BEIRUT, Lebanon (UPI) by Dalai Saoud — Lebanon’s emerging crisis with Saudi Arabia and some Gulf countries is deepening, with not enough internal efforts being exerted or Arab mediation in sight to help resolve it, diplomatic and political sources said. The Saudi decision Oct. 29 to expel Lebanon’s ambassador and ban its imports stays in place while more punitive measures are feared. The measures came as an angry reaction to critical comments by Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi concerning Saudi military intervention in Yemen.

Three Arab Gulf countries — Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates– quickly sided with Riyadh, recalling their ambassadors from Beirut and asking Lebanon’s envoys to leave. The diplomatic row came at the worse time for Lebanon, which has been grappling with one of most terrible economic crises in the world and is counting on its traditional rich Gulf supporters for rescue. By describing Yemen’s seven-year war as “futile” and supporting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in defending themselves against “external aggression,” Kordahi unleashed Saudi growing anger over its onetime protégé. At the heart of the problem is the rising influence and dominance of Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, the heavily armed Hezbollah.

by al-monitor.com — An increasing number of children in Lebanon are not getting enough food as a result of the economic crisis, the United Nations reported today. The UN’s organization for children UNICEF conducted surveys in Lebanon in April and October of this year. In October, 53.4% of families reported that at least one of […]

by alarabiya.net — Tuqa Khalid — Australia designated all of Lebanon’s Hezbollah as a “terrorist organization”, extending its ban on the group’s military wing to the entire organization. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the Iran-backed Shia group “continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provide support to terrorist organizations.” She added that Hezbollah poses a […]

Lebanon Interior Minister

by AP — Lebanon’s interior minister said Tuesday that every delay in resolving the diplomatic crisis with Gulf nations threatens to affect the lives of more Lebanese already reeling from a massive economic crisis. Bassam Mawlawi said resolving the crisis begins with the resignation of the Cabinet minister whose comments sparked the ire of Saudi Arabia, calling it long overdue. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Saudi Arabia, a traditional ally of Lebanon, withdrew its ambassador and asked the Lebanese envoy to leave last month following televised comments by George Kordahi, Lebanon’s information minister. Kordahi said the war in Yemen was futile and called it an aggression by the Arab Coalition. Yemen’s war began with the 2014 takeover of Sanaa by the Houthi rebels, who control much of the country’s north. The Arab Coalition entered the war the following year determined to restore the internationally recognized government and oust the rebels.

Kordahi recorded the comments weeks before he was named minister and has refused to apologize or step down despite appeals from many, including the prime minister. Lebanese officials have said his remarks do not represent official government views. “This is taking a long time. It should not take more than a month to be resolved,” Mawlawi told The Associated Press. “He should have resigned before. He should have resigned immediately. … Every delay causes more grave damage to the Lebanese, whether those in Lebanon or in the Gulf.” Bahrain, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait followed Saudi Arabia and also recalled their ambassadors. The Saudis have also banned Lebanese imports, affecting hundreds of businesses and cutting off hundreds of millions in foreign currency to Lebanon, which is already facing a major economic meltdown.

By Najia Houssari – arabnews.com — BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun has urged the Lebanese not to “drown in despair and to trust their state and take part in the next parliamentary elections.” His remarks came as Lebanon celebrated its 78th Independence Day on Monday with a dull symbolic military parade at the Defense Ministry. Meanwhile, civil society celebrated the day with a powerful and crowded gathering near the Beirut port where the massive blast that shook the city took place on Aug. 4, 2020. In his televised speech on the eve of the Independence Day, Aoun indicated that the way out of the current government crisis was “not that difficult.” Aoun said the solution would be to commit to the constitution, which required “the separation of powers.”

On Sunday night, the Culture Ministry lit up the national museum’s building with the Lebanese flag’s colors. The traditional reception that usually takes place at the presidential palace was not held this year due to the current situation in Lebanon and the circumstances brought about by the coronavirus. The impact of the political and economic crises were clear — whether through the dull presence of President Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Najib Mikati at the military parade, or the sad statements delivered by some politicians and even diplomats. The symbolic civil show that was held near the port reflected people’s suffering and unrest due to the disasters that have hit the Lebanese. The US Embassy in Lebanon simply tweeted a picture featuring a natural scene from a Lebanese region and wrote: “May we celebrate Independence Day in better conditions.”

French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo extended wishes in a tweet “for a Lebanon that is sovereign and united to overcome the challenges it faces today. A nation and a country that stem from the Lebanese’ strong attachment to living together in an open, free and pluralistic country.” Grillo, whose country has led an initiative to solve the Lebanese crisis, said that “France stands beside the Lebanese population that is committed with determination, talent and courage to building the nation they aspire to and deserve.” “The tragic situation in Lebanon requires all authorities, as well as the political class, to assume their responsibilities without further delay,” she said.

by al-monitor.com — Russia sent satellite images of the Beirut port explosion to Lebanon today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference. Speaking to reporters alongside his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bouhabib in Moscow, Lavrov said Russia’s space agency Roscosmos provided the imagery to Lebanon, Reuters reported. The Beirut port explosion took place […]

by alarabiya.net — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday sent his greetings to the “people of Lebanon” on their Independence Day, stopping short of making any mention of the Lebanese government. Lebanese politicians and officials have been at the fore of domestic and international criticism since the country was thrown into an unprecedented […]

نعم لاقتراح وائل بو فاعور على رئيس الجمهورية الدعوة الى حوار وطني  لمناقشة الاستراتيجية الدفاعية وادوار حزب الله في الخارج. المصداقية تقتضي ان يتضمن جدول الاعمال المتابعة من حيث وصل الحوار السابق. اي وضع الاجراءات التنفيذية لتحييد لبنان وفقاً لاعلان بعبدا ووضع جدول زمني للتخلي عن السلاح لا يتجاوز السنة يكون خلالها قرار السلم والحرب […]

by middleeast.in-24.com — Contrary to the victory achieved by the October 17 uprising against the political parties with the victory of lawyer Melhem Khalaf two years ago, associations affiliated with the “Revolution” banner, led by the National Bloc and “Our Syndicate” were unable to retain the position. From the transfer of its most prominent candidate, Ramzi Heikal, to the membership center with other candidates due to the dispersion of votes over more than one candidate, and due to the presence of strong candidates who attracted votes before the polling process ended with the election of the independent candidate Nader Kaspar, who won 1,888 votes in the first round and 1,530 votes in the second round.

Immediately after his election, Kaspar addressed the lawyers by saying, “I knew very well that you would not let me down, and my door would remain open to all of you, and I would take care of the lawyer’s immunity and the lawyer’s money and dignity as a red line, and we would not neglect national affairs with courage, wisdom and transparency.” Kaspar was subjected to a series of rumors in the past few days to influence his election campaign and say that he is supported by this or that party in power, but he was responding by asserting his independence even on election day. He called the lawyers to judge their conscience, and he was famous for telling the lawyers, “It is not because of two hours that we regret two years.” The election process was not spared the confusion among lawyers after the polls closed for the first round, while lawyers are still waiting for their turn to vote in polling stations 5 and 6, which prompted the former captain to request the reopening of the boxes for white card holders who are waiting for their turn to vote.

Imad Martinos (the opposition front), Nader Kaspar, Elias Bazerli, Abdo Lahoud (supported by the Lebanese Forces), Iskandar Najjar (independent supported by the Kataeb Party and the Opposition Front), Fadi Al-Masry (the Brigades), and Marwan won membership in the Beirut Bar Association Council. Jabr, Wajih Massad and Maya Al-Zaghrini (the candidate of the forces), and Fadi Barakat, the first loser, and he is supported by the Free Patriotic Movement, as it won 1010 votes.