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.
An-Nahar daily quoted sources from the Lebanese delegation to the Security Council’s meetings in New York as saying that the United States decided to allocate an amount of USD 500 million to Lebanon, through the US Agency for International Development and during the Donors Conference expected to be held on Monday in Kuwait.
In turn, al-Mustaqbal daily cited governmental sources as noting that Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq was informed of the US grant from US officials during his last visit to Washington.
In this context, the sources expected that “USD two billion will be granted to the countries hosting Syrian refugees, including Lebanon.”
Ministerial sources expressed relief over the atmosphere overshadowing the latest preparations for the Donors Conference set to be held in Kuwait, noting that the donor countries have showed readiness to support the plan set up by the Lebanese cabinet to contain the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on the Lebanese scene for the years 2015 and 2016.
In a statement to al-Hayat daily, the sources pointed out that “meeting the basic needs of the Syrian refugees will help in handling their situation, in order to prevent them from turning into a security burden.”
The same sources added that this comes while security plans are being implemented in the northern city of Tripoli and northern Bekaa.
Al-Mustaqbal daily reported that a number of members of Arab delegations, including foreign ministers taking part in Sharm al-Sheikh conference, have expressed “resentment over the hostile stances launched by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah against the Arabs, while praising the firm position launched by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in response to Nasrallah’s remarks.”
According to the daily, the same members said that “Friday's speech was a proof that Iran interferes in the internal Arab affairs, contrary to what Hezbollah chief was claiming.”
In the same context, members of the United Nations delegation headed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon also expressed anger over Nasrallah’s positions, strongly denouncing “his escalating and hostile speech.”