involvement in the country is openly expressed. This similarity between the protests in Lebanon and Iraq has been noted by many Arab journalists and analysts. Iran itself, Hizbullah’s patron, regards the protests in both Lebanon and Iraq as an American conspiracy aimed at eroding its influence in these countries, as its officials have claimed, and it is reportedly even acting to stop them. It appears that Iran’s position on the protests largely dictated that of its proxy Hizbullah.
Shi’ites participate in the protests while criticizing Hizbullah and Amal.
As stated, the protests have surprisingly involved even the Shi’ites of South Lebanon, who took to the streets voicing the same slogans and demands as the demonstrators in the rest of the country. Protests were held even in villages and cities where Hizbullah and Amal – Lebanon’s second Shi’ite party, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri – are dominant, such as Al-Nabatieh and Tyre. According to some reports, Hizbullah and Amal were surprised by the scope and violence of the protests in these areas.
In Al-Nabatieh, dozens of demonstrators called out “Nabih Berri is a thief,” and some attacked the offices of the municipality, which is associated with Hizbullah. Dozens of protesters also came to the office of the chairman of Hizbullah’s faction in parliament, Muhammad Ra’ad, and shattered the sign at the entrance, shouting, “The people want to topple the regime.”
Furthermore, protesters came to the home of Amal MP Yassine Jaber and burned a sign bearing his name, and protesters also vandalized the office of Amal MP and political bureau member Hani Qobeisi.
[6] In Bint Jbeil, a demonstration was held in front of the office of Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah.
[7] In Tyre, protesters torched a guest house belonging to Nabih Berri’s wife, Randa Berri.[8]
Hizbullah presumably realized that the participation of the Shi’ite public in the protests, and the accusations of corruption made against it and against its ally Amal, may decrease its popularity among this public, which is its natural support base. Nasrallah therefore called on the supporters of the resistance not to participate in the protests, which indeed led to a significant decrease in their scope.
It appears that all these factors, together, are behind Hizbullah’s decision to oppose the protests and claim that they are funded by foreign elements hostile to the Lebanese state. Things came to the point where, on several occasions, Hizbullah and Amal activists on motorcycles arrived at the scene of demonstrations – especially in Shi’ite-dominated areas but also in Beirut – and tried to forcefully open the roads that the protesters had blocked.
*H. Varulkar is director of research at MEMRI; C. Jacob is a research fellow at MEMRI.
[1] Alahednews.com.lb, October 19, 2019.
[2] Alahednews.com.lb, October 25, 2019.
[3] On Hizbullah’s achievements in the parliamentary elections and government makeup, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1447, As U.S. Secretary Of State Pompeo Prepares To Visit Lebanon, Hizbullah Is In Complete Control Of Lebanese Government – And The March 14 Camp, Saudi Arabia, And U.S. Have Cooperated With It And Come To Terms With The Situation, March 21, 2019.
[4] On this, see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 8332, Lebanese Politicians, Journalists, Before The Outbreak Of The Current Protest-Wave: It Is Hizbullah That Caused The Economic Crisis In The Country, October 25, 2019.
[5] See Al-Arab (London), November 17, 2019; Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), October 22, 2019, November 12, 2019.
[6] Alarabiya.net, October 18, 2019.
[7] Alarabiya.net, October 18, 2019.
[8] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), October 20, 2019.
https://www.memri.org/reports/lebanese-protests-place-hizbullah-bind-%E2%80%93-part-i-hizbullahs-hostility-protests-and-reasons

Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part II: Hizbullah’s Position On Protests Evokes Unusually Harsh Criticism Among Its Supporters, Prompts Wave Of Resignations From Pro-Hizbullah Daily ‘Al-Akhbar’
H. Varulkar and C. Jacob/MEMRI/December 03/2019
تحليل سياسي وثوثيقي من موقع ميمري من جزئين يشرح أسباب عداوة حزب الله للإنتفاضة الشعبية في لبنان
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/81100/%d8%aa%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%8a%d9%84-%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b3%d9%8a-%d9%88%d8%ab%d9%88%d8%ab%d9%8a%d9%82%d9%8a-%d9%86%d8%b4%d8%b1%d9%87-%d9%85%d9%88%d9%82%d8%b9-%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%8a-%d9%88%d9%87/
Introduction
The mass protests in Lebanon over the economic crisis and government corruption, which broke out on October 17, 2019, placed Hizbullah in a bind which made it difficult for the organization to formulate its stance on them. Hizbullah, which for years has been presenting itself as the defender of the oppressed and fighter of corruption, felt compelled to show solidarity with the protesters, who are decrying the difficult conditions in the country and demanding to punish government corruption. The fact that Shi’ites in Lebanon identify with the protests and their demands, and have participated in them, is another factor which makes it difficult for Hizbullah to come out against them. However, once it realized that many of the demonstrators’ demands – specifically the demands for the resignation of the president and government and the holding of early parliamentary elections – posed a threat to the stability of the government, in which Hizbullah is a major component, the organization quickly changed its position. It began attacking the protests, claiming that they are funded by foreign countries, chiefly the U.S. and Israel, with the aim of sowing chaos in Lebanon and harming Hizbullah. Things came to the point where, on several occasions, activists from Hizbullah and its ally, the Shi’ite Amal movement, violently attacked protesters and tried to disperse them.[1]
Hizbullah’s dilemma regarding the protests is also shared by its supporters, especially by journalists with the pro-Hizbullah daily Al-Akhbar, and it appears that several of them do not agree with the Hizbullah position. Broadly speaking, Al-Akhbar adopted Hizbullah’s narrative that the protests had been derailed by foreign elements that took control of them. This claim was made in the paper on a daily basis, including in articles by its editor-in-chief, Ibrahim Al-Amin. However, the doubt expressed by Hizbullah, and especially by its leader Nasrallah, regarding the authenticity of the protests, and in particular the violence of Hizbullah activists towards protesters, apparently did not sit well with some of Al-Akhbar’s writers. Following these violent incidents, the daily took the unusual step of publishing articles harshly critical of Hizbullah, including one by Ibrahim Al-Amin himself, and another by a writer who described himself as a staunch Hizbullah supporter but nevertheless accused the organization of turning a blind eye to government corruption.
Subsequently, after Al-Amin decided to readopt Hizbullah’s position regarding the protests and stop the criticism against it, five Al-Akhbar journalists, some of them senior, resigned in protest of the daily’s bias and its hostility towards the protests. Some two weeks later, two senior reporters with the pro-Hizbullah television channel Al-Mayadeen resigned as well. These reporters gave no specific reason for their resignation, but some speculated that they too were motivated by the channel’s hostile coverage of the protests.
This report reviews the criticism expressed against Hizbullah in Al-Akhbar, and the resignation of the Al-Akhbar journalists.
Al-Akhbar Editor To Nasrallah: Stop The Brutal And Unjust Violence Against Protesters
On October 30, 2019, after Hizbullah and Amal activists attacked protesters in South Lebanon (especially in Al-Nabatieh and Tyre) and Beirut, Al-Akhbar editor-in-chief Ibrahim Al-Amin harshly criticized the attackers, whom he identified as Amal activists only, and called on Nasrallah, Amal’s ally, to prevent the recurrence of such events. He wrote: “Let me take this opportunity to address the attitude of the resistance and its supporters [i.e., the Amal movement] toward some ordinary citizens who, faced with the injustice perpetrated against them, consciously decided… to raise the level of their resistance and to cry out in protest. Employing the usual methods of protest, they expressed their opinion against the government and the corrupt authorities… What happened in Al-Nabatieh, Tyre and central Beirut can be described in only one way: as the ugliest sort of brutality…
“I am personally acquainted with Mr. Hassan Nasrallah. I have known him for a long time and I know his heart and mind. I know how he is [often] hard with himself and his family for the sake of [pursuing] a just cause. I know how often he has restrained himself and remained silent in the face of grave transgressions, just in order to protect the resistance… I know he knows the meaning of manliness, nobility of spirit, and human dignity. I know how much he feels for every child, man and woman, every father and mother, and therefore I ask him: Is it possible that you, [Hassan Nasrallah], will not take the initiative to stop this ongoing injustice your brothers are suffering just because they expressed an opinion that contravenes that of the leader and his associates?
“Let us be clear and honest. The Amal movement is directly and fully responsible [for what happened], from its head [Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri] to its [other] political leaders – ministers, MPs, municipal council members, security officers, clerics and [other] influential figures – as well as the thugs and the army of strongmen who acted to humiliate people and punish them just because they were protesting the [poor] performance of the government, of which Amal forms a sizable part…
“Every [incident in which a] resident of Beirut, South [Lebanon] or the Beqaa Valley was humiliated or pressured in order to prevent him from voicing his opinion, changing his opinion, or leaving his home [and taking to the street] is a barbaric incident that blackens the face of its perpetrators. The offenders must be punished, along with those who are behind their acts of brutality. This demand is no less important than the demands of the poor for a country where justice prevails.”[2]
Lebanese Journalist To Nasrallah In Al-Akhbar Article: Hizbullah Has Ignored The Government’s Corruption; Your Statements Enraged Many Hizbullah Supporters Who Identify With The Protests
Two days later, on November 1, 2019, Al-Akhbar published an article by journalist Maher Abi Nader. After professing support for the resistance and admiration for Nasrallah, he addressed Nasrallah and pointedly accused Hizbullah of turning a blind eye to the corruption of the government in return for the government’s disregard of its weapons. He also condemned the Amal and Hizbullah activists’ “barbaric repression” of demonstrators, and rejected Nasrallah’s doubts regarding the authenticity of the protest, stating that it is a sincere outpouring of frustration by Lebanon’s poor, some of whom are Hizbullah supporters and deserve its sympathy, rather than its hostility.
Abi Nader wrote: “Like you, I was born and grew up in the Al-Nab’a neighborhood, part of the belt of poverty that surrounded Beirut before and after the civil war. Despite the ideological disagreements between us, I, like you, espouse the idea of opposing injustice, oppression, poverty and occupation. I regard you as a leader the likes of which the Lebanese people and Arab nation did not manage to produce for many long decades. I address you with love and appreciation, in a clear and sincere manner.
“First, honorable Sayyed [an honorific title denoting people accepted as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad], I would like to say that the so-called ‘presidential’ arrangement [i.e., the agreement reached in 2016 and implemented until recently, according to which Michel ‘Aoun became president and Sa’d Al-Hariri prime minister], did the resistance a grave injustice. [This agreement] granted the presidency to [Hizbullah’s] ally Gen. Michel ‘Aoun, and the role of prime minister to Sheikh Sa’d Al-Hariri. But the secret part of the arrangement was [an understanding that] the resistance [i.e., Hizbullah] would turn a blind eye to the government’s economic and fiscal policy – namely to the systematic corruption that prevails in the country – and in return, [the government] would ignore the weapons of the resistance and officially legitimize their existence. The first injustice here is the treatment of the weapons of the resistance as weapons of a group, party or sect, rather than as weapons of the homeland… The second injustice is that [the arrangement] transforms the resistance into a guardian of the bastion of corruption and all its components, whether voluntarily or by force of circumstance…
“Honorable Sayyed [Nasrallah], under this ‘presidential’ arrangement, which did the resistance an injustice, you were forced to accept a government whose makeup you could not tolerate… and an economic and fiscal policy [that drove] the country towards the abyss of poverty, hunger, want, unemployment and bankruptcy, until the situation became unbearable… The straw that broke the camel’s back was the decision of the media minister, which was also endorsed by the ministers of the resistance within the government, to tax WhatsApp calls, a free service that is based abroad and which the Lebanese state has no right to tax. This drove the public to take to the streets, regardless of religion, sect or party, [chanting] slogans unprecedented in Lebanon’s history…
“Between [the time of] your first speech after the outbreak of the protests and your second speech, the people’s demands did not change, nor did their pain and hunger. But your position towards the protest movement did change. I agree with you that certain elements and embassies tried to forcefully infiltrate the protest and derail it from its course… but they did not succeed.
“Sayyed [Nasrallah], the calls heard [at the protests] against you and against the resistance were voiced by a small group of demonstrators… a group that represents [forces] that were your partners in the government and your allies in the professional syndicate elections… Resistance members started reacting to this small group… by barbarically and violently repressing protesters in Al-Nabatieh and Tyre, which are strongholds of the resistance, causing some people – including former resistance fighters – to be injured, wounded or imprisoned. Later, dozens of unknown individuals on motorcycles stormed the main center of protests [in Al-Nabatieh and Tyre], waving Hizbullah and Amal flags. [They] also raided the protesters in [Beirut’s] Riad Al-Solh Square, calling out slogans [of support] for you.
“Your latest speech, Sayyed [Nasrallah], enraged people who support, love and cultivate the resistance. These supporters of the resistance [simply] do not want it to become the one that defends the bastion of corruption from its [i.e., the resistance’s] own support base, [namely from] poor people [who live in every part of Lebanon], from the tip of the north Beqaa Valley to the southernmost tip [of Lebanon], including in the Dahia [Hizbullah’s stronghold in Beirut], some of whose areas have become hotbeds of want and poverty. These [Hizbullah supporters] do not regard these mass protests as the product of [foreign] embassies that hatched a plot against the resistance, [as you claim].
“Oh Sayyed [Nasrallah], these people want to hear an apology for the gravely mistaken [actions] committed by certain elements against the resistance and its supporters and public, and against the demonstrators. Those who dared to place the resistance in conflict with its [own] people… by means of their brutal behavior at the scenes of the protest, [behavior] that does not befit the resistance members and their upbringing and culture, must be severely punished. Honorable Sayyed [Nasrallah],… just as the resistance is a natural outcome of the occupation, the popular protest, belated though it may be, is a natural outcome of the injustice, oppression, corruption and thievery. I call upon you to return the resistance to the bosom of the people and to its natural [position] of solidarity with the pain, the hunger and the outcry of the people…”[3]
Al-Akhbar Journalists Resign Over Its Hostile Coverage Of The Protests
However, despite his criticism, Al-Akhbar editor Ibrahim Al-Amin ultimately maintained his support for Hizbullah and its positions. Apart from the two critical articles quoted above, the daily’s articles and reports continued to claim that the protests had been politicized and were controlled by foreign elements seeking to harm Lebanon and especially Hizbullah. As a result, five of the daily’s journalists resigned over what they called the daily’s slanted and hostile coverage of the protests.
The first to resign was Al-Akhbar’s culture reporter Joy Slim. In an October 29 Facebook post, she clarified the reason for her decision, lashing out at the daily for its position on the protests and even holding it responsible for the violent attacks on protesters by Hizbullah and Amal activists. She wrote: “Today I resigned from the Al-Akhbar daily after working there for five and a half years. The past few days were decisive for me. I gave up hope that the paper’s coverage of the uprising [would change]. For months, or even years, it kept explaining why [such a protest] must break out; but the minute it did, it rushed to join the counter-uprising and even advanced conspiratorial and inciting rumors that contributed to [prompting] the recent attacks on protesters in the streets by ‘residents,’ as Al-Akhbar called them on its Facebook page. The paper’s stance on the protests, and the way it covered them in the days after they broke out, was almost scandalous, in my opinion. The paper bears partial responsibility for every drop of protesters’ blood spilled by [those] ‘residents,’ supporters of the ruling parties [Hizbullah and Amal].”
Slim added: “This resignation comes at a difficult time for me, personally, but I nevertheless decided to take a leap into the unknown… rather than stay in a [work]place I felt had betrayed the people at the most crucial moment, myself among them…”[4]
Three days later, on November 3, Mohammad Zbeeb, the head of the daily’s economic section, resigned as well. He tweeted: “In order to remove any doubt, [let me clarify that] I resigned from the Al-Akhbar daily… in protest of its stance towards the uprising.”[5]
The other three reporters resigned On November 5. Sabah ‘Ayoub, who had been with the paper since its inception and had served as its deputy editor, its opinion section editor, and most recently as the head of its website team, tweeted: “I resigned from Al-Akhbar for a number of reasons, chief among them its coverage of the October 17 uprising.”[6] Viviane ‘Akiki, who worked in the paper’s economic section, tweeted: “I resigned from Al-Akhbar for professional reasons related to its coverage of the popular uprising, as well as other reasons having to do with its professional performance, which were never addressed…”[7] Muhammad Al-Jannoun tweeted: “I hereby announce that I have stopped writing in Al-Akhbar, because it does not recognize the legitimate right to [hold] the popular protests [of] the October 17 revolution. I thank the daily for the opportunity it gave me for five years, [but] it is inconceivable that freedom of the press should be influenced by politics or affiliation.”[8]
As stated, a fortnight later, two reporters from the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen channel, which is likewise affiliated with Hizbullah, resigned as well. The first to resign was senior journalist Samy Kleyb, who was among the channels’ founders and is known as a supporter of the Syrian regime, Hizbullah and its allies. He tweeted on November 22: “I resigned from Al-Mayadeen today, prompted by my positions, beliefs and conscience. I wish them ongoing progress and success.”[9] Although Kleyb did not specify the reasons for his resignation, some speculated that, like in the case of the Al-Akhbar journalists, the reason was the channel’s hostile coverage of the protests.”[10] Two days later, journalist Lina Zahredine, who had been with the channel for eight years, announced her resignation, writing: “Due to the historic moments were are experiencing, I found it necessary to resign from Al-Mayadeen. I wish the channel longevity and our peoples [the Arab peoples] a better future…”[11] Her resignation too was seen in the Lebanese press as an act of protest over the channel’s coverage of the current events in Lebanon.[12]
*H. Varulkar is director of research at MEMRI; C. Jacob is a research fellow at MEMRI.
[1] For more on Hizbullah’s hostility to the protests and the reasons behind it, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No.1492, Lebanese Protests Place Hizbullah In A Bind – Part I: Hizbullah’s Hostility To The Protests And The Reasons Behind It, December 3, 2019.
[2] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), October 30, 2019.
[3] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), November 1, 2019.
[4] Facebook.com, joy.slim.18, October 29, 2019.
[5] Twitter.com/mzbeeb/status, November 3, 2019.
[6] Twitter.com/sabahayoub, November 5, 2019.
[7] Twitter.com/vivianeakiki, November 5, 2019.
[8] Twitter.com/mhdJannoun, November 5, 2019.
[9] Twitter.com/samykleyb, November 22, 2019.
[10] Independentarabia.com, janoubia.com, almodon.com, October 24, 2019.
[11] Facebook.com/LinaZahredine, October 24, 2019.
[12] Independentarabia.com, janoubia.com, almodon.com, October 24, 2019.
https://www.memri.org/reports/lebanese-protests-place-hizbullah-bind-%E2%80%93-part-ii-hizbullahs-position-protests-evokes

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 04 كانون الأول/2019

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