Press Digest for Thursday May 3, 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.

• Nasrallah to address his supporters on the 11th of May

According to al-Liwaa, Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah will address his supporters in a popular ceremony on the 11th of May, 2012. The ceremony will be organized by “Waad” contracting company which rebuilt most of the destroyed building after July war 2006 in Beirut suburb.

Sources told Al-Liwaa that Nasrallah will tackle critical issues regarding the latest events in the region, as well as the latest American and Iranian visits to Lebanon.  

• Feltman to Jumblatt: Stay with March 14

According to Al-Joumhouria newspaper the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman met with the head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt to discuss his political alliances during the upcoming parliamentarian elections.

Feltman asked Jumblatt to start establishing contacts with March 14 coalition, adding that he understands Jumblatt’s relation with Hezbollah to protect the Druze community. Sources told the newspaper that Jumblatt will announce in the upcoming days decisive stances close to March 14 stances.

On the other hand, sources told Al-Akhbar newspaper that the head of the National Struggle Front Walid Jumblatt blamed the minister of telecommunication Nicolas Sahnaoui for Geagea’s assassination plot as the minister has constantly refused to hand in all telecommunication data.            

• Ghosn: Dialogue with the government is a must

According to Al-Liwaa newspaper a strike called for by the General Labor Confederation will take place on Thursday with the participation of several unions joining the protests including the public transportation drivers, the Middle East Airlines employees, the port, and the National Social Security Fund.

“The protesters will not block the roads. We are against the cabinet’s policy that didn’t tackle during its last two sessions the demands of laborers,” head of GLC Ghassan Ghosn told Al-Liwaa.

He stressed that dialogue with the government is open.

Ghosn warned from escalating the situation if the cabinet failed to find a solution for the soaring fuel prices that are affecting the cost of consumer goods. However, several other unions decided not to join the strike.    

• Berri to Feltman: Lebanon will protect its offshore resources

According to As-Safir newspaper speaker Nabih Berri met with the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffery Feltman to discuss the ongoing changes in the Middle East.

Berri told Feltman that Lebanon is keen on preserving its natural offshore resources as well as protecting its territorial waters from Israeli breaches, adding that it is from Lebanon right to invest in the entire economic zone without any foreign interference.