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.
Al-Joumhouria Daily reported that Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi is set to meet with a delegation from Tripoli Bar Association next Wednesday, where they are expected to hand him over a petition signed by 70 thousand Tripoli residents, calling for the referral of the cases of al-Taqwa and al-Salam blasts, Beirut Southern Suburb explosions and Hermel attacks to the Judicial Council.
In this context, sources said that Rifi will present a proposal to the cabinet, whereby he demands the referral of these crimes to the Judicial Council, noting that the investigations into the case of Tripoli twin blasts have been completed and the evidence were documented.
MP Marwan Hamadeh said that the new cabinet will have to revive the constitutional institutions, noting however, that it will not be able to “magically resolve the dilemmas, into which Hezbollah has dragged the country.”
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria Newspaper, Hamadeh stated that imposing dominance over the political life by the use of arms is still happening, while engaging in the Iranian project to control the Iraq-Syria-Lebanon triangle, noting that March 14’s evaluation to the current situation is based on the fact that Lebanon’s protection starts by protecting the whole border.
“Focusing on vehicles entering Lebanon from Syria and neglecting tanks and cannons leaving Lebanon and heading into Syria contribute to the cycle of violence prevailing over Lebanon,” he added.
In this context, Hamadeh called on Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters from Syria in order to disassociate Lebanon from the regional conflicts, stressing that the attempts to hold March 14 security ministers responsible for the current situation is a failed plan.
MP Mohammad kabbara said that Tripoli residents felt greater firmness exerted by the security forces in dealing with the security events, adding that the Lebanese Armed Forces took the necessary measures to control the situation and prevent the northern city from witnessing a new round of clashes.
In a statement to
Acharq al-Awsat, Kabbara pointed out that Tripoli residents are hoping that the investigations into the case of the twin blasts that targeted al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques will continue in order to take the necessary legal measures against the perpetrators, which would ease the tension between the rival parties in the city, as he said.
Commenting on the statement issued by the Arab Democratic Party and whereby they gave the authorities a deadline to arrest Abdel Rahman Diab’s killer, Kabbara said: “those who threaten the state do not want it to perform its work, they had previously threatened and promised, but failed.”
Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi stressed that the second meeting of the ministerial statement drafting committee was mainly calm, noting that the conferees agreed over most of the items to be included in the statement, except the item concerning the resistance that was not discussed. He noted that, as a labor minister, he insisted on adding an item regarding the retirement security and social contract projects.
In a statement to al-Liwaa Daily, Azzi said that the ministers agreed to meet in a third meeting Friday evening at the Serail in order to discuss the items concerning the resistance and the Baabda Declaration, hoping that positive outcome will result from the meeting.