Category: Government Policy

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil, considered at the opening of the ‘Municipalities Forum on Syrian Displacement’ conference in Rabweh, that what happened yesterday regarding the extension in the House of Representatives is a continuation of the conspiracy related to displacement while extending the security policies approved on the border, saying: ‘Everyone acquiesced for extension, except for the Free Patriotic Movement.’

MP Bassil asked: ‘Can someone who goes to Syria repeatedly be considered a displaced person and receive more money than a Lebanese person and receive aid from the United Nations?’

Bassil added: “From day one, we talked about an important role for municipalities regarding the issue of displaced people, but today, their role has become the only one that can be relied upon with partial and temporary solutions to alleviate the burden of displacement within the municipal sphere, in light of the increasing government, administrative and security deficit, and in light of the exte
rnal conspiracy against us.”

Bassil added: “We are facing international behavior that is closer to a conspiracy against Lebanon and Syria and has become a source of danger to Lebanon’s existence. Western countries, through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, are working to stabilize the displaced in the land to which they were displaced and finance their survival. Unfortunately, these countries have moved to using Some Lebanese security institutions as a tool to implement their plans to close the maritime borders to prevent the refugees from leaking into Europe and the West, and open the land borders with Syria so that more Syrians will flow towards Lebanon. At the same time, the same countries are besieging Syria economically and tightening the noose on it financially to cause more Syrian displacement abroad and towards Lebanon. This is within the framework of the plan to dismantle the countries surrounding Israel and turn them into sectarian warring states by sabotaging their societal fabric
. It is also within the framework of preparing a subversive internal ground that will be used when there is a need for internal seditious action that coincides with an external aggression against Lebanon.”

He said: ‘What happened yesterday regarding the extension in Parliament is part of the continuation of the conspiracy that Lebanese politicians and governments have not confronted since we talked about it in the year 2011, and God knows what will come next, in light of the shift in turning a blind eye, neglect, silence, or concealment of information…”

Bassil considered that “it is not permissible, from a national and humanitarian standpoint, for the conditions of displaced Syrians to be much better than the conditions of Lebanese citizens. This is not racism, but patriotism. It is true that Syrians are victims of unjust injustice war, but the Lebanese are also victims of an external and internal conspiracy.”

Bassil concluded: ‘The Syrian government, due to Syria’s tragic economic and financial conditio
ns, may not be able to rebuild, but this does not mean that we, as Lebanese, must pay the price on behalf of victim Syria, and on behalf of an unjust international community against it.’
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker Nabih Berri cabled today the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, expressing his deepest condolences on the passing of the Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Berri expressed the great loss that the Lebanese are feeling on this sad day, considering that “with the Emir’s passing, Lebanon as well as Kuwait and the Arab and Islamic worlds, have lost a figure who worked for the sake of the homeland, the nation’s resilience and the unification of its word towards achieving progress and stability.”

“In the name of the Parliament, and in the name of the Lebanese people, I extend to your Highness, to the Al-Sabah family, and to the brotherly Kuwaiti people, my deepest condolences, asking the Lord Almighty to grant us patience and solace, to rest his soul in peace, and to protect you and Kuwait with His heavenly care.”

The House Speaker also sent a cable of condolences to his counterpart, Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Asse
mbly, Ahmed Al-Aziz Al-Saadoun.

On a different level, Berri received today at Ain El-Tineh Palace the Acting Central Bank Governor, Wassim Mansouri, followed by the Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan. with whom he discussed the general situation and political and field developments in light of the escalation of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the villages and towns of Lebanon’s southern border with occupied Palestine.
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

Lebanese Forces Party Chief, Samir Geagea, received today in Maarab a delegation representing the Bank Employees Union, headed by Union President George Hajj, who raised the conditions of the employees in wake of the crisis in the financial and banking sector in Lebanon.

Following the meeting, Hajj said they discussed with the LF Chief the increased lay-offs taking place in the banking sector which is affecting a large number of employees.

He added: ‘We expressed to Dr. Geagea our position, particularly since we have a banking merger law that was initiated by the Strong Republic bloc and presented to Parliament by amending Article 4 of the merger law, which allows for compensation much more than what the law stipulates today.”

He went on, “As for our second topic of discussion, it was the issue of banking sector restructuring, for we believe that the only solution to the dismissal of fellow bankers lies in revitalizing the sector, which has been suffering from a crisis for the past four years.”

The Union
President indicated that the LF Chief showed all support during the meeting and pledged that MP Razi El-Hajj of the Strong Republic bloc will follow-up on the merger law in Parliament.
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

Prime Minister Najib Mikati issued today a memorandum declaring official mourning over the passing of the Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The memorandum stated that “official mourning is announced over the death of His Highness the Emir of the sisterly State of Kuwait, the late Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed to the mercy of God Almighty on Saturday, 12/16/2023…Flags will be at half-mast in all public departments, official institutions and municipalities in mourning for a period of three days from this date until Monday 12/18/2023 inclusive, and regular programs on radio and television stations will be modified in accordance with the painful occasion…May God have mercy on the late Emir and rest his soul in peace in His vast Heaven.”
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

President of the Maronite League, Ambassador Khalil Karam, expressed in a statement from Paris, his satisfaction with the outcome of the Council of Ministers session on Friday to extend the service mandate of Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, for a year.

Karam considered that in addition to the qualifications that characterize General Aoun, and the vacuum that would result in the army leadership in the absence of an army commander, this extension step taken by Parliament was more than necessary in these critical and serious conditions that Lebanon is going through.

“It is the supreme national interest that was behind the extension, as this issue cannot be plunged into narrow political disputes, because the victor of this step is the unity of the institutions, foremost of which is the army institution, starting with its leadership, because it is the place of trust of all the Lebanese, regardless of their affiliations, sects, and confessions,” Karam asserted.

He added: ‘As I congratulate General Joseph A
oun on the extension, wishing the Lebanese Army success in performing its national, military and security missions, I hope that the completion of this entitlement will be a starting point for other achievements that are of no less importance, and that all other vacant positions will be filled soon, starting with the Presidency of the Republic, because it is the foundation in the process of regulating the work of the state and its institutions.’
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

Hezbullah mourned the martyrdom of Ridwan Ali Hamoudi from Tyre village, who was martyred in his line of duty on the path for Jerusalem.

He was martyred alongside Hamad Youssef in the Israeli airstrike on a house in between Majdal Zoun and Al-Masnouri. His death was announced yesterday locally and officially this morning by the military media.
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

French diplomatic information reported that French President Emmanuel Macron will go to Jordan to spend the Christmas vacation between 21 and 23 December, according to Russia Today.

Macron was scheduled to visit Lebanon on his vacation, and after canceling this plan, he decided to visit a French air base in northern Jordan on the 21st and 22nd of December and spend the Christmas vacation with the French soldiers.

‘With the end of the year holidays approaching, President Macron would like to serve a dinner prepared by the presidential chef for 350 soldiers deployed at this air base as part of efforts to combat terrorism,” the Elysée Palace source added.

According to the Elysee, this decision came as a result of the volatile and unstable situation in southern Lebanon, due to the ongoing tensions and confrontations between Hezbollah and the Israeli enemy forces in the context of the war on Gaza, in addition to the presidential vacuum and the failure to form a new Lebanese government, which why Macron preferr
ed to be in Jordan with French soldiers.
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

The Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, believes that the decision of the Parliament to raise the retirement age for the rank of general and major general for one year, extending the terms for the Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, and heads of other security agencies, “stems from the demand of the Lebanese people.”

This step comes as the Lebanese, represented by their deputies, to “avoid a vacuum in the military institution, which is keen on preserving national interests, especially since the army, its officers, and personnel are the embodiment of patriotism, loyalty, and sacrifice.”

He extended his respects and appreciation to the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, and the members of the Parliament for the “national achievement, which is a national necessity to ward off the risks facing the country, especially from the Zionist enemy that violates Lebanon’s sovereignty.”

Derian emphasize
d that “the efforts and endeavors made by the deputies to preserve the military institution by extending the terms of the leaders of the Lebanese security agencies are commendable and call on them to expedite the election of a president in the difficult circumstances Lebanon is going through.”

He said, “Military institutions are a national guarantee to preserve a sovereign, free, independent Arab Lebanon.”

Derian urged the deputies “to take their next steps in hastening the election of a president to fill the presidential void and get out of the predicament that Lebanon is experiencing so that we do not fall into the ‘forbidden’ in many of the upcoming events that the country is waiting for.”

He made a congratulatory call to the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, praising the role of the military institution, its leaders, officers, and personnel for their efforts in confronting the Israeli enemy, preserving Lebanon’s borders from Israeli violations, and ensuring the security of all Lebanese across the co
untry.

He wished him “further success, given his wisdom and national qualities, in facing anyone attempting to undermine Lebanon’s security.”

Derian also made a congratulatory call to the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, expressing admiration for the role of the Internal Security Forces in ensuring the security of citizens. He wished him and the institution success in their significant national duties.
Source:National News Agency – Lebanon

An-Nahar:

Unprecedented power struggle over military vacancy

Nidaa Al-Watan:

Minister of Defense will not acknowledge government’s decision to appoint Chief of Staff

Al-Joumhouria:

Both councils throwing responsibilities at each other

Paris aims to prevent regional outbreak of fire

Al-Akhbar:

Berri: “I won’t override cabinet, is government enough for parliament to avoid ‘extension evils’?”
Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

Caretaker Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, currently on an official visit to Berlin, on Thursday met with Germany’s State Secretary for Economic Cooperation and Development, Niels Annen, in the presence of Lebanon’s Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Moustafa Adib.

Bou Habib expressed gratitude to Germany for its commitment to provide dedicated aid for development programs in Lebanon, totaling 91 million euros.

The Caretaker Minister also met with Paul Ziemiak, a member of the German Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, thanking him on behalf of Lebanon for his stance in yesterday’s parliamentary session regarding ‘highlighting the Lebanese concerns in the issue of Syrian displacement’ and urging an increase in Germany’s support for the Lebanese Army.
Source: National News Agency-Lebanon