سجعان قزي

@AzziSejean

المفاوضاتُ الجاريةُ لانتخابِ رئيسٍ جديدٍ للجُمهوريّةِ كَشفَت مرّةً أخرى عدمَ استيعاب غالبيّةِ الأطرافِ اللبنانيّةِ والدُوليّةِ بُعدَ الأزمةِ اللبنانيّةِ الحاليّةِ ولا عُمقَ القضيّةِ اللبنانيّةِ التاريخيّة. وحتّى لو اسْتوعَبتها، فليست مستعدِّةً لدفعِ ثمنِ الحلِّ الصحيح. والوفودُ الأجنبيّةُ التي أُرسِلت لحلِّ أزمةِ لبنان في ربعِ الساعةِ الأخيرِ، وهي لَـم تَحُّلها في ربعِ قرنٍ، تأتي هنا في مُهمّاتِ تَدرّجٍ، خصوصًا أنّها لم تَنجح في حلِّ أزَماتِ بلدانِها ولا أزمَاتِ بلدانٍ أخرى. وفي إطارِ مُهمّات التَدرُّج، زُوِّدَت بأسماء بمرشَّحين "جينيريك" لرئاسةِ الجُمهوريّةِ كأنَّ لدينا، مثلَ الدواءِ، نَدرةُ مرشَّحين أُصَلاء (براند). و"مِنَ الجينيريك جُوْد".

إذا كان اهتمامُ الدولِ الغربيّةِ بلبنان ناتجًا عن تراكمِ أزَماتِه ودُنوِّ استحقاقاتِه الدستوريّةِ والسياسيّة، فهو نابعٌ أيضًا عن قرارٍ أميركيٍّ/أوروبيٍّ بمحاولةِ "تصفيةِ" القضايا الإقليميّةِ بعدما تَفاقَمت حربُ روسيا على أوكرانيا، وتكاد تتحوّلُ مواجهةً متعددةَ الأوجُهِ بين روسيا من جِهةٍ والاتّحادِ الأوروبيِّ والحلفِ الأطلسيِّ من جِهةٍ أخرى. وباستثناءِ المعركةِ العسكريّةِ المباشَرة، والتهديدِ بالسلاحِ النوويّ، المواجهةُ بين روسيا والغرب مفتوحةٌ اقتصاديًّا وماليًّا وتجاريًّا وغازيًّا، ومرشحّةٌ لأن تَتطوّرَ في المرحلةِ المقبلة ما لم يَحدُث تغييرٌ طارئ في روسيا، حيث نقمةُ الشعبِ الروسيِّ على الرئيس فلاديمير بوتين تزدادُ.

إن إقدامَ روسيا بوتين على التهديدِ باستعمالِ السلاحِ النوويِّ، بمنأى عن جِدّيتِه أو مناورتِه، سيَدفع الدولَ المشاركِةَ في مؤتمر ڤيينا حولَ الـمَلفِّ النوويِّ الإيرانيِّ إلى أن تكونَ أكثرَ تشددًّا في شروطِها لئلّا يصبحَ التهديدُ بالنوويِّ عادةً لا نعرف متى "تَنقُش".

  by reuters  and arabnews — BEIRUT: Lebanon has submitted to the US a list of changes it would like to see …

by zawya.com -- Beirut: Overlooking the Beirut Marina and the Mediterranean Sea, InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut is known as “La Grande Dame” of the Lebanese capital’s hospitality scene. The hotel, which has played host to guests as diverse as silver screen legends Brigitte Bardot and Marlon Brando, to today’s top musicians including David Guetta and Alicia Keys, was forced to close its doors following the explosion of August 4th, 2020. For two years it has been unable to welcome guests, who had previously enjoyed its wide-ranging facilities, just steps away from the city’s seafront Corniche. Now, following extensive repair work, the hotel is preparing to re-open on October 3rd, 2022. The hotel will host visitors to the city who can enjoy its indoor and outdoor pools, full-service spa and gym and be spoilt for choice with its delectable array of restaurants & bars.

The reopening of the hotel is a crucial milestone in the renaissance of the Lebanese tourism industry – an emblem of luxury hospitality in the capital, opening doors to a world of fascination where great things happen - sometimes the very best moments in life. InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut is ideally situated in the centre of Beirut, just steps from the Corniche for guests to enjoy the view of Zaitunay Bay. The hotel is a short 10-minute drive from trendy Monot Street and Rafic Hariri International Airport, ideal for those looking for serenity without being too far removed from the hustle and bustle. Manrique Rodriguez - General Manager quote said, “Beirut has successfully revived its tourism scene through sheer optimism and determination, since the devastation of August 2020. The reopening of this iconic hotel in such an exciting and dynamic city tells the world that Beirut is back firmly on the tourism hotspot map in the Middle East. We’re excited to give visitors a base, in the ideal location to explore and relax in luxury, at the InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, experiencing all that the Lebanese capital has to offer.”

by AP - By Josef Federman - Israel’s prime minister on Sunday welcomed a U.S. proposal for setting the maritime border with Lebanon, saying the American plan for resolving a long-running dispute between the neighboring countries would lift Israel’s economy and boost regional security. Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the proposal was delivered over the weekend to both Israel and Lebanon. While he said it was still being studied, he said the plan would strengthen Israel’s northern areas near the Lebanese border, allow Israel to produce additional natural gas and deliver new revenues to the national coffers. “This is a deal that strengthens Israel’s security and Israel’s economy,” Lapid told his Cabinet. He also said Israel would not oppose the development of “an additional Lebanese gas field” straddling the maritime border, as long as Israel receives “the share we deserve.” He said this would weaken Lebanon’s dependence on Iran, restrain the Hezbollah militant group and promote regional stability. He said the deal was being reviewed by legal and defense officials before it is to be voted upon by the government. Israeli media said a vote could take place Thursday.

On Saturday, the proposal was also delivered to Lebanese leaders. Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, under whom the negotiations began in 2020 and who is hoping to return to power in November elections, said he opposed the emerging deal and wouldn’t be bound by it if reelected. Lapid, the country’s caretaker premier, is hoping to fend off Netanyahu in the polls. “Lapid has no mandate to give sovereign territory and sovereign assets that belong to all of us to an enemy state,” Netanyahu said.

Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel’s creation in 1948 and both countries claim some 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea. Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser for energy security at the U.S. State Department who has been mediating between the two neighbors, last visited Beirut in September, where he expressed optimism after meeting with Lebanon’s leaders. Lebanon’s parliament speaker, Nabi Berri, said in an interview with the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper Saturday the proposal “in principle meets the Lebanese demands.”