Introduction to the evening news 13-02-2012

As if the Syrian crisis alone is not enough to keep the tension high in the region; the attacks targeting the Israeli embassy in both India and Georgia put the Middle East on edge.       

With no clear motive or suspects, both embassies were targeted for bombings. Israel rushed to accuse Iran who, in turn, vehemently denied any role in the bomb plots.       

In Syria, the regime is pressing on with its military operation while calls for an UN-Arab peacekeeping force are growing louder, despite the lack of any specific mechanisms.         

In Lebanon, the cabinet session crisis is now back to square one: the president will not back down from his decision to suspend the sessions unless the labor minister signs the transportation allowance decree. The labor minister refuses to sign what he considers an illegal decree as General Michel Aoun is threatening to dissolve the government if minister Charbel Nahhas is dismissed.        

Speaker Berri is trying to set a time limit for the suspension of sessions by announcing the 22nd of this month as the date for a legislative session that must be attended by all members of the government.          

In this tense atmosphere, Lebanon is faced with the seventh anniversary of Rafic Hariri’s assassination and all eyes will be on the celebration of the commemorations tomorrow to elucidate two stances: that of former PM Saad Hariri from Paris, and the content of his speech, as well as that of the expected position from the Syrian National Council based on two questions: Will anyone from the council participate or is there a message to be delivered on its behalf?