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.
The echo of Siddiqin blast that shook Tyre on Tuesday night can still be heard and many controversial stories raised several questions but, until now, there was no clear answer on the nature of the explosion.
An-Nahar newspaper mentioned that some people talked about an explosion that occurred in one of Hezbollah secret bunkers where the Party has been storing weapons, while the Lebanese Armed Forces Command expected that the blast could have occurred from a land mine or a cluster bomb explosion as the region was heavily bombed during the 2006 July war.
An-Nahar quoted the American Jewish blogger Richard Silverstein who claimed that Israel was behind the explosion. Quoting an Israeli official with “considerable military experience,” the blogger wrote “IDF military intelligence has outfoxed Hezbollah by deliberately crash-landing a booby-trapped Trojan Horse drone in southern Lebanon.
Silverstein added that Hezbollah soldiers collected the drone and brought it to a large weapons depot it controlled in the area. Once inside the arms cache, the IDF detonated the drone causing a massive explosion.
According to
An-Nahar newspaper some ministers asked PM Najib Mikati during the last cabinet meeting if what the media has been broadcasting lately about Mikati’s resignation if the government fails to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is true, Mikati responded “The STL issue is not on the Cabinet’s agenda, we will discuss it once I’m back from the Vatican and I call on all political parties to act responsibly towards this file”.
In this regard, one of the National Struggle Front ministers told An-Nahar that PM Mikati has set the 30th of November for the upcoming cabinet’s meeting and a deadline to fund the Tribunal. The minister added that if the cabinet fails to fund it the NSF ministers will resign, even if Mikati would want to stay in power.
An-Nahar added that ongoing talks between PM Mikati, Hezbollah and Speaker Berri are being held on daily basis to find the best outcome for that issue.
As-Safir newspaper revealed that a “secret” meeting was held in Saudi Arabia between the head of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea and to former Minister of Defense Elias el-Murr, after a period of silence between both sides.
The newspaper mentioned that Geagea and Murr agreed to cooperate on both the political level and during the upcoming election in the Metn area.
According to
As-Safir newspaper, the head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in charge of investigation the assassination of former MP Rafic Hariri Judge Sir David Baragwanath told Lebanese officials during his last visit that if Lebanon fails to commit to STL funding the government will be a victim of a series of international sanctions.
Baragwanath mentioned that even if Lebanon rejects the STL funding the tribunal will keep functioning, adding that it is important that Lebanon preserve its credibility on the international scene, or else the STL issue will be transferred to the United Nations Security Council.
In this regard, the newspaper revealed that Baragwanath raised seven critical points during his meeting with Lebanese officials:
-The STL will not be affected by the campaign against it and will keep functioning normally
-All judges have been appointed and the Tribunal is ready to launch the trials
-The Tribunal’s aim is to bring all criminals to justice
- Baragwanath praised the efforts and the knowledge of the Lebanese judges, members of the Tribunal legal body -Beirut will remain the center of justice and law enforcement in the Middle East and it will regain its political power
-Baragwanath’s visit came to strengthen the ties between the government and STL -During his visit the STL President called on Lebanon to respect all international resolution especially to pay its share of the funding.
Al-liwaa newspaper mentioned that former PM Saad Hariri’s participation in the Tripoli popular movement that will be held next Sunday is still under discussion. It is expected that Hariri will have a speech on a giant screen in front of the masses.
The newspaper added that Future Movement might limit its participation to the head of its parliamentarian bloc MP Fouad Seniora who will have a speech on this occasion as well as MP Samir Jeser, MP Marwan Hmede and MP Boutros Harb