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.
Speaker Nabih Berri told
As-Safir daily that Monday’s parliamentary session is expected to be ordinary and normal, since it is not different from any other session. Berri stressed that he will run the session as usual; adding that he who does not attend will have to live with the consequences of his decision.
Berri said that the agenda will not see any amendments, adding that he already forwarded his own initiative to solve for the $11 billion crisis.
“I still stand by my initiative, if they respond to it so be it, if not the session’s agenda is not restricted to the 8.9 trillion LBP law. Several other important draft laws for both the people and the state are included in the agenda and those laws should not be taken hostage”, Berri said, “When we get to the 8.9 trillion LBP law then let everyone empty their bucket and the session will run its course in accordance with the parties’ stances and choices. If the session loses quorum then it will be neither the first time nor the last time”.
Berri also told
An-Nahar daily that Sunday’s demonstrations prove that the dissociation policy is working. Berri also hailed the Future movement, Hezbollah and Amal movement for participating in neither one of the two demonstrations, adding that this step sheds light on the leaderships’ wisdom and will to steer clear from strife.
An-Nahar daily reported that the Lebanese Armed Forces arrested 33 Syrian gunmen in the Bekaa following intensive fighting. According to the local newspaper, the LAF confiscated their weapons and took them away to Ablah barrack. The daily said that one of the Lebanese soldiers was wounded.
According to the daily, the 33 armed Syrians were trying to enter Lebanese soil while hundreds of displaced Syrian families were leaving their villages (Qusseir, Ziraa and Jousiah) and heading towards Masharih Al Qaa in the Bekaa. The LAF deployed an unprecedented number of troops at the border passage between the Syrian town of Jousiah and the Lebanese village of Al Qaa, this passage turned into a barrack that cannot be approached.
The Head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt told
As-Safir daily that the front MPs will not participate in Monday’s parliamentary session as long as the financial crisis has not been settled. Jumblatt stressed that their absence does not mean that he is no longer part of the ruling majority.
Jumblatt said that he endorses a settlement, not for the sake of March 14 forces, rather to stay true to his own principles.
“We took part of the cabinet’s expenditures since 2006 and so did Amal and Hezbollah ministers so there is no need to try to outsmart each other”, Jumblatt said.
Al-Joumhouria daily reported that during the Baath party demonstration that took place in downtown Beirut on Sunday, the head of Hezbollah’s security committee Wafiq Safa called an official from the Baath party. Safa asked him to immediately remove a banner with Hezbollah and Amal slogans to avoid making it look like the two Shiite parties are participating in the demonstration. The daily added that the Baath official immediately answered Safa’s request.
The Hezbollah official told the same newspaper that the party’s leadership issued clear instructions that forbid its members from making fowl remarks against Sheikh Ahmad Al Assir. The official added that Hezbollah is doing everything in its power to avoid an internal sectarian strife.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Assir told
Acharq al Awsat daily that “the Lebanese will not accept to put Lebanon hostage to Bashar Assad and they are not willing to sell their dignities for a cheap price”.
Al Assir reiterated his rejection to the hegemony of March 8 forces, adding that for this reason he held Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah responsible for any perturbation that would have occurred during Sunday’s demonstration. “We all know who runs March 8 forces that are affiliated to the Syrian regime”, he added.
“We will not abandon Damascus and the will of little children of Daraa will not be broken”, Al Assir said, adding that the “revolution contagion is spreading in Syria to shatter Assad’s strongholds”.
Al Assir stressed that he is not seeking to launch propaganda, rather he is assuming his legitimate and religious role that serves the interests of his nation and religion. He ruled out all accusations that he is seeking to saw the seeds of internal strife saying: “When did freedom of speech become an aspect of strife?”