Press Digest for Thursday April 12, 2012

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.     

• Indirect Lebanese-Israeli military cooperation

The Haaretz newspaper mentioned that the Israeli Navy has established a special unit that will indirectly cooperate with the Lebanese Armed Forces in order to prevent Lebanese boats from crossing territorial waters.

The newspaper quoted sources from the Israeli Navy saying that on several occasions the Lebanese Navy was freely operating to prevent any boats from entering Israel’s territorial border. The international “Naval Operation Cell” is in charge of this indirect cooperation between both armies.  

• Jumblatt: When will Hezbollah realize that Assad is a killer?

Sources close to the head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the death of New TV cameraman Ali Shaaban disturbed Jumblatt.

As he received the newsflash Jumblatt said “When will Syria’s allies in Lebanon and especially Hezbollah realize that Bashar Assad is a killer?”

The sources added that Jumblatt decided to issue a statement slamming the Syrian Regime and its atrocities but decided to back down after several political figures interfered.    

• Libyans believe to have found Imam Sadr’s dead body

Sources from Libya told Al-Akhbar newspaper that the currently ruling political power demanded from the Lebanese government to send DNA tests and samples belonging  to Imam Moussa Sadr’s family as the Libyans found a dead body and believe it is Sadr’s. Minister of Foreign Affairs Adnan Mansour visited Libya last week to provide the Libyan government with the needed samples.

In an interview to al-Akhbar Mansour rejected all these rumors saying that whatever Al-Jazeera is broadcasting related to this issue is false and untrue.  

• Lebanese fighters from Bekaa to Syria

According to al-Akhbar newspaper Lebanese Security forces are patrolling the Bekaa area in an attempt to reveal the number of Lebanese fighters who illegally crossed the Syrian border to fight against the Syrian Regime of Bashar Assad.