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فارس خشّان: حزب الله يعلنها حربا على الثوّار

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“حزب الله” يعلنها حربا على الثوّار
فارس خشّان/الحرة/06 كانون الأول/2019

“حزب الله” يتصرّف في هذه المرحلة، كما لو أنه يخوض حربا جديدة.
لا مبالغة في هذا الاستنتاج، فهو وليد كلام واضح نطق به الحزب على لسان رئيس كتلته النيابية محمد رعد الذي قال بالحرف: “ما نحن بصدد مواجهته، من هذا الوجه من الحرب الناعمة، يوازي حرب تموز (يوليو) 2006.

لاحظوا كم هي المسألة كبيرة بأبعادها وأهدافها ونتائجها، لكن كما انتصرنا في تموز سننتصر الآن في هذه الحرب”.

كلام رعد خطر للغاية، فهو ينظر إلى الجزء الثائر من الشعب اللبناني، على قاعدة أنه آلة حرب، وإلى جميع من يدعم هؤلاء الثوار ويريد الاستجابة لمطالبهم، على قاعدة أنهم رعاة هذه الحرب.

وإذا كان “حزب الله”، من هذا المنطلق، يطمح إلى تسجيل انتصار، فهذا يفيد بأنه يضع كل ما يملك من طاقات لإلحاق هزيمة ساحقة بثوار لبنان وبكل من يتفاعل إيجابا معهم.

بالنسبة لـ”حزب الله”، فإنّ رفاهيته وقوته ودوره كلها مرتبطة بإيران
ولكن، ماذا يقصد “حزب الله” بالانتصار؟

ببساطة، هو يريد أن يعود إلى المعادلة السياسية التي كانت عليها الحال قبل انطلاق الثورة في 17 أكتوبر الماضي، أي ترسيخ وضعية ميشال عون في رئاسة الجمهورية، والحيلولة دون إجراء انتخابات نيابية مبكرة، وتشكيل حكومة جديدة تستنسخ، بمعادلاتها، تلك التي خسر معركة منعها من الاستقالة.

وما كان “حزب الله” ينفيه، لا يتردد حاليا في تأكيده وتقديم الأدلة على صحته، فالمعادلة السياسية السابقة لـ 17 أكتوبر رسّخته متحكّما بالقرار اللبناني، في مقابل توزيع المغانم على كل من عاونه في ذلك.

ولهذا السبب، فإن المطالب الشعبية الرامية إلى إلغاء هذه المعادلة والمطالبة بخروج مكوّناتها تباعا من السلطتين التنفيذية فالتشريعية، يعتبرها “حزب الله” حربا عليه وعلى حكمه وعلى نفوذه وعلى تفوّقه، وتاليا فهو يتعامل مع الثوّار على قاعدة العداء، حتى ولو اضطر بين الحين والآخر، على أساس محاولات الاستيعاب، إلى وضع بعض السكر على لسانه المر.

وانطلاقا من ذلك، يمكن فهم التركيبة الحكومية التي يعمل “حزب الله” وملحقته “حركة أمل” على تشكيلها، عبر “ثنائي التفاوض” المشكل من حسين خليل، المعاون السياسي للأمين العام للحزب وعلي حسن خليل، المعاون السياسي لرئيس “حركة أمل” الذي هو في آن رئيس مجلس النواب.

يهدف “الخليلان” ـ وهو اللقب الذي يطلقه عليهما اللبنانيون ـ إلى إقناع أهم مكوّنات الحكومة المستقيلة بالعودة، بطريقة أو بأخرى، إلى الحكومة الجديدة. بطبيعة الحال، لا يعانيان أي مشكلة مع فريق رئيس الجمهورية حيث يبرز صهره جبران باسيل الذي يخشى أن ينهار كل ما قدمه من أجل وراثة كرسي “عمّه” في القصر الجمهوري.

ولكن “الخليلين” وجدا عقبات لدى رئيس الحكومة المستقيل سعد الحريري كما لدى رئيس “الحزب التقدمي الاشتراكي” وليد جنبلاط، من دون أن يبذلا أي جهد لإزالة “المستحيلات” المعلنة عند رئيس “حزب القوات اللبنانية” سمير جعجع أو رئيس “حزب الكتائب اللبنانية” سامي الجميّل. كلام رعد خطر للغاية، فهو ينظر إلى الجزء الثائر من الشعب اللبناني، على قاعدة أنه آلة حرب ونجحت “الترسانة” التي يتوسلها “الخليلان” في “الإقناع” بنزع تنازلين من الحريري وجنبلاط، فهما قررا تسهيل مهمتهما، من خلال الموافقة على تسمية “رئيس الحكومة البديل” والمشاركة في الحكومة من خلال وزراء اختصاصيين غير حزبيين.

ومن شأن نجاح “الخليلين” ومعهما رئاسة الجمهورية في تشكيل حكومة بهذه المعادلات أن تضعف المعارضة السياسية المرتقبة، بعدما انقسم ظهرها، فجعجع سيجد نفسه إلى جانب “حليف” لا يربطه الود به بل التنافس، وهو سامي الجميل، وبعيدا من حليفين يريد أن تربطه بهما المصالح السياسية والوطنية، وهما الحريري وجنبلاط.

كما أن تكلل نجاح الخليلين “الدفتري” عبر تسجيله في منظومة المؤسسات، من شأنه أن يلحق هزيمة كبيرة بالثوار وبكل من دعمهم، ذلك أنّ من أخرجوهم من الباب عادوا إليهم من النافذة.

ولكن هل يمكن اعتبار الانتصار الذي ينشده “حزب الله” انتصارا فعليا؟
من وجهة نظر الحزب الاستراتيجية هو انتصار كامل، فمهمته أن يبقى متسيّدا على الساحة اللبنانية، حتى يتمكن من إبقائها جزئية فاعلة لمصلحة “الأجندة الإيرانية”.

ولم يعد خافيا على أحد أن “حزب الله” لا ينظر إلى لبنان على قاعدة أنه بلد قائم بنفسه، بل على أساس أنه جزء لا يتجزأ من المدى الاستراتيجي الإيراني.

بالنسبة لـ”حزب الله”، فإنّ رفاهيته وقوته ودوره كلها مرتبطة بإيران، فإذا سمح للشعب، الذي يقدم مصلحته على أي مصلحة أخرى، بتحقيق أهدافه، فهذا يعني أن قدرته على أخذ لبنان إلى حيث تتطلب المصلحة الإيرانية، سيصيبها الوهن، وتاليا فأهميته ستتراجع والامتيازات التي يحصل عليها ستتقهقر.

وهذا الاختلاف العميق في “الأجندات” بين ثوّار لبنان الذين يحوزون على تأييد غالبية الرأي العام، من جهة و”حزب الله” الذي يملك القوة وما يرافقها من استعدادات وأوهام من جهة أخرى، وضعهما في جهتين متقابلتين، وسمح لمحمد رعد بإعلان الحرب.

إن انتصار “حزب الله” في هذه الحرب ـ وهذا غير مستبعد إذا لم يزخم الشعب ثورته ـ ستكون له نتائج كارثية أعنف بكثير من تلك التي يعيشها اللبنانيون حاليا، لأنه يدخل لبنان نهائيا في “محور الجوع” المشكل من سوريا والعراق وإيران واليمن وفنزويلا وغيرها.

ولن يجد لبنان المنضوي نهائيا في “محور الجوع” من يقف إلى جانبه، فالاستجابة لتطلعات الشعب الثائر فتح باب الأمل في جذب المساعدات على قاعدة الإصلاحات وعلى قاعدة الاهتمام بالذات الوطنية.

قبيل الثورة، وفي ختام زيارته الأخيرة للبنان، تحدث السفير الفرنسي المكلف متابعة مؤتمر “سيدر” بيار دوكين عن عجز الطبقة الحاكمة وقال: “لا يمكن أن نجد مؤشرا اقتصاديا وماليا واحدا ليس سيئا”.

إن انتصار “حزب الله” في هذه الحرب ستكون له نتائج كارثية
وبعد مرور أسابيع على انطلاق الثورة، قال نائب وزير الخارجية الأميركي لشؤون الشرق الأدنى جوي هود، وذلك بعد أيام قليلة على انعقاد اجتماع في باريس ضم مسؤولين فرنسيين وبريطانيين وأميركيين، للبحث في الوضع اللبناني: “إنّ هناك أكثر من 11 مليار دولار تنتظر، ولكن لا توجد حكومة غربية مستعدة لإنقاذ لبنان إذا لم يستوعب السياسيون رسالة الشارع”.

وهذه المرة الأولى التي تعصف فيها مشاكل تصل بلبنان إلى حافة الجوع، ونجد الدول الخليجية عموما والمملكة العربية السعودية خصوصا، صامتة صمتا كاملا، كأنها لا ترى ولا تسمع.

وتفيد المعلومات أن باريس فاتحت الرياض وأبوظبي بإمكان تقديم مساعدة عاجلة للبنان، فجاءها الجواب: “إذا تشكلت حكومة، كما يريدها الشارع اللبناني، فنحن جاهزون.

في حال حدوث العكس، فلسنا معنيين”.
إذن، “حزب الله” أعلنها حربا فإذا انتصر فليس لديه ما يقدمه للبنانيين إلا المزيد من التعثر والفقر والجوع وإقفال كوّة الأمل.

The post فارس خشّان: حزب الله يعلنها حربا على الثوّار appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 07/2019

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Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 07/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for December 07/2019

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

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The post Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 07/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 06- 07/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 51th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 06- 07/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 51th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 07/2019

Tites For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 06-07/2019
Paris to Hold Lebanon Support Meeting on Wednesday
Report: Street Protests Expected Sunday ahead of Consultations to Name PM
Aoun meets delegation of international financial and investment institutions, says cabinet formation will help implementation of CEDRE
Aoun Says Govt. Formation Helps Unlock CEDRE Funds
Report: Parties Putting the ‘Finishing Touches’ on Form of Govt.
Mashnouq to Boycott Consultations, Hajjar Says Mustaqbal to Vote for Khatib
Wahhab Says PM Candidates ‘May Change before Monday
Khatib in ‘Very Good Health’, His Office Says
Bassil Warns Europe against ‘Chaos’ in Lebanon
Bassil from Rome: I ask of you to help Lebanon cast off those who interfere in its affairs
Rome 2019 MED Dialogues: UfM steps up regional action to tackle water scarcity
Al-Rahi: Embassies Facilitating Emigration to Empty Lebanon of Its People, Christians
Over 60 Companies Notify Ministry of Plans to Lay Off Employees
Paris to Convene Lebanon Support Meeting as Hariri Requests Aid for Imports
Lebanon: Depositors Highly Anxious Due to Banks’ Recent Measures
Lebanon appeals for import aid; France to hold meetin
Lebanon caretaker PM Hariri sends aid appeal to ‘friendly’ states before meeting

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 06-07/2019
Paris to Hold Lebanon Support Meeting on Wednesday
Naharnet/December 06/2019
France intends to hold a Paris meeting Wednesday for the International Support Group for Lebanon to help the country cope with its dire economic crisis, media reports said. A European official confirmed that invitations to the meeting have been sent out. A Lebanese official meanwhile said that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expected to be invited to the meeting. President Michel Aoun is scheduled to hold binding consultations with parliamentary blocs on Monday with the aim of naming a new premier. Saad Hariri had tendered his government’s resignation on October 29, bowing to pressure from unprecedented street protests against corruption and economic hardships.

Report: Street Protests Expected Sunday ahead of Consultations to Name PM

Naharnet/December 06/2019
Despite reports that political parties have neared a consensus on supporting Samir Khatib for the post of PM-designate, “cautious anticipation” prevails as protests gear for mass rallies against that nomination Sunday, one day before the binding consultations. President Michel Aoun is expected to initiate the binding parliamentary consultations to name a premier on Monday, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday. Ministerial sources told the daily that no activity or contacts between political parties was recorded on Thursday regarding the formation of the government. “Scheduling the consultations for Monday instead of holding them earlier, Thursday or Friday, remains a shady issue,” said the sources. Despite “positives” on the course of government formation, ministerial sources fear that the time span extending until Monday is open to unexpected negatives, that would complicate matters further if it were to happen. Activists have called for a massive protest on Sunday ahead of consultations to protest the nomination of Khatib. The Presidency on Wednesday announced that the binding parliamentary consultations to name a PM-designate will be held on Monday. Saad Hariri had tendered his government’s resignation on October 29, bowing to pressure from massive and unprecedented popular protests that erupted on October 17. Aoun refrained from calling for immediate consultations to name a replacement, arguing that prior consensus was needed on the shape of the new government amid the extraordinary situations in the country. Protesters had demanded the formation of an independent technocrat government but media reports have said that the ruling political forces have agreed to form a techno-political cabinet led by prominent contractor Samir Khatib.

Aoun meets delegation of international financial and investment institutions, says cabinet formation will help implementation of CEDRE

NNA/December 06/2019
President Michel Aoun on Friday reassured a delegation of British financial and investment institutions and US Morgan Stanley Bank, headed by Ralph Raheb, that addressing the economic and financial conditions will be a priority of the new Government, once formed. The President pointed out that “The previous Government had achieved an economic vision within the plan to promote the Lebanese economy, and convert it from rentier to productive”. “The Process of oil and gas exploration will begin this January, which will put Lebanon among oil and gas producing countries, at the start of extraction operations” President Aoun said. President Aoun told the delegation that binding Parliamentary consultations will be held next Monday, followed by the formation of the new Government. “This will help the friends of Lebanon to complete the course of the “Cedar” Conference, and launch the developmental projects decided upon” the President added. The President also explained the financial and monetary measures adopted at the last financial meeting, held in Baabda Palace, stressing that “These are temporary measures imposed by the current financial conditions in the country”. The delegation included officials from: Morgan Stanley, CEE, Lazard, Willington, Alliance Bernstein, Blue Crest, Eaton Vance and BFAM. President Aoun then received the President of the Antonine University, Father Michel Galkh, accompanied by a delegation from the University, including: Secretary General, Father Tawfiq Maatouk, Executive Vice President, Dr. Pascal Lahoud, Dean of the Faculty of Administration, Dr. Elie Assaf, and Director of the Alumni Office, Father Charbel Ghanem. The delegation discussed the educational situation in general and the university’s education in particular, in addition to the repercussions which occurred as a result of the ongoing developments, since last October. During the meeting, Father Galkh issued an invitation to President Aoun to attend the Christmas campaign, held annually at the university. The President also received today former MP, Hassan Yaacoub, and discussed with him the current situation in the country. The President of the Republic also met Mr. Naji Khoury, Coordinator of “Dialogue and Bridges” Group.–Presidency Press Office

Aoun Says Govt. Formation Helps Unlock CEDRE Funds

Associated Press/Naharnet/December 06/2019
President Michel Aoun on Friday said that the stern financial measures taken in the country are “temporary because of the current financial conditions.” Aoun, who spoke during a meeting with international investment bankers, said that dealing with the economic and financial crisis will be the priority of the new government once it’s formed. He added that offshore exploration for oil and gas will begin in January and would boost the country’s credentials. Aoun has called for binding consultations with heads of parliamentary blocs to name a new prime minister on Monday. He added that the formation of a new Cabinet would help friendly countries release $11 billion in loans and grants made by international donors at the CEDRE conference in Paris last year.’

Report: Parties Putting the ‘Finishing Touches’ on Form of Govt.

Naharnet/December 06/2019
Amid reports that a breakthrough has been made on the formation of a new Lebanese government, parties still have to decide whether it will be composed of 18 or 24 ministers and whether figures of the previous government are set to take seats in the new cabinet, the Saudi Ashaq al-Awsat reported on Friday.
Ministerial sources close to President Michel Aoun told the daily that parties are putting the “finishing touches on the form of the new government, but the sovereign portfolios could be distributed differently. The cabinet could either be formed of 18 or 24 ministers,” they said. They added saying that around four ministers from the resigned government will be given ministerial seats in the new cabinet, including Nada al-Bustani of the Free Patriotic Movement, Salim Jreissati of the President’s quota, Ali Hassan Khalil of AMAL party and Mohammed Fnesih of Hizbullah. “Al-Mustaqbal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party are to name non-political figures to represent them,” according to the source. With regard to the dispute over the ministries of interior and foreign affairs, and the insistence of Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil to get the first, the sources pointed to Asharq al-Awsat that “discussion is still underway in this framework,” but noted that the sovereign ministries are likely to remain with the same political parties.

Mashnouq to Boycott Consultations, Hajjar Says Mustaqbal to Vote for Khatib
Naharnet/December 06/2019
Ex-interior minister and Beirut MP Nouhad al-Mashnouq on Friday announced that he will boycott the binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier scheduled for Monday. In a tweet, Mashnouq, once a member of al-Mustaqbal bloc, said his decision comes out of “respect for the will of the capital’s residents” following “the statement that was issued by the Union of the Associations of Beiruti Families.” The statement accused President Michel Aoun and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil of seeking to impose the candidate Samir Khatib on parliament prior to the binding consultations.
“They have bypassed the Taef constitution,” they charged. MP Mohammed al-Hajjar meanwhile told al-Jadeed TV that his Mustaqbal bloc is “committed” to voting for Khatib in the consultations.

Wahhab Says PM Candidates ‘May Change before Monday’
Naharnet/December 06/2019
Ex-minister Wiam Wahhab on Friday said that a new premiership candidate might emerge prior to Monday’s binding parliamentary consultations, suggesting that international and domestic forces might push for a nominee other than Samir Khatib. “Lebanon is betting on (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron’s support to halt the financial and economic collapse and the Paris meeting may prompt a change in the premiership candidates before Monday,” Wahhab, who is close to Hizbullah, tweeted.Khatib has so far emerged as the leading candidate to lead the new government, after consensus was reached among the ruling coalition’s main parties. Media reports have said France intends to hold a meeting Wednesday for the International Support Group for Lebanon to help the country cope with its dire economic crisis. A European official confirmed that invitations to the meeting have been sent out. A Lebanese official meanwhile said that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expected to be invited to the meeting.

Khatib in ‘Very Good Health’, His Office Says

Naharnet/December 06/2019
The leading candidate for the post of PM-designate, Samir Khatib, is in “very good health,” his office said on Friday. “Some media outlets published a report about Engineer Khatib’s health, following a series of rumors in this regard that involved insulting and false information which are totally baseless,” the office said in a statement. “Engineer Khatib would like to stress that the aforementioned report — like the rest of the rumors — is false,” the office added. “To whom it may concern: he is in very good health,” it said. Consultations to name a PM-designate will be held Monday, the Presidency has announced, more than a month after a wave of protests led outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri to resign. Khatib is a businessman who is less widely known than most former prime ministers and has no experience in politics. Protesters have demanded the wholesale removal of the current political class and have insisted on a government dominated by technocrats.

Bassil Warns Europe against ‘Chaos’ in Lebanon

Naharnet/December 06/2019
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Friday warned Europe that chaos in Lebanon would create repercussions similar to those of the Syrian crisis, such as extremism and a refugee influx towards Europe. “Chaos in Lebanon – which some foreign forces are plotting – will have a similar outcome as that of the Syrian crisis: the country’s ruin, the destruction of its institutions, bloodshed among its sons, roving extremism and an influx of refugees towards you,” Bassil warned in a speech in Rome during the Mediterranean Dialogues conference.“Seeking improvement or out of extremism, Lebanon’s guests (Syrian refugees) will seek to move towards you and Lebanon will not be able to stop them from carrying their problems to you,” Bassil cautioned, addressing the European countries. “Chaos in Lebanon will create a flaw in internal balances, whereas Lebanon, the country of balances, cannot withstand further flaws,” the minister added. Noting that the approach of “winners and losers” in Lebanon is “rejected and unsustainable,” Bassil emphasized that “there is no place in Lebanon for unilateralism.”Speaking during a discussion session later in the day, Bassil said “the current uprising is the only way to implement the necessary reforms, after all other means to achieve them were blocked.”Asked how the young generation is behaving in terms of the unprecedented protests that have rocked Lebanon since October 17, Bassil said the revolt is the result of the “failure of politicians and the political system.”
“People on the streets are rightful, because they took to the streets due to their pain… but some are trying to exploit the issue to achieve negative objectives and control the events but they have so far failed,” Bassil added.

Bassil from Rome: I ask of you to help Lebanon cast off those who interfere in its affairs
NNA /December 06/2019
In his speech on Friday during the opening of the fifth edition of the Euro-Mediterranean dialogue in Rome, Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Gebran Bassil, stressed Lebanon’s wish to be a bridge between the East and the West. “Lebanon, with its centered location, is at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as the Arab-Persian one, yet we want it to be a base for fair solutions,” Bassil said.
He went on to regret that regional crises and wars only bogged Lebanon down in deeper misfortunes. “Lebanon has paid the price for permanent conflicts, as well as that of Palestinian asylum and Syrian displacement,” Bassil added, shedding light on the fact that many Lebanese have lost their jobs to foreign workers.
“The prevailing chaos in Lebanon, which some abroad have prepared for, will be the ruin of the country (..).The result will be an imbalance on the internal scene, yet Lebanon does not want any more divisions,” Bassil maintained. “I ask of you today to help Lebanon cast off those who interfere in its affairs in order to give the country the opportunity to help itself to remain alive and to be an example of coexistence,” Bassil implored. “The saying goes in our country: ‘if your neighbor is fine, then you are fine’. Pay attention, because our eastern Mediterranean is not fine and has many problems. Building peace only happens through dialogue and development,” Bassil concluded. The Caretaker Foreign Minister arrived in Rome on Friday to partake in the inauguration of the fifth edition of the Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue. Bassil kicked off his Rome visit by meeting with Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio, with whom he discussed Lebanese-Italian bilateral relations. The pair agreed on the need strengthen ties between both countries in all fields, especially on the economic level whilst facing the dire financial and economic crisis that Lebanon currently endures. Later during the day, and on the sidelines of the Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue Conference, Bassil held a series of talks with a number of foreign ministers, including Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt اavusoglu. Talks between both men reportedly touched on the overall situation in Lebanon and the Middle East region, as well as on the impact of the conflicts taking place in the region on both countries. Means of bolstering regional cooperation to confront the Syrian refugee crisis also featured high between the pair.It is to note that Bassil’s participation in the Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue Conference affirms Lebanon’s role in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, which tackles common issues, most notably environmental and economic cooperation, confronting immigration and unemployment problems among the youth, the role of women, development prospects, and popularizing a culture of peace among Mediterranean countries. In more than one of his meetings in Rome, Bassil stressed the need to establish a Palestinian state and to hold a Saudi-Iranian dialogue.

Rome 2019 MED Dialogues: UfM steps up regional action to tackle water scarcity

NNA /December 06/2019
The UfM is participating in the MED – Mediterranean Dialogues in Rome by holding its 1st Annual Conference on Water Investment and Financing, as part of the UfM Water agenda & Financial Strategy. The main goal of the conference, as presented by the UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, during his intervention, is “to push the boundaries of traditional thinking about water investments by discussing evidence-based knowledge on opportunities to facilitate new forms of financing and enhance the sustainability of the sector”.
The conference highlighted the necessity of water cooperation for regional security in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The session discussed and examined appropriate options for blending different sources of financing among the stakeholders, international organisations and new forms of Public-Private Partnership. The UfM Secretariat is determined to pave the road for a stronger role for the private actors in the water sector, as this is a cornerstone for sustainable financing. This includes supporting Governments in developing a long-term vision on how to involve the private sector, with the necessary policy-reforms to insure guarantees in delivering such a vital service and resource. The UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, stated: “The Mediterranean region is facing major environmental issues and dealing with water security is of utmost importance. A stronger role of the private sector is key to achieve the financial sustainability of such a vital sector. Its involvement, together with public institutions, will strengthen the action undertaken by the UfM to cope with these challenges.”
Water-related challenges by 2050 are projected to lower the MENA-region’s GDP by 6-14%, if a do-nothing approach is pursued, as predicted by the World Bank, as large volumes of water are lost due to inappropriate techniques or outdated infrastructure. The Mediterranean region holds only 3% of the global water resources and these can decrease by 15% if nothing is changed in current policies. 250 million people are projected to be considered water-poor by 2025.
The UfM Water Agenda seeks to enhance regional cooperation towards sustainable and integrated water management in the UfM region. Its Financial Strategy is conceived to close the funding gap for water management and facilitate increased financing of investments for improved access to water; protection against the risk of droughts, floods or polluted water; and sustainable growth in the region. The strategy sets 10 common strategic objectives and a menu of 48 actions that individual countries are expected to prioritize and implement according to their individual circumstances, priorities and capacities. The Strategy foresees a series of national training workshops as well as regional activities, including an annual regional conference on water investment and finance.
This 1st UfM Annual Conference on Water Investment and Financing focused on the role of the public-private partnerships (PPP), is part of the nine Forums held on specific topics in the fifth edition of the MED – Mediterranean Dialogues Conference. It was organised by the Union for the Mediterranean in partnership with the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, the Global Water Partnership, the ‘Making Water Cooperation Happen in the Mediterranean’ project as well as the EU Delegation in Cairo, with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The full list of speakers is available here. The Secretary General will pronounce keynote speeches during the MED Dialogue days on the “Geopolitical side of Climate Change: Resource Scarcity and Conflicts” and the “Euro-Med Cooperation in view of the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration”. He is accompanied by Deputy Secretary General Isidro Gonzalez, in charge of Water, Environment and Blue Economy; Deputy Secretary General Grammenos Mastrojeni, in charge of Energy and Climate Action; and UfM Water Managing Director, Almotaz Abadi. Is to note that to further pursue its work on climate action, the UfM will be co-organising three side-events at the COP25.-UfM

Al-Rahi: Embassies Facilitating Emigration to Empty Lebanon of Its People, Christians
Naharnet/December 06/2019
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Friday warned that “some embassies” are facilitating emigration for Lebanese citizens in order to “empty Lebanon of its people and Christians.”Addressing the “young men and women of the civil protest movement,” al-Rahi warned them that “some embassies, which I will not name now, are facilitating the issue of emigration, as if it is a second war to empty Lebanon of its people and Christians.”“Young men and women, you have to remain resilient throughout this plight, the same as our grandfathers and ancestors did during the crises that Lebanon faced throughout history, so that we preserve Lebanon and restore it,” al-Rahi added. “You are rightful when you dream of a country that offers you security, peace and the simplest rights, but you have to show patience and endurance until this black cloud passes,” the patriarch went on to say. Al-Rahi also said that he is praying for “all the young men and women of the civil protest movement,” especially those who “are struggling night and day, as happened two days ago, when the youths organized a sit-in after three citizens committed suicide over the financial situations.” “These youths have one demand: a government that can achieve Lebanon’s rise and recover its role and message,” the patriarch went on to say.

Over 60 Companies Notify Ministry of Plans to Lay Off Employees

Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 06/2019
In the span of one week, over 60 companies notified the labor ministry of plans to lay off employees, caretaker minister Camille Abu Suleiman told LBCI television on Friday. The union of restaurant and bar owners has recently said that 265 establishments have closed since the protests began in early October, and warned that this figure could rise to 465 by the end of the year. The World Bank has warned of an impending recession that may see the proportion of people living in poverty climb from a third to half the population. Unemployment, already above 30 percent for young people, would also increase, it has said. Since October 17, Lebanon has been rocked by anti-government protests that triggered a protracted lockdown and prompted the cabinet to resign. Political paralysis amid the ongoing demonstrations has aggravated a dollar liquidity crisis that since September has seen banks limit dollar withdrawals and transfers. With banks failing to provide sufficient dollars, the greenback is selling for more than 2,000 Lebanese pounds on the parallel market for the first time since it was officially pegged at 1,507 in 1997.  Several sectors have struggled to obtain hard currency for imports, with banks capping dollar withdrawals at $500 a week and sometimes less.

Paris to Convene Lebanon Support Meeting as Hariri Requests Aid for Imports
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 6 December, 2019
France plans to convene a meeting of an international support group for Lebanon next week to mobilize assistance for the country, a Lebanese government official said, as caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri requested aid to help the country secure imports of food and raw materials.A European official said invitations had been sent out for the Dec. 11 meeting in Paris. “It is a meeting to attempt to mobilize assistance to help Lebanon deal with the acute crisis that it is facing,” the Lebanese official said. The official spoke to Reuters as a statement from Hariri’s office said that the caretaker PM requested the aid from friendly countries amid an acute dollar shortage. Hariri “asked them to assist Lebanon by securing credits for imports from these countries, thus ensuring the continuity of food security and raw materials for production in various sectors,” it said. The appeal for aid was sent to eight western and Arab countries. Lebanon is grappling with heavy financial strains. Banks have been imposing tight controls on access to hard currency and transfers abroad for more than a month, fearing capital flight. The crisis has worsened since Oct. 17, when nationwide protests against years of corruption and mismanagement erupted, leading to the resignation of Hariri’s government two weeks later. Lebanon imports most of its basic needs, including wheat, petrol and medicine, leading to a huge trade deficit. Importers have been facing difficulties in getting US dollars to cover imports as the local currency, which has been pegged to the dollar since 1997, lost 40 percent of its value on the black market.

Lebanon: Depositors Highly Anxious Due to Banks’ Recent Measures
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 6 December, 2019
Despite official statements by Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) and the Association of Lebanese Banks, depositors’ anxiety is mounting amid strict measures adopted by banks on capitals and withdrawals. Congestion of cars parked randomly near bank branches across the country and the presence of the security guards and police officers at the entrances are all signs of mounting tension. Inside the bank, depositors wait in lines for their turn. A retired soldier stands behind 85 people before receiving a portion of his salary as permitted by the bank’s procedures. An employee whispers to her friend, telling her to withdraw all the money she has the right to receive, even if she does not need it. “Why?” The friend asks. “Don’t ask. I don’t know. We follow the instructions and we have no right to understand the reasons.” But the employee stresses that there is no fear for deposits in the long term.
“This crisis will be solved,” she says. An employee of another bank, answering his phone, says that there are no dollars in the cash machine. “We are waiting for the batch to come. As soon as it arrives, you have to get the required amount because the machines are being emptied at an insane speed,” he murmurs. “People are nervous and they are making us nervous.”One of the citizens, who preferred not to wait in line and use the ATM instead, was surprised by the new restrictions on withdrawals. She told Asharq Al-Awsat that a few days ago, she was allowed to withdraw from the ATM one million LBP per day. Today, only 500,000 LBP per day and $300 per week can be withdrawn. These measures have turned the bank card into an ineffective means for the depositors. The middle and low-income Lebanese are frightened by their inability to collect their salaries. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Lawyer Ali Abbas said: “Banking procedures are illegal under the Money and Credit Law, which regulates the relationship of banks with depositors, and does not allow restrictions imposed by banks. As for the commitment of banks to circulars issued by the Association of Banks, it is also against the law, because the Association’s circulars are related to the organization of the internal work of banks, and not to regulate the relationship of banks with depositors.” “Therefore, the current measures are de facto procedures, and cannot fall within a state of emergency,” he remarked, explaining that only a governmental decree or a law by Parliament could declare an emergency state.

Lebanon appeals for import aid; France to hold meeting
BEIRUT (Reuters)/December 06/2019
Lebanon appealed to friendly states on Friday to help it import essential goods as it grapples with an acute economic crisis, and official sources said France would convene an international meeting next week to mobilize support for the country.Lebanon’s economic crisis, the worst since its 1975-90 civil war, has spiraled into a financial crunch since the eruption of protests against the ruling elite in October, leading to hard currency shortages that have impeded imports.The country has also been in a political crisis since Saad al-Hariri quit as prime minister more than five weeks ago, prompted by protests against ruling politicians over corruption. Consensus emerged this week around businessman Samir Khatib as the new premier and he is expected to be designated on Monday unless Lebanon’s volatile politics brings surprises before then. A new government is seen as a crucial step for Lebanon to chart a way out of the crisis and appeal for the help of foreign governments waiting for the new administration to take shape. Hariri, running a caretaker government, issued his appeal to Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, Turkey, the United States, China, and Egypt, seeking help to finance imports of essential goods. A statement said this was part of his efforts to address the liquidity shortage and to ensure “the continuity of food security and raw materials for production”. Capital controls – which are being enforced by commercial banks but have not been formalized by the authorities – have led some importers to slash their orders as they have been unable to source dollars at the official rate or make transfers abroad. The central bank has rationed dollars for wheat, fuel, and medicine, but buyers of these must still source 15% of the dollars, raising costs because of a slump in the Lebanese pound. The pound firmed slightly on Friday, with dollars offered at 1,930 pounds compared to 1,980 on Thursday, but was still 28% weaker than the official rate of 1,507.5 pounds, dealers said. The crisis is rooted state waste and corruption overseen by leaders using government resources for their own gain. Lebanon is one of the world’s most heavily indebted states. Lebanon won international pledges of more than $11 billion in project financing last year on condition reforms are enacted. France aims to mobilize international support at the conference which a European official and a Lebanese official said would take place in Paris on Dec. 11. The meeting will gather representatives of the International Support Group which includes the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were also expected to be invited, the Lebanese official said.
(Reporting by Tom Perry and Eric Knecht in Beirut and John Irish; Editing by Alison Williams, William Maclean)

Lebanon caretaker PM Hariri sends aid appeal to ‘friendly’ states before meeting
Al Arabiya English, Reuters/Friday, 6 December 2019
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri has sent an aid appeal to “friendly” countries in a statement from his office on Friday. Hariri appealed for aid to secure food and raw materials for Lebanon in the statement, as the country suffers from an economic crisis including a shortage of dollars. Hariri said he was directing his appeal to Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, Turkey, the United States, China, and Egypt. The appeal comes ahead of a meeting of an international support group for Lebanon, due to meet in Paris on December 11, according to Reuters.According to a Lebanese official cited by Reuters, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were expected to be invited.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 06-07/2019
Lebanon’s Crisis Hits Syrian Refugees Hard/Paula Astih/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 06/2019
Lebanese demonstrators continue protesting political and economic situations/Joanne Serrieh, Al Arabiyah English/December 06/2019
Lebanon appeals for aid to pay for imports of essential goods/Jazeera//December 07, 2019
Lebanese lawmakers to defy naming of new PM/Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 07/2019
Saad Hariri requests aid to secure Lebanon’s food imports/Sunniva Rose/The National/December 06/2019
Analysis/Hezbollah Commandos Are Back on Israel’s Border, and They’re Armed With the Element of Surprise/Amos Harel and Yaniv Kubovich/Haaretz/December 06/2019
Israeli military says Hezbollah undeterred despite recent setbacks/Associated Press/Ynetnews/December 06/2019

The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 06-07/2019
Lebanon’s Crisis Hits Syrian Refugees Hard
Paula Astih/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 06/2019
Sabah, a 45-year-old Syrian refugee who has been living in Lebanon since 2013 under dire economic conditions, laments her worsening financial situation after the eruption of anti-government protests on Oct. 17. Sabah has been supporting a family of four children by cleaning houses since her husband abandoned them. She couldn’t leave her house for 15 days after angry protesters took to Lebanon’s streets, and demand for her services declined sharply since then. She complained to Asharq AlAwsat that the landlord of her apartment in Beirut’s southern suburbs is now demanding the rent in dollars although she had been paying it in Lebanese pounds. “Knowing that it would increase the cost, I still tried to convert my pounds into dollars, but I was told that dollars are not readily available in the market.”Food inflation has perhaps had the biggest impact on Sabah and tens of thousands of other Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Sabah explains that she and her family needed $100 a week before Lebanon’s revolution, “but today, even $140 are not enough. The United Nations, which used to allocate about $27 per person a month, has not been sending us money under the pretext of bank closures”.
Like many others, the woman hopes to relocate through the UN refugee agency, but places are limited. This has pushed many others, convinced that they will not be granted refugee status, to plan their return to Syria. Adnan, 37, told Asharq Al-Awsat that he would return to Syria today if he weren’t owed money for construction work he had done. “The situation is distressing on all levels. It’s best to go back home despite the difficulty of the situation there.”Many Lebanese hold Syrian refugees responsible for the country’s deteriorating economic situation. “While there is a level of concern among displaced Syrians about the current situation in Lebanon, it is difficult at this stage to assess whether this will have a direct impact on the possible increase in the number of returnees to Syria,” said UNHCR spokeswoman Lisa Abu Khaled. A number of disputes between Lebanese citizens and displaced Syrians have been registered near ATMs. Many Lebanese complain that the refugees receive money, albeit in small amounts, from the UNHCR while they are unemployed and in need of financial assistance. However, in the northeastern border town of Arsal, which hosts more Syrian refugees than any other Lebanese town, the displaced live in relative harmony with the locals even after Lebanon’s protest movement began, as confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat by the deputy head of Arsal municipality, Rima Karnbi. She said a committee has been formed to facilitate the return of a large group of refugees from Arsal to the Syrian town of Qusair.

Lebanese demonstrators continue protesting political and economic situations
Joanne Serrieh, Al Arabiyah English/December 06/2019
Lebanon witnessed more demonstrations Friday in several regions throughout the country protesting against the political situation and the worsening economic crisis that led a number of young men to commit suicide. Lebanese protesters have blocked Minieh highway in the northern part of the country near Tripoli, according to NNA. The army has been negotiating with the protesters to re-open it after the road closure caused major traffic delays for those heading to Tripoli and others going further north to Minieh and Akkar. Overnight, protesters, who call themselves “the revolutionary wing of Sidon rising up,” put locks and metal chains on the iron gate of the South Lebanon Water Foundation in the coastal city of Sidon, NNA reported. This was in response to the foundation shutting off water supplies to several buildings and houses in the city due to late payments of outstanding bills. Workers in the country have been dealing with pay cuts due to the economic crisis in the country. Many private companies have resorted to reducing staff or slashing their pay to deal with rising inflation and liquidity crunch. For example, Journalist Benjamin Redd announced on Wednesday that workers at the Lebanese news outlet, The Daily Star, “are owed up to a half a year’s salary.” Redd was fired from his job for trying to organize a strike, he said in a tweet. Other journalists at the outlet have resigned or are on strike. In the southern town of Nabatieh, protesters staged a sit-in in front of the vehicle registration department, for the second day in a row, demanding accountability of public money looters, NNA reported. They closed the main entrance of the department and only allowed employees to enter while preventing any citizens from entering. There was a presence of internal security forces following Thursday’s clashes between protesters and those who opposed the department closure and disruption of the interests of the citizens. Demonstrators have been taking to the streets of Lebanon since October and are fueled by deep resentment for a ruling class seen as mired in corruption, which drove the economy into crisis.

Lebanon appeals for aid to pay for imports of essential goods
Jazeera/December 07, 2019
Caretaker government issues appeal to Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, Turkey, the United States, China and Egypt.
Lebanon is appealing to friendly states on Friday to help it import essential goods as it grapples with an acute economic crisis, while official sources also said France would convene an international meeting next week to mobilise support for the country. Lebanon’s economic crisis, the worst since its 1975-90 civil war, has spiralled into a financial crunch since the eruption of protests against the ruling elite in October, leading to hard currency shortages that have impeded imports. The country has also been in a political crisis since Saad Hariri quit as prime minister more than five weeks ago, prompted by protests against ruling politicians over corruption. Consensus emerged this week around businessman Samir Khatib as the new premier, and he is expected to be designated on Monday unless Lebanon’s volatile politics brings surprises before then. A new government is seen as a crucial step for Lebanon to chart a way out of the crisis and appeal for the help of foreign governments waiting for the new administration to take shape. Hariri, running a caretaker government, issued his appeal to Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, Turkey, the United States, China and Egypt, seeking help to finance imports of essential goods. A statement said this was part of his efforts to address the liquidity shortage and to ensure “the continuity of food security and raw materials for production”. Capital controls – which are being enforced by commercial banks but have not been formalised by the authorities – have led some importers to slash their orders as they have been unable to source dollars at the official rate or make transfers abroad. The central bank has rationed dollars for wheat, fuel and medicine, but buyers of these must still source 15 percent of the dollars, raising costs because of a slump in the Lebanese pound. The pound firmed slightly on Friday, with US dollars offered at 1,930 pounds compared to 1,980 on Thursday, but the currency was still 28 percent weaker than the official rate of 1,507.5 pounds per dollar, dealers said. The crisis is rooted in state waste and corruption overseen by leaders using government resources for their own gain. Lebanon is one of the world’s most heavily indebted states. The country won international pledges of more than $11bn in project financing last year on the condition that reforms would be enacted. France aims to mobilise international support at its planned upcomiing conference, which a European official and a Lebanese official said would take place in Paris on December 11. The meeting will gather representatives of the international support group that includes the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were also expected to be invited, the Lebanese official said.

Lebanese lawmakers to defy naming of new PM
Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 07/2019
Saad Hariri submitted the resignation of his government on Oct. 29 as a result of ongoing mass protests against corruption
BEIRUT: Three lawmakers and members of Lebanese President Michel Aoun’s parliamentary bloc will not abide by its decision to name a new prime minister on Monday. Meanwhile, activists in the civil movement are holding meetings to announce a general strike and the blocking of roads on Monday in protest over reports that the new government will not include technocrats.
Samir Al-Khatib is considered the most favored candidate after preliminary consultations conducted by Aoun with his allies prior to setting the date for binding parliamentary consultations to nominate a Sunni prime minister, as required by the Lebanese constitution. Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted the resignation of his government on Oct. 29 as a result of ongoing mass protests against corruption. He later said he would not agree to head a new government unless it consisted of technocrats. Lawmaker Neemat Frem urged citizens to provide him with the name of their favorite candidate to head the new government, “for you are the primary source of authority, and it is my duty to convey your voice in the binding parliamentary consultations.”Lawmaker Chamel Roukoz said he will not nominate anyone for the position of prime minister. Lawmaker Michel Daher declared his intention to boycott the parliamentary consultations if Al-Khatib is the only candidate. Aoun assured a delegation of British financial and investment institutions, and US bank Morgan Stanley, that binding parliamentary consultations will take place on Monday to form a new government, which will help Lebanon’s friends launch agreed-to development projects. “The new government’s priority will be to address the economic and financial conditions as soon as it is formed,” he said.
HIGHLIGHT
Samir Al-Khatib is considered the most favored candidate after preliminary consultations conducted by Aoun with his allies prior to setting the date for binding parliamentary consultations to nominate a Sunni prime minister, as required by the Lebanese constitution. On Friday, Hariri sent letters to the leaders of a number of countries with good relations with Lebanon. He asked them to help Lebanon secure credit to import goods from these countries, in order to ensure food security and availability of raw materials for production in various sectors. His media office said the move “is part of his efforts to address the shortage of financial liquidity, and to secure procuring the basic import requirements for citizens.”Among the leaders Hariri wrote to are Saudi Arabia’s King Salman; the presidents of France, Russia, Egypt and Turkey; the prime ministers of China and Italy; and the US secretary of state.
On Dec. 11, Paris is due to host a meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon. Reuters quoted a European source as saying: “France has already sent invitations to attend the group meeting.”Protesters continued their sit-ins in front of government institutions in Nabatieh, Zahle and Saida. In Tripoli, protesters blocked the city’s main roads, which were eventually reopened by the army. In Akkar, protesters raided public institutions and called for an “independent government that fights corruption, restores looted funds, and rescues the economic situation and living conditions from total collapse.”
Lebanese designer Robert Abi Nader canceled a fashion show that was due to be organized in Downtown Beirut, where protesters are gathering. Abi Nader said he intended through his show to express support for the protests by designing a special outfit called “the bride of the revolution,” and revenues were to be dedicated to families in need.

Saad Hariri requests aid to secure Lebanon’s food imports
Sunniva Rose/The National/December 06/2019
Country is suffering from an acute shortage of dollars needed to bring in goods
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri has requested aid from friendly countries to help it secure imports of food and raw materials amid an acute dollar shortage.The appeal for aid was sent to Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, Turkey, the United States, China, and Egypt, the prime minister’s office said on Friday. Lebanon is grappling with the worst financial strains since its 1975-1990 civil war. World Bank officials said on Friday that they expected the recession in 2019 to be even more significant than an earlier projection of a 0.2 per cent contraction in the economy. The World Bank is among foreign donors who pledged billions of dollars of badly needed aid in Paris last year if Lebanon’s government enacted long-delayed reforms. But with foreign allies not fully convinced, the money has yet to flow into the economy. However, France has agreed to convene another meeting to mobilise international support for Lebanon on December 11. A Lebanese official told Reuters that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were expected to be invited. Importers say that banks started restricting their access to dollars, which are used interchangeably with the local currency, in the summer, severely impeding their ability to pay for purchases from abroad. Petrol station owners went on a two-day strike last week to demand that the Energy Ministry increase the price of fuel. In mid-November, private hospitals also went on strike for a day to warn of imminent shortages in medical supplies.
Certain imported products, such as cigarettes or cereal, have become scarce in local supermarkets. Banks started restricting cash withdrawals in early November, two weeks after anti-government protests started, spurred by the bad economy. Though the Association of Lebanese Banks announced a cap of $1,000 a week on November 17, this had dwindled to a few hundred dollars by early December, varying from bank to bank.
Under pressure from protesters, Mr Hariri resigned on October 29 and Lebanon has been without a government since. The small Mediterranean country is dependent on imports for local consumption. The value of imports in 2018 was $19.9 billion (Dh73bn), while exports totalled $2.9bn. Customs figures show that Lebanon’s biggest supplier of goods is China ($2bn), followed by Greece ($1.7bn), Italy ($1.6bn) and the United States ($1.4bn).

Analysis/Hezbollah Commandos Are Back on Israel’s Border, and They’re Armed With the Element of Surprise
عاموس هاريل/هآرتس: قوات الرضوان التابعة لحزب الله تعود إلى الحدود اللبنانية الإسرائيلية وبحوزتها عنصر مفاجأة
Amos Harel and Yaniv Kubovich/Haaretz/December 06/2019
Israel believes Nasrallah is deterred since the 2006 war, but thinks Hezbollah and Iran are seeking to challenge it with a limited conflict
The main change that has taken place over the past year on the Israeli-Lebanese border involves Hezbollah’s new military preparedness. Following about five years in which most of Hezbollah’s efforts, and most of the people in its top units, were mired in the Syrian civil war, the fighters have returned home, to southern Lebanon.
Members of Hezbollah’s Radwan commando force have been released from the Assad regime’s battle for survival and have returned to their original positions in Lebanon, near the front line. Some of the units are deployed relatively close to the border with Israel, with a presence south of the Litani River as well, in violation of the terms of the cease-fire spelled out in UN Security Council Resolution 1701 at the end of the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
At an observation post overlooking Lebanon from the Israeli side of the border, it’s possible to make out observation points facing in the other direction, which were established by Hezbollah more than two years ago on the pretext that they belonged to an environmental group. Some of Hezbollah’s activities along the border are carried out in civilian garb and without weapons being visible, in coordination with the Lebanese army. But Israeli intelligence has been gathering documented proof of the activity, as part of its regular wrangling with Lebanon over violations of UN resolutions.
n the Israeli army, it has been difficult to identify which of the activists are Radwan members and which belong to Hezbollah’s regional defense network, which has been deployed in the south over the years: Commando activists move around differently and are equipped differently from regional activists.
Hezbollah’s years of fighting in Syria alongside Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Russian army officers have given the organization and its commanders critical experience in fields that were unfamiliar to them in the past. This experience, however, came coupled with heavy loses. (In Israel the estimate is that about 2,000 Hezbollah fighters were killed and more than 8,000 were wounded).
But the return to the south gives Hezbollah another advantage: The proximity of its top units to the border theoretically shortens the time it needs to carry out a surprise attack against Israel, in the nature of a move talked about it recent years – a surprise takeover of communities or Israeli army positions along the border.
The General Staff and Northern Command officers are aware of this risk and a number of changes have been made in the army’s defense and intelligence alignment to thwart the danger.
The tension along the border peaked in a series of events at the end of August, when three attacks that were attributed to Israel took place – against Iranian combatants and affiliated Shi’ite organizations in Iraq, near the Golan border in Syria and in Iraq. Israel took responsibility for only one of the attacks. Hezbollah responded with an anti-tank ambush near Moshav Avivim on September 1, when three missiles were fired at and missed an army ambulance.
After the attacks, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah threatened a war on the Israeli UAVs, which were reportedly involved in all the strikes. At the end of October Hezbollah launched, for the first time in years, an anti-tank missile at an Israeli drone circling the south Lebanon sky. The missile missed.
Missile fire is part of the rival sides’ message exchange. Despite Nasrallah’s firm rhetoric, Israeli intelligence assumes he has no current interest in starting a war and is still being held back by the harsh lessons of the 2006 war. The problem is that not everything is up to him. The regular tension along the border fits in with the regional instability. The Iranian leadership and allies are under heavy pressure, due to the bloody riots in Iraq, the massive protest refusing to die down in Lebanon and the fuel protest in Iran itself, which was brutally quashed more than two weeks ago but could still reignite.
In these circumstances, and considering the increasing pace of the changes, it’s no wonder Military Intelligence has updated its evaluation and believes the risk of war has increased in the past year.
The IDF detects Iran and Hezbollah’s desire to challenge Israel with an isolated incident that isn’t meant to escalate into a large-scale war. But Israel believes every such incident increases the chance of a mistake being made. The fear of miscalculation pertains to misreading the rival’s “war threshold.” Hezbollah could initiate a provocation that, in its opinion, doesn’t justify opening up a war, but Israel may think differently and react forcefully, bringing the sides closer to war.
In the background another source of danger is simmering – Hezbollah’s “precision project.” Israel claims it has thus far thwarted most Iranian moves to improve the Hezbollah missiles’ precision. This was done by attacking arms smuggling convoys in Syria, together with public pressure that led to the evacuation of missile-production and precision-upgrade sites shortly after they were set up in Lebanon. But Iran hasn’t given up on this activity, so sooner or later a clash with Israel is expected over new production lines in Lebanon.
At the same time the effectiveness of the “campaign between the wars,” waged by the IDF and the Israeli intelligence community, comes into question. On the northern front a large part of this campaign was focused on preventing arms smuggling. However, Israel’s freedom to act in the north has been somewhat curtailed, because as the civil war in Syria dies down, there is more friction with the other states’ interests.
Russia is concerned over the risk of the Israeli attacks to its troops in Syria, Iran is trying to establish a new equation of retaliating against every Israeli strike, and the Syrian regime is determined to respond to every bombing or shelling in Syria’s territory, as reported in Haaretz last Friday.
Defense Minister Naftali Bennett thinks the opposite is true. In his opinion Israel now has an opportunity to ramp up the attacks and strive forcefully to remove all Iranian military presence from Syria.

Israeli military says Hezbollah undeterred despite recent setbacks
Associated Press/Ynetnews/December 06/2019
IDF officials say neither the destruction of the terror group’s attack tunnels, nor the Lebanese faction’s recent domestic problems have undermined Iranian-backed Hezbollah’s preparations for a war with Israel
A year after uncovering a network of cross-border Hezbollah tunnels, the Israeli military says the Lebanese militant group has beefed up its presence along the volatile frontier. Military officials say that neither the destruction of the tunnels, nor Hezbollah’s recent domestic problems, have weakened the group’s desire to prepare for renewed conflict with Israel. “We have a very serious enemy,” said Col. Roy Levy, the military’s Northern Border Brigade commander, during a tour of the area Thursday. He said the group’s main focus is to entrench itself along the border area and “plan to attack us.”Israel and Hezbollah fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a U.N.-brokered cease-fire. While direct fighting has been rare since then, there has been occasional violence, most recently on September 1 when Hezbollah fired a barrage of anti-tank missiles into Israel and Israel responded with artillery fire.
Israel also has acknowledged carrying out scores of airstrikes in neighboring Syria, many of them believed to have been aimed at Iranian weapons shipments bound for its Hezbollah proxy. Israel considers Hezbollah to be its most immediate threat, saying the group has amassed an arsenal of some 130,000 rockets and missiles capable of striking virtually anywhere in Israel. More recently, it has accused the group of trying to import or develop guided missiles. Last December, Israel announced that it had uncovered a network of tunnels that it said Hezbollah was building with the aim of infiltrating and carrying out attacks. Over several months, it systematically destroyed the structures. Hezbollah has not commented on the tunnels, though the U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL has said the group violated the 2006 cease-fire. In recent years, Israeli says Hezbollah has taken over houses in southern Lebanese border villages to hide soldiers, ammunition, cameras and intelligence-gathering equipment. Levy pointed across the tree-lined frontier to several small shacks that he said were Hezbollah positions, just a few hundred meters away from Israeli residents. “Civilians, farmers, children drive here every day,” he said.
In addition to the loss of its tunnels, Hezbollah has suffered other setbacks in recent months. Its patron Iran, suffering from U.S. sanctions, is being rocked by mass demonstrations in which over 200 people have reportedly been killed.
Lebanon has also experienced nationwide protests over the past two months against widespread corruption and mismanagement. Some of that anger has been directed toward Hezbollah, which is now seen as part of the ruling class that has wrecked the country’s economy. But Levy said he has seen no changes in the group’s behavior. “They have a lot of cameras, a lot of forces along the border, camouflaged,” he said.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 06- 07/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 51th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 07 كانون الأول/2019

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 07 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 07 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 07 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

الياس بجاني/أحزاب لبنان الشركات والوكالات: جهل وعبودية واستغباء وصنمية وقطعان

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أحزاب لبنان الشركات والوكالات: جهل وعبودية واستغباء وصنمية وقطعان

الياس بجاني/07 كانون الأول/2019

عملياً وفي الواقع المعاش على أرض الحقيقة فإنه لا وجود في لبنان لأحزاب بالمفهوم الديمقراطي الغربي حيث تداول للسلطة، وشفافية مصادر التمويل وعلنية الموازنات، وحرية قرار، ووضوح أهداف ورؤيا وانتخابات ومحاسبة.

في لبنان حالياً شركات أحزاب تجارية وعائلية ومذهبية محلية تعمل 100% على خدمة مصالح ونفوذ أصحابها..

وفي هذه الخانة “الإقطاعية”  تندرج كافة الأحزاب المحلية المرجعية بنسب كبيرة.

كما توجد في وطن الأرز المحتل أحزاب عقائدية ودينية هي وكلاء للخارج وتعمل كلياً غب إرادته وتعليماته، ولنا في هذه الخانة مثال حزب الله الفاقع حيث أنه 100% إيراني بكل شيء.

المنتمون للأحزاب في سوادهم الأعظم هم عملياً إما منتفعين ووصوليين وانتهازيين، أو باحثين عن أدوار أو حماية، أو أتباع غنميين..

وكل هؤلاء لا فرق بينهم وبين العبيد في حرية القرار حيث ينفذون ولا يقررون.. ويساقون إلى المسالخ دون .حتى “معمعة”..!!!

في الغالب فإن الحزبي في لبنان يعبد صاحب شركة الحزب ويؤلهه “ويهوبر له” ويسير خلفه على عماها حتى لو ساقه إلى جهنم..

الحزبيون في لبنان وبما يقارب نسبة ال 99% يعتبرون بعدائية موصوفة أن كل من يعارض صاحب شركة حزبهم إما هو حاقد أو حاسد أو جاهل.. ودائماً بالطبع عميل وخائن!!

من المستحيل أن تناقش وتتحاور مع حزبي وتصل إلى نتيجة مجدية، وإن أخطئت وفعلت “فدق المي مي” وفالج لا تعالج.

الحزبيون هؤلاء حتى في بلاد الانتشار حيث الأنظمة الديمقراطية والأحزاب المنظمة فهم لا يختلفون بطباعهم وممارساتهم وثقافتهم الغنمية وعمى تبعيتهم وغشاوة بصرهم عن أقرانهم في الوطن الأم..

من يدخل على صفحات معظم الحزبين على الفايسبوك والتويتر والإنستغرام وغيرها من مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي يرى أن إخواننا وأخواتنا هؤلاء يزينون مواقعهم وبفخر واعتزاز إما بصور لهم مع أصحاب شركات أحزابهم في حال كانوا من المحظوظين بهكذا صور، أو بصور لمعبوديهم هؤلاء مع القديسين.

في المحصلة فبؤس هكذا أحزاب وبؤس هكذا حزبيين..

وبؤس هكذا تبعية وعبودية وبالتأكيد بؤس هكذا غنمية.

في الخلاصة فإن سرطان الأحزاب هو كارثة والعبرة التي من الضرورة أخذها من الكارثة هذه للتخلص منها والتغلب عليها تلخص في القول المأثور، “من لا يعترف بعلته، علته تقتله”.

**الكاتب ناشط لبناني اغترابي
عنوان الكاتب الالكتروني
Phoenicia@hotmail.com
رابط موقع الكاتب الالكتروني

http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com

The post الياس بجاني/أحزاب لبنان الشركات والوكالات: جهل وعبودية واستغباء وصنمية وقطعان appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

إِذَا كَانَ اللهُ مَعَنَا، فَمَنْ عَلَيْنَا؟ فاللهُ الَّذي لَمْ يَبْخُلْ بِٱبْنِهِ، بَلْ سَلَّمَهُ إِلَى المَوْتِ مِنْ أَجْلِنَا جَميعًا، كَيْفَ لا يَهَبُ لَنَا مَعَهُ أَيْضًا كُلَّ شَيء/If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things

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إِذَا كَانَ اللهُ مَعَنَا، فَمَنْ عَلَيْنَا؟ فاللهُ الَّذي لَمْ يَبْخُلْ بِٱبْنِهِ، بَلْ سَلَّمَهُ إِلَى المَوْتِ مِنْ أَجْلِنَا جَميعًا، كَيْفَ لا يَهَبُ لَنَا مَعَهُ أَيْضًا كُلَّ شَيء
رسالة القدّيس بولس إلى أهل رومة 08/من28حتى39/:”يا إِخوتي، نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللهَ يَعْمَلُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ لِخَيْرِ الَّذينَ يُحِبُّونَهُ، أُولئِكَ الَّذينَ دَعَاهُم بِحَسَبِ قَصْدِهِ؛ لأَنَّ الَّذينَ سَبَقَ فَعَرَفَهُم، سَبَقَ أَيْضًا فحَدَّدَهُم أَنْ يَكُونُوا مُشَابِهينَ لِصُورَةِ ٱبْنِهِ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ ٱبْنُهُ بِكْرًا لإِخْوَةٍ كَثِيرِين. والَّذِينَ سَبَقَ فحَدَّدَهُم، هؤُلاءِ أَيْضًا دَعَاهُم، والَّذِينَ دَعَاهُم، هؤُلاءِ أَيْضًا بَرَّرَهُم، والَّذِينَ بَرَّرَهُم، هؤُلاءِ أَيْضًا مَجَّدَهُم. إِذًا فَمَاذَا نَقُولُ بَعْد؟ إِذَا كَانَ اللهُ مَعَنَا، فَمَنْ عَلَيْنَا؟ فاللهُ الَّذي لَمْ يَبْخُلْ بِٱبْنِهِ، بَلْ سَلَّمَهُ إِلَى المَوْتِ مِنْ أَجْلِنَا جَميعًا، كَيْفَ لا يَهَبُ لَنَا مَعَهُ أَيْضًا كُلَّ شَيء؟ فَمَنْ يَشْكُو مُخْتَارِي ٱلله؟ أَللهُ يُبَرِّرُهُم. فَمَنِ الَّذي يَدِين؟ هوَ المَسِيحُ يَسُوعُ الَّذي مَات، بَلْ أُقِيم، وهوَ أَيْضًا عَنْ يَمينِ ٱلله، وهُوَ أَيْضًا يَشْفَعُ لَنَا! مَنْ يَفْصِلُنَا عَنْ مَحَبَّةِ المَسِيح؟ أَضِيقٌ، أَمْ شِدَّةٌ، أَمِ ٱضْطِهَادٌ، أَمْ جُوعٌ، أَمْ عُرْيٌ، أَمْ خَطَرٌ، أَمْ سَيْف؟ كَمَا هُوَ مَكْتُوب: «إِنَّنَا مِنْ أَجْلِكَ نُمَاتُ النَّهَارَ كُلَّهُ، وقَدْ حُسِبْنَا مِثْلَ غَنَمٍ لِلذَّبْح!». إِلاَّ أَنَّنَا في كُلِّ ذلِكَ نَغْلِبُ بِالَّذي أَحَبَّنَا. فإِنِّي لَوَاثِقٌ أَنَّهُ لا مَوْتَ ولا حَيَاة، ولا ملائِكَةَ ولا رِئَاسَات، ولا حَاضِرَ ولا مُسْتَقْبَل، ولا قُوَّات، ولا عُلْوَ ولا عُمْق، ولا أَيَّ خَلِيقَةٍ أُخْرَى تقْدِرُ أَنْ تَفْصِلَنَا عَنْ مَحَبَّةِ اللهِ الَّتي في المَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ رَبِّنَا.”

If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things
Romans 08/28-38/:”28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.‡  Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified. What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?  Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

في هذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ تُطْلَبُ مِنْكَ نَفْسُكَ. وَمَا أَعْدَدْتَهُ لِمَنْ يَكُون؟ هكذَا هِيَ حَالُ مَنْ يَدَّخِرُ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَلا يَغْتَنِي لله
إنجيل القدّيس لوقا12/من16حتى21/:”قالَ الربُّ يَسُوعُ هذَا المَثَل: «رَجُلٌ غَنِيٌّ أَغَلَّتْ لهُ أَرْضُهُ. فَرَاحَ يُفَكِّرُ في نَفْسِهِ قَائِلاً: مَاذَا أَفْعَل، وَلَيْسَ لَدَيَّ مَا أَخْزُنُ فِيهِ غَلاَّتِي؟ ثُمَّ قَال: سَأَفْعَلُ هذَا: أَهْدِمُ أَهْرَائِي، وَأَبْنِي أَكْبَرَ مِنْها، وَأَخْزُنُ فِيهَا كُلَّ حِنْطَتِي وَخَيْراتِي، وَأَقُولُ لِنَفْسِي: يا نَفْسِي، لَكِ خَيْرَاتٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مُدَّخَرَةٌ لِسِنينَ كَثِيرَة، فٱسْتَريِحي، وَكُلِي، وٱشْرَبِي، وَتَنَعَّمِي! فَقَالَ لَهُ الله: يا جَاهِل، في هذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ تُطْلَبُ مِنْكَ نَفْسُكَ. وَمَا أَعْدَدْتَهُ لِمَنْ يَكُون؟ هكذَا هِيَ حَالُ مَنْ يَدَّخِرُ لِنَفْسِهِ، وَلا يَغْتَنِي لله».”

You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12/16-21/:”Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?”Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’”

The post إِذَا كَانَ اللهُ مَعَنَا، فَمَنْ عَلَيْنَا؟ فاللهُ الَّذي لَمْ يَبْخُلْ بِٱبْنِهِ، بَلْ سَلَّمَهُ إِلَى المَوْتِ مِنْ أَجْلِنَا جَميعًا، كَيْفَ لا يَهَبُ لَنَا مَعَهُ أَيْضًا كُلَّ شَيء/If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

الشيخ عباس الجوهري/محاكمة ديما صادق وصفا .. والحكم على الحراك..مع فيديو لرجل دين يهاجم ديما صادق ويخونها ويشيطنها ويحلل سرقة هاتفها

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محاكمة ديما صادق وصفا .. والحكم على الحراك..مع فيديو لرجل دين يهاجم ديما وبشيطنها ويخونها ويحلل سرقة هاتفها
الشيخ عباس الجوهري/لبنان الجديد/07 كانون الأوّل 2019

انتشر مقطع فيديو لرجل دين في خطبة الجمعة وهو من الطائفة الشيعية يفصل حكماً يعتقد أنه يستند إلى القاعدة القانونية والشرعية للفقه الاسلامي عموماً كونه أسند الحكم الى آية قرآنية وللفكر الشيعي كونه يرتدي العمة الشيعية السوداء التي ترمز إلى كونه يتصل نسباً الى أهل البيت كما هو العرف الشائع.

 إذن نحن أمام واقعةٍ ترجع إلى فهمٍ فكريٍ لا تحتمل التأويل وهو موثق بالصوت والصورة.

ذكر هذا السيد واقعة سرقة تلفون الاعلامية ديما صادق المتواجدة مع المتظاهرين المنتفضين .

 لقد اثبت بنصه أن الفعل الذي قام به الشاب (الحاج) المفترض أنه من المتدينين هو سرقة موصوفة من خلال نشله -بخفةٍ وسرعةٍ- التلفون من يدها وهنا أرشد السيد هذا الشاب إلى عدم الضعف أمام  نداء ديما صادق التي خاطبت فيه الحاج وخلفيتة الثقافية كلها ومنظومته الفكرية وترفعت بمسامحتها له خوفاً على دينه وحاولت أن تلزمه بما ألزم به نفسه من الاعتقاد بحرمةِ السرقة بل على العكس قال له السيد مخاطباً لا تكن ضعيفاً أمام ندائها الاخلاقي بل إبقَ على إصرارك لأن ما قُمتَ به هو الحق بل الواجب، لأنّ من سرقتها هي من جماعة الثورة أو الحراك أو الانتفاضة بحسب ما يحلو لمن يريد تسميتها وهؤلاء صدر الحكم بحقهم من الشيعية السياسية بأنهم قطاع طرق بغض النظر عن توصيف القانون لهم وشرعة حقوق الانسان والمواثيق الدولية وقال لها مخاطباً وبالفم الملآن وعلى منبر صلاة الجمعة من إحدى قرى جبل عامل الجنوب اللبناني) تريدين الشريعة وتطالبين بها للسارق ونحن نطالب لك بقصاص الشريعة فما هو حكم القصاص على ديما في شريعتك أيها السيد وعلى حد فهمك وزعمك المخالف بالطبع للقانون والداعي للقتل وهذه جريمة يعاقب عليها القانون اللبناني

 أولًا بعد أن نابذها بألقاب وصفات يخجل مثلي ذكرها ولو للتوثيق مكتفياً بالفيديو المرفق  جعلها ممن يحاربون الله ورسوله من خلال وقوفها بالشارع مطالبةً بحقوقٍ أصبحت من البديهيات شرعيتها في لبنان لكن السيد اعتبرها من قطاع الطرق والحكم لهذه الحالة القتل والصلب وتقطيع الأيدي والأرجل من خلاف مستنداً الى الآية التي وردت في القرآن الكريم في سورة المائده الآية ٣٣  ولو أنه لم يحسن قراءتها كما لم يحسن الاستناد إليها وهي (إنما جزاء الذين يحاربون الله ورسوله ويسعون في الارض فساداً أن يقتلو أو يصلبو أو تقطع ايديهم وأرجلهم من خلاف أو ينفوا من الأرض ذلك لهم خزي في الدنيا ولهم في الآخرة عذاب عظيم)، واعتمد عليها مرجعاً نصياً بالحكم الذي ينطبق عليها وينبغي تنفيذه بحق ديما صادق مع مطرقة  ولا أدري أنه استعمل التصديق برفع الأيدي كما يحصل في مجلس النواب اللبناني عندما يطلب التصديق على القوانين مع إنّ الدوس على مثل هذه الأحكام قد يكون الأجدى.

 إنّ فكراً داعشياً يعيش بيننا وبمجرد سقوط الدولة وانتشار الفوضى يصبح ناجزاً وحاكماً ويصبح هذا السيد سياف هذا النهج. ألم تعتمد داعش على نفس هذه النصوص عندما  سقطت الدولة في الموصل وشرق سوريا؟

 أيها اللبنانيون سوف تكشف ثورتنا كل يوم عن العفن الذي يعشعش في رؤوس البعض في هذا البلد. بالأمس كشف موقف ماي خريش نائبة رئيس تيار لبناني عن تعصبها وطائفيتها وغشها وخداعها  عندما فضحها طوني خوري بطلبها له بنقل قطع الطرقات من المناطق المسيحية إلى المناطق الاسلامية (روحوا اقطعو الطريق عالاسلام)  فهذا حلال وكان هذا الشاب أكثر منها ايماناً بوطنيته  وفهمه وصدقه.

واليوم يقول هذا السيد للحاج أسرق لكن ممن يخالفونك الرأي فالسرقة لهم حلال.

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لماذا يكره “حزب الله” ديما صادق؟/من على منبر حسينية بلدة النبطية وبكامل سطوته الدينية هيئةً ومظهراً وكلاماً، وقف رجل الدين القريب من “حزب الله” محمود برجاوي وهدد الإعلامية ديما صادق علناً بالاسم، متهماً إياها بأنها عميلة، ومعتبراً أن الدين يوصي بصلب أمثالها وقطع أيديهم وأرجلهم.

ديانا مقلد/موقع درج/07 كانون الأول/2019

لم يسبق أن تعاملت الجيوش الإلكترونية والواقعية والشخصيات المحسوبة على “حزب الله” مع خصومها، كما تتعامل مع ديما صادق، في حملة مستمرة لا تتوقف.

من على منبر حسينية بلدة النبطية وبكامل سطوته الدينية هيئةً ومظهراً وكلاماً، وقف رجل الدين القريب من “حزب الله” محمود برجاوي وهدد الإعلامية ديما صادق علناً بالاسم، متهماً إياها بأنها عميلة، ومعتبراً أن الدين يوصي بصلب أمثالها وقطع أيديهم وأرجلهم.

هذا التصعيد الخطير وغير المسبوق في الاتهام والتحريض أتى بعد حادثة سرقة هاتف ديما خلال وقوفها مع المتظاهرين على جسر الرينغ قبل نحو أسبوعين. وقبل يومين بثت ديما فيديو توجهت فيه إلى “الحاج الأشهر” في لبنان، ملمحةً بطبيعة الحال إلى المعاون السياسي لأمين عام “حزب الله” الحاج وفيق صفا، الذي تردد أن هاتفها بات بحوزته بعد سرقته، وسألتهُ ديما في الفيديو الذي بثته عن شرعية إقدام شخص يزعم الالتزام الديني على سرقة هاتفها والاطلاع على خصوصياتها.

هذه الوقائع كانت خلف وقوف رجل الدين برجاوي وتناوله صادق بالاسم واستهزائه بها وتهديدها مستعملاً العبارات التالية: “أنا ديما صادق أريد أن أفجر وأعهر وأخون وأغدر وأتعامل مع العدو وأتسبب بالقتل وأفعل الأفاعيل بس إنت لأنك مؤمن ممنوع تفضحني مهما كنت أنا فاسدة منحرفة وشاذة”.

هنا، لا يمكن سوى التوقف عند هذا التهديد العلني والسافر والصريح الذي أدلى به برجاوي من على منبر ديني، وهو هنا يفعل تماماً كما يفعل الأمين العام للحزب حسن نصرالله، حين يستبق أي موقف سياسي بخطبة دينية ما يجعل أي كلام يعقب الكلام الديني، مهما كان دنيوياً، يحمل صبغة شبه منزلة، ولا يحتمل التشكيك والنقاش، على رغم كل ما يمكن أن يحمله من مضامين سلبية سياسياً واجتماعياً. فهل علينا أن نأخذ بكلام برجاوي بصفته أمراً دينياً ونصمت، أم بصفته تهديداً مباشراً يفترض أن يحاسب قضائياً وسياسياً عليه؟

لم يسبق أن تعاملت الجيوش الإلكترونية والواقعية والشخصيات المحسوبة على “حزب الله” مع خصومها، كما تتعامل مع ديما صادق، في حملة مستمرة لا تتوقف، إذ لم ينل أي كاتب أو مثقف أو إعلامي أو سياسي حملة استهداف لموقفه من “حزب الله” كما يحصل مع ديما، وهي حملة استهدفتها شخصياً ومهنياً وعائلياً.هل علينا أن نأخذ بكلام برجاوي بصفته أمراً دينياً ونصمت، أم بصفته تهديداً مباشراً يفترض أن يحاسب قضائياً وسياسياً عليه؟

والحقيقة أن انتقادات صادق لـ”حزب الله”، أقل حدة بكثير من شخصيات إعلامية وسياسية معارضة تقول كلاماً أقوى وأعلى سقفاً لجهة المضمون، وهذا ليس للتقليل من صدقية ما تقوله، لكن لتسجيل التعجب المشروع حيال أسباب هذا الاستهداف كله لها.

يمكن أن يلحظ المرء بسهولة أن لخلفية ديما الآتية من بيئة شيعية وشخصيتها المعروفة وشكلها وشهرتها بوصفها “فاشونيستا” مهتمة بمظهرها، إضافة إلى كونها محاورة ومقدمة أخبار، هي في صلب الهجمة عليها، فهي حين تنتقد أو تهاجم أو تدلي بموقف، تفعل ذلك بكامل أنوثتها ولا تحاول أبداً مواربة “دلال” ظاهر في التحدث والتصرّف، وهنا مكمن “جنون” جيوش “حزب الله”، وحالياً رجال دين، وحتماً هناك كثيرون غيرهم.

لقد استفزتهم “الأنثى” ديما التي تجاهر بمواقف سياسية معارضة لما يعلنه الحزب، وهنا بدا اتهامها بأنها “تقطع طرقاً” واهياً، وما الكلام عن أنها “عميلة” سوى ترداد ممجوج يستخدمه الحزب حين يتوجه لمن يعارضونه. لكن في حالة ديما يضاف إلى ذلك كون الحزب في مواجهة ما يثير فيه استفزازاً مضاعفاً، ذاك أن السلطة الرجل الحزب، تترنح تحت وطأة نفوذ امرأة استجمعت قوتها مما يُبغضه الحزب ويضطهده، وتضعه شريعته في مرتبة دنيا. ففي ديما تتكثف المرأة بوصفها خروجاً عن طاعة الرجل المضطهِّد، وساعية وراء حضورها الخاص.

لقد استفزتهم “الأنثى” ديما التي تجاهر بمواقف سياسية معارضة لما يعلنه الحزب، وهنا بدا اتهامها بأنها “تقطع طرقاً” واهياً، وما الكلام عن أنها “عميلة” سوى ترداد ممجوج يستخدمه الحزب حين يتوجه لمن يعارضونه.

تركز الجيوش الإلكترونية التابعة للحزب جهوداً لا تكل لاستهداف ديما صادق عبر “تويتر” و”فايسبوك”، وبهاشتاغات من نوع “ديما الواطية”، ويتم تكليف جيوش إلكترونية لابقاء هذه الهاشتاغات متصدرة، وهو جهد ممنهج وليس عفوياً أبداً. والآن تتوج الحملة بمنبر ديني لاتهام صادق بـ”الفجور والعهر” وهي عبارات مفعمة بالنظرة الذكورية التي تنشأ عليها أيديولوجيا “حزب الله”. ولا تفسير لذلك سوى حجم الاستفزاز الذي يشعر به “رجال” حزب يفاخر بصواريخه وقدراته القتالية، من امرأة جميلة ظاهرة الأنوثة تتحداه.

كل الدعم لديما. هاربون إلى الموت… من يتحمّل مأساة الانتحار اليومية في لبنان؟

The post الشيخ عباس الجوهري/محاكمة ديما صادق وصفا .. والحكم على الحراك..مع فيديو لرجل دين يهاجم ديما صادق ويخونها ويشيطنها ويحلل سرقة هاتفها appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

ديانا مقلد/لماذا يكره حزب الله ديما صادق؟/من على منبر حسينية بلدة النبطية وبكامل سطوته الدينية هيئةً ومظهراً وكلاماً، وقف رجل الدين القريب من حزب الله محمود برجاوي وهدد الإعلامية ديما صادق علناً بالاسم، متهماً إياها بأنها عميلة، ومعتبراً أن الدين يوصي بصلب أمثالها وقطع أيديهم وأرجلهم

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لماذا يكره “حزب الله” ديما صادق؟
ديانا مقلد/موقع درج/07 كانون الأول/2019

من على منبر حسينية بلدة النبطية وبكامل سطوته الدينية هيئةً ومظهراً وكلاماً، وقف رجل الدين القريب من “حزب الله” محمود برجاوي وهدد الإعلامية ديما صادق علناً بالاسم، متهماً إياها بأنها عميلة، ومعتبراً أن الدين يوصي بصلب أمثالها وقطع أيديهم وأرجلهم.

هذا التصعيد الخطير وغير المسبوق في الاتهام والتحريض أتى بعد حادثة سرقة هاتف ديما خلال وقوفها مع المتظاهرين على جسر الرينغ قبل نحو أسبوعين. وقبل يومين بثت ديما فيديو توجهت فيه إلى “الحاج الأشهر” في لبنان، ملمحةً بطبيعة الحال إلى المعاون السياسي لأمين عام “حزب الله” الحاج وفيق صفا، الذي تردد أن هاتفها بات بحوزته بعد سرقته، وسألتهُ ديما في الفيديو الذي بثته عن شرعية إقدام شخص يزعم الالتزام الديني على سرقة هاتفها والاطلاع على خصوصياتها.

هذه الوقائع كانت خلف وقوف رجل الدين برجاوي وتناوله صادق بالاسم واستهزائه بها وتهديدها مستعملاً العبارات التالية: “أنا ديما صادق أريد أن أفجر وأعهر وأخون وأغدر وأتعامل مع العدو وأتسبب بالقتل وأفعل الأفاعيل بس إنت لأنك مؤمن ممنوع تفضحني مهما كنت أنا فاسدة منحرفة وشاذة”.

هنا، لا يمكن سوى التوقف عند هذا التهديد العلني والسافر والصريح الذي أدلى به برجاوي من على منبر ديني، وهو هنا يفعل تماماً كما يفعل الأمين العام للحزب حسن نصرالله، حين يستبق أي موقف سياسي بخطبة دينية ما يجعل أي كلام يعقب الكلام الديني، مهما كان دنيوياً، يحمل صبغة شبه منزلة، ولا يحتمل التشكيك والنقاش، على رغم كل ما يمكن أن يحمله من مضامين سلبية سياسياً واجتماعياً. فهل علينا أن نأخذ بكلام برجاوي بصفته أمراً دينياً ونصمت، أم بصفته تهديداً مباشراً يفترض أن يحاسب قضائياً وسياسياً عليه؟

لم يسبق أن تعاملت الجيوش الإلكترونية والواقعية والشخصيات المحسوبة على “حزب الله” مع خصومها، كما تتعامل مع ديما صادق، في حملة مستمرة لا تتوقف، إذ لم ينل أي كاتب أو مثقف أو إعلامي أو سياسي حملة استهداف لموقفه من “حزب الله” كما يحصل مع ديما، وهي حملة استهدفتها شخصياً ومهنياً وعائلياً.هل علينا أن نأخذ بكلام برجاوي بصفته أمراً دينياً ونصمت، أم بصفته تهديداً مباشراً يفترض أن يحاسب قضائياً وسياسياً عليه؟

والحقيقة أن انتقادات صادق لـ”حزب الله”، أقل حدة بكثير من شخصيات إعلامية وسياسية معارضة تقول كلاماً أقوى وأعلى سقفاً لجهة المضمون، وهذا ليس للتقليل من صدقية ما تقوله، لكن لتسجيل التعجب المشروع حيال أسباب هذا الاستهداف كله لها.

يمكن أن يلحظ المرء بسهولة أن لخلفية ديما الآتية من بيئة شيعية وشخصيتها المعروفة وشكلها وشهرتها بوصفها “فاشونيستا” مهتمة بمظهرها، إضافة إلى كونها محاورة ومقدمة أخبار، هي في صلب الهجمة عليها، فهي حين تنتقد أو تهاجم أو تدلي بموقف، تفعل ذلك بكامل أنوثتها ولا تحاول أبداً مواربة “دلال” ظاهر في التحدث والتصرّف، وهنا مكمن “جنون” جيوش “حزب الله”، وحالياً رجال دين، وحتماً هناك كثيرون غيرهم.

لقد استفزتهم “الأنثى” ديما التي تجاهر بمواقف سياسية معارضة لما يعلنه الحزب، وهنا بدا اتهامها بأنها “تقطع طرقاً” واهياً، وما الكلام عن أنها “عميلة” سوى ترداد ممجوج يستخدمه الحزب حين يتوجه لمن يعارضونه. لكن في حالة ديما يضاف إلى ذلك كون الحزب في مواجهة ما يثير فيه استفزازاً مضاعفاً، ذاك أن السلطة الرجل الحزب، تترنح تحت وطأة نفوذ امرأة استجمعت قوتها مما يُبغضه الحزب ويضطهده، وتضعه شريعته في مرتبة دنيا. ففي ديما تتكثف المرأة بوصفها خروجاً عن طاعة الرجل المضطهِّد، وساعية وراء حضورها الخاص.

لقد استفزتهم “الأنثى” ديما التي تجاهر بمواقف سياسية معارضة لما يعلنه الحزب، وهنا بدا اتهامها بأنها “تقطع طرقاً” واهياً، وما الكلام عن أنها “عميلة” سوى ترداد ممجوج يستخدمه الحزب حين يتوجه لمن يعارضونه.

تركز الجيوش الإلكترونية التابعة للحزب جهوداً لا تكل لاستهداف ديما صادق عبر “تويتر” و”فايسبوك”، وبهاشتاغات من نوع “ديما الواطية”، ويتم تكليف جيوش إلكترونية لابقاء هذه الهاشتاغات متصدرة، وهو جهد ممنهج وليس عفوياً أبداً. والآن تتوج الحملة بمنبر ديني لاتهام صادق بـ”الفجور والعهر” وهي عبارات مفعمة بالنظرة الذكورية التي تنشأ عليها أيديولوجيا “حزب الله”. ولا تفسير لذلك سوى حجم الاستفزاز الذي يشعر به “رجال” حزب يفاخر بصواريخه وقدراته القتالية، من امرأة جميلة ظاهرة الأنوثة تتحداه.

كل الدعم لديما. هاربون إلى الموت… من يتحمّل مأساة الانتحار اليومية في لبنان؟

The post ديانا مقلد/لماذا يكره حزب الله ديما صادق؟/من على منبر حسينية بلدة النبطية وبكامل سطوته الدينية هيئةً ومظهراً وكلاماً، وقف رجل الدين القريب من حزب الله محمود برجاوي وهدد الإعلامية ديما صادق علناً بالاسم، متهماً إياها بأنها عميلة، ومعتبراً أن الدين يوصي بصلب أمثالها وقطع أيديهم وأرجلهم appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


راجح الخوري: لبنان ووحش الإفلاس/Rajeh Khoury: Lebanon and the Monster of Bankruptcy

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لبنان ووحش الإفلاس
راجح الخوري/الشرق الأوسط/06 كانون الأول/2019

Lebanon and the Monster of Bankruptcy
Rajeh Khoury/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 07/2019
Last Wednesday, President Michel Aoun announced that parliamentary consultations would take place on Monday, thereby deferring them for five more days, 34 days after the government resigned, and 47 days after the revolution began. This happened after the end of the third meeting between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, the latter representing the Shiite duo that has been insisting for two weeks on rejecting the proposed name of Samir Khatib for Prime Minister. All of this took place before Dany Abu Haidar, a Lebanese citizen, who took his own life because of poverty and inability to support his family, was buried.

What will have changed between last Wednesday and this Monday?
Nothing at the level of the regime and the government formation facing an economic crisis that has ushered a stage of bankruptcy and collapse. There is no clear path for either the appointment of Samir Khatib nor for the return of Saad Hariri after the political settlement that led to Michel Aoun’s presidential election collapsed. The uprising, which rejects a non-technocratic government and the inclusion of the same politicians who bankrupted the country, adds to this.

So, where can we go from here?
It is not enough to talk about an economic path that leads to panic, if not to hell, after the capital control measures taken that limited cash withdrawals from banks to USD300 per week and prevented transfers overseas, and after the valid fears of ‘haircuts’ on deposits.

It is not enough to talk about a political path that leads to more complications, especially after the bickering between Aoun and the former PMs who have repeatedly accused him of disregarding the constitution and trying to return to a time before the Taef Agreement. These accusations were launched after the President had been appointing ministers before choosing their PM. In response to popular demands to abide by the constitution, it was stated that “The President is using his constitutional rights by binding the consultations to a designation of a PM and the formation of a new government to prevent the country from descending into a prolonged vacuum.”

The dispute around this continued after the alliance between Aoun and the Shite duo, upon Hariri’s insistence on the formation of a technocratic government to meet the demands of the uprising, attempted to convince Hariri to commit political suicide. They pushed him to support Mohammad Safadi’s candidacy, then Samir Khatib, announce his support in a written statement, get the approval of the Mufti, the former PMs, and to take part in this government.

After Hariri rejected the temptations and pressures to head a techno-political government which would maintain Hezbollah’s dominance in political decision-making in the executive authority, it became clear that the alliance between Aoun and the Shiite duo, i.e., Hezbollah and Amal Movement, insist on having him for several reasons. First, he is economically useful, as he can work on reactivating the CEDRE Conference aid. Second, he is a local and regional Sunni power, which is important, especially during these difficult times when Hezbollah is subjected to severe foreign pressure, sanctions, and is classified as a terrorist organization by the US. Third, his approval of a techno-political government would help Hezbollah overcome the uprising and quell the protests it has produced from Tyre and Nabatieh to Baalbeck. This is especially important as it is happening in parallel with violent disturbances in Iran and Iraq; in the latter, the protesters set fire to the Iranian Consulate three times in Najaf while chanting, “Iran out out” despite the violent repression that they faced.

Before Aoun announced Monday as the date for the parliamentary consultations, the exchanges between him and the former PMs were heated. In a statement released by former PMs Fouad Siniora, Tammam Salam, and Najib Miqati, they said, “We are alarmed by the serious violation of the Taef Agreement in its letter and spirit, and we are alarmed by the assault on the parliamentary authority to designate a PM through binding parliamentary consultations conducted by the President and the assault on the authority of the designated PM by naming what is being called a possible PM.”

Aoun responded with a statement that repeated what he has been saying for the last month. He claims the consultations that he is doing are not a violation of the constitution and the Taef accord. He accused the former PMs of not realizing the negative consequences of accelerating consultations on the country’s general situation and national unity.

All of this comes after Hariri’s statement last week, where he explicitly accused Aoun of chronically denying the gravity of the situation the country is in. That is in terms of the popular uprising and its legitimate demands to form a technocratic government, the crippling economic crisis that has put the country on the brink of collapse, and the attempts to accuse him of discarding candidates for premiership other than him. In light of these irresponsible practices, he responded to Aoun’s famous slogan that he clung to and kept the country in presidential vacuum for two and a half years “either me or no one” with the slogan “Not me, but someone else”!

The uprising has been heightened after the number of suicides due to poverty has increased. It has rejected Samir Khatib’s candidacy raising the slogan “All of them means all of them”, which is being chanted now in Iraq.

This implies the necessity of overthrowing the entire corrupt political elite. The regime and the Shiite duo have presented a new slogan in opposition, “All of us means all of us in government.” This is related to what Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad had announced about there being no alternative to a national unity government, i.e., duplicating the current cabinet, other than remaining under a caretaker government for a very long time. This means rejecting all of the uprising’s demands and maintaining the regime which rebels accuse of being corrupt and plundering public funds, at a time where Lebanon has entered real bankruptcy and the threat of complete collapse.

Last Thursday, Siniora commented on Samir Khatib’s candidacy, saying “This man’s character and his ethics are one thing, but his suitability for this exceptional stage is something else.” When asked whether he would possibly name him in the consultations, he answered, “It is only possible to predict what a reasonable person would do, as for others, that is something else.” This implies that whoever is reasonable will not name Khatib.
This leads to a very confusing question:

What crisis will birth a government? Will it emerge out of a resolution of the dispute between the Sunni politicians and the alliance between Aoun and the Shiite duo? Or will come after the revolution is quashed so that a techno-political government is formed despite the widespread outrage stemming from the series of suicides that have taken place recently, such as George Zreik burning himself alive for not being able to pay his daughter’s school fees, Naji Fliti hanging himself for not being able to buy a LBP1,000 thyme manoushe for his daughter, Dany Abou Haidar taking his own life last Wednesday for not being able to support his family, and a fourth citizen committing suicide on Thursday after another citizen tried to burn himself alive in Akkar because of financial pressure?

The upcoming dates assigned for consultations are the last hope for Hariri’s approval. Still, it appears that the parliamentary alliance between Aoun and the Shiite duo, which includes 42 MPs, will be maintained until the end of the consultations in order to guarantee that Aoun remains in charge and push for a government that serves the interests of that alliance.

But what do we do with the revolution and the rebels? How do we confront the monster of bankruptcy in a country where citizens take their own lives because they are unable to buy a manoushe? How do we confront it in a country where people rush to withdraw USD300 while TV channels compete to uncover scandals of theft and plunder, a country whose debt has reached USD100 billion while the amount that has been looted by politicians, stored in offshore European banks, exceeds USD320 billion?

لبنان ووحش الإفلاس
راجح الخوري/الشرق الأوسط/06 كانون الأول/2019
يوم الأربعاء الماضي، قبل أن يتم دفن داني أبو حيدر، وهو المواطن اللبناني الذي انتحر بسبب الفقر والعجز عن إعالة أسرته، وبعد انتهاء الاجتماع الثالث الذي عقد بين الرئيس سعد الحريري والوزير علي حسن خليل، ممثل الثنائية الشيعية، التي تحاول عبثاً منذ أسبوعين الحصول منه على تأييد مكتوب للمرشح سمير الخطيب، أعلن الرئيس ميشال عون عن موعد إجراء الاستشارات النيابية يوم الاثنين المقبل، مستأخراً الموعد خمسة أيام إضافية، وبعد استقالة الحكومة قبل 34 يوماً، و47 يوماً على اندلاع الثورة الشعبية العارمة!
ما الذي سيتغير بين الأربعاء الماضي ويوم الاثنين؟ لا شيء قطعاً على مستوى أزمة السلطة وتشكيل الحكومة، المعطوفة على أزمة اقتصادية أدخلت لبنان مرحلة الإفلاس والانهيار، فلا طريق رئاسة الحكومة سالكة أمام المرشح سمير الخطيب، ولا طريق عودة سعد الحريري ممكنة بعد تحطم التسوية السياسية التي أدت إلى انتخاب عون رئيساً، ولا قبول الانتفاضة وارد ما لم تكن الحكومة الجديدة من اختصاصيين ذوي كفاءة، وبعيدين عن زواريب السياسيين الذين أفلسوا البلاد!
إذن إلى أين من هنا؟
لا يكفي الحديث عن أن الطريق الاقتصادية باتت تقود إلى الذعر، إن لم نقل إلى الجحيم، بعد عمليات «الكابيتال كونترول» التي حددت للمودعين سحب 300 دولار من مدخراتهم في الأسبوع، ومنعت التحويلات إلى الخارج، وبعد ارتفاع المخاوف المحقة من الاتجاه إلى ما يسمى «هير كات» أي الاقتطاع من الودائع. ولا يكفي الحديث عن أن الطريق السياسية تقود إلى مزيد من التعقيد، وخصوصاً بعد انفجار التراشق العنيف بين عون ورؤساء الحكومات السابقين الذين يتهمونه تكراراً بالقفز فوق الدستور، ومحاولة العودة إلى ما قبل اتفاق الطائف، عندما كان رئيس الجمهورية يعيِّن الوزراء ويختار لهم رئيساً، وهو ما بدا بعد استقالة الحريري، وعلى مدى 34 يوماً. ولكن قيل رداً على مطالبة عون شعبياً وسياسياً باحترام الدستور والدعوة إلى استشارات نيابية ملزمة: «إن رئيس الجمهورية يستخدم صلاحياته وحقه الدستوري، عبر ربط الاستشارات بالتكليف والتأليف، لتأمين عدم وقوع البلد في فراغ طويل»!
لكن الخلاف استمر حول هذا، منذ حاول التحالف بين عون والثنائية الشيعية، بعد إصرار الحريري على تشكيل حكومة اختصاصيين تلبية لطلب الانتفاضة، إقناعه بما يشبه الانتحار سياسياً، عبر دفعه إلى تأييد محمد الصفدي، ثم من بعده سمير الخطيب، وأن يعلن ذلك في بيان مكتوب، ويضمن موافقة المفتي ورؤساء الحكومات السابقين، وعلى أن يشارك في الحكومة.
بعد رفض الحريري الإغراءات والضغوط التي مورست عليه، للقبول بحكومة تكنو – سياسية برئاسته أو برئاسة غيره، تُبقي هيمنة «حزب الله» ضمناً على القرار السياسي في السلطة التنفيذية، بدا واضحاً أن تحالف عون والثنائية الشيعية – أي «حزب الله» و«حركة أمل» – يصر عليه أو على تأييده؛ لأنه يشكل في نظرهم: أولاً رافعة مفيدة على المستوى الاقتصادي، من خلال العمل لإحياء مساعدات «مؤتمر سيدر»، وثانياً غطاء على المستوى السني المحلي والإقليمي، وخصوصاً في هذا الوقت الصعب؛ حيث يتعرَّض الحزب لأقسى أنواع الضغوط الخارجية، والعقوبات والتصنيف الإرهابي الأميركيين، وثالثاً لأن قبوله تشكيل حكومة تكنو – سياسية يساعد الحزب في تخطي مرحلة الانتفاضة، وما أفرزته من رفض متزايد للثنائية الشيعية في عقر دارها، من صور إلى النبطية إلى بعلبك، وخصوصاً أن هذا يأتي بالتوازي مع الاضطرابات الدامية في إيران، وكذلك في العراق؛ حيث أحرق المتظاهرون القنصلية الإيرانية في النجف ثلاث مرات، وهم يصيحون: «إيران برا برا» رغم القمع الدموي الذي تعرضوا له.
قبل تحديد عون يوم الاثنين موعداً للاستشارات النيابية، كان التراشق عنيفاً جداً بين رؤساء الحكومات السابقين ورئاسة الجمهورية، ففي بيان أصدره الرؤساء فؤاد السنيورة وتمام سلام ونجيب ميقاتي، جاء: «لقد هالنا الخرق الخطير لاتفاق الطائف نصاً وروحاً، كما هالنا الاعتداء السافر على صلاحيات النواب بتسمية الرئيس المكلف، من خلال الاستشارات النيابية الملزمة لرئيس الجمهورية بإجرائها وبنتائجها، والاعتداء على صلاحيات الرئيس المكلف، من خلال ابتداع ما يسمى رئيساً محتملاً للحكومة»!
عون رد ببيان اعتبر، كما يكرر منذ شهر، أن ما يقوم به من مشاورات لا يشكل خرقاً للدستور ولا انتهاكاً لاتفاق الطائف؛ متهماً رؤساء الحكومات السابقين بعدم إدراك ما كان سيترتب على الإسراع في إجراء الاستشارات من انعكاسات سلبية على الوضع العام والوحدة الوطنية!
ويأتي كل هذا بعد بيان الحريري الأسبوع الماضي، الذي اتهم عون صراحة بالإنكار المزمن للوضع الخطير الذي تمر به البلاد، سواء لجهة الانتفاضة الشعبية ومطالبها المحقة بتشكيل حكومة من الاختصاصيين، وسواء لجهة الأزمة الاقتصادية الخانقة التي وضعت البلد على شفير الانهيار، وسواء لجهة محاولات اتهامه بالدلع وحرق المرشحين الآخرين، مؤكداً في رد صلب، أنه في مواجهة هذه الممارسات العديمة المسؤولية، يطرح شعار: «ليس أنا بل أحد آخر»؛ رداً على شعار عون المعروف: «أنا أو لا أحد» الذي تمسك به، وأوقع البلاد في فراغ رئاسي لمدة عامين ونصف!
الانتفاضة تأججت بعد ازدياد عدد المنتحرين بسبب العوز والفقر، رافضة ترشيح سمير الخطيب بعد الإعلان عن موعد الاستشارات، رافعة دائماً شعار: «كلن يعني كلن»، الذي بات يتردد الآن في بغداد، بمعنى ضرورة إسقاط كل الطقم السياسي الفاسد؛ لكن هناك الآن في أجواء السلطة والثنائية الشيعية من يطرح شعاراً معاكساً على خلفية من التحدي، وهو: «كلنا يعني كلنا داخل الحكومة»، وهو ما يتصل بما كان قد أعلنه النائب محمد رعد من «حزب الله»، من أنه ليس من مخرج سوى حكومة وحدة وطنية، أي استنساخ للحكومة الحالية، أو البقاء في حكومة تصريف الأعمال مدة طويلة، بما يعني إسقاط كل مطالب الانتفاضة، والإبقاء على السلطة التي يتهمها المنتفضون بالفساد ونهب المال العام، وفي وقت دخل فيه لبنان الإفلاس الحقيقي وخطر الانهيار التام.
صباح الخميس الماضي، علق فؤاد السنيورة على ترشيح سمير الخطيب بالقول: «إن شخصية الرجل وأخلاقه شيء، ولكن ملاءمته للمرحلة الاستثنائية الراهنة شيء آخر». وعندما سئل عن إمكان أن يسمِّيه في الاستشارات، قال: «يمكن التنبؤ بما يفعله العاقلون، أما الآخرون فهذا شأن آخر»، بما يعني ضمناً أن العاقلين ليسوا مع تسمية الخطيب!
وهكذا يبدو السؤال محيراً فعلاً:
من رحم أي أزمة ستولد الحكومة إن قُدِّر لها أن تولد؟ من الخلافات العاصفة بين الصف السني عموماً وبين تحالف عون والثنائية الشيعية؟ أم من محاولات كسر رأس الثورة وتشكيل حكومة تكنو – سياسية، في وقت تضاعف فيه الهياج الشعبي بعد انتحار جورج زريق حرقاً، لعجزه عن دفع قسط ابنته في المدرسة، وانتحار ناجي فليطي شنقاً، لعجزه عن شراء منقوشة زعتر لابنته ثمنها ألف ليرة، وانتحار داني أبو حيدر الأربعاء، لعجزه عن إعالة أسرته، وانتحار مواطن رابع يوم الخميس، بعد محاولة مواطن آخر في عكار حرق نفسه لضيق ذات الحال؟
مسلسل المواعيد المتتابعة التي حُددت للكتل في الاستشارات، بدا واضحاً أنه يضع رهاناً أخيراً على موافقة الحريري؛ لكن بدا أنه من خلال إبقاء تحالف الكتلة النيابية العونية الشيعية، أي 42 نائباً، إلى نهاية الاستشارات، يُراد ضمان بقاء إمساك المبادرة بيد عون، لقذف الكرة في اتجاه الحكومة التي تناسب التحالف المذكور. ولكن ماذا نفعل بالثورة؟ وماذا نقول للمنتفضين؟ وكيف نواجه وحش الإفلاس الذي يطبق على البلد، الذي ينتحر المواطن فيه لعجزه عن شراء منقوشة، ويتدافع الناس في المصارف لسحب 300 دولار من جني أعمارهم، في وقت تتنافس فيه محطات التلفزيون في عرض مسلسلات من الفضائح التي لا تصدق، عن السرقة والنهب في دولة فالتة، وصل دينها إلى مائة مليار دولار، بينما تجاوزت المبالغ التي نهبها معظم السياسيين 320 ملياراً من الدولارات، تقول مصارف أوروبية إنها مودعة فيها؟

The post راجح الخوري: لبنان ووحش الإفلاس/Rajeh Khoury: Lebanon and the Monster of Bankruptcy appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

خيرالله خيرالله:عهد حزب الله شبه انتهى/Hezbollah’s Terrorist Era Is Almost Over

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“عهد حزب الله” شبه انتهى
خيرالله خيرالله/العرب/08 كانون الأول/2019

لو كان لدى إيران أي مشروع حضاري سياسي أو اقتصادي أو اجتماعي يمكن تصديره، لما كان العراق كلّه في ثورة على وجودها فيه ولما كان عادل عبدالمهدي اضطر إلى تقديم استقالة حكومته. ليس لدى إيران ما تصدره سوى الميليشيات المذهبية.

أوهام يروّج لها حزب الله
من أخطر ما يحدث في لبنان حاليا هو ذلك العجز لدى رئاسة الجمهورية على استيعاب معنى الذي يحصل في الشارع منذ السابع عشر من تشرين الأول – أكتوبر الماضي، أي منذ نحو شهرين من جهة وعمق الأزمة الاقتصادية التي تشمل النظام المصرفي من جهة أخرى.

يبقى الأخطر من ذلك كلّه، العجز الآخر عن فهم المعادلات الإقليمية بتأثير من أوهام يروّج لها “حزب الله”. أوهام من نوع الكلام عن السوق العراقية الواعدة للاقتصاد اللبناني، في وقت ينتفض العراق كلّه ضدّ إيران.

ليس ما يحدث في الشارع اللبناني حدثا عابرا. لو كان كذلك، لما كانت الثورة مستمرّة بطريقة أو بأخرى في كلّ المناطق اللبنانية، بما في ذلك المناطق ذات الأكثرية المسيحية والمناطق التي تقع تحت سيطرة “حزب الله” في الجنوب والبقاع.

 هناك بكل بساطة استيعاب لدى اللبناني العادي لواقع يتمثّل في أنّ شيئا ما يجب أن يتغيّر في العمق في البلد. هناك استيعاب لواقع آخر فحواه أنّ ليس صحيحا أن الأمر يتعلّق بتصفية حسابات مع سعد الحريري من أجل إثبات القدرة على تغيير اتفاق الطائف ومن أجل استعادة حقوق المسيحيين.

إن المسيحيين يقفون في مقدم الثوار، كذلك الشيعة. هذا يؤكّد أن الأزمة التي يمرّ فيها لبنان أعمق بكثير مما يعتقد ولا يمكن معالجتها برئيس لمجلس الوزراء من نوع سمير الخطيب أو من على شاكلته. لو كان الأمر كذلك، لكان مرّ محمد الصفدي ولكان في الإمكان تمرير شخص مثل فؤاد مخزومي، لا يزال يوجد من يعتقد أن لديه علاقات عربية ودولية.

ثمة حاجة إلى اعتماد المنطق والهدوء والابتعاد عن الأوهام. يقول المنطق إنّ حقوق المسيحيين لا تستعاد بسلاح “حزب الله”. هذا السلاح، إضافة إلى ممارسات الحزب في لبنان وخارج الأراضي اللبنانية، تسبب في إفقار لبنان. أدّى سلاح الحزب وممارساته إلى إفقار المسيحيين والمسلمين في الوقت ذاته. لو لم يكن الأمر كذلك، لما كان ذلك التململ في كلّ الأوساط اللبنانية وكل الطوائف والمذاهب من دون استثناء.

يقول المنطق أيضا إن “عهد حزب الله” يقترب من نهايته. استطاع الحزب الوصول إلى هذا العهد بعدما فرض رئيس الجمهورية الذي يريده وبعد انتخابات نيابية بموجب قانون عجيب غريب فرضه على اللبنانيين بما أمّن له أكثرية نيابية يتبجّح بها قاسم سليماني قائد “لواء القدس” في “الحرس الثوري” الإيراني.

في الواقع، لا توجد أي مقومات لنجاح عهد يتحكّم به “حزب الله”. هذا عائد إلى أن الحزب لا يرى في لبنان سوى “ساحة”. لبنان، بالنسبة إلى الحزب، ورقة إيرانية لا أكثر.

كذلك، يقول المنطق إنّ لبنان لا يستطيع العيش في معزل مع ما يدور في المنطقة. من يمتلك حدّا أدنى من الفهم في السياسة الإقليمية والدولية يعرف أنّ إيران الحالية، أي “الجمهورية الإسلامية” التي أسسها آية الله الخميني في العام 1979، هي ماضي المنطقة وليس مستقبلها. لو كان لدى إيران أي مشروع حضاري سياسي أو اقتصادي أو اجتماعي يمكن تصديره، لما كان العراق كلّه في ثورة على وجودها فيه ولما كان عادل عبدالمهدي اضطر إلى تقديم استقالة حكومته. ليس لدى إيران ما تصدره سوى الميليشيات المذهبية. ما يدفعه لبنان هو ثمن السياسة الإيرانية التي ظنّت أنّها سيطرت على البلد نهائيا بعد العام 2016، أي بعد وصول مرشّح “حزب الله” إلى قصر بعبدا.

ما يحدث في الشارع اللبناني ليس حدثا عابرا​​​​​
لا حاجة إلى كلام كبير من نوع الحرب على الفساد أو الحاجة إلى حكومة ميثاقية لتغطية الكارثة التي اسمها “عهد حزب الله” الذي يسيطر عليه، ظاهرا، جبران باسيل الذي يظنّ أن الطريق إلى قصر بعبدا يمرّ بطهران. الحاجة حاليا إلى إنقاذ ما يمكن إنقاذه من لبنان. الحاجة إلى التعاطي مع الواقع بدل الهرب منه عن طريق رفع شعارات مضحكة مبكية عن الوحدة الوطنية وتمثيل كل المكونات اللبنانية في الحكومة المقبلة أو المحافظة على سلاح “المقاومة”.

في أساس الانهيار الاقتصادي الذي فرض على المصارف اتخاذ إجراءات معيّنة لا سابق لها في تاريخ لبنان، منذ ما قبل الاستقلال، عوامل عدّة. من بين هذه العوامل العقوبات الأميركية على إيران وأذرعتها، وبالتالي على “حزب الله”.

كذلك، لا يمكن تجاهل أن لبنان صار معزولا عربيا منذ سنوات عدّة. جعل “حزب الله” المواطن الخليجي غير مرغوب به في لبنان. إضافة إلى ذلك، خفت إلى حدّ كبير تحويلات اللبنانيين المقيمين في الخليج. فوق ذلك كلّه، لا يمكن تجاهل أن الدولار الموجود في السوق اللبنانية بات حاجة سورية أيضا. هذا ما يفسّر إلى حدّ كبير الشحّ في العملات الصعبة في لبنان.

يستحيل التعاطي مع الأزمة اللبنانية بمفاهيم ما قبل ثورة 17 تشرين. هناك صفحة طويت. من يعتقد أن سمير الخطيب أو ما يشبهه يستطيع فتح صفحة جديدة، إنّما يعيش في ماض بعيد. بكلام أوضح، هناك أمل ضعيف في إنقاذ الوضع الاقتصادي والحؤول دون الانهيار النهائي.

يكمن هذا الأمل الضعيف في تشكيل حكومة على رأسها شخص قادر على التعاطي مع الأميركيين والأوروبيين والعرب. مثل هذه الحكومة لا يمكن أن تضمّ ممثلين لأي طرف سياسي، خصوصا “حزب الله”. إنّ الحزب مرفوض أميركيا وأوروبيا وعربيا. أما “التيّار الوطني الحر” الذي لا حاجة إلى وقائع تؤكد فشله، فهو ليس، من وجهة النظر العربية والأميركية، سوى أداة من أدوات “حزب الله”. تسلّم “التيّار” ملف الكهرباء منذ أحد عشر عاما. ما الذي تحقّق إلى الآن؟ لم يتحقّق شيء. كلّ ما في الأمر أن سيطرة مافيا أصحاب المولدات الكهربائية تعزّزت أكثر في ظلّ ما يسمّى “العهد القوي”!

هناك ثورة شعبية مستمرّة في لبنان. هل يريد “عهد حزب الله” القائم منذ 2016 أخذ العلم بذلك؟ حتّى لو همدت هذه الثورة، لا مفرّ من الاعتراف بأن تغييرا في العمق حصل فعلا. مع هذا التغيير، لا يمكن بأي شكل العودة إلى تشكيل حكومات على الطريقة القديمة وتسجيل نقاط على اتفاق الطائف، عن طريق تأخير موعد الاستشارات النيابية الملزمة.

هناك عهد شبه منتهٍ لا أكثر ولا أقل. انتهى هذا العهد، تقريبا، في وقت تشهد المنطقة كلّها تغييرات كبيرة. تشمل هذه التغييرات الداخل الإيراني حيث لم تهدأ الثورة على الرغم من اللجوء إلى القمع الشديد لإسكاتها. الأهم من ذلك كلّه أن العراق حيث سيتحدّد مستقبل النظام في إيران في حال غليان. في العراق ثورة على إيران وهذا ما يُفترض أن يعيه كلّ من يفكّر في مستقبل لبنان.

The post خيرالله خيرالله:عهد حزب الله شبه انتهى/Hezbollah’s Terrorist Era Is Almost Over appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

شارل الياس شرتوني/اوليغارشيات الزجاج الأسود

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اوليغارشيات الزجاج الأسود
شارل الياس شرتوني/08 كانون الأول/2019

تحيلنا متابعة حيثيات تأليف الحكومة الى مشهد تعودناه على مدى ثلاثين سنة: الشؤون السياسية والعامة في بلادنا تقرر ضمن دوائر مغلقة تتألف من أعضاء الاوليغارشيات الحاكمة، كما عبرت عنها بشكل بليغ الطاولات المستديرة التي حلت مكان المؤسسات الدستورية فحولتها الى صناديق إيقاعية لترديد إملاءاتها. الأمر الذي كسر مبدأ فصل السلطات وجعل من السلطتين التشريعية والقضائية مواطئ تستعمل من اجل اضفاء صبغة شرعية وقانونية على ممارسات تقف على خطوط التماس بين انتحال الصفة والتصرف الاستنسابي بالمؤسسات الدستورية.

ان اخطر ما يوصف المشهد السياسي في بلادنا هو قيامه على قاعدة التزوير وإفراغ المبنى الديموقراطي من مدلولاته، وجعله غطاءا ليس الا لتمويه تقاسم النفوذ السياسي بين الاوليغارشيات السياسية السنية والشيعية والدرزية ومواليها في الاوساط المسيحية، مظللة بسياسات النفوذ الاقليمية على تبدل مرتكزاتها (سورية، سعودية، إيرانية…).

لقد لجأت الى تورية الزجاج الأسود التي استعرتها من مواكب سيارات الاوليغارشيات لتظهير واقع الطلاق بين المجتمع المدني والنوادي المغلقة التي بنت كياناتها على حساب الارث الديموقراطي بمكوناته المدنية والمؤسساتية والثقافية التي طبعت الكيان السياسي اللبناني على الرغم من واقع عدم الاستقرار المديد الذي لازم مئوية دولة لبنان الكبير.

المشهد السياسي الحاضر يعيد تكرار السناريوات المألوفة التي تنبئنا ان الاوليغارشيات تتابع مداولاتها في حال من التعامي الإرادي عما جرى ويجري منذ ما يقارب الشهرين، ودون اي اعتبار لحيثيات الحراكات المدنية والثورة المواطنية وما تؤشر اليه من ضرورة وضع حد للاقفالات السياسية، وفتح باب التسوية على اساس المشاركة في وضع اسس المرحلة الانتقالية، والتأسيس لخيارات سياسية ودستورية تعلن بداية الجمهورية الثالثة مع بداية المئوية الثانية للجمهورية اللبنانية المفترضة.

الطلاق ظاهر وتجاهل الحراكات المدنية معلن وغير آبه لمؤديات هذا الاداء وتردداته المدمرة.

لقد امن واقع الاستثناء السيادي الذي يوصف اداء حزب الله حاليا، كما وصف مجمل اداءات جمهورية الطائف في السابق، الغطاء الذي يسمح لهؤلاء متابعة نهج الدوائر المغلقة بحجة الحفاظ على السلم الأهلي، هذا مع العلم ان الواقع المالي والاقتصادي والاجتماعي للبلاد لم يعد قادرا على التحايل على حالة الإفلاس والركود الاقتصادي والتداعيات الاجتماعية المدمرة.

اما التحدي المطروح على الحركات المدنية فهو ضرورة كسر الاقفالات الاوليغارشية ورفض دورها التحكيمي لصالح آلية انتقالية توافقية مبنية على اساس التفاهم حول الأولويات الإصلاحية (المالية والاقتصادية والتجهيزية والاجتماعية والتربوية والبيئية،…) والتمهيد لمرحلة ترسي الخيارات التأسيسية للمئوية الثانية ان كتبت لها الحياة.

ان الفشل في ارساء توافق مبدئي حول موجبات السلم الأهلي والخيارات الاصلاحية هو مدخل لتداعيات مدمرة على كل المستويات، ودخول البلاد في دوامات الفوضى الاقليمية المفتوحة.

اخيرا لا آخرا، على حزب الله ان يعي حدود سياسة الممانعة، والتعطيل الاستنسابي للواقع السيادي، ليس فقط من منطلقات مبدئية تبدو غير ملزمة له من وجهة نظر حساباته الاستراتيجية التي تتجاوز المدى الدولاتي اللبناني، بل من وجهة نظر واقعية تمليها حدود قدرته العسكرية والتدبيرية، وخطر دخول البلاد في خضم الصراعات الإقليمية المفتوحة وتداعياتها المدمرة، وله ولنا أمثلة بليغة مع حرب ٢٠٠٦ ومفاعيل الحرب السورية.

The post شارل الياس شرتوني/اوليغارشيات الزجاج الأسود appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 08 كانون الأول/2019

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 08 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 08 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 08 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 08/2019

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Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 08/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for December 08/2019

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 08/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 07- 08/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 52th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 07- 08/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 52th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 08/2019

Tites For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 07-08/2019
Israel Says Found New Hizbullah Tunnel on Border
Berri Says His Bloc to Vote for Khatib
‘Laugh at What’s Hurting You’: Lebanon Cartoonists Stir Debate
Lebanon protesters launch campaign against harassment
Hariri Asks More Nations to Help Fight Economic Crisis
Lebanon: Khatib to Be Named PM, Difficulties to Face Cabinet Birth
Batroun civic movement inaugurates the “Revolutionists’ House” on the highway’s western route
Man attempts suicide at Riad El Solh Square
Mouawad says he will name Nawwaf Salam for Premiership
Hasbani: We still rely on the right decision by the President of the Republic
Jumblatt marking his late father’s birth anniversary: We will not enter a government that has overthrown the constitutional foundations
Alain Aoun: There are differences in opinions within the Bloc in terms of naming alKhatib
Two nuns released following arrest for alleged children trafficking
Lebanon´s Journalists Suffer Abuse, Threats in Covering Unrest

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 07-08/2019
Israel Says Found New Hizbullah Tunnel on Border
Naharnet/December 07/2019
The Israeli army said it found a new cross-border tunnel dug by Hizbullah on the Lebanese-Israeli border, noting that the party had “strengthened its presence along the border area a year after discovering a network of its tunnels,” media reports said on Saturday. Israeli official Roy Levy, the Northern Border Brigade commander, was quoted as saying that “the tunnel goes as deep as 18 meters and approximately one kilometer long.”Levy said the tunnel inside has “electricity, rooms and water,” noting its depth is equivalent to the length of a building consisting of 20 floors.”

Berri Says His Bloc to Vote for Khatib
Naharnet/December 07/2019
Speaker Nabih Berri asserted the need for an “emergency” government to help Lebanon out of the crisis, noting that his Liberation and Development Parliamentary Bloc will vote for the leading candidate for the post of Prime Minister, Samir Khatib, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.
“I was initially set to name PM Saad Hariri or any figure he supports to lead the new government. But since he backs engineer Samir Khatib, my bloc and I will name Khatib,” at the binding parliamentary consultations with the President, Berri told the daily. “The real rescue for Lebanon takes place through the civil state,” added the Speaker. He also affirmed determination of the Parliament to approve the 2020 state budget before Christmas, “the Finance and Budget committee is set to finish the budget draft no later than next week,” he said.

‘Laugh at What’s Hurting You’: Lebanon Cartoonists Stir Debate

Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 07/2019
On the edges of a protest in Lebanon’s capital, 24-year-old cartoonist Mohamad Nohad Alameddine bites through sticky tape and plasters one of his political sketches to a side wall. “I haven’t been able to work with newspapers, so instead I come down and stick them up in the street,” says the unemployed artist, who graduated this year with a master’s degree in press cartoons. Until this autumn, Alameddine had been poking fun at his country’s political and economic ills in sketches he posted online. But from October 17, anti-government protests swept across the country, giving him a broader audience as protesters denounced the very same issues he had been drawing all along. In public spaces, he and friends stuck up gags about failing electricity and trash management plans, as well as sketches mocking a political class perceived as corrupt. In one cartoon, a skinny man stripped down to his underpants stands in front of a leader carried in on a gilded throne. “We want your underwear to pay back the debt,” says the moustachioed politician, clutching a lit cigar. Now in the grips of a dollar liquidity crunch, Lebanon is staggering under a public debt of $86 billion. Wherever there was a protest, “I’d go down and stick up a related cartoon,” says Alameddine, who signs his drawings as Nougature. “A lot of people encouraged me.” In late October, the government stepped down, but a deeply divided political class has yet to form a new one.
Inspiration everywhere
Last month, Alameddine drew his same long-nosed politician clutching the leg of his throne. “Don’t worry my love, I’d never leave you,” says the character he has called President Nazeeh, dressed in a rabbit-themed pyjama onesie.
Alameddine says the fictional leader is his way of criticising the traditional ruling class without naming names. “President Nazeeh headed a militia in the civil war and then became a political figure” after the 1975-1990 conflict, he says.
“We see how he deals with people, what he does under the table, what he says in public, how he manages corruption rings — but in a funny way,” he says. “In the end you want to laugh at what’s hurting you.” On the other side of Beirut, 31-year-old Bernard Hage pens away at his digital drawing board, trying out his latest idea for a cartoon. He says he gladly swapped a career in advertising for the arts several years ago, including drawing a stream of jokes under the name The Art of Boo. In May, months before the anti-graft street movement, he drew a group of men in suits sitting in the lotus position in yoga class. “Very good. Now exhale, keep ignoring the crisis,” their leotard-clad instructor says. Hage says inspiration is everywhere in Lebanon, “whether you’re in a taxi, at the vegetable shop or at the barber.”But the recent outburst of popular anger has amplified debate. “I found my place in the revolution,” says the satirical artist, who regularly posts on social media and draws once a week for a local newspaper.”My role is to keep the conversation going, shed light on issues.”
Emigrate? –
To celebrate one month since the protests began, he drew a vision for the country 10 years from now, featuring “things we’d like to hear in the near future”. On a page spread in French-language newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour, he imagined a world with smooth public transport and no daily electricity cuts. “Daddy, what’s a dijoncteur?” one girl asks, using the French word for the circuit breaker that trips before power outages. A stick figure clings to a pole in a subway, as a voice overhead calls out the next stop in central Beirut. “Change here for line 1&4. Mind the gap,” it says. To avoid offending anyone, Hage says he rarely names political leaders, and depicts them all across the board as besuited figures with little bellies poking out. “I discovered there’s a big gap between my generation and my parents’ generation,” he says. “They lived through the war, saw death and were terrified by it — and it’s not easy for them to leave that behind,” or call out their traditional leaders, he says. But he says it is time to put the younger generation in charge to fix the country’s mounting woes — a polluted environment, a crashing economy, and high youth unemployment. Otherwise, the cartoonist — also a musician and occasional writer — says he will follow his peers and emigrate. “I’m learning German because, if this doesn’t work out, I will leave and not come back.”

Lebanon protesters launch campaign against harassment
Zeina Khodr/Arab News/December 07/2019
As anti-establishment protesters call for an end to corruption, women too are fighting a system that they blame for sexual assaults.
Lebanese anti-political establishment protesters have been calling for an end to the sectarian power-sharing system, which they blame for corruption and mismanagement. Women too are fighting to change that system they say has been unjust to them. Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reports from Beirut, where the protest movement has given them a new platform to raise their voices against sectarian politics, harassment and sexual assaults.

Hariri Asks More Nations to Help Fight Economic Crisis

Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 07/2019
Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday asked another group of foreign allies to secure credit lines for imports to aid Lebanon’s stricken economy, after sending a similar message a day earlier asking Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, China, Russia, Italy and the United States. Hariri, in a statement issued by his media office, openly asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to help Lebanon secure credit lines for imports as part of his efforts to ease the liquidity crisis and secure food stuff and raw materials. Lebanon’s dollar-starved economy faces an import crisis after weeks of political and economic turmoil. The appeal was part of an effort “to address a liquidity crisis and secure basic imports” and was critical to preserving food security, the statement said. Since October 17, Lebanon has been rocked by anti-government protests that triggered a protracted lockdown and prompted the cabinet to resign. Political paralysis amid the ongoing demonstrations has aggravated a dollar liquidity crisis that since September has seen banks limit dollar withdrawals and transfers. With banks failing to provide sufficient dollars, the greenback is selling for more than 2,000 Lebanese pounds on the parallel market for the first time since it was officially pegged at 1,507 in 1997. Importers of fuel, medicines and wheat warn of shortages if the situation persists. Petrol station owners have already staged strikes, and hospitals have threatened to stop admitting patients, fuelling public panic. To ease the crisis, the central bank said in October it would facilitate access to dollars at the official rate for importers of fuel, wheat and medicine. Other sectors have struggled to obtain hard currency for imports however, with banks capping dollar withdrawals at $500 (450 euros) a week. President Michel Aoun said on Friday the economy and finance would be among the main priorities of the next government, which is yet to be appointed. The formation of a new cabinet, the embattled president said, would encourage donors to unlock an $11 billion (10 billion euro) aid package pledged at a conference dubbed CEDRE held in Paris in April 2018. Parliamentary consultations to select the cabinet are scheduled to start on Monday. Even before protests began, economic growth had stalled following repeated political deadlocks in recent years. The economic malaise was also compounded by the war in neighbouring Syria. Public debt has reached more than $86 billion, over 150 percent of GDP, according to the finance ministry. The World Bank has warned of an impending recession that may see the proportion of people living in poverty climb from a third to half the population. Unemployment, already above 30 per cent for young people, would also increase, it has said. In the span of a week over 60 companies notified the labour ministry of plans to lay off employees, caretaker minister Camille Abousleiman told LBC television on Friday. The union of restaurant and bar owners has said that 265 establishments have closed since the protests began in early October, and warned that this figure could rise to 465 by the end of the year.

Lebanon: Khatib to Be Named PM, Difficulties to Face Cabinet Birth
Beirut- Mohammed Shokair/Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 7 December, 2019
The postponement of the binding parliamentary consultations to name a new prime minister until Monday has raised doubts over difficulties to form the upcoming cabinet, amid reports that the initial aim was to market for a new candidate, namely Beirut MP Fouad Makhzoumi.
The latter has held extensive talks in Beirut and headed on Saturday to Rome, where caretaker Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil is participating in an international conference. On the other hand, ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that businessman Samir Khatib remained the only consensual figure to form the new government, unless escalatory measures by protesters lead to the re-postponement of Monday’s consultations. The sources underlined that caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri would support the nomination of Khatib. They stressed that Hariri wanted “to get the country out of the vicious circle,” adding: “The major crises that Lebanon is going through are in need of a government that is able to provide solutions, even in stages, and that the extension of the caretaker government means taking the country into a deadly vacuum.”But Khatib’s appointment will not be as easy as it looks. Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s bloc insists on naming Hariri, while the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb parties reject any politically-impregnated government, out of their conviction that only a technocrat cabinet would meet the demands of the street and save the country from a further deterioration of the economic situation. Other parliamentary blocs and independents are yet to announce their position, while Taymour Jumblatt’s Democratic Gathering is likely to support Khatib, despite its implicit sympathy with the street movement. As for the Shiite duo, represented by Hezbollah and Amal movement, it would support the candidacy of Khatib, unless emerging developments before the completion of the consultations reshuffled the papers. The two parties would have preferred Hariri to assume the premiership, due to several considerations, including the good harmony between them under the caretaker government. However, the appointment of the new prime minister is only the first step in a much-complicated phase to agree on the new government lineup, in light of the protesters’ rejection of any “despised” figures and the premier’s ability to discard those persons.

Batroun civic movement inaugurates the “Revolutionists’ House” on the highway’s western route
NNA/December 07/2019
Participants in the protest movement in Batroun celebrated this evening the opening of the “House of the Revolutionists” in the Batroun area on the western route of the highway in Kafar-abida, with the aim of bringing Batroun back to the revolution map, as the “revolution fist” was raised in the presence of members of the Akkar civil movement. “It is the home of all and it is the house of education and knowledge,” said Fadi Muzaya in his inaugural word, stating that daily meetings will take place in the evening between seven and ten o’clock, according to a schedule to be announced later. Journalist Asaad Bishara, in turn, called for a minute of silence for the lives of the martyrs of the October 17 Revolution, followed by brief words by Dr. Raymond Mitri and Economist Rock Mhanna that focused on the popular movement and its goals, in addition to the economic situation in Lebanon. The opening ceremony concluded with a series of national songs presented by artist Peter Boutros.

Man attempts suicide at Riad El Solh Square
NNA/December 07/2019
A man in his mid-fifties attempted to commit suicide at Riad al-Solh Square in Downtown Beirut this evening, by pouring gasoline on his body and then setting himself on fire, NNA correspondent reported. Protesters in the Square hurried to throw blankets on the man to save him, after which he was rushed by the Lebanese Red Cross to Geitaoui Hospital for medical treatment, where it was reported that he suffered moderate burns to his legs. The man was threatening since the morning hours to burn himself, until he decided to carry out his threat this evening, NNA correspondent indicated.

Mouawad says he will name Nawwaf Salam for Premiership
NNA/December 07/2019
“Independence Movement” Head, MP Michel Mouawad, announced in a statement Saturday that he will be naming Ambassador Nawwaf Salam to head the next government during the binding parliamentary consultations called for by His Excellency President Michel Aoun on Monday.
“Based on my conviction, the prelude to Lebanon’s rescue begins with forming a government that is able to restore confidence, reconciliation and reform,” he said. “With full respect for Engineer Samir al-Khatib, who does not bear any personal responsibility for what is going on, it is clearly evident that his name does not meet the required popular support, and will not secure the necessary positive shock neither to the Lebanese street nor to the financial and economic markets,” Mouawad explained. “Hence, he will not be able to reconcile the Lebanese with their institutions, a necessary prerequisite for restoring confidence and social stability,” he added. Mouawad considered that the “soon-to-be-formed” cabinet currently under political deliberation constitutes a faded version of the previous government, and therefore will not be capable of carrying out any reform and rescue operations, nor will it be able to reconcile Lebanon with the Arab and international community in order to ask them to contribute to the required rescue process. He, thus, concluded by reiterating the need for forming a mini-government of specialists who will restore the confidence of the Lebanese in their constitutional institutions and have the support of political forces on the basis of solid national understanding, in addition to reconciling Lebanon with the Arab and international societies.

Hasbani: We still rely on the right decision by the President of the Republic
NNA/December 07/2019
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani said Saturday in an interview with “Orient Radio Station” that hopes are still pinned on the right decision to be adopted by the President of the Republic, while remaining alert towards those who try to exploit this post for personal gains.
Hasbani hoped that the President’s decisions would stem from his personal faith and conviction, and not from the fragmented or false data reaching him. “The revolution until now is taking its right course” he said, adding that “populism is harmful to the values that the people demand in the squares, so awareness is necessary.”Hasbani urged protesters to give attention to the root cause of the problem that has accumulated the state’s debts. He regretted that the Lebanese citizens, who have suffered and paid a lot, are the ones still required to shoulder the burden of the defect caused by the governing authority that has led to the accumulated debts. Over Monday’s binding consultations, Hasbani disclosed that “the Lebanese Forces Party is inclined not to nominate a prime minister to form the government,” while hoping that “the work of the people on the street will bear fruit to recreate Lebanon’s spirit and independence.”
“We are very late in addressing the financial and economic conditions, and the plan of action to get out of the existing reality has become more complicated today,” deemed Hasbani. “We must start by creating stability in the financial and monetary situation, and by restoring confidence and forming a government of independent specialists, one whose decisions are firm and strict, and by adopting giant temporary measures,” he corroborated. “We need an exceptional government,” he stressed, pointing to an international decision not to interfere with Lebanon’s decision. “However, there is a decision not to allow for Lebanon’s collapse,” Hasbani underlined.

Jumblatt marking his late father’s birth anniversary: We will not enter a government that has overthrown the constitutional foundations
NNA/December 07/2019
Progressive Socialist Party Chief, Walid Jumblatt, stressed Saturday that “there is no solution except through forming a government that is in line with the principles of the Taif and the Constitution.” “We do not want to enter a government that has undermined the constitutional foundations, as practiced by some till this moment,” he said. “We are going through an extraordinary period of difficulties and challenges, and more dire times still await us…We have no solution except through social solidarity, mutual support and a duly formed government according to the Taif and the Constitution,” he reiterated.
Jumblatt’s words came on the birth anniversary of his martyr father, Kamal Jumblatt, during a commemorative stand near his shrine in Al-Mukhtara today, where thousands of citizens and supporters from the mountain and other regions gathered to pay tribute to the memory of the late Druze leader as accustomed every year. “We remind those who call for regime change that Kamal Jumblatt was the first to call for such change, and fought corruption when he brought down the symbol of corruption in 1952 in the White Revolution,” recalled Jumblatt. He added: “Kamal Jumblatt was the first to confront the Syrian regime’s aggression against Lebanon and was assassinated by them, and he was the first to call for secularism with the Lebanese national movement.””The march continues, and we will pursue it no matter the odds and arrows from here and there…We do not care, for the march continues,” Jumblatt underlined. “As I mentioned before, we are going through very trying times, and I am ready in the Party to provide all possible support in order to ensure our steadfastness and survival,” vowed the PSP Chief.

Alain Aoun: There are differences in opinions within the Bloc in terms of naming alKhatib
NNA/December 07/2019
MP Alain Aoun pointed Saturday to the differences in perspectives within his Parliamentary Bloc regarding the naming of Samir al-Khatib as the new prime minister, noting that the prevailing approach is to allow the Bloc members their liberty in this respect. “What is required is the formation of the government in order for the country to emerge from its crisis,” emphasized Aoun in an interview with “Voice of Lebanon” Station. “We need to set a horizon to overcome the current economic and financial crisis,” he reiterated. Aoun highlighted the need to invest time for additional consultations at this stage.

Two nuns released following arrest for alleged children trafficking
NNA /December 07/2019
Two nuns were released Saturday after being arrested Friday night for refusing to execute a judicial order to hand over minors from an organization to the security forces, NNA resporter said.

Lebanon´s Journalists Suffer Abuse, Threats in Covering Unrest
Beirut- Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 7 December, 2019
Lebanese journalists are facing threats and wide-ranging harassment in their work – including verbal insults and physical attacks, even death threats – while reporting on nearly 50 days of anti-government protests, despite Lebanon´s reputation as a haven for free speech in a troubled region.
Nationwide demonstrations erupted on Oct. 17 over a plunging economy. They quickly grew into calls for sweeping aside Lebanon´s entire ruling elite. Local media outlets – some of which represent the sectarian interests protesters are looking to overthrow – are now largely seen as pro- or anti-protests, with some journalists feeling pressured to leave their workplaces over disagreements about media coverage. The deteriorating situation for journalists in Lebanon comes despite its decades-old reputation for being an island of free press. Amid Lebanon´s divided politics, media staff have usually had wide range to freely express their opinions.
The acts of harassment began early in the protests. MTV television reporter Nawal Berry was attacked in central Beirut in the first days of the demonstrations by supporters of the militant group Hezbollah and its allies. They smashed the camera, robbed the microphone she was holding, spat on her and kicked her in the leg. “How is it possible that a journalist today goes to report and gets subjected to beating and humiliation? Where are we? Lebanon is the country of freedoms and democracy,” Berry told The Associated Press.
Outlets like MTV are widely seen as backing protesters´ demands that Lebanon´s sectarian political system be completely overturned to end decades of corruption and mismanagement.
Rival TV stations and newspapers portray the unrest – which led to the Cabinet´s resignation over a month ago – as playing into the hands of alleged plots to undermine Hezbollah and its allies. Many of those outlets are run by Hezbollah, President Michel Aoun´s Free Patriotic Movement, and the Amal Movement of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. These media regularly blast protesters for closing roads and using other civil disobedience tactics, describing them as “bandits.”
For Berry, the media environment worsened as the unrest continued. On the night of Nov. 24, while she was covering clashes between protesters and Hezbollah and Amal supporters on a central road in Beirut, supporters of the Shiite groups chased her into a building. She hid there until police came and escorted her out. “I was doing my job and will continue to do so. I have passed through worse periods and was able to overcome them,” said Berry, who added she is taking a short break from working because of what she passed through recently.
Hezbollah supporters also targeted Dima Sadek, who resigned last month as an anchorwoman at LBC TV. She blamed Hezbollah supporters for robbing her smartphone while she was filming protests, and said the harassment was followed by insulting and threatening phone calls to her mother, who suffered a stroke as a result of the stress. “I have taken a decision (to be part of the protests) and I am following it. I have been waiting for this moment all my life and I have always been against the political, sectarian, and corrupt system in Lebanon,” said Sadek, a harsh critic of Hezbollah, adding that she has been subjected to cyberbullying for the past four years.
“I know very well that this will have repercussions on my personal and professional life. I will go to the end no matter what the price is,” Sadek said shortly after taking part in a demonstration in central Beirut.
Protesters have also targeted journalists reporting with what are seen as pro-government outlets. OTV station workers briefly removed their logos from equipment while covering on the demonstrations to avoid verbal and physical abuse. The station is run by supporters of Aoun´s FPM.
“The protest movement has turned our lives upside down,” said OTV journalist Rima Hamdan, who during one of her reports slapped a man on his hand after he pointed his middle finger at her. She said the station´s logo “is our identity even though sometimes we had to remove it for our own safety.”
Television reporters with Hezbollah´s Al-Manar and Amal´s NBN channels were also attacked in a town near Beirut, when they were covering the closure of the highway linking the capital city with southern Lebanon by protesters. In a video, an NBN correspondent is seen being attacked, while troops and policemen stand nearby without intervening.
“This happens a lot in Lebanon because some media organizations are politicized. No one sees media organizations as they are but sees them as representing the political group that owns them,” said Ayman Mhanna, director of the Beirut-based media watchdog group SKeyes.
“The biggest problem regarding these violations is that there is no punishment,” Mhanna said. Authorities usually fail to act even when they identify those behind attacks on journalists, he added. Coverage of the protests also led to several journalists resigning from one of Lebanon´s most prominent newspapers, Al-Akhbar, which is seen as close to Hezbollah, and the pan-Arab TV station Al-Mayadeen, which aligns closely with the policies of Iran, Syria, and Venezuela.
Joy Slim, who quit as culture writer at Al-Akhbar after more than five years, said she did so after being “disappointed” with the daily´s coverage of the demonstrations. She released a video widely circulated on social media that ridiculed those who accuse the protesters of being American agents.
Sami Kleib, a prominent Lebanese journalist with a wide following around the Middle East, resigned from Al-Mayadeen last month. He said the reason behind his move was that he was “closer to the people than the authorities.”
“The Lebanese media is similar to politics in Lebanon where there is division between two axes: One that supports the idea of conspiracy theory, and another that fully backs the protest movement with its advantages and disadvantages,” Kleib said.

Titles For The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 07-08/2019
Lebanon PM widens plea to secure food imports/Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 07/2019
Milking Iraq and Lebanon for Iran’s Benefit/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 07/2019
Lebanon and the Monster of Bankruptcy/Rajeh Khoury/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 07/2019
NAYA| Speak up, survivors, it’s time/Fatima Dia/Annahar/December 07/2019
Rafik Hariri’s biggest legacy: giving Lebanese protesters courage/Michael Karam/The National/December 07/2019
Beirut Chants Festival: A revolutionary Christmas concert/Sandra Abdelbaki/Annahar/December 07/2019

The Latest Lebanese LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on December 07-08/2019
Lebanon PM widens plea to secure food imports
Najia Houssari/Arab News/December 07/2019
Hariri calls on UK, Spain, Germany for help over acute ‘liquidity shortage’
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Saturday added Germany, Britain and Spain to the list of countries he has asked for help securing imports of food and raw materials amid an acute dollar shortage. The Lebanese leader’s appeal to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez follows an earlier plea to Saudi Arabia, France, Russia, Turkey, the US, China and Egypt. Lebanon’s call for help highlights the dire state of its economy, which is plunging deeper into recession with warnings by the World Bank of “increasing economic and financial pressures.” Hariri has called on “friendly countries” to help “address the liquidity shortage, and provide credits for imports to preserve food security and provide raw materials for production.”
The year-long financial crisis in the country has been made worse by strict bank limits on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad.
Widespread civil unrest and anti-corruption protests directed at the authorities led to the resignation of the government 40 days ago. With no agreement on a replacement PM, the country has been in a state of political deadlock for more than a month.It is not clear whether parliamentary consultations on Monday will lead to the appointment of a new PM following disagreement between President Michel Aoun and Hezbollah, which want a techno-political government, and Hariri, who wants a government of experts. Activists on Saturday highlighted the country’s growing economic woes by organizing donations in front of the central bank to help the needy.
The economic stagnation can be felt in Beirut markets, with dozens of shops closed and supermarket shelves lying empty as people prepare for the holiday season. More than 260 food establishments have been forced to close in the past two months, according to a management syndicate, with the number expected to rise to 465 by the end of the month. “The crisis is not recent,” said Tony Eid, head of the Beirut Traders Association. “Lebanon is witnessing a lack of liquidity among banks and consumers, and recent developments have aggravated the crisis. “Hundreds of establishments, including clothing stores and restaurants, are closing, while major importers are struggling to import from abroad,” he said.
“Lebanon is sick and is being treated with painkillers with no signs of early recovery.” Pierre Achkar, head of the Hotel Owners Association, said that the hotels occupancy rate outside Beirut is “zero,” while it ranges between 7 and 12 percent in the capital. “This is the sector’s worst crisis in its modern history,” he added. “Beirut was trying to restore its importance before the crisis, but with reduced banking facilities, we cannot expect tourists to come to Lebanon,” he said. “We are working on a campaign to encourage tourism, but we still have no hotel reservations, which means they have booked somewhere else.”
Achkar said that hotels had shut down 80 percent of their operations, closing some floors and restaurants, in a bid to stay afloat. Meanwhile, Kamil Abu Suleiman, the caretaker government’s labor minister, formed an emergency committee to oversee legal disputes following collective dismissals.
The ministry considered that “any dismissal carried out without its permission is considered an arbitrary dismissal,” he said. “All those who fall victim to such measures and do not receive their legal compensation should consult the ministry.”

Milking Iraq and Lebanon for Iran’s Benefit
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 07/2019
Protests in Basra, Beirut, and elsewhere thwart Iran’s most important political plan, which is building a regional market under its control.
The uprisings are a development that the leaders in Tehran did not anticipate, as they had regarded Iraq and Lebanon as subordinate states, whose task was to host a land corridor linking Tehran to Beirut. The Iranian plan, however, is falling apart in Iraq and shrinking in Lebanon as a result of the hostile protests against it. This was reinforced by protests against the regime that erupted simultaneously in all Iranian cities.
The market plan was mentioned in a speech delivered by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. In his speech, he revealed the plan to exploit the Iraqi market by linking it to Syria and Lebanon through the so-called Iranian land corridor.
In his televised speech last month, Nasrallah said: “What is the opportunity? It is Iraq. Iraq is a big and rich country. We have one problem. How would Lebanon’s agricultural products reach Iraq? How would the Lebanese industrial production reach Iraq? What would all this lead to? It will reactivate the agriculture sector, revive the factories, open a horizon for new factories. What does all this depend on? Well, since we cannot export by sea and do not export potatoes to Iraq by air, our products must be exported by land, depending on one step: That the Lebanese government agrees with the Syrian government (to have a land link) between the crossings from Lebanon to the Al-Bukamal border crossing (between Syria and Iraq). The Americans have worked day and night to prevent the opening of the latter. One of the reasons for the (US) outrage against the Iraqi Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, is his insistence on opening the Al-Bukamal border crossing with Syria. Take it from me, and I know the details, the Americans have not spared any means of pressure or threat to prevent the opening of the Al-Bukamal crossing. The ‘excuse/lie’ is that, through the Al-Bukamal crossing, missiles will pass to Lebanon.”
This is what Nasrallah said, and we realize that the escalation of the Syrian war has been taking place in unison with a project of Iranian domination by armed force in three countries — Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon — with an action plan to control all their markets.
In his speech, Nasrallah focused on the Iraqi border crossing with Syria because it is, indeed, the gateway for the militias and missiles of the Iranian project, in addition to potatoes and other goods. The Iranian regime is unable to transport these militias and missiles by air or sea, and has discovered that using distant sea lanes via the Atlantic Ocean was an expensive and dangerous operation.
What about Nasrallah’s trade integration?
The idea is not new. Before the Iranian intervention, Lebanon used to export agricultural and industrial products to the Iraqi and Gulf markets; but Hezbollah has destroyed Lebanon’s economy and stability by insisting on keeping its weapons.
Iran now intends to create its own regional economies that will bolster its political influence and war effort in the region; not to create independent economies that help the people of the countries concerned and strengthen their governments. In Lebanon itself, Hezbollah has filled its south and northeast with hashish farms and drug factories, imposed exorbitant tariffs and excluded those who disagreed with it from the market; leading to mounting hostility against it in areas such as Baalbek-Hermel.
In fact, Lebanon has lived for a decade-and-a-half under the almost total domination of Hezbollah. The result is the current deterioration of people’s living conditions, a shrinking economy, and widespread corruption.
Like the Lebanese, the Iraqi people, led by Shiites, have revolted too: Demanding decent living standards and refusing to be a “cash cow” for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its militias.

Lebanon and the Monster of Bankruptcy
Rajeh Khoury/Asharq Al-Awsat/December 07/2019
Last Wednesday, President Michel Aoun announced that parliamentary consultations would take place on Monday, thereby deferring them for five more days, 34 days after the government resigned, and 47 days after the revolution began. This happened after the end of the third meeting between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, the latter representing the Shiite duo that has been insisting for two weeks on rejecting the proposed name of Samir Khatib for Prime Minister. All of this took place before Dany Abu Haidar, a Lebanese citizen, who took his own life because of poverty and inability to support his family, was buried.
What will have changed between last Wednesday and this Monday?
Nothing at the level of the regime and the government formation facing an economic crisis that has ushered a stage of bankruptcy and collapse. There is no clear path for either the appointment of Samir Khatib nor for the return of Saad Hariri after the political settlement that led to Michel Aoun’s presidential election collapsed. The uprising, which rejects a non-technocratic government and the inclusion of the same politicians who bankrupted the country, adds to this.
So, where can we go from here?
It is not enough to talk about an economic path that leads to panic, if not to hell, after the capital control measures taken that limited cash withdrawals from banks to USD300 per week and prevented transfers overseas, and after the valid fears of ‘haircuts’ on deposits.
It is not enough to talk about a political path that leads to more complications, especially after the bickering between Aoun and the former PMs who have repeatedly accused him of disregarding the constitution and trying to return to a time before the Taef Agreement. These accusations were launched after the President had been appointing ministers before choosing their PM. In response to popular demands to abide by the constitution, it was stated that “The President is using his constitutional rights by binding the consultations to a designation of a PM and the formation of a new government to prevent the country from descending into a prolonged vacuum.”
The dispute around this continued after the alliance between Aoun and the Shite duo, upon Hariri’s insistence on the formation of a technocratic government to meet the demands of the uprising, attempted to convince Hariri to commit political suicide. They pushed him to support Mohammad Safadi’s candidacy, then Samir Khatib, announce his support in a written statement, get the approval of the Mufti, the former PMs, and to take part in this government.
After Hariri rejected the temptations and pressures to head a techno-political government which would maintain Hezbollah’s dominance in political decision-making in the executive authority, it became clear that the alliance between Aoun and the Shiite duo, i.e., Hezbollah and Amal Movement, insist on having him for several reasons. First, he is economically useful, as he can work on reactivating the CEDRE Conference aid. Second, he is a local and regional Sunni power, which is important, especially during these difficult times when Hezbollah is subjected to severe foreign pressure, sanctions, and is classified as a terrorist organization by the US. Third, his approval of a techno-political government would help Hezbollah overcome the uprising and quell the protests it has produced from Tyre and Nabatieh to Baalbeck. This is especially important as it is happening in parallel with violent disturbances in Iran and Iraq; in the latter, the protesters set fire to the Iranian Consulate three times in Najaf while chanting, “Iran out out” despite the violent repression that they faced.
Before Aoun announced Monday as the date for the parliamentary consultations, the exchanges between him and the former PMs were heated. In a statement released by former PMs Fouad Siniora, Tammam Salam, and Najib Miqati, they said, “We are alarmed by the serious violation of the Taef Agreement in its letter and spirit, and we are alarmed by the assault on the parliamentary authority to designate a PM through binding parliamentary consultations conducted by the President and the assault on the authority of the designated PM by naming what is being called a possible PM.”
Aoun responded with a statement that repeated what he has been saying for the last month. He claims the consultations that he is doing are not a violation of the constitution and the Taef accord. He accused the former PMs of not realizing the negative consequences of accelerating consultations on the country’s general situation and national unity.
All of this comes after Hariri’s statement last week, where he explicitly accused Aoun of chronically denying the gravity of the situation the country is in. That is in terms of the popular uprising and its legitimate demands to form a technocratic government, the crippling economic crisis that has put the country on the brink of collapse, and the attempts to accuse him of discarding candidates for premiership other than him. In light of these irresponsible practices, he responded to Aoun’s famous slogan that he clung to and kept the country in presidential vacuum for two and a half years “either me or no one” with the slogan “Not me, but someone else”!
The uprising has been heightened after the number of suicides due to poverty has increased. It has rejected Samir Khatib’s candidacy raising the slogan “All of them means all of them”, which is being chanted now in Iraq.
This implies the necessity of overthrowing the entire corrupt political elite. The regime and the Shiite duo have presented a new slogan in opposition, “All of us means all of us in government.” This is related to what Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad had announced about there being no alternative to a national unity government, i.e., duplicating the current cabinet, other than remaining under a caretaker government for a very long time. This means rejecting all of the uprising’s demands and maintaining the regime which rebels accuse of being corrupt and plundering public funds, at a time where Lebanon has entered real bankruptcy and the threat of complete collapse.
Last Thursday, Siniora commented on Samir Khatib’s candidacy, saying “This man’s character and his ethics are one thing, but his suitability for this exceptional stage is something else.” When asked whether he would possibly name him in the consultations, he answered, “It is only possible to predict what a reasonable person would do, as for others, that is something else.” This implies that whoever is reasonable will not name Khatib.
This leads to a very confusing question:
What crisis will birth a government? Will it emerge out of a resolution of the dispute between the Sunni politicians and the alliance between Aoun and the Shiite duo? Or will come after the revolution is quashed so that a techno-political government is formed despite the widespread outrage stemming from the series of suicides that have taken place recently, such as George Zreik burning himself alive for not being able to pay his daughter’s school fees, Naji Fliti hanging himself for not being able to buy a LBP1,000 thyme manoushe for his daughter, Dany Abou Haidar taking his own life last Wednesday for not being able to support his family, and a fourth citizen committing suicide on Thursday after another citizen tried to burn himself alive in Akkar because of financial pressure?
The upcoming dates assigned for consultations are the last hope for Hariri’s approval. Still, it appears that the parliamentary alliance between Aoun and the Shiite duo, which includes 42 MPs, will be maintained until the end of the consultations in order to guarantee that Aoun remains in charge and push for a government that serves the interests of that alliance.
But what do we do with the revolution and the rebels? How do we confront the monster of bankruptcy in a country where citizens take their own lives because they are unable to buy a manoushe? How do we confront it in a country where people rush to withdraw USD300 while TV channels compete to uncover scandals of theft and plunder, a country whose debt has reached USD100 billion while the amount that has been looted by politicians, stored in offshore European banks, exceeds USD320 billion?

NAYA| Speak up, survivors, it’s time
Fatima Dia/Annahar/December 07/2019
Today’s march demanded a safer environment and adopted a grander and more humane social perspective regarding survivors, specifically by shifting the social tendency in Lebanese culture to blame the survivor to blaming the perpetrator.
BEIRUT: People took to Hamra streets in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault, protesting against gender-based-violence on December 7. Holding banners, and chanting empowering slogans, the people marched from Bliss street to Riad el Solh.
The ongoing revolution in Lebanon has opened doorways for several discussions to take place openly. At the frontlines, the protest against sexual assault and harassment aims to remove the stigma behind these topics, and encourage survivors to speak up and pinpoint violators in order to create safer environments.
“This case of Marwan Habib is just the beginning, a guy will think a thousand times before touching a girl now,” said Noura, one of the protesters. “The most important thing is that people don’t remain silent anymore. This revolution was an opportunity for people to talk more. If you want me to count the times [a woman has been harassed]…I swear you can’t count.”
Based on a report by the Internal Security Forces from 2017, one out four women in Lebanon is subjected to sexual harassment. Six percent of Lebanese people know at least one person who has been sexually assaulted, and yet only 24 percent of the victims report the assault. In addition, 49 percent of sexual assault cases are from within the family. According to ISF, from December 2016 till the end of 2017, there was an average of 13 women reporting sexual assault cases per month.
“This protest is very important because it will give a public awareness about the struggles of women. I hope it’ll make a change if we do protests continuously,” Nay Hnein, another protester, told Annahar.
A study carried by HarassTracker in 2018 found that most men, as well as generally older women, typically blame the women who were harassed. This is one of the issues today’s protest tackled.
A video ABAAD uploaded to its Facebook page in 2017, where an actress, dressed in a skirt and a tight shirt, acted the part of a woman who had been raped, disclosed the regularity with which survivors are blamed rather than the perpetrators.
“I’m here because I want to feel safe at night,” Petra Rafeh told Annahar. “I have the right to even go to clubs and pubs and feel safe there too.”
HarassTracker’s study also found that there is a general lack of understanding of what sexual harassment or assault encompass. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines sexual harassment as “the uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature,” whereas sexual assault is defined as “sexual contact that usually involves force upon a person without their consent, or is inflected upon a person who is incapable of giving consent, or who places the assailant in a position of trust or authority.”
Within the Lebanese legislation, women and girls are protected under the law from domestic violence. Article 522, which allowed foe exoneration by marriage to the rapist, was removed in 2017; but according to a UN report of the legislation in Lebanon, there are some cases where exoneration by marriage is still allowed. In addition, there are no concrete laws that protect women from sexual harassment; the Labour Code, for example, doesn’t prohibit workplace sexual harassment. Protesters on the street today are not only showing support to survivors, but fighting measures that are structurally harmful to women.
“Women’s fight against the system is the same fight against the government,” said Julia, another protester on the street. “It’s one patriarchal misogynist system that puts us all in danger.”
Today’s march demanded a safer environment and adopted a grander and more humane social perspective regarding survivors, specifically by shifting the social tendency in Lebanese culture to blame the survivor to blaming the perpetrator.
“Collectively, we encourage each other. One voice doesn’t do much, but the more voices join, the stronger you become, and the more people will grow braver to talk,” said Noura.
Manal Makkieh contributed to this article.
Welcome to “NAYA,” the newest addition to Annahar’s coverage. This section aims at fortifying Lebanese women’s voices by highlighting their talents, challenges, innovations, and women’s empowerment. We will also be reporting on the world of work, family, style, health, and culture. NAYA is devoted to women of all generations-NAYA Editor, Sally Farhat: 

Rafik Hariri’s biggest legacy: giving Lebanese protesters courage
Michael Karam/The National/December 07/2019
A man with good intentions and a bold vision, the late prime minister’s assassination sparked the Cedar Revolution that has set the template for today’s uprising
In February 1992, I arrived in Lebanon to begin a new life. The civil war had ended a year earlier, and I figured we could grow together – Lebanon and I – even if the economy was in freefall. The Lebanese pound was 900 to the dollar (16 years earlier, it had been 2.25) and by May it hit 1,621. There were riots on the streets of Beirut and then prime minister Omar Karami’s woeful government resigned. His successor Rachid Solh lasted five months, during which time the currency value slipped to an all-time low of 2,500 pounds to the dollar and the path was clear for Rafik Hariri to take center-stage and rescue the country with his vision of a tolerant and prosperous Lebanon. Over the next 13 years, until he and 21 others were killed by a roadside bomb outside the Hotel St Georges, Mr Hariri bestrode Lebanese politics. But for those of us who witnessed him riding into town, it is hard to underestimate the optimism we all felt. He offered the hope of peace and prosperity after a decade and a half of bloodshed and misery.
Mr Hariri was a man who had made his Croesus-like fortune delivering construction projects to deadline in Saudi Arabia. He had a significant role negotiating the 1989 Taif Agreement that ended the war and quietly educated hundreds of underprivileged Lebanese by providing university scholarships. Now, he was set to take centre-stage and use his network contacts – prime ministers, presidents, billionaires and kings – to help him rebuild Lebanon and restore its reputation as a glamorous entrepot.
While the Lebanese pound levelled out and even clawed back some of its value against the dollar, Mr Hariri told us he had a plan. Imagine that. Lebanon with a plan. Horizon 2000 was based on rebuilding Beirut, quite literally out of the rubble, as a gleaming new capital, a shopfront for foreign investment and tourism. His was a policy of “build it and they will come” but Mr Hariri borrowed heavily, betting on a regional peace deal and foreign inflows.
After the September 11 attacks, Arab tourists, who found themselves personae non-grata in much of the West, sought sanctuary in the new Beirut. Alamy
It nearly worked. After the September 11 attacks, Arab tourists, who found themselves personae non-grata in much of the West, sought sanctuary in the new Beirut, a city where they were welcomed; that spoke their language and where, for a price, their every need was catered to. And for a while the cash registers rang. Mr Hariri’s plan was to co-opt the former war lords and the Syrians, who ran Lebanon, while he got on with the job of fixing things, hoping that wealth and prosperity would keep everything on an even keel.
His long-time ally and friend, former prime minister Fouad Siniora, is currently in the spotlight as investigations begin into the plague of embezzlement that has brought the country to its knees. But the rest of the political class was no less skilled at siphoning off state funds, usually through the ministries, to sustain their patronage network and fill their coffers. Mr Hariri? He just wanted to get the job done.
Mr Hariri was a man with good intentions, boundless energy and a bold vision. He also inadvertently helped create a climate of corruption which sowed the seeds for Lebanon’s current crisis. But to judge him through the lens of today’s frustrations is to forget that he also guaranteed Lebanon’s existence, saving its unique identity from an even more catastrophic abyss. An intriguing parlour game is to ask what would have happened had Rafik Hariri never been born. What would downtown Beirut look like today? Who else had the clout to drag us out of the post-war quagmire? Had he not existed, progress would have been even slower and more painful. His death, alongside his economic wingman – the talented, trusted (and clean) Bassil Fleihan – sparked the Cedar Revolution. It fell short of its aims but it gave this current crop of protesters the courage to know they can effect change. And that might be his biggest legacy.
*Michael Karam is a UK-based freelance writer. He was the founding editor of Now Lebanon

Beirut Chants Festival: A revolutionary Christmas concert
Sandra Abdelbaki/Annahar/December 07/2019
This year’s Christmas spirit was intertwined with a revolutionary one.
BEIRUT: For two hours on a Friday night, people took a short break from the hustle of the current situation to indulge in a peaceful, yet revolutionary music performance. As a patriotic move around the holidays, an ensemble from the Balamand University Choir and Reem Deeb, Soprano, holder of two doctorates of Music, and a university Music Lecturer, presented a unique musical performance as part of Beirut Chants Festival’s 12th edition at the Assembly Hall of the American University of Beirut. The founder of Beirut Chants this year wanted to unite the Lebanese people through music and chants of coexistence and peace. This year’s Christmas spirit was intertwined with a revolutionary one. In order to fulfill the two spirits, the choice of songs during the performance ranged between those two ends. Songs such as “Salam” by Dr. Riad Sarkis, MD, “Rejoice Greatly” by G. F. Handel, and “O Holy Night” by A.Adam were performed. “This year, I wanted to do this performance elegantly in my way. It’s my way of delivering peace and hope in this Christmas,” said Deeb. To her, a revolution spirit was reflected through her peaceful music performance. Goodwill and peace were the two messages she portrayed throughout the night.
What people didn’t expect, however, was a surprise song that sparked the performance and granted Beirut respect and honor in times of the revolution. For the first time this year, Deeb and Dr. Riad Sarkis prepared a surprise anthem that sounded as a perfect contribution for today’s situation.
“It was definitely a surprise, not a single person knew about it, not even the event planners,” said Deeb. From the youngest child to the oldest senior, the audience was thrilled by the impact of this anthem as the performance came to an end.
“The surprise anthem was definitely something I did not expect, yet it was a beautiful addition to this festival, especially in times of hopelessness,” said an AUB student who attended the performance. Performers also included Gina Matta Razzouk as the Ensemble director, Ignace Bteich as the pianist, Matta Matta as the Ensemble Accompanist, and Charbel Mansour as Ensemble pianist. Ensemble members included Dana Jazzar, Tatiana Metry, Karim Moutraji, WassimWehbe, Aline Saba, and Jacky Jabbour.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 07- 08/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 52th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Elias Bejjani/Hezbollah Is Stubbornly Insisting To Replicate The Puppet & Corrupted Resigned Lebanese Cabinet./حزب الله مصر على استنساخ الحكومة التبعية والإفساد المستقيلة

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Hezbollah Is Stubbornly Insisting To Replicate The Puppet & Corrupted Resigned Lebanese Cabinet

Elias Bejjani/December 08/2019

The Iranian armed Lebanese terrorist proxy, “The Party Of God”, Hezbollah, is the actual ruler of Lebanon, and it fully controls the country’s decision making process, as well as all the officials including the president, House Speaker and the cabinet.

At the present time, and as a result of an Iranian recent orchestrated parliamentary elections, and an electoral non-constitutional law that was tailored and imposed by intimation and force, Hezbollah enjoys a majority in both the parliament and the Cabinet.

The mass public peaceful Lebanese revolution that has been going on for the past 52 days has forced the cabinet to resign.

But the Occupier, Hezbollah, and its Iranian masters, are still defiant and insist to maintain the pre revolution status quo.

Since the Cabinet’s resignation, Hezbollah has been stubbornly refusing to respond to any of the revolution’s just demands, and is insisting to maintain its irony Iranian grip on the country.

Hezbollah’s leadership in both Beirut and Tehran are evilly challenging the Lebanese peaceful revolution, and through terrorism and intimidation are adamant to replicate the corrupted-puppet resigned government in a bid to maintain their occupational status.

Apparently Hezbollah’s leadership has solely formed a new puppet government that is a mere replicate of the resigned one. But it is not yet official announced.

All that is left before its official announcement is a Lebanese Muslim Sunni politician that is willing to head it, as a facade cover no more no less.

Three Muslim Sunnis are competing for the post, Caretaker PM, Saad Al Hariri, Beirut MP Fouad Makhzoumi, and the businessman Samir Al Khatieb.

The PM’s name will be known tomorrow (Monday) through the folkloric president’s consultations with the 128 Members of the Lebanese Parliament.

But the real outcome is not clear due to the fact that many Lebanese well informed analysts strongly believe that the covert-Hariri Bassil business partnership is still very sold with the Hezbollah’s blessings which means that Hariri is still the one that Aoun, Bassil, Hezbollah and Berri prefer. They know him very well because he has been serving their interests, as well the Iranian agenda.

It is worth mentioning that 74 MP’s are all in Hezbollah’s leadership pocket and under its tip, and accordingly they will blindly vote in accordance to its orders “Faraman”.

In summary Hezbollah has belligerently refused to respond to all the demands of the revolution, and definitely will by force try to hold on to the ongoing status of its occupation.

Meanwhile the mass peaceful revolution is expected to go on in spite of all the oppression that its activists are facing, while all kinds of economical hardships that the country is facing are getting worse.

In conclusion, Lebanon needs a flood of divine intervention, and the floods of water on the roads to wash the ungodly leaders out.

Our Prays go to the oppressed and occupied Lebanon that Almighty God shall always guard, protect and safeguard.

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentatorEmail phoenicia@hotmail.com media.lccc@gmail.com
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He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly/أَنْزَلَ المُقْتَدِرينَ عنِ العُرُوش، ورَفَعَ المُتَواضِعِين

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شَتَّتَ المُتَكبِّرينَ بأَفْكَارِ قُلُوبِهِم. أَنْزَلَ المُقْتَدِرينَ عنِ العُرُوش، ورَفَعَ المُتَواضِعِين
إنجيل القدّيس لوقا01/من46حتى56/:”قالَتْ مَرْيَم: «تُعَظِّمُ نَفسِيَ الرَّبّ، وتَبْتَهِجُ رُوحِي بِٱللهِ مُخَلِّصِي، لأَنَّهُ نَظرَ إِلى تَواضُعِ أَمَتِهِ. فَهَا مُنْذُ الآنَ تُطَوِّبُنِي جَمِيعُ الأَجْيَال، لأَنَّ القَدِيرَ صَنَعَ بي عَظَائِم، وٱسْمُهُ قُدُّوس، ورَحْمَتُهُ إِلى أَجْيَالٍ وأَجْيَالٍ لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَهُ. صَنَعَ عِزًّا بِسَاعِدِهِ، وشَتَّتَ المُتَكبِّرينَ بأَفْكَارِ قُلُوبِهِم. أَنْزَلَ المُقْتَدِرينَ عنِ العُرُوش، ورَفَعَ المُتَواضِعِين. أَشْبَعَ الجِيَاعَ خَيْرَاتٍ، وصَرَفَ الأَغْنِياءَ فَارِغِين. عَضَدَ إِسْرائِيلَ فَتَاهُ ذَاكِرًا رَحْمَتَهُ، لإِبْراهِيمَ ونَسْلِهِ إِلى الأَبَد،كمَا كلَّمَ آبَاءَنا».ومَكَثَتْ مَرْيَمُ عِندَ إِليصَابَاتَ نَحْوَ ثَلاثَةِ أَشْهُر، ثُمَّ عَادَتْ إِلى بَيتِهَا.

He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 01/46-56/:”Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.”

وأَخْضَعَ كُلَّ شَيءٍ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْه، وجَعَلَهُ فَوْقَ كُلِّ شَيء، رَأْسًا لِلكَنِيسَة، وهِيَ جَسَدُهُ ومِلْؤُهُ، هُوَ الَّذي يَمْلأُ الكُلَّ في الكُلّ
رسالة القدّيس بولس إلى أهل أفسس01/من15حتى23/:”يا إِخوَتِي، أَنَا أَيْضًا، وقَدْ سَمِعْتُ بإِيْمَانِكُم بِالرَّبِّ يَسُوع، ومَحَبَّتِكُم لِجَمِيعِ الإِخْوَةِ القِدِّيسِين، لا أَزَالُ أَشْكُرُ اللهَ مِنْ أَجْلِكُم، وأَذْكُرُكُم في صَلَواتِي، لِيُعْطِيَكُمْ إِلهُ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ المَسِيح، أَبُو المَجْد، رُوحَ ٱلحِكْمَةِ والوَحْيِ في مَعْرِفَتِكُم لَهُ، فَيُنِيرَ عُيُونَ قُلُوبِكُم، لِتَعْلَمُوا مَا هُوَ رَجَاءُ دَعْوَتِهِ، ومَا هُوَ غِنَى مَجْدِ مِيراثِهِ في القِدِّيسِين، ومَا هِيَ عَظَمَةُ قُدْرَتِهِ الفَائِقَةِ مِنْ أَجْلِنَا، نَحْنُ المُؤْمِنِين، بِحَسَبِ عَمَلِ عِزَّةِ قُوَّتِهِ، الَّذي عَمِلَهُ في المَسِيح، إِذْ أَقَامَهُ مِنْ بَيْنِ الأَمْوَات، وأَجْلَسَهُ إِلى يَمِينِهِ في السَّمَاوَات، فَوقَ كُلِّ رِئَاسَةٍ وسُلْطَانٍ وقُوَّةٍ وسِيَادَة، وكُلِّ ٱسْمٍ مُسَمَّى، لا في هذَا الدَّهْرِ وحَسْبُ، بَلْ في الآتي أَيْضًا؛ وأَخْضَعَ كُلَّ شَيءٍ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْه، وجَعَلَهُ فَوْقَ كُلِّ شَيء، رَأْسًا لِلكَنِيسَة،وهِيَ جَسَدُهُ ومِلْؤُهُ، هُوَ الَّذي يَمْلأُ الكُلَّ في الكُلّ.”

He has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all
Letter to the Ephesians01/15-23/:”I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason. I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

The post He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly/أَنْزَلَ المُقْتَدِرينَ عنِ العُرُوش، ورَفَعَ المُتَواضِعِين appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

الياس بجاني: الحريري شريك جبران وغطاء لاحتلال حزب الله وأخطر شخصية لرئاسة الحكومة راهناً

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الحريري شريك جبران وغطاء لاحتلال حزب الله وأخطر شخصية لرئاسة الحكومة راهناً
الياس بجاني/08 كانون الأول/2019

حزب الله الملالوي الذي يحتل لبنان منذ العام 2005 ويتحكم بحكمه وحكامه يلعب نفس لعبة ميشال عون الرئاسية مع سعد الحريري ولكن بسيناريوهات مختلفة.

الحزب وبدهاء عطل الإتيان برئيس جمهورية لما يزيد عن السنتين وأصر على عون وقال قادته بفجور ووقاحة وتحدي “يا عون يا ما في رئيس”.
واليوم الحزب يلعب نفس اللعبة بما يخص رغبته ببقاء الحريري رئيساً للحكومة مستنداً على فائض قوة سلاحه وعلى تبعية رئيس الجمهورية وعلى تخاذل واستسلام جعجع وجنبلاط، وهي لعبة مفروضة بالقوة حتى على الحريري نفسه.

قد يسأل البعض لماذا يريد حزب الله الحريري وليس أي سني آخر حتى ولو كان من التابعين له من مثل عبد الرحيم مراد أو أسامة سعد أو فيصل كرامي وفؤاد مخزومي على سبيل المثال لا الحصر.

الجواب بسيط وواضح وهو بأن كل السنة السياسيين الملتصقين بالحزب هم أوراق محروقة عربياً ودولياً ومحلياً، في حين أن الحريري اثبت للحزب عملياً وعلى مدار سنين بأنه قادر على حمايته والحفاظ على ثلاثيته اللادستورية في البيانات الوزارية، إضافة إلى أن شخصيته ضعيفة وهو غير متمرس بالسياسة اللبنانية الشيطانية ودائماً يرضخ لما يطلبه الحزب ولو بعد عناد شكلي وغير جدي أو صادق.

الحريري مستنداً على دعم الشركاء في صفقة التسوية الخطيئة (سمير جعجع ووليد جنبلاط والثنائي الشيعي والثنائي عون-باسيل)، سوّق محلياً ودولياً وعربياً لمبدأ التعايش مع احتلال الحزب وحروبه ودويلته وسلاحه ولم يخذل الحزب ولو مرة واحدة.

وكان وصل به الأمر مؤخراً إلى هرطقة اعتبار حزب الله حزبين واحد محلي، وواحد إقليمي وإعلان قبوله بشرعية المحلي.

والحريري من جانب آخر وكما يشاع بشكل ملفت هو شريك مع جبران باسيل ونبيه بري في كل ما هو صفقات وسمسرات وتعهدات وتلزيمات واستخراج نفط، إما مباشرة أو مواربة.

ولا يخفى على أحد بأن جعجع وجنبلاط هما أيضاً على خط المنافع هذا وإن كان بنسب مختلفة.

وما يشجع حزب الله أكثر وأكثر للإصرار على الحريري هو توتر علاقة هذا الأخير نسبياً مع حكام السعودية، في حين هي لا تزال جيدة مع الإمارات وقطر ومصر، وممتازة مع فرنسا التي تتواصل وتنسق باستمرار مع قيادة حزب الله وترفض وضعه على قوائم الإرهاب.

من هنا فإن كل المسرحيات الهزلية التي طُرحت حتى الآن منذ قيام الثورة واستقالة الحريري وكان حطب نارها السادة محمد الصفدي وسمير الخطيب ونواف سلام وبهيج طبارة هدفت لتجميل صورة الحريري بعين الثورة والثوار ومع دول الغرب تحضيراً لعودته لترأس الحكومة.

اليوم أُسدلت الستارة على فصل سمير الخطيب من المسرحية، وقد يستدعي الأمر إكمال المسرحية بفصول أخرى قبل عودة الحريري على رأس حكومة ملالوية تكون 100% استنساخاً لتلك المستقيلة ولكن بوجوه جديدة.

يبقى، بأن ما كان لافتاً ومثيراً لأطنان من الشكوك والمخاوف اليوم هو الظهور الإعلامي المفاجئ لما سمي هيئة تنسيق الثورة وتسليط الأضواء على السيدة كارلا علام المعروفة بقربها من باسيل ومن غيره من الربع الأورنجي. 

وقد وزعت صور لها مع بعض الأورنجيين (في اسفل 3 صورمرفقة مع التعليق) مما يزيد من القلق والشكوك والمخاوف على ما قد يكون ربما اختراقأ للثورة .

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

 

The post الياس بجاني: الحريري شريك جبران وغطاء لاحتلال حزب الله وأخطر شخصية لرئاسة الحكومة راهناً appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

فيديو وبالصوت والنص/المطران الياس عوده: هل نعيش في جمهورية اصنام ام دمى؟ هذا البلد يحكم من شخص كلكم تعرفونه ومن جماعة تحكمنا بالسلاح، اين الثقافة، والعلم والمستوى اللبناني الذي نفتخر به. شخص يرجع إليه ولا يرجع إلى الأعلى منه/Bishop Elias Aude: The country is ruled by a group with weapons

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Bishop Elias Aude: The country is ruled by a group with weapons
 NNA/December 08/2019

Bishop Elias Aude: Country Ruled by Armed Group and Person You All Know
Naharnet/December 08/2019

فيديو وبالصوت وبالنص/المطران الياس عوده: هل نعيش في جمهورية اصنام ام دمى؟ هذا البلد يحكم من شخص كلكم تعرفونه ومن جماعة تحكمنا بالسلاح، اين الثقافة، والعلم والمستوى اللبناني الذي نفتخر به. شخص يرجع إليه ولا يرجع إلى الأعلى منه.

بالصوت/فورمات/WMA/اضغط هنا للإستماع لعظة سيادة المطران الياس عودة التي ألقاها في القداس الذي أقيم في ذكرى استشهاد الإعلامي السيادي جبران التويني/08 كانون الأول/2019

بالصوت/فورمات/MP3/عظة سيادة المطران الياس عودة التي ألقاها في القداس الذي أقيم في ذكرى استشهاد الإعلامي السيادي جبران التويني/08 كانون الأول/2019/اضغط على العلامة في أسفل الى يمين الصفحة للإستماع للعظة
بالصوت/فورمات/MP3/عظة سيادة المطران الياس عودة التي ألقاها في القداس الذي أقيم في ذكرى استشهاد الإعلامي السيادي جبران التويني/08 كانون الأول/2019/

اضغط هنا لمشاهدة القداس الإلهي الذي ترأسة سيادة المطران الياس عودة اليوم في 08 كانون الأول/2019 في ذكرى استشهاد الإعلامي السيادي جبران التويني ولسماع العظة التي ألقاها بالمناسبة 

المطران الياس عوده: هل نعيش في جمهورية اصنام ام دمى؟ هذا البلد يحكم من شخص كلكم تعرفونه ومن جماعة تحكمنا بالسلاح، اين الثقافة، والعلم والمستوى اللبناني الذي نفتخر به. شخص يرجع إليه ولا يرجع إلى الأعلى منه.

وكالات/08 كانون الأول/2019

ترأس متروبوليت بيروت وتوابعها للروم الأرثوذكس المطران الياس عوده، قداسا وجنازا في كاتدرائية القديس جاورجيوس، لمناسبة الذكرى السنوية الرابعة عشرة لاستشهاد جبران تويني ورفيقيه.

وقال: “في هذا الموسم المبارك اختطف من بيننا إنسان حبيب، حمل لواء الكلمة وسيفها دون أن يخشى غدر الأشرار، فغافلوه واتفقوا أن يسكتوه، لأن كلمة الحق نزلت كالصاعقة في قلوبهم. لقد أسكتوا جبران تويني خوفا من إيقاظ الحقيقة النائمة في ظلمة العقول والقلوب، هو الذي اتخذ من الديك شعارا، إلا أن صياح الديك كان إيذانا للأشرار بأن يسلموه إلى قضاء الموت. ولكي تصدقوا أن الكلمة الحقة لا تموت، بل يرجع صداها أقوى، إسمعوا ما قاله جبران منذ سنوات طوال، وكأنه يصف الحالة الحاضرة في بلدنا الحبيب، الذي شوهته يد الفساد والخيانة والقمع. قال جبران في زمن التجسد الإلهي، بعد يومين من عيد الميلاد عام 2001: “قبل الحرب وبعدها بقي مرض العهود، كل العهود، والحكام، جميع الحكام، هذا هو السكر، هذه العجرفة التي يختالون بها على عروشهم، ويا لها من عروش مضحكة مبكية. إن الله، ناهيك بالحياة، يعلمنا التواضع، وكل القيم والأخلاق والفلسفات تدعو إلى المحبة وإلى الاعتراف بالآخر والتحاور وإياه، على أساس أن لا أحد يمتلك الحقيقة، وأن الحاكم موجود لخدمة الرعية”.

وسأل المطران عوده: “ماذا بقي من الحق والخدمة والتواضع والشورى والشفافية والعدل والانفتاح والديموقراطية والحرية، ماذا بقي منها في بلادنا؟ الجواب بسيط: لم يبق منها شيء لدى الحكام لأنهم اعتمدوا ما تعتمده الأنظمة التوتاليتارية ذات نظام الحزب الواحد والحاكم الواحد والصوت الواحد والحقيقة الواحدة، عنينا البطش والقمع واحتقار الرأي العام… إلى متى سياسة الخضوع وتسديد الفواتير عن الغير ولحساب الغير؟ إلى متى مصلحة الفرد فوق مصلحة الوطن؟ إلى متى نبقى بلا مشروع وطني قومي لبناني؟ إلى متى الصفقات والعمولات وسياسة توزيع الحصص؟ إلى متى يبقى الشعب ضحية جلاديه؟

إلى متى اغتيال أحلام الشباب… واغتيال الشباب واستمرار نزيف الهجرة؟ إلى متى ندفع ثمن تجاذبات الداخل وتجاذبات الخارج؟ إلى متى نبقى نعتمد سياسة إضاعة الفرص؟ إلى متى يبقى الشعب أسير سياسة طرف متطرف؟ هل نعيش في جمهورية أصنام أو جمهورية دمى؟ إلى متى يبقى لبنان سجينا؟ متى تزول حال النشوة الغبية القاتلة، ويعود التواضع ليسود الموقف؟ متى ينزل الحكام، كل الحكام إلى الأرض، وتتجسد أماني الشعب فيهم؟ متى يعود لبنان إلى لبنان؟” (النهار 27/12/2001)”.

وتابع قائلاً: “ثمانية عشر عاما مضت على هذا الكلام، وما من سامع أو فهيم! ألا تجسد هذه الكلمات واقع حالنا اليوم؟ إلا أن جبران كان قد أعطى الحل كي لا نصل إلى ما وصلوا إليه آنذاك، وما وصلنا إليه اليوم، إذ قال في أيلول من السنة نفسها: “لا شك في أن المرحلة تتطلب وعيا سياسيا كاملا ورص صفوف داخل الحكم بالذات، وبين الحكم والشعب، ولا سيما مع التيارات المعارضة. مطلوب من الحكم والمعارضة الارتفاع إلى مستوى اللحظة التاريخية الحادة والخطرة، والتعالي فوق الأنانيات وسياسة الزواريب، وتوحيد الموقف كي لا يصبح الجسم اللبناني تربة خصبة يستعملها هذا الطرف أو ذاك ساحة قتال وصراع على حساب لبنان وشعبه” (النهار 20/9/2001)”.

وأضاف: “ما أخاف المسؤولين، ولا يزال يخيفهم، هو صوت الحق والحقيقة، صوت الشعب الجائع والمريض والمتألم، صوت كل محب للوطن لا للزعيم، صوت كل من لا يريد الهجرة بل البقاء وتأسيس عائلة وعمل في أرض آبائه وأجداده. خافوا من هذا الصوت وما احترموه كما طالب جبران قائلا: “الشعب ليس بالقطيع وليس بالسلعة التي نستعملها حيث نشاء ودون مراجعته أو الوقوف عند رأيه، وإلا نكون قد لجأنا إلى وسائل الأنظمة التوتاليتارية والعسكرية والبوليسية. الشعب يستحق منا الاحترام، كل الاحترام” (النهار 30/8/2001)”.

وسأل: “هل نعيش في جمهورية اصنام ام دمى؟ هذا البلد يحكم من شخص كلكم تعرفونه ومن جماعة تحكمنا بالسلاح، اين الثقافة، والعلم والمستوى اللبناني الذي نفتخر به. شخص يرجع إليه ولا يرجع إلى الأعلى منه. ألا تسمعون ما يطالب به أبناؤنا في الطرقات اليوم؟ يطالبون بأن يلتفت المسؤولون إلى مطالبهم المحقة. لكن كلامهم المحق نجده يواجه بالتعامي أحيانا وبالعنف وإراقة الدماء أحيانا أخرى.

يصرخون قائلين أن احتجاجاتهم سلمية وستبقى كذلك، لكن ثمة من يشوه تلك الصورة السلمية متناسيا ما قاله جبران: “إن الشعب اللبناني يفخر بأنه شعب مسالم، سلاحه الوحدة والإيمان والحق والحقيقة، وخصوصا الصمود في وجه المؤامرات ومحاولات زرع الفتنة واليأس في النفوس! وإننا على يقين بأن السلطة محكومة بالإعدام، أما الشعب فلن يكتب له ولوطنه إلا القيامة والانتصار” (النهار 24/5/2005)”.

وتابع: “إن الولادة، يا أحبة، يسبقها مخاض أليم. اقتربت ولادة لبنان جديد يستحقه أبناؤه الذين طال عيشهم لحال المخاض. اللبنانيون الموجودون في الساحات والطرقات اليوم يضحون بالكثير من أجل مستقبل انتظره آباؤهم وأجدادهم ولم يحصلوا عليه، لكن لولا تضحيات الآباء والأجداد لما فتحت الطريق اليوم للخلاص الوشيك.

لبنان دوما لم يحافظ عليه إلا من أبنائه، لا من مسؤوليه الذين غرقوا ويغرقون في لعبة صغائرهم التي أوصلتهم والشعب إلى الهلاك. عبر جبران عن هذا الوضع منذ خمس عشرة سنة عندما قال: “للمحافظة على الهوية ينبغي المحافظة على الوطن، واليوم، ولسوء الحظ، لبنان يدفع ثمن أخطاء طبقة سياسية فاسدة ومفلسة، ولولا تمسك الشعب بهويته، لكان زال لبنان منذ زمن.

فالشعب اللبناني برهن قدرته على المحافظة على الوطن والهوية بعد مخاضات كثيرة مر بها… يجب أن نتعلم كيف ننتمي إلى الوطن، ويجب إيجاد طبقة سياسية جديدة، وعلى الشباب دفع ثمن التغيير الذي يريدونه وعدم انتظاره من أحد. فالمطلوب هو التفكير والتأسيس للمستقبل وليس العمل على تسديد حسابات الماضي” (النهار 28/2/2004). نعم، يجب أن نتعلم كيف ننتمي إلى الوطن وإليه وحده، وأن نحافظ عليه خاليا من الشوائب، كي نضمن مستقبلا مزهرا ومزدهرا يتحقق فيه حلم اللبنانيين بأن يعيشوا مكرمين في أرضهم”.

وقال: “اللبنانيون، شاباتنا وشبابنا انتفضوا على الواقع المزري وحملوا العلم اللبناني دون غيره، وطرحوا شعار العدالة الاجتماعية ومكافحة الفساد وضرورة المساءلة والمحاسبة وتحرير القضاء من التدخلات السياسية، وطالبوا بتشكيل حكومة من أصحاب الكفاءة والنزاهة والإختصاص. هل هذه مطالب خيالية تعجيزية أم إنها أبسط ما هو مطلوب لبناء دولة؟ يقولون لنا إنه صراع المحاور على أرضنا. هلا كنا أذكياء وحكماء واتفقنا على بناء دولة عصرية مستقلة ترضي طموح شعبنا، متجاهلين ما تطلبه المحاور؟

إذا اتفق جميع اللبنانيين فيما بينهم، وتخطوا خلافاتهم وارتباطاتهم ومصالحهم، هل من قوة تستطيع إحباط جهودهم؟ إذا قطعنا الطريق على الصراعات الإقليمية والدولية باتفاقنا وإصرارنا على إبعاد وطننا عنها، وكلفنا حكومة قادرة على إخراجنا من انحدارنا الجنوني نحو الهلاك، وإذا اتخذنا قرارا جديا بوقف الهدر والسرقة ومكافحة الفساد أنى وجد، وإذا اتخذنا إجراءات جذرية تؤدي إلى استقلالية القضاء ومعاقبة كل مرتكب مهما علا شأنه، وإذا تبنينا شعار “في الاتحاد قوة” وتمسكنا بوحدتنا الوطنية بصدق وبدون زيف أو مراءاة، هل يتجرأ أحد على معاكستنا؟”

أضاف: “إنها مسألة إرادة قبل كل شيء، إرادة التضحية، إرادة التخلي عن الأنانية والمصلحة، إرادة الإنفتاح على الآخر ومد يد الحوار معه والتصميم على الوصول إلى ما يجمع ويوحد عوض إبراز الفروقات والإختلافات. وطننا في حال نزاع وهو ينتظر عملا بطوليا لإنقاذه، يقتضي التخلي عن النفس من أجله، فهلا أقدمنا؟”

وختم عوده: “نعود إلى جبران الذي كتب: “الآلية المطلوبة والمرجوة هي حوار صريح وواضح وفي العمق، بعيدا من التخوين أو التهويل أو التهديد، وحوار جدي خارج إطار المماحكات والنكايات.

لا نقبل بأن يعود البعض إلى فتح بعض ملفات الحرب دون سواها من أجل زرع النعرات الطائفية وخلق أجواء تشنج لا يريدها أحد، إلا الذين يريدون الإساءة إلى الوطن ووحدته” (النهار 23/8/2001).

الدعوة اليوم هي إلى العودة إلى الوطن، إلى التضحية من أجله حتى بالنفس، كما فعل جبران، لا إلى التناحر والتقاتل، بل إلى التحاور وإيجاد النقاط المشتركة التي تؤدي بنا إلى غد أفضل.

عودوا إلى المحبة التي تتأنى وترفق ولا تحسد ولا تتفاخر ولا تنتفخ ولا تقبح ولا تطلب ما لنفسها ولا تحتد ولا تظن السوء ولا تفرح بالإثم بل تفرح بالحق… عودوا إلى المحبة التي لا تسقط أبدا (1كورنثوس 13: 4-8)”.

Bishop Elias Aude: The country is ruled by a group with weapons
 NNA/December 08/2019
Beirut’s Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Archbishop Elias Aoudeh presided over a memorial Mass service at St. George’s Cathedral in downtown Beirut this morning, marking the fourteenth commemoration of the martyrdom of Gibran Tueni and his two companions.
In his homily, Aoudeh paid tribute to the memory of Martyr Tueini, recalling the true essence of his words that still reflect on our present times. “To believe that the true word does not die, but resonates stronger, listen to what Gibran said many years ago, as if to describe the present situation in our beloved country, which was distorted by the hand of corruption, betrayal and repression,” he said.
“What remains of the truth, service, humility, deliberation, transparency, justice, openness, democracy and freedom, what is left of it in our country?” questioned Aoudeh, criticizing the current rulers for adopting the ways of “totalitarian regimes with their one-party system.”
“How long are we to continue paying the price for internal and external polarizations? How long are we to continue wasting opportunities? How long will the people remain captive to the policy of an extremist party?” Aoudeh went on to question. “This country is ruled by a person you all know and by a group that governs us with arms!” he exclaimed. The Archbishop considered that for a citizen’s identity to be preserved, the country must be preserved. “Today, unfortunately, Lebanon pays the price of the mistakes committed by a corrupt and bankrupt political class,” he said, adding, “Had it not been for the people who held on to their identity, Lebanon would have been lost a long time ago.”
“The Lebanese people have demonstrated their ability to preserve the country and identity after the many struggles it has gone through…We must learn to belong to the homeland and a new political class must be created,” he emphasized.
Bishop Aoudeh hailed the Lebanese youth’s uprising under the country’s national flag, and slogans of achieving social justice, anti-corruption, accountability, liberation of the judiciary from political interference, and forming a min-government of specialists with integrity and competence. “Are these mere fictitious demands, or are they the simplest things required to build a state?” he wondered. “The Lebanese people take pride in being a peaceful people, whose weapons are unity, faith, honesty and truth, especially their steadfastness in the face of conspiracies and attempts to sow discord and despair in souls,” the Bishop maintained. “Birth, my dear ones, is preceded by a painful labor, and the birth of a new Lebanon is approaching,” he said. “It is a question of will, above all, the will to sacrifice, the will to abandon selfishness and personal interests, the will to open up to the other and extend the hand of dialogue and the determination to reach for what unites rather than highlight the differences,” stressed Aoudeh. “Our country is in conflict and is waiting for a heroic act to save it,” he underscored.

Bishop Elias Aude: Country Ruled by Armed Group and Person You All Know
Naharnet/December 08/2019
Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut Elias Aude on Sunday decried that Lebanon is being ruled by one “person” and an “armed group.”
“Today, this country is being ruled by a person you all know, and no one is saying a word, and it is being ruled by a group hiding behind arms,” Aude said in a sermon marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of the journalist Gebran Tueni. “What has scared officials and is still scaring them is the voice of right and truth, the voice of the hungry and suffering people, the voice of everyone who cherishes the country,” Aude added.
“The ruling authority has been sentenced to death while the people and their country will only find resurrection and victory. The birth of a new Lebanon is nearing,” the metropolitan went on to say. Commenting on the protests that have been sweeping the country since October 17, Aude said the Lebanese who are on the streets are “sacrificing a lot for the sake of a future whose fathers and grandfathers had waited but did not get.”

The post فيديو وبالصوت والنص/المطران الياس عوده: هل نعيش في جمهورية اصنام ام دمى؟ هذا البلد يحكم من شخص كلكم تعرفونه ومن جماعة تحكمنا بالسلاح، اين الثقافة، والعلم والمستوى اللبناني الذي نفتخر به. شخص يرجع إليه ولا يرجع إلى الأعلى منه/Bishop Elias Aude: The country is ruled by a group with weapons appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

 إياد أبو شقرا: حيث يحكم قاسم سليماني… على مرأى من عالم صامت

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حيث يحكم قاسم سليماني… على مرأى من عالم صامت!

إياد أبو شقرا/الشرق الأوسط/08 كانون الأول/2019

بينما تعود سلطة الأمر الواقع في العراق إلى محاورة المتظاهرين المنتفضين بالرصاص الحيّ، فإن فرعها اللبناني اختار تكتيكاً مختلفاً… أكثر ملاءمة لظروف البيئة السياسية في لبنان، وطبيعة الحراك الشعبي فيه.

في العراق الملاصق لإيران، الذي يتقاسم معها وجوداً كردياً كبيراً، تحكم الشيعية السياسية علناً، ويقود الشيعة العراقيون أنفسهم الانتفاضة الشعبية ضد الطغمة التي نصّبها قاسم سليماني (قائد «فيلق القدس» في حرس إيران الثوري) كي تضرب بسيف أسيادها. ومن ثم، لا غرابة في اعتماد الأسلوب الذي جرّبته – وينتظر ألا تجرّب غيره – سلطات الملالي و«الحرس الثوري» مع انتفاضات الشعب الإيراني. عنصر آخر يميز التكتيك العراقي عن التكتيك اللبناني، هو أن التعامل الدولي مع العراق يمرّ عبر ثقب الباب الأميركي أولاً وأخيراً. وكما هو على جانب من الأهمية معروف، الولايات المتحدة هي القوة العالمية الأكبر دوراً في العراق بعد 2003، وهي نظرياً في حالة عداء – حتى الآن – مع إيران، القوة الإقليمية الممسكة بمفاصل القرار السياسي والأمني في بغداد، وبناءً عليه، لا يمكن النظر لما تفعله طهران داخل العراق من دون قراءة حساباتها في ابتزاز واشنطن… وإصرارها على الاحتفاظ بساحتها الأقرب على طريق هيمنتها الإقليمية.

الوضع في لبنان مختلف. صحيحٌ أن البلد تحكمه إيران عبر واجهتها اللبنانية «حزب الله». وصحيح أن «حزب الله» أكمل استحواذه على الحكم بصورة دستورية عبر فرضه مرشحه رئيساً للجمهورية، ثم فرضه قانون الانتخاب الذي أراده للحصول على برلمان مطواع تابع.

كل هذا صحيح. إلا أن الطائفة الشيعية، أولاً، لا تشكّل بمفردها غالبية السكان في لبنان. وثانياً، ما زال لفرنسا دور ثقافي – مذهبي تلعبه داخل البلد سمح لها بنسج علاقة رعاية، أقلّه لبعض الطوائف المسيحية التي تعيش اليوم في حالة ضياع سياسي.

فرنسا، في الحقيقة، سعت دائماً إلى تذكير اللبنانيين، وبالذات المسيحيون منهم، بأنها الأم الحنون التي تحدب عليهم، ولن تتخلى عنهم أمام غوائل الزمن… وأن سجلها «الحضاري» إزاء فكرة لبنان أقدم من وجود الكيان اللبناني نفسه.

أصلاً، خريطة لبنان الحالي رُسمت في فرنسا.

كذلك كانت فرنسا – التي لجأ إليها آية الله الخميني – الملاذ الذي قصده عدد من زعماء المسيحيين اللبنانيين إبان اشتداد قبضة الجهاز الأمني السوري – اللبناني على لبنان في فترة الحرب اللبنانية (1975 – 1990) وما بعدها، من ريمون إده وأمين الجميل… وانتهاء بميشال عون. وبعد ذلك، نسجت باريس علاقات خاصة مع رفيق الحريري، ومن ثم «الحريرية السياسية» عبر نجله سعد رئيس الحكومة المستقيلة.

وليس سراً أن موقف باريس، حتى قبل مؤتمر «سيدر»، الذي يحلم اللبنانيون أن يحمل لهم الترياق المنشود، يواصل دعم منظومة الحكم الحالي. وهو لا يكتفي بتشجيع سعد الحريري على السير في ركاب «التسوية الرئاسية» الكارثية التي حملت ميشال عون، مرشح «حزب الله»، لرئاسة الجمهورية، بل يشجعه على الصمت إزاء انقلاب «حزب الله» وعون على «اتفاق الطائف» الذي لم يحظَ في يوم من الأيام بتأييدهما.

الدور الفرنسي ناشط الآن في محاولة وأد الانتفاضة الشعبية اللبنانية، عبر الالتفاف عليها، وتبنّي التسريع بتشكيل حكومة «تخديرية» ستكون نسخة طبق الأصل عن الحكومة المستقيلة… التي كان يديرها فعلياً «الثنائي الشيعي» («حزب الله» وحركة أمل)، ويترأسها فعلياً أيضاً وزير الخارجية جبران باسيل.

اللبنانيون، وكذلك القيادتان الفرنسية والأميركية، على بيّنة مما حصل ويحصل في لبنان. الكل يعرف حقيقة الوضع. بل إن عقلاء اللبنانيين يدركون منذ بعض الوقت أن إيران تلعب بعدة أوراق في وقت واحد، أهمها:

– الورقة الأمنية – العسكرية، عبر احتكار السلاح واختراق الأجهزة الأمنية والعسكرية الرسمية اللبنانية. – الورقة الديموغرافية – الجغرافية، مستفيدة من النمو السكاني الشيعي الأعلى نسبة في لبنان، مقابل انحسار الوجود المسيحي المتفاقم بتزايد الهجرة البعيدة الدائمة.

– الورقة المالية – الاقتصادية، حيث توفّر الهيمنة الأمنية لـ«حزب الله» مناخاً حامياً ومؤاتياً لمشروع الهيمنة الاقتصادية والعقارية على لبنان، وتدعمه نشاطات الحزب المالية المعلنة وغير المعلنة في دول المهجر والتحويلات المنتظمة منها.

– الورقة الطائفية، مع تقديم طهران نفسها راعية لـ«حلف الأقليات» ضد «البحر السنّي المتلاطم» في الشرق الأوسط، عبر «حزب الله» في لبنان ونظام بشار الأسد في سوريا، وبدعم مباشر من روسيا. وحقاً، كان الدور الإيراني المشبوه في خلق «داعش» وتمويله، والإحجام عن استهدافه في المراحل الأولى من الثورة السورية المقدمة الضرورية لـ«شيطنة» السنّة، وتهميشهم، بعد تبرير تهجير 12 مليون سنّي من سوريا، وما لا يقل عن 5 ملايين سنّي في العراق، وتدمير حواضر كحلب وحمص والموصل.

– ورقة الابتزاز الدولي، بفضل استثمار الاتفاق النووي مع إدارة باراك أوباما وروسيا والقوى الأوروبية. ومحاولة زرع إسفين في جبهة المعترضين على سياسات الملالي في المنطقة ومشروعها الإقليمي من الهلال الخصيب إلى باب المندب فالخليج.

– ورقة تقاطع المصالح مع إسرائيل، بعدما تبيّن منذ 2006، ثم 2011، أن المواجهة الإيرانية – الإسرائيلية «نزاع حدود»، ولم تكن في يوم من الأيام «صراع وجود»… كما يحاول «المقاومون» التحريريون إيهامنا.

يوم غد الاثنين، ما لم تحصل مفاجأة، سيكلّف رئيسُ حكومة جديد بتولّي المنصب، الذي بدأ يعود تدريجياً إلى هامشيته قبل «اتفاق الطائف» نتيجة للإمعان في التطاول عليه وتهميشه.

يوم غد، أكرّر، ما لم تحصل مفاجأة غير محسوبة، سيشهد اللبنانيون استشارات نيابية «مسرحية» بعد أكثر من خمسة أسابيع من استقالة الحكومة، وامتناع رئيس الجمهورية – خلافاً للدستور – عن إجراء الاستشارات المُلزمة. وسيكلَّف «رئيس بالاسم»… شكّل سلفاً الذين فرضوه حكومته نيابة عنه. يوم غد، إذا سارت الأمور كما يشتهي «حزب الله»، والصامتون على هيمنته، داخل لبنان وفي عواصم القرار الدولي، ستتجاهل طبقة سياسية تحتقر شعبها وتتاجر به، وتعبث بغرائزه وتستخف بلقمة عيشه، مطالب الناس وظلاماتهم.

ستصمّ آذانها عن صراخ أطفال جياع وشيوخ عاجزين وعائلات مفجوعة بانتحار معيليها. وستركل آخر فرصة لإنقاذ ما يمكن إنقاذه في بلد… ما عاد يهمّ العالم إلا أن يصمت ويكفّ عن تصدير أبنائه إليها.

The post  إياد أبو شقرا: حيث يحكم قاسم سليماني… على مرأى من عالم صامت appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

د.فيليب سالم/عن الثورة اللبنانية التي لن تموت

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عن الثورة اللبنانية التي لن تموت
د.فيليب سالم/08 كانون الأول/2019

من زمان، ونحن ننتظر هذه الثورة. ومن زمان نحن نقول إن الذين أخذوا لبنان الى قعر الذل، لا يُمكنهم ان يرفعوه الى قمّة الكرامة.

وكم قُلنا ان مسؤولية قيامة لبنان هي مسؤولية شعبه، مسؤولية المجتمع المدني فيه؛ إذ أن السلطة السياسية لا تُريده أن يقوم من “موته”. يومذاك قيل لنا إن ذلك حلمٌ، ذلك مستحيل.

فتعال وانظر كيف تحوّل “المستحيل” اليوم الى حقيقة تملأ ساحات المدن والقرى.

تعال وانظر كيف انشق اللبناني عن طائفته ومذهبه ومنطقته وزعيمه وتسلّق الى لبنان.

هذا هو لبّ القومية اللبنانية التي أؤمن بها. القومية التي أدعو الثوار الى اعتناقها.

تعال وانظر كيف انتفض اللبنانيون وتحوّلوا من رعايا مُهمَلين الى مواطنين ثائرين.

ها قد امتلأت الأرض بالثوار، وحتى الأطفال أصبحوا ثواراً.
وها نحن جئنا اليوم ننحني أمامكم، أيها الثوار، ونقول لكم: إن السماء تُبارككم والأرض تفتخر بكم.

ولكن دعونا أيضاً نُصارحكم بأننا خائفون عليكم. خائفون لأن كثيرين يتربّصون بالثورة. يريدون إخمادها. يُريدون اغتيالها.
أتذكرون كيف اغتيلت الثورات العربية؟

هذه الثورة هي فرصتنا التاريخية. حُلمُنا الأخير. ليس مسموحاً لهذه الثورة ان تُغتال أو ان تموت. من أجل ذلك جئنا للحوار والكلام معكم.
لقد تعلّمت من تجربتي في الطب، أنه لا يُمكنك الوصول الى أهدافك إن لم تكن لديك القدرة على المثابرة، بل الإصرار عليها؛ وإن لم تكن لديك القدرة على التمرّد. التمرّد كل يوم. التمرّد على الإحباط.

فالإحباط هو العدو الأكبر للثورة. الثورة تحتاج الى نفس طويل. وإيّاكم ان تخافوا الفشل؛ فالفشل هو قسمٌ من الطريق التي تأخذكم الى النجاح. والذين يخافون الفشل لا يُمكنهم صنع النجاح.
الفشل هو أستاذ كبير تتعلم منه، ثم تتمرّد عليه.
كنا ندعو، أيها الثوار، الى التمرّد من دون عنف. فعلّمتمونا شيئاً أعظم. التمرّد بالحضارة. وها قد أعطيتم العالم أروع نموذجٍ للثورة، الثورة الحضارية. لقد ذكّرتم العالم بان الحضارة كانت هنا، عندنا، في أرضنا، قبل ان تكون في أي ارض أخرى.

إن معنى لبنان العميق يكمن في حضارته. وقوة هذه الثورة هي الحضارة. لذلك جئنا نقول لكم أنه لا يجب المحافظة على الحضارة فحسب، بل يجب الإرتفاع بها الى أعلى.

فكلّما ارتفعنا بالحضارة ازدادت الثورة قوة، وكلّما انحدرنا بالحضارة ازدادت الثورة ضعفاً. إذا رشقوكم بالحجارة فارشقوهم بالورود. وإذا صرخوا في وجوهكم بالعداء فعانقوهم بالمحبة. ونطلب منكم ألّا تعملوا بما لا يليق بكم.

إن قطع الطرق وشلّ المؤسسات التي تُعنى بمصالح المواطنين وحاجاتهم يُضعفان الثورة. فالثورة هي من أجل الناس، من أجل المواطن العادي. وقدسية الثورة هي من قدسية المواطن. والرجاء احترام الآخرين، كل الآخرين. وعدم التشهير بالذين يخالفوننا الرأي.

نحن هنا لنضمّهم الى صدورنا ولندعوهم الى الطريق الصحيح، الى الإلتحاق بالثورة.

وفي الثورة تحتل القيادة المرتبة الأولى. فالقيادة تأخذ الثورة الى النصر، ودونها تذوب الثورة وتندثر. فماذا تبقّى من الثورات العربية؟ لقد تقهقرت ودُفنت لأنها كانت تفتقر الى القيادة الحكيمة، كما كانت تفتقر الى الحضارة.

نحن نحترم براءة الثورة وعفويتها، إلّاأان البراءة والعفوية وحدهما من دون قيادة لن تتمكنا من الوصول بنا الى أهدافنا. إن الطريق الى النصر طويل. وحدها القيادة الذكية تعرف الطريق.

فمن واجب الثوار اختيار قيادة تليق بالثورة، ونطلب من هذه القيادة ان تعمل على استراتيجية طويلة المدى. كما نطلب منها القيام بتنظيم دقيق لكوادر الثوار.

إن القيادة والتنظيم هما ضروريان لحياة الثورة ودونهما تنزلق الثورة الى الفوضى وتنطفئ.

ومن أولى مهمات القيادة تحديد أهداف الثورة. يجب ان تكون هذه الأهداف على مستوى الثورة؛ أقرب الى الحلم منها الى الواقعية الضيّقة. الأهداف الكبرى تبدأ دائماً بالحلم. هذه الأهداف يجب ان تكون تسلسلية، تدريجية، تبدأ بتأليف حكومة جديدة وتنتهي ببناء الدولة المدنية.

بين الحكومة والدولة المدنية مسار طويل يمر بوقف الهدر فوراً، واستعادة الأموال المنهوبة ومحاكمة الفاسدين، الى انتخاب برلمان جديد، وعملية إصلاح جذري لمؤسسات الدولة، الى بناء الدولة.

ثم فصل الدين عن الدولة وعن التربية، وفصل لبنان عن المحاور وتحييده، الى بناء الدولة المدنية. ليومنا هذا كانت الدولة دولة أزلام. فالموظف “زلمة” المدير، والمدير “زلمة” الوزير، والوزير “زلمة” رئيس حزبه، ورئيس حزبه “زلمة” أحد ما.

لم يكن هناك من هو “زلمة” الناس العاديين او “زلمة” لبنان. إن الأزلام لا يبنون دولاً. نريد أناساً يرفضون التزلّم لأحد إلّا للبنان. نريد سلطة من الأحرار.

ويجب الإسراع في انتخابات نيابية للاستفادة من المناخ الوطني الذي صنعته الثورة على أمل ان تفرز هذه الانتخابات جيلاً جديداً من السياسيين.

جيلٌ يؤمن بأن العمل العام هو مسؤولية وليس جاهاً. وهو خدمة الناس وليس التسلط عليهم. وان خدمة الناس لهي شرف كبير.

ونعود الى بناء الدولة، إذ أن هذا هو الهدف الرئيس والأساس للثورة، وليس هناك من هدف يليق بالثورة أقل من الوصول الى بناء الدولة، الدولة المدنية.

وعندما يتكلم رئيس الجمهورية عن الدولة المدنية فهو صادق إلّا أن بناء هذه الدولة يمرّ حتماً بإطاحة الطبقة السياسية التقليدية.

إن هذه الطبقة التي حكمت لبنان منذ الإستقلال لم تشأ قيام الدولة لأن قيامها يُهدد مصالحها ويُلغي امتيازاتها.

هذا وجهٌ من وجوه الفساد السياسي الذي بسببه كان الفساد المالي وتالياً كان الإنهيار الإقتصادي. وعندما نتكلم عن الطبقة السياسية، نحن نعرف جيداً ان هناك بينهم مَن لم يكن فاسداً ولكنه كان يعرف الفاسد.

كان يعرف الفاسد إلّا أنه اختار ان يبقى صامتاً. بصمته هذا كان شريكاً في الجريمة. جريمة اغتيال لبنان.

إن البعض قد يعتقد ان لبنان يُقاس بمساحته الجغرافية، أو بعدد سكانه أو بعدد عسكره.

إن لبنان يُقاس فقط بحضارته لأنه كيان حضاري قبل ان يكون كياناً سياسياً. وان كانت هناك من عظمة في هذا الشرق فهي في لبنان.
وحده لبنان من دول الشرق كلها هو رمز التعددية الحضارية ومعانقة الآخر.

وحده رمز انصهار حضارات الشرق والغرب في حضارته.
فهو في الجغرافيا مُكبّل في أرض الشرق، أما في الحضارة فهو يعيش في العالم.

كثيرون من أهله لم يعرفوه. كثيرون أهملوه، وكادوا ان يبيعوه. الى أن جاء الثوار فحرّروه ونفضوا غبار الموت عن وجهه.

* الدكتور فيليب سالم، طّبيبُ وباحث وكاتب وأستاذ جامعي ومستشار دولي، يحمل الآن مسؤولية ادارة “ساينت لوك”، المركز الطّبي الطّليعي في الولايات المتحدة لمعالجة السرطان.

The post د.فيليب سالم/عن الثورة اللبنانية التي لن تموت appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

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