Press Digest for Sunday December 22, 2013

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.

• MP Harb: March 14 forces are against 9-9-6 cabinet formula            

Deputy Boutros Harb said on Sunday "Hezbollah is concerned over the escalating situation in the region since it threatens its existence", adding that accusations raised by the party against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the suicide attack that targeted the Iranian Embassy in Beirut are against the position of Iran since it accused Israel. 

On another note, MP Harb said Change and Reform Bloc leader MP Michel Aoun is no longer referring to high rhetoric when addressing local developments since the presidential entitlement is becoming close.                    

MP Harb told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Seyassah the security of the gulf region is related to the security of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and the Syrian regime is rushing to make "gains" prior to the Geneva 2 peace conference.                

Harb noted that confrontations between Hezbollah and Takfiri groups in Syria were dragged to the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, adding that March 14 forces are against the 9-9-6 cabinet formula since it grants Hezbollah the veto power.         

• Rifi: Hezbollah’s Nasrallah is committing a great mistake        

Former Internal Security Forces Chief Major General Ashraf Rifi said on Sunday that since the beginning of the Syrian crisis Hezbollah has been committing a great mistake by considering fighting in Syria as existential.                      

In this regard, Rifi called on the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah via Al-Mustaqbal newspaper to recognize his mistake in a bid to limit the losses.         

On another note, Rifi said the Northern city of Tripoli is halting all the Iranian attempts to drag the city into war; expressing his astonishment that Hezbollah’s Nasrallah dubbed the “Tripoli declaration” as a declaration of war.               

• Gemayel stresses importance of forming new cabinet               

Kataeb Party Leader Amine Gemayel responded on Sunday to the latest speech delivered by the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, pointing out that means for a solution have not become impossible.              

Gemayel stressed via the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Seyassah the importance of forming a new cabinet that changes the country’s current situation.        

Gemayel also noted that it is unacceptable that a Lebanese political faction threatens other Lebanese parties, adding that March 14 forces are adherent to their stance which stipulates defending Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and institutions.