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.
Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbass said that the trial refugee camps to be established in the Lebanese-Syrian border region will host a limited number of refugees that can reach 35 thousand Syrians, noting that discussions are underway concerning the possibility of placing prefabricated houses across the area between al-Abboudieh, Jdeidet Yabous and al-Masnaa towns.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria, Minister Derbass pointed out that the team tasked with this plan will submit a detailed report on Tuesday, including a comprehensive study of the steps to be taken in this regard.
In this context, Derbass added that Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil will contact the concerned states, including Syria, in order to facilitate the work, and the international organizations, which have said that the decision to set up such refugee camps must be made by the Lebanese government.
The European Union ambassador to Lebanon, Angelina Eichhorst stressed that the humanitarian aid dedicated for Lebanon should not only target the Syrian refugees in the country, but also the Lebanese citizens who have been coping with the burden imposed by this crisis.
In a statement to
as-Safir newspaper, Eichhorst said that terrorism and extremism cannot be fought only by security plans, but through the establishment of an economic, social and development safety net, which can help in creating new opportunities and fighting poverty.
However, she pointed out that the presence of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon is creating a huge pressure on the country, stressing the need to put an end to the war in Syria in order for the people to return to their homeland.
In this regard, the ambassador called on the Lebanese authorities to assume their responsibilities and place a new aid strategy in cooperation with the European Union, which has been working on preparing for the refugees' return to Syria, while creating job opportunities, education and economic development projects for the Lebanese people, mainly in North Lebanon and Tripoli.
On another note, Eichhorst stated that terrorism has turned into “a business or trade,” where some parties pay young people amounts of money to kill other parties.
“There must be a strong and decisive response to such acts,” she urged, noting that national unity between the rival parties of a country is required in order to fight terrorism and extremism.
Sources from the ecclesiastical delegation in Washington said that US President Barack Obama told the delegation of the Patriarchs of the East, during his speech concerning the situation of the minorities in the region, that “President Bashar Assad is protecting the Christians in Syria.”
The sources told
al-Akhbar newspaper that the crowd was surprised by Obama’s statement, stating that he also used the expression "Syrian government" instead of "Syrian regime" to refer to the Syrian leaders.
The United States is considering strikes against Syria to begin within 30 days, a US official revealed.
The official told
al-Hayat daily that the US administration does not require the permission of the Syrian government when it comes to protecting the American people.
In this regard, Fox News channel quoted an official from the Department of Defense as saying that the military strikes against Syria are set to be launched within 30 days, while the “Washington Post” daily stated that the strikes will be launched from American warships and military bases located in the region, mainly, Turkey, Qatar and Kuwait.