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What the Holy See told the UN about Middle East Christians

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New York City, N.Y., (CNA/EWTN News).- The Middle East needs peace, human rights, and the continued presence of Christians, a Holy See diplomat told the U.N. Security Council Tuesday. “Christian communities have existed for over two thousand years in that region and have peacefully coexisted with the other communities. The Holy See urges the international community, through the Security Council, not to forget them,” Monsignor Simon Kassas, interim chargé d’affaires of the Holy See’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations, said July 25.

“The Holy See believes that the rule of law, including respect for religious freedom and equality before the law based on the principle of citizenship and regardless of one’s race, ethnic origin or religion, is fundamental toward the achievement and maintenance of the peaceful and fruitful coexistence among individuals, communities and nations in the whole region and beyond,” he continued. Msgr. Kassas spoke in an intervention during the U.N. Security Council's open debate on “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.” He voiced the Holy See’s regret at the loss of lives and property in wars and conflict in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. In these places “the dramatic humanitarian situation calls for renewed commitment by all to arrive at a political solution to these conflicts.”

The diplomat said Pope Francis “deeply appreciates the tireless efforts of those toiling to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria.” “He encourages all actors to work toward a Syrian-led political process leading to a peaceful and inclusive transition,” the monsignor said, stressing the benefits of a peaceful settlement that will restore stability, allow for the safe return of refugees and others who are displaced. Peace in Syria will also create an environment for effective counter-terrorism efforts and maintain “the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian state.”

Turning to the Israeli-Palestine conflict, Msgr. Kassas said the Palestinian question is debated four times a year and this debate sometimes sounds like “broken records,” but this will continue until a solution is found. He added: “notwithstanding the multiple challenges facing the Middle East today, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process cannot be allowed to slip out of the top priorities of the international community and this council.” The Holy See voiced support for a two-state solution in which both the Israel and a Palestinian state exist side-by-side “in peace within internationally recognized borders.”

Lebanon's president says his country fully committed to UN resolution 1701

Editor: Mu Xuequan - BEIRUT, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's President Michel Aoun stressed Friday that Lebanon was fully committed to the implementation of all the provisions of United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1701. According to a statement by the presidential media office, Aoun told UN Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag that "our country is fully aware of the dangers of any violation of this resolution," accusing Israel of violating Lebanon's airspace, occupying Lebanese lands, and committing acts that totally oppose UN resolutions. Aoun added that the government would ask for the extension of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Lebanese army and the UN forces by increasing the capacities of the troops in South Lebanon and in its territorial waters. He called on the United Nations and the international community to support the Lebanese army in its fight against terrorism, revealing that important steps are being taken to restore stability and security on the Lebanese-Syrian border, which is the victim of terrorist attacks. The president also hoped that the international community would intensify its support for Lebanon so that it could continue its aid to Syrian displaced persons. "We hope that their return to their country would be imminent with a peaceful solution to the crisis," Aoun said. During the meeting, Kaag revealed that the member states of the Security Council had made recommendations on the demarcation of maritime and land borders with Israel, especially those involving oil and gas issues, hoping that these dossiers will get the consent of the Lebanese state. The UN official also mentioned the request that had been made to donor countries to grant more aid to Lebanon and reduce the burden of displaced Syrians.

Hariri urges U.S. to spare banks from sanctions

Hussein Dakroub| The Daily Star - BEIRUT: Prime Minister Saad Hariri wound up a five-day official visit to Washington Friday by calling on U.S. authorities to spare Lebanese banks from new tough sanctions on Hezbollah planned by Congress. The issue of the anti-Hezbollah sanctions and its repercussions on the Lebanese economy and the banking sector also figured high in Hariri’s talks Thursday night with International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director Christine Lagarde. “Talks focused on the importance of the stability of the banking sector in Lebanon and of the IMF following up on the legislation that will be enacted by the U.S. Congress to make sure it does not lead to the instability of the Lebanese banking sector,” according to a statement released by Hariri’s media office Friday.

The meeting, held at IMF headquarters in Washington, was followed by an expanded one attended by Central Bank Gov. Riad Salameh, Lebanese Charge d’Affaires in Washington Carla Jazzar, Hariri adviser Nadim Munla, and a number of high-ranking officials at the IMF. Hariri’s meeting with Lagarde also tackled the repercussions of the Syrian refugee crisis for Lebanon. “Views were identical between the Lebanese vision on how to deal with the impact of displacement and the recommendation of the IMF that focuses on implementing an investment program in infrastructure to stimulate growth and create new job opportunities,” the statement said. It added that the IMF had issued a recommendation identical to the Lebanese government’s vision and policy on dealing with the presence of more than 1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

During the meeting, Hariri asked the IMF to conduct a study to define the negative impact of the Syrian displacement on the Lebanese state’s budget, the statement added. There are an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon, according to government estimates, straining the country’s battered economy and weak infrastructure. Before leaving Washington Friday, Hariri met with Sens. James Lankford and Jeff Merkley on Capitol Hill. Discussions with the two senators focused on the legislation related to Lebanon being studied by Congress, a statement issued by Hariri’s office said, referring to the anti-Hezbollah sanctions.

Hariri also met with a delegation from the American Task Force for Lebanon headed by its president, Edward Gabriel. The meeting covered various aspects of the situation in Lebanon, the statement said. Hariri also visited Capitol Hill Thursday, meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Sen. Bob Corker with ranking member Sen. Ben Cardin. He was joined by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and other members of the Lebanese delegation. “Discussions focused on the situation in Lebanon and Lebanese-U.S. relations,” the statement said. Hariri had earlier met with House minority leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House majority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Rep. Ed Royce and Rep. Liz Cheney.

Present-day Lebanese descend from Biblical Canaanites, genetic study suggests

Who were the Canaanites? Ancient human DNA evidence yields answers

by https://phys.org - In the most recent whole-genome study of ancient remains from the Near East, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute scientists and their collaborators sequenced the entire genomes of 4,000-year-old Canaanite individuals who inhabited the region during the Bronze Age, and compared these to other ancient and present-day populations. The results, published today (27 July) in the American Journal of Human Genetics suggest that present-day Lebanese are direct descendants of the ancient Canaanites.The Near East is often described as the cradle of civilisation. The Bronze Age Canaanites, later known as the Phoenicians, introduced many aspects of society that we know today - they created the first alphabet, established colonies throughout the Mediterranean and were mentioned several times in the Bible. However, historical records of the Canaanites are limited. They were mentioned in ancient Greek and Egyptian texts, and the Bible which reports widespread destruction of Canaanite settlements and annihilation of the communities. Experts have long debated who the Canaanites were genetically, what happened to them, who their ancestors were and if they had any descendants today.

In the first study of its kind, scientists have uncovered the genetics of the Canaanite people and a firm link with people living in Lebanon today. The team discovered that more than 90 per cent of present-day Lebanese ancestry is likely to be from the Canaanites, with an additional small proportion of ancestry coming from a different Eurasian population. Researchers estimate that new Eurasian people mixed with the Canaanite population about 2,200 to 3,800 years ago at a time when there were many conquests of the region from outside.

Trump to Lebanese premier: ‘You’re on frontline of fighting ISIS, Al-Qaeda – and Hezbollah’

By RT

President Trump agreed with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri they will continue to fight terrorism. Falling short of mentioning funding for military support, the president talked only of continued humanitarian support of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Trump told Hariri at a White House news conference on Tuesday the US has helped Lebanon by providing clean water, food, shelter and health care to Syrian refugees. “Our approach, supporting the humanitarian needs of displaced Syrian citizens as close to their home country as possible, is the best way to help most people,” said Trump. “America is proud to stand with those who have the courage to stand up to terrorism and take responsibility for affairs in their own region,” he added. No dollar amounts were mentioned, although Hariri is expected to seek additional US aid to cope with the refugee influx. Syrian refugees make up about 25 percent (1.5 million) of Lebanon’s population of some 6 million people.Trump commended Hariri in winning in the fight against ISIS and others and that “ultimately you will win… we have great confidence in you.”America's assistance can help ensure that the Lebanese army is the only defender Lebanon needs. It's a very effective fighting force,” said Trump.

Hariri was said to be looking for continued US support for the Lebanese military, and plans by US to tighten sanctions on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Trump didn’t mention any details of the support but said Hezbollah “is a menace to the Lebanese state, the Lebanese people, and the entire region.” He added: “The group continues to increase its military arsenal, which threatens to start yet another conflict with Israel, constantly fighting them back. “With the support of Iran, the organization is also fueling the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. Hezbollah likes to portray itself as a defender of Lebanese interests, but it's very clear that its true interests are those of itself and its sponsor, Iran. “Lebanon is on the front lines against terrorism of ISIS, Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah,” said Trump. Lebanon has been called a natural Arab ally of Washington, with a religiously diverse and relatively Western and secular society. It is also strategic, as an outlet to the Mediterranean, borders Israel and acts as a gateway to and from war-torn Syria. The State Department’s 2018 budget plan cuts military assistance to Lebanon and other vulnerable Middle East countries by 80 percent compared to 2016 fiscal year. The proposed cuts would mean eliminating the Foreign Military Financing program, which made up about $86 million of the budget in 2016. The budget estimates Lebanon will receive $85 million in economic assistance, down from $110 million in 2016.

Without support from Washington for its military, Lebanon could be forced to accept Iran’s military patronage. When reporters asked Trump about how the US will help Lebanon with Syrian refugees, he responded: “We are helping. Getting rid of ISIS is one way. The success against ISIS is extraordinary, in the last four or five months, that previous administration made in eight years. ISIS in Syria, ISIS in Iraq, we have made tremendous strides, our military is an incredible fighting force. “Before they had to call this House, I let the generals to do what they had to do,” said Trump. Trump said he was “not a fan of Assad,” referring to Bashar Assad, the president of Syria. “I certainly think what he has done that to the country and humanity is horrible,” added Trump. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported the Trump administration had allegedly planned to cancel a CIA-funded program to train Syrian rebels fighting against Assad’s government. The alleged decision was reportedly taken in consultation with CIA Director Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster ahead of Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hamburg, Germany, earlier in July. During the Trump-Putin meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, both leaders reached a ceasefire agreement for southwest Syria.

The secretive CIA program in question, dubbed Timber Sycamore in the US press, was authorized by Barack Obama in 2013 in a bid to give Syrian rebels leverage in defeating Syrian President Bashar Assad. Initially, it was reportedly limited to non-lethal aid and training; later leaks in the media indicated various weaponry was also supplied to groups considered moderate. However, the program did not appear to go as smoothly as expected. In 2015, General Lloyd Austin, CENTCOM commander at the time, told Congress that only four or five US-trained fighters had actually gone to Syria to battle IS, out of the 5,000 the Pentagon had envisaged. Earlier that year, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee that less than 1 percent of the 7,000 Syrian volunteers for the US-sponsored train-and-equip program had made it through the vetting process. "As of July 3, [2015] we are currently training about 60 fighters,” Carter acknowledged. “I can look out at your faces and you have the same reaction I do, which is that that's an awfully small number.”

Private Museum for Arab Art Slated for 2020 Opening in Beirut

by Alanna Martinez • Observer.com - A private art organization in Beirut has big plans for the city’s downtown: Come 2020, the area will become home to the city’s largest art museum. The Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation has announced plans to build a 10,000- to 15,000-square-meter institution to house its 4,000-piece Modern and Contemporary Arab art collection, reports the Art Newspaper. An exact location for the new Beirut Arab Art Museum is still being determined, but the institution is one of three new arts institutions—along with the Beirut City Museum and Beirut Museum of Art—slated to open in the city in the near future. The Dalloul collection primarily comprises paintings but also includes photography, sculpture, ceramics and video, and works by artists such as Etel Adnan and Mona Hatoum. Along with exhibition spaces to display the Foundation’s substantial collection, the museum will also host temporary exhibitions and create education, research and conservation programming on Arab art. “Our collection is quite unique in its quality as well as its diversity,” IT entrepreneur and managing director of the Dalloul Foundation Basel Dalloul told the Art Newspaper. “We look forward to educating and inspiring generations to come, not only from the region but the world over.” While the free museum won’t open for several years, the Foundation will be lending artworks to exhibitions at foreign institutions in the interim ( the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Madrid’s Reina Sofia and London’s Tate Modern), publishing digitized versions of its collections online and hosting pop-up shows around the city.

Study reveals average residential prices in Beirut

by lebaneseexaminer.com = The average starting cost for apartments under construction in Beirut vary from $2,000 to $8,500 per square meter, according to a new study conducted by a Beirut-based real estate advisory firm. The firm RAMCO studied apartment asking prices in 67 Beirut neighborhoods, including popular downtown districts such as Saifi Village and Manara. According to the study, between 2016 and 2017, prices have dropped in 34 out of the 67 Beirut neighborhoods, especially in central neighborhoods between Bachoura and Kaskas. But researchers say there has not been a significant drop in apartment prices in the highest tier of the market. The most expensive neighborhoods, Manara and Saifi Village, have the same asking price as last year.

SEE MAP OF BEIRUT’S MOST EXPENSIVE NEIGHBORHOODS: