The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.
Lebanese officials told Al-Akhbar newspaper that the Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen who visited Lebanon last week was clear that any collaboration between Lebanese banks and sanctioned Syrian or Iranian banks will have ramifications for Lebanese banking sector.
“Cohen told us that the Americans are not bluffing; they are serious that any misconduct regarding that subject will have negative effects on our banking sector”, sources told al-Akhbar.
“They are trying to tighten their grip on Syria and Iran’s economy in order to change the political regime”.
Well-informed French sources told Al-Hayat newspaper that the current political situation serves the interests of the political groups supporting the Syrian Regime and the ruling majority such as Hezbollah and its allies, adding that Hezbollah will benefit if the situation remains calm especially on the security level.
Western diplomatic sources expressed their concerns regarding suspicious banks accounts for individuals close to the Syrian Regime and to Hezbollah activities and others living in Africa.
The sources added that the Lebanese Central Bank Governor Riad Saleme’s statements, who revealed that the Lebanese banks halted their cooperation with the Syrian Central bank relieving western regimes and investors, are not enough as cooperation is still based on the individual level.
Governmental sources told Al-Liwaa newspaper that the current electricity crisis draws the current political dispute between PM Najib Mikati and the Free Patriotic Movement ministers in solving critical issues during cabinet meetings and gatherings.
Sources close to PM Mikati revealed that the FPM minsters are trying to impose their own ideas during cabinet sessions, using the “fait accompli” policy as they did previously. The sources added that such a policy is rejected under any given situation.
Change and Reform parliamentarian sources told the newspaper that some political forces in the government are completely against any reform plan.
The head of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Armed Struggle in Ain al-Hilweh, Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Issa, better known as Lino, told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the security of the camp is a red line and above all small and empty political equations, adding that all Palestinian factions are cooperating together to keep the situation under control.
On Wednesday a bomb estimated to contain 30 kilograms of TNT, which was set to detonate by remote control, was found near Fatah headquarters. Colonel Qotaiba, the commander of the Palestinian Armed Struggle force in Ain el-Hilweh, said three mortar shells were found inside the bomb, which was concealed in a paint bucket.
Sources told the newspaper that the current tensions in the camp are the result of the Head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas’s decision to unify the Palestinian Armed Struggle headed by al-Lino and the General Secretariat headed by General Mounir al Makdah under the “Palestinian National Security”.
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