Lebanon

Not a day goes by without something happening in Lebanon. It is more of X said that, Y said the other, Z cursed all. I believe that for the next few months this will be the status quo. Hizballah arrested people in dahyeh. Again. Remind me not to carry a camera in dahyeh. Prince Talal […]

During the past few days I have had the chance to meet very interesting individuals. As soon as WSN [World Security Network] publishes the interviews I will add the links here. One of the things that I observed is that in Lebanon people always talk of details, of fixing this issue, fixing that issue, and […]

The Salafi freezed the agreement with Hizballah. Sheikh Hassan Shahhal, who signed the understanding on Monday with Hizbullah's Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, declared freezing the agreement pending “appropriate circumstances that allow its implementation.” Sheikh Hassan made the announcement after a meeting with leaders of Salafi factions presided over by their highest authority Dai al-Islam al-Shahhal who […]

Tripoli's tense situation continues. I don't know who is behind the attacks, and I doubt we’ll hear of the investigation results anytime soon. Michael Young has a very good op-ed on the latest events. Recently, colleagues who closely follow events in Tripoli have started hearing of Syrian warnings to the Lebanese that there would be […]

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, along with his wife and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh arrived in Syria at 5 p.m. They were greeted at the Syrian International Airport by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma, before traveling together to the People's Palace in Damascus, where an official reception welcomed the Lebanese leader. [NOW Lebanon] […]

After parliament granting the cabinet confidence by exactly 100 votes on Tuesday, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told reporters at the Grand Serail that he had been expecting an even higher margin.[NOW Lebanon] After four days of debate, only five members of parliament voted against the government, with two MPs abstaining. Not often did I see […]

Its already a tradition to spend few days in Bint Jbeil every time I am in Lebanon. The Bint Jbeil also called Hizballah's stronghold and the capital of liberation. Aside from the connection to the party, Bint Jbeil is a wonderful, calm place and the people truly friendly. You can safely walk everywhere and get […]

Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun has moved the goalposts again. Speaking after the Change and Reform bloc's meeting on July 28, the inscrutable former soldier declared that Hezbollah should remain armed until Israel recognizes the Palestinians' right of return, a quixotic deadline if ever there was one. "A solution should be found regarding […]

Translation provided by www.mideastwire.com On August 5, the Lebanese News Agency posted the transcript of the ministerial statement. The following are excerpts of the statement: "The introduction: 1- "Around two months ago, under Arab auspices and with the support of Lebanon's brothers and friends, we reached an exceptional agreement that was highly necessary for that […]

 President Michel Suleiman will make his first visit to Damascus next week for talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad. The two neighbors would discuss establishing diplomatic ties, an official said on Tuesday. “The summit will be held on August 13,” an official from Baabda Palace told AFP. Relations have been tense since Syria pulled […]

Premier Fouad Saniora's cabinet on Monday adopted its policy statement despite reservations voiced by four ministers on a clause related to the resistance. Information Minister Tareq Mitri said the statement was adopted unanimously to safeguard “ministerial solidarity.” [Naharnet] The four ministers that had reservations were Nassib Lahoud, Tony Karam, Ibrahim Najjar and Elie Marouni. Phalange […]

I took a stroll today in downtown Beirut. The tents were dismantled, summer season is on and the place looks wonderful. The shops, restaurants and cafes that were once deserted are now back in business. The political tension won't go away anytime soon. However, Lebanese people have an interesting way of dealing with trouble. They […]