By Pamela Engel – Business Insider

President Donald Trump reportedly issued a surprise warning to
Israel on Thursday to stop announcing settlements that
“undermine” his administration’s efforts to create peace in the
Middle East. A White House official
told The Jerusalem Post that Trump is committed to a
two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and that the
White House was surprised by Israel’s announcement
of thousands of new settlement housing units in the
West Bank.

“As President Trump has made clear, he is very interested in
reaching a deal that would end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
and is currently exploring the best means of making progress
toward that goal,” the official reportedly said. “With that in
mind, we urge all parties to refrain from taking unilateral
actions that could undermine our ability to make progress,
including settlement announcements. The administration needs
to have the chance to fully consult with all parties on the way
forward.” The official, according to the report, also elaborated on the
two-state solution Trump envisions. “The United States remains committed to advancing a comprehensive
final-status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians that
results in two states living side-by-side in peace and security,”
the official told the newspaper.

By Matt Hadro

By Jaber Ali on February 2, 2017.

During a meeting with a delegation of
the Lebanese Communist Party, President Michel Aoun has added his voice
to the tense debate over the reform of the electoral law ahead of the
parliamentary elections by stating that “verbal bickering does not lead
to an outcome.” He called for the continuation of “our
struggle until we attain truthful popular representation and rule clear
of personal interests in a bid to build the state and create a powerful
system.”

The Lebanese are divided over the system
to adopt in electing members of the parliament with many seeming to
back the adoption of a proportionality approach in order to have a
balance between majority and minority. Prime Minister Saad Hariri, in a cabinet
meeting on Wednesday, recalled that “when the government pledged in its
ministerial statement to grant priority to stage the elections, it did
not separate between this end and the efforts to find a new election
law.” He acknowledged that there are opposing views but that does “not
necessarily mean that we have reached a dead end.” Hariri called for
efforts to continue in order to have a law acceptable by each party and
sect.

MP Farid Khazen from the Change and Reform bloc claimed that some
political parties are blocking the reform by refusing all the proposals
made. He lamented that “it is impossible to reach an election law that
satisfies everybody.”

AMMAN (WABA Championship 2017) – Lebanon have locked up the title in the West Asia Basketball Association (WABA) Championship 2017 in Amman, Jordan after beating hosts Jordan on Day Four of competition. Iran and Syria also notched huge victories to book seats in the FIBA Asia Cup 2017.

 Lebanon defeated Jordan, 72-61, to move up to 4-0
and officially win the WABA Championship 2017 crown. The Cedars did not
waste any time in this one, building up a commanding 27-9 lead at the
end of the first period. Coach Joe Moujaes and his wards would not
relinquish the advantage the rest of the way despite Jordan staying
within striking distance.

By yalibnan.com- Article slightly edited

Lebanon Speaker Nabih Berri declared on  Wednesday that he will not endorse any electoral law that “does not enjoy consensus.” “Contacts and discussions are still ongoing in a bid to
agree on a new electoral law and new ideas are being discussed,” MPs
Berri  was quoted as saying  by MPs during his weekly meeting with
lawmakers in Ain el-Tineh. “We are still in the phase of mulling proposals and we have not yet reached a dead end,” Berri added.

“We reiterate the need to apply unified standards (in the electoral law format) and I will not endorse any law that does not enjoy consensus,” the speaker went on to say. Berri’s AMAL Movement, Hezbollah, Future  Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement are holding meetings aimed at reaching a deal  on a new electoral law.

Taef accord compliance 

Responding to claims that the hybrid electoral law does
not not comply with   the Taef accord Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea
stressed on Wednesday that no one is trying to manipulate the Taef
accord, assuring that efforts exerted are merely focusing on finding a
new electoral  law,  National News Agency reported on Wednesday. Geagea expressed astonishment at the “latest talk about the Taef Accord. We like to remind that we were the first to pay the price, and will not accept any tampering with Taef.

“But it is worth noting that no one has such an
intention. There are strenuous efforts to reach a new electoral law
which in turn would reinstate the Taef Accord further,” said Geagea
during a celebration in Maarab. He called upon all political parties to focus on
approving a new electoral law to regulate political work in Lebanon,
considering that the “hybrid law is the only one that would bring all
parties together midway.”

by reuters, Lebanon expects to start oil production in 2018 and will deposit the resulting revenues into a sovereign wealth fund, President Michel Aoun said on Jan. 31. “Everything that is extracted will be for the Lebanese people,” he said during a meeting with a press syndicate delegation. Aoun said the revenues would be invested […]