President Michel Suleiman seems to be engaged in shuttle diplomacy. Taking in consideration that the local players are heavily influenced by outside actors, this is a good initiative. I hope General Suleiman will be able to deliver but thus far he has done a good job. Minister of State Nassib Lahoud told LBC television on […]
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree paving the way for the establishment of diplomatic ties with Lebanon and the opening of an embassy, the official SANA news agency said on Tuesday. The decree provides for “the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Lebanese republic and the creation of […]
Palestinian officials are compiling a register of residents in the northern refugee camp of Baddawi to crack down on Islamist militants and to prevent unrest, one of them said on Saturday. “Rumors have spread concerning the presence of outlaws in Baddawi camp,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “As a result Palestinian faction […]
I was already late to dinner, so I decided to take a taxi from the street. Not surprisingly, I got caught in a traffic jam. Oh well. Beirut at night. The driver starts telling me about Lebanese women. I said they are beautiful. He disagreed. Actually, he said that maybe 20% have beautiful features, but […]
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun will make an official visit to Tehran on Sunday for meetings with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other senior officials. … During the visit, the first ever by Aoun to Tehran, a ceremony will be held in his honor, the daily As Safir said Friday. It said Aoun […]
When I am outside Lebanon following the political trends, I do it, thinking that X event or Y incident is going to have an impact. Truth is that nothing thus far had a meaningful impact on the system as a whole. I feel Lebanon is kind of a hopeless case… People were assassinated and for […]
An Nahar daily reported that Israel may withdraw from the Ghajar village by November 21. If that is true, then March 14 will have more ammunition in the upcoming campaign against Hizballah. Israel should withdraw from the Shebaa farms and the hills around, just to let Hizballah without its liberation pretenses. Let the people of […]
NOW Lebanon: With increasing frequency since the February assassination of top Hezbollah commander Imad Mugniyah in Damascus, the Israeli Counter-Terrorism Bureau has been warning its citizens that the possibility of either above scenario being carried out by Hezbollah is high. The chatter has gotten particularly loud now that the Jewish high holidays have begun. Should […]
For the past few years there is always something happening in Lebanon. And rarely is something good.The country did not have a President, the government was weak and did not really work, the Parliament was closed. Then the clashes started inside the country. Then we have seen Doha and now we are in the post-Doha […]
Hours before the parliament convened to vote on the electoral law on Monday, an explosion occurred in al-Bahsas in Tripoli. Reports suggest the explosion targeted a military bus carrying at least 20 soldiers, leaving at least six dead and 17 injured. The Voice of Lebanon radio station reported that a Renault 18 sedan, which was […]
Autumn is slowly coming to Beirut. For almost two months I kept on complaining about the heat and the humidity. Now I might start with the brief rainfalls. While dining with friends I found out that today is al Quds day and that many Hizballah fans went to the border. It was a no comment […]
Excellent reading about Hizballah's controlled suburbs. As it looks, Hizballah's Pentagon, as some called dahyeh was not as controlled as many thought. Don't get me wrong, Hizballah is strong, but far from being invincible. NOW Lebanon: The Internal Security Forces (ISF) recently implemented what it has called a "security plan" in the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs […]
Away from the political scene, but deeply influenced by it, there were recent incidents when people were injured and some lost their lives. It may not have caught the headlines outside the country, but these individuals were fighting over flags, flyer's and posters. Over symbols. Whenever I have a meeting or an interview I made […]
The "Lebanese Resistance Martyrs" mass was held on Sunday in the Faoud Chehab stadium in Jounieh commemorating slain Lebanese Forces supporters. "I fully apologize for any mistakes we committed when we carried out our national duties during the war," Geagea said, adding that he asked for forgiveness from God and for those they had hurt. […]
Efforts are underway to reach a Christian-Christian reconciliation between Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and al-Marada Movement leader Suleiman Frangieh. Reconciliation efforts intensified after two people were killed and three wounded in clashes Wednesday between the LF and Marada in the town of Bsarma in the northern Lebanese province of Koura. [Naharnet] In the upcoming […]