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.
Member of the Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc MP Fadi Karam stressed that his party stands against the quota system, noting that the Lebanese Forces had refused to participate in cabinet sessions, “because they knew all too well the situation would worsen.”
“Education Minister Elias Bou Saab politicized the issue of the Lebanese University to an unacceptable level,” MP Karam said, pointing out that this policy will lead to the collapse of the educational institution.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria daily, Karam stressed that the cabinet will fail in its task to find solutions for the current issues, since it follows the system of quotas, rather than competence, adding that the Lebanese Forces is focusing its discussions on qualifications when it comes to administrative appointments.
Member of the Development and Liberation parliamentary bloc MP Yassin Jaber noted that Speaker Nabih Berri declared during the last legislative session that meetings will remain open-ended, explaining that, according to the law, any session to be held in the future has to address issues tackled during previous talks.
“Therefore, the matter pertaining to the pay scale will automatically be included in the agenda of upcoming sessions and will not be sidelined,” he said.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria newspaper, Jaber called on all deputies to attend parliament in order to discuss the different points of view and hence reach consensus.
As-Safir newspaper issued a fragment of a European report drafted by EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator Gilles De Kerchove in association with European foreign bodies, after Lebanese security officials called for international assistance in critical security matters, due to the threat posed by foreign jihadists.
According to the report, the main solution resides in the establishment of a new fortified prison, to which a number of Roumieh Islamist inmates will be transferred to be placed under tight security measures.
In this regard, a senior diplomatic official told the daily that the said issue remains under discussion, pointing out that the Roumieh prisons is “a well of security troubles.”
The newspaper added that also among the country's priorities, Lebanese officials called for assisting and improving the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces, in order to have the capacity to thwart the threats posed by jihadists crossing the border.
“Lebanon asked for assistance in order to form a third regiment from the Lebanese army to control the border and protect the border regions in the south and the Bekaa,” the report stated.
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi told al-Akhbar daily that the meetings held with former PM Saad Hariri were comprehensive and tackled various issues, including the cabinet, the parliament, the legislative sessions and the situation in the northern city of Tripoli.
Rifi noted that the current deadlock and disruption in the country are caused by the current state of presidential vacuum, calling on the political parties to solve the root cause of the problem and elect a new president the soonest possible.