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.
Parliamentary sources from Hezbollah said that the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Internal Security Forces and General Security have been implementing a security plan in the Beirut’s Southern Suburbs since last September, in coordination with Hezbollah, stressing that the plan may be reactivated soon, through increasing the number of ISF members in the regions.
In a statement to
Acharq al-Awsat daily, the sources stressed that the cover has been lifted off all fugitives without exceptions, noting that the Shiite party provides the security forces with the required information in order to arrest wanted persons.
The same sources pointed out that the security plan has restored 80% of security and stability across the country, adding that, when the time becomes appropriate, the plan will also be implemented in the capita Beirut.
Official sources warned against the possibility that the visit of the Maronite Patriarch Beshara Boutros Rai to the Holy Land may raise internal controversy in Lebanon, recalling the rejection of Islamic forces to the visit of former Egyptian Mufti Sheikh Ali Jomaa to the al-Aqsa Mosque in 2012.
In this regard,
Acharq al-Awsat quoted the same sources as saying that discussions are underway between Hezbollah officials in order to assess the possible ways to deal with the visit, amid popular outrage, urging the Patriarch the reconsider his decision and cancel his planned visit to prevent its potential negative repercussions.
It is noteworthy that Rai’s upcoming visit is the first of its kind to be made by a Maronite Patriarch to Jerusalem since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, since Lebanon has been officially in a state of war with Israel, and any Lebanese citizen to visit Israel may be subject to legal prosecution on charges of collaborating with the enemy.
However, sources reported that an implicit agreement has been reached between the Lebanese authorities and officials at the Maronite Church, allowing Lebanese clerics and monks to visit the Holy Land within the framework of their spiritual missions, through Jordan or the border passage in the Naqoura region.
The spokesman of the defense ministry in the transitional government, Kinan Mohammad, told
Acharq al-Awsat that negotiations are held between the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad and opposition fighters in order to evacuate the besieged neighborhoods of the city of Homs.
The official added that the evacuation includes the release of an Iranian officer, who was detained in order to exchange him for opposition fighters trapped in Homs, noting that the deal may also include the release of ten Hezbollah members held by the Islamic Front.