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.
As-Safir daily reported on Thursday that, according to
official information, the blueprint drawn up for the south of Lebanon is very
dangerous, given that it is grounded on one of the following two options:
First, circulating data and information reveal the intention
of some UNIFIL-troop contributing countries to consider deploying all units
affiliated with UNIFIL in specific spots and limiting their function to border
control.
The second option emerges from the assumption that France
insists on decreasing its troops, or it is rather mulling the possibility of a
full withdrawal, boosting the LAF’s role in the south on the grounds that the
south is their [LAF] own territory.
Lebanese Islamic sources announced that Iran and Russia are
gearing up once again to mediate between Syrian leaders and the Muslim Brotherhood
in a bid to reach political solutions for the Syrian crisis and to steer clear
of the military and security ones after both sides agreed that they lead to
nowhere and that Syrian President Bashar Assad is seriously seeking political
solutions.
In this context,
As-Safir reported that Assad told Lebanese
figures that he is comfortable with the internal situation in Syria, as he
pointed out that all external pressures failed to affect the Syrian situation.
Assad also voiced contentment over Syria’s relations with
Russia and Iran and the positive role that both countries play in protecting
Syria.
Assad’s visitors quoted the Syrian president as saying that
he has not totally closed the door on attempts to mediate between him and the
Muslim Brotherhood, “provided that they make positive moves towards the
regime.”
Assad also added that Syria’s doors will always be open for
Hamas and its leaders.
Al-Mustaqbal
daily quoted MP Sami Gemayel on Thursday as saying that violations within the
parliament should stop, as he referred to “Hezbollah’s violation of the logic
of State, Law and institutions within the parliament.”
Gemayel
added that Speaker Nabih Berri tried to play a reconciling role, stressing that
he could not overlook “MP Nawaf Moussawi’s words which revealed immorality and
indiscipline.”
Gemayel
added that he refused that reconciliation takes place between him and Moussawi
inside the Speaker’s office, between four walls, as he said, “since it was not
a personal dispute; rather an insult to the parliament and MPs; the issue
should be addressed at parliament and in the presence of them all, with a
public apology from Moussawi.”
An official
source from Fatah Movement accused members of Jund al-Sham of being behind the
killing of Lieutenant Ashraf al-Qadiri, the companion of the Fatah military
leader Mahmoud Abdel-Hamid Issa, known as al-Lino.
Al-Liwaa
daily quoted the sources as saying that the presence of Jund al-Sham members in
the camp sparks tension, given the recent series of security incidents,
explosions and firing, which proves that these members have an agenda that they
are seeking to implement.
Al-Liwaa
daily reported on Thursday that Hezbollah sources refused to comment on the
statements recently put forth by FPM officials.
However, the sources did not deny that differences emerged
between both sides, which require a meeting between Hezbollah Leader Sayyed
Hassan Nasrallah and Change and Reform Leader MP Michel Aoun.