A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 30-31/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 75th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
December 31/2019

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 30-31/2019
Baabda Palace witnesses ministerial, diplomatic, and student meetings
Oueidat Asks Swiss, Lebanese Authorities for Info on Suspected Transfers
Hizbullah Denounces U.S. Strikes on Iraq
Lebanese Protesters Defy Capital Controls in Bank Sit-In
Lebanon’s Central Bank reverses decision after drop in remittances/Ryme Alhussayni/Annahar/December 30/2019
Protesters Stage Sit-Ins near Banks
US envoy urges EU to ban Hezbollah after Iran militia kills American/Jerusalem Post/December 30/2019
Qassem Calls on Diab Not to Heed Hariri’s ‘Veto’
Protester Groups Sue Choucair over Extension of Alfa, touch Contracts

Details Of The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on December 30-31/2019
Baabda Palace witnesses ministerial, diplomatic, and student meetings
NNA/Naharnet/December 31/2019 
President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, on Monday signed promotion decrees for officers in the Army, Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security, and Customs.
Besides the signature of the President of the Republic, these decrees carried the signatures of Care-Taker Prime Minister, Saad Al-Hariri, Finance Minister, Ali-Hasan Khalil, Interior Minister, Raya El-Hassan, and National Defense Minister, Elias Bou Saab.
The President received Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, Hassan Murad, and Minister of Displaced, Ghassan Atallah.
Ministers Atallah and Murad discussed, with President Aoun, the current situation and new Ministerial developments, in addition to foreign trade affairs, ways to activate them, and developments of the issue of the displaced.
The President met the Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Dr. Yasser Alawi, and discussed with him the general situation, and Lebanese-Egyptian relations.
The meeting also dealt with regional events and the stances, of Lebanon and Egypt, regarding these events.
President Aoun received a delegation of university students working on the “Reform Paper for Lebanese University Students”, in the presence of his student affairs advisor, Dr. Paul Daher.
The President discussed a number of proposed ideas, with the delegation, including the necessity of establishing a “National Authority for Youth Affairs”, with an independent moral and administrative entity, baring the responsibility of taking care of youth affairs, and their needs and aspirations for the future.
President Aoun stressed on the importance of adopting efficiency in employment instead of “Wasta” (i.e. connections), because efficiency provides material and moral entitlement, whereas “Wasta” policy, which is adopted by populism, seeks to attract the votes of people in elections more than raising the level of knowledge and production in the country.
“We hope that this policy will change, because the events that took place did not harm, but broke many reserves and red lines, and their results will start to appear from today” the President said.
“When I addressed demonstrators, I told them your demands are right, so stay in the squares because you are helping us more in order to achieve the goals we desire. This is because my thought always turns towards you, towards the youth, because I consider you my children, and I can see how much you are willing to build up your future, as you will ensure communication and continuity. You will put a new stone which complements what we have built, just as your children will put another stone to move the country towards the better, this is the law of nature. Therefore, I am with the youth and with their preparation, not only scientifically but educationally, economically and politically, especially since the most important thing is that political leaders are clean, to build a clean homeland” President Aoun stated.
“Corruption is present in abundance, in Lebanon, and its Mafias are mutually supportive, wherever they are, so that they fake up disputes between themselves. Differences motivate people to divide, and nervousness provides continuation for the corrupt, and there is sometimes a mistake in the expression or in identifying the corrupt, and this is what we witnessed lately. Therefore, it is necessary for young people to be more aware and to define the goal accurately. What you do today encourages those in power and gives them the power to change. God willing, you will witness something new” the President continued.
Responding to a question, President Aoun considered that universities should teach students politics by opening doors to host lectures, pointing out that in year 2014 he sent a message to university directors in order to nurture political education, but unfortunately, no university has provided implementation. The President considered that when the student gets acquainted with parties and their beliefs, he can then choose and have acritical sense, distinguishing between what is wrong and what is right, especially in terms of what is circulated in the media, encouraging to guide students to professional majors.
President Aoun also pointed to the country’s inability to absorb the full numbers of university graduates in the labor market, and said that “If we want to graduate intellectual and educated students at high levels, the educational system in schools and universities must be changed by closing some universities and supporting the Lebanese University more, changing the educational system, and updating programs. As for youth job opportunities, the current economic conditions prevent the provision of opportunities for everyone at the present time. With the change we seek in the economic approach, we can provide job opportunities for young people and support their ambitions and creativity”.
The President received congratulations on the occasion of Christmas, and the coming of New Year, from Qatar’s Prince, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, his deputy, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Thani, and the President of Iceland, Gunny Johansson.

Oueidat Asks Swiss, Lebanese Authorities for Info on Suspected Transfers
Naharnet/December 31/2019
State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat on Monday requested information from Swiss and Lebanese authorities about the alleged transfer abroad of large sums of money by a number of Lebanese politicians. The National News Agency said Oueidat has sought the help of “the Swiss judiciary, the Special Investigation Commission of Banque du Liban and the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon.” The agency added that the prosecutor has asked for information to verify whether or not Lebanese politicians have recently made any “suspicious” transfers. Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Sunday that the Lebanese judiciary has launched an investigation into reports claiming that nine Lebanese politicians have transferred $2 billion abroad over the past 15 days. It said the judicial probe got underway simultaneously with the investigations that are being carried out by the central bank. “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. 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 belongs 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.

Hizbullah Denounces U.S. Strikes on Iraq
Naharnet/December 31/2019
Hizbullah on Monday denounced the U.S. air strikes against a pro-Iran militant group in Iraq that killed 19 fighters. The U.S. strike is “a blatant attack against the sovereignty and stability in Iraq and against the Iraqi people and Hashed al-Shaabi which had the upper hand in confronting terrorism,” a Hizbullah statement said. “This aggression reaffirms that the American administration wants to strike the elements of the power inherent in the Iraqi people who are able to confront ISIS and the forces of extremism and criminality,” added the statement. The Pentagon said on Sunday it targeted weapons caches or command and control facilities linked to Kata’ib Hizbullah (KH) in Western Iraq, as well as Eastern Syria, in response to a barrage of 30 or more rockets fired on Friday. Four US service members and Iraqi security forces were also wounded in Friday’s attack at the K1 Iraqi military base in Kirkuk, an oil-rich region north of Baghdad.

Lebanese Protesters Defy Capital Controls in Bank Sit-In
Associated Press/Naharnet/December 31/2019
Lebanese protesters staged a sit-in inside a commercial bank in the capital Beirut on Monday, forcing tellers to give them more than the weekly limit for withdrawal amid a wave of protests against recent capital controls. Amid a spiraling financial crisis, Lebanese banks have imposed informal withdrawal limits of a maximum $300 a week and totally halted transfers abroad. Anti-government protesters, who largely blame the country’s dire economy on corrupt politicians, say the limits are illegal and have turned their ire against bank officials and the financial sector. The Association of Banks in Lebanon advised the capital controls to manage depleting foreign currency. Lebanon’s economy depends heavily on U.S. dollars. At least two dozen protesters sat on the floor of a branch of the Audi Bank in Beirut’s Ashrafieh district on Monday, chanting against Lebanese banking policies. They eventually forced the teller to cash a $5,000 check for one protester while two others withdrew $1,000 and $2,000 from their accounts. The protesters waved the money at the cameras in celebration.
“We want the money,” the protesters chanted, a number of them clients of the bank. They urged some of the customers in the bank to demand more of their money with the protesters’ support. At least one tried, but didn’t insist, said Roy Dib, one of the protesters who cashed the $5,000 check.
“We stayed and insisted and under pressure, they gave the money,” Dib said. Dib said it is not legal for Lebanon’s bank association to enforce withdrawal limits without parliamentary or government approval. Over recent weeks, the local currency has taken a nose dive, losing more than 30% of its value after over 20 years of being pegged to the dollar. Meanwhile, layoffs and salary cuts are becoming the norm while politicians have continued to bicker since late October over forming a new government. An Audi bank spokesperson was unable to confirm that the money was withdrawn and said bank staff called for security back-up because of the protesters’ “aggressive” action. The bank is the largest private bank in Lebanon. “They are not clients. They are communists,” the spokesperson told The Associated Press, declining to be identified in line with regulations. “They are calling for the fall of the banking system.”
The doors to the bank were briefly closed while protesters and clients were locked inside, Dib said. He denied protesters used violence. Security at one point formed a line between the tellers and the protesters. The standoff ended peacefully by the branch’s regular closing time. After nationwide protests erupted on Oct. 17 over Lebanon’s plummeting economy, banks closed down for two weeks fearing anger and panic from depositors. When they re-opened, at least one armed policeman was added to each branch, in addition to the regular private security. A spokesman for the Lebanese banks association said the capital controls are only a temporary measure to deal with the country’s severe liquidity crunch. Georges Abi Saleh, director of communication for the association, said that there were strict orders to avoid clashing with depositors. “The people are in a state of worry. We have to be understanding,” he said, adding that it is unlikely such scenarios would be repeated in over 1,100 bank branches around Lebanon.

Lebanon’s Central Bank reverses decision after drop in remittances
Ryme Alhussayni/Annahar/December 30/2019
Banks came under increased pressure Monday as dozens of Lebanese depositors stormed various branches across the country to withdraw their savings.
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Central Bank on Monday reversed an earlier decision that required establishments such as OMT and Moneygram to pay electronic funds transfers of international origin to their Lebanese recipients in Lira.The year-old decision was seen by experts as an attempt by the Central Bank to support the local currency. Sources told Annahar that the decision to issue a new circular reversing the one that dates back to January 2019, followed a sharp decrease in remittance inflows to Lebanon. Lebanese recipients were losing up to 40 percent in value to convert those remittances back to dollars at the unofficial exchange market, which stands around 2100 lira to the dollars. Banks came under increased pressure Monday as dozens of Lebanese depositors stormed various branches across the country to withdraw their savings. Among protesters who took to the streets, some groups were chanting ‘we are not paying ‘, as part of a pressure campaign targeting the government and banks. Banks will be closed on New Year eve, with the Banks’ Association noting that Tuesday’s closure will allow employees to complete the internal tasks before year-end. Banks have been imposing strict capital controls as confidence in the banking sector waned. The anti-bank protests intensified after Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh said he “doesn’t know how much more” the local currency will lose its value. His comments deepened fears among the Lebanese of losing much of their savings.

Protesters Stage Sit-Ins near Banks
Naharnet/December 31/2019
Dozens of protesters held sit-ins near banks in the Aley district town of Qabrshmoun on Monday, part of their focus on banking policies and unprecedented capital controls to protect their deposits. Protesters have been organizing daily sit-ins near banks around the country under the slogan “we are not paying” asking depositors not to pay their loans amid the tight capital controls. Protesters gathered outside banks in Qabrshmoun banging at its doors while chanting “Thieves, Thieves.”At another bank in the southern city of Sidon, a group of protesters entered a bank in Riad al-Solh street demanding the bank manager to allow small depositors withdraw the sums of money they need from their accounts. They chanted slogans against the Central Bank governor. The protesters posted videos of their actions on a Twitter account linked to the protest movement. Activists have also gathered outside the Central Bank in Zahle. Lebanon is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, while protests against corruption and mismanagement have gripped the country since October 17. 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. Banks have put a withdrawal ceiling of $200 a week on most accounts, while totally blocking outside transfers.

US envoy urges EU to ban Hezbollah after Iran militia kills American
Jerusalem Post/December 30/2019
The most high-profile US Ambassador in Europe Richard Grenell urged European countries on Saturday to outlaw Hezbollah’s entire organization after an Iran-backed militia reportedly murdered an American contractor in Iraq. Grenell tweeted: “Now would be a good time for our European allies to follow the lead of the German parliament and move to designate a terrorist organization. #diplomacy.”An American official said the United States was reviewing the involvement of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shi’ite organization, in the murder of the contractor. The contractor was killed near Kirkuk — an oil production site. The Jerusalem Post reported last week that Germany’s parliament approved a non-binding initiative calling on the government to ban activities of the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah in the federal republic. The motion urged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration, as well as the EU, to adopt a full ban of Hezbollah. The EU merely proscribed Hezbollah’s “military wing” a terrorist organization in 2013. Hezbollah’s “political wing” operates within the EU and Germany. Grenell’s counter-terrorism efforts have proved effective in Germany. The Post learned this year that in every meeting with German officials he urges a comprehensive ban of Hezbllah. Hezbollah blew up an Israeli tour bus in Burgas, Bulgaria in 2012, murdering five Israelis and their Bulgarian-Muslim bus driver. The US, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Israel and Arab League have designated Hezbollah’s movement a terrorist organization, and Sudan reportedly will close Hezbollah’s office in North African country. There are roughly 1,050 Hezbollah operatives in Germany who recruit new members, raise funds for their parent organization Beirut, and spread lethal antisemitic ideology in the federal republic.

Qassem Calls on Diab Not to Heed Hariri’s ‘Veto’
Naharnet/December 31/2019
Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Monday called on Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab to disregard the “veto of those who have decided not to take part” in the new government, in an apparent reference to caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his al-Mustaqbal Movement. “The phase of choosing the premier has ended, seeing as Dr. Hassan Diab has been appointed at PM-designate and his mission must be facilitated,” Qassem said. “Any attempt to blockade the designation of a PM or the formation of the government is aimed at returning Lebanon to vacuum, and it is an act against Lebanon’s interest,” Qassem added. Praising Diab, Hizbullah’s number two said the PM-designate possesses “wisdom, intensive activity and the clarity of vision.”“He is trying to form the government as soon as possible, but it is normal for him to need some time due to the broad wave of contacts that he is carrying out to secure the broadest representation at the political and popular levels,” Qassem added. “The PM-designate has the right and responsibility to consult with the components and politicians of the society, but he is not responsible for heeding the veto of those who have rejected to participate. They bear the responsibility for their rejection,” the Hizbullah leader went on to say.

Protester Groups Sue Choucair over Extension of Alfa, touch Contracts
Naharnet/December 31/2019
Protest movement groups on Monday filed a lawsuit with Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim against caretaker Telecom Minister Mohammed Choucair and others over what they called the “illegal” extension of the contracts of Lebanon’s mobile network operators Alfa and touch.
The lawsuit accuses Choucair and anyone identified during investigations of “the waste of public funds and the violation of the public auditing law” by seeking to “smuggle the extension contract with touch and Alfa in violation of the law, despite the report of the telecom parliamentary committee and a previous lawsuit by the financial prosecution against the directors of the two firms on charges of illicit enrichment and graft.”The National News Agency said the groups that filed the lawsuit are: The People Want to Reform the System, Awareness Initiative, People’s Movement, Youth Movement for Change, People Resist, Youths of the Bank and We Want a Country.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For December 30- 31/2019 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 75th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 31 كانون الأول/2019

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 31 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 31 كانون الأول/2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

فَلْنَتَقَدَّمْ بِقَلْبٍ صَادِق، في مِلْءِ يَقِينِ الإِيْمَان، وقُلُوبُنَا مُطَهَّرَةٌ مِن كُلِّ ضَمِيرٍ خَبِيث، وأَجْسَادُنَا مَغْسُولَةٌ بِمَاءٍ طَاهِر، وَلْنَتَمَسَّكْ بِالٱعْتِرَافِ بِالرَّجَاءِ ٱعْتِرَافًا لا يَتَزَعْزَع، لأَنَّ الذي وَعَدَ أَمِين، وَلْنَنْتَبِهْ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ بِالحَضِّ على المَحَبَّةِ والأَعْمَالِ الصَّالِحَة.
الرسالة إلى العبرانيّين10/من10حتى25/:”يا إِخوَتي، بِمَا أَنَّ لنَا ثِقَةً بِالدُّخُولِ إِلى قُدْسِ الأَقْدَاسِ بِدَمِ يَسُوع، وقَد دَشَّنَ لنَا طَرِيقًا جَدِيدًا حَيًّا مِن خِلالِ الحِجَاب، أَي جَسَدِهِ، وَبِمَا أَنَّ لنَا كَاهِنًا عَظِيمًاعلى بَيْتِ الله، فَلْنَتَقَدَّمْ بِقَلْبٍ صَادِق، في مِلْءِ يَقِينِ الإِيْمَان، وقُلُوبُنَا مُطَهَّرَةٌ مِن كُلِّ ضَمِيرٍ خَبِيث، وأَجْسَادُنَا مَغْسُولَةٌ بِمَاءٍ طَاهِر، وَلْنَتَمَسَّكْ بِالٱعْتِرَافِ بِالرَّجَاءِ ٱعْتِرَافًا لا يَتَزَعْزَع، لأَنَّ الذي وَعَدَ أَمِين، وَلْنَنْتَبِهْ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ بِالحَضِّ على المَحَبَّةِ والأَعْمَالِ الصَّالِحَة. ولا نُهْمِلِ ٱجْتِمَاعَنَا المُشْتَرَك، كَعَادَةِ بَعْضٍ مِنَّا، بَلْ لِنُشَجِّعْ عَلَيْهِ أَكْثَرَ فأَكْثَر، بِمِقْدَارِ مَا تَرَونَ يَوْمَ الرَّبِّ يَقْتَرِب”.

let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together
Letter to the Hebrews 10/19-25/:”Since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

يَا أَبَتِ القُدُّوس، إِحْفَظْهُم بِٱسْمِكَ الَّذي وَهَبْتَهُ لي، لِيَكُونُوا وَاحِدًا كَمَا نَحْنُ وَاحِد
إنجيل القدّيس يوحنّا17/من09حتى13/:”قالَ الرَبُّ يَسوع: «يا أَبتِ، أَنَا مِنْ أَجْلِهِم أَسْأَل. لا أَسْأَلُ مِنْ أَجْلِ العَالَم، بَلْ مِنْ أَجْلِ الَّذينَ وَهَبْتَهُم لي، لأَنَّهُم لَكَ. وكُلُّ مَا هُوَ لي، هُوَ لَكَ، ومَا هُوَ لَكَ، هُوَ لي، ولَقَدْ مُجِّدْتُ فِيهِم. أَنَا لَسْتُ بَعْدُ في العَالَم، وهُم لا يَزَالُونَ في العَالَم، وأَنَا آتِي إِلَيْك. يَا أَبَتِ القُدُّوس، إِحْفَظْهُم بِٱسْمِكَ الَّذي وَهَبْتَهُ لي، لِيَكُونُوا وَاحِدًا كَمَا نَحْنُ وَاحِد. لَمَّا كُنْتُ مَعَهُم كُنْتُ أَحْفَظُهُم بِٱسْمِكَ الَّذي وَهَبْتَهُ لي. سَهِرْتُ عَلَيْهِم فَلَمْ يَهْلِكْ مِنْهُم سِوَى ٱبْنِ الهَلاك، لِيَتِمَّ الكِتَاب. أَمَّا الآنَ فَإِنِّي آتِي إِلَيْك. وأَتَكَلَّمُ بِهذَا وأَنَا في العَالَم، لِيَكُونَ فَرَحِي مُكْتَمِلاً فِيهِم”.

Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one 
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 17/09-13/:’I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.”

The post فَلْنَتَقَدَّمْ بِقَلْبٍ صَادِق، في مِلْءِ يَقِينِ الإِيْمَان، وقُلُوبُنَا مُطَهَّرَةٌ مِن كُلِّ ضَمِيرٍ خَبِيث، وأَجْسَادُنَا مَغْسُولَةٌ بِمَاءٍ طَاهِر، وَلْنَتَمَسَّكْ بِالٱعْتِرَافِ بِالرَّجَاءِ ٱعْتِرَافًا لا يَتَزَعْزَع، لأَنَّ الذي وَعَدَ أَمِين، وَلْنَنْتَبِهْ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ بِالحَضِّ على المَحَبَّةِ والأَعْمَالِ الصَّالِحَة/let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Resolutions For the new year of 2020
Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020

تمنيات إيمانية للعام الجديد
الياس بجاني/01 كانون الثاني/2020
كم سيكون الأمر صحياً ومفيداً ومثمراً ومريحاً وفرحاً لو أن كل فرد منا حاول أن يستقبل هذا العام الجديد، 2020 وهو متصالحاً مع نفسه، ومع كل الآخرين، وتحديداً مع أولئك الأحباء على قلبه، أكانوا أهلاً أو أقرباء، أو أصحاباً.

كل أولئك الذين كان خلال العام المنتهي بينه وبينهم خصاما أو عداءً، أو انقطاع تواصل لأي سبب كان.

وبنفس الوقت كم سيكون الأمر صحياً ومريحاً لكل واحد منا إن كان فعلاً هو على استعداد تام وبفرح وعن قناعة للترحيب بالعام الجديد بضمير مرتاح دون تأنيب للذات على ما قد يكون قد اقترفه من ذنوب وأخطاء وخطايا عن عمد أو دون قصد.

كم سيكون الشعور الذاتي والداخلي بالرضا ونحن ندخل أول أيام العام الجديد دون أحمال ثقيلة ومقلقة قد تكون تراكمت في دواخلنا وفي عقولنا طوال العام المنصرم من مثل العداوة والكراهية والحقد والضغائن والغيرة.
ولأن حياتنا على هذه الأرض الفانية هي قصيرة جداً.

ولأن الله، أبانا السماوي قد وهبنا نعمة الحياة كوديعة مؤقتة وقد يستردها في أي لحظة، علينا بإيمان وفرح وعن قناعة تامة أن نرمي خلفنا ونحن نستقبل العام الجديد كل المصاعب والآلام وخيبات الأمل التي واجهتنا في السنة المنصرمة.

علينا أن نفعل ذلك دون أي حزن أو ندم أو ملامة وتحميل مسؤوليات لأي أحد، وندخل بسعادة وأمل ورجاء عام 2010 الجديد بصفحة بيضاء ونقية من حياتنا وخالية تماماً من غير الأمل والرجاء والاتكال على الله وعلى محبته لنا.

من المؤكد بأن كل شخص حكيم ومؤمن سيسعى لدخول العام الجديد وهو حاملاً زوادته الإيمانية وهي ممتلئة بالحب وبكل قيم ونّعم وعطايا التسامح والإيمان وبأيدي ممدودة وقلوب نقية وثقة بالنفس.
عام جديد ومبارك على الجميع

ملاحظة: اضغط هنا لقراءة المقالة التي في أعلى باللغة الإنكليزية

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

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Resolutions For the new year of 2020
Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020

How healthy and fruitful would it be if each and every one of us is fully ready to welcome the new year of 2010 with a clear conscience and a joyful reconciliation with himself/herself, as well and with all others, especially those who are the beloved ones, e.g, parents, family members, friends, etc.

How self gratifying would be for any faithful and wise person to enter the new year of 2020 and he/she is completely free from all past heavy and worrying loads of hostility, hatred, enmities, grudges, strives and jealousy.

And because our life is very short on this mortal-perishable earthly world.

And due to fact that, Our Heavenly Father, Almighty God may at any moment take back His Gift of life from any one of us.

Because of all these solid facts and realities, we are ought to leave behind all the 2019 hardships, pains and disappointments with no regrets at all.

We are ought to happily welcome and enter the 2010 new year with a totally empty page of our lives….ready for a new start.

Hopefully, every wise, loving, caring and faithful person would feel better in striving to begin this new year of 2020 with love, forgiveness, faith, hope, extended hands, open heart, and self-confidence.

Happy, Happy new Yearn this new of 2020 with love, forgiveness, faith, hope, extended hands, open heart, and self-confidence.
Happy, Happy new Year

Notice: Click Here To Read The Arabic Version of the above piece

*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentatorEmail phoenicia@hotmail.com & media.lccc@gmail.com
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سيناريوهات المواجهة الإيرانية – الأميركية في العراق
د. وليد فارس/انديبندت عربية/31 كانون الأول/2019

استهداف واشنطن لكتائب حزب الله التابعة لطهران قد يفجر الموقف بينهما
بعد الجولة الأخيرة من المواجهات بين القوات الأميركية والميليشيات الموالية لإيران في العراق، لا سيما بعد القصف الجوي الذي استهدف كتائب حزب الله، التي تعد جزءا من قوات الحشد الشعبي، يركز المراقبون على احتمال تفجر المواجهة الشاملة بين القوات الأميركية من ناحية وحلفاء إيران وربما قوات إيرانية في العراق وسوريا.
البيان الصادر عن البنتاغون إثر قصف الطيران الأميركي لمواقع الحشد كان واضحا، إذ أكد أن استهداف حزب الله في العراق وسوريا، جاء كرد فعل أو جواب على قصف مراكز أميركية من قِبل الميليشيات الإيرانية، وهو ليس بمثابة حملة عسكرية ضد القوات الموالية لإيران في العراق. البيان أوضح أن الولايات المتحدة لن تقبل أن يمر استهدافها مرور الكرام، وهذا يعني تغييرا في السياسة الأميركية بالعراق.
وبالطبع ردت السلطات العراقية، ممثلة في رئيس الحكومة بالوكالة ورئيس الجمهورية ومسؤولين آخرين، معتبرة أن العمل العسكري الأميركي خرقٌ للسيادة العراقية، ولا يمكن السماح بأعمال حربية أميركية دون إذن الحكومة، وهذا أمر منتظر ويعد درسا لواشنطن لكي تستنبط المستقبل القريب والمتوسط ليس في العراق فقط، بل في لبنان إذا حصلت مواجهات مثيلة.
إيران تسيطر عمليا على الحكومتين اللبنانية والعراقية، وسيطرة ميليشياتها في العراق كاملة على مؤسسات الدولة، وبالتالي فإن أي عمل عسكري ضدها، وإنْ تصاعد، فلا بد أن يأتي عبر خطة سياسية تسمح للأميركيين أولا بالدفاع عن أنفسهم، وثانيا تمكنهم من وضع حد للتحركات الإيرانية في العراق، وبناء عليه يدور التساؤل حول مختلف السيناريوهات الممكنة في العراق إذا حدثت مواجهات كهذه وتوسعت.
السيناريو الأول يدور حول استمرار الهجمات والهجمات المضادة، ولكن بشكل محدود، دون تحول الأمر إلى حرب شاملة أميركية – إيرانية.
أما السيناريو الثاني فيتمحور حول اتفاق سياسي مرحلي للإدارة الأميركية عبر الحكومة العراقية مع إيران لتهدئة الأمور وتحييد البلاد.
السيناريو الثالث يقوم على تصاعد الصدامات إلى حد تقوم به واشنطن في الأشهر المقبلة بعملية واسعة لاستئصال القوة العسكرية الإيرانية في العراق، ويربط السيناريوهات الثلاثة حدٌّ زمنيٌّ متمثلٌ في الأشهر التسعة الأولى من 2020 حتى الوصول إلى الانتخابات الرئاسية. وهناك اتجاهان، إما أن يتم إعادة انتخاب ترمب وبالتالي نكون أمام سيناريوهات معينة، أو يتم انتخاب رئيس ديموقراطي، وتبدأ بالتالي مرحلة العودة إلى الاتفاق النووي.
السيناريو الأكثر وضوحا هو استمرار المواجهات لأن القيادة الإيرانية تريد استعمال هذه الصدامات لأكثر من سبب، أهمها تحويل الأنظار إلى اشتباك بين الأميركيين وميليشيات مؤيدة لها، ما يضعف الاهتمام بالاحتجاجات القائمة في العراق، خصوصا في المناطق الشيعية. وقد يكون هذا العامل الأكثر أهمية بالنسبة لهم، ويذكّرنا بما قام به حزب الله بعد ثورة الأرز عام 2005 عندما فجّر حربا مع إسرائيل أضعفت الثورة، فهل يخطط الإيرانيون لمواجهات مع الأميركيين بهدف إضعاف الثورة العراقية؟. هذا أمر أكثر من ممكن.
السبب الآخر للتصعيد الإيراني ضد القواعد الأميركية يهدف إلى إضعاف عزيمة واشنطن في المنطقة وتخفيف قدراتها حتى الانتخابات، ومن المرجح أن يكون السببان متلازمين (إضعاف الثورة العراقية وإضعاف الأميركيين)، وفيما يخص إدارة ترمب فقد لاحظنا تصميما على ضرورة عدم إضعاف الصورة الأميركية في الشرق الأوسط عامة، وفي العراق بشكل خاص، ويشدد مجلس الأمن القومي ووزارة الدفاع على ضرورة أن يكون الموقف الميداني الأميركي حاسما، إذن كلا الطرفين يمتلكان تصميما على المواجهة وعدم التراجع.
الكرة فعلا في ملعب طهران، وإذا قررت القيادة الإيرانية أن تجازف بضغط عسكري عال على الأميركيين فإن ذلك قد يدفع القيادة العسكرية الأميركية إلى إقناع الرئيس بالقيام بعمل كبير ضد ميليشيات الحشد الشعبي وعدم الاكتراث لتصريحات الحكومة العراقية، فالأخيرة تواجه رفضا شعبيا كبيرا لوجودها، وإذا قرر البنتاغون مجابهة الإيرانيين فلديه القواعد العسكرية في العراق التي يمكن تعزيزها بشكل سريع من الانتشار العسكري الموجود أصلا في الخليج، بالإضافة إلى القدرات الموجودة بين أفغانستان والبحر المتوسط.
وتعد الأجواء العراقية ساقطة عمليا بيد واشنطن، ولكن أرض المواجهة إذا حصلت فهي معقدة أكثر مما ينتظر، فإذا حسم الأميركيون أمرهم وصمدوا في مناطق وجودهم من المنتظر أن تبدأ انتفاضات ميدانية في الأنبار وكردستان حيث الأكثرية في هذه المناطق تؤيد الولايات المتحدة على حساب طهران، والجميع يعلم أن قطاعات شبابية واسعة في المناطق الشيعية ثائرة أصلا على الوجود الإيراني.
في الخلاصة، إذا أخطا الإيرانيون وأشعلوها حربا في العراق، قد تنقلب الأمور عليهم، فأميركا قد تقود المواجهة وأكثرية الشعب العراقي سيلتحق بها لكسر إيران، والقيادة الخمينية تعلم تماما الثمن فما هو القرار الإيراني؟، لننتظر ونرى.

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بعد اقتحام السفارة الأميركية في بغداد… ترمب: إيران نسّقت الهجوم
واشنطن: العراق لم يبذل الجهود اللازمة لـ”حماية” جنودنا… وأنباء عن وجود السفير خارج العراق
وكالات/انديبندت عربية/31 كانون الأول/2019

لهذه الأسباب أنشأ الحرس الثوري الإيراني “حزب الله” العراقي/أسست الكتائب لتكون “قوة عقائدية واعية” بدل “جيش المهدي” الذي يفتقر لهيكل تنظيمي واضح
محمد ناجي/انديبندت عربية/31 كانون الأول/2019
عندما اندلعت أعمال العنف الطائفي في العراق عام 2006، إثر تفجير مزارات دينية مهمة في مدينة سامراء شمال العاصمة بغداد، كان رد الفعل الشيعي المسلح فوضوياً، فلم يكن حينذاك قد ظهر على الساحة سوى مجموعة “جيش المهدي”، التي يتزعمها مقتدى الصدر، وهو شاب عشريني في وقتها، تبين أن جسامة الأحداث تفوق قدراته.
خيار النخبة الشيعية
كانت النخبة السياسية الشيعية في بغداد حينذاك تحاول، وبتشجيع إيراني، الإجابة عن سؤال يتعلق “بمدى الحاجة إلى قوة عقائدية تساعد المذهب الإثني عشري في العراق على الصمود وسط تطرف سني ممثل بتنظيم القاعدة والجيش الإسلامي في العراق وكتائب ثورة العشرين، وغيرها من التنظيمات السنية الراديكالية”، التي كانت تستهدف الوجود الشيعي بوصفها “شريكاً سياسياً للولايات المتحدة المحتلة، التي أطاحت بنظام صدام حسين قبل أعوام”. وكشفت أحداث العنف الطائفي التي أعقبت الغزو الأميركي للعراق، أن “جيش المهدي” هو أبعد ما يكون عن النهوض بمهمة حماية وجود الشيعة في العراق والدفاع عن مصالحهم، بسبب افتقاره لهيكل تنظيمي واضح، واعتماده كلياً على كاريزما الصدر وإرثه العائلي العريق، واستحالة إخضاعه بشكل كلي، لذلك غذّت إيران بشكل مبشر عمليات انشقاق واسعة داخل هذه المجموعة، أنتجت لاحقاً حركة “عصائب أهل الحق” بزعامة قيس الخزعلي و”حركة النجباء” بزعامة أكرم الكعبي، وغيرها من “الميليشيات المنشقة”.
القوة الواعية
لكن هذه المجموعات، كانت أقرب إلى العصابات منها إلى الميليشيات المنظمة، وذلك بسبب طبيعة نشأتها وظروف تشكيلها واعتمادها دوماً على قيادة كاريزمية تدفعها إلى تخطي الحدود، لذلك طرحت النخبة الشيعية في بغداد خيار تأسيس “قوة شيعية واعية” في العراق، على غرار “حزب الله” في لبنان، بدلاً من الاعتماد على ميليشيات مندفعة بحماسة طائفية صوب أهداف لا تتسق ومشروع “الجمهورية الإسلامية” في إيران. لم يكن هذا الخيار يعني في أي حال من الأحوال الاستغناء عن أي من الأذرع الإيرانية في العراق، لذلك سارت عملية تأسيس القوة الجديدة جنباً إلى جنب مع مشروع لتعزيز “نفوذ الميليشيات المنشقة عن الصدر”. في عام 2007، كان كل شيء جاهزاً لبدء استنساخ “حزب الله” اللبناني في العراق، فأوكلت المهمة إلى جمال جعفر آل إبراهيم المعروف بـ “أبي مهدي المهندس”
مفوض الدعوة
وفي عام 2007، كان كل شيء جاهزاً لبدء استنساخ “حزب الله” اللبناني في العراق، إذ أوكلت هذه المهمة إلى جمال جعفر آل إبراهيم، المعروف بـ “أبي مهدي المهندس”، وهو مفوض “حزب الدعوة الإسلامية” الذي كلفته إيران بتنفيذ هجمات داخل الخليج خلال ثمانينات القرن الماضي. وبين 1983 و1985، ذاعت شهرة المهندس في المنطقة، لأن اسمه قفز إلى لائحة أشد المطلوبين الدوليين، لضلوعه في هجمات ضد منشآت دبلوماسية في الكويت، وتخطيطه لمحاولة اغتيال أمير البلاد آنذاك.
وكانت خيارات المهندس واسعة، لأن الساحة العراقية كانت تعج عام 2007 بالمقاتلين المدربين على أعلى طراز، نظراً لتشابك ظروف العنف بين الاحتكاك المستمر مع الجيش الأميركي أو الاقتتال الطائفي بين المجموعات السنية والشيعية.
قيادة مجهولة
ومع أن المهندس اختار أكفأ المقاتلين للانخراط في النسخة العراقية من “حزب الله” اللبناني، إلا أنه كان حذراً في تسمية هيكلية قيادية لهذا الكيان القتالي، خشية تعرضه للانهيار في حال استهدافها. لذلك، بقيت قيادة “حزب الله العراقي”، مجهولة. ولتمييزه عن أصله في لبنان، أضيف مصطلح كتائب في مقدمة الإسم. واستعان المهندس بمدربين من “حزب الله” اللبناني لتنظيم مقاتلي الكتائب، لكن العون الأكبر جاء من الجنرال قاسم سليماني قائد فيلق القدس في “الحرس الثوري الإيراني”. ولا يخفي المهندس فخره بالعمل تحت يد سليماني، لكن الغريب أن سليماني يقول إنه يتشرف بكونه جندياً تحت إمرة المهندس.
تماهي المهندس وسليماني
حالة التماهي بين هذين الرجلين كانت واضحة بشدة في مسألة قيادة كتائب “حزب الله” العراق، إذ تتنقل القيادة المباشرة بينهما، وفقاً لمصادر مطلعة، بحسب الحاجة والظروف، لكن الأهم هو أن هذه القوة باتت مرتبطة بـ”الحرس الثوري الإيراني” على المستويات كافة، بدءاً من التدريب والتسليح والتجنيد وانتهاء باختيار خريطة الأهداف. وقدمت كتائب “حزب الله” خدمات جليلة لنظام الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد منذ عام 2011، إذ شاركت في القتال إلى جانب جيشه تحت قيادة “حزب الله” اللبناني، وأسندت إليه مهاماً كبرى من قبيل تأمين مطار دمشق. وعندما تأسس “الحشد الشعبي” في العراق حجزت كتائب “حزب الله” موقعاً داخله، وعندما تولى أبو مهدي المهندس منصب نائب رئيس هيئة الحشد رسمياً، قفزت الكتائب إلى “المقدمة في قائمة الميليشيات العراقية الأكثر قوة وتنظيماً”. استعان المهندس بمدربين من “حزب الله” اللبناني لتنظيم مقاتلي الكتائب، لكن العون الأكبر جاء من الجنرال قاسم سليماني قائد فيلق القدس في “الحرس الثوري الإيراني”
ضد الولايات المتحدة
وادخرت كتائب “حزب الله” معظم أنشطتها في العراق لتوجهها إلى الوجود الأميركي في هذا البلد. ونظراً للموثوقية العالية التي يتمتع بها مقاتلوها لدى “الحرس الثوري الإيراني” فقد حصلوا على الأسلحة الأحدث والصواريخ الأكثر دقة. وخلال عام 2018، نُسبت إلى الكتائب ثلاث هجمات طالت مبنى السفارة الأميركية في بغداد بصواريخ كاتيوشا، كان من الواضح أنها أرسلت لأغراض إعلامية، لأن جميعها سقطت في مواقع خالية. وفي أغسطس (آب) وسبتمبر (أيلول)، تعرضت مخازن أسلحة تابعة للحشد إلى غارات اتُهمت إسرائيل بتنفيذها، وما كان من المهندس إلا أن أعلن عن تفاصيل مؤامرة دولية شاركت فيها تل أبيب وواشنطن، وقال حينها إن “العاصمتين تواطأتا لإدخال طائرات مسيرة إلى العراق عبر أذربيجان، استُخدمت في ضرب مقرات الحشد لاحقاً”. وبعد أسابيع، شنت كتائب “حزب الله” سلسلة هجمات على السفارة الأميركية في بغداد ومعسكرات تشغلها قوات أميركية قرب مدينة الموصل وفي محافظة صلاح الدين، تسببت في جرح جنود عراقيين.
قمع الاحتجاجات
وفي مطلع أكتوبر (تشرين الأول) الماضي، تدخلت كتائب “حزب الله” للمرة الأولى في الشأن السياسي الداخلي، عندما تحولت إلى رأس الحربة في القوات التي قمعت حركة الاحتجاج الأوسع التي تشهدها البلاد. واتُهمت الكتائب بنشر قناصين فوق أسطح المباني العالية في ساحة التحرير يوم الثالث من أكتوبر، وفتح النار على المتظاهرين الذين هتفوا ضد الهيمنة الإيرانية على القرار السياسي في بلادهم، ما تسبب في مقتل وجرح المئات. تنقلت الاتهامات لتلك الكتائب بين المحافظات العراقية المحتجة، وظهر اسمها إلى جانب كل عملية قمع واسعة، ما وضعها في واجهة الأحداث، لاسيما مع تواتر الأنباء عن أن أبي مهدي المهندس وقاسم سليماني كانا على رأس غرفة عمليات التعامل مع الاحتجاجات.
تقنيات عسكرية متطورة
في الثالث من ديسمبر (كانون الأول) 2019، بدا أن كتائب “حزب الله” تريد أن تخبر الولايات المتحدة أمراً، إذ أرسلت دفعة صواريخ على موقع صغير جداً قرب مطار بغداد الدولي يضم جنوداً أجانب، متسببة بجرح عدد منهم. هذا الهجوم مثّل دليلاً جديداً على امتلاك الكتائب تقنيات عسكرية متطورة، لأن الصواريخ التي استُخدمت في قصف المنشأة العسكرية قرب مطار بغداد كانت مزوّدة بأجهزة استدلال.
هجوم للتنفيس
وعندما ضاق الخناق على القوى السياسية الموالية لإيران في بغداد خلال مفاوضات اختيار رئيس وزراء جديد، خلفاً للمستقيل عادل عبد المهدي، وجه “حزب الله” ضربة لمعسكر في كركوك يوم الـ27 من ديسمبر، متسبباً بمقتل مواطن أميركي. ووُصفت هذه العملية بأنها “تنفيس” عن احتقان سياسي يهدد المصالح الإيرانية في بغداد. وبدا أن الخطة نجحت، إذ هاجم الأميركيون بعد يومين خمسة مواقع تابعة لكتائب “حزب الله” في العراق وسوريا، ما أدى إلى مقتل وجرح العشرات. وحوّل الهجوم الأميركي “حزب الله” إلى ضحية بعدما كان جلاداً يحمّله قطاع واسع من العراقيين مسؤولية جعل العراق ساحة صراع بين الولايات المتحدة وإيران، وألقى بظلاله على مفاوضات اختيار رئيس الوزراء الجديد. بهذا التطور، تكون كتائب “حزب الله” هي العدو الأول للولايات المتحدة في لائحة الميليشيات العراقية الموالية لإيران، وربما تستمر مناوشاتها مع الجيش الأميركي، ما دامت تحظى بدعم “الحرس الثوري الإيراني”.

بعد اقتحام السفارة الأميركية في بغداد… ترمب: إيران نسّقت الهجوم
واشنطن: العراق لم يبذل الجهود اللازمة لـ”حماية” جنودنا… وأنباء عن وجود السفير خارج العراق
وكالات/انديبندت عربية/31 كانون الأول/2019
اتهم الرئيس الأميركي دونالد ترمب إيران بالوقوف وراء الهجوم على سفارة بلاده في بغداد، داعياً السلطات العراقية إلى حمايتها. وقال ترمب في تغريدة على تويتر “قتلت إيران مقاولاً أميركياً وتسبّبت بجرح آخرين عديدين. رددنا بقوة وسنفعل ذلك دائماً. الآن تنسّق إيران هجوماً على السفارة الأميركية في العراق، وسيتحمّلون كامل المسؤولية. كما نتوقّع من العراق استخدام قوّته لحماية السفارة، وأبلغانهم ذلك”. وكانت مجموعات من المتظاهرين المناصرين لكتائب “حزب الله” العراق قد احتشدت أمام السفارة الأميركية في بغداد الثلاثاء 31 ديسمبر (كانون الأول)، وحاولت اقتحام البوابة الرئيسة وأحرقت العلم الأميركي وقامت بتحطيم كاميرات المراقبة. وأكدت مصادر إعلامية أن المتظاهرين قاموا بإحراق إحدى بوابات السفارة وتحطيم جزء من السياج الخارجي. وأطلقت قوات الأمن العراقية الغاز المسيل للدموع في محاولة لتفريق آلاف المحتجين. وبحسب معلومات خاصة بالـ “اندبندنت عربية”، فإن “السفير الأميركي في إجازة خارج العراق، في حين لا يزال موظفو السفارة داخل المبنى في بغداد”. وفي ضوء الأحداث، دعا رئيس الوزراء العراقي المستقيل عادل عبد المهدي المتظاهرين أمام السفارة الأميركية إلى المغادرة “فوراً”، مشدداً على أن القوات الأمنية ستمنع “بشكل صارم أي تعدّ على السفارات الأجنبية”. وقال عبد المهدي، في بيان أصدره مكتبه، إن مسؤولية حماية وتأمين السفارات الأجنبية تقع على الحكومة العراقية، مضيفاً “لذلك نطلب من الجميع المغادرة فوراً بعيداً عن هذه الأماكن، ونذكّر أن أي اعتداء أو تحرّش بالسفارات والممثليات الأجنبية هو فعل ستمنعه بشكل صارم القوات الأمنية وسيعاقب عليه القانون بأشد العقوبات”. وظهرت في صور تم تداولها على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي قوة خاصة تابعة لمكتب عبد المهدي تحيط مبنى السفارة الأميركية وتمنع المحتجين من الاقتراب منه بعد إحراق أجزاء فيه. قوة خاصة تابعة لمكتب رئيس الوزراء المستقيل عادل عبد المهدي في محيط السفارة الأميركية (مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي)
إخلاء الموظفين
ورفع المحتجون شعارات مطالبة بإغلاق السفارة الأميركية وطرد السفير، في حين جرى إجلاء السفير والموظفين الأساسيين العاملين في السفارة. وأطلق حراس الأمن داخل السفارة قنابل صوتية على المحتجين، وسمع مراسلون من رويترز دوياً قوياً أربع مرات. وكان المحتجون بدأوا تحركهم صباحاً بنصب خيم اعتصام لهم أمام السفارة، احتجاجاً على الضربات الجوية الأميركية التي استهدفت مقاراً تابعة لمجموعات عراقية موالية لإيران في كل من سوريا والعراق، ما أدى إلى سقوط عشرات القتلى والجرحى. وتمكن المحتجون المشاركون في موكب تشييع مقاتلي كتائب “حزب الله” الـ25 الذين قضوا في الغارات الأميركية، من عبور حواجز التفتيش كافة من دون صعوبة في المنطقة الخضراء شديدة التحصين.
تحذير مسبق
وقال البنتاغون في بيان رسمي، إن صواريخ الغارات التي أطلقتها طائرات حربية طالت خمسة أهداف تابعة لـ”كتائب حزب الله العراقي” الموالية لإيران، الذي يرتبط ارتباطاً وثيقاً بـ”الحرس الثوري”، الذي أدرجته واشنطن على قائمة الإرهاب قبل أشهر. من جانبه، قال رئيس الوزراء العراقي، عادل عبد المهدي، إن وزير الدفاع الأميركي، أبلغه بالضربات الجوية في اتصال هاتفي قبلها بساعات، وأنه طلب إجراء مناقشات مباشرة، لكنه أُبلغ بأن القرار قد اتُخذ، وفقا لوكالة “رويترز”. وأشار رئيس الوزراء العراقي إلى أنه حاول إبلاغ الفصيل العراقي بالضربة الجوية الوشيكة، كما أكد أن الطائرات الأميركية التي نفذت الضربة لم تأت من داخل العراق، وأن الهجوم لا يستند إلى أدلة، بل هو نتيجة للتوتر المتصاعد بين إيران وأميركا.
“العراق لم يحمنا”
وكانت الولايات المتحدة الأميركية اتهمت الإثنين 30 ديسمبر (كانون الأول)، السلطات العراقية بأنها “لم تبذل الجهود اللازمة لحماية مصالح الولايات المتحدة”، وذلك غداة الضربات الأميركية التي أثارت موجة تنديد في العراق. وقال مسؤول رفيع في وزارة الخارجية الأميركية للصحافيين في واشنطن “لقد حذّرنا الحكومة العراقية مراراً وتشاركنا معها المعلومات لمحاولة العمل معها وإطلاعها على مسؤوليتها عن حمايتنا بصفتنا ضيوفاً”. وذكّر المسؤول بأن الجيش الأميركي والدبلوماسيين الأميركيين موجودون في العراق “بدعوة من الحكومة العراقية”، وتابع “من مسؤوليتها وواجبها أن تحمينا. وهي لم تتّخذ الخطوات المناسبة لذلك”.
هجمات متكررة
ومنذ 28 أكتوبر (تشرين الأول)، سجّل أحد عشر هجوماً على قواعد عسكرية عراقية تضم جنوداً أو دبلوماسيين أميركيين، وصولاً إلى استهداف السفارة الأميركية الواقعة في المنطقة الخضراء المحصنة أمنياً في بغداد. وأسفرت الهجمات عن سقوط قتيل وإصابات عدة في صفوف الجنود العراقيين، إضافة إلى أضرار مادية. غير أن هجوم الجمعة مثّل نقطة تحوّل، إذ قتل فيه متعاقد أميركي وكانت المرة الأولى التي تسقط فيها 36 قذيفة على قاعدة واحدة تضم جنوداً أميركيين، وفق مصدر أميركي. ومساء الأحد 29 ديسمبر، شنت القوات الأميركية سلسلة غارات استهدفت منشآت قيادة وتحكم تابعة لكتائب “حزب الله”، أحد أبرز الفصائل الموالية لإيران في “الحشد الشعبي”، الذي يعد جزءاً من القوات العراقية وتخضع بعض فصائله لهيمنة إيرانية.
“مراجعة العلاقات”
والإثنين أعلنت الحكومة العراقية أن الضربات الجوية الأميركية تدفعها إلى “مراجعة العلاقة” مع الولايات المتحدة. وقال المسؤول الأميركي “نجري اتصالات حثيثة مع الحكومة العراقية بشأن هذه التهديدات”، مضيفاَ “بالتأكيد أبلغناها بأننا سنتحرك رداً على هذا الهجوم الأخير”.

The post محمد ناجي: لهذه الأسباب أنشأ الحرس الثوري الإيراني حزب الله العراقي/تقرير: بعد اقتحام السفارة الأميركية في بغداد ترامب يقول بأن إيران نسّقت الهجوم appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

وداع العام: إن رست سفينتكم على شاطئ الذكريات اجعلوني أحد ركابها
الأباتي سيمون عساف/31 كانون الأول/2019

نستحضر في نهاية العام لحظات أوجعتنا واخرى آلمت قلوبنا،لأن الحياة ذكريات تنطوي على دمعتين:
دمعة لقاء ودمعة فراق، فإن لم تجمعنا الأيام سوف تجمعنا الأحلام وإن لم تجمعنا الأحلام سوف تجمعنا الذكريات.
إن رست سفينتكم على شاطئ الذكريات اجعلوني أحد ركابها.
مضت الأيام متوالية سريعا حصدنا خلال ساعاتها التعس والسعد، المشقة والهناء.
مضت ومعها صُوَر عالقة في البال.
يسرني في نهاية هذا العام أن أقدم لافراد المجتمع، ارق التمنيات وارقاها.
لا يسعني وانا اودع واقفا على عتبة عام جديد إلا أن أمدّ يدي وعداً وعهداً للمخلصين.
لنصلح ذواتنتا مع ربنا ونخلص له في جميع شؤوننا.
لِنُعد النظر في أصحابنا ونعلم أن الصاحب ساحب، والأخلاق تعدي، وأن المرء على دين خليله.
صاحبوا الأخيار تجدون لديهم المتعة والأنس والسرور وزوال الهموم مع ما أعده الله للمتحابين فيه.
لا تتركوا امكنتكم خالية بل املؤها حضورا مبرورا.
كل العلاقات مجرد فيلم سينمائي فلنكن مستعدين لعبارة النهاية، كما تغني سيدتنا فيروز:” بالآخر في آخر في وقت فراق”! لا أحد يبقى، جميعهم سيرحلون.
كم جميل أن نكون معاً قصة لا نهاية لها، اذ كل القصص لها نهاية.
تؤلمنا النهايات كثيراً، لذلك كل ما زارنا الحنين نتذكر اللسعة الأخيرة ونتلوَّى متحسرين.
نخسر في البداية ونتعلم أفضل من أن نخسر في النهاية ونتألم.
صغيرة جداً هي الحياة مجرد شهيق إن لم يتبعها زفير انتهت.
ترحل سنة ويحل عام، ويذهب موسم ويقترب آخر، نسأل الله أن يكون عامنا هذا عام خيرٍ وبركة وجدٍّ واجتهاد وتوفيق ونجاح.
أيّها الأحبّة أوصي نفسي وإياكم مع بداية هذا العام بالتجديد بالولادة الروحيه بالالتزام وبالانتفاضة النهضوية على الذات، ودليلنا إلى خير الدنيا والآخرة.
لِنَعدَّ أنفسنا جنوداً وذخراً لله وللوطن.
تنتثر أيام الحياة يوماً بعد يوم كانتثار أوراق الخريف وقد ودعنا سنة انقضت وآلت إلى مصيرها المحتوم كالسنواتِ التي سبقتها.
وها هي الأحداث في شتى أنواعها تتعاقب وتتدافع فى سيرها إلى الزوال، ولا تبقي لنا من ذكراها إلّا العمل الذى يضعُ المرء في مساره الإنساني، ويجعل منه طاقة خلّاقة خيرة، ولا يفضّل إنساناً آخر إلّا بعمله وإخلاقه فى مسؤوليّاته
وهذا ما أثبته دابر الأيام وحاضرها. لِيُحاسِب كلٌّ نفسَه وكل عام وانتم بخير مع اصدق التمنيات.

The post الأباتي سيمون عساف/وداع العام: إن رست سفينتكم على شاطئ الذكريات اجعلوني أحد ركابها appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Lebanon in 2020: How Will Hezbollah Deal with the Challenges?
حنين غدار/لبنان في العام 2020 : هل سيتعامل  حزب الله مع التحديات
Hanin Ghaddar/Al Arabiya/December 31/2019

Almost three months into the popular uprising in Lebanon, all eyes are now on the recently nominated Prime Minister Hassan Diab – who was chosen by Lebanese Hezbollah – and the main question seem to be whether he is capable of forming a new government or not. The political scene is busy with behind the door consultations and meetings to make sure an agreement between concerned political parties is reached.

However, for both the street and the international community, this is all pointless. Whether Diab succeeds in forming a government or not, the main problem – that is the near economic collapse and bankruptcy of the state – will not be resolved anytime soon.

The main reason for the absence of any positive resolution is the fact Diab – or any other prime minister that the current authorities would chose – is not going to gain the trust of the streets or the international community. Without that trust, Lebanon will not be able to receive the financial bailout needed to save it from collapse.

In early 2020, it will become clearer that Lebanon is headed to become a failed state, with all what this entails in terms of financial disasters, humanitarian catastrophes and security threats. This seems the only conceivable path forward; therefore, it is not naïve to ask the question: don’t the people in power understand the implications of holding on to power?

The people in power are many, including all sectarian leaders, Speaker of the House Nabih Berri, President Michel Aoun, and his son-in-law Gebran Bassil – all Hezbollah allies, which says a lot about who is really the authority in Lebanon today.

Back in 2018, when Hezbollah celebrated its victory in the parliamentary elections, and moved ahead with a Hezbollah-majority government, its Iranian sponsors probably did not fathom that this victory will entail such challenges.

For Iran and Hezbollah today, no matter what they do, they will have to compromise or lose. If they let go of their power and allow a capable and credible government to take over, they will lose their valued access to state institutions.

If they hold on to power – as it seems they are doing with Diab – they will have to deal with the economic challenges that will cost them whatever popular support they have left, or privileges within the state that they enjoy.

What Hezbollah hasn’t realized yet is that the revolution – although it hasn’t toppled anything besides the former government – has achieved two main goals: one, the realization of a vibrant non-sectarian popular rhetoric that will no longer accept the sectarian system that has been dominating for the past hundred years, and two, exposure of Hezbollah’s failure at governing.

For three decades, Hezbollah has attained power in Lebanon by protecting sectarian leaders and making deals with corrupt politicians. What Hezbollah forgot to do is come up with a socio-economic vision for Lebanon beyond the military strategies and power games.

Hezbollah failed and the Lebanese people – including the Shia community – today understand this. With the economic difficulties and international pressure, food on the table is becoming more important than fighting Israel or occupying Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Hezbollah will be challenged with these shifting priorities.

So how is Hezbollah going to deal with these challenges in 2020?

On the short term, Hezbollah only wants to move forward with a new government – whether under Diab or Hariri in case Diab failed – and see how the international community reacts.

Hezbollah hopes that the international community will be more concerned with instability in Lebanon and will rush to financially aid whatever government is formed.

On the long-term, Hezbollah hopes that the Democratic Party in the US will win the presidential elections in 2020 and sanctions on Iran will be eased. That way, money will flood back to Hezbollah, and its own financial crisis, that is costing the party support and resources to manage the crisis, will not be a problem.

However, in the improbable scenario that these two wishes were granted, Hezbollah will still have to deal with the fact that the Lebanese people are no longer buying the resistance rhetoric.

Therefore, even if Hezbollah manages to miraculously recover from the economic and international challenges, the Lebanese no longer trust the party and its corrupt allies. Hezbollah cannot win the next parliamentary elections, form a government, or maintain access to state institutions, without its allies.

As all eyes are today on the current process of government formation, the Lebanese people and the international community need to stress the parliamentary elections in order for Lebanon to move to the next phase.

Calling for early elections – based on a non-sectarian and modern electoral law – should be the principal demand in 2020. This is the only way to translate the street’s rhetoric into a new representative parliament, which will produce a new credible government and president.

 *Hanin Ghaddar is the inaugural Friedmann Visiting Fellow at The Washington Institute’s Geduld Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. She tweets @haningdr.

The post حنين غدار/لبنان في العام 2020 : هل سيتعامل  حزب الله مع التحديات/Hanin Ghaddar/Lebanon in 2020: How Will Hezbollah Deal with the Challenges? appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of E/A Reports Addressing The Arrival Of Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn to Lebanon After Fleeing His Home Arrest In Japan.
News Agencies/December 31/2019

رزمة من التقارير بالعربية والإنكليزية تروي ملف هرب كارلوس غصن من اليابان ودخوله إلى لبنان
وكالات ومواقع الكترونية/31 كانون الأول/2019

“الخارجية اللبنانية: غصن دخل لبنان بطريقة شرعية والامن العام يؤكد..رجل الاعمال غير مطالب به عالميا ومرتاح في منزل زوجته!
وكالات ومواقع الكترونية/31 كانون الأول/2019
اكد الرئيس السابق لتحالف رينو-نيسان كارلوس غصن، اللبناني الأصل، انه موجود في لبنان بعدما غادر اليابان حيث يخضع لإقامة جبرية بعد اتهامه بمخالفات مالية. وقال غصن في بيان “انا الان في لبنان. لم اعد رهينة نظام قضائي ياباني متحيز، حيث يتم افتراض الذنب”. واضاف “لم أهرب من العدالة، لقد حررت نفسي من الظلم والاضطهاد السياسي. يمكنني اخيرا التواصل بحرية مع وسائل الاعلام وهو ما ساقوم به بدءا من الاسبوع المقبل”. في الاثناء، وبعد التداول بخبر لقاء حصل بين الرئيس ميشال عون وغصن بعد وصوله الى بيروت أمس، علمت الـLBCI أنه لم يحصل اي لقاء بين الطرفين. وكانت وكالة سبوتنيك قد تحدثت عن لقاء حصل بين عون وغصن من دون ان تذكر تفاصيل أخرى. قضائيا، نفى القاضي شكري صادر للـ mtv أي لقاء جمعه بكارلوس غصن منذ عودته إلى لبنان. وقال صادر عن إمكانية استعادة اليابان لغصن: أي دولة لا تسلم متهماً من رعاياها ولهذا السبب أتى غصن إلى لبنان وما ستقوم به اليابان هو مطالبة لبنان باستعادة غصن ويمكن للبنان أن يرد: أرسلوا مستنداتكم ومحاكمته تتم في بلده. وعلمت المركزية ان غصن كان ينوي اقامة دعوى قضائية على اليابان حينما يصبح في لبنان. وقالت مصادر مطلعة لـ”المركزية” ان رواية خروج غصن من اليابان في احد صناديق الآلات الموسيقية لا يمكن ان تكون دقيقة الا اذا كان ثمة خطأ او تغاض عنه في مطار اليابان. وقال الوزير سليم جريصاتي للنهار: كارلوس غصن دخل بطريقة شرعية عبر المطار بواسطة جواز سفره الفرنسي، وهويته اللبنانية. وافاد مصدر رسمي لبناني الـmtv ان لبنان يتعاطى مع ملف كارلوس غصن وفق الاصول والاتفاقات الدولية وقال “لبنان يعتبر أنّ كارلوس غصن دخل مطار بيروت شرعياً بجواز سفر فرنسي ولم يكن لدى السلطات اللّبنانية أي سبب يمنع إدخاله”.
الخارجية اللبنانية: صدرت وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين البيان الآتي: “تؤكد الوزارة أن السيد كارلوس غصن دخل إلى لبنان فجر أمس بصورة شرعية حسبما أكد الأمن العام اللبناني أن ‏ظروف خروجه من اليابان والوصول إلى بيروت غير معروفة منا وكل كلام عنها هو شأن خاص به.
يهم الوزارة أن تؤكد أن لبنان وجه ‏الى الحكومة اليابانية منذ سنة عدة مراسلات رسمية بخصوص كارلوس غصن بقيت من دون أي جواب وقد تم تسليم ملفٍ كاملٍ عنها الى مساعد وزير الخارجية اليابانية أثناء زيارته الى بيروت قبل أيام.
تلفت الخارجية اللبنانية إلى أنه لا توجد مع اليابان أي اتفاقية للتعاون القضائي أو الاسترداد لكن الدولتين وقعتا على اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة الفساد وهي المرتكز الذي تم اعتماده في المراسلات التي وجهها لبنان الى السلطات اليابانية. ‏ويهم الخارجية اللبنانية أن تؤكد حرص لبنان على افضل العلاقات مع الدولة اليابانية”.
الامن العام: بدورها، اصدرت المديرية العامة للأمن العام بيانا قالت فيه ” كثرت في اليومين الماضيين التأويلات حول دخول المواطن اللبناني كارلوس غصن الى بيروت. يهم المديرية العامة للأمن العام أن تؤكد أن المواطن المذكور دخل الى لبنان بصورة شرعية ولا توجد أية تدابير تستدعي أخذ إجراءات بحقه أو تعرّضه للملاحقة القانونية.”
3أسباب: وأكدت معلومات للـLBCI أن غصن دخل الى لبنان بجواز سفر فرنسي عبر مطار بيروت من دون أن يساعده أي فريق أو أي جهاز في الداخل اللبناني لأن لا حاجة لذلك سيما وأنه غير مطلوب من القضاء اللبناني أو من الانتربول.
وكشفت مصادر أن هناك 3 أسباب دفعت غصن الى المجيء الى لبنان بالطريقة التي أتى فيها:
– الأول أنه قدّم 8 طلبات لتغيير شروط الاقامة الجبرية في اليابان وقد رُفضت لكن منذ ايام قليلة سمح له بالقيام باتصال مع زوجته.
– الثاني أن جلسة المحاكمة التحضيرية حُددت يوم 25 كانون الأول الحالي الامر الذي اعتبره غصن غير مقبول لأنه ليلة عيد الميلاد.
– الثالث أنه في ما خص الاتهامين المدموجين الموجهين ضده لم يستلم أي مستندات تسمح له بالدفاع عن نفسه.
إشارة الى أن غصن اعتبر أن القضاء الياباني يخالف المعاهدات الدولية الموقعة مع الأمم المتحدة في خلال عملية مقاضاته في البلد.
الى ذلك، انتشرت تعزيزات أمنية أمام منزل الرئيس الاسبق لمجلس ادارة مجموعة رينو نيسان كارلوس غصن في شارعلبنان بعد وصوله الى بيروت أمس. وكانت شركة نيسان أقالت غصن، قائلة إن تحقيقاتها الداخلية كشفت عن مخالفات من بينها إخفاء حقيقة راتبه عندما كان مديرها التنفيذي، وتحويل خمسة ملايين دولار من أموال الشركة إلى حساب مرتبط به.
وعقب إلقاء القبض عليه، أمضى غصن فترة طويلة قيد الاحتجاز، غير أنه أُفرج عنه حديثا، لكن تحت قيود مشددة تستلزم بقاءه في اليابان.
تفاصيل الليلة البوليسية: انشغلت وسائل الإعلام الأجنبية ليل الاثنين الثلاثاء بمعلومات متقاطعة عن هروب كارلوس غصن من اليابان. معظم الذين سمعوا الخبر في البداية لم يعيروا أي أهمية للمعلومات المتداولة، باعتبار أن غصن محصّن في قلعة من الحراسة اليابانية، ولن يكون من السهل عليه الهروب بهذه الطريقة، قبل أيام قليلة من انطلاق المرحلة الجديدة من الإجراءات القانونية لمحاكمته.
في لبنان، كان السفير الياباني في مناسبة اجتماعية عند صدور الخبر.
تواصلت معه الـ mtv لمعرفة التفاصيل فاستغرب الموضوع وأكد أن لا معلومات لدى حكومته عن القضية. بعدها بدقائق، انهالت عليه الرسائل النصية والاتصالات، وغادر القاعة من دون كلام.
كان غصن في هذا الوقت في بيروت، وتحديدا في منزل أهل زوجته كارول. مضى على وجوده في لبنان ساعات طويلة قبل إعلان الخبر، التقى فيها وفق المعلومات رئيس الجمهورية العماد ميشال عون، كما حظي بحماية أمنية لافتة من الدولة اللبنانية.
دخل غصن إلى لبنان بعد مسيرة أشبه بالأفلام البوليسية. العملية نفذتها مجموعة “بارا عسكرية” تزامنا مع وجود زوجته في الولايات المتحدة. دخلت الفرقة إلى منزله في اليابان تحت غطاء فرقة موسيقية لعشاء ميلادي، ثم عادت وخرجت بعد انقضاء الوقت المنطقي للحفلة. لم تعلم حينها السلطات اليابانية أن كارلوس غصن اختبأ في أحد الصناديق المخصصة لنقل الآلات الموسيقية، ثمّ غادر البلاد عبر مطار محلّي.
تساؤلات عدّة طُرحت حول كيفية مروره على الحواجز الأمنية في المطار، وهي لا تزال موضع تساؤل حتى الآن، لكن السؤال الأهم هو عن جواز سفره، فهو دخل لبنان آتيا من تركيا على متن طائرة خاصة، من خلال جواز سفره الفرنسي، مع العلم أن السلطات اليابانية صادرت جواز السفر الفرنسي الخاص به، فكيف تم الاستحصال على جواز سفر جديد؟
انتهى الليل بوسائل الإعلام العالمية تتحدث عن هروب غصن بعدما تحدثت في بداية السهرة عن أنه خرج بتخريجة قانونية تتناسب مع الإفراج عنه بكفالة. كل ذلك، وغصن في منزل أهل زوجته يتابع الأخبار عبر الهاتف الجوّال.
بواسطة صندوق؟ وبحسب المعلومات، فان كارلوس غصن غادر اليابان بطريقة غير شرعية، وسط شكوك في الروايات الموجودة لجهة أنه تم تهريبه بواسطة صندوق أو أنه قد استقل الطائرة الخاصة من اليابان. فالإجراءات الأمنية في اليابان برا وبحرا وجوا تحول دون هكذا عمليات. فهل يعقل أن يكون وصل إلى تركيا بصندوق؟ وأفاد أحد أصدقائه الذي شاهده للمرة الأخيرة منذ عشرة أيام بأنه كان يعيش حالة خوف وشك دائم وكان يخشى فتح ملفات جديدة ويسعى للمحاكمة في أيلول المقبل ولم يكن يستخدم سوى هاتف واحد وكمبيوتر واحد سلمتهما له السلطات.
وقد سألت السلطات اليابانية ، بحسب المعلومات، وكلاء غصن عن عملية مغادرته فنفوا علمهم بأي تفصيل.
وتسأل وسائل الإعلام اليابانية عن كيفية دخوله إلى لبنان متحدثة عن إمكان حصول أزمة بين البلدين بسبب هذه القضية.
وكشفت مصادر مطلعة الـ MTV على قضيّة كارلوس غصن أنّ فراره من اليابان تمّ على الأرجح بطائرة صغيرة عبر مطار محلّي، من دون أن يحصل على إذن قضائي بمغادرة الأراضي اليابانيّة، ومن دون علم محاميه الذين أنكروا معرفتهم بمغادرته.
وذكرت المصادر أنّ هذا الأمر تمّ بمساعدة زوجته وابنته، وقد نجح غصن بالإفلات من الرقابة التي كانت مفروضة عليه.
ولفتت المصادر الى أنّ قدوم غصن الى لبنان، عبر تركيا، سيفتح باباً أمام خلاف دبلوماسي بين بيروت وطوكيو، علماً أنّ لا اتفاق بين الدولتين على تبادل المطلوبين.
وأشارت الى أنّ اليابان قد تتوسّط لدى فرنسا لاستعادة غصن، ومن شأن رفض لبنان لذلك فإنّ الأمر سيفتح باباً للخلاف بين الدولتين.
ولم تستبعد المصادر أن يغادر غصن لاحقاً الى البرازيل، تجنّباً لإحراج الدولة اللبنانيّة.
المحامي مذهول: ذهل محامي كارلوس غصن الياباني جونيشيرو هيروناك بنبأ وجود موكله في لبنان، مؤكدا أنه لم يجر أي اتصال معه منذ رحيله إلى لبنان في ظروف لا تزال غامضة.
وقال جونيشيرو هيروناكا للصحافيين :”إنها مفاجأة تامة. إنني مذهول”، مؤكدا أنه لم يتلق اتصالا من غصن وعلم “من التلفزيون” أن الرئيس السابق لتحالف رينو-نيسان خرج من اليابان حيث كان ينتظر محاكمته بأربع تهم تتعلق بمخالفات مالية.
واشار الى ان جوازات سفر غصن الثلاثة في حيازة فريق المحامين ولم يكن يستطيع استخدام أي منها للفرار من اليابان معتبرا أن أفعال موكله “لا يمكن تبريرها”.
اول تعليق فرنسي: أكدت وزيرة الدولة الفرنسية للشؤون الاقتصادية أغنيس بانييه-رونيشيه اليوم الثلاثاء أن أنباء فرار غصن من اليابان إلى لبنان أصابتها “بالدهشة الشديدة” مضيفة أنها سمعت بالأمر عبر وسائل الإعلام.
وقالت بانييه-رونيشيه لإذاعة “فرانس إنتر” إن “لا أحد فوق القانون ولكن غصن سيكون بوسعه الحصول على المساعدة القنصلية الفرنسية كمواطن فرنسي.”

كارلوس غصن من لبنان: حررت نفسي من الظلم في اليابان وهو”جاء من تركيا على متن طائرة خاصة ولم يعرف ما إذا كان قد غادر طوكيو بإذن قضائي”
وكالات/31 كانون الأول/2019
أكد الرئيس السابق لتحالف رينو- نيسان كارلوس غصن، اللبناني الأصل، وصوله إلى لبنان، بعد تسرب تقارير عن هروبه من الإقامة الجبرية في اليابان، الإثنين 30 ديسمبر (كانون الأول)، وقال في بيان الثلاثاء 31 ديسمبر، “أنا الآن في لبنان، لم أعد رهينة نظام قضائي ياباني منحاز، حيث جرى افتراض الذنب، لم أهرب من العدالة، لقد حررت نفسي من الظلم والاضطهاد السياسي. يمكنني أخيراً التواصل بحرية مع وسائل الإعلام وهذا ما سأقوم به بدءاً من الأسبوع المقبل”.
غصن في لبنان
وقال مصدر أمني لبناني لوكالة الصحافة الفرنسية، إن “غصن وصل الأحد إلى مطار بيروت، ولكن لم يتضح كيف غادر اليابان”، في ظل خضوعه لإقامة جبرية هناك إثر اتهامه بمخالفات مالية، وسرت معلومات عن لقائه رئيس الجمهورية اللبناني ميشال عون.
وبحسب المذيع التلفزيوني ريكاردو كرم، وهو صديق لغصن وأجرى معه حوارات مرات عدة، فقد وصل غصن إلى لبنان صباح الإثنين، من دون تقديم مزيد من التفاصيل. وأفادت صحيفة ليزيكو الفرنسية نقلا عن مصادرها الخاصة التي لم تكشف عنها، بأن غصن هرب من اليابان إلى لبنان، فيما قالت صحيفة وول ستريت جورنال الأميركية نقلاً عن شخص مطلع، إن غصن وصل إلى لبنان بعد هربه من اليابان. وكانت صحف لبنانية أشارت في وقت سابق إلى أن غصن “دخل إلى مطار بيروت، آتياً من تركيا على متن طائرة خاصة، ولم يعرف ما إذا كان قد غادر اليابان بإذن قضائي أم لا”.
قيود صارمة
ومن غير الواضح كيف كان غصن، الذي يحمل الجنسية الفرنسية واللبنانية، قادراً على مغادرة اليابان حيث يخضع لقيود صارمة تفرضها المحكمة على تحركاته، في انتظار أن يحاكم في أبريل (نيسان) 2020. محامي غصن الياباني جونيشيرو هيروناكا أعرب عن “ذهوله” الثلاثاء لنبأ وجود موكله في لبنان، قائلاً للصحافيين “إنها مفاجأة تامة. إنني مذهول”. وأكّد كذلك أنه لم يتلقَ اتصالاً من غصن وعلم “من التلفزيون” أنه غادر اليابان.
خروج غامض
وبينما لا تزال تفاصيل خروج غصن من طوكيو غامضة، أكّد هيروناكا أن جوازات سفر المتّهم الثلاثة، الفرنسي والبرازيلي واللبناني، في حيازة فريق المحامين ولم يكن باستطاعته استخدام أي منها للفرار من اليابان، مضيفاً أن أفعال موكله “لا يمكن تبريرها”.
وفي أوّل تعليق فرنسي على الأنباء، قالت وزيرة الدولة الفرنسية للشؤون الاقتصادية أغنيس بانييه- رونيشيه الثلاثاء إن خبر فرار غصن أصابها “بالدهشة الشديدة”، موضحةً أنها سمعت بالأمر عبر وسائل الإعلام. وقالت بانييه- رونيشيه لإذاعة “فرانس إنتر” إنه لا أحد فوق القانون لكن سيكون بوسع غصن الحصول على المساعدة القنصلية الفرنسية كمواطن فرنسي.
ويواجه رجل الأعمال النافذ، سلسلة اتهامات تشمل عدم الإفصاح عن كامل دخله واستخدام أموال نيسان للدفع لمعارف شخصيين واختلاس أموال الشركة للاستخدام الشخصي. وينفي كارلوس البالغ من العمر 65 عاماً، كل التهم الموجهة إليه، ويؤكد أن عمليات الدفع التي أبرمها من أموال نيسان كانت لشركاء للمجموعة وجرت الموافقة عليها وأنه لم يستخدم يوماً أموال الشركة بشكل شخصي.
توقيف غصن
واعتقل غضن في نوفمبر (تشرين الثاني) عام 2018، لدى هبوطه من طائرته الخاصة في طوكيو وقضى 108 أيام قيد الاحتجاز قبل يُطلق سراحه بكفالة. وأعيد توقيفه بعد وقت قصير مع توجيه الادعاء تهماً جديدة إليه، لكن أطلق سراحه بكفالة مرة ثانية بعدما قضى 21 يوماً إضافياً في السجن. وجاء الإفراج عنه بشروط مشددة، شملت فرض قيود على لقائه بزوجته وكفالة قدرها 4.5 مليون دولار. وفي أكتوبر (تشرين الأول) الماضي، طلب غصن من المحكمة في طوكيو إلغاء القضية ضده بدعوى ارتكاب الإدعاء العام في اليابان أعمالاً “غير قانونية” بشكل متكرر.
علاقات متوترة
وفي مذكرتين قدمتا إلى المحكمة، اتهم محامو غصن المدعين اليابانيين بالتواطؤ مع نيسان والتعاقد مع موظفين في شركة صناعة السيارات كانوا يحاولون الإطاحة بموكلهم للقيام بالتحقيق نيابة عنهم. وتشكل نيسان ورينو إلى جانب ميتسوبيشي موتورز، تحالفاً في عالم صناعة السيارات، لكن العلاقات داخل الشراكة شهدت توترات في بعض الأحيان. ويشير فريق الدفاع عن غصن إلى أن المعارضة لدمج شركات السيارات المنضوية بالتحالف بشكل أكبر استدعت تدخلاً حتى من مسؤولين حكوميين في وزارة التجارة اليابانية.

Ghosn’s Escape Leaves Japan Red-Faced
Agence France Presse/Naharnet//Tuesday, 31 December 2019
How could one of the most high-profile and instantly recognisable tycoons on Earth escape Japan just months before his trial, when his bail conditions strictly forbade him from leaving the country?
That’s the question being asked in Japan, where Carlos Ghosn’s abrupt departure and arrival in Lebanon is being seen as an embarrassing lapse in security. The 65-year-old, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese passports, had all three confiscated as part of his bail conditions as he prepared to defend himself against multiple charges of financial misconduct.
One of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, confirmed to reporters that they still had them in their possession, confessing he was “dumbfounded” at the news of his client’s flight — which he heard about via the media.
Public broadcaster NHK cited an anonymous source as saying the Immigration Services Agency had no record of a Carlos Ghosn leaving the country, and authorities were reviewing whether he left using another name. NHK also quoted a foreign ministry official as insisting: “He was not supposed to leave the country. Had we known about it beforehand, we would have reported that to proper law enforcement authorities.”
“If this development is true, it would be a matter between the legal authorities of the two countries,” the official added.
Taichiro Motoe, a lawmaker from Shinzo Abe’s ruling Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), said the news had come as a “shock” and called for “swift and effective” improvements.
Another LDP lawmaker, Masahisa Sato, said: “If this is true, it was not ‘departing the country’, it was an illegal departure and an escape, and this itself is a crime. “Was there help extended by an unnamed country? It is also a serious problem that Japan’s system allowed an illegal departure so easily,” complained Sato, also a former state minister for foreign affairs.
Although there is no extradition agreement between Japan and Lebanon, the two have diplomatic ties, with a deputy Japanese foreign minister visiting Beirut 10 days ago.
‘Political persecution’
It is also another blow for the reputation of Japan’s justice system, which came under widespread fire both at home and abroad during Ghosn’s detention for provisions that allow suspects to be held for long periods.
Amnesty International has accused Japan’s justice system of creating an environment of “aggressive interrogations” that “risk producing forced confessions and false convictions”.
Ghosn and his family had repeatedly attacked this “hostage justice system”, and he said in a statement released after his arrival in Lebanon that he was not fleeing justice but had “escaped injustice and political persecution”.
He has now vowed to give his side of the story, and Nobuo Gohara — a former elite prosecutor who now runs his own private practice — told AFP this could pose a problem for the prosecution, accused by Ghosn’s defence team of several illegal steps.
“One thing is for sure. For prosecutors, this presents a significant and serious situation. Nissan must be afraid. Prosecutors are also afraid,” said Gohara, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the handling of the case.
“The defence team have completely lost face. They promised he would stay in Japan as a condition of his bail,” added Gohara.
The Lebanese government would be unlikely to extradite him even if there was a treaty between the two countries, Gohara said.
One of the reasons authorities used to justify his lengthy detention was that he was a potential flight risk.
At a hearing on January 8 to rule on his continued custody, presiding Judge Yuichi Tada said Ghosn was being detained because he was a flight risk and there was a possibility he would conceal evidence.
The suspect has “bases in foreign countries” and may “escape”, Tada said.
But Go Kondo, one of Ghosn’s lawyers at the time, countered: “There is no risk that he will run away. He’s CEO of French company Renault. He’s widely known so it’s difficult for him to escape.”

Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn flees to Lebanon, calls Japan’s justice system ‘rigged’
Reuters, Tokyo/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn confirmed he fled to Lebanon, saying he wouldn’t be “held hostage” by a “rigged” justice system and raising questions about how one of the world’s most-recognized executives escaped Japan months before his trial.
Ghosn’s abrupt departure marks the latest dramatic twist in a year-old saga that has shaken the global auto industry, jeopardized the alliance of Nissan Motor Co Ltd and top shareholder Renault SA and cast a harsh light on Japan’s judicial system. “I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied,” Ghosn, 65, said in a brief statement on Tuesday.
“I have not fled justice – I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.”Most immediately, it was unclear how Ghosn, who holds French, Brazilian and Lebanese citizenship, was able to orchestrate his departure from Japan, given that he had been under strict surveillance by authorities while out on bail and had surrendered his passports.
Japanese immigration authorities had no record of Ghosn leaving the country, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said. A person resembling Ghosn entered Beirut international airport under a different name after flying in aboard a private jet, NHK reported, citing an unidentified Lebanese security official. His lawyers were still in possession of his three passports, one of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters in comments broadcast live by NHK. Hironaka said the first he had heard of Ghosn’s departure was on the news this morning and that he was surprised. He also said it was “inexcusable behavior.”While Ghosn’s arrest on financial misconduct charges last year ensured his dramatic fall from grace in Japan, he retains more popularity in Lebanon, where billboards saying “We are all Carlos Ghosn” were erected in his support and he at one time featured on a postage stamp. Born in Brazil, Ghosn is of Lebanese ancestry and grew up in Beirut. He has retained close ties to the country. A spokeswoman for the Lebanese embassy in Tokyo said “we did not receive any information” on the matter. Calls to the Brazilian embassy went unanswered. A French embassy spokesman in Tokyo declined to comment.
Flight risk
Ghosn was arrested at a Tokyo airport shortly after his private jet touched down on November 19, 2018. He faces four charges – which he denies – including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East. Nissan sacked him as chairman saying internal investigations revealed misconduct ranging from understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest. The case cast a harsh light on Japan’s criminal justice system, which allows suspects to be detained for long periods and prohibits defense lawyers from being present during interrogations that can last eight hours a day. Tokyo officials say the system is not inhumane and that Ghosn has been treated like any other suspect. He was released from prison in March on a $9 million bail, among the highest-ever paid in Japan. His movement and communications have been monitored and restricted to prevent his fleeing the country and tampering with evidence, the Tokyo District court previously said.
House arrest
The Financial Times on Monday said Ghosn was no longer under house arrest. Citing an associate of Ghosn, the newspaper said the former executive landed at Beirut’s Rafic al-Hariri international airport late on Sunday. Ghosn traveled to Lebanon via Turkey, arriving on Monday, The Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. One unidentified person told the newspaper Ghosn did not believe he would get a fair trial in Japan and was “tired of being an industrial political hostage”.A person familiar with Nissan’s thinking told Reuters, “I think he gave up fighting the prosecutors in court.”Ghosn has said he is the victim of a boardroom coup, accusing former Nissan colleagues of “backstabbing” and describing them as selfish rivals bent on derailing closer ties between the Japanese automaker and its biggest shareholder Renault, of which Ghosn was also chairman. His lawyers have asked the court to dismiss all charges, accusing prosecutors of colluding with government officials and Nissan executives to oust him to block any takeover by Renault. Ghosn began his career in 1978 at tire maker Michelin. In 1996, he moved to Renault where he oversaw a turnaround that won him the nickname “Le Cost Killer.”After Renault sealed an alliance with Nissan in 1999, Ghosn used similar methods to revive the ailing brand, leading to business super-star status in Japan, blanket media coverage and even a manga comic book on his life.

Ghosn fled Japan in a musical instrument box: MTV
Matthew Amlôt, Al Arabiya English/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn fled Japan hidden inside a box intended to transfer musical instruments, according to Lebanese television station MTV. A band of musicians entered his home in Japan under the pretense that they would provide the entertainment during dinner. After leaving the party, Ghosn had hidden inside one of the musical instrument’s boxes before departing Japan via a local airport.
MTV added that Ghosn had been in Lebanon for many hours before the news of his escape from Japan was made public. Japan’s ambassador to Lebanon was informed of his arrival in the country after being contacted by MTV, the station said. “I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied,” Ghosn said in a statement on Tuesday. “I have not fled justice – I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week,” he added. MTV also reported that Ghosn entered Lebanon “legally” on his French passport, and authorities saw no reason to prevent his entry, citing an official source. This contravenes statements made earlier on Tuesday by Ghosn’s lawyer that they were still in possession of his three passports as required by the terms of his bail.
Junichiro Hironaka, Ghosn’s lawyer, added that his client’s actions were “inexcusable.”

Ghosn lawyers still in possession of his passports, lawyer says
Reuters, Tokyo/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Ousted Nissan Motor Co boss Carlos Ghosn’s three passports were held by his lawyers and he could not have used any of them to escape Japan, one of the lawyers told reporters on Tuesday, adding that his client’s actions were “inexcusable”. Junichiro Hironaka, speaking to reporters in comments broadcast live by Japan’s NHK, said his lawyers were holding his French, Brazilian and Lebanese passports, as required by the terms of his bail. Ghosn on Tuesday confirmed he fled to Lebanon, saying he wouldn’t be “held hostage” by a “rigged” justice system and raising questions about how one of the world’s most-recognized executives escaped Japan months before his trial.

Beirut says it doesn’t know how Nissan ex-boss Ghosn made it to Lebanon
Reuters, Beirut/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
The Lebanese government does not know how Nissan ex-boss Carlos Ghosn made it from Japan, where he was due to be tried for financial misconduct, to Lebanon, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Lebanon sent official correspondence on Ghosn to Japan a year ago without receiving a reply, and a full file was shared with Japan’s assistant foreign minister in Beirut a few days ago, the ministry statement said.
It said Lebanon does not have a judicial cooperation agreement with Japan, but shared the information as part of a United Nations agreement on fighting corruption.

Nissan ex-boss Carlos Ghosn entered Lebanon legally: Security directorate
Reuters, Beirut/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Nissan ex-boss Carlos Ghosn entered Lebanon legally and will not face any legal consequences, Lebanon’s General Directorate of General Security said on Tuesday, according to the state news agency NNA. Ghosn arrived in Beirut on Monday after slipping out of Japan months before a high-profile trial for financial misconduct, which he said was part of a “rigged” system that had held him hostage. Ghosn denies the charges.

The post رزمة من التقارير بالعربية والإنكليزية تروي ملف هرب كارلوس غصن من اليابان ودخوله إلى لبنان/A Bundle Of E/A Reports Addressing The Arrival Of Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn to Lebanon After Fleeing His Home Arrest In Japan. appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 01 كانون الثاني/2020

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 01 كانون الثاني/2020

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 01 كانون الثاني/2020 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For January 01/2020

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for January 01/2020

The post Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For January 01/2020 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For January 01/2020 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 76th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
January 01/2020

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on January 01/2020
Resolutions For the new year of 2020/Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
Aoun addressing delegation of retired officers: I am optimistic that we can get out of the current crisis
Contracts of Cellular Companies Not Extended
Ashkar: Lebanon’s Hotel Industry Falters
Protesters march through Tripoli streets
Information and Communications Parliamentary Committee unanimously agrees not to extend cellular companies’ contracts
Civil movement welcomes Communications Parliamentary Committee’s decisions
Hassan Khalil: Extension of cell phone companies’ mandate originally rejected by me
Druze Sheikh meets UNIFIL Commander, hails force’s endeavors in south Lebanon
Report: Political Parties Agree on Cabinet of 18 Portfolios
Report: ‘Shiite Duo’ Agrees to Formation of Technocrat Govt.
A Bundle Of E/A Reports Addressing The Arrival Of Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn to Lebanon After Fleeing His Arrest In Japan.
Ghosn’s Escape Leaves Japan Red-Faced
Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn flees to Lebanon, calls Japan’s justice system ‘rigged’
Ghosn fled Japan in a musical instrument box: MTV
French Official ‘Very Surprised’ after Ghosn Flees Japan
Ghosn lawyers still in possession of his passports, lawyer says
Beirut says it doesn’t know how Nissan ex-boss Ghosn made it to Lebanon
Nissan ex-boss Carlos Ghosn entered Lebanon legally: Security directorate
Lebanon in 2020: How Will Hezbollah Deal with the Challenges?/Hanin Ghaddar/Al Arabiya/December 31/2019
Why are we on the edge of an irreversible financial meltdown?/Roger Bejjani/Face Book/December 31/2019
Lebanese demonstrators create art for a better future/Nada Richa/Annahar/December 31/2019

Details Of The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on January 01/2020
Resolutions For the new year of 2020
Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/81879/elias-bejjani-resolutions-for-the-new-year-of-2020/
How healthy and fruitful would it be if each and every one of us is fully ready to welcome the new year of 2010 with a clear conscience and a joyful reconciliation with himself/herself, as well and with all others, especially those who are the beloved ones, e.g, parents, family members, friends, etc.
How self gratifying would be for any faithful and wise person to enter the new year of 2020 and he/she is completely free from all past heavy and worrying loads of hostility, hatred, enmities, grudges, strives and jealousy.
And because our life is very short on this mortal-perishable earthly world.
And due to fact that, Our Heavenly Father, Almighty God may at any moment take back His Gift of life from any one of us.
Because of all these solid facts and realities, we are ought to leave behind all the 2019 hardships, pains and disappointments with no regrets at all.
We are ought to happily welcome and enter the 2010 new year with a totally empty page of our lives….ready for a new start.
Hopefully, every wise, loving, caring and faithful person would feel better in striving to begin this new year of 2020 with love, forgiveness, faith, hope, extended hands, open heart, and self-confidence.
Happy, Happy new Year

Aoun addressing delegation of retired officers: I am optimistic that we can get out of the current crisis
NNA /December 31/2019
Pesident of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, expressed optimism that the current crisis could be overcome, “because we are exerting all our efforts to overcome difficulties, but we always need the solidarity of the society”, hoping that the new Government will be formed in the next few days, and that the new year will carry gradual improvement to the current situation. President Aoun also pointed out that “What we are doing today is an attempt to reunite in politics to form an effective Government which addresses the international community, who wants to help us, after our sufferings from the effects of international wars in our region, foremost of which is the heavy Syrian displacement to Lebanon”, considering that the chaos which ruled the country, in the past three decades, produced the explosion that took place today, due to the inability of people to bear anymore. “If the crisis remains the same and citizens protest without any calmness, then the crisis will worsen, because permanent protest in the street and closure of roads disrupts the rest of our production” President Aoun said. President Aoun’s stances came during his meeting with a group of retired officers, who came to congratulate him on the occasion of feasts and to discuss the current situation. At the beginning of the meeting, Brigadier General Abdullah Al-Khoury spoke on behalf of the group and said: “This group that you have received in the past, has grown today and now includes officers from all Lebanese regions.Today, we extend from your Excellency the most sincere emotions on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year. We have full confidence that you surround all the scourges that afflicted the homeland, and our confidence is greater in you, as the people touched it through the course of your struggle, that you have all the determination to address these scourges. It is the dream of every honorable citizen to emerge at the dawn of reforms as soon as possible, with the formation of a new Government that gives confidence to people by starting reform measures immediately. We feel that we have a surplus of freedom and a lack of a sense of responsibility, in this country, but we have great confidence that you have every possibility to limit the impact of this on the difficult rescue operation, especially after the situation has reached this grasp so that the army is exposed to stone throwing from its people. People, all people, seemed to feel the coming days with intense fear and panic, when the catastrophic living conditions that we had not witnessed for more than a hundred years reached us. We repeat that none of us has the desire for a position or a job, but each of us is ready to do any service to the country in this difficult circumstance, and without charge, if you see that you need competencies from among us. All peoples, sir, dream, and we also have a great dream, that all restrictions of corruption, in all its forms, will be broken at your hand and during your era, so that your efforts may be completed with results that benefit the following generations, since you represent the icon of salvation that was established in the hearts of people long ago”.
President Michel Aoun received MPs: Roger Azar, Salim El-Khoury, and Hekmat Dib, who briefed him on the law proposals which they intend to present to the Parliament, as a part of practical anti-corruption measures.MPs briefed the President on the law proposals which they intend to present to the House of Representatives in the framework of activating the anti-corruption process, and to complete the proposals previously made by MPs of “Strong Lebanon” bloc. The President received the Secretary of the Leading Committee of the Independent Nasserite Movement (Al-Mourabitoun), Brigadier General Mustafa Hamdan, and discussed with him current developments.

Contracts of Cellular Companies Not Extended
Naharnet/December 31/2019
Caretaker Minister of Finance, Ali Hassan Khalil, on Tuesday said that he had refused the extension of Lebanon’s state-owned operating cell phone companies’ mandate shortly before the Media and Communications Parliamentary Committee convened and rejected the extension.
“Someone has ignorantly or deliberately spread a rumor saying that the Minister of Finance has inked a mandate extension decree for cell phone companies,” Khalil said in a tweet. “The news fabricated and unfounded and the entire idea of extension has been originally rejected by me,” he added. The Media and Communications Committee announced that contracts of the two Lebanese cellular companies Alpha and Touch had not been extended.Groups of protesters have gathered outside the Parliament in line with the meeting in an attempt to voice objection against the extension.

Ashkar: Lebanon’s Hotel Industry Falters
Naharnet/December 31/2019
With Lebanon suffering from an unprecedented economic crisis, the head of the hotel owners association Pierre Ashkar said the hotel sector falters as sales slow. “Most of Lebanon’s hotels are currently partially closed, large parts of hotels are shut down,” he told al-Joumhouria. He said the activity during the festive season was not enough for the sector to survive. While the head of restaurant owners, Tony el-Rami revealed that “around 500 restaurants in Lebanon have closed their businesses as of December 2019,” warning that the number will likely grow in the as of the beginning of the year. In addition, a new crisis will emerge related to the import of consumer goods in 2020, said the daily, because a vanishing ability of traders to import goods in light of strict banking procedures and the high prices of the dollar in the parallel market.

Protesters march through Tripoli streets
NNA/December 31/2019
A march has set off through the various streets of Tripoli, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister-designate Dr. Hassan Diab, NNA Correspondent reported Tuesday. Protesters raised the Lebanese flags, calling for the dismissal of confessionalism and sectarianism and the restoration of public looted money. Tehran has been warning that as of January their uranium enrichment will rise above 4.5%, using new technology banned by the nuclear deal. This could be the moment European signatories decide to join the U.S. sanctions, leaving all options for further conflict open and presenting an opportunity for preventive measures to be taken by either Israel, the United States or some other player.

Information and Communications Parliamentary Committee unanimously agrees not to extend cellular companies’ contracts
NNA/December 31/2019
The Information and Communications Parliamentary Committee convened this Tuesday at the Parliament, chaired by MP Hussein Hajj Hasan. The meeting was attended by Caretaker Minister of Telecommunications Mohammad Choucair, and Committee members. Speaking in the wake of the meeting, the chair of Committee, MP Hajj Hassan announced that the Committee has unanimously agreed not to extend the contracts of both of Lebanon’s cell phone companies. The Lawmaker also announced that the Committee has unanimously recommended to start measures to restore the management of this sector to the state within 60 days.

Civil movement welcomes Communications Parliamentary Committee’s decisions
NNA/December 31/2019
The Civil Movement has welcomed the decisions taken by the Information and Communications Parliamentary Committee during its session this Tuesday at the Parliament. It is to note that groups of protesters have gathered outside the House of Parliament to voice objection against the extension of the mandate of both of Lebanon’s cell phone companies.  The sit-in coincided with the meeting of the Information and Communications Parliamentary Committee.

Hassan Khalil: Extension of cell phone companies’ mandate originally rejected by me
NNA/December 31/2019
Caretaker Minister of Finance, Ali Hassan Khalil, on Tuesday said via his twitter account that he had refused the extension of Lebanon’s operating cell phone companies’ mandate. “Someone has ignorantly or deliberately spread a rumor saying that the Minister of Finance has inked a mandate extension decree for cell phone companies,” the Minister tweeted. “By the way, not only is this news fabricated and unfounded, but the entire idea of extension has been originally rejected by me,” he added.

Druze Sheikh meets UNIFIL Commander, hails force’s endeavors in south Lebanon
NNA/December 31/2019
Druze Sheikh, Naiim Hassan, on Tuesday welcomed United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major-General, Stefano Del Col, accompanied by UNIFIL spokesperson, Andrea Tenenti. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the general situation in Lebanon, especially in the Southern region and along the Blue Line. Sheikh Hassan had also briefed by Del Col on the most recent developments, especially with regard to a number of outstanding issues involving the border line and the tasks of the United Nations forces in this regard. In this context, Sheikh Hassan hailed UNIFIL’s efforts to maintain peace in south Lebanon.

Report: Political Parties Agree on Cabinet of 18 Portfolios
Naharnet/December 31/2019
Political parties have agreed on excluding former ministers from the new government, but according to leaked reports the new line-up is a “disguised” ministerial quota naming 18 non-partisan figures equally divided between Muslims and Christians, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday. According to the daily the government will be composed of: 9 Christian ministers: 4 Maronite, 3 Orthodox, one Catholic, one Armenian. Some of the names presented were Demianos Qattar (Maronite) and Wadih al-Absi (Orthodox). 9 Musim ministers: 4 Shiite, 4 Sunni, one Druze. The daily said that Shiite figures nominated are economic expert Ghazi Wazni who could be named as finance minister, Abdul Halim Fadlallah and Aliaa al-Moqdar. Names suggested for the Sunni quota are: Tarek Majzoub, Abdulrahman al-Bizri, Othman Sultan (Telecommunications ministry), retired brigadier Army general Basem Khaled, or retired Marine Brigadier Hosni Daher (to the Ministry of Interior). Ghassan al-Aridi is suggested to represent the Druze community.

Report: ‘Shiite Duo’ Agrees to Formation of Technocrat Govt.
Naharnet/December 31/2019
Hizbullah and the AMAL Movement have agreed with Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab on the formation of a purely technocrat government, sources close to Diab said. “The government will not comprise figures from the outgoing government,” the sources added in remarks to al-Jadeed TV.
“The government’s line-up has reached the stage of the final selection of some names and a large number of portfolios and candidates have been finalized,” the sources said. As for the representation of women, the sources said there will be five to seven female ministers. Three candidates are meanwhile being considered for the interior portfolio and it will likely go to a retired officer who hails from Akkar while the telecom portfolio will be allocated to a figure from Tripoli, the sources added. Revealing that Hizbullah and AMAL have agreed with Diab on “the principle of a technocrat government,” the sources said economic expert Ghazi Wazni has agreed to be named as finance minister while Ziad Baroud will be appointed justice minister and Demianos Qattar will be named foreign minister. “The PM-designate has met with all those nominated to become ministers and President Michel Aoun has largely cooperated with the PM-designate and he was positive and did not cling to any candidate,” the sources added. Noting that the government might be formed in the early days of 2020 pending the arrival of some would-be ministers from abroad, the sources said the issue of merging some portfolios is the last point that is being mulled.

A Bundle Of E/A Reports Addressing The Arrival Of Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn to Lebanon After Fleeing His Arrest In Japan.
Ghosn’s Escape Leaves Japan Red-Faced
Agence France Presse/Naharnet//Tuesday, 31 December 2019
How could one of the most high-profile and instantly recognisable tycoons on Earth escape Japan just months before his trial, when his bail conditions strictly forbade him from leaving the country? That’s the question being asked in Japan, where Carlos Ghosn’s abrupt departure and arrival in Lebanon is being seen as an embarrassing lapse in security. The 65-year-old, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese passports, had all three confiscated as part of his bail conditions as he prepared to defend himself against multiple charges of financial misconduct. One of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, confirmed to reporters that they still had them in their possession, confessing he was “dumbfounded” at the news of his client’s flight — which he heard about via the media. Public broadcaster NHK cited an anonymous source as saying the Immigration Services Agency had no record of a Carlos Ghosn leaving the country, and authorities were reviewing whether he left using another name. NHK also quoted a foreign ministry official as insisting: “He was not supposed to leave the country. Had we known about it beforehand, we would have reported that to proper law enforcement authorities.”
“If this development is true, it would be a matter between the legal authorities of the two countries,” the official added.
Taichiro Motoe, a lawmaker from Shinzo Abe’s ruling Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), said the news had come as a “shock” and called for “swift and effective” improvements. Another LDP lawmaker, Masahisa Sato, said: “If this is true, it was not ‘departing the country’, it was an illegal departure and an escape, and this itself is a crime. “Was there help extended by an unnamed country? It is also a serious problem that Japan’s system allowed an illegal departure so easily,” complained Sato, also a former state minister for foreign affairs. Although there is no extradition agreement between Japan and Lebanon, the two have diplomatic ties, with a deputy Japanese foreign minister visiting Beirut 10 days ago.
‘Political persecution’
It is also another blow for the reputation of Japan’s justice system, which came under widespread fire both at home and abroad during Ghosn’s detention for provisions that allow suspects to be held for long periods. Amnesty International has accused Japan’s justice system of creating an environment of “aggressive interrogations” that “risk producing forced confessions and false convictions”.Ghosn and his family had repeatedly attacked this “hostage justice system”, and he said in a statement released after his arrival in Lebanon that he was not fleeing justice but had “escaped injustice and political persecution”.
He has now vowed to give his side of the story, and Nobuo Gohara — a former elite prosecutor who now runs his own private practice — told AFP this could pose a problem for the prosecution, accused by Ghosn’s defence team of several illegal steps. “One thing is for sure. For prosecutors, this presents a significant and serious situation. Nissan must be afraid. Prosecutors are also afraid,” said Gohara, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the handling of the case. “The defence team have completely lost face. They promised he would stay in Japan as a condition of his bail,” added Gohara. The Lebanese government would be unlikely to extradite him even if there was a treaty between the two countries, Gohara said. One of the reasons authorities used to justify his lengthy detention was that he was a potential flight risk. At a hearing on January 8 to rule on his continued custody, presiding Judge Yuichi Tada said Ghosn was being detained because he was a flight risk and there was a possibility he would conceal evidence.The suspect has “bases in foreign countries” and may “escape”, Tada said. But Go Kondo, one of Ghosn’s lawyers at the time, countered: “There is no risk that he will run away. He’s CEO of French company Renault. He’s widely known so it’s difficult for him to escape.”

Ex-Nissan boss Ghosn flees to Lebanon, calls Japan’s justice system ‘rigged’
Reuters, Tokyo/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn confirmed he fled to Lebanon, saying he wouldn’t be “held hostage” by a “rigged” justice system and raising questions about how one of the world’s most-recognized executives escaped Japan months before his trial.
Ghosn’s abrupt departure marks the latest dramatic twist in a year-old saga that has shaken the global auto industry, jeopardized the alliance of Nissan Motor Co Ltd and top shareholder Renault SA and cast a harsh light on Japan’s judicial system. “I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied,” Ghosn, 65, said in a brief statement on Tuesday.
“I have not fled justice – I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.”Most immediately, it was unclear how Ghosn, who holds French, Brazilian and Lebanese citizenship, was able to orchestrate his departure from Japan, given that he had been under strict surveillance by authorities while out on bail and had surrendered his passports.
Japanese immigration authorities had no record of Ghosn leaving the country, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said. A person resembling Ghosn entered Beirut international airport under a different name after flying in aboard a private jet, NHK reported, citing an unidentified Lebanese security official. His lawyers were still in possession of his three passports, one of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters in comments broadcast live by NHK. Hironaka said the first he had heard of Ghosn’s departure was on the news this morning and that he was surprised. He also said it was “inexcusable behavior.”While Ghosn’s arrest on financial misconduct charges last year ensured his dramatic fall from grace in Japan, he retains more popularity in Lebanon, where billboards saying “We are all Carlos Ghosn” were erected in his support and he at one time featured on a postage stamp. Born in Brazil, Ghosn is of Lebanese ancestry and grew up in Beirut. He has retained close ties to the country. A spokeswoman for the Lebanese embassy in Tokyo said “we did not receive any information” on the matter. Calls to the Brazilian embassy went unanswered. A French embassy spokesman in Tokyo declined to comment.
Flight risk
Ghosn was arrested at a Tokyo airport shortly after his private jet touched down on November 19, 2018. He faces four charges – which he denies – including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East. Nissan sacked him as chairman saying internal investigations revealed misconduct ranging from understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest. The case cast a harsh light on Japan’s criminal justice system, which allows suspects to be detained for long periods and prohibits defense lawyers from being present during interrogations that can last eight hours a day. Tokyo officials say the system is not inhumane and that Ghosn has been treated like any other suspect. He was released from prison in March on a $9 million bail, among the highest-ever paid in Japan. His movement and communications have been monitored and restricted to prevent his fleeing the country and tampering with evidence, the Tokyo District court previously said.
House arrest
The Financial Times on Monday said Ghosn was no longer under house arrest. Citing an associate of Ghosn, the newspaper said the former executive landed at Beirut’s Rafic al-Hariri international airport late on Sunday. Ghosn traveled to Lebanon via Turkey, arriving on Monday, The Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. One unidentified person told the newspaper Ghosn did not believe he would get a fair trial in Japan and was “tired of being an industrial political hostage”.A person familiar with Nissan’s thinking told Reuters, “I think he gave up fighting the prosecutors in court.”Ghosn has said he is the victim of a boardroom coup, accusing former Nissan colleagues of “backstabbing” and describing them as selfish rivals bent on derailing closer ties between the Japanese automaker and its biggest shareholder Renault, of which Ghosn was also chairman. His lawyers have asked the court to dismiss all charges, accusing prosecutors of colluding with government officials and Nissan executives to oust him to block any takeover by Renault. Ghosn began his career in 1978 at tire maker Michelin. In 1996, he moved to Renault where he oversaw a turnaround that won him the nickname “Le Cost Killer.”After Renault sealed an alliance with Nissan in 1999, Ghosn used similar methods to revive the ailing brand, leading to business super-star status in Japan, blanket media coverage and even a manga comic book on his life.

Ghosn fled Japan in a musical instrument box: MTV
Matthew Amlôt, Al Arabiya English/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn fled Japan hidden inside a box intended to transfer musical instruments, according to Lebanese television station MTV. A band of musicians entered his home in Japan under the pretense that they would provide the entertainment during dinner. After leaving the party, Ghosn had hidden inside one of the musical instrument’s boxes before departing Japan via a local airport. MTV added that Ghosn had been in Lebanon for many hours before the news of his escape from Japan was made public. Japan’s ambassador to Lebanon was informed of his arrival in the country after being contacted by MTV, the station said. “I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied,” Ghosn said in a statement on Tuesday. “I have not fled justice – I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week,” he added. MTV also reported that Ghosn entered Lebanon “legally” on his French passport, and authorities saw no reason to prevent his entry, citing an official source. This contravenes statements made earlier on Tuesday by Ghosn’s lawyer that they were still in possession of his three passports as required by the terms of his bail. Junichiro Hironaka, Ghosn’s lawyer, added that his client’s actions were “inexcusable.”

French Official ‘Very Surprised’ after Ghosn Flees Japan
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December 31/2019
A senior official at France’s economy ministry on Tuesday said she was “very surprised” by the flight of former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn from Japan to Lebanon, emphasising he was not above the law. Ghosn said he had fled to Lebanon to escape injustice in Japan, where he was on bail awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges. “I am very surprised. I found out from the media yesterday (Monday) evening,” the state secretary at France’s economy and finance ministry Agnes Pannier-Runacher told France Inter radio. “As Mr Ghosn is a citizen like anyone else he is not above the law,” she added. “We need to understand exactly what happened,” said Pannier-Runacher, the number two at the ministry led by Bruno Le Maire. It was not clear how Ghosn managed to leave Japan, as his bail conditions prevented him from exiting the country where he had been held since his sudden arrest in November 2018 sent shockwaves through the business world.

Ghosn lawyers still in possession of his passports, lawyer says
Reuters, Tokyo/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Ousted Nissan Motor Co boss Carlos Ghosn’s three passports were held by his lawyers and he could not have used any of them to escape Japan, one of the lawyers told reporters on Tuesday, adding that his client’s actions were “inexcusable”. Junichiro Hironaka, speaking to reporters in comments broadcast live by Japan’s NHK, said his lawyers were holding his French, Brazilian and Lebanese passports, as required by the terms of his bail. Ghosn on Tuesday confirmed he fled to Lebanon, saying he wouldn’t be “held hostage” by a “rigged” justice system and raising questions about how one of the world’s most-recognized executives escaped Japan months before his trial.

Beirut says it doesn’t know how Nissan ex-boss Ghosn made it to Lebanon
Reuters, Beirut/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
The Lebanese government does not know how Nissan ex-boss Carlos Ghosn made it from Japan, where he was due to be tried for financial misconduct, to Lebanon, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Lebanon sent official correspondence on Ghosn to Japan a year ago without receiving a reply, and a full file was shared with Japan’s assistant foreign minister in Beirut a few days ago, the ministry statement said. It said Lebanon does not have a judicial cooperation agreement with Japan, but shared the information as part of a United Nations agreement on fighting corruption.

Nissan ex-boss Carlos Ghosn entered Lebanon legally: Security directorate
Reuters, Beirut/Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Nissan ex-boss Carlos Ghosn entered Lebanon legally and will not face any legal consequences, Lebanon’s General Directorate of General Security said on Tuesday, according to the state news agency NNA. Ghosn arrived in Beirut on Monday after slipping out of Japan months before a high-profile trial for financial misconduct, which he said was part of a “rigged” system that had held him hostage. Ghosn denies the charges.

Lebanon in 2020: How Will Hezbollah Deal with the Challenges?
حنين غدار/لبنان في العام 2020 : هل سيتعامل  حزب الله مع التحديات
Hanin Ghaddar/Al Arabiya/December 31/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/81905/%d8%ad%d9%86%d9%8a%d9%86-%d8%ba%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%a7%d9%85-2020-%d9%87%d9%84-%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%aa%d8%b9%d8%a7%d9%85%d9%84-%d8%ad/
Almost three months into the popular uprising in Lebanon, all eyes are now on the recently nominated Prime Minister Hassan Diab – who was chosen by Lebanese Hezbollah – and the main question seem to be whether he is capable of forming a new government or not. The political scene is busy with behind the door consultations and meetings to make sure an agreement between concerned political parties is reached. However, for both the street and the international community, this is all pointless. Whether Diab succeeds in forming a government or not, the main problem – that is the near economic collapse and bankruptcy of the state – will not be resolved anytime soon.
The main reason for the absence of any positive resolution is the fact Diab – or any other prime minister that the current authorities would chose – is not going to gain the trust of the streets or the international community. Without that trust, Lebanon will not be able to receive the financial bailout needed to save it from collapse.
In early 2020, it will become clearer that Lebanon is headed to become a failed state, with all what this entails in terms of financial disasters, humanitarian catastrophes and security threats. This seems the only conceivable path forward; therefore, it is not naïve to ask the question: don’t the people in power understand the implications of holding on to power?
The people in power are many, including all sectarian leaders, Speaker of the House Nabih Berri, President Michel Aoun, and his son-in-law Gebran Bassil – all Hezbollah allies, which says a lot about who is really the authority in Lebanon today. Back in 2018, when Hezbollah celebrated its victory in the parliamentary elections, and moved ahead with a Hezbollah-majority government, its Iranian sponsors probably did not fathom that this victory will entail such challenges.
For Iran and Hezbollah today, no matter what they do, they will have to compromise or lose. If they let go of their power and allow a capable and credible government to take over, they will lose their valued access to state institutions. If they hold on to power – as it seems they are doing with Diab – they will have to deal with the economic challenges that will cost them whatever popular support they have left, or privileges within the state that they enjoy.
What Hezbollah hasn’t realized yet is that the revolution – although it hasn’t toppled anything besides the former government – has achieved two main goals: one, the realization of a vibrant non-sectarian popular rhetoric that will no longer accept the sectarian system that has been dominating for the past hundred years, and two, exposure of Hezbollah’s failure at governing.
For three decades, Hezbollah has attained power in Lebanon by protecting sectarian leaders and making deals with corrupt politicians. What Hezbollah forgot to do is come up with a socio-economic vision for Lebanon beyond the military strategies and power games. Hezbollah failed and the Lebanese people – including the Shia community – today understand this. With the economic difficulties and international pressure, food on the table is becoming more important than fighting Israel or occupying Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Hezbollah will be challenged with these shifting priorities.
So how is Hezbollah going to deal with these challenges in 2020?
On the short term, Hezbollah only wants to move forward with a new government – whether under Diab or Hariri in case Diab failed – and see how the international community reacts. Hezbollah hopes that the international community will be more concerned with instability in Lebanon and will rush to financially aid whatever government is formed.
On the long-term, Hezbollah hopes that the Democratic Party in the US will win the presidential elections in 2020 and sanctions on Iran will be eased. That way, money will flood back to Hezbollah, and its own financial crisis, that is costing the party support and resources to manage the crisis, will not be a problem.
However, in the improbable scenario that these two wishes were granted, Hezbollah will still have to deal with the fact that the Lebanese people are no longer buying the resistance rhetoric. Therefore, even if Hezbollah manages to miraculously recover from the economic and international challenges, the Lebanese no longer trust the party and its corrupt allies. Hezbollah cannot win the next parliamentary elections, form a government, or maintain access to state institutions, without its allies.
As all eyes are today on the current process of government formation, the Lebanese people and the international community need to stress the parliamentary elections in order for Lebanon to move to the next phase. Calling for early elections – based on a non-sectarian and modern electoral law – should be the principal demand in 2020. This is the only way to translate the street’s rhetoric into a new representative parliament, which will produce a new credible government and president.
*Hanin Ghaddar is the inaugural Friedmann Visiting Fellow at The Washington Institute’s Geduld Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. She tweets @haningdr.

Why are we on the edge of an irreversible financial meltdown??
Roger Bejjani/Face Book/December 31/2019
The combined signs of such a meltdown are:
1. A national debt exceeding 155% of our GDP (3rd country worldwide after Japan and Greece).
2. A dramatically negative balance of payment during the past 9 years (outflow of hard currency exceeding by 10 folds the in-flow).
3. Shrinking foreign currency reserves of the BDL exposing Lebanon to a possible default of payment (not yet happened contrary to Greece).
4. Adverse rating by international rating agencies.
5. Lack of confidence in Lebanon’s potential.
6. Rush of depositors to Banks asking for their savings.
7. No clear business model for Lebanon.
Who’s responsible?
The USD 85 billions national debt was accumulated since the early 90’ due to 3 main items of expenditures:
1. The post war(s) Electricity reconstruction and chronic deficit due to (i) unpaid bills by some Lebanese; (ii) a production cost exceeding per kilowatt the billing cost to the end user; (iii) subsidized to industries.
In 1994 Rafic Hariri has started suggesting that the only way out from this abyss was to fully or partially privatize EDL. By doing so getting rid of USD 2 billion deficits a year financed by the national budget. A mafia of corrupt people headed by the Syrians objected Hariri’s move towards privatizing EDL on the base of socialistic and nationalistic idiotic arguments. Jomblat, Berri and the communists of course fiercely opposed it. Siniora, Finance Minister at that time has dared raising some questions to Elie Hobeika Minister of Energy at that time; As a response Sinora’s questions the latter was slapped by Hobeika in the cabinet of Ministers. That was the prevailing ambiance. 3 or 4 persons/parties including Ghazi Kanaan were benefiting from the fuel oil import trade and any full or partial privatization would have deprived them from this regular income. Not only Rafic Hariri’s plan never saw the light of the day, but Electricity started to get rationed again and Lebanese were paying a double cost (EDL and private generators). This has been dragging for the past 27 years.
The EDL deficit represents (including interest) about USD 50 billion out of the USD 85 billion national debt (70.5%).
2. Funds paid to squatters/”refugees”
An open extortion was orchestrated by mainly 2 political parties to pressure their constituencies to vacate the occupied squats in Beirut and in the Mountain. Indemnities have reached billions in USD throughout the years.
3. Political employment in the public sector
It is estimated that the number of unnecessary state paid employees is around 30,000 (including public schools teachers). Those employments were imposed on Hariri mainly by Berri and later by the Aounists. The cost of such unnecessary politically driven employment is in the range of USD 600 million a year.
Those 3 items have initiated the public debt (nearly non existent in the early 90’) which has snow balled since.
The state apparatus and administration was suffering from other endemic corruptions; however, it was business as usual and the rest of the corruption and mismanagement have not been the cause of the gigantic public debt. A dependent Justice was complicit to the corruption and mismanagement.
The only 3 ways known to mankind in coping with national debts and budget deficits are:
a. Issuing of treasury bonds (it was done mostly locally and debt was financed until today in its greatest majority by local banks. Our external debt remaining trivial as at 2019).
b. Raise taxes. Siniora and his team have introduced the modern revenue and profit tax system as well the VAT system. That is why Siniora is hated that much.
c. Grow the economy. The question of Hanoi or Hong Kong was politically raised. The economy could only grow in a Hong Kong like Lebanon; which was not convenient to Syria/Iran/Hezbollah.
Some have argued that Riad Salameh (BDL governor) and the local Banks should have stopped financing the government. Easy to say in retrospect. Hariri and Salameh were trapped in the system. They needed buying time while working on peace with Israel and calling on International support to getting rid of the Syrians and Hezbollah (1559)…The only other choice for them was to resign and leave the boat sinking even faster.
The BDL governor has repeatedly warned the State (its main debtor) of the spiraling deficits and public debt. This is the limit of his prerogatives. He was compelled to either continue financing the deficit or resign. In case of resignation a more docile governor would have been appointed by Lahoud. Moreover, with a positive balance of payment at that time, the situation was still manageable and Salameh could still safely navigate and control the situation until 2010.
Unfortunately the darkest business scenario has unfolded on Lebanon and the Lebanese since the assassination of Rafic Hariri by Hezbollah in 2005.
In the aftermath of the seismic effect of Rafic Hariri’s assassination, Fouad Siniora took over as PM and has masterfully managed the finances of the country until 2009 despite and through (i) the devastating 2006 war started by Hezbollah with Israel, (ii) a 2 years sit-in organized by Hezbollah and its vassals down town Beirut (iii) Nahr el Bared; (iv) a wave of political assassinations and assassination attempts; (v) the resignation of the Shi’a ministers; (vi) the tricky STL following the Der Speigel incrimination of Hezbollah in Rafic Hariri’s assassination. Despite all odds, Siniora has succeeded maintaining a very positive balance of payment, thus assisting Riad Salameh indirectly in maintaining the stability of the local currency and Lebanon’s rating (all our civil servants and armed forces being paid in LBP, the pegging of the USD to LBP has been a unanimous political decision shared by all parties).
Fouad Siniora and the 14 March political conglomerate were still trusted by the Gulf countries and the West. Money was still flowing in Lebanon.
The downfall started with the 2008 7th of May when Hezbollah has militarily subdued the Sunni and Druze Lebanese, thus leading to the breaking-up of 14 March’s will and resolve starting with the defection of Walid Jomblat. The following Doha conference secured a blocking minority to Hezbollah in the first Saad Hariri’s led government (which they did not have under Siniora’s government). The taking over operation by Hezbollah had started.
For the West and the Gulf States, the traditional friends of Lebanon, the latter was being taken over by a terrorist organization; a fierce enemy of the Arabs and the West.
Saad Harri has however succeeded in a first phase in minimizing Hezbollah’s involvement and has succeeded with France’s help and Obama’s discussions with Iran in neutralizing the Hezbollah negative perception abroad. Saad was convinced that he needed saving the boat and after 2008 7th of May he could not move without Hezbollah’s approval.
In 2011, the Syrian uprising was ignited and the Lebanese Canadian Bank was written off by the US treasury, the US DEA and other US agencies on the base of Drugs and other illicit activities money laundering charges for the account of Hezbollah.
2011 was a pivotal year that has brought all the miseries in the blackest possible scenario.
Saad Hariri was ousted by the blocking minority and a docile Mikati and a Hezbollah controlled government was brought in. Hezbollah sided with Assad against the Gulf Countries, Turkey and the West in a long and dirty Syrian war that has generated 9 million refugees knocking on neighboring countries and on Europeans doorsteps and involving billions in cost. The Syrian war has caused a hyperinflation in Turkey that has caused dramatic losses to Bank Audi (the leading Lebanese Bank) while in parallel a similar scenario in Egypt had caused Bank Audi losses as well.
The worst part was the 2 eloquent indicators: (i) our 10% growth rate during the Siniora government (2005 to 2008) has become nearly equal to 0% and (ii) a never experienced before negative balance of payment with a widening gap. In other terms way more money was leaving the country than the money coming in. Investments, bank deposits and Arab tourism (our main in-flow) have frozen due to Hezbollah taking-over of the country. It would be idiotic and futile to think that Lebanon could fill the gap of the balance of payment through exports of products manufactured in Lebanon (using imported raw material and raining our costly energy supply).
Trump taking over in 2016 has stiffened further the US administration towards Iran and its proxies and the sanctions war proved more efficient than military wars.
In 2016/2017 the BDL has thought a plan that could save the leading Lebanese Bank (Audi) while stimulating the money in-flow hence comforting our balance of payment. It came up (engineered) a sexy financial offering to Audi provided the latter brings in fresh money in the form of deposits from abroad. Salameh wanted to buy time until (i) Cedre (an international financial bailing out plan) is implemented; (ii) the oil and gas are put on track; (iii) EDL’s deficit is solved; (iv) reforms are voted and implemented; (v) Privatization of the GSM industry and EDL are organized.
Of course, he could have decided letting Audi (the leading Lebanese bank) sink and don’t get any badly needed fresh deposits. In such a case, the meltdown would have started much earlier than 2019. He took a decision and it was risky one.
Unfortunately other Banks wanted to benefit from Salameh’s engineering especially tailored for Bank Audi. Of course everyone in Lebanon wanted a piece of the cake.
In the middle of this financial wizard of Oz scenario, the moronic Lebanese politicians (ministers and parliament) have elected Aoun (a Hezbollah vassal) President and have voted 2 dangerous and fatal laws: (i) the electoral law that will on paper secure a Hezbollah parliamentarian majority; (ii) the civil servants’ salaries’ scale increase adding a huge deficit on a 0% growth economy.
Things have started smelling bad when after about 2 years the government was (i) unable to find a solution for EDL; (ii) implement serious reforms; (iii) put the oil and gas potential on a promising and trustworthy track; (iv) Postponement of Cedre. Salameh’s risky engineering have started looking even more risky in the absence of an efficient and decisive governmental action. Salameh’s main capital left was public confidence. And this confidence has started eroding.
But what could he do? Some would say: He should have resigned long time ago. Those are stupid because a more docile stooge would have replaced him (named by Hezbollah) and the meltdown would have started even earlier.
Everyone including the Lebanese people was trapped in Hezbollah’s and the Aounsits’ net.
The Jammal Trust Bank banning by the US treasury based on Hezbollah money laundering charges end of August 2019 and certain fake news suggesting that 10 other Banks were being looked at by the US treasury, has created a popular panic that led Lebanese to go to Banks withdrawing cash in USD or in LBP and then running to the nearest exchange office buying USD bank notes and storing all at home. An estimated USD 2 billions is stored in homes. In 2 months time, the cash withdrawals in both LBP and USD have equaled what is usually withdrawn in cash during 2 years. This has caused the scarcity of circulating bank notes.
It was clear that with the increasing gap in the balance of payment, the US sanctions, the 0% growth economy, the decreasing BDL reserves in foreign currency, the mediocrity of the government…and last but not least the adverse ratings by Moody and S&P, a recovery solution was seriously compromised and the last Salemeh’s asset “confidence” has been consumed nearly totally.
The up-rise of October 17 was perfectly understandable. It could have helped reverse the steam if this up-rise has not proven to be as mediocre and idiotic as the government. The up-rise primadonas have failed exploiting the genuine popular anger in leveraging a serious political agenda that could save us from the mouth of the dragon. Instead, they seemed very pleased with their none-sense PR stunts and actions and were enjoying the talk shows. They accused widely and never worked on a salvage platform. Fake news took over and since most of the people are imbeciles, fake-news always wins.
Instead of saving Lebanon, the up-rise has hastened its decomposition.
For me the responsible parties of the collapse are:
1. The Assad regime.
2. All Syrian allies in the 90’ including Jomblat at that time.
3. The Aounists.
4. Hezbollah.
5. The Lebanese who voted for the above.
Rafic Hariri, Siniora and Salameh were résistants trapped with no way out except death.
Saad Hariri proved not up to the game level required.
Samir Geagea gave in as well by promoting Aoun.
Regarding the BDL and the Banks, Lebanese have to understand few things (evidently they will not):
1. Banks and BDL were trapped by the political system. The various governments, the Syrians and later Hezbollah were in charge of all the political and budget decisions that have brought us to this situation. Banks cannot practically not lend the government.
2. If we really want rebuilding the country, we need to preserve the 2 imperfect but necessary pillars left: The Banks and the Armed Forces (including the police). In case of a total monetary collapse, the Armed forces will collapse as well. They are linked.
3. Try adapting to the necessary and unavoidable banking restrictions and stop telling none sense stories on the social media.
4. Stop sharing fake news that only idiots may believe.

Lebanese demonstrators create art for a better future
Nada Richa/Annahar/December 31/2019
Creative works capture the anger, frustration, and hope of a revolution, but are they truly a catalyst for social change?
BEIRUT: Recent years have seen a massive surge in unprecedented protests across the world, be it for political, social, economic or ecological reasons. Related protest art has become a powerful and international tool to support anti-government protests and to advocate for a vast array of human rights.
Amid widespread demonstrations across Lebanon, artists, activists, and social movements are expressing their opposition to the government and responding to the deteriorating political and economic issues through a wide range of artistic contributions.
Protest art – whether as visual artworks, posters, photographs, street art, music or street performances – has a strong presence online and in the demonstrations taking place in different Lebanese areas. The artistic contributions record the protests’ major moments, capturing the anger, frustration, and hope of the revolution.
In this context, social media is playing a crucial role by creating an alternative space for people to engage in the protests, through acts like spreading slogans, photographs, and artworks, leading to a memorable virtual revolution supporting the demonstrations.
Protest art has played an important role throughout history. However, opinions remain divided on whether art is a catalyst for social change, as it is sometimes referred to as “media stunts”, aiming to get media attention rather than translating to action worthy of notice.
A recent study by Birmingham University focused on the 2015 Beirut trash protests’ performative and emotive acts, such as hunger strikes, street art, slogans, cartoons, music, storming the environment ministry, and blogs. According to the research’s interviews on the understanding of “social change”, there was a significant emphasis on social change as a process as opposed to outcome, and a holistic embodied lived experience of acting. The importance of changing attitudes and behaviors at the individual level was also highlighted while acknowledging the integrated nature of social change with changes at the macro-level, such as changes in the law and political changes.
The interviewees, which included activists, members of human rights NGOs, artists and members of trash movement protests, described the performative and emotive acts taking place during Beirut’s trash protests as a commitment to an ongoing process, rather than expecting an immediate “result”.
These performative and emotive acts make people inclusive, where they feel their voice and opinion matter regardless of the sectarianism and political barriers existing in a diversified country like Lebanon. They also create new knowledge, enable silenced voices to be heard and shed light on important topics and social injustices invisible to the corrupted government.
Each revolution has a unique impact and outcomes, although both the 2015 Beirut trash protest and the ongoing protest began as a reaction to particular events, be it the waste crisis or the planned taxes on online calls, tobacco, and gasoline. Both revolutions also express the people’s hopelessness with political corruption, business interests and the cost of living. Besides, the performative acts and the artistic contributions that happened in both revolutions reflect a commitment to an ongoing process hoping for a better future, as opposed to expecting immediate results.
Where the arts thrive, freedom of expression thrives. The protest art we are witnessing is raising the voice of the marginalized and drawing attention to important issues long neglected by the Lebanese government. Regardless of the revolution’s political and economic outcomes, the Lebanese people’s solidarity and artistic contributions are new contributions to the artistic and revolutionary expression to the history of Lebanon.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For January 01/2020 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 76th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

كل سنة وأنتم بخير
هلموا نرسم طرق الحياة ومسالك العمل المجدي، فننتظم بقوة الأيمان بالمواطنية وبالمسؤولية في ملاحقة انفسنا أولا، ومن ثم كل من حولنا

الكولونيل شربل بركات/01 كانون الثاني/2020

تعود السنة في دورتها لتتجدد وتتحفنا بما تحمل من آمال وتمنيات. وهي في تجددها تبقي لنا نعمة الشوق للأفضل، والتوق للتقدم، والحلم بالآتي، الذي يزيّن ايامنا فرحا ونشاطا، لا بل طاقة تحفّز على مزيد من الانتاجية التي تجمّل ايامنا، وتكسر المعتاد، لتطلق العنان للأبداع المتأصل في جيناتنا الطبيعية.

تعود السنة لتجعلنا نجري جردة حساب عما قمنا به؛ فنتعظ من نتائج الكسل والاتكالية، ونفرح بحصاد العمل والاصرار لتجديد العزم. فنحن من يعرف دواخلنا ومن يمسك بالقرار ولا بد لذلك القرار بالاقدام، أن يتشح بالطموح والرؤية، لكي يغسل أوساخ الخمول والخوف، ويتعرى من أوحال الحسد والأنانية، ليجعل النفس صالحة للمضي في ركب الخلق المستمر حيث نشكل جزء صغيرا يضيف كل يوم إلى الكون حلولا من تجاربنا تحسّن وجهه.

في لبناننا الذي نحب جرف حب الذات والتعلق بالأرضيات كثيرا من قيمنا، فتساهل قادة الراي مع الفاسدين، وعمموا رؤيتهم للنجاح، المستند على مد اليد في كل اتجاه، أكان في المسؤولية أو في التملك، وفي شرف التعاطي بالقيم والمفاهيم. ليصبح كل شيء مسموح إذا ما تجمّل بالطلاء أو الحقن. فحقنت المفاهيم بالاتكالية، وطليت السرقة بأشكل من النجاح، وأهتم الكل بالمظاهر الكاذبة، حتى مات الضمير وهو صوت الله فينا. فكيف لنا أن نستقيم، وكيف للجماعة أن تستمر، وللوطن أن يبقى، بدون ذلك الصوت الذي يقينا من الوقوع في التهلكة؟..

من هنا كان لبنان الوطن الذي صنعته أيدي أبنائه بالجهد ينزف بصمت قاتل، وتستباح ثرواته في غياب من ينبه. فالمنظورون استهونوا السرقة، وحراس الهيكل أوصدوا أبواب القيم التي وصلتهم من السلف، وتاهوا كما البقية، في بحر التلذذ بالسهل والانغماس بملذاته.

وعندما استفاقوا على الوضع المتردي، وكأنهم في حفلة فلكلورية، أعتقدوا بأنهم سيحلون المشاكل، ويتجاوزون الخراب، بتغيير بسيط في الجالسين على الكراسي. ولم يعلموا أن التغيير يبدأ في يومياتهم، وأن الحاجات التي اصطنعوها واستدانوا ليقضوها كبلتهم حتى الاستعباد، وأن الدائنين لا يرحمون، وأن البناء الذي ورثوه ينهار رويدا.

هل يكون نظامنا قد شاخ، وهو الذي يحتفل بمئويته هذا العام؟ أم أن التغيير الذي جربوا إضافته أثناء الحرب لم يكن على قدر من الرؤية ليستوعب المتغييرات، ويضبط الادارة المستحدثة، والتي اعتقد بعض من مارسها بأنها فرصة على الصعيد الشخصي لارضاء الأنا، معتقدا بأنه وحده يسكن هذا الوطن وأنه سينتهي يوم يشيخ هو، فلا مستقبل من دونه ولا أمل للأجيال…

وحتى الثورة التي حاولت التغيير لم تستوعب بعد أهمية وعمق الأزمة. لأن الناس سطحيون بالعادة، ويحبون الحلول السريعة، ويعتقدون بأن تغيير أسم هنا ومنصب هناك سيحل مشاكلهم، وهم لم يتجرأوا بعد على مساءلة أنفسهم؛ ماذا عملوا لبناء الوطن؟

وكيف تركوا مسؤولياتهم وعائلاتهم تبنى من دون شعور بالواجب؟ فأولادهم تربوا سرلنكيين وأثيوبيين وهنود وغيره… والبيت قام على نظام جديد برؤوس متعددة وبدون مسؤولية. فإذا لم نعرف المسؤولية في بناء عائلة صغيرة كيف لنا أن نعرفها في بناء وطن ودولة؟

إن التخفي خلف فكرة الجيل الجديد الذي يفهم الأمور أكثر من سابقيه ليست بالفكرة الصائبة دوما.

فصحيح كما يقول جبران “أولادكم ليسوا لكم… أولادكم أبناء الحياة والحياة لا تقيم في منازل الأمس” ولكن ماذا علمناهم وكيف دربناهم على تحمل المسؤولية؟

أوليس الهروب من المشاكل هو الحل الوحيد الذي نمارسه ونعلمه لهم؟ وماذا نتوقع غير أن يجمعوا أمتعتهم عند أول مخاض ويرحلوا إلى أي مكان يستسهلون العيش فيه؟..

هذا العرض واقعي ولكنه ليس من أجل أن نتشاءم ونعتقد باستحالة التغيير نحو الأفضل. أنه حث على النقد الذاتي، وشحذ للمواهب الكامنة، ودفع إلى اتخاذ قرار العناد والمواجهة، مع الذات أولا، ومن ثم مع الآخرين.

لنقف صفا واحدا يحاول الرجوع عن الخطأ؛ فاذا كان الاعتراف بالخطأ فضيلة فكيف إذا كان اعترافا، ومن ثم رؤية أوضح، وتصميما على التجذر في الأرض، ومواجهة المصاعب، وبناء المستقبل لنا وللأجيال القادمة.

فهلموا نرسم طرق الحياة ومسالك العمل المجدي، فننتظم بقوة الأيمان بالمواطنية وبالمسؤولية في ملاحقة انفسنا أولا، ومن ثم كل من حولنا.

لنقوم صفا واحدا نبني معا وطنا سيقوم من رماده، كما فعلها من قبل.

فهو، كطائر الفينيق، يحترق ليعود من الرماد يبني صرحا جديدا ويحلق عاليا بدون خوف.

فلتكن هذه السنة سنة الخير، وسنة البناء، وسنة نضع فيها أيدينا بأيدي بعض، ونفتش عن الحلول الملائمة، ونرسم خطط المستقبل التي تصلح لنا ولوطننا فيعم السلام والانتاج ويزهر من جديد، وطن الأرز شامخا بين الأمم، عظيما كتاريخه المجيد، مقداما كأبنائه البررة.

وليسقط الفاسدون في الفكر والعمل، وليسكن الطموح وجداننا، طموح البناة المنزرعين في هذه الأرض الطيبة، والمنتشرين بين الأمم نورا واشعاعا، ينشرون تجربة فذة ونجاحا مستمرا، لا هربا وخوفا ويأسا لا تفيد أحد لا بل تبعد الناس عن حاملها…

كل عام وأنتم بخير فليكن عام 2020 عام النهوض والقيامة
عام السلام والتكاتف عام النهضة والحلم…
كل عام وأنتم بخير…

The post الكولونيل شربل بركات: كل سنة وأنتم بخير…هلموا نرسم طرق الحياة ومسالك العمل المجدي، فننتظم بقوة الأيمان بالمواطنية وبالمسؤولية في ملاحقة انفسنا أولا، ومن ثم كل من حولنا appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

تَقدِيْمُ يَسُوعَ فِي الهَيكَل
انجيل القديس لوقا 02/من22حتى33
وَعِندَما حانَ وَقتُ التَّطْهيرِحَسَبَ شَرِيْعَةِ مُوسَى، أخَذا يَسُوعَ إلَى مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ لِكَي يُقَدِّماهُ لِلرَّبِّ وَفْقاً لِما هُوَ مَكتُوبٌ فِي شَرِيْعَةِ الرَّبِّ: «يَنبَغِي أنْ يُخَصَّصَ كُلُّ ذَكَرٍ بِكرٍ لِلرَّبِّ.» وَذَهَبا لِيُقَدِّما ذَبِيحَةً حَسَبَ ما تَقُولُهُ شَرِيْعَةُ الرَّبِّ: «قَدِّمُوا يَمامَتَينِ أوْ حَمامَتَينِ صَغِيرَتَينِ.»
سِمعانُ يَرَى يَسُوع
وَكانَ فِي مَدينَةِ القُدْسِ رَجُلٌ اسْمُهُ سِمعانُ. وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ بارٌّ تَقِيٌّ يَنتَظِرُ وَقتَ تَعزِيَةِ اللهِ لِبَنِي إسْرائِيلَ. وَالرُّوحُ القُدُسُ كانَ عَلَيهِ. وَقَدْ أعلَنَ لَهُ الرُّوحُ القُدُسُ أنَّهُ لَنْ يَمُوتَ قَبلَ أنْ يَرَى ذاكَ الَّذِي مَسَحَهُ الرَّبُّ. فَقادَهُ الرُّوحُ إلَى ساحَةِ الهَيكَلِ. وَعِندَما أدخَلَ الأبَوانِ الطِّفلَ يَسُوعَ لِيُتَمِّما ما تَنُصُّ عَليهِ الشَّرِيعَةُ، أخَذَهُ سِمعانُ بَينَ ذِراعَيْهِ، وَسَبَّحَ اللهَ وَقالَ:
«وَالآنَ يا رَبُّ، أطلِقْنِيْ أنا عَبدَكَ
فَأموتَ بِسَلامٍ كَما وَعَدْتَ.
فَقَدْ رَأتْ عَينايَ خَلاصَكَ
الَّذِي هَيَّأْتَهُ أمامَ جَمِيعِ الشُّعُوبِ.
هُوَ نُورٌ لإعلانِ طَرِيْقِكَ لِلأُمَمِ،
وَهُوَ مَجدٌ لِشَعبِكَ بَنيْ إسْرائِيلَ.»
وَدُهِشَ أبُوهُ وَأُمُّهُ مِنَ الكَلِماتِ الَّتِي قِيلَتْ فِيهِ. ثُمَّ بارَكَهُما سِمعانُ، وَقالَ لِمَريَمَ أُمِّ يَسُوعَ: «جُعِلَ هَذا الطِّفلُ لِيُسقِطَ وَلِيُقِيْمَ كَثِيْرِيْنَ فِي بَنيْ إسرائِيلَ، وَلِيَكونَ بُرْهاناً ضِدَّ المُقاوِمِينَ! وَسَتُكشَفُ أفكارُ قُلُوبٍ كَثِيرَةً. أمّا أنتِ يا مَريَمُ، فَسَيَختَرِقُ نَفسَكِ أيضاً سَيفٌ بِسَبَبِ ما سَيَحدُثُ.»

Circumcision of Jesus
Luke 02/21-32
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

The post تَقدِيْمُ يَسُوعَ فِي الهَيكَل/Circumcision of Jesus appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Europe: Anti-Christian Attacks Reach All-Time High in 2019
سورين كرّين/معهد كايتستون: العداء ضد المسيحيين في أوروبا تصاعد بشكل كبير خلال العام 2019
Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/January 01/2020

The issue of anti-Christian vandalism was rarely reported by the European media until February 2019, when vandals attacked nine churches within the space of two weeks. The issue made headlines again in April 2019, when a suspicious fire gutted the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Since then, however, the European media are once again shrouding facts in silence.

“Seeking to destroy or damage Christian buildings is a way of ‘wiping the slate clean’ of the past.” — Annie Genevard, MP, Republicans Party, in an interview in Le Figaro, April 2, 2019.

“In the past, even if one was not a Christian, the expression of the sacred was respected. We are facing a serious threat to the expression of religious freedom. Secularism must not be a rejection of the religious, but a principle of neutrality that gives everyone the freedom to express his faith.” — Dominique Rey, Bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, in an interview with the Italian magazine Il Timone, August 5, 2019.

“We are witnessing the convergence of laicism — conceived as secularism, which relegates the faithful only to the private sphere and where every religious denomination is banal or stigmatized — with the overwhelming emergence of Islam, which attacks the infidels and those who reject the Koran. On one hand, we are mocked by the media … and on the other, there is the strengthening of Islamic fundamentalism. These are two joint realities.” — Dominique Rey, Bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, in an interview with the Italian magazine Il Timone, August 5, 2019.

Anti-Christian hostility is sweeping across Western Europe, where, during 2019, Christian churches and symbols were deliberately attacked day after day. The issue made headlines in April 2019, when a suspicious fire gutted the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (pictured). Since then, however, the European media are once again shrouding facts in silence. (Photo by Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images)

Anti-Christian hostility is sweeping across Western Europe, where, during 2019, Christian churches and symbols were deliberately attacked day after day.

Gatestone Institute reviewed thousands of newspaper reports, police blotters, parliamentary inquiries, social media posts and specialized blogs from Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain. The research shows (see appendices below) that roughly 3,000 Christian churches, schools, cemeteries and monuments were vandalized, looted or defaced in Europe during 2019 — which is on track to becoming a record year for anti-Christian sacrilege on the continent.

Violence against Christian sites is most widespread in France, where churches, schools, cemeteries and monuments are being vandalized, desecrated and burned at an average rate of three per day, according to government statistics. In Germany, attacks against Christian churches are occurring at an average rate of two per day, according to police blotters.

Attacks on Christian churches and symbols are also commonplace in Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and Spain. The attacks overwhelmingly involve Roman Catholic sites and symbols, although in Germany, Protestant churches are also being targeted.

The perpetrators of anti-Christian attacks — which include acts of arson, defecation, desecration, looting, mockery, profanation, Satanism, theft, urination and vandalism — are rarely caught. When they are, police and media often censor information about their identities and ethnic backgrounds. Many suspects are said to have mental disorders; as a result, many anti-Christian attacks are not categorized as hate crimes.

In France and Germany, the spike in anti-Christian attacks dovetails with the recent mass immigration from the Muslim world. The lack of official statistics on perpetrators and motives makes it impossible to know precisely how many attacks can be attributed to Muslim anti-Christianism or the jihadist cause.

In Spain, by contrast, attacks against churches and crosses are overwhelmingly carried out by anarchists, radical feminists and other far-left activists, who appear to be striving for Christianity to be permanently removed from the public square.

The motives behind the anti-Christian attacks, which are often met with public indifference, seem to fall into four broad categories:

Vandalism. Most attacks against Christian sites in Europe consist of acts of vandalism. These often lack explicit anti-Christian intent, but cross over into profanation and desecration when they target objects and symbols sacred to Christians. From a strictly legal perspective, such crimes are difficult to prosecute as hate crimes: according to the laws of most European countries, prosecutors must prove that the vandalism was specifically motivated by an animosity toward Christians or Christianity.

Theft. Many attacks have financial motives. In France, Germany and elsewhere, thieves have stolen church bells, sacred metal objects and even drain pipes, apparently with the aim of selling those items to scrap dealers. In Britain, nearly half of all churches on the National Historical List for England have been ransacked. Many of the crimes are being attributed to highly organized gangs which use drones, online maps and global positioning systems first to identify their targets through aerial footage and then plot their own escape routes. The plunder is dominated by thefts of metal, with entire roofs being removed from historic places of worship, according to the heritage agency, Historic England.

Politics. Some attacks, especially those against Roman Catholicism, which some radical feminists and radical secularists perceive to be a symbol of patriarchal power and authority, are political in nature. Such attacks include defacing churches and religious symbols with political graffiti, much of it anarchist or feminist in nature. In Geneva, Switzerland, for instance, the iconic International Monument to the Protestant Reformation, also known as the Reformation Wall, was vandalized with multi-colored paint forming a rainbow, a symbol of the LGBT groups.

Religion. Many attacks that appear to be religious or spiritual in nature reflect a deep-seated hostility toward Christianity. Such attacks include smearing feces on representations of Jesus Christ or statues of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Other attacks involve the defilement or theft of Communion wafers, which Roman Catholics believe are transformed into the real presence of Christ when consecrated. Some of these attacks may be the work of Satanists, who use the consecrated host in a ritual called the Black Mass.

Such attacks, especially on the essence of Roman Catholic beliefs, appear to be aimed at intimidating or harassing Catholics or preventing them from practicing their faith. These attacks, which do meet the definition of hate crimes, pose a direct threat to the freedom of religion in Europe, but prosecutions are rare.

Writing for the Spanish newspaper ABC, Juan Pedro Quiñonero, its Paris correspondent for more than 35 years, explained:

“The desecrations have an evident anti-Christian character. Drunk with fierce hatred, the vandals want to give their actions a clear anti-religious dimension. In recent months, anti-Semitic gangs have desecrated Jewish cemeteries, ‘signing’ their actions with swastikas. In the case of the desecration of Catholic churches, vandalism is not ‘signed.’ It speaks for itself: heinous mockeries of the figure of Christ on the cross and the desecration of high altars.”

European media outlets, which often amplify attacks on Muslims, have tended to downplay malicious acts against Christians. The issue of anti-Christian vandalism was rarely reported by the European media until February 2019, when vandals attacked nine churches within the space of two weeks. The issue made headlines again in April 2019, when a suspicious fire gutted the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Since then, however, the European media are once again shrouding facts in silence.

The French newspaper Le Monde has disputed the government’s use of the term “anti-Christian acts” and warned politicians not to “instrumentalize” the issue:

“More than a thousand acts a year, an average of three per day: the number is high, but what does it cover? Can we really speak of ‘profanations’ — a strong term — which implies an attack on the sacredness of a place of worship?

“Ideological motivations are in the minority: it is mainly about thefts and vandalism. The perpetrators often are minors.”

Annie Genevard, a French MP for the center-right Republicans party, has called for a parliamentary investigation in order better to understand the nature and motivations of anti-Christian attacks. In an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, she said:

“Recently, two terribly serious acts of vandalism were committed in symbolic places and shocked me greatly. A few days ago, the fire in the Church of Saint Sulpice, a church that houses remarkable works: there is nearly a million euros of damage and works are irretrievably lost! And some time ago, vandals broke into the Basilica of Saint Denis and damaged stained-glass windows and the organ. Saint Denis it is not only a place of Christian worship, it is the necropolis of the kings of France! It is a meeting place between our national history and our Christian roots. That one dares to attack this monument is really shocking not only for Christians but for many citizens, whatever their convictions. When an anti-Christian act is committed, we turn our backs on the history of France, which has an intimate connection with the Christian religion.

“To attack a Christian tomb or a church, whatever the motivation of the author, is a way to attack one part of our collective identity, because Christianity and its monuments have shaped our culture, our history and our landscapes. Seeking to destroy or damage Christian buildings is a way of ‘wiping the slate clean’ of the past. In an era where the most absolute cultural relativism reigns, it is all the more serious that some of our oldest and most valuable landmarks are endangered. A civilization that would deny and turn away from its past would be a civilization that would be lost. I think this is worrying, and there is a need for a strong political response.”

In an interview with the Italian magazine Il Timone, the Bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, Dominique Rey, said that the attacks against churches in Europe are taking place within the context of a European society marked by secularism, nihilism, hedonism, cultural and moral relativism, consumerism, and the widespread loss of the sense of the sacred. He noted:

“In the past, even those who said they were non-Christian lived in a cultural context marked by Christianity…. roots that have been abandoned by our culture and by our societies. Once the Christian roots, which were the common denominator, were removed, people turned to communitarianism, which led to a social fragmentation that is leading to a break. To find a common base of values and points of reference, Europe must restore centrality to its Christian roots….

“There is an evolution of acts of profanation against monuments, but also against the Catholic faith itself. In the past, even if one was not a Christian, the expression of the sacred was respected. We are facing a serious threat to the expression of religious freedom. Secularism must not be a rejection of the religious, but a principle of neutrality that gives everyone the freedom to express his faith.

“We are witnessing the convergence of laicism — conceived as secularism, which relegates the faithful only to the private sphere and where every religious denomination is banal or stigmatized — with the overwhelming emergence of Islam, which attacks the infidels and those who reject the Koran. On one hand, we are mocked by the media … and on the other, there is the strengthening of Islamic fundamentalism. These are two joint realities.”

The French political analyst Jérôme Fourquet, in his book — French Archipelago: Birth of a Multiple and Divided Nation — shows how the de-Christianization of France is taking place within the context of mass migration from the Muslim world. He provides extensive statistical data — for instance, that less than 5% of French people regularly attend Mass on Sundays — to show that France’s detachment from Christianity is so far-reaching that the country now is effectively “post-Christian.” He writes:

“There is a growing de-Christianization, which is leading to the ‘terminal phase’ of the Catholic religion…. For hundreds of years the Catholic religion profoundly structured the collective conscience of French society. Today this society is the shadow of what it once was. A great civilizational change is underway.”

Appendix I: Attacks on Christian Churches and Symbols in Europe in 2019
Gatestone Institute reviewed thousands of newspaper reports, police blotters, parliamentary inquiries, social media posts and specialized blogs from Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain. The research found that approximately 3,000 Christian churches, schools, cemeteries and monuments were vandalized, burned, looted or defaced in Europe during 2019 — at more than five a day, a record year for anti-Christian hostility on the continent.

Suspicious Fires at Churches in Europe in 2019:

December 15. Saint-Just-en-Bas, France. A suspicious fire destroyed the roof of the town’s 15th century church. More than three dozen worshippers who were in the building when the fire broke out were evacuated. The church’s roof had been renovated during the summer at a cost of €200,000 ($225,000).
December 5, Lyon, France. An arsonist set fire to the doors of the Church of Saint-Georges.
November 16. Buschhoven, Germany. Arsonists set fire to the Catholic Church of St. Katharina. It was the second arson attack on the church in as many weeks. Arsonists also set fire to a nearby Protestant church, the Versöhnungskirche.
November 13. Chios, Greece. Arsonists set fire to three churches in the village of Chalkios: The attacks against the Agios Haralambos Church, the Church of Panagia and the Church Agios Petros and Pavlos were attributed to illegal migrants, who are being house at a migrant camp situated 500 meters from one of the churches.
November 12. Éauze, France. Two 15-year-olds set fire to the Éauze Cathedral. The Gothic church, a national heritage site, sustained significant damage.
November 8. Lleida, Spain. Arsonists set two fires inside the Church of Sant Joan.
September 20. Olivenza, Spain. Arsonists set fire to the front doors of the Convent of San Juan de Dios. In August, the convent’s chapel was defaced with graffiti.
October 10. Naples, Italy. Arsonists set fire to the historic Basilica of San Giovanni Maggiore.
September 10. Froncles, France. Arsonists set fire to the Church of Saint-Joseph.
September 9. Witzenhausen, Germany. Arsonists tried to burn down Christuskirche, a Lutheran church.
September 4. Wimbotsham, England. St. Mary the Virgin Church, an historic church in Wimbotsham, was gutted by a fire. The church, originally built in 1175, was “100% damaged” and all furniture was lost, including an altar table dating to 1638. “The history and heritage lost in this fire is irreplaceable and the costs of repairing the physical damage will be substantial,” said Peter Aiers, of the Churches Conservation Trust. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.
August 30. Wildeshausen, Germany. Arsonists set fire to St. Peter Catholic Church, causing more than €100,000 ($112,000) in damage.
August 21. Rheine-Schotthock, Germany. Arsonists tried to burn down St. Ludgeruskirche Catholic Church. Previously, thieves broke into the church on August 6.
August 24. Saint-Amand-sur-Sèvre, France. A suspicious fire broke out at the church of Saint-Amand, which dates to the 11th century.
July 30. Bad Schussenried, Germany. An arsonist set fire to a church in the Schussenried Abbey, a former monastery founded in 1183.
July 29. Kippenheim, Germany. An arsonist set fire to hymnals in St. Mauritius Catholic Church.
July 19. Hyvinkää, Finland. Arsonists set fire to the Old Church. The church was saved but an adjacent storage facility was completely destroyed.
June 30. Bourg-Achard, France. Arsonists set fire to the organ at the Church of Saint-Lô. The organ was completely destroyed. On June 26, arsonists set fire to an altar cloth at the same church, which has now been closed.
June 12. Vienna, Austria. Arsonists set fire to the Dominican Church of St. Rotunda. A tourist used holy water to put out the fire.
June 1. Ankum, Germany. Arsonists set two fires simultaneously at St. Nicholas Church.
May 24. Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty was set on fire and completely destroyed. CCTV footage showed a group of unidentified youths starting the fire.
May 16. Nordhausen, Germany. Arsonists set fire to the historic St. Blasii church, originally built in the 12th century. The ante-chamber to the church was burned.
April 21. Eyguières, France. A suspicious fire damaged the confessional of the Church of Notre Dame de Grace.
April 15. Paris, France. A suspicious fire gutted the iconic 12th century Notre Dame Cathedral.
April 19. Heek, Germany. Vandals attempted to set fire to a church in Nienborg.
March 19. Senigallia, Italy. An arsonist tried — twice on the same day — to set fire to the Cathedral of San Pietro.
March 17. Paris, France. A suspicious fire destroyed the entrance to the Church of Saint Sulpice, the second-largest church in Paris. Police said that the fire was not accidental.
March 5. Skegness, England. St. Matthew’s Church was damaged in an arson attack.
February 21. Hellenthal, Germany. An arsonist set fire to the Trinitatis Lutheran Church. The church’s roof was completely destroyed.
January 29. Sainte-Foy-Lès-Lyon, France. A 40-year-old man with a long criminal record was arrested for trying to burn down the Church of Saint Foy. He was placed in a psychiatric ward.
January 20, Almería, Spain. Arsonists attempted to burn down the hermitage of Torregarcía; arsonists previously tried to burn down the chapel on January 11.
January 17. Grenoble, France. The Church of Saint Jacques was completely destroyed by fire. Only the bell tower was left standing. Police initially had concluded that the fire was an accident, caused by in an electric short circuit in the roof of the church. On October 8, however, Grenoble Prosecutor Eric Vaillant said that an anarchist group had deliberately started the fire, although the perpetrators had not yet been identified.
January 10. Rovereto, Italy. Arsonists attempted to burn down the Church of Sant Rocco. The attack was believed to be a response to the church’s opposition to abortion.
Attacks on Christian Historical Sites in Europe in 2019:

December 5. Valdecilla, Spain. Vandals destroyed a 16th century stone cross at the Church of Solares-Valdecilla. A 14-year-old vandal broke his leg when part of the stone fell on him.
November 4. Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France. Thieves rammed a car into the doors of the Cathedral of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stole silverware, a monstrance, a chalice and liturgical garments from the 16th century. Mayor Hervé Lucbéreilh said: “It is a considerable loss. Some pieces are unique, like the monstrance of Saint Grat, and no insurance will replace them. The thieves were obviously connoisseurs…they only stole the most precious items which dated from the 16th century. Beyond the market value, the inhabitants find themselves amputated of part of their history and their heritage.”
October 16. Bois-de-Céné, France. Three teenagers were arrested for stealing relics from the Church of Bois-de-Céné, a national historical monument which dates to the 14th century.
September 9. Seville, Spain. Vandals destroyed the historic Cross of the Inquisition at the City Hall. Mayor Juan Espadas condemned the “absolutely inexplicable vandal destruction” of a the “jewel” of Seville’s heritage.
August 19. Brue-Auriac, France. Thieves stole an 85-kg (187-pound) bronze church bell from a Romanesque chapel. Mayor André Rousselet said that he believed that the bell was melted, and the metal was sold, possibly yielding up to €500 ($560) for the thief.
July 19. Ginasservis, France. Thieves stole two bells from two chapels in the village. The 80-kg bell of the Chapelle Saint-Damase dates from 1867; the 53-kg bell of the Chapelle des Pénitents dates from 1737. The latter chapel is classified as a national historic monument. Mayor Hervé Philibert said that the bells were carefully removed and that nothing was broken. He said that he believes that the purpose of the theft is “resale to a collector.”
February 27. Hochheim, Germany. Vandals ransacked the St. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, an iconic landmark built in 1730. In January 2016, the church was set on fire by an arsonist, causing more than half-a-million-euros in damage.
February 26. Hanover, Germany. A burglar smashed the windows of the Kreuzkirche, a medieval church consecrated in 1333.
February 23. Dublin, Ireland. A 36-year-old Dublin man, Brian Bridgeman desecrated several mummies at St. Michan’s, a church that dates to 1095. He opened crypts in the church’s vaults and twisted the head of a nun who had lived 400 years ago. He also decapitated an 800-year-old crusader and removed his head from the site. The skull was later found by police and returned to the church. Bridgeman, who was identified on CCTV and admitted guilt, was sentenced to 28 months in prison. “It’s a sad day for the church and a sad day for humanity that someone would do such a thing,” said Archdeacon David Pierpoint.
February 5. Lavaur, France. Two teenagers desecrated the Cathedral of St. Alain, which dates to the 13th century. They then set fire to a nativity scene that was still in place from the Christmas holidays. The fire caused extensive smoke damage to the cathedral, which had just undergone a five-year, multi-million-euro renovation. The teenagers were identified through CCTV footage.
January 18. Minden, Germany. Vandals smashed the stained-glass windows of St. Simeon’s Lutheran Church, which was consecrated in 1214. In November 2018, the church was defaced with graffiti; in March 2017, vandals smashed a 19th century stained-glass window.
January 10. Ripley, England: Thieves stole the lead roof of All Saints Church, which dates to 1390. During the course of the theft the thieves caused extensive damage to the stone parapet on the roof. The damage was estimated at tens of thousands of pounds.
Desecrations of Cemeteries in Europe in 2019:

December 23. Villeroux, Belgium. More than a dozen graves at a local cemetery were desecrated. Gravestones were knocked over and crosses were smashed.
December 14. Aron, France. Vandals desecrated 30 graves at a local cemetery. They smashed crosses, stole marble plates as well as a statue of Jesus Christ.
November 30. Saint-Priest-la-Prugne, France. A local cemetery was ransacked.
November 24. Buré, France. A local cemetery was desecrated. Gravestones were knocked over and crosses were smashed.
October 27. Zabrze Helence, Poland. A total of 29 tombstones and 22 crosses were destroyed at the cemetery of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church.
August 30. Vals-près-le-Puy, France. Tombstones were overturned in three different cemeteries in the town. Police said the attacks were not religiously motivated.
July 21. North Jutland, Denmark. A 45-year-old man spray-painted the number ‘666’ on 87 gravestones at Hadsund Cemetery.
June 20. Evesham, England. Vandals defaced tombstones at St. Andrews Parish Church Cemetery with satanic graffiti. On June 16, vandals desecrated more than 100 graves at the same cemetery.
February 14, Madrid, Spain. Gravestones were defaced at the cemetery of the Almudena Cathedral.
February 6. Kamień Krajeński, Poland. Vandals ransacked a local cemetery. Tombstones were destroyed, crosses were knocked down and a statue of Jesus was destroyed.
Urination, Defecation and Exhibitionism at Christian Sites in Europe in 2019:

November 20. Tarbes, France. Vandals ransacked the Church of Saint-Jean. They broke open the doors, smashed statues and burned hymn books. They also urinated and defecated on the church floors and used Bibles and hymn books as toilet paper.
October 27. Moncoutant-sur-Sèvre, France. Five teenagers vandalized a local church. They urinated on confessionals and holy water fonts and set fire to alter cloths and hymn books.
August 28. Montefiascone, Italy. The Church of the Madonna dell’Arco was equipped with security cameras after vandals left excrement, vomit, condoms, cigarettes and beer cans scattered throughout the building. The church, which dates to 1796, has also been spray-painted with Satanist graffiti.
August 25. Argenthal, Germany. An exhibitionist exposed himself to worshippers at a Catholic Mass.
August 20. Giovo, Italy. The doors of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta di Verla were smeared with excrement.
August 1. Crebio, Italy. The Church of Sant Antonio was desecrated with excrement that was smeared on the doors, walls and holy water fonts.
July 26. Jaén, Spain. An 18-year-old man defecated in front of the altar of the Roman Catholic Santuario de la Fuensanta de Villanueva and then smeared his feces on a statue of Jesus Christ. The act was captured on CCTV.
May 31. Lahntal-Caldern, Germany. Vandals broke into the Nikolaikirche, a Lutheran church, set fire to a Bible and a hymnal and left a pile of feces at the entranceway.
May 17. Großholbach, Germany. Vandals ransacked the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, burned a Jesus statue and urinated on the pews. “This hurts,” said Mayor Michael Kohlhass. “These are values ​​that have simply been trampled upon.”
February 5. Nîmes, France. Vandals broke into the Notre Dame des Enfants church, forced open the tabernacle which houses the Eucharist, scattered consecrated hosts and spread excrement on the walls and inside and outside the church.
Anarcho-Feminist-Satanist and Politically-Motivated Attacks on Churches in Europe in 2019:

December 5. Munich, Germany. Four churches in the Munich area were defaced with political graffiti.
November 27. Mordelles, France. The Church of Saint-Pierre was defaced with anarchist graffiti.
November 26. Rennes, France. November 26. Vandals defaced the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle with Satanist graffiti.
November 13. Segovia, Spain. November 13. The Church of San Agustín, which dates to the 16th century, was spray-painted with anarchist graffiti. An “anti-fascist” group called Yesca claimed responsibility for the vandalism.
August 18. Singen, Germany. Vandals spray-painted Herz-Jesu Catholic Church with the number, “666.”
June 19. London, England. Vandals lit fires outside the doors of four churches in east London. At each church, occult symbols and messages including pentagrams, spirals, the number 666 and the word “hell” were etched into the doors.
March 8. Madrid, Spain. The Church of Santa Mónica in Rivas Vaciamadrid was spray-painted with anti-Catholic and radical feminist graffiti to mark International Women’s Day.
March 8. Logroño, Spain. The Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda was defaced with feminist propaganda.
March 8. Seville, Spain. The Church of San Roque was defaced with anarcho-feminist graffiti.
March 8. Valladolid, Spain. Radical feminists broke into the archbishopric of Valladolid.
March 5. Reichstett, France. Vandals smashed the stained-glass windows of a Catholic church and painted “666” and “Satan” on the church walls.
March 4. Alicante, Spain. Satanists performed an occultist ceremony in front of an evangelical church. They then defaced the entrance to the church with Satanist graffiti.
February 22. Katowice, Poland. Four local chapels and churches were defaced with Satanist graffiti.
January 31. Vendôme, France. Thieves broke into the Church of Madeleine and stole a wooden tabernacle containing a ciborium and consecrated hosts. “The consecrated hosts are sometimes used during black magic rituals,” said Father Pierre Cabarat. “This theft is a profanation, an assault on the Christian community.”
January 16. Córdoba, Spain. The Santa Victoria de Córdoba Roman Catholic school was defaced with anarchist graffiti.
Attacks on Nativity Scenes in Europe in 2019:

December 25. Ourense, Spain. A municipal nativity scene was damaged and a statue of the Christ Child was stolen. The same nativity scene was damaged on December 21.
December 19. Dijon, France. A nativity scene at the Church of Notre-Dame was destroyed.
December 18. Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, France. A municipal nativity scene was damaged. Mayor Marie-Thérèse Sikora said: “We are still a Judeo-Christian country. It is deplorable to attack a crib and decorations. We do this for the children, but this morning, they were devastated in front of the crib.”
December 17. Torrelavega, Spain. Vandals a municipal nativity scene was ransacked and a statue of the Christ Child was decapitated.
December 16, Tárrega, Spain. Town councilors representing the far-left parties ERC and CUP dismantled the municipal nativity scene in order to “preserve the secular character” of the municipality.
November 26, Vienna, Austria. A statue of the Christ Child was stolen twice from a nativity scene at a Christmas market in the Simmering district.
January 1. Valencia, Spain. An historic nativity scene in Callosa de Segura was destroyed.
Islam-related Attacks on Christians and Christian Sites in Europe in 2019:

December 6. Bandol, France. Vandals defaced with spray paint a memorial to Franco-Armenian friendship. The graffiti included the word “Turk.” In a statement, the city said: “The mayor and the elected officials condemn with the utmost firmness this act which stains the memory of Armenians. Armenia was the victim of an atrocious genocide which resulted in more than a million victims between 1915 and 1916. France recognized this genocide in 2001.”
November 30. Marienthal, France. A 23-year-old man who claimed to be wearing a suicide vest ransacked a chapel adjacent to the Convent of Carmel of the Sacred Heart. Sister Donata, prioress of Carmel, explained: “A young man came to see us. He was calm. He asked to go to the chapel to pray, and there, at one point, madness took him. He started to ransack everything. He knocked over the crucifix and the statue of the Sacred Heart, which he damaged. He knocked down the candlesticks as well as the stalls. He chipped the altar. He attacked everything. Never has such a thing happened here.” The Strasbourg public prosecutor’s office requested a psychiatric assessment of the man, whose identity has not been made public.
November 27. Trondheim, Norway. Four Muslim men threatened to kill a Christian street preacher unless he converted to Islam.
September 6. Marseille, France. A teenager armed with a knife entered the La Pauline elementary school, stabbed the canteen manager, and shouted, “I am a Muslim. Today I am going to kill all Christians. ‘Allahu Akbar!'” (Allah is greater [than your God!]).
June 19. Graz, Austria. A 45-year-old Iraqi man set fire to four churches in the city.
May 5. Toulouse, France. The Notre Dame du Taur church was defaced with the words, “Allahu Akbar!” (“Allah is greater [than your God]!”)
April 21. Rome, Italy. A Moroccan man stabbed a Georgian man for wearing a crucifix. “Italian Catholic Sh*t,” the Moroccan shouted as he tried to cut the man’s throat. The incident took place near Termini Station, the main railway station in Rome.
April 17. Seville, Spain. A 23-year-old Moroccan jihadi plotted to attack Holy Week processions.
April 1. Hendaye, France. Three Lebanese teenagers vandalized St. Vincent’s nursery school. They ransacked eight classrooms, destroyed computers and covered the walls and floors with paint.
Appendix 2: Country-by-Country Attacks on Christian Churches and Symbols in Europe in 2019
1. France

The French government recorded 1,063 anti-Christian attacks in 2018, compared to 1,038 such attacks in 2017 and 949 in 2016. Overall, the number of attacks surged by 245% between 2008 and 2016, according to the Interior Ministry, which noted that attacks on Christian sites account for approximately 90% of all attacks on places of worship in France.

The trend shows no signs of abating. There were more than 1,000 anti-Christian attacks in France during 2019, according to data compiled by Daniel Hamiche, Editor-in-Chief of the blog, Observatory of Christianophobia. Hamiche has been an indefatigable chronicler of the destruction of Christian heritage in France. Gatestone Institute also consulted hundreds of national and local newspapers, as well as dozens of blogs, specialized websites and police blotters. Following are a few examples of anti-Christian attacks in 2019:

Billy-sous-Mangiennes, December 20. Vandals destroyed the stained-glass windows at the Church of Saint-Loup.
Aire-sur-l’Adour, December 19. A man set fire to an altar at the Cathedral of Saint-Jean-Baptiste d’Aire.
Amiens, December 16. Vandals destroyed a statue of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes at the Amiens Cathedral.
La Douze, December 11. Thieves stole copper pipes from the Church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens, a Gothic church dating to the 14th century.
Châtillon-sur-Seine, December 4. Thieves broke into the Church of Saint-Nicolas.
Rennes, November 24. Thieves broke into two churches on the same night: offering boxes were stolen at the Church of Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine and the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur.
Avolsheim, November 23. Vandals defaced the grotto of the Church of Dompeter, one of the oldest churches in Alsace.
Porto-Vecchio, November 21. Vandals desecrated an open-air oratory at the Church of San Ciprianu.
Tournissan, November 16. Thieves ransacked the Church of Saint-Adrien. They then covered the site with bleach, apparently in an effort to erase traces of DNA.
Marseille, November 9. Vandals defaced the Red Cross Mission Cross adjacent to the Church of Saint-Patrice. The cross was defaced a total of six times in 2019.
Tonnay-Charente, November 9. Vandals desecrated the Church of Saint-Etienne. Crosses were overturned, the tabernacle was broken, the hosts were scattered on the ground and the lunette containing a host for worship was stolen.
Carentan-les-Marais, November 5. Vandals broke into the Church of Notre-Dame de Carentan. The same church was vandalized in July 2019.
Clermont-Ferrand, October 21. Three teenagers ransacked the Church of Notre-Dame de Prospérité de Montferrand.
Renazé, October 14. Thieves broke into the Church of Renazé and stole the tabernacle, which stores the consecrated hosts.
Veynes, September 13. Vandals desecrated the Church of Saint-Sauveur and stole the ciborium, a chalice used to hold consecrated communion wafers.
Saint-Christol-de-Rodières, September 7. Vandals desecrated the Church of Saint Christophe and stole the ciborium.
Les Houches, August 24. Vandals broke into the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church and overturned pews, broke windows, destroyed a confessional booth and spray-painted anti-religious insults on the walls.
Clermont, August 14. Vandals desecrated the Church of Saint-Samson. Hosts were scattered and stolen, and the ciborium which contained them was also stolen.
Compiègne, August 10. Vandals desecrated the Church of Saint Éloi and stole the ciborium and other liturgical items.
Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, July 17. A 44-year-old man was arrested for vandalizing several churches in the area. He decapitated religious statues, including one of Jesus, smashed stained-glass windows and destroyed paintings. Police discarded an “anti-Christian motif” because the man “operated alone, on impulse and without any real organization.”
Bois de Cené, April 4. Vandals ransacked the Church of Saint-Etienne.
Uffholtz, March 30. Vandals destroyed a crucifix.
Péronne, March 27. A 40-year-old man was arrested for stealing at least 30 objects from the Church of Saint Jean Baptiste.
Strasbourg, March 11. Vandals ransacked the Catholic Church of St. Louis de la Robertsau.
Angoulême, March 9. Vandals ransacked the Hope & Life Evangelical Church and caused more than €10,000 ($11,000) in damage. The vandalism was aimed at “defiling, destroying and preventing worship services from taking place,” according to Pastor Joseph Miall.
Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, February 25. Vandals ransacked two churches: The Church of Saint-Gilles and the Church of Saint-Croix. They overturned statues and smashed stained-glass windows.
Maisons-Laffitte, February 10. Vandals ransacked the Saint Nicolas church.
Dijon, February 9. Vandals desecrated the Notre Dame church and stole the consecrated hosts.
Houilles, February 4. Vandals ransacked the Church of Saint Nicolas and destroyed a statue dating to the 19th century. It was the third attack at the church in ten days.
Lusignan, February 3. Thieves broke into the Chapel of St. Anne, forced open the tabernacle and stole the ciborium. The consecrated hosts were strewn across the floor.
2. Germany

Aue-Bad Schlema, December 25. A parish worker was stabbed to death when he tried to stop a fight between a Syrian and an Iranian migrant.
Mettlach, December 23. Vandals ransacked the Church of Sankt Martin.
Schwenningen, September 23. Vandals ransacked the St. Franziskus-Mariä Himmelfahrt Kirche, a Catholic church.
Herxheim, September 13. Vandals damaged the front door of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church.
Goch, September 12. Thieves forcibly ripped out and stole the copper water pipes from inside the walls of Maria Magdalena-Kirche, a Catholic church.
Iserlohn, September 11. Thieves dismantled and stole the copper drainpipes of St. Gertrudis Kirche, a Catholic church.
Coesfeld, September 11. Vandals broke into St. Lamberti Catholic Church and poured a strong-smelling liquid into the holy water font.
Sulingen, September 9. Thieves broke into St. Nicolai-Kirche, a Lutheran church.
Koblenz, September 9. Thieves broke into New Apostolic Church.
Weilburg, September 8. Thieves broke into a church on Limburger Straße.
Neustadt/Orla, September 8. Thieves broke into a church and stole property worth €1,000 ($1,120).
Lahr, September 6. Thieves broke into Peter und Paul Kirche, a Roman Catholic church.
Kusel, September 5. Vandals smashed the windows of a Protestant church.
Kirchhatten, September 4. Vandals damaged property at St. Ansgari Church.
Runkel, September 3. Vandals ransacked the Heilig Geist church.
Eisenach, September 3. Vandals spray-painted a statue at St. Elisabeth Catholic Church.
Gosheim, September 3. Vandals broke into Längenberg Chapel.
Apolda, September 2. Thieves dismantled and stole the lightning rods and cables of St. Bonifatius Catholic Church.
Velen-Ramsdorf, September 1. Vandals spray-painted the façade of St. Walburga Catholic Church.
Pirmasens, August 31. Vandals ransacked Luther Church. The total damage is estimated at €5,000 ($5,600).
Clingen, August 30. Thieves stole an outdoor pavilion from St. Gumbert Lutheran Church.
Kevelaer-Winnekendonk, August 29. Thieves dismantled and stole copper pipes from St. Antonius Catholic Church.
Mettmann, August 29. Thieves broke into St. Johannes Catholic Church.
Stuttgart-Möhringen, August 25. Thieves broke into a church and kindergarten.
Bochum, August 24. Thieves broke into St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
Altenhagen, August 21. Thieves broke into a Lutheran Church and tried to steal the organ pipes, apparently to sell them as scrap metal for cash.
Ganderkesee, August 19. Thieves broke into St. Hedwig Catholic Church.
Ostbevern, August 19. Vandals desecrated St. Ambrosius Catholic Church; vandals attacked the same church a day earlier.
Bad Waldsee, August 18. Vandals spray-painted St. Peter Catholic Church with the words, “God is Dead.”
Herne, August 18. Thieves broke into Cranger Kirche, a Lutheran church.
Kirchhundem, August 17. Vandals broke into the St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church.
Greven-Reckenfeld, August 16. Vandals smashed the windows of St. Franziskus Catholic Church.
Brakel, August 16. Vandals broke into St. Michael’s Catholic Church.
Bösensell, August 16. Thieves broke into a church and stole intercession letters from a mailbox.
Rheine-Schotthock, August 6. Thieves broke into St. Ludgeruskirche Catholic Church.
Lahn, August 13. A man broke into St. Martinus Catholic Church and tried to steal money.
Gevelsberg, August 12. Thieves entered St. Engelbert Catholic Church and stole the tabernacle, a box holding consecrated hosts.
Karlsruhe, August 12. A thief tried to steal money from donation boxes at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church.
Greiz, August 11. Vandals broke into the Gottesackerkirche.
Zell im Wiesental, August 10. Thieves looted the Evangelical Church.
Lauenbrück, July 31. Thieves broke into Martin-Luther-Kirchengemeinde, a Protestant church; they damaged windows and doors and stole donation money.
Heiden, July 23. Vandals attacked St. Paulus Kirche, an evangelical church. They broke windows, spray-painted the walls and destroyed furniture.
Lübbecke, July 5. Vandals broke into St. Nikolaus Lutheran Church. The church has been the target of repeated attacks and there are fears that the vandalism will escalate to the point that arsonists try to burn it down.
Albstadt-Ebingen, June 9. Vandals ransacked a shrine at St. Joseph’s Church.
Esslingen, May 31. Thieves broke into the Osterfeldkirche, a Lutheran church in Berkheim, and stole property valued at €1,000 ($1,120).
Löffingen, May 24. Vandals ransacked St. Michael’s Catholic Church. They damaged or destroyed paintings, statues, the altar and the organ.
Kronach, May 22. Vandals spray-painted graffiti on the doors of the Cristuskirche, a Lutheran church.
Rudolstadt, May 7. Vandals spray-painted the walls of the Lutheran Stadtkirche.
Winnweiler, May 6. Vandals broke into the Herz-Jesu-Kirche, a Roman Catholic church, built a campfire and defaced the walls.
Hoxel, May 5. Vandals smashed a stained-glass window at a Roman Catholic chapel in Morbach-Hoxel.
Bad Oldesloe, May 4. A thief broke into the Peter-Paul Lutheran Church stole an intricately-carved wooden cross valued at €5,000 ($5,600).
Mannheim, April 29. Vandals ransacked the Liebfrauenkirche, a Roman Catholic church.
Kirchberg, April 25. Vandals spray-painted graffiti on the doors of St. Margaret Lutheran Church.
Wilhelmshaven, April 24. Vandals smashed nine windows in a downtown church.
Ennepetal, April 20. Vandals smashed the windows of Herz-Jesu Roman Catholic Church.
Dillenburg, April 14. Vandals ransacked the Herz-Jesu Roman Catholic Church.
Ratingen-Hösel, April 11. Burglars broke into the Adolf-Clarenbach-Kirche, a Lutheran church, and physically removed the safe.
Bremerhaven, April 8. A burglar broke into St. Mary’s Catholic Church and stole several weeks’ worth of donations.
Oberschopfheim, April 7. Vandals destroyed the restrooms of the St. Leodegar Catholic Church.
Münster, April 6. Vandals spray-painted the front door of a Roman Catholic church.
Bösensell, April 5. Vandals ransacked the St.-Johannes-Kirche, a Roman Catholic church. The church has been the target of repeated attacks. “We do not want just to accept this anymore,” a church member said.
Hamburg, March 14. A swastika was spray-painted on the front door of the Kreuzkirche, a Lutheran church in the Wandsbeck district. State prosecutors launched a criminal investigation.
Wenden, March 11. Vandals ransacked the St. Elisabeth of Schönau Roman Catholic Church.
Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, February 24. Vandals damaged the St. Ursula Roman Catholic Church.
Kaiserslautern, February 2. The Christuskirche Lutheran Church was defaced with graffiti.
3. Ireland

Dublin, November 11. Vandals desecrated the Star of the Sea Carmelite Nuns monastery in Malahide. They broke into the monastery in broad daylight, spray-painted a chapel with graffiti and shouted offensive slurs against the nuns.
Longford, August 1. Vandals smashed the stained-glass windows of St. Michael’s, the oldest serving Catholic church building in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. This was the second attack on the church in two years.
Clonmel, July 30. The Holy Year Cross, a Catholic holy site in Tipperary, was spray-painted with swastikas days before an annual pilgrimage. This is not the first time the site was attacked in the days running up to the annual pilgrimage; in 2011 someone vandalized the altar and burned statues.
Dundalk, July 21. Several people were injured when a man drove a car at high speed into a crowd of people at St. Patrick’s Cemetery. The man was charged with reckless driving.
Thurles, June 27. Vandals decapitated a marble statue of Archbishop Patrick Leahy outside the Cathedral of the Assumption, where the archbishop was buried in 1875. Thurles Police Superintendent Pat Murphy said that the statue is “a piece of the fabric of Thurles” and appealed to the public for information related to the attack.
4. Italy

Scorrano, November 18. A thief broke into the Church of the Transfiguration and stole a collection box as well as a gold necklace from a statue of Mary. He then urinated on the altar. The crime was captured on CCTV.
Comacchio, September 9. Vandals destroyed donation boxes at the Church of the Blessed Virgin of Sorrows. No money was taken.
Ceriano Laghetto, August 25. Vandals broke into the shrine of the Madonna del Santo Rosario and spray-painted a painting depicting Jesus and Mary.
Naples, August 23. Vandals damaged a statue of San Gennaro at the Church of Santa Croce.
Lecco, June 29. Vandals destroyed the outdoor lights of the Monumental Cemetery.
Lecco, June 3. Vandals uprooted crosses at Monte Magnodeno.
Montebelluna, May 25. The Church of Santa Maria in Colle was defaced with graffiti. The church was previously defaced with graffiti in April.
Santorso, May 17. Vandals spray-painted the front of the Church of Sant Orso. They were filmed by CCTV and two individuals, aged 27 and 17, were subsequently arrested after they boasted about the crime on social media.
Orvieto, May 12. The Church of San Giovenale, which dates to the year 1004, was defaced with blasphemous graffiti.
Narni, May 5. The Church of San Girolamo was ransacked by vandals who threw down a large statue of Jesus and damaged sacred books.
Cesena, April 28. The church of the Istituto Lugaresi was ransacked during a scuffle between two Romanians who were drunk. “Two immigrants entered the church ‘Dei Lugaresi,’ reducing it to this state,” said Massimo Bitonci, representative of the Lega party. “There are no words to describe so much barbarism.”
Sasso della Vecchia, April 23. Vandals destroyed an iconic statue of Mary and Jesus.
Trieste, April 21. A man entered the Church of San Giovanni on Easter Sunday, took a communion wafer and began cursing Roman Catholicism.
Naples, April 8. An arsonist tried to set fire to an evangelical church. The attack was captured on CCTV.
San Fior, April 5. Vandals ransacked the sacristy of the church of San Fior. Three Romanians were arrested in connection with the crime.
Calolziocorte, March 27. Vandals damaged the walls of an old church in Sala.
Montevaccino, February 20. The Church of San Leonardo was damaged by vandals who broke crosses, statues and windows.
San Fior, February 19. Vandals defaced the walls of the Church of Castello Roganzuolo.
Rome, February 12. Vandals destroyed a marble plaque of the Martin Luther square. The square was named in 2015 in recognition of the role that the Protestant reformer played both in the church and in European culture. “We lament this act of vandalism, which shows the lack of values we breath and the climate of deterioration in which we live,” said Leonardo de Chirico of the Italian Evangelical Alliance.
Farra di Soligo, February 6. The Chapel of San Michele was ransacked by vandals who broke open the iron gate and smashed statues.
5. United Kingdom

In Northern Ireland, churches and cemeteries are attacked, on average, every other day, according to police statistics obtained in August 2019 under the Freedom of Information Act. A total of 445 crimes were recorded as criminal damage to religious buildings, churchyards or cemeteries across Northern Ireland’s 11 policing districts during the last three years, according to data obtained by Christian Action Research and Education (Care NI) from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Incidents in 2019 include:

Abertridwr, September 16. Vandals damaged the Church of St. Ilan Eglwysilan, which dates to the year 1188.
Hamble, September 4. Vandals destroyed a fence at St. Andrew’s, a 900-year-old church.
Ebbw Vale, August 30. Vandals broke into Christ Church.
Ballyclare, August 23. Unidentified vandals destroyed a large section of the wooden walls of Ballyclare Free Presbyterian Church. Several of the church’s windows were smashed in a separate incident in late December. The church has been attacked four times during the past year.
Glasgow, August 21. Vandals ransacked Carnwadric Church of Scotland.
Kimberley, August 11. Vandals smashed windows of Holy Trinity Church.
Scarborough, August 13. Thieves broke into the Church of the Holy Nativity, stole items from inside the building and spray-painted the steps.
Liverpool, August 3. Vandals defaced St. Oswald King & Martyr Catholic Church with graffiti and smashed windows.
Tamworth, June 14. Vandals defaced St. Editha’s Church, one of the oldest churches in the West Midlands, with anti-Christian graffiti. Among the messages scrawled were, “God has failed,” “Deliver us to evil,” and “Lucifer runs this capitalist ruin.” Church warden Dawn Perry said: “We are totally shocked, saddened and angered by this.”
South Cerney, June 12. Vandals smashed a stained-glass window at All Hallows Church.
Sussex, May 9. Vandals destroyed an historic lychgate at St. John the Evangelist Church in Copthorne.
Glasgow, April 29. A bus stop in front of Holy Family Parish Church in Mossend in North Lanarkshire was defaced with anti-Catholic graffiti. On 26 March, vandals smashed the windows of Holy Family Primary School, which is next door to the church.
Glasgow, April 28. St. Simon’s Catholic Church was ransacked by vandals in a daytime attack. Police said that there was significant damage to the inside of the church, including damage to the altar area of the church as well as to a shrine which has been in the church since the 1940 and caters to the Polish parishioners who attend mass in their native language.
Bacup, April 26. Vandals ransacked St. Saviour’s Church. The historic building was defaced with graffiti, the stained-glass windows were smashed, and its organ was stripped bare.
Willesden, April 21. Vandals destroyed the windows of Elim Pentecostal Church on Easter Sunday.
Belfast, April 21. Sacred Heart Church in Ballyclare was vandalized with paint on Easter Sunday. Police, who described the incident as a hate crime, arrested a 26-year-old man who was later released on bail.
Bath, February 16. Vandals toppled a one-ton stone sculpture of loaves and fishes at St. Philip and St. James’ Church.
West Midlands, January 16. More than a dozen churches received anonymous letters threatening attacks. “Stop all your services straight away,” warned one letter sent to a church in Sheffield. “If you don’t your church will be petrol bombed while in service. Continue behind closed doors and your congregation members will be stabbed one by one. Blood on your hands. You have been warned.”
Cirencester, January 13. Burglars smashed stained-glass windows and stole the collection box at Cirencester Parish Church.
6. Spain

Granada, December 12. The Church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores was spray-painted with anti-Catholic graffiti.
Barcelona, November 27. A Roman Catholic seminary was spray-painted with anti-Catholic graffiti.
Zaragoza, November 16. Vandals ransacked the Chapel of the Santo Sepulcro de Tauste and set fire to a statue of Jesus.
Madrid, November 11. The Church of Santa Catalina de Alejandría was spray-painted with Satanist graffiti.
Zamora, October 28. The Church of San Esteban, which dates to the 11th century, was defaced with graffiti.
Seville, October 28. The Basilica de la Macarena was defaced with graffiti.
Valencia, October 24. The Church of San Nicolás was defaced with graffiti.
Madrid, October 21. The Cathedral de la Almudena and several other churches in the capital were defaced with graffiti.
Barcelona, October 18. The Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario was defaced with political graffiti.
Barcelona, October 14. The Church of San Juan Bautista de Gracia was defaced with Satanist graffiti.
Córdoba, October 5. Vandals desecrated the Chapel of Rosa de Montilla.
Cuenca, October 1. Thieves broke into the Church of La Concepción de Casas de Fernando Alonso and stole the tabernacle.
Madrid, September 27. The Church of San Miguel de Fuencarral was spray-painted with anti-Catholic graffiti.
Carbonero, September 6. Vandals overturned large granite bollards in front of the Church of San Juan Bautista.
Almería, August 31. The Church of Santiago Apóstol was defaced with graffiti.
Cambrils, July 25. A man repeatedly defaced the Church of Sant Pere with graffiti. He was arrested when police observed him carrying paint and walking toward the church.
Guadalajara, July 20. Vandals broke into the Church of Santiago Apostle and stole the consecrated host.
Castellón, July 18. The Cross of the Fallen was defaced with graffiti.
Buelna, July 17. The Cross of the Fallen, a monument in the town center, was defaced with anti-religious and pro-Communist graffiti.
Salamanca, July 16. The historic Church of San Marcos was defaced with paint.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna, June 21. Vandals defaced several churches with graffiti.
Soria, June 23. Vandals damaged the Chapel of San Bartolomé, a 12th Century Romanesque church that is currently undergoing renovations.
Córdoba, May 31. Thieves broke into a Roman Catholic fraternity and stole gold crowns from several statues.
Málaga, May 24. Vandals broke into a Roman Catholic fraternity and defaced a statue of Jesus with spray paint.
Almería, April 21. A Roman Catholic fraternity was defaced with anarchist graffiti.
Segovia, April 18. Vandals threw eggs on a Holy Week procession.
Andújar, April 16. Vandals broke off the legs of a historic stone statue known as Cristo del Altozano de Santiago.
Orense, April 14. On Palm Sunday, a Catholic church in Meside was defaced with far-left anti-religious graffiti.
Tavernes de la Valldigna, April 1. Vandals defaced the Church of St Pere with anarchist graffiti.
Madrid, March 29. Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena removed all references to Christianity from the city’s Holy Week celebrations. “We seek to transcend the immediate significance of Holy Week to delve into the timeless feeling and universal emotions that this period of recollection arouses,” according to the City Hall.
Seville, March 19. Two women broke into the sacristy of the Church of San Julián and then left the building wearing vestments used by priests to officiate the mass. The incident was captured on CCTV.
Málaga, March 13. Vandals broke into the Sagrada Familia chapel in El Copo.
Santiago de Compostela, March 12. The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a World Heritage Site, was defaced with anti-religious graffiti. The cathedral was previously defaced in August 2018; the cost of removing the graffiti exceeded €10,000 ($11,200).
Málaga, March 11. Thieves broke into the Holy Trinity of Antequera church and stole the consecrated host, the sacred bread used in the Roman Catholic Mass.
Madrid, March 10. Vandals caused significant damage to the Parish of San Rafael Arnáiz in Sanchinarro. They also stole the consecrated host.
Ávila, March 10. Vandals defaced the Chapel of the Risen One.
Barcelona, March 8. The entrance to a Christian radio station was spray-painted with anti-religious graffiti.
Córdoba, March 6. Arsonists threw a Molotov cocktail against the Parish of San Miguel. The wick was burned but the device did not explode.
Camargo, March 5. A cross was defaced with anarchist and Communist graffiti.
Gijón, March 2. Vandals destroyed a marble railing in the Church of San José.
Jaén, February 18. Vandals broke into the Parish of Santa Isabel and stole the consecrated host.
Seville, February 11. Vandals spray-painted the Church of San Martin with the words, “The only church that illuminates is the one that burns.”
Ávila, February 10. Vandals spray-painted two Roman Catholic churches with anti-religious, pro-anarchist graffiti.
Cimadevilla, February 7. Vandals defaced the Church of San Juan Bautista with graffiti.
Córdoba, January 30. The Trinidad Roman Catholic school in Vistalegre was defaced with anti-religious graffiti.
Vigo, January 22. Two youths broke into a chapel at Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital and stole the consecrated host.
Pasaia, January 22. Vandals threw a Jesus statue into the town’s harbor.
Almería, January 20. Arsonists attempted to burn down the hermitage of Torregarcía; arsonists previously tried to burn down the chapel on January 11.
Ondarroa, January 14. Basque separatists destroyed a large cross raised by the Franco regime in 1958 to honor “the children of Ondarroa who heroically gave their lives for God and Spain.”
Soria, January 4. The Church of Santa María la Mayor was spray-painted with graffiti.
Córdoba, January 2. Vandals destroyed a cross commemorating the Spanish Civil War at a cemetery in Puente Genil.
Appendix 3: Select Commentary and Reflections on Church Attacks in Europe in 2019
December 18, Saint-Éloy-les-Mines, France: “We are still a Judeo-Christian country. It is deplorable to attack a nativity scene and decorations. We do this for the children, but this morning, they were devastated in front of the crib.” — Marie-Thérèse Sikora, Mayor of Saint-Éloy-les-Mines.
November 21, Porto-Vecchio, Italy: “This attack reflects a deep lack of respect in a sacred place. It is not normal to degrade a statue of piety in this way. This should not happen in Corsica, a Christian land.” — Frédéric Constant, Priest, Church of San Ciprianu, Porto-Vecchio.
November 21, Tarbes, France: “The desecration of the Church of Saint Jean in Tarbes takes place in a continuum of a devastating number of abominations of chapels and churches. There is hardly a day when we do not learn of such facts, illustrating an unprecedented increase since the French Revolution of anti-Catholic hatred in France.” — The general alliance against racism and for the respect of French and Christian identity (AGRIF).
November 16, Zaragoza, Spain: “This has been an attack on a religious and cultural symbol of our people. It is not a simple act of vandalism. It is a place where our ancestors, family and friends have met for centuries.” — Miguel Angel Francés Carbonel, Mayor of Tauste.
November 16, Zaragoza, Spain: “This time it was not a robbery, it was evil. On other occasions they came to steal but today it was to destroy.” — Javier Francés, Custodian, Chapel of the Santo Sepulcro de Tauste.
November 9, Tonnay-Charente, France: “This attack is an expression of hatred against Christ and his Church, a manifestation of violence, cowardice and stupidity.” — Monsignor Georges Colomb, Bishop of La Rochelle and Saintes.
November 4, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France: “These serious incivilities and this total lack of respect for a sacred heritage are increasing in France. This raises deep concerns about the civilizational values ​​that characterize our society.” — Monsignor Marc Aillet, Bishop of Bayonne.
August 20, Giovo, Italy. “It is clear that anyone who has performed such an act does not know our values. Such contempt for this place, a religious symbol of yesterday and today that embodies the sensitivity of our people, discredits those who have done this by acting in the shadows, in the illusion that darkness can hide from its own cowardice.” — Michael Moser, local resident.
August 14, Clermont, France: “As Catholic Christians, this new event saddens us more, insofar as it suggests that people make churches a target to satisfy their addiction or to appease their greed.” — Monsignor Jacques Raymond Germain Benoit-Gonnin, Bishop of Beauvais, Senlis and Noyon.
August 10, Compiègne, France: “The most essential issue for us is that the tabernacle was forced open, and that the Blessed Sacrament, the presence of Christ was touched and stolen. This is a profanation for us.” — Julien Serey, Communications Director, Diocese of Oise.
August 1, Longford, Ireland: “Let there be no ambiguity, this is not a victimless crime. Vandalism of this kind is profoundly disrespectful to people of faith and to places of worship. It is threatening and distressing. In a truly pluralist society these examples of vandalism are of concern to our whole community.” — Bishop Francis Duffy.
May 21, Madrid, Spain: “It is very worrying that, year after year, attacks against churches increase. This can cause fear in believers when they go to pray or practice their faith. Religious freedom is the acid test of human rights. A democracy like ours cannot allow such a high number of attacks on religious freedom to occur. Religious freedom is a person’s most intimate right because it involves the conscience.” — María García, President, Observatory for Religious Freedom (Observatorio para la Libertad Religiosa y de Conciencia, OLRC).
May 24, Belfast, Northern Ireland: “All attacks on property are to be condemned, but the deliberate targeting of a church is particularly heinous. Apart from the obvious danger to life, attacks on churches cause a special revulsion because of their historical role in providing sanctuary and a normally safe place for worship…. This was not only an attack on a church, but as a peace-hungry society, this was an attack on all of us.” — The Belfast Telegraph.
May 17, Großholbach, Germany: “This hurts. These are values that have simply been trampled upon.” — Michael Kohlhass, Mayor of Großholbach .
April 4, Bois de Cené, France: “I condemn with the utmost firmness the degradations committed in the church of Bois-de-Céné. They are absolutely unbearable. Whether malicious or anti-Christian, such acts deeply hurt believers who have the right to be able to freely live their faith. Places of worship are places of meditation. Those who profane them at the same time attack secularism which allows ‘those who believe in heaven and those who do not believe’ to live together with respect for freedom of conscience.” — Yves Auvinet, President of the Departmental Council of Bois de Cené.
April 2, Paris, France: “The Church has occupied a very important place in French society for so long that some people do not want to pay attention to the attacks of which it is the victim.” — Jérôme Fourquet, Director of Opinion, Ifop polling agency.
April 2, Paris, France: “Christians, hostages of the war of civilizations in the Middle East, are part of that which rages quietly in our regions.” — Elisabeth Lévy, Editor-in-Chief, Causeur magazine.
March 23, Leoben, Austria: “This was no simple act of vandalism. It was spiritual anarchism. It is evil. They urinated at the altar and poured out the holy water. This was a manifestation of their attitude toward the church.” — Markus Plöbst, Parish Priest, Stadtpfarrkirche Leoben.
March 11, Strasbourg, France: “This lack of respect for the sacred in our society is very disturbing.” —Alain Fontanel, Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg.
March 5, Reichstett, France: “It’s a question of respect for religious buildings. On Halloween the Protestant church was targeted, and now it’s the Catholic church. It’s an attack on the freedom of worship.” — Georges Schuler, Mayor of Reichstett.
February 25, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, France: “It is the moral prejudice that is important, that is to say that it was an attack on the place of worship, an attack on religion, in a somewhat complicated context in France. Therefore, effectively, the moral prejudice is much more important than financial harm.” — François Blanchet, Mayor of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.
February 11, Ávila, Spain: “These acts of vandalism threaten first of all the heritage of our city,” said in a statement. Above all, however, they threaten respect and religious freedom, recognized and protected in the Constitution, and that must be the guarantor of a healthy and free peaceful coexistence in Spanish society.” — Bishopric of Ávila.
February 10, Maisons-Laffitte, France: “This vandalism is an attack on the freedom of worship because it is attacking what is at the heart of belief.” — Jean-Jacques Brot, Prefect, Yvelines department.
February 5, Lavaur, France: “God will forgive, I will not. I expect justice, an exemplary sanction for these acts of Christianophobia that have upset and outraged the people of Lavaur and, well beyond this, the French who are proud of their religious and cultural heritage.” — Bernard Carayon, Mayor of Lavaur.
January 17, Grenoble, France: “This criminal action is an attack on freedom of conscience, freedom of worship, and the value of coexistence,” — Bishop of Grenoble-Vienne, Guy de Kerimel.
January 10, Rovereto, Italy: “Expressing one’s thoughts with violence and arrogance by damaging the symbols and property of others is always wrong. In a democracy there are other ways to express one’s ideas. Whoever set fire to the entrance of the church of San Rocco is the enemy of dialogue and peaceful debate.” — Maurizio Fugatti, President of the Autonomous Province of Trento.
Soeren Kern is a Senior Fellow at the New York-based Gatestone Institute.
© 2020 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 سورين كرّين/معهد كايتستون: العداء ضد المسيحيين في أوروبا تصاعد بشكل كبير خلال العام 2019/Soeren Kern/Gatestone Institute/Europe: Anti-Christian Attacks Reach All-Time High in 2019 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Trump’s dilemma, how to deal with Iran?
Shmirit Meir/Ynetnews/January 01/2020
معضلة ترامب تكمن في كيفية التعامل مع إيران؟
شميريت مئير/يديعوت أحرونوت/01 كانون الثاني/2020

Opinion: Iran reverted to the tried and tested method of attacking an American diplomatic mission in order to humiliate the superpower and rekindle traumas from the past.

U.S. President Donald Trump is faced with the same question that has been vexing Israel for the past few decades: how to deal with Iranian aggression and their propensity to up the stakes when their backs seem to be against the wall.

Iran’s back is indeed against the wall. This has been a challenging year for the Iranians, perhaps the most challenging since the Islamic revolution in 1979, with crippling American sanctions, an economy in ruins, anti-government protests that required the use of brutal force along with blocking access to the internet, trouble in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

Iran has transitioned from an expansionist policy to a defensive one.
The goal of the well-organized riots outside the American embassy in Baghdad was not to kill Americans. The purpose was to embarrass Donald Trump, to indicate to the American public that his Iran policy has failed and that he is bringing his country to the brink of war in the Middle East -during an election year.

U.S. media is on automatic pilot fulfilling to role designated by Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani – the most influential person in the region for the past few years.

But Iran’s hysterics are an indication that the “maximum pressure” campaign is working. Iran is in a downward spiral, losing control, and firing randomly in all directions.

The Iranians are not very creative, so it was an old trick they had up their sleeve that they used – protesting masses outside an American embassy, shouting “death to America.”

Washington was wise to remove most personnel not already on Christmas vacation out of the Baghdad embassy compound.

Still, the pictures out of Iraq were meant to remind Americans of the 1979 siege of their embassy in Tehran as well as the attack on the consulate in Benghazi in 2012 that resulted in American deaths and an inescapable albatross around Hillary Clinton’s neck.

The pictures were meant to erase the fact that for weeks now Iraqi protesters have been demanding the Islamic Republic remove itself from their country’s politics.

On Tuesday night, Tahrir Square in Baghdad was alight with fireworks, balloons and partying youths celebrating the new year while around them the city was ablaze.

What will Trump do?
From the moment the danger to Americans in the Baghdad embassy is removed, the administration should exact a heavy price from Iran for the humiliation caused by the pro-Iranian protesters.

Trump had already taken disproportionate steps by killing 25 militiamen in response to one American casualty.

Observers in Israel say the Iranians should be made to pay dearly so as to dissuade them from trying anything like this for years to come, but the decision ultimately lies in the hands of one man – and we await his tweet.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Sy5hlV9k8

The post شميريت مئير/يديعوت أحرونوت: معضلة ترامب تكمن في كيفية التعامل مع إيران/Shmirit Meir/Ynetnews: Trump’s dilemma, how to deal with Iran? appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For January 02/2020

Click Here to read the whole and detailed LCCC English News Bulletin for January 02/2020

The post Detailed LCCC English News Bulletin For January 02/2020 appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For January 01-02/2020 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 77th Day
Compiled By: Elias Bejjani
January 02/2020

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on January01- 02/2020
Love Unites Not Enmity/Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
The accused is innocent until proven guilty/Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
Resolutions For the new year of 2020/Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
Contracts of Cellular Companies Not Extended
Trump to Have ‘Lebanese Son-in Law’
Serhan transmits judicial cooperation request on bank transfers to Swiss authorities
Rahi heads New Year’s mass in Bkirki
Lebanese Foreign Ministry: Circumstances of Ghosn’s departure from Japan and his arrival in Beirut are unknown
Sectarian Obstacles Hinder Formation of New Govt.
By Jumping Bail, Fugitive Ghosn Burns Bridges to Japan
Japan Media Blasts ‘Cowardly’ Ghosn after Escape
Ghosn met Lebanese president after fleeing Japan, say sources
What’s Next for Carlos Ghosn?
Carlos Ghosn is now free to speak; what will he say?/Brian Bremner and Young-Sam Cho/Bloomberg/January 01/2019
Lebanon’s justice minister tells Arab News Japan no extradition request received for Ghosn/Najia Houssari/January 01/2020
A daring escape: Ex-Nissan chief flees Japan ahead of trial/Associated Press/January 01/2020
End of the party: why Lebanon’s debt crisis has left it vulnerable/The Financial Times/January 01/2020
What protests in Lebanon can tell us about inequality worldwide/Mona Fawaz/Al Jazeera/January 01/2020

Details Of The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on January 01-02/2020
Love Unites Not Enmity
Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
Hizbullah, which is mere hostility and hatred, is striving to unite the Lebanese by force on the principle of enmity, while there is neither unity nor unification except on the basis of love.

The accused is innocent until proven guilty
Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
Carlos Ghosn is accused, not convicted yet. His case is so complicated and intertwined with international political conflicts. Have mercy on the man and stop stoning him The accused is innocent until proven guilty

Resolutions For the new year of 2020
Elias Bejjani/January 01/2020
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/81879/elias-bejjani-resolutions-for-the-new-year-of-2020/
How healthy and fruitful would it be if each and every one of us is fully ready to welcome the new year of 2010 with a clear conscience and a joyful reconciliation with himself/herself, as well and with all others, especially those who are the beloved ones, e.g, parents, family members, friends, etc.
How self gratifying would be for any faithful and wise person to enter the new year of 2020 and he/she is completely free from all past heavy and worrying loads of hostility, hatred, enmities, grudges, strives and jealousy.
And because our life is very short on this mortal-perishable earthly world.
And due to fact that, Our Heavenly Father, Almighty God may at any moment take back His Gift of life from any one of us.
Because of all these solid facts and realities, we are ought to leave behind all the 2019 hardships, pains and disappointments with no regrets at all.
We are ought to happily welcome and enter the 2020 new year with a totally empty page of our lives….ready for a new start.
Hopefully, every wise, loving, caring and faithful person would feel better in striving to begin this new year of 2020 with love, forgiveness, faith, hope, extended hands, open heart, and self-confidence.
Happy, Happy new Year

Contracts of Cellular Companies Not Extended
Naharnet/January 01/2020
Caretaker Minister of Finance, Ali Hassan Khalil, on Tuesday said that he had refused the extension of Lebanon’s state-owned operating cell phone companies’ mandate shortly before the Media and Communications Parliamentary Committee convened and rejected the extension.
“Someone has ignorantly or deliberately spread a rumor saying that the Minister of Finance has inked a mandate extension decree for cell phone companies,” Khalil said in a tweet. “The news fabricated and unfounded and the entire idea of extension has been originally rejected by me,” he added. The Media and Communications Committee announced that contracts of the two Lebanese cellular companies Alpha and Touch had not been extended. Groups of protesters have gathered outside the Parliament in line with the meeting in an attempt to voice objection against the extension.

Trump to Have ‘Lebanese Son-in Law’
Naharnet/January 01/2020
A young man of Lebanese descent will get engaged to U.S. President Donald Trump’s daughter Tiffany on January 11, according to invitations sent out by their two families. “The story of Michael Charbel Boulos and Tiffany Donald Trump started in the summer of 2018, as they were vacationing on the Mykonos Island in Greece,” Lebanon’s MTV reported. Tiffany, 26, is Trump’s daughter from his former marriage to Marla Maples. She is the youngest among his daughters. Boulos, 25, grew up in Nigeria, where his family owns a multibillion-dollar company that trades in vehicles, equipment, retail and construction.
According to media reports, Boulos’ father owns the conglomerate SCOA Nigeria PLC, which has its hand in almost every major industry in Nigeria, including automobile, construction, agriculture, food and drink and infrastructure, according to its stock profile. Boulos recently attended the White House Christmas party with his parents Massad and Sarah Boulos. On Tuesday, the young man and Tiffany Trump celebrated New Year’s Eve at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. According to MTV, Boulos likely has four citizenships, including the American. The engagement party will be held in Florida on January 11 amid “strict security measures,” MTV reported.

Serhan transmits judicial cooperation request on bank transfers to Swiss authorities
NNA/January 01/2020
Caretaker Minister of Justice Albert Serhan’s media bureau, announced that the Minister “transmitted to the Swiss judicial authorities, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, the letter of the Prosecutor General, Ghassan Oweidat, on the subject of requesting judicial assistance regarding information about transferring funds from Lebanon to bank accounts in Switzerland” .The statement stressed that “the Lebanese authorities have pledged to maintain the confidentiality of the investigation and to refrain from using the information provided by the Swiss judicial authorities except for the purposes of this investigation.”The statement concluded that the request for legal aid also included reporting “the total amount of the funds transferred, with reference to their source, and whether they are considered to be suspicious or not.”

Rahi heads New Year’s mass in Bkirki
NNA/January 01/2020
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rahi, reiterated Wednesday during New Year’s message the need to “form a mini-government of non-partisan ministers who would be capable of implementing a financial, economic, social and administrative reform program for the sake of the country.” Rahi urged politicians to make necessary reforms and development at the economic, financial and social levels, away from political disputes. “Lebanese officials must show responsibility in carrying out the necessary reforms in public sector and reduce the deficit away from the political sectarian interference,” he added. The prelate concluded his words by saying, “The approach to quotas in political action must be changed.”

Lebanese Foreign Ministry: Circumstances of Ghosn’s departure from Japan and his arrival in Beirut are unknown
NNA/January 01/2020
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants said in a statement Tuesday that Mr. Carlos Ghosn has entered Lebanon legally at dawn yesterday, as confirmed by the Lebanese General Security. The Ministry said that the circumstances of Ghosn’s departure from Japan and his arrival in Beirut were unknown. The statement indicated that the Ministry has sent several correspondences to the Japanese government regarding Ghosn over the past year, but remained unanswered. The Ministry also noted that Lebanon does not have judicial cooperation agreement with Japan. The Foreign Ministry underlined Lebanon’s keenness on best relations with the Japanese state.

Sectarian Obstacles Hinder Formation of New Govt.
Naharnet/January 01/2020
Disagreements over the representation of the various sects are still hindering the formation of Hassan Diab’s government, media reports said.
“A Druze obstacle emerged yesterday after (Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid) Jumblat and other (Druze) officials criticized that they will be represented through the nonessential environment portfolio,” An-Nahar newspaper reported on Sunday. “Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has insisted that the (only) Druze minister (in the 18-seat government) should be affiliated with his ally, MP Talal Arslan,” the daily added. Bassil fears that a Druze minister close to Jumblat might resign later, stripping the government of its Druze component and consequently of its conformity with the 1943 National Pact, an unwritten agreement that set the foundations of modern Lebanon as a multi-confessional state.
“The candidate who has been proposed for the ministerial post is the physician Ramzi Msharrafiyeh,” An-Nahar quoted political sources informed on the formation process as saying.
Diab has meanwhile been unable to find Sunni candidates who hail from the capital Beirut. “An indirect contact took place between the PM-designate and Dr. Halima Qaaqour, an activist from the Watani coalition, with the aim of allotting the education portfolio to her,” the sources said.
“She inquired about the government’s program and plan, but it turned out that she was not eager to take part in the government and will likely refuse,” the sources added. Dr. Tarek Mohammed al-Majzoub, who hails from Sidon, is meanwhile being considered for the portfolio.
“Othman Sultan, who hails from Tripoli and is not known in the political arena, has been proposed for the telecom portfolio,” An-Nahar said.
The interior portfolio is meanwhile one of the main obstacles that are delaying the formation of the government. The chances of two retired officers – Bassem Khaled and Hosni Daher – have decreased, the daily added. The parties are meanwhile seriously considering retired Brig. Gen. Mohammed Fahmi for the post. Retired officers are also being mulled to occupy the defense portfolio after Shadi Masaad was “totally excluded.”
The sources also noted that the Shiite parties – Hizbullah and AMAL – are insisting on renominating Jamil Jabaq and Hasan al-Laqqis should Bassil cling to returning Nada Bustani and Mansour Bteish to the government. The sources also revealed that the government’s line-up was supposed to be announced on Monday, prior to the meeting of the Sunni Islamic Council scheduled for next Saturday, noting that Bassil “obstructed the announcement and preferred to wait, pending the resolution of the remaining obstacles.”

By Jumping Bail, Fugitive Ghosn Burns Bridges to Japan
Associated Press/Naharnet/January 01/2020
By jumping bail, former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who had long insisted on his innocence, has now committed a clear offense and can never return to Japan without going to jail. “So he now has burned his bridges to Japan,” Stephen Givens, a lawyer and expert on Japan’s legal and corporate systems, said Wednesday. “This is going to end in basically a stalemate with him spending the rest of his life in Lebanon.”How exactly Ghosn fled surveillance in Japan and popped up in Lebanon, or who might have directed the dramatic escape, remains unclear. The Tokyo District Court revoked his bail, Japanese media reports said, meaning authorities would seize the 1.5 billion yen ($14 million) Ghosn had posted on two separate instances to get out of detention. Ghosn was first arrested in November 2018, released and then rearrested. The court was closed for the New Year’s holidays and could not be immediately reached for comment.
Ghosn had been out on bail while awaiting trial on various financial misconduct allegations. The trial was expected to start in April. The date had not been set. How the Japanese authorities might investigate Ghosn’s escape and what action they might take on the apparent security lapses remains unclear.
Ghosn, who is of Lebanese origin and holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports, disclosed his location in a statement through his representatives but did not say how he managed to flee Japan. He promised to talk to reporters next week. He said he wanted to avoid “injustice and political persecution.”
“I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, in flagrant disregard of Japan’s legal obligations under international law and treaties it is bound to uphold,” the statement said.
His lawyer Junichiro Hironaka denied all knowledge of the escape, saying he was stunned. He said he didn’t expect Ghosn to return to Japan. When asked if Ghosn had taken any of the documents being prepared for the trial, Hironaka acknowledged he hadn’t checked but said he seriously doubted Ghosn would care about a trial he had taken such pains to avoid. Japanese media reports said Wednesday there were no official records of Ghosn’s departure from the country, but a private jet had left from a regional airport to Turkey. One report said he sneaked out from his Tokyo home hiding in a case for a musical instrument. Lebanon’s caretaker minister for presidential affairs, Salim Jreissati, told the An-Nahar newspaper that Ghosn entered legally at the airport with a French passport and Lebanese ID. France has reacted with surprise and confusion, denying any knowledge. Speculation is rife that a foreign or Japanese government, or both, might have been involved, or maybe just looked the other way to allow the escape to rid the public of a potentially embarrassing trial. With him missing, Ghosn’s trial is suspended.
But a trial is still pending against Nissan as a company and Greg Kelly, another Nissan executive. Kelly, an American, has said he is innocent. Kelly’s allegations overlap with those charges against Ghosn related to the underreporting of Ghosn’s future compensation. Those charges are less serious than the additional breach of trust accusations against Ghosn. Ghosn has been charged with breach of trust in having Nissan shoulder his personal investment losses, and diverting payments in Saudi Arabia and Oman for personal gain. He has repeatedly asserted his innocence, saying authorities trumped up the charges to prevent a fuller merger between Nissan and alliance partner Renault SA.

Japan Media Blasts ‘Cowardly’ Ghosn after Escape
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 01/2020
The usually staid Japanese media lambasted the “cowardly” Carlos Ghosn on Wednesday, after the tycoon jumped bail and fled to Lebanon to avoid trial in Japan. “Running away is a cowardly act that mocks Japan’s justice system,” said the Yomiuri Shimbun, with Ghosn facing multiple charges of financial misconduct — all of which he denies. By leaving the country, Ghosn has “lost the opportunity to prove his innocence and vindicate his honor,” the paper added, noting that the court, his defense lawyers and immigration control officials also bore some blame in the affair.
The liberal Tokyo Shimbun also said Ghosn’s actions had made a mockery of the Japanese justice system. “The defendant Ghosn insists he escaped political persecution… but traveling abroad without permission is against the conditions of his bail, and mocks the Japanese justice system,” the paper wrote.”There is a high probability that the trial will not be held, and his argument that he wants to prove his innocence is now in question.”Some media noted that the decision to give him bail — seen by some as unusual at the time — now looks unwise. Prosecutors had argued at the time that he was a flight risk with powerful connections, but Ghosn himself had said he wanted to be tried to prove his innocence. One of his defense lawyers at the time has said he was such a famous face that there was no chance he would be able to slip away undetected. The conservative Sankei Shimbun noted that prosecutors believed the court had yielded to “foreign pressure” by offering him bail, amid widespread criticism in the global media of Japan’s “hostage justice system” that allows for lengthy and repeated detention. In December 2018, the court declined prosecutors’ request to extend Ghosn’s detention by 10 days — a surprising decision as the extension is usually almost automatic. And in fact Ghosn was bailed twice, once in March and a second time after he was re-arrested in April. “All of these were rare decisions,” said the Sankei. The center-left Mainichi Shimbun quoted a senior prosecutor as saying: “This is what we predicted.” “This has ruined the prosecutors’ painstaking work” of collecting evidence in Japan and abroad against him.The Asahi Shimbun also quoted a former Nissan executive voicing his disappointment at Ghosn’s actions. “The entrepreneur who ran Nissan for so many years and was well-known internationally turns out to be this kind of person. My jaw hit the floor. I can’t find the words to express myself.”

Ghosn met Lebanese president after fleeing Japan, say sources
Reuters/Al Jazeera/January 01/2020
Ghosn was greeted warmly by President Michel Aoun on Monday after flying into Beirut via Istanbul, sources tell Reuters.
Fugitive former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn met Lebanon’s president after escaping from Japan, where he was smuggled out of house arrest by a private security company, two sources close to Ghosn said on Wednesday. One of the sources said that Ghosn was greeted warmly by President Michel Aoun on Monday after flying into Beirut via Istanbul – and that he was now in a buoyant and combative mood and feeling secure. In his meeting with the president, Ghosn thanked Aoun for the support he had given him and his wife Carole while he was in detention, the sources said. He now needs the protection and security of his government after fleeing Japan, they added. A media adviser to the president’s office denied the two men had met. Lebanese officials have said there would be no need to take legal measures against Ghosn because he entered the country legally on a French passport, although Ghosn’s French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports are with lawyers in Japan. The French and Lebanese foreign ministries have said they were unaware of the circumstances of his journey. Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan, where Ghosn faced trial on charges of financial misconduct, which he denied. Under the terms of his bail, he had been confined to his house in Tokyo and had to have cameras installed at the entrance. He was prevented from communicating with his wife, and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed.
The sources said the Lebanese ambassador to Japan had visited him daily while he was in detention.
‘Pure fiction’
While some Lebanese media outlets have floated a Houdini-like account of Ghosn being packed in a wooden container for musical instruments after a private concert in his home, his wife called the account pure fiction when contacted by Reuters News Agency. She declined to provide details of the exit of one of the most recognisable titans of industry. The accounts of the two sources suggest a carefully planned escape of which few people were aware. Sources said a private security firm oversaw the plan, which was three months in the making and involved shuttling Ghosn out via a private jet to Istanbul before pushing onward to Beirut, with even the pilot unaware of Ghosn’s presence on board. “It was a very professional operation from start to finish” said one of the sources. The other source said Ghosn was in good health. In a written statement, Ghosn said after his arrival that he had “escaped injustice and political persecution” and would begin communicating with media next week. Sources close to him said he was unwilling to share details of his escape so as not to jeopardise those who aided him in Japan. He is staying at the home of a relative of his wife, but plans to return soon to a gated villa in the upscale Beirut neighbourhood of Achrafieh, one of the sources said. Ghosn was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018 and faces four charges – which he denies – including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East. Nissan sacked him as chairman saying internal investigations revealed misconduct including understating his salary while he was the company’s chief executive, and transferring $5m of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest. Ghosn has enjoyed an outpouring of support from Lebanese people since his 2018 arrest, with billboards proclaiming “We are all Carlos Ghosn” erected in the country in solidarity with his case. Locally he is considered a poster boy for success in a country where rampant unemployment pushes young Lebanese abroad to find work and the economy relies heavily on remittances amid a deep financial crisis that has sparked a wave of protests.
Ghosn was born in Brazil but is of Lebanese descent, and lived in Lebanon as a child. He oversaw a turnaround at French carmaker Renault that won him the nickname “Le Cost Killer” and used similar methods to revive Nissan.

What’s Next for Carlos Ghosn?
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 01/2020
Former car magnate Carlos Ghosn’s stunning departure from Japan, where he was facing trial on financial misconduct charges, poses numerous questions as to where his story goes next. Venerated French cartoonist Plantu of Le Monde newspaper portrayed the 65-year-old Tuesday with a smile on his face, a party hat on his head and relaxing in a hammock. The look of insouciance contrasted with the consternation in Japan after his arrival in Beirut via Istanbul. Sprung out in music case? The exact circumstances of Ghosn’s daring escape from Japan, where he had been released on bail in April pending trial after 130 days in prison, remain unclear, though colorful rumors abound. One claim in the Lebanese media is that the auto mogul, who holds Lebanese, French and Brazilian nationalities, was sprung from his Tokyo residence in a musical instrument case — a story a source in his entourage denied. A Lebanese presidential source said the former Nissan and Renault boss had landed in Turkey before an early hours onward flight to Lebanon. The stunt left his Japanese lawyer Junichiro Hironaka dumbfounded — Hironaka says the mogul’s three passports remain in Japan. Lebanon’s foreign ministry said Tuesday that Ghosn entered the country legally. The country’s General Security apparatus said that “there are no measures that warrant taking steps against him or prosecuting him.”
Can he be extradited?
“There is no extradition accord between Lebanon and Japan,” a source at the Lebanese ministry of justice told AFP. Though that is the case, one expert in international relations told AFP that “the absence of (an extradition) convention does not in itself preclude extraditing an individual.
“But certain states, Lebanon included, do not extradite their nationals,” the expert added. Former Lebanese justice minister, Ibrahim Najjar, said that if Interpol were to become engaged in the case Ghosn’s name would be communicated to border authorities in member countries with a view to his arrest. “But Interpol cannot have him arrested by force or impose any decision on Lebanon.”The international relations expert noted that a Lebanese court could try Ghosn “if he has committed a crime punishable by Lebanese law” but “Lebanon cannot judge a person accused of tax fraud committed in a foreign country.”
Tokyo trial outlook
Arrested in Tokyo in November 2018, Ghosn, who insists he is fleeing “injustice and political persecution,” faced going on trial in April on four charges including under-reporting salary, allegedly trying to have Nissan cover personal foreign exchange losses and using millions of Nissan funds transferred to a dealership in Oman for his own use. But his departure, which his defense counsel labelled inexcusable, has thrown the process up in the air. “The defense team has totally lost face,” having earlier promised Ghosn would not leave the country, former prosecutor Nobuo Gohara, a lawyer, told AFP. “For the prosecutors it is an extremely serious situation. Nissan must be afraid. And the prosecutors as well.”France also has a legal action against Ghosn opened last April over alleged financial wrongdoing but “his absconding should not have any consequences for our investigation,” French prosecutor Catherine Denis told AFP on Tuesday. What next for Ghosn? Ghosn, now in his Beirut home with his wife according to a family friend, has vowed to communicate “freely” with the media “starting next week” and put his side of an episode which has divided the city where he grew up. Lebanese writer and film director Lucien Bourjeily waxed ironic on Twitter, observing wryly that Ghosn “has come for the comfort and ‘efficiency’ of a Lebanese judicial system which has never put a politician in jail for corruption.”That, in a country where the populace are currently up in arms against a political class they see as venal.

Carlos Ghosn is now free to speak; what will he say?
Brian Bremner and Young-Sam Cho/Bloomberg/January 01/2019
Former Nissan CEO and white collar fugitive is expected to make a blistering public relations assault.
Carlos Ghosn has spent more than a year trapped in a Japanese legal odyssey that’s transfixed the automotive world and thrown his life into chaos. Now, having pulled off a daring escape from Japan to Lebanon, he’s an international fugitive.
But the executive is also free to speak his mind fully, without legal filtering, for the first time since his surprise arrest on the tarmac at Haneda airport back in November 2018. And this much seems likely: The former head of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA has stories to tell and scores to settle.
At stake is Ghosn’s entire legacy. Will he be remembered as the brilliant, cost-cutting manager who rescued Nissan and built one of mightiest auto alliances in the industry? Or will he be just another name in a hall of infamy of white-collar fugitives?
Ghosn said in his statement from Lebanon on Tuesday that he would “finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.” So get ready for what’s likely to be a blistering public relations assault, starting with an expected press conference, that will rattle some cages in both Japan and France. Based on past statements by Ghosn and his wife Carole, here’s a guide to what may be in store.
Japan’s legal system
“I have not fled justice,” Ghosn said in the first emailed statement after his remarkable exit from Japan. “I have escaped injustice and political persecution.” An even more robust indictment of the nation’s legal system is likely in the weeks ahead.
Ghosn’s arrest revived long-standing concerns about the fairness of Japan’s judicial system, where prosecutors can grill suspects repeatedly without their lawyers present and enjoy an almost 100% conviction rate.
Under the terms of the executive’s bail, the courts restricted contact with his family. In his Dec. 31 statement, Ghosn called the Japanese justice system rigged and said his “basic human rights” had been denied, including the presumption of innocence. Those are issues that he almost certainly would have put on the world stage had his case come to trial.
Unholy trinity
For months, Ghosn’s attorneys have been arguing that all of the charges against their client were bogus, the result of a broad conspiracy among nationalistic Nissan officials, Japanese prosecutors and the government itself.
The goal, according to Ghosn, was to smear him in order to prevent the executive from further integrating Nissan and France’s Renault, a plan that threatened the Japanese carmaker’s autonomy and was vehemently opposed in the highest echelons of Tokyo officialdom.
Corporate assassins
In April, Ghosn was detained before a scheduled tell-all press conference, prompting his camp to release a pre-recorded video for such an eventuality.
In it, Ghosn spoke of several Nissan executives whom he claimed turned on him to advance their own interests. The original video named the people; that segment was edited out in the version released to the public.
“I’m talking here about a few executives who, obviously for their own interests and for their own selfish fears, are creating a lot of value destruction. Names? You know them,” Ghosn hinted in his video. Now, Ghosn may really be ready to disclose names.
Nissan’s slide
In his video, Ghosn also criticized Nissan’s management for the company’s poor performance, saying they lost sight of the need to move the alliance with Renault forward.
“I’m worried because obviously the performance of Nissan is declining, but also I’m worried because I don’t think there is any vision for the alliance being built,” Ghosn said in the video.
Nissan’s earnings have tumbled to the lowest level in a decade and the stock was the worst performer on the Bloomberg World Auto Manufacturers Index last year (the second-worst was Renault), so he may hit that note again.
French establishment
In several interviews, Ghosn’s wife, Carole, lashed out at the French establishment for not doing more to help the former head of Renault, who also is a French citizen.
In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche, she said President Emmanuel Macron hasn’t answered her pleas for help. “The silence from the Elysee Palace is deafening,” she said. “I thought France was a country that defended the presumption of innocence. They’ve all forgotten everything Carlos did for France’s economy and for Renault.” It remains to be seen which talking points Ghosn will hit the hardest. Yet this much is clear: He is a fighter, and he has everything to lose if he can’t pull ahead in the PR war. That suggests his approach won’t be subtle.

Lebanon’s justice minister tells Arab News Japan no extradition request received for Ghosn
Najia Houssari/January 01/2020
BEIRUT: Lebanese Minister of Justice Albert Serhan told Arab News Japan on Wednesday that Japan has not filed an official extradition request for former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who fled Japan for Lebanon via Turkey on Dec. 30.
Ghosn, a Brazilian-born French businessman of Lebanese ancestry, was arrested in Japan in November 2018 over allegations that he had under-reported his earnings and misused company assets. He was re-arrested under new charges of misappropriation of funds while out on bail in April. Ghosn has broken the terms of his bail by fleeing to Lebanon.
Serhan said: “Ghosn has Lebanese citizenship, and — according to the principles and laws — is thus treated as a Lebanese citizen. According to our applicable laws, a Lebanese man will be tried before Lebanese courts unless there is an extradition treaty, and there is none between Lebanon and Japan. In any case, we will not jump to conclusions. Until now, the Japanese government has not sent any request to have him returned.”
Lebanon accepted an extradition request from the US earlier this year, despite the fact that it has no extradition treaty with America. Ali Salameh, who holds dual Lebanese and American citizenship and was accused of kidnapping his four-year-old son from the United States and taking him to Lebanon following a dispute with his wife over his custody, was handed over the to FBI. However, Serhan stressed: “That man had dual citizenship. Carlos Ghosn does not have Japanese citizenship. Every case is different.”
Asked whether Ghosn fleeing to Lebanon would affect Lebanese-Japanese relations, Serhan said: “We hope (not). If principles are followed and laws are respected, this case cannot affect the relations between the two countries.”
He stressed that Lebanon is keen to maintain good relations with all countries, and that it respects international law. “Lebanon needs Japan, which is one of the largest economies, and it provides us with assistance,” he said. “We hope that Japan understands, especially with regard to Lebanese laws.”
Ghosn is believed to be planning a press conference in Beirut on Jan. 8, saying in a statement on New Year’s Eve, “I can now finally communicate freely with the media and look forward to starting next week.”
Serhan said that Ghosn could hold the press conference but only if he did not damage relations between Lebanon and Japan.
“Ghosn is a Lebanese citizen who enjoys (the same rights as all citizens),” Serhan said. “He may hold his press conference as long as he does not criticize any state and does not affect relations between our two countries.”
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that it wishes to maintain “the best relations with the Japanese State,” but added that Ghosn entered Lebanon “in a legal manner.”
The ministry explained that, a year ago, Lebanon sent a number of official communiqués to the Japanese government in relation to Ghosn’s case, but no response was received. During the visit of Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Keisuke Suzuki to Lebanon a few days ago, a complete file on the case was handed to the Lebanese government. During Suzuki’s visit — the first by a Japanese state minister to Lebanon in three years — he said: “Japan believes that peace and stability in Lebanon is of great importance for the entirety of the Middle East and, therefore, Japan is committed to supporting Lebanon.”

A daring escape: Ex-Nissan chief flees Japan ahead of trial
Associated Press/January 01/2020
TOKYO: In a daring escape that confounded authorities, Nissan’s former Chairman Carlos Ghosn skipped bail while awaiting trial in Japan on allegations of financial misconduct and reappeared in Lebanon, where he said Tuesday that he had fled to avoid “political persecution.”
Ghosn, who is of Lebanese origin and holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports, disclosed his location in a statement through his representatives but did not say how he managed to get out of Japan, where he had been under surveillance. He promised to talk to reporters next week.
“I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, in flagrant disregard of Japan’s legal obligations under international law and treaties it is bound to uphold,” the statement said.
Speaking anonymously, prosecutors in Japan told Japanese media they did not know how Ghosn got out. His lawyer also denied all knowledge of the escape, saying he was stunned. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, which said Ghosn had entered the country legally and there was no reason to take any action against him.
“He is home,” Ghosn’s friend, television host Ricardo Karam said in a message. “It’s a big adventure.”
Karam said Ghosn arrived in Lebanon on Monday morning, but declined to elaborate. The Lebanon-based newspaper Al-Joumhouriya said Ghosn arrived in Beirut from Turkey aboard a private jet.
Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 and was expected to face trial in April 2020. He posted 1.5 billion yen ($14 million) bail on two separate instances after he was arrested a second time on additional charges, and released again.
Prosecutors fought his release, but a court granted him bail on condition that he be monitored and not meet with his wife, Carole, who is also of Lebanese origin. Recently, the court allowed them to speak by video.
Ghosn, who was charged with under-reporting his future compensation and breach of trust, has repeatedly asserted his innocence, saying authorities trumped-up charges to prevent a possible fuller merger between Nissan Motor Co. and alliance partner Renault SA.
“Maybe he thought he won’t get a fair trial,” said his lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, stressing that he continues to believe Ghosn is innocent. “I can’t blame him for thinking that way.”
The charges Ghosn faces carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
How Ghosn managed to flee was, publicly at least, a mystery. Hironaka said the lawyers were holding Ghosn’s three passports, yet Lebanon’s minister for presidential affairs, Selim Jreissati, told the An-Nahar newspaper that Ghosn entered legally at the airport with a French passport and Lebanese ID.
France reacted with surprise and some confusion.
The French foreign ministry said in a statement that French authorities “have heard from the press about the arrival of Carlos Ghosn to Lebanon.” They “have not been informed of his departure from Japan and have no knowledge of the circumstances of his departure,” the statement said.
Agnes Pannier-Runacher, a junior finance minister, told broadcaster BFM-TV that “I was surprised as you when I learned about this escape.”
Ghosn’s lawyer, Hironaka, said he last spoke with his client on Christmas Day and was never consulted about leaving for Lebanon. However, he said the circumstances of Ghosn’s arrest, the seizure of evidence and the strict bail conditions were unfair.
Jreissati told An-Naharhe he had asked Japan to hand Ghosn over to be tried in Lebanon according to international anti-corruption laws. However, since there was no official word from Tokyo and it was not yet clear how Ghosn came to Lebanon, Beirut wouldn’t take a formal position. Jreissati did not immediately respond to calls from The Associated Press.
People in Lebanon take special pride in the auto industry icon, who is credited with leading a spectacular turnaround at Nissan beginning in the late 1990s, and rescued the automaker from near-bankruptcy.
Ghosn speaks fluent Arabic and visited the country regularly. Born in Brazil, where his Lebanese grandfather had sought his fortune, Ghosn grew up in Beirut, where he spent part of his childhood at a Jesuit school.
Before his fall from grace, Ghosn was also a celebrity in Japan, where he was revered for his managerial acumen.
Nissan did not have immediate comment Tuesday. The Japanese automaker of the March subcompact, Leaf electric car, and Infiniti luxury models have also been charged as a company in relation to Ghosn’s alleged financial crimes.
Japanese securities regulators recently recommended Nissan be fined 2.4 billion yen ($22 million) over disclosure documents from 2014 to 2017. Nissan has said it accepted the penalty and corrected its securities documents in May.
The company’s sales and profits have tumbled and its brand image is tarnished. It has acknowledged lapses in its governance and has promised to improve its transparency.
Another former Nissan executive, Greg Kelly, an American, was arrested at the same time as Ghosn and is awaiting trial. He has said he is innocent.
Hiroto Saikawa, who replaced Ghosn as head of Nissan, announced his resignation in September after financial misconduct allegations surfaced against him related to his income. He has not been charged with any crime.
The conviction rate in Japan exceeds 99% and winning an acquittal through a lengthy appeals process could take years. Rights activists in Japan and abroad say Japan’s judicial system does not presume innocence enough and relies on long detentions that lead to false confessions.
In addition to under-reporting his future compensation, Ghosn is accused of diverting Nissan money and having it shoulder his personal investment losses. Other allegations against him involve payments to a Saudi dealership, as well as funds paid to an Oman business that were purportedly diverted to entities run by Ghosn. Ghosn has said that the compensation was never decided, that Nissan never suffered losses from the investments and that all the payments were for legitimate business services.
*El Deeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Zeina Karam in Beirut, and Sylvie Corbet and John Leicester in Paris contributed.

End of the party: why Lebanon’s debt crisis has left it vulnerable
The Financial Times/January 01/2020
Once known for its resilience, the country’s fragile financial system has triggered angry protests
Chloe Cornish in Beirut
In 2008, as mountains of bad debt collapsed and economies around the world crumbled, carefree gamblers at the central bank-owned Casino du Liban rolled dice and spun roulette wheels. Unscathed by the global financial crisis, Beirut glittered as the Middle East’s party capital and purveyor of discrete financial services.Lebanon offered wealthy investors something they could not get elsewhere — high interest rates for low risk investments. While the rest of the world’s central banks tried to boost post-crisis recovery by holding borrowing costs at 1 per cent or less, the Banque du Liban pushed rates up so high that returns of more than 10 per cent became common for depositors. The central bank paid so much because it badly needed a constant supply of dollars to maintain a currency peg against the US dollar, pay for imports and fund the government. “Lebanon relies on remittances,” Riad Salame, central bank governor, told the FT in 2018.
That reliance on money from overseas left the government vulnerable and sliding ever further into debt, especially as economic growth has been sluggish since the start of the Arab spring in 2011. A bungled October effort at raising funds via a tax on WhatsApp calls triggered Lebanon’s biggest protests in over a decade, adding to the political paralysis and deepening the economic crisis. Now the debt-fuelled crash Beirut avoided in 2008 could have finally arrived. Rating agency Fitch is predicting default on $88bn of Lebanese public borrowing. The country’s apparent powers of resilience, even as it was surrounded by instability, suddenly look more like luck — and Lebanon is in its most precarious position since its civil war ended in 1990.
A harsh economic collapse at the heart of the tumultuous Middle East would hurt Lebanon’s poorest most, at a time when public opinion is already enraged by perceived corruption and cronyism. “It will be very very hard,” says Sibylle Rizk, public policy director at Kulluna Irada, a lobby group, “and the possibility of violence and social unrest is high.”
With its nearly 7m population of Christians and Sunni and Shia Muslims, including over 1m refugees, Lebanon is surrounded by trouble — civil war has raged in next door Syria since 2011 and tensions with neighbouring Israel are continuous. Iran-backed Shia Islamist paramilitary and political party Hizbollah, seen by many Lebanese as a defender against Israel but viewed by Washington as a terrorist group, now forms an integral part of Lebanon’s government, souring relations with Gulf countries that were once Lebanon’s sponsors.
Yet even amid these tensions, Beirut’s high life, yacht-friendly marina and banking secrecy made it a playground for the Middle East’s wealthy.
The central bank borrowed from Lebanese commercial banks, who borrowed from their clients. Lenders “could generate profits at very low risk”, says Nasser Saidi, a former central bank vice-governor. “For each bank it looked like this was paradise.” The banks’ deposits with the central bank grew by over 70 per cent from 2017 to August 2019 to 229trn Lebanese lira.
For some observers, the numbers did not add up. “What could the central bank be investing in to pay those rates?” says Mr Saidi. But as banks paid out dividends to shareholders, many of whom were politicians, Lebanon’s political elites were happy to go along with it. “Everybody got greedy,” shrugs one bank board member.
Meanwhile politicians were spending the country deep into the red, buying votes by expanding public hiring and wasting cash on unsustainable solutions for Lebanon’s chronically malfunctioning electricity sector, while its trade deficit ballooned.
Lebanon’s biggest protests in a decade forced the resignation of prime minister Saad al-Hariri’s government at the end of October. Hassan Diab, a computer sciences professor, appointed prime minister designate, must now corral Lebanon’s multi-confessional political parties — shifting alliances between Christian, Sunni and Shia Muslim factions — into forming a cabinet to steer the country out of crisis.
Amid the growing warnings about a looming default, Mr Hariri had begun to beseech international allies for help and started talks with the IMF. The west has little interest in seeing this crucible of regional tensions explode. The rise of Iran-backed Hizbollah means it can no longer depends on Gulf bailouts.
But while many capitals from Paris to Tehran want influence in the strategic Mediterranean nation, no state has so far offered to foot the bill. Asked whether an aid packaged was on the table, David Schenker, the State Department’s assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, told the Associated Press: “Lebanon is not being saved from its financial mess.”
Lebanon’s drastic downturn came slowly then suddenly. After months of economic slowdown and a dollar liquidity squeeze, rampant wildfires erupted across the mountains in central Lebanon, unchecked in part because the state had failed to maintain expensive helicopters. Days later, in an austerity measure to curb its deepening fiscal deficit, politicians proposed taxing WhatsApp calls. Lebanon snapped.
Hundreds of thousands have demonstrated since mid-October against political corruption, bad governance, poor infrastructure, and economic unfairness. Beirut’s downtown area, where bank headquarters are concentrated, has been filled with graffiti and tear gas.
This “so called revolution” took the lenders by surprise, says Riad Obegi, chairman and general manager of Banque Bemo, a Lebanese bank. The disruption of the protests “creates lack of confidence,” he adds, which led to a rush of depositors trying to send money abroad. But banks had put half of their assets in the central bank to earn high rates, which meant that honouring the transfer requests would have gutted the country’s reserves.
In October, the country’s banks, which had managed to stay open during Lebanon’s bloody civil war, closed for two weeks. The union of banking workers said it was for safety; economists suspected they were low on dollars and trying to avert a bank run. But by closing, argues Mr Saidi, the banks themselves triggered panic, while their informal capital restrictions generated an “accusation that the big depositors were able to get out”.
When they reopened, guarded by soldiers, clerks told panicked customers they could not send money abroad, nor withdraw large sums in dollars. “We’re all in it together,” bankers told clients — but rumours swirled that the politically connected mega-rich had already got their money out, even as customers could withdraw only $200 per week in cash.
Amid fears about whether their leaders can protect their savings, many Lebanese worry that the government might choose to prioritise foreign creditors, who hold nearly $12bn worth of Lebanon’s debt.
So far the central bank has managed to cover the government’s repayments to its creditors — who are mostly domestic banks. However, multiple downgrades of Lebanon’s sovereign debt in the past few months suggest time could be running out.
Locking down Lebanon’s traditionally open economy with informal capital controls further discourages the all-important inflow of dollars. Indeed, the country had already been witnessing a net capital outflow since January 2018, according to Goldman Sachs research. And it has throttled businesses. According to Infopro Research in Beirut, 160,000 jobs have been lost since the beginning of October and one in 10 companies have closed. Hospitals are strained after losing bank overdrafts which they had used to cover money they are owed by the government.
For years, Lebanese had been assured that their banking sector was safe, and the sense of betrayal is palpable. Protesters have splattered the locked Association of Banks in blood red paint. People spend hours in banks trying to extract their own money to pay rent.
“You see people how shocked they are by the fact that they can’t access their money,” says Ms Rizk. “It’s because they have been simply deceived.”
The foundations of Lebanon’s crisis were laid three decades ago, when 15 years of fratricidal civil war finally came to an end in 1990. Before he became Lebanon’s prime minister in 1992, Rafiq al-Hariri — who was assassinated in 2005 — was a construction tycoon who controlled Lebanese lender BankMed. (Saad al-Hariri, the recently resigned premier, is his son).
To attract investment for postwar reconstruction — and having made his fortune in Saudi Arabia — the billionaire enlisted Gulf petrodollars to invest in Lebanon. And although Lebanon was variously occupied by Israel and Syria until 2005, confidence in Mr Hariri’s vision grew, and money and people returned to Lebanon during the 1990s and early 2000s. Mr Hariri started borrowing from international markets, and his successors did the same.
By 2019 the state was using almost half its revenues to service external and domestic debt — the other half largely went on public wages. Warlords-turned-politicians had bought votes by hiring public sector workers from their constituencies. Meanwhile corruption flourished, as the state ran opaque tenders for government contracts.
Despite all the money which came to Lebanon, says Ms Rizk, “we have no infrastructure, no productive sector. We have nothing. All this money was burnt on consumption . . . through imports and real estate, which is a bubble, and to defend the peg.”
Holding the currency peg had helped to stabilise the economy, but it is not known at what cost — and the potential impact of devaluation will fall most heavily on ordinary Lebanese savers who kept their money in Lebanese pounds. The IMF says the pound is around 50 per cent overvalued.
When asked this month where the exchange rate was going, Mr Salame responded: “no one knows”.
Along with politicians, Mr Salame, once Rafic al-Hariri’s personal banker, has become a figure of fury for the protesters. A banker at Merrill Lynch for two decades he returned to Beirut in 1993 to lead the Banque du Liban — and never left.
As governor, Mr Salame is credited with stabilising an erratic currency by establishing a pegged exchange rate between the US dollar and the Lebanese pound. “His whole legacy, his whole metric of success in his mind and the people’s mind, is the peg,” says Dan Azzi, a Harvard fellow and former top banker with Standard Chartered in Lebanon.
But from 2011, the dollar flow he needed to defend the pound started to ebb as neighbouring oil economies, home to the bulk of Lebanese expatriates remitting dollars back to Beirut, slowed down. War in neighbouring Syria has also increased Lebanon’s vulnerability. The government continued to rack up debt, and imports grew. Mr Salame had to come up with something drastic.
In 2016 he began a succession of unorthodox measures which he called “financial engineering”. Put simply, banks lent their customers’ dollars to the central bank at sky high interest rates in return for buying up swaths of government debt in swap operations — on terms that generated profit for Lebanese banks.
The central bank and Lebanon’s commercial banks’ balance sheets became overlapping. “We say there is one bank in Lebanon with 40 branches,” joked the bank board member. In his interview with the FT, Mr Salame said that all deposits in the central bank — including those of commercial banks — were its legal property.
But by 2016, argues former IMF official and economist Toufic Gaspard, who anticipated the crisis in a 2017 paper, the central bank “became a Ponzi scheme. It was borrowing from banks to pay them their interest.”
Mr Salame rejects this accusation. The financial engineering was to buy time, he said, for politicians to reform the bloated government and curb spending. But the stability it bought “is not a pretext not to do reforms”, he insists. He warned that Banque du Liban should not be used for politics: “The central bank is not an instrument to be used in order to force certain changes.”
The state depends on the central bank to meet its dollar debt servicing obligations, which will cost around $4bn next year. But rating agencies say that on a net basis, the bank’s foreign currency holdings are negative. Its forex reserves will be $28bn by the end of the year, yet Fitch estimates that the central bank’s dollar liabilities to Lebanese banks stand at $67bn.
Moody’s says requests to the IMF are “credit positive”, and a new government — under Mr Diab — may start talks about a new loan programme, which could provide some much-needed financial stability. But first the fractious political factions — including Hizbollah — have to form a government.
They will also need to win back the support of a sceptical public. “The whole political system was bought with this Ponzi scheme,” says Ms Rizk.
Once known for its resilience, the country’s fragile financial system has triggered angry protests
The Financial Times

What protests in Lebanon can tell us about inequality worldwide
Mona Fawaz/Al Jazeera/January 01/2020
Confronting inequalities is not about merely bridging gaps, it requires confronting entrenched interests.
Lebanon is more than two months into the wave of protests rocking the country. Chief among the grievances driving people onto the streets are entrenched inequalities and compromised human dignity. Even given the notorious vacuum of data, Lebanon is clearly a highly unequal place where nearly a quarter of income is held by the richest 1 percent, a larger share than in, for example, South Africa and the US. Poverty is staggering and is well recognised as the outcome of public policymaking driven by elite interests. This is why protesters no longer call for policy reform. Denouncing the deeply entrenched private interests that tie the main pillars of Lebanon’s failing economy to the ruling elite, they are demanding a radical transformation of the political system. They have evidence from the UN to back them up; the just-launched Human Development Report focuses on inequality and supports radical reforms to change the fundamentals of how our societies, economies and political systems work. It calls for confronting elite interests to stop the distribution of political power mirroring that of economic power.
Lebanon’s protests are led by a young generation dissatisfied with the lack of options to work and live with dignity. They are revolted by a status quo that destines them to emigration, as the future suppliers of remittances that will balance the notorious deficit of public coffers. Like many in the Middle East, they have had to live through wars, large waves of forced displacement and undemocratic rule.
Unlike older generations, today’s protesters are unwilling to compromise, unafraid to defy, and outraged by structural inequalities that they associate openly with crony capitalism, sectarianism, patriarchy, and homophobia. They have loudly made their points clear in marches, chants and graffiti. Their complete loss of confidence in government has made #no_trust one of the most trending hashtags in the past weeks.
But the most precarious populations – refugees, migrant workers, and the poorest Lebanese families – have not been able to join the predominantly middle-class protesters. Effectively disenfranchised, they have neither been able to visibly join the protests nor demonstrate their anger.
The first heavy rains of the season have flooded the streets and homes of the informal settlements where they live. Neglected for decades, these precarious neighbourhoods are overflowing with people who cannot find alternative shelters in cities ravaged by the financialisation of land.
Once considered self-help neighbourhoods in the making, on a trajectory to become legitimate parts of the city, informal urban settlements have become reservoirs of populations deemed superfluous, with no recognised entitlements.
Owing to climate change, downpours are heavier and their effects on precarious neighbourhoods are more dramatic. Roofs have crumbled, a family died and homes have overflowed. Their enforced silence means the protesters only represent the very tip of the iceberg of deprivation.
As the Human Development Report argues, income alone fails to account for the lifelong disadvantages these shadow city-dwellers face. Nationality and parental income effectively define someone’s lifelong access to adequate healthcare and education – or lack thereof. Some divides cross borders; women are at a disadvantage everywhere. Beginning at birth, inequity defines the freedom and opportunities of children, adults and elders.
Confronting such inequalities is not about merely bridging gaps, it requires confronting entrenched interests. Citizens in Lebanon are denouncing today’s elites using their wealth to capture government and mould policies to their will. Their claims are well-documented in scholarly works.
Economist Nisrine Salti recently connected rising poverty levels to the unfair tax system. Facundo Alvaredo, Lydia Assouad and Thomas Piketty have identified the Middle East as the most inequitable region of the world, arguing for a closer examination of fiscal injustices to determine the true extent of inequality and their roots in subverted policy-making. Unjustly levied taxes are part and parcel of the model of government denounced by protesters in Lebanon for sustaining the wealthy, their banks, and the political system at the expense of the majority.
My fellow citizens caught the world’s attention by prompting a prime minister to quit. With all eyes on them, they now have the opportunity to outline an ambitious programme for reform, which would never happen if left to the whim of those at the top. I hope to see reforms that meaningfully tackle inequality for current and future generations, which provide opportunities throughout people’s lives. Such a palette of interventions should include investments in higher education, quality healthcare and ensuring access to technology (and reliable electricity to power it).
Through taking to the streets, Lebanon’s protesters have woken up a nation. By plotting a path of prosperity for all, they can lift it up.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
*Mona Fawaz is a Professor of Urban Studies & Planning at the American University of Beirut.

The post A Bundle Of English Reports, News and Editorials For January 02/2020 Addressing the On Going Mass Demonstrations & Sit In-ins In Iranian Occupied Lebanon in its 77th Day appeared first on Elias Bejjani News.

نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية باللغة العربية ليوم 02 كانون الثاني/2020

اضغط هنا لقراءة نشرة أخبار المنسقية العامة المفصلة، اللبنانية والعربية ليوم 02 كانون الثاني/2020

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

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

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