By Najia Houssari – arabnews.com — BEIRUT: Families of victims of the Beirut port explosion blocked roads in Beirut and Jbeil on Saturday in protest at the arrest of their spokesman, William Noun, by Lebanon’s national security agency. Pressure by protesters, politicians and activists led to his release after 24 hours in detention. Noun was arrested after a televised statement last Thursday in which he expressed indignation at the obstruction of the investigation into the port explosion in 2020 that claimed the life of his brother Joe, a fireman. The massive blast, triggered when a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse exploded, caused at least 218 deaths and up to $15 billion in property damage. In his statement, Noun criticized an attempt to appoint a substitute judge for investigator Tarek Bitar, who was removed from the case a year ago, and threatened to “blow up the Justice Palace.” His arrest was based on a judicial notice issued by Beirut Attorney General, Judge Zaher Hamadeh. Noun’s house was also raided by state security personnel searching for explosive material.

A political observer told Arab News that Hamadeh has boasted of his ties with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement. Hamadeh was a judicial investigator in the case of Imam Moussa Al-Sadr’s disappearance and has been touted as a possible replacement for Bitar in the port explosion probe, the observer said. Neither the President of the Higher Judicial Council Souheil Abboud nor the General Prosecutor Ghassan Ouweidat attended a council meeting on Saturday. In a statement, those present defended Hamadeh’s decision to arrest Noun, and condemned what they described as “an attack on the judge’s work and dignity.” Families of the victims gathered in front of the state security headquarters, vowing to remain until Noun was released.

BEIRUT (AP) by BASSEM MROUE , Associated Press — — Talks between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia are continuing and could eventually restore diplomatic relations that were severed years ago, Iran’s foreign minister said Friday. Hossein Amirabdollahian told reporters in Beirut that he met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud during a conference in Jordan last month. The meeting was the highest-level encounter between the two countries since they cut relations seven years ago. Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Iran, which is majority Shiite, have been at odds since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, but relations worsened after Riyadh in 2016 executed a leading Shiite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, setting off protests in both countries and souring diplomatic relations. In Tehran, demonstrators set fire to the Saudi Embassy.

Direct talks were launched in April 2021, brokered by Iraq, in a bid to improve ties. The mere existence of a dialogue was seen as important, even if the only notable result so far has been Iran reopening the country’s representative office to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Saudi city of Jeddah. “There was an agreement in our points of view to continue with the Saudi-Iran dialogue in what would eventually normalize relations between the two countries,” Amirabdollahian said about the December meeting in Jordan. Amirabdollahian said the hope is that, eventually, we will reach an agreement on “reopening diplomatic missions and embassies in Riyadh and Tehran.” The Iranian diplomat also praised recent contacts between Syrian and Turkish officials saying such talks could positively impact both countries. Turkish and Syrian defense ministers held talks in Moscow in late December, the first ministerial-level meeting between Damascus and Ankara since relations broke down with the start of the Syrian civil war more than 11 years ago.

by middleeastmonitor.com — The Lebanese army announced today it had failed to intercept an Israeli drone flown over Lebanon’s southern airspace, a statement revealed. It added that a patrol was inspecting a separate incident in the south when a “drone belonging to the Israeli enemy violated Lebanese airspace,” prompting soldiers to shoot in its direction. […]

By James Zogby — thenationalnews.com — Without exaggeration, Ralph Nader is one of the transformational figures in recent US history. Because of efforts he helped lead, we drive safer cars, have cleaner water and air, and have a range of safety protections in our homes and places of work. It wasn’t easy. To build the movement for change, he had to confront major US corporations, banks and powerful political lobbies, all of whom had entrenched interests in maintaining the status quo. I also know Mr Nader to be a deeply committed Arab American of Lebanese descent who is a tireless advocate for justice for Arabs and against discrimination here in the US. For months now, he and I have been discussing the continuing crisis in Lebanon and what, if anything, can be done to pull the country back from the abyss and create viable institutions that can provide needed services and earn public trust.

I am prompted to share some of his ideas after reading a lengthy paper recently released by the American Task Force on Lebanon and the Middle East Institute titled “US-Lebanon Relations: Setting a New International Framework for a More Responsive Government”. Both groups have established a record of making valuable contributions to US foreign policy discussion. But while their diagnosis of the problems facing Lebanon are on target, some of the recommendations they offer leave me confounded. The ATFL-MEI report correctly begins with the ominous warning: “Lebanon is on a tragic trajectory, never before seen in its history … Lebanon’s failings can be attributed to endemic corruption by the political class and the ‘state within a state’ impunity of Hezbollah.” This is all true, but then, without even a hint of irony, the report continues: “Lebanon’s leaders must take the necessary risks to reverse their country from falling into the abyss of an economic and political meltdown.” It then goes on to make specific and needed reforms for the Lebanese government, parliament, ministries and political parties to implement.

by arabnews.com — LONDON: While Lebanese politicians typically travel in multi-car motorcades, at least one European diplomat is beating the heavy Beirut traffic by getting on a bike. In a message posted on Twitter on Thursday, Hans Peter van der Woude, the Dutch ambassador to Lebanon, posted a photo of himself wearing a helmet and standing next to an e-bike as he prepared to set off for a meeting. The photo sparked an online debate about the country’s traffic problems, with many people praising him as an “example” for everyone to follow. “Setting a great example. Drive safely,” one user wrote.

Another asked the envoy whether he feels safe cycling around the busy streets of the capital. “I felt really comfortable on a bicycle in traffic,” van der Woude replied. “Just because drivers are not used to cyclists, they are more careful. One has to be vigilant though, like everyone in Lebanese traffic.” He added that he completes his journeys really quickly compared with people in cars, who often get stuck in traffic jams. Nasser Yassin, Lebanon’s environment minister, retweeted the envoy’s photo, thanked him and said the government backs the use of non-motorized transport options, also known as “soft mobility.” “We are supporting initiatives that will promote soft mobility in Beirut and other cities; but we need to work more with municipalities and others to create the right environment for soft mobility in our cities,” he wrote.

سجعان قزي

@AzziSejean

مطالبةُ السيدِ حسن نصرالله، أمينِ عامّ حزبِ الله، برئيسٍ “يَحمي ظهرَ المقاومةِ الإسلاميّةِ” تُذَكّرنا بمطالبةِ الميليشياتِ المسلَّحةِ الدولةَ سنةَ 1992، إذ لَحظَ اتفاقُ الطائف جَمعَ سلاحِ الميليشيات عمومًا، لكنَّ الجمعَ أتى جُزئيًّا وانتِقائيًّا فاستثْنى كليًّا سلاحَ حزب الله. وما خلا الجانبَ المسيحيَّ، لم يَعترِض على ذلك أركانُ اتّفاقِ الطائف وواضِعوه والحَريصون عليه، لا بل غَطَّوا بقاءَ هذا السلاحِ وسَوَّقوه في العالـمَين العربيِّ والدوليّ، وفتحوا لحزبِ الله قنواتِ اتصالٍ متعدِّدةً وجعلوه شريكًا مضارِبًا في القرارِ والسلطةِ والمفاوضاتِ الديبلوماسيّة. لا يضيعُ خطأٌ في الزمان.

مع الميليشياتِ القديمةِ كنّا نَعرِفُ أين يَبدأُ صدرُها وأين يَنتهي ظَهرُها. لكن أين ظهرُ مقاومةِ حزبِ الله ليحميَه الرئيسُ الجديد؟ الحدودُ مفتوحةٌ. هل تَبدأُ مقاومتُه من البقاعِ والضاحيّةِ الجنوبيّة؟ مِن الحدودِ الجنوبيّةِ ومزارعِ شِبعا؟ من حقولِ الطاقةِ في البحرِ ومدى الـمُسيَّرات في الجوّ؟ وأين تنتهي؟ في إيران وسوريا والعراق واليَمن ودولِ الخليجِ وما بعدَ “بابِ الـمَندِب”؟ في الجليلِ وغَزّة والقُدس وحيفا وما بعدَ حيفا؟

وَرطةُ لبنان أنَّ كلًّا من مكوّناتِه الكبرى اخْتلقَ “معتَقدًا” لا يُمسُّ وتَحصّنَ وراءَه كمرجِعٍ يُعبّر عن معيارِ وجودِه في الفَلَكِ اللبنانيّ. الشيعةُ ابتكروا “المقاومةَ الإسلاميّةَ” وقد صارت مجازيّة. المسيحيّون طرحوا “حقوقَ المسيحيّين” وقد أضْحت أيضًا مَجازيّة. والسُنّةُ استَحْدثوا “اتّفاقَ الطائف” وقد أصبحَ كذلك مجازيًّا. جَعلت هذه المكوّناتُ أو فئاتٌ أساسيةٌ منها هذه “المعتقداتِ الفئويّةَ” محورَ انتمائِها وعلاقتِها بالدولةِ اللبنانيةِ المركزيّة، عِوضَ أن يكونَ الانتماءُ إلى الكيانِ اللبنانيِّ مُحرَّرًا من أيِّ قيدٍ أو شرط. للوهلةِ الأولى نَظُن أنّنا أمامَ مسارٍ وطنيٍّ إيجابيٍّ، إذ صارت الفئاتُ اللبنانيّةُ تَشترِطُ ولاءَها للبنانَ بتأمينِ مطالبِها الذاتيّة، بينما كانت تاريخيًّا تَرهَنُ ولاءَها للكيانِ اللبنانيّ بتأمينِ مصالحِ دولٍ عربيّةٍ وأجنبيّةٍ فيه. لكنْ ما إِن تَحُفُّ بورقةِ “المطالبِ الذاتيّةِ” حتى تَكتشِفَ أنّها غِلافٌ يُخبِّئ تحتَه مطالبَ الدولِ الخارجيّةِ نفسِها مع زيادةِ إيران إلى اللائحة.

By Najia Houssari — arabnews.com — BEIRUT: A German judicial delegation stormed out of the Justice Palace in Beirut on Wednesday, disappointed that its requests had been turned down. The German delegation was the first to arrive in Beirut, followed by delegations from France and Luxembourg, to investigate alleged fraud by Riad Salameh, the governor of the Mediterranean country’s central bank, the Banque du Liban. Salameh’s name was mentioned in cases related to financial transfers from Lebanon to the banks of the aforementioned countries. The delegations will try to identify the sources of the funds and their connection to corruption, money laundering and financial crimes in European countries. Arab News learned that the German delegation met on Wednesday with the appellate public prosecutor in Beirut, Judge Raja Hamoush, who was assigned to facilitate the delegation’s work and to show them Salameh’s file, which the Lebanese public prosecutor’s Court of Cassation had investigated without charging anyone.

However, the German delegation included officials from the German police, so Hamoush asked them to leave the office, as the meeting was purely judicial, arguing that they had no capacity to be there or view any files. A judicial source told Arab News: “The German judges were equipped with advanced cameras. When the file was placed in front of them, and it was sealed with red wax, they asked if they could photograph its contents once opened as it includes hundreds of documents and papers. Hamoush refused and said that the judges should submit their request to the public prosecution’s Court of Cassation.” The source added: “They then asked to take a couple of snaps using their mobile phones, but Hamoush categorically turned down such requests. The delegation thus left Hamoush’s office and headed to that of Public Prosecutor Judge Ghassan Oueidat, and the file remained sealed with red wax.” The source noted that the delegation asked Oueidat to be allowed to photocopy the file, but he told them that he needed a written request and to know exactly what they wanted from the file. Following this, the German delegation stormed out of Oueidat’s office and left the Palace of Justice.

by indcatholicnews.com — Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, and the head of the Maronite Church, gave an overview of the situation in Lebanon on Tuesday evening, explaining that the country needs help from the United Nations and called for a resolution to address the situation in Palestine. The Patriarch, who is visiting the UK on a trip organised by Fellowship and Aid to the Christians of the East, (FACE) said Lebanon in the past had been “exposed to greed” and was “a venue for wars, hostilities, occupation, assassinations and injustices.”

Patriarch al-Rahi told a press conference at Archbishops House, Westminster, that now his country is facing a “demographic problem and an economic problem” due to shocking inflation, and having to take in millions of refugees from Syria and Palestinian which has put a strain on the country.The Patriarch said: “In order to protect Lebanon, keep it secure, stable and united it ought to be removed from regional and international conflicts, while remaining committed to legitimate Arab just causes, particularly the Palestinian cause, and to the United Nations resolutions.” “We ask the United Nations to call for a Special International Conference on Lebanon,” he added.

Such a conference, according to Patriarch al-Rahi, would support “devising a solution for the Palestinian problem; the facilitation and encouragement of Syrian repatriation and their assistance in their own country; the declaration of the positive neutrality of Lebanon through a Security Council Declaration.” Patriarch al-Rahi also had some warm words for the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who visited Lebanon in 2012. Explaining how the speech of any pope “carries a lot of weight,” he said: “The pope made three main speeches, besides his sermon. He spoke about the importance of Lebanon and the identity. “If you read his speeches you will see a lot of his ideas being held [today]. The speeches of any pope in any country have a permanent impact.” Patriarch al-Rahi asked people in the UK to “invest in Lebanon”, advocate on the country’s behalf, and support a two-state solution in Palestine. He finished by saying: “I can assure you that the Maronites present throughout the world are carrying the cause of Lebanon with them.”

by indcatholicnews.com — On his first official visit to the UK, His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rahi, Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Maronite Church, has taken part in a series of meetings with church leaders, politicians and Lebanese delegations yesterday. He was welcomed to Lambeth Palace by Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop said: “We prayed together for Christians in the Middle East, especially Lebanon – a place close to my heart.” The Patriarch then went on to the Palace of Westminster, where he took part in a number of official meetings, most notably with Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State for the Middle East; Sarah Mackintosh, Deputy National Security Adviser, who has responsibility for the Middle East; and with Parliamentarians, organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group to the Holy See.

The Patriarch was accompanied by Archbishop Paul Boulos El-Sayah; His Excellency Rami Mortada, Ambassador of Lebanon to the United Kingdom; and Mr Maran Francis, Counsellor at the Lebanese Embassy. In recent days, His Beatitude has also met with representatives of various Lebanese parties at the Maronite Parish in London, for which meeting he was accompanied by Abbot Hadi Mahfouz, General Superior of the Lebanese Maronite Order, and Father Fadi Kmeid, Maronite parish priest in London.

Story by Marquise Francis — AFP — India is expected to surpass China and become the world’s most populous nation within the next three months, according to a recent report by the United Nations’ population division, marking a seismic shift on the global stage in a trend with significant social and economic impact for both countries. “Most people think India’s economy is still a fraction of what it could be in the future, which means there’s so much promise,” Dr. Audrey Truschke, an associate professor of South Asian History at Rutgers University, told Yahoo News, adding that much of the potential is due in large part to India being “such a young country.”

Of the rapidly growing 1.41 billion people in India, about 1 in 4 are under the age of 15 and nearly half are under 25. By comparison, China’s population is about 1.45 billion, but those under 25 make up only a quarter of the population. “The Indian subcontinent has always supported a robust human population,” Truschke said. “India has also long been compared to China, and they have for a long time traded with one another. So as much changes over the course of human history, that’s something that recurs — both the dense population of the subcontinent, as well as the comparison with China.” Since 1950, India and China have accounted for an estimated 35% of the world’s population growth, with China emerging as a global industrial power. Combined, the two population epicenters are a significant slice of the world’s roughly 8 billion people.