by Omar Ibrahim TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AFP) - Four people were killed and dozens wounded in street battles between rival sectarian camps armed with rockets, sniper rifles and grenades in the north Lebanese city of Tripoli on Wednesday. Panicked residents were fleeing the scene of the fighting which first erupted late on Tuesday in two districts of northeastern Tripoli, while several roads were blocked and local shops and schools were closed, an AFP correspondent said. A security official said four people were killed and another 58 were wounded in the violence, which followed the eruption of similar battles two weeks ago in the port city that left nine people dead and dozens wounded. The latest fighting comes amid continued efforts by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to form a national unity government which have been hampered by bickering between rival factions over cabinet posts. Fighting raged on a main road separating the areas of Bab al-Tebbaneh -- where most residents are Sunni supporters of the Western-backed premier -- and Jabal Mohsen, which is dominated by members of the Alawite community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
The two sides announced that they had agreed to observe a cease-fire from 8 p.m. and allow the deployment of the army in the two neighborhoods affected by the fighting. "The army will deploy to maintain security and prevent any armed presence," said a statement released after indirect negotiations between the two sides held under the auspices of the Sunni mufti of North Lebanon, Sheikh Malek al-Shaar. Later on Wednesday, the Lebanese Armed Forces warned gunmen on both sides that soldiers would fire on them if they were seen on the streets after 9 p.m., security officials said. The army was sending reinforcements to the area. President Michel Suleiman and other officials have been consulting with Shaar, who has acted as a mediator between the two sides since the fighting broke out several weeks ago. Panicked residents were fleeing the scene of the fighting which erupted again late on Tuesday in two districts of northeastern Tripoli, while several roads were blocked and local shops and schools were closed.
هل تخفق النخبةُ كما فشِل السياسيون
النهار في 30 حزيران 2008
سجعان قزي
حين يتحدّث البعضُ عن الـنُـخبة يظـنّها جنساً مُجتمعـيّـاً ممـيَّـزاً، ويَضعُها آلـيّـاً في مواجهةِ الشعب (متفوِّقـة عليه) والطاقمِ السياسيّ (أكفأ منه)، في حين أنّ الـنـخبةَ تنتمي إلى كلّ فئات الشعبِ وطبقاته. ولا قيمةَ إضافية للنخبة إلا مِقدار ما تساهمُ في التقدِّم العام وتلتزمُ مسؤوليةَ نهضةِ المجتمع. الـنُـخبةُ ليست طبقةً بل نوعـيّـة، والـنُـخبويّ ليس مُبشِّراً بل قُدوة.
بين أفضلِ عشرِ شخصيات نُخبويّـة اختارها الفرنسيّـون العامَ الماضي، لم يَرِد اسمُ أيِّ شخصيّـة سياسيّـة مع أنّ السياسيّين الفرنسيّين، عموماً، نخبويّون بامتياز. بَرز طاهٍ وكاتبٌ وموسيقار وتقنيّ ومهندس معماري وفـنّـانٌ تشكيلي ومُخرج سينمائي. وعام 2006، صنّـفت مجلةُ فوربس Forbes العالمية الطاهي الفرنسي ألان دوكاس Alain Ducasse ضُمن أهمِ مئةِ شخصٍ مؤثّرين في العالم.
النخبة إذن متعدِّدةُ الطاقاتِ والمستويات وعابرةُ كلّ المهن: هناك النخبُ الفقيرة والغنـيّـة، الأكاديمـيّـة والنقابيّـة. هناك النخب التقليديّـة والتجديديّـة، الدينـيّـة والعَلمانـيّـة. هناك النخب الشعبيّـة والبورجوازيّـة، المدينيّـة والمناطقـيّـة. هناك النخب اليمينـيّـة واليساريّـة، العسكريّـة والأمنـيّـة. هناك نخبٌ تَستهويها السياسةُ سبيلاً إلى عملٍ وطنيّ، وأخرى تتلـهّـف إلى السياسة شَغفاً بوجاهة. هناك نخبٌ تحبّ الشأن العامَّ كجُزءٍ من عملٍ اجتماعيٍّ وإنساني، وأخرى تُفضِّل الشأن الخاص رافداً يَصبُّ في الازدهار العام. وهناك "نخبٌ" تَجـتَـرُّ أنانـيّـتَها ونرجسيّـتَها وتعيش في عالمٍ آخر: نيرفانا التفاهة.
Cheikh Farouk El Khazen son of Cheikh Chafic El Khazen and Marie Masaad holds a BS in Business Administration …
BEIRUT: Lebanon expects over 1.3 million tourists this year thanks to the positive political atmosphere following the election of a new president, outgoing Tourism Minister Joe Sarkis said Friday. The minister made the remarks during a tour of Rafik Hariri International Airport, adding that most of the hotels in Beirut and the mountain are fully booked. According to the figures released by Rafik Hariri International Airport, arriving passengers totaled 598,392 in the first five months of the year, while departing passengers amounted to a higher 633,255.
The minister said Lebanon is heading toward a promising tourism season, adding that the Tourism Ministry plans to launch widespread media campaign to encourage foreigners and Arabs to visit Lebanon. "Once a new government is formed, I expect Lebanon to experience a steady rise in the number of visitors," he said. In 2007, less than a million visitors arrived in Lebanon and authorities said most of the arrivals were Lebanese working in oil rich Gulf states and Africa.
Population Movements to Keserwan - The Khazens and The Maans
ما جاء عن الثورة في المقاطعة الكسروانية
ثورة أهالي كسروان على المشايخ الخوازنة وأسبابها
Origins of the "Prince of Maronite" Title
Growing diversity: the Khazin sheiks and the clergy in the first decades of the 18th century
Historical Members:
Barbar Beik El Khazen [English]
Patriach Toubia Kaiss El Khazen(Biography & Life Part1 Part2) (Arabic)
Patriach Youssef Dargham El Khazen (Cont'd)
Cheikh Bishara Jafal El Khazen
Patriarch Youssef Raji El Khazen
The Martyrs Cheikh Philippe & Cheikh Farid El Khazen
Cheikh Nawfal El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Hossun El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Abou-Nawfal El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Francis Abee Nader & his son Yousef
Cheikh Abou-Kanso El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Abou Nader El Khazen
Cheikh Chafic El Khazen
Cheikh Keserwan El Khazen
Cheikh Serhal El Khazen [English]
Cheikh Rafiq El Khazen [English]
Cheikh Hanna El Khazen
Cheikha Arzi El Khazen
Marie El Khazen