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شارل الياس شرتوني/حزب الله والاوليغارشيات والتدمير المنهجي للدولة اللبنانية

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حزب الله والاوليغارشيات والتدمير المنهجي للدولة اللبنانية
شارل الياس شرتوني/27 كانون الأول/2019

ثمة نقطة تقاطع تجمع حزب الله والاوليغارشيات الحاكمة في هذا البلد، هي تشبثهم بالاقفالات السياسية، والامتيازات المالية والاقتصادية التي مكنتهم من تحويل الدولة اللبنانية الى متغير تابع لسياسات النفوذ، وتثبيت الطابع الريعي للدولة والاقتصاد، وتفكيك أوصال النظام الديموقراطي لحساب السياسات الزبائنية التي قوضت اركان دولة القانون ( الحقوق الأساسية والولاءات المدنية، وصدقية التمثيل السياسي، واستقلالية المواطنين المعنوية والادائية، وتعمم الفساد على كل المستويات ). هذه الاستنتاجات تظهرها التطورات السياسية الأخيرة لجهة تمدد الفراغ الحكومي والإبهام الذي يحيط الأوضاع المالية:

أ- ان التعثر المتمادي لتأليف الحكومة عائد لاعتبارين، الأول يعود للطابع المفاجىء للثورة المدنية التي أطاحت بشرعية السياسات الاوليغارشية وممثليها، والثانية ترجع الى نظام المحاصصة بين أطراف النادي الاوليغارشي المغلق. سياسة التمادي في الفراغ الحكومي ترمي الى استنزاف الحراكات المدنية، وتفعيل تناقضاتها والحؤول دون تحولها الى منازع فعلي لها، والحؤول دون فتح باب المشاركة السياسية وانهاء واقع الاوليغارشيات السياسية المقفلة. ان حيثيات تكليف حسان دياب والمداولات المحيطة بتشكيل الحكومة، تعيدنا الى سياسة وضع اليد التي صاغها حزب الله منذ نهاية الانتخابات النيابية الأخيرة والتي تستكمل اليوم من خلال تأليف حكومة تابعة. الحول السياسي لحزب الله يعود الى سوء تقدير قدراته على صعيد المبادرة السياسية والعمل الحكومي، وهامش حركته الإقليمية والدولية الضيق والمحفوف بالمخاطر، واعطابه الاستراتيجية لجهة انخراطه المباشر في نزاعات الداخل السوري، وتداعيات الصراع السني-الشيعي اقليميا، واستدعاء النزاع العسكري الأرعن مع اسرائيل. ان تخليه عن النهج السياسي الميثاقي والتوافقي لحساب وضع اليد المباشرة على الحكم في البلاد سوف ينتهي بالفشل، وادخال البلاد في متاهات نزاعية مدمرة ومفتوحة على كل مصادر الصراعات الإقليمية. ناهيك عن حالة عداء مفتوحة مع غالبية الفرقاء السياسيين والمدنيين اللبنانيين، بما فيهم أوساط المعارضة الشيعية المتنامية، وفي حالة انكشاف تامة حيال سياسات العقوبات المالية، والملاحقة الجنائية من جراء أعماله الاقتصادية وممارساته المالية غير السوية.

يصر حزب الله، على الرغم من كل ذلك، متابعة أدائه غير المتبصر، والمغالي في تقدير الإمكانيات، والتنكر للحدود والمخاطر. أما تحالفه مع التيار الوطني فقد تحول الى علاقة استتباعية أفقدته صدقيته في الأوساط المسيحية، وأنهت قدرته على المبادرة الخارجية. كما ان تقسيم العمل بينه وبين زعامة نبيه بري القائمة على رعاية الفساد والنفوذ الاعتباطي داخل ادارات الدولة، واستعمال سياسة ارهاب الرعاع للنيل من سياسات الممانعة تجاه كليهما، لن يثنيا احدا عن المواجهة وسوف يفضيا الى تفعيل النزاعات الأهلية على تنوع وتائرها وفاعليها. أما سياسة تقاسم المسالب مع الاوليغارشيات السنية ( الحريري، الميقاتي، الصفدي ) ، والسعي الى تفتيت الساحة السنية ( عبد الرحيم مراد، فيصل كرامي، تجمع علماء المسلمين ) فقد افضت الى تفعيل الحراكات المدنية، والنزاعات السنية والشيعية في الداخل، كما نشهد منذ بضعة أسابيع. حزب الله يعمد الى سياسة التفرد والاستعداء المجاني في وقت تصطدم فيه سياسة النفوذ الإيرانية بالانهيارات المتسارعة في دواخلها، وفي العراق الشيعي ولبنان الملتئمين حول ديناميكيات الثورات المدنية التي حفزها الفساد السرطاني والاقفالات الاوليغارشية الخانقة.

ب- ان الإبهام الذي يكتنف السياسات المالية وأوضاع المصارف لجهة مراقبة حركة الرساميل التي اقتصرت على احتجاز أموال المواطنين، وفتح باب التسرب الذي يقارب عشرات المليارات، كما افصح عنه الخبير الاقتصادي مروان إسكندر ( نقلا عن صحافية سويسرية، افادت ان البرلمان الكونفدرالي السويسري هو بصدد إعداد تحقيق يعد للنشر حول ودائع السياسيين اللبنانيين في المصارف السويسرية )،وكما أوحت به تصريحات حاكم البنك المركزي رياض سلامة، وسليم صفير ، رئيس جمعية المصارف . ان الغموض والتكتم والادعاء بعدم حيازة المعلومات، هي خدع صبيانية لا تنطلي على المواطنين الذي كانوا السباقين في الإعلان عن سياسات التهريب التي لم تتوقف خلال الشهرين المنصرمين. هذا الواقع المخزي كاف وحده لابراز الطلاق الفعلي بين المجتمع المدني والنادي الاوليغارشي على اختلاف تشكلاته. هذه الاداءات اللاالأخلاقية وغير المسؤولة والجرمية الطابع، تستهدف بشكل إرادي الاستقرار المالي في البلاد وتؤكد ان هذه الاوليغارشيات لا هم لها سوف تهريب سرقاتها، دون أي اكتراث لمفاعيلها على مستقبل الاستقرار النقدي في البلاد وتداعياتها الكارثية على الأوضاع الاقتصادية والاجتماعية والسلم الأهلي.

ج- تحيلنا هذه الوقائع الى مواقف سياسية تملي على الحراكات المدنية والسياسات المعارضة التوجهات التالية: ١) ضرورة مواجهة حازمة مع حزب الله لجهة تعديل مساره السياسي باتجاه توافقي يغلب الواقعية والاعتدال على الجموح السلطوي الأعمى، والشطحات السياسية والأيديولوجية، والحسابات الاستراتيجية الخاطئة وغير المتزنة، ولاحاجة لتجارب مماثلة لما جرى في ٢٠٠٦، او لفلتان الإرهاب المتفجر الذي لازم المداخلات في العمق النزاعي السوري، او لتمدده باتجاهنا للاستدراك… ٢) لا بد من اللجوء الى الفصل السابع من قانون الأمم المتحدة من اجل توسيع مهمات القوات الدولية باتجاه الداخل حؤولا دون الانزلاق باتجاه النزاعات الأهلية ٣)لا بد من تشكيل لجنة دولية للتحقيق والتدقيق المالي من اجل تحديد مواطن الفساد ومصادرها وفاعليها، ورصد حركة الأموال المنهوبة وشبكات تبيض الأموال، ورفع دعاوى باسم الشعب اللبناني، والعمل على إصدار مذكرات توقيف جنائية بواسطة المحاكم الأوروبية والاميركية وإجراء محاكمات، ومصادرة الأموال المنهوبة، كما شهدنا من خلال مصادرة أموال صدام حسين، وموبوتو سيسيسيكو، ونيكولاي تشاوشيسكو، ومعمر القذافي، ومانويل نورييغا، والاوليغارشيات الفنزويلية الحالية، واستثمارات حزب الله وشراكاته وعمليات تبييض أمواله …،. ولا سبيل الى ذلك الا من خلال خطة لاستعادة الأموال تنطلق من الخارج باتجاه الداخل تحفزها إثباتات التورط في عمليات سرقة الأموال العامة التي تمتلكها الدول الديموقراطية المعنية. لا سبيل الى حلحلة عقدة الحيات القائمة على تقاطع ممانعة حزب الله والاوليغارشيات، الا من خلال الحركة الخارجية، علها تجعل من الاعتدال والتسوية مسارا واقعيا وبديلا عن سياسات الجموح والفساد والإسقاطات غير الواقعية والمدمرة على خطوط التقاطع بين الداخل والخارج.

The post شارل الياس شرتوني/حزب الله والاوليغارشيات والتدمير المنهجي للدولة اللبنانية appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


Elie Aoun/Enemies of Lebanon (3 of 3): The Clergy/ايلي عون: اعداء لبنان/رجال الدين

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Enemies of Lebanon (3 of 3): The Clergy
Elie Aoun/December 27/2019
ايلي عون: اعداء لبنان (الجزء الثالث).رجال الدين

In the 1920s, the Soviet premier Joseph Stalin gave orders to infiltrate Catholic seminaries by young communist agents who have “neither faith nor morals.”

A number of the 1920s infiltrators (many of whom were practicing homosexuals) achieved stature and influence at various levels of leadership within the Catholic church and began affecting change in theological arenas, as well as introducing “new philosophies or approaches” to the church’s teachings. In the 1960s and 1970s, they began to recruit the next generation of young seminarians who were very much like them – homosexuals and social activists with an emphasis on socialism. The intent was for the new recruits to take over once the original infiltrators had died.

The new group (not necessarily communist agents as the original group) was imputed with socialist ideas as well as homosexualism, or willing to turn a blind eye to it among the clergy. In the meantime, many good men were blocked from getting into seminaries, or eventually from getting ordained.

This brief background clarifies the status of what the church institution is going through today. At least half of its clergy are poorly formed in the faith, and the laities are suffering as a consequence.

When we speak against “the clergy,” we do not mean all clergymen and we are not opposing the “church” but the infiltrators within its institution.

By acknowledging this reality (that the church has been infiltrated), we better understand why certain clergymen are morally bankrupt, theologically twisted, and politically socialist/Marxist/unpatriotic.

Those clergy (with “no faith and morals” as Stalin envisioned it) exert their influence to support politicians of their own kind. Being morally corrupt, they protect political corruption (and most likely are beneficiaries of it).

The enemies of religion know that the best way to undermine a community is by infiltrating its clergy – because the clergy are the least suspected. That is what has happened. The church and the community are being destroyed from within – while many good hearted Christians are blindly serving the institution that is actually destroying them.

The Muslim clergy have similar dilemma. From Tehran to the southern suburbs of Beirut, there are those who see more glory in leading people to their destruction than to pursue policies that would elevate them.

Unknown for many people, one of the largest embassies in the Vatican is that of Iran, and the most important Iranian ambassador is the one to the Vatican. What takes place between these two entities is worth the work of an investigative journalist.

The dominant politics of the clergy can be summarized in two terms (both of which are unpatriotic): (1) globalism and (2) open-borders (Arabs and Africans into Europe; Mexicans into the U.S., and various refugees into Lebanon).

Recently, Pope Francis called for migrants to be integrated into society. This explains the Catholic social justice programs to assist refugees to settle in the host countries. The so-called Catholic social justice movement is barely distinguishable (at least in principle) from the communist manifesto.

The Pope also said that nationalism is an “attitude of isolation.” He ridiculed those who say “Us first. We … We …”, saying that “these are frightening thoughts.” In other words, to say “America first” or “Lebanon first” would be a frightening thought.

The Pope claims that nationalism is a reminder of Hitler. However, Hitler was not a nationalist, but a globalist. He deceptively used nationalist slogans in his quest towards regional and global domination.

Click here/Pope Francis again warns against nationalism, says recent speeches sound like ‘Hitler in 1934’ – The Washington Post

Pope Francis again warns against nationalism, says recent speeches sound like ‘Hitler in 1934’ – The Washington Post
Pope Francis called for a united Europe in an interview published by Italian daily La Stampa on Friday, saying recent political rhetoric has echoed that of Nazi Germany. “I am concerned because …
www.washingtonpost.com

According to a Cardinal (who was quoted in the 1980s), one reason for the deteriorating situation of Lebanese Christians is Vatican politics. When the Vatican is infiltrated with a communist ideology and homosexuals, it becomes understandable why the cause of Christians is suffering — not only in Lebanon but also other parts of the Arab region and globally.

In my humble opinion, the solution is not to simply attack those who are our enemies. Instead, it is to know the truth, to speak it so that it can be a guide to others, and then to focus on what we can do as individuals – what positive achievements we can accomplish for ourselves and our country.

Enemies of Lebanon (2 of 3): The Secret Societies
ايلي عون: اعداء لبنان – الجزء الثاني
Elie Aoun/December 10/2019

In a speech on press freedom, U.S. President John F. Kennedy stated that the responsibility of the press is not to amuse or entertain but to educate, to state the dangers and opportunities. In that same speech, he spoke in opposition “to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings.”

He added: “We are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy … It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific, and political operations.”

President Kennedy was not a conspiracy theorist. What he stated was a fact, not a theory. His assassination was the price he paid for his courage – for rejecting the rule of those who rule behind the scenes.

It is against this “highly efficient machine” that both the U.S. and Lebanon struggle.

During the 2004 presidential election, both George W. Bush and John Kerry were members of “Skull and Bones.” Regardless for whom of the two candidates the Americans voted, they were voting for the same secret society.

During the 2016 U.S. election, the vice presidential candidates on both sides were Jesuits. Regardless for whom Americans voted, they were voting for a Jesuit vice president.

Many view the Jesuit Order as a religious or educational institution, but that is not the complete story. According to the CIA’s E. Howard Hunt, “the Jesuits form the greatest intelligence service in the world, and always have.” Anyone who investigates their true history would know of their criminality and involvement in the usurpation of nations.

Whether in the U.S. or in Lebanon, often an individual is selected for a certain position based on that person’s affiliation – not patriotism or qualification.

The secret societies do not reward honest patriotic individuals, but rats who are willing to sell their soul and country for the sake of political advancement. Where is the benefit and logic in undermining the country where those who lead the secret societies and their descendants live? For money and power that will eventually vanish?

The Jesuit-educated leaders of the Kataeb and Lebanese Forces along with the freemason leaders of FPM and Al Marada do not and cannot achieve any constructive measure for the country. The same can be said of the Jesuit/Freemason Saad Hariri and Druze leaders, and the Freemason Shiite leadership.

These “leaders” are neither Christians nor Muslims. Their political logos and hand-signs have no basis in either the Bible or the Quran. They know exactly their pagan and “dark” source.

The fact that all these politicians have the same affiliation could not have been a mere coincidence. This fact proves that Jesuitism and freemasonry play a role in ruling and destroying Lebanon. Their loyalty is to their agenda, not a country. It is a waste of time to expect from them anything different than the “fruits” that have already been given.

The Jesuit educational system is not the means through which positive improvements can take place. Whether the reader wishes to believe or not, national independence and wellbeing are not a part of the Jesuit agenda. A good Jesuit/Freemason politician, who decides to become patriotic, gets assassinated.

Our objective is not to fight them. Rather, it is to know the truth and then focus on our strengths and that which we can do ourselves – focus on what we can build, rather than what we oppose. Eventually, evil carries the seed of its own defeat.

What type of cabinet Lebanon needs? A cabinet with no Jesuits and no freemasons.

The heads of the Jesuit intelligence network and freemasonry are guilty in undermining Lebanon. If they wish to “redeem” the names of their secret societies, they must remove their “dirty” stooges from power. The “prestige” of Jesuitism and freemasonry is down the drain, along with other undesirable objects.

Enemies of Lebanon (01 of 03): The Monetary System
أعداء لبنان (01من03): النظام النقدي
Elie Aoun/November 30/2019

The Lebanese government does not own the Lebanese Pound (or Lira). If it owned the currency, it would not borrow it and pay interest on it.

One main reason why the monetary system is an enemy because the Lebanese government abandoned its exclusive privilege to issue money and vested that privilege in the Bank of Lebanon (Decree 13513, Article 47).

In other words, the government gave the Bank the right to issue money, loan that money back to the government, and then charge it interest – at a time when the government could have issued its own money without paying any interest.

The “Bank of Lebanon” was created pursuant to Lebanese Law Decree 13513 of August 1, 1963 (Code of Money and Credit).

The Decree was signed by President Fouad Chehab and Prime Minister Rachid Karameh (who was also acting as a Finance Minister).

The Lebanese Parliament did not vote on or approve the creation of the Bank.

Not only does the Bank charge interest on the Bank’s loans to the State, the Bank does not pay interest to the State on the State’s deposits in the Bank (Article 86).

Not only has the government abandoned to the Bank its exclusive authority to print money, the government has also exempted the Bank from all taxes, imposts and rates whatsoever, already enforced or likely to be enforced for the benefit of the State, municipal corporations or other organizations (Article 118).

WHO OWNS THE LEBANESE CURRENCY?
The name “Republic of Lebanon” is not printed on any of the Lebanese currency notes. What is printed is the name “Banque du Liban” (Bank of Lebanon). Some may ask, is not the Bank owned by the Lebanese government? The answer is no.

Firstly, Decree 13513 does not say that the Bank is a branch of the Lebanese government. Instead, the Decree’s Article 13 states that the Bank is a juridical person of public law (a legal entity similar to a corporation) vested with financial autonomy.

Secondly, the Decree is written in a manner that reflects a relationship between two independent entities (rather than the Bank being a branch of the government).

For example, Article 74 requires of the government to provide a protection (military guard) for the Bank’s establishment free of charge. No such language would have been used in the Decree if the Bank is a branch of the government.

Thirdly, Article 113 dictates how net profits are shared between the Bank and the government – such as 50/50 basis on certain occasions and even 80/20 (80% to the Treasury; 20% to the Bank) under some other conditions. It is doubtful that this profit-sharing formula has been properly implemented. If the Bank is a part of the government, all the net profits would have been the government’s share, not divided with the Bank.

The questions are: If the Bank is a legal entity, who owns that entity?

In what manner has its profits been used or distributed since 1963 until now? Would the government revoke Article 47 and restore its exclusive privilege to issue money without paying interest for it?

Why opening a new bank requires applying for registration with the Central Bank (Article 135) and not with the Ministry of Finance?

Apparently, no politician would have the courage to discuss these issues.

The post Elie Aoun/Enemies of Lebanon (3 of 3): The Clergy/ايلي عون: اعداء لبنان/رجال الدين appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 28/2019

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Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 28/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for December 28/2019

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 28/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 27- 28/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 72th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 27-28/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 72th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 28/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 27-28/2019
Basil is a Mere Hezbollah Governing Tool/Elias Bejjani/December 26/2019
Aoun, Diab discuss government formation
Rahi receives wellwishers on holy festive season
Hizbullah Delegation Visits Bkirki: Country Needs Govt. of Specialists
Hariri, Khalil Refrain from Signing Decree Promoting Brigadier Generals
France Urges ‘Effective Government’ in Lebanon
Report: Diab Urged to ‘Decelerate’ Formation Efforts
As Poverty Deepens, Lebanon Protesters Step in to Help
Lebanese Protest Bank Policies amid Severe Crisis
Jumblatt: Stop thinking of mortgaging natural resources, privatization
Bou Saab meets army chief of staff, Beirut governor
Report: Govt. Won’t be Formed before Year’s End
Hassan Hands Prison Improvement Reports to Khalaf
Lebanese newspapers’ headlines for December 27, 2019
Strange object with Hebrew writings on it found on Nehme beach
The United States Can Offer the People of Lebanon and Iraq Something Tehran Can’t/Dennis Ross and Dana Stroul/Foreign Policy/December 27/2019
Lebanon’s Latest Moves Show the Effectiveness of Targeted International Pressure/Hanin Ghaddar/The Washington Institute//December 27/2019
Enemies of Lebanon (3 of 3): The Clergy/Elie Aoun/December 27/2019

Details Of The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 27-28/2019
Basil is a Mere Hezbollah Governing Tool
Elias Bejjani/December 26/2019
All those Lebanese politicians, activists and even citizens who attack and criticize Mr. Jobran Basil and portray him as a decision-maker are actually Dhimmitudes, hypocrites and fear to name Hezbollah, who occupies and runs the country and totally controls its rulers including Mr. Basil who is an opportunist, power seeker and a mere governing tool no more no less. Lebanon is an occupied country

Aoun, Diab discuss government formation
NNA/December 27/2019
The President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, received this afternoon, at Baabda Palace, the Prime Minister-designate, Dr. Hassan Diab, who briefed him on the latest developments related to the process of government formation.
PM Diab left afterwards without making any statement.
Earlier, President Aoun met the Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Elias Bou Saab, and discussed with him the general developments in the country, and the issue of promotions of army officers.
After the meeting, Minister Bou Saab said: “I would like to begin by extending congratulations to the Lebanese army and its officers on the occasion of Christmas and New Year, and with a heartfelt greeting for each soldier and officer, deployed on the borders and inside the cities.
I would like to greet them, and say that this greeting is in the name of the entire Lebanese people, despite all what is being said and heard. We know that the soldier or the officer who sacrifices himself is making this sacrifice so that we all remain here. The seventieth days that have passed are the biggest evidence of the need for the readiness of the Lebanese army, its officers and soldiers.
You remember that when we were discussing the budget, there was talk about measure No. 3, and how it should be dealt with. At that time I refused even to discuss the issue of this measure in the Cabinet, and I said that this issue should be discussed with the leadership and the Supreme Defense Council, and this is a decision that belongs to Defense. Imagine if we had then changed this measure, while today we want the army to be alert 24/24. From that, we have to know that the military has its own characteristics.
Why am I talking about this topic as an introduction? Because today, at the end of 2019, we have reached promotions due to the Lebanese army officers at various levels, from first Lieutenant to the rank of brigadier General.
Yesterday, the registration tables were signed for 598 officers from the Lebanese army, from the rank of first lieutenant to the rank of colonel. And I expect that the decrees of this matter will proceed in a correct way, without problems. But we have a problem related to the promotion of colonels to the rank of brigadier general. There are 181 colonels nominated to become Generals. The Military Council met and approved the promotion of 126 out of 181. But we knew that this decision would face the problem of issuing a decree, meaning that the decree may not be issued by 126 Generals.
In the cabinet when we were discussing the budget, we talked about reducing the number of Generals, but this reduction is when the annual promotion to the rank of General compared to the hierarchy of the army, not by depriving those who deserve promotion. And this does not mean also that if no one is promoted this year, then you will not. The upgrade takes place next year, so the initiative was to communicate with Prime Minister Hariri and inform him that the number of promotions for this year that can be reduced by 126, while preserving the right of those who are not promoted to next year or the next year. Some consider, and I regret to say that, that there is a defect in the sectarian balance in these promotions: I am a secular person and I know that the thinking of His Excellency the President is aware, specifically the military establishment should not be where the thinking of this kind are, but the country is governed by such decisions, which also affect the political life.
In one of my meetings with Speaker Berri, I hoped that secular thinking would withdraw from all aspects of the Lebanese state, reaching a civilian state, which is the best solution. This also includes all the successful people in the Civil Service Council, the forestry guards, and every person who has succeeded in employment and injustice due to sectarianism. I am speaking these words specifically from the Baabda Palace, hoping that we will reach the day when the civil state will be realized, and that the thinking of the new Government will be in this direction.
Therefore, I discussed the issue of promotions with His Excellency, and informed him of the options in front of me, knowing that I was not able to communicate directly with Prime Minister Hariri in a meeting, but rather I spoke to him on the phone, so that we could offer a solution to this issue. We still have three days before the end of the year, and if it ends without signing the registration list for promotions, all these officers who deserve to be promoted will lose the opportunity to become Generals.
As for reform in the military, this issue is very necessary. We cannot talk about reform in Lebanon without thinking about reform in the military institutions. From the first day I spoke with the army commander and implemented practical decrees in this regard, five of which are ready, and two of them are still on the military council.
These application decrees, added to them the army hierarchy according to the Defense Law, then we have the specific numbers required, and thus we continue to work in the House of Representatives or through the committees or through the President to take a step by step towards reform if it is in the military institution or outside it, and this is the thinking of the army commander also. Therefore, there should be more cooperation in the next stage to go in this direction, because reform is a march that extends for years forward.”–Presidential Press Office

Rahi receives wellwishers on holy festive season
NNA/December 27/2019
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rahi on Friday received wellwishers on the occasion of the holiday festive season.
In this framework, Patriarch Rahi received a delegation of Hezbollah, led by Mount Lebanon and the North Official Sheikh Mohammed Amro, who said that they came to extend greetings to the Patriarch on the holy season. On emerging, Sheikh Amro said that the Party supports a government comprised of competent specialist candidates who enjoy integrity and loyalty to the nation and whose concern is to save the country and its economy. In reply to a question, Sheikh Amro said it was early to speak about names for the ministerial portfolios. On the other hand, Patriarch Rahi met with Chairman of the International Federation of Arab Bankers, Dr. Joseph Torbey, who hoped a new government would be swiftly formed to address the current financial and economic situation. The Patriarch also met with Lebanon’s Amabssador to Saudi Arabia, Fawzi Kabbara, at the top of a delegation of the Lebanese Business and Investment Council and Lebanese businessmen in tSaudi Arabia. Among Patriarch Rahi’s itinerant visitors for today had been the Armenian Catholic Church Patriarch, Gregorios Boutros XX, Vice Speaker Elie Firzli, and former Minister Jihad Azour.

Hizbullah Delegation Visits Bkirki: Country Needs Govt. of Specialists
Naharnet/December 27/2019
Hizbullah said on Friday the party is looking forward to the formation of a government of “specialists”, noting that it tried to “rename” PM Saad Hariri as premier but he refused. “The upcoming government has our support and we hope it saves the country because it is going to include competent scientific, administrative and political figures,” said Hizbullah Sheikh Mohammed Amro leading a delegation to Bkirki to extend well-wishes to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Christmas Day. “The government must include specialists in order to garner the parliament’s approval, and to be able to carry out its work in light of regional and international complications,” said Amro, noting that Hizbullah did not suggest yet any name for the cabinet, “we are waiting for the designated premier (Hassan Diab) to contact us.”Amro said the party “worked hard” for the re-designation of outgoing PM Saad Hariri as PM but he withdrew. Hariri had praised Diab as “competent and a clean” figure he added. The new government “will not be one-sided and will serve Lebanon and its economy,” he said.

Hariri, Khalil Refrain from Signing Decree Promoting Brigadier Generals
Naharnet/December 27/2019
Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday signed decrees promoting armed forces officers. A statement issued by Hariri’s office said he signed “all the decrees on the promotion of officers as sent to him by the Army Command.”LBCI television said the decrees include officers of the rank colonel and below. According to media reports, Hariri and caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil have refrained from signing a decree on the promotion of brigadier generals because the number of Christian officers in it is higher than that of the Muslim officers.
“Khalil’s office rejected to receive the decree under the excuse that the minister was not present, which means that the decree on the promotion of brigadier generals was not received by Hariri’s office,” the reports said.

France Urges ‘Effective Government’ in Lebanon
Naharnet/December 27/2019
France on Friday called for the formation of an “effective government” in Lebanon that can take “swift decisions.”
“Since December 19, the International Support Group for Lebanon, which convened in Paris, has highlighted the need to form a new government to implement all the measures and reforms in Lebanon, especially those pertaining to the economic affairs,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement. “The ISG is ready to help Lebanon and accompany it on this path,” it added.
And reiterating that it is up to the Lebanese to decide the shape of the upcoming government, the French foreign ministry said Paris hopes Lebanon will form “an effective government that can help it take swift decisions that meet the demands of the Lebanese people.”
Engineering professor and ex-education minister Hassan Diab was on December 19 tasked with forming a new government. He replaces outgoing PM Saad Hariri, who quit in late October in the face of mass protests against the entire political class and amid a dire economic and financial crisis. Diab, a self-styled technocrat, has vowed to form a cabinet of independent experts within six weeks.

Report: Diab Urged to ‘Decelerate’ Formation Efforts
Naharnet/December 27/2019
President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly asked Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab to “decelerate” his efforts to form a new government after “sensing his eagerness to form it within days,” the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Friday. Sources of the two presidencies told the daily that a number of reasons triggered Aoun and Berri’s request. One of which is that the names proposed in a list presented by Diab to allocate seats in the new cabinet are “unknown” to the two. Aoun and Berri believe that more “information” is needed about the candidates suggested including their “resume, experience and the quality of specialization,” according to the sources. They added that Aoun and Berri had asked the PM-designate about the “parties” who insinuated the names he had chosen, and that they were “not convinced with his answer.” They reportedly “agreed with him to discuss the list and proposed portfolios with officials in order to garner the parliament’s confidence in his government.” The sources said the names suggested to allocate certain ministerial portfolios that circulated in media outlets “led to harsh rhetoric between the affected political parties including Aoun on one hand and outgoing PM Saad Hariri on the other.”Baabda and Ain el-Tineh sources told Asharq al-Awsat that “the agreement is to have a cabinet consisting of 18 cabinet seats, 12 to be allocated for men and 6 for women ministers.”The names must get the approval of all parties which requires some time, hence Diab’s visit to Ain el-Tineh yesterday, they said.

As Poverty Deepens, Lebanon Protesters Step in to Help
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 27/2019
With volunteer kitchens, makeshift clinics and donation centres, Lebanon’s protesters are helping their compatriots survive the worst economic crisis since the civil war by offering services many can no longer afford. “Our goal is to create a state of social solidary among all segments of society,” said Wael Kasab, a volunteer at an open-air kitchen in the southern city of Sidon. Across the country, protest encampments are bustling with volunteers trying to fill in for an absent state and cash-strapped charities that have closed their doors or reduced their activities in recent months due to deteriorating economic conditions. Their efforts come amid warnings by the World Bank of an impending recession that may see the proportion of people living in poverty climb from a third to half the population.  In Sidon’s main protest camp, volunteers scoop rice and stew onto plastic plates. They register names of people in need of medical care to refer them to a clinic for free treatment. Under a plastic tent, Zeinab Najem arranges clothes on a metal rack as a group of women peruse a collection of thick winter jackets. Najem said she first started the donation centre with only 10 items of clothing, but now her tent “looks like a store”. “There are many people in need,” she told AFP.
‘Scared of coming days’
A few metres (feet) away from Sidon’s protest camp, charity groups have set up a kitchen that serves free meals to around 100 people per day. Sitting at a plastic table in the restaurant, Abu Ahmad eyes a tin tray filled with stuffed courgettes, salad and rice. “I cannot afford to buy my own food,” said the 83-year-old. “I will be full today… but I’m scared of the coming days.”Lebanon, rocked by two months of anti-government protests and a political deadlock, faces its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. A liquidity crunch has pushed Lebanese banks to impose capital controls on US dollar accounts, capping withdrawals at around $1,000 a month. As a result, the value of the Lebanese pound against the dollar has dropped by around 30 percent on the unofficial market, leading prices to rise. The faltering economy has also pushed many companies into bankruptcy, while others have laid off staff and slashed salaries. In the northern city of Tripoli, where more than 50 percent of the population lives in poverty, the effects of the crisis are stark. The volunteer kitchen in the main protest camp there serves around 2,500 meals a day to long queues of hungry people flocking from all corners of the country’s second city. Stores near the encampment are empty of clients, while shop owners sit idly outside.
‘No other solution’ –
To help small businesses survive the crisis, a group of volunteers collected 7 million Lebanese pounds (around $4,500 based on the official exchange rate) in donations. They used the money to buy 130 food baskets consisting of rice, sugar, lentils, flour and oil, said Sara al-Sharif, who started the project.
The food was purchased from around 30 stores in Tripoli’s poorest district to help boost business, she said. Had it not been for that initiative, grocery store owner Damal Saqr, 50, said he would have closed shop. “I was on the verge of closing down… because of inflation and the (de facto) devaluation of the Lebanese pound.” He said that his daily earnings do not exceed $12, barely enough to cover the $500 he needs every month to cover rent for his home and store. “I can’t afford to buy goods for the store anymore,” he said. In Beirut’s main protest camp, volunteers dressed in neon-yellow vests pack the back of a truck with piles of donated food. Near the main central bank building in the capital, cardboard boxes and rubbish bags filled with donations line the sidewalk. Protesters there chant against the ruling class as they distribute clothes, blankets and mattresses to the needy. “It is our national duty to mobilise and help each other,” said Sarah Assi, a volunteer. “We have no other solution.”

Lebanese Protest Bank Policies amid Severe Crisis
Associated Press/Naharnet/December 27/2019
Dozens of protesters staged a sit-in outside the central bank and the Lebanese Banks’ Association building Thursday to protest the banks’ policies amid unprecedented capital controls. The protesters called on citizens to stop paying their loans and taxes and demanded that loan payments be rescheduled after amending interest rates. Banks have imposed weekly limits on withdrawals of U.S. dollars amid a shortage in liquidity and as the country grapples with its worst economic and financial crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. The country has been without an active government since ongoing mass protests forced the resignation of Premier Saad Hariri on Oct. 29. Meanwhile, layoffs are increasing, salary cuts have become the norm and prices are quickly rising. Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh told reporters Thursday the bank would investigate all bank transfers that took place in 2019, referring to recent reports that senior politicians were allowed to transfer money abroad even as they imposed unprecedented restrictions on transfers and withdrawals by rank-and-file depositors. “We hope the country improves so the economy can improve,” Salameh said, without commenting directly on the controls imposed by the banks, which many experts say are illegal.

Jumblatt: Stop thinking of mortgaging natural resources, privatization
NNA/December 27/2019
Progressive Socialist Party leader, Walid Jumblatt, on Friday appealed to the Lebanese via his twitter account to stop wagering on the country’s natural resources and privatization.
“Growing wheat and other grains is only the first step en route to resilience and the adoption of a cooperative productive economic pattern instead of the previous ‘service economy’ that has come to an end,” Jumblatt tweeted. “Contrary to the ruling business mindset, the protection of agriculture and industry is essential. Stop thinking of mortgaging natural resources or even privatization,” Jumblatt added, reminding of foreign countries’ reform recommendations to Lebanon “first and foremost.”

Bou Saab meets army chief of staff, Beirut governor

NNA/December 27/2019
Caretaker Defense Minister, Elias Bou Saab, on Friday received Army Chief-of-Staff, Major General Amin El-Erem, member of the Military Council Major General Elias Shamieh, and the President of the Military Court Brigadier General Hussein Abdullah, along with an accompanying military delegation. Talks reportedly touched on an array of issues pertaining to the military institution. Minister Bou Saab also met with Beirut Governor Judge Ziad Shbib, who well-wished him on the holy season.

Report: Govt. Won’t be Formed before Year’s End
Naharnet/December 27/2019
The new government will be formed in 2020, a source close to President Michel Aoun said Friday, shortly after a meeting between the President and Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab. “The names are not ready until the moment,” the source told Turkey’s official news agency Anadolu. “The government won’t be formed over the next two days and it will likely be formed after the New Year holiday,” the source added. The source also revealed that Aoun and Diab discussed “the (ministerial) portfolios and their distribution in addition to the idea of merging some of them.” Engineering professor and ex-education minister Diab replaces outgoing PM Saad Hariri, who quit in late October in the face of mass protests against the entire political class. Diab, a self-styled technocrat, has vowed to form a cabinet of independent experts within six weeks.

Hassan Hands Prison Improvement Reports to Khalaf
Naharnet/December 27/2019
Caretaker Minister of Interior Raya el-Hassan on Friday handed two prison improvement reports to newly elected head of Beirut Bar Association, Melhem Khalaf. The first report includes the requests of prisoners, and the second is a roadmap for the transfer of prisons from the principle of reserving freedoms to the principle of qualifying detention, said the National News Agency. “Prisons in Lebanon suffer from a reality that is far from the standards we wish to represent; if we want to reflect a beautiful image about Lebanon, we must improve the status of prisoners,” the Interior Minister said. For his part, Khalaf stressed the importance of responsibly performing state tasks, even when in a caretaking status. “In our capacity as the bar association, we will request details on the latest judicial procedure of every detainee, and we will request the full cooperation of the judiciary,” he added.

Lebanese newspapers’ headlines for December 27, 2019
NNA/December 27/2019
ANNAHAR: Salameh: Bank accounts in USD will not be transferred to LBP
AL-JOUMHOURIA: Diab undergoes confrontation with Sunnis… political interventions
Al-Akhbar: Hariri opts for sectarian mobilization
Shiite couple refuses conditions
Diab: Formation of cabinet delayed
Al-Anbaa: Efforts underway to announce cabinet on Monday
Berri calls for emergency rescue cabinet
THE DAILY STAR: Diab scrambles to form Cabinet ahead of New Year
No huge transfers abroad since October: bankers

Strange object with Hebrew writings on it found on Nehme beach
NNA/December 27/2019
A strange body with writings in Hebrew on it had been found washed up on the shore in Nehme, National News Agency correspondent reported on Friday. Security forces rushed to the scene to inspect the object, believed to be a buoy that had clipped off of an Israeli enemy vessel.
The object is now in the custody of the Lebanese army.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on December 27-28/2019

The United States Can Offer the People of Lebanon and Iraq Something Tehran Can’t
Dennis Ross and Dana Stroul/Foreign Policy/December 27/2019
Congress should offer conditional aid that forces Beirut and Baghdad to respond to their citizens’ grievances, many of which stem from Iranian-sponsored sectarianism, corruption, and violence.
Protests and upheaval are sweeping Iraq and Lebanon. The wrath of demonstrators in the streets is being directed against their own political classes and at Iran’s government. Citizens in Lebanon and Iraq are not only fed up with economic mismanagement, ineffective governance, and entrenched corruption of political elites at home, they also directly link their dismal situation to Tehran’s corrupting influence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s exploitation of their countries to fund and arm militias unaccountable to their countries.
Taken together with the extensive riots in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump sees these developments as proof that his administration’s so-called maximum pressure policy of squeezing the Iranian economy is working. Not surprisingly, the administration is now determined to double down on its sanctions policy, convinced this will force Tehran to capitulate and seek negotiations with a new willingness to concede on the regime’s nuclear program and regional behavior. The administration’s critics doubt this policy will work—believing that it will simply back the Iranian government into a corner, prompting it to escalate conflict in the region rather than surrender.
Lamentably, neither the administration nor its critics have put cogent proposals on the table for how to respond to developments in Iraq and Lebanon. For the administration, offering rhetorical support to the Iraqi and Lebanese publics and calling on their security services to stop their abuses reflect the limits of what it believes can be done. Its critics may be even more passive, fearing increased U.S. engagement will detract from the anti-Iran focus or, even worse, exacerbate the situation in either country given the Trump administration’s record of clumsy policy execution.
The irony is that neither the administration nor its critics appear to believe that meaningful, sustainable change in Iraq and Lebanon is possible—even though this is exactly what the protesters are demanding. The resignations of the Iraqi and Lebanese prime ministers—Adil Abdul-Mahdi and Saad Hariri—are largely meaningless. Political elites in both capitals are more focused on horse-trading posts in the next governments rather than offering bold political and economic reform proposals in response to the protests.
The next iteration of governments in Beirut and Baghdad are likely to preserve the system of elite capture that sustains itself by brokering power along sectarian lines. Protesters in both countries recognize their leaders’ narrow focus on self-preservation; they are not appeased and appear motivated to keep coming out to the streets in objection.
The hesitancy and skepticism of the Trump administration and its critics alike no doubt result from the United States’ own dismal experiences in trying to incentivize change in the Middle East. While both Republican and Democratic administrations have fallen short in encouraging systemic reform in the Middle East, Iran by contrast appeared to be on a roll in recent years. Tehran took advantage of U.S. missteps and power vacuums in the region to extend influence and coercive means far beyond Iran’s borders.
Now, Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, refers to Syria and Lebanon as Iran’s “forward defense.” Iran executed its strategy using both hard and soft power, moving precision-guided weapons into areas where governments do not maintain a monopoly on the use of force in both Syria and Iraq; training and deploying Shiite militias in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen at minimal cost to Tehran; and complementing these military tools with soft-power inducements tailored to local contexts such as sectarian manipulation, real estate purchases, tribal payoffs, commercial contracts, and provision of services—all designed to prey on weak governments, vulnerable leaders, and needy populations.
The net result: Iran seemingly gained strangleholds over leaders and governments in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and it realized its goal of dictating policies and embedding proxies (Hezbollah, the Badr Organization, Asaib Ahl al-Haq) within government institutions for long-term influence. Taking stock of this strategic picture, U.S. policymakers spoke boldly in public about the need for Iran to pull back but never proposed an effective and properly funded strategy to achieve that objective.
But the recent, widespread backlash against corrupt, weak governments and abusive security forces unaccountable to Lebanese and Iraqi citizens suggests that the Iranian gains may not be so enduring and may even have produced a contagion effect in Iran itself. Certainly, the Iranian regime’s draconian response to the unrest in at least 20 cities—a response that led to the deaths of more than 300 people and arrests of more than 7,000—suggests that the regime feels vulnerable and pressured to preempt the spread of the protests. If so, the United States should not assume that Iran’s regional position is so strong and entrenched that there is little Washington can do to push back.
The fact that significant Shiite constituencies in both Iraq and Lebanon are very much a part of demonstrations against sectarian rule and Iran’s heavy hand speaks volumes about Iran’s vulnerabilities and the difficulty of sustaining its regional position. Moreover, Iran’s soft-power strategy—leveraging Shiite sectarian ties in Arab-majority areas to gain influence via cultural, religious, media, and economic projects—seems to have dissipated as its brand is now publicly associated with corruption, unaccountable leaders, unrepresentative governance, economic mismanagement, abusive security forces, and violent responses to protesters. Iran has overreached and overextended, and Iran’s leaders have not offered Lebanese or Iraqi citizens anything meaningful—and their own brutal domestic crackdown on Iranian protesters further diminishes their appeal.
Iran has few tools or resources at its disposal at the moment—especially with its economy being squeezed and mismanaged—so the United States should be able to compete more effectively. Certainly, it is time to go beyond the Trump administration’s preferred foreign-policy tool of using sanctions to address every malign Iranian activity—whether it be illicit nuclear activities, support for terrorism, or human rights abuses. At the same time, sanctions are not the most effective tool available to U.S. policymakers in response to protests calling for an end to corruption, broken economies, and unaccountable leaders.
U.S. policy should now focus on distinguishing what Washington can offer the region and differentiating the U.S. brand from Iran’s bankrupt and violence-riddled vision. If the administration is unwilling or unable to galvanize domestic bipartisan support for such a policy shift, it is time for Congress to step up to the plate. Surely members on both sides of the aisle remain committed to a stable region, pushing back on Iran, and supporting meaningful political, economic, and security sector reform.
One option is to offer strategic partnerships with the Lebanese and Iraqi people through legislative action: an updated U.S.-Iraqi partnership that deepens commitments already made in the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement and a new U.S.-Lebanon compact that sets forth a road map for bilateral engagement beyond Washington’s stale focus on the Lebanese Armed Forces. Congressional action is necessary because it cements a time horizon not tied to presidential election timelines and sends a credible signal to a region wary of the sharp swings and mixed messages of U.S. administrations.
The offer by Congress to build these partnerships should be conditioned on leaders and governments in both Iraq and Lebanon going beyond rhetorical support and pledges to taking concrete actions that meaningfully respond to the demands of the protesters. What Congress can offer is not simply funding or verbal support but a framework for partnership that responds to the calls of the protesters. Legislation should include public reporting requirements on benchmarks for reform as well as an assessment of their actual implementation. Funding and assistance should be on the table, especially for supporting reform in civilian ministries.
The good news is that the United States actually has the technical expertise and international relationships, especially working with allies and credible nongovernmental organizations, to assist in tackling corruption, fostering the rule of law, restoring services, offering training, developing infrastructure, and stimulating economic growth. Collectively, U.S. partnership offers the possibility of meaningful scientific, educational, commercial, and technological exchanges. This is what protesters want, and this is what Washington can meaningfully offer.
Iran offers none of these things. The United States now has a window of opportunity to present what Iran cannot: a sense of possibility to Iraqi and Lebanese publics hungry for real change, who are unlikely to rest until they have it.
*Dennis Ross is the William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute and former U.S. envoy to the Middle East. Dana Stroul, the Institute’s Kassen Fellow, previously served as a senior staff member with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Lebanon’s Latest Moves Show the Effectiveness of Targeted International Pressure
Hanin Ghaddar/The Washington Institute//December 27/2019
By uniting behind the message that financial aid and punishment will be tied to specific courses of action, the United States, France, and the UN may finally be able to push Beirut into establishing a reform-minded government.
Since caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri resigned in October, the process of forming a new Lebanese government has become more complicated. Street protests continue amid increased violence by security institutions, while the country’s dominant political actor—the widely designated terrorist organization Hezbollah—is still insisting on a government headed by Hariri and favorable to its interests. Yet three important events took place last week that could change that plan and break the deadlock.
First, the International Support Group for Lebanon (ISGL), co-chaired by France and the United Nations, met in Paris and explicitly stated that the international community will not help Lebanon financially until a new government is formed—specifically, one “that will have the capacity and credibility to deliver the necessary substantive policy package of economic reforms, and that will be committed to dissociate the country from regional tensions and crisis.” Although there was no mention of who should—or should not—head this government, the consensus on reform was clear. The international community had already pledged to help Lebanon at the CEDRE conference in April 2018 on condition of reforms that never materialized. That is why a simple bailout will not happen until a credible government forms.
Second, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned three more Hezbollah financiers: Lebanon-based Nazem Said Ahmad and his companies, accused of laundering large sums of money for the group; Congo-based Saleh Assi, accused of laundering money through Ahmad’s diamond business and supporting another sanctioned financier; and Lebanon-based accountant Tony Saab, accused of providing support to Assi. Notably, Saab is a Christian who recently told Lebanese media that he admires Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, head of the Hezbollah-allied Christian-majority party the Free Patriotic Movement.
Third, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs David Hale announced that he will visit Lebanon this week. The trip is the highest-level U.S. visit since protests broke out on October 17 and forced the government to resign.
These developments have pushed Lebanon’s political class toward several important realizations that may alter their actions going forward:
The international community has firmly sided with the protestors and will not provide financial assistance if the establishment refuses reform.
U.S. sanctions may expand to include Christian allies of Hezbollah, a prospect that Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker confirmed in interviews last week with Al-Arabiya and An-Nahar.
The United States will not endorse Bassil’s role in any new government—a message that was unmistakably conveyed to both him and Hezbollah when Hale indicated he would meet with most Lebanese decisionmakers except Bassil.
THE HARIRI QUESTION
Although international rejection of Bassil’s presence in the next government is now clear to Lebanese officials, they are still uncertain about Hariri’s status. In negotiating his nomination to succeed himself as prime minister, Hariri has insisted that he is the only one who can save the economy from collapse. He has also promised two key Hezbollah opponents—the Christian party “Lebanese Forces” and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt—that he will form a government composed exclusively of independent technocrats. Yet this formula comes with several complications. First, the international community may not be united in supporting Hariri’s candidacy given his repeated kowtowing to Hezbollah. Second, the protest movement still refuses to accept him as prime minister and promises to continue demonstrating, even if that means toppling the next government. The protestors have proven resilient against violent reprisals by the Internal Security Forces (ISF) and Hezbollah thugs, and they are expected to grow in number as the economy deteriorates. Third, both major Christian parties have refused to nominate Hariri, further delaying negotiations. The Lebanese Forces stated on December 16 that they will not name him as their candidate, and Bassil declared the same last week when he announced he will not join the next government. Fourth, Hezbollah leaders seemingly favor Hariri’s candidacy because they believe he can be used for international cover while remaining vulnerable to pressure from the group and its allies. Accordingly, Hariri will not be able to fulfill his pledge of forming an independent, wholly technocratic government, as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah made clear in a December 13 speech.
HEZBOLLAH’S DILEMMA
Bassil’s decision to stay out of the next government resulted from recent meetings with Hezbollah security chief Wafiq Safa and other officials, who pushed him in that direction. Bassil seemingly realized that he has become a liability, and that Hariri is now more important to the group.
But Hezbollah no doubt approached the decision gingerly. Dropping Bassil will isolate the group from the Christian community—a major compromise that shows it is under tremendous pressure and may be squeezed into further concessions. Indeed, the group’s internal and regional challenges are legion:
Continued U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah’s main patron, Iran, have amplified the group’s own financial crisis. The Lebanese state is on the verge of economic collapse and possible bankruptcy, preventing Hezbollah from making full use of that alternative resource.
Recent protests in Iraq constitute a challenge to Iran and its local proxies there, which could eventually affect Hezbollah. The group’s violence against protestors and insistence on protecting corrupt politicians have led many citizens to lose faith in its supposed role as the defender of Lebanon and the enemy of injustice. Even Shia citizens are joining the rest of the country in mass protests, threatening the group’s ability to win seats in parliament and access state institutions. Hezbollah realizes that these challenges will only become more difficult if the protests continue, so it has decided to begin compromising (albeit as minimally as possible) instead of losing power involuntarily. In this sense, Bassil’s removal shows that consistent, united pressure at home and abroad can produce significant shifts.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Lebanon’s economic situation is expected to worsen, so last week’s Paris meeting was probably the first of many. It is also becoming clear that Hariri cannot lead the next government. Even if he manages to secure Christian votes for his nomination, he will only be able to form a government that has Hezbollah’s blessing—and therefore fails to gain the trust of the street or the international community. Some alternative candidates are being floated by protestors and parliamentary opposition groups, including Nawaf Salam, Lebanon’s former representative to the UN and currently a judge at the International Court of Justice. Another suggested name is IMF economist Rand Ghayad. Again, Hezbollah prefers Hariri over these and other alternatives. But if the United States and Europe make clear that he is not acceptable, the group might consider another compromise instead of risking total Lebanese bankruptcy and the resultant loss of influence over state institutions. Washington should therefore prepare sanctions against additional Hezbollah allies and corrupt politicians. At the moment, President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabil Berri hold the keys to real change in Lebanon, in terms of approving the next government and holding early parliamentary elections based on a new electoral law. Yet they do not feel pressured enough to change their behavior or let go of power—on the contrary, Berri has been using his supporters to crack down on protestors with no consequences. Now is the perfect time for sanctions against his party, Amal, as well as members and businessmen associated with Bassil’s Free Patriotic Movement. Meanwhile, Washington should keep pushing the Lebanese Armed Forces to protect protestors and sack all units and officers committing violations against them. Europe has significant leverage on this front as well, particularly France. The ISF units attacking protestors in downtown Beirut have long received training and equipment from European countries—including the same French-made tear gas grenades used against demonstrators. Paris and other capitals should make clear that their equipment must not be used against peaceful protestors.
Finally, many Lebanese politicians hold dual nationality and bank accounts in Europe, leaving them vulnerable to warnings that their personal interests may be targeted. Without the threat of such personal consequences, the current political class will not yield power.
*Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Visiting Fellow in The Washington Institute’s Geduld Program on Arab Politics.

Enemies of Lebanon (3 of 3): The Clergy
Elie Aoun/December 27/2019
ايلي عون: اعداء لبنان (الجزء الثالث).رجال الدين
In the 1920s, the Soviet premier Joseph Stalin gave orders to infiltrate Catholic seminaries by young communist agents who have “neither faith nor morals.”
A number of the 1920s infiltrators (many of whom were practicing homosexuals) achieved stature and influence at various levels of leadership within the Catholic church and began affecting change in theological arenas, as well as introducing “new philosophies or approaches” to the church’s teachings. In the 1960s and 1970s, they began to recruit the next generation of young seminarians who were very much like them – homosexuals and social activists with an emphasis on socialism. The intent was for the new recruits to take over once the original infiltrators had died.
The new group (not necessarily communist agents as the original group) was imputed with socialist ideas as well as homosexualism, or willing to turn a blind eye to it among the clergy. In the meantime, many good men were blocked from getting into seminaries, or eventually from getting ordained.
This brief background clarifies the status of what the church institution is going through today. At least half of its clergy are poorly formed in the faith, and the laities are suffering as a consequence.
When we speak against “the clergy,” we do not mean all clergymen and we are not opposing the “church” but the infiltrators within its institution.
By acknowledging this reality (that the church has been infiltrated), we better understand why certain clergymen are morally bankrupt, theologically twisted, and politically socialist/Marxist/unpatriotic.
Those clergy (with “no faith and morals” as Stalin envisioned it) exert their influence to support politicians of their own kind. Being morally corrupt, they protect political corruption (and most likely are beneficiaries of it).
The enemies of religion know that the best way to undermine a community is by infiltrating its clergy – because the clergy are the least suspected. That is what has happened. The church and the community are being destroyed from within – while many good hearted Christians are blindly serving the institution that is actually destroying them.
The Muslim clergy have similar dilemma. From Tehran to the southern suburbs of Beirut, there are those who see more glory in leading people to their destruction than to pursue policies that would elevate them.
Unknown for many people, one of the largest embassies in the Vatican is that of Iran, and the most important Iranian ambassador is the one to the Vatican. What takes place between these two entities is worth the work of an investigative journalist.
The dominant politics of the clergy can be summarized in two terms (both of which are unpatriotic): (1) globalism and (2) open-borders (Arabs and Africans into Europe; Mexicans into the U.S., and various refugees into Lebanon).
Recently, Pope Francis called for migrants to be integrated into society. This explains the Catholic social justice programs to assist refugees to settle in the host countries. The so-called Catholic social justice movement is barely distinguishable (at least in principle) from the communist manifesto.
The Pope also said that nationalism is an “attitude of isolation.” He ridiculed those who say “Us first. We … We …”, saying that “these are frightening thoughts.” In other words, to say “America first” or “Lebanon first” would be a frightening thought.
The Pope claims that nationalism is a reminder of Hitler. However, Hitler was not a nationalist, but a globalist. He deceptively used nationalist slogans in his quest towards regional and global domination.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/08/09/pope-francis-again-warns-against-nationalism-says-recent-speeches-sound-like-hitler/
Pope Francis again warns against nationalism, says recent speeches sound like ‘Hitler in 1934’ – The Washington Post
Pope Francis called for a united Europe in an interview published by Italian daily La Stampa on Friday, saying recent political rhetoric has echoed that of Nazi Germany. “I am concerned because …
www.washingtonpost.com
According to a Cardinal (who was quoted in the 1980s), one reason for the deteriorating situation of Lebanese Christians is Vatican politics. When the Vatican is infiltrated with a communist ideology and homosexuals, it becomes understandable why the cause of Christians is suffering — not only in Lebanon but also other parts of the Arab region and globally.  In my humble opinion, the solution is not to simply attack those who are our enemies. Instead, it is to know the truth, to speak it so that it can be a guide to others, and then to focus on what we can do as individuals – what positive achievements we can accomplish for ourselves and our country.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 27- 28/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 72th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 28 كانون الأول/2019

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 28 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 28 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 28 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

لَوْ كُنْتُ أَنْطِقُ بِأَلْسِنَةِ النَّاسِ وَالمَلائِكَة، ولَمْ تَكُنْ فِيَّ المَحَبَّة، فإِنَّمَا أَنَا نُحَاسٌ يَطِنّ، أَوْ صَنْجٌ يَرِنّ If speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal/

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لَوْ كُنْتُ أَنْطِقُ بِأَلْسِنَةِ النَّاسِ وَالمَلائِكَة، ولَمْ تَكُنْ فِيَّ المَحَبَّة، فإِنَّمَا أَنَا نُحَاسٌ يَطِنّ، أَوْ صَنْجٌ يَرِنّ
رسالة القدّيس بولس الأولى إلى أهل قورنتس13/من01حتى13/:”يا إِخوَتِي، لَوْ كُنْتُ أَنْطِقُ بِأَلْسِنَةِ النَّاسِ وَالمَلائِكَة، ولَمْ تَكُنْ فِيَّ المَحَبَّة، فإِنَّمَا أَنَا نُحَاسٌ يَطِنّ، أَوْ صَنْجٌ يَرِنّ. ولَوْ كَانَتْ لِيَ النُّبُوءَة، وَكُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ جَمِيعَ الأَسْرَارِ وَالعِلْمَ كُلَّهُ، ولَو كَانَ لِيَ الإِيْمَانُ كُلُّهُ حَتَّى أَنْقُلَ الجِبَال، ولَمْ تَكُنْ فِيَّ المَحَبَّة، فَلَسْتُ بِشَيء. ولَوْ بَذَلْتُ جَمِيعَ أَمْوَالِي لإِطْعَامِ المَسَاكِين، وأَسْلَمْتُ جَسَدِي لأُحْرَق، ولَمْ تَكُنْ فِيَّ المَحَبَّة، فلا أَنْتَفِعُ شَيْئًا. المَحَبَّةُ تتَأَنَّى وتَرْفُق. المَحَبَّةُ لا تَحْسُد، ولا تَتَبَاهَى، ولا تَنْتَفِخ، ولا تَأْتِي قَبَاحَة، ولا تَلْتَمِسُ مَا هوَ لَهَا، ولا تَحْتَدُّ، ولا تَظُنُّ السُّوء، ولا تَفْرَحُ بِالظُّلْم، بَلْ تَفْرَحُ بِالحَقّ، وتَحْتَمِلُ كُلَّ شَيء، وتُصَدِّقُ كُلَّ شَيء، وتَرْجُو كُلَّ شَيء، وتَصْبِرُ عَلى كُلِّ شَيء. المَحَبَّةُ لا تَسْقُطُ أَبَدًا. أَمَّا النُّبُوءَاتُ فَسَتُبْطَل، والأَلْسِنَةُ تَزُول، والعِلْمُ يُبْطَل. فإِنَّا نَعْلَمُ عِلْمًا نَاقِصًا، ونَتَنَبَّأُ تَنَبُّؤًا نَاقِصًا، فَمَتَى جَاءَ الكَامِلُ يُبْطَلُ النَّاقِص. إِنِّي لَمَّا كُنْتُ طِفْلاً كُنْتُ أَنْطِقُ كَالطِّفْل، وأَعْقِلُ كَالطِّفْل، وأُفَكِرُّ كَالطِّفْل؛ فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ رَجُلاً أَبْطَلْتُ مَا هُوَ لِلطِّفْل؛ لأَنَّنَا الآنَ نَنْظَرُ في مِرْآةٍ عَلى سَبِيلِ اللُّغْز، أَمَّا حِينَئِذٍ فَوَجْهًا إِلى وَجْه. إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ الآنَ عِلْمًا نَاقِصًا، أَمَّا حِينَئِذٍ فَسَأَعْلَمُ كَمَا عُلِمْتُ. والَّذي يَثْبُتُ الآنَ هُوَ الإِيْمَانُ والرَّجَاءُ والمَحَبَّة. هذِهِ الثَّلاثَةُ وأَعْظَمُهُنَّ المَحَبَّة.”

“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal
First Letter to the Corinthians 13/01-13/:”If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

جَاءَكُم يُوحَنَّا يَسْلُكُ طَرِيقَ البِرّ، ولَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ. أَمَّا العَشَّارُونَ والزَّوَانِي فَآمَنُوا بِهِ. وأَنْتُم رَأَيْتُم ذلِكَ ولَمْ تَنْدَمُوا ولَو مُتَأَخِّرِين، لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ
إنجيل القدّيس متّى21/من28حتى32/:”قالَ الرَبُّ يَسوع لِلأَحبارِ وشُيوُخِ الشَعب: «كَانَ لِرَجُلٍ ولَدَان. فَدَنَا مِنَ الأَوَّلِ وقَال: يَا وَلَدِي، إِذْهَبِ ٱليَومَ وَٱعْمَلْ في الكَرْم. فَأَجَابَ وقَال: لا أُرِيْد! وبَعْدَ ذلِكَ نَدِمَ وذَهَب. ثُمَّ دَنَا مِنَ الثَّاني، وقَالَ لَهُ مَا قَالَ لِلأَوَّل. فَأَجَابَ وقَال: أَنَا ذَاهِب، سَيِّدِي! ولَمْ يَذْهَب. فَأَيُّ الٱثْنَيْنِ عَمِلَ مَشِيْئَةَ الأَب؟». قَالُوا: «أَلأَوَّل». قَالَ لَهُم يَسُوع: «أَلحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكُم: إِنَّ العَشَّارِيْنَ والزَّوَانِي يَسْبِقُونَكُم إِلى مَلَكُوتِ الله. فقَدْ جَاءَكُم يُوحَنَّا يَسْلُكُ طَرِيقَ البِرّ، ولَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ. أَمَّا العَشَّارُونَ والزَّوَانِي فَآمَنُوا بِهِ. وأَنْتُم رَأَيْتُم ذلِكَ ولَمْ تَنْدَمُوا ولَو مُتَأَخِّرِين، لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ”.

John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him
and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him”.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 21/28-32/:”‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him”.

The post لَوْ كُنْتُ أَنْطِقُ بِأَلْسِنَةِ النَّاسِ وَالمَلائِكَة، ولَمْ تَكُنْ فِيَّ المَحَبَّة، فإِنَّمَا أَنَا نُحَاسٌ يَطِنّ، أَوْ صَنْجٌ يَرِنّ If speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal/ appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

سجعان قزي/ثورةٌ حتى…سويسرا…تعالوا نَستفيد من ملامحِ الوِحدةِ التي بَرزت في الثورةِ لا لنُشكّلَ حكومةً فقط بل لنبنيَ لبنانَ الاتّحاديَّ. هذا هو مستقبلُ المِنطقة

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ثورةٌ حتى… سويسرا
سجعان قزي/جريدةُ النهار 28 كانون الأوّل 2019

في 12 أيار 2014 نشرتُ في “النهار” مقالًا تحت عنوان: “أيها الشعبُ فجِّر غَضبَك”. وفي “النهار” أيضًا (21 أيلول 2015) مقالًا آخَر تحت عنوان “الثوّارُ الحقيقيّون والثورةُ المجازيّة”. وفي كلا المقالين دعوتُ شبابَ لبنان إلى الثورةِ، مع أنّي كنتُ يومها وزيرًا في حكومةِ الرئيس تمام سلام.

واليوم أغنّي الثورةَ منذ ولادتِها في 17 تشرين الأوّل 2019. أُغنّي جيلَها وهو مُتعدِّدُ الأعمار، وتَنوُّعَها وهو متعدّدُ المطالب، وسلميّـتَها وهي متعدّدةُ المستويات، وحضارتَها وهي متعدّدةُ الثقافات. وبلَغ تعاطفي مع هذه الظاهرةِ المجتمعيّةِ البهيّة ـــ بمنأى عن السياسةِ ـــ حتى “اتّهمني” الوزيرُ سليم جريصاتي بأنّني “صرتُ مُنظِّرَ الثورة”.

الحماسةُ للثورةِ ليست موجّهةً ضِدَّ الدولة، فالدولةُ القويّةُ هي الغايةُ، والثورةُ السلميّةُ هي الوسيلة. وأصلًا إنَّ تأييدَ الثورةِ نكايةً بالحكمِ هو تحجيمٌ لتاريخيّةِ الحدث. الثورةُ، بجماهيرِها الجامعة، تَسير في مدارٍ مستقلٍّ عن اليوميّاتِ السياسيّة. لها كوكـبُها وللحكمِ كوكبُه. لكنَّ مقاربةَ السلطةِ للثورةِ، بما هي فرصةٌ للتغييرِ من ضِمنِ الدستورِ والشرعيّةِ والمؤسّساتِ، كانت دونَ مستوى الحدثِ ودون مصلحةِ السلطةِ ذاتِها بما هي حاضنةُ شعبِها. الحكّامُ الشيوعيّون في الاتحادِ السوفياتيِّ ودولِ أوروبا الشرقيّةِ تجاوبوا مع مطالبِ شعوبِهم المنتفِضةِ في التسعينات الماضيةِ أسرعَ مـمّا تجاوب مسؤولون لبنانيّون مع الشعبِ اللبناني. أولئك اسْتَوعبوا معنى أن يُسقَطَ تمثالُ لينين في موسكو وجدارُ برلين في ألمانيا. أما هنا، فلا يزالُ البعضُ يَعتبر أنَّ ما يجري “مشوارٌ على شطِّ بحرِ الهوى”.

هكذا اجتَهد أهلُ الحكمِ في تحويلِ الثورةِ طرفًا سياسيًّا جديدًا يُضافُ إلى الأطرافِ المتفشيّةِ في جسدِ لبنان. “اقتَسموا ثيابَها وعلى لباسِها اقترعوا”. وسَعَوا إلى أن يَجعلوها دويلةً إضافيّةً، الشارعُ قوّتُها كما السلاحُ والمذهبيّاتُ قوّةُ الدويلاتِ الأخرى. تقصَّد أهلُ السلطةِ تبديلَ جوهرِ الصراع: الشعبُ يَطرح مصيرَ لبنان وهم يَطرحون مصيرَ الطائف. الشعبُ يُطالب بحقوقِه وهم يطالبون بصلاحيّاتِهم. الشعبُ يريدُ تأمينَ مستقبلِ أولادِه وهم يريدون تأمينَ دورِ أحزابِهم. الشعبُ ينادي بالتجديدِ وهم يُعــتِّــقون “القديمَ على قِدَمه”. لا يأبَهون لانهيارَ البلد، لكنّهم يَستهوِلون خرقَ الطائف. عَلّمتْنا الثورةُ أن نُحبَّها، فيما أجْبرتْنا السلطةُ على أن نعارضَها.

الإشكاليّةُ التي يعانيها لبنانُ اليومَ هي أنَّ السلطةَ والثورةَ تظنّان أنَّ الوقتَ يلعبُ لصالحِ كل منهما، فيما هو ضِدَّهما معًا. وضعُ لبنان المتدهوِرُ ــ مِن قَبلِ الثورة ـــ لا يَتحمّل حُكمًا يَستنزِفُ الناسَ ولا ثورةً يَستنزِفُها الوقت. إنه لأمرٌ صادِمٌ ألّا تتحمّلَ الحالةُ الاقتصاديّةُ الثورةَ عندما صارت هذه ممكنةً في لبنان. كأنّنا أمام خِيارٍ صعب: تأييدُ الثورةِ وتسريعُ الانهيار، أو دعوةُ الثورةِ إلى الانكفاءِ ووَداعُ الإصلاح. لكنَّ هناك خِيارًا آخَرَ هو: معارضةُ السلطةِ وتسريعُ التغيير. اليوم، السلطةُ والثورةُ تلتقيان في مكانٍ مشترَكٍ اسمُه مصيرُ لبنان، وتفترقان حولَ نوعيّةِ المصير. نحن في زمنِ الحِصَصِ الجُغرافيّةِ لا في زمنِ الحِصصِ السياسيّة. نحن في زمنِ الشعوبِ لا في زمنِ الأنظمة. نحن في زمنِ التحوّلاتِ الكيانيّةِ لا في زمنِ التحوّلاتِ النيابيّةِ والحكوميّة. من هنا أنَّ الثورةَ مَدعوّةٌ إلى الواقعيّةِ، والسلطةَ إلى احتضانِ مطالبِ الثورةِ جِدّيًا لا مناورةً. نحن اللبنانيّين نُميّـز بين السلطةِ والثورةِ، لكنَّ العالمَ لا يُميّـز بينهما، فكلُّهم لبنان. الشرقُ الأوسط أمامَ مؤتمرِ فرساي (1919)، والعالمُ أمامَ مؤتمرِ فيينّا (1850) من دون إعلان. هناك كانت مِقْصَلةُ الجغرافيا، وكان الثَوابُ والعِقاب.

منذُ سنةِ 1989، تاريخِ بدءِ سقوط الشيوعيّةِ، كلُّ الثورات التي حَصلت أدَّت، باستثناءِ الحالةِ الألمانيّة، إلى تفتيتِ الدول: سَقط الاتّحادُ السوفياتيّ، نشأت دولٌ جديدةٌ، تَحرّرت أوروبا الشرقيّةُ، تَقسَّمت يوغسلافيا وتشيكوسلوفاكيا وسائرُ دولِ البلقان. انتشر الطِرازُ الغربيُّ في العالمِ الجديدِ وحلّت العولمةُ. ليس لبنان بعيدًا من هذه التحوّلات. فلو كان دستورُ 1943 صالحًا لما وقعت حربُ 1975، ولو كان دستورُ الطائف حلًّا لما وقعت جميعُ الأحداثِ وصولًا إلى 17 تشرين الأول. النصوص ممتازةٌ والتجاربُ سيّئة.

العودةُ إلى ما قبلَ 1975، وحتّى العودةُ إلى “طائف” 1989، وقد عُدَّل مرارًا بكواتم صوتيّة، مستحيلةُ لا من زاويةٍ مسيحيّةٍ أو مسلمةٍ، بل من منطقِ التاريخِ ومن مسارِ الأحداث. مياهُ البحرِ لا تعودُ إلى الأنهر، ولا مياهُ الأنهرِ إلى الينابيع. لم يَحدُث أن عادت الشعوبُ إلى أنظمةٍ ماضية. قد تعود إلى قيمٍ ماضيةٍ كحالِ روسيا ودولِ أوروبا الشرقيّةِ التي استعادت مسيحيّتَها بعد الفاصلِ الشيوعيِّ، لكنها لم تَــعُد إلى الـمَلكيّة.

الأمم التي تَعرّضت في السنواتِ الثلاثين الماضية لثوراتٍ وحروبٍ استَقلّت واستَقرَّت ونَهضَت باقتصادِها واستعادَت بهاءَ تاريِخها وعَلاقاتِها الدوليّة. أما نحن فلا نزالُ في ضِفّةِ الاضطرابِ نتيجةَ وجودِ مشروعِ حزبِ الله من جهةٍ، وفشلِ الطبقةِ السياسيّة من جهةٍ أخرى، فتَحوَّلت الأزماتُ مشاكلَ والمشاكلُ فتنًا وتَسرَّبت إلينا صِراعاتُ المحيط.

لذلك، تعالوا نَستفيد من ملامحِ الوِحدةِ التي بَرزت في الثورةِ لا لنُشكّلَ حكومةً فقط بل لنبنيَ لبنانَ الاتّحاديَّ. هذا هو مستقبلُ المِنطقة.

لا التجاهلُ يُفيدُ ولا المكابرةُ ولا المزايدةُ، ولا حتّى الحنين. ملامحُ الوِحدةِ في الثورةِ تجلّت حولَ القضايا الاجتماعيّةِ والأخلاقيّةِ، لكنْ سُرعانَ ما تَبدَّدت حين بَدأ ثوّارٌ يَطرحون القضايا السياسيّةَ والخِياراتِ الوطنيّة.

ملامحُ الوِحدةِ بين الناسِ والمناطقِ كافيةٌ لنحيا معًا ضِمنَ خصوصيّاتِنا الحضاريّةِ لا الطائفية، لكنّها ناقصةٌ لنَـتشَبّثَ بوِحدةٍ مركزيّةٍ عَطّلت الدولةَ وشَوَّهت الهُوّيةَ وطَعنت صيغةَ الشراكة.

لو انَّ الشعبَ السويسريَّ وَظّفَ إرادةَ الوِحدةِ سنةَ 1848 في دولةٍ مركزيّةٍ لكان عاد إلى حروبِه الأهلية، غير أنّه اختارَ الوِحدةَ الاتحاديّةَ وطوى صفحةَ الحروبِ الأهليّة إلى غير رجعة، وصار مثالَ الشعبِ الموحَّد.

هل يستطيعُ اللبنانيّون أن يَغرِفوا من رصيدِ تاريخِهم ليَستَثمِروه في نقصِ مستقبلهم؟ ومن فائضِ حروبِهم ليَسُدّوا فيه عجزَ سلامِهم؟ ومن ذكرياتِ تعايُشِهم لــيُـرَوُّوا به شراكتَهم الباقية؟ ليس لبنانُ في لحظةِ مَغيب.

اللبنانيّون يَغيبون عن شروقِ الشمسِ ويُخــبِّــؤن عيونَهم خلفَ جفونِهم فيما هي تُطِلُّ من خلفِ جبالِنا.

إنَّ في تاريخِ هذه الأمّةِ من الطاقاتِ ما يَجعلُها قادرةً على تحقيقِ المجدِ النهائي، مجدٍ واحدٍ مُشرقٍ على مدى مساحةِ أمّتِنا اللبنانيّة الـمُطلّةِ على هذا الشرقِ الجريح.

The post سجعان قزي/ثورةٌ حتى… سويسرا…تعالوا نَستفيد من ملامحِ الوِحدةِ التي بَرزت في الثورةِ لا لنُشكّلَ حكومةً فقط بل لنبنيَ لبنانَ الاتّحاديَّ. هذا هو مستقبلُ المِنطقة appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

الياس بجاني/الدكتور حسان دياب مجرد أداة سياسية بيد المحتل الذي كلفه

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الدكتور حسان دياب مجرد أداة سياسية بيد المحتل الذي كلفه
الياس بجاني/28 كانون الأول/2019

الهامشيون في الحياة كثر ويتواجدون في كل المجتمعات، وفي البلدان كافة، ووطنا لبنان الغالي والمحتل ليس شواذاً.

الهامشيون هؤلاء، ومنهم المُكلّف تشكيل حكومة لبنان المدعو د. حسان دياب، هم كوارث اجتماعية وأخلاقية وسياسية وبامتياز.

هؤلاء هم مجرد أدوات رخيصة لا لون ولا طعم لها، ومستعدة باستمرار لتلعب أدوار الدمى التي يستعملها الأبالسة للأذية والخداع، وكواجهات دجل وغش يتلطون خلفها.

المُكلِّف الذي هو المحتل، أي حزب الله، قد انتقى هذا الرجل ليكون كيس رمل لا أكثر ولا أقل.

عملياً فإن المُكلِّف هو حزب الله، الآمر والناهي حالياً في وطن الأرز، والممسك برقاب وألسنة الحكام والطاقمين السياسي والحزبي.

وكحال كل من سبقوه من المارقين والغزاة والأباطرة يتوهم حزب الله بأنه ابتلع لبنان، وأنهى استقلاله، ودفن سيادته، وحرق هويته، وحوّل بقوة الإخضاع شعبه إلى عبيد أذلاء يأمرهم فينفذون.

هذا المحتل الواهم لم يتعظ من تاريخ وطن الأرز المقاوم والبطولي، وهو منسلخ عن واقعه وثقافته ولم يأخذ من تاريخه لا الدروس ولا العّبر.

ولأنه واهم، فهو لن يتراجع عن غيه وظلمه وإرهابه ما دام قادراً على الترويج لبضاعته “الكذبة” التي هي نفاق التحرير والمقاومة.

هو لن يتراجع ما دام مسموحاً له ودون مقاومة على تخوين وشيطنة كل من يقف بوجهه من الأحرار والشجعان والسياديين.

من هنا فإن المطلوب التركيز 100% على سرطان هذا الاحتلال الملالوي وتعريته وفضحه وتسميته باسمه دون مواربة، وبنفس الوقت الخروج من كل أوحال الذمية والتقية والتوقف عن خطيئة الترويج لبضاعته.

لا هو حرر، ولا هو محرر.
ولا هو مقاوم، ولا هو قاوم.
هو محتل إيراني، ونقطة على السطر.

مطلوب مواقف شجاعة تسمي المرّض ولا تتلهى بالأعراض.

المرض هو احتلال حزب الله الإيراني الهوية والمشروع والثقافة.

أما الأعراض فهي كل رزم وأطنان الصعاب والأزمات التي يعاني منها لبنان واللبنانيين على كل الصعد، وفي المجالات كافة… معيشياً وأمنياً واقتصاداً وخدمات، وحكماً وحكام، وسياسة وسياسيين.

والحقيقة التي على كل لبناني أن يدركها ودون أوهام وأحلام يقظة، هي أن لا حل لأي مشكلة من كل هذا المشاكل ما دام لبنان محتلاً وقراراه مصادراً وحكامه دمى.

يبقى أن وضعية د.حسان دياب هي استنساخاً للوضعية التبعية والصنجية والبوقية والطروادية لوضعية وحقيقة وممارسات وأدوار الأطقم الرسمية الحاكمة والسياسية والحزبية كافة.

وباختصار، فإن هذا المُكلّف تشكيل الحكومة لن يشكل، لأن التشكيل قد تم ومن ثم اسقط اسمه على التشكيلة، وبالتالي الإعلان من عدمه عن التشكيلة هو بيد من شكل وليس بيد الحسان.

الحسان عملياً وواقعاً وحقيقة هو مجرد أداة اختاره المحتل اللاهي كونه هامشي ووصولي وانتهازي ويفتقد للثوابت الوطنية والسيادية.

ولأن فاقد الشيء لا يعطيه فالحسان لن يأتي بغير ما يمليه عليه من جاء به.. ومع هذا الحسان.. فالج لا تعالج.
الخلاصة: لبنان بلد محتل.

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

The post الياس بجاني/الدكتور حسان دياب مجرد أداة سياسية بيد المحتل الذي كلفه appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 29 كانون الأول/2019

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 29 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 29 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 29 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 29/2019

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Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 29/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for December 29/2019

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 29/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 28- 29/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 73th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 28-29/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 73th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 29/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 28-29/2019
Hezbollah party has already formed the government/Elias Bejjani/December 28/2019
Lebanese Protest at New PM’s Home, Demand he Quits
Report: Arab Assistance for Lebanon ‘Blocked’ under New Govt.
Bassil Urges Action If Banking Bodies Fail to Probe Capital Flight
Activists Storm Banks Protesting Illegal Capital Controls
Lebanese Protesters Turn their Ire on Banks
As Crisis Hits, Lebanese Businesses Fight for Survival
Lebanon’s rogue banks called to account/Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/December 28/2019
A Government of Masks and a Hunger Revolution/Rajeh Khoury/Asharq Al Awsat/December 28/2019
A Moroccan perspective on protest movements in the Arab world/The Arab Weekly/December 28/2019

Details Of The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 28-29/2019
Hezbollah party has already formed the government
Elias Bejjani/December 28/2019
Hezbollah party has already formed the government and afterwards assigned Hassan Diab to head it. Accordingly the time of its official declaration and birth is in the party’s leadership hands. Bassil and all the others are mere tools. Lebanon is an occupied country

Lebanese Protest at New PM’s Home, Demand he Quits
Asharq Al-Awsat/Saturday, 28 December, 2019
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Beirut home of Lebanon’s new prime minister on Saturday, calling for Hassan Diab’s resignation less than 10 days after he was appointed. Lebanon is without a cabinet and in the grips of a deepening economic crisis after a two-month-old protest movement forced Saad Hariri to stand down as prime minister on October 29. Anti-government protests continued after Hariri’s resignation, while political parties negotiated for weeks before nominating Diab, a professor and former education minister, to replace him on December 19.
Echoing protester demands, Diab promised to form a government of independent experts within six weeks — in a country where appointing a cabinet can take months. But protesters on Saturday were unconvinced by his promise. “We’re here to bring down Hassan Diab. He doesn’t represent us. He’s one of them,” said one young demonstrator, referring to the country’s ruling elite, who protesters despise collectively. Lina, another protester agreed, saying: “It’s the revolution that must name the prime minister, not them.”The 60-year-old Diab, who has a low public profile and styles himself as a technocrat, last week called protester demands legitimate but asked them to give him a chance to form “an exceptional government”. “We are willing to give him a chance, but let us at least give him a roadmap,” Lina told AFP. “The names don’t matter to us, we want policy plans, what is his program?” she asked.
Protesters decry Diab’s participation as a minister in a government deemed corrupt. The support given to him by the Shiite Hezbollah party also angers many protesters and pro-Hariri Sunnis. Protesters also gathered in the northern Sunni majority city of Tripoli on Saturday, an AFP photographer said. The protests and political deadlock have brought Lebanon to its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. The international community has urged a new cabinet to be formed swiftly to implement economic reforms and unlock international aid.

Report: Arab Assistance for Lebanon ‘Blocked’ under New Govt.
Naharnet/December 28/2019
Naming of Lebanon’s new PM-designate Hassan Diab did not receive Arab and Gulf consent who consider Diab “affiliated” to the March 8 camp, “endorsed” by Hizbullah and “close” to Syrian President Bashar Asaad, Nidaa al-Watan daily reported on Saturday. Arab diplomatic sources told the daily on condition of anonymity that there was “no Arab approval of Diab” and that his designation will reflect on the form of the new government “especially after reports that he visited Damascus and met with officials of the Syrian regime.”Arab states were “willing and ready” to provide economic assistance for Lebanon, said the sources, but the Gulf Cooperation Council’s assistance “was excluded after revelations that the formation process is completely politicized and one-sided.”The sources noted that Arab countries are watching the position of Dar al-Fatwa, the highest Sunni authority in Lebanon, which has not so far given its “blessing” for the designation of Diab. Diab was named earlier in December replacing outgoing premier Saad Hariri after nearly two months of intense political wrangling. But while his appointment was backed by Hizbullah-allied parliamentary blocs, he did not win the backing of parties from his own Sunni community.

Bassil Urges Action If Banking Bodies Fail to Probe Capital Flight
Naharnet/December 28/2019
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement on Saturday said “we must action” if the parties responsible to control “suspicious” capital flight failed to uncover the involved. In a tweet, Bassil said: “The amount of funds transferred or smuggled after October 17 (the beginning of the uprising) is the responsibility of the central bank governor, the Banking Control Commission and bank owners…if they fail to do something and reveal the numbers and their owners, we must take action at the start of the new year,” said Bassil in a tweet. On Thursday, cash-strapped Lebanon’s central bank governor said he would investigate reports of large transfers of money abroad, which if confirmed, would mark a violation of banking restrictions curtailing such transactions. Salameh said that there has been a lot of talk about “politicians, senior civil servants and bank owners” involved in capital flight, adding however that a probe is necessary to identify those responsible.

Activists Storm Banks Protesting Illegal Capital Controls
Naharnet/December 28/2019
A group of protesters on Saturday stormed some banks in Beirut to protest against undeclared capital control measures, amid an unprecedented economic crisis and nationwide protests gripping the country. Dozens of angry activists stormed a bank saying one of their friends was not allowed to cash a cheque due to the control measures. The move comes as protesters mark the 73rd of protests against corruption and mismanagement. “This is so frustrating,” one activist said, “banks are banning us from using our own money,” he added. Faced with a grinding US dollar liquidity crisis, Lebanon’s banks have since September imposed increasingly tight restrictions on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad in an attempt to conserve dwindling foreign currency reserves. This has fuelled tensions in the debt-ridden country, where a two-month-old protest movement is demanding the removal of political leaders deemed incompetent and corrupt. Activists say ordinary depositors are footing the bill for a liquidity crisis worsened by politicians, senior civil servants and bank owners who used their influence to get their hefty savings out of the country. Many of the country’s top leaders own, or have large shares in, several banks. As Lebanon’s protest movement enters its third month, demonstrators are increasingly targeting banks for trapping their savings. As a result of informal capital controls, the unofficial value of the Lebanese pound against the dollar has dropped by around 30 percent. The Lebanese currency has been pegged to the greenback at around 1,500 for two decades and the currencies are used interchangeably in daily life.

Lebanese Protesters Turn their Ire on Banks

Associated Press/Naharnet/December 28/2019
Dozens of Lebanese protesters held a brief sit-in inside a bank in Beirut and another in the country’s south on Saturday, part of their focus on banking policies they complain are inefficient and corrupt. Lebanon is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, while protests against corruption and mismanagement have gripped the country since October. The local currency has taken a nose dive, losing more than 40% of its value after over 20 years of being pegged to the dollar. Banks are imposing unprecedented capital controls to protect their deposits amid a deepening confidence crisis. Meanwhile, layoffs and salary cuts are becoming the norm while politicians bicker over forming a new government. Dozens of protesters entered a private bank in the commercial Hamra district in Beirut, protesting capital controls and insisting that no one would leave without the money they came for. Banks have put a withdrawal ceiling of $200 a week on most accounts, while totally blocking outside transfers. “Thieves! Thieves!” two dozen protesters chanted, some sitting on counters and others on the floor. Bank staff watched, and the security guards did not interfere. The protesters later helped a woman with a cane get to the second floor, again shouting that she wouldn’t leave until she got the money she needs. The protesters posted videos of their actions on a Twitter account linked to the protest movement. At another bank in the southern town of Nabatiyeh, a dozen protesters entered the branch chanting “Down with bank rule.” Inside the bank, a citizen complained about how he can’t withdraw money to pay for his son living abroad as well as his employees, yet the bank continues to charge him for a loan he took. “Enough of that!” the man said, according to another video posted on Twitter.The protesters have also organized a campaign called “we are not paying” asking depositors not to pay their loans amid the tight capital controls. The anti-bank protests were fanned by recent comments from the Central Bank’s governor saying he doesn’t know how much further the local currency will lose its value. Riad Salameh’s comments to reporters Thursday deepened panic in the highly dollarized economy. Lebanon imports most of its basic needs, and is one of the world’s most indebted countries. Some protesters are calling for banks to finance imports instead of servicing debts.
Lebanese officials have asked foreign countries and financial institutions to help secure needed capital for imports. Donors have called for major reforms before extending help — a request that will likely be delayed amid infighting between political groups over the shape of a new government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on Oct. 29 and continues in a caretaker capacity. The prime minister designate, Hassan Diab, was named on Dec. 19, and is backed by the Hizbullah and its allies. However, he has failed to win the backing of the main Sunni Muslim groups. Protesters have also rejected him, saying he is still part of the ruling elite they accuse of corruption.

As Crisis Hits, Lebanese Businesses Fight for Survival
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 28/2019
After decades of hard work, self-made Lebanese chocolatier Roger Zakhour thought he would finally be able to pass a successful business to his daughter. But then the economic crisis hit. Instead of reaping profits this Christmas, he and his 29-year-old daughter are marking down their handmade ice cream logs. “If it continues like this, in a few months I’ll be bankrupt,” the 61-year-old said sitting in his small shop, surrounded by colourful stacks of hand-crafted chocolates. In protest-hit Lebanon, a free-falling economy, price hikes and a severe dollar liquidity crunch have left local businesses struggling to stave off collapse. Zakhour started making chocolates and then ice cream in the 1990s, refining his recipes until he became a go-to for five-star hotels and well-off Lebanese. But as the economy worsened over the autumn, high-end hotels drastically reduced their orders and walk-in customers became rare. Banks have restricted access to dollars since the end of the summer, sending prices soaring as importers struggle to secure enough hard currency to buy supplies. “We’re heading somewhere we never imagined we would,” said Zakhour, who had just upgraded his kitchen when sales dropped off.
Support fellow citizens
In pursuit of high-quality products, Zakhour imports his ingredients, paying in euros or dollars. But with withdrawals restricted and no transfers abroad, that is no longer viable. “Now when something runs out, that’s it,” he said. Unprecedented protests have swept Lebanon since October 17, with people from all backgrounds demanding a complete overhaul of a political class they deem useless and corrupt.
The government stepped down on October 29, but endless political deadlock has delayed a new one being formed to tackle the urgent need for economic reforms. Zakhour’s business is just one of thousands struggling to stay afloat.
Many Lebanese have been forced to close shop, and a large number have been fired or seen their salaries slashed by half, even as the cost of living increases. Watching all this unfold, 31-year-old nursery school teacher Lea Hedary Kreidi and her family racked their brains to see how they could help. Shortly after protests started, they launched a group on Facebook called “Made in Lebanon — The Lebanese Products Group” to encourage Lebanese to buy locally produced goods.
In just two months, they amassed more than 32,000 members, who post ads for locally or homemade goods, or ask for local alternatives to imported products.
‘Made in Lebanon’
“We’re used to going shopping and buying what our mothers used to buy. We grab what’s in front of us without checking if it’s made in Lebanon or not,” she said, seated at home by a sparkling Christmas tree.
But there are locally made options for numerous products, including detergent, shampoo, nappies, peanut butter, ketchup, and children’s building blocks. “I was surprised by how many things there were that I didn’t know about,” said the mother of a baby boy.
In her drive to support her fellow citizens, Kreidi now skips her usual supermarket in favour of nearby small grocers. This Christmas, only the children in her family will be receiving presents, which will all be made in Lebanon. In Beirut, bar manager Rani al-Rajji says he is also having to adapt — moving away from increasingly expensive imports while also remaining affordable. “As much as I can, I’m trying to lessen the blow so our guests don’t feel they’ve lost their purchasing power and can no longer afford to go out,” said the 43-year-old, who is also an architect.
To do this, he and his co-founders are trying to increase local brands from a fifth to around a half of all bar and kitchen supplies.
“We’re trying to use local products for all those with an alternative made in Lebanon,” he said, sitting at the bar. And they are also attempting to cut out unnecessary packaging and marketing costs, serving wine directly from the barrel and beer from the keg. “We can’t replace everything, but we can try to give Lebanese products more life, encourage their consumption,” he said.
But some cash-strapped consumers say buying local is not their chief concern. In a Beirut supermarket, 35-year-old Mariam Rabbah clutched a nearly empty basket wondering what to buy with her diminished salary.
“Everything is more expensive and we’re now paid half,” she said. “Now what we care about is if something is cheap and good quality — not whether it’s imported or Lebanese.”

Lebanon’s rogue banks called to account
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/December 28/2019
Protesters who have occupied the streets for weeks demanding political change have characterized the self-professed “technocrat” as a frontman for a kleptocracy that has pillaged the country for three decades.Next to Japan and to Greece, Lebanon is the third most indebted country in the world. However, unlike Japan, where the shortfall is backed by a robust economy, Lebanon’s debt relies on a banking sector that has acted as an accomplice with the corrupt government.
For years the Lebanese banking sector has worked on financing the inefficient government and enriched a few, while killing the productive sector of the country. Today the sector is driving the country’s bankruptcy through its unlawful practices to save the day for the Lebanese government. People took to the streets demanding the recovery of funds embezzled by corrupt politicians. However, instead of blocking politicians’ accounts, the banks unlawfully blocked the people’s access to money. Lebanon’s growing debt comes from financing an inefficient and ineffective government that is based on a toxic sectarian division and clientelism. Sectarianism was institutionalized by the constitution drafted at the end of the civil war. It has created a set-up where different denominations share power and the state resources. Government assets have been used by the “zoama,” or denomination leaders, to further their influence and increase control over their own groups.
In this framework there is no rule of law to manage government revenues and expenses, hence there is no real fiscal policy. People are hired just to vote for a certain leader, while contracts are awarded to enrich another. There are no guidelines for government inflows and outflows. In the meantime, the central bank acts like the government cashier. While the bank is supposed to be controlling the monetary supply, it has taken on the additional role of creating money to finance the corrupt government’s inflated expenses. The central bank relies on the Lebanese banking system, which means that at the end the buck stops with the average Lebanese citizen who puts his savings in a Lebanese bank, in addition to some foreign depositors.
Lebanese prime minister designate, Hassan Diab, seems unable to convince the country’s hard-pressed population that he is the right man for the job.
The central bank for years has been issuing treasury bills at high interest rates on the Lebanese pound, increasing demand for the national currency. This has killed the productive sector since the cost of borrowing has become so high. Banks found it highly lucrative to take people’s money and put it in treasury bills and make the spread. They found it much more profitable and easier than doing what banks usually do: Take deposits and extend loans to the private sector. Additionally, when lending to the government, banks avoid facing the business risks associated with lending to the private sector.
After a while the government needed more dollars to finance its international transactions. The central bank began extending debt in dollars. People’s accounts in dollars financed the government debt.
Moreover, for the past three years the central bank has been engaged in financial engineering that allows banks to make outstanding profits at the expense of a growing national debt. The central bank conducts fictitious operations by lending banks amounts, then borrowing from them at a much higher interest rate, giving the banks the spread as profit.These excessive rates were intended to lure depositors into the Lebanese banking system.
For years these practices have led to a growing debt that the economy cannot afford. In recent months, experts have warned of a looming crisis. Regional events have affected remittances to the country, aggravating the situation.
However, the straw that broke the camel’s back was the Assad regime’s liquidity shortage caused by US sanctions. This drove the Syrian regime to ask its allies to withdraw dollars from the Lebanese market and channel them to Syria. However, to mitigate the liquidity crash the Lebanese market is facing, banks are unlawfully holding people’s money. A dollar depositor can withdraw only $300 a week from his account, and the rest can be withdrawn only in Lebanese pounds at the official rate of 1,507.
Using this approach, the bank is unofficially giving people’s accounts a good haircut, forcing them to convert their dollar assets at a rate of 1,507 while the real rate on the exchange market is over 2,000 Lebanese pounds to the dollar. Nevertheless the central bank and its governor claim that the deposits are safe and that there is no cap on withdrawals. At the same time, the central bank is still lending to the government at a 1 percent rate, trying to keep the ailing system together. However, these “time-buying” practices are very costly and will eventually lead to the collapse of the entire economy. The sad fact is that the price will be paid by the Lebanese people, average citizens who are struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Lebanese politicians are enjoying a good night’s sleep knowing their money is safely hidden in accounts in Switzerland or elsewhere.
*Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She holds a PhD in politics from the University of Exeter and is an affiliated scholar with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut.

A Government of Masks and a Hunger Revolution

Rajeh Khoury/Asharq Al Awsat/December 28/2019
Finally, the end of the catastrophic race. Who gets there first in Lebanon? A technocratic government pulled out of the hats of political wizards and “Your orders, sir”? Or an economic and livelihoods crisis that could bring a storm that destroys the country and drag it to checkpoints again? Which is worse?
On Christmas, President Michel Aoun visited Bkerke and promised a new government within days. This does not necessarily mean a change in the direction of crisis, especially when, at the same time, the caretaker Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil accused banks of holding employees’ salaries and not paying them in full. This fueled popular rage in the country, especially with fears of the state being unable to pay its employees their wages in the next few months.
Before elaborating on the Hunger Revolution that is knocking on doors, that was warned against by General Joseph Aoun a few days earlier saying that the army will not face a hungry people, let us briefly discuss the comic government and politics.
First, in terms of the shape and form of the strong government and what is being said of it in a mix of fascinating contradictions. Second, in terms of the violent war of statements and angry accusations that broke out between Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri on the ruins of the agreement that brought Aoun to the presidency, and against a backdrop of what Lebanese Sunni leaderships consider to be the ruins of the Mithaqiyya [Charter] broken by the binding parliamentary consultations conducted by Aoun and which ended with Dr. Hassan Diab being appointed as premier despite not gaining Sunni parliamentarians’ votes as required by the constitution.
In Bkerke, Aoun said that the new government will be New Year’s gift, will be formed of technocrats, and will not be a Hezbollah government as western media is saying, but a government for all Lebanese, including Hezbollah. In an attempt to respond to the accusations by Sunni leaderships of him violating the Charter, Aoun said that the government’s color is not determined by the appointment of the premier but by the formation of the government and who is included in it.
In a clear response to the accusations by Hariri that Aoun’s son in law Minister Gebran Bassil is the one forming the government, or by the Secretary-General of the Marada Movement Suleiman Frangieh who claimed that the government is Bassil’s though appearing to be independent, a government of independents whose history is associated with compromises with people of power and influence, known for being inconsistent, Aoun said word for word, “Let us assume that Gebran Bassil is the one forming the government, does he not have the right to? Does he not head the largest parliamentary bloc? Nevertheless, it is not him who is forming the government.”
When asked about what is being said of the Charter in Lebanon being in danger because of the appointment of the premier without Sunni cover, Aoun responded that he waited for Hariri for 100 days. Still, he did not come up with a solution. Sunni leaderships responded to Aoun’s claim that this is not Iraq where the largest parliamentary bloc appoints the premier and forms the government, and that our constitution is clear about parliamentary consultations, which does not necessarily imply that they are linked to facilitating the formation of the government as Aoun did, speaking of 100 days, without recalling the 2 and a half years of presidential vacuum that was imposed by Hezbollah before the agreement with Hariri being premier was reached.
Hariri had outlined the features of the open confrontation with Aoun and his son in law Bassil, asserting that he will no longer cooperate with “the racist and sectarian Bassil trying to take over the country,” and that this presidential term is dealing with the constitution and
law as perspectives. He claimed that he was cautious about maintaining peace with the Shia duo, Hezbollah, and Haraket Amal, out of the refusal of sedition between Shias and Sunnis.
Hariri described the strong government as Bassil’s government, asserting that he will not be willing to return to the premiership if Hassan Diab failed, saying, “With Bassil? No. These are people I can no longer work with after today; he wants to run the country on his own; he needs to concede. How can one work with people who speak of sectarianism and racism?”
Fouad Siniora had announced that the parliamentary consultations did not respect the constitutional Charter when it went over the Sunni vote and when the head of the Islamic Center for Studies Judge Khaldoun Oraymit that Sunnis were not slaves for a prime minister to be imposed on them. Member of Parliament Nohad Machnouk tweeted “We thank the Sayyed [Hassan Nasrallah] for adopting the appointed Prime Minister Hassan Diab; he saved us the time of accusing him of being Iran’s candidate and the Supreme Leader’s advisor’s defense of Diab is a clear and honest declaration that he represents Iran and does not represent the Lebanese, the people of Beirut, or the Sunnis.”
The contradictory positions, of course, continue in terms of the formation of the government when Aoun says in Bkerke that it will be technocratic. He is contradicting his former insistence on a techno-political government. It is clear that the government will be born from the womb of politicians and despite Hassan Diab claiming that it will represent Lebanon and not a political minority and that it will be a government of technocrats par excellence.
Despite him saying: “I am an independent technocrat. I do not know everything because I am an engineer, and it will not only be Hassan Diab who will address the problems”, a moment later he turns into a politician, especially after visiting Selim Hoss, and when he says that we have reached this stage after 30 years of bad policies, in an implicit hit at Hariri politics that this presidential term and its allies are trying to hold responsible for what Lebanon is facing despite all of them being complicit.
Hezbollah’s answer to the technocratic government story that Aoun is talking about after Diab elaborated on it being men of science, expertise, economics, and labor, by Minister Muhammad Fneish that the incoming government needs a political cover. This begs the question: What does a political cover mean? If not, the necessity of having the ministers refer to parties and politicians who are very clearly backing these ministers?
What warrants mourning is not the Lebanese state and political arena sinking in divisions that re-draw the features of March 8 and 14, but the international community and countries that had given aid, convening in the Cedar (CEDRE) Conference, alongside Arab countries, especially the Gulf, that were always subject to accusations by Hezbollah despite being neutral, being convinced that the situation in Lebanon is hopeless.
The catastrophe is that this comes with a wave of horrifying bankruptcy and unemployment, and in a time that the Minister of Finance accuses the banks of holding the salaries of employees as if the banks alone are responsible for the catastrophe produced by the state now forming a government of masked politicians, trying to mock the revolution’s popular demands demanding the overthrow of all politicians, and while Washington announces that there is no Western country ready to save Lebanon if politicians did not understand the message sent by the revolutionary street!

A Moroccan perspective on protest movements in the Arab world
The Arab Weekly/December 28/2019
RABAT – Despite differences in circumstances and the nature of their protests, demonstrators in Lebanon and Iraq agree that sectarian and religious parties in their countries have become part of the political and economic crises and their social backlashes.
A popular awareness has emerged in both countries. People have gone beyond material demands and are calling for fundamental regime change that includes the departure of the political elite and the governance system based on sectarian and partisan quotas. Observers consider that the protests in Lebanon and Iraq evolved from a struggle against corrupt and failed governments to a revolution for structural reform of the substance of the political system.
Moroccan academic Salman Bonnaman, head of the Maarif Centre for Studies and Research, said the Arab world is witnessing a second revolutionary wave that constitutes “an extension of the first wave at the level of the horizon for freedoms and reform demands.” This wave is characterised by its cutting “across sectarianism and political alignments,” rejecting external interventions and awareness that it must negotiate with military institutions.
In early 2011, protests, later labelled the “Arab spring” revolutions, erupted, starting in Tunisia and spreading to other countries, including Egypt, Libya and Yemen. Those revolutions toppled the ruling regimes in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya.
Bonnaman said the new revolts benefited from lessons learnt from the first wave, despite unique specificities that characterise each uprising.
In the first quarter of 2019, Algeria and Sudan witnessed popular protests that forced the leadership of the Sudanese Army to remove Omar al-Bashir from a 30-year presidency (1989-2019) and forced Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign from the presidency in Algeria.
Bonnaman, author of “The Philosophy of the Arab Revolutions: An Interpretative Approach to a New Uprising Model and of Questions of the Arab Spring State,” said despite their failures and disappointments, the first wave of revolutions “created a legacy of protests.” He suggested looking “at the new uprisings from the point of view of both a continuation of and a separation from the first wave, especially in light of their complexities, spontaneity and innocence.”
In addition to Sudan and Algeria, Iraq and Lebanon have been witnessing, since October, protests that raise similar demands, foremost of which is the removal of the ruling class accused of corruption and incompetence.
While the common feature in the Sudanese and Algerian cases was the demand for the military establishment to stay neutral and steer away from the general political sphere in favour of a civilian authority, the Lebanese and Iraqi cases have in common their “linking sectarianism to corruption and rejecting cultural divisions and sectarian quotas in managing the country’s rule,” Bonnaman said.
“The common denominator in the second wave is the presence of a strong and renewed awareness among the youth that is different from what one finds in classic protest movements,” he said.
The Arab world is living at the rhythm of protest movements that cut across identities, ethnicities and religious sects and transcend narrow ideological dimensions to raise mainly questions related to citizenship, sovereignty and freedom.
A new generation of Arab youth is rejecting sectarian quotas, political alignments, and fragile political collusions by the political elites. They are protesting a socio-economic situation characterised by tension, lack of equitable distribution of wealth, and growth rates that do not reach all social groups.
“The first is a socio-economic dimension that reflects the crisis of the economic development model in the concerned countries and the second is a political revolutionary dimension linked to rejecting the continuity of a governance model that combines power and wealth, closes off the public sphere and fails to build comprehensive and fair development,” Bonnaman said of aspects of the second wave of protests.
He stressed that what is happening is a continuation of the first wave of revolutions. “Protest movements always have a memory and they always consciously and unconsciously benefit from previous revolutionary experiences, especially in the Egyptian case at the level of relations with the military institution,” he said. He explained that “the lack of trust in the existing institutions made the new uprising movements distinguished in their demands by two traits that were not raised in the first wave: They are protesting against external interference, as it was strongly observed in Algeria against French interference and in Iraq and Lebanon against Iranian interference.”
The second trait relates to an awareness to manage dialogue and negotiations with the military establishment, which has political ambitions and refuses to secure a real transition to civilian rule.
In Lebanon and Iraq, protesters from across the political spectrum and from all affiliations and regions raised slogans hostile to Iran and its proxies in Lebanon and Iraq.
Bonnaman said the protest movements adopted reform and change as their goal and not the comprehensive and fundamental overthrow of the system. Therefore, it is necessary for them to produce leaders who can negotiate and find common ground with existing parties, because the latter are organised institutions, and especially with the ones in the opposition. They need to negotiate with the regime or at least with the existing forces that are open to reform from within the system to create a consensus programme for democratic transition.
Bonnaman said such a transitional programme would not have immediate results but it is important for everyone to participate and to pay attention to the gravity of the transitional stage, with all its complications, and be mindful of external interference and internal attempts to counter the reform spirit in addition to economic and social obstacles. He said success of the transitional phase was linked to the maturity shown by the elites and their agreement to protect the demands of the masses and translate them into laws and reform options.
 

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 28- 29/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 73th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone/أَلحَجَرُ الَّذي رَذَلَهُ البَنَّاؤُونَ هُوَ صَارَ رَأْسَ الزَّاوِيَة

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أمَا قَرَأْتُم في الكِتَاب: أَلحَجَرُ الَّذي رَذَلَهُ البَنَّاؤُونَ هُوَ صَارَ رَأْسَ الزَّاوِيَة، مِنْ لَدُنِ الرَّبِّ كَانَ هذَا، وهُوَ عَجِيبٌ في عُيُونِنَا
إنجيل القدّيس متّى21/من33حتى46/:”قالَ الرَبُّ يَسوع لِلأَحبارِ وشُيوُخِ الشَعب: «إِسْمَعُوا مَثَلاً آخَر: كَانَ رَجُلٌ رَبَّ بَيت. فَغَرَسَ كَرْمًا، وسَيَّجَهُ، وحَفَرَ فيهِ مَعْصَرَة، وبَنَى بُرجًا، ثُمَّ أَجَّرَهُ إِلى كَرَّامِين، وسَافَر.ولَمَّا ٱقْتَرَبَ وَقْتُ الثَّمَر، أَرْسَلَ عَبِيْدَهُ إِلى الكَرَّامِيْن، لِيَأْتُوهُ بِثَمَرِهِ. وقَبَضَ الكَرَّامُونَ على عَبِيدِهِ فَضَرَبُوا بَعْضًا، وقَتَلُوا بَعْضًا، ورَجَمُوا بَعْضًا. وعَادَ رَبُّ الكَرْمِ فَأَرْسَلَ عَبِيدًا آخَرِينَ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الأَوَّلِين، فَفَعَلُوا بِهِم مَا فَعَلُوهُ بِالأَوَّلِين. وفي آخِرِ الأَمْرِ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِم رَبُّ الكَرْمِ ٱبْنَهُ قَائِلاً: سَيَهَابُونَ ٱبْنِي! ورَأَى الكَرَّامُونَ الٱبْنَ فَقَالُوا فيمَا بَينَهُم: هذَا هُوَ الوَارِث! تَعَالَوا نَقْتُلُهُ، ونَسْتَولي على مِيرَاثِهِ. فَقَبَضُوا عَلَيه، وأَخْرَجُوهُ مِنَ الكَرْم، وقَتَلُوه. فَمَتَى جَاءَ رَبُّ الكَرْم، مَاذَا يَفْعَلُ بِأُولئِكَ الكَرَّامِين؟». قَالُوا لَهُ: «إِنَّهُ سَيُهْلِكُ أُولئِكَ الأَشْرَارَ شَرَّ هَلاك. ثُمَّ يُؤَجِّرُ الكَرْمَ إِلى كَرَّامِينَ آخَرِينَ يُؤَدُّونَ إِلَيهِ الثَّمَرَ في أَوانِهِ». قَالَ لَهُم يَسُوع: «أَمَا قَرَأْتُم في الكِتَاب: أَلحَجَرُ الَّذي رَذَلَهُ البَنَّاؤُونَ هُوَ صَارَ رَأْسَ الزَّاوِيَة، مِنْ لَدُنِ الرَّبِّ كَانَ هذَا، وهُوَ عَجِيبٌ في عُيُونِنَا؟ لِذلِكَ أَقُولُ لَكُم: إِنَّ مَلَكُوتَ اللهِ يُنْزَعُ مِنْكُم، ويُعْطَى لأُمَّةٍ تُثْمِرُ ثَمَرَهُ. فَمَنْ وَقَعَ عَلى هذَا الحَجَرِ تَهَشَّم، ومَنْ وَقَعَ الحَجَرُ عَلَيهِ سَحَقَهُ». ولَمَّا سَمِعَ الأَحْبَارُ والفَرِّيسِيُّونَ أَمْثَالَ يَسُوع، أَدْرَكُوا أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَعْنِيهِم بِكَلامِهِ. فَحَاوَلُوا أَنْ يُمْسِكُوه، ولكِنَّهُم خَافُوا مِنَ الجُمُوعِ الَّذينَ كَانُوا يَعْتَبِرونَهُ نَبِيًّا”.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 21/33-46/:”‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.”But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.”So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.”

 

لِذلِكَ يَجِبُ عَلى الَّذي يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالأَلْسُنِ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ لِكَي يَنَالَ مَوهِبَةَ التَّرْجَمَة
رسالة القدّيس بولس الأولى إلى أهل قورنتس  14/01-05/13/14/20/26/:”يا إِخوَتِي، إِسْعَوا إِلى المَحَبَّة، وٱطْمَحُوا إِلى المَوَاهِبِ الرُّوحِيَّة، ولا سِيَّمَا النُّبُوءَة. فَٱلَّذي يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالأَلْسُنِ لا يُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ بَلِ الله، ولا أَحَدَ يَفْهَمُهُ، لأَنَّهُ يَقُولُ بِالرُّوحِ أَشْيَاءَ خَفِيَّة. وأَمَّا الَّذي يَتَنَبَّأُ فهوَ يُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ كَلامَ بُنْيَانٍ وتَشْجِيعٍ وتَعْزِيَة. فَٱلَّذي يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالأَلْسُنِ يَبْنِي نَفْسَهُ، وأَمَّا الَّذي يَتَنَبَّأُ فَيَبْنِي الكَنِيسَة. إِنِّي أَوَدُّ أَنْ تتَكَلَّمُوا جَمِيعُكُم بِالأَلْسُن، ولكِنْ بِالأَحْرَى أَنْ تَتَنَبَّأُوا، لأَنَّ الَّذي يَتَنَبَّأُ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ الَّذي يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالأَلْسُن، إِلاَّ إِذَا كَانَ المُتَكَلِّمُ يُتَرْجِم، لِكَي تُبْنَى الكَنِيسَة. لِذلِكَ يَجِبُ عَلى الَّذي يَتَكَلَّمُ بِالأَلْسُنِ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ لِكَي يَنَالَ مَوهِبَةَ التَّرْجَمَة. فَإِنْ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي بِالأَلْسُنِ فَرُوحِي تُصَلِّي، أَمَّا عَقْلِي فلا يَجْنِي ثَمَرًا. أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَة، لا تَكُونُوا أَوْلادًا في تَفْكِيرِكُم، بَلْ كُونُوا أَطْفَالاً في الشَّرّ، ورَاشِدِينَ في التَّفْكِير. فَمَاذَا إِذًا، أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَة؟ عِنْدَمَا تَجْتَمِعُون، ويَكُونُ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُم تَرْنِيمَة، أَو تَعْلِيم، أَوْ وَحْيٌ، أَوْ تَكَلُّمٌ بِالأَلْسُن، أَوْ تَرْجَمَةٌ لِلأَلْسُن، فَلْيَكُنْ كُلُّ شَيءٍ لِلبُنْيَان”.

 

Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
First Letter to the Corinthians 14/01-05/13/14/20/26/:”Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their building up and encouragement and consolation. Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive. Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults. What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”

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The post The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone/أَلحَجَرُ الَّذي رَذَلَهُ البَنَّاؤُونَ هُوَ صَارَ رَأْسَ الزَّاوِيَة appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

إياد أبو شقرا/لبنان: إيران تهيمن…والبحث عمّن يدفع التكاليف

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لبنان: إيران تهيمن… والبحث عمّن يدفع التكاليف
إياد أبو شقرا/الشرق الأوسط/29 كانون الأول/2019

شهدت الأيام الفائتة في لبنان فتوراً في الانتفاضة الشعبية أسهمت فيه الأحوال الجوية القاسية، في حين واصلت الطغمة المتسببة في الأزمتين السياسية والاقتصادية الإمعان في عمليتي الإقصاء والتجاهل. ابتزاز المواطن بلقمة عيشه كان ولا يزال الخيار المعتمد. وما زالت «كلمة السر» خلق واقع سياسي جديد يخفي استغلال الانتفاضة الشعبية من أجل إكمال الإجهاز على الدستور، والمضي أبعد في ترسيخ واقع «الاحتلال» الفعلي الإيراني للبلاد عبر «حزب الله» وأتباعه.

ما تسعى الطغمة الحاكمة إليه راهناً هو إلهاء الشارع بتفاصيل التشكيلات الوزارية من منطلق أن ما حصل قد حصل، وصفحة الماضي قد طويت إلى غير رجعة. وبالتالي، على اللبنانيين القبول بشرعية «الانقلاب» وكل تداعياته السياسية، والتعايش مع «حكومة دمية» من لون واحد تتكامل معها منظومة إيران الإقليمية ويتعزز عبرها «حلف الأقليات» أمام خلفية الانهيار العربي شبه الكامل.

عندما أبصرت «الفكرة اللبنانية» النور قبل قرنين من الزمن، كان هناك عاملان أساسيان لفهمها والدفاع عنها: الأول، تعريف «الهوية اللبنانية» وتمييز مضمونها. والثاني، التفكير في حمايتها وتوفير فرص تعبيرها عملياً عن وجودها ببناء «وطن» قابل للحياة سياسياً وديموغرافياً واقتصادياً.

البدايات تعود إلى قرون عديدة وتصل إلى ما قبل الفتح الإسلامي. ومن ثم، تبلور مضمون «الفكرة» في فترة لاحقة إبّان الحكم العباسي مع الأقليات الجبلية في شمال المنطقة الساحلية السورية، وبعدها حقبة الحروب الصليبية (حروب الفرنجة)، فالحكم العثماني طوال أربعة قرون، فالانتداب الفرنسي… المُفضي إلى العهد الاستقلالي.

المجال لا يتسع هنا طبعاً للغوص في تفاصيل التوجهات والدعوات والحجج المسوّقة للهويات التي عاشها اللبنانيون عبر السنين، والتي تتراوح من الإسلام إلى العروبة إلى «المشرقية المسيحية» مروراً بالقومية السورية والقومية اللبنانية. غير أن المهم هو أنها أفرزت أحزاباً وحركات، وكذلك نجحت في احترام بعض الخصوصيات، فرسمت حدوداً لتثبيتها وتجاهلت أخرى.

في لبنان، كان أول نموذج لاحترام مكوّن من المكوّنات هو إنشاء «متصرفية جبل لبنان» الذاتية الحكم بعد حرب 1840 – 1860 بضغط من القوى الأوروبية على الدولة العثمانية. وبعدها، في ظل الانتداب الفرنسي، طوّرت فرنسا راعية إرث «المسألة الشرقية»، هذا النموذج فحوّلوا خلال عام 1920 «متصرفية جبل لبنان» إلى كيان «لبنان الكبير». وجاءت خطوة باريس يومذاك تجاوباً مع رغبة القيادات الدينية المسيحية المارونية والكاثوليكية المطالِبة بـ«كيان قابل للحياة»، خلال «مؤتمر باريس» المنعقد بعد انتهاء الحرب العالمية الأولى… بهزيمة العثمانيين.

في أي حال، كان هاجس «الوطن النهائي القابل للحياة» في قلب تفكير التيار الكياني اللبناني بعد الاستقلال، وهو تيار سياسي حافظ حتى اليوم على موقع قوي داخل المجتمع المسيحي. بل، واستطاع الصمود إبان حقبة «المد الناصري» بين 1952 و1967، ثم صعود «المقاومة الفلسطينية» بين 1968 و1977.

ولقد عاد الفضل في هذا الصمود لمزيج من حكمة بعض القادة المسيحيين الذين آمنوا بأن الرهان الأهم للمسيحي اللبناني هو على رغبته في التعايش المتكافئ مع الشريك المسلم فلا يهدّده بالغرب كي لا ينفّر المسلم ويدفعه إلى الاستقواء بالعمق العربي المسلم خارج الحدود. وكان من أبرز هؤلاء الرئيسان بشارة الخوري وفؤاد شهاب. في المقابل، كانت هناك قيادات مسيحية صنعت هالتها الوطنية من تأكيد إيمانها باستقلال لبنان وسيادته الحصرية على أرضه، منها كميل شمعون وريمون إده وبيار الجميّل وبشير الجميّل.

«المد الناصري» تبلوَر في لبنان تنامياً للتوجّهات القومية العربية واليسارية، استمر وتعزّز مع وجود المقاومة الفدائية الفلسطينية. كذلك أدى إلى تدفق الرساميل من الدول العربية المجاورة، إلى لبنان – هرباً من تجربة التأميمات الاشتراكية – ما خلق مجتمعاً استهلاكياً مزدهراً حوّل لبنان إلى مركز خدمات إقليمي عالمي.

غير أن المناخ الإقليمي تبدّل بعد هزيمة 1967، ثم خطوات ضرب واحتواء المقاومة الفلسطينية. وكانت الفترة بين 1978 و1979 مفصلية بالنسبة لتاريخ المنطقة، إذ شهدت «كامب ديفيد» الذي أضعف التأثير المصري عربياً وإقليمياً، و«ثورة الخميني» في إيران، التي قُيّض لها أن تتحكّم بالعديد من حسابات الحرب والسلم حتى اليوم. منذ ذلك الحين، اكتسبت الحالة اللبنانية أبعاداً جديدة، بل ابتُليَت بتحدّيات خطيرة، لعب فيها نظام آل الأسد في سوريا الدور المحوَري. فاعتباراً من النصف الثاني عقد السبعينات تطوّر تصرّفه ودوره من وكيل دولي لـ«احتواء» الفلسطينيين وضرب مقاومتهم، إلى «حاضنة» لمشروع «تصدير» النفوذ الإيراني و«صندوق بريد» إسرائيلي – إيراني ضد الخصوم المشتركين لتل أبيب وطهران.

لبنان في هذه الأثناء، كان قد خسر بفعل حربه الأهلية – الإقليمية (1975 – 1990) بحبوحته وموقعه الاقتصادي والخدماتي الإقليمي. وكنتيجة للتغيرات الديموغرافية والهجرة، تضاءل حجم الوجود المسيحي إزاء الكتلتين الشيعية والسنّية. ومن ثم، جاء «اتفاق الطائف» (1989) أشبه بعملية إنقاذ ما يمكن إنقاذه من الوجود المسيحي والعيش المشترك.

غير أن هذا الاتفاق ما كان يوافق أهواء ثلاث فئات اتفقت على تصفيته، وها هي اليوم توشك على دفنه، هي:

– إيران، التي تعتبر لبنان اليوم جزءاً من خريطتها الإقليمية، ترى أن زمنه ولى إثر تلاشي الأهمية السياسية للسُنة… وهي التي جعلت إخضاعهم قلب استراتيجيتها الإقليمية في العراق وسوريا واليمن.

– فريق مسيحي انتهازي، يراهن على إيران في حربها ضد السُنة، ويأمل منها بأي ثمن في أن تعيد إليه ما يعتبرها حقوقاً وامتيازات للمسيحيين بدعم ضمني غربي – إسرائيلي.

– إسرائيل، التي يريحها ما تزرعه إيران من انقسامات وعداوات وأحقاد لا تندمل على امتداد المنطقة، ما من شأنه ضمان مستقبلها، وتشجيع كل متضرّر من التوسّع الإيراني على تعجّل – بل استجداء – التطبيع معها.

هذا هو «السيناريو» المأساوي لأزمة لبنان الحالية وخلفياتها وآفاقها. وفي عمقه تثبيت الهيمنة «الاحتلالية» الإيرانية للبلاد… خلف «واجهة» مسيحية تخدم غاية ترويج هذه الهيمنة في الغرب المسيحي تحت شعار «حلف الأقليات» وحمايتهم. وفي المقابل، مناشدة العرب، ولا سيما في دول الخليج، بدفع أكلاف إنقاذ لبنان… بحجة «المحافظة على هويته العربية»!

إنه تلخيص مؤلم لكل عوامل الضعف واختلال المعادلات وسوء قراءة المتغيّرات في عالمنا العربي.

The post إياد أبو شقرا/لبنان: إيران تهيمن… والبحث عمّن يدفع التكاليف appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

ولاء مظلوم يكشف اكبر الفاسدين في حزب الله وهو مسؤول وحدة النقل في حزب السيد، أو ما يعرف بوحدة ٤٤٠٠ المدعو محمد جعفر قصير

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ولاء مظلوم يكشف «اكبر الفاسدين» في «حزب الله».. بالارقام والوقائع!
جنوبية/28 كانون الأول/2019

يستمر نجل الشهيد القائد حسين علي مظلوم المعروف بالحاج ولاء، عبر حسابه الخاص على موقع فيسبوك بنشر فضائح “حزب السيد”. وولاء ملاحق قضائياً من مسؤول التنسيق والارتباط في حزب الله الحاج وفيق صفا بسبب ما يدلي به من معلومات يبدو انها تضرب في مقتل في بيئة الحزب ومناصريه وتهز صورة مسؤوليه الكبار “المنزهة” عن كل شيء وخارج المحاسبة والمساءلة.

وفي هذا النص يسرد ولاء علي مظلوم عبر صفحته على الفايسبوك :” قصة اكبر الفاسدين في “حزب الله” وهو مسؤول وحدة النقل في “حزب السيد”، أو ما يعرف بوحدة ٤٤٠٠ المدعو محمد جعفر قصير، مواليد العام ١٩٦٧ من بلدة دير قانون النهر الجنوبية، وهو شقيق الاستشهادي أحمد قصير الذي فجر نفسه عام ١٩٨٢ بمبنى الحاكم العسكري الصهيوني في صور.

عقوبات اميركية
وفي ايار من عام 2018 وضع اسم محمد جعفر قصير المعروف باسمه الحركي الحاج فادي، على لائحة العقوبات الاميركية. وذكرت الخزانة الأميركية ان قصير هو المسؤول المالي لجماعة حزب الله ومسؤول عن نقل الأسلحة الإيرانية من سوريا إلى لبنان. واتهمت الولايات المتحدة قصير ومقربا من نصرالله، بلعب دور الوسيط في نقل الدعم المالي من فيلق القدس الايراني إلى حزب الله. ويتولى وحدة نقل الأسلحة الدقيقة بحزب الله، ويعرف بقربه الذي أوكل إليه العديد من المهام الحساسة، كما يدير نشاطات غير الشرعية، مثل تجارة وتهريب المخدرات والتبغ من سوريا إلى لبنان، مستغلا في ذلك نفوذه داخل الحزب.

“طاقة القدر”
ويقول ولاء ان لمحمد قصير أسماء حركية عدة منها “فادي” و “الحاج ماجد”، وهذا الأخير هو الإسم الأشهر الذي ذاع صيته في السنوات القليلة الماضية كأحد أبرز الأسماء المرتبطة بالفساد والثروة في الحزب. بدأ “الحاج ماجد” رحلة الفساد في العام ٢٠٠٨، ومع توسع انتشار حزب الله في الجغرافيا السورية توسعت صلاحيات وحدة النقل التي يرأسها بشكل كبير وتضخّمت موازنتها بما يتلاءم مع حجم المهام الجديدة الموكلة اليها، الأمر الذي فتح له ابواب المجد والثروة، خصوصا بعد اغتيال القائد العسكري مصطفى بدر الدين الذي كان حجر عثرة في طريقه، وكان يسعى على الدوام الى الحد من صلاحياته وإعاقة نشاطاته من باب التنافس على النفوذ والسلطة، وغالبا ما كانت تصل الأمور بينهما الى حد الخلاف والقطيعة، وتؤكد مصادر مطلعة من داخل الحزب ان “الحاج ماجد” كان من أول الواصلين الى مكان تصفية بدر الدين في قصره قرب مطار دمشق الدولي.

دعم ايراني
ويتابع مظلوم أتاحت المهام المناطة “بالحاج ماجد” له أن يبني علاقات واسعة مع قيادات الحرس الثوري الايراني، كما تعززت علاقاته خلال سنوات الحرب مع القيادة السورية، وبات يحظى بصلاحيات مالية وأمنية هائلة شملت مطار دمشق وبعض المرافئ السورية والنقاط الحدودية بين سوريا والعراق ولبنان، ويبدو أنه فهم اللعبة جيدا فاختار بدلا من العمل المقاوم التفرغ لجمع الثروة وبناء القصور والتمتع بملذات الحياة الدنيا عملاً بالآية الكريمة : “ولا تنسَ نصيبك من الدنيا”.

وباعتبار أنه مسؤول وحدة النقل فقد قرر بالشراكة مع ضباط ايرانيين، أن ينقل (يهرّب) التنبك والسجاد العجميين وغيرها من المنتجات الايرانية الى سوريا ولبنان، اضافة الى تهريب الدخان من سوريا وتخزينه في مستودعات كبيرة داخل الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت بالشراكة مع شخص من آل رباح، وكل ذلك كان يتم باستخدام مواكب الحزب التي لا تجرؤ القوى الامنية اللبنانية والسورية على تفتيشها، كما أن بعض العاملين معه من دائرته الضيقة (اخوة واصهرة ومقربين) استغلوا مهامهم في مجال النقل لتهريب المخدرات من لبنان الى سوريا ومنها الى دول عربية وأجنبية، اضافة الى تهريب البضائع والسلاح ونقل بعض السوريين الى الأراضي اللبنانية مقابل مبالغ مالية كبيرة، وكل ذلك كان يتم تحت نظر “الحاج ماجد” وحمايته. وتجدر الاشارة الى أن شقيقه علي قصير هو شريك له في الكثير من عمليات التهريب خصوصا بين سوريا والعراق، ويشاركه أيضا في فساده عدد من مسؤولي الحزب الذين سنأتي على ذكرهم في مقالات لاحقة.

حديد ومنافسة “الحلفاء”!
ويشير مظلوم الى ان في العام الماضي قام “الحاج ماجد” بإدخال آلاف الأطنان من الحديد الايراني الرديء الى لبنان عبر العراق وسوريا، كما أنه يشارك أحد رجال الأعمال الشيعة في بعض الكسارات وقد ساعده هذا الأخير في تصريف الحديد المهرب، ويقال أيضاً أنه شريك لآل فتوش في بعض أعمالهم.

ثروات هائلة و3 زوجات
ويسرد ولاء مظلوم عن ثروة “الحاج ماجد”، التي تراكمت سريعا وتحول من مسؤول وحدة عسكرية الى مدير لامبراطورية مالية تمتد من طهران الى بيروت، فافتتح في لبنان مطعما فخما اسمه “مرجوحة” بفرعيه في الحدث وصور تديره زوجته الثانية، ويشاركه فيه مسؤول كبير من آل هدوان مقرب من الأمين العام للحزب، كما بنى قصرا في بلدة المشرف في قضاء الشوف بلغت تكلفته عدة ملايين من الدولارات، اضافة الى شرائه عقارات بآلاف الهكتارات وسرقته لعدد من الخيول العربية من إحدى المزارع خلال الحرب السورية ونقلها الى قصره في لبنان، وهو غالبا ما يبرر الثروة لمحيطين به بأنها لزوجته الثانية التي ورثت عن طليقها السابق الملايين، ولكنه ما لبث أن تزوج عليها الثالثة التي يقال أنها ابنة حاكم المصرف المركزي السوري السابق. ويملك الحاج ماجد أيضا شقة في الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت تبلغ قيمتها حوالي ٧٠٠ الف$ ومنزلا في بلدته دير قانون النهر، وتعيش عائلته -خصوصا ابناؤه من زوجته الثانية- حياة مترفة يسودها البذخ والتبذير، وتؤكد مصادر مقربة منه أنه اهدى زوجته الثانية في عيد الحب منذ عامين سيارة بورش باهظة الثمن، وأن ابناءه منها لا يأكلون الا في افخم المطاعم ولا يشترون ثيابهم الا من أفخر محلات الثياب في وسط بيروت، فيما علاقته بأولاده من الزوجة الأولى شبه مقطوعة.

تاجر “غلوك”
وتؤكد المصادر أيضا الى أن “الحاج ماجد” أدخل الى لبنان منذ عدة سنوات دفعة كبيرة من مسدسات غلوك الجيل الرابع بهدف التجارة، اضافة الى عشرات الأطنان من التنبك والدخان والسجاد والسلع الايرانية التي ضاقت بها المستودعات في الضاحية الجنوبية، حتى ان العارفين من عناصر الحزب كانوا كلما رأوا موكب السيارات رباعية الدفع ذات الزجاج الداكن تمر في شوارع الضاحية يتهامسون فيما بينهم: “وصلت حمولة التنبك”. ويعاون “الحاج ماجد” في ادارة اعماله المدعو نور الشعلان الذي اتهمه حزب الله منذ أشهر باختلاس مبلغ ٥ مليون $ وتم سجنه لدى وحدة الحماية (يرأسها فاسد من آل عواضة من بلدة كفردونين) لعدة أيام ولكن ماجد تدخل مستخدما نفوذه وعلاقاته مع الايرانيين فأطلق الحزب سراحه ليعود الى رأس عمله.

والى جانب الشعلان يعاون “الحاج ماجد” المدعو محمد البزال المعروف في اوساط الحزب بالحاج معين. ويختم مظلوم: اخيراً فاحت رائحة فساده كثيرا الى حد أحرج الأمين العام، خصوصا أن بعض تجار الحديد المسيحيين اشتكوا من تهريبه للحديد الايراني الى لبنان ما أثر على تجارتهم، لذلك تمنى عليه نصر الله التخفيف من نشاطاته في مجال التهريب، الا أنه لم يكترث مستنداً الى علاقاته السورية والايرانية. وتفيد مصادر مطلعة أن الإيرانيين تدخلوا سريعا لحمايته، وفي رسالة ايرانية لمن يعنيهم الأمر ظهر “الحاج ماجد” بشكل مفاجئ يتوسط الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد والرئيس الايراني حسن روحاني خلال زيارة الاسد الاخيرة الى ايران. ويختم مظلوم نصه بالقول: هذا غيض من فيض فساد كوادر الحزب الذين وصفهم حسن بالمجاهدين الشرفاء، ولدينا مزيد”.


من هو الحاج فادي رجل أموال حزب الله؟
سامي خليفة/المدن/18 أيار/2019
كثيراً ما تنشر إسرائيل معلومات عن عمليات التهريب، التي يقوم بها حزب الله في منطقة الشرق الأوسط، من دون التطرق إلى الأسماء. وبعد تردد اسم محمد جعفر قصير، المعروف بالحاج فادي، خلال الأشهر القليلة الماضية، نشر الكاتب الإسرائيلي، يوآف ليمور، تحقيقاً مطولاً في صحيفة “إسرائيل هيوم” عن مسؤول تهريب الأسلحة والمال للحزب اللبناني.
رجل الظل
ولد الحاج فادي، 50 عاماً، في قرية دير قانون النهر جنوب لبنان. يمضي قصير معظم وقته على الطريق بين بيروت ودمشق. وهو شقيق حسن قصير، صهر حسن نصر الله، الأمين العام لحزب الله. لكن قليلاً من الناس يعرفون من هو، أو حتى ماذا يفعل.
كان الحاج فادي، حسب ليمور، يتعامل مع تهريب حزب الله على مدار العشرين عاماً الماضية، منذ انسحاب الجيش الإسرائيلي من جنوب لبنان. وهو يعمل بحرية في سوريا، ويتمتع بدعم من النظام ومستوى عالٍ من القدرة على الوصول إلى المسؤولين في هذا المجال. وهنا تجدر الإشارة إن قربه من الأسد، الذي كشفته صورة طهران في شباط الماضي، يوضح أن أي شخص يعتقد أن دمشق شعرت بالاستياء من نشاط حزب الله داخل حدودها كان مخطئاً. فحزب الله وقادته مرحب بهم في سوريا، ولهم الحرية في فعل ما يحلو لهم.
عمليات التهريب
يتمتع الحاج فادي بحرية بالتواصل المباشر مع كبار ضباط الجيش السوري. إذ يشير ليمور بأن معظم قوافل التهريب تمر عبر الحدود السورية اللبنانية. وهي تشمل أسلحة من طهران، وكذلك بعض الأسلحة المصنعة في سوريا. ويقوم قصير بالإشراف على نقل الأسلحة، عبر المعابر غير الشرعية، بالقرب من الزبداني في لبنان والقصير في سوريا. وأحياناً، تُستخدم البنية التحتية المدنية اللبنانية مثل معبر المصنع الحدودي، الذي حاول من خلاله عدة مرات تهريب أجزاء من صواريخ عالية الدقة إلى حزب الله.
قامت إسرائيل خلال السنوات الأخيرة بشن غارات مكثفة على الأهداف الإيرانية في سوريا. وكان الممر الجوي إلى مطار دمشق الدولي هدفاً رئيسياً للغارات. إذ اعتبرته الدولة العبرية قاعدة رئيسية للتهريب الإيراني. إلا أن الحاج فادي، حسب ليمور، كان هو القناة الرئيسية لكل عمليات التهريب، من الأسلحة إلى المياه المعدنية، التي جرت عبر المطار لحزب الله في لبنان أو القوات الإيرانية في سوريا.
ارتياب الروس
يعود ليمور بالذاكرة إلى أيلول 2018، عندما أسقطت إسرائيل طائرة مقاتلة روسية في سوريا، مما تسبب في موجة من التوتر بين تل أبيب وموسكو. وهنا يروي ليمور بأن كل شيء بدأ عندما استهدف سلاح الجو الإسرائيلي آلة لتصنيع صواريخ دقيقة لمنع إرسالها إلى لبنان، وهو مشروع كان الحاج فادي سيشرف على تهريبه.
بعد هذه الحادثة، يشير الكاتب الإسرائيلي بأن موسكو عبرت عن ارتيابها، عبر توضيحها لحلفائها في سوريا أن الهدف هو محاربة الإرهاب، وأي عمل آخر من قبل حلفائها سيعطل عملية استعادة الهدوء إلى سوريا. لم يكن النقد الروسي حينها موجهاً إلى شخص محدد، لكن ليمور يجزم بأن كل من يعمل في دوائر القرار يعلم أن الروس كانوا يشيرون إلى الحاج فادي. فموسكو تعرف اسمه جيداً، وقد دفع نشاطه المالي، وخصوصاً في صناديق الإرهاب، وزارة التجارة الأميركية إلى إدراجه في قائمتها الخاصة بالمواطنين الذين يُمنع على الأميركيين والشركات الأميركية من إجراء المعاملات معهم. لقد حدث هذا نتيجة لتزايد مشاركة الحاج فادي، ليس في تهريب الأسلحة وغيرها من المعدات للحزب وحسب، ولكن أيضاً في كل الحركة النقدية في جميع أنحاء المنطقة.
وزير مالية الحزب
يضع الحاج فادي، كما يشير ليمور، أصابعه في كل شئ تقريباً، من صفقات بيع السلع والأسلحة إلى بيع النفط، ونظراً لأن إيران ممنوعة من استخدام البنوك لإرسال الأموال إلى حزب الله (وهو مبلغ يُقدر بحوالى 800 مليون دولار سنوياً)، يتم تحويل الأموال من طهران إلى بيروت نقداً، ومن بيروت يتم صرفها لأغراض مختلفة. في الماضي، حاولت إيران استخدام عملات افتراضية مثل البيتكوين ولكنها لم تنجح. أما اليوم، فيتم دفع كل شيء نقداً.
وعلى عكس المعركة شبه المفتوحة للحد من تهريب الأسلحة، لم تكن هناك أي هجمات معروفة تستهدف تحويل الأموال النقدية. ولكن لا ينبغي، حسب الكاتب، استبعاد هذا الاحتمال، فالهجوم على قافلة تحمل عشرات الملايين من الدولارات نقداً، من شأنه أن يتسبب في أضرار جسيمة لكل من الدافع والمستفيد. ويبدو أن الحاج فادي لا يقيد مبادراته المالية على المحور الإيراني السوري اللبناني. إذ أن هناك دلائل تشير إلى أنه يلعب دوراً في تمويل إيران للمتمردين الحوثيين في اليمن والمساعدات المالية التي تقدمها طهران لحلفائها في غزة.
مركزٌ جديد للقوة
حتى وقت قريب، كان الحاج فادي شخصية محاطة بالغموض، وكان معروفاً لعددٍ قليل جداً من الناس. إلا أن ظهوره العلني في طهران إلى جانب روحاني والأسد فاجأ كل من يتعقب نشاطه. كانت الصورة الفوتوغرافية تشير إلى ثلاثة أشياء: أنه يعمل بشكل أكثر انفتاحاً من الماضي؛ وأنه يتمتع بثقة كاملة ليس من الحزب وفيلق القدس وحسب، ولكن أيضاً من قادة المحور الراديكالي نفسه؛ وأنه الآن مركز هائل للقوة، بالنظر إلى أنه مسؤول عن اللوجستيات، بدلاً من أن يكون مقاتلاً أو ضابطاً.
بعد وقت قصير من التقاط الصورة في طهران، شوهد الحاج فادي مرة أخرى بالقرب من مزارع شبعا، وقد ظهر قصير إلى جانب نشطاء آخرين في الحزب والقائد البارز في حزب الله محمود قاسم البصل، الذي يعمل تحت قيادته ويساعده في تحويل الأموال.
ليس من الواضح بالنسبة للاستخبارات الإسرائيلية، سبب قيام الحاج فادي بزيارة حدود مزارع شبعا، لكن لا شك أنه أصبح لاعباً رئيسياً في المنطقة. ومن المرجح أن إسرائيل تتابعه عن كثب، بالنظر إلى الضربات المنسوبة لها والتي استهدفت عملياته. وخلال التصعيد الأخير مع غزة، نفذت إسرائيل أول عملية اغتيال منذ سنوات مستهدفةً حامد الخضري، المسؤول عن نقل الأموال بشكل واسع من إيران إلى المنظمات العاملة في قطاع غزة. لذلك يلمح ليمور بأن إسرائيل قد تلجأ إلى خطوة مماثلة، خصوصاً وأن الحاج فادي يُعتبر أهم بكثير من الخضري، بعد ترسيخ علاقاته الوثيقة بالقصور الرئاسية في دمشق وطهران.

 

The post ولاء مظلوم يكشف اكبر الفاسدين في حزب الله وهو مسؤول وحدة النقل في حزب السيد، أو ما يعرف بوحدة ٤٤٠٠ المدعو محمد جعفر قصير appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

د.ماجد رافيزادا: أن تكون مسيحياً في إيران، فهذه جريمة/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute: In Iran, It Is a Crime to Be a Christian

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In Iran, It Is a Crime to Be a Christian
د.ماجد رافيزادا: أن تكون مسيحياً في إيران، فهذه جريمة
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/December 29/2019

Three of the Islamist judges known to preside over the trials of Christians are Mashallah Ahmadzadeh, Mohammed Moghiseh, and Ahmad Zargar. The international community needs to consider imposing sanctions on them.

Converts to Christianity from Islam, according the Iran’s Islamic law, can face the death penalty. The Iranian Islamist judges generally resort to verses from the Quran and Hadith (Muhammad’s sayings and acts) to justify their verdicts.

Iran systematically violates the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act and this is why, since 1999, the U.S. has designated the Islamic Republic as a “Country of Concern.”

Under international law, the Iranian government has an obligation to respect freedom of religion. Yet, while Christians are being increasingly persecuted and their rights are violated in Iran at an unprecedented level, the international community still remains silent.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is unleashing a sweeping crackdown on Christians, particularly those who have dared to convert from Islam to Christianity. (Image source: iStock)

The Islamic Republic of Iran is unleashing a sweeping crackdown on Christians, particularly those who have dared to convert from Islam to Christianity.

Most recently, nine Christians in Iran, possibly converts, have been convicted by the Islamic court, and each sentenced to five years in prison. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arrested them for attending church services at a private house. According to a report by Article 18, an Iranian NGO which promotes religious freedom:

“The arresting officers introduced themselves as agents from the Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS).

“They stormed the Christians’ homes in a coordinated operation at around 9am, confiscating Bibles, Christian literature, wooden crosses and pictures carrying Christian symbols, along with laptops, phones, all forms of identity cards, bank cards and other personal belongings.

“Arresting agents also searched the work offices of at least two Christians and confiscated computer hard drives and security-camera recordings.”

Christian families are generally dehumanized and humiliated in the community during the agent’s raids. As the Article 18 report explained, “The officers are reported to have treated the Christians harshly, even though small children were present during the arrests.”

Across Iran, Christians are being arrested and jailed on trumped-up charges, such as “promoting Zionism”, “spreading corrupt Christians beliefs”, “propagating against the Islamic Republic in favor of Christianity”, “orientation toward the land of Christianity,” or “endangering national security”. Open Doors USA stated that one particular charge — “acting against national security” — is often used by the Iranian authorities “to prosecute Christians for their house church activities.”

The claim of Iranian leaders that the peaceful religious practices of a minority group pose a grave a threat to national security is totally unacceptable. Iran’s total population is roughly 80 million, with anywhere between 117,000 and 3 million being Christian, according to various estimates. Even though Christians make up an extremely small part of the population, however, they have always been viewed, under the Islamic law of Iran, as a threat to “national security”.

The activities of Christians in the Islamic Republic are closely monitored by the Iranian intelligence service (MOIS) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG). They are not permitted to share their faith with others or to conduct church services in Farsi, Iran’s national language.

It is important to hold accountable those Iranian individuals and institutions who are responsible for persecuting Christians.

Three of the Islamist judges known to preside over the trials of Christians are Mashallah Ahmadzadeh, Mohammed Moghiseh, and Ahmad Zargar. The international community needs to consider imposing sanctions on them

The NGO International Christian Concern (ICC) submitted the names of these judges to the US Treasury for consideration of sanctions. ICC stated:

“These three Revolutionary Court judges, and Evin Prison, have a long record of human rights abuses toward Iranian Christians. The judges are responsible for convicting Christians on trumped up charges. They wield Iran’s legal system as a systemic tool of repression against religious minorities. Often, when Christians stand firm in their faith, Iran’s judges send them to the notorious Evin Prison, located on the outskirts of Tehran. Stories of those who survived Evin Prison are heartbreaking; the wide variety of abuse faced by inmates is chilling.”

Converts to Christianity from Islam, according the Iran’s Islamic law, can face the death penalty. The Iranian Islamist judges generally resort to verses from the Quran and Hadith (Muhammad’s sayings and acts) to justify their verdicts. One particular verse in Qur’an states:

“They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper.” (Qur’an 4:89)

A hadith attributed to Muhammad says: “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him”.

Even though the international community labels the government of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as a moderate administration, and even though Rouhani claims that the Islamic Republic treats all religions justly and fairly, Iran is one of the worst places in the world for Christians. According to the World Watch List compiled by Open Doors USA, Iran is currently ranked as the ninth-worst country for faith-based persecution. Iran systematically violates the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act and this is why, since 1999, the U.S. has designated the Islamic Republic as a “Country of Concern.”

Under international law, the Iranian government has an obligation to respect freedom of religion. Yet, while Christians are being increasingly persecuted and their rights are violated in Iran at an unprecedented level, the international community still remains silent.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US foreign policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu

© 2019 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

The post د.ماجد رافيزادا: أن تكون مسيحياً في إيران، فهذه جريمة/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute: In Iran, It Is a Crime to Be a Christian appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.


Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 30/2019

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Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 30/2019

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for December 30/2019

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 30/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 29- 30/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 74th Day

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A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 29-30/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 74th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 30/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 29-30/2019
Report: Aoun Wants Govt. on Monday but Shiite Duo Prefers to Wait
Raad Warns ‘Strong’ Parties to Control Lebanon if Chaos Prevails
Lebanese Judiciary Probing Reported Transfer Abroad of $2 Billion
Protesters Scuffle with Choucair’s Guards in Hamra
Al-Rahi Warns against Marginalizing ‘Any Main Component in Lebanon’
Progress Reported in Govt. Formation Talks
Protesters Rally at Diab’s Home, Demand He Quits
Scandal of Lebanese Politicians’ Transfer of Billions of Dollars abroad ‘Confuses’ Banks/Youssef Diab/Asharq Al Awsat/December 29/2019
Lebanon’s vital tourism industry takes huge hit amid turmoil
Aj Naddaff /AP /December 29/2019
Endeavor Lebanon and LIFE leverage Lebanese diaspora to support high-impact entrepreneurs/Maysaa Ajjan/Annahar/December 29/2019

Details Of The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 29-30/2019
Report: Aoun Wants Govt. on Monday but Shiite Duo Prefers to Wait
Naharnet/December 29/2019
President Michel Aoun is insisting that the government line-up should be announced Monday, a day before New Year’s Eve, but the “Shiite duo”, especially Hizbullah, prefers to hold further consultations, MTV has reported. The TV network added that Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab’s talks over the past few days have led to some progress and that he has proposed that the new ministers be “non-prominent political party figures or figures close to these parties.”“An agreement has been reached on merging four ministerial portfolios and Diab does not want figures from the previous government, but this point is yet to be finalized,” MTV added.

Raad Warns ‘Strong’ Parties to Control Lebanon if Chaos Prevails

Naharnet/December 29/2019
The head of Hizbullah’s parliamentary bloc MP Mohammed Raad warned Sunday that the “strong” parties would control the country should chaos prevail. “Some want to implicate the Resistance is something it does not want, but it wants to practice a positive role so that the country does not collapse over the heads of everyone,” Raad said. “Those who want to be afraid must be afraid of the failure to form a government, because this would lead to chaos, and when the country descends into chaos, the strong parties will control it,” he warned.“We are trying to repair the falling wall but there are individuals who are still pushing this wall so that it falls, and this is our story with the government that is being formed,” Raad went on to say.

Lebanese Judiciary Probing Reported Transfer Abroad of $2 Billion

Naharnet/December 29/2019
The Lebanese judiciary has launched an investigation into reports claiming that nine Lebanese politicians have transferred $2 billion abroad over the past 15 days, a media report said. The judicial probe got underway simultaneously with the investigations that are being carried out by the central bank, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Sunday. “Intensive investigations were launched Friday by the Central Criminal Investigations Bureau, under direct supervision by State Prosecutor Ghassan Ouweidat,” a senior judicial official told the daily. Authorities “listened to the testimony of the person who disclosed the information, financial expert Marwan Iskandar, who provided them with the information he knows,” the source added. “Things are being followed up and require further investigations in cooperation with the central bank and the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon,” the source said.
Iskandar meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat that the money “was normally transferred and not smuggled as being rumored.”Faced with a grinding U.S. dollar liquidity crisis, Lebanon’s banks have since September imposed increasingly tight restrictions on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad in an attempt to conserve dwindling foreign currency reserves. Activists say ordinary depositors are footing the bill for a liquidity crisis worsened by politicians, senior civil servants and bank owners who used their influence to get their hefty savings out of the country. Iskandar revealed that a Swiss official has told him that the transferred money amounts to $2 billion and that it belong to “nine Lebanese politicians.”“What’s dangerous is that the sums were transferred over the past 15 days, during the peak of the liquidity crisis,” Iskandar explained. “The Swiss parliament has started a serious probe into the issue and it will publicize the results of this investigation once it is finished, and I don’t believe that the Lebanese side will obtain information before the end of the Swiss probe,” Iskandar added. “There is major difficulty in recovering funds sent abroad,” Iskandar said, reminding that the Philippines has failed to retrieve $2.5 billion transferred by a president who died 30 years ago and that Egypt has also failed to recover the funds sent abroad by ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

Protesters Scuffle with Choucair’s Guards in Hamra

Naharnet/December 29/2019
Anti-corruption protesters on Sunday scuffled with the guards of the house of caretaker Telecom Minister Mohammed Choucair in Beirut’s Hamra area. Protesters said the guards beat up a number of young men who tried to enter the building. Videos circulated online showed the presence of anti-riot police at the site. Protesters meanwhile shouted slogans through megaphones outside the building. According to the National News Agency, the protesters rallied to reject the extension of the contracts of Lebanon’s mobile telecom operators – touch and Alfa. “No Extension No Renewal”, they shouted.
A decision by Choucair to impose a tax on calls via internet apps such as WhatsApp was the spark that on October 17 ignited unprecedented street protests in Lebanon against the entire political class. The protests are still ongoing despite the swift reversal of the decision and the eventual resignation of Saad Hariri’s government.

Al-Rahi Warns against Marginalizing ‘Any Main Component in Lebanon’

Naharnet/December 29/2019
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday warned against “the exclusion or marginalization of any main component in Lebanon,” amid ongoing negotiations to form a new government. “Lebanon cannot be ruled through hegemony, confrontation or a one-sided government,” al-Rahi cautioned in his Sunday Mass sermon. “The sacrifices of the young men and women of this positive national uprising should be given their real value so that we don’t push them into despair,” the patriarch said. Despair would lead to “a negative and destructive revolt,” he warned. “That’s why we reiterate their demand for the formation of a government independent from the political parties which would bring together a harmonious team of competent and upright experts,” al-Rahi said. Such a government would “devise and implement a salvation plan under the supervision of parliament, which represents all the components of the Lebanese society,” he added.

Choucair comments on today’s events
NNA/December 29/2019
The media office of the caretaker Minister of Telecommunications, Muhammad Choucair, condemned in a statement issued on Sunday “the way in which a group of demonstrators entered the building, where Minister Choucair resides,” deeming it an attack on the sanctity of the building and its residents. The statement pointed out that “Choucair tried very hard to speak to this same group, when they entered in the same way to the meeting of economic bodies, but the way they follow and the difference in their opinion and the issues raised prevented the continuation of the dialogue.” Finally, the statement indicated that “Minister Choucair called on the demonstrators to dialogue if they wanted, but on the basis of compliance with the law and the principle of respect.”

Progress Reported in Govt. Formation Talks
Naharnet/December 29/2019
Progress has been made in the ongoing negotiations to form a new government, media reports said. An-Nahar newspaper said the progress was especially reported following PM-designate Hassan Diab’s meetings with President Michel Aoun and the political aides of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Speaker Nabih Berri. “But the conferees decided to wait until after the New Year holiday to allow for further consultations, whether with those who have objections or with the components who back an agreement on the shape, shares and candidates of the government,” the daily added.

Protesters Rally at Diab’s Home, Demand He Quits

Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 29/2019
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Beirut home of Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab overnight, calling for his resignation less than 10 days after he was appointed. Lebanon is without a cabinet and in the grips of a deepening economic crisis after a two-month-old protest movement forced Saad Hariri to stand down as prime minister on October 29. Anti-government protests continued after Hariri’s resignation, while political parties negotiated for weeks before nominating Diab, a professor and former education minister, to replace him on December 19. Echoing protester demands, Diab promised to form a government of independent experts within six weeks — in a country where appointing a cabinet can take months. But protesters on Saturday were unconvinced by his promise. “We’re here to bring down Hassan Diab. He doesn’t represent us. He’s one of them,” said one young demonstrator, referring to the country’s ruling elite, who protesters despise collectively. Lina, another protester agreed, saying: “It’s the revolution that must name the prime minister, not them.”The 60-year-old Diab, who has a low public profile and styles himself as a technocrat, last week called protester demands legitimate but asked them to give him a chance to form “an exceptional government.””We are willing to give him a chance, but let us at least give him a roadmap,” Lina told AFP. “The names don’t matter to us, we want policy plans, what is his program?” she asked. Protesters decry Diab’s participation as a minister in a government deemed corrupt. The support given to him by powerful Shiite movement Hizbullah also angers many protesters and pro-Hariri Sunnis. Protesters also gathered in the northern Sunni majority city of Tripoli on Saturday, an AFP photographer said. The protests and political deadlock have brought Lebanon to its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. The international community has urged a new cabinet to be formed swiftly to implement economic reforms and unlock international aid.

Scandal of Lebanese Politicians’ Transfer of Billions of Dollars abroad ‘Confuses’ Banks
Youssef Diab/Asharq Al Awsat/December 29/2019
Statements by financial expert, Dr. Marwan Iskandar, in which he revealed that Lebanese politicians transferred billions of dollars abroad, created confusion among the political, banking and even judicial circles and increased the anger of the popular uprising against Lebanon’s ruling class. This information has caused great resentment in Lebanon, especially as it comes at a time when banks are imposing tight restrictions on depositors’ withdrawals and prohibiting them from transferring any amount in foreign currencies abroad. This has affected merchants, who have to pay for imported goods, and even citizens who need to transfer money to their children studying abroad. In this regard, an emergency meeting of the Finance and Budget parliamentary committee was held on Thursday, in the presence of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, who announced after the talks that “investigations will be conducted in reports about officials and bankers making transfers abroad this year.” “We will do whatever the law allows us to, to check all the transfers that occurred in 2019 abroad, and whether there are suspicious funds,” he vowed. Meanwhile, a judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that intense investigations began on Friday by the Central Criminal Investigation Department, under the direct supervision of Beirut First Investigating Judge Ghassan Oueidat. The source explained that the investigation “began by listening to Iskandar’s statements about the information he revealed.”“The matter is being followed up and needs further investigations in cooperation with the Central Bank and the Banking Supervision Committee,” according to the source. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Iskandar noted that “the amounts were transferred normally and not smuggled.”He revealed that a Swiss official informed him that the transferred funds amounted to two billion dollars, and they belonged to nine Lebanese politicians. “What’s dangerous is that the sums have been transferred in the last 15 days, at the height of the liquidity crisis,” Iskandar noted. He stressed that the Swiss parliament has begun a serious investigation into this matter, and it would publish the results once it is completed.

Lebanon’s vital tourism industry takes huge hit amid turmoil
Aj Naddaff | AP /December 29/2019
BEIRUT — Lebanon’s unprecedented economic and financial crisis has taken a huge toll on the hospitality sector, a mainstay of the Lebanese economy, with hundreds of restaurants closing and hotel occupancy plummeting.
In recent years, there has been talk about the tiny Mediterranean country heading toward economic bankruptcy akin to Greece’s 2009 crisis. But business owners said they really began to feel the economic crunch after protests swept the country in mid-October, paralyzing businesses with road closures and strikes as the crisis intensified.
The protests were initially ignited by new proposed taxes, but are largely about the three-decades long corruption and mismanagement stemming from the ruling political elite.
At a news conference in Beirut on Thursday, Pierre Achkar, president of the Lebanese Hotel Federation for Tourism, said more than 150,000 hotel owners, partners, employees and their families face an imminent threat due to the economic crisis.
“We dropped overnight from 100% to 4% occupancy (in October). November was the first full month after the unrest started, and we ended up with 10%,” Rami Sayess, regional vice president of Four Seasons Hotel, told The Associated Press.
Since 1997, the Central Bank had maintained a fixed exchange rate of 1,500 pounds to the U.S. dollar. But since the protests erupted, dollars have grown increasingly scarce as anxiety over political instability has caused more people to withdraw their money from the banks, fueling the worst financial crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. The dollars were often brought into the country by affluent investors who made large deposits for high interest rates and have been used interchangeably with the Lebanese pound. Local banks have also imposed unprecedented capital controls, exacerbating the economic condition and making it difficult for businesses to transfer salaries to employees.
As prices have risen amid the liquidity crisis, many business owners who used to pay their employees in U.S. dollars have switched to the Lebanese pound, or have cut back on their employees’ salaries.
“We have a lot of foreigners and expats working here and we couldn’t pay them in U.S. dollars, so they’ve been suffering a lot. There’s been a reduction in tips, too,” said Henri Farah, owner and CEO of Japanese sushi restaurant Kampai. Farah’s restaurant has dropped 50% in revenue over two months.
Today’s climate is starkly different compared to the “golden period” from 2009-2011, when the hospitality sector boomed and the number of tourists and revenues soared, according to Tony Ramy, president of Lebanon’s Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafés, Night-Clubs and Pastries in Lebanon.
Since then, instability related to the Syria war which started in 2011 has contributed to the country’s ailing economy. Tense ties between Lebanon and the Gulf countries who banned their nationals from visiting Lebanon for extended periods of time on various occasion since then, also negatively affect business.
In September, 130 businesses permanently closed, while in October, the number increased to 135 shutdowns. November witnessed another 200, said Ramy, citing the restaurant aggregator and food delivery startup Zomato, with whom he has a partnership.
December is typically a busy month for the tourism industry because of Christmas and holiday festivities. Many Lebanese expatriates who typically flock to Lebanon at this time of year are now reluctant because of the unrest. And because of the lack of bookings, brand hotels in Lebanon, such as Sheraton and Four Seasons, have begun sending Lebanese staff to other hotels in the region to lower expenses.
In the restaurant sector, business was down 70% in recent weeks, according to Maya Noun, general secretary of the syndicate of restaurant owners. Middle-end and high-end restaurants have been most damaged. Some outlets in the higher end Beirut districts of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael are still making it because their clients are mainly youths who go out on a low budget for a drink or for a wallet-friendly meal.
Low-end restaurants are sustaining the least amount of losses largely because of delivery services, which many people consider less expensive.
Itidal al-Batal, owner of a small bakery in Beirut, said she’s “surviving” but had to cut her employees salaries by as much as 60% since the protests started. She said she has never seen so many hungry people. She put out bread and a sign on her restaurant’s doorstep that reads: “If you don’t have money don’t be embarrassed and leave your family without food. You’re welcome to take what you need.”
Soon after, people have been coming and making donations to the bakery for those in need.
*Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Endeavor Lebanon and LIFE leverage Lebanese diaspora to support high-impact entrepreneurs
Maysaa Ajjan/Annahar/December 29/2019
The initiative, held in Beirut Digital District (BDD), seeks to bridge between the high potential of Lebanese scale-up companies and the opportunities for growth beyond the local market.
BEIRUT: The recent economic crisis has had crushing repercussions on Lebanon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Startups are finding it harder than ever to access local markets and expand to regional ones.
In an effort to alleviate the effects this crisis has had on the entrepreneurial sector, Endeavor Lebanon and Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) organized a speed mentoring session targeting 15 high-growth companies Friday, 27 December, 2019.
The session was a joint effort to enhance the business opportunities between high-impact entrepreneurs and Lebanese investors, and strengthen the ties between the local entrepreneurial community and the Lebanese diaspora.
“Today, Lebanon’s dim economic outlook poses a range of new challenges on these Lebanese scale-ups,” Endeavor Lebanon’s managing director, Christina Chehade, said in her opening remarks. “Hence our constant endeavor to pave the way for new openings that ensure continuity of this most active economic engine for the multiplier impact it generates.”“This form of networking would engender new avenues and draw on a wide range of perspectives for the growth to our entrepreneurs,” she added.
The initiative, held in Beirut Digital District (BDD), seeks to bridge between the high potential of Lebanese scale-up companies and the opportunities for growth beyond the local market.
Through the active involvement and shared expertise of the LIFE global business network, the focused networking discussions aim to actively support Endeavor Lebanon network companies
with business introductions and mentoring opportunities.
“We are delighted to avail our global network towards mentoring local enterprises and creating investment and employment opportunities, and most importantly, access to international markets,” LIFE board member and chair of the Promote pillar, Paul Raphael, said. “We believe in Lebanese human capital and we are committed to promoting the Lebanese brand equity beyond the borders of Lebanon.”The companies participating from within the Endeavor Lebanon network included major game players in the industry such as Arabnet, Flyfoot, FOO, HiCart, Neotic, NymCard, Royal Gourmet, SE Factory, Synkers, Topotrade, Toters, and Zima.The sessions featured 40 mentors from LIFE network, and participants were divided into work groups, each of which comprised one Lebanese company and three of LIFE’s specialist mentors.
The groups focused on ways to confront the challenges faced by these companies in light of the present economic circumstances in Lebanon. Sessions highlighted the significant role such companies play in catalyzing the local economy, particularly given the fact that they generate 60% more revenues and jobs on average than small and medium-sized local firms. The format of the event allowed the participating companies to interact directly with LIFE mentors who shared their global experience and outlook, reflecting on the companies’ plans and challenges, particularly with regards to attracting capital and scaling and developing expansion prospects outside the country.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 29- 30/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 74th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 30 كانون الأول/2019

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نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 30 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 30 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 30 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word/كَانُوا لَكَ، فَوَهَبْتَهُم لي، وقَدْ حَفِظُوا كَلِمَتَكَ

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أظْهَرْتُ ٱسْمَكَ لِلنَّاسِ الَّذينَ وَهَبْتَهُم لي مِنَ العَالَم. كَانُوا لَكَ، فَوَهَبْتَهُم لي، وقَدْ حَفِظُوا كَلِمَتَكَ
إنجيل القدّيس يوحنّا17/من01حتى08/:”رَفَعَ يَسوعُ عَيْنَيْهِ إِلى السَّمَاءِ وقَال: «يَا أَبَتِ، قَدْ حَانَتِ السَّاعَة! مَجِّدِ ٱبْنَكَ لِيُمَجِّدَكَ الٱبْن، ويَهَبَ حَيَاةً أَبَدِيَّةً لِكُلِّ مَنْ وَهَبْتَهُم لَهُ، لأَنَّكَ أَوْلَيْتَهُ سُلْطَانًا على كُلِّ بَشَر. والحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ هِيَ أَنْ يَعْرِفُوكَ أَنْتَ الإِلهَ الوَاحِدَ الحَقّ، ويَعْرِفُوا الَّذي أَرْسَلْتَهُ، يَسُوعَ المَسِيح. أَنَا مَجَّدْتُكَ في الأَرْض، إِذْ أَتْمَمْتُ العَمَلَ الَّذي وَكَلْتَ إِليَّ أَنْ أَعْمَلَهُ. فَٱلآن، يَا أَبَتِ، مَجِّدْنِي لَدَيْكَ بِٱلمَجْدِ الَّذي كَانَ لي عِنْدَكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَكُونَ العَالَم. أَظْهَرْتُ ٱسْمَكَ لِلنَّاسِ الَّذينَ وَهَبْتَهُم لي مِنَ العَالَم. كَانُوا لَكَ، فَوَهَبْتَهُم لي، وقَدْ حَفِظُوا كَلِمَتَكَ. والآنَ عَرَفُوا أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا وَهَبْتَهُ لي هُوَ مِنْكَ، لأَنَّ الكَلامَ الَّذي وَهَبْتَهُ لي قَدْ وَهَبْتُهُ لَهُم، وهُمْ قَبِلُوه، وعَرَفُوا حَقًّا أَنِّي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ خَرَجْتُ، وآمَنُوا أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ أَرْسَلْتَنِي.”

They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 17/01-08/:”After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.”

هذَا هُوَ العَهْدُ الَّذي سَأُعَاهِدُهُم بِهِ، بَعْدَ تِلْكَ الأَيَّام، يَقُولُ الرَّبّ: أَنِّي أَجْعَلُ شَرائِعِي في قُلُوبِهِم، وأَكْتُبُهَا على أَذْهَانِهِم
الرسالة إلى العبرانيّين10/من11حتى18/:”يا إِخوَتي، كُلُّ كَاهِنٍ يَقِفُ كُلَّ يَومٍ خَادِمًا، ومُقَرِّبًا مِرَارًا الذَّبَائِحَ نَفْسَهَا، وهِيَ لا تَقْدِرُ البَتَّةَ أَنْ تُزِيلَ الخَطَايَا. أَمَّا المَسِيح، فَبَعْدَ أَنْ قَرَّبَ ذَبِيحةً واحِدَةً عنِ الخَطَايَا، جَلَسَ عَن يَمِينِ اللهِ إِلى الأَبَد، وهُوَ الآنَ يَنْتَظِرُ أَنْ «يُجْعَلَ أَعْدَاؤُهُ مَوْطِئًا لِقَدَمَيْه». فإِنَّهُ بِتَقْدِمَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ جَعَلَ المُقَدَّسِينَ كَامِلِينَ إِلى الأَبَد. والرُّوحُ القُدُسُ نَفْسُهُ يَشْهَدُ لَنَا. فَبَعْدَ أَنْ قَال: «هذَا هُوَ العَهْدُ الَّذي سَأُعَاهِدُهُم بِهِ، بَعْدَ تِلْكَ الأَيَّام، يَقُولُ الرَّبّ: أَنِّي أَجْعَلُ شَرائِعِي في قُلُوبِهِم، وأَكْتُبُهَا على أَذْهَانِهِم»، أَضَافَ قائِلاً: «وَلَنْ أَذْكُرَ خَطَايَاهُم وآثامَهُم مِنْ بَعْد». فحَيْثُ تَكُونُ مَغْفِرَةُ الآثَامِ والخَطَايَا، لا تَبْقَى تَقْدِمَةٌ عنِ الخَطِيئَة!”.

‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds
Letter to the Hebrews 10/11-18/:”Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ‘he sat down at the right hand of God’, and since then has been waiting ‘until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.’For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’, he also adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.”

The post They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word/كَانُوا لَكَ، فَوَهَبْتَهُم لي، وقَدْ حَفِظُوا كَلِمَتَكَ appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 31/2019

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Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For December 31/2019

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