Jordan News UpdatesArmy Commander, General Joseph Aoun, received in his office in Yarzeh on Sunday, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell.
Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation in the country and developments along the southern border.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi deemed in his Sunday sermon that Lebanon is protected by the strength of Security Council Resolution 1701.
“The Church does not stop calling for an end to wars and resolving disputes through diplomatic means, and Lebanon is protected by the strength of Security Council Resolution 1701,” Patriarch Al-Rahi said.
The Patriarch also urged Lebanese officials to adhere to Resolution 1701 so that the war does not spread to the country.
At the economic level, Al-Rahi considered that the draft budget was unfair to the Lebanese, asking: “Is it permissible to burden citizens more than the cost of the collapse by imposing random fees?
“How do those who prepare the budget turn a blind eye to tax evasion? This is a result of the chaos of the absence of the President of the Republic,” he concluded.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
The Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs issued an appeal to the Egyptian students in Sudan not to head to conflict-stricken areas to save their lives.
The ministry said in a statement it has recently noticed that many Egyptian students studying in Sudan, who were evacuated from there after the start of the military operations, have returned back to Sudan in order to finish their study documents and some of them continued their study after returning to their universities.
The ministry added that the conflicting parties are intensifying their operations in the states which host universities, saying it received a number of appeals from students’ families to return their sons home.
Source: State Information Service Egypt
Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, received this afternoon at Ain al-Tineh Palace the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the European Union Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra de Waal.
The general situation and political and field developments in Lebanon and the region featured highly during their discussions, in light of Israel’s continued aggression against the Gaza Strip and the southern Lebanese regions.
During their one hour and ten minutes meeting, Borrell expressed his great concern about the continuation of the war on the Gaza Strip, and his concern for it not to expand towards Lebanon.
Borell expressed his fear of the Israeli escalation in the south, stressing that the priority must be to stop the war on the Gaza Strip because that is the gateway to the return of calm to Lebanon, which would then facilitate looking into the full implementation of the provisions of UN Resolution 1701.
In t
urn, Speaker Berri praised the participation of European Union countries within the UNIFIL peacekeeping forces and their role over the decades as a witness to the Israeli violations and attacks on southern Lebanon and its people.
He reaffirmed to Borrell Lebanon’s commitment to international legitimacy and its relevant resolutions, particularly Resolution #1701, stressing that the prelude to its implementation begins with stopping Israel’s aggression and its withdrawal from the entire occupied Lebanese territories.
On the internal political level, Berri stressed ‘the importance of completing the presidential entitlement regardless of the repercussions of the aggressive war waged by Israel,’ revealing that he is always ready to cooperate with the efforts of the Five-Year Committee to accomplish this entitlement.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
The Islamic Resistance issued the following statement: “With utmost pride and honor, the Islamic Resistance announces the martyrdom of Abbas Hussein Rammal, known as “Abed Al-Rassoul” from the town of Al-Odeiseh in southern Lebanon, who attained martyrdom on the path to liberate Al-Quds.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Prime Minister Najib Mikati is currently meeting with the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, at his residence in Beirut.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros a-Rahi, presided this morning over the Epiphany Holy Mass in the Church of Our Lady in Bkirki.
In his religious sermon, the Patriarch touched on the developments occurring in the region, saying: “We do not want Lebanon and its people to bear the burden of other nations and peoples. We must adhere to UN Resolution #1701, and spare Lebanon and the Lebanese, through wisdom and self-restraint, from entering into Israel’s war on Gaza.”
Al-Rahi referred to the suffering of the people of the southern Lebanese towns due to this war, from killings, the destruction of homes and orchards, and displacement. He added, “We never cease demanding, with all our capabilities and from all countries and official authorities, the right of the Palestinian people to return to their land and live in a state of their own. It is known that this method is more effective than war, killing, destruction, displacement, dispersion on the roads, hunger, oppression, and deprivation.”
Al-Rahi co
ntinued, “We demand, with all people of goodwill, to stop the fire and war, and to begin finding solutions through diplomatic negotiations. We demand that the border towns, Lebanon, and its people not be implicated in the extension of this war.”
In this context, the Patriarch reminded that “the decision on war and peace rests exclusively with the government, with two-thirds of its members, in line with the Constitution (Article 65), given the seriousness of every war and its dire consequences.’
Al-Rahi concluded his sermon by saying, “Let us pray to God Almighty, brothers and sisters, on the Day of Light, so that He may shine His light on minds, hearts, and consciences, so that everyone may live in the divine light, the light of truth, love, justice, and peace…”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
European Union Foreign Policy Coordinator Josep Borrell stressed “the need to avoid dragging Lebanon into a regional conflict, in light of the escalation on the border with Israel since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip.”
Borrell said in a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that “it is absolutely necessary to avoid dragging Lebanon into a regional conflict,” while at the same time addressing the Israelis by saying: ‘No one will emerge victorious from a regional conflict.’
Borrell explained that he discussed with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati the situation in southern Lebanon, the impact of the war in Gaza, and the situation in Syria.
He added: “We agreed to work together through diplomacy to reduce escalation and achieve long-term stability, which is in everyone’s interest.”
He stressed that “it is necessary to avoid escalation in the Middle East and not drag Lebanon into war,” considering that “peace alone ensures security in the Middle East, and Gaza is an integral part of
the broader Palestinian issue.”
Borrell stressed that “no one will achieve victory from any regional escalation,” noting that he is in Lebanon to contribute to finding a solution to get out of the crisis.
He also stressed that he “will spare no effort to make the two-state solution a reality,” noting that he will visit Saudi Arabia tomorrow to discuss steps towards peace in the region.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
With utmost pride and honor, the Islamic Resistance announces the martyrdom of Abdallah Hasan Al-Asmar, known as “Abu Hussein” from the town of Al-Odaisseh in southern Lebanon, who attained martyrdom on the path to liberate Al-Quds,” the Resistance announced in a statement this afternoon.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Our correspondent reported that the Israeli enemy is targeting the Ras al-Dhahr area in the Western District and the Wadi al-Bir area in the town of Mays al-Jabal with artillery shelling.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Prime Minister Najib Mikati received today at his residence in Beirut the European Union High Representative Josep Borrell, with an accompanying delegation, in the presence of Advisor to the Prime Minister, former Minister Nicolas Nahhas, Ambassador Boutros Assaker, and Mr. Ziad Mikati.
Talks during the meeting centered on the cooperation between the Lebanese government and the European Union on social and economic issues and administrative reforms.
In this context, the Prime Minister stressed that “the issue of displaced Syrians must be resolved by supporting them in their country to encourage them to return.”
Touching on the Israeli aggression against Gaza and southern Lebanon, Mikati said: ‘We are peace seekers, not war advocates. We look forward to achieving stability and we are conducting all the necessary contacts in this regard, for any large-scale bombing in southern Lebanon will lead the region towards total explosion.’
Mikati continued to emphasize “Lebanon’s commitment to implementing Internat
ional Resolution No. 1701,” adding that “the full implementation of this resolution first requires ceasing all Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and Israel’s withdrawal from the Lebanese territories it still occupies.”
He also called for “working to establish a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue by giving the Palestinians their just rights.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon