Introduction to the evening news 10-01-2012

A determined speech; this is how the first appearance of Syrian President Bashar Assad since last June can be described. Assad who refused to step down said that "the top priority now is for security which cannot be achieved unless terrorist threats and armed men are faced with an “iron fist”.          

The Syrian President rejected to carry out reforms under pressure, claiming that a foreign conspiracy was behind the unrest in Syria: "By foreign, I mean both Arab and western [countries].  Some Arab countries may be more hostile and aggressive towards Syria than some other foreign countries."          

Assad slammed the Arab League, stressing that the target of Arabs is to replace Syria with Israel. In what bears a resemblance to his aggressive speech after the July war 2006, he criticized some gulf countries, saying: "Those countries trying to drive us out of the Arab League have never embraced Arabism and we tell them that money neither makes history nor civilizations".            

As the Syrian opposition said that Assad's speech incites for violence and called for international protection, American, European and Arab reactions were absent except for Turkey who commented on Assad's statement.               

In parallel, the Israeli Chief of Staff made a striking announcement today declaring that Israel is ready to receive Alawite Syrian refugees in the Golan Heights in case Assad's regime was toppled.        

While the Syrian events take international and regional dimensions, the local Lebanese politics is pityingly regressing. The partial appointments were written off the cabinet's agenda tonight and the price index committee will discuss the issue of wages tomorrow afternoon upon the labor minister's call.