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.
Security sources told al-Akhbar daily that the security apparatuses have raised their alert level over the past few days, and tightened their control over those leaving the northeastern town of Arsal and the Ain al-Helweh refugee camp.
According to the daily, these measures came after receiving reports stating that 5 individuals are suspected to be planning suicide attacks, noting that 4 of them are Lebanese and one Moroccan national.
The sources added that “one of the suspects is from Arsal, while two supporters of Ahmad Assir were reported missing from Sidon,” pointing out that the security forces are suspecting that these two are among the 5 main suspects.
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq explained that he received an official invitation from the American government to visit Washington in March, adding that he is not invited to participate in the “White House Summit on Countering Violence Extremism,” set to take place in less than two weeks.
In a statement to as-Safir newspaper, al-Mashnouq said that “Lebanon represented by its foreign minister apologized for not participating in the said summit, since Lebanon shall not be partners with Israel in fighting terrorism.
“Everyone in Lebanon knows that the Israeli politics is behind the emergence of extremist and terrorist ideology in the region,” he added.
In this regard, well-informed Arab diplomatic sources told as-Safir that “Lebanon decided not to take part in the summit, in which at least 60 states, including 14 Arab states will participate, as well as Israel,” noting that the summit will kick off on February 18th at the White House and under the chairmanship of US President Barack Obama.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt delayed the subject of his resignation as a Member of Parliament until the month of May, following the request of speaker Nabih Berri.
In this context, a parliamentary source stated that “Jumblatt informed Berri of this intention during the last meeting,” adding that Berri asked him to wait until May so that the cabinet would have made the needed preparations to hold sub-elections, which will include the Chouf district (Jumblatt’s seat), Jezzine district where a seat was left empty due to the death of MP Michel Helo and Zgharta district, where the seat of MP Sleiman Frangieh will become vacant following his resignation aimed at nominating his son Tony Frangieh.
A parliamentary source told al-Joumhouria daily that Prime Minister Tammam Salam will face political difficulties and legal and constitutional rivalry in terms of reviewing the decision-making process at the cabinet, which has been taking over the prerogatives of the president of the republic.
The same source said that Salam adopted the wrong process when he agreed with the ministers that they must sign every decision approved by the cabinet, noting however that the constitution stipulates another process that does not require the signature of each minister.