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.
According to
As-Safir, PM Najib Mikati said that he will always abide by the democratic Lebanese state and will accept any voting at the cabinet. Mikati voiced his concerns regarding the possible negative impact of Nahas’s wage adjustment proposal on the Lebanese economy, calling on all ministers who voted in favor of this proposal to take full responsibility of their actions.
Mikati revealed that the General Labor Confederation and the economic bodies came to agree on Nahas’s proposal, as he had the signature of both parties on this proposal but he was surprised that Nahas withdrew it from the cabinet.
“What happened is a clear political game, I personally got the message and I accept it as we live in a democratic state”, Mikati was quoted as saying. “March 8 coalition has decided to support General Aoun in the cabinet, I understand their political equation and their stances”.
Sources close to Hezbollah told
As-Safir newspaper that the meeting held between the head of the Free Patriotic Movement General Michel Aoun and the General Secretary of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was very fruitful.
The soucers added the discussions focused on the latest events in the region especially Syria and the US withdrawal from Iraq. As-Safir reported that the meeting managed to put back Hezbollah-FPM relationship on the right track and prepared for a greater cooperation which was translated during Wednesday’s cabinet session.
The newspaper added that both parties had different opinions regarding daily political issues but strongly agreed on the broader scale.
According to
Acharq Al-Awsat newspaper Future Movement MP Okab Sakr said that the Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn last statements on Al-Qaeda militants entering Lebanon as Syrian refugees are trials to import the Syrian unrest to the Lebanese political scene and create a security gap in the country. Sakr wondered how a minister could accuse Lebanese citizens of hiding terrorists and militants in their villages instead of sending troops from the army to arrest them if the claims are true.
Sakr called on Fayez Ghosn to step down immediately accusing him of dragging the country to a series sectarian problem, warning Hezbollah that these claims could have a negative repercussion on the Lebanese scene. “Your claims are empty and we are used to such accusations, I advise you to step down instead of describing your own people as being terrorists”, the newspaper quoted Sakr addressing Ghosn.
According to
An-nahar the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon Robert Watkins revealed that Israel has already taken the decision to withdraw from Al-Ghajar area, adding that the Israelis told him during his last visit to Tel Aviv last month that they are finalizing some security issues before returning the land to the Lebanese authorities.
Watkins saw that the events in the Arab world are evolving at fast past, calling on the security forces to intensify their work and prevent any misconduct that could lead to a serious escalation. Watkins mentioned that according to the 1701 UNSC resolution the UNFIL would not stay in Lebanon forever as the Lebanese Armed Forces should be deployed in the South to preserve peace and security.
Official sources told
Al-Hayat newspaper that the escalation in Homs and neighboring regions in the last three days raised was reflected on the hospitals in North Lebanon, as more than 100 injured were transferred to local Lebanese hospital for treatment. On the other hand the refugees’ toll rose from 3700 to 6000.